Where I've found myself lately....

I've been pondering the last month or so as to what keeps me motivated and why I do some of the things that I do.  To stay motivated it helps so much receiving encouragement whether it be from my Man or other runners and athletes.  It has been such an incredible blessing and something that I really never expected but running has brought a deeper relationship for my step-daughter and myself.  She has always been a runner and an athlete, I remember going to her basketball games, track meets as well as her cross country events when she was in school.  Now it is something we can do together and even my grand-daughter enjoys going along with us on her bicycle.   

 

 

 

Not long after I started running January 25, 2011 I started desiring a Saturday morning running group like I read about in the big cities and larger running communities.  I asked a gal that had been a long time runner in our area if she would be interested in heading this up but in all honesty she had no desire to do so.  Last summer I was blessed to be included into a Women's running group in a neighboring community and that was such a huge blessing for me.  I would drive about 20 miles one way every couple of weeks to either do a long run or a hill workout with three other women runners, and we signed up to run the Salt City Run for the Rocks 1/2 September 2012 in Hutchinson, Kansas.  I love The Sole Sisters!!

 

 

 

Then in November 2012 I started corresponding with a couple of younger gals in my own community while I was gone to Maui and they seemed interested in running with me from time to time and so that is how The Callipygians got started.  My husband came up with our name and it means "shapely buttocks", he seems to think that running should do that for me/us!  ;-) 

 

Remember I stated earlier about staying motivated, well another way this works for me is by signing up for races and events.  Whether they be in my surrounding area, 1/2 way across the state, a virtual race or even a race where I would happen to be vacationing, all keep me spurred on.  Sometimes they get me way out of my comfort zone, and believe me that has happened many times, and I would imagine there are more of those times in my future as well.  Here is a picture of Leslie and I a few weeks back after we participated in the Prairie Fire 1/2 Marathon in Wichita, Kansas.  Leslie is part of The Callipygians.

 

 And then my biggest cheerleader, confidant, motivator is my Man and truly I am grateful.  He isn't a runner but he enjoys swimming, cycling and going on hikes with me from time to time, especially in other areas of our world.  This was taken over the weekend at the Chaparral Falls in Cuchara, Colorado.  Isn't it gorgeous?  This was a 5.65 mile hike with 1300 feet of elevation gain and then 1300 feet of elevation loss as well. 

 

There are many more ways that you and I can stay motivated and there are a ton more people that I owe a huge thanks!  There simply isn't enough space or time....and so this is where I've found myself lately.  Pondering....and as always, JOY truly does COME IN THE MORNING!