Ok, I’m like a week late with this. Whoops! Let’s pretend it’s Sunday, January 15.

I did my first race of 2012 yesterday! Woke up early and was out my door at 7:15am for The Hotcake Hustle. Luckily, the race was nearby and I met up with Jared at 7:30. We chatted for a while and got ready. There was a Fun Run at 8am. So fun to watch the kids take off at full speed when it started. Then it was time to line up and before we knew it, we were off!

Jared and I started together, but we both knew we have separate goals and paces, so we wished each other luckand he took off. I started off jogging and then slowed to a walk (but a speedy walk). I chose not to listen to music this time, just to see if I liked it (more on that later). The course stayed relatively flat, except for a bridge. That bridge stunk. Not literally, it just wasn’t much fun.

Anyway, I got near the end and Jared came back to finish with me. As we got near the end, we started jogging and crossed the finish line. The announcer guy even said my name over the PA as he announced people finishing. We went inside and grabbed pizza pieces (small ones) and granola bars. Unfortunately, no hotcakes. While everything else was in a ballroom and people kind of weaved in and out, the pancakes were in another room (I think) and the single-file line was ridiculously long, so we left.

Then I went home and laid in bed for 4 hours.

Oh, my verdict on no music? I did not like it. I didn’t mind not having the sounds, but I think my pace fell without it (I don’t have proof, just my hunch). Eventually, I’d like to be able to do either, but for now I will use music.

This race set the “benchmark” time for the next race, so I’m pleased with the result no matter what.  Not where I want it, but I know what I need to improve on.

Next race: Too Cold to Hold, next Sunday! (Remember, it’s Jan 15!)

Anyway, this year he is hosting a 12-week challenge that I will be participating in. Details for each challenge will be posted early in the week and then…well, you know what, I’ll let him tell you:

Get Excited: The 2012 Do Life Movement New Year Challenge.

Excited to announce the 2012 Do Life New Year Challenge.

While maintaining a little surprise for the people who join, here is a little information on the 12-week challenge.

• Starts next Monday, January 2nd.
• There will be a new theme launched each Monday with a challenge for the week.
• Every Sunday we will choose a winner of the week. Prizes each week to the winners.
• There are no physical requirements to join (i.e. there are no “run 30 miles this week.”) Not all challenges will be of the physical variety and the ones that are will be adaptable to any level of fitness, so don’t worry.
• $10 joining fee to help cover costs of prizes and shipping. Also, I’m always more committed when I pay some money, no matter how much. We want everyone to stick with the challenge through all 12 weeks.
• There will be a dedicated messageboard at DoLifeMovement for the challenge.
• Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m. so, join up!

To join: click here for the Paypal link. We will email you a confirmation and further instructions!

Join Join Join!

It’s going to be an incredible 12 weeks. Spread the word.

As part of the RunProject deal, I got some (almost) free new running shoes, courtesy New Balance. Of course, nothing is ever easy with me, it turned into an “ordeal.”

About a week after getting the voucher, I went over to RunOn! to get my shoes. I was greeted and immediately started the process of measuring my feet. That’s when we ran into a problem. Thanks to my awesome genetics, I have a high instep and wide foot. Which means some shoes don’t fit, no matter the size. We tried women’s first. The length was perfect but it felt like a vice was around my foot -even with the widest shoe. So we moved to men’s, which went wider. The width felt great, but the shoe was way too long.

After consulting the catalog, we determined that yes, NB did make a short, wide men’s shoe. It just wasn’t in stock. So, they called in an order and about a week later, my red and black (!) Men’s size 7 width 2E’s came in. Back to store to try them on and they were a great fit.

Can’t wait to start the races with these shoes on my freak-of-nature feet.

I neglected this blog for quite some time. But I think I’m back. Probably not a daily poster, but I have a project in 2012, and I want to blog about it.

So, going back to the summer, after a long look at my life, I stepped down from my volunteer position at church. As much as I love the teens, it was time to move on. Plus the time and effort involved was taking a toll on me. I didn’t completely cut ties. Not long after I stepped down, I agreed to serve on an adult retreat team. I figured it was a good move, a little less time and still involvement with people I love. However, I was put in a role that did require some extra time, which was fine (and perfect, seeing as I could never have done it if I was still working with the teens).

By late October, when the retreat was over, my schedule became very free. I am by no means a hermit and my weekends still manage to be busy, but my weekday evenings were now wide open. I started thinking about picking up my on/off relationship with my gym and even went a few times again. I needed a goal though.

Then I got an email from a local running store that they were hosting something called Run Project. Run Project is 7 local races that you can sign up for one at a time, or all at the same time. If you signed up for all of them at the same time, you got a voucher for free running shoes (!). This was a tempting offer. 7 races would definitely be a good goal, and since they were spread out over 2012, it would keep me motivated – I’m too frugal to pay for something and then not do it. Then my friend Jared mentioned he was signing up. Even better. Some one to keep me accountable, plus a friendly face at the races. So, I signed up.

Oh, then I signed up for another 5K because it sounded fun. And I’m looking into doing a race with my friend Amy when I go visit her.

So yes, I’m crazy. And yes, this blog will focus on that, at least for 2012. Sorry if that’s not your cup of tea, but to paraphrase my friend, this is what is new in my life.

As probably everyone in North Texas knows, some guy has been saying that the world is ending…yesterday. No comments on this except to say that if the world had ended yesterday, I would have been ok with that because it was a day filled with love, laughter, and good friends.

My friends Marfi and Josh were married yesterday and it was a great celebration. Marfi and Josh both helped out with the youth group at my church (where they met) and we got to watch their relationship begin and grow. It was so beautiful to watch them celebrate the sacrament of marriage. They both looked amazing and the wedding was lovely. The reception was a lot of fun as well.

After the wedding three of us went to the house of some college friends of mine for some dinner and poker. It was a great time and I had a lot of fun watching the Mavs win and playing some poker and grilling some brats.

So if yesterday really had been the end of the world, and mine was filled with all of that, I am doing alright.

Had to write about Wednesday night’s activities as they were so fun and so surprising!

After work, I ran home for a quick PBJ (keeping it real) then headed to an adventure! 3 friends and I purchased a LivingSocial voucher for a jewelery making class and we were cashing it in!

Let me preface this by saying that I am not what you would call an “arts and crafts” person. I took art in HS cause I had to. Attempts by my grandma to teach me crocheting, knitting, and cross-stiching resulted in half-finished projects. I can sew a button and that’s about it. My most successful crafts recently have been rosaries, but that’s just tying knots and stringing beads. So clearly, the only way I’m ever going to make jewelery is in a class.

The class was in a small shop owned by the teacher. She used to work for a major crafts store, but left a year ago to open her own shop, The Enchanted Artist (hence my title).

She started by explaining the tools and materials we would be using and then showed us the pattern of necklace we would be copying, as well as explaining some variations. Then it was time to pick our beads! She had out several colors, and I decided to keep it simple while I was learning and went with red with silver accents.

Nancy showed us how to arrange everything and got us started. My friend Kathryn had also picked red beads and we quickly realized that the holes on the red beads were smaller than the others, which meant we had a harder time than everyone else. We struggled for a little bit, but before you knew it, our necklaces were made!

I figured our time was up, but then Nancy said we had time to make earrings! Kathryn and I steered away from red beads this time (I went with blue), and a few minutes late, we all had a necklace and earrings!

It was a lot of fun and surprisingly easy. Nancy keeps the classes small (there were only 6 of us), so it’s easy to see everything and get personal help if needed. The 2 hours flew by and I still can’t believe we went from nothing to something in one night!

How’s my progress on this 101 day challenge? Uh, not good. I haven’t missed many days, but I have definitely missed some. But that’s ok, I keep trying.

My plans to go to the gym yesterday after work were thwarted when I got home and had a note that my complex would be coming in my apt this morning for a routine building imspection. That sent me into a cleaning frenzy because trust me, it was in shape to have visitors! It’s not perfect today, but much better. Maybe I should have people come by weekly so I will have motivation to clean!

Treadmill for 30 minutes!

Tuesday, Day 8:

Personal training – upper body

Wednesday, Day 9:

upper arm free weights

Thursday, Day 10:

medicine ball: tricep dips, russian twist, etc

Friday, Day 11:

Personal Training: lower body

Sorry so brief. I have a lot to do!

A very busy day meant I basically just did some bicep curls and tricep dips in my living room in between activities. I had a lunch with old college friends (I think 15 of us ended up coming…maybe more?) and then a girls night that evening.

Sunday, Day 6:

Sundays are always busy for me, but I woke up semi-early and went to the gym for 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Wednesday: Day 3

Woke up a little late, so I opted to stay at home and do a workout DVD. I like the 10 Minute Solutions DVDs because you can kind of customize them and Wal-Mart usually has them for about $10. I did a new one on Wednesday: Hip Hop Dance Mix. Having danced as a child, I like the dance DVDs. This one is pretty good. I did the first three exercises,  “Hip Hop Basics”, “Fat Burning Funk” and “Edgy Grooves.”  I’m glad I live alone – I’m sure I looked ridiculous doing some of the moves, but I could feel a burn. And, for the rest of the day, all I heard in my head was instructor Kristin Jacobs saying “You got it!” except she says like “Yoouu got it!” Hard to describe.

Thursday: Day 3

Thursday I woke up even later than Wednesday and had no time to work out before going to work. I was a little worried I’d break the streak (and so early too!) until I realized something. My meeting that night was at 7, but I usually arrived at 6 (trying to avoid traffic). Since there is a neighborhood park near where my meeting is, I brought a change of clothes and my trusty iPod to take a 30-minute walk. As my father says, no good deed goes unpunished, and as I was finishing my walk and heading to the car, I stepped off a curb funny and rolled my left ankle.

Friday: Day 4

Woke up this morning and the ankle was still tender, but was not swollen or overly painful. I went to the gym for my second personal training of the week: lower body. Of course, when I told my trainer about my ankle, that changed some of the plans, but I was still able to do some hamstring extensions and hip adductions. The ankle is still sore, so looks like the next couple of days will have to focus on upper body!

P.S. If you are a friend of mine and don’t want to read about this, I won’t be offended if you stop reading. This just keeps me accountable!