Why I run

I've gotten out of habit, and that's a terrible thing. I loved how I felt when I was training for the marathon and running 5 days a week. I have a race in just a few more weeks, so I've been a little better this week with getting up and going, but I know I could be better. I just need to remember the reasons WHY I run, so here goes nothin' :)

First and foremost, I love the way I feel when I'm running consistently. It seems a little strange, but I have more energy and I feel great about myself. When I'm running, I can walk up the 4 flights of stairs at work and not get too winded, which I think is a very good thing. Really, I just feel fantastic physically and I'm looking for that feeling again... cuz, you know, I've lost that lovin' feelin'.

Second, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. When I complete a full week of training without missing a single day, I truly feel like I've done something to push myself in the right direction. It's almost like if I can do that, I can do so many other things that seem a little impossible.

Third, and maybe my favorite reason of why I run, is this...


and this...


and so many others that I haven't even tried yet! I'm still working on cupcake recipes, and the only time I let myself eat them is after a big race. With that said...

Let me grab my running shoes... I want a CUPCAKE!

The music made me do it...

It's been a slow and kinda boring past couple of weeks, but I promised I'd post this week and I try really, really hard to keep my promises. Let's just ignore the fact that I wanted to post every week and start fresh, shall we?

Since coming home from California, it's been back to business. I finally got to meet the cutest little baby in the entire world (who was born my first day in Cali) and it was the highlight of my week! He is just the sweetest little boy and I wish I could see him more often than I get to. But, thanks to the new season of Biggest Loser starting tonight (WOO HOO!!!) I will get to see him every Tuesday night!


Probably not the greatest picture, but you can still see how handsome this little guy is!

The week after getting home from California was actually a full work week, which, after working 3 or 4 day weeks and then being on vacation for a week, was pretty brutal. Good thing it only lasted a week, right? The next week was my birthday, so I took a day off to celebrate! It started with good run at the gym then to the SL temple (my first trip down there) with my good friend, Rino. It was such an awesome experience! When we got back, I got a much needed pedicure from another awesome friend... thanks, Mary! After the pedicure, I needed to get some shopping done for the par-tay! Rino met me at the Latin market and about $50 later we had enough carne asada to feed an army. Actually, I still have a ton left in the freezer, so if anyone has a hankering for delicious beef or pork, you know who to call. After the market, I headed to my parents' house and made red velvet cupcakes... for someone who loves baking as much as I do, why wouldn't I make my own cupcakes on my birthday?!

People came to party around 7:30 and we ate, talked, danced, smacked around a pinata, roasted pineapple, and watched a movie for the rest of the night. It was actually pretty fantastic! I'll post pictures when I can get to them...

The birthday weekend continued with a foto frenzy day (pictures to follow SOON) and a baseball game with few good friends. Another fantastic day of celebrating.

Sunday, I had a second birthday dinner with my parents, Amber, and my cute grandpa with delicious food and chocolate covered cinnamon bears :) I decided for some reason that my birthday was lasting all weekend long, so I fell off the wagon a little bit, but it's a time for celebrating, right?

Monday I gathered some friends, my parents, and my sister with her girls and went to the river! I had only gotten to raft once this season (so sad) and I requested that, if the river was high enough, we make a Labor Day trip. It was a little chilly, but overall a fantastic river trip. I especially enjoyed the part where I hit a wall of water on Big Kahuna... OH YEAH!

Since the celebrating has come to a close, I've just been working and working. I guess things have been a little more exciting than I thought. A friend of mine from the gym who works for the Job Corps. in Clearfield asked me to help her group of kids participate in the Let's Move, America campaign. Every night this week I get to go hang with these kids and teach them the Beyonce "Move Your Body" dance. Last night was kind of fantastic, so here's hoping the rest of the week goes just as well!

Oh, and I get to Jam in O-town with the Jamily tonight... can't get any better than that! I guess that must explain the title of this post :)