I've been booted!

Just when I thought the brace was bad enough, then came its big brother: THE BOOT! I have done relatively nothing exercise-wise in the past week, and I am itching to get back to the gym. Although injuries are the most dreaded thing to happen to a runner, it has given time to do other things and realize that I might have to start scaling back on my milage until I am completely healed and ready to go.

In other news, Christmas is coming! Just over two weeks to go! Here are a few pictures of our tree this year:

Be the Best You!

Exciting and positive times over here in the life of runner girl! As if all girls didn't already know this, but a new pair of shoes really can change everything. Ever since I started running in my new sneakers, everything seems to be falling into place. I certainly am running better than I have in the past year or so. Okay, so maybe it isn't fully because of the shoes, but I like to think that since I am ordering another pair tonight. So, you may be thinking, what else has changed? The answer: having a positive mind! I have finally come to the realization that I have not been running my best lately because of all of the negativity in my mind. I constantly beat myself down over anything and everything, for no reason at all. If you find yourself doing this too, just remember that this is your body and your life, and only you have the power to change your outlook on both. Here is a list of steps you can take to "Be the Best You":

1. The first thing I started off doing is deleting all forms of social media. I was listening to the radio on my commute to school, and there was an advertisement saying that Americans spend more than 400 hours on social media websites each year. That is over 17 consecutive days of the year! Imagine all of the things you can do in seventeen days, rather than scrolling through endless pictures, and seeing what everyone else is doing with their life. Why watch other people living their lives when you can be out living yours! It is incredible how so many people are striving to fit in with the latest gadgets, trends, clothes, and hairstyles. Why not perfect yourself rather than trying to mimic others?

2. Do only the things that make you happy. Do you find yourself constantly agreeing to do things for others, are a part of a group, or organization that you do not enjoy, or are always trying to please others? Stop right there! If you find that there are things that you do that make you unhappy (other than things that are completely necessary, such as paying bills, chores, etc.) stop doing them. You will never find pleasure in something that causes frustration, or stress.

3. Get yourself organized. Make your bed everyday, keep your room clean, and make lists. This way you know exactly what you need to get done, and make sure that everything is done on time. I've been using this new trick lately where I set fake deadlines for certain assignments so I am not stressfully completing them the night before. There is no better feeling than crossing something off of your to-do list!

4. Create your own "lent". If you have a bad habit you would like to stop, or food that you eat that may not be the healthiest, plan your own "lent" to stop doing it for a period of time. Normally, once you stop doing something you will realize you really don't need it as much as you think you do. Lately, I have been doing a lot of baking and chocolate eating, and so, I am planning my own "lent" of not doing, or eating either of these things until Christmas.

5. Challenge yourself to a new workout, and food regimen. My high school coach always used to say, "long slow runs make long slow distance runners." I want to try to work on my speed for my upcoming half-marathon in January, so I decided to head to the track and do one of my old workouts. I opted for a ladder workout, which consisted of 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 3/4 mile and 1 mile "sprints,"and then working back down the other side of the ladder. It was a tough workout, but it gave me the confidence I need to keep going. It is also equally, if not more important to have a healthy food plan. My latest kick is going all organic. Although I used to be completely opposed to organic products, due to being unaware about the food our nation eats, I now am only eating things that are organic. Take a look at the labels of the foods you eat. Aspartame, Xanthum Gum, Hydrogenated Oils, other words I cannot pronounce? No thanks. Food should be made naturally, not in laboratories, or factories. If you find eating chemicals healthy, be my guest and take my plate.

I hope these are useful for anyone trying to get out of a negative, stressful, draining, and technology-filled life, and into a more active, positive, and healthy one. Replace excuses with solutions, and realize that now is the time to be the best you. There is no substitute for hard work, so keep running, be courageous, believe in yourself, and move forward!

Happy Thanksgiving!

After a great start to the day at the gym, I took the ultimate challenge of cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner for my family. Of course I took pictures to document my first turkey! Take a look at some of the other recipes I found and came up with:

I fueled the long cooking day with a green smoothie.

The start of crockpot apple pie.

 Three potato and carrot oven roasted vegetables.

 Stuffed peppers with rice.

 Chocolate truffle pie.

 The turkey! Still frozen.

 Still frozen an hour later.

 In it goes!

 I brushed it halfway through cooking with butter, apple juice, thyme, garlic, and paprika. This was used to make the gravy.

 Finished potatoes.

 Stuffing.

 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Apple Cider Sangria

 The turkey is done!

 The complete dinner.

 Opening her "muuuuuy bien" birthday card!

 Left over breakfast: scrambled eggs, onions, peppers, broccoli, and turkey.

Happy Birthday Girls on the Run!

The past two days have been very exciting in the world of GOTR. Yesterday, on a freezing cold day,we celebrated the program's 16th birthday. I truly enjoyed watching all of the girls celebrating themselves and each other. 

Today was our community service project. We volunteered to hand out water and cheer for the participants running in the 19th Annual Tomm May 5K race in Robbinsville. Two of our girls ran in the fun run and finished in second and third place! I am so proud of our team for being so enthusiastic to help in this race early on a Saturday morning on yet another cold day. I cannot wait to see how everyone will do in our 5K on November 10th!

Race for the Cure

Hello Fall, hello race season! Even though I won't be running the big 13.1 or 26.2 anytime soon, there is no stopping me from running a 5K, especially Race for the Cure. It definitely is one of my favorite fall 5Ks. It is a beautiful thing to celebrate those who have survived breast cancer, and encourage those who are still in the fight. Although I was disappointed that I could not run at my usual pace, in a way, I am almost glad. I could not have been any happier running at a pace alongside my sister. This injury has taught me it isn't about who's the fastest, who's the fittest, and who's the "best runner."Running is far more than the actual motion of running. It is about encouraging others, doing the things you thought you could never do before, and finding your happy pace. My new favorite running accessory, my air cast, has taught me to slow down and enjoy every step of the run. There is always going to be someone out there who is faster, stronger, or better than you, so why not focus on running your fastest, being your strongest, and doing the best that you can do? It could not get any better than running with my sisters, and I cannot wait to see where our feet will take us down the road!

Getting ready for a pink filled day!

Spending time at the ZTA volunteer tent with our sisters!

After run breakfast!

Waiting to register!

Back in Runner Girl Action!

Thankfully, I can put my lifeguarding tank tops, whistle, and sunscreen away until next summer. August was full of long days out under the hot sun, and finishing up assignments for my summer classes. Happily, I started a new semester and I am excited for what my new classes will bring. I am also instructing a Spanish 102 class, and that has really opened my eyes to how much Spanish I actually know, and how much I enjoy helping the other kids learn. I am thrilled that I finally feel confident about my major, and I think this will have a positive affect on my grades this semester (or at least I hope so!). Throughout the past year I have learned that if you're unhappy with yourself, its impossible to find the good in anything, especially when you are constantly comparing yourself to others. Striving to be someone else is a waste of the person you are. If you have to try to "fit in," or act like you are somebody you are not, they clearly are not the right people you need in your life. I have a new car, a supportive family, great friends, have the opportunity to go to school, and have brand new nikes, what else could a runner girl need?

Unfortunately, running is the one thing that is not going so well in my life right now, which is mostly my fault. Over the past few weeks I have pushed myself to the limit (which, like everything else, is good in MODERATION!) and am starting to have pain in my knee and ankle. I have been taking it on the easier side, with only biking and swimming, and hope to return to the road by this weekend. With two marathons and a half-marathon coming up, there is not too much time to wait around!

With so many upcoming races, and the start of the fall season of Girls on the Run tomorrow, there will be many posts to come. Thanks for sticking around!