Me and my Llama

So I work with an amazing company as a part of my new role and I kid you not, they have a llama mascot. This Llama emails us new ideas, course, features, you know, helpful work stuff.  Why does this matter?  Well, because I used to sing 'Me and my llama, going to the dentist today' from Sesame Street (oh yes, I included it for your viewing enjoyment) and I like llamas. 

Enjoy adult types - and don't forget to take your llamas to the dentist, they have teeth too.

It just occurred to me, this company I work with is a learning platform (a very general description) and I learned a lot from Sesame Street - coincidence?  I am sure not!  Oh, and here's to Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch...live on fun friends!

Sometimes, it is just about finishing your race.; even if there isn't an actual race or actual bling at the end...

This past summer has been an interesting one, life has thrown out good times, bad times and everything in between.  I have had moments where I was sure I couldn't get through another step and others where I knew I was going full steam ahead happier than ever.

This past weekend I ran double halves.  No, really.  I intentionally laced up my shoes, glided my body and ran 13.1 miles on Saturday and Sunday morning in 96% and 81% humidity respectively on purpose.  No one has ever called me sane, why should we start now.  I was with an amazing group of women, all of different sizes, paces and passions on this trek who motivate me all in their own way.  I also had an additional amazing group of friends and family I have know forever and friends I only know virtually or met a short time ago cheering me on from afar and supporting me whether they realized it or not.  All about the live and virtual cowbells people.

I once posted an entry about why I run.  I have written about running being a team sport, okay, so I wrote about it twice - I am a writer, it's what I do.   It is a team sport, and if you have ever run with a group, be it 1 mile or 100, you know that.

But I digress, as I often do - I know.  

Too often we set goals for ourselves, realistic or maybe not so much, and when we don't hit them, we feel like a failure.  When we don't crash through barriers, we feel like finishing alive isn't enough and I am here to tell you IT IS ENOUGH.  I didn't set any PRs this weekend, heck, my times were some of my slowest ever but I still ran 13.1 miles, twice.  I still ran through the finish line both days and heard my name "eRun Erin D Reilly has finished."  I still completed 2 half marathons and got the bling.

Saturday I ran into a friend that I met at a New Year's race and helped him through the last 4 miles with wicked calf cramps, didn't think twice about stopping to help him stretch them.  Didn't think about the time that I would be posting as I ran over the finish line with him into the arms of my wonderful man who came to cheer on my victory.  This was my 10th half, it was supposed to be my PR - life had many other plans so it was, and always will be, my 10th half regardless of time.  It was awesome.

Sunday was made of all hills (yes, a town in Texas that has NOTHING BUT UPHILLS) and when my body told me enough, I actually listened and walked up those hills (I still ran down, I am only so reasonable).   I ran with my wonderful friend as long as I could then made the trek myself.  I met a 13 year old girl and her mom who were running together, it was the 13 year old's first half and I had the honor of experiencing it with her and it was motivational. 

Both races I finished with my awe inspiring friend, who I watched run many many years ago and swore I would never run.  She is the one who paced me through my first half and to my yet beaten PR.  She came back both days (finishing way before me) and ran the last half mile or so with me cheering me all along the way.  It is just what she does, and it was great.

I will admit, the end of day two I felt down that I still was slower than I may have wanted to be.  I was wondering if I would ever pick up the pace again and then I watched a video my mom sent us.  I didn't cry, the girls were around, but I was on the inside. No matter what, good days and bad, I am Who I Am and am loved by so many.  I wanted to share it with all of you - YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE and YOU ARE LOVED!!!  I don't care if you walk, run, sit, crawl.  If you feel like you have no friends or a million you are loved.  You are amazing.  

You are a winner in my book, life doesn't always give us actual bling to show us that we are winners, but I would give you each bling if I could for your everyday victories.  Mine was realizing that fast or slow, I succeeded.  What is yours?  Now, wear your bling with pride.

Meerkat Moment

I was at lunch today (a great salad place called Salata if you have never tried it - do so) with some fabulous women from work and one was telling a story and put her head up like Timon and said

"That is when I had my Meerkat Moment"

and I lost it in laughter. In a very crowded restaurant (yes, I am sure I scared the guy next to us).

Now, we know I have a thing about animals and how the little things are what really make my day no matter the situation. Today - she was my meerkat. And seeing as The Lion King was one of the boy's favorite movies growing up, it meant that much more.

Have a Meerkat Moment people - it will turn you upside down, or is that upside right...?

All are welcome...

Like me, my parents are always on the go and this week, Mom is helping Ashleigh Branstetter at the NOLA Jazz & Heritage Festival. To catch everyone up, Mom retired from the glamorous world of fine jewelry and time pieces in the retail world last July. Now, she helps friends out for fun...my mom is just amazing. Go see her, Contemporary Crafts, Tent H, and well, buy some of Ashleigh's pieces too. It's Mother's Day after all.

This is not a Mother's Day post so moving on, having never been to NOLA, I asked mom to send pictures in addition to having a beignet and coffee for me. She sent me this picture... "All are welcome". As we enter a weekend full of time with family and friends, even if it is busier than your week, remember it - all this time you have with your family & friends - and enjoy every minute. All are welcome that we allow in my friends, now dance to your music (I think mine is jazz this weekend :).

Some Say Crazy - I Say Fun Times

This morning, way before sunrise, myself and my fellow contenders of Camp Gladiator were greeted with not only the big black truck of one of our fearless trainers, but tires. Big 'Country' flipping tires spread out and others with chains and harnesses attached to them.

Is this sight intimidating at 5:30am? Well, yes I cannot lie it is. But once we got started, that was just fun times. We flipped the tires, pushed and pulled the big truck (that now in the video we see had brake lights - hmmmm), harnessed up and pulled tires, ran the ladder and hurdles, lifted our weights. And we did it together, laughing, grunting, whatever it took. I mean come on, WE FLIPPED BIG TIRES. We worked together as a team, some of us have never met before but we have now.

Crazy? Maybe. Fun times? Hell Yes.

What are you going to do to have some fun? It's never too late to start, and your best is all you need to do...

PS: Wait for Sunday, then you will really think I have lost it if you think I am teetering on crazy now... :)

Queen of the Ducks

Our campus has lakes, waterfalls and random green park like areas. With these lakes come geese (pretty but mean) and wonderful ducks.

On my drive in, the mallards with their beautiful green heads came to the curb and welcomed me to work (ducks can smile); some even bowed. Today, I am Queen of the Ducks - what are you the king/queen of?

PS: Let's not tell my subjects that I enjoy a nice duck for dinner please, thanks.

It's all about comfort

I am on this workout and eating healthy kick that I truly hope becomes more of a way of life than a passing phase (and I have passed the 21 day mark so it stands a chance).

I get up very early and work out with a group of similar crazy people in a boot camp, we are those people you see in parking lots (or parking garages if it is below freezing or raining) before dawn or after work sweating as a team doing things we used to think of as fun in PE. Ah - the ignorance of youth...

Normally I am a heels girl, I am short and therefore like the height, like the way it makes my legs work and it helps with eye level (let's be honest, I like feeling eye to eye with others). What the heck does that have to do with the work out kick? Today I am in flatter than flat shoes because I am pretty sure that my calves would rage up and kill me if I tried to elevate them all day.

It's all about the comfort today - do something to make yourself comfortable and share it with others...you never know what effect it might have. You might just be the comfort they need:)

Race Day!!!

This morning I woke up very early on a Sunday, the day after Nikki's birthday, to watch her run a marathon. How does one watch a half marathon? You are there to smile, de-stress and pump up your runner. You hold the bag and convince them to take off the pants that will prove to be to hot once they hit mile 5 of 13.1. You make them use the dreaded port o potty before the 13.1 miles. The supporter cheers on at the start line making jokes and holding more layers deemed no loner necessary.

How do I know this? Well, I don't. I am guessing as this is my first time! I watched her in high school run cross country or track meets but nothing like this. In other words, I could be full of crap and not have been helpful at all...but it was fun :) and next time I will have signs. And balloons.

Once they are gone (in a very huge group of what looks like 1000s) you find a curb in the sun near the finish line to cheer on the end. I chose to lay down in the sun and read before I realized I needed to write. It's a beautiful day in the sun, there is music and people. Someone is shaking a tambourine which is awesome in itself! And of course the pumps from the bounce houses for the patient kiddos. Well, and the kiddos themselves.

The 5kers are coming in now and the crowd cheers for each one like they are personal friends. That last bit of support and push for the finish line. After all, we aren't running and most of us couldn't finish.

Side bar - someone just ran by in those funny feet shoes. Still ew.

Super fast marathons start coming in at about an hour and us fans start making friends with one another helping spot who we can as the runners start coming in at 1:30 (time). Oh, I found time to make a sign - they had a table and paint, it was perfect. Some of the runners come in looking fresher than I do by far, others death and everything in between. Nikki comes in under 2 hours (YEAH!!!) and while she hits the chute, I head that way.

Now comes the banana runs, power-aide supplying and end run support. The walking to stretch back out her legs, and whatever else it takes to keep her from see spots or locking up. It was so very awesome to share in this with her and she was a rock-star for doing it!

The weather was perfect and the morning even more so. By 10:30a (a mere 3 hours from when we got there) we are back in the car heading home; the 13.1 mile runner and me. It amazes me the strength those runners have to get out there and train and race, let alone run that full 13.1. Anytime I can support someone like that, I am up for it. Way too cool not to be a part of - thanks for letting me be:)

:)

Just a thought for the day, I have been called many things not the least of which is a bubbly person. At my age, I have learned that isn't a bad thing, yes my friends, I embrace my inner cheerleader.

I dare you - embrace your inner whoever today!

Run On Peace

The mom/aunt sitting in the backyard with banana rum, watching the dog try to get his ball from the pool while the youngest member of our 'village' helps by getting the ball which leads to yelling by the dad as the dog runs with ball through the newly painted flooring immediately followed by the ball back in the pool, laughter from moms...repeat at least 2 more times.

Run on sentence? Yes.

Peace on a Friday night? Absolutely.

Hope you all found your form of peace, be it a crowded dance floor or quiet room:)

Is the new year now in August?

I just signed up for a boot camp for the month of August. Why August? Because I was asked by a friend so I did it.

I have since been supported by a number of other friends/acquaintances that have done the same thing! It is a often discussed fact that health club memberships go up in January and probably right before bathing suit season, but August? That is the start of the school year, so really it is another beginning of sorts. Could that be what is motivating us?

What is your school year resolution? Boot Camp anyone?

Good Times

It's a night at the ballpark during the week, and it's not 150 degrees.

Joy of hearing my kid say...
"They put in the rookie and Cruz lit him up like a torch" - after a grand slam that sinks your team but helps the kid's
"Sorry Mom, the Orioles don't want you coming to their games anymore" - after the O's drop yet another easy win with me there
"Hitting for the cycle???? I never thought I would see that!!!" - after Kinsler hits for only the 6th cycle in Rangers history
"He needs to pitch the ball - stop thinking about the runner, geez. Even I know that." - after the O's bullpen continually let's us (ok me) down

I know I am biased but my kid totally rocks.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"And may the wind be at your back all day with leprechauns and laughter at the end of your rainbow!"

a brilliant woman:-)