100 Miles!

Hey Everyone!

Happy Saturday!  I can't believe it's almost July...whoa...

Anyways...I HAVE BROKE 100 MILES ON MY NIKE+ APP!
*insert cheering here*

 It has taken over a year to get here but I finally did it!  It's an accomplishment for me because I have never tracked my miles before...at least in a format that can make me feel guilty for missing runs.

So- the shoes I talked about in my last post? Adorable and awesome! I love them, I forgot what new Asics felt like (my old running shoes have now been retired to casual wear...can't part with them they're so comfy! But baby toes sticking out does not help you  speed up your times).  And I really love using Spotify- the whole new playlist just helped energize my run; I was singing at one point while running (side note: I am not in that good of shape yet to do that) and I was smiling like a goof.

So while I was running today I was actually passing people who were running a race- I didn't get to see what race it was but I saw something that I thought was pretty awesome, I saw two men running together.  They may have been father and son, uncle and nephew, brothers, partners- I don't know but all I saw was one pushing the other in his wheelchair and they both looked just....I don't know. Proud? Happy? Filled with purpose?  All I could do was applaud them while we ran past each other and they both just lit up with a smile and said thanks.  I wished I could've talked to them because I wanted to say thank you to them- I know how much running can be like "ughhhh", especially when it's hot and humid (which it was this morning) but then to push someone?  To have the drive to want to be pushed in a race? That is dedication on a completely different level.  It's the best reason to run.  I'm running to prove to myself that I can really do anything I put my mind to...and also to show anyone who thought I couldn't do it that I can.  And that's a reason.  And it's working for me.  But it's kind of a selfish reason- I am running because I can...not to represent those who can't.  And maybe I can change that.  Maybe I can get sponsors to support me and I can run for a cause (I did that for my first race- I raised like 200 dollars for the Ronald McDonald house).  We'll see.  But I am just so happy that the day I felt inspired to run again I saw such an amazing inspiration to run.  So to those gentlemen-thanks for giving the awkward girl listening to a crazy running mix an extra reason to push through and recommit myself to running.

So I guess that's my post for today!  I'm really proud of breaking 100 miles and thought I'd share that with you.  My pin-spiration I leave you with is a quote from J.K. Rowling- I think it sums up what we as people, not just women, need to embrace and work towards.  Being healthy and being happy with your body is super important.  But we need to focus on our version of beautiful and not what's shoved into our faces.  Just read it and tell me if you agree :)

Until next time, keep running strong!

Actress on the Run

Music-pration! And other things...

Hey everyone!

So I went running today, TWICE! They weren't long runs but to go running two days in a row which has been a bit of a struggle for me.  I don't know what is up but I seem to have lost my drive for running...yet I am determined to run this 1/2 marathon...weird.

So anyways- I am trying a few things to help inspire me again!  I actually invested in new shoes!  It's my first Zappos.com order and they are cute teal blue and coral Asics so I hope they will fit and that I will like them!

Here they are!

 I also made myself a new workout shirt! I reached a personal goal and it's suppose to help me stay focused.

Harry Potter Inspiration! Run like you need to get to the library!

One of the things that I think is going to help me the most is a tip I saw on Pintrest- a group suggested making a personalized playlist that you only listen to while you workout.  I had that but when it's created through your itunes that is on your phone and with the same 20 songs that you have on your phone...inspiration gets lacking. Solution? SPOTIFY!  I downloaded the Spotify app on my iPhone and I hope it works while I am out running-I made a playlist that is an hour and thirty minutes long so it would at least be a bit of inspiration :)

I know that I really need to buckle down and work, not only on my running but my costume.  I am thinking about trying to find a sponsor but I am not sure how one goes about that...hmmm.

On the acting end-Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens closed last Friday. It was a long run but a great one and I am so honored that I got to work with such fabulous people!  I hope to work with them again- that will probably depend on how much I reach out to them and how much they reach out to me.

Well, that's all for now!  Do you guys have any tips for staying inspired? Know how to get sponsors? Want to share your story with me? Let's share poodle! Get in touch with me here, Facebook (through my actor's page at www.facebook.com/Gabrielle.Arietta.Cross), or however!  Let's help each other out!

This happened today!

 Oh-I'm probably going to post more funny pictures to my posts because Pintrest is FULL of them and they are FANTASTIC!

Summer!

Until next time, keep running strong!

Actress on the run

No Shame Summer

Hey everybody,

It's June! Holy crow-it's been a long time since I've written, long time since I've been super active online too...hmmm.  Anyways-welcome to SUMMER! Humditiy, rain, sun, and all of its glory.

So...I went running yesterday and did a disappointing (in my eyes) 4 mile run (took me 50 minutes) but I did get out there and did it. I'm trying to figure out why I am running or more specifically with do I want to get into better shape.  The wedding is a factor, my job is a factor, but why do I want to get healthy.  It's something that I've been trying to figure out for a little bit now. I want to prove to myself that I can run a half-marathon...but is there a bigger reason for it?

My body image has been a thing that I swing back and forth on...I sometimes feel great about my body and then there are times that I just hate everything about it. Confidence is something I can fake very well-so much that I can even convince myself.  Part of me is scared of not feeling beautiful on my big day...if you've been reading this blog before you might remember my Christmas break down (my mother fears that this could happen again while we are trying on dresses).  So am I getting in shape for me, my family, for Mike (who keeps saying I'm beautiful but I tend to have trouble believe this sometimes), or for the greater society? Does it matter? Do I need to know?  I just lack the motivation....I wish I could figure what's placed me in this rut.  Maybe writing this will help.  Maybe I just need to say fudge it all and do what I want. Who knows.

One of the reasons this is weighing on me is because I just became part of this great page on Facebook called No Shame Summer .  It was a nerve racking experience but a liberating one at that.  I must say that I'm pretty impressed by my picture for the sheer fact that I look WAY more confident that I actually feel in that swimsuit!  But all of these people are super inspiring- it's a lovely reminder to be confident in what we have.  We might not be where we want to be, or we might be our perfect size but we need to be confident in what has been given to us.

Here it is!

 So this is this entry...hope you're all enjoying the weather and getting out there and getting it as well!  Let's help each other stay motivated...okay? Okay.

Until next time-keep running strong!
Actress on the Run

P.S.
Join No Shame Summer on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/NoShameSummer?ref=br_tf