Reflections and Resolutions

• What are the things of 2012 that you are most proud of?

Finishing the classes for my Certification in Nonprofit Management

Paying off my student loans

Running a marathon

• What experience has made you the happiest?

Going to Joplin to volunteer for a week made me happiest. It made me realize that working with volunteers and people passionate about a cause is what I really want to do with my life. I met great people and was really inspired to change my life and pursue my dreams.

• What changes would you make to your career in 2013?

In 2013 I would like to change my career and follow my passion. I would like to help people experience the world as I have been able to experience it: seeking the unknown, finding strength and leadership through teamwork, and the beauty of volunteering and serving others. In the summer I would like to intern with Outward Bound assisting with the wilderness backpacking trips with at risk youth. In the fall I hope to work with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate to lead construction crews.

Upon Reflection:

In 2012 I ran 17 races: 2 Marathons, 3 Half Marathons, 1 Triathlon, one 10K, nine 5Ks, and a 7K. I discovered that I love doing yoga. I woke up one morning and realized that I felt happy and whole, and ready to take risks and leave my comfort zone again. I worked two jobs. I learned to cherish the time I leave unscheduled. I’ve met new people and made new friends.

Resolutions:

I’m going to put money from every paycheck into savings. I want to change my spending habits a little. I’m going to stop shopping for material things. I don’t need anything. I’m going to de-clutter my life. Today I’ll spend the morning sorting through my stuff, getting rid of the trash and donating the things I don’t use. I want to be less of a pack rat. I’m going to cook more and not stop for takeout for meals. I want to eat healthier.I want to try something new. In 2012 I started practicing yoga, and discovered I love it! I want to keep running! For someone who could never run like I can now, marathon-ing is a super power! I’d like to run more than 3 half-marathons this year. I want to live more in the moment, and less in anticipation of what’s next. I want to stay in better touch with my friends.

This is Liz's room, after I filled it with balloons when she went home for the Holidays!

Another Week

In the past 7 days I’ve gone to 11 yoga classes. I’m addicted to yoga. All week I managed to make it to the early morning 6am Hot Yoga class. My ten day trial expired yesterday so when I go this afternoon I’m going to sign up for the three month membership. Last night I went over to Qi Yoga for the Yoga for Detox class. It was a great class! We did several poses I’ve never seen before, like “bird of paradise.” It was really cool to mix new poses into a familiar flow. I’ve already signed up to go again next Friday!

Today I ran the Christmas Carol 10K in 1:04:11. It was pretty chilly this morning, but a great day for a race. I definitely enjoyed the day!

I’ve been busy getting ready to fly home in January. I’m mostly packed, and presents are wrapped. I’m sad I’ll be missing Christmas with my family again, but I can’t wait to go home for a week!

Hot Yoga

This week I started practicing hot yoga. It is amazing! The poses are less strenuous than the vinyasa I’ve been doing, but with the room heated to 105 degrees it’s pretty intense. Within 10 minutes I’ve got beads of sweat forming on my skin, and by the end my clothes are soaked through! I’m still in the ten day trial period, but if I can motivate myself to get to the 6am classes next week, I’m going to invest in a membership. The room is like a sauna. It is so hot I cannot help but be fully present and in the moment. The heat and the detailed instructions make me 100% focused on what my body is doing, and every thought I had before the class started disappears. Today I went to my 4^th class, and those 90 minutes flew by. Attending these classes is also making me more mindful about drinking water to stay hydrated.

Today is day 25 of my run streak! I’ve run over 24 miles last week. If I can make it to New Years, maybe this will be the start of a great Resolution? Yesterday I volunteered at the Santa Stampede and next weekend I’m going to run the Christmas Carol Classic 10k. And in just a few weeks I’ll be home!

Status Quo

Life has been spectacular. I’ve managed to keep up the Holiday Run Streak running at least 1 mile everyday (some days that is the only thing that motivates me to get to the gym!) Today is day 18 of the streak! Yesterday was the Ugly Sweater Run in City Park to benefit Toys for Tots. That was the most chaotic run I’ve ever been to. There were 7,000 runners! Everyone looked absolutely ridiculous/amazing in their ugly sweaters, Santa hats, stick on mustaches and assorted other holiday garb. Once I got there, and picked up my Santa hat and a delicious Angry Orchard Cider I started the run. This event wasn’t times, so I set my stop watch, and took it easy to enjoy the day. It was a great place to people watch! Everyone looked awesome and the atmosphere was festive and fun!

Last weekend was the first 5K of the Run Denver series. I ran the Rudolph Ramble in 27:46 which is faster than I’ve been running since this summer. I’m planning of running the entire series as hard as I can, and hopefully will be able to improve my record time! This week I also went to check out Qi Fitness studios because I have a groupon for 10 fitness classes. So I stopped in and dropped in on a “Kardio Kinesis” class. It was more of a workout than I expected- the class was a circuit of body weight exercises that made me sweat! In the next few weeks I hope to check out their yoga classes.

With the year winding down I’ve been trying to think about the upcoming year and what I hope my life to look like. I have started applying for Outward Bound internships for the summer, and I finished updating my Americorps application so I can begin applying for Americorps Habitat for Humanity positions soon. This week I submitted my finals for my Nonprofit Management classes, all I have left to do is finish my online profile and submit it and I’ll have my certification!

Yesterday Lori had an Empower Women in Africa sewing event in Boulder, and Sam (also from Bike and Build) offered to drive me! It was a great event- a lot of people learning about the organization were really excited about the work we were doing. The woman who runs the little sewing shop taught me how to use a sewing machine! It was great catching up with Sam and Lori, and I’m glad the next event is going to be in Denver.

Molly, Yoga, and Holiday Run Streak!

This week Little Molly came to visit. The perfect excuse to take some time off of work and eat at all my favorite restaurants. Monday we spent the whole day walking around Denver and hanging out. We hit up Snooze for breakfast that morning, and the menu had changed and we didn’t even order the pancakes! The new menu had a French toast we had to try: “Ichabod Crane's French Toast  Pumpkin and mascarpone stuffed brioche griddled and topped with roasted chile maple syrup, candied pumpkin seeds, crushed ginger snaps and lemony whipped cream.” Then we walked over to Symmetry Massage and Spa for massages. I thought our massage therapists did a great job! And, they had heated beds! As soon as I got into it, I was like: “Oooh, is this bed heated?!” On our way there we passed a cute little tea shop, so after the massages we stopped in for a pot of oolong tea. It turns out that tea shop is also a green auto repair shop! It was super cool and the tea was delicious. Then we walked to the 16^th Street mall and did a little bit of shopping, then headed toward the Nature and Science museum. (We got halfway there and gave up, so we stopped for espressos instead). Then we went to the gym for powersculpt and yoga! Tuesday we were so sore from all that walking followed by a workout! After yoga we went to DBAR for some garlic Parmesan fries and a cake and shake. Liz convinced us we should also get some crème brulee. It was all amazing! They were probably the best fries I’ve ever eaten, and I cant wait to go back for more delicious desserts! Tuesday we went to Watercourse for dinner and has Buffalo Seitan Wings, then we cooked Thanksgiving dinner for Wednesday. Wednesday was the Thanksgiving potluck at work, I brought cream puffs that Molly whipped up, and everyone loved it! Then Wednesday night Liz and Lupita came over for dinner and we had some transitional Thanksgiving goodness!

Thanksgiving day started the Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak! I’m going to run at least one mile, every day from Thanksgiving to New Years! Thanksgiving I had a good 5 miles run in Wash Park, then today I managed 2.6

When Molly was here we got to talking a lot about yoga. I brought her to the class at my gym which is a vinyasa flow class. I’m ready to start branching out and trying new yogas though, so this week I bought a groupon deal for a yoga studio downtown. I’m also going to go to the classes at my gym more too, to continue strengthening my practice. I’ve been going there for about a year now, and I never thought I would enjoy yoga so much!

Walking- Hobbit Style

My bike was stolen yesterday. The lock was cut while I was in the gym. So until I can find something to get around on I'll be walking everywhere. Like a hobbit. It was very sad to walk out of the gym to see a broken lock and my helmet where my bicycle should be. I am glad that they left my helmet. I would hate to have to buy a new bike, a new lock and a new helmet. Helmets are pretty darn pricey! I also had some tools in the saddle bag on the bike too, mostly tire levers and a multi-tool I think. Today I stayed late at the gym to catch an extra yoga class. The Tuesday night teacher focuses a lot on breathing and "letting go of things that don't serve you." I'm trying to focus on not feeling sorry for myself, and not being upset over the loss of a material possession.

Its just a "thing." As much as I might have liked that bike, I don't NEED it. I can get around just fine on my own two feet. The walk to work only takes about 25 minutes. I can probably make it there faster with a dedicated power walk.

I guess I'm sad because that bike has seen me through some tough times. When I was in Arkansas, and lonely and needed to be able to get away from my project/team/housing I bought that bike. It was a rainy couple months so I wasn't able to ride it very much, but just knowing that I could was comforting. Then in Joplin after a 12 hour work day I was able to ride back to the school we were living in, giving me the opportunity to get a little bit of exercise and a precious few moments of alone time. I've been a bike commuter in Denver for 15 months- all weather. Last winter was cold, snowy, but that bike shuttled me from two jobs, home and the gym. I was always on time, and in such good shape! And that bike saw me through the Rattlesnake Triathlon this summer, and got me everywhere I needed to go.

I like to think that I'm not materialistic. I'm not emotionally attached to my possessions. Being a cyclist is not the end-all-be-all of my identity.

Motivate!

Winter is coming. I can feel my motivation to workout slipping away. I haven't been running regularly since the Rock and Roll Marathon. I've had a few fun jogs in the park, and a couple quick 5Ks, but I haven't been hitting the treadmill or making time everyday for a burst of cardio. Mondays are always a good gym day though! Powersculpt followed by yoga is a good start to my week. Powersculpt is an hour long weight lifting class that also incorporates cardio and abs. Which is about the only thing I do that actually feels like "working out." Tonight's yoga class was so great. I feel completely stretched out and rejuvenated. I'm ready to tackle the rest of the week!

I signed up for the Run Denver Race series to keep me motivated to run this winter. Its four 5Ks, and a half marathon. One 5K in December, one in January, and two in February, then the Half at the beginning of March. I'm also contemplating the idea of running an ultra marathon in the beginning of May. I wonder if I could convince my cousin Ron that a 50K is a good idea?

I've also signed up to volunteer at a couple races. This weekend I'm going to volunteer at the Run for Fetal Hope, and in December I'm volunteering at the Santa Stampede.