Happy 2019!

Hey y'all! I know it's been FOREVER since I blogged! I've missed it for sure! Hopefully you have been keeping up with me on Instagram and/or Facebook! But in case you haven't....here's what I've been doing the past year and 9 months!

I'm still doing my run streak! Today was actually day 1698! I'm still loving it! And I'm still very very thankful that God is allowing me to run everyday!

I'm still a preK 4 teacher! I am only teaching 3 days a week now and LOVE it! I have the sweetest little class this year (but I say that every year lol)!

Not only am I running but I've also fallen in love with the gym! Specifically....I love group fitness! I love having others working out with me and having an instructor push me. My favorite classes are Les Mills BodyCombat and BodyPump!

My boys are now 11 and 13! What??!! Hayden has found a passion in music and being in the band! He plays the trumpet and he is amazing at it! He's also still a Boy Scout and working on becoming an Eagle Scout! And yes...he's taller than me now!

Sawyer no longer does gymnastics. He has found a passion in theatre! He loves acting (and has been dramatic his entire life lol) and singing so theatre has been perfect for him! He just played Charlie the head elf in Elf The Musical Jr!

My sweet hubby is still an engineer! And just in the past few months he has developed a love of running! We actually went to Disney last November for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. He ran the 5K and 10K! I, of course, ran the 5K, 10K, and half marathon! It was so much fun doing runDisney with my hubby!!!

We still have our precious cat Cullen!

And we still have our lab mix dog Archie!

But we added a new fur baby to our family a year and a half ago....our lab mix dog Deena! She's quite the princess and has been such a joy to have in our lives!

I know I could tell you a lot more but I will cut it short! I promise to blog more often! I just became a BibRave Pro so there will be some product reviews coming your way! And of course I plan to recap any races I run from here on out! Thanks so much for reading! Leave me a comment below so I know you're there and I'm not just talking to myself lol!

365 Days of RUNNING!!!

Well you read it right! I have been run streaking for 365 days! That's a whole year y'all! I started my run streak last summer with the Runner's World Summer Run Streak. It was my third time participating in the run streak. Usually when the streak is over I'm so ready. But this time...I wasn't ready to stop. So I kept going. At first I had a goal of 100 days. But when I met that goal...I still didn't want to stop. So then I went for 200....same thing. I wasn't ready to quit yet. I decided I may as well go big and go for a whole year. Let me say that I CANNOT BELIEVE I have made it!!!!

I had several struggles along the way. I ran through a calf strain injury (I DID have permission to run from my doctor...he said I could only run one milers until I healed) and a hip injury.

I ran in hotel parking lots, an airport terminal, at the beach, across the country in California, in Disney World, and in wee hours of the morning.

I ran in 4 different states during the streak.

I ran in super hot and humid weather, rain, and super cold weather.

Every single run was done outside. I don't own a treadmill or have access to one so I had no other choice then to do it outside.

I ran when I was tired, when I didn't want to run, when I was happy, and when I was sick.

I got faster. I've PRed every distance I ran during the streak....5K, 10K, and half marathon...the most amazing PR being a sub 2 half marathon which I've achieved TWICE since the streak started!

Streaking has definitely made me a better runner. It has made me stronger. It has made me feel healthier than I've ever felt. And all it took was running at least one mile every single day.

Sooo....when I reached that 365th day....of course I wanted to CELEBRATE!!! Because running every day for an entire year is a big deal!

Have I ever told you that I have the BEST running friends in the entire world??? My Sole2Soul Sisters are amazing! They came to my house on Sunday to run 3.65 miles with me in celebration!

Before the run they dressed me up in crazy sunglasses, a glittery sash, fairy wings, and a princess crown! My friend Susan gave me a Starbucks gift card! Of course I had to have a before picture. And yes...I RAN my 3.65 miles with all of that on lol! We got some crazy stares from people in cars passing by. And we even got some cheers from a man who was in his front yard as we ran by! So much fun!!!

The goal of this run was to celebrate! I wasn't trying to run fast. I just wanted to run with all my friends! During the run we talked about taking a mid run selfie. But I told them I had to run the minimum one mile before I could stop for a selfie. Those are the streaking rules! I LOVE how the picture turned out! It looks like I have my own entourage! :-)

Before I knew it my 3.65 mile run was done! And I had run for 365 DAYS!!!!!

And look at my Garmin! (several people noticed this on Facebook and Instagram!) I not only ran 3.65 miles but look at my time....36.51!!!! How cool is that? I was asked if I planned that...I assure you I did not! But what a fun coincidence!

My loving husband came out to greet us all after the run. My streak would not have been possible without his incredible support! He always encourages me to go after my goals!

And I can't thank these incredible friends enough! They made my day sooo special! It meant the world to me having them all there celebrating with me! (Several of them are streaking as well so I can't wait to celebrate with them when they reach a year!)

And these two! Jenny and Andria! They have been such a tremendous part of my streak! They have run long runs with me! They have run races with me! They have PRed with me! They have encouraged me in so many ways! Love them both so much and am so thankful and blessed to call them my friends!

And of course we celebrated with donuts! Jenny brought us chocolate and powdered donuts! Yum!

3 6 5 DAYS!!!!!

And for those number freaks (like me!) here are my stats from my year of running:

996.16 miles, 94,832 calories burned, and 19 pounds lost!!!!

Yeah...you know I really wanted to go run another 4 miles to make it to 1000 miles...but I am still playing it safe with my hip. It's feeling so much better and I didn't want to risk it. 

So...where do I go from here? I'm going to continue to streak!!! I'm not sure for how long. I don't have a goal in mind at the moment. But I'm still loving running everyday so I'm going to keep going! It has become such a part of my life and my daily routine that I can't imagine not running everyday. 

Thank you all so much for all of your encouragement along this journey! You are all amazing!!!!!

QOTD: Have you ever done a run streak?

#RRGRunStreak Day 200!!!!!

Yes! Today I reached day 200 of my Road Runner Girl Run Streak (#RRGRunStreak)!!! I am in awe that I have made it this long!!!

I keep getting asked the question of how long I'm going to streak. My goal is to reach a year! Hopefully I can achieve that! :-)

To commemorate 200 days....here are a few of my most memorable streaking moments!

Streaking across the country in California!

I went to visit my best friend in California this summer and streaked for two weeks there! The weather was amazing compared to where I live. No humidity and the temps were in the 50's almost every morning!

Running 1 mile through the airport terminal so my streak would not end!

On the way home from California our flight got canceled. We ended up having to wait 6 hours in the airport for a flight. This would result on us not getting home until after midnight. I thought my streak was going to end...until I decided to just run in the airport terminal...with Delta's permission of course! I got some really strange looks but I didn't care!

Having to slow way down for wildlife crossing!

One morning I was running a 5K through a nearby neighborhood and had to let these guys cross the street!

Running between thunderstorms and in rain!

When you are streaking you do whatever it takes to get that run in! I've waited in the car for an hour watching the radar so I can run in that window of no storms. I've run in rain and even in flash flood warnings.

Being "yelled at" by a crawfish!

One of those mornings when I was running between thunderstorms I came upon this little guy on the sidewalk. He was not happy to see me and had his pinchers high in the air in attack mode!

Running at the beach multiple times!

We stayed at the beach several times this past summer. I wasn't going to end my streak because I was at the beach! I enjoyed the different scenery but not the extreme humidity.

Running through Fort Morgan!

While we were staying at the beach I also took my run out to the Fort! It was awesome running through there!

Multiple sunrises!

One of my favorite parts of running every day are the mornings I get to watch the sunrise! Gorgeous!

Running a 19 minute PR at the Talladega Half Marathon!

The first half I ran after losing all my weight and streaking I ended up running a 19 minute PR! I was on top of the world that day! Especially since my hubby was there to see it!

Running 12 miles on the causeway!

I will probably never do this again. It was super dark when we started and the traffic was pretty crazy. It was definitely a scary experience until the sun came up. But the scenery was gorgeous and running with my friend Andria made it worth it!

Running my first sub 2 half marathon!

1:57:24 to be exact!!! I couldn't believe I ran a sub 2 at the Gulf Coast Half Marathon! It was an amazing feeling because I never dreamed I would ever run that fast!

Running back to back 5K's and placing in both of them!

I ran the Trick or Trot 5K on Friday night and got a 5K PR of 25:23 and third place in my age group! Then on Saturday morning I ran the Turkey Trot 5K in 26:56 and got second place in my age group!

Running a 10K PR on my birthday!

On my birthday, November 1st, I ran a 10K race and PRed! It was a great way to start off my birthday celebration! This was also the last long run I ran before having to deal with my calf strain injury.

Runs with my hubby!

Andy has run several 1 milers with me! I think my streak has made him want to try this running thing some too!

Continuing my streak despite a calf strain injury!

After all of those race PR's I think my body needed a break....enters in an injury. I struggled with calf pain for about 2 weeks before giving in and going to see my sports chiropractor. Luckily he let me continue to streak during treatment...but I could only run 1 mile. I was fine with that because at least I didn't have to end my streak! And it has gotten so much better and I've since been released from treatment and told I could continue training...but slow. 

I'm sure I have many more memorable runs during this streak thus far but this post is already getting too long! 

What did I do to celebrate 200 days of running? Well...I ran 2 miles for 200 this morning! :-)

Thanks for reliving some of my memorable streak moments with me!

QOTD: Have you ever done a run streak? For how long?

#RWRunStreak Recap!

It's been almost a week since the Runner's World Summer Run Streak has ended...I DID IT!!! I ran 39 days straight! Some days I only ran one mile...but that counts!

Several non runners asked me why I was doing the run streak. If you're not a runner...you just don't get it. Am I right? Why would I run EVERY day? Why would I get up early for just one mile? Why would I run while I'm on vacation? Well....to answer your questions...I just love to RUN!

And it was a challenge...for myself. I completed the run streak last summer so I knew I could do it. But last summer was a little easier. I belonged to a gym so I could run on the treadmill if it was raining. My family didn't go on vacation last summer. This year...no gym membership and a week in Disney during the streak. Could I do it? Could I run every day despite the weather? Could I run while on vacation on sore walking around Disney World legs? Well people I am so PROUD to say again...I DID IT!!!! :-)

Now that the streak is over...I miss it!!! It was such a feeling of accomplishment every day when I finished that run...regardless if it was only a mile or 5 miles! I would have liked to continue to streak...but I know that my body needed a rest. 39 days is a long time!

Here are some highlights and things I learned from my run streak:

• I ran 71.67 miles during the 39 days (it would have been more but when I was on vacation I only ran a mile each day during that week).
• I ran my fastest mile in 8:37!
• I ran my fastest 5K in 29:50 (not a 5K PR but the fastest 5K I ran during the streak).
• I saw one alive snake during the streak...and it was a copperhead! YIKES!
• I ran while on vacation!!! (yes I'm super proud of this)
• My body is capable of more than I realize.
• My boys and hubby are proud of me for being a runner.
• Stretching and compression socks are key to recovery and tired, sore legs.
• Even if I didn't want to get out of bed to run...once I got out there I felt great.
• Streaking keeps me motivated to run in the hot summers here on the Gulf Coast.
• Running just one mile at a fast pace can make you stronger and faster. 

I want to give a shout out to Brian from Pavement Runner for the awesome badges he created for the #RWRunStreak!!!

And I created a little collage of some of my pictures from the streak!

Runner's World also has a holiday run streak. You run at least one mile from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Day. I've never attempted that one because I'm always in the middle of marathon training. Risk of injury is higher when I'm running more miles so the holiday streak seems more difficult to me.

Will I streak again? Absolutely! I plan on making it a summer tradition!

QOTD: Did you run the #RWRunStreak? What did you learn from it? 

Fitness Friday...July 5th Edition!

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had an awesome 4th of July yesterday! We had a blast with my friend Rhonda! And we even got to see a proposal!!! Rhonda's son Terry asked his girlfriend to marry him during the finale of the fireworks...sooo sweet and romantic!!!

It's Fitness Friday time! I can't wait to tell you all about my runs and workouts this week!

• Saturday- #plankaday 1:01, 1 mile run in 8:53

• Sunday- 6 mile run in 1:02:02 average pace 10:20, 2.5 mile walk with Rhonda

• Monday- #plankaday 1:01, 1 mile run in 8:46

• Tuesday- #plankaday 1:02, 3.11 miles in 29:50 average pace 9:36

• Wednesday- #plankaday 1:11, 1 mile run in 8:37

• Thursday- #plankaday 1:07, 3.11 miles in 33:39 average pace 10:49

• Friday- #plankaday 1:00

Pretty good week! And Thursday was the last day of the run streak! I've run every day for the past 39 days!!! I'm super proud of myself! Now...time to give my hard working legs some rest days! :-)

QOTD: Did you do the run streak? How did it go? What was your best run or workout this week?