Mighty Musical Monday: Perfect

Okay, so this is where my 12 year old girl circa 2010 starts showing her true colors. I freaking love boy bands. No shame about it. I know there should be shame but there is not. I especially love me some 1D. I, especially, love this one. 

It's not a love song. It's about having fun and doing what feels right in the moment. I, personally, love midnight driving with the windows down AND going places I can't even pronounce. Generally, if you see me running and I'm singing out loud, it's because this song is on. 

Somehow, it's on my current playlist twice. I think that was probably Sub-conscience Jackie looking out for Eunner Jackie. Either way, I'm not mad at it. Enjoy!

Thursdays Suck

Thursdays SUCK. They just do. You might not know it yet or realize it, but now that I've brought it to your attention, you'll see. I'll make a believer out of you. There's very little awesome happening on Thursday. 

Even Throwback Thursday encourages living in the past rather than facing the awful that is Thursday. It's inexplicable. It just sucks. 

To combat the uber suck, I'll share a motivational quote, meme or whatever every Thursday. If all else fails, remember that tomorrow is Friday and.... that's neat. 

I felt this was a great way to kick it off, as it speaks to my soul. It's not always easy to light a fire under your own ass. I've found, generally, it's because I'm afraid of failure. There's a real chance I might not accomplish 1,000 miles this year because who knows what the rest of the year holds. 

The year is 4% over and I've accomplished 3% of my goal. I'm already behind, what a great excuse to leave it all behind. But no, my soul is burning with this challenge - because it's about more than the physical accomplishment - and I will be fearless in the face of it.  

Will you?

 

Goal: 1,000 miles

YTD:  31 miles

Miles To Go: 969

Mighty Musical Monday: Panic!

I have this friend who has this theory that you should start every day with a song. Kind of like the opening credits to a movie. Generally, upbeat and having some relevance to the plot, the opening song sets the tone for the whole thing. As grown humans, I promise you will hate nearly every song I select for my opening credits each week. My musical taste ranges from 12 year old girl circa 1998 to 12 year old girl circa 2016. Throw in some college dorm room indie rock here and there and you basically have every half marathon playlist I've ever made (excluding that year I listened to Hunger Games on audio). Regardless, I will share because this blog is about me not you, ya see. Just kidding! In fact, please share your pump up songs and playlists. Tell me what I should be listening to and maybe your song will be featured as the following week's "POWER SONG!"

This week's song, I just can't get out of my head. Firstly, I'm not always totally sure what he's saying, so there's a little mystery there and I get to try to solve it each time Shuffle blares it in my ears. Also, the lyrics I can understand are pretty poignant. Sometimes, I'm motivated by haters (don't roll your eyes, you are too!): the people that didn't believe in me, the people that rejected me, the people that
have abused me. There's one in particular that this song makes me think of and as it crescendos, I get this feeling of righteous empowerment. That giant middle finger lights a little fire under my feet and I can pretty much conquer anything (think football fields worth of hills in the blistering cold).

Without further adieu, the first installment of MIGHTY MUSICAL MONDAY (MONDAY.... MONDAY...)

To Begin With....

            To begin with, I’ve never considered myself a runner. I’ve always wanted to be a runner. I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who wakes up and the first thing I do to start my day is go for a run. Last year, I became that person. It was as simple as finding a running buddy, lacing up and heading out to pound pavement. It’s been nearly a year and I’m still on two days a week with said running buddy. The other five days kind of sucked, though. I felt, to quote Cher Horowitz, “impotent and out of control” on the days when I didn’t get a run in. So, I started going on one other day a week and then, eventually, four days a week. This isn’t to say I was religious about it all year, but I could feel it when I missed a run here and there. Both in my body and in my mind.

            This year, I found this challenge from www.ilovetorun.org to run 1,000 miles in 2016. I thought it would be a perfect way to ensure I maintain my four-day a week running schedule as well as a neat way to challenge myself. The great thing about running is that it’s taught me a lot about life and overcoming. I’ve found a lot of parallels between the two and so I want to share them with my readers as I accomplish my new goal. I will be publishing a column once a month in BLANK newspaper, as well as keeping you filled in here on the blog, newly named “M1les T0 G0.”

            My goal with the blog is to inspire but also to hold myself accountable, not only with the challenge, but also with my writing. I want you guys to keep me accountable as well as share your own challenges and goals. I want this to be interactive. Email and Facebook me and we’ll go on this adventure together. No, you don’t have to run 1,000 miles BUT I’m sure there’s something you’d like to challenge yourself to do. So…. Let’s do it together!

Very appropriately, one of my Accountability Buddies posted on Facebook today a motivational photo with the quote “If not now, then when?” And, I guess that’s my question for you…. Whether, you choose to embark on a challenge of your own or simply follow my progress, I look forward to spending the year with you. On your marks!

Goal for 2016: 1,000 miles

Year to date:    17 miles

Miles to go:     983 miles