Poll: What’s the Best Gift?
It’s poll time again…
What is the best “gift” a significant other has given you?
OR
What is the best thing a significant other has done for you?
Thanks for sharing!
Review: Beeds Lake Restoration Run
This past weekend I ran the Friends of Beed’s Lake Restoration Run. This was the first time I ran this event and I was incredibly impressed!
The Positives:
- Offered a 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run, & Half Marathon for all participants
- Long-Sleeved T-shirt – this was very nice since most are t-shirts and I have a ton of them!
- Goodie Bag – the goodie bag was great, complete with long-sleeved t-shirt, a bracelet, lip balm, water bottle, several pamphlets about the area, coupons for local specialty shops, & $5 gift certificate to the hardware store
- Medals – the medals were “homemade” by a local tool & die fabricator. Very unique and very cool!
- Organization – their organization was amazing. I’ve never “checked in” so fast & smoothly
- Volunteers – there were tons of volunteers and they were well-marked with the event t-shirts
- Atmosphere – they had a large tent set up so it was easy to spot registration, they had a DJ playing tunes before, during, & after the race
- Pancake Breakfast – part of your registration money went to a pancake breakfast afterward…all you can eat!!!
- Scenic Route – I only ran the 5K, but it was a great route that covered paved roads, gravel paths, & worn grass paths surrounding the lake
The Negatives:
- 10K Route – the thing that caused me to NOT sign up for the 10K race was the fact that the route was the 5K route ran twice. Races are twice as long for me when they are 2 of the same loops or out and backs!
- No chip timing – while I’m sure this costs a good deal of $$, I’m sure if I were running the 10K or Half I would want chip timing (actually, I want it all the time now, but understand why they don’t for 5K’s).
To be quite honest, I was hard-pressed to find any negatives about this event and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in these types of events. Great job Friends of Beed’s Lake!!!
Time is a Flyin’!
I remember when I was younger hearing my parents and grandparents make comments like, “where has this month gone?” or “I swear you were just 2 yesterday”. As a child one does not understand this concept, nor do they have an accurate grasp on time.
As a child, the school year (as you are waiting for summer to approach) takes forever. Then, by the time August 1st arrives, it’s been the longest summer in man kind and you can’t wait to go back to school!
Now that I’m an adult (I know this because I own my own home and pay my own bills), I realize how fast time really does go by! I swear it was just May 1st last week! Why, do we as adults, seem to not be able to appreciate the time we have? Why do we feel the need to schedule in something at every free moment?
Let’s look at my weekend for this month
- First weekend – Run the Minnesota Half Marathon
- Second weekend – State Fair & work at the restaurant
- Third Weekend – Team Mini-Triathlon & work at the restaurant
- Fourth Weekend – 5K race & work at the restaurant
If the busy weekends aren’t enough, throw in some dinner dates (with friends), dog-sitting my mom’s dog for 4 days, hair appointments, let alone getting a workout in, mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, etc. WHY?
Don’t get me wrong, looking at the above list there isn’t much I would give up. Okay, I’d be willing to give up working a second job (but currently my finances have a different opinion), I’d give up mowing the lawn (but, then I’d get a citation or fine from the city), I’d give up cleaning the house (but I think we all know that wouldn’t end well!). But, the things I’m choosing to do: races, state fair, dinner dates, hair appointments, working out…I don’t want to give up any of those either!
So, since I don’t currently want to give up anything in my schedule, I’m going to make a pact to myself. I’m going to try and enjoy the days and nights that I have “free”. I’m going to try and keep them “free” to remember and find the joy in the little things. Maybe it’s riding my bike around town or sitting on my deck with a glass of wine & a book, maybe I will call a friend I haven’t talked to in a while and catch up. Or, maybe I’ll lay on my couch and watch one of my favorite “girly” shows. But, whatever it is I’m going to try and stop myself from “going” and “doing” every day, every minute of my life and enjoy the down times just as much!
