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AmberSparkles

@theragerunner

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Party Pace Mother Runner
Run Club Host @harmonyrunclub Creator @thelittlegoals.collective
42.2 x 2 | 21.1 x 6

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No thank you 😂 taken in Calgary, Alberta by @theragerunner

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5 months ago

Yesterday I ran my first ever marathon and this is what I have to say….

First of all. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I was nervous, excited, overwhelmed, disappointed, elated and everything else in betweeen. My adrenal system is on vacation today haha. Just a quick backstory for anyone who might be new here. I was never a runner. Hated it. Took it up during Covid so I could manage my anxiety and get out of the house. I never intended for it to go anywhere outside of my neighborhood or past 30 minutes and a marathon was the absolute last thing on my radar. Somewhere along the way I found enjoyment and happiness in it and it kinda just stuck.

I had thought about signing up for the @calgarymarathon last year but I just knew I wasn’t ready. This time when registration opened up I signed up right away. My palms were sweaty when I clicked on the confirmation button. I already had a good base so marathon training began February 1st. I bought huge calendar sheets and filled out 4 months of them with my training plan. They got tough and some runs felt disheartening but I didn’t miss one.

Race day I woke up at 4:15, got ready, drank coffee and electrolytes and choked down half a bagel. I’m not an early breakfast person so that’s always the hardest for me. We picked up my friend who was also running the marathon and headed down to the stampede grounds. We made sure to leave enough time to find parking, check our bags, use the porto potties twice and get warmed up. The portopotty lines are always the biggest cause of stress! I gulped down a pack of apple sauce and it was time to start!

Continued in comments… taken in Calgary, Alberta by @theragerunner

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2 years ago

I thought I was too old (I was 39).
I thought it was too late for me.
I thought this is just mom life.
I thought my body just doesn’t respond to diet and exercise the way it used to.
I thought my glory days were behind me.

*I know I’m dramatic*

Wow, was I ever wrong! Couldn’t have been more wrong. The wrongest of the wrong.

I’m not special, I don’t defy science and it wasn’t too late for me. There was nothing wrong with my body that was unchangable because of my age. My head was my biggest problem. I had terrible self talk fuelled by anxiety. I didn’t really understand how diet and exercise worked. I mean, I learned everything I knew from Seventeen magazine (insert eye roll).

I knew I wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t making healthy choices. I drank every day. Lots of junk food. Zero exercise of any kind. I could feel it in my chest and in my knees. My resting heart rate was high. I definitely believe in health at every size but this wasn’t it. I was 202 pounds and had a lot of stomach fat. I felt a deep disconnect from who I used to be…..and I really liked that girl! I wanted to get back to her.

I started on a Sunday. I journaled a bunch of thoughts, goals, brain dumps of all the things I like and had liked before I became a mom. I went downstairs and did 20 minutes on the elliptical. Nothing crazy but it was a start. From that day on I tried to make better choices even if it was a small choice. Bit by bit it started to add up. I had no ultimate goal or a timeline. I just knew I wanted to feel better both mentally and physically. I ended up losing 50 pounds and 10 inches off my waist. That blew my mind!

I know there’s a lot of opinions about ‘before and after’ pictures. I get it. When I was starting out though I was looking for motivation and inspiration and I did appreciate seeing these pictures and hearing peoples stories. Especially stories from moms. I felt like there was hope that I could turn things around for myself. So if you are someone who’s feeling like they could use a bit of inspiration let me tell you that you can do this! Somedays will be ugly, your progress won’t be linear and motivation will come and go but you can definitely do this 💗 by @theragerunner

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4 years ago

Introducing the Beneva @calgarymarathon!

We were told to save the date and to wear purple. We all excitedly said yes without knowing what we were saying yes to but when you get an email like that you absolutely say Y E S. All was revealed this week when we learned that @beneva.ca was the new title sponsor for the Calgary Marathon and last night we celebrated from the roof top!

What a perfect night. The most gorgeous day. A beautiful setting. So many friends and pizza and cake. The night felt really special and just reminds me of how lucky we are to have this amazing running community here in Calgary. It has brought so much joy to my life in and brought me some of my best friends.

Registration for the 2027 Beneva @calgarymarathon is officially open 💜 Purple is going to look really good on us. taken in Calgary, Alberta by @theragerunner

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22 days ago

I cry a lot but I am so productive. It’s an art. by @theragerunner

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a month ago

Thanks August. You were great. by @theragerunner

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a month ago

He’s my number 1 fan taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @theragerunner

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2 months ago

The SeaWheeze photographers understood the assignment! Picture 3 really captures my true essence. Possibly now my favorite race photo ever 💖 fun Fact: Along the seawall I saw a photographer so I put my blinker on and moved over straight into his sight line and smiled real big for him. No one was in front of me and I got a personal photo shoot. He snapped away and the put down the camera and burst into giggles. I thanked him and continued on. Please see the last picture. Races are expensive and I’m gonna get my money out of it in photos 😂 taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @theragerunner

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2 months ago

✖️Closed ✖️ 100 Days of movement. 30 minutes a day. All at once or break it up. Dancing, walking, yoga, stretching, Zumba….whatever makes you happy and feels good for you.

Submit your movement to me either in our private Facebook group or on IG. It can be a DM or tag @thelittlegoals.collective. Each week, if you’ve completed the previous 7 days, you’ll be entered for the weekly draw. 14 weeks. 14 weekly prizes. At the end of the 100 days a grand winner will be chosen. You don’t need to have completed all 100 days. This challenge is about consistency over perfection. As long as you didn’t quit when it got hard and picked back up you are eligible.

This is open to anyone living in Canada so get your friends and family involved. The registration fee goes directly towards the prizes so the more people that sign up the bigger the prizes. I can tell you that the grand prize is already at 1000.00 and we’ve also had some generous offers of additional prizes to give out during the 100 days. Registration is open until August 31st and we get going September 1st. Let’s make this absolutely amazing!!! Sign up link is in the bio. by @theragerunner

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2 months ago

SeaWheeze…what a dream! I had expectations of what this weekend would look like but reality was even better. My goal was to go out and just take it all in. Even better if I finished around 2:30. Both goals were met. I ran, chatted with new friends and hugged old friends. I pet dogs. I took pictures of signs. I was in awe of all the fun on the course. I mean it was pure aesthetic dreams. Vancouver scenery mixed with glitter, hair ribbons, cute outfits and bracelet trading. I was the race I’ve waited since 2021 to run. I saw Cody Rigsby with my own eyes and yelled his name. I got to meet @jennyyyy_fit and give her a bracelet and tell her how incredible I think she is, AND I got to do sunset yoga with Millie and have her cheer for me at the finish line. Seriously. A dream. #seawheeze2026 @lululemon taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @theragerunner

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2 months ago

A few days late but July deserved a spot // Stampede, turning 13, Millie performing at the grand stand stage with her cheer gym, parent visits, 15th anniversary, Modest Mouse, Alanis Morisette, walking in the stampede parade with Run Calgary, Ironman 70.3, prepping for Seawheeze, run club, Little Goals, summerween, hot evening swims, junk food and one broken clavicle taken in Calgary, Alberta by @theragerunner

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2 months ago

We’re back baby!!! Little Goals starts up again September 1st. This is a great time to get back in a routine or start a new one.

The rules are simple…30 minutes of intentional movement every day for 100 days. You need to submit your activity to me so I can record it. At the end of each week everyone who completed the past 7 days is entered for the weekly prize. The only things that don’t count are chores so no housework, manual labour, lawn mowing or snow shoveling. It must be movement that’s just for you.

There is a grand prize winner draw at the end of 100 days and a prize draw for completing all 100 days.

Along the way we will have meet ups for fun activities, have some mini challenges and take advantage of the private Facebook group to chat with others and help cheer each other on. Ultimately, this is a challenge that’s meant to be fun, build community, move our bodies and meet some new friends. Prizes are the cherry on top.

Registration opens August 1st and is 50.00. The more registrations = more prizes. This is open to everyone in Canada so tell your friends, family and co workers.

Let’s make round 2 absolutely incredible and head into the fall feeling strong! taken in Calgary, Alberta by @theragerunner

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3 months ago