This morning I had the LAST long run before my first half-marathon!

Can you believe it? Savannah is just a week away!!!!! I am so excited! Just as I was for this run. I had ten miles to cover before laying low with a couple shorter speed sessions before next weekend.

The run went mostly well. My left calf and right hip flexor both got a little tight towards the end of the run, but otherwise I felt great. Just cold.

It’s a little bittersweet because, truthfully, I LOVE the long runs of training. I would easily say I prefer long runs over the other parts of training. Each week feels like such an accomplishment. To run distances I used to deem impossible never fails to brighten my mood.

Although, as much as I do love the long runs, I certainly won’t mind leaving behind certain parts in the weeks post training. Here are the top 5 things about long runs that don’t make me smile right now.

Butt-Crack of Dawn

Waking up around 5:30 am on a Saturday does not ever sound appealing. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Eating When Not Hungry

Perhaps worse than the early wake-up call is the force-feeding. My typical pre-run fuel of a whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter and jelly plus half of a Larabar certainly tastes like a winning combo. I would normally eat it up quite joyfully. But at 5:30 am? I’m simply not hungry yet and I don’t really love eating something when I’m not in the mood.

Cold! Brrrrr!!!

I live in the South for a reason. Cold and I do not get along. I curse the mornings when I pull up to the running path and see a temperature starting in a 4 (or a 3 like this morning!!!) waiting for me outside of my heated car. I then get to spend two hours in those temperatures, just to come home and…

Ice Bath

Like my blue “frozen” picture? Whoever crafted this idea is a) a genius because, boy, do they work! And b) evil because they are like cruel and unusual punishment.

The Crazy Appetite

Directly after a long run, it takes me a good hour to really want to eat. I know I need to refuel, however, so I yet again find myself force-feeding at least a little something. Then, a few hours later, I am like a ravenous beast let out into the wild. It’s insane!

Wait, I take that back. The appetite may just be one of my favorite parts of long runs. What can I say? I like to eat.

Despite these few things, I sure do love long runs. And I’m happy that I have a few more to do for my SECOND half coming a few weeks later. Then…who knows what may come next!

• What’s your FAVORITE and LEAST FAVORITE part of your workouts?

Happy Friday afternoon! I hope you all have had a great day. I loved reading your “Never Have I Ever” comments. So fun. Now, it’s time for the weekend!

But before we sail into a weekend full of love and fun, I would like us each to pause for a moment to do some good. With just a simple click.

One of the greatest struggles I have is seeing so many needs in the world. Starving children. Human trafficking. Poverty. Lack of freedoms. Illness. Domestic violence. Addictions. Natural disaster relief. And the list goes on and on.

Often times, I hear about such things and want to do SOMETHING, yet feel debilitated. I wonder how I could possibly make any sort of real difference.

Then, with time, I realized that even the smallest acts can make a difference when people come together.

Which is why I’m here today.

Did you know that numerous girls and young women face their monthly periods with fear? That time of the month doesn’t simply mean cramps, bloating, and discomfort. It means having to stay home from school and missing out on an education. It means losing work to earn the $4 a day they need to even feed their families. It means an increased risk for disease and infection.

Every. Single. Month.

And all because these young women and girls don’t have sanitary pads and other related products readily available.

Huru International and o.b. brand have partnered together to create the Share It Forward campaign. This program is an app through Facebook to help raise money for Huru® International simply by sharing a message with your network of friends about Huru® International’s mission, and helping shed light on an issue that impacts many woman globally.

The o.b. brand hopes to raise $25,000 through this campaign to send over 1,000 kits to those in need in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa regions. For every user that shares the message through the app with their network of friends, the o.b.® brand will donate $1 to Huru®.

That’s 8 THOUSAND re-usable sanitation pads for these women. 3,000 new pairs of underwear. Soap and bags to help keep the products clean and the women using them healthier. And information to help educate those in need of other issues such as HIV/AIDS. You know what I see when I read that? That little things add up to big changes. All you have to do is a couple of clicks to help contribute to these smiles…

Here’s how:

If you are not already a fan of the page...
Step 1: Like the mighty.small.movement: http://www.facebook.com/obmightysmall
Step 2: Select your state from the drop down box (under the green box).
Step 3: Put a check mark next to the box that says you've read the Terms & Conditions.
Step 4: Click the pink "Click to Share" button to post the message on your Wall.
Step 5: Spread the word!

If you are already a fan of the page...
Step 1: Go to the o.b. Outreach Tab on the mighty.small.movement Facebook Page, or click this link: http://on.fb.me/oeX3gi.
Step 2: Select your state from the drop down box (under the green box).
Step 3: Put a check mark next to the box that says you've read the Terms & Conditions.
Step 4: Click the pink "Click to Share" button to post the message on your Wall.
Step 5: Spread the word!

I’ve already shared the message. And I am donating the value of participating in this campaign to Huru International as well. Please, let’s help make a difference. The smallest acts can make a change. Now, have a good weekend. And count your many blessings along the way.

• What’s something you want to not take for granted this weekend?

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of o.b. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate, which I have personally chose to donate that value to Huru International. I chose to share this message because I believe in doing small things to help make a difference.