Yep, today is my birthday! I’m 45 today, and as I posted on Facebook…I make 45 look good. My day started at the gym. Last month I decided that I wanted to be able to run 5 miles straight without stopping by the time my birthday rolled around. Well if you don’t know by now…I love a good challenge. Last night I went to bed with my mind firmly set on reaching that goal today…and I DID! That’s right, I ran 5 straight miles without stopping once, and I did it in an hour and eleven minutes. Go Stacey! It’s Your Birthday!!! The first 3 miles were almost a piece of cake. The fourth mile was a bit of a struggle, but the last mile was almost impossible. I kept praying and asking the Lord to help me to complete it. I told Him that I really wanted to do this and that I needed His help to make it through. When it was over it took me a minute to get myself together. I felt a little light headed, but after a few minutes I was fine. Once I made it to the car I cried like a baby. I was so overwhelmed by the fact, that I, Stacey Mellynn Strickler, had ran for 5 miles without stopping. I still can’t believe I did it, but my body sure knows I did it….oh my aching knees.
So that was how I started my day. From there I went to see a movie, visited my Mom briefly and then off to Zumba I went. The instructor did not show up, so another one of the gyms instructors took over. She is not a Zumba Instructor, but she did a good job in keeping us moving and we had fun in the process. My friends Donna and Traci (and I use the term friends lightly:-), put me on blast and told the instructor that I was licensed to teach. Because I didn’t have routines to the songs she was playing, I did not come forward. Towards the end she did play a song that I knew and had a routine prepared for and so I led the class. It was pretty cool and they applauded me at the end. So I guess I have officially been inducted as an instructor. At the end of the class the instructor gave me the name of the person to call to apply for a position to teach at LaFitness. Wow, that’s the big time, and a little intimidating, but I think I may look into it. She told me to tell the contact that she recommended me. That made me feel pretty good. Now I have to add another line item to my friend Donna’s job description and bump her up on the payroll
After class, my friends (there’s that word again), kidnapped me and took me to “partay” at Red Lobster, where I had a light meal and was completely surprised when three servers approached the table while my head was turned, caring a small cup of ice cream with a candle. The picture Donna took of me is classic!
This day could not have been anymore perfect. I got my workout in, I had some Stacey time, I went to Zumba AND even had an opportunity to teach, and I got to spend time with my friends…Thank You Donna and Traci…love you guys. Today was not only a good day…it was my birthday!
[…] “once I set my mind to do something, it’s done”. For instance when I decided to run five miles straight on my birthday last year..I did it. Or when I decided to be a Zumba Instructor…I did it. Or when I set my […]