Three Things Thursday - FitFluential Edition

Have you heard about FitFluential?

FitFluential is looking for Ambassador's to "help spread the good word about all things fitness-related".

I'm not really part of any organized "blogger" network. It's not my thing. But FitFluential had me at hello...

"This isn’t Stepford."

Good. Because I'm not a Stepford kind of girl.

As part of the application process, I'm supposed to tell them WHY me. Why I'm passionate about fitness. Why they should come hang out in SoCal (duh, beaches and yogurtland...).

Thus was born Three Things Thursday, FitFluential Edition, complete with an obscene number of pictures.

1. WHAT AM I PASSIONATE ABOUT?

In high school, I had to take Personal Fitness multiple times. I failed because I skipped the run.

Exactly one year ago, I posted this blog: Can I Call Myself a Runner Now?. Since then, I've run 676 miles. I've run 2 5K's. 2 10K's. 4 half marathons. I've dropped my half marathon time from over 3 hours, to my current PR of 2:29.

I'm not a GOOD runner. I'm not fast, and probably definitely not even efficient.

But I am determined. I am committed to trying. I do weird things that, a year ago, I never considered.

I am proud of my ugly runner feet.

I've learned to embrace accept the swoob, swass, and swagina that come with the running territory.

But as proud as I am of my running accomplishments, I am even prouder that I've recruited my 12 year old...

Yeah. That's a second place age group win on her first 5K. She's pretty bad ass.

2. Why here?

Life in SoCal is rough.

But beyond the beaches, Orange County is a hiker and trail runner's heaven...

We have our fair share of running and biking trails...

And the bestest blogging community you could imagine.

We're the land of In n' Out, Baconmania, and theme parks galore.

3. WHY ME?

I lead a (mostly) healthy, active lifestyle - no question.

But I'm equally passionate about living that life fully, and in balance.

Food is freaking delicious, might as well enjoy it.

I manage to fit running and eating a balanced diet with work

and three "spirited" kids....

My youngest, Gabby, was diagnosed with leukemia in January.

In May, using my love of running, and this blog, we raised over $3,000 for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. This year, I've created Team Gab to race in the PCRF Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon next May, and recruited several local bloggers to run with me in support of PCRF and their mission.

I don't make, or accept, excuses about how haaaaard exercise and running are, how difficult it is to find the time to cook a meal, or how costly it is to eat healthy. It's all a matter of choice, and every day, every meal time, every time I run, I make that choice to be committed.

It's certainly nothing special, or revolutionary. It's just how things are. I'm committed, daily, to sucking less. And over time, that's earned me a pretty respectable running pace, 6 pants sizes less of me, and amazing new friends.

Life is good. Own yours.