My 1st Blogiversary & A Liebster Award!

I was given the Liebster Award by Meredith at FunNiceRunner last week.  Today is my blog's first anniversary so I figured it would be a great day to answer her questions and spread the love!

Meredith is one of my SweatPink ambassador sisters who has an incredible goal of running 50 half marathons in 50 states! Liebster Awards are given to bloggers to increase readership…typically who have less than 200 followers, in order to help them grow.

Of course, there are rules:

1. You must link back to the person who nominated you.

2. You must answer the 10 questions given to you by the person who nominated you.

3. You must pick 10 bloggers to be nominated for the award (just not the person who nominated you).

4. You must create 10 questions for your nominees.

5. You must go to their blogs and notify the nominees.

So, without further adieu...here are my answers to Meredith's questions:

What’s your favorite thing about blogging?

I love putting my thought into words and sharing them with others!  One of my wisest friends told me early on that blogging would be therapeutic and while it can be a lot of work sometimes, she was right!  I also enjoy networking - I’ve met some awesome new friends through blogging who share my love of running, fitness and life!

Name one thing you can’t hit the gym without and explain why.

The treadmill.  I have a particular one that I run almost ALL of my miles on and have done so for years. I know it sounds silly, but I get upset when someone else is using it!

Tell me one international place you’d like to visit and what you’d do there.

Paris.  I really just want to go to Paris, but I would LOVE to run the Paris marathon someday.  That is an upcoming birthday wish.   Other than run there, I just want to peruse the streets by bike, eat a lot of bread and drink a few bottles of wine.

What’s your favorite book and why?

I’m not sure I could name just one.  I have a giant bookshelf stuffed with books.  It was a dream of mine to have my own personal library and I kind of do!  I used to read a lot of chick lit mostly because I like to turn off my brain outside of work, but since starting grad school, reading for fun has definitely been sidelined, now I read nursing lit.  No quite as enjoyable.  I am looking forward to getting back to reading for fun!

There’s one thing you love most about your job, what is it?

The fact that I work from home!  I mean, how many nurses do you know that have this privilege? My office mates are 2 dogs and one cat.  I can work in my pajamas.  Does it really get any better than that?!  I mean, I like helping people and all, but that part of my job really rocks.

What’s one fitness class/program/event you haven’t tried yet but are looking forward to in 2014?

So even though my mom is probably reading this, I’d have to say pole dancing.  Not to be a pole dancer of course, but because it is supposed to be a kick a$$ workout.  I am just really scared to try it and will need to go with friends so that we can laugh at ourselves.  A lot.

What’s your favorite social media outlet, outside of your blog, and why?

I’ll go with Facebook.  I love keeping in touch with my friends back in MN, the friends I've made in Texas and the friends I've met from all over the word.  It’s fun staying involved in each other’s lives even though we are so far apart.

If you could have a super power, what would it be?  Why?

Super Dog Rescuer Woman.  J  I’d find a deserving home for every homeless pooch around. It would be so awesome. 

What is your proudest accomplishment so far, and what’s next?

My son is definitely my proudest accomplishment as a human being.  I am so blessed to have one 

of the really good kids.  So sweet and kind, funny and clever.  I like to think he takes after me! ;) 

The ten marathons I’ve completed would have to be my second.  I set out on this running journey with intention of running ONE marathon and hanging it up.  It was kind of like a bucket list thing (even though I don’t really have an official list).  I didn't want to do just any marathon - I wanted to run the NYC Marathon.  I got in on the first try, had a lot of difficult times during that year (think divorce, poor nutrition, toxic person overload), but I finished.  I ran through Central Park in 2010 thinking I never wanted to be in this moment again.  I hurt. I was miserable.  I felt like I was going to die.  I cried more than a few times. Looking back, I felt defeated in a moment where I should have been ecstatic. 

What a difference a year makes - 2010 on the left, 2011 on the right.

BUT, I knew deep down that I had to do it again.  Now, I’m so happy I stayed the course.  If I had given up running I wouldn't have all of the wonderful people in my life that I do now.  I  have so incredibly supportive people in my life, it would take more than all my fingers and toes to count them all. The victories are so much easier.  I KNEW I had to go back to NYC in 2011 and as luck would have it, I was blessed with that opportunity. 

Cake or ice cream?  Or both?

Definitely cake. Specifically cupcakes. 

Even more specifically Nicole Jones’ cupcakes.  They are divine! That is all.

Here are my 10 nominees:

Becky @ Just aNorthern Girl

DK @ Cupcake Turtle

Alicia @ RunningAround in Circles

Lisa @ Lisa'sLandscapes

Lisa @ The RunningFire Wife

Amber @ Mother Pumper

Rachel @ Busy MamaFitness

Aliah @ Get Fit Diva

Megan @ Run Megan

Kelli @ The Happster

Here are my questions:

Why did you start your blog?

Who is your hero?

What is your favorite color?

What is your dream job?

Dog person or cat person?  Both?

What is your favorite quote?

What is the most delicious food you’ve ever eaten?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Why?

What is your favorite Trait about yourself?

What do you do for fun?

Check out their blogs and show them some love…they all have super fun blogs with great content! I can't wait to read all of your answers!