Cliche but true...

Gently used healthy eating books sold at Half Price Books: $4.50
New Shoes at The Running Company: $130.00
Going through the BTWG Experience with this community: Priceless

Thank you all for making this experience everything it has been to date. I know this community and Chris' guidance made all the difference.

Shin Splints

Can someone give me the "411" on shin splints. I get them all the time and I really hate them. I have new shoes from Running Co so I am hoping that helps. I am trying to be more consistent with stretching. Any other tips?

Love You Man!

I really love this community! It's weird. Paul, Linda and I have been talking about this lately during our lunches together. This group works! I don't even know most of your last names and you have become important people to me in the past 10 weeks. I knew the group would be an asset but I did not see this coming. Weird, but wonderful.

I hope we can keep some form of the community going "Post Project" as we continue to expand our undersatnding of wellness. This group inspires me and makes me recognize the power of community. Good stuff!

And thanks to Chris for leading this group. Linda pointed out the other day that Chris had made this group a very safe enviornment and I completely agree. His quiet but strong leadership is amazing!

In Search of 7.5

It is funny how a "point 5" can keep you mindful through a workout. "Is this a 7.5? No, I think this closer to an 8. How about now?" So this morning I am thinking how does a "low 7" feel different then a "point 5"? I stayed present and stress free for most of the workout- which is pretty impressive after the week I have had! That Chris.. he is soooo clever.

Race Commitment

While visiting my sister this weekend, we made a decision to do Lexington's Mid Summer's Night Run together later this summer. My sister, Cyndi, has participated many times but has not been as consistent since having twins just shy of three years ago (I can't figure out why!) and I have never done the race, in fact we have never done any sort of race together. I am not up to running yet so I think the last summer date of 8/15/2009 is perfect.

So this is for us, our commitment to wellness, for the ups and downs of life, and for sisterhood.

I hope someone warns the race committee!

Strung Too Tight

Wow! Great words of wisdom from Chris yesterday and spot on for me. I am strung a little too tight- my strings do break again and again and this relates directly back to my quest for wellness. A-ha!
Special thanks to the encouraging comments and feedback regarding my blog post over the weekend. It was a painful exercise but I got more out of it than I could have imagined. The thoughts fellow recruits channeled back my way were amazing and very, very helpful. I got the "situation" out of my head and I could really think about steps to make it better...not perfect...just better.

A WHOLE Hour a day- for ME?!

Part of my struggle with wellness is my need to nurture just about everyone but myself. I am very willing to give up time to do something for myself in order to do something for someone else. And while I do see the positive side of this (I think it makes me a good wife, step mom, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, co-worker, and friend), I also see the huge disadvantage it is for my personal well being (and my ability to be an awesome wife, step mom, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, co-worker and friend). So one of the biggest challenges I faced this week is the guilt, disappointment, doubt, feeling of selfishness and emotional fatigue. I only have so much time and I am faced with a lot of guilt when I choose to spend that time on myself. This is affectionately referred to as being "terminally responsible" in my family.
Last October I moved my 94 year old Grandmother here from Pennsylvania and into a memory care facility here in Center Grove. I am the only family member who lives within 3 hours of here so all the visiting falls on me and "my boys" (my husband and stepson). This is a huge factor in my ability to balance taking care of me and taking care everyone else. I mean how can you NOT make sure your GRANDMA is 100% happy? I think the first month of the Project worked out OK because the retirement home was under quarantine with the flu for about 2 weeks last month so it was one thing I did not have to do and although I did feel bad about not visiting, I knew there was nothing I could do about it. This past week my Grandmother has been very upset (unusal behavior) and wants to move in with family. She has threatened to stop eating if she cannot do so- the guilt and emotional fatigue have grown significantly. I did CHOOSE to workout Thursday evening after work instead of going to visit her- it was a small victory, I think, I am really not sure.
The other item that is pulling at me is my sister is in the process of separating from her husband. It has not been an easy separation (not that I think any of them are easy) and there are 2 1/2 year old twins involved. My sister and I always lean on each other. She in fact was a major supporter in me signing up for the Project. I of course feel the intense need to do whatever I can to support her and I will- but there is cost for that. But does that cost have to include my well being? Again, I am not sure.
Today's meeting did help remind me that part of growing is getting through these challenges- it really is about the journey. I know taking care of my well being puts me in a better place to handle "life's speed bumps" and I do want that. I have to get over the emotional impact of me making those choices and that is the hard part.
This easy to write- hard to push the "publish" button... but I believe in this community and the strength I will gain from this. Thanks for reading...here I go...