Marking Items off the Bucket List...

Lately I’ve been thinking about my bucket list. There’s been things I’ve wanted to do floating around in my mind but I’ve never put them on paper. So I decided to do that to make my list official and where better than to make it official here!

Some things are so simple and some will be much harder to obtain.

The list will change with time as my interests grow and change.

Everything on here is something that will bring me happiness and I hope I will continue to mark items off the list as the years pass.

Each check mark shows I’m living life to its fullest and, in my opinion, there isn’t a better way to live!

·    

• Complete a half marathon
• Swim with dolphins
• Learn to play the cello for the first 32 seconds of TranSiberian Orchestra’s “Christmas/Sarajevo”
• Go on a picnic
• Make an eagle on one golf hole
• Buy an actual snow sled like in the old time movies and use the heck out of it!
• Learn to do a wall handstand in yoga
• Ride a tandem bike with someone I love
• Kayak in calm ocean water
• Play Frisbee in calm ocean water
• Go horseback riding along the beach
• Play beach volleyball on an actual beach
• Hit a volleyball serve overhead (and the net)
• Float a calm river
• Complete Tulsa Run
• Visit NYC, over and over again
• Do the row boats at NYC’s Central Park
• See Wicked on Broadway
• Take dance lessons with a partner
• Visit Hawaii
• Visit Bora Bora
• Visit Greece
• Visit Europe
• Visit Australia
• Visit Maine
• Visit Charleston, South Carolina
• Return to my birthplace – Toms River, NJ
• Go skiing
• Buy a house
• Have a porch swing
• Write a book
• Find love
• Find God
• Get married
• Have children
• See Madonna in concert
• See Billy Joel and Elton John in concert together
• Confidently rock a bikini
• Research my ancestors
• Do a mud run
• Learn to appropriately ride a bike and enter a long-distance event
• Photograph a wedding
• Have a photo published somewhere
• Lay on a blanket with a loved one and look at the stars
• Lay on a blanket/chair with a loved one and watch the sun rise
• Ride a cable car in San Francisco
• Go whale watching
• Ride an elephant

Okay, now it’s officially official.

And in Running News...

Well, it’s official. I am doing the Houston half marathon in January! I might have broken a sweat when I received the e-mail but I am excited to hopefully check an item off my bucket list!

I’m currently debating how to train for it. Any advice, fellow runners?

At first I thought I’d join a group and start next week (they’re training for a half in November)… but I also don’t want to get burned out. (Literally speaking these days with this BRUTAL heat!) So I actually may just do the Hal Higdon program starting in October. If I do that, I’ll continue to run/cross train 5-6 times a week in the meantime. I think that could work for me.

I'd love YOUR thoughts!

That's Coloriffic!

Today was finally the day of The Color Run!

My friend Julie and I were so excited when the race announced they were coming to our city. How could we say no to a colorful, fun 5K?!

We were in the second wave of 1,000 to start. Check out the crowd in front of us!

Julie and I before the race.

And here's me afterward!

Despite the fact I cramped big time during it (excruciating tearing pain - what gives!), I definitely enjoyed being drowned in bright colored powder! Have you done a Color Run?

My Journey to Becoming Healthy

This is the picture that opened my eyes.

Me after gaining 20 pounds

I took one look at that picture and couldn't believe my eyes. I had recently been to the doctor and the scale said I had gained 20 pounds. But it wasn't until I saw this picture that I believed the number on the scale. That's when I decided to make a conscious effort, once the holidays were over, to change some things in my life.

This January, I started routinely running again and I also began a healthy diet. I had gained that weight from March-December 2011 because I took a lot of time off from exercising (healing from a knee injury) and to be honest, I kept eating like I was running. No hiding that.

Also in January, I started keeping track of my calorie intake and let me tell you, it was mind blowing. I couldn’t believe the amount of calories I was eating every single day. I stopped drinking soda because it was ridiculous how much I relied on that little red can and how awful it was for my body. I am still keeping track daily on a handy little app called Calorie Counter. It’s my accountability partner.

Along with running, I played volleyball, took up yoga (it’s pretty hi-larious to watch me) and eventually started spin and weight lifting. I enjoy walking and riding my bike and just being active. It’s done wonders. I feel really good and so far I’ve lost 14 pounds! I am beyond thrilled with my progress.

I’ll post more sometime soon about my diet details and weight loss progress. I wish I had kept up with my blog during this time but alas, I didn’t. Shame on me! 

P.S. I am waiting to hear if I made the cut for the Houston half marathon, which would be my first half. The longest race I’ve done to date is a half marathon relay at 10K distance. I definitely want to write about my progress if I am entered into the half. It’ll be quite the journey.

The High is Back

Tonight I feel elated. For a wonderful reason, too. I ran today. It had been over 7 months since I've gone for a run (due to my knee injury).

Fast forward through physical therapy, lots of rest and a 16+ weight gain because of lack of exercise, today I laced up my running shoes that I hadn't worn since mid-March and scrambled to find my favorite shorts, socks and sports bra.

Once at the river trail, I did intervals, with a lovely companion who kept time, and we went about 2.5 miles. The shoes felt amazing on my feet, (probably because I have been wearing my old sneakers for the past few months. I only save my running pair for its sole purpose.), the breeze made me feel alive and it just felt really good to be out there again.

Granted, I had to stop at one point to lay on the trail to do crunches (blasted side cramp) and my knee would send small twinges reminding me it's not pain free... but still.

I survived.
I never complained once.
I pushed it at the end.

Then I came home, iced my knee, took some ibuprofen and have felt that wonderful runner's high all night (and a knee twinge.. or two.)

I can't wait to try it again tomorrow.

Umm... I'm back... sort of?

Wow, guys. It's been since June that I last posted. I won't go into the nitty gritty details of why... let's just say: I (willingly) work way more hours than I used to and I've let some things slip. Example: my blog, my work out schedule, cleaning... yawn. :)

But here I am to say hello! What's new?

Earlier this month, I traveled to Destin to visit my dad and stepmom. My brother, his girlfriend and their son/my nephew (my munchkin and little love of my life) drove in from NOLA and I was thrilled because I hadn't seen them since last November. That's not acceptable, people.

While in Destin, we experienced bad weather, a.k.a. a hurricane, so after two days the beach was closed. I'm talking two red flags, sheriffs guarding the beach kind of closed. So I got to spend ample time with this guy. I love him. I leave you with two little videos of my favorite little guy. Keep in mind - we were on a four hour drive to NOLA during these.

Translation: "Bad Form" - what Gramps says if someone does something naughty

Translation: my nephew saying please = how do you say no?! He really wanted his garage here.

Things I Realized Today

Today was a day for realizations for me. I must have been feeling thoughtful...

• I love my job. I really do. I started in May and I couldn't be happier. If I wrote down everything I wanted and needed in a job, it would be the position I have now. I feel so blessed!
  


• I love my team. (It's crazy to say I have a team.) I took them to lunch and they are a great group of women whom I respect greatly.
  


• I've given out more business cards in the past four weeks than I did during my tenure at my previous job. (I went from development back to PR so I'm interacting with a lot of people again.)
  


• I realized my work is just down the street from the mall. Why it took me four weeks to realize this... I don't know. But this is bad news, people. Make me forget that I'm close enough to run to the mall on my lunch break! My pocketbook cannot handle that! ;)
  


• I am thinking about chopping my hair off. I love long hair but it's so dang hot, that I'm really, really tempted. Should I, should I?

What about YOU?! Anything on your mind lately?