Becoming a Kindrunner Abassador

Have you heard of Kindrunner? 
Through reading some blogs, I heard about them and was intrigued! I went to their website and absolutely loved what I read. Loved it so much, I contacted them about becoming an ambassador.

  Here's a little about them:
When you purchase shoes through them, they will send you a return label which you can use to send in an old pair of your own running shoes. Once they receive them, their shoe donation partners, Souls4Soles and the More Foundation Group, ensures that the people in the greatest need receives them! They will also credit your account with a $10 Kindness Cash Reward that you can use on your next purchase!
 I also love that the guys who started this, are themselves passionate runners and have worked in this industry for many years. 
 Every product they carry comes with a product review below it, that describes the product and gives approved alternates. I really appreciate that, because I feel so clueless at times, wondering how can I choose between so many shoes?
Watch this video clip to find out more!

I love that I can send in my old shoes and know that they will be going to someone who will be able to get more use out of them, and that I've made their life better because of my donation!

 I hope you'll take a minute to go to their website and learn more about them!
You can also follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook!

Chicago Marathon Training and Fathers Day

Happy Monday! 

  I hope all the Daddy's out there had a great Father's Day! In honor of my honey, I'm posting this pic from our wedding, almost 7 years ago. He is the best daddy in the world!

My family also took my Dad out to eat to celebrate him! This is all of us kiddos, except for 1 sister, who lives in WI.

(If you can't tell, I'm in the blue pants)

 In running news...
 I just completed week 2 of Chicago Marathon Training. Last weeks miles were 16.
10 of those were on Saturday.

I haven't had a long run in almost 2 months!! Way too long! It felt sooo good. Of course it was pretty hot, but for about half of it, I ran a path in in the woods, so I had lots of shade and a nice breeze. I thought I would be sore afterwards, since it's been awhile since I've ran long, but I wasn't at all. 
 Ahhh, I love training for a marathon! (Is that crazy?)

How did you celebrate Fathers Day?

Will the Cravings Ever End?? And Spirit of the Marathon II

Hello!

  Last night I went to see Spirit of the Marathon II. As soon as I heard that it was going to be showing one night only, I knew I was going! 
 I had only virtually met Julie, and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to meet in person and get to know her better! Knowing she's a runner and would probably enjoy the movie too, I invited her along!

We had a wonderful time! The movie was soooo good. It was very inspirational and made me so proud to be a runner and a part of this amazing community! 

  For some crazy reason, this is the first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning.

Isn't that terrible?! And then I thought of this. My favorite ice cream in the world.

I wish I could say that I never crave this junk, I only want healthy foods like kale and quinoa. But, that would be a lie and I want to be totally real here! 
 I wish I could wake up someday and NOT crave ice cream. But I have a feeling this addiction will never go away, it will always be a struggle.
Then I remembered my 'goal' picture. This is how I want to look.

 No matter how much I run, I can't look like this if I eat those doughnuts and ice cream.
So, I'm going to stay strong. Try to make myself believe that junk is not worth it! 

 QOTD: 
What do you crave?
Did you see SOTM II?

I'm Not a Failure

Good Morning!

  Well, if you follow me on FB, Twitter or IG, you already know... I didn't get my sub 30 5k that I've been training so hard for. Since I've started running, I have never been more disappointed or mad at myself.
 This was a small race, maybe 100 people. Jeremy and I get there at 7:30 to pick up my packet. I'm as excited as can be, I have NO doubt in my head that I will run this race in under 30 minutes. I've been doing speed work and trying so hard. My average times on my own, have been around 30-31 minutes, (with one even being 27) so I just know being in a race, running with other people, that will push me and I can easily do it. I am 100% confident.

Ready to run!

Here we go!

I felt really good the whole race, I probably walked 3-4 times for a few seconds. (Which I regret) I don't normally need to walk, but I thought I was sprinting, and felt like I HAD to walk. There were a few small hills, but I have been training on small hills, so it was nothing new. 
 I wore my Garmin, but didn't look at it one time. Maybe I should've and that would've pushed me. But I thought it would mess with my head, and I just wanted to give it my all and be surprised at the end.
 I get close to the finish line and look at the clock and I see 30. I'm not sure what kind of picture the photographer got of me, I know I had raised my fists and was so angry!
 I cross the line at 30:28. SO CLOSE!!!

After crossing that line, the old Katie came back. FAILURE! You told everyone you were going to do it, and you FAILED. You're a joke! Why are you still running? Now everyone will laugh at you! You fail at everything! Of course I started to remember past 'failings'. My first marriage, unable to have children, my struggle with weight, and the list goes on...

I'm not going to lie, I wallowed in all of that for awhile. I listened to it, I started believing it, I felt defeated. 
 Funny how I can run a marathon, but yet a little 5k will make me doubt myself as a runner. 

Then they started giving out awards. And then I heard my name. They called my name! I have never even thought about winning an award, because that's impossible! (Oh, I have so much to learn!)
 I got runner up for my age group. 

I felt like this was God's way of saying "I'll show you you're not a failure!" 
Honestly, I felt that way for awhile though. I thought about how embarrassing it will be to come back here and tell everyone I didn't make it! But I'm sure there's a lesson I'm supposed to learn in all of this. (Maybe not to be so vocal about my goals? Haha) When I figure it out, I'll let you know...
 When I posted about this on FB and IG, the support was unbelievable. I am so blessed to have all of you. You have no idea how much your words lifted me. 

  Here's some things I did learn. I'm only a failure if I throw in the towel and give up. I will never ever do that. I'm only a failure if I stay down, if I listen to my old self saying I should just stop running. We have to keep going, keep running towards our dreams. That's the only thing that keeps us motivated and moving forward! 
 I may have experienced failure, but that's not who I am. It's okay to be disappointed in yourself, but let that just push you further and try harder. Which is exactly what I'm going to do. 
 And when I do get that sub 30 5k, it will be that much sweeter!

5 Things Friday!

Happy Happy Friday!

 I hope y'all have had a fabulous week with lots of running and ice cream! Oh wait...that would be my week. ;)
Here's a few other things that have filled my week!

1. I signed up for the Women's Half Marathon, in September, in Nashville! This was my first half last year, and I absolutely loved it! When I got an email saying they were offering $20 off registration for National Running Day, there was no way I could not sign up! I'm SO excited to run this again!

2. I had heard a lot about this book, and finally got it. I've been devouring it. Yes, I'm going to sign up for an Ultra, soon and very soon! Thanks a lot, Scott! (Although I knew it would happen)

3. I am ending week 1 of Chicago Marathon training! It's been great. I just can't tell you how much I love training again! This week was a 4 mile run Mon, Wed and Fri. And then 8 miles tomorrow (Saturday).
This was my run for National Running Day.

4. Tonight I'm going on a hot date with this chick.

Hmmm...should I go blonde again?

We're going to the River City Winery, wine tasting, live music...perfect way to relax and unwind.

5. And last, but not least... tomorrow is the 5k race I've been talking about FOREVER, letting you know that I will finally get a sub 30. I will, I will, I will. 
 I have been working SO hard for this, and I really believe I can do it. I know some people don't put their goals out there, just in case it doesn't happen, but I have to. 

Tell me something good! Anything at all!

Beginning Chicago Marathon Training and Surrey Bikes

Hello friends! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! 

  I am SO excited because today was Day #1 of my Chicago Marathon Training! For my first marathon I used the Runkeeper marathon training plan, and loved it so much, that I'm using it again. I do make one change to the plan. They only have you run up to 16 miles at the most, that is just crazy to me, I think you need a couple 20 miler's in there! So towards the end I do an 18 and two 20's.
 Today was a 4 mile run. 

Yesterday we got together with Jeremy's family, to celebrate his sister's birthday. Here is all of us!

We all met at a coffee shop, played some games and hung out for awhile.

Then the birthday girl wanted to go downtown to the waterfront and ride Surrey Bikes! 
We rented 3 of them and started out for an adventure!

Peepaw looks a little scared!

Charley LOVED it!

We passed a man walking his huge turtle!

Not sure what I'm doing...

I don't know what he found on my phone,
but apparently I thought it was funny!

 We had a great time! I am so thankful for such a wonderful, fun crazay family!! 

QOTD: Have you been on a Surrey Bike?
What's something fun you did this weekend?

When One Door Closes...Look For Another One

Happy Friday!

  Let's start with some disappointing news, shall we?
I told you guys how I got the job of my dreams, to be a Spin instructor. Yesterday I received an email saying it was not going to work out. Here's the whole story.
 My spin class is at a huge church in Louisville. Their policy is that you have to be a member of their church to volunteer. BUT how it's worded says you have to be a member only if you work with children or elderly. (Which makes no sense to me) So it doesn't say you have to be a member for other positions. 
 That is why the manager said I could do it! 
I received an email from her yesterday just saying "we need our volunteers to be members". 

Is that crazy, or is it just me?? I am a member of a church, just not that church. I would be volunteering my time to teach these classes, with 20,000 members, no one would know I'm not one! I've had SO many people tell me they would start coming when I teach. I could've made them a lot of business (money)!
 I just do not understand.

But, I will not give up on this dream. I guess that just means now I need to pay $350 to get Spin certified and go find a gym to hire me!

How about some happy news! Monday I start my Chicago Marathon training!! I am SO excited! I've realized I do so much better when I have a plan to stick to. I'm running for the Ronald McDonald House, check out my fundraising page! 

Now for some random pics...

I only had 1 daycare kiddo yesterday, so to the pool we went!

BFF's

What are you doing this weekend??