Some degree of Crazy.

I have had the debate multiple times with multiple running friends;
Running quality in freezing temperatures VS. running indoors.

So it is fair to say I HATE running cold. I will do it but if you are running with me you will hear me whine most of the time, if I talk at all!

I HAVE NO PRIDE.

I do not pound my chest talking about how I haven't been on a TM for "X" amount of time.
Good for you.
Not good for me!

I personally run outside in the winter mostly for two reasons:

1. I have FOMO- Fear of missing out. I like running with my friends. 
2. If I am running short on time it is quicker to run from home. 

I believe running indoors for ME benefits ME more than running in freezing temps and inches of snow by:

1. Running cold requires many layers. the more layers I have, the more I have to irritate me. Too tight, to itchy, too short, too thick, too stinky, too big, too bulky and so on. 
2. I get mentally defeated. It requires so much more work for me running in the cold. I feel like I am huffing and puffing the entire time. My chest is heaving, my breathing is pathetic and I feel fatigued with very few miles in. 
3. Mentally I get discouraged by my pace. I am running slower yet my body feels as though it is working harder. 
4. I struggle maintain my pace due technical issues, my eye lashes freezing together, my shirt riding up, snow banks and ice to name a few annoyances.
5. Running indoors allows me to run in SHORTS! The bare minimum. Having the air touch my skin is magical. I am such a happy runner. And Happy is Good!
6. I can get on the treadmill and it makes me keep my pace. The TM is not forgiving. She doesn't let you catch your breath, she keeps on turning unless you push the button. I can hit the incline, the decline, punch in my pace and watch Ellen! 
7. Running on a TM is good mental training. It takes A LOT of perseverance to run farther than 5 miles! 
8. If I go to the gym I am way more disciplined to stretch and roll properly. I am also more motivated to do core and strength training. 

2018 is a New Year. I have new goals, new thoughts and new perspectives. 

I LOVE running. 

I plan on doing as much running next year as I did this year. 

HOWEVER. 

I am NOT RUNNING. It is NOT my sole identity. 

This year I cut back on my social media running posts. 

As much I love running and this is a running blog I have even wrote about things other than running. I haven't put in all my stats and I haven't even been blogging as much. 

I have been doing the other things I love. Parenting. Being a youth leader at my church. This year marks the 12 year I have been either going to or volunteering in an addiction facility, one of my greatest passions, addiction.

I have over 20 years as a stylist. I love my profession and give 100% to my job. I LOVE people.

I even read a few books this year, listened to some great podcasts and watched a few documentaries. 

Yes, I ran some epic races, I coaches XC again for our local charter school and I still ran over 2000 miles for the year. 

BUT, I am MORE than a Runner. I love being outside, I love kayaking, watching the sunrise and catching the sunset. I love baking, camping and watching my boys play ball.

 

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Christmas gift REVIEWS:

SEALSKINZ: 50$

I ran today in them at sub zero weather. My feet never got coldor wet and I was pushing through a half a foot of snow. These particular pair of socks are actually taller than the ankle high ones I have. I prefer them higher, they fit great under my running tights and kept my shins warm and dry as I trudged through the snow. 

Smartwool: 25$

This is hands DOWN my favorite buff. At first, I didn't think I would like it due to its narrow neck. It was itching me until I got cold! WOW, it warmed my cheeks and nose instantly. It snuggled around me like a little face furnace. I would occasionally pull it down I would get so warm. 

Brooks Windbreaker: 100$

This light weight windbreaker folds into a teeny weeny little square, great for ultra running. I used this as a outer shell on Christmas to lock in the heat and keep the wind from cutting through me. It paid for itself the first time I used it. Christmas is was again sub zero and I got caught in a white out snow squall. I NEVER got chilled.

Nike Thermal running shirt.

My favorite detail with this layering shirt is the longer length in the back. It covers my toosh. The arms are also longer with fold over hand sleeves and thumb holes.  The material is lighter, making this the perfect layering shirt. 

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In other news. 

My good Friend Ken is running "Across the Years" . He is running the 6 day race. I am excited for him. I think he is crazy but then that is all relevant. We all have some degree of CRAZY in us. 

He started today and has over 40 miles in. He is trying to average 55 miles a day. 

Remember him in your prayers!

Anita~

Catching up on camera

I am still alive and kicking. I am even still running.
I am slowly digging myself out of chaos.
Manageable chaos, self induced.

Thanksgiving has passed.
Christmas is already a memory and life is breathing again.
I am crawling out of my hole.
I had a few days it was hit or miss. Long days, late nights and lists that never appeared to have a period. And we are not talking menstrual, we are talking punctuation.

I am now running in multiple layers of uncomfortable clothing.
Tights that are too tight. Thermal shirts that itch. Hats that make my hair stinky.
Layers, soo many layers that stick in weird places and bunch up leaving me feeling like the Michelin Man.
OHH and lets not leave out the fact that its so stinking freaking bloody cold all my devices keep FREEZING up and shutting off on me!

Ill catch you up to speed through some photos.

MY BIRTHDAY!

LACEY, PAULA AND MATT surprised me with a mini birthday party. This was seriously one of the sweetest things. Because my birthday is so close to Christmas it is really a P.I.T.A. 

Everyones busy, and I feel like a burden. But they made me feel like a princess. 

Whiny Butterfly may be a nickname I have adopted. 

I opened Laceys gift, the one she has been ITCHING to give me since Thanksgiving, and jumped all over like monkey. 

She found me a running skirt from Lululemon with BUTTERFLIES all over them!! `

GOODR

I have wanted a pair of these obnoxious running glassed for a year! My mother in law bought me them for my birthday. I wore them on Christmas to try them out. I got caught in a white out, they were AWESOME. They kept the snow out of my eyes and added the perfect amount of ridiculousness. They are so FUN! I want them in every color! 

All my goodies on!

PART of my goodies from Christmas. Andy always spoils me. 

Brooks windbreaker

Runners World Journal

Runners World Train Smart. 

Smart Wool Buff with Merino wool

Nike layering thermal shirt

A bib/medal hanger

THESE ARE THE MOST AMAZING SOCK. Andy bought me a pair 2 years ago. They don't get wet! My feet stay dry and warm.They are expensive, 50$, but worth every penny if your an outside winter runner.

I got distracted this morning and "Ran" out of time to go to the gym. I had to buck up and venture outside in sub zero degree weather. 

I NEVER got cold. However, if my eyelashes could speak, they would be cursing me. I actually had a car come to a complete stop. This man rolled down his windows, with a big smile he yelled "You are the BEST, Good for you, you are the BEST!" 

I smiled until I realized I dropped my brand new glasses somewhere through the village of Holly. I found them! tucked away in a snowbank. OHH happy day! 

So...If I can organize my day properly ttomorrow, I will give a review of all my new goodies..including the new New Balance running coat Andy bought me for my birthday!

Spoiled. 

And loved.

Smiles.

Anita!!

I Saved You a Seat. Humbled

Three weeks ago today, I walked into church late, on time for me. I was out of sorts for me.
Not in a great place emotionally.
It is our Freedom from Bondage outreach night. I lead a group for families who have loved ones struggling with addiction.
But this day, I had my own struggles. My hurts. My burdens. To be quite honest, I really didn't even want to be there.
I didn't want to smile. I didn't want to mingle and be fake. I wanted to be alone.
This is me being HONEST.
I am just being real.

The auditorium is huge. Most of the seats were filled. I wanted MY seat. A seat on the aisle. Easy to get in and easy to get out. I could hardly find a parking spot and now I couldn't find a aisle seat. "UGH".
I stood against the outside wall searching for a seat, awkwardly. The music was loud, the band was playing songs of freedom and forgiveness.

I looked around. Its not a typical church service. I come often times from work. My make up is on, lips glossed. My hair has been blown out and styled. I smell like expensive perfume and even on my casual days I am dressed pretty well. I look churchy.
I stand out like a sore thumb!
I am circled by a room full of felons, prostitutes, drug addicts, alcoholics, some in recovery, some coming in still liquored up. Some haven't showered in days and smell like stale cigarettes.
Disheveled, discouraged, disordered but all working on another day, a day of hope. A day of recovery.

My Pastor makes us do this little exercise where we look to the left and tell the person next to us They Are AMAZING.
I wasn't in the mood.
I didn't want to play this little game.
But I didn't want the person next to me to think I was a snob, so I dug deeply for a smile, looked to my left and whispered, "Your Amazing."
This man was three seats from me. He was a very slender man. About 6 feet tall with ruffled gray hair. He hadn't shaven and looked tired and weak. He looked at me in the eyes, "Thank you."
The service moved forward.
As the closing song played,  I saw the man out of the corner of my eye. He was stuggling to get up and get his coat on. I saw him fumbling with his cane. I reached over, convicted, "Can I help you..?"
I reached around him helping him put his oversized coat on.
"Thank you, what is you name?"
"Hi, I am Anita." I replied with a smile.
He was glowing, "Thank you, are you here every week?"
Helping him with his cane, "Yes, I am."
"You are beautiful, I hope to see you next week,"
I smiled, blushing, "Thank you, I will see you next week."


Here is the thing. My Tuesday turned into Wednesday, then Thursday, and next thing I know it is Tuesday again.
I walk down the aisle, I find my seat on the outside. I set my stuff down in the seat next to me and I open my coffee.
Another Tuesday.
The service goes on like all of them. Powerful, inspirational and encouraging. I go to leave my seat to head down to the tables when..
TAP TAP TAP
I turn around...
"HI, Its Anita right?"
I turn around and there is that man. Cleaned up, bright and smiling.
"HI!" I was caught off guard.
"Anita, It's George, I saved you a seat."

"I SAVED YOU A SEAT."

I felt my face getting flushed. I felt tears wanting to stream down my face.
You see, I WENT ON WITH MY WEEK."
I forgot about him. I was a terrible person. I moved from Tuesday to Tuesday.
He SAVED me a seat. He thought of me.

He told me I was beautiful again, and that he liked my smile.
MY SMILE...You mean the one I forced. Oh, if he only knew.
He thought of me and saved me a seat.
All I had to do was SMILE.
I just had to come out of myself for a brief second, I had to just love on him. I had to look at him in the eyes, I had to tell him he was AMAZING.
So Powerful.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. "  John 13:34

That's the problem. We get caught up in OURSELVES. Our little world. Our issues, our heartaches, our drama.
When all we have to do is smile.
To love on the unlovable.
To be kind to a different kind.
To share a good word.
To help those struggling, someone other than ourselves.

He thought of me all week from a smile.
I felt horrible. And I felt blessed. This man truly blessed me.
His smile, his kindness, his thoughtfulness, his humility...
HE SAVED ME A SEAT..

He saved me a seat again today. I cried like a baby in church.
I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Humbled. Broken and blessed.

Just SMILE.
Get out of Yourself and SMILE, Love, Give a kind word.

This Christmas season don't get caught up in gifts that you buy..
Get caught up in the gifts that money CAN'T BUY.

LOVE.
KINDNESS.
COMPASSION
FORGIVNESS
HOPE

Anita.

Catching a Break :Patience

For weeks now I have been waiting for that one run that felt great and was not being ran at a turtle crawl.
Most of my runs my heart is pounding, my lungs are heaving and my mind is spinning in frustration.

BUT FINALLY...Today..Today was that day.
Today, the sun brightened a gorgeous blue sky.
For a December day, the temperatures spoiled us at 50 degrees.
I was a brave soul, I wore a running skirt and a tee shirt. However, for insurance purposes I also wore arm bands and compression socks. It was sooo refreshing to not have all those layers on.

We only ran 8.5 miles. Maybe that's what I needed. Maybe I just needed to keep the miles in the single digits.
We chatted, we ran hills, we ran flats, we laughed and overall it all felt great. I even barreled up a big nasty hill on Fish Lake Rd like a champ. Granted, it took me 2 miles after that to catch my breath but I felt like a rock star for a few minutes.
The best part, as good as it felt, we still managed to maintain a 9min/mi. This was very shocking considering we walked up a hill at Seven Lakes on a trail.

This is a simple post. Today was a reminder for me to be patient with my body.
Or just to be patient, but not give up. To not get too frustrated when things do not move at the rate that I WANT IT TOO.

For all sense and purposes, tomorrow I may feel like total poop on a stick again. And that is O.K..
Today was a good day.
I will remember the good day. The good feeling. The good STUFF.
I will remember no matter how good, how bad or how long each season lasts, Its ALL GOOD TRAINING!
Just keep moving forward a LITTLE BIT at a time.

Anita~