Well if that doesn't add a star to my crown in runner's heaven...I don't know what will.

I'm on week 3 of my training program. This run was crappy for a lot of reasons. To start, the husband and I have back to back plans tonight and we don't know when we'll be home. SOOO..I was being a brat and throwing a temper tantrum because I like running at night. It's a self-esteem issue so I'll just have to get over that.

I was running along and doing okay and then I hit this huge WALL. My legs felt like they weighed a gazillion lbs (which they are probably close to anyways). I couldn't breathe...and I had this unquenchable thirst. It just sucked. I almost hit stop on my phone...my thumb was on the stop button. I was going to push the stop button. Then, for whatever reason, I didn't. I'm so glad I didn't. I knew that I would so regret doing it.

I finished my run. It was gross and sloppy but I finished it.

I'm SO glad that I did.

oops, I just signed up for a half marathon...

Holy &*$%...

I just signed Adam and I up for the McDonald's (ironic) Half Marathon in Richmond, VA.

The reasons are as follows:

A) My friend Ashley is moving there and I'm super needy

B) The fee was like 40 bucks cheaper if I signed us up BEFORE Dec. 31st

C) If I'm going to run 13.1 miles of anything I want it to be in pretty fall type weather (I do not understand summer races...if I want to have a heat stroke I'll find a different avenue)

D) I'm a glutton for punishment (or perhaps just a glutton)

Oh dear...

Lord, hear our prayer

That was unpleasant...

To the truck that was stuck behind me for about 30 seconds whilst I was jogging:

I'm so sorry

I never intended anyone to watch my tree trunk legs and BEE-hind jiggle up and down in my new running tights.

Let me know if I need to help compensate you for therapy.

Again, my apologies...

It's still okay to eat like it's Christmas right?

Good grief at the food that was consumed during Christmas.

Adam and I ate like we had the metabolism of an ADHD 12 year old boy. We still have candy and cookies and CRAP all over this house. I'm going to throw it away while Adam is at work...that'll go over real well. I just can't have this stuff easily accessible. One pretzel m&m will turn into the whole bag (I truly love any form of m&m ). Ah well, it's back to running today. Let's all say a quiet prayer for the ground on which I will be running.

Happy Christmas!

Our Christmas has been nothing short of lovely.

We meandered our way over the mother's house this afternoon and had this huge gathering of love and gift exchanging. I can not even begin to convey how much love I feel for my niece (4 mos. old). She makes all my days brighter and I can't imagine how much love a parent feels for their own child. Whenever God blesses us with a child I think my heart will literally burst with love.

The Mr. and I really scaled back on presents this year. We knew we wanted to match what we spent with what we gave to our church. This Christmas was none less sweeter than any of the others I have shared with my wonderful husband. A true prayer of mine is that we rely less on "stuff" and strive to dig deeper in our marriage and with Christ.

I am feeling absolutely filled to the brim with thanksgiving and happiness.

I hope this Christmas has been as joyous for you.

Happy Christmas!

Love,

The Brashers

running day 2..you suck

It's cold outside y'all!

When I say it's cold I mean it's chilly. I'm such a wimp when it comes to any sort of temperature change. I went over my usual excuses of why I don't want to run.

-I'm tired

-I'm cold

-I'm tired and cold

You get the idea. With all that said I pushed myself and did my day 2 run. It wasn't that hard but my hands went numb (my hands tend to do that when I get really cold...I have crappy circulation). I was proud of myself and I'm really looking forward to one day doing that 60 minute run. I've promised myself that when I reach that milestone I'm going to buy myself some new running shoes. I have ASICS gel series running shoes and they're ok. I need something to really support my ankle because I tend to roll them really easily (which is SUPER lame). I'm on the search for the ones I want and the ones that will be the best for me. I should probably go the local athletic store and have them measure me and see which shoes are best for me. However, do you ever feel like the athletic store guys have their judgey pants on when any girl besides a size 2 comes in and asked to be sized for running shoes. No thanks...I don't need your eyes sizing me up quite yet. I also decided I don't need hard core running shoes yet because I'm running such short distance. When I hit my 10K mark I'll probably NEED new shoes.

All that said things are going well and I'm feeling encouraged. I hope I continue to feel this way.

6 month break...ptthh

There's nothing like picking up blogging after dropping it like it's hot.......6.months.ago.

This blog is not easily categorized...it is neither food nor health...nor baby or newlywed. This blog just is what it is. A blog where a completely unorganized girl word vomits all over the place and hope it makes sense to someone (sorry for the use of the word vomit).

Last summer I was so gung-ho about running and babies and babies and running. I find myself in the same situation I was back in June and here is my dilemma. I don't think I'm this big huge person that is just miserable with my life. I AM, however, a person that is not happy with the way she looks and would like to remedy that. I want to lose about 30 lbs. before I embark on mommy-hood. 30 lbs does sound like a lot but I think I would truly be at an ideal weight for me ( I'm 5'10" and there is no small bone in my body...thanks mom).

So..here I am 6 months later trying to gear myself up again to lose some weight. I'm a teacher and one of those teachers that stay 2 to 3 hours AFTER school gets let out. When the school day is done...I. AM. DONE. After kids all day, administration, parents, other teachers, and TEACHING 2nd graders plural possessive nouns I just don't have much left. I need to start setting boundaries in my life and setting aside time for me.

I've already completed the c25k app on the iPhone once. I liked it pretty ok but I ran it on the treadmill. This time it has been updated and I like it MUCH more than before. It even takes you through a 60 min. run (which if you are doing under a 10 min. mile would be a 10k).

So I'm laying it all out here blog. Keep me accountable so I won't have to look back in another 6 months and write the same post.