With my first Triathlon right around the corner (3 days away!), I thought it’d be fitting to share some race day motivation to help get me excited and inspired for the race!

Do you have any other words of encouragement and motivation!?

A few months back I found out that I had won a giveaway where I got 3 months free of Conscious Box!  I was over the moon excited since I had obviously heard about them, but personally didn’t want to spend the money quite yet.  I signed up for the box and patiently not so patiently waited for my box to arrive!  As most of you know, I enjoy trying as many vegan products as possible and although I don’t claim to be vegan, I really do think it’s a great lifestyle and I fully support vegans and at some point in my life, will more than likely completely convert to a vegan.  For now, I’ll just try these free samples and continue to learn more and more about my possibilities as a vegan!

When I opened the box, I was instantly impressed and as I continued to dive into the products, I was overwhelmed with the amount of goodies I received and the excellent variety of the goodies!

I also received multiple coupons!

To say that I am pleased with this vegan conscious box is a massive understatement!

I’m excited to try all of these products and I may even use my $5 coupon to buy a larger version of one of these products!

Have you used Conscious Box?  Did you have a great experience like I have so far?  What product would be your favorite to use?

I don’t think this is something I’ve talked about on my blog before, at least not in depth, but it’s something I think about often.  About 4 years ago, Nick and I broke up and it wasn’t an easy break up for me.  One main reason being that he was the first boyfriend I had ever had, so it was kind of a big deal for me.  I never dated through middle school and high school like many of my friends.  The first month was rough, I just tried to survive like most people do during a breakup and after a few weeks… I decided it was time to take control of who I was and that was the BEST decision I had made in my life!

I started running because of a break-up.  And I’m thankful for that period of my life.  At the time, I never would have thought that I would be, which is a great lesson for the future… whatever path God leads you on, at the time you may not think it’s right, but it could possibly be the best thing that’s ever happened.

There were a few things that running gave me: confidence, a better complexion, and joy.  I’m going to show you a few pictures of me in my first year of college – I had some bad ones in high school too though.  I’m not saying that these were awful times, I just don’t think I was very happy on the inside or even knew the person I wanted to be.  I was and always will be an emotional eater and at this point in my life, I didn’t even really know the meaning of running or working out.  And please excuse the hideousness of a haircut I chose during this time in my life! My oh my!  And just so we’re being honest… I think one other thing I ended up learning down the road is how to pose better for a picture so I get my good angles, that has a little bit to do with the difference in these pictures below!

  
  

Just a few short months later, I was happy, skinnier, healthier, funner, vibrant, exciting, and enjoying one of the greatest times of my life!  I went to Dallas for my cousin’s Bach party, I went to the beach, spent 2 weeks in Texas with my cousin, and I was in 2 amazing weddings.  When you talk about enjoying life, I was enjoying life!  Although, for most people, being in weddings isn’t so fun, I’m not gonna lie, I love being in weddings!  

  

  

  

And although I have some of the most wonderful memories during the time that I was finding myself and picked up running, I have some amazing memories from that first 5K all the way up to now!  Nick and I ended up getting back together that summer and him and my best friend ran my very first 5K with me that summer.  The point of all this is that running has become a huge part of my life and because of that reason, my life has dramatically improved!  I have had my share of heartache and pain, but I’ve overcome all of that with running, when I’m having a rough day, I get in a run… when I have a lot on my mind, I know a run will help me figure things out.  I’m thankful for the circumstances that brought me to running because it now is something I use to define myself. 

My first 5K: It was 4th of July, so I obviously had to match it up! I even wore a white ribbon in my hair!

  

I love looking back at these pictures because it reminds me that I love running and that I looked great when I was running every day.  Even though I love running, I fall out of a workout schedule pretty frequently and these pictures always reel me back in and encourage me to get back out there and start running again!  I’ve obviously learned a lot more since I first started running and I try to incorporate more toning and cross-training now along with proper eating, but running will always be my first exercise love!

How do you define yourself?  Have you seen terrible circumstances change you for the better?