Checking Things off the Bucket List

Last week I pinned this picture on my Pinterest "bucket list" Board with the caption "some day I'll complete a half marathon"

For me to even suggest something that involved running on my "Bucket List" seems insane, however, the more I've been running with my Bel Inizio group and after Tough Mudder I thought, a half marathon could be attainable...maybe....some day. So I pinned the picture, shut down my computer and started getting ready for work.

Literally within 10 minutes of pinning it I received this text from my friend Fred:

I had already planned the weekend trip to Austin to cheer her on in HER half marathon - to stand on the sidelines and encourage her as she pushed herself to complete the 13.1 miles. I DID NOT have ANY intention AT ALL of running that weekend. In fact, I was really looking forward to a casual, relaxing, fun weekend in Austin and to celebrate her great accomplishment.

Well, after some back and forth text and several "encouraging" messages from her  - I finally decided, with a sigh - "why not?" So she set out to get me a bib and I was committed.

Saturday morning we went down to pick up our packets and I officially started freaking out, full-on panick attack. Not sure why, like she said, I had already done a Tough Mudder, and there were no expectations at all about time/speed, we were just gonna see what we could do, but I was still freaking out.

By Sunday morning I was a little excited. We got up early and drove to the capitol. It was a nice, beautiful chili morning.

We checked in and made our way to the starting line.

The thousands of people gathering together, ready to run was starting to get me pumped up as I tried to wrap my mind around how far I have come. As our wave of people moved toward the official start line - I could hear Willie Nelson's Whiskey River blaring through the speakers - only in Texas! That got me ever more pumped as Fred and I started our official first 1/2 Marathon.

Before I knew it, we were stopping for a water/restroom break at mile 4.

By mile 6 we were feeling good and stopped to take a quick picture:

Mile 8 and still feeling great. For the most part we kept a good steady slow running pace, only stopping to walk a little during the water stations or up few hills. 

Feeling GREAT at Mile 8!

We saw the Lululemon crew who had told me the day before that they would be at mile 12, so we knew that we only had one mile left to go! And Ugh - with one mile left to go, my leg started cramping. Every few minutes my calf would spasm - that was fun! I slowed down to stretch it a little but was determined to run through the finish line.

 

 

400m to go - that's a "warm-up" run...no big deal!

We crossed the finish line, got our medals and celebrated that we just ran 13.1miles. And honestly, I was feeling great! Other than my spasm-ing calf muscle, I could have gone a few more miles...maybe ;)

We celebrated with some great music on the main stage, then headed out to eat a great post WOD meal, toasted our victory and then headed to Ginny's for some Chicken "poop" Bingo and more great music.

Our goal was to finish in 3hrs - we made it just under - 2hrs and 56mins

When I told Fred that I'd do the 1/2 with her, I thought I had officially gone crazy. I had a few people tell me it wasn't a good idea, a few others encourage me a little and others say "go for it." But then I thought to myself, that's what this whole "Life as Rx'd" thing is about. Trying new things, being crazy, living life to it's fullest, and taking the opportunities that are before you rather than making excuses. I could have made a million and one excuses to get out of it - and I thought of them all. But then why even put things one a bucket list that, when presented with the opportunity, I am going to make excuses to get out of it?  Now was as good of a time as any to run a half marathon.

There are so many things in life that people say they want to try or do, yet when they have the opportunity, they can come up with every excuse in the book. I used to be that way, but I am learning that I'd rather try and fail then be afraid to try at all. I don't want to live in fear and I don't want to regret that I did not take advantage of all the opportunities this amazing life has to offer.

What is it that you may be afraid to try? Hey, if this once over-weight, insecure, extremely fearful girl, can run a half marathon - YOU can do anything you set your mind to! TRY!! You won't regret it! I promise!

Celebrating Love!

Valentines Day: most people are thinking about, talking about, celebrating or wishing for love....Some single people get depressed around this holiday, some have "singles parties"  or "I hate Valentine's Day" get togethers. Some "ignore" that it's a "holiday" Etc...However, I have decided to enjoy the day, even as a single person - because it's not just about having a Valentine, or eating chocolate, or getting flowers - it's a reminder for each of us to celebrate the people and things that we LOVE!

I realized lately that I say "I hate..." a lot - usually being dramatic, "I hate pull-ups," "I hate doing payroll," "I hate wearing shoes" etc... but there really are a lot of things I LOVE about my life and since I am 30 and single (not complaining - really), I thought this Valentine's day, I would celebrate some things I love!

Just a few things I LOVE:
I LOVE my friends. I have some pretty amazing friends - near and far, young and old - God has given  me incredible friends.

I LOVE my car - it's not pretty, it's not fancy, it's not clean - but it's MINE.

I LOVE coffee. Every thing about coffee! Mmmmm, I LOVE it!

I LOVE Disneyland! Especially at night - and at Christmas it's even better! There is nothing like getting a cup of coffee, sitting on the bench and watching Tinker Bell fly across the sky. *magical*

I LOVE CrossFit!....more than that, I LOVE getting fit. I LOVE the feeling of pure and utter exhaustion and pain after a WOD. I LOVE lifting heavy weights and I LOVE dropping the bar in "victory" and falling to the ground in a pile of sweat when the WOD is over.

I LOVE being outdoors. Whether it's 100 degrees and humid or 40 degrees and windy, I would almost always rather be outside. 

I LOVE Texas...yep, I do. I really do - it took me awhile, but it's true. I love the rodeo, the cowboy hats, the culture, the values, the "yes ma'am" and "y'all"

I LOVE avocados. I used to hate them, but now I LOVE them - a lot!  

I LOVE music...and dancing to music. I LOVE that every time I dance I realize that in a lot of ways I am like my mom....and I LOVE that I am like my mom in those ways.

I LOVE kids. I LOVE their laughter, their simplicity, their innocence, their honesty.

(I especially LOVE these kids)

I LOVE trying new things (unless it's weird food).

I LOVE going to sporting events - any sport, any team!

I LOVE being an aunt. I didn't realize how amazing it would be. I have some incredible nieces!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE traveling - long flights, road-trips, adventures and new cultures! 

I LOVE pedicures, especially when the chair is a massage chair!

I LOVE my family! Every single one of them. I would not want to be related to any other crazy group of people! I LOVE them so much it hurts sometimes!

But most of all, I LOVE love! Not the mushy gushy feelings (although I'm sure those aren't bad either), but LOVE, pure, self-less, honest LOVE. I LOVE that God has given us the greatest example of what LOVE really is and that if we accept that love we are able to also love others in the truest definition of the word.

"Love is PATIENT, love is KIND and is NOT JEALOUS; love DOES NOT BRAG, and is NOT ARROGANT, does NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY, it DOES NOT SEEK IT'S OWN, is NOT PROVOKED, DOES NOT TAKE IN TO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED, DOES NOT REJOICE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, but REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH; Love BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS. Love NEVER FAILS." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"God is love."  1 John 4:8

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." 1 John 3:16

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The ability to love is an incredible gift we have been given. "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. .... Single or not, this Valentine's Day, I challenge you to take some time and celebrate the people and things that you love! 

My relationship with pull-ups - setting a goal!

I hate pull-ups! Pull-ups are my current weakness!

I was thinking about my relationship with pull-ups the other morning as I was getting ready for the gym. When I began CrossFit I was at an affiliate that did "jumping" pull-ups, and for me, who was out of shape and had never really attempted a pull-up, that was great....for awhile. However, I soon realized that the jumping pull-up was doing nothing to prepare me for a "real" pull-up. 

When I moved to CrossFit Victorious, Kelley, my trainer said, "um, no! We don't do jumping pull-ups, get on a band." ... A BAND?!?!? I was terrified of the band - I don't know why, it just scared me...until I tried it. The nice thick green band! It made pull-ups kinda fun, my chin was getting over the bar - I felt good....until, I was told to move to a lighter band. :( I liked my green band. 

I moved to a blue and red combined and it was, okay....then to a blue...not too bad... Recently however, I have been for some reason avoiding/neglecting to practice my pull-ups during warm-up and skill time, and feel I have developed this "hatred" for them. As bad as I want to get a kipping pull-up, a REAL one without a band, I just can't seem to mentally make myself work for it. 

Isn't it FANTASTIC how life sometimes makes you face the things you are avoiding the most? The same morning I was thinking about my hatred for pull-ups and trying to convince myself that I need to start working on them and set a goal, I walked in the gym and saw this: 

YAY!! Pull-ups....

Not only were they in our skill work, but I also saw this:

MORE Pull-ups!

I had to laugh because "Helen" used to be my least favorite girl WOD, not because of the pull-ups but because of the running. I used to hate running! Now, I hate pull-ups! I thought about that....that I USED to hate running, until, I MADE myself run more. Sooooo, I guess that means I have to MAKE myself do more pull-ups?? *sigh*

Although I have SAID a kipping pull-up is my goal (everyone "says" it's their goal), I have not really SET it as a goal, I have not established a timeline or a plan to achieve it. A goal cannot be reached if it is not really set. 

So - here it is! Here is my goal: I want to get a kipping pull-up by the end of August (if I get it sooner - GREAT)
It's a simple goal, but it's a goal. 

How am I going to acheive that goal?

PRACTICE - stop avoiding the pull-up bar

NUTRITION - lose a little weight so there's less to pull-up. :)

PRACTICE some more!
POSITIVE ATTITUDE - stop saying I "hate pull-ups," I don't really hate pull-ups, they are just an area of weakness (and I hate feeling weak)..but I LOVE that I am in an environment that allows me the opportunity to work on strengthening my weaknesses.

What are your goals?
What are you avoiding?
What are you going to start doing to reach your goals?

 

Tough Mudder - Obstacles!

A little over a week ago a group 23 athletes from THE BEST CrossFit Gym, CrossFit Victorious, came together in Edna, Texas to take on Tough Mudder. I was crazy enough to be sign up to be a part of this group.

Tough Mudder is a 12 mile course with 25 obstacles designed by British Special Forces. I have to admit, when I signed up I didn't really know what I was signing up for. I saw the link on FB, heard CFV was forming a group and so I clicked the link, filled out my info, paid my money AND THEN I started watching the videos and scrolling through the slide show, and began to freak out.

12 miles....TWELVE....MILES.... 12 miles seemed like a loooooong way...I drive 11.2 to the gym everyday, and I began to imagine if I had RUN that distance. For anyone who has known me for any length of time, especially before my CrossFit days would know that something like Tough  Mudder would have been LAST on my list of things I would even consider attempting. I am the girl who faked whatever symptoms I could in High School to avoid PE. I have never been athletic and Tough Mudder just seemed insane. However, because of CrossFit and the confidence the Lord has given me over the past few years, I signed up. Yes, I was still scared, terrified really, and certain I was going to die, BUT  I was excited to see how far I could go.

A few days before the event I got a text from a great friend who said "remember to pay attention to the parallels."  For some people, events like these are things they accomplish and move on....however, I tend to analyze and try to find significance, and as my friend reminded me, "parallels" as to how lessons learned can carry over in to real life. Little did I know, there would be SO MANY "lessons learned."

First Lesson: Facing Obstacles

One of the first verses that came to mind with Tough Mudder was James 1:2-8
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. BUT if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,  being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Most of us know the "consider it all joy..." part and really try to face challenges with joy, knowing that, in the end, something good will come. 

However, what stuck out to me after Tough Mudder, when I looked back at this verse, there is a second part...the "but" ... "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

It's easy to say "consider it all joy"... or this is "testing your faith/endurance"...however, we (I) often look over the part that says "if you are lacking wisdom."  

There were MANY obstacles in Tough Mudder that I "lacked wisdom" or  "lacked the ability." The one example that sticks out the most is the large walls that we had to climb over.  I know, left to myself, there is no way I would have been able to make it over them. But, I had help: Two of the CFV trainers were there to help me get over the wall. Once we all got over the first wall, they would come over and assist us in getting over the next walls. As I approached one of the walls, they were not there yet, however there were a few other people ready to help. I looked at them for a second and then decided I'd wait. I didn't want to ask just anyone for help. I wanted to ask the right people - those who I could trust, have faith in that they wouldn't let me fall.  

 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,  being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." "

A note in my Bible says that the definition of a "double-minded" man is someone who asks, but then doesn't wait for the wisdom, but reacts instead according to his own strength/wisdom. If we ask for the wisdom, we must have the faith that He will give it us. It would be ridiculous for me to ask for help over the walls and then try, on my own, to jump over the wall, while they are right there waiting to help.  

 There are few instances lately that I have been guilty of this. I have asked for wisdom, strength, guidance...then I move over on the "wall" and try to accomplish it on my own - which, usually ends in failure - not joy.  We not only need to ask for wisdom and strength, but rely on it, trust it, then we will truly be able to face the obstacles/trials with joy, knowing that although they may be tough, they will be conquered and result in amazing growth.