So many positive things lately.

A {mostly} happy kiddo. PS – Potty training SUCKS.

A great husband.

A fun job that involves dodge-ball tourneys. Running shoes with tights for the win.

A giant closet purge.

LOTS of yoga. Feeling strong!

Return of Daryl Dixon tonight. Sexy.

Reflecting on all these awesome things makes the yucky things easier to deal with. Mainly a busted dishwasher and furnace… all within 1 week. Blarg!

What’s good for you?

I will NOT feel guilty for giving myself what I want.

I will NOT feel guilty for giving myself what I need.

This is my latest intention. I go to yoga and sweat and stretch and chant it over and over again until my mind is blank. The blankness may only last a few moments at best but those moments are priceless.

Just a month ago I sat here and proclaimed that 2012 would be more running! Look at this big list of races I want to run! Yay running!

And then, I got back in the room. Hey yoga, nice to see you again. I haven’t stopped craving that room since. I have stopped running since though.

Maybe it’s just coincidence, maybe divine intervention… but a beautiful yoga studio just opened a mere 4 minutes from my home. How I didn’t know this was happening is a shock but I found out the day before the first class from Maria on twitter and in that moment I was overjoyed.

Since then I’ve been attending 2-4 classes a week and I couldn’t be both happier and more frustrated. I’m SO happy when I’m in the room. I’m so happy when I leave. I’m so happy when I wake up knowing I have a class later.

I’m frustrated that my desire to run is zero. ZERO.

I have been on the treadmill taking long luxurious walks while watching The Bachelor on my iPad but the thought of cranking the speed past 4 mph is not one in my head.

I was feeling really bad about this. I was feeling guilty. Didn’t I just say I couldn’t wait to run more this year? I’m a fraud!

I was talking to Maria before a great session a few weeks ago about this and she said, “Well maybe this is just what your body needs right now.” You know what, I think she was right. That day during practice my intention was “I will not feel guilty for giving my body and mind what they need.”

Since that day I let go of the guilt and embraced what felt good. Not only for my body but for my mind. I work hard. I parent a 2 year old. I volunteer my time. I try to be on top of things. Why force myself to do something I just don’t want to do right now? Don’t I deserve a few hours a week to do exactly what I want and make myself better because of it? Honestly, I think I do deserve that.

This is by no means me saying I’m not a runner. I love running. I have since I was 12 years old and will continue to for the rest of my life I hope. But who is to say that hanging out the sneakers for a bit (could be a month, could be a year) is wrong? I’m done feeling that it’s wrong.

I will give my myself what I want.

I will give myself what I need.

Namaste.

What a wonderful… and sweaty… weekend! I was so pleased to have very few commitments this weekends and took full advantage and got in as many sweat sessions as I could.

I kicked off Saturday morning with a short run followed by an hour of yoga at Beyond Yoga in Vermilion. I was SO THRILLED to learn of this new studio opening so close to me! Two winters ago I was very diligent in my yoga practice by hitting up Solaluna in Oberlin regularly but since then I’ve hit up a class here and there and half-assed some moves at home. Over the past few weeks I’ve been itching to get back into a studio so it was divine intervention at it’s finest that Beyond Yoga has opened! I felt honored to attend the very first yoga class ever held at this beautiful location.

Today I started the day with a serious sweat session at Psycle in Westlake. It’s been a few months since I’ve been there and as usual it did not disappoint. I left drenched in sweat, with shaky legs and a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. An added bonus was sweating next to some good friends I haven’t seen in far too long.

And to top off the weekend, another class at Beyond Yoga. Since it’s their first week open all classes are donation based so I’m going to be trying to try out as many instructors as possible before ponying up to full price! But let’s be honest, I’ve already purchased my 10 class pass for after this week!

To say the least… it was a sweaty and tiring weekend. One I’d like repeat over and over.

Last week was also my first week back on the running wagon, officially. First week of the Earthday Half training schedule is complete! 15 more to go…

How about you? Any good sweat sessions this weekend? Dying of excitement about Downton returning to the tube tonight?

Recently while browsing around Macy’s I picked up a few things that are quickly becoming favorites on the vanity. The best part is that before being purchased I had zero knowledge of either of their existence.

1 – Bottom Lash Mascara

Umm, do other people already know about this? Have I been living under a rock perhaps? I had no idea this adorable and functional beauty product existed. At first I was skeptical… like do I really need a mascara especially for my bottom lashes? The answer is yes, yes I do.

The brush is mini, obviously. It’s magic. At least for me. No more smudging a mess while trying to cover my baby bottom lashes. I’m also covering more of them and better and getting a better overall effect. A total winner!

2 – Alien by Thierry Mugler Perfume

The Clinique gal who was making up my face with some new products I wanted to check out smelled just lovely. For real. I finally broke down and asked her what perfume she was wearing and she introduced me to Alien by Thierry Mugler. I had honestly never heard of it. I have heard of Angel made by the same brand. I fell in love with Alien immediately and got myself a bottle.

Another great thing about it is that you can purchase it in a refillable bottle and take it back in to be refilled. Easier on your wallet… and the environment. Win-win!

Also, I scored it for super cheap on Amazon!

Any new products you’ve discovered lately? Have you heard of either of these two?

As I declared the other day, a tad more focus on running in 2013 is the plan. 2012 wasn’t too shabby but after June I realllllllly dropped off the running train for most of the rest of the year. I’m still currently in low low low mileage running mode and am spending more time on the elliptical and bike but am ramping up the running soon. And nothing motivates me like a race scheduled staring me in the face.

I put a lot of races (for me) on the list, I don’t plan to run them all. Trying to keep my options open.

So without further ado, the 2013 tentative race schedule, bold being more firm than not.

March 16, 2013 – St. Malachi 5-Miler

April 21, 2013 – Earth Day Challenge Half Marathon

May 18, 2013 – Hy-5K

May 26?, 2013 – Tri for Joe at Coney Island Duathlon

June 15, 2013 – Fish Festival 5K

June 22, 2013 – Soul to Sole 5K

July 7?, 2013 – Lorain Duathlon

July 13, 2013 – James Kerstetter Memorial 5K

July 20, 2013 – Dirty Dog 5K

July 21?, 2013 – Huntington Beach Duathlon

July 28, 2013 – Columbus Giant Eagle Duathlon

August 18?, 2013 – Vermilion Harbor Duathlon

September 28, 2013 – Voices for Recovery 5K

October 19, 2013 – Bay Village Heritage 5K

The focus in the spring with be the Earth Day half. I’m going to be drafting up my training plan today! Excitement!

Any races on tap for you? Any awesome local races I missed here?