7 miles, 3 bridges, 3 cities, 2 states

Yes folks, that's right. I ran 7 miles today and was fairly shocked with myself. Maybe proud is a better word, but when I started this journey, the thought of running 3 miles sent a shiver down my spine. When I thought about 13, I was in sheer terror. I felt almost crazy. The crazy feeling has not left me yet, but the terror and anxiety have.

Last night I even had a dream about running. In my dream, I got lost and I was by myself and couldn't get home. I still get intimidated by our long runs. Getting started is hard because it seems like it takes forever to get that first mile in the books. Once the run gets going though, it just feels right and somehow my body just amazes me and keeps going-even at the moments when I think it can't. I told T.J. it was a strange feeling being all the way over on Linn Street today and coming to the realization that the only thing that would carry me home were my own two feet. They did. Thanks feet!

Every mile felt great today. The hills didn't stop me. I never felt like throwing up. I feel like I have officially redeemed myself from last week. The bridges didn't seem so hard because I had trained on all of them before. When I got back to the casino today, which was our place of starting out, I honestly felt like I could have kept running. Yup, definitely still crazy. Running  has become sort of an obsession. I find myself talking about it constantly. However, I can't be mad at myself because there are far worse things to become addicted to.

As I wake up in the mornings and feel tired and intimidated (not terrorized or anxiety-ridden) I always tell myself one thing over and over, "nothing worth achieving is ever easy." How true, my dear friends. I'm pushing my own boundaries farther than I've ever pushed before and it has been so worth it. I encourage all of you to try and do something new for yourselves that pushes you outside of your comfort zone. Do something that you think is impossible. Your mind and/or body will eventually push impossible out of the way. Possible will be left. All things are possible.

Here are some pictures from my day:

This picture just says "pure joy" to me. 

It was beautiful getting to watch the sun come up over my Queen City. 

I have a great team! 

I haven't posted on food in awhile, so my next post will have some recipe sharing. Thanks for listening to my babbles!