The "Zen" of Running

Had to share this with my fellow bloggers in it's own separate post because I know I have a lot of runner followers... I just read the most simplistic book about running ever, and I LOVED it.

You can find it for purchase HERE on Amazon. Or you can be like me and check it out from your library!

 

What the book looks like...

  

Wise words that I wanted to share... and yes, the whole book was like this. 

I couldn't just stop with the above, I had to add in some more pages to share. In a world of training books and books about running, this is definitely different. Some of you might think it a little too hippie dippie for your liking, but I really enjoyed it and thought it was so nice to step back from all competition of running and just think about running and how good it can be for a person. I highly recommend to everyone that is a runner to pick it up or at least check it out! :)

 

 

I am assuming this is author, Fred Rohe, enjoying a run... There are multiple pictures of this man running, which has led me to this conclusion. 

[via]

Just Closed... [The Zen of Running]

The Zen of Running by Fred Rohe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For being a hippie dippie sort of book I really enjoyed it. It was short and sweet and focused on all of the good that can come from running. If you are a runner I would I highly recommend it.

View all my reviews

Project Zero - 101 in 1001 (update end of Month 5)

Well, here I am, late again... but I did make a LITTLE progress this past month on my 101 in 1001 so here is my update! Really hoping once I'm not in Bar exam doom and gloom I will be able to maybe make more progress on this list!

Bold = DONE
Italics = Began
** = Worked on this month


Start Date = Monday January 9th, 2012
End Date =Monday October 6th, 2014



1. Pass the Oregon Bar Exam
2. Participate in NanoWrimo
3. Compete in and finish a marathon!
4. Open own solo law practice
5. Write a book (or short story) 




6. Find a church to attend in Salem - DONE 3_25_2012
7. Re-read the Bible in a year using a program like before
8. Join an online Bible study - DONE 1_15_2012
9. Spend a month actively praying for family and friends and keep a list of people and keep it in a visible place [0/31]
**10. Organize my notes from when I read the Bible all the way through in 2011
**11. Do at least 10 more devotionals of varying lengths from my Bible [7/10]
12. Plan a time with Aaron and my mom and sister in which to get my niece dedicated and baptized at our community church
13. Buy Selena her first Bible



**14. Pay off my quad
15. Pay off both of my credit cards (Amazon and B of A)
16. Make my own coffee ONLY for 1 Month [31/31] - DONE 5_20_2012
**17. Start couponing for groceries
18. Establish an emergency fund of $5,000
19. Keep track of all spending for 1 month [0/31]
20. Donate to my undergrad
21. Buy a house
22. Buy a new car
23. Buy a new couch and recliner



24. Go on a hiking trip to Silver Falls with a friend or group of friends
25. Go camping with girlfriends (without our boys)
26. Go one week without caffeine [0/7]
27. Go one month without fast food [0/31]
28. Floss every night for one week [0/7]
29. Run 20 miles in one single run
30. Go skiing or snowboarding for the FIRST time
31. Give up soda for 1 month [31/31] - DONE in Month 5
32. Give up sugar for 1 month [0/31]
33. Try all of the classes at the gym at least once
34. Grow a garden in the planter boxes - DONE in Month 5
35. Go to bed by 9pm for 1 week [0/7]
36. Get up and out of bed by 6am for 2 weeks [0/14]




**37. Use and improve my Spanish
38. Identify 100 things that make me happy [0/100] - started 1000 gifts 4_20_12
39. Learn 1 thing new every day for 1 month [31/31] - DONE 3_21_12
**40. Try 50 new recipes [8/50]
41. Join Toastmasters
42. Learn how to play PS3 so I can play Call of Duty with Joe
43. Make a pizza from scratch 
44. Learn how to knit
45. Learn how to crochet



**46. Clean and organize office/spare room
**47. Organize pictures
48. Delete duplicated songs off itunes and find names for all unnamed songs - DONE 5_18_2012

49. Get all photos into albums
50. Get everything of mine from mom's house and organize it
51. Help mom get her house in order
**52. Clean and organize garage



53. Attend a music festival
54. Try 10 new local restaurants with or without Joe [3/10] - Ventis, Orupa, Thai Beer
55. Replace movies we only have on VHS with movies on DVD or Bluray
56. Go to the ballet
57. Go to the opera
58. Go to a comedy club
59. Join a couples' pool playing league with Joe
60. Buy a companion African Grey parrot for Harrison

 

61. Befriend someone new
**62. Visit with a friend in person at least once a month [5/33]
63. Meet a blog friend
64. Attend MY 10 year high school reunion
65. Attend Joe's 10 year high school reunion with him
66. Host a games night
67. Host a dinner party
68. Have a mother/daughter day
69. Have a niece/auntie day - DONE in Month 4



**70. Read 100 NEW TO ME books [17/100] - as of 6_18_12
71. Read a book of poems
**72. Finish reading the entire Harry Potter series [5/7]




73. See all of AFI's top 100 movies [19/100]
**74. Discover 10 (new to me) musicians [2/10] Fun, Trevor Hall,
75. Learn to drive a stick shift
76. Learn to drive in Joe's BIG truck comfortably
78. Buy someone a gift off Etsy - DONE 1_18_2012




79. Find places looking for volunteers and volunteer somewhere once a month [0/33] - missed first 5 months
80. Send a family member a care package
81. Send a friend a care package
82. Give a gift "just because"
83. Choose 3 organizations/causes to contribute to financially [2/3]



84. Watch the sunrise 10 times [0/10]
85. Take walks with Joe after he gets off work every evening for a week
86. Meditate for 30 minutes every morning for 1 month [0/31]
87. Write a letter to a future me :)
88. Spend a whole day painting
89. Spend a whole day drawing



90. Visit Joe's aunt and uncle in St. Croix
91. Go to NY - a BIG dream of mine
92. Go out of the country (never been)
93. Take a road trip with some girlfriends
94. Plan a trip to see a family member I have never met before (or cannot remember ever meeting)
95. Visit 3 NEW TO ME national parks [0/3]
96. Visit Mount Rushmore
97. Visit Central Park
98. Go to Times Square
99. Shop in downtown NYC
100. Run a race somewhere out of state
101. Visit with Katie in Las Vegas

Weight-Loss Wednesday #1

Today at the library I finally was able to get the book I have been waiting anxiously for... 

The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper! It was published on May 15, 2012 and I was on the waiting list at my library for about a month-ish. I am soooo glad I got on the list earlier or I could have been waiting awhile!

Here is a brief description of the book for those of you who are not familiar with this book...

"THE LAST DIET BOOK YOU’LL EVER NEED

With so much conflicting weight-loss advice out there to confuse your efforts, it’s no wonder you haven’t been successful losing weight and keeping it off. But with Bob Harper, superstar trainer and co-host of NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser as your personal authority and coach, you can and will finally shed the pounds—whether you want to lose two or two hundred!

Distilling Bob’s vast knowledge of nutrition, weight-loss strategy, and human nature down to twenty simple, nonnegotiable principles, The Skinny Rules will help you step away from a reliance on processed foods and the need for so much sweet and salt and step into a newly thin lifestyle. And Bob’s methods couldn’t be more straightforward.

Taking the guesswork out of implementing the Skinny Rules, Bob offers a month’s worth of menu plans and more than 90 delicious, rule-abiding recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to keep you cooking and eating skinny for life. You’ll be happily astounded to see the variety and volume of the tasty food on your plate! He also includes terrific tips for what to stock in your fridge and what to prepare every weekend in order to set yourself up for success during your too-busy-to-cook weekdays.

A virtual GPS to your weight-loss goals, The Skinny Rules takes the mystery out of the process, offering the fastest route to your skinny destination.

LOSING WEIGHT IS NOW AS SIMPLE AS 1-2-3 . . . AND 3-15-18-20 TOO!" 

[via]

For those of you who are interested in this book you can get it HERE on Amazon, in hardcover, in Kindle edition, or on audiobook. You can also be like me and get it from your local library for free!

Now, all of that being said, with the starting up of the LoseAMarathon Challenge HERE, I have decided that while I will be weighing in on Mondays for the challenge (and Thursdays for my own personal wishes) that I also wanted to start a weekly bloggy link-up for all of my fitness-conscious bloggy buddies who wish to participate. 

Without further ado I would like to introduce you to "Weight-Loss Wednesdays"! This is my (and your) opportunity to look at what sorts of things are working, what things aren't working, and what new things we might like to try as we progress on our weight-loss journeys.

I don't want this to be too structured, but I thought for the first 13 weeks while I am doing the LoseAMarathon Challenge, I could utilize the 20 "rules" that Bob Harper lays out in his book.

I have decided that since there are 20 rules that I will discuss 2 rules every other week and 1 rule every other week... (if that is confusing just think of it this way... Week 1 = rules 1 and 2, week 2 = rule 3, week 4 = rules 4 and 5, and so on.)

I will share the rule(s) here on my blog and then discuss how I am will work toward incorporating them into my weight loss, or if I am already doing so I will discuss that and how it is working (or not working) 

If you wish to participate you can do so by linking-up on Wednesdays and sharing how you are working toward incorporating the "rules" etc. 

Rule #1 - Drink a large glass of water BEFORE every meal - NO EXCUSES!

Bob re-iterates the importance of staying hydrated and he specifically emphasizes the importance of drinking your first glass of water within 15 minutes of waking up. He also emphasizes how you can burn increasing amounts of calories, just by drinking water! That is definitely something I can get on board with! :)

While I am getting a lot better about drinking water regularly and staying hydrated, but I am definitely not drinking a full glass of water within 15 minutes of waking up! This is something that I want to set as a personal goal for myself.

Rule #2 - Don't Drink Your Calories  

Love soft drinks? Love fancy coffee drinks? Love alcohol? Yes, they may taste good, but do you realize they often have the caloric content of a full meal?

I recently decided to stop drinking soda. It has been tough and I won't say that I haven't slipped up and drank soda on occasion, but it is definitely not the staple it used to be in my life.

If you have an addiction to soda Bob suggests slowly weaning off of it by experimenting with other flavored drinks without calories. Like the fizz? Try seltzer water with lemon juice. Make unsweetened tea, or juice! 

I will admit, I love coffee. When I am getting coffee out and about I will generally try to be good and get non-fat, sugar-free, no whip, etc. Which is better than full calories any time, but it is still something I need to work on. I enjoy a cup of coffee every morning and I do enjoy nondairy creamer. Bob suggests using skim milk or soy milk if you cannot drink just black coffee. Do not add sugar. This is something that I would like to try to do and will report back on.

**As of right now I do not have a cute little button (or any button for that matter) for this link-up, but rest assured, I will soon! 

Don't forget to link-up below so that I can see your post!

Women in the Word Wednesday - 2012 Summer Study Wk 6

Today I am linking up with Good Morning Girls for "Women in the Word Wednesday"

Thursday, June 14th
- Proverbs 14:23
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Proverbs 14:23 says "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." I wonder if this is where the saying "talk is cheap" comes from. I mean, that is essentially what is being said here, right? 1 Thressalonians 4:11 says "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you" I like this verse about leading a quiet life. It doesn't necessarily mean "quiet" in the sense of not making a sound or not speaking, but quiet in the sense that you shouldn't be out there causing trouble, picking fights, or trying to involve yourself in matters that don't concern you. It also says you should work with your hands. I like that it says that specifically because it means you should get right down to it, right in the heart of it, as closely connected to your work as one can be. What a great mental picture.

Friday, June 15th
- GMG Reflection
- Living a Divinely Inspired Life Devotional (Day 1) --> Genesis 12:1-3, Psalm 139:13-18

I am reading a devotional called "Living a Divinely Inspired Life" and todays verses were Genesis 12:1-3 and Psalm 139:13-18. The focus of the reading was about our purpose and about asking God to show us what that purpose is. I think this reading was extremely timely for me as I am suffering through a sort of depression. I feel like I have no purpose. I spend days here at home, often with little to no social interaction with the outside world. I have recently deactivated FB again for studying, which has been helpful for getting more done, but has also left me feeling so disconnected from life. I miss hearing about people and what's going on in their lives. Yes, maybe I was living vicariously through them on FB, but still, it was some sort of connection, no matter how slight.

Monday, June 18th
- Proverbs 31:19 
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 20-21

The verse states "in her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers." I had to look and see what a distaff is because I was unsure as to what it was. According to Merriam Webster it says a distaff is "A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound for spinning" I suppose this verse means that she makes things on a spinning device.

The Proverbs 31 woman weaves her own clothes, she works with her hands. Not only does she rise early, burn the late night oils, travel far to provide food for her family, etc. but she also makes clothing! What a woman! What a standard for us to aspire toward. While I may never make my own clothing, I can make other things for my family, and I should!

Tuesday, June 19th
- Colossians 3:23
- Ephesians 6:7

The focus of the two verses was to work happily at whatever we are working on, with a feeling that we are working for the Lord as opposed to working for people. Work as though we are working for a higher power and a greater good. I think this is a great thing to remember because we need to work and sometimes if we work with a higher power in mind maybe we will be more happy in our work.

Wednesday, June 20th 
- Proverbs 31:20
- Deuteronomy 15:7-8
- Proverbs 11:25
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 22-23


The book passage focused on the virtue of Proverbs 31:20 which says "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." We see here another trait of this miraculous woman, she has helping hands that help the poor. Today I prayed for beautiful hands, not in the literal sense, but in the sense of giving me hands that are beautiful because of the work that I have done for others, because of the kindness they have shown in providing food or money, or other resources to someone who is in need. Today I pray for beautiful hands for all of us. The other two sets of verses we read focused on the same realm of helping others, particularly those in need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 says "If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. ⁸ Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need." To me this means that we should not be stingy when it comes to the poor, but rather we should give back freely. This is definitely something that I need to work on. I pray that I will be able to be more giving to others. And lastly Proverbs 11:25 says "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." As a blogger I followed stated this is the "water and be watered" verse. We must give in order to receive, we must water in order to be watered, we must refresh in order to be refreshed. What you give out to the world really will come back to you, so you best make it something good and something you want to receive again

Lose a Marathon (26.2) Challenge

As you readers know, I have been struggling with my weight loss journey for awhile. I have been yo-yoing back and forth for awhile and I have recently been up in the higher weight ranges, especially after law school stress and Bar exam study stress, etc.

When I saw the "Lose a Marathon" challenge on numerous friends' blogs, I decided to take a look at it. Run with Jess has designed this challenge and you can read all about it HERE. It started yesterday, but the first weigh-in isn't until next Monday, so there is still time to sign up if you want to participate. Jess also has a "Lose a Half Marathon" challenge as well, for those of you with less weight to lose.

So, who is in?

Just Closed... [Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! All havoc has ran loose since the end of the last book when Harry comes out of the maze at the end of the Triwizard Competition claiming that Lord Voldemort is back. Nobody believes him except for Dumbledore, Ron, Hermoine, and the Order of the Phoenix. This book is about the strife he goes through getting people to believe, how his 5th year at Hogwarts goes, and ends in another epic battle!

View all my reviews

Back to Fitness Diversity - Week 2 (completed!)

Monday
- Scheduled = 3 miles EZ
- Done = 0 miles :(

Tuesday
- Scheduled = 1 hour spin + weights strength training + core
- Done = 1 hour spin + weights strength training + core + 3.00 miles in 36:15 (12:05 pace)

Wednesday
- Scheduled = Tempo run (1 mile warm-up, 3 fast 3 slow x4, 1 mile cool down)
- Done = Interval run (7 minutes warm up, 2 fast 2 slow x4, 7 minutes cool down) = 2.39 miles in 30:00

Thursday
- Scheduled = 1 hour spin + weights strength training + core
- Done = 1 hour spin + weights strength training + core SUCCESS

Friday
- Scheduled = 3 miles
- Done = 3.11 miles in 40:00 (12:51 pace)

Saturday
- Scheduled = 5 miles long run + weights strength training + core
- Done = Rest

Sunday
- Scheduled = Rest day
- Done = Rest

Total Miles for Week = 8.50 miles