#gameface

So if you run a race, there are professional photographers hiding throughout the course to try and take terrible photos of you. At my 10K run, there were about a million of them. The pictures are scary. I look REALLY pissed. And my legs look weird. And my hair is everywhere. And I'm all sweaty and red. And I look pissed! 

At first I wasn't going to share any with you because of all those insecurity reasons above. Then I realized what a hypocrite that would make me. It would be doing the exact opposite of what I have been preaching all this time about
 Girls on the Run! About loving yourself and your body, and how Jack Calves mean your legs are strong and you CAN run 10Ks, and how to be comfortable in your body and healthy. 

Soo...here is one. 

FINE. Here is two.

#gameface #jackcalves #teameenhoorn #isweariloverunning #GOTRsocks #redface #sortofjackthighstoo

If you cannot tell, the one on the left is a little earlier on in the race...the one on the right is the home stretch (the 5K walkers are behind me, which made me feel like I was going REALLY fast!). I am proud of these pictures and proud of myself for accomplishing this beast of a goal I set for myself! Hope you enjoy a look inside the race!

Be the change. Make the difference.

I survived my 10K!

It was completely insane. Something I never thought I would be able to do. I was full of emotion right before starting the race because when I really think about it I just can't believe I can run 6.2 miles without dying. And even more emotion because my husband's band was playing on the course and chanted my name when I ran by. And because my sister and her family, and my dad were all there cheering me on. And because my mom got up even earlier than all the rest of them, on Mother's Day, to get her spot at the finish line and see me finish.

The actual race flew by. My Jack Calves were screaming for about the first mile until I got into a rhythm, and realized how fast I was going. Once I slowed down, and got into it, I felt okay. There were some hills that I hadn't really trained for, but survived. I was able to keep about an eleven minute pace, which is fast for me, and finish at one hour and eight minutes! I knew I COULD finish under an hour and a half. My goal was to make it under an hour and fifteen. As soon as I came around that home stretch and saw the clock, I sprinted mostly out of excitement, because I had beaten my goal by so much.

I was able to meet the nice people from Girls on the Run, who were very appreciative of our fundraising we did for them. They were so nice and so encouraging. The total amount raised was $170, which is enough to cover a little more than one registration fee for a Girls on the Run girl!

Not only was I able to do something I never thought I could, but I was able to help others while doing it. And I just cannot describe to you how that feels. I am very proud of myself for doing this, and making a difference while doing it. I don't say that to toot my own horn, but to tell you now...if there is ANYTHING you are thinking about doing, but you are to afraid to commit, do it. Whatever it is, you have to try, and you have to work at it. Even when it is hard and you are tired and don't think you can. You can, and you should, and it will be the best thing ever. I promise you.

Be the change. Make the difference.

becoming a runner.

Before becoming a runner!

I mentioned my Jack Calves before, and I've been thinking a lot about them, and why I'm happy I became a runner. I've told you about my struggle with anorexia, and my body image issues. I know I had a very blessed childhood, very supportive family and people in my life, and know there was no REAL reason to feel so down about myself. I had lots of positive people in my life, but I personally needed more. 

After becoming a runner!

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I'm convinced no matter what, every female is going to have different appearance issues with themselves, no matter what you try to do to avoid it. I had no reason to feel bad about myself. I was a pretty girl growing up. I didn't NEED to lose weight. 

However, when I started running, I also stopped drinking pop. The pop thing was unrelated initially, and primarily because I detoxed after I had my wisdom teeth pulled. This was a deadly combination for about a month or so while my body adjusted to the new addition and lack of large amounts of sugar I used to consume. Again, I know now I didn't need to lose weight, but once I made these two big and healthy changes, I lost ten pounds. 

It was a huge thing for me, because for so long I was trying to desperately to change how I looked in the worst way possible. By living off crumbs and scraps, maybe one full meal a day, and all the caffeine I could find. Instead I became addicted to the feeling after a run. When you can't catch your breath and you are covered in sweat and your legs might be numb, but your heart is pumping because it is healthy, and your lungs are gasping because you are alive and you gave them a good workout. I became addicted to feeling good, instead of being addicted to seeing how long I could go without eating something healthy.

Learning the right way to take care of yourself early on is so important, so that you don't have to struggle on your own as an adult. Girls on the Run is committed to helping girls love themselves and develop healthy lifestyles early on. So far, we have raised $170 thanks to Mom, Dad, Aunt Barb, Kathy and Kellie! Help us meet the goal of $320 by clicking here to donate to GOTR!

OR you can come out and cheer me on THIS SUNDAY at my race! I am running the 10K at the Kalamazoo Marathon! My husband's band is also playing at Spring Valley Park during the race, so you can watch from there :)

Be the change. Make the difference.   

why $320

I received an awesome packet in the mail this week from Girls on the Run! They sent me some awesome socks, tattoos, an encouraging letter and some photos. I am REALLY excited about these socks...I just hope they fit over my Jack Calves! 

Race day is getting closer, and time is running out to donate! In order for a girl to participate in Girls on the Run, they have to register and are asked to pay a program fee. The normal fee is $160 per girl for a ten week program including lessons, two shirts, a pair of running shoes from Gazelle Sports, a water bottle, registration for the end of the season 5K and a finisher medallion.

Thanks to YOUR donations, GOTR is able to offer this program fee based on what a family can afford, so not every family has to come up with the full amount. I hear having kids is hard and expensive, and every activity they participate in costs money. With your donation you can help a young girl in Kalamazoo start building healthy habits at an early age! 

My goal is to raise enough money for TWO registration fees. Right now, we are at $75...which is awesome, but we have a little ways to go! Click here to make a donation, and don't forget to come out on May 8th and watch me run while listening to Royal Blue!

Be the change. Make the difference.  

starting to panic.

My race is in 13 days. I've been running four times a week. Three short runs and one long run. 

This past week, my short runs have been rough. My shin splints all the sudden decided to come back and I'm getting a little panicked about it. Since I got my most recent pair of shoes, I have not had one single issue with shin splints. Now, all the sudden, THIS CLOSE to race day, they start again. My #1 coach (and husband) is telling me to take shorter steps, and probably in his head telling me to call the heck down! But I'm starting to panic!

My long run yesterday was not terrible....and I almost did a Cory Dean victory celebration when I finished. I made it 6 miles! That is the longest I've ever run in life! My shin splints were bad for about the first two miles, and then I forced myself to zone out and not think about what my body was doing. Also, I tried to name every resident on my property in order of address. And it worked! Pretty soon I was cruising and done with 6 miles!

I know in my head, even if race day comes and my shin splints are ripping my calves apart, I'm still going to run. It's just annoying to have been feeling so good about my running condition and have them start up again! Any prayers you can send up would be great :) Hopefully I can zone out again if they continue to make an appearance.

Also, if you haven't donated yet, click HERE to support GOTR and help young girls in Kalamazoo learn to build a healthy lifestyle early on. My race is May 8th, so come cheer me on!

Be the change. Make the difference. 

running is hard.

Like, really really hard.

When I first started out, I could barely run for two minutes without stopping. I literally had to force my legs to keep moving, and concentrate on trying to catch my breath until I could stop. Thankfully, I had a good coach when I started (miss you Jess!), who also happened to have been a previous Girls on the Run Coach! She helped me focus on other things and work up to longer periods of time. 

Now, I still eventually hit that wall where I have to force myself to keep moving my legs and breathing, but it takes much longer to get to. Some days, I have bad runs. I get shin splints, I get a bad stomach ache, my mind is too busy to focus on running, I didn't drink enough water. Those days are hard. I come home and I'm pissed and I hate running and never want to do it again.

my Kal-Haven trail run on Sunday :)

But MOST days, I power through my first wall, and I eventually hit a spot where I don't even feel like I'm running anymore. It just comes naturally. It took a really really long time to get to that point, and had I started at a GOTR age, I might have gotten there sooner. 

My race is 20 days away, and I'm starting to freak out. I have only run 5.7 so far on a long run, and I am running out of practice time. I have to power through to 6.2 miles on race day! I don't have an option at this point. I have to set an example and help lead the way in creating a healthier next generation, right? 

You can too! Donate HERE to Girls on the Run and come watch me run on May 8th while listening to the 90s jams of Royal Blue! Thank you again to my mom and Aunt Barb for donating so far! You guys rock :)

Be the change. Make the difference.

GOTR lessons

WHOA. All the sudden is has been 10 days since anything has been posted on here, and it is less than a MONTH until my race. Eeek!

It's time to tell you more about Girls on the Run, and why they make such a huge impact in the lives of young girls! The program they set up for girls in 3rd-5th grade teaches them to define their lives on their own terms. For each 10 week season, they work with the same group of girls and same coaches. Throughout the season the girls make new friends, build confidence and celebrate the things that make them unique. The lessons encourage emotional, social, mental and physical development, and help them develop skills to help them navigate experiences in a healthy way. 

Physical activity is woven into the program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and build habits early on that can lead to a lifetime of healthy habits. At the end of each season, the girls participate in the 5K run, which celebrates their accomplishments and gives them a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through achieving your goals.

Their 5K race is scheduled for May 26th in Kalamazoo! You can volunteer to help out at the race and cheer on girls as they cross the finish line if you are not able to make a financial donation to my race. Any type of support for girls at this age is so important!

Click here to make a financial donation and support my race AND make sure to come out and listen to Royal Blue and watch me run by on race day, May 8th!  Your donation will go toward the registration fee ($160 per girl) which covers 20 lessons, a new pair of Gazelle Sports running shoes, two t-shirts, a healthy snack at each practice, a water bottle, registration for the race AND a 5K finisher's medallion! That is a deal :)

Be the change. Make the difference.

why GOTR at this age

Think back to when you were 12 years old. Around seventh grade, hormones kicking in, feeling awkward and trying to fit in, right? Easy to sum up for just about everyone at that age. Let me tell you a story about me at that time.

I was school shopping with my dad the fall before 7th grade. How he managed to spend time shopping with me is something I will never understand, but that is the besides the point. I remember him telling me I could spend a certain amount of money on school clothes, and asked where I wanted to go. I immediately told him Abercrombie & Fitch, a well known, very expensive store in the mall, where all the "cool kids" shopped. 

So, he lovingly followed me there, and patiently explained to me that I could spend ALL of my money on ONE shirt there, or go to another store and get a few things instead. I, of course, insisted on the one A&F shirt, and proudly wore it in my school picture that fall. (Clearly that was a great plan because you can't even see the logo in the shirt...oops!)

Looking back, it's insane. Why spend so much money on one shirt just to fit in? I was already stuck in "The Girl Box," and didn't even know it yet.

Fitting in becomes all you can think about around this age, and studies show between the ages of eight and twelve, girls especially struggle. They still listen to adults, but are beginning to feel the pull of peer pressure and all the joy that comes with it.

Girls On The Run focuses on these ages for that reason, and have developed something they refer to as "The Girl Box." This is a place where girls feel as if they are valued more for their appearance, who their friends are and what kind of clothes they wear as opposed to the strength of their character. THIS is the best time to address personal and relationship issues with a girl because it is when they begin to learn how to manage it all. GOTR helps girls during this time manage their emotions, learn the dangers of gossiping, how and when to speak up for yourself...and anything in between. They call it staying OUT of that girl box!

Help girls stay away from the box and learn all about how to manage their feelings and place value on the RIGHT things! Click HERE to donate to GOTR and support my 10K! 

Be the change. Make the difference. 

about Girls On The Run

It's time to tell you a little more about Girls on the Run and how awesome they are! As you know, I am running the 10k at the Borgess Run for the Health of it/Kalamazoo Marathon. I have chosen to run for and raise money for GOTR as well. Their mission statement below sums it up pretty well!

"Girls on The Run is a life-changing, non-profit program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grade. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The 20-lesson Girls on the Run curriculum combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills and make healthy decisions.....
Meeting twice a week in small teams of 8-15 girls, we teach life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. The 20-lesson curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large....
Running is used to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. At each season's conclusion, the girls and their running buddies complete a 5k running event. Completing a 5k gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. The result—making the seemingly impossible, possible and teaching girls that they can." - GOTR Website

I didn't run my first 5K until I was 24! That is way too long to wait to have made healthier choices and set a goal for myself. Theses girls do it at 13! But, in order for this program to exist and help girls of all family income status, they need our help! Click here to make a donation and support my run and GOTR! The first person to donate will automatically win a $10 gift card for Gazelle Sports, courtesy of Girls on the Run! 

Be the change. Make the difference.

why GOTR.

Quite some time ago, I wrote a post and began telling you about an organization called Operation Beautiful. It was by far, one of the hardest posts I have ever written. I wanted to come clean about my eating disorder, but knew it meant coming clean to those I cared about the most that I hid it from. It was a hard post, and a couple of very hard conversations.

Even though I have been healthy and happy for a very long time now, thinking about what I put myself through still effects me. I wasn't hugely overweight. I wasn't stick skinny. But I was far from healthy. 

There was no real reason for me to starve myself. I had a great childhood. I had a mother and a father that loved me very much. A loving and protective sister that I was close with. Eventually, a stepmom and four amazing step siblings that also cared about me very much. I had great friends that I could call anytime. I went to one of the best school districts in the area. I was active in church and youth group. I spent summers at our Jesus Camp learning more about the God and growing in my faith. I literally had it all.

Talking about my eating habits sometimes makes me feel bad because I don't want any one to feel responsible. There was no one to blame except myself. I was insecure, and instead of getting up and changing in a positive way, I did the opposite. I didn't want to work for anything, I just wanted to immediately look better. Once I started college, I tried different things at the gym, but nothing ever really seemed to interest me or work like I wanted it to. It was easier to starve myself, because it was less work.

Again, there is no one to blame but myself. I had loving people all around me. Three amazing, active parents in my life. Siblings that loved me beyond words. Friends that stood by my side for several years, and never once intentionally made me feel bad. In fact, the one I call my best friend to this day even picked up the phone and called my sister for help when she realized what I was doing.

I picked to run and raise money for Girls On The Run because of what I went through, and how I turned out. Never in a million years would I have thought I would grow up and "runner" would be part of my description as a person. But running has completely changed my life in so many ways. Had I had something like GOTR well before I started struggling with body image issues, I may have become a healthier person a long time ago. Their mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. I can't wait to tell you more about the organization, and how it is helping young girls change the way they think about themselves. 

For now, if you would like to check out my fundraising page and/or make a donation already, click HERE. Or stick around for more details :)

Be the change. Make the difference.