So, last week I decided I wanted to do a virtual race to give myself a more concrete running goal to work toward. In my search, I found that RunTheEdge.com has the Un-Canceled Project. This project gives me the ability to run as many virtual races as I want between now and June 21 for free. So what did I do? I did what any normal crazy person would do … I signed up for a 5k, 8k, and 10k per week for the next five weeks.

I consider it crazy because I have only started running 5ks the past couple of weeks. However, I feel the need for a challenge and hello, it’s free. As the daughter of a frugal mother, I have a hard time turning away free things. Also, the opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone is a plus.

Now, I won’t be running these races on my own. I will have my faithful running companion with me every time. Who is my faithful running companion, you ask? That would be Jesus. He is not only my faithful running companion, but He is my overall life companion. When the going gets tough, I pray to Him. When life is easy, I praise Him. At all times, I focus on Jesus and remember all that He has done for me and all that He is to me.

So, it is in great faith that I have chosen to run the race that God has put before me. My goal with these races is simply to finish.

What have you done or planned to do that seems a bit crazy?

Recently I have wanted to meet some goals, e.g., lose 30 lbs. and gain more muscle, increase the visibility/monetize my blog, and become a paid writer. I realize these are three huge goals, but they have been weighing heavy on my mind lately.

Losing weight and gaining muscle is for no one other than myself. I am not so vain that I care about what others think of me. I want to lose weight to have more energy to do what I enjoy, e.g., being active with my family and running. I want to gain muscle so that I can reduce my back pain, plus a well-toned body does look nice. Running is something I have enjoyed doing over the past few years, but I have never been consistent with it due to pain issues or life getting in the way. I began following Jill Angie on her podcast Not Your Average Runner and found that I don’t have to be skinny or a super athlete to run. I simply have to get out there and run. Yesterday, I ran a 5k at home while watching Heartland on Netflix. I do find that running outside takes more effort and I want to run outside more. However, I have children at home that I am not ready to leave alone while I go for a run.

Increasing the visibility/monetizing my blog is so that I can make extra money for our family to help put us in a better place financially. I don’t just write to get my thoughts out but to share them with the world to help and encourage others. I have always enjoyed journaling because it helps me destress by getting my thoughts out on paper. Blogging lets others in on my innermost thoughts. This can be scary at times as I don’t want others judging me. However, it is cathartic just to get the thoughts out.

I want to become a paid writer to help our family out financially and to pursue a life-long goal of becoming a writer. When I first went to college at Sam Houston State University I wanted to become a journalist. However, I chose interior design instead. While I do like to decorate and I feel I am good at it, interior design is not my passion. Writing is. Last year, I pursued becoming a paid writer and actually made $10 for an article I wrote. It was a start that stopped shortly after because I allowed life to get in the way of my writing. I feel that now is a perfect time for me to get back to focusing on becoming a paid writer. I would love any help I can get with this pursuit.