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Monday, April 25, 2011

*ISFP Member Story of the Day~~Rachelle Carter Edmund*

Matt & I had the pleasure of Rachelle finding us, and even though we have never met in person, we love her to death and love her vim & vigor.  She reminds us of US!!  LOL  We look forward to Vegas in December and cannot wait to meet for REAL!  Rachelle, you have done an amazing job of finding the fire within you and keeping it lit.  We can only say THANK YOU for your kind words and we hope to continue adding fuel to that fire on a daily basis!

Cheers,
Wendy & Matt
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Background..I never had to "work out" and was thin most of my teens and 20's. Back then, the teenage metabolism, smoking, and a high stress job kept the weight off. Then came the eating disorder ..didn't do it on purpose just didn't eat enough. (that's another rant we've had). Thin was the most important thing..I always thought "thin=healthy" no matter how you got there...oh how terribly wrong I was!!!

Fast forward, I got married to the love of my life in 1999 and had the luxury of becoming a stay at home mom and stay at home I did. And ate.. A lot.. without even realizing it.

Anyway. The "before" picture is from our family vacation in March of  2009. When I looked at and the others from that trip, it hit me...I was fat. I had completely let myself go..there is no sugar coating it or excuses.  I will never forget thinking ..omg that's me? About a week after I got the nerve up to weigh myself and seeing 1..7..8. (Hence, I don't think a scale is really bad if you are using it for the right reasons and not obsessing!)

I spent most of the next summer feeling overwhelmed, sorry for myself, whaaa whaaaing about it. I did begin walking a little and jogging to "prepare" for the Bix 7 (7 mile all hills run) at the end of July. I felt pretty awful before, during and after but I finished. It was a feeling of accomplishment. The entire family finished. I felt "part of something" ...I spent the rest of the summer with it in the back of my mind. I wanted to change but didn't want to do something everyone else was doing.


Wandering the mall one day I came across a phone number for "Tae Cardio Kickboxing Classes". I carried the number around for a week before I got up the nerve to call. I found out there were indeed classes ...and they were in the next town and not at the mall 30+ miles away! What luck! lol. AND there was a class that night! I was scared to death. I sucked it up with giving myself the now or never speech and showed up. How ironic that the instructor that evening was Kelly Morrison (the owner) and no one else showed up that night. She made me feel right at home and treated me as a friend from the very first moment. It was awkward and hard and I thought I was going to die.. I will never forget that she said " do you want to keep going when the hour was up and something made me still say "YES!" So we did. Walking to my car, I cried. I was drenched in sweat ...sore as hell and couldn't wait to go back the next morning. I still love it that much! I owe Kelly more than ever for being so kind and welcoming that night.I was so scared walking in...she gave me skills and killer workouts  that helped me get "me" back. I love her for that!!! I lost about 30lbs and now hover around 140-144...I don't use the scale often anymore. Inches are still coming off because I am still going down in jean sizes. But trust me Strong is the new skinny for me.  I walked in wanting to lose weight...I come back now because somewhere down the line the "weight" came off yes, but more important I feel strong. Physically AND mentally.

So! now I'm running and walking too. I found ISFP when there were what? 400 people? Wendy and Matt got me interested in the RNR VEGAS 1/2 in December. I started the self doubting and they quickly said "you can do it...you know you can!" Well, that was all it took. So now I am super super excited to not only finish another goal but meet these terrific people in person! Running my first 5k of the season next Saturday..ISFP will be the first place I check in after... If I can do this ...you can too!

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Sunday, April 24, 2011

*ISFP Member Story of the Day~~Denise Glover*

Denise, you have made us both laugh and cheer at the same time!!  60 pounds is a LOT of weight and we know you can, with drive & persistence, get to your goal!  Kudos for ridding yourself of the unhealthy!!  Keep us posted and thank you SO much for sharing with us your journey!!
Cheers,
Wendy & Matt

This picture was taken last year July..
After seeing this picture and a few others, I was amazed! I literally let my self go over the years, not watching what I was eating, didn't exercise at all!! Lunch and dinner was ordered everyday, from a variety of restaurants.. One day I got sick, the doctor told me my blood pressure was to high, that I would have to take medication. I ask the doctor is there anything I can do to lower it, she told me a healthy diet and exercise would help! I immediately went home cleaned out the fridge, got rid of a husband that called me fat all the time.. And so my journey began! Still have about 40 to 50 more pounds to go.. I started at 294 and now I'm 234.

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Another before picture
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We look forward to the AFTER pics and your updates as you progress!!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

*ISFP Member Story of the Day~~Kristy Fassio*

Matt & I want to say a HUGE wow!  Kristy, your story is phenomenal and inspiring!  Reading your story just got us all fired up..the kind of "we can do anything" feeling overtook us!  You can do anything you set your mind to...you are living proof!!

Cheers, Wendy & Matt

Here is Kristy's Story:
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I never, ever remember NOT being overweight. Food was my  medication, my comfort, and my friend. So it was no wonder that I spent all of my teens nearing 200 pounds and my 20s well over it. I didn't let it get too in the way of life, but seriously, you can't weigh that much and be able to do everything. I hated working out, although I did it sporadically just because I thought I should. I would lose a few pounds here and there, but nothing stayed off. I managed to lose about 60 pounds before my wedding, but two pregnancies later and I was at 283 pounds.

Then I had an epiphany. I was making organic, home made baby food for my daughter, and I realized that I was doing for her what I had never done for myself. I wouldn't dream of giving my child toxic crap, so why was it ok for me? I knew something needed to change.

That's when fate stepped in. I was out driving with my then 3.5 month old when I drove by a mall. They were having a baby fair, I had time to kill, so we went in. There, I ran into a spunky red head who owned a local Stroller Strides franchise. I had heard of it and wanted to try. She said she was opening one the next day. I took a flier, and spent the evening trying to talk myself into going. I succeeded. The next morning I packed up myself, baby, and a stroller, and ventured out. I haven't looked back since. Those three days a week saved me! The workouts were fun, I enjoyed being outside, and I loved working out with my daughter. I managed to lose the 20 pounds I'd put on since having the baby, and wham, was pregnant again. This time, instead of stopping workouts and putting on 60 pounds, I continued Stroller Strides and only put on 30. Labor was even easier.

But now, with two kids, and the scale nearing 300, bigger changes had to be made. 3 days a week wasn't going to cut it, and serious diet changes had to be made. I starting exploring raw food, whole food, eating clean. I dug deep to figure out why my relationship with food was so wonky, and started taking baby steps to fix the issues. After losing about 50 pounds, the owner of the Stroller Strides franchise approached me and said she was selling - I jumped and the chance and bought it! Of course, now I really had to walk the walk! I had made big changes, but no one wants to be trained by someone who still weighs over 200 pounds!

It was at this point that I went to the national Stroller Strides conference. There, huffing and puffing through a workout, one of the instructors ran with me, encouraging me the whole way. I tried to tell her that I just wasn't a runner, and she laughed at me. "You look like you're running to me! I never want to hear that again!"  After the conference, she contacted me about an online training program she was starting, and asked if I would like to work with her. I didn't think twice - I signed on that day and things really began to change. I was now working out HARD 6 days a week. I was adding miles to my runs and shaving off minutes. I was eating clean, eating nothing processed, cutting out alcohol, and the fat was melting off. Muscle starting poking through! Little by little, I started to look like someone who should be training people!

Fast forward to now. I'm down 104 pounds, teaching 5 fitness classes a week, just ran my first 12k, thinking about a triathlon, I'm expanding my business, and I'm getting my personal trainers certificate. I love what I do. I look back at who I was even 2 years ago and I no longer recognize that person. I'm a happier person, and better mom, and a better wife. I adore helping mommies find their inner strength! I still have weight to lose, but I know it will come off. I love being an inspiration to others, but most of all, I love being an inspiration to myself!!

In Health,

Kristy Fassio

Owner/Instructor Stroller Strides of Maple Valley and Kent
Body Back Pro
www.strollerstrides.net/maplevalley
Benson Hill Cooperative Preschool Registrar
Online Chair, Relay for Life of Black Diamond, Covington, Maple Valley

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Friday, April 22, 2011

*ISFP Member Story of the Day~~Brandi Porter*

This story is from a Brandi Porter...a fabulous girl that I (W) have the pleasure of knowing in person!  She proved that even when life throws you curves, you can still pick yourself off and get back in the game!  Great job Brandi!  Thank you for sharing with us!
Cheers,
Wendy & Matt
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I don't even really know where to start. I guess at the beginning. In High school I was always fit. I loved playing soccer, going for nightly walks with my mother, and on Tuesday and Thursdays doing turbo jam. It was my life. I've worked out with my mother since I was old enough to walk! It was second nature to me, I did it like a person eats breakfast every day!

It wasn't until college that something change. My whole life turned upside now when I found out my parents where separating. It came out of left field for me. Dealing with their divorce and being away from home for the first time to go to college hit me hard. I had in 3 months packed on more weight than I can still believe. About 40lbs. I still went to the gym but I ate when I was upset and I was upset because I ate. There was no stopping my eating habits and drinking every weekend just packed on more pounds. I ended up gaining another 20lbs. 60lbs in total in less than 6 months. It drove me mad.

I realized fast that working out wasn't making a difference and started to watch what I put in my body. Not right away of course. I  started slowly changing my eating habits, pre-packing meals, especially lunches and snacks! I didn't loose any weight at first but I started to feel a lot better. In the summer I decided to purchase Turbo Jam after a friends convincing me. I was hooked, that was in 2006. Since then I lost a total of 60lbs. I watch what I eat. But still 'treat' myself! I don't believe in cutting any type of food out of my diet I think you can have anything in moderation. I have been the same weight for over a year now! It took me a while but I am finally back to how I was before college and I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. I worked hard and it took a long time to get the weight off that I put on so easily! I now keep a daily food journal and work out about 5 days per week to maintain my fitness level. I am planning to run a marathon and hopefully soon plan to have two wicked guns!

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Monday, April 18, 2011

**WINNER**THE EXTREME BEAN MILEAGE CHALLENGE, THE SEQUEL

We just want to say THANK YOU to all who participated in this challenge this time around.  There were a LOT of you and a lot of impressive numbers!!  So let's get right to  it here...our winner, with an OUTSTANDING amount of clicks racked up for one month is LIANE VALK with 332 k!!  AMAZING!  Liane, send me an email and we can make arrangements to get your prize to you!!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Cheers,
Wendy & Matt




Thursday, April 14, 2011

Gingerbread Apple Spice Cake Baked Oatmeal with Toffee Bits

Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dry oats
1/8 t. baking powder
a sprinkle of cinnamon
a sprinkle of ginger
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup water1 t. vanilla extract
2 T. DaVinci sugar-free Gingerbread syrup
1 Tablespoon Skor Bits

Mix dry ingredients together.  Stir in wet ingredients.  Pour into sprayed baking dish.  Top with Toffee bits.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Let cool for 15 min. before eating. 



Calories:  286
Carbs:  48 grams
Fat:  8 grams

Protein: 10 grams

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Monday, April 11, 2011

*ISFP Member of the Story of the Day~~Gale Compton**

Gale has a fabulous story of determination and a will to change and succeed!  I LOVED her story and I am sure you will too!  You are one sexy chica!!

She also has a great Facebook page called Fit Fabulous Forever.  So go on over a give a nice quick check on the "LIKE" button!  Here is her page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/fitfabulousforever


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Creator of Fit Fabulous Forever, Gale Compton understands–all too well–the struggles others face with food addictions, finding time for exercise and unwanted weight gain. Like many adults and teens…fad diets, sporadic exercise and stress plagued Gale for most of her life. She was aware that her diet of fast foods, diet sodas and sweets, had a negative effect on her overall health, but felt too overwhelmed to permanently modify her lifestyle and continually battled with a lack of discipline and motivation.
Several years ago, her struggles took on a whole new meaning. Gale was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time in less than a year. She was terrified of the unknown and began to experience severe bouts of anxiety. Gale was in the fight of her life. The more she tried to overcome her feelings of anxiety, the more pronounced they became.
One afternoon–while feeling especially anxious–she made a decision that would change her life forever. She grabbed a pen and paper and began jotting down goals and steps to create a plan that would, once and for all, put her on the road to fitness and good health.
She learned how to eat clean, which meant eliminating processed foods, refined sugars, and white flour to name a few. She joined a local gym and began working out six days a week. And if that wasn’t enough, she started training for her first half-marathon. Never before had she experienced such feelings of empowerment. She was finally taking charge of her life.
In a relatively short time, Gale has transformed her life from an unhealthy, out-of-shape, junk food junkie, to a lover of clean eating and fitness. Gale will be turning 54 in April 2011 and has an infinite amount of enthusiasm for getting involved in life. She is now a Certified Fitness Trainer, continues to run half marathons, strength trains six days a week, and has a passion for motivating and inspiring others to take charge of their lives.
Gale doesn’t believe in temporary fixes when it comes to eating and exercise. Only by creating a lifestyle of clean eating, cardiovascular exercise, meditative activities and strength training, can we achieve a lifetime of good health and fitness. Over the last three years, Gale has proven that age and fitness level have no relationship when it comes to a desire for change.
Make that change!

German Chocolate Cake Baked Oatmeal

Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dry oats
1 cup water
1/8 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla extract
2 T. DaVinci sugar-free Caramel syrup
1/2 T. toasted unsweetened coconut (I used Organic large chipped coconut)

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
3 pecan halves, chopped in bits
1/2 Tablespoon mini chocolate chips


Calories: 266
Carbs: 42 grams
Fat: 10 grams
Protein: 11 grams
Directions:
Mix the above in a sprayed oven-proof bowl. Sprinkle on choc chips, coconut and pecans.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.



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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Balls of Energy plus cooking video



Here is the detailed recipe to go with it!! Try these people!! You are going to love em!!!

Balls of Energy
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2 3/4 cups dates, seeds removed
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup whey protein powder
1/4 cup unsweetened, non-dutched cocoa
1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup ground walnuts or almonds


In a food processor, blend dates and water. Add nut butter and blend until smooth. Add protein powder in 1/2 cup increments and process. Add cocoa, flaxseeds and cinnamon and process until well blended.


With clean hands , gather some dough about the size of a golf ball, and roll it between the palms of your hands. Keep a bowl of protein powder nearby, if the dough becomes sticky, roll it in the protein powder to keep it from sticking to your hands. (Note: refrigerating dough overnight helps make it easier to roll the next day)


Roll each ball in the ground walnuts. Set each ball on a baking sheet. Freeze 2-4 hours.


Per serving (4 balls) recipe makes 48 balls


230 calories

7 grams fat

Carbs 31 grams

Protein 15 grams


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*ISFP Member of the Story of the Day~~Gwen Meise*

This story is a little different...it is how one girl refuses to let an injury keep her down. We have all been there...an injury happens. It is hard to deal with, but the thing is you have to get your head around it! Gwen is sharing her story with us! Thanks Gwen! We love your story and spirit!


Cheers,

Wendy & Matt

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Don’t Let Injuries Throw You Off the Wagon


This week, I made a tough decision. I’m not doing Broad Street Run (10 miles) this year. It would have been the first time I’ve done a race longer than 10k. I was so set on doing it.

The decision wasn’t easy, but the pain in my knee was/is still screaming SLOW DOWN. It started about six weeks ago when I originally began the 10-week training program for the race. I started Four Hour Body about the same time. I was only running three times a week and was actually excited to follow a schedule. In fact, I had printed out the Hal-Higdon’s beginner training program and then cut out each week’s schedule and glued it to the corresponding week in my planner. Hardcore.

I started to feel the pain in my knee in week two of training, then got completely side-lined when I hurt my ankle. I was teaching a two-hour boot camp class and ending up rolling my right ankle pretty bad. In my 10 years of teaching, I’ve never done that. I actually didn’t know what to do. Sit down? Get ice? I felt like I didn’t have really any choice, so I kept teaching and going all out. I couldn’t feel the pain because my adrenaline was pumping … until later that day.

Since the ankle incident, I rested a lot. Stopped running, rested more and iced my injuries. Then, without training and from three weeks of being immobile, I did a 5k with my cousins. My ankle and my left knee hurt. Another week of complete rest. Then, the Phillies 5k with hubby. OUCH.


Off to the doctor

Today I went to see a doctor and was totally caught off guard when I had x-rays done there and apparently now need an MRI to see if I have a tear in my meniscus. Doc and I actually think I got the injury two years ago doing a mud run. It’s been coming and going since then.

But, can I tell you — I can’t stand resting! I miss running and doing plyometrics and really want to be doing hill sprints and stuff?


Sticking to the diet

Good news is that my diet is still good. I’m still on Four Hour Body. Day 44. I haven’t lost much more weight, really, but the food has helped my mood and I really think it’s preventing me from packing on the pounds. Keep in mind, I was teaching six or more classes a week plus doing my own cardio and weight training before all this rest. Well, I’ve been doing a little pilates and upper body strength training — but no high-impact. I feel like I’m doing nothing!

The last time I hurt myself pretty bad, it was a pre-metatarsal stress fracture. (I got this twice.) Meaning, all the jumping I was doing was stressing the bones in the tops of my foot. I had to slow down a lot and with that, I got discouraged and started eating like crap. It was a total downward spiral.

I won’t let it happen this time!


My plan

I’ll get the MRI done and see what the results are. Possible surgery, possible rehab. I’m hoping to stick to the mud runs and races I have planned already. Other than that, I’ll take this as a sign to slow down, focus on writing, my new job, friends and family … and diet!


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Here is a link to the original post:

http://allthingsgwen.com/dont-let-injuries-throw-you-off-the-wagon/


Gwen also has a great Facebook page which you should all check out, called Fit Friends! Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/FitFriends

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Cocoalmond Mania Butter

I found this recipe at Healthful Pursuit. It looked and sounded so good I thought I would whip some up today! Now I cannot wait for brekkie tomorrow to have it in my baked Oatmeal!


Here is the link to the original recipe:

http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/2011/04/apple-quinoa-flake-bake/


Cocoalmond Mania Butter

It’s ooey, it’s gooey, it’s loaded with coconut, and it’s ready to be used as a topping on just about anything!


Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups raw almonds
* 1 tsp unrefined coconut oil
* 2 cups unsweetened, shredded coconut
* 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
* 1 tsp ground cinnamon
* pinch of salt

Directions

1. Add the almonds + coconut oil to your food processor and process until drippy, scraping the bowl as needed. This should take between 6-8 minutes.
2. Scrape out the almond butter into a bowl.
3. Add coconut to the food processor and process until drippy. This should take about 5 minutes.
4. Add almond butter back in with the coconut butter and process until combined and smooth. This should take about 2 minutes.
5. Add in vanilla, cinnamon + salt.
6. Process and scrape as needed, until well combined and drippy.

Makes ~250mL of nut butter.


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**ISFP MEMBER STORY OF THE DAY~~Amanda Pratt**

Amanda, sometimes it takes something major for us to see what is right in front of our faces. The fact is, you now see it...and you are doing something about it! Doing it for you...that is the ultimate achievement! Congrats to you!! You are only going to get better with each passing day!

Cheers,

Wendy & Matt



This is Amanda's Story:

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My journey really began on October 5th, 2010, which just happened to be my 29th birthday.



A few days before that, I had been chatting with my cousin about how down I had been feeling. Our grandmother had passed away in January 2009, and one of things she made me promise her just before she got really sick was that I would work on me, and get healthy and happy. I lied to her, and told her I would, and never did anything about it. When I was talking to my cousin, I was pretty much in tears because here it was, almost 2 years after her death, and I still couldnt get my act together and try to keep my promise to her. I weighed in at 239lbs that day, and it was the highest I had weighed since pregnant with my son. My cousin assured me that I could do it, that I could lose the weight, get healthy, and that our Nanny would still be proud of me. After that conversation, I felt a little bit of the spark I needed to make a change. I signed up for a gym membership, and planned on going on October 5th.



However, life in general got in the way, and I didn't get to that first gym day. I was out for dinner with my family, celebrating my birthday when my aunt called to let us know that my cousin had been out for a run, and had gotten hit by a car in a crosswalk. Devastated doesn't even begin to describe how I felt, even after I was told she should be ok. She is like a sister to me, and I had come so close to losing her! After seeing her in the hospital the next day, and seeing how beat up she was, her broken leg, her dream of running a half marathon in May taken from her, I was more determined than ever. That day, I started running. I ran for me, I ran for her, I ran for our grandmother. It kind of sounds like I did alot of running when I put it like that, in reality it was less than 5 minutes spread out over 30 minues of walking, but it was A LOT more than I had ever ran before.



Today, almost 6 months since throwing away all my excuses and jumping into my new lifestyle head first, I have lost over 23lbs. I am participating in a half marathon in May, the same one that my cousin had hoped to complete before her accident, with Team in Training and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of our grandmother. I was typically logging around 30kms a week (steadily creeping up because of the gradual increases in my long runs), however I had a hip flexor issue, and had to cut back some. I still cant run for a long period of time with out walking, but I can do so much more than I could before. I have had set backs, periods where everything hurt and felt so hard I just wanted to give up. But then I would think about the people I was running for, the people that couldn't because of illness or injury, and I would think about how much they would love to have the ability to do this, to be able to run again.....and then my complaints seemed pretty petty.



My ultimate goal now isn't a set amount of pounds lost. I obviously want to lose more weight, but now I want to be fit, and healthy, and happy. Running gave me something I didn't anticipate: peace with myself. I don't use running as a tool in weight loss anymore, its something I do because I love it. My other workouts are for calorie burning, running is for me.





Please help support my fund raising efforts for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1054363&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2Fnone

**THE EXTREME BEAN MILEAGE CHALLENGE, THE SEQUEL**

This is how it will work. Track your clicks, miles, kilometers...whatever term of endearment you have for it. Starting March 17 and running until April 17th we are going to see who can rack up the most mileage.



You can:

run

walk

jog

bike

sprint

hike



Anywayyouknowhowtorackupmileage. :-)

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* So...I am going to use my email for you to send me your daily amounts. My email address is as follows: wen_ken18@hotmail.com. PLEASE TYPE "MILEAGE" IN THE SUBJECT LINE!!

**UPDATE** We also have a new email you can send the mileage to: iseefitpeople@gmail.com



NOW...having said that, you can track your mileage in a notebook and send me a total once a week, which ideally, would make it easier for me to track. Then my account would be a bit more manageable, especially if we get a lot of people participating.



NO ONE but Matt & I (and of course yourself) will know your total. You can brag all you want in posts, but when you tell us your amounts, it goes into the vault and we will not disclose who has the most mileage until March 31st. We may name drop....give hints as to who is opening up a can of Whoop Ass. Because that is how we roll. Competition is sometimes what we need to inspire others (and ourselves) to do better...do more!

The WINNER will receive a SWEET Sports Bean prize from Jelly Belly!! You are gonna love this!!!



So let's give it the old heave HO! You can do this!



Cheerio,

Wendy & Matt

**Our Very First ISFP Member Story** from Cynthia Sambro-Rier

We are very honored & thrilled that you chose to share your story with us Cynthia!! We love that you are inspired to run & write about it (we do that too)! Wendy & Matt :-)


Here is a bit about Cynthia Sambro-Rier!!


"I basically just started running last June. I'm a novice at 39 and have fallen deeply in love with running. It has challenged me in ways I didn't think was possible and I'm finally, at almost 40 ( on Friday) have found a medium that is helping me grow spiritually, physically and emotionally. I have a blog that no one follows ;) except for me and a friend but my story is pretty much there".


Thanks for taking the time to take a look!


http://runcynrun.wordpress.com/


Cynthia