tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24096867246815020602024-03-14T11:39:08.092-04:00Running YellowAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-29811557634422789172018-10-30T22:13:00.000-04:002018-10-30T22:13:20.865-04:00TCS New York Marathon, Team Fox, and Me I need to start this off with a heartbreaking (at least to me) announcement. I will not be able to run the 2018 New York Marathon. I have had too many injuries and health issues to train for this marathon. I know that I could run with hardly any training (the Grandma Marathon), but I didn’t want to go through that again. Also, I feel that the New York Marathon deserves more respect than that. I have dreamed about running New York for years and I want to do it right! I plan on doing it right.<br />
I have already been guaranteed a spot on the 2019 Team Fox Running Team for New York.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Team I am running with/for: I am running to raise money for The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Team Fox. I love this foundation! Team Fox is amazing and I am proud to be a member. This group has been supportive beyond my wildest dreams. This is one of the few charity groups where <b>all</b> of the money raised goes toward research. I have friends and co-workers who have been directly affected by Parkinson's, so this is personal.<br />
I need to make a confession...if you know me, you will understand why this is hard for me to say…. I suck at raising money. I have made a large commitment to this foundation and I have not made a dent in what I agreed to raise. I am asking for friends, strangers, co-workers, family members and business owners for help. I need donations or what I am really asking for is sponsorship. I will do anything (almost) to get your support. I will wear a dress to work, sing a song for the whole internet, babysit your kids, do your laundry, do any dance you can think of on YouTube, wash your car, decorate your house for Christmas or whatever you can think of! Yes, I know what I am saying, but I can’t do this without your help. I will also run the hell out of the New York City Marathon. I will proudly put your name on my marathon shirt!<br />
I know that I have not kept up very well with my running blog… most of you probably didn’t even know I had one. Well, I DO! I am committing myself to spending this next year journaling my running life on my way to the best marathon I have ever run, NEW YORK CITY, Baby! My goal for this marathon is… start over. I am going to train in a completely different way. I want to finish in 5 hours. I have been a sllllllloooooowww runner in the past. I have a year to change that. I am going to completely change my training and I want to write about it. The deal is I would love for everyone to read about it, maybe learn something….maybe get some inspiration from me and my journey….or maybe just laugh a little.<br />
Below is the link to my fundraising page. Please just take a look and sponsor me in my endeavor and also help get rid of Parkinsons! Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/tcs-nyc-marathon-2018/RunningYellow" target="_blank">Running Yellow Team Fox</a><br />
<br />
Running is a Gift!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-17443298435241178142016-11-05T23:48:00.000-04:002016-11-05T23:55:02.588-04:00Running Perspective<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I “beat the bridge” and I conquered the
MCM 2016!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had an absolutely amazing
weekend in DC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This race was important
for so many reasons (to me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may
sound cliché but I believe it in every way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This race changed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The change
was small but extremely significant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have already posted about how the training for this race changed me, but the
race itself created some changes in perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are things about that day that I could
never put into words, so I am just going to keep those in my hear<o:p></o:p>t.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8voxpj5JiVjoXWaYhTb59yzUPRyJGrmYxFmTUCahOOoTRtKE8zDZyyYqElPzUUnHURzfc3NaQMVq3D6Hsob_H7aI2B8MMYknzKngcxyOCMP9A72izwZASzxwfqyaQjF3acAO5aRJX_CQ/s1600/IMG_3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8voxpj5JiVjoXWaYhTb59yzUPRyJGrmYxFmTUCahOOoTRtKE8zDZyyYqElPzUUnHURzfc3NaQMVq3D6Hsob_H7aI2B8MMYknzKngcxyOCMP9A72izwZASzxwfqyaQjF3acAO5aRJX_CQ/s320/IMG_3040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Please keep in mind that these are observations are from me
and should be taken in that context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were several different types of runners that ran with me on
Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were the runners, who
would finish the race in the same amount of time that most people run a half
marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These runners are serious and
I have to be honest I don’t know any runners like this and I don’t really
understand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just going to move
on……There are the runners who are considered the average marathon runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They run a marathon a little faster and avoid
most injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am trying very hard to
work my way into this group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
runners finish any where from 4 hours to 5 ½ hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look up to these runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These runners inspire me and challenge me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also show me that IT is possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of my running friends are in this group
and I have so much respect and love for them. I ran the first half of the MCM
with these runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, I was in
the back half of this pack but I was with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then there is my group of runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These runners are all heart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what we lack physically, by injury,
physical exhaustion or age we make up for in heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran the second half of the race with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the runners who will not
quit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never see these runners
stopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are always moving
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me tell you a little bit
more about these runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These runners
are people who started with the goal to finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of them wanted to finish stronger, but their bodies had other
plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heart that these runners have
is one of the most inspiring things I have ever experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to try very hard to put into words
the truly amazing things I saw Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hope I can do them justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was a couple running in my group of runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to have been in their 70’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wife was running at a steady pace, but
her companion was struggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would
run a short distance and then walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
wife (I assume that is who she was) would run back to check on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet she ran 36 miles by the end of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could tell that this was not what he was
accustomed to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a Runner and he
was in disbelief that his body was revolting like it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He began to voice his frustration by saying
things like “I used to be a runner and now I am just a damn walker” or “this is
stupid, I should just quit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally
looked at him and asked him why he was even out here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked him to look around, did he see anyone
who wasn’t giving it everything they had?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He teared up a little and continued with everything he had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never said another negative word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finished that race and I hope he was proud
of himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Around mile 24, I noticed a woman who was bent over at the
waist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her legs were moving but it was
like the top half of her body had just folded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was obvious that she was in pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know if the pain was from injury or exhaustion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched her for a few minutes kind of
confused as to why she wouldn’t just stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then out of nowhere came two women, who I assume were her friends, and
she put her arms around their shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These three women moved forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They didn’t let that woman stop even though they were exhausted too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I offered to help carry her, but they didn’t
want my help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s heart!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I saw a man who was limping so severely that I hurt for
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw a woman incredibly overweight,
who was running as fast as she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was on a mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw a lot
of heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was running and
concentrating so hard on just keeping my legs moving, when I heard someone say
excuse me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked back and saw a woman
about my age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slowed down and got even
with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at me and said “you
have been an inspiration to me most of this race.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at her and thought “ME?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was confused, why on earth would she say
that to me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She continued saying “I have
been looking at the back of your shirt.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(I was wearing a yellow tank top… on the back it says “never give up”
and “it takes all you got”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she
explained that the saying on my shirt and the fact that I never stopped, kept
her going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was blown away by
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have thought about this a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never considered myself an
inspiration, until a complete stranger from Iowa told me.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">You never know who is looking to you for inspiration, so all
you can do is put your heart into it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span><br />
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYGe3BEpu3Agza5VlbaFiZKXWnQ4VK761-5v5O2TXoc0oJiGKcGKtIfqM7nknLZzMtusLsuY72QW8wFOVWOfomWMXxkiCmcQrBYO9sMsKAQmR6LdchpmpKx4WlZPPTHfW8t3SorHHd0E/s1600/IMG_3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYGe3BEpu3Agza5VlbaFiZKXWnQ4VK761-5v5O2TXoc0oJiGKcGKtIfqM7nknLZzMtusLsuY72QW8wFOVWOfomWMXxkiCmcQrBYO9sMsKAQmR6LdchpmpKx4WlZPPTHfW8t3SorHHd0E/s320/IMG_3061.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Every person, who runs a marathon, has
a personal goal that they are reaching for. That goal maybe a PR,
conquering a fear, proving you are a badass, or just to finish something that
less than 1% of the population of the USA ever has. Running a marathon
takes a lot of hard work and a lot of heart. I am grateful to the people
who ran the MCM 2016 for changing my perspective. On to the next adventure....
</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyh2vafPZ3pHF8MugpCG-_Url-lJP63F4s2x2YrxxdWaGCLnHxhuyTcQvuUP1EUfFXtgfSO_jQUjfc_QbVhBuF1X9uxzxKLyJaCdKe7PyyjIY5HCPC8h7w7jcEcOH6KMoJmn9USK9euM/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyh2vafPZ3pHF8MugpCG-_Url-lJP63F4s2x2YrxxdWaGCLnHxhuyTcQvuUP1EUfFXtgfSO_jQUjfc_QbVhBuF1X9uxzxKLyJaCdKe7PyyjIY5HCPC8h7w7jcEcOH6KMoJmn9USK9euM/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> Side note:
I have a good friend, who is running the New York City Marathon in the
morning. Enjoy yourself and never take the experience for granted.
Jenn, RUN YOUR ASS OFF!!!!!!</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-49372135772712062592016-10-28T07:00:00.000-04:002016-10-28T07:10:19.432-04:00Grateful<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Today I fly out
and head to DC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am both excited and
nervous, which is half of the fun of a marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also get to see my best friend!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ok, now down to the reason for this post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mentioned in my last post that I would be
creating a list of the 26 things I am most grateful for, one for each
mile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have come up with my list and I
am excited about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are not in
any order of importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I am grateful for…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 1 – Running
and all of it’s challenges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 2 – Kanon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 3 – My high
school friends and My college friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 4 – My Boos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 5 – My family
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 6 – All of
the hard times I have experienced (they made me)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 7 – God <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 8 – My
self-doubt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 9 – My
confidence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 10 – Music
and books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 11 – The
ability to see beauty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 12 – The
friends who have stuck by me and never judged me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 13 – Amy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 14 – The
children I get to introduce Art to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 15 – God
making me a lesbian (and sexy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 16 – Laughter
and Tears<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 17 – Sarra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 18 – This
moment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 19 – Beating
The Bridge!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 20 – Fear
(overcoming it and embracing it)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 21 - Gina<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 22 –
Understanding that I can do anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 23 – The
runners beside me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 24 – Sami,
Fletch, and Andrew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 25 –
Overcoming depression and anxiety<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Mile 26 – This
being the Last MILE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">.2 – for the
people who fought for this country and gave me the freedom to run this race<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">There
is my list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you run a race like
this it is easy to only think about yourself and how you feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The race can become all about you, the miles
behind, and the miles ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably
will not be able to not think about that, but I don’t want to take this
experience or adventure for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am grateful for the life I have led so far and the life I am going to lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if I will ever have another
opportunity to do another marathon, so I want this one to mean something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I
have set up an instagram account (kcannon6017) and you can follow me through
out the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be posting
pictures the whole weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also will
post after the marathon to let everyone know how I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for all of the support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See you on the other side of the BRIDGE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-66395608471807463442016-10-22T09:25:00.000-04:002016-10-28T07:09:36.461-04:0026 Things<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 more days! This thought hit me like a punch in the chest this morning. 7 days from today I will be in DC running 26.2 miles. This both excites me and scares me at the same time. I have to be honest, it is an intense high. I love it! I am really excited because this will be my first major race. The MCM is one that thousands of people are dying to do. I was picked to attempt it out of thousands. I can’t wait to feel that excitement, the energy in the air is going to be awesome! Don’t get me wrong, I still have the same anxieties and fears about this race. I think that is normal. Earlier this week I almost let that steal this excitement that I feel, but a thought creeped in during one of these moment stealing events. I have been given a gift: I CAN run, There is NOTHING preventing me from running. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Running is a gift. Think about that for a second… there are so many things in life we take for granted. There are people in this world, who would run 50 marathons, if only they could. The thing that I take for granted is something they can’t do. It is not about having the endurance or the mental strength, they physically can’t. All of the runners out there, imagine that you woke up tomorrow and your legs couldn’t run anymore. I often think about the people whose ability to run was stolen from them that day in Boston. They were approaching the finish of a marathon and suddenly their lives changed. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have people in my life who can’t run and never will be able to. I feel like an ass when I talk about how slow I am or if I can beat some bridge. I take running for granted. There is a little boy, who has my heart. He is just starting his life and he will never be able to run like I do. As much as I hate this fact, there is nothing I can do to change this. All I can do is pray that HE finds his own passion and doesn’t ever take it for granted. I promise this little guy that I will do everything in my power to never again take running for granted. I wear his name on my shoe when I run and I will have his name under my running tattoo next Sunday.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1727.JPG" height="249" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/v6rpamivyw2PG6zbDe93ErDG0PorbRGtBJNdwcJRJ_5WttFMYaD4lqg5_e9oIgKduy96T1wg6f9q_sDrTUkIYVAfYus430kk32e-EmdrfTLXJIqTNUNtANy7s_gYW8Iaxwb3CBat" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="186" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are a lot of things that we all take for granted: a roof over our head, food in our refrigerator, cars, jobs, education, family etc… I can only speak for me, but I don’t want to lose something before I realize how important it is or was to me. I especially don’t want my wonderful life to end and not to have thanked God for everything I have. I want to live a life where I don’t spend anymore time taking things for granted. I want to explore what life has to offer, the things I have never had the courage to try. What do I have to lose by trying? The real question is what do I lose if I don’t try?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I find myself worrying about things and becoming consumed with what ifs. I really don’t want to waste anymore time on that. I am a realist though. This a habit that I have to break. I want to be grateful for every breath that I take. There is only one way to do that, PRACTICE. I am going to take this marathon and use it to help change the way I think. I am going to spend this week realizing 26 things that I am grateful for. I will spend each corresponding mile focusing on how grateful I am for that blessing. I want God and everyone to know what I am grateful for. Before I leave for DC on Friday I will post those 26 things. If you want to do the same I will run those 26 miles for you too, so you can be grateful and realize how blessed you are as well. </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-13e00e31-ec8a-000a-cd48-9ddbbb294046"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life (running) is amazing and we all need to break through fears and conquer fear before it is all gone. I am realizing that the true way to happiness and fulfillment is to thank God everyday for all of your life. Let’s not wait until it is all gone. We need to embrace our lives!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-4523705949748629872016-10-06T09:19:00.001-04:002016-10-06T09:19:33.138-04:00Beat The Bridge<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> Sorry I am a little late with this post, time got away from me.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Let me
catch you up a little on my marathon training progress.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">This past Sunday, I ran……17 Miles!!!</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The most awesome part was that I could walk
the next day.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I had a little soreness
but the only real pain I had was in my shoulder (don’t ask because I don’t
know).</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I have proven to myself that I
can run 26.2 Miles again.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> there is still</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> something that scares the shit out of me.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Something I
think about all day long.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">It is always
in my brain.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Can I "beat the bridge"??</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">In the Marine Corp Marathon you have to “beat
the bridge” to be able to continue and finish to get your medal.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">To “beat the bridge” you must completely
cross the 14th street Bridge by 1:15 PM.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">
</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">So many things scare me about this.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Can I "beat the bridge"?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do know that I need to turn my thinking
around about this stupid bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far,
all I can think about is not beating the bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have spent very little time thinking about
actually beating the damn thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
known fact that I have spent most of my life being the glass is half empty kind
of girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to change that, not only
in my running, but also in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
going to use this wonderful writing outlet to put all of my doubts and fears on
the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I guess I should start with my biggest
fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am terrified of not “beating the
bridge” and having to go home with not having accomplished my goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, I am afraid to fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get a stomachache when I think about people
asking me “did you finish?” and having to say “No”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand in theory that my friends and
family won’t hold it against me, but I would hold it against myself so why
wouldn’t they.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may sound silly and
a little crazy, but it is a real fear in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have spent most of my life making sure I
didn’t do anything that I could result in a flat failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has only been recently that I have made a
conscience effort to force myself out of that thought process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still it is a hard habit to break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This leaves me with two choices:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quit or Try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If I am completely honest with myself…..
I am a little concerned about not pushing myself hard enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I mean is that I constantly ask myself “am
I working hard enough”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are more days than not that I say no to
that question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know there is another
level to my effort, my ability and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am just at a loss as how to achieve it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust
me when I say this, I spend a lot of time reading articles and books about
running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am constantly trying to find
that insight that will change my whole running lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is almost my answer for everything,
READING.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I have a problem, that is
always my first instinct, to read a book on the topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is very hard for me to say…..reading
about running has not worked to push me harder, run faster or cure all my
mental fears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people who know me
will understand that took a lot for me to admit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again, I have to look inside and find
these answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sigh…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a thing I have talked about
before, but I have to mention it briefly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What if I am just not good enough at running to a</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">ctually “beat the
bridge”?</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">What if no matter how hard I
train, try to think positive thoughts I can’t do it?</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">As I am writing this, I see that is crap and
not true at all.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I am not even going to
continue this paragraph because that just isn’t true.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that I have put my fears on the table, I
need to face them and spit in fear’s face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I don’t “beat the bridge”, I won’t die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t be fired from my job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family will not avoid my calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not have friends’ unfriend me on facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I look at it like that what do I have to
lose?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing that really matters. Now
if I quit and don’t try as hard as I can….. I will lose a lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will lose respect for myself; I would have
a hard time living with quitting. I vow to everyone reading this I will fail
way before I EVER quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I injured myself
in my first marathon, couldn’t run at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t quit I walked as hard as I could for 10 Miles because there was
no way I was going to look at my Dad and tell him I quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was not acceptable, quitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong quitting because of a
major injury is the smart thing to do, but I am not always smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am stubborn though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I read a quote the other day (it was on
my daily running calendar) and I have thought about that quote all week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said, </span><span style="font-family: "\22 comic sans ms\22 ";">“Running a marathon is not a physical challenge, it is a mental one.”</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> This statement is so true.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I know from talking to many people who have
run a marathon.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">There comes a point with
all of us where you have to be stronger mentally than you ever have to be
physically.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I have two good friends,
who say something to me all the time…”I wish you could see yourself through our
eyes.”</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I say that I am going to
try.</span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Here is my declaration!!!!!!:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I will
only be positive (about everything).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Time to try being a glass is half full girl for a while<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will work on concentrating on having
success instead of failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will make “I will BEAT THE BRIDGE!” my new
mantra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-73835916971876086252016-09-17T12:29:00.000-04:002016-09-17T12:29:02.217-04:00I Am Not A Runner, But My Best Friend Is.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Last week after my post, I ran 11 miles! Writing those words seems to have broken my runner’s block, so now I am wondering if this writing thing is a kind of magic. What if writing is some magical way of breaking all kind of bad habits or ways of thinking? I am thinking of putting this magical theory to the test. Why not? It can’t hurt... </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have run in 1 marathon, 3 half marathons, 4 10ks, and 5 5ks. I still don’t think of myself as a runner most of the time. When I drive my daughter to swimming, I see all of these people running and I actually find myself getting jealous. I find myself thinking “Damn, I wish I could do that.” Then it hits me. I do that a lot! I am so impressed by runners and have so much respect for them. Why don’t I give myself that same respect? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have a bad habit of comparing myself, in many ways, to other people. This is not a very productive way of living. Using this way of measuring your life bases your good/bad mood, your happiness, and the way you look at yourself on how you compare to someone else. This is a really good way to live if you want to ALWAYS feel inferior to someone else. This isn’t fair to yourself and it isn't fair to the one you always compare yourself to. When it comes to running, I always compare myself to my best friend, Amy. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Amy is a fantastic runner. Her drive, endurance and heart is amazing. I started seriously running because of a snowy afternoon on Amy’s couch. We were both stuck in our lives and needed a change. We decided to train and run a half marathon in Disney. We started training and we DID run that half. In many ways that experience changed both of us. God brought the two of us together to be each other’s Heroes. We have used each other to go beyond what we ever thought what was possible. That being said, I always think of her as a better runner, a faster runner, a “real” runner. In other words, I make myself feel inferior to her when we run. Why would I do that????</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="2014110895185543.jpg" height="267" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Lpxjbj5Xkhr3VfzwRqStFfamGn-SB8KxY8NPmW1AQnvVBQaBYsGan6WXY_N2XnL9NxzKPSJ7uUjgOCJWftLDeK-R4JWBwPvtsFTRUmsyVM2eqjXxlU0FNxRENxuPZlS4KQ1MhsEw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="150" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Screenshot_2014-11-08-14-28-34.jpg" height="267" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xOVERqxd7LZDwNVQRQI5QuMx-70lQdgbpMFjm00uOGa4hew3jUHOca33x6C8nHIz-hEwIFQNWK0VRIx-U1e9dBmwzFzDAYOcIQqIgYEAXZvNebfWIl5tuKjmn4XjE-Lk_HDnJEwj" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="154" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me start off by making this very clear. Amy has NEVER made me feel this way. She has been so supportive and is always my biggest cheerleader. Now back to me, I am a slower runner than Amy. There is nothing wrong with that. We are different people. I had a realization the other day, I have never allowed myself to even consider the fact that I could run as fast as Amy. I have a stamp in my brain, that I put there without even realizing it, that said “Kris can’t run fast.” That stamp has become a fact in my brain. There is no evidence to back this up, because I have already convinced myself that fast or even faster was even possible. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I need to clarify the word “fast.” I am a slow runner and would love to be an 11 minute mile person. That would be my fast. The only reason that seems so hard to me is because I have compared myself into creating limitations that are not really there. I feel inferior to Amy and other runners because that gives me an excuse to use these limitations. It is scary to face limitations. Especially false ones! This limitation I have placed on myself gives me an excuse. I have said before that I have always been an underachiever. This is one of the reasons why. I place limitations and use the word “can’t” a lot.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ok, let’s see if this magical writing thing really works…..</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am going to use this marathon, this next year and this “magical writing” to break these old habits and limitations. The truth is, I don’t know how fast I can run a mile because every run is different and I don’t know my full potential. I am betting that I can achieve my goal of a mile in 11 mins. I don’t know if that is what I should be running. I am not anyone but Kris. I am right now throwing away my limitations and only concentrating on my success. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_1148.JPG" height="347" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bG_0ITSi65QH15rVqVFtgIR-Wg7hvjVqQyQF2qxij-jOIcsRrVhN4ZNpDjjFBpxHM51Q9s0I-ZI3b-10VjNDDBjLXQnOLrbrEQgUCVch2VN93PEToDQ0I7GEsuUUBeaGUQHdLdj0" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="261" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am a badass woman, who has crossed the finish line in a marathon, half marathons, 10ks, and 5ks . I have logged over a thousand training miles. I have no limitations! </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Amy, I release you from being my mirror. I look nothing like you! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-41927014894598412672016-09-10T17:09:00.000-04:002016-09-10T19:02:42.192-04:00Runner's Block<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="clear: right; float: right; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a question that a runner gets asked by people all the time. “Why on earth do you run? I don’t run unless someone is chasing me.” “I hate to run! Why do you do it?” Every runner has heard these and many more questions like them. I have never thought too much about the questions until now. I have hit a wall or a runner’s block. My sister is a writer and she has talked about the writer’s block. I say to her what a lot of people probably do “hang in there” or “all you have to do is work through it”. This seemed like a logical thing to say. The problem is that it is crap! Actually, the truth is that there is nothing I can say to help her. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am running the Marine Corp Marathon on Oct 30. I wanted into that race so badly. I submitted my name to the lottery and got in. I was so excited. I started training and then something awful happened… I hit a runner’s block! I am not running well, I have lost my focus and I am not enjoying it. WTF! I am getting ready to run in this awesome race and I have no desire right now to run. I have tried the advice that I gave my sister. I have hung in there and tried really hard to work through it. I have read every book I can find. Nothing has worked. I keep trying to figure out what is going on and then it hit me. I have forgotten why I am running in the first place. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why am I running? What about running used to make me so happy? What am I so afraid of? These are the questions that I have to answer. I have to put all the bullshit aside, open up and answer those questions..and here’s the the biggest part...I have to be honest with myself. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/phcEEbfMEyMSUFyJMMitKwp-V9ZxHzud-cXvJdIvZ8g7Ox59poTh5zxQkTnKvfcuOHfL35XMzHDqdqUhA8FPHcs62gg4XoO1B1uQE_T4IsWtE4-3O4F55DVhJ12HinO3RwyYyST9" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flying Pig.jpg" border="0" height="181" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/phcEEbfMEyMSUFyJMMitKwp-V9ZxHzud-cXvJdIvZ8g7Ox59poTh5zxQkTnKvfcuOHfL35XMzHDqdqUhA8FPHcs62gg4XoO1B1uQE_T4IsWtE4-3O4F55DVhJ12HinO3RwyYyST9" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="321" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In May 2015, I ran the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati. This was a hard marathon for me. What I mean is that I hurt my knee at Mile 17 and I was in major pain for the last 10 miles. My knee was swollen and yelling at me to stop. I discovered that I could push myself farther than I ever thought possible. I didn’t finish in a great time, but when I crossed that finish line I had become a different person. I came up with a motto for myself after that race… “If I can make it through Mile 22, I can make it through anything.” I made it through all 26.2 miles! </span><img alt="Flying pig 2.jpg" height="178" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7_XwmOEr7bo63UGUiQVFCLNuNit2GAPIjJyoo2SxV9DCpLLj5y77z-O1AiSgyRCQI7HsWHS2igGz1F7kFgKGZqG1uY9Lmj8Y-7uTCJ3gbDbE5Fb4OKD5g2kyBNyufcD_FKcQopjP" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="237" /> <span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My girlfriend even gave me a ring that says Mile Twenty Two on it. I never take it off. Now, I return to one of my questions. “What am I so afraid of?” This won’t be my first marathon… It can’t get much worse… I know I can do it. After a lot of soul searching, I have discovered that I am afraid of being the best I can be. What?! I find it scary to even think about. I know that sounds crazy. Why wouldn’t you want to see what your best looks like? I don’t have a good answer for this. I know what my failure looks like, but I don’t know what my best looks like. I have always been an underachiever, just giving enough of myself to get by. It scares me to lay it all out there. It could be that I am afraid that my best is not good enough or not as good as I thought it would be. It is safer, to me, not knowing. I think the MCM has presented to me an opportunity to find out. I believe that has affected me more than I thought it would</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> .</span><img alt="Flying Pig 3.jpg" height="265" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/dJ8hNKJ-FDXntD_QCbv7L5sA93JNb6WVYsRVp9EyrRmV31WLpN8rLnifRj6IQXUJw8V4KMErkVhbPIN-eevCO_HjwSDnq75PPT71HLQZ0H0biu8q98HY_mZgmHNQdyqObtEN1j08" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="200" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is what it comes down to… Why did I start running? In the beginning it was to quit smoking, but then it became about challenging myself and changing myself. It has evolved. Why do I run? I want to know… I need to know. The only way to know is to just go with what comes to my mind when I think running. Here it goes…</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I run, it is all about me. I have no one else depending on me but me. There is not another person alive who judges me on my running, except me. I guess the best way to say it is, I run to be free to be selfish. I get to only think about me. For a short amount a time, I get to listen to whatever I want to. I can listen to the nastiest rap song, the loudest rock, or the sappiest pop song (that I would never admit to listening to) and I don’t have to worry about anyone else's opinion or judgment. When I run it is an hour a day I get to be absolutely selfish.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I run to find that person I want to be. I run to try and catch that person, who I know is in my soul somewhere. When I am trekking down the road, I see her and I speed up to catch her. There are times when I catch a little bit of her and hold on tight. Those runs are the ones I live for. They change me a little bit. I always think when I start a run if I will see her. There are times when she is way too fast and crafty for me. I believe that those times have discouraged me and I committed an awful sin. I let that get in my head and take away those moments when I did catch her. I let the negative overshadow the positive. I let my mind think it was too hard, so i quit looking for the person I want to be. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I run to keep myself balanced. I often find myself so anxiety ridden that I can barely function. I worry about things that are out of my control. Running helps me beat that anxiety out of myself. It is hard to run and worry at the same time. I am not saying that I run and find all the answers. I don’t run to find answers. I never have. I run to quiet the questions.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Running is hard and takes a lot of mental strength and physical strength. I can run and feel like crying because it is just so hard. Those times are when the reasons I run and the motivation is hard to see. The music and selfish pleasure disappear. I feel completely raw and almost broken. That is when I can hear God whispering in my ear. That is when I begin to feel love and comfort. All the rest is gone and nothing else matters but what is in my ear. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is why I run. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-24ae8804-15e9-0a2c-ce6e-a198146b19fb"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-68405964933456198212014-09-10T12:59:00.002-04:002014-09-10T13:06:14.443-04:00Mentally......I suck.Before I started running, I looked at a runner and thought, "Damn she must be in shape." I was only thinking about the physical part of running. I never once considered the mental part of running. That is until I started to run myself. The first couple of months into my running fascination, I started to notice that the physical part of running was becoming easier. I was breathing better than I ever had, quitting cancer sticks will do that for you. My legs were getting stronger and my body was starting to crave the activity. I just had no idea what else was going to come to light.<br />
<br />
During this period of time, my friend Amy and I started to talk about setting a running goal. This all transpired on Amy's couch, during the highly unusual snow days in Georgia. What happens when you get two grown women, stuck in the house, with two nine year olds? Pretty much you get two people who come up with a goal that (I can't speak for Amy) changes your life. I know that sounds all dramatic and shit, but it is not that dramatic. Sitting on the couch on a snowy January reading a running magazine we came up the wonderful idea to run a half marathon. An even better idea would be to run one at Disney World. After a little research we decided on the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in November. Holy shit! We even signed up and paid money. Now...it is set in stone and money! Actually, we are in full training mode and I am training my ass off. The official count down is 57 days 11 hours and 47 minutes.<br />
<br />
Right now I am in week 3 of an 11 week training program and I have been struggling so badly. I have been running since November last year. What the hell is my problem? My problem is: I can physically run 13.1, but mentally I can barely run 3.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mentally.......I suck at running!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
How does a runner fix this? I am not entirely sure, but I will figure it out. I will run this half marathon like pro. It is just going to take a lot more than I thought... Don't get me wrong I never thought this was going to be easy, but I never took into account the mental and emotional struggle I was going to face. I am going to have to do some things that I have never really done before. <br />
<br />
I realized the other day I have a lot of negative thoughts running through my head. I never thought they could be so detrimental to my running life and everything else. They gotta go! Yesterday I ran 3.11 Miles and I fought those negative thoughts. It took me about a mile to replace all my negativity and then I rocked that last 2 miles! I just had to believe that I could do it. That is what I have to do. I have to fight my demons and believe that I can. Who knew this is what running was all about?<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409686724681502060.post-9341637370315954922014-09-09T20:31:00.000-04:002014-09-09T20:31:40.493-04:00Too Much Energy?? Once upon a time there was a 41 year old woman sitting on the back steps of her house smoking a cigarette. This woman smokes a pack and half a day. This woman has trouble sleeping every night. She has trouble breathing and is miserable. One day this woman took a chance and quit smoking, with the help of friends and pharmaceuticals. She went through withdraws, the mood changes, and the feeling of being lost (if you have ever quit smoking you will understand this feeling) and before she knew it had been a month. She expected the typical issues that came with quitting, but there was one that she did not expect: AN OVERWHELMING SURGE OF ENERGY!! What on earth could she do with all of this new energy? Run!!!!!!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am sure everyone has figured out that I am that woman. I am 42 years old now. I have been smoke free for 304 days and counting. When I quit smoking I was amazed by many things. Who knew that food tasted so good? I had smoked since I was a teenager, so I didn't know that oranges tasted amazing. Yes, I did gain weight and I am still trying very hard to lose it all, but we can talk about that another time. I quit smoking in October and in November I had so much energy it was insane. I knew that if I did not find a way to use this energy I was either going to go crazy or start smoking again. </div>
<div>
Then one day I came across an App called Zombies, Run. I am a zombie lover. I love zombie movies, books, and video games. Needless to say I was intrigued. I researched it a little and eventually came to the conclusion that maybe this would be fun and a way to use some energy. If you are not familiar with Zombies, Run then you are missing out! Basically, you listen to a story that requires you to run. Yes, that is as simple as I can make it. A story will play for a few minutes and then you listen to music. The story is broken down into episodes, so you listen to a 30 minute to hour episode and you run while you listen. Simple? Yes!!! I downloaded the App and went around my neighborhood listening and trying to run. I fell in love with the story and I fell in love with running. The most exciting part was that I was doing something that I had never done before. I started to look forward to running everyday. <br />
<br />
Let me say this very clearly...I did not start running 10 miles a day. I struggled and still struggle with running. I struggle with the physical part of running and especially the mental part of running. I read a lot of running related articles and blogs, so many of them make it sound like these people just run out their front door at an 8 minute mile pace. They also make it sound like they run 7 miles a day. This blog is about my struggle with running. How I fight with my brain every time I run! It is also how I opened a new world by running. I have achieved things that I never thought possible and have changed so many things since I started running, I wanted to share these things. </div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275114300617123037noreply@blogger.com0