Time Out... For Running!

I need to take a brief pause from the 100 days of happiness blog entries to talk about running. Why you ask? Because I'm a running magician. That's right, running magician. So the "newness" of living in Btown is wearing off and I'm starting to actually know a few people. Check this out...I had a group of people over at my apartment last night! I digress... So as commonly happens when I talk to people, the subject of running comes up. And I usually get um... amped up (?) about it. So it's not a surprise when people tell me that they're wiling to try it. Seriously if I could be a salesperson for running, I would probably be a billionaire. Is that a real job?

Well in the last few weeks I've gotten two people to come out and run with me and it's only taken them one run to realize that running outside with another person is THE BEST way to run. I'm sorry did I say the best? I meant the ONLY way to run! It may be one of the funniest things to me how intimidated people become when they hear the races I've done! No one understands that I truly mean I won't leave anyone behind, no matter what their pace... until we run. Runner #1 I've convinced to run a halfie in Indy with me in just over a month. Runner #1 has never run more than 4 miles, so our first run together was a beautiful 8 miler. We killed it. Absolutely destroyed it. Let's just say Runner #1 is hooked. Up to 10 miles tomorrow!

Runner #2 voiced pace concerns and said no way could they run and talk. Guess who's been on at least 4 runs with me, chatting away?!?! Runner #2. 

Running magician.

It doesn't stop there. A co-worker has recently fallen in love with running and stops by to discuss daily runs or races to sign up for. Oh and another who has never been a runner has expressed interest to start in the future (and has already walked in a 5k with me!).

Running magician.

So if anyone out there is reading this and thinks... No way, you can't possibly get me to run. Call me! Let's talk... during a run!

P.S. My running magic only gets stronger in the spring with the warmer temps!!

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof!

Because I'm happy!!! Great song Pharrell... great song!! So I'm learning that it's more and more difficult to really capture the moments that make me happy and most of the pictures on this list are pictures of things. I wish there was a way to capture the moments a little better, but that's why there's a little description with each picture. Example... clear roads in the last entry only truly made me happy based on the driving conditions the day before! Also I'm trying my best to just capture any moment of happiness for the day. Some days the picture may not be the happiest moment of the day, but if it brings a smile to my face... Boom! Picture taken! So here's a little recap on the last two weeks:

Day 26: Mario Kart!

Because some days you just need a little Mario Kart time!

Day 27: A clean car!!

Finally the snow/rain/wintery mix stopped for a long enough period to let me get my car washed. Love seeing my sexy car without all the nasty salt and snow! 

Day 28: Bright pink nail polish!!

Spring is coming and I just couldn't resist getting ready with some brightly colored toenails! So... nothing better than bright pink to get ready for spring time and flip flop season! Can't wait to wear my flippy floppies!! (Hopefully on a boat!) 

Day 29: Successfully building a balloon arch with friends!

A friend was throwing a St. Patrick's day themed party that I helped plan and took it upon myself to make a balloon arch for some sweet decorations. Let's be serious... once you've seen a balloon arch, you must have one at your party!! You want to talk about happy? Hang out at a place with a balloon arch!! Also making it with other people while having a few beers... priceless!

Day 30: Reese's peanut butter egg in my work mailbox!

Walked into work and had this lil' guy sitting in my work mailbox! Happy early Easter!! 

Day 31: Fun colored eggs from free range chickens!

Early Easter continued when I got these eggs from a co-worker. Talk about delicious! And obviously Jasmine was interested them too!! 

Day 32: Shamrock 5K beer run!

This was a great run that included a beer every K!! So many good times with new friends! But still rocking that Cookie Monster!! 

Day 33: Sweeeeet hotel room!

Off on another work trip and while driving through Canton, IL was a little sad because there's not much around... the hotel (thank you Mr. Cook) was sweeet!!! These would be my two king beds that I may or may not have jumped between! 

Day 34: Freshly baked cookies!!

Every day at the hotel they bake cookies! There's a plate of them sitting on the counter every afternoon. I unfortunately couldn't get a good picture because every time I approached the counter I was bombarded by the employees to make sure everything in the hotel was to my satisfaction.

Day 35: Scoring the last chocolate milk!

Breakfast time in the hotel came with chocolate milk and on this day I managed to get the last one! Woohoo... love that chocolate milk! 

Day 36: Legit science time!

So my trip ended with me leading a meeting and putting together a science project. Again it was a time where I wasn't able to capture a picture. However, being in charge of a science project with experiments makes me pretty happy!

Day 37: Chase Rice is performing in Nashville for the halfie!!

There's a huge backstory here... but the most important part is that I met Mr. Rice! He is so cute!! Can't believe he is the one that is the headliner for this year's halfie! 

Day 38: I own Frozen!!

 Yes is is that good that I own it already. And it was just what I needed to watch to unwind after a long day of work.

Staying happy!!

Guess who's back? Back again!!! Have no fear, the 100 days of happiness is still going strong! I've been a bit busy recently (sneaking in a trip back to Mississippi!!) but I've still taking pictures to share the happiness!

Day 17: Starting vacay in Hburg eating at the best place in town OUTSIDE!!

It's true. I took a mini-vacation back to Hattiesburg. This is a picture from my 2ish hour lunch outside with some great people. Pepperjack shrimp gyro!! I could eat this every day!! And on top of that a pineapple fusion?!?! Bring on vacation!! I think this means that I'm just insanely ready for spring to actually come to Indiana!!

Day 18: Seeing Terrod!!!

This is the picture behind my trip. Tiny backstory: Terrod and I were running buddies the entire(ish) time I was in Mississippi. We ran the Disney marathon together, which was Terrod's first and a Tough Mudder. He is the reason behind my running style of never leaving someone behind. If I was struggling he had no problem of stopping and walking, and I would do the same for him. About a year ago he collapsed at the end of a run and now suffers from brain damage. There was a race to raise money for him, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. And I'm not going to lie this is Terrod after most races... passed out! Kid can sleep anywhere!!

Day 19: Ropers outing with Brittany!!

Ok... I'll admit the picture quality isn't the greatest, but sometimes that happens at 1 am! In what has become a Hattiesburg trip tradition, Brittany and I always manage to end up at Ropers for some line dancing fun. Ropers isn't just line dancing. One minute everyone is line dancing and the next it's "wobble" time. Between the dancing, pool tables, outdoor karaoke and all you can eat buffet (have yet to try that!!), it's definitely an entertaining place. It was also great to spend some quality time with Brittany!! Miss having her around!!

Day 20: Clear roads!!

To most people clear roads might not be a cause of happiness, but let's put it into perspective. Just over 12 hours before this I was driving back from the Indy airport at 2 am just after a nice winter storm. Not the best way to end a trip where the temps were mostly in the mid-70s! So I was incredibly happy to leave work and see clear roads without any ice or snow!

Day 21: Red beans and rice to celebrate Mardi Gras!! 

Fat Tuesday!!! Woot!!! The only way to celebrate when you're halfway across the nation from NOLA is a bowl of red beans and rice!! Recently I've been craving cajun food and making some red beans and rice definitely put a smile on my face. Sure I would have loved another king cake, but I'll take what I can get!

 Day 22: Sweatpant chill time!!

 Back here in Btown it's March and the highs have yet to be consistantly above freezing! That only means one thing... sweatpant time! There's just something about vegging out in front of the TV in sweats on a Wednesday night. Perhaps that something is I wasn't able to do that for the last 6 years... Thank you grad school and Mississippi!!

Day 23: Hittin' the trails!!

Yes it was just yesterday that I was complaining about it not being above freezing and it seems like that has just changed! Today was so beautiful I could run outside comfortably!! Not only that I was able to check on the local bike trails. Being out there made me realize just how much I missed the morning trail runs that we would go on in Hburg. But seems like I may be well on my way to setting up an evening trail run here in Btown. Of course I would get together a trail running group. That's just how I roll!

Day 24: Cold beer on a Friday night!!

A pair of jeans that fit just right... and the radio uuuuuupppp!!! :-) Yes, I couldn't resist. So the weather in Btown has changed so much that my co-worker suggested a cook out! Granted by the time we got around to that it was cold again, but still... The fact that cook outs can be considered is huge!! And what better to go with a cook out than a spring seasonal beer! Yay for Friday night beer with friends and pseudo-cookouts!

Day 25: Outdoor long run!! 

 I have to admit that training for these half marathons have not been going so well. Oh... did I mention I'm signed up for back-to-back half marathons at the end of April/beginning of May?!?! Yikes. Today I got a run in and that after run feeling was amazing!! Exhausted but feeling accomplished! It's been a long time since I've made it 6 miles. And it may not have been pretty, but it happened! Back in the running game!! One mile at a time!! 

So there you have it... A quarter of the way through the 100 days and it's interesting to me how different each day can be. I honestly never thought a picture of clear roads would make me happy, but hey after driving through the remnants of a snow storm... I'll take the clear roads!! I know there will be a lot of exciting pictures coming up as I'm entering a travel heavy spring! I think the list includes: Canton (IL), Vegas!, Nashville (x 2), Michigan, Denver and Mississippi (again!). Can. Not. Wait.