{Nike inspired me to fly...You can too!}

Because I am gonna fly!

A little Nike inspiration for ya.

Albeit, glistening {SWEATY} haired-girl, yes.

But that smiling-happy-go-lucky free feeling is so worth that cost!

I love that feeling! Even if it is hard work.

Do you run? If not and you want to, you can start with walk/running.

I started this way.

You just gotta tell yourself "I can do this!"

And you can! I promise!

Here is a cool challenge. I signed up for it this morning.

It is out there for the world to see, so no backing out.

Or, I won't let me back out!

I have run for years and always done things behind the scenes in challenging myself.

The me in the past would possibly not tell you how far

I ran until ...well, ya know, I conquered my goal... {Silly pride, really!}.

OK, I would however, giggle with you

and tell you that I tripped over road-kill varmint running not long ago

and it flew up in the air and I screamed {like a girl, because I am!}

as a person driving saw me and smiled and then I laughed hard.

I find daily life is so silly sometimes and it might make you giggle too

{Yes, that actually happened! And I went back

once to see a dead snake, but that is another story!}.

I did not call dibs, but the varmint seemed to call dibs on me as it flew in the air! Oh my!

But, the me that is NOW, has to start somewhere again.

So in this journey you will see the good and well, the days I feel

all out-of-breath-aint-gonna-run-today-because-I-don't-wanna-be-out there!

... and be all good with it and just smile at my silliness...and get out there and run.

During November before work took every waking second,

I was running 4.5 miles in the morning and 4.5 miles at night.

Yes, that is 9 miles a day, everyday, but I wanted to challenge myself and

it was a great place for me to direct any stress from work.

And pound out any frustration I had with the world.

But a part of it I realized at one point was not healthy!

I know you are saying..."Ummmmmm yes, that

equates to unhealthy or just plain crazy! {Insert Smile}!"

I can be a "Game-On" competitive kinda girl.

Then HALT! I stopped running.

I needed perspective, to confront some things in life and just good sweet rest!!!!!!

Anyone who might be a runner, or the runners I

know when one starts running again, it is as if one has never run.

As in EVER! Or it feels that way.

Well, the first day is wonderful running.....then....not so much!

If not for you, then it definitely happened to me. My will needed to kick in!

I have begun again, to feel the freedom running brings again one step at a time.

I started with 2 mile runs...and breathing heavy.

The first day back...AMAZING!

Then ouch...

My body felt like molasses, so I walked in-between runs the first couple of weeks.

But something happened in my heart and this week it all changed.

I ran 3-4-5 miles consecutively for the last three days and for the right reasons.

I ran for the sheer joy of running, period!

I felt myself , albiet out of breath, {Oh my land!} but, I was SMILING!

I ran because it just felt good to feel my ponytail flapping back and forth.

I was just happy to be there and thankful to just be present in the moment and enjoying it!

Happy to feel free and positive.

It felt good to sweat {Ahem, I mean southern-girl talk for"glisten"!}.

I love that feeling. My hair gets soaked and mascara is everywhere, but I don't care!

I ran and sang {loudly} to great music that I love.

And it felt so dang good. Oops...I mean "dang" in the most endearing of smile terms!

I just added a minute, then another minute every time.

I mean that is how the 9-plus mile a day deal happened.

Yep, by adding one minute at a time.

This time around I am doing it because it just makes me smile,

and something that I can do by myself, or share with another, or many.

Some of the best conversations and laughter I have ever had have come out of running.

Some of those conversations are what helped me overcome athletic asthma in the past.

If I can do it, seriously ANYONE can!

So if any of you are doubter's, give it a try.

You might well find yourself achieving more than you thought possible.

I double-dog-dare you actually!

So, in this I found this Nike challenge and thought..."You know if you are doing it, well it might be good for another to want to sign up and feel that same feeling you feel when running."

So here is the link to many different challenges Nike offers to everyone.

Thank you NIKE! I love you! Mwahhh for making me feel inspired.

Lastly, I want to do a shout-out for my life-long kindred friend.

Paige is training for a half marathon to run at her favorite place, the beach.

She ran 8 miles on Sunday! You go girly! So very proud of you and happy for you!