Run Baby Run

I have really started to love running. For some, it comes easy. Me, not so much. I struggled for 2 years to even be able to run 3 miles and every.single.second of it was stinkin' HORRIBLE. I mean, pretty much every step left me wanting to turn around and crawl back to my car begging for sweet mercy the entire way.

But, I kept at it and a couple of months ago, Hubs convinced me to sign up for the Vulcan Run. 6.2 miles seemed impossible at the time. I thought I would run as long as I could and then walk the rest. I was good with that because my personal running goal didn't go past 3 miles. (Yes, I am an overachiever.)

About a month before the Run, I went out running by myself on a Sunday morning before Church. Normally, J2 runs with me but she wasn't feeling well. I headed down to an area close to my house with the intentions of running 2 miles. It was wonderful - I was listening to my praise and worship music, talking to my Lord and before I knew it, the 2 miles were up. I decided to try two more and after that, another two. 6 MILES!! Holy Cow, I think I became a runner that day.

The next Sunday we ran 7 and the next 8. The Vulcan Run has come and gone and I look forward to my morning runs with my friends. It's hard to get up so early (we all work) but I love being out as the sun comes up. It feels like a sweet treat God gives us. It really has become a special time of prayer and worship.

I never thought I'd be a runner. I especially never thought God would use it to give me more time with Him.

I caught my Mom telling someone the other day that I had run a marathon. I had to explain to her that I ran a 10K, not a marathon. BIG DIFFERENCE - BIG! So, if my Mama told any of you I ran a marathon, you probably already guessed that wasn't true. Or maybe you just thought I had turned into Super Girl. If that's the case - I'm good with that.

Miscellany Monday

Today I'm linking up with Carissa at lowercase letters for Miscellany Monday.

ONE -  Weather - I can't believe this heat. Sometimes I walk outside and it almost feels suffocating. The 20 feet or so I walk from my office to my car in the afternoons is enough to do me in. I've said it before, but I will forever be grateful to this man, Willis Haviland Carrier - inventor of the air conditioner.

TWO - Running - After almost 4 years, I'm really starting to love it. Don't get me wrong, it's still EXTREMELY hard to get up at 5AM and get started. And I still ask myself a dozen times while I'm running what is wrong in my fool head to put myself through that BUT - the feeling afterwards is indescribable.

THREE - I'll be an Aunt again in November! (No, not Mama Hen.) Hubs sister, Kay is PG with a boy! I just can't wait for him to get here!

FOUR- I caught an episode of Toddlers &Tiaras this weekend and I've gone from being speechless to ranting to back to speechless. It would be interesting to see a "Where Are They Now" on these little girls in 20 years. Do they even have a chance? So sad...

FIVE - My baby brother turned 34 yesterday. It's amazing how that can happen when I'm just 29...

Have a great Monday!

A Mee Maw who Runs

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I've posted! I totally intended on posting every single night this week but it just didn't happen. Everytime I picked up my laptop and logged in, I got sidetracked reading all of your blogs and well, you're bloggers, you know how it goes. You'd think since it's been so long that I'd have a million and one exciting things to report but - not a chance.

Did I tell you I started running again? I'm on my 3rd week of Couch to 5K in 9 weeks. I ran my first 5K ever in December of '08. I did one more right after that and pretty much never ran again. Before when I ran, I stuck to the track or the treadmill. I didn't love it because it was so boring. People would tell me to run on trails or sidewalks but I was obsessed with knowing exactly how many laps I was running and just in case you don't know this about me, but I'm not big on change.

This time though, Hubs convinced me to run on the sidewalks. We live really close to this awesome area in Trussville where sidewalks abound, beautiful flowers are blooming, and people actually smile and wave when I run by. LOVE IT! I also started downloading books to my MP3 to listen to while I run. Books are something I'm passionate about so it's like a prize to get to go running. I know! Crazy!

I can't tell you how glad I am that tomorrow's Friday. I have a very exciting house guest coming tomorrow night (more on that in a future post) AND I'm getting my hair done Saturday! I'm in desperate need of color. Pretty soon people are gonna start saying my hair is silver instead of dark brown and I'll be answering to Mee Maw.