Help Wanted!

I wear my hair in a pony tail every single day.  EVERY SINGLE DAY!  Why?  It's quick and easy!  Truely, I just like it away from my face and off my neck.  When it's down, I typically get several comments on how nice it looks, but it just gets in the way and makes me hot.  So... I think it's time for a new approach.  Short.  REALLY SHORT!  Something low-maintanence that I can keep up without a huge daily commitment.  My hair is really thick, so it might be nice to get rid of the bulk.  If the cut looks tragic, it's just hair, it will grow back and so will my trusty ponytail.  I think it's time for a makeover!

I'd LOVE some input, before I let Ashley D-B at Style & Grace Salon work her magic... :)

Please comment & if you think, short? NO WAY, please...weigh in too!  Thanks!

From this....     

                                        

To this...

Mission Accomplished

Three weeks ago, I became the proud, first time recipient of a beautiful half-marathon medal and words cannot describe how good it feels!  Never in a million years did I think I'd ever even set out to accomplish a 13.1 mile road race... but I did.  I made the commitment... I trained as much as my body would allow with a flaring IT band... and I powered through a distance unknown to my body until I crossed that finish line.



Picture c/o my dear friend Elizabeth of Rearview Photography

The best part is that I did it all with my mom.  She is the runner (my inspiration) and slowed her pace down considerably to be by my side through every step.  As if it couldn't get any better... the race was at Disney World and took us through the Magic Kingdom, complete with a trip through the middle of the castle.  It was the BEST part of the entire race!  The race began near Epcot and eventually ended there too... which was also cool, but at that point I just wanted to be DONE!  The last mile felt like it took fooooreeeever!  It wasn't the 3 hour run that took my breath away though, it was coming around that last turn and seeing the "FINISH" banner up ahead.  Unbelievable.  We crossed it with our heads held high, a smile on our sweat-laden faces, and our hands held tight.  We did it.  I did it.

My mom made our tutus... :)
We had JUST arrived to the race site, it was 3:30AM!

Magic Kingdom! (miles 5-6ish)

WE DID IT!  13.1 baby!  Amazing.

Despite our pride-filled grins, we were in PAIN! haha  My mom is battling plantar fasciitis, which can be very painful and makes nearly every step unbearable at times.  I pushed too hard during my 10 mile training run at the end of January and since then, have been trying to conquer what I self-diagnosed as IT Band Syndrome.  Very common among runners I guess.  It's not unbearable, but is very uncomfortable.  I am starting to understand why runners are crazy motivated and run... despite injury.  I think it simply comes down to being incredibly stubborn and refusing to let anything stand in the way of an important goal.

We celebrated our own "strong finish" with a trip to the hotel pool to relax in the refreshing water, let our legs/feet rest, and soak up the warm Florida sunshine.  After deciding a nap was a waste of time, we went BACK to Epcot to stuff ourselves silly with Mexican food... my mom had a beer, I had a margarita.  Well-deserved I'd say!

Wearing our expo shirts & medals proudly!

Neither of us had ever been to Disney World... so every second outside of the race was spent enjoying the parks.  I wish I had put a pedometer on during our whirlwind 4-day trip to Orlando, because I bet we walked a gazzilion miles too.  My legs and feet were screaming by the time we boarded our plane home, but I wouldn't change a thing! :)  Here are some other highlights...
 





  

"All our dreams come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."  ~Walt Disney