Fit + Blogging = #fitbloggin

So, there's this really amazing blogging conference that's I've had the pleasure of attending a couple times - Savannah in 2014 and Baltimore in 2011.  FitBloggin is more than just a conference - it's a community.  It's a community and tribe I have missed.

Like their tagline says, "using blogging, social media, and digital communication to motivate, inspire and foster a culture of health and wellness where everyone belongs."

My goal between now and July, when I *hopefully* attend my 3rd FitBloggin conference in Indianapolis, is to bring back some of that "fit" and "blogging" since both have been sporadic at best.

Here's the "fit" part:

 I am finally getting the scale to move back in the right direction.  (I weigh in at home on Wednesdays and at Weight Watchers on Saturdays - hopefully the 2 numbers match this week because I've been ON POINT for the past week since returning from Atlanta.

The "blogging" part will come.  As I have things to say, I'll say them.  If you want to read and comment, hopefully you will do that too :)  I used to be so consistent here, with a "schedule" and everything, but honestly, I got really burned out.  Maybe July and my tribe will motivate me to get my voice back out here.

Here's hoping 2016 has started off with a bang (in a good way) for you.  Are you planning to attend FitBloggin'16?  Please let me know if you are and if I actually make it (I'm registered but there's a lot that still needs to fall into place), we will definitely meet for hugs!

Thankful Thursday: #runDonna meet ups

So this past weekend while on Mid-Winter Break from school, I jetted off to not-so-warm-but-still-sunny Florida to run the 26.2 with Donna Breast Cancer Marathon.  Actually, "just" the half marathon because I'm not 26.2 miles of crazy right now.  I should really do some kind of race recap, and I'm sure I will, but first a little bit of why the weekend was so awesome.

I finally got to meet several friends In Real Life who I have know online for YEARS.  It's crazy, really, this whole blogging thing.  I've "met" some of the most incredible people EVER and when we get together for real, it really feels like we've been friends for eons. Or is that just me?

First up was meeting Donya. She's one of the original Shrinking Jeans gals and only lives about 2 hours from me, yet we had never met.  Even with a super busy kid and family night, she snuck away for a drink and selfie :)

MWAH!

The reason I got to meet Donya is because Nancy let me crash at her house on the way to Chicago.  I love Nancy, even without her proximity to Midway. She's such a sweetheart and even got up at the crack of dawn to make sure I had breakfast before my flight.

What an awesome group of hookers ;)

After arriving in Jacksonville, I made a beeline to the Donna Expo where I met up with Beth (aka Beth Bob aka Discom-BOB-ulated Running)!! Beth was working the Momentum Jewelry booth and we hung out and chatted races, triathlon (she's an IRONwoman!) and expo working.  Tres fun.  Hopefully I'll see this girl at more races in the future, or even up here since one of her BFFs lives not too terribly far from me.

Excuse my "I've been traveling and up for hours" look and focus on how cute Beth is.

Race morning, I was hoping to run into a couple other friends who had super fun race ambassador duties Saturday afternoon and night so I missed them at the expo.  As luck (and social media) would have it - I got a two-fer!

I finally got to meet Krissy! She is just as sweet and fun IRL as she is on her blog and Instagram.  We hung out and chatted for a bit before I had to run off to find the little girl's room one last time.  Krissy is your go-to girl if you need ideas for race costumes. Seriously - she's a pro.  And she always looks adorable in the process. Plus, she probably has the cutest dog on the entire internet.  Dug even has his own Insta I think ;)

Could Krissy be any cuter in her footie pjs?

It seems 3rd time's the charm when it comes to Marcia!  The Social Media Butterfly and I had planned to meet up at Jax Bank 2 years ago and again this year, but life and schedules got in the way.  This time, she found me chatting up Krissy and we hung out for a bit before she went off and CRUSHED her marathon.

We even got to celebrate Monday night with beers and pretzels the size of our heads.  

During the weekend, I also got to spend time with Jax DailyMile friends Deb, Joe, and Wendy, with them coming out to the beach and giving me beer mid race :)  Can't beat your own personal aide station!  If there is one thing I am most thankful for as a result of this Blogging, Facebooking, Twittering (totally words, shuddup) little gig I have, it's the friends I've had the pleasure to meet along the way.  

Now, if I can get my act together, I'll work on a race recap, because the Donna was so great on so many levels.  Until then, Cheers!

Hiatus

If there's anything I've learned over this past week of post-marathon "rest", it's that it would be very easy for me to fall back into old, lazy habits.  I've worked out a little (if you count walks and one 40 minute trainer ride) but for the most part, I've sat around and eaten too much.  Exactly what I did not want to have happen.

Part of the break was definitely to heal physically from the marathon.  I came away from the race with a nice PR and no new injuries, but I wasn't 100% healthy going into the training in the first place.  The other part was mental.  I needed to turn off my brain a little - now I'm just afraid I can't find the light switch to flip it back on.

Now, with no new training plan in place, I'm not really sure what to do next.

I think this translates to my little circle of the interwebs as well.  I write a lot about running and training, so if I'm not running or training, what do I write about?  My cat?  She's cute and all, but hardly the topic for a blog day in and day out.  (My apologies to any crazy cat ladies out there.)

I'm open to suggestions.

In the meantime, I'm going to take a little break from blogging here.  Who knows, I may be back tomorrow or Friday or maybe it will be next week.  I still want to tell you all about my training plan for Detroit, because a few people have asked, but other than that, I feel like my brain has gone into recovery mode as well.  

Mostly, I'm just still really tired.

See you all later.

Thankful Thursday: #Fitbloggin Baby!

As you read this, I'm en route to Fitbloggin14 in Savannah, GA!  

I had the best time EVER when I attended 3 years ago and I can't wait to meet up with old friends and meet some new friends as well.

In addition to attending, I'll be LiveBlogging a session on Friday at 9:30 - Weight Loss: Maintaining the Mojo, presented by DubyaWife and Katrina Pilkington.  If you aren't attending, you can follow along with the session here.  I've never live blogged before, so cross your fingers that it works without a hitch!

I can't wait to share all I learn with you next week!

Oh, one more thing...say a prayer that I don't keel over on my 14 miler while I'm down there.  It's going to be in the 90s. Lord have mercy.

Fitness Friday: blog hop with @TigerTownTails

This Friday I'm doing something a little different.  Earlier this week, Southeast Michigan-area blogger and runner, Kyle, asked if I'd answer a few questions for his Fit Friend Friday post.  You can find my answers here!

While you're over on Kyle's blog, send him some marathon-training love.  Kyle just embarked on his journey to 26.2!  Kyle is training to run the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon and his training plan looks AWESOME!  I know he's going rock Mickey's house next January.

If you want to follow Kyle's training (and I know you do), you can find him over on Daily Mile and Twitter.

Best of luck, Kyle, in your marathon journey - I know you're going to do great!

If you didn't get a chance yesterday, check out my announcement about becoming one of the newest writers for the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans!  I'm so excited to be a member of such a kick-ass team of women.

Thankful Thursday: social media and an announcement!

If you've "known" me for any length of time, you know I'm a social media junkie. What I didn't realize until I got a tweet today was that 3 years ago today I met Kirsten for the first time!


She was coming to Chicago for a conference so I drove over to spend the weekend with someone I'd never met. Who says you can't become instant friends with someone!

Not long after that, I headed to Baltimore for Fitbloggin '11 where I met more women (and a few men) who will be friends for life. I'm beyond crushed that I'm not heading to Portland today for Fitbloggin '13. The conference ticket I won from the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans  allowed me the opportunity to learn so much about blogging and myself that weekend (plus I got to hang with these rock stars).

Now, thanks to those amazing connections and friendships, I have a very cool announcement! I am one of the newest writers for the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans!


I even have a writer profile :) I'm excited to be a part of a site and community that has given me so much love and encouragement over the past 3 years. I'll be blogging a few times a month (my first post is planned for July 2nd) and I get to help Lisa out with the running areas of the site, as well as help manage the Run with the Sisterhood Facebook page!

Please go check out this amazing site and follow us in your reader, on Facebook and on Twitter. I can't wait to share my running journey with you all there! (Don't worry, nothing's going to change over in my little neck of the blogosphere here.)

How is your Thursday going?  Any thanks you'd like to share?