BadassBabes Road Trip!

Trouble…that explains a lot! 

Well the day has finally arrived, later this evening the Badass Babes head out for Nashville, TN!! We will drive as far as we can tonight…yeah we have no reservations for this evening. If you've been reading this blog for awhile then you may think this sounds familiar! You may remember that Shannon and Allison talked me into this spontaneous experience last year, too. We wound up in Hover, Al at a decent Hampton Inn. We will see what tonight holds…it will be a hotel with doors on the inside I can promise!! 

Our team of 6 has endured a hectic few weeks including a car accident, falling during a training run, not so good test results and overall stressful craziness. However, not of all our news is bad news! We have also experienced extreme happiness over our friend Ashleigh-Anne getting her liver! That's right our girl has a new liver and is in Nashville where we can visit with her.  We also have been able to celebrate Mrs. Watson being cancer free. Those two moments alone have kept us going through all the extra hassles of life. 

I'm a little nervous about running the race this weekend & suggest that you do not look for a recap that includes a time or pace PR. That's just not in the future for this particular race. You can be on the lookout for a weekend recap of our adventures. We will be touring the Opry and doing a little shopping at Opry Mills. We will be eating at places such as Puckett's, Loveless Cafe, The Stockyard, The Palm…and wherever else we decide to enjoy a yummy meal. We will take in the Johnny Cash Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame. We will be exploring Broadway and Union Station, Shannon will learn to love country music this weekend! We will be visiting Ashleigh-Anne and her Mama. Most of we will be enjoying time with each other and letting our hair down a little bit! 

Our goal is to rest our minds, not so much our bodies, ha. We will come back rejuvenated and ready to take on the rest of fall with a vengeance! 

So girls grab your boots it's time for the weekend!! 

xoxo - 
Mitzi 

18 days to go to 13.1 ….

Yeah, so today as Allison and I had a little quiet training time, we realized there's only 18 days until the Women's Running Series Half Marathon in Nashville….insert the heart pounding & heavy breathing & major giggles from the two of us! 

I see several of my Badass Babes teammates putting in crazy miles in preparation for the race. I, on the other hand, have had little time and even less motivation for the long training runs. To date the longest run I have completed is 8 miles. Yes, I should be a panicked disaster; however, I am not. I will not let the stress of the "race" turn me into a crazed maniac the next 18 days. Let's be honest, it's not like I am sitting on the couch saying "hey girls, let's go run 13 miles in 2 weeks with zero training!". I am putting in my cross training time. I am concentrating on being a strong coach in my classes. I am doing pretty good with my diet, minus the tailgate this past weekend. Oh and I am running when I can! I just refuse to let the stress of training take away my focus for participating in this race! 

In 2013 I fell in love with city of Nashville, it's beautiful! Allison, Shannon and I have stated before this was our favorite of all the run-cations we took last year. What is my focus of this race weekend?…for me it is not about 13.1 miles, it's about celebrating life and friendship with some amazing ladies. 

This particular race is special! I did set a half marathon PR at this race last year. We celebrated my friend Ashleigh Anne and her journey to new a liver continues so we will celebrate her again!! Our prayers have been that AAKH and her new liver would be at the finish line: however, there's a reason God hasn't answered that prayer yet. I secretly pray she gets that liver in the next 18 days so that we can love on her a little more while in TN. (guess it's not a secret anymore, ha!)

My focus even got a little jolt in August as one of my best friend's called me to tell her mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Crystal is a runner herself and hoped to make the Nashville trip this year, due to her Mom's diagnosis and her starting back to school she won't make the 7 hr trek with us. She may not be with us in a physical sense she will be with us in our hearts! Mrs. Watson's surgery is this coming Thursday - Sept 11th. By the power of prayer we all trust God has a great plan for her and her family! The Badass Babes will be there every step of the way! 

I am excited to see what Nash-Vegas holds for the Badass Babes this year. I will run/walk the WRS Half Marathon to honor my friend Ashleigh-Anne and Mrs. Watson. No, I am not thinking a sub 2:18 course PR is in my future; however, I do think a different kind of PR will occur for that I will send praise. 

Here's my favorite picture from last year…can't wait to snap it again with few more babes! 

So to my girl Allison…looks like we will be giggling our way through 13.1 miles. Hey, maybe this year we will see Tim, Kenny or Jake on Music Row! 

Shannon, Erin, Stephanie & Ashely, we will see you at the Country Music Hall of Fame! 

The Valley's and The Peak's

In life there are always the valley's and always the peak's, sometimes those valley's seem to last forever!

When I look around me I wonder why somethings are going so well while at the same time other areas of life just plain suck - sorry for that! I wonder if this is all happening because of an action on my part (or maybe lack of an action). Have I become complacent?

There are times when I look around me and it's amazing to see how awesome life is cruising along. Not only for me but family and friends! Everyone seems happy and content….isn't that how life should be? Many of my friends are taking on new adventures, accomplishing bucket list items and seeing such bright futures!

Certainly, I can't be the only one with types of thoughts… maybe I am! Lately, I have questioned my parenting - 6th grade brings about some new and exciting experiences! I have found myself wondering if I am where I need to be physically to be a successful member of the Badass Fitness staff. I have thought deeply about many other things as well! I think God allows us to wonder about such things so that we can see areas in our life that could use a little adjusting. I think he wants us to find ways to challenge ourselves. Let's face it, I work better under pressure, ha! I think this is how we grow as Christians, Families and Friends.

I often remind myself to let it go, put a smile on my face and trust that through the valley's and the peak's God has a great plan. According to this verse he does have a mighty plan: "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.

Do you find yourself with the same questions? Remember, God has a plan..oh and we're in this together!! 

Pretty sure I need this tattooed on my forehead - LOL! 

Smile and Let it Go!