The End of the Dating Drought.

So folks. The drought has ended. I had a first date.

If there is any doubt I've changed my life let me just lay this out for you. It was a totally blind date. We went to a rock climbing gym. Rock climbing on a first date means you can't wear a cute dress. I went on a first date in pretty darn tight workout clothes. Yes, I looked cute but there was no hiding my butt. Speaking of butts...mine was in a harness, high in the air. My date was on the ground making sure I didn't plunge to my death. This meant when I slipped off the wall trying to swing my foot onto a ledge, I was hanging in a harness, high in the air, suspended by my butt, above my date's head.

I've never been rock climbing and had been wanting to go. So...why not have a first on a first? Although I had a bit of a freak out after committing to it, I went, had fun, challenged myself and didn't get annoyed/angry like I normally do when doing new things I'm concerned I won't be able to complete. It was like I actually had confidence in myself and my physical ability. It was like I was an athlete! :)

After hanging above my date in a harness and witnessing his cat-like abilities on the wall, we acquired a third leg to the date and went for dinner. Yeah, you caught that. My first date, wearing tight workout clothes when I first met the date, hanging in the air above his head, had a third person join us for dinner. Who does this happen to? Who does this happen to and they leave the date thinking it was ok?? I guess I do.

There won't be another date with that particular guy but I got the first first out of the way. And hey, I got a free rock climbing lesson out of it.

Oh new and exciting life. You bring twists and turns but I like you.

A Photo for your Pleasure.

I've been hearing an outcry/demand/insistence for photos. So, today before I went for my afternoon run (and my fastest one ever!) I snapped a couple of photos for your viewing pleasure.

This dress is as comfortable as my notorious "blue dress" but so much cuter.
I saw this picture and just saw strong. I think it was my leg. :)

I think the notorious blue dress was a size 20. Hello size small.

The first dress I bought for the summer fun and my first piece of clothing in size 6.

I know maybe I shouldn't love this picture because the lighting could make it weird but I just like it. That and the size 6, not cotton stretchy dress I'm rocking.

I Bought a Dress.

It was a size 6. Holy Moly.

Can You Believe It Was Only A Year?

Can you believe it was only a year ago I began running?

This past Friday I ran in Goshen's First Friday 5k run...the same run I took part in last year. Last year it was the first run I'd ever taken part in. I remember the training I did for that run...as intense as the training I did for my half marathon! (not quite but at the time it was!) Now it's a year later and not only did I run the race with little training, I finished a half marathon there in the middle!

Grass by piece of grass.

That is the first lesson I learned when I began running. People ask me how I started to run and I say "grass by piece of grass" because when I would get on the Mill Race, the trees were sometimes too far apart for me to use as a goal. Now when I get on the Mill Race I just go. I think about my stride, the level of water, which house I would like to live in and smile at the people I pass...and sometimes I look at the grass and thing "grass by piece of grass."

I would have loved to finish on Friday under 30 minutes. But it was not to be. Unlike last year I did not train for this run, in fact I'd been out of my running shoes for 4 weeks due to an injury. So although I didn't finish under 30, I did finish faster, faster than people who lead the kickboxing class I attend and most importantly, knowing that the next one I run will be faster yet.

Now when I run I enjoy the beauty of each piece of grass, rather than cursing how far apart they are.

If I had a picture from the run this year, I'd post a great then and now. Instead, you can re-read the then and I'll work on getting a now picture soon....maybe Sunday when I hit the "less than 20 left" mark?!?!?

Holding On and Letting Go

April 4 has come and gone. And although more weight has gone, my goal weight has not yet come.

Easter Sunday I was out for a nice long run, finally healed after months of injury. It was significant that I was running on Sunday because that was the day that I had set as a goal day for me to accomplish my personal weight loss goal. This date was set in January before my travel schedule was booked and my foot was injured. I'd known for months I wouldn't meet the goal but rather than regroup and make a new plan I'd been beating myself up for weeks at my slow progress. I didn't stop but I wasn't giving myself any grace. I was breaking my number one rule for weight loss...forgiveness.

As I ran on Sunday I thought the phrase "holding on and letting go" which was used for Lent this season. Holding on and Letting Go. Isn't that an everyday balance we try to reach in life? We struggle with this balance of holding on and letting go, sometimes forgetting we have to just put our hand out wide to allow opportunity to come in. This run allowed me to let go of the goal I couldn't accomplish knowing I could hold on to the fact that no matter when it happened...it would happen.

While I was running and the phrase "holding on and letting go" ran through my mind, shivers ran down my arms. I let go of my disappointment, of my feeling of failure while I held on to the belief that if I just keep on running, I will reach my goal.

It was Easter, it was spring, it was a day to be reminded that holding on to faith in myself is more important than any deadline.