Just Paying it Forward!!

I know first hand that "pay it forward" works!
I decided to make this post after reading this blog yesterday that was asking what others think of pay it forward!
Plus I have also been thrilled with the amount of people taking the time to help others, especially young kids!

It is worth the time!

You as an individual may NEVER know of the true long term effects!
So I am here to tell you that they are GREAT!!!

Just last week I was telling a friend about my first pair of shoes!

I was in Junior High and I really wanted to have a sport!
I decided to try track!
I needed shoes, my knock off keds were just not going to be able to get me through the season. I did not have the funding to buy a pair of shoes!
Lucky for me, I was in the locker room, and I walked by the trash, there sitting on top was a pair of worn out, size 6 1/2 New Balance running shoes!
I was so excited...I immediately tried them on!
They fit perfect!...(even though I really wore a 7 1/2)
These shoes served me well for 2 years..until High school, when my coach saw that my shoes were in terrible condition.
He took his own money and bought me a pair of running shoes!

As a young 16 year old girls...I will NEVER forget the feeling of my NEW shoes!
I decided right then...that when I was able, I would always make sure others had shoes to run in.
Since then I have bought many shoes for other runners in need!
I plan to buy many more...as many as needed!

When asked, "Can we repay you?"
I say, "YES, PAY IT FORWARD....when you can afford it....buy a pair of shoes for someone else!"

How many shoes have been passed on....all because 1 coach saw a need and filled it?
I have NO idea...I know I was not the only runner he bought shoes for...
But I do know that because of 1 coaches kindness...many kids have received NEW shoes from random people just trying to "pay it forward!"

So remember...when you serve and help others...
You will NEVER know the true effects of how many people you touch!
Just know it is MANY!!!!!

* I ran in size 6 1/2 running shoes for 16 years...until 6 years ago a friend told me she wore a size bigger running shoe. I told her I wore a size smaller...and she said "I have never heard of that!" I got thinking about it...and decided to try a bigger size. At first my feet were swimming...now I know that 7 1/2 is my true running shoe size! =)

This is Over the Top!

TALK ABOUT FUN!
TALK ABOUT NUTTY?

Check out the warrior dash races!
That sounds like a BLAST!!!!!

What a great way to use those old shoes!!!!!

I have to take just a few moments and give my dad credit for "Talk about....".
Growing up in a family of 12 kids...some of the normal experiences for others, were rare for us!
My dad would make everything so exciting!
When we would go get ice cream or go to the mall (I think we went once! )
He would say...

"TALK ABOUT BIG!!"
"TALK ABOUT FUN!!'
(in the announcers voice)

Oh we would get so pumped up!!!

Thanks Dad!!

Help???

My quest for help goes beyond running!
Are you ready!

1. I am running a half marathon on June 12, but my favorite race ever is on the 5th. It is a 12.5 miler. My training schedule has me running a 10 miler on that day...could I get away with running the 12.5 miler...if I did not race???? Or....would that NOT be smart and be too much?????

2. I have so many great blogs I want to follow...but every time I try to follow them it pulls up my husbands profile. Has this happened to any of you? I am the one logged in and it is still doing it. I can comment under my own name...but I can't follow. How do I fix this?

I guess that's it!

There are some fun giveaways happening!

KALYX sports bra at Setting you free
If you leave a comment...or 5...do it under my name...I really need this one!!!!

Detergent and other cool stuff at 5 miles 2 empty
I would love to find a detergent that truly got the sweat smell out. I can't even smell my sweaty shirts next to my dear hubby's! (Shhhh, don't tell him...although I think he already knows )

Inperspire at Tall mom

You know what ???? I took today off! I don't know why...but my body just said, "SHERRI!!! I DON'T WANT TO RUN!"
And I think for the first time ever I listened!
Not the first time ever to miss a workout...but the first time ever to actually truly "listen" to my body!
Guilt Free!
That is success!
Our bodies will tell us what they need...if we will but listen!

Have a Great Workout this weekend!!!!

3 cheers for the GREAT OUTDOORS!!

38 degrees + babysitter + shoes =A GREAT RUN!!!!!

It was amazing!

Just me and the cool crisp air...

I did not take a watch or any other device to tell me how far I was running...

I left my ipod home...

I just wanted to soak it all in!

And I did!

Couldn't run very long....my kids had to be run to gymnastics... but I fully enjoyed the whole 40 minutes!

What was I thinking?

I am seriously laughing while I am writing this!
It may not be as funny in writing...

Okay so you all know that I am stuck on the treadmill for most of my runs right now...due to a traveling husband and 5 young ones!
Well, I have enjoyed reading all these fun running blogs ... for some reason, I have been intrigued by those who run barefoot. I have never had an interest in running barefoot myself, even though I totally think it is COOL!
So I was reading Barefoot Angie's blog... and thought, I am going to try this today, just to break up my treadmill running!

It really felt good...I'm a little heavy right now and so I could feel the extra pounds!
Oh yes, there was some heat on my feet.
And the heat just kept getting hotter!
I didn't want to stop to put my shoes back on, besides, she runs barefoot in the snow.
How come I can't run a little on the treadmill!

The funny part:
Both my feet are covered in blisters!
Yes! Big blisters!
Up and Down both sides of my feet!

Thanks Anne Marie

This made my week!
Anne Marie, over at Goals for the week, gave me this award...

The first part is to tell you 6 things that you don't already know about me!

1. I absolutely love road trips! Just piling the kids in the car and heading to "nowhere", but even if we have a destination, I love to drive the country! We take our time, get off the highway, and just soak it all in! My 5 kids are wonderful and allow us to do this with zero complaints. Of course we find fun stuff for them to do! We also will find a fun country road and take turns running on it! We never eat fast food, we try and find that hidden gem, that only the locals know about...but serves the BEST food!

2. I must be a strong YELLOW...because life feels like one big PARTY! I love birthdays, holidays, and every other excuse to celebrate!

3. My husband and I started our own business 12 years ago, and have worked hard together! I am now home with the kids and loving every minute! I hope my kids NEVER grow up....NEVER! But when they do I am excited to jump right back into business. I love every aspect of it...especially dealing with people!

4. I believe strongly in date night! My husband and I have date night every week! It is the one thing that is guaranteed to happen! I'll take 2 if I can fit them in! Having a strong marriage holds the whole family together! It's funny, we often just go to dinner and talk, talk , talk, and talk....easy 3 hours! He fills me in on all that has happened with the business and I give him the run down on the homestead!

5. I love to cook and bake! I love to try new recipes! In fact, I rarely fix the same thing twice! I always ask "Is this a keeper?" My family asks, "Why? You'll never make it again!" Not true...sometimes I repeat!

6. I absolutely love to blog and to meet new friends from all over! Blogging keeps me sane...it gives me enough change of pace from my sweet household! Absolutely LOVE it!

Long is done!

6 miles completed!
Yes!
That is the way to do it...run long on Monday ....the rest of the week is cake!
(I think)

So I was looking at my ticker to 1000 miles in 2010 and thinking...I have a ways to go.
Do you think it is fair to count the miles I ran before starting my blog?

Oh! And thanks for all the encouraging words!
This rocks!