My Happiness Journey: February

One of my resolutions for the new year is to embark on a happiness journey. This doesn't mean I am unhappy, but instead I'd like to improve my current state of happiness. For the month of February, I am concentrating on Love: the basic, most fundamental of all emotions.

Here's how I have decided to show some lovin':

• By hugging, smiling, and kissing more: all of these establish a sense of attachment to people we care about. 
• By sending sweet messages just because: a note of encouragement goes a long way. 
• By doing things for others because I want to, and not for recognition
• By supporting other peoples' accomplishments
• By reaching out to strangers and sharing the "happiness" bug.

A few days ago, I downloaded Happier, one of the coolest apps I have seen in awhile. Via this application, you can share your happy moments with a positive community and send virtual smiles. It might sound cheesy, but reading and seeing what makes other people happy, instantly puts cheer in my life. 

Happiness is definitely contagious. :) 

Marathon Recap (Better late than Never)

Dubai Marathon #2 is in the books. If I can recap this race in one word; it would be...crappy! The best part (and maybe the only good thing) of the race was the ending. Crossing the finish line seemed impossible for the majority of the race. I thought about quitting at every mile post...every single one of them! I'm not sure what kept me motivated. Was it sheer determination, perseverance, or simply bold stubbornness?  Definitely the latter. Instead of going over all the negative hurdles I encountered, I'd like to share the highlights of the race.

Highlight #1: Going to the race with Lucero (she ran the 10K) made for a memorable morning.  Before our races began, we hung out with thousands of other runners and cheered each other on.  Bottom line, I love running with my daughter and knowing she loves it as much as I do, makes my heart smile.

Highlight #2: I chose the perfect running gear for race day! I can't say enough good things about Lululemon's pace setter skirt; except that I need one in every color!


Highlight #3: The view and spectators were absolutely grand this year! Hundreds of people lined up the streets lending support in many ways. My favorite were the guys/gals giving out fresh fruit at mile 18. Plus, running alongside the Burj Al Arab made for beautiful scenery.

Highlight #4: At mile 20 or so, when I contemplated getting on a taxi and heading home, I paired up with a fellow runner. I didn't get her name nor do I remember her bib number. But I'd like to consider her my running angel. She could sense I was in pain and asked if I was ok. I nodded "yes" and decided to dig deep and follow through. She stayed with me for the remainder of the race, making sure I wouldn't give up. For her, I will always be grateful.

Highlight #5: The medal. This year's bling far exceeds last year's...by a long shot.

Baby Steps

Not being able to run has been such a humbling experience. Doing what you love is a privilege and should be treated that way. I'm itching to get back on track, but I am also making sure I am completely healed before I venture out on my first run.

Last night I laced up my running shoes for the first time in over five weeks. It felt so good! I dusted off my treadmill and decided to go for a walk. At the pace I was going, it felt more like crawling than walking, but I'll take what I can get. I have to start somewhere, right? I walked on a minimal 2% incline for a total of 65 minutes (distance was 5K).

During my walk, I imagined myself being healthy and what it will feel like once I am running again. To help pass the time, I read some pretty interesting articles featured in May's Women's Health magazine. Not only was I exercising and feeling good, but I was also learning a great deal. For instance, did you know you should marinate your flank steak after it's cooked instead of before?? Yeah, I didn't either. I'm definitely trying that tonight!

I know it's only a matter of time before I am back to my usual self. For now, I will continue to go on long leisurely walks. Baby steps!

Six Weeks of What?

I miss: the sweat in my eyes, cramps in my legs, wind in my hair, tangled earbud chords, but most importantly I miss running.

The last time I ran was exactly 22 days ago (but who's counting?!). As per doctor's orders, I must remain sedentary for at least 3 more weeks. That makes 6 weeks of absolutely no running, no exercise, nothing, nada, zilch!

So, what am I doing to pass the time? I have become a tv watching addict...thank you, itunes! I have caught up on some of the tv shows I've been wanting to watch for ages: Sons of Anarchy (currently on season 5), Carrie Diaries, Big Bang Theory (I love you Sheldon!!), and Mad Men. Next on my list: Dexter, The Americans, and Scandal--please, no spoilers!

Books and magazines are also helping me pass the time and keeping me sane. Runner's World and Women's Running Magazine are awesome on the iPad, plus I get to live vicariously through all those lucky people training and racing. "Finding Ultra" by Rich Roll is a good read so far; definitely keeping me motivated.

Lastly, I am taking this time to rest and fully appreciate the small things in life. A cup of hot tea goes a long way when it's prepared by the people you love (Thank you Lucero, you make the best tea ever)!

Here's to another 3 weeks of doing absolutely nothing...

Weekend Wrap-Up

For the past few months, every weekend has been busy and hectic. From football games to practices, it seemed every minute was accounted for. This weekend was a breath of fresh air.

Friday afternoon, we went to Safa Park (one of the oldest parks in Dubai). Loads of people had the same idea. Families were cooking out (mmm, I love the smell of BBQ), others were playing soccer, and then there were some that were sunbathing. I don't know why we don't go to the park more often!! I had such a wonderful time people watching, enjoying the breeze, and admiring all the kids that showed up for a game of touch football. After 3 hours at the park, we headed to Mercato Mall for some dinner. We went to Paul Cafe, one of our favorite restaurants in dubai!  I had my usual chicken breast with avocado sandwich, a salad, and Mint Lemonade (best lemonade EVER!). But our night got even better. As we were about to order dessert, a friend of mine called and invited us over for some Apple crumble, ice cream and Indian coffee. There's no way I could ever turn down such a treat. It was delicious.

On Saturday, we went to Shake Shack for lunch. It was Jerry's turn to choose a restaurant and 9 out of 10 ten times, he will choose a burger and shake. I think I was still full from the previous day because I took a few bites of the burger before giving up. For dessert, we had an iced coffee from Starbucks and hung out at the bookstore. It's times like these that remind me of home and how much I miss it. Before leaving, Isaiah picked out some art supplies: paints, color pencils, brushes, and stock paper. He's been in an artistic mood lately. The rest of the evening was peaceful and quiet.

Sunday was an absolute dream! The weather outside reminded me of a cold wintry day. It rained most of the day, the sun didn't come out once, and we stayed indoors in our pjs all day long! The kids painted for hours on end while I listened to music and read some magazines. We had chicken shwarmas for lunch and dinner. I ended my weekend with an 8 mile run (hooray for pain-free runs!!) on the treadmill.

I'm including some of Isaiah's drawings from this weekend, since I didn't take pictures of any of the food we ate or the places we went. Hope you enjoy!