I’m a creature of habit.  If I like something, I like it and I don’t want to change.  This is probably the reason I have the same meals almost every single day consistently (#noshame).  This also means that it isn’t easy for me to change up my routine.  Enter tapering for my half.

I am trying to take it easy this week, which most people would think sounds like a dream, but I do not.  I am a slowly recovering chronic over-exerciser and I don’t care who knows it.  It’s a horrible habit to be honest, but I often get really wrapped up at the gym and end up spending way more time than I probably should.  So slowing down should be a very good thing for me albeit a very hard thing.

I stumbled upon this quote the other day and it sums up my current feelings on everything.

I have been stretching myself outside of my comfort zone a lot lately and, to be honest, I’m pretty dang proud of myself.  As I said before, I love patterns.  I love being organized and everything being the same, but I am quickly learning that it’s okay to sometimes break the monotony.

Tapering for this half is going alright if you ask me.  Great?  Not exactly, but I’ll give it an alright.  Monday was a 5 mile run and some leg work and today was some ellipticalling and an arm bonanza.  Tomorrow, I’m planning for a 4 mile run but we’ll see.  I need to dial it down and I get that, but it’s a lot easier said than done.

Running the half is a whole nother enchilada when we talk about getting out of my comfort zone.  There aren’t that many times in my life that I’ve said to myself “I’m planning on doing this thing that’s really hard in three months, I’m going to train for it, but who knows how it will go”.  The uncertainty is certainly unsettling, but I’ll never grow if I don’t try.

This weekend was a testament of the great things getting out of your comfort zone can achieve though.  I drove into Philly to meet up with some of my Instagram babes to celebrate one of their birthdays and it was honestly one of the best times I’ve had in awhile.  I’ve said it before, but as crazy as meeting up with a bunch of girls that you met off the internet sounds, it’s completely amazing.

Each one is funnier and sweeter than the next and I laughed until I fell over multiple times which is an amazing feeling.  But, I wouldn’t have met a single one of these crazy ladies if I didn’t hop in my car and drive a half hour to a random sports center on a Sunday morning in November.  I broke out of my habit and did something unexpected and it worked out amazingly.

Also, I just wanted to let y’all know that I have added a section on my site for online customized personal training sessions.  I have been working with a couple clients already and they’re seeing amazing progress in just a couple of months (including my very own father who ran his first 8:15 mile the other day!  Go Papa J!).  All the info is in the “Customized Personal Training” tab, so check it out.

And lastly, a picture of Boo you all have been waiting for.  In case you forgot, I live on a farm and there’s a little lake nearby that we walk around sometimes.  Well, this weekend, Boo met her match in the form of a snapping turtle.  She could not grasp what this thing was in front of her and just kept inching closer and closer while tilting her head side to side.

-sj