11 Random Things...

I was tagged by Michele over at: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/

If you are not already familiar with this, here are the rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself (Jen’s said 12, but Katye tagged me first so I’m going with those rules).
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

Here we GO:

1. Despite being a DIE HARD Texas Longhorn Fan, I actually attended the University of Texas at Arlington for a year and a half before making the transfer down to Austin. Not everyone knows that! Hook'em Horns!

2. I'm the youngest child of EIGHT (8)- ocho. Yep, one big Mexican family! Here are my siblings!3. I have considered myself a runner for less than a year. Last February I randomly decided to run 6.5 miles one Sunday afternoon. Before that I had only run 3-4 at a time. I have been hooked since! I ran my first race EVER in September, Rock and Roll Philadelphia and finished in 2:08:13 :) I am so proud! Hoping and praying to break two hours this year!

4. I don't like sheets. I actually sleep on top of a really soft blanket. This habit started back in High School and has stuck. I'm quirky, I know :)

5. Growing up my favorite color was red, but when my best friend got married and we had purple dresses I've been obsessed with all things purple since! I even have purple Ray Bans that my dear friend, Sara bought me!

6. I am NOT a morning person. I don't like to talk at all, but the one thing I really like to do is workout. I have had so many good workouts in the AM!

7. I have three best friends! I love them so much and we call each other the Fantastic Four. Two of us live here in NYC and two live in Austin: Mandy, Tonya, Candace, and Me.


8. I have a white tattoo on my wrist that no one ever notices :) It says "ὡσαννά" which means Hosanna in Greek. Hosanna is the cry of praise or adoration shouted in recognition of the Messiahship of Jesus. I've been a Christ follower since I was 18 and it's the foundation of my life.

9. I went to undergrad and studied Government and wanted to go Law School.... not so much anymore.

10. My favorite place in New York City is Central Park. It's beautiful and have had some major runners high moments there that I will never forget.

11. My favorite red wine is Lambruso and my favorite white wine is Reisling. I've only liked wine since 2006. I use to HATE it.

Here are Michele's questions:

Questions
1. What was the first race signed up for? When was it? Where was it? How did you do?
Rock and Roll Philly. In September of 2011. AMAZING. I PR'ed! haha! 2:08:13

2. What is your favorite color? Purple

3. Do you prefer to read stories and the training of elite runners or every day runners? Why?
Everyday runners. I love the running community I have found via twitter and reading all of their blogs.

4. Treadmill or dreadmill? Use to be the dreadmill but I appreciate it now that we are in winter!

5. Gear junkie or Run Naked? I ran naked for a very long time but after getting a Garmin, I'm OBSESSED with stats/splits/etc.

6. Is there an era of music that you prefer? Oldies? Classic Rock? 90s? Not really. Just whatever is popular at the moment.

7. Coffee or Tea? Tea.

8. What is a childhood secret you never told your mom? I got a paper clip stuck in a lock once and we had to get the door lock replaced but I never told her it was me! HAHA!

9. Favorite Olympic Summer sport to watch? Swimming.

10. Favorite movie of all time? Home Alone!

11. Cake or Pie? Pumpkin Pie.


I'm cheating and not making any other questions... :)

Happy February!

I am alive.

I know I only have about 2-3 readers on here, but I figured I'd let you know that I am definitely alive and well! Happy 2012, friends! I rounded off the year by spending 20 days in Texas with my family and friends. It was a much needed break from NYC, but by the end I was literally jumping up and down to come back home to New York City. A year and a half ago I would have never thought that I'd be so eager to come back here, but I can say that it truly does feel like my new home, for now, and for however long the Lord wants me to live here. I love my apartment and my roommates, and every day when I walk out of my apartment I am just so happy. I'm really excited for this coming year. Last year was good, but it had it's true challenges. I was really ready for 2012 to be here.

A few things I'm looking forward to:

1. Welcoming Baby Fairley to the world in February! Yay Candace and Freeman :)
2. Welcoming Little R to Austin Texas this Spring sometime (praying so!) Hooray Mandy and Leighton!
3. Running 13.1 miles through the streets of DC with Jaclyn and Morgan!
4. Many more foodie adventures with my new friend, Lauren, who writes a FANTASTIC blog at: http://here2eat.blogspot.com/
5. Running 13.1 miles for FREE in Central Park for the More/Fitness Half Marathon in April. I won it via twitter. I really LOVE social media.
6. Seeing two of my high school friends say 'I Do' in June in Texas. I'm in the wedding and I'm already really looking forward to that weekend so much. It's going to be epic.
7. RUNNING THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON WITH TEAM WORLD VISION. 26.2 miles. Boom.

Of course there are others, but for now that's most important. Life is good and the Lord is great.

Over and out.

Friends Forever.

Truth be told, the girl in the above photo is truly one of my favorite people on the face of the planet. We have been friends since the first month of freshmen year of college. This girl makes me laugh more than most people ever will and I am so thankful for the past 9 years of friendship. We are highly inappropriate, make crude jokes, and cuss to be funny all the time. If people ever read our text messages they might question our salvation. Luckily I'm a Calvinist ;)

In July she moved to DC, which made me SO happy! She took me to the White House when I went to visit her in October, and we saw Obama... (not really) but we did drink some Shiner beer, ate good food, and had lots of laughs. She's coming to see me this weekend and I'm stoked.

My life is richly blessed with great people. Boom.

Two years in the books.

I started my journey of a lifetime commitment to health and fitness TWO years ago today. To date I've lost 90+ pounds and I truly can't believe the progress I have made. It's been unbelievable. I've been committed, I've worked really really hard, and at the end of the day I don't make any excuses for myself. One good friend told me last night "You were hiding behind your body for so long, but now you are truly who you were made to be." I am thankful. I am worth it and that's why I fight for this every single day.

This also marks about 16 months of being in 'maintenance' which experts say maintenance is just as hard as the actually losing process. It's been a year of adjustment since I moved across the country, but God gives me the strength and energy to keep pursuing this life. I LOVE it. And I can't complain that I get to spin next to celebrities at SoulCycle or run through the trails of Central Park. I've also learned that this whole health/fitness life is a lot about balance. I don't work out twice a day anymore or log in every single calorie I intake, but I try to maintain a good balance in all aspects to not go overboard, but to still enjoy my life.

I have THREE goals over the next 12 months:

1. Continue to maintain my weight-loss by eating healthy foods and exercising 4-5 times a week.
2. Get stronger/leaner
3. Train and complete a FULL Marathon. (26.2 miles: I'm coming AFTER you)

Thanks for the support the past 24 months, friends. Love you all.

I ran a Half Marathon. #NBD

About a month ago, my friend Morgan and I ran the Philly Half Marathon. Although I had trained with one of my FAVORITE people ever, Sara aka Rooms, she had to fly to Texas to be with her family and was unable to run with me. Luckily I wasn't left alone and Morgan came to support and run with me! Yay!


Earlier this summer I decided I wanted to train for a half marathon because I was beginning to get bored with my workouts. I had two goals. A) Run the whole time B) Finish under 2:30. I smashed both of those goals. My next goal is to finish in under 2 hrs. I attest my performance solely to my dedication to my training plan. When I do something I'm either all in or not. Boom.


I'm a Texan, and FULL of Texas pride. I'm fully in the zone here. Love it!

Over and out. See ya next month! :)

Good morning!

I never thought I'd be one of those girls who wakes up before 6 am to get in a good run, but maybe I need to come to terms with the fact that I am indeed becoming one of those girls. And with a view like this, I don't plan to stop anytime soon.

When I was running and saw the sunrise I couldn't help but to remind myself that His mercies are new every morning. What a gift we've been given each day. The Lord is so good to me.

Brownwood Besties.

I've known these ladies since I was in the 6th Grade! We've been great friends since then and I'm so thankful for friends from my hometown. We've been through so much together and though we don't see each other that often, it is ALWAYS so good when we do. We were together for a weekend back in July to celebrate Hillary's (in the middle) new little bundle of joy that will join us in October! Yay! Friends forever!

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."