Grace and a Race

I am on a roll to get rid of these rolls and it really feels good!

I ran my route yesterday, not the extended version, just the main route which is 2.8 miles long. I walk the first .3 miles and then run the last 2.5.

When I did the route on Monday I finished in 35:11. Yesterday I did it in 32:26! I am getting back on track! The sun was shining in my face, I was sweating like a pig and I felt S-E-X-Y! It is amazing what a half hour sweating can do to a persons mood and self confidence.

Alrighty...

Remember how I was telling you about my friend, the social worker? The one who pulled me from the pits on Tuesday with a simple phone call? She said something to me that really has stuck with me for two days now and it has made a huge impact on my thinking.

She told me to give myself a little grace.

Among the many definition of the word found in Webster's, one really stuck out...

"a temporary exemption : reprieve"

I then followed the link to "reprieve"...

"to give relief or deliverance to for a time"

I don't have to forever take it easy but I do need to "for a time"...

Why is it that I can show grace to my idiot doctor, or to the guy who blew his horn at me even though the light was red and traffic was coming, or the guy who walks his boxer through our neighborhood without a leash (totally doing a blog on this soon!!) but I don't show myself any grace when I need a break?

I am doing the best damn job I can do and that should be good enough for me. It is good enough for Octavio, good enough for the girls, good enough for my family, good enough for my friends, but why hasn't that been good enough for me?

My husband thinks I am the cat's meow (purrrrrr). My daughter thinks I am the best (although I am sure that will change in about 9 years).

My skin may be starting to sag from the weight loss but I really think I am finally on the road to becoming comfy in it.

I don't think I have enough money in the bank to pay my dear friend for turning me on to this new insight.

*to other news*

I am working on planning a trip to MI this summer to run a race. I would like to extend the invitation to any of my MI readers who may be interested. I am thinking it will happen in the middle of July. More to come on that soon but in the meantime give me a shout either on here or on MySpace letting me know. You don't have to be a runner...it will just be a 5K so it can absolutely be walked and then I'd like to organize a nice luncheon afterward.

Why wouldn't you want to come??? I'm the cat's meow, you know? :)

Challenge:

Crunch time baby!

20 crunches! Right now! What? I don't care if you wore a skirt to work! Stop whining and do it!