Celebration time

A few weeks ago, I took a leap of faith and applied to get on a triathlon team, a national team.  Yesterday, emails were sent out, after several hours of waiting I accepted the fact that I wasn't chosen. I am new to the sport so it was not a huge letdown.  While I was sitting watching Diners, Drive ins and Dives I heard my notification for email and what do you know I received this message.

Thank you for applying to be a part of Team BSR for 2015. 

 Should you accept, you have been selected to represent the 2015 Team BSRX3! 

It certainly was a welcomed surprise.

The team is BSR Big Sexy Racing, which is just a name, I am neither big or sexy...

So I will certainly be having some wine to celebrate today.  I have worked very hard and overcome many obstacles to get where I am. So I am very proud to represent this team.

My favorite wine!!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

What is your favorite wine?

Have you ever had an unexpected surprise? What was it?

What are you doing today?

Nothing better than baking, rest days suck

Baking has to be one of my favorite things to do in the fall.  I love the smell of baking in the house. I am sitting here loving the smell of banana bread baking in the oven.

  I used a recipe from Flours bakery.  I will post it tomorrow. It is the moistest banana bread I have ever had, because they use sour cream in the batter.

Taking a rest day today, stomach not feeling it today.  Tomorrow will be my last speed work before the Turkey Trot on Thursday.  I hate rest days, I know I need them but I feel so lazy.

I did a marathon yesterday, lol.  Do you people watch?  I am guilty, I watch people too much.  So as I was sitting in the theater I had a great opportunity to watch people. What did I see?

1) Obesity is real,  I could not help but to notice for every one average sized person there were five    obese people.  Bad enough, but do you really need that large popcorn, large soda, and candy? It is not funny to laugh at yourself because you can barely fit into the theater seat.  That is called a sign, to do something about it!!!!!

2) Sagging.  I have never heard anyone say "look at that man with the sagging pants isn't he sexy."  Why not? Because that has to be the most ridiculous thing ever.  Sagging actually started in the prison system as a way to let other inmates know you were "available."  Police officers love sagging because when a "sagger" tries to run, they can't.

3) Obnoxious people. Seriously must you rattle that effing bag the entire movie? Must you chomp food so loud I can hear it over the movie?  Are you so important that you have to check your phone every five minutes, I doubt it.  Where was this guy yesterday?  

Mockingjay was an awesome movie, the ending left you hanging on the end of your seat. Can't wait for part two.

What are your weekend plans? 

What is your favorite thing to bake?

Do rest days make you feel lazy?

Mocking jay release triple play, hug a runner day

Today is hug a runner day, so I chose a male and female runner that I would love to hug if given the opportunity.  Steven Prefonte and Kara Goucher.

Two awesome, push the limits runners.  Now if I was going for the runner I personally know, who is motivating even though a few hundred miles away and is just an all around great person I would have to say, Jennifer Chaffin from Nashville.

Today, at 1430 hrs (230pm) I will be watching the entire Hunger Games series with Zachary. I don't try to be a friend to my kids, however how awesome is it to leave school an hour early to hang out all night with your mom!!!!!

Yesterday I had a GREAT run and I am feeling confident that at next weeks Turkey Trot I can beat my PR of 32 minutes for four miles. My goal is under 30!!!

What keeps me motivated

Several years ago, I hated running so much that if I looked at someone running I would start having trouble breathing.  I'm not sure if it was because for eight years I was forced to run every morning.  I remember taking my U S Army pt test and falling to the ground after two miles. How times have changed.

When I became a civilian police officer, I realized how important being able to run was.  My fellow officers needed me to be there for them. Many of them did not feel the same way, once they made it out of the police academy they let themselves go.  I specifically remember when I was in field training, jumping out of the patrol car and tackling a man who was running from us.  My training officer was so proud of me.  What did that do to me? Well now I had a reputation to uphold.  I began running regularly mostly for physical fitness, not racing.  When other officers said they would not chase perps on foot, I thought they were weak.  I loved it when the bad guys ran and I caught them.  Not only was I usually older then they were, I also had about twenty pounds of gear to carry.  I usually always caught them!!!!

After I got out of law enforcement, I thought well maybe I can run competitively. Wow, I was winning ALOT.  Then I thought I wonder how far I can run.  Well turns out I can run far!  So I fell in love with running for necessity, to test my limits, and for the improvement of my mental health.

My favorite motivational movie is The Gabby Douglas Story.  I can watch a few minutes of that movie if I am in a rut and find myself pushing myself further then before.

The admiration of my children always gives me a boost.  I have the most appreciative children.  They are my biggest fans!

Knowing that I have a full race schedule in 2015 is very motivating.  I find that if I have races scheduled I will push myself harder.  2014 proved to have a great start, followed by several cancelled races because of injuries. I finished a few difficult races CUMBERLAND PLATEAU STAGE race was by far the most difficult race of my life.  I had not trained for it at all. I was happy with finishing even though I came in third. 

I am fortunate enough to have my own workout room, which I love...

What motivates you?

Do you have your own workout area? 

Have you ever hated something and then turned it into a love? 

Treadmill Tuesday, Turkey Tuesday

I know I was not supposed to run for a week.  I made it five days lol. Got on the treadmill legs felt great knocked out 8 miles no pain.  Getting ready for the turkey trot next week.  Having a strong core is a must when running.  I could feel the difference when I wasn't doing abs, because of my broken tailbone. Finally been able to work on the abs and it makes a huge difference when I run.  

Prissy had a rough day. Isn't she so effing adorable. I love her.  Over the weekend, she had a nosebleed.  It scared me to death. I tried to apply pressure, however her face is flat so she couldn't breathe, it was a mess.  Finally got it to stop now every time she sneezes I panic. 

Anybody else pick up their turkey yet? I found one I liked today, 21 lbs.  I decided that since Thanksgiving is a major holiday, I would cheat on my "no meat" diet.  My son wants me to eat turkey with him so I caved.  He could probably ask me to do anything and I would.  He is so cute that I have taken apart plumbing in two sinks to get a tiny Lego out.  There is nothing that I wouldn't do for any of my children....

Tomorrow is my speed training day, probably on the treadmill, yuck.  Lobster ravioli for dinner.

How big is your turkey?  

What is the craziest thing you have done to keep your child/significant other happy? 

Do you have a pet that just flops over the furniture?

I love grocery shopping, brrrrr outside

I love grocery shopping, alone.  It is so much fun, I know that probably sounds crazy.  I visualize meals I am going to make while in the grocery store.  Usually they are not for me since I don't eat meat, but I know the family appreciates my extraordinary amount of time in the store.  I have always loved to cook but more importantly I LOVE TO EAT...  My kids always tell me what a great cook I am!!!! I picked up a bunch of baking supplies today. Baking is a stress reliever for me.  Could not find a turkey large enough, so I guess I will have to go back. Julia Child was such a smart lady, I love Julia Child. 

Does anybody else suffer from Raynauds Phenomenon? Weird that a medical disorder is called a phenomenon. It is a circulatory disorder that causes the nose, ears, fingers, and toes to lose circulation in the cold. Usually the cold turns them white, sort of like frostbite. As I was walking through the store looking for toe warmers, I found myself wondering why, I couldn't feel all my toes!!!! Ironic.  I have suffered my whole life from it, hence the hatred towards cold.  A comfortable temperature for me is 80 degrees and up.  I want to go running, but don't want to lose any body parts along the way. 

As I have mentioned a time or two, I suffer from major depressive disorder. I feel like I have control of it right now.  There have been times when all I thought about was dying. I had friends who didn't understand and would make hateful comments.  Many times I thought, "would you say these things to a person suffering from cancer," I did not ask to be depressed, it just happened.  Why do we have do much compassion when it is a famous person who has depression?  I was able to hide it for years, then my life fell apart piece by piece.  My father passed, I lost my job, my older two boys graduated and moved on, lost my home, and my fiancé at the time didn't want to deal with my illness.  I was completely devastated, when I thought I had hit rock bottom, boom another blow.  It has taken me a couple years to feel happiness again. So I don't take any of my "good" days for granted.  

Have you ever suffered from depression? Do you know someone who is?

Do you enjoy grocery shopping?

Is it cold where you are? 

Turkey trot, trip to New York City in December!!!!

I am beyond excited to be running in a holiday run. I have had to work holidays for so many years as a police officer.  Eating Thanksgiving dinner at Ryan's, having to go to calls, leaving the kids with relatives. I don't think people realize the sacrifices law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS actually make.  I loved the career except for holidays.  This run is four miles through the Memphis Botanical garden.  I plan on setting a PR in this race!!!!  

This year I am making my own holiday decorations.  When I moved here from Atlanta I left my holiday things behind. There are so many cute ideas here are a few I plan on making:

Aren't they adorable?  

We went to a Mexican restaurant yesterday and I was not impressed.  Lack of seasoning, ruins an entire meal.  Salt and pepper people, it is that easy.  Their pico de gallo was horrible. Fail for El Mezicale.  

I have never been to New York City, let alone for Christmas!!!!!  This is something that is on my bucket list. I have been invited to a Christmas Party in New York City on December 13.  I am leaving Memphis on the 11th and returning on the 14th.  Any suggestions on what I NEED to see?  I want to visit ground zero, run in Cental park, and just walk around.   

My life has definitely taken a turn for the better, for the first time in years I am so hopeful and happy.  I spent a number of years dreading the holidays and wishing my life would end, just being honest.  With the help of positive people, new friends, and medication. I am functioning as a normal person.  I still have an occasional "bad" day.  My good days far outnumber my bad ones.  

Words to live by.....

Have you ever been to New York City at Christmas?

What is the worst restaurant experience you have had? 

What did you do this weekend?