When your cup runneth over

You know, sometimes my proverbial cup feels ever so full.

Has that ever happened to you? When you just have a lot of warm and fuzzy feel-good things happening? What's more, do you take notice and pause to cherish them for a few moments?

Although February wasn't exactly the most pleasant month (ugh, the weather!), it did kind of wind down in a nice manner. I'm grateful for every good thing that happened, and I'm especially thankful that I was able to recognize them as they occurred. Here's five recent feel-good things that have made me smile....


I was reminded that runners can walk, too.
We had glorious temps on Tuesday, which was a scheduled rest/recovery day. I had run nine miles on Saturday, and two miles both on Sunday and Monday, and was also planning to run five miles on Wednesday. I seriously did NOT need (or want) to have five continuous running days....so I went for a 3-mile walk instead.  I have no shame in walking, after all it was my main go-to for three solid months last summer. I have gotten out of the routine of doing my daily walks, though. I think it was during my running streak (Thanksgiving through New Year's Day) that I kind of let the daily walking go because I was doing the daily running instead. Anyways, I had forgotten how power walking felt...my quads were flexing in ways they haven't flexed for awhile and my feet were striking the ground in an unfamiliar pattern.....but it felt good!

OOPS, I'm doing it again.
After much searching, comparing, and contemplating...((drum roll)), I have found another marathon! I'm all about destination races, especially for something as grandiose as 26.2 miles. I'll be toeing the start line of the Cannonball Marathon on October 13th (Greensboro, NC). I wanted a fall marathon, but just couldn't commit to the R'n'R Savannah on November 3rd (but I think I will still be game for the ReMix...doing both the 5K and the 13.1). The Cannonball Marathon feels like a better option for me because it's three weeks earlier....less time to draw out all that training, right? Stay tuned...I'll be putting together a summer training plan in the next few months!

My hair makes me laugh.
The other day I was running late (almost #literally LOL) and didn't have time to take a full shower (you know...when you actually wash you hair as well). My best hack for making do with icky hair is to swirl a few waves through it with the flat iron...and presto! The weird-laying hair then has waves and everything looks intentional. Anyways, something that does not make sense to me, though, is how curling my hair actually makes it look longer...shouldn't it be the reverse? I'm not complaining about this paradox...but I'm certainly confused by it.

I had a guilt-free scale-back week.
As most know, I'm doing weekly stair workouts in preparation for the Fight for Air Climb (Des Moines, April 8th). When I hit the stairs on Thursday morning, my body felt especially fatigued (and it wasn't just from the 5:30a.m. wake-up). I made it through the first complete circuit (which included 10 burpees, 10 flights of doubles, 10 squats, 5 flights of singles, and a 1-minute plank) and I still didn't feel fully functional. Then I realized that I had not had a scaled-back week of stair training in a long time. I made the command decision to do three total sets of the circuit instead of four. And I had ZERO guilt in doing so.

Art makes for such a happy existence. 
A couple weeks ago, the daughter's art club hosted a Cocoa and Canvas Night at the high school. It's no secret I'm an art geek, but I usually shy away from "organized painting" events because I don't like structure when it comes to creating art (I was always the kid who colored outside the lines as a way of expressing myself instead of staying inside the borders, as instructed LOL). This was a really fun evening, and also a great time to hang out with the daughter (she's our youngest...and will be graduating in a few months). She has a passion for all things colorful and creative, too. I'm just a little bummed our paintings have a Valentine-theme because I kind of want to leave them up year-round (maybe I will!).

And, here's a bonus:
It's not all about me. Our high school girl's basketball team has had a phenomenal season (only losing two games), and we've had so much fun going to their games and supporting them. Last week, they made it through the play-offs, and this week they won both their first round and semi-final games.....and will be vying for the State Championship on Friday evening! Even though our daughter is not on the team, some of her friends are (as well as other girls she has grown up with). Last year was the first year, in our school's history, that the girls team has made it to State, so to get there two consecutive years is pretty amazing.

So, that's a brief peek into my life (running and otherwise) recently. March is here and we have Spring happening soon.....there's all kinds of great things to be happy about.

So, talk to me! Any great things happening in your little corner of the universe? Do you take time to enjoy the good times? Are you eager for Spring?

I'm linking this with Meranda and Lacey and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0. 

And, since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm also linking with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date. What would you share, if we were having coffee and chatting about life?

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