The COOL Kid's Donate To Team Challenge!

1" buttons are cool! Donate $25 or more to my Team Challenge fundraising and I will send you the 3-pack! (Choose between the man and woman pin). A $30 or more donation will get you all 4!

Choose between Chicago or Boston sets!

For those not from Chicago, LSD = Lake Shore Drive! LOL!

Click HERE to donate!

Thanks!

Come Potty With Me In Chicago! Opps! I Mean Run With Me! Sorry, Did I Say Runs? I Meant...Oh Never mind. Just Donate Please!

One of my New Year's resolutions is to do more service for others. Running the Chicago Marathon will not be a new experience for me, but fundraising for charity is! 

I could have picked from lots of charities to raise money for, so why did I choose to run for Team Challenge? As a runner, potty talk is a part of normal conversation. We usually joke about the discomfort of having to use the bathroom when no bathroom is in sight or not making it to a bathroom in time!

 

During a marathon, you will see at least one spectator holdong a sign that reads "DON'T POOP YOUR PANTS!" To the 1.6 million Americans living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, this is no laughing matter. The pain, the discomfort, the "accidents", and surgeries are real life. Everyday.

Help me fight the stigma, raise awareness and funds to find a cure!

You can donate HERE!

THANK YOU!!

Angie 💓

Martin Luther King, Jr. And His Legacy Of Love.

When I was in 5th grade I had to do a report on someone I admired. I chose Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I remember taking a shoe box and making a pretty good diorama of the outside of room 306 of the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated. Looking back now, I don't know why I chose that scene, but I do know that from an early age, my siblings and I were taught that Dr. King was a great man and someone to be admired and I have looked to his teachings in times of anger, hurt, and injustice as a way to find a better way to cope with things that feel unfair.

In the past few weeks I have had to really remember those teachings and try to cling to the message of love he shared with us all. When we feel betrayed, wronged or wounded, it is easier to hate than to love. It can feel impossible to "turn the other cheek" and "love thy neighbor" when you really want to give them a nice punch to the throat, but Dr. King has shown us that it can be done, we just need to have the courage to do it.

Today as we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., let's all try to show love, kindness and compassion to all people, even those we struggle with. disagree with or have bad feelings towards. Remember what Dr. King said: "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."

I Can't Get Motivated Y'all! HELP!

Listen, we all get down in the dumps once in a while and have to have a pity party now and then, but this is different. If you suffer from depression, PTSD, Trauma or other mental health issues, getting motivated to just go to work or do simple household things can seem overwhelming let alone getting the motivation to run?

The worst part is, while there has been great strides taken in eliminating the stigma for mental health issues, there is still a HUGE stigma surrounding it and what triggers one person to implode, may seem silly or insignificant to someone not suffering. The same trigger can cause unbearable grief and in extreme cases suicide in others.

As some of you may know I suffered a tremendous loss when Bart left me suddenly (him having a new girlfriend within 72 hours sent me into a VERY dark place). I have had a very hard time, not only emotionally (because I loved him so much), but physically, and though we are trying to remain friends, I am still having a hard time letting go of the pain and anger and I have just not felt like running.

I think it is a mental thing as a lot of my running in the last year centered around Bart and I, and while I have wonderful memories with him, right now running just makes me miss him more and I get REALLY sad. Telling me "it's his loss" or "get over it" is not what works. Believe me, I wouldn't wish my pain on anyone right now. If I could get over it that easily, I would.

Running was once something that saved me from getting depressed and sadness at times, motivated me to to work hard to achieve my goals, but this has taken a serious toll. I have not run more than 5 miles since we split up.

I NEED to get motivated. I NEED something to get me out the door in the cold, snowy weather. One thing I have to look forward to is the Boston Marathon in April. The other is the Yeti 100 in September. Both of these will require some training if I want to do well, so getting motivated to run is key here. 

How I have felt about running lately.

Luckily, I haven't just been sitting on the couch eating Bon Bons. I have been going to the gym every day and recently started taking Yoga classes at work.

Taking Yoga is not only helping with my strength and flexibility, but helping me quiet my mind. 

My peach of a friend Robert Merriman sold me a like new treadmill for $50! I have run on it a few times, but 3 miles is about my limit on a treadmill.

Posing on my new treadmill!

So, I am in a pickle. God let Spring get here fast! I need to get my mojo back! If you all have any suggestions, please share them. I NEED help!

Happy New Year!

What an emotional year 2016 has been for almost everyone. Whether it's been the Presidential election, the many shocking celebrity deaths, or any personal issues that have made us sad (or happy), it is safe to say 2016 has been crazy!

I have been trying to write my 2016 year in review for the past week. Most of 2016 was the best year of my life, full of the most wonderful memories. So wonderful in fact, I am having a difficult time reliving them without completely falling apart. Running has always been therapeutic for me, but right now there is a lot of pain connected with it. I hope with a little time, I can get excited about it again.

So instead of a 2016 year in review, the best I can do is to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

In 2017, let's look forward!  I have a lot great running, friendships and fun to look forward too!