Fill up to Spill out

  Yesterday was a tough one.  I ran my 6th full marathon, and it ended up being my longest, hardest, hottest race to date.  What's funny is that I had hesitated to sign up for Cowtown as I worried about it being too cold as this is a week in Texas that has been known to be icy and snowy with freezing temperatures.  This year, it was the opposite.  We were issued a heat advisory the day before the race with temperatures predicted to be in the 80's at the finish line.  And the heat and hills definitely got to me and others racing the marathon and the ultra.  A lot of runners finished an hour past their predicted time.  I was one of them.   I won't take you through every mile, but instead I will focus on the highlights and some lessons learned.   Highlights... 1. Getting to meet up with a couple of friends in my running and BODi community that I mostly know online... Crystal who I met in person for the first time last summer, and Kary who I connected with in the last several m

Next week is Valentine's Day, but instead of talking about the people in our lives that we love, let's talk about FALLING IN LOVE with RUNNING and FITNESS.  Did you know that the best way to LOVE yourself (and others!) is by taking care of your HEALTH?!  And when it comes to being the healthiest version of yourself, it's ALL about fueling your body with foods that BLESS your body, moving your body every single day in a way that makes you feel STRONG and ENERGIZED, finding an activity/sport that you LOVE, and working on your MINDSET.  Getting healthy starts in our MINDS.   We have to fall in love with the process of taking care of our bodies!  Because this is not a short-term goal, a way to lose weight and then stop doing it.  This is a lifestyle.  And we only get one life and one body, and even though some days or years feel long, life is actually pretty short.  And don't you want to FEEL good and have lots of fun and adventures in this ONE life you get?  I know I do!

  Happy February , the month for LOVE, right?!  It's fun to celebrate those we love by gifting them flowers, chocolate, and enjoying a fancy meal, whether it's with a significant other, our kids, or our galentines.  My husband, our girls, and I have always celebrated Valentine's Day at home with seafood/steak, wine, and chocolate covered strawberries.  Simple, but special.   February is also a month I like to focus on SELF CARE!  It is actually one of my least favorite months of the year, because it is often COLD, brown, and dreary.  As someone who thrives in sunshine and warm weather, I tend to get depressed if I don't have something to focus on, which is why I often run a marathon in January or February.  It forces me to get outside and run and train and show up even when I don't feel like it.  In addition to training for a race, I also try to focus on other things that FILL MY CUP like my early morning routine, reading and listening to books and podcasts, getti