Tomorrow's the big day!!!!

It's here!!!!!!! The night I've been dreading! Going to bed when it's still light outside and waking up at  before the crack, even the tiniest crack of dawn tomorrow! My friend Cara is picking me up at 5AM! so I haven't quite decided when to set that alarm, 3:45 or 4???? I think we all know the delicate "details" of race morning so one has to give oneself plenty of time if ya know what I mean....

So, here's what I've been doing all day - drinking my sports drinks and water like a good little girl.

I didn't even have any wine with dinner, okay, one sip of Jim's!                                                              

Here I am getting taped up by my friend Rocky at the marathon Expo!  Kinesio tape is amazing!

Restorative yoga!!

Nuun and Gatorade!!

I also went back to the marathon expo because I had to, I had to give a talk! I was terrible! In my defense, my friend Kari Watkins thought I would be great and she told my other friend Bill to sign me up! Unfortunately, the topic was "Course Details". Well, shoot, I have run the course, but I don't know every single street but thankfully Bill Snipes and Bill Goodier do so I guess I was just there for comic relief! Anyway, the expo was a lot of fun but I was ready to get out of there and get to my favorite yoga class taught by Emily at Soul Yoga, Relax & Renew. It's a great restorative class and thank you to owner/teacher Allison for recently purchasing blankets to enhance this yummy practice.

we begin with some easy forward bends

A nice stretch! 

My Race outfit is ready to go, complete with red socks for Boston!!!

I'm a winner!!!

I'm a winner! Soul Yoga, the studio where I practice is doing 30 Poses in 30 days and asked students to submit pictures of the pose of the day! We are halfway through the challenge and I have submitted several poses of course being the "ham" that I am!

It's been a fun way to break down poses, learn the Sanskrit and shift the focus a bit. I must admit, there have been a couple of days that I've skipped either because I was sore or I hate to admit, maybe a pose I did not like. But, my least favorite pose is Eagle pose, and I showed up on that day so yea me!

Here is the first picture I submitted, Navasana or Boat pose! This picture was taken on my friends boat in Miami. I have a great group of girlfriends, we all like to workout but we still enjoy good food, wine and fun and here we are having a little fun!!

Another pose, headstand taken with Roxanne as you can see, in front of the Washington monoument! We got a lot of stares but it was worth it!!!

The winning pose - Dancer! Not perfect by any means, but the setting can't be beat!!!

And this is what I won! Another great shirt from Soul. It's so comfy and soft, I love it! 

I got another surprise today, in that I got to sub my first class at Soul. I was on my way to take class when I got a text that the teacher was sick and could I please help out! Even though I've taught for over 15 years it's mostly been in the fitness centers. I like teaching in gyms because some people are intimidated by studios and might never step foot in one. I took my first yoga class with Hana at a gym and I was hooked. She then convinced me to try some classes at the studios and I tell my students the same thing.

30 day yoga challenge!

I have been practicing yoga for 17 years and teaching for 15 but 2013 began with a 30 day yoga challenge at Soul Yoga, Oklahoma City. At first I was reluctant, I mean, I teach a little, and also try to practice on my own at home even though we all know how that usually ends up. While in downdog instead of feeling bliss all I can see are dustbunnies on the floor, so I usually cut my home practice short and move on to something "productive". Getting to the studio was the key! We had 35 days to get in the 30 classes, and I was on track to hit it in 30 when a migraine put me out for two days, but no matter!  We did it! I never dreaded going to the studio, I craved it! My practice has gotten stronger and my body feels better than ever even as I increase my running miles as I train for my first marathon in 16 years! Bring on the next challenge!