2011 Toyota Venza Commercial - Social Network

Case in point...I'm sitting at my computer on a beautiful summer day waiting for something amazing to happen and THIS is NOT living.  Being outside on my bike, riding the trails, getting muddy and sweaty and in general embracing my tomboy girlie-ness...THAT's living.

Think about it...what was your life like without FB and immediate gratification social interaction???  Now, quit thinking about it and go do it!  Go give the world a hug...whatever that looks like for you.  :)

Good Bye Summer

Wow, it's August...summer is almost over and I really am a bad blogger.  So much has happened this summer that I have failed to write about.  Mainly because I've been busy living my life my way and not so much taking time to say much about it.  During the course of the summer I've been training, playing, meeting peeps, going on new adventures, and mastering the art of saying good bye.

In June, I said good bye to my bestest guy buddy, Mr. Incredible when he moved back home to follow his dreams.  I knew it was going to happen, just didn't know when exactly...he left quietly one afternoon without any real warning.  At midnight he was there and at 3pm he was gone...poof, no more Mr. I.  It actually worked out for the best that way I think.  I kind of like the quiet good byes really.  Nothing fancy, no dwelling, just a "talk to ya later".   It was exactly what I would have expected from him, and it was exactly the kind of good bye I needed.  Funny, the dude always seems to know me better than my own self, and he always knows what I need and the best way to handle me in any situation.  You're the best Ty!  Good luck!!! (Oh...and, Go Pioneers!!!??? *shrug*...just kidding, not really...go get em coach, I'll try to make it to at least one game this year. :))

In July, I said good bye to my job.  Not really by my own choice, but it is what it is.  There's a lot of emotion that happens when a 36 year old single mom loses her job.  It's not easy, and there is no way to sugar coat it and say that it is.  I went on vacation (a camping trip by myself...that's a whole other blog post), and when I came home again...poof, no job.

It's been both a good and bad experience.  Good because I've had time to focus on finding a new job, training and really figuring more of myself out, and bad because, well...it's sorta turned me into a crazy monster.  *shrug*  Shit happens, and I have not dealt with this particular shit very well.  I've gone through depression and anger and every other emotion that you can possibly think of, and none of it has been very productive.

When I couldn't handle dealing with my real life no job my best friend just moved away situation, I turned to Facebook for my entertainment (since homeslice doesn't watch TV)...I probably would have been better off watching TV. I quickly became one of those annoying FB people that I hate.  Posting every single hour and commenting on everything.  Suddenly I had an opinion and comment about everything that all of my "friends" posted...ugh!

I need to issue a huge apology to everyone right now for my obnoxious social behavior the last 3 weeks.  I will be the first to admit that it's NOT COOL!!!

BUT, it got me thinking...in a moment of clarity last night it occurred to me...we all lived very healthy, happy, and meaningful lives without the use and instant gratification of Facebook and text messaging and cell phones.  And, I decided in that moment that I wanted out of the social media interaction.  It turned me into something I was not comfortable with and it added a whole host of complications to my life in general.  I want to live my life in the real world doing important things (like finding a job) with the people I care the most about.  The reality is that all of my bestest friends know how to find me without FB, and I really have no interest in sharing every single detail of my life anymore.  So, in a single impulsive moment in the middle of the night last night I deactivated my account...poof, like Mr. Incredible and my job, I disappeared.    

Originally, my intention (pretty sure I've mentioned intentions before and the road to hell) was to deactivate for two weeks, just more of a personal challenge to see if I could do it.  It's safe to say that I didn't necessarily think it through all the way, so I've had to revise my plan a little.  I'm still going off FB...at noon today I will no longer be active, but I don't know if that means that I will completely deactivate my account or if I will just have to find the will power within myself to not go there.  I guess only time will tell, but for now it's a fond farewell to FB land.  I'm sure I'll be back, I just don't know when.

Running Tunes Part 2 --> Girl Talk Feed The Animals 7

This one is my absolute FAV...love the Metallica clip!  Good stuff!!  Great pace, perfect for speed work!! 

Go hard or go home...Metallica always brings it!!!  Go on out and get your puke pace on my friends!

Happy training!

Running Tunes Part 1 --> Girl Talk Feed The Animals 6

This is what I'm listening to right now when I run.  The entire album is Feed the Animals by Girl Talk and it's a mash-up of random pop songs that is meant to be listened to as a whole so the songs run together...it's perfect for long runs!!!  (no annoying dead air between tracks to spoil the pace :))  But number 6 and number 7 are probably my favs, so check em out...or not, it's up to you.  :)    

Happy Training Friends!!! 

Bloggy Blog Love

I want to share my friends blog with you because I think she's brilliant for this concept.  In running nothing is off limits and we often share stories, ideas and dirty adventures of all kinds when we are out on long runs...really we talk about anything we can to take our mind off the fact that we are running.  Don't get me wrong we LOVE running...it's one of the best mental releases I've found, however the actual act of running itself is really quite painful and annoying sometimes.  We usually hate it while we're doing it, but love it when we're done.  I know this doesn't make sense, but it doesn't have to because its running and that's just the way it is. 

So my friend KH is an amazing endurance runner, and one of the funniest people I know.  I believe it was on a long run that the idea for her blog was born, as the things she eats in the bathtub were common topics on our runs.  Now, I've been known to drink a beer or two...or protein shake...in the tub/shower post run, but K takes it to a whole new level, and again I think it's brilliant!!!!  Her blog is called Things I Eat in the Bathtub.  (Multi tasking at it's best really...and let me tell you this woman is an organizing multi-tasking genius...just sayin!!  Love ya K!!)

 Check it out and enjoy...

http://thingsieatinthebathtub.blogspot.com/

 "Running is a mental sport and we are all insane" ~Unknown

A Bike, A Frisbee, A Rock, Running Shoes, and A Birthday...THIS is Adventure Racing

The power of Facebook is at it again.  Just this past week I participated in the first Spring/Summer Trail Series Race #1, of the season.  This is a race series based largely on the power of Facebook.  AWESOME!!!

 

The race itself was an adventure on so many levels and just goes to show what happens when one guy has a dream, a love of trail running and being outdoors, a computer and a helluva lot of friends. 

 

Meet Steve...the creator of the series.  What you really need to know about him is that he is one impressive crazy mofo!  The dude snowshoed in the winter for 24 hours in the worst blizzard we have seen in who knows how long...and this being Iowa, that's saying A LOT!!!  (If I can get his permission, maybe I'll post some pic's for proof on here.)  He also ran across the state of Iowa to raise money for cancer and was sponsored by Livestrong.  Safe to say the dude is as hardcore as it comes. 

 

So Steve apparently had this idea for a race series in the summer where like minded peeps get together on Tuesdays for fun trail runs and then every once in a while, he would throw an adventure type race in there for the hell of it...he created a group and posted it out on FB and within days the group membership swelled to over 200 people.  He set the date for the first race as Saturday, May 7th, and from there the only information we were given was the meeting location and that we needed to bring a bike, running shoes, a frisbee, and practice our rock throwing skills...interesting...(you all know I'm a sucker for any new outdoor adventure, especially one involving my mountain bike and running, and at $10 and the promise of a good time, how could I pass it up?!?!)

 

When we arrived at Orlondo's on Park in DSM last Saturday morning we learned two things, 1) it was Steve's birthday (happy birthday dude!!), and 2) we were going to be going out on a course that would include a two loop mountain bike ride on a horse trail, followed by a frisbee golf type competition, followed by an almost 5 mile run (more than 3 of it being on the most beautiful trail I've ever experienced in my life!!!), followed by throwing rocks at a dummy (we got 3 tries and momma hit the dummy on the first try...I gots MAD rock throwing skillz!!), followed by a finish back on our bikes back to the bar...where the cold beer and shots were waiting (thanks JR!!!)...along with some rum and Kahlua infused cupcakes (thanks Kaiti!!!...you're a monster on the course and in the kitchen!). 

 

More than 20 people participated in the fun.  And for once, I didn't wear a watch and I didn't really keep track of anything...the race was super casual, and the finish times were way unofficial, but in the end it really didn't matter, because I had a blast out there!!!!  I said the trail run was georgous...and it was, I had no idea that such beauty existed that close to my home (trail running and biking brings the fun factor)!!  But most of all, it was the people that made the day so wonderful, and the event so successful.  I met some really really (did I say really??) cool ass biker dude's and chic's.  (Somehow during this event I even got talked into trying my very first bicycle race next week...that's right, NEXT WEEK!...I think it was the beer and the shots talking, or maybe someone dared me, but for whatever reason it seemed like a good idea and I'm gonna go with it...I'm always up for a new adventure or two. :))   

Quote of the Day

"In letting go of control you gain the control you seek. Let Go and Let Flow." - Christine Gutierrez (Sacred Space NYC)