Couch to ATHLETE!

Last weekend we took a ride to Illinois to pop into a few stores. You see, they wear masks in Illinois and so I bring my business across the boarder. When I was making the audio selection for the drive I decided to let it be Spotify's choice. It is a good way to meander through new music that aligns with the genres I enjoy. Well, last week, Spotify got it all wrong. I have an eclectic choice in music. I can be found listening and singing along to the classic rock station, r&b, alternative, pop, 90s, jam bands, rap, etc.You will never find me bopping my head to country unless it is a song introduced to me by my niece's girl scout troop while on a camping trip. It isn't necessarily the song, but rather the memory. The smile that comes across my face when Chicken Fried, Should Have Been a Cowboy, or Priscilla come across one of my playlists is one that emulates the same joy I felt with those smart, talented, stubborn, argumentative, kind girls.   Several years ago I had th...

When the pandemic first began, there were so many memes to laugh at, but one that stuck in my mind was an image of a person leaning into her refrigerator that was captioned  with a saying that we will all get through quarantine fat, fit, or drunk. The comic relief was necessary at the time, but the reality of that statement has officially hit home. I remember folks talking about instances of domestic violence going up, kids at home without food, depression and loneliness spiking with adults, yet I was laughing about a meme that, in a dark way, gave me comfort that I was not alone in my early day binging on Totino's Pizza Rolls and Cara Cara oranges. No seriously, that was all I ate in March, April, May, June, and July... I don't remember when my diet changed to fewer Cara Cara oranges to more Totino's Pizza Rolls, and cake, and bread, and ice cream, and more cake, and pastries, and more homemade cake, but it did.  Fast forward to December 2021 and I became that meme I refer...

Peace, Promise, and Hope All of the feels those words spark in my heart are present; in fact I have been heard saying that peace and promise are washing over me for the past week or so.  Every single one of us has likely experienced that fleeting moment when we feel absolute contentment, and then wonder where that moment went 30 seconds later. It is the feeling I strive for in life, and always feel when I trot across a finish line. I've been an avid Beetles fan growing up. I'm not the type of fan that knows every detail of every song, the details of every band member, or that sequencing of their albums, but I'm the type of fan that can sing along to almost every Beetles song that comes on the radio. A couple of weeks ago I was listening to Jon Bon Jovi sing one of my all time favorite songs, Here Comes the Sun , and my first thought was no one should cover this song (Sorry Jon, your rendition just didn't do it for me), and then I started singing along and the lyrics hit...

Video: Sam Cooke & Cric Clapton - Somebody Ease My Troublin' Mind I have been meandering about in my brain trying to figure out the thing that really brought order to my life many years ago; you know that time I ran marathons and lost 130 pounds? I always thought it was exercise, but then why has it been so hard to get back to my exercising ways? This week has been one of chaos, sadness, anger, rage, and everything in between. I don't mean what we all watched on TV, but also internally. I've been dealing with some tough/heavy shit everywhere... When I say everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE. It used to be when my life at home was hard, I could bury myself in work; when my life at work was hard, I could bury myself in exercise; when exercise was hard, I could bury myself into friends; when friends were hard, I could bury myself at home; and the cycle would continue, but in a very healthy way. What the F*CK do you do when it is all hard? Add to it that I was torn apart watching...

 *Video displayed above:  https://youtu.be/BGLGzRXY5Bw You say you got a real solution Well, you know We'd all love to see the plan It's a hard thing to acknowledge and accept falling back into old bad habits. It is also hard to accept when tools used in the past no longer work, AND when tools used in the past are necessary. I'm going to acknowledge something here that can be an uncomfortable topic for some people, including me, but really shouldn't be. After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I went through some serious depression. I remember sitting on the kitchen floor of my kitchen sobbing over the fact that I MIGHT lose my mobility, I MIGHT lose my livelihood, I MIGHT never run a marathon again, and so on. What I had to come to terms with is I might NOT, and that I wouldn't know until it happened. Shortly after diagnosis, I ran another marathon, I got a couple of cool promotions, and I am still mobile. Part of my progress in recognizing the fact that I cou...

Some say it takes 21 days to establish a habit, and then 66 days to make it a strong habit. Look it up and you will find many studies about it. What's interesting is that you will find research that indicates the 21 day path to a habit is a myth, but you will also find research that supports the claim. What I know as true: My mind is a powerful organ, and regardless of what research says, I can make a decision and stick with it. I mean, I did quit drinking Diet Coke awhile ago and even when put in right in front of me I push that pop away every time.  There are seven pillars of self care that I have learned over the years. The Pillars include: Knowledge Mental Health Physical Activity Healthy Eating Risk aversion Good Hygiene Rational use of Products Seven pillars has always been WAY too much for my brain, and I prefer to categorize and put these pillars into broader pillars for myself. I like to focus on: Mental Wellbeing Physical Wellbeing Spiritual Wellbeing This 3 pillar approa...

I used to take tremendous pride in my athleticism; so much so, I got a tattoo to celebrate some of my accomplishments. My friend Chris stood in a doorway watching when the needle first pierced my skin to etch my pride, my joy, what I lived for, on my leg. Chris is a friend that has been by my side at every pivotal moment from my teenage years, to this day. She shows up for me, always. In fact, the first night she spent away from her kids was to support me during my second Half Iron distance triathlon, so it only made sense for her to be there when I got the tattoo. People have invested so much into me and my athleticism. I invested so much into me and my athleticism, so to let it all go is, quite frankly, embarrassing. To go from self propelling myself 26.2 miles by foot, and 70.3 miles by swim bike run, to struggling with getting out of the house with my sneakers on is not a good feeling. It sucks... So how does one go from Couch to Athlete back to Couch? I wish I could put my finger ...

We all know exercise is good for us, and necessary, but doing it is another story. As I stated just a couple of weeks ago, I want it... I want it so bad!!! If that is the case, why is it so damn hard? Well a wise woman once told me, several years ago when I was struggling so hard, "you must not want it bad enough." Oh, and the truth hurt... I mean, how could she be so flippant with my feelings of despair? Well, I decided to show her how wrong she was; I signed up and did half ironman number two. So, was she right? Well she was right about one thing, I wanted to prove her wrong bad enough, and I did... However, her point was not lost on me. You have to want something bad enough to choose to do it, change it, manage it. I'm unhealthy and I want health bad enough... I'm not exercising much and I want that next half ironman bad enough...  I can't bend and tie my shoes as easily as I used to and I want to take care of myself bad enough... I get fatigued quic...

I just watched Iron Cowboy... Not that you need my life story, but to impress on you the importance of what this story just did for me, I must start with mine! On June 12, 2013, three days before my first half ironman distance race I received a dreaded phone call from my doctor. The staff member on the other end of the line asked me if I wanted to wait until my doctor's appointment in two weeks for the results of my testing or get my results over the phone. I asked to receive them over the phone. She spent time confirming my identity and then told me what I had suspected from my first appointment with the neurologist... She said, I'm really sorry I have to tell you this, but you do have Multiple Sclerosis. That was the first day of my new life and I had a choice... Show up for 70.3 miles on Sunday, or wallow in this new information. You see, many years before this, in 2003 to be exact, I did my first sprint distance triathlon. I was grossly over weight, barely tra...

A Cloudy Day in Wisconsin Last you heard from me on this blog I lived in Ohio. In the last year I left my people in Ohio to start a new adventure in Wisconsin. I love Wisconsin, I love my job, I love my life but I desperately miss my Ohio people. So where to start? Well, I think it important to reflect on the last 9 months so you can understand my journey back to the blog. Last year I was training for the Chicago Marathon and I was travelling a ton leading up to the Marathon. I was fortunate to be in DC because my sister was willing to do a lot of my training with me. The week before the marathon I had very significant symptoms of a gallbladder attack and my doctor told me I was alright to go for it, run the marathon. As I was walking out the door to drive to Chicago for the marathon I received a phone call offering me this job in Wisconsin. Let's just say it was an interesting drive that started out with me saying there was NO way I was going to take the job, to half way t...

It's hard... The end... No seriously, traveling and training equals extremely tough combination, but somehow I'm managing. You know what else is tough? One hundred plus degree heat index is tough as well, but managing that is somehow easier for me. It simply means accept 20 minute per mile trots with random ultra-marathoners on the trail. So what is in this traveling thing that makes it so difficult? Work, unfamiliar trails, exhaustion, unfamiliar territory and then navigating it all. I have found myself going back to my hotel, laying across my bed for a little bit and then strapping on my shoes to escape from technology for awhile. I think what I am learning though is that when traveling, motivation is harder to find and self discipline is so much more important.

I have decided it has been too long. Now that I am several weeks into marathon training it is time to come back to the blog. I love being able to go back to my last marathon training cycle and read about the ups and downs, and quite honestly, I'm looking forward to being able to come back to this training cycle when I train for another marathon. I have to say that this cycle has been trying for me as my abilities have changed over the years. It isn't better or worse, as I'm fairly certain the last marathon I trained for had trying times as well. I will say this is different because of how my participation in events and running clubs impact other people. I am constantly saying to people who join new programs or try new things that regardless of their journey to that 'event', they belong there. I live by this and believe it is true. If you joining a new club, or trying something new, or trying something again, regardless of your abilities and skills you DO belong...

Picture from my first marathon! It has been quite some time since I have opened up my computer to write a post, and it is officially time to get back to it. What I have learned during my three month hiatus is that I am much more consistent with my exercise routine when I am actively blogging. Now is the time to become more accountable again, accountable to myself! So, where did we leave off back in November? I just had the most fantastic Auntie Sarah Gobble Gobble Home Grown 5k. This event was fantastic, with just over 33 people participating or cheering on the crowd. It was so phenomenal that I have already set up the Facebook event for the 3rd annual event to be held Thanksgiving morning in 2017. In addition, I have been working on becoming consistent with my Chicago Marathon training. Some would say the weather has been perfect for said training, and I can't dispute that fact. What I will say is that my attitude has waned a bit. My bestie and running buddy always has ...

The Runners For a second year in a row, my friends and family toed the line of our own personal turkey trot. The reason I started this 5k, one year ago, was to give everyone the ability to go to the same spot and get their exercise on Thanksgiving morning. It used to be that many of us participated in various 5ks around the Chicago area, but in large masses of people we didn't know, and were lucky if we actually ran into people we knew at the end. It also used to be that we all paid approximately fifty bucks a piece to participate in said races. I finally said NO MORE! Let's do something fun that wouldn't require huge entry fees, and would be all inclusive. Last year there were approximately 15 of us who came out to walk, run or spectate. I thought that was hugely successful. What happened this year? We doubled in size and 34 of my family and friends came out to have fun on Thanksgiving morning. Also, new this year, we had a food drive. It just so happens that all ...

This, my friends, is resilience... I've lost my blogging way the past month, actually the past year. The events that have taken place since I've last blogged have been somewhat surprising. Most notably, unless your head is in the sand, you have heard, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, and I registered for my second marathon. And you know what? The world is still revolving. Am I happy about all of the most current events? Nope, but this is what I posted to my parents: To mom and dad: Thank you for raising me to be a thoughtful, kind hearted, loving person. The past 24 hours have knocked the wind out of my sails, more so than being diagnosed with ms. Because of you, I will practice resilience. Just pray that the affordable Care act is not fully obliterated. But that too will work itself out... To the best parents who have always given me the best, taught me the best, modeled the best, I love you and am thankf...

I have yet to master the art form of asking for help. Instead it goes something like this... I'm working on something and it gets hard, so I set it down. I realize I need to keep working on it and so I go and look at it for a little bit, decide I'll get a small chunk done but the attempt at the small chunk falls flat, so I walk away again, maybe even after setting my tools down harshly. I try to forget about it for awhile and lose some sleep but can't figure out why (or should I say, won't face why). The project continues to sit and all the tools and resources needed to get the job done slowly get put away, or more accurately lost. I eventually just forget that it was even something I was working on, until out of nowhere it is right in front of my face again, no warning and instead of being just something I was working on, it is now a crisis. If only I had asked for help in the beginning, when it first presented itself as hard, right? Thinking back on my early da...

Am I really an exercise bully? I don't think so. I just invite people to join me on various athletic adventures and then use some of the following expressions to be convincing: come on, you know you want to, if I can do it you can too, it's only 150 miles, it will be tons of fun, you must not like me, and if all else fails I cry! At least that is how it has been explained to me a couple of times. I don't believe it!!! So, this past week, as I was coming down from my amazing adventure with my sisters and my awesome friend, I found myself lazing on the couch, well actually the hotel room bed, and then the couch. ALL WEEK!!! And you know what? It was kind of nice, especially this weekend. I was able to wake up in the morning and do whatever I felt like doing without regard to a training schedule. It was freeing!!! Until it wasn't... On Saturday I woke up and finished making some soup and stew, made some deliveries and then went and bought a big kid bed for my gues...

I'm gonna win!!! #BikeJoy #BikeMS #MS150 #Ohmybunion All of these are random hashtags that can be seen on my, and my teammates, social media accounts My team!!! Rockin their tie-dye from this weekend. Why you may ask? Well most of my readers know why... My small but mighty team of 4 rode a collective total of 600 miles on our bicycles this weekend, to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. Not only did the four of us ride, we also had a small but mighty team of supporters who came along to be there to provide support, hugs, diet coke, laughs, stories, sweaters, more laughs and love along the way. Our cheering section showed up with their tie-dyed shirts and waved the figurative flag for team Ridin' for Myelin! It was fantastic to see the smiling faces as we approached rest stops at the top of hills, when our bikes were broken, or when we just needed a high five or a hug! To add to all of that awesomeness, because of all of YOU supporters, to date, we have ra...

I found myself at my typical first stop of almost every road trip, on Friday. I was standing at the audio book rack at Cracker Barrel, trying to decide if I wanted a murder mystery, a comedy, or a self help book. Let me set this up for you though, I picked out three books to start, and the three genres all have some sort of  meaning for me: 1) Murder Mystery: As of late, I have found myself overly entertained by television and fictional stories. Watching TV is typically my escape, and because I find myself watching so much TV lately, I can only assume that I have been living in a bit of an escape. It used to be that I would take baths to escape, but since those are off limits these days, I've defaulted to television. Quite honestly, I wasn't really in the mood for an escape. 2) Comedy: See murder mystery explanation and then add to it that I don't like comedy. In fact, I often tell my friends that I guess I don't like to laugh (tongue in cheek). But in all seriousn...