I had a friend confide in me this weekend that she wasn’t happy with the direction her life is going and more so the relationship she is in, which was NEWS to me. Not everything is as it appears. Making yourself happy is the ultimate goal in life. Define your own happy life, not the life society “prescribes” to you. I told my friend she need to not be scared to lead the life she wants and make the changes she wants in life. 

Race for Hope 2014

THE GOOD: Yesterday was my 5th year running for David Cook’s charity team. This was my first ever race in 2010 and is very special to me. On Saturday Dave put on an intimate acoustic show for the team and played 2 brand new songs (that I’m already obsessed with – here’s one).

THE BAD: My Garmin did not connect to satellites prior to the start of the race (first time ever). It really threw me because I was concerned about maintaining my pace/not going out too hard. Clearly I did indeed go out too hard and by the half way point water station I started to gag on water, I had to stop because I thought I was going to throw up. Dry heaves like whoa.  I had to walk for a few in fear of nearly throwing up. Despite my stop and walk I managed to finish in 31:13. After I finished I went to the medical tent – they gave me a glucose tablet and an anti-nausea pill. I felt better, but still not what I want a race to go or end. 

THE AWESOMELY AWKWARD: The past few years I’ve seen Dave on the course and usually just say hey/good job. Well this year I was actually running with my phone and since I didn’t get a photo opp with him Saturday at the concert, I figured a mid-race selfie would be perfect. About .50-.75 miles in I spotted him running solo and pulled my phone out. I ran up beside him and said I was going to attempt a mid-race/whilst running selfie. We ran a few strides together and I snapped the pic. Dave is clown and he saw my mouth open pose, so together we are awkward and it’s perfect. I’m impressed I was able to pull it off (without dropping my phone). I then sped past him and I’m pretty sure the rush of getting a pic with him further made me push too hard. Hey Dave you almost made me puke!

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Every RFH is unique and I look back on them with great memories. The different places I was living, the different levels of my fitness, the different training I put in, and the different people I was with. Despite not personally loving someone to a brain tumor – I know loss and I’m happy to channel my fundraising for a great cause and honor David Cook’s brother’s memory since David on Idol helped me get from week to week back when I was still reeling from the death of my dad. I should also mention David Cook and his team have raised more than $1 million for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure!

Every year on the first Sunday of May you know where you can find me!

Friday 5ive

1. Do you guys remember the boy band 5ive? “Baby when the lights go out…” or “can I get your number baby, hit me with your seven digits”

2. I saw the new subway commerical for avocados and two ladies competing about who loves avocados more. That could SO be me and also I want an avoCARdo so bad now!

3. Of COURSE, yesterday my first day going gluten free, I went to an alumni dinner event at a mexican place and my table literally ate 4 baskets of chips and salsa. I did not have a single chip and ordered a salad with chicken and avocado. I also didn’t drink. I’m pretty proud of my self control.

4. Hot damn I’m sore as hell from level 2 of insanity and yesterday was just the first day. These next 4 weeks are going to either make me or break me!

5. And last, but certainly not least, this weekend will be my 5th year running the Race for Hope DC. It was my first 5K ever. My first race ever. It started my love affair with running. It doesn’t hurt that I also get to hang out with my main squeeze David Cook (of American Idol fame) whose charity team I run with. He’s doing an acoustic storytellers type concert for the team tomorrow. This weekend is always special for me and I’m excited it’s here!

Insane Morning

So last night after running laps in my apartment (thankfully I live on the first floor) I did my 3rd insanity fit test. Solid results, I just pushing hard and had good numbers (mostly increases in # of reps). However I was supposed to do a full workout following the fit test and I was just too spent to do 59 friggin minutes of my first level 2 dvd. So I woke up early this morning and banged that bitch out. I was sweating like a beast, but dayum I felt good!

Needed to get 2 shake out miles in today and the rain/tornado warning were posing a challenge. So desperate times called for desperate measures. Apartment loop miles. My Fitbit tracked my mileage and I did it in about 23 min. Hard to run fast in small quarters, but I did work up a good sweat!