Happy One Year Fitness Journey!

So I've hit my year mark from my first run. From the time when I finally said, I'm taking care of me.

I normally don't run on Sunday. It's my one absolute no running day. The one complete day I use for family, church and rest. I got a burst of major nervous energy all of a sudden that I imagine most people use walking for. The way they may release that energy, reflect on what matters and regroup. All things that a Sunday is for (in my opinion). So I laced up and headed out to clear my mind, reflect and regroup with what works for me. That's in the form of a run.

As I was running west into the sunset I almost captured it on camera and then decided against it. I decided to enjoy the moment, take it all in, watch the beauty of the way it changed as I felt the burn in my lungs and the ache in my legs. It was a cloudy afternoon so it covered some of it, but the colors that broke through on the clouds was beautiful. I watched it change from a bright pink, almost cotton candy like, to a dark pink/orange and then to a deep red/purple/blue. As I was running I was thinking about my past year and years before and what those meant to me.

Then as I rounded the corner into about 2.3 miles or so the song by Natasha Bedingfield "Freckles" came on. It's a slower song, not one to use for a quick pace, but I tuned into the lyrics of that song as I watched the sun set.

"Freckles"

I used to care so much about
What others think about
I almost didn't have
A thought of my own

The slightest remark
Would make me embark
On a journey of self-doubt
But that was a while ago

This girl has got stronger
And if I knew then what I know now
I would have told myself
Don't worry any longer, it's okay

'Cause a face without freckles
Is like a sky without the stars
Why waste a second
Not loving who you are

Those little imperfections
Make you beautiful, lovable, valuable
They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are

Who you are
Who you are
Who you are

I wondered if I could trade my body
With somebody else in magazines
With the whole world fall at my feet

I felt damn worthy
And would blame my failures
On the ugliness I could see
When the mirror looked at me

Sometimes I still feel like that little girl
Who doesn't belong in her own world
But I'm getting better
And reminding myself

That a face without freckles
Is like a sky without the stars
Why waste a second
Not loving who you are

Those little imperfections
Make you beautiful, lovable, valuable
They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are

Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are

'Cause a face without freckles
Is like the sky without the stars
Why waste a second
Not loving who you are

Those little imperfections
Make you beautiful, lovable, valuable
They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are

Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are

How fitting that this song would come on right in that moment. I've always believed that things happen for a reason. I needed to be on the road tonight. I needed to watch that sun set. This song needed to come on right then and even my pace slowed as I listened to the words.

I'm different than anyone else. My journey looks different from everyone else's. I'm me. I'm learning to be the best me there is. I'm learning to accept all my imperfections and love who I am. It's the best gift I can give myself and the best lesson I can teach my children. So here's to what was an amazing year and for more wonderful years in the future. Thanks to all who join me on this journey and who help lift me up when I don't feel strong enough to do it myself in that moment. Thanks to all those who allow me into their lives and let me share in their journey to gain encouragement from you all and let me cheer you on. I'll be forever grateful to all of you.

We Hiked Horton Creek!

So, I just hiked the Horton Creek trail in Payson, Az with my little family over the past weekend. I've been reflecting on this and what doing this trail meant to me.

One year ago (2013) in Sept we took the kids to Tonto Natural Bridge, also in Payson area. It's a super short, half mile hike. Steepish with switchbacks, but obviously pretty short. It's a sight to behold. Nature is amazing and that hike did not disappoint in beauty. The problem with this hike was I was completely out of breath. I couldn't believe how hard I was breathing. It was ridiculous. My children were a little winded, but nothing like what I was experiencing. Then I looked at the family picture that was taken of us, and I wanted to cry. I was smiling, but clearly I didn't want to be in it. I felt terrible and thought I looked terrible.

A month later we took the kids to Sedona to hike there. We were going to do a trail by Bell Rock, I think it's Courthouse Butte, but we didn't bring any water for whatever reason, so we kinda just let the kids run around on the rock and we walked a couple short pieces of the trail. Again, same problem. I'd make a big step up onto different levels of rock and my heart rate would shoot up and I'd be out of breath. That was the day I finally decided I needed to do something about it. It still took a couple weeks for me to get going, but I really haven't looked back sense.

Flash forward to Saturday, it's about a 7.5ish mile hike round trip to do the Horton Creek trail. We were a little concerned the kids wouldn't be able to make the whole trip. Mack and I had hiked half of it a few months before at around a 25:00/mile pace, but obviously the kids are much smaller. We figured we'd just do what we could and see how it goes. I also knew the elevation grade was high the second half and so I was worried for all of us. I had no idea how it was going to go. All in all, we had a GREAT trip. It wasn't drama free. My cute little almost 6 year old cried at the last 1.6 miles up in the elevation, but he did it, holding our hands so he didn't slip and fall while crying. Then on the way back down, same thing, he cried for that 1.6 miles. But that cute little boy did that whole dang hike! All of us did, in a 29:00/mile!! My children were champs, my poor husband managed it pretty well, but I am so happy to report, I out hiked the kids. I was tired, but my breathing was manageable, the elevation was manageable, I probably could've kept going honestly. I couldn't believe it. In one year I got my body in shape enough to hike with my babies and keep up with them! To say I was ecstatic about it would be an understatement. Not only was I in the pine trees, which always makes me happy, but I was finally able to be active with my children in a way I hadn't been able to the year (or years) prior.

I haven't lost an amazing amount of weight, I'm not the fastest runner around, I'm certainly not the strongest, but my body is faster, stronger and lighter than a year ago and that makes it so much easier to do the things I enjoy. There's nothing that I'd change about how this year has gone. I've learned so many lessons about perseverance, recovery from illness/injury, trusting my body and learning to listen to what I need. Just when I think I don't want to do this anymore, it's so much work, I remember how I felt in those hikes and I remember, this is what I want and I will always continue to work toward a healthier happier me. I want to be there for my children and share in their same passions for being active outdoors. So this is my new lifestyle, one I'm continuing to learn to live, but one I love.

I'm A Girls Run Fast Ambassador!

So I just got the email I've been waiting for for a week! After my really cruddy run last weekend (if you don't know about that run it's briefly talked about at the end of my About All This Fitness: Part III) I needed something positive. I decided to apply to be a Girls Run Fast ambassador and today I got my email that I'M IN!! Oh man I'm excited! I just heard about the group recently and I'm excited to get to know and meet this community of women who have found a love of striving to live a healthy and active lifestyle (they have super cute jewelry too, I'm hoping to get the cute runner girl here soon).

When I applied I got to share my story. My journey of sorts. I was able to share what got me started last year, this month. I can't believe it's almost been a year and that I have been able to keep my passion for this lifestyle. I still struggle to eat right and some days my motivation level is low, but I just do my best and move forward the best I can. I have a lot to learn still and it excites me to be working on myself this way.

Thanks to everyone who inspires me everyday as well. On my lowest motivation days I can jump on my instagram feed and read about everyone out working hard. It helps me to get out there and get moving. It helps remind me of the goals I made for myself and how badly I'd like to meet those goals. What a ride this has been so far!

Link up with my instagram if you'd like as well. It's my fitness account and I post all my runs/workouts in there as accountability for myself. And if I inspire anyone along the way, that's a double win 😊👍 @runlikethewinded