this is where I belong

It is funny (and sad, actually) to think that I can’t remember what happened after my last blog post. I literally had to pull up my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, scroll back to May to figure out what has happened in my life.

Even after researching my own life, I was so clueless that I had to also text my best friends: Kellie-Anne and B. to see what they could remember. After complying sorting through miscellaneous events, I decided that I will list a few things, explain a few things, and post some awesome pictures.

Before I start, I would like to mention that I finally switched the blog to format into an easier layout for mobile devices. No more awkward scrolling, zooming and seeing things cut off by the sidebar. Also, this post is going to be only May. June Doom and beyond is something you should expect either later tonight or tomorrow.

To make this update a little easier on me, I will post some Notable May Moments from the social media accounts I mentioned instead of trying to write out how May had gone for me by trying to write story after story. It also helps me with remembering how the month actually went instead of trying to make a list of events that happened within the last few months.

I am a horrible story teller. I am also really bad about keeping events in chronological order. That makes me an even worse story teller. Ask my friends.. They know.

Sunday, May 1st:
My last blog was posted on the website and Military Appreciation Month starts at my place of employment. I like to mention that here because I don’t think that our nation’s military is not thanked enough for risking their lives and protecting us from the bad guys. Thank you all for keeping us safe, being awesome and continuously showing our nation real heroism.

Thank you, Kellie-Anne, for being in the Air Force, participating in this challenge with me while being so busy on base and working a unreal amount of hours per week. You do that so gracefully on top of being an amazing emotional support and the best friend anyone could ever ask for. I cannot express my thanks for your understanding my sicknesses and how they effect us as a team. You're the most incredible team player that I have ever seen and I can't even tell you where this would be without you. I love you. You're phenomenal. <4

Thank you, Nicholas, for currently serving in Iraq, kicking ass and always making sure that I know that there is nothing else that I can do but my best. You've been the best support system. Even though you're a few thousand miles away and your life is in constant danger, you always make me smile and you force me to realize that I can do this. Thank you keeping me level-headed and for keeping me safe here. Also, happy birthday in FOUR OHIO DAYS!! Right now you're already at three Iraq days, but I am more excited when I can say it in Eastern Timing and in Asia/Baghdad Timing as well! I can't wait until you're safe at home and I can mail you (and Kellie-Anne's) birthday package(s)!

I wish I could thank all of you personally (Aaron, Heather, Devon, Adam, Frank, Cris, Daniel, John…) but I would honestly just be doing that forever.

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011:
8:22 AM via Facebook, “Fun fact: I've only seen one Star Wars movie, and it was the last one.. I don't know what the last one is, but happy Star Wars day!! For all of you, I will play with my light saber app and cut all of the old people in half at the doctor’s office!”

I was at the doctor’s office for an asthma check-up. After all of what happened before all of this, I really needed it. It went well and I believe that I got a new inhaler, was written a prescription for steroids and a few different medications to help with my allergies since I was feeling under the weather.

Saturday, May 7th, 2011:
I ran/walked/chased Max for 2.40 miles and filmed an incredibly funny video that you can watch here: Sausage Dog vs. Asthma Girl.

In the middle of May, B. and I would walk around Chardon for about four miles a night. It was my way to catch up on the miles that I had missed because I was previously sick. I would come home from work; we’d do thirty minutes on the elliptical at the gym, cool down and go on that massive walk. Sometimes we’d walk five-or-so miles, sometimes just a short two mile walk, but sometimes we ended up at Sheetz and we’d snack on some macaroni bites. Either way, it was a glorious part of May. I loved it and I miss that a lot.

I also loved the nights that I would stay at my dad’s house, so I could wake up early and take Max on these really long walks. My poor sausage dog isn’t used to walking that far so I had to condition him to the miles that we put in by intentionally taking him places that he did not recognize so he wouldn’t quit on me and completely stop walking. He would literally just sit down and stop walking and I would not notice and keep going and trip on his leash because he pretty much anchored me to the ground by sitting. He is hilarious.

Soon enough I had him walking an easy five miles and he started to run down the hills with me and then run up the hills and keep me going. I had to stop walking him in flip flops and slip on shoes because he would randomly start running and I would have to keep up. My dog isn’t that big, but I am not that strong so if he got excited and started to run, I would have to run in what I had gone on the walk in. It is not easy to fun a nine-minute-mile pace in hard-sole flip flops. It also hurts when you stop running in hard-sole flip flops. For a few days...

During these walks with Max, I started to miss my village, my lake, my dog, my father and the place that I grew up in and the people that were in it. I even considered how much easier it would be to run the routes there because I wouldn’t have to worry about cars hitting me and the terrain was pretty much flat. I wouldn't have to constantly run the flat pavement either because the village contains a few hills that I could train on if I needed to or felt up to it. It also has sidewalks that don’t randomly end and people will slow their cars if they see a runner as a courtesy instead of trying to scare the crap out of them..

After that day I decided if he was going to run, I would prepare to run with him.

Sunday, May 15th 2011:
6:38:13 AM via Instagram, "Seeing my lighthouse on a morning run with Max. #homesick @ Fairport Beach"

7:21:57 AM via Instagram, "More of our morning walk. I feel like this us a Mother's Day re-do picture."

7:06 AM via Facebook, "Early morning walks with Max are so amazing until you get splashed by the crashing waves of an angry lake. Then it's just cold and there is a lingering smell of fish that is Max and I. Yum."

This is how well we did after our windy, wet, and long adventure. I feel like it was a good go for Sausage Dog and I. I hope it taught him a lesson about running away from me when we are.. running.


9:16:44 PM via Instagram, "Lazy Suday. @ Dad's House"

12:38 PM via Facebook, "My eyes are burning. Perhaps I could have used more sleep today. Oh well!"

Honestly, I should have slept. I needed the sleep and I didn't take it. It was actions like these that aided a horrible pattern that I have developed. There are nights without sleep for me. once or twice a week. It is horrible. I hate it so much because I end up so exhausted and I feel like it is ripping away all of my strength, but no matter what I do, or had done, I can't rest a single night without disruption.

I need to work harder on fighting it instead of pretending that I look cute because I don't. I look sleepy. I look sleepy and exhausted because I am sleepy and exhausted.

Monday, May 16th 2011:

6:09 PM via Facebook, “’Too tired and too hungry for life right now. Still going to the gym first #priorities :((((‘ Dedication to not collapsing my lungs. Gym legs for KA. Enlightened that I'm consistently 150lbs now.”

I text that quote to Kellie-Anne as I was sitting in the gym. I sent her my sad face picture that clearly shows off the bags under my eyes and finally got the motivation to get up and actually get inside and run. After the run I had the day prior, I was pumped to do as well as I did. When I weighed myself I remember that I was ready to cry because of after all that I had been through in April, to find out that my consistent weight was FIVE pounds less than my original goal weight.. I just felt phenomenal!

Tuesday, May 17th 2011:
I went to urgent care from work because I was having a hard time breathing. I felt great after going although I remember the doctor at Urgent Care was crazy. She yelled at me.. a lot.

1:15 PM via Facebook, “The crazy doctor lady just yelled at me. I don't even know what she said at me. She then wrote me a prescription for an allergy medicine... Am I getting the breathing treatment or...?”

If I had only known what she was thinking then I think this all could have been resolved earlier, but with her thick Russian accent, her yelling at me and making me feel like I was wasting her time and me being worried about going to Urgent Care on my lunch and how much time I was losing by going over my lunch, I didn’t bother to ask.

Lesson learned: If you have a question for the doctor, don’t let yourself feel stupid and just ask. Seriously.

Since I felt so good after getting the breathing treatment, I decided it was okay to do a little run. After debating with B. since the moment that I walked out of the Urgent Care to the time I pulled in the gym parking lot, I ran 3.41 miles in 35 minutes on the elliptical.

Lesson learned: If your best friend says that it isn’t a good idea to run after going to Urgent Care for breathing problems repetitively for eight hours straight, listen. Seriously, don’t be a jackass and listen.

This is the last time that I ran before getting sick.

Tuesday, May 17th 2011:
10:50:19 PM via Twitter, “You know, @alcnwndrlnd, he just really sucked at being awesome. That's why he's dating someone that graduated from blogger school... “

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011:

6:42:37 PM via Instagram, “B. and I heart the movies. Water for Elephants! @ Atlas Cinemas Diamond Center”

8:39:21 PM via Twitter, “Just watched Water for Elephants with @alcnwndrlnd. What a phenomenal movie. Even with the credits rolling, no one has moved.”

You can make fun of B. and I all you want, but that movie was phenomenal and is actually one of the first times that I have liked Reese Witherspoon's acting since.. well.. ever. I even bought the Threadless shirt, A Happy Place, because it reminded me of the movie and how B. will feed me just because I look hungry and she was legitimately getting irritated by my stomach rumbling. Love her. Haha.

Thursday, May 19th, 2011:
7:52:42 AM via Twitter, “Waitafreakingminute, @alcnwndrlnd, when the hell have hipsters ever skateboarded????”

7:25:08 PM via Twitter, “You left me so I shot you!" #quotesfromtoday"

An awesome dream lead to awesome explanations on why I do the things that I do. I think his lesson was learned. He will never leave me to be eaten my myself while I am carrying a bb gun during a zombie apocalypse.

7:25:08 PM via Instagram , “New bangs and the girl that hacked them. @ Home!”

None of these have anything to do with the project or running but I figured if I was updating you on the month, you might as well know that I have zombie dreams and I got my bangs cut.

Saturday, May 21st, 2011:

7:53 AM via Facebook, "I always like being up this early until I realize that I am no longer sleeping. :("

8:48 AM via Facebook, "It's the end of the world as we know it and I'll be fine."

10:01 AM via Facebook, “To seek revenge on the old people glaring at me in the doctors office to giggling, I cut them in half with my light saber.”

I don't want you to think that I just slice old people in half with light sabers for nothing. I sent Nick a package and he received and opened it while I was waiting to be seen at the doctor's office. I was ECSTATIC that he got it because I thought the contents of the package were awesome. That and because I haven't seen him that happy in a while. I clearly made his day and that is why I was giggling. The giggling alerted the elders in the room that there were intruders and they started to glare at me. That is why I was forced to cut them in half.

This is also the day that I knew I was getting really sick. Unfortunately, I don't think I brought that up until June when I was like, "Oh hey, got this thing, I don't feel good, I can't breath and it wont go away." I vocalize everything with my PCP and I have NO IDEA how this did not come up. What a large failure on my part.

1:57 PM via Facebook, "I want this drive home to be like teleportation... Instead, there's a crap ton of traffic.."

6:21:35 PM via Twitter, “This is @alcnwndrlnd and I surviving the #rapture / #theendoftheworld.”
Self Notation: This was our Skype Date day.

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011:
1:33 AM via Facebook, “I've been practicing my wink and now I need someone to try it out on...”

3:28 AM via Facebook, “I like to snuggle with my best friend and talk about the most amazing things that are completely non-productive but aren't a waste of time. AKA I don't know if we’re going to sleep... “

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011:

1:12:20 via Twitter, “I feel like after all of the holiday hours and overtime I picked up over the next two weeks, I should be rich, but I'll just be less in debt”

I started to pick up a lot of overtime at work. It was getting to the point where they were offering so much and I would take it but then I would be too exhausted for the next few days. I would be doing fifty-five/sixty hours a week so I could catch up on my bills, and apparently miss an abundance of sleep.

It wasn't fun and I missed seeing my friends and talking with the boy and having a freaking life but the money was needed and I figured the sleep could be caught up on later. This is how I pushed myself into exhaustion a few months ago because of all of the miles I was trying to put in and was obviously not ready for.

Why am I repeat offender for my health?

3:44 PM via Facebook, “Rebecca saw the sign... I'm officially bringing back the Razor Scooter Summer.”

10:55:00 PM via Instagram, “Rearranged the old room a little. Maybe I can make it into my new room. @ Dad's Home”

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011:
8:31:10 PM via Instagram, “Took this on the way home from work”


Thursday, May 26th, 2011:
1:00:44 PM via Twitter, “I should be rich after this next check.... Seriously. Haha”

If anyone was wondering, I wasn't rich. I am glad I saved some of the money because I had no idea that I was going to actually need it after a few weeks.

Friday, May 27th, 2011:
12:29:13 PM via Instagram, “Old room at Dad's house. #nopantsfriday @ Dad's House”


Tuesday May 31st, 2011:
7:23:13 AM via Twitter, “My body does not want to get out of bed. I have to work 8:30-7:30. I will never see the sun. #exhausted #summerfail”

I wish I knew exactly what kind of a #summerfail I was going to have. I wish I knew I would continuously have these problems during this summer and most likely continue them during a portion of the fall.

June contained one event that changed this project for both Kellie-Anne and I.

xoxo,
Angela

p.s. I hate June. Nothing good ever happens to me in June. Seriously. June Doom.

What can you do, you know?

It has been a while since you have seen the literary documentation of my portion of Project 11/11. It took me so long to write an update because I was waiting to find something more positive to share, rather than repetitively updating the blog with the constant gray cloud I thought was following me; however, I think I found the light.

"Need bad days to recognize the good," he always says. He also repetitively mentions, "If you didn't have bad luck, you wouldn't have any luck at all." In both cases he is correct, no matter how playful the second quote is. I will let you decide.

On Sunday, April 10th : It was finally warm enough to run outside. It had hit upper fifties in the early morning, so when I woke up, I was pumped and running outside was all I could think or talk about. I was really nervous to go, as I always am for the first "real run" of the year. It took me several hours to get dressed, eat my Lucky Charms, brush my teeth and stretch. I was finally ready to run and when I started my iPod, the music started to stream from my iPhone's speakers. I checked my cable and made sure it was properly inserted and struggled with them for a minute before deciding that they were not going to work and that I needed a new pair. my luck.

At this point I find the extended delay relieving. The temperature had rose another seven degrees since the morning; since I had originally had intended to run. When I finally started my run I had come to realize that the city I live in is full of winding roads, sidewalks that mysteriously end and the city has no flat running space. The entire city is up and down hill, one busy street after another. I would run up a hill, sprint down the hill, the sidewalk would end and then I would have to wait to cross the street. Normally I would be okay with with this pattern, but it was my first run of the season and it was a difficult time in my training to realize that this is how it was going to be the entire time I was training in my city.

I have not even finished one mile when I came to my first hurdle of the day. I started to cough, and I am used to this happening during my first "real run" of the season. Coughing up and spitting out some mucus is normal for me as well. What I am not used to is the mucus turning a little bloody and and becoming increasingly bloody before I have reached my first mile. I start to become concerned and I start to walk. I don't know what exactly to do or what is going on so I immediately text Kellie-Anne and my close friends Amber and Nick to see what to do. The worst responce was a frown with an attached comment, "are you okay bb," from Amber.

After walking for a few blocks, I became a little less worried, felt a little better so I start to jog again. I struggle for about a mile or so before toggling between a light jog and a sluggish walk. I started to notice that I was becoming sick and increasingly exhausted so I decided to make my way back home. I decide this at the bottom of monster hill. I call it that because it is about amile long and the incline is redic, but I have to take it because I don't know where I came from and I know how to get home from this location. I basically crawled up half of the hill and became the stoop kid from Hey Arnold! on a stranger's staircase near the sidewalk. It is here that I decided there would not be a lot of running in the near future.

Now at this point I am still sitting on the stranger's stairs looking up at this hill I just climbed to my right, then to my left all of the hill that I still had to climb. Dang. I go to Nick for support at this point and he cutely chimes in that he would carry me up the hill if he were to be there with me. The thought of having someone pick me up, or just the thought of being off of the ground in general makes me nervous. I remind Nick of this and follow up with that I am nearly positive that he wouldn't be able to get me from point A to point B. He was quick to remind me of his profession in the military and the blazing heat he deals with, all the gear he has to carry in his hands and on his back, and all of the running and exertion of effort he uses each day in said heat and gear.

I am now faced with the decision of to accept the fact that he can very easily carry my worn out body in the now eighty-four degree weather up the hill from the very bottom of the hill to the monstrous top, despite the redic incline; or I can challenge him to do it and reward him with ice cream and a back rub if the task can be completed. I hope he remembers that he will have to do this when he visits me now, and how important this specific conversation was to me. It really motivated me to get up and nearly crawl my exhausted body up the hill and walk the extra mile home. Without that light-hearted joke-turned competition, I would have laid there to rest as the stoop kid that never left her stoop because she got too sick during the first run of the season over a thirteen-degree heat increase and difficult-to-run rolling hills. That would have not hung well over my head so thank you, Nick. I owe you one, and will more than likely also owe you ice cream and a back rub come September.

Side note: I walk past a Dairy Queen on the way home from any runs I do within Chardon. I will never bring emergency money with me on a run because it will turn into an emergency Blizzard on my way home from a finished run! However, after this particular run, B. dragged her sick butt out of bed to get medicine from Walmart, made the effort to swing by my apartment and peel my sweaty and exhausted butt out of bed to go with her and get a DQ smoothie. It was the best post-race award ever. Thanks, B., you're amazing!

Side note number two: Nick is getting King Kone at the bottom of the monster hill. That means we have to go up for him to complete the challenge, down for the ice cream and back up to go home. It's not that I like the additional effort, I just prefer KK's soft serve over DQ's haha! :)

Tuesday, April 12th : I was only few hours into shift at work when I started feeling like my lungs were becoming restricted. I felt like I was struggling to intake air, though I knew my oxogen levels were good. It was beomcing difficult to keep up with my call flow and it was giving me a headache. I called Health Services, the doctors office at work, explained to them what was going on with my lungs and was told the earliest appointment was noon the next day. I made the appointment and took a small lunch break to call my primary care physician. Their earliest was eight am the next morning. I felt stuck so I consulted Cam, my best cube-mate at work and he just looked concerned, told me to get some water, take it easy and he'd keep an eye on me. I felt like that was a suitable answer so I did as I was told then resumed my call flow. After finishing up a call, I noticed my red light was lit on my phone that indicates I have a voice mail. I listened to it and it was a physician from Health Services.

The next few moments went like this: I listen to my voice mail and it loosely stated to go to down to Health Services or leave to go to the emergency room immediately.
I call Health Services to tell them I am coming, go into lunch, notify Cam and walk down.
I check in and I am told to fill out some forms and bring them up.
I fill out the forms and bring them back up.
I am told to sit.
I go and sit for forty-five minutes while people casually walk in and out of the waiting room.

Meanwhile, I am freaking out. Why am I not in a room? Why am I not being treated? If they tell me to go to the ER immediately or come to Health Services why is no one concerned or seeing me right away? I feel like I am having a minor heart attack, so I did the only thing that calms me. I text a few friends and take photos using my fun apps on my iPhone. Right before I was about to get up and leave to go to the ER, I get called in, get a breathing treatment and some advice and go back to work.

I kept my primary care appointment for my breathing that was scheduled for the following morning. Upon arrival I find out there that I have restricted airway-type asthma and that it is completely different from the sports-induced asthma that I have been treated for since I was a child. It is also explained to me that I was never officially diagnosed with asthma until this day. So all of the years they have been treating for something that was quite obvious, but they were never for sure of. I leave the appointment with two new inhalers and a few other medications.

Thursday, April 14th : I just arrived at work and am sitting in the parking lot. I sit in it for so long that I actually become to late to work. It is again hard to breath and I start to get scared. Remembering that my supervisor has asthma, I went into my office, walked straight to his desk and told him of my difficulty. He told me that he was going to call 911. I looked at him and told him I was going to set my stuff down at my desk and try anything I could to remain composed while we waited for the EMT to arrive. I sat at my desk and text B. and immediately she sent a frantic text or two and I tried to explain what was going on, but my hands were shaking and I couldn't form coherent statements, so on my way out I had my supervisor take down her number and call her while I left for the emergency room.

Good news: The firefighters were the ones that picked me up and they were all around my age, gorgeous and humorous.
Bad news: I was put on a gurney and rolled out of my workplace before I could even clock in for work.. and I was going to the ER. That is also bad news bears.

During the ride, they get my breathing under control, they had me take a few medications and they made my ride as comfortable as they could by talking with me and just chatting away. I then realized all of my current thoughts were going to involve me being arrested for arson at the end because all I could think about was setting everything on fire in their district to watch them work. I had a good, imaginary, plan until I came back to real life and reminded myself that I would be putting both the firefighters and potentially civilians in danger, I would not do well in jail/prison and I could probably stop by the local bars and see them there.

From there, I have Todd, my nurse at the hospital and all I could think about was Scrubs and the differences between the two medical professionals. I loved real-life Todd. He was amazing. While I waited to see my doctor and while waiting for test results I repetitively e-mailed my friend Nick to keep myself occupied documenting the entire journey. It was was either a) annoying because I sent him like nine hundred, b) frightening because he is away and couldn't be there for me, or c) humorous because all of the medications I took and the way I describe things is quite different and is possibly entertaining.

I had to wait until B. was off of work to come visit me/pick me up since I was technically under the influence.. I waited six hours for B. to arrive and when she got there all I needed to do was be discharged. B. brought me super hero popsicles and we read the cute jokes on the back, took pictures and videos while we waited for me to sign my discharge papers so I could leave. It was amazing, she brightened my day so much.

I had an inflamed pallet of cartilage that covers my lower ribs. I guess it's fairly common for the amount of activity I do, though it is rarely diagnosed. They also told me the same exact thing my PCP did. So I leave with more medications and hang out with Becca for the rest of the day.

I also am told that I am not allowed to run for a few weeks.. or jog.. or walk for extended amount of time. This floors me. What am I supposed to do? As I already stated, Kellie-Anne calmed me down and took control of the miles while I was out, sacrificing her free time, and at one point, her health, to keep me afloat and the project alive. Again, thank goodness for her.

Friday, April 15th : I was obviously not feeling very well, so I did the adult thing and decided not go to the Indians game as I had planned to; however, the boys did end up taking me to Melt. The only reason why I am even mentioning this is because I am upset that I missed my first baseball game of the season in the first winning season the Indians have had in years (I am at Starbucks and literally knocked on the wooden table where I am sitting) and going to Melt was a pretty amazing thing. First, I love grilled cheese and Melt is a gourmet grilled cheese restaurant. Also, it is one of the only places that Cleveland has that is nationally recognized as an amazing place. We do have amazing places, and there is so much to do here, but the Food Network covering a place to eat is a much bigger deal for us than one would expect. I could rant about how amazing I believe Cleveland is and how it should have a better reputation for the local events, shops and museums, but I will just move on because I could write an entire blog about it. You can visit Melt's website here and look at their menu, Melt tattoos and experience some of the love that I have for the place.

Sunday, April 17th : B. and I took a day trip to Toledo, OH to see a friend play with his band. It was the only Ohio date they had and at this point I missed the kid to death. I still felt awful. Exhaustion kept creeping up on me and overwhelming me. I kept my purse with me and it seemed to only hold my planner and a small pharmacy full of medications. The entire drive was nice, it was a glorious ride and the speed limit on I-80 had risen from 70 MPH to 75 MPH and it allowed for a more glorious ride. Driving 5 MPH faster than usual had made the ride more exciting, I felt as if I were breaking all of the rules. Although I was excited, I kept telling B. how I missed running and how I missed being outside and active and that it was having the reverse reaction on my body as I had hoped. I felt more exhausted and less relaxed when I was hoping to feel well-rested and rejuvenated. B. lovingly reminded me that I was talking crazy and since I have been to the hospital three times for my asthma since the beginning of the year, I really should cool my jets and enjoy the time without worrying so much. She is really good at reminding me that I am being crazy when I am being overwhelmingly crazy. At the rest stop, I text Kellie-Anne and she reiterated what B. had said. They were right; however, B. knew I was sill upset so she suggested that we mall walk before the show and shop a little. So that is what we did and I felt alright. We bought new dresses and then watched Caleb play an amazing show, stayed way too long to hang out and then the trip back home. It was a great day and it was nice logging one single mile out of the many, many I've been missing. Thanks again to Kellie-Anne for hauling booty during April to help relieve the stress I have been feeling about missing out. She's amazing and I have no idea where I would be without her.

Sunday, April 24th : The next way I could figure to get out more was to go back to Fairport and walk my amazing pup, Max. He is a fun little booger and I miss him and my dad a lot, so it was a perfect solution. Plus, it was finally warmer outside and I wouldn't feel bad about being outside when I shouldn't or not being outside when I could be. I also had missed the flat walking space, seeing people I could converse with, walking whenever and wherever I could and the smell and the sounds of the lake. I have been going back to Fairport every few days to get in some miles and spend time with my family. It's been nice, and a great help for my body and mind.

Saturday, April 30th : My sister, Wendy, and I went on our first run together. She just finished a pretty intense session of kickboxing before our group had left. It was never like I wondered, but now I am completely positive why my sister always looks amazing. She kills it in the gym in her spare time (I still have no idea how she fits it into her schedule or has the energy to do all of this). The run was a poker run, a run where you stop at certain locations to pick up a card and try to create the best poker hand. We both had horrible hands but it a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure that a friend of my sister was participating in so we felt amazing running for such a great cause. I plan to run the actual 5k in the summer when it comes around again this year. Anyway, I had an amazing time running with my sister and I am so pumped to run some races and train with her during the summer!

Now I am ready to get back to the gym and start mild jogging again. I should be back to full speed by the second week of May, though I am going to try not an push it too far in order not fall back into the place I am now just getting out of. Right now, I am too scared to see how far behind I am as an individual, but I know Kellie-Anne has been pushing it really hard and we will be okay. I start going back to the gym today, I am not going to run for very long, but enough to break a good sweat and make me feel better about eating almost an entire roll of Girl Scout's Thin Mint cookies and eating additional goodies over the weekend to celebrate B.'s birthday here and K-A's in Texas (I had I small glass of red wine for her at 12:00 AM ET to celebrate, took a picture, forgot to send it and now I can't find it - sad).

But, here is the silver lining: I finally feel better. My sickness is finally under control and I no longer have to worry about it. It is something that I can't let rule my life and thank goodness I have my friends and family to support me doing this and to keep me motivated through this process. You all have lifted my head up through all of this so I would keep on truckin'. I would have never been able to do it without you.

I am off to the gym no to re-start my routine. I wont push it too hard, don't worry, I am no longer going to stress about the miles, just wrap them up at a manageable pace and keep my lungs and body as my main priority as they always should have been.

xoxo,
Angela

p.s. I found out I fit into a size SIX yesterday! When we started running, I was in size TWELVE! I am pumped!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Right now, my life would literally not make sense without you. You're my best friend and my #soulmate. I am so thankful to have you in my life and to experience this journey with you.

Kellie-Anne, happy birthday! I wish I were there with you.

You deserve nothing less than a perfect birthday! Love you!

xoxo,
Angela

"You have a drive to excel like I've never seen in anyone else."

It's been quite a while since the last post, and I must say - things have been hectic. I've been having these terrible headaches for the past little bit, but they weren't like anything I had experienced before so naturally, I was worried. It wasn't until after they had progressed to the point of me falling to my knees, did I decide that I needed to be seen at the ER. I was worried that it couldn't wait until my Annual Checkup with my PCM that following Friday. I consulted with the Boy, grabbed my purse - filled it with time-consuming goodies [because we all know how ridiculous the wait in the ER is], and headed off to the ER. As soon as I checked in, they brought me back for my vitals, and sent me immediately back into the ER Bays for examination. I told all the doctors my story, and they asked me, "Do you think it's serious enough that we should stick a needle in your back? Do you think it's Menegitis?" Well, I'm not a doctor, but I do know what I was feeling wasn't like any headache that I had ever experienced, so I consented to the Spinal Tap. After filling out the consent forms, they prepped the area and they proceeded to continue on with the procedure. It was honestly probably one of the scariest moments in my life. I HAD A NEEDLE PRODDING ME IN THE BACK FOR OVER AN HOUR. Please, tell me you wouldn't be scared to death.

After the procedure was over, and they sent it off to the lab - it was nothing but a waiting game. Waiting for over an hour and a half, I finally got the news that everything looked good. Well, if that's the case - then why am I having this horrible onset of headaches?
!!!
Fast forward three days post-Spinal Tap, and besides being sore as all get out, I'm starting to get jittery from the lack of physical activity. (When attempting to wash your back in the shower, or get dressed becomes a hassle, you KNOW something isn't right.} I decided to run outside for the first time at a PT test pace, and the first time at all post spinal tap, and I BLEW MY PT TEST TIMED RUN OUT OF THE WATER. Sure, I could feel the pressure in my back, but it felt so good to feel so free. When I looked down at my iPhone and say that I had beat my all-time best 1.5 mile, so many emotions flooded over me. 12:58 for 1.53 miles?! That had to be around 12:50 when I finished my 1.5 and that's five seconds faster than when I ran for my PT test in September 2010! I felt infinite. I really, really did.


Yesterday, I had a great day. I ended up logging 12.13 miles (!!!) after not logging for 3 days. I felt the need to knock out some serious project miles. Two weeks in, and my back is still sore from the Spinal Tap procedure. I mean, I know that it's going to take time to heal, but let me be honest - I'm a very inpatient person when it comes certian things. Healing being one of them. (Weird, right?)

I've had a wonderful support system so far for this project, and let me be the first to say that I am EXTREMELY glad that I have all of you guys behind Angela and I. It hasn't been easy. We're humans, we ache. We get sick. We have jobs. Hey, life happens. But I'm so glad that no matter how crappy of a day that I had at work, I can come and see nothing put positive things on my FaceBook page or on my Project Eleven Eleven Album. Even getting encouraging texts from the Boy, Angela, Jennifer and Jessica. It is an amazing feeling. <3

This is my milage for today. I'm not going to lie. As I'm typing this, I'm lathering my calves up with Tiger Balm, and soaking my feet in ice. I'm aching, yes. But you guys are my drive, and my determination to finish this project out strong. We are fastly approaching the end of the second month, and my 24th (!!!) birthday..

I guess time DOES go by fast when you're having a good time. :]

Thank YOU to anyone of you who has ever 'liked' a status, commented on a picture, or just thought positively about us and this project. We really could not do this without you.

Until next time,

Kellie-Anne

I honestly feel accomplished!

We are almost through the first week of April and already this project is.. a lot to handle. I know we said we were scared, that we knew it was going to be hard, but I honestly. Honestly, just, goodness.. Running that many miles isn't what is hard. It's the working it into a routine and not killing your body. It's missing events because you know you have to run later and seeing friends sometimes takes a back seat (I'm really sorry guys!!). It's looking at the elliptical and trying not to be disappointed that I only ran 3.11 miles in thirty minutes, or even worse, being disappointed that I ran only thirty minutes in the first place! That's just crazy!

It takes me a second to realize that I ran three miles in thirty minutes.. I ran three miles in thirty minutes!! That is nothing that I could have done last year.. Even at the end of last year! I am doing great and I should honestly be more proud of myself! So what's the deal?

I know what Kellie-Anne and I have accomplished so far is phenomenal, and even the progress we have made within the last three months is more than we could have even imagined: to date, Kellie-Anne has lost 24 pounds and I have lost 26.5 since the second week or so of January? Not to mention all the miles we have already ran prior to this project and all the miles we are planned to run afterward! It just makes me honestly dumbfounded why that stinkin' word is even in my vocabulary right now!

You know the only thing I should be disappointed in is that I forgot my shoes and a sports bra today. I knew I was out of it this morning , but cripes! I am so thankful for short days! My feel are achey and my back and shoulders hurt.. I must have really had my mind thrown! I guess I shouldn't be disappointed because I still ran in my casual shoes! I mean, I didn't go far, I would never suggest running like that, and I was already late to the gym so I didn't want to keep B. waiting so I didn't go home and get my stuff, but I still worked out and that is good. Go me!


The first picture I posted is of me in my new Threadless t-shirt, the amount of miles I have ran since March 1st, and my weight as of yesterday! I broke weight goal number two! Yeah, yeah! I'm happy as a clam! So the next bench mark for me is 145, but after that I think I'll try and tone up and maintain my weight. I think I'll start making timed mile goals. I really haven't thought this out very well yet haha. I am just glad that all the hard work I've been putting in has been paying off, and hasn't been a chore! I can not explain how incredibly lucky I am to love to run! It has made running this project and losing the weight do enjoyable for me!

The second picture is my shoes I wore today to work (with my Runnin' Rhino shirt), and to work out in, my elliptical from today and my plan to make up the miles for March!

I have almost made up my miles! I am at 19.53 miles already for April and we are only supposed to be at 13.08 miles right now! So I have 6.45 miles to subtract from March's 14.36 mile mishap that brings me to watawatcha: 7.91 miles to make up! Pumped! Should be done with the March snafu by Saturday night or Sunday morning!

Oh, and "watawatcha!" it the equivalent to the normal saying of, "drum roll, please!" in Angela's noise-isms.

Oh, before I forget! Shannon is one of my greatest friends, and legitimately an amazing writer (her blog, The Writers Closet, can be read here) has started her wedding planning, including her wedding body! I am so pumped for her and I am so excited to be able to encourage her and see her fall in love with a wedding dress and make that her goal! Dfhhddyjjgssjbcj SO EXCITED! like I love puppies excited!
:O !
Regardless, I just wanted to cheer her on and let her know that I have her back! I love you, Shan Shan!

I also wanted to say to Kellie-Anne and my big sister, Wendy, that I love you both and behind every step you've been there and that's more than I could ask for! You're amazing!
Thank you Joshua for noticing my changes and continuously reminding me that I was always beautiful and you're proud of me. I don't think you read this blog, but you're an amazing dude so thanks for pulling me back to reality when I'm being silly and answering questions about why my body does what it does and why I think like I do.
B. Thanks for running with me and understanding my babble, my bitching about the sweat in my eyes and understanding why I'm sad that Sex in the City or AMC isn't on at the gym. Over! Check!
My roommates, you know you're the best.
4Square at work (Cammy/Mary/Candance), Ashley, Greer, Richard you guys notice small things and thank God I have you guys or I honest would have blown up, or have died; literally. Also, thank you for not making fun of my yoga face and making my day.. always.
Amber & Patric, what would I ever do without you?
Allison F. & Sarah R., you two always comment on my stuff and you have no idea how elated that makes me and how full that makes my heart. Sounds lammeee but I love you both and you love me, so come to my castle so we can live happily ever after. The end.

I never have to remind myself that all this work was by me because I always have you guys to keep me grounded and sane. I could have never done this alone!

Well, now that I have wrote the thank-you's for my upcoming ukulele debut... my fingers are tired from typing, my legs from running, my body from working hard and my mind from existing. Time to pack my gym bag (my sports bras and my shoes included this time!), brush my teeth, wash my face and sleep for my early rise run that I'm crossing my fingers that I can actually do!

xoxo,
Angela

The direct link to my Runnin' Rhino Threadless t-shirt that I'm wearing in the photo! I love it!

Breathe, sweet child.

It's Monday. 4:03 PM. I should be at work, admitting and discharging patients. Instead, I'm at home - attempting to nurse myself back to health. I didn't run yesterday. Actually, to be completely honest - As soon as I got off work, I went to Wal-Mart to get some "Get Well" items to add to my arsenal, then came home and reaquainted myself with my bed. I didn't leave it till my alarm clock went off this morning at 0500. You see, I felt terrible about not running yesterday, so I wanted to get up a little earlier and head over to the Chaparral and log a couple miles before work this morning. Well, that didn't happen. I couldn't breathe when I woke up this morning. At all.

Well, to make a long story short - My supervisor let me have the day off to come home, rest and recover. Apparently I'm coming down with what feels like a strain of the Bubonic Plague (Not really, I'm exaggerating. :P ) I'm not too big on letting chores pile up, so I figured I'd do my laundry so I wouldn't have anything to do really on my off days this week. Well, sad to say that I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to fork out a pretty penny to replace both my ABU's and my blues uniforms. About three hundred dollars worth of uniforms. :// I'm still nursing myself with a cocktail of mucinex, sudafed, flonase, and puffs with lotion/vicks. I have no idea whats wrong with me, but I need to get better. AND FAST!


But! The real reason I'm writing this entry, and the real reason I'm SO SO SO excited!!

Yesterday as I was lying in bed, I received a Facebook Comment from one of the girls I got really close to while I was in Tech School. Her name is Jennifer. She's stationed in Nevada with a mutual friend of ours, Jessica. Jennifer hasn't seen me in the almost 2 years it's been since Tech School, and she was extremely impressed with the progress that I've made in that time. "Whats your secret?!" She asks. "No secret," I reply, "Just alot of gym time, and watching what I eat." I wake up little while later to a Facebook Notification of being tagged in a note.



When I read it, my heart was completely elated. Jennifer and Jessica had been inspired to start a project of their own! I've attached a link to the post, so that way you're able to view it if you'd like. Also, I'll be attaching both Jennifer and Jessica's Facebook profiles as well. Check in on them, motivate them. It's going to be one wild ride ladies, but I know that it can be accomplished!


Jessica's Facebook
Jennifer's Facebook

I am so anxious to follow these ladies on their quest to reach their fitness pinnacle, to get to where they want to be, and to see their bright and smiling faces as they cross that finish line.♥
You can do it!

Until next time;
Kellie-Anne

On a side note:

Kellie-Anne and I just received one of the bigger compliments we could ever receive. I would like to congratulate both Jennifer and Jessica on their new journey. I will let Kellie-Anne explain what has happened, but I felt like it needed it's own announcement!

I am excited for you girls!


xoxo,
Angela

Out with the old, in with the new.

Today I figured out a few things: I am pretty unorganized. I need, legitimately, five ways to track everything to make sure I can log everything correctly: the iPhone application, Lose It! That both Kellie-Anne and I use; a planner so I can log the amount of time I ran, the miles I've ran, calories I burn and my weight; a personal records notebook so I can track the most amount of miles I've ran in one time frame; Facebook Project 11/11 photo album and my iPhone. I discovered that I need new running shoes. I realized that I haven't updated my quick stats in some time (I just did that so now everything is correct). I also realized I really like tuna. Delicious.

Most importantly I finally figured out all of my miles:
For March, I ran 53.22 miles. We were supposed to have ran 67.58 miles. That means for March that I am behind 14.36 miles.
For April, I have ran 9.5 miles so far. I should have logged 8.12 miles, including today, so currently I have ran .78 extra of a mile for April.
I figure that if I subtract that from the left over March miles, that would bring me down to 13.58 miles. Also, the amount of miles I run today would also be subtracted from that amount.

I am not a math wiz, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm completely pumped about this. I can keep up with April and run the extra miles from March by the end of the week! From there on out, I will be a organized runner that will update my miles in my books, on my website, and on my Facebook. Then I can be ahead by a trillion miles like Kellie-Anne. I can't wait until it's warm enough outside to run, then I will catch up, and then this will become entertaining.

Within the next month, I hope to introduce a few new features to the blog, change the layout and work out a few other kinks. Have any awesome suggestions? Comment below and I can possibly make it work! I also hope the weather breaks so Kellie-Anne and I can start playing Nike Tag, if we can figure it out! That will be fun and will be a new motivator for us!

Things to look forward to: Reaching my new weight goal (150; currently 0.5 pounds away!), mine and Kellie-Anne's body update on the 7th, running my first 10k on the elliptical, running OUTSIDE, Nike Tag, running my first race, running one with: Wendy, KA and B, and finally catching up and pulling forward in my miles for the project!

Current miles ran: 62.72

I still think that's kind of awesome. :)

xoxo,
Angela

One Month Down!

In a blink of an eye, it seems as if March just flew by. It's crazy to think that it's already April. It feels like just yesterday I was visiting friends in New Mexico for New Years, and now here we are -- 4 weeks away from my birthday, and one month into an eight-month running project. I can't believe that in just four weeks, I'll be 24 years old. What's even more difficult to wrap my mind around? I was updating my Project album on Facebook this morning, and I just realized that I ran 91.91 miles for the first month of this project. NINETY-ONE. With 91 miles under my belt, I've set myself ahead 24.33 Miles for the month of April. Which is a good little coushin to have since yesterday I didn't run AT ALL. I walked over to the Chaparral Fitness Center ( CFC - for short. :] SEE WHAT I DID THERE?! ) (1.5 mile walk each way) with the intentions of logging some project miles, and hitting the weight room for leg day. I absolutely LOVE working my legs. Probably to the point where it's an obsession? Whatever - Not the point. Point is : Note to self - Do not hit the weights before running ever again. I did NOT want to run. AT ALL. So I didn't. I was still happy with the 3 miles that I logged walking to and from, but March was full of so many firsts for me. Not only did I finally meet my first weight loss goal of 149, right now I'm proud to say that I'm weighing in at 146.8 as of this morning. I'm noticing that my legs are slimming down and getting more tone with the amount of miles I'm logging. I bought my first pair of single digit size pants of my adult life. That alone was almost enough to make me want to break down into tears. Me.. In a size NINE! God. Words fail when I try to put them into a coherent sentence of how excited I am about this. Like I mentioned before, We're in April - and even with the lack of updating (I'm currently working 12 hour shifts, 8a-8p and just the everyday hustle and busle that comes with Military life, juggling a relationship, friends and family - I just feel like I've neglected to write in this. For that, I'm sorry. I want to take this time to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart for everyone that follows this project. For all the Facebook comments, status likes, RT's on Twitter, and the random person who accidently ended up on this blog because Google likes to be funny sometimes - Thank you. Without your dedication to this project, I can't fully say that I would have the motivation and dedication to get up and run everyday. You guys are counting on us, and that enough is all that I need to get through the day. I have a doctors Appointment on the 15th with my PCM (Primary Care for Medical Purposes AKA Doctor, ) And I'm actually REALLY looking forward to it. I'm going to bring up the Project and seek her advice on any remedies for achey legs, knees and/or anything else I might encounter in the next seven (!!!) months. Also, I'm going to seek a referral to see a Nutritionist/Dietician. I know I'm down 23 pounds from where I started, but I want to make sure that I'm doing this the right way, and that I'm helping and not hindering myself. 23.2 pounds, and eight months down and I'm only just a small portion into this journey. I'm stoked to see where it's going to take me. As running is concerned? I'm planning on going out to Ohio this summer to see Angela, we'll probably run a race or two together, and just catch up in general. I knew that when this year started that it felt like it was going to be MY year. We're only 4 months in - but so far, it looks promising. <3

3/30/11

Right now it is the last day in March. A few minutes past for me in Ohio (Eastern Timing) and a little bit before for Kellie-Anne who resides in Texas (Central Timing). KA is still in yesterday. Tomorrow is starting out well, love!

Anyway, I have come to realize that we do not update as often as we should, but I guess it's good that I waited because I have a ton to say! Hopefully I can get this out before I fall asleep though!

This past month has been crazy! We both have been up the wall busy with everything, it's unbelievable. I just thank goodness I have Kellie-Anne, my sister and my home pal, B. to keep my feet on the ground while all of this is going on! Regardless, I guess I start with the most exciting thing for me: though I lost an entire week of picture logs, I am only 19.8 miles left to run for the month! I am enthralled! Before had maybe half of the miles we were to supposed to have had logged when I found out that I was missing the images, so looking at my past few days and seeing that I can maybe make up a few of those miles and then start out April with only a few miles behind is blowing my mind!!

I started logging time, miles ran, calories burned and weight in a planner my sister had got me for Christmas since the one I have goes all the way to June! The size is perfect for all of this and now I can remind myself when I am going to be out of town so that I can plan to run extra miles or have a morning run so I'm not behind! I also started posting them on Facebook as well. It's easy for me to do so after a run and normally I'm talking to, or thinking of, Kellie-Anne, so that normally reminds me. I was also considering opening a P:11/11 Flickr account, but after posting 200 images they stop showing up, and I figured we would post pictures from when we visit each other, logged miles, of we decide to post progress pictures, pictures from races we run and other things that is related to the project, and right now neither of us have the money to set that up so we will see what will happen in the future with Flickr.

I think I am going to try and update the blog every #hardcoremonday so that way there is at least a weekly update on here. Again, I apologize about us not updating a lot. We will become better!

On a random note, how weird is shopping for sports bras? I always follow the size chart on the back; however, I am always right on the boarder or next size up/next size down. It makes me nervous! They're normally attached in pairs so you can't try them on. My concern is, what if they shrink in the dryer and become uncomfortable? Or, what if they're too big, don't shrink at all or enough and they're not supportive? The dilemmas of being a woman...

The ones B. bought me today from Target was ten bucks for two, neon and work like magic! I swear it was the vibrant pink color that kept me alive for the last five minutes of my hour run today. I dropped my iPhone after sending a horribly misspelled, grammatically-incorrect text message to Kellie-Anne for verbal help. I got through that, thank goodness! I also broke my hour PR on the elliptical! I'll post a picture of it! Anyway, the reason I brought up the bra is because I was with B. and she joined the gym I have a membership with a few days ago, so now I have someone to run with. Then yesterday, my best male bud joined! I hope he helps me with weights in the morning before it warms up!

Speaking of warming up.. It SNOWED today! What the heck? I am not allowed to run outside until it is warm enough to due to my asthma. It's just easier for my lungs to work, I suppose. But I have to wait until it's 65 or over and right now it's snowing.. It's almost April and last year I was already running outside. It was already 60 in the beginning of last March and I was outside two weeks into the month! I am upset! I feel like I've lost an entire month of outside training! I am sad!

Though I could write forever about anything, I am just going to post my PR/Weight update picture so I can sleep and attempt to run in the morning before work!




Before I end this post, I really just want to say that Kellie-Anne and I really appreciate everyone who reads this blog, comments on our posts, re-posts our link. We really appreciate it. It's amazing! I would also like to thank everyone who reads our Facebook status updates, looks at our pictures, leaves us comments, "likes" our.. anything and send us personal messages; everyone that follows, replies and RT us on Twitter; our supportive friends on Instagram and the Lose It! community; everyone that shows our blogs to their friends, mentions the project in conversation and encourages us in any way. You have no idea how amazing it feels to have someone recognize what were doing as a challenge and a positive life style change. It honestly means the WORLD to us and really pushes us when we need it the most. So thank you.. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for all of the love and support you've provided us through the first month of this project, and the many months before when we started our change and was building the project!

Thank you, and we love you!

xoxo,
Angela

Sooooooo

Neither of us have updated in a while, and I just wanted to let you know that were both still running our miles. Kellie-Anne is currently kicking my butt in miles though! She also has a update ready to post but our iPhone Blogger app is giving her some problems. :/

Well we have both established new ways to document our runs; I started a notebook to write everything in and her a Facebook to post photos of her miles ran, so expect to see much more from us very soon!!

xoxo,
Angela

Two days behind..

Today should have been day three for me; however, it is day one. This is not how the Project should have started, but it gave me some realism on how hard this could potentially be. Today, we should have logged at least 6.51 miles and I will log 3.62 miles. That is half of what I should have. I will have to keep running over our suggested amount of daily miles to keep myself ahead in case I have an allergic reaction to cherries or the photo center at Walmart makes me cry.. Kellie-Anne has logged at least 7 miles and, well, at least she makes us look dedicated.

In better news, on February 28th, 2011, I reached to my weight goal of 155 lbs. I have lost at least 21 lbs since the beginning of this year. I couldn't believe it. I was so excited! I felt so good that day and it really hit me then how much better I was feeling physically, emotionally and how much more energy I had. It was hard not to feel beautiful. It was also hard not to stop talking about it. I am so sorry, friends, I was just pumped! I know you understand.

It is March now. It means a new goal, new achievements, more miles and new strategies. I am excited to have ran at least 67.27 miles in 31 days, and see where that brings me.





xoxo,
Angela

Five days...

There are five days until the project starts. Only five days until Kellie-Anne and I have committed to running every single day for eight months. Every day that we get closer to this event it makes me increasingly nervous.

Since the last update I have had bronchitis and went to the ER twice for it. That was a mess, but I am doing fantastic now; however, what makes me nervous is I was sick twice in a month and I haven’t even been to the gym since February ninth. I was cleared to go back this past Tuesday, but that day I received some unfortunate news and I was unable to attend. Then it was event after event... I am sure you’re aware of those weeks. I am glad at least two of the five events that prevent me from going were planned and will be awesome.

Today is a new day, and I’m trying to remain positive but the first possible day I could go back to the gym is Saturday. I am assuming after going to event number six, I will be overly devastated and I am unsure if I can will myself there. That means Sunday and Monday are the two days I have to catch up on my running and starting my routine again before the Project starts. I talked to KA, and she says I can do it, and I believe her, but it is frightening to see that this can happen at any time and there would be so many miles to make up after a month like this.

Regardless, I think we may be adding a few new more things to the blog. Possibly a place to put progress pictures of us, and a ticker to follow the amount of miles we’re ran. I have our stats at the bottom of the page, so I am thinking of putting them there. I don’t know. I need to have a few more good ideas and implement that before our start date. Hopefully on I will have time on Sunday; the clam after the storm.

xoxo,
Angela

Oh, the possibilities within all the anxiousness.

Yesterday was an interesting day, to say the least. I spent it internally battling with myself over various things, including this running project. Of course it wasn't a 'bad' battle, persay. I guess I should tell you more about it, but first - let me start off with who I am.

My name is Kellie-Anne. I'm a fun-loving, 23-year old who loves music, tattoos, kittens, has a passion for the often overlooked, and the other half of Project: Eleven/Eleven. I'm a nerd at heart, I love to play video games, work-out, run, and go to concerts. I have a fairly prominent competitive streak (I tend to 'race' the people next to me on the treadmills at the gym. You know, if they go up in speed, so do I. Usually just .1 or .2 higher than them.) Ha, ridiculous. I know. But! That's who I am. *waves* Nice to meet you.

I was born overseas when my father was serving in the United States Air Force, so of course - I grew up all over the country. However, after he retired - we moved to a small town in Tennessee, so I guess I'll claim that as 'home'. However, I've relocated to Texas since enlisting in the Air Force, and that's where I've been living for the last two years. "If you live in Texas, how do you know Angela?" Well - I'm glad that you asked.

Angela and I met a couple years ago bonding over a band we both loved. I had driven 600+ miles with my best friend at the time, endured 8+ hours of standing in negative fourteen (-14!!) degree weather for a barricade spot of what would become one of the best concerting experiences of my life. Not only just for the show, but for the friendship that I would form with Angela. It's still just as strong. :) Angela and I decided that we wanted to start this running blog, not necessarily just as a way to help with our weight loss goals, (I'll explain mine in an upcoming blog) but to have something amazing to look back on and be proud of accomplishing. I know that two miles a day doesn't seem like much, but with both of our hectic schedules, the ever-so-prominent possibility of me being deployed, and never knowing when/if our immue systems are going to give out on us, it gives me an unsettling feeling in my stomach.

I had decided to go to the gym and run a bit since I had quite a bit of stuff on my mind, and running always helps me clear my mind. As I was rounding out mile two, my chest began to ache. Then it happened - Project: eleven/eleven crossed my mind. Of course it wasn't the project that made me ache, it was how I felt ABOUT the P:E/E. What if in the middle of it, for some reason, I can't log my miles? Does that make me a failure? I've failed to hold up my end - so does that make Angela responsible for adding my miles to hers? It's just something that I had been thinking about, and I guess as I was finishing out my run it hit me. It's going to be SUCH an adventure to find out, and to be honest - I'm excited. Other than the afformentioned, I have a good feeling about this.

Until next time,

Kellie-Anne.

First post!

Today was a good day to take off from work. I got this blog up and running from the comfort of my couch in my pajamas. While I spent several hours working on re-writing the HTML, I never thought once on what I was going to write as the first post. It took me a minute while laying in the comfort of my own bed, still in my pajamas that I should probably tell you why were doing this and why we're blogging this adventure for everyone to see.

First, let me start off with who I am. My name is Angela and I was born and raised in a small village in Ohio that almost got blown up last week. I am a fun, nerdy, puppy-lover that has a passion for photography, music and business. I like to run, work out, play video games and sit by the lake. I love playing sports and I am very competitive so doing this running challenge is something right up my alley.

Yesterday, Kellie-Anne and I decided we were going to make a running challenge for ourselves to help us make more than a weight goal, but to create something we can look back on and be proud of. I know two miles a day does not seem like a lot, but looking at two miles a day and knowing my immune system (I have an off day today because I have strep throat) makes me kind of nervous. It made me look at the long run and what kind of challenges were going to face doing this.

During the 255 days that I have to run 555.5 miles, what if I get sick again? I'm going on vacation for a week in July, am I going to get up and run then? I am moving to Chicago at the end of August to go to school, probably. What am I going to do during those moving days? How am I going to adjust to running in the city? How am I going to fit it into my life when I have a job and school work?

The reason why were blogging is because not only would we like to watch our own progress, but we would also like the encouragement from our friends and family. This a great challenge and I think it would be great for everyone to watch us struggle to do this and overcome the obstacles that we come across. It will also allow everyone to watch us change our lifestyles and become healthy.

For us, it's not just about the run, but the experience we will have doing this together. We will be changing our lives together, and we want to share that with you.

xoxo,

Angela