Ok…so there are a few things I wasn’t expecting this morning.

I wasn’t expecting 38 degrees when I woke up to run 4 miles. I also wasn’t expecting to wear many more clothes than i normally do when i run, and i wasn’t expecting that with the cold my underwear would slip while I was running…but don’t worry, by mile 1 it had settled nicely and wouldn’t present a problem for the rest of the race. (I just thought you’d all like to know about that.)

I woke up nervous. Silly…nervous??? I “run.” Why should this run make me any more nervous than any other…perhaps could it be because there were A LOT of other people that were going to be running with me…probably much faster than me…probably passing me… After all, it should just be another nice 4 mile jog.  I tried to calm myself down on the drive there with a little RENT soundtrack. Pretty much worked until I stepped out of the van, dressed for winter and was still cold. It just got colder as the layers started coming off.

I’d love to tell you that I’m a good enough runner to take my camera with me…I’m not.

I’d love to tell you that I even thought about taking it with me this morning so i’d have it at the end…I didn’t.

But Beth did!

I’d love to tell you that I ran the whole thing…so I will. Ran it. Ran it. Ran it.

I even ran it in the time I wanted. I was just aiming under 50:00.

Time says 49:17.

I’m just proud of myself…doing something I really never thought I’d do.

And…here is my children’s favorite part of the race…enjoying the ding dongs they had at the end! We decided it was too cold for them to join me out there at the finish line…so I brought a little race home to them. I think they think exercising and cake go together now. Maybe they should.

I realized though that I’ve been depriving my boy of the joy of ding dongs…the look on his face reminds me that I wasn’t the only one with a first today…Mom = first race, Ev = first ding dong.

Ahhh…more to come…for both of us, I’m sure.

So, its no secret to those that know me that I really don’t like to spend money…

So, accomplishing my 5K goal this summer means not only getting my body in shape to do it, but also spending money to register too…not to mention the monthly gym fee (which I did opt for, so we could run while it was still icky outside), new running capris (because the other ones were falling down…not something you want), and good shoes…which of course, you cannot run without, unless you are in to that whole running barefoot idea.

I know how good of an idea this is…how good it is for my body, and how much better I feel (despite the aching joints in my hips which make me walk like I’m 80 somedays…don’t worry mom, the chiropractor AND my doctor tell me I’ll be just fine). I also know how proud I am of myself (and of my running partner) for accomplishing as much as I have so far. I’m also proud that when I went for my physical last week, I actually wanted to know what the scale had to say and how that compared to last time I was there. It was good news…not jump up and down good, but a small fist pump and a “yes” good.

I watched my husband run a mile yesterday knowing that I could do the same thing…that is a feeling I like.

Anyway…the point….

I mailed it. There’s no turning back now. I have a feeling its the first of a few “race” registrations I’ll have in my summer.

And my piece of advice for the day…

Sometimes its worth everything it takes to get there…get out there and do it. Whatever it is!

So, in  my last post…I was saying how i needed to step it up on New Year’s Resolution #2…

well, today I did.

The back story:

About two weeks ago, I was shopping with the fam and got a call on my cell phone. I answer to find out its my dentists office trying to reschedule an appointment for the whole family. The dentist that owned the business had retired, and the other dentist (whom we’d seen most often) had left to start his own practice, and the new owners weren’t going to offer late hours anymore.

This was the first I’d heard of any of this, so I told her I was going to have to call her back on Monday of the following week after I got in front of my planner and figured it out. What I really meant was that I’d get back to her to cancel my appointment after I found my dentist.

I am a librarian, I find things…its what I do.

Determined…i searched the internet, to no avail. So, I started calling anyone i could think of. (I really like my dentist, can you tell…but more importantly, my daughter likes our dentist!)

I called Cedar Falls Community Main Street, I called the City of Cedar Falls, I called the Greater Cedar Valley Chamber. No one had any information. I did happen to get ahold of one person at the Chamber that told me he was her dentist too, and she had a friend who knew his family and if she found out any information, she’d call me. I gave her my number, but didn’t really think I’d hear from her…after all…how many times have we all heard “I have a friend, who knows a guy, who….”

BUT…today she called.

Emphasizing why I should have faith in people, and showing what good customer service is all about!

I spent my afternoon on the phone once again…making appointments, canceling appointments and having records transferred, and making sure Casey from the Chamber knows that she did a great thing!

So, you know those resolutions we made at the beginning of the year?  Its time to officially check in and see how they’re coming.

Remember my resolutions??

1) I resolve to get in better shape this year. Notice…i did not say I resolve to lose X amount of weight. If that comes with it, great…but if not, I still expect that my heart health will thank me for exercising more this year than I ever have. I also hope to enter a 5K this summer…walking, or running, i don’t care which

and

2) I resolve to notice (and recognize) good customer service instead of just complaining about bad.

Lets start with the one I’ve been hitting pretty hard.

Number 1.

Since the beginning of the new year, I’ve worked out 29 times. Thats 29/56 days. That’s not too terrible. Roughly an average of every other day.

Workouts are at least a half an hour with my heart rate up. More if time allows.

My friend Stacey and I joined one of the local gyms together, and have started the couch to 5K running program, and we’re just happy to admit that it hasn’t killed us yet. Today starts week 2 of the program. Today is day 30 that I workout in the new year!

We have chosen a 5K (actually a 4 mile course). The “Run Like a Mother” on Mother’s Day weekend in May. Like I said, running or walking, I don’t care which. It is going to happen!

The only thing that i’ve been frustrated with is my failing body. I have a knee which has been hurting and an ankle and hip that hurt only after I run. Hoping this doesn’t hinder my progress.

As for Number 2.

I still have high expectations of myself for this one. I just need to kick it up a notch.

I don’t know if its because I haven’t been anywhere this year…or because I just haven’t made an effort to notice, or because the customer service I’ve been given just sucks, but I haven’t been on top of my game on this one.

I resolve to do better.

Good thing I only made two resolutions!

Keeping yourself accountable is hard…you’re keeping me accountable.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about New Year’s resolutions…how we aim to better ourselves in the new year…

It isn’t that I haven’t thought about them in years previous to this one…its just that this year, i thought about them a little more.

I think i’ve come up with something attainable this year…not the standard “i’m going to lose X amount of weight” or “i’m going to enjoy every minute with my children”.  Although good goals to have, they never quite seem to happen, and then leave me disappointed come December 31.

Here is my list this year…and why…I hope its inspiring.

1) I resolve to get in better shape this year. Notice…i did not say I resolve to lose X amount of weight. If that comes with it, great…but if not, I still expect that my heart health will thank me for exercising more this year than I ever have. I also hope to enter a 5K this summer…walking, or running, i don’t care which…

and

2) I resolve to notice (and recognize) good customer service instead of just complaining about bad.

At work, we’ve been dealing with customer service issues…and how to be better at our very public jobs. And in the recent past, I have had two exemplary customer service interactions that i have appreciated. I noticed, and recognized, both of these…and know I made a difference in someone’s day because I did.

Let me tell you one story…I was in an outlet mall last week, and Ellie was pretending she was trying on clothes, right alongside daddy. When it was our turn to pay, she got right up there, put her imaginary clothes on the counter, and told the checker that these were her clothes and she wanted to pay for them. The checker smiled and said to her how beautiful her clothes were. I thought it was nice…but didn’t think much more of it until after she had put my clothes in a bag and handed them to me and then did the exact same thing with Ellie’s pretend clothing. I was impressed with her ability to smile and indulge a three-year-old’s shopping trip. What great customer service. I only wish she had a name tag on so i could have recognized her service to her boss, instead of just thanking her.

So, now that I’ve indulged you with my list…

What do you resolve this year?