Healthy Benefits of Social Media

While I was pregnant with the Weasel, my husband was deployed and I didn't have too many friends in the local area. (This is not a pity party, I promise:) I decided to start a blog to just keep our family and friends throughout the country up-to-date on what was happening. After Weasel was born, I continued that blog, to somewhat chronicle her life, and eventually, I'd like to make it into a book for her. Occasionally I'd write about local 5ks on there, but to be honest, no one in that "audience" really cares much about my running. Don't get me wrong, they are supportive, but they don't really want to read about how I nearly pooped myself on a run, or an impromptu half marathon with my girl friends. 

So in October 2011, I started this blog with my sister. We added a Twitter account (@irunthere4iam) and a Facebook page to launch ourselves into the world of social media. At the beginning, adding those things were Jessica's idea. I wasn't all that keen on it because it just seemed like extra work. I didn't really feel a connection to anything but the blog. But my perspective has completely shifted in the last few months. We've made virtual friends like Heidi at Banana Buzzbomb. We regularly tweet with Betsy at The Everyday Warrior and Robin at Westford Mommy. And most recently, we became FitFluential Ambassadors where we've been "introduced" to a host of amazing individuals who place fitness among their highest priorities. 

Now we don't have the largest following on our blog, twitter account, or FB page, but we do have some loyal readers who constantly provide comments, replies, and motivation whenever we post and for them, we are grateful. While I realize that no one is out there in Twitterland waiting to read what my workout of the day was, or what I've been eating, I feel a need desire to share these things with my "friends" to hold myself accountable. I've gotten workout ideas, inspiration for healthy meals, and just an outlet for my (as my husband would say) cultish addiction to running through social media. 

I know that the dedicated few who do follow us expect a certain level of dedication; therefore, when I am not feeling a run or want to indulge in that extra piece of candy, I can log on to one of these outlets and find the motivation I need to stay the course. 

Thank you Suz and Allan at Cows and Lasers and Everything In Between, Jess and Katie at The Mommy Miles, Carla at MizFit Online, Christine at Oatmeal In My Bowl, and anyone else who has commented, tweeted, or just connected with us in this social media craze. You do make a difference in our fitness level and our approach to healthy living! (In fact, the only sweet thing I've had since posting about my addiction was a "healthy" chocolate chip cookie I made from a recipe I got from Ashley at My Food N' Fitness Diaries, and I've completed my speed workout for the week!) 

P.S. The speed workout was on the dreadmill, but it's the best alternative to laps of the track with a stroller since the gym has a daycare. I did 1 mile warm-up at a 9:04 pace. Then 1/4 mile intervals at above pace (7:30), pace (8:00) and sprint (7:03) for 2 miles. Cooled down with a 1/2 mile at 8:34. 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Malinda Ann Hill of Twins Run In Our Family!! I tweeted about how much I wanted the Weasel to extend her nap so I could just register without any problems, and Malinda not only wished me luck, but she posted a link just minutes before the actual registration site opened (at least from my computer)! I was able to register on my first attempt and I'm ecstatic! I ran the MCM way back in 1999 when I HATED running and I LOVED it...can't wait to tackle it again.

Thanks Malinda!!

Things I Like About Me - Part 2

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Well, it’s time for the “other half” of the blog to talk about Things I Like About Me (even though it's past the "link up" time frame).  While deployed it is very, very easy to get irritable because you’re working long hours, there are no days off, and you have to deal with the exact same people every single day.  And since Jen shared a quote with you, I will share with you a mantra that I use daily to help me keep perspective:

Today I am fortunate to have woken up.  I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am going to use my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.  I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others.  I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

Though I’m not 100% sure how that ties in to liking myself, I wanted to share it.  Here is my attempt at a list of things I like about myself:

1.  I am the most positive person I know.  I can find the good in anyone or anything and I refuse to let frustration get the best of me.
2.  I have an excellent grasp on the English language.  As a Latin major, I spent quite a bit of time learning basic grammar. (I’m really good at Scrabble.) 
3.  I can laugh at myself.  I never take myself too seriously.  When I make mistakes, I learn, laugh, and move on.
4.  I have the utmost faith in humanity. I believe that all people want to be good and that there is good in everyone.
5.  I am very organized.  I set timelines, I stick to them, and I am very reliable. 
6.   I am good at my job.  I understand the technicality of my career field, I take care of my Marines to the best of my ability, and I learn new things on a daily basis. 
7.  I play the piano.  It’s one of those skills that’s fun to have and I play when I need to relax.

So there you have it, an entirely positive post about me. I urge you to follow the example from Just.Be.Enough and share your thoughts about yourself. Thanks for reading mine. 

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Things I Like About Me

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Today I'm linking up with Just.Be.Enough to share with you a few Things I Like About Me (I'll make my sister - the other half of this blog - do the same when her schedule allows). One of our fellow FitFluential Ambassadors, Elena, posted this a couple days ago and I absolutely fell in love with it! The timing was unique in that I am currently reading Haruki Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running and I highlighted this quote to share with you all:


"As you get older, though, through trial and error you learn to get what you need, and throw out what should be discarded. And you start to recognize (or be resigned to the fact) that since your faults and deficiencies are well nigh infinite, you'd best figure out your good points and learn to get by with what you have." 

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In a society filled with people cataloguing their own and everyone else's flaws on a daily basis, we should, for our mental health and well-being, take the time to really appreciate the things we like about ourselves. Make a list without any self deprecating humor or wishful speak; only use words that build you up. Here's my list:

1. I am content with life as it is. I enjoy the moment. My right foot is tattooed with the words "Enjoy Being." People are constantly asking me, "Enjoy being what?" I respond, "Just being." I can find the best in any situation.
2. I am not afraid to admit when I'm wrong. I am human. I make mistakes. It's just that easy. So admitting it just makes sense.
3. I have an athletic build. I am tall. I have a strong physique. I can throw a football or rock a sun salutation. I have embraced my body and am learning to love it.
4. I believe in helping others. I will go out of my way to help my friends. If I think a cause is worthwhile, I will support it. I think more people should be like this. People helping people is one of the primary ways we differ from animals.
5. I have hair people always compliment. I do not dye, curl, blow dry, straighten, etc., my hair. It's thick and strong. Whenever I have 10 extra inches, I chop it off and donate it. It's good hair:)
6. I am strangely good at word games. You know those games where they jumble the letters and you have to unscramble them to form the longest word? I can typically glance at those letters and tell you the word. It drives my mother-in-law crazy.
7. I am a runner. I have jokingly called myself "not a runner, just a jogger" on this very same blog. I suppose I used to be a recreational jogger when I was a Marine. I didn't like it; therefore, I only did it when I had to. Now, I'm a whole new woman! I am a stroller pushing, mid-foot striking, full on runner. And I love every mile of it!

So there you have it, an entirely positive post about me. I urge you to link up with Just.Be.Enough and share your thoughts about yourself. Thanks for reading mine. 

And with that said, I repeat:

ENJOY BEING!

Kindness of a "Stranger"

Today, much to my pleasant surprise, I received two care packages from a complete “stranger.”  I use the quotation marks because although we are friends via the blogosphere and Twitter, we have never actually met.  A while back I did a post about things that forward deployed Marines like to get in care packages.  There was absolutely no expectation that anyone send anything, but I frequently am asked the question, “What do you need over there?” 

Source (basically I borrowed this from Heidi's blog:)

We’ve been here for a little over a month now and these were the FIRST care packages (yes, she sent 2!) that I’ve received.  It was a total morale boost and she even added some extra things to make it more fun!  There were Larabars, Odwalla Bars, running socks (seriously, can you ever have too many socks – NO), Twizzlers, hand and feet warmers, fruit snacks, running magazines, Goldfish, and so much more!  The most fun thing she included was a package of stickers!  I plan on decorating one of my Marine’s computers, one of the Alpha male types ;-)

                  It never ceases to amaze me how kind other people can be.  And when I’m in a place like Afghanistan where a lot of folks are always irritated or grumpy, sometimes I can lose some faith in humanity.  Then something like this happens – a care package out of the blue – and WHAM, I remember that the world is truly full of amazing, kind, wonderful people! 

                  Heidi – thank you so much for the care packages that you sent out here!  I’ve parceled out the items to be sent to Marines who are out in remote parts of the battle space and they will be so very appreciative.  Your kindness means so much to me and it puts a huge smile on my face!