Last week’s Sister Spotlight, Ashley, chose one of my favorite Sisters to spotlight this week! Brooke has been around here since the dawn of times, and has always been one of the most supportive people we know!!
Name: Brooke
Blog: smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com
Twitter: @smartstrongsexy
Age: 30
Hometown: Sevierville, Tennessee
Tell us about your family. My immediate family is just the Mutant (Jay) and myself. No kids, pets, or even living indoor plants, but do I have an incredible extended family. My parents & Jay joined me for a 5K last year. My sister and BIL have the world’s cutest kids – I adore the Princess and Little Man with all my heart.
What is your favorite workout? Running will always be my “go to” workout, but weight training makes me feel hard core.
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment? Currently it’s the Disney Marathon, who knew I’d have enough left at mile 25 to stop for a picture with my niece’s favorite princess Sleeping Beauty. Hopefully in a couple weeks I’ll have a new “biggest accomplishment” – the Mutant and I are racing each other in a 26.2 mile walk/hike. He’s athletic, I’m not, but I’m gonna win!
Have you set any goals for this year? Besides beating my husband? I’m currently working toward a 5K PR. I want to get under 30 minutes for a 5K but I’m just not sure that’s realistic.
Who is your best support in your healthier-living journey? I promise I’m not saying this to suck up – its really all my SAHs here at the Sisterhood. Ashley has been a great partner for this challenge and all my twitter ladies help encourage me to stay on track. Without April I would have been one of those girls who gave up after dabbling in dieting for a couple months. I don’t want it to seem like I’m not surrounded by great people in real life – I am, but none of them really get my running addiction.
Favorite songs on your iPod right now? Viva Las Vegas (Elvis) because it makes me think of the Princess & I playing her Wii “Just Dance” game. I have to pull out the finger guns every time it comes on. “Grace Amazing” by Jimmy Needham, “Kerosene” by Miranda Lambert, and “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns – which is a lousy running song but it reminds me to ignore those lies that try to keep me down.
Who or what inspires you? People who push through despite being given a bad set of circumstances. The Mutant has hemophilia, but instead of choosing to live in a bubble, he’s done things that “normal” people are scared to try. Never has his blood disorder been a free pass to quit. Also Team Hoyt – the father/son Ironman heroes. If you haven’t heard about them , look them up on youtube, just be sure to take some tissues. If I can be conceited for a moment, looking back over the things I’ve done inspires me. To know that I can do those things means I can do almost anything!
Do you have any must-have health/beauty/clothing products? I’m typically too cheap to drop much $$$ on gear, but I love BondiBands. Beyond that as far as gear goes, I tend to grab whatever is on sale. I like Gatorade power mix for long runs instead of what they sell premixed – I water it down so I get the benefit of Gatorade without all the calories. I also like like Clif ShotBlocks – I struggled to find something between gu (didn’t like the consistency) and beans (too hard to chew while breathing). I think shot blocks are a good middle ground, plus their yummy. I was treadmilling it over the holidays and asked Jay to bring them to me. He mistook them for fruit snacks and helped himself to a couple. Hope those electrolytes helped for the walk down the stairs!
Name 3 blogs you love to read!
http://cooklaughmove.wordpress.com/ – Katie was the first blogger I ever “met” who was a runner and was my sounding board all through my training for my first half marathon.
http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/ – A hilarious reminder to Christians to not take ourselves too seriously.
http://www.thomasjstanley.com/blog.php – Author of “The Millionaire Next Door” who helps me stay on track for my financial goals.
5 things we don’t already know about you!
1 – When I met my 2nd ever crush, he kissed me – in front of the Mutant. 2 – My first ever crush was on David Hasselhoff. Say what you want – Michael Knight is hawt! 3 – My goal is to have a million dollar net worth before I turn 40 – I’m working on it. 4 – I have such horrible vision I have to squint to see the numbers on my jumbo clock without my contacts.
5 – I served in Memphis to help displaced Katrina victims. My church has a portable laundry, shower trailer and, despite my germ phobia, I spent a week doing laundry for those living in a Memphis school.