A sense of calmness.

I have a feeling as of late.  One that is inspirational, calm, resilient, and happy. 
It's been a time of enjoying the present (or at least attempting to and have achieved for the majority of the time).  I'm less worried about the future or the past.  And I am liking myself, more and more these days. 

With that said, I am looking for really great chill songs to run to in the morning, before the sun has risen above the Capitol building, when there is a strange calmness in this city of crazy, a stillness that only happens in the wee hours of the morning.  If you have any suggestions, please send them my way! 

In the meantime, I leave you with my new fav... thanks to my awesome roommate!  :) 
She told me that it reminded her of me. 
Philadelphia by Parachute. 
Enjoy!  I can't wait to run to this. 

"be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." -- St. Catherine of Siena

 

Philly takes over the Jersey Shore.

I look forward to the day that I may have a family of my own to bring to the jersey shore - south jersey that is. I love seeing the husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends working as a team from getting each other coffee and the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer at the wawa, to getting themselves to the beach, to seeing their favorite coverband play at the Springfield, year after year. I love the phillies gear that everyone wears along with the Philly accent. I love that bands poll the audience first asking who's from DelCo and South Philly. Where I grew up, it's a part of me, and it's something special. People have personality for days. They know how to let go and have a good time, but they also know the meanin of working hard. Maybe it's the blue collar heritage that lives on in Philly that has shaped those who grew up there and it's surrounding suburbs. All I know is that people from the Philly area are good for one thing: Passion. Passion for their city and they're sports teams. Passion for working hard and playing even harder. And passion for their family and close friends. But Philly people love other Philly people. They get it. They understand. It's like we're all in this together, against the rest of the world. As Caroline (from RHNJ) would say, we're as thick as thieves and we'll protect each other til the end. Oh Caroline. Anyways, Go Phils!!!

Day 3: 3 miles

I woke up this morning to a clean and tidy room and a beautiful, cool summer DC morning.  After fumbling a bit with my sleek, new handheld waterbottle (I say handheld but what I really mean is that sucker is strapped to my hand and there ain't no comin' off unless I make it...I digress).  My ipod was dead but the weather surely made up for that.  It's truly summer as the mornings are getting brigher earlier and there were a number of people out running their little hearts out on the mall (the National Mall, that is).  All in all, a great start to the morning.  Hoping it sets the tone for the rest of the day! 

Here are some photos I took a month or so back (with my iphone so please excuse the not so professionalish of them) when doing my usual morning run so that you can understand why I love it here.  Enjoy beautiful DC!

"cause honestly you turned out to be the best thing i never had... thank God I found the good in goodbye... what goes around comes back around..." ~ beyonce

Day 1 of Marathon Training!

Today, I woke up and had a determination...to become a marathon runner. 

(This is where my Italian stubborness can be used for good, not evil...ha.)

For those of you who don't already know, I signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon a while back.  It is on October 30, 2011. My roommate did it last year.  I was inspired by her dedication and will power.  Additionally, I always wanted to do this - be a marathoner, that is! I've done some half marathons but they don't come close to a full marathon!

A full marathon separates the men from the boys... 

So this morning I made some vows to myself, that I thought I would share with the world:

I will train and train properly. 
I will dedicate myself to this program of running, yoga, healthy eating, and rest. 
I will track my progress via this blog. 
I will post photos sporadically (as I hope to tone up my not so lovely spots).
I will become the athlete that I have always admired and wanted to be. 

So in my effort to "own it" and be honest with myself and the world, I am going to track my weight and measurements, in addition to my runs and how I am feeling via this blog.  Additionally, some encouragement along this journey is welcomed and very much encouraged - it's going to be a long 4-5 months of training and I am going to need all of the support I can get.  So thank you in advance!!!

I love, love, love food as well, so don't be surprised if I post about my meals.  I try my best to eat healthful, organic, yummy meals and snacks.  I recently changed my diet to low carb, high protein.  Once my weekly mileage starts to increase, I will increase my carb intake. 

I'm excited and determined!  So here goes nothin...

Day 1: June 12, 2011

6.2 mile

(Note: It was 95+ degrees out, so about 5 running and the remaining intermittent walking.) 

140.4 lbs. 29% body fat

I don't have my measurements today, but will post them later this week.

Although I don't have measurements today, I do have photos!!
(Thanks to my wonderful, inspiring, and encouraging roommate.  She's the best!)

These were taken after my run this morning. 



“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

And this is the exact reason why I chose to not only run a marathon, but pick one that forced me to train all summer.  Running in the heat scares the bejesus out of me.

So here goes nothin...

Training commences in just a few short weeks. 

Marine Corps Marathon 2011

Bring it.

The best years of your life...a quote.

"the best years of your life are the ones in which you decide that your problems are your own. you do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. you realize that you control your own destiny." -albert ellis

There's a feeling that's been coming over me lately...

There's a feeling that's been coming over me lately... slowly, but surely. 

I will meet someone - a guy that is, one that I actually like.

I say actually because me liking (I mean like like) a guy doesn't happen too often.

But I feel it.  He's coming soon. 

And I'm ready to allow him into my life.  Finally.  :)