The here and now...

"We are better than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less."

For some reason this quote really struck me this week. Another Runner's World Quote of the day email, and I sat staring. Not off into space as most of you seem to catch me (all four of you who read this? :)). But entranced by the power these words were running through me. They literally hit me. I have a mark on my face; backwards type in those words. This is my life. In more ways than I can wonder.



If I had been on top of things, this last week would have been a post a day. And there was a slight theme going on. Anyone guess?? COUGH *BELIEF* COUGH. Excuse me! Not only for runners all around, but it was cathartic for me to type those words down. Sometimes I learn and remember things better when I have to write them myself. Or experience them myself. And sometimes, even after doing so, I take a bit to learn the message. Ooops.
But anyways, belief. How can we be made to believe? Well that right there is a problem. We cannot be "made" to believe. It almost has to come naturally. But like I said, we can work everyday to believing. It is taking things, moment by moment. We cannot look to our past. Though we may want to. There are some major highlights back there. We want to use those, but we are not the same person we were four years ago. Or even four days ago. We are more experienced, seasoned, learned. We cannot look to our future either. While we can plan events that may occur, we must let them happen. It might not be the way we expect it, but there is a higher power out there. Knowing exactly what He wants for us. We can never know. We can just be prepared. Living in the moment gives us that.
In running focusing on the here and now, we are able to complete things we once though impossible. How am I breathing at this moment, What is my body doing right now? How can I fix this to run faster? How can I shift to stop the blister from forming? Or to stop my hip from hurting?
We are better than we know. Living in the moment prepares us for the upcoming. We have no limits, therefore we must live limitless. Believing we are capable of great things. Able to accomplish such things deemed impossible. With limits we settle for the mediocre. Or what we may think is spectacular. Which it is! But there is always more. And we must believe we are capable of more.

Believe, Believe, Believe.

Act as if you already are. This is one of the many mantras that we employ when it comes time to go after a goal that is beyond what has already been accomplished. Breaking new ground physically requires you to first break that mental barrier so that it can come into being.
--Terrence Mahon, Team Running USA's head coach


I guess it is time for me to take a little of my own medicine. Practice what I preach, so to speak. And really I always act like I know what I'm doing. No one really knows that I actually have no clue what I am doing and just faking it til I make it. Ha. Now you know my secret. It is all the art of giving CRAP. But eventually in acting like I know what I am doing, I find that I learn it. Or maybe already knew it. So maybe if I act like I believe I will. But really, I have believed all along.

Over the last, I guess 5 months, I have been lucky enough to run. I say lucky enough because I have the time to. Yes, I am working multiple jobs, and sometimes let the laundry slide a bit, but I have the time. And now I have come to a point where I can even find the time to wake up at five in the morning and get that run in. I am committed. But honestly, I am addicted.

I have become so addicted in fact that twenty minutes a day just won't do it for me. I need more. I need my fix. So instead of doing just one simple twenty minute run... I do two. But one of those is slightly longer... Click. Oh man... Along with high mileage comes an in-the-gutter mental state... just sayin'.

Anyways, it is a difficult task to take one two-a-days. To say the least you must be patient and understand the actual limits of your body, while still pushing that envelope. It is very helpful for me, at least on workout days, to take that other run and flush out my legs. Get all the gook out. And even look at it as my one time to have a bad run.



In a form, what we do as runners is callous ourselves. We do not merely become stronger or faster simply from just running. No, we make our bodies stand up to the limits and obstacles, by forming and shaping them. We prepare them for battle day in and day out. By doing two-a-days, by facing gale force winds head on, by embarking on a difficult tempo in the pouring, driving rain. All these and more. We burn these difficult times into our memories, bringing them back into our presence only in tat moment of pure desperation. That moment when your mind and body want to quit. That moment you want to give up and give in. That moment you want to stop believing. Here is where the actions you have previously taken, the strides you have already made, and the callouses you have already worn, come into play. You have done the work. It is there. The rain drops leaving marks on your skin like bruises. Your muscles remembering ten milers, thousands, sprints. You have done all this and so much more. Your mind has been grooved and shaped with hours and hours of concentration. It takes a lot of patience and humility to make it through these workouts. Miles of Trials. Trials of Miles. It is that mere moment that your mind wants to give up and pack it in that you must ignore yourself. You are in a really emotional state. You have no idea what you are thinking. So stop. Just believe, damn it.
So much easier said than done right?? Well DUH! If it were easy they'd call it... well finish that however you want.

You have set the goals. You have done the work. You have to believe.

I have set the goals. I have done the work. I have to believe.

Don't look back... Look ahead... Always be moving forward...

Mmm... morning coffee.
Since I did not write a lot this summer, I've decided that I need to more. Be prepared followers. All... two of you. Thanks for listening. --But also be prepared for some random...
So today is one of those days that I would love to be able to sleep all day. Not only because I am exhausted, but because it is pure YUCK outside. But these are also my favorite days to run. Yes, I said it, RUN.



This morning, I woke up to my new favorite song. It is quite good, and I am going to promote it. YA! Tyler Hilton. I Believe In You.

The title. I. Believe. In. You. How many times have you heard those words spoken to you? And I mean directly? I don't know if I've heard them all too many times. I've said them to myself in the mirror while brushing my teeth before a hard workout maybe. But I can always see the glimmer of self doubt that immediately follows.
Right now I am an extremely lucky girl. I've been given the time to improve upon my fitness and actually run well for once in my life. You would think this would make e excited and happy. Ecstatic even since I have never run this well in my life, and yet I still do not feel "in shape." But here's the thing... Self Doubt. Stupid.
We all have it. Everyone. In more than just running too. We can doubt in everything we do. But for right now I am going to talk about running, although it can all be used in everything and everyday life.

They say running is 90% mental. I believe this to be true. It is coming up to that mental barrier everyday and breaking through it. But I think that 89.9% of that is belief. If we trust and believe we can do anything. The work is all there and all done, but can we truly believe?
Believe that when push comes to shove, you will be able to run with the best. Believe that you can push your body past any limit. Believe that in cresting the hill, you will not slow down, but put in a surge and roll. Believe that you can run yourself to within an inch of your life and still live to run another day. Believe that taking a risk is the right thing to do and going for it, putting your whole self in. Believe that even if you fall, you will be able to pick yourself up. Believe that there are many that love you. And are excited for you. And want the best for you. Believe that you can do great things.

So instead of sleeping and sitting back, today I am going to believe. I am going to run. And I a going to fly. You should too. Believe that everything we do, although difficult, will aid in our life's journey.

Pain is the fuel of passion- it energizes us with an intensity to change that we don’t normally possess.- C.S. Lewis

Catch Up....

I don't remember the last time my mind was just able to shut off. To relax, take a sigh of relief and be still. The last few months have been a complete whirlwind with an extremely busy lifestyle. I've felt that I have had multiple full time jobs and a couple part time ones as well. But I'm lucky to really love what I do everyday.

I realized this luck this summer. I was able to meet some amazing people at camp. Some have become people I will turn to many years down the road. Some new and some I've always known from going to camp. We've just become closer. These people, I don't know what it is, but they are awesome. I miss camp. Ha.
These people reminded me: I could have things a lot worse, so why not live with love.

Adding to my already wonderful support group, I am an extremely lucky girl.



All of friends and family have come to inspire me on a daily basis. So thank you. Thank you all. I am an extremely difficult person. And I am sorry for that. But I love you all so very much. Thank you for your love, time, support, coffee, food, rides, everything. You're the best...



I wouldn't be on this road without you. I wouldn't be able to make it alone.