Asheville Marathon

I was recently appointed as an Asheville Marathon Ambassador.

I was so surprised and thrilled.  This race has been on my bucket list since last year.  The race course goes through the grounds of the beautiful  Biltmore Estate.

The race weekend is March 11-12, 2017.  The race weekend has a half and full marathon.  The half and full marathons run entirely through the Biltmore Estates woods, meadows and grounds of the Estate.  The full marathon is a Boston Qualifying Event.  There is even a winery on the estate and you can purchase a bottle of wine on race weekend!

Until July 30, 2017, I am able to offer the lowest price discount for registration.  15% off the registration for the half, full or VIP.  Use code ANNALOUISE2017AMAROCKS at the check-out prior to payment. I also received my AVLmarathon ambassador shirts and will be rocking these while I am training for this race. :)

I will be posting my training plan as time goes on.  I hope to see you there,come run with me and have a runcation at a beautiful place.   If you do run this race, please say hi to me as I would love to meet you!  

Till next time and remember, my journey continues...If you can dream it, you can do it as Walt Disney said!

Special K

I was recently appointed to be a Special K Ambassador.

I am thrilled to be a part of fifty amazing amateur athletes from across the US.  Special K is about fortifying you and your family to help achieve goals, have wonderful adventures while using the unique qualities that make you YOU! The website has the Special K story, recipes, products and news.  You can even sign up for the Kelloggs Family rewards program and earn points to receive free items.  Stop by for a visit and see what's new!

Special K sent us a huge swag array to help us get started with this great product line.  I will be sharing my story of training while sharing Special K products at several local races and gyms.

I hope to see you there! Make sure you stop by and receive your Special K products.  Let me know what your favorite Special K product is in the comments and I'll be sure to pass them along!

Till next time and remember, my journey continues...If you can dream it, you can do it as Walt Disney said!

Tired

As you may have noticed, I haven't been on social media lately.  I ran four half marathons in 22 days in May followed by a 10 miler and I'm just tired.  However, it's not a physical tired-just life tired!

I'm 52 years old and just tired.  Here's why:

• No friends (far and few between) and little family
• Attended college in my forties which everyone said would change my life for the better in many ways (financially, academically, etc) and it didn't. 
• No home of my own (I currently rent a room in a house) 
• No money (While I have a good job, I basically make just above poverty level after taxes, benefits and retirement) 

• No vacations (I haven't been on a vacation in a long time).
• Constantly being left out (I see on social media all the friendships, gatherings and I never know until I see it)
• No birthdays (I think I remember five birthday celebrations my entire life) or holiday celebrations either
• Slowest running
• Weighing the most I have ever weighed my adult life

I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me but I'm just tired.  I need to reassess my goals and move on.  I'm tired of being alone and social media doesn't help.  Do you ever feel that it makes you and us more lonely?  It's hard to see pictures of family and friends and know that you don't have that.  It's even  harder to see all the races, runs, vacations, buying things (Sparkle Skirts, shirts, shoes, etc) and know that you can't afford any of it!  That's why I feel the need to step back.  Last summer, I struggled with staying alive and beating cancer! While that was tough and I'm a survivor,  I feel that I need to take a step back and feel alive again in a different way.  I'm used to being alone and figuring life out as that is how my life has been but I'm struggling with the reality that I don't matter in this world and my own mortality.   I have to realize that I will always be alone and do it for me.  I need to work on my own goals of losing weight, feeling good about the direction of my life and figure out how to make a home for myself once again.  

So, if you don't see me, it's not that I don't care.  It's about realigning myself with me and taking care of myself.  Thanks as always for hanging in there with me!

Till next time and remember, my journey continues...If you can dream it, you can do it as Walt Disney said!