Get ready for a super long post, y'all. The awesomeness of this gift can't be contained in a short blurb.

When I decided to choose the Super Arbitrary Day exchange, I didn't really know what I was in for. I figured I'd just end up among a pool of people who love RedditGifts as much as myself, and have proven it by doing at least 7 exchanges over the years. A pool of people who, also like me, get maybe too much enjoyment out of Reddit-stalking their giftee and finding something they'll love. What I did NOT expect is that I would get to be one of the RedditGifters that I got so jealous of when browsing the gallery or /r/SecretSanta.

The journey begins with an awesome message from [the then anonymous] SDMusic. It started a la those awesome "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, by giving me three choices of song to listen to while reading the rest of message--if you're wondering, I chose the "Feline, Fantasmical, What the Fuck" option. I wanted to laugh/cry at the same time listening to this, and knew that I was going to like my gifter juuuuuust fine. This was just the beginning of a deep message exchange where SDMusic really got to know me & the things I like. I'm on a health/fitness kick at the moment, and he really took the time to learn about my current progress & future goals. Just the messages alone inspired me to keep up with my running when I felt like skipping a day.

So one lazy Saturday morning, I'm leaving my apartment for a run when I'm met with an awesome surprise at my doorstep--a HUMONGOUS box. SDMusic had told me the incoming box was going to weigh 42lbs, which was already a "HOLY SHIT" inducing tidbit, but finding a 3' x 3' box outside my door was still quite the shock. I dragged it inside and, once I finally wrestled all the tape off of it & managed to get it open, wanted to cry when I saw what was waiting for me. I've seen a couple of gifts where the recipient had to solve a puzzle or post something to Reddit before they received a clue that would lead them to the next part of their gift, and as a puzzle lover, I was always so jealous. So when I saw that I had received a giant box covered in chains and locks, I was unbelievably psyched.

A paper attached to the front of this monstrosity explained that in order to receive the combinations to the locks, I was going to have to complete some tasks. Some will be quick things, others will be long term goals that have to be met.

Task 1: go for a walk/jog/run/anything. Perfect timing, as I was getting ready to do so when I found the box! So I reported my jog to SDMusic via a Nike+ screenshot, and received my first combo, allowing me to open compartment 1!

Inside Box 1: a shit ton of cross stitch thread! Aw hell yeah! Cross stitch is my current favorite craft/hobby, and I've been going through a lot of floss recently, so this replenishes my stores. I love having so many colors on hand so now I don't have to run to the store just to buy one or two at a time only to see that they're sold out of the ones that I need. Along with the floss, my instructions for task 2! Next up, I have to use the thread to make myself an inspirational cross-stitch to help remind me of my goals. I also have to report a full day's of eating/calorie counting--more proof that SDMusic is a total mind reader, as I normally use MyFitnessPal (MFP) but have been totally slacking recently & definitely needed this as a kick in the butt to stop cheating & get back to tracking my foods accurately!

Task 2: make myself an inspirational cross stitch, and track food for a day. Done and done. There was a quote I had been wanting to stitch for a while and realized it could totally serve as some anti-binge inspiration, so I finally got around to doing it! If you're not familiar with Heavyweights, one of the greatest movies ever, I highly recommend you check it out--my chosen quote as seen in the pictures here is one of my favorite lines from the film. I also sent a screenshot of my food tracking from MFP directly to SDMusic--not gonna bore you all with my food choices. With both parts of the task complete, I was given access to box 2!

Inside Box 2: A new cookbook, and some workout socks! I enjoy cooking but am pretty lazy about it sometimes, and am often guilty of cooking pre-made/frozen stuff and nothing else for dinner. In fact, I was just recently being teased by friends because I told them I will cook a piece of chicken and just eat it maybe with some BBQ sauce and no other seasonings. So this cookbook will be awesome because it will help me ACTUALLY cook stuff but also make sure I'm keeping it low calories! And I've been wearing the same terrible socks for working out for maybe 5-6 years now (I honestly don't know how they've lasted this long), so these socks are a much needed upgrade.

Task 3: As expected, along with the last box opening came my new instructions! To open box 3, I will have to complete 3 tasks (hmm, a pattern seems to be forming here). First, I have to calculate my Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and my Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE). This was pretty helpful because I had been kind of blindly following the calorie recommendations given to me by MFP, and now I feel like I understand them more. Part 2 was to make a meal from my new cookbook & track my food intake for the day. As soon as I saw the pictures of calzones in the cookbook I knew I had to eat them, so that was my recipe of choice. And holy crap are they delicious. I want to eat them every day. I tracked my day & sent my numbers on to SDMusic. The final piece of this task was to exercise! I put my new socks to the test, and holy crap, I forgot that socks can have cushioning and be comfortable rather than just be something to keep your bare foot from touching the inside of shoes. On a different day than the one for the picture I posted, after eating a calzone for dinner and wearing my new Super Socks, the first mile of my run was ~2 minutes faster than my usual pace. BLACK MAGIC. And piecing all of the parts of the task together: baseline of calories burned + food calories - exercise calories = tah-dah! Your calorie total for the day.

Inside Box 3: Seriously, /u/SDMusic is a mind reader. Both of these things were things I wanted but hadn't gotten around to getting for myself yet. It's super hot down here in the south, but I stay away from shorts when I jog because they ride up like crazy and I don't want to be constantly pulling at my clothes when I'm running. This is probably because all of the shorts I have are terrible, and not actual running shorts. So what did my awesome gifter do? He sent me LEGIT. RUNNING. SHORTS. They fit but are still a little snug, so I haven't worn them out yet, but I can tell just from jogging around my apartment like an idiot that they won't ride up when I run. BUT, thanks in large part to this awesome motivating gift experience, I'm finally breaking the plateau I've been at forever & am currently at my lowest weight since I started tracking ~1.5 years ago, so these shorts are well on their way to being worn by the end of the summer, don't you worry! He also included a water bottle specifically for running, made so you can just wear it on your hand & not have to grip anything. There's only one water fountain location on the trail I use within the distance I can cover in one run, so I'm stuck covering that same path every time because I didn't want to deal with the hassle of carrying a water bottle. With this baby I have already covered sections of the trail I've never gotten to go on before because I provide my own hydration now, damn it! It also has a pocket where I can put my phone & keys & such, so it basically made running other, more exciting places a lot easier for me.

Task 4: The initial task was to complete a 5k, but since I am AWESOME and had already done one, it was upped to running three of them in a week, alternating 5k days & rest days. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. I normally try to do at least one 5k a week, so this was definitely a step up for me. Even though I had to do one on the treadmill, which I dislike a lot more than the great outdoors, I did it, and got some of the best times/paces I've ever had as well. THE MOTIVATIONAL GIFT IS WORKING!

Officially at the halfway point. To be continued...

Inside Box 4: So it's been a while. A very long while. But I'm back! Due to some important school stuff I had earlier this summer I basically put my running progress on hold for the month of August, then a lot of traveling I did over September/October continued to kill my motivation. But now it's colder outside & I LOVE it, so it's been a lot easier to get back out there on the trail recently. Anyways, on to the gifts!

I opened box 4 to find even more awesome running gear--an Under Armour tank top (in a size smaller than what I wear, you sneaky SDMusic, you) & more cushiony socks that continue to remind me how awful the socks I used to use to run in were. The tank top is just the right size to currently "fit" on me in that I can physically get it on/know it's possible I can wear it, but looks terrible enough that I am motivated to lose more weight, haha. Can't wait until I can confidently wear it out to run in!

Task 5: As expected, this task is by FAR the most difficult yet. My new job is to run a 5k... IN 33 MINUTES. Dun dun DUNNNNNN. I was pretty discouraged upon initially seeing this goal because the fastest 5k I ever ran was months & months ago, and was something over 43min, so the thought of shaving 10min off of my time was pretty intimidating (especially knowing that I was taking some time off of running). But I'm finally back at it, and just today, ran my first full 5k in ages--at a time just over 42min, making it the fastest 5k time I have ever recorded on Nike+. Awwwww yeaaah. So it will still probably be a few months (difficult ones at that, as the fact that it is now dark outside before I even leave work means I'll have to do a lot of treadmill running), but I'm at least moving in the right direction & on the way to getting into those last two boxes!