I hate to admit it, but one of my favorite movies is Mean Girls. As I have been reading through Operation Beautiful this past week, I keep thinking of the scene where the Plastics are standing in front of the mirror in Regina George’s room engaging in “fat talk” and criticizing the most ridiculous things about their appearances. Then they all look expectantly at Cady, waiting to hear what she hates about herself and she hesitantly says, ‘I have really bad breath in the mornings’.

I know we all do it. It’s just so easy to stand in front of a mirror and focus on the all of the less than Hollywood features. But it’s ridiculous that we spend so much time agonizing over it, and then working out and dieting to fix such temporal and vain issues.

I propose looking into a new kind of mirror. I want to look into a mirror that shows me the fitness of my soul. And I’m not saying that I want to reflect on all of the good qualities about my personality, because the only thing I focus on more than the problems with my body are all of the good and likeable attributes of myself.

And that’s just so pitiful.

I want to start a new hot-topic.

I want some self-awareness.

I want to look in a mirror and see my selfishness and my pride the way I see my love-handles and belly-pouch.

I want self-reflection.

I want my want to know that when relationship problems are because of me and not the other person.

I want to know what kind of soul-toning push-ups I can do to shape and sculpt my attitude and my heart.

I want to be more aware of the problems I need to fix on the inside.

It’s so much easier to pick apart our appearances, and it keeps us from looking deeper and dealing with what we would rather not acknowledge about ourselves.

Because let’s face it: when we struggle with relationships or we are indecisive about important things, or we shy away from responsibility, another half hour on the treadmill will not fix it. Those are issues within ourselves that are so much more detrimental to who we are than a second helping of ice cream.

Indecisive, people pleasing, proud, bitter, overly sensitive, forgetful, disorganized, unreliable, non-confrontational, stubborn.

Those are my tendencies. And those are the things that I hate about myself. Those are the things that I am determined to change.

Those are also not all of my problems, but I pray that God will continue to show me the sin in my heart and give me the power to change it.

And the phrase That’s Just How I Am is a cop out and I promised myself years ago that I would never use it. It was used on me after the most mean and hurtful diatribe from a friend as an appendage to an apology. It was more poisonous than the fight itself because it wasn’t an apology—it was an excuse. I will not use those words to anyone because, even if it is how I am, it is NOT OK.

So even when I think those gross words (and believe me, I do think them), I check myself.

So I am asking you, friends. Are you self-aware? And even more importantly, are you self-reflective? Are you fighting the natural tendencies that are hurtful and wrong, and seeking to grow into a more loving, selfless and relational person?

I’m trying.

Please be patient with me in the process, because I have a feeling this is a life-long battle.

I’m feeling like Wonder Woman today.

I was out of bed by 5:25 and in my FiveFingers and out the door at 5:35 to run a cool and speedy 4 miles. I didn’t take my Garmin, but I felt like I was flying. I was back in the apartment at 6:11.. I wish I would have had it with me! I even tackled one of the biggest hills in my neighborhood without having to slow down or catch my breath. I don’t think I have EVER done that on that hill before!

The cooler temperatures are bringing with them a speed I haven’t seen in years.

Or maybe it was the beautiful sunrise this morning that turned the sky an array of blues, purples and pinks. I felt alive!

Or it might have been all of the sugar I consumed yesterday.

Yea, probably that.

Regardless, I felt great. So great, in fact, that I wore a pencil skirt to work.

An early morning run and a skirt? Who am I?

However, driving a stick shift in a pencil skirt is, well, let’s just say it’s less than wonderful.

But the real reason I’m here is to share with you a recipe that I whipped up last week. It was tasty and healthy and I was waiting for a time to share. And since I just updated my Recipes page, now is as good a time as ever.

Oh, and because David called them wonderful, and that’s the theme of today’s post.

Blueberry Muffins

• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 egg (cage free, Omega-3 o’ course!)
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degree Fahrenheit. Mix oats and almond milk and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat the egg, then add flour, maple syrup, applesauce, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. Mix and then add the oats/milk mixture.

Mix well. Fold in blueberries.

Fill greased or lined muffin pans 2/3 full.

I also made a streusel out of butter, brown sugar and oats and sprinkled it on top. But I forget the exact measurements!

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a fork/knife/toothpick/harpoon comes out clean.

And then enjoy them, of course! …you can tell that they are healthy, but they are still tasty and satisfying.

I am off to read about other Wonder Women!!

Yes, I bake with a harpoon, so what? I am Wonder Woman!

In honor of Wonder Woman day and Operation Beautiful, I am declaring brag time!

Leave a comment with a wonderful thing about yourself or some other Wonder Woman in your life. These kinds of things are so uplifting!!

Today, I think that Caitlin is Wonder Woman! She packed up her life in her SUV and moved halfway across the country because she felt it was the best thing for her to do. Not because she got her dream job or some other Hollywood-esque story, but because she was following her heart. I think that Caitlin embodies true courage, humility, and faith!

Not all of our paths are marked with big and bright road signs, and sometimes we need to take a leap of faith!

You can follow Caitlin’s journey on her blog, The Twenty-Fifth Year.

Today was a recovery day!

A physical + mental recovery from my taxing 11 miles yesterday meant one thing:

FiveFingers run!

I only went a mile before I realized that it was just too darn hot, but that’s ok. It felt good just to be out there and run the way nature intended.

And I bought myself a new running outfit. Sometimes new clothes are perfect for PMS. Am I right, ladies?

Oh, I also recovered by stuffing my face with all the junk food I could find. And if I couldn’t find it, I baked it.

Those are Kodiak Cakes’ Oatmeal Dark Chocolate cookies. Ah-mazing. Dave and I are mildly obsessed with all things Kodiak Cakes, and this finished off the last of our stock, so I have to order more, pronto!

It’s just one of those days. I’m really ok with it. My hormones are raging and after my run yesterday I wasn’t very hungry, so I’m making up all those calories now.

I also declared it a reading day.

Yea, I’m still not finished with Barefoot Running, but I’m getting there. It’s so full of great tips that I can’t just blow through it. But I’m trying to finish it! And I’m sharing what I can as I remember (…I tend to be rather absent minded, forgive me).

Barefoot Bit: The Runs

This is exciting friends. My “barefoot” runs have official evolved from “filler” runs to my normal runs. Anything less than 4 miles has been run in my Vibrams. This is huge! This week I put them on to run with my speedy friend Ashley. I think it was a combination of the cooler weather and the minimal footwear, but I felt GREAT. I was light and relatively speedy too. And so unless my body warns me otherwise, I’ll be running most of my mid-week runs in them.

This brings me to another point. Again, unless my body warns me otherwise, I’ll be running the Great Race in them too! This gives me one month to add another 2 miles. I definitely don’t want to overdo it, but I think I’ll be fine in my FiveFingers.

I’m also fine with wearing my sneakers if I have to, so I’m in a good place. There’s not really any room for disappointment based on what is on my feet.

Barefoot Bit: Nutrition

This isn’t really any different than running shod, but it’s essential. However, I have noticed that my legs have bulked up since they are no longer as dependent on shoes as they used to be. When you start running barefoot, your muscles get a work out that they never would have dreamed possible! I think that makes proper nutrition even more important, because there’s less room for error. If your muscles aren’t up for the challenge, your feet will suffer!

I mentioned yesterday about my pre-run-fuel-fail and today I’m not really doing any better, and so of course the chapter I read today was all about nutrition. I guess I read it when I needed it most!!

I do not think that everyone should by any means subscribe to the same diet, or even a diet at all. I’m all about intuitive eating (except for today, of course), but with that I think that guidelines can be so helpful. The rules themselves aren’t bad, it’s the all or nothing mentality that usually accompanies them that is unhealthy. So when I read through “Michael’s 11 Fuel Rules For Barefoot Running” I mentally checked myself to see where I was at. Did I need to improve anything? Was I practicing similar “rules”?

**In Barefoot Running by Michael Sandler, you’ll find these rules on pages 158-160.**

1. Go Organic: I could get better that this. Organic is hard to find around here, and I don’t have the time or money to be driving into Whole Foods (about 1/2 hour away) every week to buy my produce. However, there are some things that I have to buy organic. Like Strawberries. You can thank Ashley for that one.

2. Free Range Omega-3 Eggs: Bingo! Ain’t no problem here. Go research what happens to caged chickens and how farmers medicate them. Then tell me if you want to be eating those eggs. Probably not. I buy Egglands’ Best Organic Cage Free Omega-3 eggs. They are pricey, but worth it!

3. Wild Caught vs. Farm-Raised Fish: Ok, well I don’t eat fish, so I’ll just move on past this one…

4. Microwave Freedom: I’m not really too tied to the microwave. I use it mainly for the timer and sometimes to make a quick bowl of oats. Apparently the radiation is bad for our health and creates free radicals in our food. I should do more research.

5. Just Say No to Fast Food: This is an easy one. Fast food makes me vomit, although there are some things I eat and don’t really consider them as “fast food” as McDonald’s or Burger King…Moe’s, Chipotle, and Subway. I maybe visit one once every couple weeks or so.

6. No Sports Bars or Sports Drink: I mix Gatorade and water during my long runs or on especially hot runs. Once there’s a coconut water vendor near me, I’ll switch. As for now, it’s the best option I have.

7. Corn Syrup Alternatives: I don’t buy things with HFCS except for one thing: Heinz ketchup. I’m a Yinzer, don’t judge me.

8. Gluten Free: Guilty! I used to be Gluten-Free, and there have been times when I wasn’t GF but I was still much better at it than I am now. Gluten is tasty, but it makes me tired and can also make my skin break out! However, I do keep away from carbo-loading on pasta. I prefer potatoes, actually! Gluten, like refined sugar, is tricky because the more you eat it, the more you crave it. It’s definitely something I need to do better at moderating.

9. Colors of the Rainbow: Different colors mean different vitamins and nutrients. The more varied the colors, the more nutrients we are consuming. I’m pretty good at this. I get bored with foods quickly, so I change up my meals pretty regularly and they are all very colorful!

10. Everything in Moderation: I’d say I’m ok with this. I might have a day when I’ve eaten too many cookies, but that’s rare. I cannot think of one food that I always eat or one food that I frequently eat too much of. Maybe peanut butter…

11. Eat What You Crave: Ding! Ding! Ding! I’ve got this down! If I crave something, I eat it. Whether it be ice cream, avocadoes, cantaloupe, or chocolate. I listen to my body when it speaks to me. If I deny it what it’s craving, the craving becomes too intense and I end up overdoing it on other foods while trying to hush the craving. Your body usually needs something in the food it’s craving.

Well, with that I’m off to eat some more

What are some foods that you find are vital for your lifestyle?

Me? I’m a Chia seeds kind of girl. The fuel of the Tarahumara! And yes, I also pretend I’m running the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon on my long runs.

And chick peas…I don’t know where I’d be without chick peas!

AND ALL THINGS MEXICAN!

Ok, I’m done.

Ok, no I’m not. I love frozen yogurt.

More on Barefoot Running from Abby Normally:

Barefoot Running Q & A 

The Bare{foot} Essentials I
The Bare{foot} Essentials II
The Bare{foot} Essentials III
The Bare{foot} Essentials IV
The Bare{foot} Essentials V
The Bare{foot} Essentials VI
The Bare{foot} Essentials VII
The Bare{foot} Essentials VIII
The Bare{foot} Essentials IX

I had my 11 mile training run this morning, and I’ll just sum it up for you as easily as I can:

It SUCKED.

Everyone has their good runs and their bad runs; this was my bad run. It’s unfortunate that my bad run had to be my longest pre-race run, but that’s just the way it happened this time around.

I’m not going to let it discourage me too much because there are so many things that I didn’t do to properly prepare for this run, it’s no wonder I felt that I was dying a slow, painful death.

So, without further adieu, here are things NOT to do before or during long runs.

• Even though you may be travelling the day before, it is not ok to compromise on key meals like dinner. Dinner is important for you to get the fuel for your run. Do not treat it as, hmm… say, “snack time”.
• And also regardless of the hours spent in the car the before, hydration is not optional before an 11 mile run. Pull over and use a Sheetz bathroom. 5 or 10 minutes added to your trip won’t kill you. Dehydration might.
• Even though it may be cooler than 80 degrees, 9:30 a.m. is not a good time to begin your long run at the end of August. The sun is still HOT.
• In light of your calorie and hydration deficit, chugging Gatorade/water mixes during your run will not help you run better. In fact, it just makes you water logged and crampy. Don’t do it.
• Cutting your toenails too short the night before is a sure-fire way to make your sensitive and over exposed toes angry. And bleed.
• Watching grade school cross country runners fly past you should not discourage you. They are probably running 3 miles, not 11. Don’t beat yourself up.
• Despite your hatred of the mind games your Garmin ForeRunner might play on you, it is beneficial to help you pace your long run. Running the first 5.5 miles too quickly makes for a very slow second half.
• Trail water fountains do not bring forth water. In fact, I think it’s poo. Don’t drink it.
• Running partners are good. Especially when your Beatles’ music is on shuffle and Eleanor Rigby ends up playing 3 times in a row (??!!!). Like I needed another reminder that I was all. by. myself??

So my loneliness got me thinking. I want to be a full time running partner. I really don’t mind training for races by myself, but I really crave the company on my longest runs because it’s a huge mental hurdle to overcome, and having someone with you makes it so much easier. So, since I don’t usually have people to train with me, when I’m searching for someone to run long runs with me, no one really says, “18 miles?! That sounds like a GREAT way to spend my Saturday! Should I buy some running shoes first?”

I know that I can’t be the only person who wants a partner, so I think it’d be a great thing to start. Just make a schedule and have people “hire” me on the weekends to run their long runs with them. It’d be a great way to meet runners, make friends, and get good exercise. Who’s with me??!!

Well anywhooo, I hope that you can learn from my lessons and prepare better for your long runs. Gosh, it’s a good thing I knew what I did wrong or I would not be signing up for this half… Speaking of which, I should probably go sign up for it now. That is unless someone wants to rent me for that day to join them on their long run. Anyone??

What do you find are common mistakes you make that impact your exercise?
How do you overcome them?

Last week I mentioned a training plan for the Pittsburgh Great Race…

Well, friends, I’m here to tell you that that will no longer happen.

Gary put together a wonderful plan for me and I appreciate his work on it for me. But then I reevaluated the reasons why I am running that race.

Actually, I had to reevaluate why I run at all.

{This is an evaluation that I’m getting very used to performing on myself.}

Let me re-cap:

I don’t run for time. I don’t run for others. I don’t run to prove anything to anyone.

I run for me.

Being a people pleaser has its drawbacks for sure. One of them is agreeing to things for other people without much thought of yourself.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not promoting selfishness. I’m promoting self awareness and realistic plans.

I’m sure that I could have run the race at Dave’s pace, but the race itself and the weeks leading up to it would be trying—and unpleasant.

Again, don’t get me wrong. I’m not scared of pushing myself to become a better runner. But I will only do that when I have that deep desire. I will never do it based on a desire to please other people. I run for the joy of running…a joy I’ve only recently rediscovered. I don’t want to lose that again!

There are things in life that might be unpleasant but you have to stuck it up and carry on. In my life, running is not one of those things.

Dave and I talked about it and decided to return to our initial agreement. It’s like a date. We’re just going to run for fun, and who knows we might even hold hands as we cross the finish line.

I don’t know how long it will take us to cross that line, but we’re not running for time. We’re running for fun. We’re running because we enjoy it and we enjoy each other. And that is so much more important than time and pace could ever be.

So go out and run, and go out and enjoy it.

I know I’ve asked this before, but why do you run? And I don’t mean to lose weight or whatever…that might be why you exercise. But why do you run? You could do anything else to get your heart rate up…but you run, or you cycle, or you do yoga. 
Why is that exercise your favorite?