Running on Gratitude…….

So this morning’s new reported that running just 5 minutes a day CONSISTENTLY and basically eternally, can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by almost half!  The question was posed “What about all the people that say they can’t run because their knees, ankles, hips, feet, back, etc., hurt?”  The answer was basically that any or all of these things hurt because you don’t run.  Makes sense to me.  So if 5 minutes causes pain, try doing it for 30 seconds a day and add 30 seconds each week.   This is a pretty basic theory and it really works for most everything.  Slow and steady really does win the race.  Of course there will be times and situations when running is just not possible (although after watching Amy Purdy on Dancing With the Stars this year, I am pretty convinced all things are possible) and in those cases, substitution is key.  I have worked with people in wheelchairs and gotten their heart rates up in training zone with a lot of upper body work.  Be creative and get that heart pumping!  It’s not only good for the heart, but all your organs which are dependent upon the big ticker.

Speaking of heart, mine is so full.  With all the excitement of the wedding this weekend (yikes it really is THIS weekend) and all the love surrounding it.  I would be remiss if I didn’t share a little gratitude this morning.  I am grateful that there is no hurricane threatening our kid’s wedding weekend.  This is huge, as planning a wedding on the Gulf of Mexico in August could be risky.  Thankfully, Nicole knew early on that an outdoor wedding in hot August wasn’t for her, so we don’t even have to worry about rain.  I appreciate how hard she and Kyle worked on all the details of their special night, leaving us free to stress about silly things.  More than once I have dreamed that I forgot the shoes I am wearing to the wedding, but I am thankful they were just dreams.  If, however, I show up at the ceremony barefoot, I am grateful my feet are strong and tan.  JUST KIDDING…

I am mostly grateful to my friends and family who have sacrificed a lot to be with us.  Destination weddings are beautiful but challenging.  This wedding is rather intimate and we all asked only our closest friends (who knew Kyle from forever) and immediate families to be there, as per the kids request.  While Kyle and Nicole and many of their friends live close to the wedding venue, most of our and LeeAnn  and Gary’s family and friends, do not.  I am grateful that my father-in-law, Hy and his “like-a-wife,” Ellie are healthy and spunky enough to get on a plane from NJ and make the trip.  I am grateful that Derek and his “like-a-wife” Jolene can make the trip in from Vegas.  Mitch and I haven’t seen them in 8 months and it’s been wayyyyyyyyyyy too long.  I am grateful to the rest of our family and friends that are traveling to be a part of the festivities, coming from California, NY, North Carolina and of course various parts of Florida.  We understand all that is involved, the planning that it took, the efforts that were and are being made and we can’t thank you enough.  We keep visioning this huge ball of loving energy that is going to converge on Friday and Saturday and it blows us away.

And while we are on converging and merging, we are incredibly grateful for the family that Kyle is marrying into.  I think when he and Nicole say “I DO,” we will officially become the Jones-Zipp crew and we are so excited about that!

My heart is so full, I could go on, but if I do, I think I will have given away too much of my wedding speech/toast!

…For more photos of the kids (engagement pics) visit their site at zipptothewedding.com and click the camera icon….

Remember my gym peeps, that I WILL be there today, tonight and tomorrow and then will return (in what condition, I don’t know!?!) on Wednesday the 6th.  Ellen will be subbing this Friday at 11:30 and Monday at 8:30 and 11:30.  Tuesday all my classes will be cancelled including 11:30 strength training.  Keep moving and thanks for all the love and support!