Extra Frosting for Twinkle Toes!

!

“The only way to ake sense out of change is o plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” 

― Alan W. Watts

Oldest daughter celebrated her birthday in a style,  a  running mom can be SO proud of :

She ran by herself on her birthday! On her own accord!

I was not yet ready to run this afternoon, and she said, "Well, I'm going now!"

Before I knew it, she had her running gear on, her headset, and determined look on her face.

3 days ago, we ran  together. It has been 2 years since our last run.

this picture was first shared on the blog -

Bling It On!

J recently had her Cooper test and felt out of shape. So, she decided that she'll begin with running again (she actually prefers sprinting) at the same time support me with my running streak challenge (see #halfcrazyrunnerscrewoctoberchallenge on Instagram).

J plans to run with me each time I ran 2 km this month. She said it after our run because she had fun! She even said she will build up to run 5 km.

At the beginning of our run we saw a beautiful sky together and did not feel sad that we both did not have a phone to record the moment. It was a moment we simply won't forget.

This is the sky I do want to share with all of you; a landscape the girls
and I see on the bike many times in the week.

I took this about 2-3 weeks ago, biking home with youngest and her friend from school. Cute moment of inseperable friends.

Last month I ran here a lot again, picking up  the youngest from school
with my Happy Feet instead of going on my bike.
Hitting two birds (school pick up and training run!) with one run!

I did not want to let go of J though, this morning of her 16th birthday without taking a picture together with her before she biked off to school.

As you can see, I am still visibly tired from the Breda Singelloop half-marathon yesterday.

Our J on the other hand, looked soooo happy here! It makes me happy to see her happy.

We've gone through many ups and downs;   I am SO very proud of how  J and her sisters  have blossomed amidst all the major changes in their lives - their parents separating, moving to a new country, living with a new family structure, adjusting to a new culture, learning a new language etc.

J was 11, a few months away from turning 12 years old, when I ran my first 5K. 

She watched me use running to cope with changes, strengthen myself, help myself be a better person, be a better mom.

My first ever 5 K:
20 days after I began (first power walking) with my adventures with running.
Oldest daughter, was a few months shy away from turning 12 years old.
Middle daughter turned 9 years old on this very day.
Youngest was 3 years old (3 months from her 4th birthday)

Now, 16 years old, she created a goal on her own of building up (training scheme from Nikeplus app) to be able to run her first 5K in 8 weeks.

I am permitted to record this adventure! 

She'll be documenting her experience on her own (currently still private) blog.  I know from my own experiences, this is a challenge, so to make sure nothing gets forgotten, I'll write as much as I am permitted to share.

In the future, I will refer to her in my blogs as, "Twinkle Toes!" per her request. It was that or "Fancy Feet".  I guess this is her homage to her ballet beginnings. I chose the former because it makes me feel, that I still have my baby - at least with her blog nickname. :D

She is taking a pause from ballet dancing and I am unsure when she will resume it again, at this point.

I've wished for a running buddy, and at least for the short distance, there is a special running buddy in the making. :)

Hurrah! Hurrah!

The first  official running event (collective long time wish!) we want to share is a Santa Run.

Wish us luck?!

Chase Summer: Introducing #crewTheMermaidClub

The Mermaid Club

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” 

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

July is almost at it's end, and August is waving with many possibilities of being awesome!

Nike recently created one of this awesome wave of possibilities with it's Chase Summer invitation.

NIKE CHASE SUMMER

I am happy to announce that The Mermaid Club is riding this wave with our #crewTheMermaidClub!

Below is a screen shot of the event's summary, and you can read about there details of this challenge.

In short: it is about being active the whole Summer with your crew of 5 (all girls, all boys or mixed!) - sharing your Nike+ kilometers and Nike+ Training Club work-out minutes, using the hashtag of your crew.  

At the end of the Summer (in this case 31st of August), the crews with the most kilometers and minutes will go to an exclusive Nike event.

Are you in?!

Well, the #crewTheMermaidClub is definitely in!!!!!!!!!

We created the first crew, and we're hoping that more mermaids/mermen will join in the Summer of active fun to create more teams that will belong to the #crewTheMermaidClub!

Let's get splashin' to the Nike leader board, while having fun keeping fit this Summer!


Who are the first team of #creTheMermaidClub, then???

Introducing the Mermaids!

Emily

She lives in New York, NY USA; a fellow mermaid ambassador at The Mermaid Club, and was the first to come on board for this adventure.

You can follow her great adventures  - this year she has a back to back to back 5K,10K, and half-marathon races (!!!) - here below:

Twitter
Instagram

Melanie

She is from the Netherlands, a working mom of two great boys, and is prepping to rock the Berlin Marathon in September this year.

Be inspired by her awesomeness:

Twitter
Instagram

Carlijn

A new mermaid running/fitness friend, also from the Netherlands! Melanie introduced us online, and I am excited to get to know the lovely Carlijn more.  She is currently training for her first marathon in Eindhoven, this coming October!

If you want to be motivated, follow the positive charming energy here:

Instagram

Last but not least!

Pinky

If you have been a long follower of this blog or this blog's FB page, you will remember Pinky mentioned quiet often in my posts because we've known each other almost as long as I am running!

She is the inspiring blogger behind Run Laugh Eat Pie.  Her blogs are motivating for it's genuiness,  honesty, and  humor!

How can you measure her awesomeness??? Well, I wrote her while she is on holiday to be a part of the crew, and she did not only took time to read my mega mail (I am famous for them :D ) but got on board right away!

There is much to say because this lady is very active and on the go.  See for yourself @

Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

And there is moi!

Happy Feet in the Netherlands 
:)

Read what I am currently working on @ Happy Feet'S Miles! It is the baby blog of Happy Feet in the Netherlands (the magazine of my running :) , where I will get into more details of how I am disciplining myself to follow a consistent training to be a stronger runner.

Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

There you are, the first team of #crewTheMermaidClub!

If you would like to follow our progress, how we are having fun chasing the Summer :D , just search for the hashtag of our crew on Twitter, Instagram and FB.

Questions, feedback, what to share your own #ChaseSummer crew adventures, write away on the comment box!

Happy Summer running!

4/100

So Long, September! On to October!

A Selfie to Say Goodbye & Thank You to a month ending
Monday, 9:31 am 30th of September, 2013
As the morning sun shone on my face,
and the click of the camera went,
I had a lightbulb moment and a whole lot of blogging ideas!
Being outdoors on the move caters to my creative side of the brain. :)

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.”
― Walt Whitman

It's way past midnight, and I should really be sleeping but I am too excited.

My giddy feeling of excitement stems from new blogging projects, I have lined up for the next months!

Ironic, this new surge of blogging energy is born out of my 5 weeks of frustration of not being able to run.

You could read more details about new blogging projects @ My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands in the next days, next weeks.. :)

What I would like to share before I finally hit the covers, and go to sleep: I finally ran with my new orthotics insoles in my new pair of shoes! It took almost a week after I got all of them (and an agonizing day hahaha) to finally trust myself to run but I DID IT!

The first baby step to building up  is done.  *big wide, relieved smile*

The next goal is to keep running  pain free/stress free to sustain an enjoyable 5K.

My personal motivational poster in my goal to run again (after 5 weeks of rest),
&
run consistently a strong 5K

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd...I manage to hold on to my 25 months of running streak! 

Saved by 1 kilometer!

After my 1 kilometer run, I made my 1st of October image, the second picture of my new 365 project: Outdoors Selfie - #NoFilter, a part of my new batch of blogging projects.

On my next blog here, I'll write how I will be building up my mileage. Also, this week, I plan to go back to the gym for regular work-outs.  My membership card has been collecting dust since I don't know when, anymore (Spring? Early Summer?)!

Before I go, I want to save here, a thought that came to me while I cooled down after my first 1K in weeks.

I think my lesson from my first injury in the first 2 years of running: take it slow. 

What? One might say. Isn't running about working on being fast?! Isn't your running slow enough? If you take your current pace to a slower pace it would be walking!

SHUT UP bad side of my brain!!!

Sorry about that...to continue...

The Lesson I am taking from this current stage of my running adventure is: literally, enjoy every kilometer I am running and not chase more until I squeeze out the last ounce of sweaty happiness I can get from a kilometer.

courtesy of Google Image

The last weeks have shown me that I am still easily distracted by many things that are not important.

I feel my anxieties stems from the fact, that I am taking my attention away from what I should be pursuing.

When I return the focus to who I am ( a person, who wants to be the change, she would like to see in the world), where I am & where I came from (struggled/struggling endless cycles of depression), and where I would like to be (simple bliss shared with my family) I feel calmer.

courtesy of Google

Well, I would be even more calmer if I can write my blog hours before midnight. But at least, I am sleeping better and better, as I continue to pursue my true path. :)

courtesy of Google Image

Finding "The Force" to Run

image from Google

As much as there are a LOT  of excuses one could think of (or one legitimately has!) to skip running/training or to finally begin with running, there is a much longer list of  how to motivate yourself to run, and keep yourself motivated.

Truly.

I won't list down the excuses I feel, I  "legitimately" have every day, nor the excuses that my left brain has nagged me (and keeps on nagging me!).

Excuses, which sadly successfully broke me down in the past until I gave in, resulting to more than a few painful experiences in my races and running.

This would be very counter-productive!

Nope. Not going to give my left brain further satisfaction, than it already has.

Instead, I will share, focus and highlight what keeps me motivated.

Below are my top 5 of how I keep myself motivated on days I feel very low on #LoveRunning positive energy.

I chose to share 5 because it equals the distance (5K) I ran in my first race.  A distance most aspiring would-be runners aim/train for, when they begin with running.

It can be considered a "relatively short" distance but when one is simply beginning (or returning to running after a break), the effort equals running a marathon in one's mind.

Perhaps, I will be sharing more sources of motivation every Friday. For now my top 5, mentioned in no special order. A baby step.

1. Recalling a great memory of a memorable run/race.

“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.”

― L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl

Many runners experience even after years of running: a struggle to begin.  A feeling as if one is literally in pain (all in the mind though!) while preparing to go out for a run.

This run maybe a "simple run" after a required pause due to injury, or stress in personal life, or a vacation.  Even when prepping for a race, one has trained for, one can struggle to go to run the race.

image from Google

When one has don on one's training/race gear, and is one step out of one's home, a huge step has already been made.

As soon as you are on the move for 5-10 minutes (10 minutes max. Promise!), you will be filled with gladness that you conquered yourself, and broke through the worst barrier you are confronted with: your own voice in your head that seems to constantly say, "Not today!".

Each run you will do, will one day be an accumulation of memories (see No. 3) you can fall back on , when you struggle.

Keeping this scenario in mind should be enough to animate you to run to create (great & unforgettable!) running memories.

YES, today!
This is what I told the voice in my head last June.
You would not see it from the look on my face on this photo but I struggled to go to our village local run - Driedorpenloop 2013 for many reasons.
There were many more great memories from this run ; I'm glad that I did not stay at home.
I ran one of my fastest pace continuously on this day.

2. Rewarding self OR accepting an unexpected reward.

image from Google

This varies for every runner.

I have a long list of ideas for personal rewards for running achievements or for reaching simple running goals.

Today I will share what for me is the most obvious reward, a runner can give herself/himself: a pair of new running shoes!

After a succesful year of continuous running (August 2011 - August 2012 : my first RUNniversary!), I rewarded myself with a new pair of running shoes.

My Nike Lunar Glide, bought September 2012

A few months later (December, 2012), I got a DM (direct message) via my @PaperInEurope Twitter inbox  from @NikeRunning.  They wrote, that they have noticed my runs, and I will be receiving a reward!

As promised, just in time for Spring Running (March, 2013)! I received these beauties:

3. Recording running adventures on different social media channels.


My story on No.2 of this list (just one of many rewarding stories!) will probably show you, when you simply go about your running business, record it, share it  (on your blog, on Facebook, Twitter, instragram, etc),  you will not only have a clear picture of how you are progressing  but in the process receive a pleasant surprise!

Happy Feet in the Netherlands FB page

@HappyFeetNL

Surprise gifts are awesome. 

What is more awesome are the great connection with others, whom you can meet through the various channels of social media. 

These connections are priceless.  These people who share your passion or respect you for your passion, can help you keep motivated if you allow yourself to be open to the connection.


4.  Give as much motivation, if not more as one receive.

A philosopy I learned through life experience. An age old wisdom: giving is better than receiving!

It is not only through the running community, that you can give and receive motivation but in daily life.  This topic deserves a blog in itself because of the magnitude of how it has positively influenced my personal view of life, and lives of many others.

Basically, the more you give positive support (energy) to others, without expectations the more energetic you will feel.

Below are the running pages of social running groups, where I met very good and supportive running friends for life.

Loopmaatjes FB Page

Running Junkies FB Page

5. Follow the running adventures of fellow runners & athletes you respect and admire.

Blogged : In the Presence of an Olympianleft: moi middle: Churandy Martina right: Udjen Lewis

As with No. 4 I need another post to write extensively about how I keep myself motivated by following the running adventures of athletes I admire, and fellow runners I am friends with in real life. 

Or those magnificent (running & non-running souls), whom I've met online and communicate with via their blogs.

In brief: we identify with the struggles and celebrate with the success of those who share our passion.

Knowing we are not alone, that even those who have achieved (world wide)  success in their field (what their passionate above!) struggles and overcome obstacles,  can keep us motivated towards having a positive attitude.  If they can conquer and achieve, so could we!

Whoever you are, wherever you may be, I wish you a great weekend, and leave you with the words of Yoda: May the Force (literally!) be with you (on your weekend training)!