Tuesday, December 3, 2013

My First Runner's Holiday Streak

Well, I made it to day 16 and then I pooped out. I got sick and then exhausted.....but it was still so good. I told myself when I first started it I never wanted to feel guilty. So, in the end, I didn't feel guilty for stopping the streak but would love to try it again next year:)

I will run each day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day
Total Miles 16.76
On November 25th, I was looking through Facebook and ran across a link that my pastor, Tim Keel posted, "To all my running friends out there - a fun Thanksgiving to New Year's
Day challenge. Read this article, then let me know if you're game!"  A Season to Streak So, I was curious and read the article. Basically a challenge to run everyday from Thanksgiving to New Year's.

I started running off and on about 18months ago. I have never run in a race but have always wanted to.  Like most exercise, it is so easy for me to come up with excuses that I cannot do it, but when I actually go outside and run, I feel refreshed and I have not one ounce of regret afterwards. 

If you know me, you know that I have a hard time sitting still, I have a compulsion for making, my mind it full of ideas for my next projects, and with two young girls I easily get stressed out with all the things I think must get done. And for more than three years I have dealt with lots of fatigue and headache problems. Running has been a healthy way to relieve my stress. The hardest part is actually getting myself out there to do it, thinking I have other more important things to do, while my anxiety and headaches grow stronger. Of course, the few times I actually get myself to run, I feel so much better and I never have one ounce of regret. 

So, I have decided to take up this challenge during not only the busiest time for my family with all the holiday activities but it is the busiest time for my textile business. I will run each day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day

Total Miles 16.76
Day 8
1.27
All month I have been busy making new scarves for my Kansas City Textile Studio Holiday Show at this weekend. Sunday I started a new batch of scarves. My goal was to weave five of them by today. While weaving them everyday, I had this cheesy image of me wearing them all for a photo. Each day of the challenge I have taken a photo to document my run. This afternoon I when I finished my last scarf, I got my work out clothes on and wrapped all five scarves around me. At this stage of the weaving process the scarves are all connected, all thirteen yards. I took this photo of me at the park before my run. BTW, it was 22 degrees out. I did put on a jacket afterwards. 


My friend, Gina just happened to be starting her run as I finished mine. She took this photo of me:)




Day 7
1.15 miles
I call this my "drive-thru run".  I had twenty minutes to pick up Emma from preschool that was five minutes away from my house. I left my house at 1:40, drove six minutes away to this Starbucks, quickly got out of my car and ran 1.15 miles. Then I got in my car and went through the Starbucks drive-thru to order a coffee to warm me up and made it in time to pick up Emma at 2:02:) 


Day 6
3.11 miles
Listened to this great message from Jacob's Well Pastor Isaac Anderson today while running.

and ended my run listening to this song,

Day 5, 12/2/13
1.1 miles
I decided to do this run right before picking up Emma from her preschool. I was busy working getting things made for my holiday sale this weekend. I had in the back of my mind I should just skip my run before I pick up Emma. I thought I had too many things to do and time is precious when she is at school. But twenty minutes before I had to pick her up, I quickly put on my workout clothes, got in the car, drove five minutes away to her school, parked my car and ran my one mile. YAY! This photo is of the church across from Emma's school. I finished my mile right as I came to this sign. 


Day 4, 12/1/13
4.53 miles
My stretching ground.


Day 3, 11/30/13
1.01 miles
18 months ago I ran my first mile since high school here. 
Dealing with stress on a daily basis, it is amazing what running outside can do it me. I feel healthier and more grateful for being alive when I run, even if it is just 1 mile:)


Day 2, 11/29/13
3.06 miles
Sidewalks of KCMO


Day 1, Thanksgiving November 28, 2013
1.53 miles
After sleeping in, drinking a little coffee and weaving a few minutes while my girls were playing in Thanksgiving morning, I decided I was up for the challenge. I ran right after I posted this on Instagram.



My rules:
1. Must run a minimum of 1 mile per day
2. I must feel good-great during and after my run. This way, I am not pushing myself too much.
3. If I get injured, I will replace running with some other form of exercise each day.
4. If the weather is awful, I can run inside....I hate the treadmill....so I might use the elliptical instead
5. I must stretch and drink lots of water after each run

Benefits so far:
* Each run I feel a little bit lighter from all the stress
* I am so happy to be taking care of my health, physically and emotionally for my family and for myself
*During many runs, I find myself feeling so grateful that I am alive. 


Sunday, December 1, 2013

Kansas City Textile Studio Holiday Show for December


I am excited to be working on this event for the Kanas City Textile Studio. The Kansas City Textile Studio is hosting a Holiday Sale at the Leedy-Voulkos Arts Center. Buy handmade this holiday season! Come down the first Friday and Saturday in December.
For more information, go to our website: www.kctextilestudio.com/holiday-sale

Friday, December 6, 6 - 9pm
Saturday, December 7, 10am - 2pm

Support Kansas City artists and makers this holiday season by shopping local at the KCTS Holiday Show at the Leedy-Voulkos. The Holiday Show will showcase a diverse selection of unique handmade goods by artists working in the Kansas City area. Participating artists show include Debbie Barrett Jones of BillySue TextilesKim Eichler-Messmer of KimE-M Quilts, Jessika Cates of Collective Individual, Tabbetha McCale Evans, and Alice Youngblood and Cristin Llewellyn of Owl+Mouse textile designs, Travis Porter of tArvis , Emily Blodgett-Panos, Julie Wallace, Lynn Thornet of Starship Thunder and Robin's Nest Outfitters.

Here are some items I will be selling.