I just love smiling. Smiling is my favorite.

Happy Monday! What's the good word folks. Came into work at 7am today ready to BATTLE! Vent time. Dont you just hate Mondays? I do. Want to know why I hate Mondays? Because everyone is walking around saying how much they hate Mondays. I have single-handedly made it my mission to give a proverbial bitch slap to anyone who even remotely sighs dramatically to me today. Not with my hand, of course, but with my Will-Ferrell-from-the-"Elf" like holiday cheer (and turbo iced coffee induced smile)! With that, I have altered my schedule a bit. Stay with me kids, I know you are on the edge of your seats. You see, I was originally planning on taking Mondays and Fridays off, but in an attempt to not fall victim to the negativity that Mundane Munday's seem to bring, I have decided to do everything I can to keep Monday a normal, fun, and active day.

Vent session. Done. This past weeks runs have been awesome. Ive been working on my stride and breathing, and it really has made a difference. It seems silly to tell yourself to BREATHE since, ya know... I've been doing it since I unleashed my first hearty battle cry 25 years ago, but its necessary. I sometimes forget to breath, straight up. I bet you do too. Lets try a test. Make fists with your hands as TIGHT as you can and hold it for 5 seconds. While still holding, take a deep breath. I bet your hands loosened up, didnt they? Totally magic! Thats what happens when Im running, I get so tense and tight and just forget to reeeeeelax. Woooosahhhh. Experts will say that you are supposed to take "belly breaths", which yoga enthusiasts would state are deep, meaningful breaths that fill your stomach, instead of your chest. In a yoga class I took a few years ago, the instructor gave us a really helpful tip that I try to remember when running, which is to picture a baby sleeping and picture how its belly rises and falls. Those aren't short, shallow breaths. That baby is breathing like it means it! Like its it's JOB to breathe! (It kind of is).

Anyways, if I dont forget to breathe like this, I lose oxygen in my main muscle groups and I get "stitches" in my ribs. No, not greys anatomy stitches, silly. Little, sharp, jabbing pains in my ribs which are a result of my chest muscles working too hard for oxygen. My solution? Give them what they want!

Its so working! My stride is more effortless, my chest feels (and looks) great and I feel like I can run miles more than intended. Now the true test of course, is to up the ante and see if I can keep the belly breaths up when Im really pushed to the max and feeling tired. Stay tuned this week to find out!

Side Note. You see this guy? Do you know what this guy did? He ran the Baja 5000 this Sunday and beat his personal record, making him champion of the universe in my eyes! Dont you just freakin love people who go out and set goals and achieve them, instead of whining about what day of the week it is? And believe you me, this guy had TONS of reasons why he shouldnt run. Go give him a pat on the back. Go on. Its more than you did this Sunday. (Unless you went to church, then in that case, may the peace be with you too brother).