Hello again and welcome back

Wow! I haven't posted on my blog since February... I'm such a slacker...Lol. it feels that long since I ran too. I injured my left knee/leg last month and haven't ran since. Now that winter is finally over I can get busy being outside doing my favorite thing!

Or my second favorite which gets me to that place I Call work

I wanted so bad to run the Flying Pig Marathon this year but I just couldn't afford it. It was going to be my first full Marathon. So now my sites are set for next year. I will oink and squeal all the way to the finish line. 

I've found a way to pay for all those races I want to do...this is the way I feel sometimes..

Origami Owl Custom Jewelry is my new business venture. I'm very excited to Be a Force for Good. Check out my website at www.joyhale.origamiowl.com

Thank you to all my family and friends that give me support and sometimes a virtual kick in the back side to keep me going.

Love you all

Love is in the Air

Valentine's Day has come and went. My Valentine didn't give me flowers, chocolate or even a card. I'm OK with that because you will see at the end of my blog post why my Valentine is the best.;)

Yesterday, I decided to do one of my virtual races,  Fit 4 Life Love Run Half Marathon.

I started my run about 2:30 in the afternoon and started with my normal 3.10 mile route, using our garage as my "refuel" station. I used my "refuel station" two more times before starting out on the longer part of my run. 

I got to mile 8 and it was quite a struggle. The road I was on has a slight incline but that wasn't what made it difficult. I was running towards Lake Michigan and the wind was so incredibly

cold. I finally got up that road and my phone was going off with low battery.

I got back to my house with 11.24 miles done. I had to finish the last 1.90 mile on my treadmill but it was worth it.

The best part of my run was when I got home and my fiance's Mom "chewed" me out for being gone so long and telling me that I need to stay close to home. I told Todd where I was going but neglected to tell her…oops…Sorry Mom…Lol.

Oh Yeah, before I forget…this is what I got for Valentine's Day

This girl has a Cadillac!!! 

Stink'in Think'in

I have been struggling the last few days with a negative attitude.   I'm probably being just petty but sometimes I just need to take a stand. I thought running on my treadmill tonight would help get rid of my stink'in think'in but my running app messed up and I just quit. NOW I KNOW I HAVE A PROBLEM.
I decided to message my Pastor's wife and ask her for some advise and so Bible verses to help me work through these thoughts. She gave me some Awesome verses which I had already had hightlighted in my Bible.
One of my favorite verses is this:

PHILIPPIANS 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always: and again I said Rejoice.

Sometimes it is so hard to be a happy person. With a name like mine, it would be a contradiction to be a grumpy "young" woman. I was really grateful for my Pastor's wife's wisdom. She knew just what to give me. I started reading some other verses that coincides with my some what healthy living that uplifted my soul.  Thank you Mrs. Abberger...I love you

HEBREWS 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compressed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every WEIGHT and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us RUN with patience the RACE that is set before us.

Tomorrow will be a better day!!!

4 miles of Bliss

It has been 10 days since I was able to run outside. This crazy Michigan winter has really put a monkey wrench in my Marathon training. Between the negative wind chills and the constant snow storms,  I wondered if I ever would get back outside.  Wednesdays is usually my long day at work and I really don't do much after work because I'm so exhausted when I get home. I left work today and the sun was shining and it was 20 degrees. Perfect opportunity to lace up and get outside. I got all layered up and got out to start my run. I got to. 37 mile and my sweetie came down the road holding a Burger King bag in his hand. He stopped and picked me up while I paused my run.

YES, I ATE THE WHOLE THING! 

Finished my dinner and went back out to finish my run. The sun was so bright but not that warm but I really didn't care because it was just nice to run the roads again. 

I was thinking of my daughter Cassie's Facebook post. She was wanting to go out and run but she hated the cold temperatures and wondered how her mom could run in the winter. She ended her post by saying she thought I was a little cray. Yes Cassie, I'm a little cray...Lol.

Trying to beat them winter blues

Ah, cabin fever in Michigan! This has been a really weird winter for this state. It's been a few years since we've experienced negative degree temperatures. This week will be the second round of arctic cold...polar bears could live here right now..lol

Or even penguins

On Saturday, I dedicated my miles to Meg Cross Menzies. 

I ran on my treadmill, which wasn't what I prefer but it was late in the day and I needed to do my miles. I got very emotional running my 3.40 miles. I did not know Meg but she was a runner and that's all that mattered. I thought of  her young children which made me think of my own. It was a bittersweet run.

Today, I put on my winter running gear, laced up my shoes and hit the snowy and ice covered road. I didn't care about time or pace..I was just happy to be outside.I ran my normal route and did 3.11 miles. Another 5k for Meg.

Next up will be my first virtual half marathon distance of the year.

Winter WonderRun half marathon

I hope I can catch a nice day this week to run outside but with lake effect snow in the forecast, it may all have to be on the treadmill..of course I'm a little crazy enough to run in a snowstorm...maybe..lol

Family weekend

This has been a very relaxing weekend visiting my family. My daughter Cassie turned 18 on the 7th and I came back to my hometown area to celebrate with her. Staying with my twin brother John and his wife Shandy.
We picked up my son Andy before heading to Greenville to meet Cassie and her boyfriend Howie.

We met at Pizza Hut and had a really fun time.

Cassie's boyfriend, Howie, had his birthday the day after Cassie and my sister in law Shandy had her birthday today.

My son makes me smile

Special times

Cute couple!! :-)

Quit whining and just do it

Didn't feel that great today..I think I have cabin fever..lol. Well, I kept stalling all day to do my workout. Finally I sent my arse down to the basement and did my strength exercises and then jumped on the dreadmill and crushed 4 miles. Finished my finished my first virtual race for 2014. Feeling good now..no more whining

Is this Michigan or the Arctic Circle...BURRR

My fiancee Todd and I woke this morning, like most Midwesterners, digging out of snow drifts. We took turns shoveling the driveway until his brother showed up with his plow.
We had to go into town and had an interesting morning of seeing people getting stuck on the side roads.

We had to turn around to help a man that fell in the snow. 

We got home and went to shovel his aunt's porch so her doggie could get out and do his business. :)

We came back home to relax then we got bundled up again to walk to the store.

4 miles and an hour and a half later, we got back home and Todd finished shoveling our driveway and his aunt's driveway.

I put in my mile run on the treadmill and 45 minutes of strength exercises.

Time to stay in, eat some yummy food and relax with a game of rummy...Todd won :D

Good night Michigan Winter Wonderland

Shoot For The Moon

This is a big honking BLING!!!

I signed up for the Shoot for the Moon challenge at the beginning of 2013.

The Fit 4 Life Shoot for the Moon challenge began 2013 with the challenge of running, cycling, walking, rowing, climbing the distance between the Earth and the moon...238,900 miles. As a team, we accomplished it and beyond.

I was pretty happy with my results:

2013 miles

Swimming: 2.36

Cycling: 640.45

Walking: 116.66

RUNNING: 551.24

TOTAL MILES: 1310.71

2014 will be even better. 

FULL MOON 5k

Each month has a full moon, so starting with the first one on January 16th I will run 5k (3.10 miles). This is what the bling looks like..8 inch medal

WONDERS of the WORLD CHALLENGE

The total distance for this challenge is 264,348 miles. As a team, we are going to "travel" the circumference of the Earth over 10 times. Our miles will go towards different Wonders of the World and at the end we will earn the big bling!!

It will be an exciting adventure :)