#Mamavation Monday: Lent, water, bridge to 10k and the cheat

So I'm Catholic and this coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which means Lent! 46 days of praying, fasting and alms giving or I my case: running, drinking water and cheating on both.

Okay so as part of Mamavation, I am doing the Water challenge. I get a cup of coffee in the morning and then nothing but water for the rest of the day. Now I gave up soda right before Christmas and I don't miss it at all but I love me some sweet tea and giving it up will be difficult! Also I am a member of a coffeehouse crew, basically a group that hangs at the local coffeehouse. What am I going to drink?

So here comes the cheat. Last year I took on c25k for Lent and stuck with it right to a 5k in May. So this time I am going for the Bridge to 10k. It's 6 weeks so just about the same time as lent ends. If I do all three of my runs for the week I earn one latte. This will help keep me running and give myself a reward too. This should be fun!

This post is sponsored by Touch Within Coaching and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention and weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway

Running and feeling shy

So Lent started this last Wednesday; in case you didn't know I'm Catholic.  For my lenten sacrifice I decided to do a running reward system for myself.  Basically if I run then I can go to my favorite coffee spot in town (Standpipe Coffee House).  I like this because I'm tying something I love (Standpipe) with something I want to do more of.  At first I was just going to give up Standpipe, which I can do, but I'm the sort of person that wants to take on as well.  My usual go to lent move is to give up soda.  I've really cut down on my soda intake anyways except for a Vanilla Coke from Standpipe.  I was also running to Standpipe a lot, which was eating my budget. 

I have been wanting to get back to running.  Back in the day I ran cross-country.  I was never any good but I like the time to think.  Running also makes me feel stronger.  I had tried to get back into running shape a few times before but the last time I tried, about 8 months ago, I injured my hip so I've been a bit scared to try.  Wednesday as part of Ash Wednesday I was craving a Vanilla Coke from Standpipe.  By the end of the day, after many Our Fathers and Hail Marys to resist the temptation, I realized that I could blend sacrifice and taking on together.  Thursday morning, I got up and went running.  I'm using Couch-2-5K.  I felt great.  I ran without dying and without killing my hip!  Saturday, I got up and went running.  Day 2 Week 1!  Today I feel great.  The soreness is all but gone and I can't wait to run tomorrow, assuming I can find the time. 

So Friday night, DH and I had a mini-date.  We headed to a new music venue here in Lufkin called The Factory.  There are great people that hang there (and at Standpipe) and they are so cool with themselves.  Me I'm so shy.  I want to be cool.  I want to get out there and dance even when no one else is but I just can't.  I'm a wall flower.  I hate being a wall flower.  I mean people could care less about me and what I"m doing and yet I feel like all eyes are on me.  I think the running will help with the shyness.  If I feel strong and self-confident then I'll feel less wallflower, right?  I will chair-pump!