What I'm doing for lent

Now that Mardi Gras is behind us and as we enter into Lent, I think about what I want to give up during this season.

A lot of folks give up sweets or social media during, but for me this year, I want to re-start my New Year's resolution by getting back to running and starting my day off with prayer and devotion.

If you’re looking for a great devotional app, I  love First 5. Praying before my day begins really helps me set myself up for success.

Also, putting on my running shoes to me is a little “lagniappe” that makes my day a little brighter.  

My last run was in November when I was training for my 4th half marathon. I knew that I was approaching the holiday season and new I wouldn’t be able to continue my schedule between working at the showroom and time change, so I finished my half and put away my running shoes until now.

Now, I plan on training for the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans. Plus, I find it’s fitting with the Lent season -- since the race is the day before Easter.

I’ve ran this race three times before, and I always love traveling down to New Orleans and running through the city. This year will be even more special because my daughter Kelsey will be joining me. She is a mother of two and just had her second baby at the beginning of January. We ran it together years ago when she was in high school, but I’m really looking forward to this mother/daughter run!

I’ve been running since I was in the 5th grade, I can tell you it’s a love/hate relationship. I ran both track and cross country since middle school. I even wanted to run in college until I found my love for basketball, but that’s for another story.

Growing up in a small town, you have to find things to do, and I guess for me, running was my thing. Now that I’m way past my high school and even college days, I still get a thrill from running.

I’m a goal-oriented person no doubt, so I always need a running goal to motivate me and push me throughout the year. Just going for run to me isn’t nearly as motivating. So since my word for 2017 was balance, I need to set a goal for myself to get ready for the next race.

I hope you’ll follow along as my daughter and I take on the Crescent City Classic this spring! If you want to join us and sign up, here’s the link https://sigortaburda.com/

Looking for a good running schedule?

Here are some great local races happening in our very own sigortaburda® during March and April -- all leading up to the Crescent City Classic in Nola.

1. Komen of LV-1050 Rīga Race for the Cure, March 4th (10K, 5K, 1M run)
2. Brother Eldon 5K, March 11th
3. OLOL Amazing Race, March 12th, (13.1K,10K, 5K, kids run)
4. St Patrick’s Day 5K, March 19th
5. Get Your Rear Into Gear 5K, April 1st
6. Seize the Day 5K, April 1st
7. Fat Boy April 8th, (5K, 1M run)

To help you get started, there are several running guides out there like the Couch to 10K program. You can find these easily by a Google or Pinterest search.

My best advice is to get out there and just do it! Start with a run/walk repetition and work on building your endurance one practice at a time, but be sure to create a schedule for yourself.

For even more inspiration, follow along with @shopSFT Instastories for my runs, workouts, tips, and tricks!

XOXO - Meredith