Accepting the things we cannot change

This is for the times when things just don't turn out the way we think they are going to. I'm choosing to focus on the things I have to be thankful for and doing my best to keep my eyes on Jesus. His plans are greater than anything I could ever dream up for myself. So now is the time to close my eyes and let him navigate this storm.

Running everyday of February

Helloooo everybody... and mostly Leeann cuz I know she is reading this... heeheh!!!  :)  I confirmed two things this month from running everyday.... 1. I actually do love running  (was starting to think I was over it)  and 2.  I am terrible at blogging consistently.... probably you can thank my personal trainer class for that!  :)  Anyway... it was an amazing month of running and I haven't stopped yet!  :)  March 1st and I ran 1.17 miles today!  :)  In case anybody is wondering... I ran:

all 29 days in February
on the 29th day I ran 2.9 miles in 29 minutes and 29 seconds
 For the month of February I ran 49.1 miles

For the record and bragging rights I did run on January 31st so that makes 31 days straight of running!  :)

2.82 miles today

I ran for a mile and a half or so and ran into a friend on the path so I ended up adding on some walking too! Beautiful evening.

2.29 miles today!!!!

Squeezed in a run after a baby shower and before going out to a birthday dinner with friends. It felt good to run a little longer!

Catching up

Ok. I have ran every day this month so far. It seems I am better at consistently running than I am at blogging! I'm posting a screen shot of my running log which includes the mileage for each day. I will try and post some photos from different days too. I think my most challenging run so far was the evening after I had hiked almost 12 miles through the Haleakala crater I stopped off at the gym and ran a mile. My legs were angry but it felt awesome to say I did it. I would have to say one of my favorite runs this month was last night with my wicked awesome friend Leeann who ran with me at 10:30 at night after our friend's birthday party!!!

This has absolutely been an awesome month so far. Only 10 days to go!!!

20 days to go!

Tonight I ran 1.25 miles after work. I was wicked tired but ran anyway and I think I busted out my best time for the mile for the last 9 days!!! 20 days to go!!!

OK... I haven't fallen off the wagon yet... just been too busy to post!!!  On the 7th I ran 2.06 miles and tonight I almost didn't make it in time... I finished my run a little after 11pm.. yikes!  I ran 1.09 miles. 

Day 6 - I ran 1.22 miles today..  I would like to run a little longer tomorrow.  We will see if I can squeeze it in with my crazy schedule.  Between work and studying for a class I'm taking its been difficult to find extra time.   :)   I was really happy about the photo of the day.  :)   I was passing a fence that has the green screen attached to it... the silhouette of the weeds on the other side of the fence and the sun shining through made for a great canvas.

Day 5 of running everyday this month!

 













I actually procrastinated on my run all day today.  :)   It was challenging because I went to a super bowl party and enjoyed the friends and food and just couldn't pull myself away to run.  Sooooo when the party was winding down I zipped home grabbed my shoes and ran 1.34 miles around the streets of my neighborhood in the drizzling rain.  It was actually pretty refreshing!  Anyway... I do not recommend running after dark and it really does make for boring photos... oh well... here is the pic from day 5.  :)

Running everyday of February!

Day 4 of 29 - I ran 1.25 miles today.  It was a beautiful day for a run!  25 days to go!  :)

Day 3 of 29 - Running!  :)  - Today I ran 2.30 miles.  I felt really good like I could have ran forever.   :)  We will see how it goes tomorrow!  :)

February is the coolest month!

So many exciting things have been happening in recent months.  I had the opportunity to visit my family in Oregon over Christmas.    We even stayed a couple days on the spectacular Oregon coast while I was there.  You can see a photo of Haystack rock here.  :)

Since I've returned to Maui from the holidays naturally I have been thinking through goals for 2012.  They are developing as the year progresses. 

In the area of health and wellness I have enrolled in a class to get certified as a personal trainer.   I have been studying a absorbing as much information as possible in the last two weeks.  As I study I keep thinking I need to be living out the lifestyle as well.    So each day I am making an effort to make progress towards my physical fitness as well.

Since I started running for "fun" in 2005 I have heard about these crazy runners who run absolutely every day for years and years.   Every time I hear about these people I think, "that's nuts!" and "I want to do that!!!"

Recently I received a flyer for a Leap year fun run.  Its basically getting everybody to get out there and run, walk, jog or crawl on February 29th for 2.9 miles.  This run wont be held again for another 4 years so I want to encourage anyone who reads this to register and do it too!   Go to lifeasarunningmom.blogspot.com and sign up!  Its going to be fun!!!  :)   I decided that I will run everyday of February (at least one mile)  so I can say I ran for 29 days straight and on the 29th I ran 2.9 miles.  :)  Its going to be fun!  :)  So to keep me accountable I am going to try and snap a photo every day on my run and post as many of them as I can on here.  :) 












So here are a couple pictures from my last two days.

Day 1 - 1.27 miles:

Day 2 - 2.56 miles: 

OK...  its been two awesome days in a row and I'm looking forward to tomorrow!  :)  Aloha!

Out and About!

Its been entirely too long since I've posted something...  the reality of it is that I have kept really busy.  I have been feeling better and so I have been out doing... and that is a wonderful thing when I think of where I've come from in the last year and a half or so.  :)  So anyway... its basically midnight and I should be in my bed fast asleep and instead I am going to post a couple photos and try and post again soon!  :)  Enjoy!

Expressing my Gratitude

Dear Family and Friends,

I think a lot of times we live in a world of “What Ifs”. What if I did this instead of that… What if _______ you fill in the blank for your own what if. In recent years I’ve made a practice of not entertaining thoughts of what if and trying to live in the present moment the best I can. Although today I have a very different what if in my mind.

On July 25, 2010 exactly one year ago today I was in a car accident that left me battling chronic neck and back pain for this year. Most of you know the details of that day. For those of you who don’t I was the passenger in my friend’s car. We were traveling on one of the highways here in Hawaii. We approached a construction zone and slowed to a stop. A couple minutes passed and I noticed a very fast moving pickup truck behind us. This pickup hit us traveling about 50 mph. He launched us into the oncoming traffic where we only nearly missed being hit from the front as well.

I was left with a painful neck and back injury. Early on in the recovery process I developed a heightened sense of thankfulness. There are factors that could have made the outcome of that day so very different. On this one-year anniversary I’d like to express my gratitude that I am here writing this message and thanking God that things turned out exactly how they did.

First of all I am so thankful that I am alive today. This year held so many amazing blessings. Since I was 15 years old I have dreamed of going to Paris and not only did I go but I got to visit precious friends AND run a half marathon there!

I am thanking God that I can appreciate the pain that I have had because even thought I have sleepless nights I can still pull myself out of bed and walk on my own two feet every morning.

I am also so very thankful for God’s most amazing provision. I had the privileged of being treated by the best physical therapist in the world! (and YES you are the best Tiffany Pragnell at South Shore PT!)

I can say that one year later most days I am pain free and that in some ways I am even stronger than I was even before the accident happened.

I am overcome with thankfulness when I think of my amazing friends and how they have faithfully loved and supported me through all the phases of my recovery. You’ve listen to me complain and have been so patient with me though these phases. You’ve talked me through the sadness that comes along with these types of experiences. You’ve prayed and spoken vibrancy and hope into my life.

I am learning through my injury a more balanced approach towards living life. I have been notorious in the past for living an extreme and crazy lifestyle. My body doesn’t tolerate marathon cleaning, marathon catching up, marathon sleep depravation… maybe it only tolerates real marathons now… heheeh… with balance consistent training that is. J Practicing balance is rewarding and a skill I haven’t had before this year.

The biggest thing I want to continue to learn and not forget through this experience is to continue to live each day to the fullest. I know that there is obviously a reason I’m still on this earth and I need to live accordingly.

Everyone reading this has played a roll in this challenging but amazing year. I love you and I am thankful for all of you. You’ve been the silver lining in many a cloud fill day this last year!

With all my gratitude and love

Cindy

More Paris photos

The Paris Half Marathon

Hellooooo!!!! :) I had an fantastic experience running the Paris Half Marathon!!! It was a truly amazing day! :)


The subway line we took to get to the race... Most of the people there and in the trains were runners for the race!!!! When we arrived at the stop for the half marathon the conductor announced .... "good luck to all the runners of the half marathon!!!" :)



This is the 24,000 runners getting in line to start the race! To say it was CRAZY is an understatement!


Me at the start line showing off my wild gloves! :) BTW... it was about 30F degrees outside!



Running through the streets of Paris! It was a gorgeous race route! :) Soooo so so many awesome things to see. :)

My first day in Paris

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go

I'm leaving in a few hours for Paris France!!! I will be visiting with some awesome friends and running a Half Marathon. I believe it is going to be nothing short of EPIC!!!! I will post pictures here as soon as I can! :)

Paris Half Marathon

For those of you wondering.. this is the race I'm running in Paris. There is a fun count down for the remaining days until the race and on race day I believe you will be able to track my results.

Here is the website: www.semideparis.com/2011/index_us.html

and my race number is 38817 if you need it! :) Its only a few days away! WOOO HOOO!!!!