Peachtree 10K and Century Ride

I recently went to Atlanta for the NEA-RA (teacher conference) and was very excited to get to see new things. One thing I really wanted to do was run a race...well the only one I could find was sold out. I was bummed but figured I would try and get a bib! You only live once, right?! Well the expo for this race happened to be where the NEA was and I heard they had some extra bibs...so guess what??? I had the amazing opportunity to run the largest 10k in the county!!! The Peachtree 10k in Atlanta, Georgia. What can I say about running in Atlanta...HOT, HUMID, HILLY....did I mention, HOT, HILLY, and HUMID?? It was awesome to see such a huge turn out for a 10k. The crowd was amazing and the people lined up along the streets were hilarious, loud, and crazy. It had not rained in the last 49 years for this race but, this year it poured the entire week of and race morning. Then as the race was starting no more rain. It was a very hot, hilly, humid race but worth every step. To be part of such a huge race was unbelievable. Beautiful scenery and amazing people! I did not run this race for a PR and was just running...I was not even sure what my last 10k time was. I was pretty pumped to find out that I did PR by 31 seconds! I can say no complaints from running in Atlanta!! 10K time- 53:15

This past week a friend has asked if I had ever ridden a century bike ride and my answer was NO! Actually, I had never really thought of riding one. I have had my bike for awhile and only ridden about 90 miles this year so far. My friends had been calling my bike Rusty :-) I have wanted to get out on the bike more but marathon training is a tad bit time consuming. I decided that heck why not...I thought that I could do it..I knew my legs could do it but was not so sure about my butt! We started in Hammond Indiana, rode through downtown Chicago, and ended in Kenosha Wisconsin. Talk about a perfect Saturday! Riding is so much fun! It was so peaceful, beautiful, and almost indescribable. It is the greatest way to just think and question life. I am officially hooked on this bike thing! I am not sure what makes it so amazing..maybe great company, a new experience, places I've never been??? All I can say is sign me up!!!

Hmmmm

A friend recently said to me..."running has changed your life...But don't let it define you." I have been completely perplexed by this statement for days now. At first I was thinking "screw you what in the world do you know!" and then I thought hmmm do I appear to be letting running define me? I am not sure I have a clear cut answer for my own question. I can say that yes running has changed my life in so many amazing ways. It has given me a feeling of freedom, shown me that I am so much stronger than I ever imagined, given me some of the best friends a girl could ask for, given me the most amazing experiences, and allowed me to push myself father than I ever thought possible. I am able to use running and its many parallels to this journey I am on in my own life as I become healthy...but does it define me?

As I ponder this question I think to myself what defines me?...what defines a person?

I believe that what defines me is:

 My beliefs and what I stand for. You may not agree with me and that is ok but I am free to my beliefs and you yours.

My dedication to things: whether it's running, school, biking, being healthy...when I start something I finish it.

Teaching: I am living my dream every time I walk into my classroom...this is one of the places I am happiest.

My Character: Who I am when no one is watching and what you see on a daily basis on the good days and the bad.

I think that life goes in seasons and those seasons change with time, experiences, age, and events. At this point in my life running is a huge part of that and I hope that running will always be important. I think that running is a part of what defines me but I also believe I am defined by so much more. I would hope that I do not appear to be defined by a sport. I hope that I show others that you can define yourself by choices you make. I am making choices everyday that change my definition of me and show that hard work pays off. Two years ago my definition of myself would have been simply teaching, I did not have confidence in much more, now I am confident, loving life, and attempting to live in the moments presented to me! What defines me is my love and passion to constantly push myself to its limits and be better than I was the day before. This is done daily through working out, my friends pushing me to question myself, teaching and adapting to the unplanned moments, and attempting to live in the moments as the truest person I can.


Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. 
Barack Obama 

It's up to me

 

I am always the person who is planning runs with others! I hate running alone! I work out with my trainer 3 days a week. The longest distance I have run alone is maybe 4 in a really long time. I do not mind a short run 3-4 miles alone but other than that is as much physical and working out as it is social for me. Many of my friends run and work out and I enjoy doing the things we love with them. This week I am in Atlanta for the NEA-RA conference and I have been dreading the workouts and running for months. Truly, I considered taking a week off from running and weights for the week I was here. That would mean a week off of marathon training…THAT WOULD NOT BE TOO SMART! On the plane ride here I was sketching out some workouts that I am helping some friends with and was getting so frustrated at the thought of having to work out this week alone. It is hard to explain, I know how to run I have proven that..I have had a trainer for what seems like forever and my friends ask me (yes me…who would have ever thought) for advice…but the thought of having to have a week alone is killer. After much debate on Sunday I knew that I had to run…..it’s in my plan! If I am going to train I have to follow my plan….plan my race, race my plan! I did it (no praise needed!) millions do it every day alone. Why is this alone thing so hard for me??I took a bit of time last night while running to ponder this question. Since day one I have made every choice in my journey for me…some might say selfishly but that’s their opinion. I have done what I have needed to in order to take control of my life…I am not going to let anyone or anything determine my path. Everyone that knows me will agree I am all about social time and I need others to hold me accountable…I am not sure why…why can’t I just do this! Hmmm. I am not sure I have a good answer for that but I do know that as I was running through Olympic Park and past Martin Luther King Jrs birth home I remembered why I started this whole journey. I did this because I was unhappy and ultimately it is up to me. I decide what I put into my mouth…is this candy worth it? I decide do I run today…with others or without! I started this because I wanted a different path. I wanted and want to be healthy and to be happy! I want to feel good about the woman looking back at me in the mirror. Running is the one sport where the only person I am competing with is ME! Every race, every day, every time I tie my shoes, and every first step…the only person who can decide of it is really worth it is me. I am the only part of the equation that does not change by day, by weather, by friendships of the moments, and by races. No matter what anyone else says or thinks I started this for me…and I will sure as heck continue this for me. Many moments throughout this journey I know that they only thing that kept me going was the other people believing in me…but when alone in Atlanta and wanting others to run with me…the only one that is in control and that can make me take that first step is me!

Running in Atlanta has been beautiful! I have seen some amazing things and run some killer hills. Today was a rough one because it was hot and pouring so I was forced to run on the darn TREADMILL! I hate that thing! I have a hatred for that thing that is greater than you know J But I did it! I have even done arms and core on my own! I would not want to always work out alone..or really ever at all but I can!