New Year New Goals, or Not

I know what you're thinking, I am posting this nearly a month late, LOL
You are right!
Truth is, I wrote this in December, and just realized yesterday that I hadn't posted it.... So better late than never since I took the time to write it originally, right!

So if you've read my blog through the years you already know I don't set New Years Resolutions because only 8% of people actually keep a resolution and I figured why put myself into the possible 92% failure rate.

Instead, I always have ongoing goals, most I don't bring up on the blog much. However, with a new year beginning it's always nice to reflect on those and share a few you may not know about.

LISTENING

Last year, I had a goal to work on becoming a better listener. I made a conscious effort to do this, can't say I have mastered it. But I am significantly better than I was. This is something I am going to continue to work on. It's a good personal growth thing that can only better myself by improving upon, so why not!

READING

This year I am going to set a goal to read 30 novels. I know for myself this is a small number. But with college it might actually be a tough number to hit, as most my reading time is done while I am doing my laundry, LOL

RUNNING

I won't get into specifics, but now that I am finally healed from the work injury, the past few months I've been working on convincing my parents to travel with me and possibly begin knocking off a few more states on my 50-state and D.C. marathon goal. I've got 19 left. They are up for it, so it may just happen.
Why do the parents need to come? To be honest, I'm on a tight budget so if they come it will cost me only the race entry, LOL I am terrible I know! But on the plus side, my parents love to travel lots so this is a win-win for all of us!

Additionally, I'm going to register for at least one more marathon this year. It's not much, but like I said, I'm on a budget so it may be all I can afford!  I hate living on a budget, but the less debt if any I can go into while I finish school the better and smarter of me!

HIKING

I have a bucket list of items in the Southern Utah and Northern Arizona as well as a few in the Nevada and Southern California area's that I'd like to do while I am living here. So I will keep on doing them while I am getting in shape and working on incline hiking to get reading for R2R2R at the Grand Canyon in late spring!

COLLEGE

Okay, I won't beat myself up about it if I don't. But I'm going to work hard and see if I can't pull off more straight A's and who knows maybe attempt another 4.0 Spring Semester too?
That might be a little too presumptuous, especially now that I am actually into the classes but hey why not shoot high, right!

BLOGGING

1 I've been thinking and working on some plans the past few months. Blogging 3-4 times a week is no longer an option for me. I could do it if I stopped visiting my favorite bloggers, but that isn't going to happen I'd miss them too much. I already miss a lot only going onto blogs 1-2 days a week.

2 Back in October, I set a goal to work on getting my Twitter following over 10K and I also determined I wanted to get my Instagram following up around 5K. I have no set date, but I'm hoping I can get the Twitter goal by March since I am much closer to that one.
These are the two forms of social media I use for my blog the most and the ones I am the most active on, so logically they are the most beneficial to grow.

3 I really want to pick up my Travel Tuesday series again, I have so many saved up to showcase, I just need time to finish putting them all together.  Plus this one seems to be the favorite of most of my readers, I always get 10X's the page views on them versus my other posts.

I'm likely switching my Me Monday's to the In the Life of a Returned College student on a more permanent basis.

I'm also going to start sharing some of my thesis research with you, at least the parts that may apply to those of you interested in the influencer jobs within blogging.

Additionally, I have so many fitness and recreation posts I half created with my class assignments last semester, I hope to get them finished and start putting them out, I think many of my readers will enjoy them and find them beneficial.

4 I'm still working on my schedule to see if I will have time to host some Giveaway Hops and Grow Your Blog Hops later this year.

5 Link-ups, I have a hard time with this as I absolutely love to participate in them and I have some amazing blogger friends who host some great ones. But I am not one who just links up to link up, link-ups have a purpose and that is to grow or get to know others and share the views and comments. If I don't have time to visit at least 3 blogs and the hosts in the hop I don't link up, mostly just on my own principles, LOL

I hope to link up with some throughout the year, but mostly I will probably stick to my own posts and things until Summer when I will have a bit more time on my hands to link up! So if any of you are wondering why I haven't or don't link up much anymore, trust me it's not because I don't want to, I just haven't had the time to fully participate!

DIGITAL DESIGN

If you don't know one of the (let's call it a double near triple major) I am working on right now is one in Digital Design. I'm still in the learning process, but I am starting to get the hang of it and I am taking another two advanced classes right now and my skills are improving!

When my skill level and confidence has moved up a level, I plan on selling my new design talent. That may sound funny, but I will be needing to begin my portfolio and plan on selling my skills to design logo's, blog headers and digital ads at a much cheaper price than most do just so I can get use them to build me up so by the time I graduate I've got a lot of work to show for it as well.

So later this year if you have things you'd like for your blog or business, definitely consider me! I'll have to showcase my work and stuff more often so you can watch my skill level and design personality grow.

In fact, I'll show you one right now. This is the design project I did for one of my class finals last semester.
We were required to create an effective magazine full page spread ad and I was given the Environmental theme. I got 200/200 and not to toot my horn but it was one of the better ones in class and I am probably the most behind on learning how to use Photoshop, Illustrator and In Design. Hopefully, it's a good sign of things to come, LOL

So that's it, I have many more but if you've actually read this whole post then you are probably already thinking enough is enough, LOL.

First Weight Loss Goal Achieved and a lot Accomplished

This has been a busy week and also a snowy week. So I thought for this week, I'll share some snow pics from my travels, from a week ago in a different area than I showed you all last week.

I finally got around to getting my taxes done, its my own fault for taking this long. It's just the least appealing thing to me to put everything together for my business to give to my accountant. But it's also a great feeling to have it done.

I don't discuss politics on my blog, but I will say this. I attended my first ever Caucus, it was crowded but interesting. Although I was slightly annoyed that the person in charge of our district was trying to push everyone in the room to not vote for someone. I thought they were supposed to remain neutral as they proceeded with the rules for them. So I was annoyed at him for breaking the rules.

I have also decided I am kind of getting sick of friends on Facebook who are constantly posting different political hate things, how they hate this politician or an idea, how the world would end if this happens and stuff along those lines. I especially dislike the ones who are telling everyone they'd disown them as friends if they found out they were voting a certain way.

For that reason alone, I have been seriously tempted to post I am going to vote in those certain ways they disagree with, just to see how many friends delete me after I do, LOL LOL  I will try to hold back, but if others keep it up, I may not be able to resist:) ha ha

It's been a stormy snowy week here. I love spring snow storms, it can snow 3-6 inches one hour and be sunny the next. Makes for different kinds of fun for running each day.

Things are continuing to go excellent on slowly building my mileage back up. My work injury in my one foot that I acquired over 3 years ago, has been for the most part doing quite well. I have a little bursitis and swelling in my ankle that will likely never leave but as long as I stay active on it, it keeps the swelling down so like it has mostly been, running is good for it! But the two tendon issues have been responding exactly as I hoped. I dwell on this injury less and less each week now. YAY

Apparently quitting that part time job has been a miracle for it.
Yes, I am well aware I should have quit it 3 years ago when it caused it, I would beat myself up about that, but there is no point you can't change the past!

My back has been acting so so, I have good days where the pain is very light, and bad days where it's more intense. Due to what I have it's never going to get better than this, so I do my best to manage it. On the plus side, it continues to bother me very little while running. Which is a great thing!

It's also been a productive week. I finally got around to making a series of updates I needed to do on my event company website.
I've also gone in and adjusted my companies entire pricing scale (oh that took forever).  I hate to increase prices, but it's needed and I don't think it will hurt business any so it's all good!  My staff who work for me are going to like it, because it's going to mean a little more pay for them too. Which I have decided not to tell them about, and just surprise them after the next event:)

Weight loss update, as promised a picture with every 10 pounds I lose.

Yes I hit the 10 pound goal mark on Tuesday, YAY!  

Granted, the reason the picture above isn't very flattering. I took the shot in the black top, literally 5 minutes after I woke up Tuesday, zero make up, no hair brushing LOL. So I could get it done before my morning run.

While I haven't really noticed any major differences in my body (of course I haven't actually taken the measurements yet) I can see in the picture my face is starting to slim a little.

As of Sunday morning, I've actually officially lost 12 pounds now. So I am well on my way to my next goal which is to hit 20 pounds.  So I have decided to keep on doing what I am doing. Since I am getting used to it now (finally) and it's working. Plus, it still makes me feel like I have plenty of energy most of the time, so I think that is a good sign.

What am I doing?
I eat about 1,000 - 1,200 calories a day.
100 Calorie protein breakfast shake.
200 Calorie protein calcium lunch shake.
Whatever I want for dinner as long as I keep it between 700-900 calories.
With my dinners I eat a lot of fruits and veggies.
I drink a lot of water during the day.  But nothing after 6pm. (Just to keep from having to get up in the night to use the bathroom, LOL)

**I have 1 cheat meal a week, where I go out to eat, drink a Pepsi and have as many calories as I want. (This is my favorite part of each week, I am not going to lie LOL)

Also, I attempt to get 60-80 minutes of working out in daily, 6 days a week, but sometimes it's not all at the same time, I may do double workout days just depends on the time I have each day.


So that is it, a few bits of my week and the progress I have made so far on this weight loss goal. (The goal if you don't know is to lose 40 pounds by June 1st.) I am a little off track, but I still believe it's possible if I keep at it.

I am linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin today for their Weekly Wrap!

 

  Tell me about your week. What is something you've accomplished this week.

Anyone working on any weight loss goals?

Pillowcases and Goals

How's getting back into shape and the running coming for me? 

Well I'll talk more about this below, but in short I am slowly getting back into it.
It's a tad more difficult right now since it's been so long since I have been able to do it. But mostly I am enjoying it.  I know it will get easier in the coming weeks. It will also get easier to wake up earlier, I won't lie right now it's not easy!

But I think we are starting to get into the spring type temps, 20's in the mornings and 50's in the afternoons. Meaning less chances of freezing temps and right now that may make it a tad easier for me!

How's work going?
Well I had an epic fail as a business owner. I hadn't had a voicemail message left in over a month, I am an idiot and didn't think much of it.
Then after 2 people told me they left a message and I saw no notification from it, I called my own number.
Ya, apparently 23 messages I never got. Why? Well I am the idiot who just assumed all old voicemails just auto deleted (They did with my old Blackberry) apparently not with my Galaxy. It only notifies you the first 150. I was over my limit.
I have missed out on so many wedding/event calls. I am kinda embarrassed by it.  Yup, like I said, EPIC fail as a small business owner!

Funny story this week about this guy who came up to me one day at work. (I am still occasionally working at now 1 library.)

HIM: "So someone puked all over the bathroom, it's everywhere and smells terrible.  Do you want to go clean it up?"
ME: "Gross, nope cleaning up vomit is far above my pay grade."
HIM: "Um, okay. Well then how much would you have to make to clean it up?"
ME: "To clean up someone else's vomit? Not enough money in the world, I don't do vomit!"
HIM: *Just stares at me.*
ME: "I'll go find someone who will do vomit though, meanwhile I'd just suggest not going in there."
HIM: "What if I need to use the bathroom?"
ME: "Well unless you can be quick and hold your breath, I'd suggest going somewhere else."

I mean I know he wasn't thrilled with me. But seriously, vomit and not my own, some strangers who decided to make a mess and not clean it up? Yuck, not gonna happen. I don't do vomit!

But on that note, allow me to just say, I give complete credit to janitors, as they do a job I could never do and they don't get far enough recognition for it!  As for the public who do things in bathrooms and leave messes and just leave before anyone notices it was them. Seriously people??? Ewe!!

My niece wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. She's always creating designs. I've been promising for a few months to come teach her how to sew.
When she got home from school I picked her up. Took her to the fabric store, let her pick out the material she liked the best.
Then we went back and we started with making one of the first things I ever made. Which was a pillow case.
She likes to add flare, so I suggested we add a ruffle to the ends, so it wasn't just a normal pillowcase.
I let her do all the sewing herself, I just pushed the pedal on the machine for her, and occasionally stopped or re-guided the fabric to get her back on track.
She did pretty good!  I told her next time we could try a nightgown or an apron, as those are both easy new to sewing projects. I had a fun time teaching her too!

This week's reads. Well to be honest, I didn't get much reading time in, in fact I didn't have a chance to pick up a book until Thursday night. But The Golden Lily was so good I seriously couldn't put it down.  Dang that made for one late night, I finished it around 2AM.  We won't even talk about how fun it was to wake up the next morning, LOL
Then the weather was so beautiful Saturday it just felt like a great day to read another book in the sun, so I grabbed the next book in Richelle Mead's Series The Indigo Spell and read it.  I am seriously loving this series much more than I ever thought I would!

Okay, so this is something I've been struggling with for a while, but I need to work much harder at it. Last fall when I had to quit working out to deal with a worse than normal flare up on my foot injury. Then this winter dealing with my back pain and having to take it easy. Let's just say, I had some pounds to loose before all of that, and then well I am not proud because I gained quite a bit more during those lazy months.

So, I bought a selfie stick. Why? Well, you may or may not have noticed I don't post a lot of pictures of myself on my blog.

Truthfully, I hate to admit this, but it's because I've put on some weight and I just don't like pictures taken of myself right now.  Yes, yes I know I should be more confident. blah blah blah..
Well I should, but I'm not and the good thing about it all, is it's something I can do something about.

So that is where the selfie stick comes in. I am going to share my weight loss journey on my blog. I took a picture (you can see it above) with it just a few days ago. I'd like to share one with each 10 pounds that I loose to show off the progress.

No, you're not getting a fully body picture, but I did take one. Maybe I will share it later after I have dropped some weight, but for now it's just for myself. So I can see where I am, where I want to go, and use it to motivate me to work on improving with eating healthier and exercising more.

The great news is, right now I can get back into exercise, it's just something that will hurt a bit more because of my back issues. But I am choosing to tell myself even that may all be in my head. (Hey, it's worth a shot, mind control ha ha..)

It's going to take a few weeks before I can do a full great 60 minute workout and keep my heart rate up the entire time. But it will eventually come. I'm not going to push anything right now too much, I've dealt with way too many injury blows and I'm skirting the lines already with a couple that may never heal and I want to see how I can work around them for now, especially with my foot work injury. That one's just gone on way too long.

So my first goal, is drop 10 pounds.  But I have a few other goals, my other is to drop 40 pounds by June 1st. That may or may not be realistic, but I like to have goals like that, that skirt the lines of possible and impossible. But I definitely thing I can.

I am going to go at this a bit more drastic to start with. Since I can't burn as many workout calories just yet each day as I ease back into it. I need to compensate for the calories in other ways. So I am going to drop down to my intake of only  1,000 calories a day. Once the workouts can increase I'll bump up the calories a few hundred daily as needed until I am back where I'd like to be on a calorie/workout plan that I can actually do as a lifestyle change.

I'm hoping the significant calorie drop will help me drop the first 10 a little faster, and build up my motivation for it so I can get excited about less weight and improvements in the way I look and feel.

My reward, well besides better health. If I can drop 40 pounds by June 1st, I am going to reward myself with a brand new Stand Up Paddle Board. They are not cheap and the one I want costs around $1,200 on sale, so the money I save from not going out to lunch or dinner and stuff, well that is going to go into the paddle board fund.

Last, I am hosting a Spring into March Giveaway Hop, you have about 1 week to decide if you want to join up with us on it. I am leaving the sign up open through March 9th.
But the hop itself runs March 14th - 25th.  I decide to not go with a theme this time around, so bloggers can choose any giveaway item they would like.
You can find all the details and the sign up HERE.

That's a few little bits of my week and what I have going on right now.  With the Grow Your Blog hop, I have been a little off my normal blogging routine, and I am looking forward to getting back on track. We had 3 great hops, a few worked better than others.  I'll have to share a little more on those after I have all the analytics pulled together on them.

So tell me, what is a goal your working on right now?

I am linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin today for their Weekly Wrap!

Baby it's COLD Outside

I hope you all enjoyed the Holiday's and had a great time with family and friends during your celebrations. We got our White Christmas, in fact not just on Christmas, but almost every day leading up to it and after it has snowed.

I did enjoy the Holiday's myself, I received some great gifts, a few of which are a the exact winter running outfits I had my eye on. (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

I'd like to give a quick update on my back. The Monday before Christmas my Doctor decided it was best (based on his best guess as to which was wrong) to just attack it with an aggressive bit of treatment.
What happened was, I was able to get around a little easier (thanks to great drugs) on Christmas and enjoy the day with my family with relatively low pain.

In the end, the treatment did not work, so he is sending me to a Specialist. I go in for a long series of tests and probably even an MRI on January 14th. (I hate how long it takes to get into specialists!) Meanwhile, I do have a few pills, which at times can slightly take away a little of the pain so I can function and get around.

So Yeah, I lead a very boring life right now. If I don't have to, I don't move around much or stand or sit too long since those things aggravate it.  Although, this week I am going to try to see if I can get a little walking in, we will see how much pain I can take to get a little exercise in!
I definitely hope the Specialist can find a solution quick, because frankly I can't live my life spending most of it in bed laying on my side, I am almost dying of boredom!

One of my favorite things about when it is snowing at night in the winter, is how bright it is outside. Before Christmas I took the above picture in the middle of the night, no flash or anything and look how beautiful and bright it was. This was the beginning of the storm, we had another 14 inches after this, LOL

Talk about cold. I participated in a Coke Naughty or Nice campaign during the holiday's, and they send me some Coke in the mail. But sadly, it was so cold outside (I think it was 4 degree's on this day) the Coke froze in the mailbox, and about half the liquid in the bottles sprayed out into the box and the rest turned to ice. Guess I didn't need the extra calories, and this was mother natures way of helping me out!

My sister who lives a little further up in the mountains from me, woke up to -18 below, and her kids had a blast boiling water and then going outside to throw it up in the air to watch it instantly turn to vapor gas.

So Yup, its been cold here. Although Sunday we warmed up to 22 degree's, it was like t-shirt weather, LOL LOL
In some ways, its probably okay I can't run or do much right now, because my neighborhood has not been snowplowed and streets are full of snow, and only half the neighbors have the decency to shovel their sidewalks. So I wouldn't be able to get out and run/walk in it much even if I wanted to.

Instead, I've gotten a little reading in. Just finished one of my now all time favorite book series (The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer) I absolutely loved this science fiction spin on some of the greatest fairytale characters! The final book even at 824 pages didn't disappoint! I just loved it, and could hardly pull my eyes from the pages. Even though, no I couldn't get through it all in one day, it took 3 days. But they were well worth the hours spent reading, that is for sure!

I've mentioned this on my first new post of the New Year, for the past 3 years. I don't believe in setting New Years Resolutions for myself.
Since only 8% of resolutions are even kept, I see no point in setting myself up with something that doesn't really work for far too many.
Instead as you all know, I am pretty goal oriented.
Last year I had a series of goals, several running/fitness related which lets be honest didn't happen beyond reasons out of my control. But I also had several goals that I did accomplish!

Though I may not create a resolution to keep, I do take the beginning of the year to reflect on where I am and where I want to be. I like to look over my goals and see where I am at on them, and contemplate what I am doing to achieve them.

There is one thing I haven't been doing very well on, so I am going to put a little more focus into it, in the coming weeks/months until it becomes second nature.  I really want to work on being a better listener.

I quite often will be talking to someone and accidentally interrupt or only half listen so I don't forget what I want to say next. (I know many others do it too, LOL) but it's something I have wanted to work on for a while now, and it's time I put more effort into it, and become a better listener!


So tell me, do you set Resolutions, Goals or Reflect this time of year too?
What is something you are working on being better at for self improvement?

I am linking up with HoHo Runs and Mississippididdlin today for their Weekly Wrap!

What's My Running Bucket List

Do you have a running bucket list?

I DO, and mine is actually entirely separate from my actual goals I am working on.  I think having a running bucket list is a great way to dream a little and who knows maybe those bucket list items may one day turn into a goal!

If you've read my blog a while, you already know I am working on a marathon in all 50 states and D.C. Thankfully 32 of those are in the books.  When I can finally get through this years long work injury I fully plan on getting back into it.
However, while I am waiting on that I have a lot of dream bucket list items and so I thought I'd share them.  Who knows, maybe some of these will become goals for myself one day too.

* Run a 100 mile Ultra endurance run.  I'd prefer to run the Wasatch 100, I hear its one of the toughest since its an all trail race.  Something about that just intrigues me to try at least once.

* Run a marathon on all continents.  You know if I ever become independently wealthy and can afford it, I would sure love it.  Especially hitting up Antartica!

* Run 2 marathons in 2 days.  I kinda hope I can pull this off while doing my 50 states goal, but if not then after I finish it, I totally plan on it.  Pretty sure I will have to head back east to do it, its too far to travel out west between races to pull it off.

* Run Boston.  When I finish my 50 states goal, I would really like to focus all my training one year to gear up for one race to qualify.  I think I would use the St. George marathon as the race to try qualifying.  It's hilly and a hotter race, but for some reason in the past, all the times I have run it, I have gotten some of my best times at it, so I think it's a good fit for me to use for it.

* Ironman, I just think it would be fun to try one at least once.  If I ever did it, I am pretty sure I would pick the one in Hawaii, because it's hello; tough and Hawaii:)

* I'd like to run New York City Marathon, Again.  I had such an incredible experience the first time, maybe it wouldn't be the same.  But despite the fact that its a crazy expensive trip, I think if I had the chance I would love to run it again!

* Run the Great Wall of China Marathon, no idea why although I am sure it would be beautiful. This one just stuck out to me the first time I heard about it and would love to give it a try.

* Pikes Peak Marathon.  I once had a guy describe this race perfectly to a lady while we were running the Myrtle Beach Marathon.  He said, "it's a pretty easy race, there is only 1 hill the first half, and the 2nd half is all downhill".
I got a great laugh.  I think I would love to do this just to see how tough I am, but before I do it I'd like to make sure I train well enough to finish around 4 hours, because longer would be such a massive beating on the body, well more than it will be already:)

* I'd like to run a race with all my sisters (4 of us).  I know this sounds funny, and I have run half's my youngest sis before.  (We are all runners.)  But oddly, we never plan races together.  So it would be fun to pick a half marathon or marathon and all run it.
Not run together as a group of course, that would be annoying for the faster ones to slow down for the slower ones (we are all different speeds). But it would be fun to do the same race on the same day. Maybe one day...
Or if not that, it would be fun to all enter a Ragnar together, and all their husbands as well as the older kids on one big team... But knowing my family we would all want to run double and skip 12 members for 6 members for the 200 miles and see how tough we are.  That would be fun!

Share a little Twitter Love, Click to Tweet

Tweet: This is what's on my #Running bucket list, what is on yours? http://goo.gl/IlTBkl @runwybridlplanr #running #fitfluential #runchat

I am sure I could have a dozen others, but that is my list that has pretty much always come to my mind when I think of running bucket items.


Tell me what is something on your Running Bucket List?

Blogging Goals & Updates

I actually have been wanting to do this for a while, share my blogging goals and some totals with you.  Truthfully I didn't get the idea from myself, I saw Courtney over at Eat Pray Run DC doing it.  I don't like to copy other bloggers, but I really liked her idea of sharing.  She actually said she is okay with me kind of copying to share the numbers too.  I just wanted to put that out there:)

August was actually my worst monthly blogging stats (page views) in two years. Which was not surprising since I have cut down on posts and actually had my fewest posts month in a long time too.

Income earned: $203.52 for social media ad campaigns.  I didn't do any blog campaigns this month, I took summer off for these since I couldn't spend the time.

Twitter: I finally broke the 6,000 Twitter follower mark, I thought that was a cool milestone as I wasn't even working on growing in last month.

Instagram: Has turned into my hardest area to grow in, and what I am finding is the most important right now for advertisers.  About mid month I started working on it, and I finally hit 1,300.

GOALS FOR SEPTEMBER

Instagram: I am trying really hard to get this to grow and I am working on a few projects to help in this.  My goal is to hit 1,600 followers by month end.

Twitter: since it's growing at a slow but steady pace on its own I am going to put a little effort into it, and see if I can't hit 6,500 by month end.

I would like to have an ad campaign goal of $150.  I haven't been working on any blog campaigns, so I don't want to set goals for those because obviously they take time to organize.

I hope to make this a first Monday of the month routine and share my goals vs. my actual each month going forward.  Especially if my followers who are also bloggers find this kind of stuff interesting.

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WORK INJURY - 2 years 8 months and fingers crossed not much more, but knowing me it might be!  If you are interested in reading about how this all started years ago, you can HERE. I don't want to keep going into the details and bore those of you who have been hearing about it for so long.

I am going to give a quick synopsis of what has recently been going on, and why I am more than a little bummed lately.

* About 2 weeks ago, something happened and it led to the point where I couldn't even walk. (No idea what brought on the onset of this flare up.  But lets just say the pain was close to or maybe worse than it was when the original injury was at its worst.  It brought me to tears, the pain was so intense.

* I could walk in a 3 inch heel, a little.  But I couldn't even put my foot flat on the ground without feeling like my Achilles was tearing apart.  If I took a step my foot/leg would give out from the pai and I would almost fall, because it was so much pain.

* A week ago Tuesday I visited a new Doctor, only a new one because the one I usually go to had a two month waiting list, and I wanted help now asap.  (I did my research and found a good one, who is also a runner.)

* We did an X-ray and Ultra Sound, which I assumed wouldn't show anything.  All they showed was a perfectly healthy tendon, at least as far as no serious damage.
Despite the fact that my ankle at the time was swollen double in size, you just gotta love life and how it works sometimes:)

* He ordered me to go get an MRI, he also thinks both my calves are really super tight right now, like crazy tight (I agree).  After going over my past medical history, he agree's there are really only 2 options.
One is surgery to cut the tendon to give it a little help to stretch out.  The other is a pretty invasive PT set of sessions that will eventually over time stretch out my tendon and calf.  But there is high risk to both of those.  (The PT could actually rupture the tendon completely if anything goes wrong.)

* He also prescribed me a highly effective steroid, and some anti inflammatory creams that absorb right through the skin. (Which let's just say worked so well, I noticed results only after the first 24 hours.)

* I was put back in the boot for nights, and most of the day for at least 2 weeks.

* The rest of last week went pretty good.  I followed Dr. orders, and followed a few of my own gut instincts.  To skip the heal/not healed part.
Let's just say, as of today things are fairly good, similar to what I hoped.  The swelling has gone down considerably, there is very little left.
The pain, has subsided for the most part.
My tendon is still quite tight, but it actually has a little give in it, I can walk carefully and slowly in 1-2 inch heel lift shoes.
Although I don't dare walk too much, I can at least get around now.  I am beyond terrified of hurting it more right now, so I am being even more cautious than normal.

I went ahead and cancelled the MRI and my Dr. Appt for today.  I think it would be a waste of money.  I am going to let things continue to heal, and then I will begin the original PT program I have already been through.
Once I can walk again, and the tendon is strengthened, which if my guess will be correct I should know in about 3-4 weeks how that all goes. I will meet with the specialist again in a few weeks, unless things take a turn for the worse.
At that time, I am going to proceed with the risky but non surgical option first, which is a very invasive PT program.
Then we shall see what happens.

I have no idea what the rest of the year has for me.  Cardio is mostly out right now at least for the near future, as walking/swimming/bike hurt things too much to do.  So I am really going to have to be diligent and careful with eating, so I don't gain even more weight than I already have.

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Truthfully, the hardest part of all of this is one thing.  Previously to all this, training had been going good.  I even had that 23 mile step day and I actually had started believing my body was ready for marathon training.  I even got so excited I even went online and picked out two races, to consider, one I was leaning toward for late November of this year, the other was early December.  I actually got my heart actually believing one was going to happen, boy it hurt to know it's now completely out of the question.
It was one thing 2 years ago to have to cancel the 19 marathons I had planned when I got the original work injury.  But for some reason, this hurt even worse because I have gone so long, and had come so far only to go right back to what feels like square one.  Sometimes my life can be extremely frustrating, to say the least!
____________________________________

I wish I had some fun stuff to report, but lets face it when you can't walk much, you can't really do much.

I tried SWIMMING a week ago Monday, but my foot is so bad that just the pressure of the water as I kicked was so intense on the foot I couldn't stand more than a few seconds of it, so I stopped.

PURPLE HAIR
I got really bored not being able to get out and do anything.  So ya I colored my hair tips purple, LOL
Then of course, who could stop there, and I colored a front section as well.
It was all supposed to be temporary and wash out after a few days to a week, but so far it doesn't seem to be haha..  That's okay, I have always wanted purple/brown hair layers and ya now I have them.  I am going to enjoy it while it lasts, I mean it' only hair right:)
Don't laugh, I really like the purple, even at it's most dramatic, apparently purple is one of those colors in my skin pallet that go fairly well together, LOL LOL LOL


I have had a few woe is me moments this week.  But by mid week, I realized everything comes down to attitude so I can't let this set back get me either.  So all things considered, I know I will get past all of this eventually.
I may continue to get frustrated, I am only human.  But I am re evaluating my goals, and although I am not giving up on them.  I am pushing a few to the back burner and I am going to make new ones.
I'm also refocusing a few things in my life, planning a few things out and creating lists to get through some well needed projects that need taken care of.
Hopefully, this will help keep my mind positive and focused on other things instead of dwelling on the what sometimes feels like the never ending work injury.

If you haven't already, and you want to join us, you have a few days left to link up with us for the next giveaway hop HERE.

Hiking, Running, Concerts and More...

The past few weeks have been pretty busy, but also full of a lot of fun.  Here is a little re-cap on all that's been going on. If you follow me on Instagram, I apologize, you may have already seen some of these pictures.

Lot's of hiking.  I've been taking some time to hit up some local nearby trails as well as a few further away in the higher elevations.









I even took a day and went out hiking alone.  Before you raise your eyebrows at that, hiking alone isn't new to me.  When I travel around the country, I do it all the time.  This was just actually the first time I have done it here in Utah.  I always let someone know where I am, and when to expect me back and I only hike popular trails that I know there will always be dozens of other people out on, when alone.

I will say, I was given quite a treat when I reached a lake I was hiking to, fortunately I had my camera ready too.  Thanks to this big guy's slow swim.  Watched this big bull moose swim across a lake, and come out of the water not to far from me, and was able to grab a few beautiful shots when he came out.

Since I am spending the summer months sharing Utah travel destinations or hikes for Travel Tuesday, I will share those with you over the coming weeks.

Geocaching, my new favorite fun side thing to do.  Okay, I know apparently this has been around for years even over a decade.  But I apparently missed the memo on it, until a blogger friend over at Run Hike Play talked about it on her blog and told me what to do to get into it.

After we went hiking last Wednesday my sister and I (who were more excited for it than her kids to start, LOL) went out to find a few in the mountains near the trail we had just hiked.  We found two of them.  The kids thought it was a lot of fun, and my sister and I are seriously hooked! Treasure hunting = awesome!  ha ha...  Doesn't even matter what the treasure is, although the ones that have lots of things in them are a bit more fun to find we decided.  Thanks Run Hike Play!

Kenny Chesney time!  My sisters and I are huge Kenny Chesney fans, we LOVE Kenny!

We go to his concerts every time he visits Utah.  It's been a tradition for years.  We have so much fun at them, singing, dancing and acting crazy. We even do alcohol free and better than the drunks, even though people probably think we are. LOL  The best part is, we get to go home and still remember all the fun crazy times!

My sister brought her Selfie Stick, and let me tell you it takes fabulous pictures.  But boy did we get people laughing at us using it.  Pretty much the 7 rows behind us were getting their dose of comedy of us using it.

It was that or the fact that we may have taken over 100 selfies with it and probably looked as vain as they come.  But it's all fun!


I am back to running and full regular activity again.

I am taking a different approach since this last flare up.  I'm doing what I call Plan A.  Which basically right now consists of wearing the stupid clunky boot each night to sleep.  Do I need it still at night? Not sure.

But since every time I have a flare up, it takes a week or two of wearing it to fix the problem. This time I am just going to wear it nightly for a couple of months and see if I can't stop all flare ups all together!  Two weeks going into it, and so far so good.
Since the past 2 1/2 years I have had a flare up about every 2-3 weeks, depending on how this week goes, if I don't have another flare up soon, I will consider the plan so far so good as on it's way to working!
There are other things I am doing too, but I won't bore you with all the details today.  I may share more later on if it continues to work!

Making some changes.  They have both to do with my life, training, and even my dreams.  I will share them with you as I enter into these changes over the coming months.
I have done a lot of soul searching this past flare up, really effected me more than any of the others. I've always tried to keep a good attitude with this work injury, but a few weeks ago I hit my breaking point. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I have been battling this for over 2 1/2 years now.

I am going to share one of my secret pick me ups.  There is this song by Mindy Gledhill called Whole Wide World, that I cannot listen to and not be cheered up.  It alone is the thing that has kept me from breaking into tears on many occasions through the years, and has made me want to keep my head up, think positive and believe in myself and that eventually this will end and I can get back to what I love.
I am a girl with a lot of dreams and goals, and this song just totally hits me right in the heart of what I want and what I do.  You may enjoy it too, so here it is.

I've actually never shared this with you before.  But yes, sometimes to help pick my spirits up I will even listen to this song a dozen times a week and some days even 3-4 times alone.  You'd think over the years I would be sick of it, but it's just the opposite, I love it even more!

It's what I think of as I contemplate getting back into all my running goals and marathons.  So if you are a girl, and if you've ever had a dream, no matter the dream.  You may enjoy too. (Although, it's very possible you've already heard it years ago when it was more popular too:)

Pretty wordy post this week, sorry about that! 

This week begins my dive into what is the start of the busiest part of the wedding summer season for me.  (I know so many think about June brides, and yes there are lots.  But I have always historically had even more August brides than June brides:)  

September is also a very busy wedding month for me, so I have been working a head on a few things to lesson my burden as I get through the next two months.

But this is me we are talking about, and I work extremely hard so that I can play even harder.  So you can guarantee I will fit plenty of hiking, camping and fun in-between the crazy wedding schedules I have over the next few months.  With that, I better get going, I have 2 weddings in 4 days, this week and I have a ton prep work still to do!

Have you been enjoying your summer?  If you're a hiker, have you been getting lots of hiking in?  Are you a fan of the Whole Wide World song too?  Or if this was your first time listening to it, did you not just love it:)

Finding Motivation

I think a lot of runners struggle from time to time.  We love to run, but for some reason or another we may go through a dry spell where we are lacking in finding the motivation to get it done, and more importantly to get it done and still enjoy the run!

As I have struggled with this a little myself lately.  I have had to come up with new ideas to stay motivated, new things to try to continue to love the sport even when things aren't going my way.
I'd like to share with you, some of my tips, and others I have heard about that may help some of you, should you ever lack a little in reasoning to go out for that run!



SET NEW GOALS

Maybe you just came off a race, or possibly you just hit a PR or goal.  Or maybe you are just getting bored with the same ol weekly routine you have yourself on.
Whether you run for fun, or run to race, setting new goals are great for any running to avoid hitting a dry spell.
Possibly, you'll work on speed, or increase your distance.  Maybe it's time to plan or pick a race, or try a new race distance or even race location.  There are numerous goals you could make to change things up, and give yourself something new to focus on and work towards.

QUIT COMPARING

Everyone does it, whether they are willing to admit it or not.  We compare ourselves to others, and sometimes even judge our own daily runs or accomplishments in comparison to what someone else did.
But the fact is, each day you lace up the running shoes and head out the door, is a day you should cheer your accomplishment.  Whether you ran 1 lap around a track or 20 miles, it doesn't really matter.  You should be happy with what you did do.
Don't get down on yourself because you didn't run as far or fast as you planned.  Don't look at your friend or (fellow running blogger) and tell yourself that you don't measure up.
The fact is we are all different.  We are different shapes, sizes, speeds and all run different distances and training plan schedules.  There is no comparison, instead focus on what you did, what you can control.  You can save any comparison for race day, or even then just keep it to yourself and run YOUR race!

Another quick tip, don't compare yourself to yourself.  The times you ran in your 20's and 30's may not realistically be times you can run in your 40's or 50's+.  Every ten years, your PR's are going to change, it isn't fair to yourself to compare your current distances and times with those from your prime.

TO RUN OR NOT TO RUN

I know we all think we have to hit every single daily run, or as close to as possible.  But sometimes we need a day or two off.  Whether it be for illness, or just a busy life.  Or maybe a day of relaxation to let the muscles recover and come back stronger.
The truth is, sometimes our bodies need rest, and a day or two off isn't going to hurt our performance. In fact, it may even help it!

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Maybe you run a specific set of mileage each week.  Well, although that is great sometimes that can also be boring.  Instead try something different.  Add speed work, hill work or go to the high school track and pretend your in a race with everyone else running there:)
Or maybe it's a day to trade your run for a hike, or a fun class at the gym.  Mixing things up can be a lot of fun.
My only recommendation, don't mix things up 3-4 weeks leading into a race you're planning on.  Our bodies react differently when we add new things into it, you wouldn't want to add something that may hurt yourself, or take a while to recover from, which is why I air on the side of caution about doing this close to a race.  (Unless it's something you're body is already used to.)

SWITCH UP RUNNING BUDDIES

If you're a solo runner, see if you can even if only one day a week find a friend or group to run with.  If you are a group runner, and things are getting a little dull, pick a day a week and maybe that could become your solo day.  Or the day to find a different running partner for the occasional run!

CHANGE THE TIME OF DAY YOU RUN

Maybe you've been running after work, and it's becoming a struggle to find the energy.  It may seem daunting at first waking up at 4 or 5am to get a run in before you leave to work.  But give it a try, you'll more likely find that although getting up may be hard, once your out the door it's a great way to start the day.  Then when you get home from work, if your tired you can relax, if you have more energy you can go out with friends or family and have a little fun!

If mornings and evenings are both hard for you, try running on your lunch hour.  Or instead of heading for home right after work, start your run from work, and then take the drive home.

A FEW OTHER IDEAS

* Enter a race.
* Run with a GPS.
* Leave all the GPS and gadgets at home.
* Switch up your running playlist or leave it and listen to nature.
* Listen to a great audiobook or fun podcast.
* Pretend your a coach, and create a totally uniquely new training schedule for yourself.
* Buy a new running outfit.
* Buy another pair of running shoes.
* Run in the snow or rain.  Sounds funny, but it can be very invigorating!
* Try a new distance that scares you.
* Hill work, you may find a love hate relationship!
* Back off for a few weeks, slow down the speed and mileage.
* Create a local running group.
* Volunteer at a race.
* Watch a race or go and cheer at a race.
* Pick a new course.
* Read about some motivational runners.
* Pamper yourself with a massage.
* Focus on dropping a few pounds.
* Do a charity run, raise money for a cause.
* Compensate yourself, put a quarter in a jar each time you run and treat yourself at the end of the month with something you enjoy.  Or put a dollar in a jar each time you run, and as it adds up, spend it on a race you've always wanted to enter.
* Go see McFarland USA (You won't regret it!)

I could probably make that list about triple that size, if I wanted too.  But this may give you a few more idea's.

So tell me, what are your favorite ways to motivate yourself, if you find your lacking or going through a dry patch?

New Years Resolutions, Not My Thing. But Goals Are!

Happy New Year my blogging friends!!!

Sorry, it's been a few weeks.  I took one week off blogging to just relax and enjoy the Holiday's and family times.  But then last week I caught a bad cold and just decided to take another week off too.  I keep hoping I can shake this cold, but it is starting to seriously kick my butt.  I didn't think colds were supposed to last longer than a week, I sure wish this one would stick to that timeline rule!

Although I had been enjoying our unusual extended fall weather, I knew it would eventually come to an end.  We finally received our snow here, in the form of a White Christmas.  Literally, we didn't get the storm until Christmas morning where the valley's were finally blanketed in that beautiful white stuff:)
With the snow came of course the cold temps that come with it.  So with catching a cold shortly after Christmas I have been skipping the single digit morning temps and not going out in it for runs... yet...

I know I have mentioned this before, but I'll just say it again.  I actually don't believe in making New Years Resolutions and haven't for many years.  Why?

Well, according to Forbes, they say only 8% of people who make a New Years Resolution actually achieve their goal.  So I have always said to myself.  Why set myself up for failure:)
So yeah, that is why I don't set New Years resolutions.  However, if you know me, you know I am totally and completely goal oriented.  I start and make new goals all the time, I just don't make any specific new goals on January 1st and call them resolutions.

Many of you know I am a Fitbit user, and I love it!  I've only recently been adding a few friends on it, and getting into the competitions.  (Not sure what took me so long.:)
I have two sisters with Fitbits, one that crushes 30,000 steps in a day like its nothing.  Who doesn't add anyone to her friends account.  Which is okay for now, but in a few months when I am closer to that, I would love to take a crack at beating her in a day!

One of my other sisters just received one for Christmas, she's currently more a little more on my level.
She jumped right in on it, and added me and others immediately, and started pounding away at goals and competitions on it.

It was all awesome and great until I got sick, and then after two days in bed, and still getting challenges send over by her, with her beating me.  She texts me and tells me she's also got a bad cold, but that she is still going to kick my butt in daily steps.

(If you don't know already, I have a very competitive family:)

Of course, I can't let sickness keep me from beating her especially if she is sick too!  So for about four days in a row I got up, worked out for a 45-50 minutes to get my 10,000 steps in.  Then I would collapse in my bed and sleep off the rest of the day with cold medicine.
But each day she kept beating me, and it was driving me crazy.
Well in true competitive spirit she would keep up with me, and then when she knew I had gone to bed, even if it was 11:30PM, she was up running around her house so she could leave me in the dust on the challenges.

Once I figured this out, I picked one day and hit my goal and then late at night went another 4K steps and didn't sync it until almost midnight so she wouldn't have time to beat me.
Ya, sadly that is the only day I have beat her yet.
My cold seems to be coming back again so even my competitive nature couldn't keep it up over the weekend, and I am just sleeping things off a bit and hopefully will feel better soon and can get out and get running each day again, and then I can crush her in step goals each day!

It's all good and fun, and I am also enjoying the challenge competitions others friends invite me into as well.  I just feel bad I am not much competition right now.  But soon, that will all change!
If you don't have a Fitbit, and your thinking of getting one.  No matter your fitness level, they are awesome and really great motivation.  Especially when you start getting into daily challenges, looking bad just doesn't become an option and you immediately want to show others just how motivated you can be each day!


I was going to share with you some of my goals for the past year, what I have achieved and what I haven't yet.  But then I realized on my Monday posts I keep that part of my life pretty open, so I decided not to bring up things I talk about all the time:)

However, I will make a few mention.  A few months back I said I was aiming for a March Marathon, as my first after coming back after my 2 year forced layoff from them.
I am still deciding if I can be ready by then.  I am keeping tabs on the race and it hasn't sold out yet, but probably will sometime this month.  So January 15th is my goal decide date.
If I think I can do it, I'll pay for it all and start booking the trip.  If I think I need a bit longer, I will  aim for April.  So fingers crossed, and we'll see what the next few weeks bring as I am making the decision.

Another couple of fun goals I decided to give a try this year.  I actually have to give a shout out to my friend from down-under over at Run Mum.  She actually inspired this goal idea from what I read on her blog this year.
She has been working on a Handstand goal.  It got me to thinking about several weeks back when I tried to teach my niece how to do a back bend and then eventually a back bend walkover.  In my mind I still feel young, I only realize my body has changed when I actually go and try to do something that was so easy when I was younger.  When all of a sudden things hurt like never before, and I wonder where the heck all the flexibility went:)
In short, lets just say my niece still walked away not sure how to do it because I was so bad at the attempt to show her how haha.
So I have three similar goals I hope to work on this winter/spring (summer if it takes till then), I'd like to:

Do a back bend, and eventually turn it into a back bend walkover.

Do a freestanding handstand and be able to actually hold it for 15 seconds.

A perfect cartwheel:)

Why those three?  Well they all kind of go together, I think:)

No, I'm not trying to be a gymnast, my gymnast days are long in my past.  But I would like to be able to do those things again, just really for myself.  That and it might be fun to be able to whip one out when others aren't expecting it, haha...   So yup, those are the goals and ya I did steal one of the idea's from Run Mum:) 

I'm still deciding on if I will mention on the blog which race I will be attending before, or if I will wait until after.  I've always been an after the fact blogger/social media poster especially in the past with running.  Mainly for safety, since I am a solo traveler.
I know others do it, and don't have problems with it.  I know my blog has evolved a lot in the past few years.  I just don't know yet how I feel about it for myself yet.  But even if I don't mention which race and state I will be visiting.  If I notice other bloggers I know may be there, I may just reach out to you privately and possibly we could meet up at the starting lines and have a fun chat:)

I've got a lot of goals I am working on right now.  Some personal, some business related and a few that may even change my life quite a bit.  I am always excited about the future and what it may bring, even in all it's ups and downs!
I will say I am so thankful for each and every one of you who have stuck with me and follow my blog.  Blogging would be so boring without you my wonderful followers.  I look forward to blogging with you all in 2015!

If your stopping my my blog for the first time, feel free to leave a comment below.  If your a blogger, please leave me a link to your blog so I can come and visit your blog as well!

Do you make New Years Resolutions?  Or just work on goals all the time as you need or desire them?  What are some of your current goals.
Are you an after the fact blogger, or do you blog about things your going to be doing and places you'll be in the future?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on that, both sides actually since it is something that is quite a bit on my mind on what I should do for myself!