My Heart is Full

I'm am completely overwhelmed with emotion.  My brother winning homecoming king really meant so much to him and our family and now this wonderful article has been written about him.  Everytime I read it, it brings me to tears.  It's been blowing up on facebook and I just had to share this with everyone.

And then Tom’s name was announced. He was king, which is how the students have viewed him for years, a member of high school royalty. He bounded off the platform in dark suit and sneakers, smiling and clapping. Somewhere in the stands, Diana and Mike Nowak drowned in a puddle of tears.

The king joined his queen. A white sash with “Homecoming King 2012” was placed on him. While the student body went wild, the new king stood posture perfect and soaked it all in.

Behind him on the platform, two fellow members of the court, football players Jarrett Reinhard and Anthony Williams, were celebrating Tom’s coronation as though they’d just won the state championship.

“What those students did for Tom shows the level of selflessness they have,” Mike Nowak said. “At this point, they probably don’t really appreciate what an honor they gave to him. Maybe when they get older and have children of their own they’ll truly understand.”

Please check out the entire article and watch the video!  And I dare you not to get choked up.

Super Random

- Tomorrow is Friday, thank God!

- I've been battling a cold for over a week now.  I don't get sick very often and usually it doesn't last long, but this time sucks and Dave is sick too.  Guess 2 weekends of wedding partying in a row will do that to ya.

- I haven't run in two weeks.  Partly due to sickness, partly due to laziness.  Not really the greatest way to train for a race.  What happened to the super motivated girl from the spring?  I guess it's safe to say I'm in a fitness rut.  I skipped out on basically the whole last month of my yoga/zumba Groupon (even though I liked the classes), I haven't been doing my little better than nothing (BTN) livingroom workouts, and my race training hasn't been where I want it.  I really need to turn over a new leaf and find some new fitness goals.  Perhaps it's time for another push up challenge?

- I've been really trying to eat clean, specifically eating whole foods and avoiding grains and sugar.  But I've recently been craving a pumpkin roll... you know, with the cream cheese frosting?  I seriously want to take one to the face.

- My cheerleaders have a competition this weekend in Philly.  One squad performs at 8:30 am... the other squad from our organization performs at 4:30 pm.  The bus leaves at 5:30 am and I won't get home until after dinner.  Longest.day.ever.

- Super pumped about our Halloween costumes.  Dave and I need to spend some time crafting, but we've got all the supplies and I think everything is going to turn out pretty awesome.  We don't have any parties until Turduckaween (Turducken Day aka Friends Thanksgiving + Halloween all in one) next weekend, but I think we'll be test driving our costumes at Chipotle on Wednesday since they are doing $2 Booritos for anyone in costume after 4 pm!

Do you have any fun Halloween plans?

10K Training: Weeks 5, 6, & 7

Week 5:
- Monday - 2.47 mi around Souderton, 26:10
- Tuesday - 2 mi hike with Puddin
- Sunday - 9 holes of golf
- Total Mileage = 2.47 mi

Week 6:
- Monday - 4.53 mi with Dave, 47:32
- Tuesday - BTN arms
- Wednesday - BTN abs
- Total Mileage = 4.52 mi

Week 7:
- Monday - 3.88 mi with Dave, 41:35
- Tuesday - BTN arms
- Thursday - 5.00 mi solo run, 47:31 (9:30 ave pace!)
- Total Mileage = 8.88 mi

What can I say, my training has been lackluster, as is my blogging schedule.  I don't know why I'm finding it so hard to commit to my runs.  When I trained for my half, it wasn't even a question of whether I'd fit my runs in or not.  So what's different this time around?

The time of year - I am significantly more busy in the fall than I am in the spring, especially this year with both of the weddings.  I have cheerleading twice a week, and honestly it's really hard to want to run out the door as soon as I get to my parents' house to squeeze in a run before I scarf down dinner and run off to practice.  Not only does it make me feel like a rushed, crazy person, but I have to fight the desire to spend that hour and a half catching up with my family.

Knowing I have it in me - When I started training for the half, I was convinced that I had lost my mind.  13.1 miles seemed impossible and I really couldn't believe that I was going to do all those long runs to prepare.  This time around, I have way more confidence.  I know I can run 6.2 miles.  Sure I'm not at the same level I was in May, but even if I have to take some quick walking breaks, I know I can complete my goal.

Maybe I need to set my goal higher.  Could I push myself and set a time goal to beat?  Sure.  But right now I'm simply trying to find a balance.  Between nurturing my relationships, coaching cheerleading, preparing healthy meals, trying to stay on top of my ever growing pile of laundry, and everything else in my life, sometimes running once a week is plenty.

On a side note, let's take a moment to celebrate my brother, Thomas Nowak, Souderton High School's 2012 Homecoming King!

Seriously amazing.

How do you balance everything you have going on?

And Photo Dump, Go!

Birthday surprises, bachelorettes, beach trips, weddings, etc.

How's your fall going?  Can you believe it's October?!