Happy First Blogaversary to ME!

Yes, it is true, it has been a year since my first post, and I think I really dig this whole blog thing! I mean, I get to write, I find myself entertaining, and sometimes my readers agree...

We've come a long way, done quite a few events and races I didn't think I would be capable of, had experiences I wouldn't have imagined, and I look forward to sharing all my adventures and mishaps with you for a long time to come...

So to celebrate, I have just a little something special for 1 lucky reader. If you love free stuff, which I know I do, visit my Blogaversary Giveaway & enter today!

If Confidence Fits...

Lately, I've been thinking about what confidence means to me. Confidence has always been something I have struggled with. I often wonder why it is I would question my own abilities to do anything. It was more of an issue when I was younger, and yet I have always wondered why am I afraid to fail? It's crazy because deep down I know I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. It's that evil doubt that creeps into my mind and starts making me question myself. I have proved this time and time again (not to toot my own horn by any means) with each challenge that comes to me, or I seem to find myself a part of, I come through. I may not always be perfect, I do stumble, and there are times where I fall, but confidence isn't about never failing, it's about getting back up and trying again.
How successful can someone be if they never fail?
I would say in the past year, I have done things that I just didn't think I would be able to, I do fear the unknown. I feel anxious and scared to try new things, go places I never have and get involved in situations where I may just not be the best. It reminds me when I used to tell my son, You can't quit because it's hard, you have to learn from the experiences of trying.

In the past year, I have run distances I once thought were too far, completed a sprint triathlon (which included an ocean swim), knowing I'd likely be last, and was determined to do so much more with my running than just show up, I was going to do good work, and benefit someone besides myself. If you ever wonder what it is you are meant to do in life, don't think of it as one big thing, but maybe a bunch of little things that scare you...

"I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else.
I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be."
~ Ken Venturi
So how does one gain confidence? I guess the first step would be to determine why it is you think you cannot do something, then do it anyway. If you tell yourself you could never do, see, accomplish, then you will be always be right, 100% of the time. I never thought I'd run a half marathon, or complete a triathlon, or an 8+ mile obstacle run. I never thought I'd want to, but it was more likely I feared that I would fail - so it was easier to avoid it by simply denouncing the notion that I wanted to even try.


"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each
experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face...
we must do that which we think we cannot."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt  

So here I am, while this post was started days ago, I sit in the Atlanta airport, waiting to board my flight to Anaheim, CA. I will be meeting new people, seeing Disneyland for the first time in my life, and running my second half marathon. I know I will have fun, once I am there. I am also thinking about leaving my family for a few days, and I know they will be fine, I will miss them. 

I am confident that this experience will be so wonderful. I am confident that I will enjoy myself and I a confident that I will be bringing home some pixie dust for my little angel. Anyway, confidence is not something easily gained, but seemingly easy to lose. We have to see a situation, be realistic in our goals and expectations, and celebrate our little triumphs and collect them within ourselves...that is how I think confidence works, we have to build it through experiences over time... sounds like a math equation huh? 

 

Winter Run? It's 60 Degrees!

This is my 5th year doing the North Myrtle Beach Winter Run, but this year instead of the 5k, I opted for the 15k. I specifically remember last year feeling like the people who chose to run 9.3 miles were probably at least twice as crazy (if not 3 times!) but then again, last year this time I was 8 weeks postpardum. I really can't believe how fast time flies, another year already?

I admit, I was a little nervous, this was my first 15k. In the wise words of my dear friend Sarah, "Hey you will PR today!" - that was like music to my ears! She was right, my first 15k means my best 15k time…But I was nervous for 2 reasons, 1 - I haven't exactly been training for the Half I have next weekend. Tsk Tsk…I know. 2 - I didn't want to hurt myself before the Tink 1/2…. Since I haven't run more than 5 miles since my last Half in October, all I could think about was twisting, rolling or pulling something major. That and I guess you can say, I kinda suck at the long run. I know, I know, I need to train more, I need to figure out the whole hydration and nutrition thing, I am definitely not the best role model for distance running, or maybe any running… Maybe I will pledge to try harder, and really work on a training plan or at least the sticking to it part.

I was pretty excited to see that Mother Nature was going to take it easy on us this year. Usually it is freezing or raining, or worse - both! This year, it was overcast, breezy and about 60 degrees! I almost didn't know what to do…run with the jacket or without? Where would I put my gummy lifesavers? I can't wear my arm sleeve for my iPod, in case the jacket has to come off… see I don't have these issues with a 5k!

I figured it all out, iPod is clipped to my sports bra, gummies are in my jacket pocket, and I will just tie it around my waist when I was getting too warm. My attire for today was driven by my latest Schwaggle purchase from PRO Compression - I had to choose between purple and lime green, decisions, decisions… Lime it was! I love these socks, there is something about running in compression socks… My calves didn't cramp or feel tired…love, love, love.

Now, lets talk hills (which again, I am in Myrtle Beach, so it's not like Mt. Everest) - I wasn't expecting any change in elevation but at 1.3 miles in and again at 4.5 miles, I was shuffling up hills. It was crazy because even with hills, I felt pretty friggen awesome. I was so worried that I would crap the bed halfway in but I didn't - I just kept telling myself, you are half way there, no problem, its just 3 more miles, you are doing great, you got this… When I hit Ocean Blvd I was greeted with what felt like tropical storm force winds. At first the run was breezy but nothing to severe. As if the last 1.5 miles wasn't going to be challenging enough, here are the headwinds from hell. YAY! My time took a nose dive, but I just had to keep pushing through it… I remember when I ran my first half back in October and I was struggling so bad around 8 miles; my shoes, my foot, my spirits were just not 100%. I honestly think this race has helped me realize that I can do this, and it's not as hard as it was before, it can only get better from here.

In other crazy running mom news - I registered for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon. So this will make my race schedule 3 Halfs in 28 days! Half Fanatics here I come!!!

National Running Day!

Happy National Running Day!!! I am so excited about today, I know if you are not a 'runner' you are probably wondering why - right? Well to be honest, any day that celebrates physical activity is a good day in my book... I am excited to see what kind of turn out we will have tonight. Heather created an event on facebook and then I posted an article which is featured on a local online community news site called TheDigitel.com. I guess I just wanted to get the word out that this is happening and I want everyone who can come, to show up and move!

It seems like I have a lot of balls in the air right now... almost consumed by motivating and being motivated to be active and live healthier... It's one of those feelings of overwhelmed happy - if that makes sense? I have people to call, email, confer with... as well as studying to do - that Health Fitness Specialist exam is on the 17th - 16 days to be exact!

Remember when this last semester was coming to an end and I thought, "what will I do with all my 'free' time"? Well here it is... I am trying to create a huge event in the Myrtle Beach area for September, really commit to my own physical activity routine, oh and I just signed up to be an Independent Beachbody Coach to help others on their journey... so lacking things to do - doesn't seem to be an issue!

I want to take a moment to thank my wonderful husband who says he loves that I am always going a million miles an hour, because without his support, I couldn't do all that I do...I love you Stephen!

Another goal set in motion...

So anyone who knows me, knows, I am always thinking about what's next... it's a blessing, and a curse. Anyway, after talking to Heather, post running clinic, I was committed to register for my certification exam. See we have big plans, not to be too vague right now, but trust me, we are conspiring something fabulous! Last night, we decided to set a deadline on our exam, end of May we are going to sit for the ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist exam! So today, feeling like the semester is over and I have a little free time (depends on who you ask really), I did it... I registered. Friday, May 27th, at 1:00pm, I will test my knowledge, I will prove that the past too many years of studying have been worth something, and my 3.938 GPA means more than 3.938...lol

Now, well - I am nervous. What if I fail? What if I completely blank, choke, lose it? I know, I can't think like that... I am pretty smart, I know my stuff... and yet I worry about it. Worry is like paying interest on a loan you haven't taken, at least that's what I keep telling myself. I thought though, maybe I should keep it to myself, because if I do fail, people are going to ask me how it went and then I will have to admit failure... I guess then failure is NOT an option!?!?

I suppose if I let the thought of failing preclude me from putting my plans for the future into motion, well I would still be single, living with my mom (yikes!) and maybe not even potty trained? hahaha ok, lets not get crazy, I love my mom but seriously, could not live with her.

We cannot live in fear of what we may fall short of achieving, otherwise we would surely never achieve. So, I have my stack of study materials and I am going to make the time to review all this information I have been exposed to in the past 3+ years, and proceed confidently.

Lets face it, if I didn't worry about not achieving this goal, I would have to question if my goal was worth achieving...