Race Costumes and Other Reasons to Laugh...

When I get my moment of "being funny" it is typically more of an airhead moment, a blonde moment, a beginners luck kind of moment. Or a bitchy moment. I just didn't get that funny gene, nor have I worked at it. And that's ok. I'm just grateful so many of you out there are so naturally sassy and funny! Laughter is of the best medicine, we need a good dose of it everyday....

Since I have no cooooool outfit to share and am on a "race" kick these are the must see's from Saturdays 10K. They kept us entertained and caused me to loose breath when really I was trying tomaintain.... some we followed, some we passed and some we high fived at the finish line.

None of them were photo'ed by me, all of these and more can be found here.

How they ran all 6.2 miles dressed this way still escapes me!

And that is Richmond Monument Avenue 10K costume competition at it's finest!
Can you imagine running in one of these costumes? Which one's your favorite??


And this my friends is Rebecca at her finest!!!

                                                                     
Hi y'all!!
My name is Rebecca and I blog over at Caravan Sonnet. I am thrilled to be here today mostly because I simply adore Kristine! When I first met Kristine I was matched with her with the "Bigs & Littles" blogging network. I think I literally had 2 followers (my sis and one of my best friends *smiles*) and was wanting to build a community of friendships. I was a little nervous when I saw how well Kristine wrote, her amazing followers and community that she had, and just how awesome she is! In addition to this I am a swimming/pilates gal (in other words I hate running :)) and Kristine can whip out many many many running miles each week still looking beautiful. My nerves though lasted as long as five minutes when I received the sweetest email from her and immediately realized that she is as awesome as her blogging posts. :) One of the things that I love about Kristine is her attention to good health which is also important to me as I struggle with some health issues.

Recently I have been reminded again how important laughter and joy are to our health.

Right after I was diagnosed with my chronic illness I went to work reading many different books and doing tons of research (which I am sure everyone does!). One of the books that people kept recommending was Norman Cousins book called "Anatomy of an Illness" so I definitely made a point to read this book. I was inspired and amazed by his story and would definitely recommend it. Cousins was diagnosed with a debilitating disease where his body would literally fuse together. It was incredibly painful and incurable. Cousins shared that doctors only gave him a 500 to 1 chance of recovery. DESPITE those odds Cousins implemented his own "treatment" and eventually recovered. In his book he discusses the entire method of what he did but one of the things that he spoke about was the influence that laughter had on his healing process. Cousins (after he obtained his doctors' approval) chose not to stay in the hospital but he stayed in a hotel room (near the hospital) and in addition to his diet and vitamins he gave himself (as he termed it) "laugh therapy". Cousins watched and read anything that would bring him laughter. Overtime he started to see that for every ten minutes of laughter he would have a couple of pain free hours.

Now, BEFORE I receive a ton of emails stating that this is not physically possible (I will share some scientific evidence) I do want to say that I understand when you are in pain and not feeling well it is sometimes hard to find the laughter. I do understand. Seriously, I do. But as I read the following statistics and information again I was convinced again about the importance of finding joy in all of our circumstances....

Doctors say that laughter:
1 - can distract attention away from illness or pain
2 - can reduce tension
3 - can change a persons expectations by encouraging a different outlook
4 - can increase the production of endorphins which is the bodies natural pain killers Some hospitals around the United States have even incorporated "laughter programs" to help their patients heal. There was an article years ago about a Catholic hospital in Texas where nuns told funny stories to patients on a daily basis so that they would feel better and heal more quickly. Laughter is truly an important process of the recovery process. Honestly, I do understand how difficult some days can be when you are hurting and sick or sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. But did you know that it actually takes more effort and energy not to smile then it does to smile and laugh? It takes forty-three muscles to frown but only seventeen to smile. WOW!

So what are some ways that you can find laughter ~
especially on days where it feels like that is the last thing you want to be doing?

* rent funny movies (don't forget about the old ones! Last spring I rediscovered some classics!)
* read funny books - read the comics - read funny blogs (seriously, some are hilarious!)
* find the joy in simple things.
* I actually have chosen to not watch anything that would cause stress, tension, or negative thoughts to go into my life. (Am I the only one or are some of those lifetime movies just downright scary?!?)
 * Try not to take things so seriously. I am preaching to the choir on this because with being ill it can be difficult not to do this. I have learned though that if you look for the bad you will find it but if you look for the joy you can find joy.
* keep old emails, article clippings, letters, etc. that bring joy and laughter to look at often.
* laugh at yourself. I recently  shared my endometriosis story and to this day I will never forget a situation that happened during this time period. My mom and I were in a very populated mall when I received the phone call that the surgeon (from across the country) would accept me as a patient but would not be able to have an appointment available for an additional three months. This might not sound like a big deal but at the time it was and my mom and I sat down and bawled our eyes out right there in the middle of the mall. As we realized that people were staring at us we started to giggle and then couldn't stop laughing. To this day we laugh about this incident. Don't be afraid to step out and laugh!

Where do you find laughter?

Thanks so much for spending a few minutes reading today!
I would love to meet you so please stop on by and say" hi"! I hope y'all have a wonderful day! :)

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She's the sweetest of them all! 

Always cheerful, always motivating, and so caring :) 

And, she's given us yet another excuse to snort, clap and laugh our hearts out!

It's unbelievable the power laughter holds!! 

Be sure to stop by her blog! 

And tell me have you ever worn a costume for a race???

I'm NOT feeling the porpoise costume...

but maybe one of the pinky, inky, and blinky costumes ;)

Linking with Random Wednesdays, Walkabout Wednesday, GFC Bloglovin

From the Finish Line...

for those that know...yes, I'm wearing my invisalign trays... hence, the bigger pout and closed smile!

"After some rehydration, people watching and refueling we headed back to the finish line to cheer people through. This was one of the best feelings I've had in a while. I had to turn away a few times. It's that instant you're taken over by emotion. The swell of tears rise from sheer happiness. That was happening, over and over."

What I wrote at the finish line of my 10K on Saturday. 

With my iphone in hand I've decided to type what I'm seeing instead of the normal photo snapping.
The finish line is a place of celebration. It is the home of runners victories. Those that cross it come from all different walks and each made it there with different reasons and goals in mind. No one starts a race to not finish it. These are of the ~40,000 people we joined in the Monument Avenue 10K 2013 race....

Pregnant women literally racing for two somehow gracefully crossing the finish line.
The very overweight, the ones who very well may be pushing the hardest in this crowd.
Husbands and wives holding hands, a strong union, a proud moment of team work.
Kids clapping and smiling without a bead of sweat, running an adult sized race.
The mother - daughter teams making memories.
The father - son teams making memories.
The best friends, the girls in a line spread across the street, hands held high - gitty and cheering.
Outrageous costumes, tutu's and one of kind statement race T's drenched in sweat crossing the line.
Goofballs tied at the ankles, having somehow ran the entire race with only "3 legs".
The runners who clearly didn't think they could ever make 6.2 miles, their faces displaying sheer disbelief and prideful happiness.
The senior citizens with chest pushed forward as they placed their bib first through the line for a time better than last years.
The cancer survivors
The cancer fighters
The ones doing it for those who can't

As I cheered and took in all the faces I couldn't help but want to cry! It's silly to some but for me, I just see power. I see people believing in themselves. I see hard work paying off. I see boosts of confidence. The feeling of watching people succeed is such an awesome feeling, in ways... better than your own successes.
The finish line is where you aim to be at the first step of the race, it's also where you should wrap back to after catching your breathe. The party is there, the volume of cheer is deafening and the rawness of emotion is constantly on display. Always, always be a part of something bigger than you are.

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To imagine the horrific terror on faces of those at the finish line of the Boston Marathon is just something I can't picture. The news breaks the story and fills in the blanks that human minds can't fill. The ones who designed this awful tragedy are far from human in my opinion. They are awful, awful breeds of people. Ones that rip families apart by death, injury and by force of heroism and need to protect and defend. My prayers and thoughts and next run are with those suffering from yesterday.


Regular scheduled post will be back on track tomorrow!
The funnies I had planned to share from the race just didn't seem appropriate in light of yesterdays events....






Linking with Just Because, Take Time Tuesdays

You know you're a RUNNER when...

How do you know you're a runner? 

Is it the fancy decal proudly rubbed onto your back windshield? Or the magnet clinging to your bumper that declares you a runner? Perhaps it's the tread on your well traveled running shoes....
Wonder what makes a runner and how to be one?

Here's how...
Find the nearest exit...open the door and walk out. When it slams shut, take a deep breath and start your run. Run as far as you can. Run at your pace. Stop when you want. Then, look back to where you came from and smile. Pat yourself on the back and own that new title. You are now a runner.

Tips for running...

Create playlist. Music will keep you moving. Music will motivate you. It will renew you, better your pace and help set time limits on your run.

Practice intervals. Running doesn't always mean a consistent pace of jogging. If you're training for distance don't just assume long runs will get you there. There's power in intervals. Sprint straightaways and jog curves. Sprint every other light post, mail box, street sign, mile. Make running fun for you.

Learn to breathe. Find your rhythm. Inhale through nose, exhale through mouth. Continue this method through the entire run. Slowing down your pace when needed. This will prevent and calm cramps.

Dress right. Choose layers for colder temps and wrap them at waist when you warm up. Invest in arm bands for iPods, keys, Chapstick. Find a water bottle (similar to mine). Choose breathable, dry-fit styled clothing. Pull hair back. And, of course, pamper your feetsies with proper soles.

Stretch. Every runner knows that function means speed. Every runner also knows that some runs will lead to more soreness and stiffness than others. It is of utmost importance to warm-up/cool-down and include stretches. Stretching at the end of your run will ensure that you maintain correct posture and form, enabling speed and light-footed grace. View this video for one of my favorite stretches and more tips.

Find accountability. If running alone, track your progress privately or through social media apps, tell others your story or find a training team and/or run with buddies. Talking about what you're doing will give you the upper hand and reinforce all that you've accomplished.

Pride yourself. Whether you ran one mile or five, one street or an endless country road....you ran. No one can argue "a body in motion". Praise yourself and commit to doing it again.
Find a decal and rock it. Sign up for a race, I do! All runners will agree that the feeling during a race and at its finish line is so very liberating. Being a part of a running crowd does wonders for your soul and future runs.

Do it again. Your first run may seem like a fail. It's not. Re-read this if you still think it is. Give yourself time. It takes time to feel your own rhythm. Stick it out. There's nothing bad about your first run. Well...only if you make it your last run.

Remember when you're on that open road...it's your road, your run. Create your course and wear blinders. Give no worries to passer-by's - they have no clue how far you've gone or how fast/slow you're going. The same applies to treadmill runners. If you're in the gym, surrounded by other runners...keep on, getting on. Incline, decline, speed up, slow down. You are in control of your run. And, if you fear the gym, read this.

So there. That's how you know you're a runner. If you haven't yet, give it a try. Each of us respond differently to exercise. You may love every minute of your second and third mile but hate the first. You may love the first mile but feel like death on the second. Try new things as you experiment with what kind of runner you are. The one and only thing we all have in common is the want to start and really, never finish.


My healthy living goals are simple  !be better than the day before! I really believe in the simplicity is this goal.


Tag! You're it! Any of these tips helpful? What other tips can you add to this list?

also linking with Brittany and Misty for Getting Fit Friday
AND Fitness Friday hosted by Kelly at Honor, Courage and Commitment
YOLO Mondays, GFC Monday Hop, Monday Meetup, Tell Me About It Tuesday!

Running up to Timeout

This is my last week of running and exercising...
No, I'm not quitting or giving up. I could never do that.
I'll share with you a favorite Running Quote of mine, sure to be my mantra for a lil' while 


     “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” 
       – Dean Karnazes

Seems that for the next few weeks, 4-6 to be exact, I will be doing the crawl or walk. 
Doctor's orders. And really, those are easy orders, just not easy for me to follow.

So in an effort to get it all out of my system, I lined up 2 killer challenges for this week.
These races couldn't be more different (with the exception of distance).
One is sweet and pretty, the other muddy and dirty.

First up:  CupCake Classic 5K - hosted by Jess over at Run with Jess

A fun run with a cupcake at the finish line??? Seriously, sign me up. 
This is Jess's 2nd annual Cupcake Run and I'm proud to be a part of it.
Yes, it's a virtual race, something I'm new to but so very, very impressed with.
I've received my virtual race packet which includes my Race Bib and at least 15 Sponsors to shop with! It's not too late for you to sign up! Race window is until the 21st. So team up and join in!
I'm ready to hit the pavement, enjoy 3.1 miles of beautiful fall foliage, and devour a cupcake at the finish line! 

Second Race: Pretty Muddy 5k - obstacle course

Why do a mud run, you ask? I ask, why not?! It's another race, I'm new too.
And I invite the challenge. I'm both excited and nervous about this race. It's been years since I took on an obstacle course, unless you consider the daily explosion of kids toys on the floor to be an equal dare. So for that reason, I'm excited.  My friends however were not so eager to participate. Not a single one signed up with me. And for that reason I am nervous. It's a bummer my friends weren't able to team up with me, so instead of making team shirts with friends the night before....I may just make a t-shirt with some lame quote...yea, can't think of any right now, but it could happen. stay tuned. 


Wish me luck in both of these 5K's. I'll need it. Especially in the latter of the two.
And if you're wondering why my trusty running partner A.K.A. hubby isn't racing with me it's because he'll be cheering and taking pictures...as the pretty muddy is a women's only event!

Have you had to take a break in your regular fitness routine for health reasons or other? Did you plan like me and enjoy as much of it as possible before the break?
Funny how some people consider the "break" torture!

image 1 (source) , image 2 (source)