It's not about the distance, it's about the community

For those of you who don't know, I'm a music junkie (my B.A. is in music). This past weekend was the peak culmination of marathon training-the 20 miler. Now what does this have to do with music? Well, this particular line in one of my favorite hip hop songs will explain it all:

"One fly tune, that have black and white vibe in one room; No confrontation, parlay all night; It's just the sensation."

This line is from "Music" by Erick Sermon which samples Marvin Gaye's , "Turn on Some Music". Now what does a 20 mile run and this song have in common? Music and athletics brings everyone together. The 20 mile run this past weekend brought everyone together up and down the lakefront path. No matter race, gender, orientation, economic status, sports brings people together, just like music. It's a community, a crazy endurance community at that.

I've been blessed to be a part of the endurance community regardless of it being swimming, running, biking, triathloning (that is a word). Its this community that inspires me and leads me to inspire others. I know that I'm a social butterfly but I would have never met so many amazing, truly amazing people without being in this community. Well, maybe not-I am in the Fitness Industry. : P

I've learned so much, hung out with some awesomely cool people, discovered new things (last year was my first time ever having Nutella) and got out of my comfort zone. So embrace the community, it's really not about the distance. Get off the couch and either walk, run, swim, bike or dance your way to new friendships...

That's it until next time...54 days and counting til IMAZ 2014!

Failure is not an option-just keep TRIing!

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” – Johnny Cash

It's been a trying couple of weeks filled with a lot of self doubt. Only a few of you who know me very well know what is going on, but I appreciate the friends that I have because they are just absolutely amazing in every sense of the word. Let me clarify a little for you...it's not my training for Ironman Arizona that I have doubts about. I feel surprisingly calm about it even if my bike is not the right size, that I don't have the latest and greatest of electronic gadgetry and I can go on and on. Most of the self doubt is outside of my own individual training and coaching/teaching/training. 

I have been dealt with some very real challenges that is really playing a number with me. When I am out on a run, swimming in the pool or even in CompuTrainer, I can disregard everything and focus on the activity at hand. Perfect example is last week in CompuTrainer, I was by my lonesome because everyone else was getting ready for IMOO (Ironman Wisconsin). It was threshold testing time. I went from 151 Watts to 171 Watts!!!! It did help that I was listening to Metallica to get me there. 

I feel as if I am on track with my training with the addition this year of track workouts (I hate speedwork) but add that to Pilates training, I'm reaping the benefits. I'm not going to say what I my goal is for this year, but let's just say that I am happy with my progress (even if my schedule is very dysfunctional). The only thing I need to do is to transfer all of this into the rest of my life and close the door on all of this self-doubt and just look ahead. It might mean some changes down the road but I do not know that as of yet. I need to just keep TRIing! Just keep doing for myself what I do for my athletes and clients. Then just maybe, just maybe things will have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

The countdown and the saga continues...