I love you Running

There is something so amazing between running and myself. I feel like it is becoming this beautiful love affair. It is the one true extra activity I will not let go off because I can't.  I dream about it  I practise as much as I can just like a musician practises his instrument because I need too. As a stay at home mom it is really the only me time I get and I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be every time I get outside. I am a runner that finishes near the back of the pack all the time and it is crazy how every time I finish I feel like I won in the big race of life. I love being near the middle or back of the pack if your talking anything over 50 miles. I bond with other runners I love the stories the amazing personalities and what I love is the how lucky I feel to be around so many amazing strong , focused humans. I love surrounding myself with running books and listening to ultra running podcast. I feel like I am so lucky to have found something that fills my heart with such joy. I hope this feeling never goes away. I hope I can continue to have this great love affair for a very long time. This inspiration came from knowing I get to have my long run start at 6:30 am tomorrow and now I am so excited. 

Time

I am starting to understand that it is time outside and movement that works best for me. The mountains are the ideal place to spend time outside well, that is what I keep telling myself but the more time I spend outside the more I really understand it is being outside that counts. You can go anywhere you want to in your head as you walk or run but what counts is spending time on your feet breathing fresh air.  Everyone seems happier and with more energy after a long walk or run. My body and spirit Thank me. My body and mind say Thank You in so many ways after I ate well and moved around outside. There are things that help us stay happy they take effort but nothing worth having ever came easy if you ask me. You can start small baby steps lead to bigger steps but you have to start. Love yourself enough to start.

Tuesday Thoughts

The weekend flew by so fast it is already Tuesday !!
Mission accomplished I went outside as much as possible. I started a new ritual that is making my day just happier. I wake up and brush my teeth and put on my shorts and I leave my shoes out side the door and then I get my butt outside within 10 minutes of walking up. This has helped me get some miles in while Mike is still home or just get a 30 minute walk outside. I focus for the day and pray or I listen to audible and get some me time before everyone wakes up.
 The best thing is by the time I get home I don't want sugar in my coffee. I figure I already got some exercise in so why not try and keep the ball rolling . Learning to eat better and giving up sugar and anything else that hurts my tummy is hard so by the time I get back for some reason its easier to make good choices. I think if you put in the work first its harder to mess it up later. I always heard if you do something for 21 days it becomes a habit so thats what I am doing Making Habits ...

Slurpee Run

Todays run was a hot one. I ended my no sugar situation :(  I kinda sucked but my friend helped me keep excited and keep moving. It was 14 miles  that felt like  20. I am sure it was not that bad but when your tired and your cooked well it seems like such a long way to go. The best thing about runs like this one is you appreciate the good ones. You appreciate good weather and you work harder for the miles. Its all about showing up and putting in the work.. As for my no sugar in my diet plan well as soon as I finished that slurp in went right back into affect. 

Friday thoughts

I heard the something the other day that really caught my attention.  Something I had heard before but had forgotten that has really helped me this week.
Do that one thing you have been putting off first thing in the morning. The one thing you really don't want to do but need to get done. It's so simple and true. Then its done and you can move on with your day and feel good about it !!
If this means go get your run done of file those papers you have been putting of filling what ever it is just do it and be done then enjoy your day.
Happy Trails and may you have a great weekend.

The big blue sea

There is something so easy about the Ocean. My feet hit the ground and as I sink into the sand  my troubles seem to fade away. Time does not seem to exist. I hear kids laughing and waves crashing. The water is a little cold but not cold enough to keep us out.

There is something truly magical about the big blue sea. It is a true blessing to spend the entire day with her. 

Food and choices

My food Life : I have been really working on my relationship with food. If you fallow me here you know or have read I love all food and have been lucky for  most of my life because I can easily maintain a my weight between 120 to 130. The one thing that I have always struggled with is my tummy always hurts.  I know that it is my food choices. I was able to give up sugar . I know its only been about 10 days but no sugar for me so far. I know that I really need to make better choices specially because I feed 5 people everyday. 

I love cooking for my family I really do . I have always loved coming home with a box of donuts and baking for them it is how I show my love. One of my favorite sayings is ,"is your tummy happy."  I love making dinner and sitting at the table with my kids. I just know I could do a better job with the choices of food I feed them.
Maybe it is maturity of the fact that I have been in so much tummy pain it could also be the fact that I have more healthy friends and I listen to what they say more. I am not sure what it is but I have come to the conclusion that I really need to educate myself on food. I need to figure out what is really healthy and what is not. I want to feed my family with food I know is good for them not just filling them up.
I also think ultimately this will help my running life. I will get healthier and be able to run longer. Hopefully forever RIGHT ??
My plan is to educate myself and start to cut out the things I know hurt my tummy. I am starting with reading It starts with food first and I am sure many other books will fallow. If you have any recommendations please leave me a comment. 

Tuesday Happenings

Hi and hello - Around here we have been playing and exploring fun easy places to spend good quality time with your kid. Finding places to hike  is easy but finding places that are fun and not to hard for an almost 3 year old is a bit more challenging. Last week we found a really great trail that we have since revisited. This picture was taken by my little man. He knows how to use my camera now. 

He loves to pretend we are running a race. Ready set go Momma!

We hiked for a couple hours . The best part is trying to find something that starts with each letter of the alphabet. This was the letter P for pokey. I had to give it to him.

He actually read the sign . Its crazy how fast children learn when you just take the time to teach them and play learning games with them. I feel I am a way more into teaching Jack than I was with my other kids. I think it must be that I am so much older this time I see life different. Quality time take priority right now. 

Decide  what you want to be, do, and have, think the thoughts of it, emit the frequency, and your vision will become your life.

No sugar REALLY

7:am
This is the story: Yesterday I went to get a massage by my friend Lori. We talk a-lot she is a massage therapist and also a nutritionist. I noticed on my drive to her office that I was having serious sugar cravings then I realized that's because I have candy in my car.(and other places ) I had a bag of jelly beans , caramel chews and a massive box of gum. I eat candy all the time and I have tried to quit so many times to no avail. I told Lori that I really wanted to stop eating so much sugar and that I felt really sore after every run and just bloated. We talked about my diet and she told me maybe you should start with no sugar. You want to stop so why don't you start with something your excited to stop doing. I told her I don't think I can. She looked at me calmly and said G stop making excuses and just do it.
That's all I needed to hear. Why do we make things seem harder than they are ? Its simple . I am stronger than the urge I feel to eat candy all the time (right?) and today I decided that I would stop. There is so much literature out there that explains how bad it is for you. I also want to set a good example to my kids and I just want to freaking prove to myself I can.

9:30pm
Things went better than I thought. I went the whole day with out any artificial sugar. I honestly can not remember the last time I did that. I had a fruit salad but I think that is ok. Something clicked yesterday when my friend told me to stop making excuses. Why do we make rings out to be harder than they really are  ? I was reminded by my sister in law that I ran two 100 mile races so why do I think I can't do this. Yes I am a candy lover and cake and cup cakes and I love baking and eating dessert with my kids but I am going to find sugar free options for me. I am going to figure it out. I just don't feel well the way I have been eating and the bottom line is if I am running so many freaking miles because I have goal races then why don't I also eat healthy that might help too. 
I am learning and lately I have been really looking into what I put in my body so I am hoping that I will be successful in my journey to no Mcdonalds or candy and yes to home cooking and veggies. 

Happy August

Oh !! Welcome August
I am so excited that a new month is here. I decided this month would be a fun month for my kids and myself. I also have some great but simple goals I set for myself. This little guy and I have been spending lots of time outside and I love that. Today we walked around Mira Mar Lake and then we explored some trails nearby. The best thing you can do when heading out with an almost 3 year old is don't be in any kind of hurry. You're on there time and that makes everything easier. Always remember snacks and when spending a-lot of time outside you need lots and lots of liquids. Today we saw ducks and birds and so many little fish. I love seeing the world through his eyes. Simple and sweet. Today he decided wanted to learn to use my camera. It was so cute it took him a bit but he got it then he was over it. 

One of my goals for this month is to get 10 thousand steps everyday. That does not include my runs. I have the Fit Bit fever for sure. I am trying so hard to really cut down my sugar intake so  one of my goals is just that to be aware and practice saying no I don't need sugar all day long. Simple Goals