Epiphany

Not everything is meant to be okay. Hard times will come to us all. People come and go in our lives. What matters in the end is not what happened, but how we prevail and push through. Life is a magical journey and it's not always about the destination, it's those moments that count and take your breath away. I feel as though I am on my home. Tonight I had a great run, not my old pace, but a new pace which I am equally proud of. With time, practice, and persistence I will push beyond these walls and beat my old running pace. My newest venture in my life, 13 Going on Crazy, has connected me with some amazing people who are examples of not falling to your fears, but instead, disregarding life's limitations and living life to the fullest.

Remember wherever you are, there you go.

Melissa

Race Number 9...Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon Recap

Yesterday I participated in the 14th Annual Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon. Was I ready for race number 9? No! Though it was a beautiful course, due to illness I have not been able to run as much as I would have liked. The Friday prior to the race I started taking a new medication via injection so my thighs were already sore from that making it even harder to run. Am I glad that I participated in this race and honored those who have served our country? Yes! It was a beautiful course in a beautiful city. With every race that I participate I always learn new things about myself and who I am as a runner. I am proud so say that I am strong and determined and will not let anything slow me down!

It's Friday 13.1!!!

At 13 Going on Crazy the number 13 is a VERY lucky number, which got me to thinking about 13 things that I want to accomplish before I turn 30... With 262 days to till I turn the BIG 30, I better get started!!

1. Have the courage to sign-up and train for the Walt Disney World 2013 Goofy Race and a Half Challenge. Yes, I understand that I will actually be 30 years old and 11 days on race day, but that still should count, shouldn't it?
2. Swim with dolphins
3. Stay up all night and see the sunrise, okay maybe just wake up early and see it rise. I don't do well on lack of sleep. 
4. Take a trip in a hot air balloon
5. Run a half marathon sub 2 hours 30 minutes
6. Actually feel happy about my life, even if it is just for a moment
7. Go to a drive-in theatre, do they still exist?
8. See Bruce Springsteen &/or Bob Dylan in concert
9. Go horseback riding on the beach
10. Go scuba diving
11. Take classes in American Sign Language
12. Feed the homeless people soup during a rainy cold day
13. Fall in love & not get my heart broken

I am hoping to hear some very interesting suggestions on what else to add to the list, should I have made it 30 before 30 or stick with lucky 13? I would love it if you'd join me in the madness and come up with your own lists, 25 before 25, 35 after 35, 13 before 2013, whatever get's the blood in your veins flowing! I would love to hear from you. I hope that with this little assignment, we'll inspire each other to stop putting things off and seize the day.

Rember, wherever you are there you go!

You Could Never Have Too Many Goals...

Recently the idea of participating in a Sprint Distance Triathlon was planted in my head. Like the Tea Cups at Disneyland, the idea just keeps on spinning round and round in my head. All the while this idea is spinning inside my head, out of the blue my Mother announced that she would like to make it her personal goal to be healthy and strong enough participate in The Danskin Triathlon this October 2012. With this news I knew that a Mother-Daughter Triathlon was in order! We both have had health issues this winter so when my mother discussed her goal with me, I knew that I too needed to get myself back to the old me and be a stronger healthier version. What better way to motivate regaining ones health and maintaining a healthier lifestyle than training for such an event. 

The Danskin Triathlon Series has eight Races throughout the country. It is the largest women and girls Series in the sport. Sprint distance triathlons (1⁄2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run) that empower women by challenging them in a motivational, supportive, and safe setting with “cheerleaders” every step of the way. Select Races offer a Super Sprint distance option. Participation can be on an individual or Relay Team basis – making them even more first-timer friendly.

Be a part of something bigger than yourself. With eight Races throughout the country there’s no reason not to TRI! We want to help women to get moving. Our “women empowering other women” mentality combined with doable Race distances makes our events extremely first-timer friendly. 

In the spirit of “paying it forward” the Series supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Team Survivor nationally; as well as a local food bank and women’s shelter in each of our Race cities.

All I know is this looks like it is three times the fun of a 5k and my Mom and I are in!! Grab your Mothers, Sisters, Aunts, and BFFS and let's Tri to get healthy!

Check out The Danskin Triathlon Series at www.danskintriathlon.net.

 

Ready, Set, Goal!

Did Mark Remy set himself up to fail? According to Remy’s RW post, his Holiday Running Streak was a mere 5 days old, 2 days shy of a week, when it died. Did he set himself up to fail? Was his goal unrealistic? Are we our own worst enemy? In a world were we perpetually beat ourselves up and set ourselves up to fail, I ask the simple question, why?

I may not know the why, I will leave that one up to Freud, but I believe that behind all unrealistic goals are good intentions, the I will do this or that. Unrealistic goals are the goals that we subconsciously set knowing that they are near impossible to complete. These are those pesky ‘I will’ goals. I too am guilty of this recalling times proclaiming that I will go to the gym everyday, run every day, skip a late night snack, or never eat after 7 pm, not even a grape. Seriously? Committing to never eating after 7pm? What about dessert? Or better yet running every day of the week? What about the day of rest? Who are we kidding? We are not robots who could seriously commit to such rigid life standards.

Rather than continually bang our heads against the wall, though it feels so good when we stop, lets vow to set realistic goals. To make goals more palatable, they need to be ‘I’m able’ goals. These are the goals that we could be successful and achieve in the long run. Committing ourselves to 3 or 4 days of physical activity or even better sharing a dessert rather than skipping because the short hand is seven and the long hand is on the twelve is more realistic.

Recognizing the distinction between the ‘I will’ and ‘I’m able’ goals is the yellow brick road for runners and goal setters alike. Like Dorothy we have goals, though it may not be made of rubies, we need to put our best running shoe forward and head out on our very own yellow brick road.