Just get out the door and leave the excuses behind you

For most people, canceling plans or skipping a workout can provide a feeling of delight and joy.  Often, I have experienced it is short lived, maybe a few hours or the day.  But when it comes to workouts, unless I am feeling that sick or injured, I feel regret after the fact.  And in the …

Justice for closure

Harder than any term paper, I had to write a letter to a judge regarding my father's accident.  Although we were able to settle the civil case out of court (to all of our relief) we now need to get through the criminal case/charges is the against the driver. Each of us had the opportunity …

Grief does not have an expiration date

"Grief is like the ocean, it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing.  Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming.  All we can do is learn to swim." Vicki Harrison I was recently at a wake for a family friend who lost their husband/father.  Three years ago I was where they were and …

Do more, not less in 2017

It's the time again, a new year is upon us.  We set new goals and resolutions for the upcoming year. And often they are about what we want to do less of or change from the last year.   What bad habit are we going to quit? What are we going to stop doing?  What …

Leave what’s heavy behind

As 2016 comes to and end, many of us start to think about what are we going to do differently in 2017.  We set resolutions to try and change/improve in the new year.  We reflect on the past year. I am often inspired or empowered by songs.  I find healing, comfort, and even guidance in …

Some days…

Another anniversary has passed and I find myself once again reflecting on how much has happened over the past year.  Not only have I bought a condo but rescued a new furry friend!  My mother sold our childhood home and my sister is pregnant with her third child. All this has been achieved, unfortunately/surprisingly without …

It’s Personal.

The theme for this year's Cellcom Green Bay Marathon & Half-Marathon couldn't have hit home harder for not only me but my mom. Everyone runs with a purpose, whether they are self-aware of it or not.  And the purpose can change along the life of a runner.   A purpose could be to reach a new …

Five Tips to Beat the Race Day Jitters

It's half-marathon eve 🙂 and my usual race jitters are here!  One thing I learned early one from my dad, is the importance of a race day routine, which actually starts the day before.  Many are aware of tapering your training the week before and having a good pasta meal the night before, but there …

Physical vs. Mental Work-Outs

Yesterday, I went out for over a 7 mile run and it got me thinking about how work-outs either train you physically or mentally. Out on my route, I thought back to when I trained with my dad for my first marathon.  It started out as just running with a goal in mind.  Then I …

Making promises, not resolutions

(Written on Feb 11th, 2016) Today at yoga, the instructor mentioned surrendering and it made me think of my 2016 promise to myself. That instead of resolutions that often are forgotten by March, I would instead make a promise.  In 2016, I promise to make positive life changes each and everyday and more importantly, make …

The thrill of a first race

This past Sunday I ran the Shamrock Shuffle for the third or fourth time, but this race meant more to me.  At the start line with me, was a fellow coworker running her very first race!  In the past few weeks, I had started sharing my tidbits on running and training.  All things of course, …

The day that changed it all

Two years ago, my life changed forever.  My family lost a loving husband and father in a tragic car accident.  I lost my best friend, mentor and coach. And something like this you can't prepare for.   There was no good-byes.  There wasn't one last hug.  One minute we have him and the next, he is …

Life is precious

Its a hard lesson but life just comes around once for each of us.  And unfortunately, in some cases it takes a tragic event for us to realize that.  I thought I had that in high school, and that has shaped my  life.  However, there is nothing that can compare to losing your father, your …

Strength

If only If only I could bottle up one last hug. If only I could take one last run with you. If only I knew our last good bye was truly our last. I never saw a life without you And now I live each day missing you You are my wings, looking down And …

Generosity

My father gave his whole life.  I truly believe he was one of most selfless   people I have known.  And he gave in so many different ways. Its through his actions I saw how far, even the smallest, acts of kindness and generosity can go. I can recall from an early age, my father …

Love

When I set out to do a blog-a-day this week I knew I had enough material, as my father taught me so much during his life.  But it is hard to summarize things into just a blog.  I thought about it all day.  What was the most important thing he instilled in me..... and love …

A week of reflection

As Friday marks 2 years since losing my father, I have decided that for the next 5 day I will reflect on all things dad!  Each day, I will share memories and experiences that celebrate the wonderful and selfless life he lived. It is still unbelievable to think that it happened 2 years ago.  Some …

“Save it for a rainy day”

It is okay to enjoy a moment or an experience without grief coming over you

Inspirations in unsuspecting places

Everything happens for a reason and encounters come with a purpose, no matter how small Many of my blogs come from thoughts running through my head, well, while running.  Other times I find inspiration from songs, soothing I read or memories from my dad.  This time, my inspiration came from an unexpected place, my Über …

The power of letting go

Letting go can be one of the hardest things to do, no matter the circumstance. In an unsuspecting place, I found inspiring words towards letting go. In hopes to get motivation for my running and connect with my father, I started reading Chris Lear's "Running with the Buffaloes" a few weeks ago.  But on a …

Running just to run

Slightly counter-intuitive to the mission of Love for Laces, running with a purpose, today I did just the opposite.  I went out with no mileage in mind, no time, no route.  I went running just to run. I think too many times I set expectations for my runs that can create the risk for  disappointment …

My Week of Yoga

Two weeks ago, I took the opportunity to do a free week of yoga as a new client to CorePower Yoga. Although I have dabbled with yoga in the past, I went into last week with a different mindset.  I knew my body would benefit from the practice but my mind and soul needed it …

A Date With My Dad!

Today, I did something I haven't done before.....I took myself out on a date with my dad.  Not sure where the idea came from but I think I just wanted to feel closer to my dad. Recently, I have been missing him more and struggling with not having him as my person.  I miss having …

What excuse have gotten in the way of your running?

"I don't have time" or "I'm too tired" are the excuses that I have been telling myself instead of running.  As I am not in the shape I was a few years ago, I often get frustrated that my runs don't go the way they used to be.  However, last week, I finally got back …

Running with “The Dahl”

Yesterday marked yet another hard day for my family and I, the annual Russell B. Dahl Alumni Meet and Varsity Time Trail at Fenton High School.  The race was first known as the "Sometimes Annual Alumni Meet and Varsity Time Trial" started in 1974, just after my dad graduated from Fenton.  Last year, they renamed …