Fitness with Aliya

State #9 is done. The Columbus   half-marathon  is a wrap. There were a few rolling hills. The crowd support was great. I love when they give you a bag for your post race snacks!  😁  The medal is heavy and nicely sized. There were very many port-a-johns. Traveling through the Children's Hospital mile was so inspiring and the mile markers were decorated with photos of hospital patients. Moving. The heat crept up on me but that couldn't be helped! Great post race photo opps too! Oh yeah the FIREWORKS how could I forget?!?! The firework show to start us off was AWESOME!!! A part of the Columbus Marathon Weekend is also the Jesse Owens Jog. This is a 2.6 mile race that is family friendly. One of my highlights was meeting Jesse Owens' daughter. She was more than willing to take photos and congratulated those that had signed up for the half and full and distance races. While I was so  inspired  and moved by her words she was so encouraged by our comm...

Have you ever wondered how you keep going in the midst of trials and tribulations? How you are still able to stand tall when everything around you is crumbling to pieces? Is it grace? Is it favor? Are you better than the mom who has fallen apart? Are you better than the mom who has given up? I think NOT! SOLIDARITY, MY SISTER! No woman is strong on an island. No one hears her cry, but there is strength in numbers. There is force when we bind together and come against the enemy. The enemy may be your job, your bills, your health regiment that continues to beat you over the head (uuughhh!), it may be the mom who seems to have it all figured it out. (you know that is not your enemy, right?)

Never Let the Mind tell the Body What It Cannot Do! It was a  journey   complete my first international race. Luckily Canada isn't that far away. There  were  approximately 10 of us who set out on this journey together. Some of us had to apply for passports. Some of us had never completed a half-marathon before. Some of us wanted to give up at the START LINE. Accountability is so important. We started the Journey together and that meant that there was no letting the other GIVE UP! We were in it until THE END. It rained. There was PAIN. There was TEARS. There were ACHES. There were JOYS. More importantly, there was COMPLETION! WE DID IT! YOU CAN TOO! BELIEVE IN THE DREAM! 

We invite you to hear the story of two moms who will be participating with their daughters in an upcoming 5k. They share their stories, their journey, and the emotional enjoyment of being role models for their children and their community. http://wotv4women.com/2015/04/13/moms-get-motivated-to-be-healthy/

Shouts out to all the moms who just make it happen, those that are not afraid to ask questions, or go against the grain! I really wanted to participate in a race, but I had class. It was a small, local race and it was for a great cause, the Salvation Army Kroc Center. The 5k is a community event. Proceeds from the race support the scholarship fund, which provides $120,000 in scholarships annually to help families participate in recreational programs. In 2014, Dash Down Division raised over $5,000! I was bummed I could not make it and my girlfriends were packing up and heading out without me (I had to throw that part in). I thought to myself, I want to support this cause, I want the bling (yes, I run for bling) and other than this class :/ it worked for me and my daughter's schedule. Basketball was over for her and we needed some mommy and daughter time. To make a long story short, I enlisted a runner gal pal to get the message to the race director in my absence! To my surprise, he ...