tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50541781173895378942024-03-16T03:08:28.624-04:00FAT GIRL RUNNINGA blog about being an active larger girl in a thinner world via the individual yet universal sport of running. Ambassador for Skirtsports and Merrell, Swiftwick Athlete. Blogger for Women's Running Magazine. For media/press kit, please contact margaux@margauxnissengray.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-64031531933660376172017-08-15T00:57:00.001-04:002017-08-15T00:57:52.384-04:00Doing the Most<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I haven't posted for a MINUTE in the blog that actually helped me gain the lil bit of notoriety I enjoy today. But hear me out--</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These days, most of my writing appears in <a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/category/fat-girl-running">Women's Running Magazine</a> under the moniker Fatgirlrunning, so head over there to read what you've been missing! Anyways, I'm grateful to all of you in my community as your support and love has helped me achieved some big ass goals this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This summer, including a few DNF's...was incredible.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Mountain Monster 12 Hr</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did the <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=41566">Black Mountain Monster 12-Hour</a> and achieved exactly what I wanted--my first (and maybe my last) 50k of the SEASON. This makes my ninth ultra. It was pretty tough, as there was mud, rain, sleet, and trolls and all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, the BMM was the start of filming for a #forceofnature REI short documentary film with the talented Sarah Menzies of Let Media <a href="http://www.letmedia.org/">http://www.letmedia.org/</a>and Jenny Nichols of <a href="http://pongomediaproductions.com/">Pongo Media</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then took a break from racing for a month to amp up my training, increase my mileage, strength train, and write, write, write, mostly for Women's Running Magazine.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skirt Sports 13er</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In June, I traveled to Colorado to participate in the Skirt Sports Ambassador Retreat and then do the Skirts Sports 13er, which contrary to what you might believe is a half-marathon, and not a trek up a 13er... It was incredible in every aspect. Every woman who enjoys running or walking should have such an opportunity to be part of such a wonderful community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also in June, I drove up to Massachusetts to attempt the TNF Endurance Challenge at Wachussett Mountain with fellow blogger and friend Latoya Snell of <a href="http://www.runningfatchef.com/">Running Fat Chef </a>fame.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pSMqMGKtwGmj_DbUKCQzx4n7es7i27hvd_WP2sOrgunT_6rLK3O8Reeg81-2D6V6FU_EwlLBFn4OKIwq1IaKYMORxTlWkPBmpedpLLKw1OdIKVLVNs9ZZuDLmZSgum-qr_ajwcbgV_A/s1600/19029355_10155471967449319_4057714564415388109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pSMqMGKtwGmj_DbUKCQzx4n7es7i27hvd_WP2sOrgunT_6rLK3O8Reeg81-2D6V6FU_EwlLBFn4OKIwq1IaKYMORxTlWkPBmpedpLLKw1OdIKVLVNs9ZZuDLmZSgum-qr_ajwcbgV_A/s400/19029355_10155471967449319_4057714564415388109_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-TNFECS still happy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right after deciding to call it a day at 15 miles during TNFECS</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew it would be tough to try to make the 8 hour cutoff but if we don't try shit that seems impossible (and sometimes is) we don't learn shit. I DNFed, had some really low points, enjoyed some amazing views, talked for a while with Dean Karnazes (one of my IDOLS!), hung out with Toya, and collected a bunch of really cool memories and images--mostly about what the human body can really do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following week, I headed to one of my favorite spots for SKIING and NOT RUNNING, Mountain Creek in Vernon, NJ for the infamous Running with the Devil 12 Hour. The course is a 5K loop that contains a 1100 foot elevation gain in 1.6 miles and an equal, steep loss over the second half. My goal for this was to see how much elevation I could do in those 12 hours. I was shooting for anything over 3500, as that was what I had done the previous weekend at TNFECS in not even finishing. I took my time, knowing that whatever I did over two loops would be a PR on this course for me. I was going to stop after I had achieved 4 loops (12 miles, 4400 ft of gain), but was then joyously heckled by RDs Rick and Jen McNulty and friends to get off my ass and do another loop. So I obliged. Total gain 5500 feet and 15 miles in about 10 hours. (I took very long luxurious breaks between loops to take care of nutrition, rest the legs, and shoot the shit with various folks.) It was amazing. And hard. And good to be back on a course where I had only ever done 6.2 miles. And another step toward my big goal.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 miles/4400 feet in and still smiling at RWD </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The next week, I headed up to Stowe, Vermont to do the Catamount 50K. I eventually dropped to the 25K, like I did last year. I wasn't ready for the quick sand mud which permeated much of the course. And plus, my mom was with me, so instead of hanging out for more torture in the mountains, I hung out with her, exploring beautiful Stowe, eating some amazing food, and drinking some even more amazing Chardonnay. Also, the RD was like, "you out", after 25K and I was like, THANK YOU.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wiped out many times on my bum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The following week--I know, can you believe this?--I headed up to the Finger Lakes for a third try at the Finger Lakes 50s 50K. I had completed it twice before, so I felt EXTRA ready and EXTRA excited for my third. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmVDUUwhu4wqC9WyVExiy0JB37FhVfB028FGYrorCMuBrae7N-Lxvwy2UTkvoLaE3Csvg-ottF1z9HfGi04UTCCxTm-qJAqtl6Dyxe88nBMlj296mrA7DRgCdmbUWKPFWsluwRJ_9Gp8/s1600/19702073_10155554005889319_6440937128498340908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="539" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmVDUUwhu4wqC9WyVExiy0JB37FhVfB028FGYrorCMuBrae7N-Lxvwy2UTkvoLaE3Csvg-ottF1z9HfGi04UTCCxTm-qJAqtl6Dyxe88nBMlj296mrA7DRgCdmbUWKPFWsluwRJ_9Gp8/s400/19702073_10155554005889319_6440937128498340908_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 7 or 8 miles into FL50s 50K</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only, the mud and rain and thunderstorms and mud and rivers and streams of mud and more thunder had a different idea in mind. DNFed at 25k. BUT, made a ton of new friends from all over! Also, I proved to myself that I could still run and be functional during a five hour long thunderstorm. If you know me, you know what this means. There's an ENTIRE chapter in my upcoming book about my astraphobia. Like, a FULL chapter.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the less muddy areas. I'm serious.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I finally took a short break of about a week to catch up on things...like writing my bimonthly pieces for WRM, and doing a photo shoot for same magazine, and then flying to Grand Rapids, MI to record the audio for my book! Yeah baby, I got that gig! This also meant spending two nights on airport floors and chairs, spending a night in a hotel room with a stranger (yep...I'll tell that story one day...), and finally getting back to NYC--all the while missing out on TWO Tough Mudders that I was supposed to be doing with friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I'm leaving something out--but oh well, maybe that will be another post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But to get back to the point- </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am penning most of this post from a not-so-swanky airport hotel in Denver, as I wait for the shuttle to shuttle me back to the airport so I can catch another shuttle to shuttle me and a bunch of other folks to...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lemme back up:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So just in case you don't know why I'm in Colorado and just in case you haven't been reading my FB and IG and TW posts over the summer.... I'll be attempting the <a href="http://transrockies-run.com/">Trans Rockies Six Day 120 Mile Run</a> across, um, the Rockies! This is what I've been training for since late February. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There will be six days of running and hiking through the mountains at altitude, starting at 8200 feet. Yep, I already have issues breathing so we'll see how that goes...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Although my training fell off a bit in the last few weeks due to extreme exhaustion (training, photo shoots, writing, prepping for school, travel, preparing to launch my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Work-Progress-Mirna-Valerio/dp/1503943399/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502741934&sr=8-1&keywords=a+beautiful+work+in+progress">book</a>, etc....) I finally feel ready, mentally, physically and even emotionally. And gosh am I excited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am also grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This type of adventure would not have been possible without the extraordinary support I've had from the <a href="https://www.rabungap.org/page">Rabun Gap Nacoochee School</a>, who generously allowed me to take a leave of absence to do this, my mother, who stood by my side all summer, the Trans Rockies organization itself (Kevin Houda MacDonald in particular, who invited me to join the crazy), and all the amazing companies I get to rep--<a href="http://www.merrell.com/US/en/home">Merrell</a>, <a href="https://www.swiftwick.com/">Swiftwick</a>, <a href="http://www.nycustompt.com/">NY Custom PT</a>, and <a href="https://www.skirtsports.com/">Skirt Sports</a>... who have all supported me through travel, shoes, apparel, fixing my legs/back, and the unending belief that I, this <a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/category/fat-girl-running">Fatgirlrunning</a>, should have the audacity to think that someone in my kind of body could even fathom starting this thing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> And here I am.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">See y'all on the other side!</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-64995975976046540942017-05-09T18:35:00.002-04:002017-06-16T15:13:09.922-04:00Podcast Pandemonium<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pf6biWSebANTw7UhqvGkI2voMEMScrM4EdnPDw6c5N9x9XS0iS135ocV-FzVzElfCr6z5OKSUcrhAPXL6Qe-gNzKSV6Ll-n-4ni9Vzv92t4oMft8gS8r_uT9FZvYaH7xFSzXM-H4J90/s1600/P1040045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pf6biWSebANTw7UhqvGkI2voMEMScrM4EdnPDw6c5N9x9XS0iS135ocV-FzVzElfCr6z5OKSUcrhAPXL6Qe-gNzKSV6Ll-n-4ni9Vzv92t4oMft8gS8r_uT9FZvYaH7xFSzXM-H4J90/s640/P1040045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When there's pandemonium in your life, go to the woods and play like a child fence-climbing in Brooklyn...or listen to a podcast! Photo by my brother Allen Taylor Jr. Runkit: Capris, shoes, and top by Merrell. Socks by Swiftwick. Pack by Camelback, Shades by Walmart. </td></tr>
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In the last almost two years, I've had many incredible opportunities to share my running and fitness story with really cool people on a variety of podcasts. In this post, I've put them all on one page so if you ever want to have some company on a run, while you're cooking, or while you're driving that interminable drive home (or to a race), here's a start!<br />
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The latest podcast was the <b>Runner's World Show with David Willey</b>, who I got to meet IRL at the Runner's World 50th Anniversary Party in NYC. It's episode #42 and is called <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/the-runners-world-show/episode-42-breaking-the-mold">Breaking the Mold. </a><br />
What a heady experience it was to talk to the Editor in Chief of Runner's World Magazine! I also got to meet Bart Yasso that night too...whew!<br />
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My friend and chill as hell RD AKA Run Bum, <b>Sean Blanton, and Ryan Ploeckelman </b>interviewed me for the East Coast Trail and Ultra <a href="http://eastcoastultrapodcast.com/2016/10/24/episode-04-mirna-valerio-ronnie-roberson-and-ryan-meuhlemans/">podcast</a>. It was a hilarious interview with some F-bombs just in case you're concerned about that.<br />
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<b>CEO of Skirt Sports, and former pro-athlete, Nicole DeBoom</b> and I had a great conversation about the Health at Every Size Movement on her <a href="http://nicoledeboom.com/34-mirna-valerio-of-fatgirlrunning-promotes-health-at-every-size/">Run This World Podcast</a> a few months ago in December. Listening to her podcast, I always appreciate her incredible insight and incisive commentary about well, everything. Even though the folks on her show are typically all athletes of some sort, the show really hones in on different aspects of being great and owning your greatness, spreading nuggets of wisdom on living life in a big way, giving back to our respective communities and paying it forward, and generally being good humans with the best mental, emotional and physical health we can have. I've been obsessed lately with Nicole's eclectic and highly interesting mix of folks from all walks of life. Once you start listening, you won't want to stop.<br />
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I also had the chance to chat with <b>Martinus Evans of the <a href="http://300poundsandrunning.com/mirna-valerio/">300 Pounds and Running Podcast</a>.</b> His podcast is interesting in that he asks about weight loss but doesn't focus the entire narrative on it. His guests talk about running, training, issues related specifically to being heavier runners, and the the lessons learned from being on the running journey. Definitely worth a listen!<br />
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<b>Lana Simmons of the Size Human Podcast</b> that is focused on body positivity and Health at Every Size, interviewed me, and we talked about a range of things! <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sizehuman/id978144169?mt=2">Here's</a> that show.<br />
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<b>This <a href="http://anothermotherrunner.com/2015/08/14/174-running-podcast-a-conversation-about-plus-size-runners/">podcast</a> with Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell </b>of <a href="http://anothermotherrunner.com/">Another Mother Runner</a> was the second podcast I did after the <a href="http://rw.runnersworld.com/selects/ultra.html">Runner's World</a> piece on me and my running life was published in the summer of 2015. That July, both RW and Women's Running Magazine featured larger runners and the world responded!<br />
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The very first podcast I did was with the guys over at <b><a href="https://soundcloud.com/connectrunclub/035-breaking-stereotypes-with-mirna-valero">Connect Run Club Podcast</a>.</b> I was so nervous (my mother told me as much, as she listened to the Skype interview from her bedroom because she's nosy...) but it ended up being really fun, and I got my first glimpse of what a busy year of interviews it would be!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/215893691&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-9889571602095584712017-05-03T00:10:00.001-04:002017-05-03T00:10:46.150-04:00Let's Talk About My Epic Weekend, Tough Mudders and All!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The body is really an incredible machine, but we already knew that right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, this weekend, mine proved that it is several times over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's backtrack to <i>last</i> weekend, when I did back to back long runs --18 trail miles with almost 2700 feet of elevation on Saturday (on a trail that was mistakenly labeled as having 350 feet of elevation)--yeah, I'm still mad) and Sunday with 10 road miles. Tuesday I did trail hill repeats with friends, Thursday I ran three "easy" miles, and the next day was Friday.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">FRIDAY</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_S90lidzM2I-mN88wi3Cf_LWs_Z8HzTQHj2SF5Ur-v-L8SOauC8zgzbDBnRRkxqpIVLtT4U4gXjfml9JdXImhF81-_hCG-aZ8IGbp16O3bMTLUsi2DxQwDWArN52DM_T3L43Q4pwPiU/s1600/IMG_6462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_S90lidzM2I-mN88wi3Cf_LWs_Z8HzTQHj2SF5Ur-v-L8SOauC8zgzbDBnRRkxqpIVLtT4U4gXjfml9JdXImhF81-_hCG-aZ8IGbp16O3bMTLUsi2DxQwDWArN52DM_T3L43Q4pwPiU/s400/IMG_6462.JPG" width="300" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I drove down to the Tough Mudder Atlanta venue at Bouckaert Farms in Fairburn, Georgia. The I85 highway collapse didn't pose much of a problem getting there, surprisingly. I know, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Met up with Sue Harvey Brown, director of Sports Marketing at Merrell, who is amazing not only at her job, but at doing Tough Mudders. (This weekend she ran two fulls, one right after the other, worked all day, and then crewed for someone during Toughest Mudder from 12am until who knows when. Then she worked a full day the next day. ) We convened with Coach T. Mud and a phenomenal film crew to shoot an episode of Coachified! Remember the one from last year? Here it is, in case you forgot! That was hard enough, especially since we had just done an almost two hour workout beforehand!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's revisit this craziness from Friday. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was all about trail running, and boy did we trail run, and meadow-run and--wait for it...LET's DO SOME HILL REPEATS! Yeah! Hill repeats!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hill repeats? Ya'll know I just did hill repeats on Tuesday? Like a million of them the other day, right?</i> That was all in my head of course, because I was going to do what they asked me to do, ponder the sanity of it all silently, and wonder when my legs were finally going to fail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was also blazing hot--like a furnace with an occasional breeze. And one of the crew members found a dried up antler. Hmmm...how did it get there? Don't want to know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We ran up and down a beautiful meadow, with a billion dollar drone following us. I tried not to gasp as if I were dying, attempting my very best air of nonchalance while running with Coach T. Mud--<i>yeah, I'm cool---but I can't breathe, but I'm gonna keep acting like I can until I pass out...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We bantered and chatted and went back and forth, and after a thousand takes, Weston, head creative film genius of the Coachified series was finally satisfied. Action! Take 20. Action! Cut! Take 40!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">So back to the hill repeats. Although I was terrified I wouldn't be able to actually do multiple runs up that very long hill to the Balls to the Wall Obstacle, I was pleasantly surprised that I was. My legs and lungs were burning to holy hell, but they performed as asked again and again. Th</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">e body is </span><b style="text-align: left;">incredible</b><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It took a few hours of shooting to get it done (for a TWO MINUTE VIDEO--how do people do this for a living???). I find myself in awe of people who do this day after day. I was exhausted after five hours! So cool to be involved in such a neat project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that was Friday. Saturday was the big day!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SATURDAY</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My friends drove down from North Georgia to join me for the Tough Mudder Full, along with some filming and photos for Merrell. We had a blast in the blasting heat. We got dirty. I failed at Everest and Balls to the Wall AGAIN, and was disappointed but such is life. My friends blasted their way through some pretty difficult obstacles and were truly tough women. It was awesome to witness the sheer strength of body and will that allows people to get through challenges both mental and physical. I'm so proud of my friends! It took us a long time, but all of us finished and received our coveted headbands. I even did (King of the Swingers for a fifth time, even though each time I see the obstacle coming up, I get really nauseous and lightheaded, and my life flashes before me.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sue, Merrell marvel and Tough Mudder addict somehow convinced me that I needed to do a SECOND Tough Mudder on Sunday so I could get my back to back training in. In my head, I was like-"Um, is she crazy? Does she know that my legs probably won't work? Or my entire body after Saturday?" I had planned to push through Saturday anyway, what with the adrenaline of the whole shebang, but Sunday was an entirely different question. To her, I said, "Maybe I will" and "We'll see" and "Probably just the half" and "Yeah, ok if you think so..."</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to bed like dis</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But like a dutiful runner training for a BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC, SCARY race in August (TransRockies 6 Day), I knew that I had to get the training in, provided I wasn't injured or on the verge of injury. So when I woke up on Sunday morning, I was only sore in my upper body. The legs felt "great" (relatively speaking) and they were ret to go!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SUNDAY</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, long story short, I did another Tough Mudder on Sunday, leaving out the obstacles that might have caused my arms to be pulled out of their sockets. It was incredible. I spent the first few miles easing into a nice pace, helping out here and there, chatting people up, carrying a guy on my back, and carrying a heavy-ass log around a circle by myself. There were a few folks that recognized me from the <a href="http://www.cwseed.com/shows/tough-mudder/the-challenge-within/?play=7e48a6fb-eb81-435e-84d5-e3360a53d990">CW Tough Mudder Special</a> on TV and that was <i>really</i> cool! See the short CW SEED piece <a href="http://www.cwseed.com/shows/tough-mudder/fat-girl-running/?play=725a7950-07f9-40d6-8168-37b6b203d54b">here</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last few miles I spent enjoying Augustus Gloop (my new favorite obstacle, that everyone should do because it's just so damned AWESOME) and <i>joyfully</i> skipping King of the Swingers, Balls, and Funky Monkey because once a week is enough for those.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's what I learned this weekend:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The body, MY BODY, is able. I've been discovering that all I have to do is ask, and it will oblige. I just have to get out of my own mental way, and once I do that, my body will do as it was meant.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That, my friends, is the power of training, belief in self (even if it has to come partially from someone else first), and the nature of the human body. It wants to move, and for most of us, it can. We just have to believe it and prepare it to do so.</span></b><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-9338715135959323062017-03-24T05:00:00.000-04:002017-03-24T05:00:25.937-04:00NAILED IT: Skirts Sports Savannah Photo Shoot 2017<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVW3gMrEXyHTKK9248juzOW3_CWfNf-fYT1p8BH8kO9C_5DECcWjBTtxetHT3FrzoUT6hlnSVsn9X43ClIgeL-bU954sBoYDgcI-awrXYXG_kxGODzPGS1gPC8d823OU6BLiiVY4XJEk/s1600/unspecified-20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVW3gMrEXyHTKK9248juzOW3_CWfNf-fYT1p8BH8kO9C_5DECcWjBTtxetHT3FrzoUT6hlnSVsn9X43ClIgeL-bU954sBoYDgcI-awrXYXG_kxGODzPGS1gPC8d823OU6BLiiVY4XJEk/s640/unspecified-20.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So honored to have Nicole DeBoom in my life!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago I drove down to Savannah to meet up with <a href="http://nicoledeboom.com/">Nicole DeBoom</a> (CEO and Founder of <a href="http://www.skirtsports.com/">Skirt Sports</a>), <a href="http://www.kimcook.com/">Kim Cook </a>(Photographer Extraordinaire), and Jen Allen (Creative Skirt and Phenomenal Boss of Everybody), to participate in an amazing photo shoot for the Spring 2017 line Skirt Sports line. Before this weekend, I only knew Nicole via our initial phone conversations and our <a href="http://nicoledeboom.com/34-mirna-valerio-of-fatgirlrunning-promotes-health-at-every-size/">podcast interview</a>. Meeting her in person was really special.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And wow! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First of all, what an honor to get to be part of t<span id="goog_181921240"></span><span id="goog_181921241"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>he campaign to promote sports apparel on bodies of women like me that are typically not (but increasingly so) represented in mainstream media. Secondly, um, I think I could do this for a living! Running, photos, amazing people, good food, and clothes that I actually wear? SCORE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, to be in the presence of such a visually talented genius--I mean, how much awesomeness can happen in one weekend?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcReDEVZSzhya2AFSuc-cz7g7Z1x3nnNhTrRofqmZSWZhRXO-YqckhyXa6DIeMLIGFqZzk06sTe0VRmhoknZbijktdv4udFisepOY1NtWNR77CiHwx7yyqZvbzszbsVLAkIjHIGCpq1M/s640/IMG_4632.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">An absolute master of her craft!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 1</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed at Nicole's parents' beautiful home, and were treated to yummy breakfasts, sumptuous treats throughout the day, and delicious dinners--can we say <a href="http://www.karisann.com/2013/03/three-sisters-chili.html">Three Sisters Chili</a>? (VEGETARIAN! And it was excellent! Yeah...I know, right?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We got up super early to eat, receive coffee intravenously, and put on our skirts and capris for the morning shoot at Delegal Marina, on the southeastern-most point of Skidaway Island. It was very cold and windy. The sun had risen and was just beginning to warm up random spots on the docks. But we "girls" were ready to brave it all. I mean, this was an incredible opportunity to share our joy and fullest expression of physicality in clothes that we loved, clothes that fit, and clothes that were functional. We jumped. We ran. We did yoga. We walked together, all bodies and all shapes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwd1m92IRf5cn24D7BALSM4q610JvmQ35cn0HwxW9s349aw748UVerICUn1TFTOX01Tz06MVdXXbRqrolx7MmE0EZezVLEFeym6ZU4S7HAutoRBaHH6lsJ46TBsBHnVUk_pVAlecah7M/s1600/unspecified-38.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwd1m92IRf5cn24D7BALSM4q610JvmQ35cn0HwxW9s349aw748UVerICUn1TFTOX01Tz06MVdXXbRqrolx7MmE0EZezVLEFeym6ZU4S7HAutoRBaHH6lsJ46TBsBHnVUk_pVAlecah7M/s640/unspecified-38.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The light was perfect. (<a href="http://www.skirtsports.com/product/pocketopia-capri/">Pocketopia Capri </a>in Persevere Print)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We ran on the docks and balanced precariously on shaky piers to get cool shots. We shot in groups and individually. And just when we started to get a lil bit sweaty, it was time for snacks and a light lunch before doing a group workout on the soccer field near the community's clubhouse.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeZR3kBoYJch98qANhyaH8SeWJuBOHJyVNYuOi1BqO6_bFy9bBvE7tBTQuoeS0D0i0otesNxen6ED4tj0cCgVdQ1EyKWPUvdudT-ytz3RCJ8h11jjGoghOFd2Cv4xw88Cy1TJEVF2dC0/s1600/unspecified-32.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeZR3kBoYJch98qANhyaH8SeWJuBOHJyVNYuOi1BqO6_bFy9bBvE7tBTQuoeS0D0i0otesNxen6ED4tj0cCgVdQ1EyKWPUvdudT-ytz3RCJ8h11jjGoghOFd2Cv4xw88Cy1TJEVF2dC0/s640/unspecified-32.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jump squats! (<a href="http://www.skirtsports.com/product/lotta-breeze-capri-skirt/">Lotta Breeze Capri</a> in Sidewinder print)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then we headed to the Savannah Rails to Trails spot. It was still fairly windy but warmer as the sun had had a chance to heat up the air. There was tons of damage to the trail from the previous year's Hurricane Matthew, but even in it's not-perfect state, it was still a thing of beauty. We walked a mile down the trail following our intrepid photographer, to a spot that featured perfect lighting, tall palm trees whose fronds whipped in the strong breeze, and sparkling water on one side of the trail.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyJojBZfrNbdyh0-R3zji6hTAExMYmqG8gd3Y-mU53U2cF8B50WQxdzUmYqx4g1TQuk2FDzrGWlwvwfVE_R-LvpBSU0zw3SXoZ18zHD4Ze3r9Atr-0mL1zi9rn11xaLRiNhpU_Tg3AIU/s1600/unspecified-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyJojBZfrNbdyh0-R3zji6hTAExMYmqG8gd3Y-mU53U2cF8B50WQxdzUmYqx4g1TQuk2FDzrGWlwvwfVE_R-LvpBSU0zw3SXoZ18zHD4Ze3r9Atr-0mL1zi9rn11xaLRiNhpU_Tg3AIU/s640/unspecified-11.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">New friendship! (<a href="http://www.skirtsports.com/product/happy-girl-skirt/">Happy Girl Skirt</a> in Persevere Print)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We did some more solo and partnered runs up and down the trail, forming and solidifying brand new friendships. And then for the piece de resistance of the day, we headed to Tybee Island for some beach fun! We shot a bit at a local restaurant that was decorated with fabulous colors and props. Afterwards, when it was about 45 minutes until sunset, we headed down by the shoreline to run in the cold water, splashing out in our Gym Girl skirts. Getting the perfect shot isn't always easy. In fact, it never is. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhYT7AgT9oHn07YjgLT_dQsuM6Wn1DudMf-jGMxIdi35dLbheHlirVyeF9giTNv8e3E_GsjpYv8eWXixwf_el_KJyBLGV2PNRBXWFMmd2ktmWGar_YHVxXBR0KfVLDMFFsLN1qHP0O-w/s1600/unspecified-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhYT7AgT9oHn07YjgLT_dQsuM6Wn1DudMf-jGMxIdi35dLbheHlirVyeF9giTNv8e3E_GsjpYv8eWXixwf_el_KJyBLGV2PNRBXWFMmd2ktmWGar_YHVxXBR0KfVLDMFFsLN1qHP0O-w/s640/unspecified-6.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What a great group of ladies! (<a href="http://www.skirtsports.com/product/gym-girl-ultra-skirt/">Gym Girl Skirt</a> in Clarity print)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Again. Again. One more time. Now start there. Wait for the wave. Run in a straight line. Don't splash too much. Smile. Don't cover your face. Again. Again. Again. Again. One more time. Nailed it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, we hung out and shivered in the chilly ocean breeze watching as Nicole frolicked in the cold water with a level of energy that almost <i>nobody</i> could match, and Kim crouched with the wisdom and stability of a meditating Buddha. For <i>hours</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we were done, we headed to a local Japanese joint in Savannah for some sushi and teriyaki, chatting about this and that and stuffing our faces with vinegared rice, raw fish, miso soup, and steaming green tea.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 2</span></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another early morning filled with bowls of thick <a href="http://www.noosayoghurt.com/">Noosa Yogurt</a>, granola and fruit. Good thing Nicole's parents believe in coffee because there was plenty of that to go around too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We all drove to River Street on Savannah's waterfront to catch the gorgeous sunrise. A couple of slow moving barges with stacks of containers bearing names like Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk reminded us that we were in the modern world even though the old brick walls offered a weathered and historical backdrop to our whimsical colors and prints. I delighted in hanging off the back of the metal stairs. Others ran the cobbled streets. All of us laughed, joked, and delighted in the chance to spend a warm morning by the river in beautiful clothing that told some of the story of who we are and what we each represented.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaIUPv3QbWbLowCYGbXK9qDNfgngjpj5e8MhzcNDNzVHPfrTDKCctk7l0q8q5pLfse0D8RiZT8VDJ6hWNg4BOYgMNzsIJUH_qlvWe7sJ4VhR_itRoTZ3HPKtQND2C3HjqDuwcKcen_Ww/s1600/unspecified-69.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaIUPv3QbWbLowCYGbXK9qDNfgngjpj5e8MhzcNDNzVHPfrTDKCctk7l0q8q5pLfse0D8RiZT8VDJ6hWNg4BOYgMNzsIJUH_qlvWe7sJ4VhR_itRoTZ3HPKtQND2C3HjqDuwcKcen_Ww/s640/unspecified-69.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Had to get some <a href="https://toughmudder.com/">Tough Mudder</a> Training in somehow! (<a href="http://www.skirtsports.com/product/wonder-girl-dress/">Wonder Girl</a> Dress in Clarity Print)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While some of the other girls were shooting, I took the opportunity to head back to Nicole's parents' to do my 12 miler back on the flat roads and golf-cart paths of Skidaway Island. At around mile 6, I met at guy who asked me what I was training for and thus began a two mile long conversation about mountain climbing, training, and the extraordinary focus and vision of endurance athletes. What a gift it was to talk with this sage, this wonderful, wise human placed near me by the universe! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Qmm5-RM56ZM-e513Pw4Z-Zyk7noT5FaJp80RVZ2dli7RX0B-_NDQOFq-HENK8DxMZujPwjzEVhC8vbd4Gxb163TpDtDOt9ztM1I2ps_JTguwJs9yhfd0-caPOtaYveGCtpxQ1XRcxSg/s1600/IMG_4602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Qmm5-RM56ZM-e513Pw4Z-Zyk7noT5FaJp80RVZ2dli7RX0B-_NDQOFq-HENK8DxMZujPwjzEVhC8vbd4Gxb163TpDtDOt9ztM1I2ps_JTguwJs9yhfd0-caPOtaYveGCtpxQ1XRcxSg/s640/IMG_4602.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Took at break at Mile 11.5 of my 12 mile run to hang out at a cute little park.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After getting back to the house, I showered and noshed on some carrots and hummus before meeting Nicole and Kim at another place on the island to greet the sunset. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmxgk4haN5kgdf3tDaTpD2MhLyREBP_i8Io-ALf09tNSaXyfkxWL2HnOA_eGS-hGck1nzTU7Fm9s3Rr8Ni3woU7eWeavg44DeZkkwCx8fajMRXCRsrglrZUcTN5zUL5rBX5QqmTKfcf4/s1600/unspecified-27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmxgk4haN5kgdf3tDaTpD2MhLyREBP_i8Io-ALf09tNSaXyfkxWL2HnOA_eGS-hGck1nzTU7Fm9s3Rr8Ni3woU7eWeavg44DeZkkwCx8fajMRXCRsrglrZUcTN5zUL5rBX5QqmTKfcf4/s640/unspecified-27.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We shot more pics of me and Nicole running as the sun began its dip into the horizon. And then, right before it was done with its descent, Kim shot these stunning pics. No words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We finished the evening back at the house with some Malbec for me and Kim, incredible veggie lasagna, and then some more Malbec. Nicole surprised us by wanting to record an "unorthodox" podcast, and so we obliged! <a href="http://nicoledeboom.com/43-tales-from-the-shoot/">You might even hear me sing a little Italian Opera....</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 3</span></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">This final early morning before heading to the airport was for finishing up odds and ends, back on Skidaway. There were expansive views of the marshes and many gnats. Mostly, I observed and marveled at what a cool thing this whole operation was and how I was surrounded by and connected to all of these absolutely formidable women. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A photoshoot. For a thriving, woman-owned-and-run sports apparel business. That caters to a diverse range of body types, athletic styles, and well, humans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nailed it.</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-18427277010009880342017-03-21T08:19:00.001-04:002017-03-21T08:19:32.676-04:00Confronting My Fears of Running Alone in the Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO14mIMUZCZeDE38LWvBolvNNdK9MrfyISKCb4J0oOsFkwZAkLJrGF34g-gs_32VlN_L4EBcvVQn1KKhsM6h2nXncGMJ4g8gQBy3l651axiTgaL6XB6nl6q8d4bbo89RZJhQQkCqo84wQ/s1600/P1030919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO14mIMUZCZeDE38LWvBolvNNdK9MrfyISKCb4J0oOsFkwZAkLJrGF34g-gs_32VlN_L4EBcvVQn1KKhsM6h2nXncGMJ4g8gQBy3l651axiTgaL6XB6nl6q8d4bbo89RZJhQQkCqo84wQ/s640/P1030919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Are you someone who is afraid to run alone in the woods? I am, sometimes. I always seem to get spooked by some made-for-TV scenario I’ve conjured up in my very creative brain. That said, I love trails and I relish every moment I spend on them—that is, in a race with other people or while trail running with friends.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-itzGwHHGiw8QmcXIUIaNjH2431pcckoRSCEsfqZL7gVebXaEAATQK9vekjIR_fxDyJvN6lLOspC4ukVtLQBGi4eTs3yR8neFcB5vr3pozwXtLFXozZTV6gikBPzyBnwwnqcuMjwWy0/s1600/P1030724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-itzGwHHGiw8QmcXIUIaNjH2431pcckoRSCEsfqZL7gVebXaEAATQK9vekjIR_fxDyJvN6lLOspC4ukVtLQBGi4eTs3yR8neFcB5vr3pozwXtLFXozZTV6gikBPzyBnwwnqcuMjwWy0/s400/P1030724.JPG" width="222" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I’m finding that as I train for what will likely be the longest, most difficult event I’ve ever done the (Trans Rockies Run), that I have to do most of my training on trails if I am to be successful. And much of that training will probably <a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2016/05/just-for-fun/10-reasons-to-run-solo_58679" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">be on my own</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve decided to do an experiment. Over the next few weeks, I will work on confronting the fear that I have of running and hiking alone in the woods. And I'll write about it both here and in Women's Running Magazine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2017/03/fat-girl-running/iconfronting-fear-running-alone-woods_72855#pVIzPedhWUDlOZEu.97"><span style="font-size: large;">Read more here about my plan HERE.</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">How do you confront your fears when it comes to running?</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-37230041722040395942017-03-10T06:54:00.000-05:002017-03-10T06:54:12.471-05:00Calling BS on BMI<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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I run. I jog. I hop and skip along roads and trails, and sometimes—albeit reluctantly—the track. Sometimes I trip over real roots and hurdle over imaginary ones. I find complete joy in the act of moving my body through nature, and even against the weak, ineffective breeze from my treadmill fan. I sign up for big races, wonder where my sanity has momentarily gone, and then do the big races and discover profound things about myself. I chafe under my bra on long training runs. My hands swell in the middle of 50Ks and I finish those same events with salt caked around my face. I am a runner.</div>
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I am a big girl, a big runner. A fat runner. After all, the name of <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666699; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">my blog is Fat Girl Running</a>. In it I hope to spread the word that being a larger person and running aren’t two mutually exclusive things or ideas and I hope that you will indulge me for a minute in exploring the idea of being a larger person and being fit.</div>
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<a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2017/02/fat-girl-running/health-weight-more-complicated-bmi_72409#0KGS27BHMthpuqpP.97">To continue reading, please see the rest of this post in Women's Running Magazine</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-56211876705543672312017-03-08T13:31:00.001-05:002017-03-08T13:39:46.017-05:00I Love My Legs<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In celebration of International Women's Day and all of the intersections it has with the concept of body positivity , I'm going to talk about my body, because my body is a phenomenal piece of machinery. It should be recognized and honored as such. I love it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part of being a woman in today's world is constantly confronting societal expectations and aesthetic preferences around what a woman should look like and how we should dress and whether or not we should be spending time away from our families doing stuff we love and/or need to do. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXM7dWdrAb2223koSPAdz2CATVq6MfRFkAQ686pnR5T9aOl4FrjksVf6O0RfL7MGfZk_-wQipWPv-Cv7qcb-wkGNce2ROfuIJIlp7dXaX1CW3QGmbbIdc23Ic1E-jO5Ahw06DGsXEuSs/s1600/IMG_4649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXM7dWdrAb2223koSPAdz2CATVq6MfRFkAQ686pnR5T9aOl4FrjksVf6O0RfL7MGfZk_-wQipWPv-Cv7qcb-wkGNce2ROfuIJIlp7dXaX1CW3QGmbbIdc23Ic1E-jO5Ahw06DGsXEuSs/s640/IMG_4649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spend a lot of time running. I choose to honor and respect my body. I choose to honor the gift of being a woman who runs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love to run. And I love my legs, what they can do, what they represent.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_aLLfQAN_5X1FeZlTOvyP1sf35z4u6Xt1DPdPP8yOojsULhLUzTo_b2SMQi7rZKngAIUGvXs30zycd7S7tMI-DYHgtWaWWtCp0Bpeq53xz16TPegxDADP1PkIjPY_CplmOADBq9IfFw/s1600/IMG_4691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_aLLfQAN_5X1FeZlTOvyP1sf35z4u6Xt1DPdPP8yOojsULhLUzTo_b2SMQi7rZKngAIUGvXs30zycd7S7tMI-DYHgtWaWWtCp0Bpeq53xz16TPegxDADP1PkIjPY_CplmOADBq9IfFw/s400/IMG_4691.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, powerful women, with legs. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_aLLfQAN_5X1FeZlTOvyP1sf35z4u6Xt1DPdPP8yOojsULhLUzTo_b2SMQi7rZKngAIUGvXs30zycd7S7tMI-DYHgtWaWWtCp0Bpeq53xz16TPegxDADP1PkIjPY_CplmOADBq9IfFw/s1600/IMG_4691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I run because I need to be outdoors. I need to feel the sun on the back of my neck, or the gentle rain lightly landing on my already sweaty face. I thrive on this almost daily habit of being awakened by the smell of coffee from the percolator in the dark hours of early morning. I run because the sensation of carrying my body over great distances on my own, big, strong legs is powerful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Power. My legs translate the power and strength given to me by my mother and passed on to both of us by my grandmother into forward motion. Energy. Momentum.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNTYwndxqqJVWalMA0sNeW5hXK7EP22MRSe6dK6IRMxBMHCiXDfjbZVcPZAvtPDqFsEa_ZiXTqQ6FQSkUrqdTfMJzE9O4Dj1QQ5j9XHrXc56Cw3NO_rGbKOG-n_EpU5aBoAnuh2JmAbo/s1600/IMG_4669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNTYwndxqqJVWalMA0sNeW5hXK7EP22MRSe6dK6IRMxBMHCiXDfjbZVcPZAvtPDqFsEa_ZiXTqQ6FQSkUrqdTfMJzE9O4Dj1QQ5j9XHrXc56Cw3NO_rGbKOG-n_EpU5aBoAnuh2JmAbo/s400/IMG_4669.JPG" width="357" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My dimpled thighs are wide and brown, my calves thinner and chiseled. Together, they work to propel me forward. Most of the time, their muscles, even when hidden, prevent me from falling and hold me steady. If I do fall, they offer padding and flexibility. Finally, they offer the ability to stand up again. And they continue on their path, my path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I went out on a run this morning with some friends. The sun was a brilliant yellow and the sky was a sharp blue. We celebrated being women, practicing self-care, and honoring our bodies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My legs carry me, and I carry the wisdom and love given to me by the women in my life onward.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOku1jV3otc9UaB3TrPm3OKA3IwgGQ34X8CJP34InfDSA7M0_TfC-amVyaVsSVA3H7AZfCIKC-WfdR0ccpiw4P0mfVb6NVc2P1Fwvbvflf-iaNfCrdtiWsDhgJSgsYu0-sQPCRNhqEYw/s1600/IMG_4520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOku1jV3otc9UaB3TrPm3OKA3IwgGQ34X8CJP34InfDSA7M0_TfC-amVyaVsSVA3H7AZfCIKC-WfdR0ccpiw4P0mfVb6NVc2P1Fwvbvflf-iaNfCrdtiWsDhgJSgsYu0-sQPCRNhqEYw/s640/IMG_4520.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-3192043938701724422017-01-22T21:47:00.000-05:002017-01-22T21:47:10.986-05:00ResilienceYesterday morning, as I was driving home from doing a brisk, predawn walk on campus with my friend Captain Tara, a deer bounded from the left side of the road right into the driver's side of my car, just a few feet away from home. I slammed on the brakes, screamed DAMMIT WHAT THE FUCK, and then caught a glimpse of the deer looking straight at me with its pointy ears and big brown eyes, like EXCUSE ME MISS! He/she bounded away out of sight before I could catch my breath and continue driving the last few feet to my driveway.<br />
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When I got home, I opened my car door to major creaking and squeaking. The side of the door featured blood and a little bit of fur. I was a little traumatized for a second. There was also a dent near the wheel housing.<br />
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I went through a range of emotions: unnerved that a random deer decided that at that moment it would bound across the street; anger at myself for not seeing the deer in enough time to come to a complete stop; foreboding--did this mean my entire day of carefully planned events was doomed? Was this a sign of things to come?; and annoyance--now I would have to deal with a body repair that was certain to cost an arm and leg.<br />
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I examined the car and there appeared to be no major damage except the inconvenient dent that caused my door the inability to open fully. I looked at my cellphone clock and told myself, well I'm ok, the deer seems okay (it did run away, didn't it?), <i>and I have got to get going</i>. I've got a big day ahead of me and I MUST not let this ruin what is going to be awesome. After cleaning the blood and fur off the car with the garden hose I headed inside to prepare for a full day. I knew that I needed to be resilient, clean up what I could and get on with my life. I couldn't let myself mope about the deer or my car or the impeding doom that was apparently going to be happening. I got on with it.<br />
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This time of month, this third weekend in January happens to be around the time when everyone tells you that the novelty of your new years resolutions will wear off, and that you'll fall back into old habits. This is also the time of winter when people can become depressed and anxious and it's fairly<br />
easy to dig yourself into an emotional hole if you haven't already reached all of your resolution goals.<br />
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So I have a challenge for you, particularly if you happen to be someone in this position.<br />
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Start again. The deer will be ok. You will be ok after a little crash or interruption in your grand plans. Start again. Got a little dent? Can you still drive your car? Sure it ain't pretty, but if you can still drive it, I say it's a win. Practice being <a href="http://believeperform.com/performance/resilience-in-sport/">resilient</a>, especially now. You might think that starting over isn't worth it but I swear to you that it is. Your mental and physical health are worth it. You are worth it. Rejoice in your ability to do something, even if it's square one yet again.<br />
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Did you make a resolution to go to run couple of times a week? Start again. Only now, be realistic about how many times you'll actually run THIS WEEK. Once? Okay, start there. That's okay. We don't have to be rockstars all the time. Let's focus on being rockstars some of the time first.<br />
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Did you make a resolution or goal to eat more healthfully and without realizing it head right back into wherever you were? Ok. Don't hate yourself. Start again. Master one meal a day like the <a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2017/01/fat-girl-running/steps-reset-nutrition-eating-habits_70042#gfzBC8ImzbcO7uDj.97">Plate Coach</a> suggests by focusing your energy on that one time a day. Maybe it's lunch or dinner. Make sure it's a meal that you CAN be successful at most of the time and be flexible with yourself when time becomes scarce, when your energy becomes non-existent. Forgive yourself, start over, and move on.<br />
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Why not be like the deer? He or she was obviously hurt as there was a little blood and fur--but the deer managed to gallop off after initially being stunned and hurt. Sometimes we are stunned by life, our own perceived failures. Sometimes we leave a little dent, blood and fur at the scene. Clean it off and go.<br />
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Also, if the deer can get up and gallop away from what must have been the biggest, most scary and painful disappointment ever, we can at least try.<br />
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Peace.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-90447032888564736552016-12-25T00:53:00.002-05:002016-12-25T01:27:17.369-05:00Perspective and Gratitude<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From Evans #iamme campaign, photo<br />by Danielle Levitt</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was at the gym yesterday, going in on the elliptical, I started to smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I looked down at my clothes and realized that with the exception of my <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2015/08/run-often-and-everywhere-wear-your-big.html">big girl panties</a>, everything I was wearing I had not purchased myself:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/">NYC Marathon</a> long sleeve tech shirt</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">tech running tights by <a href="http://www.merrell.com/US/en/blog?url=%2F/merrell_us/author/valerimi/?icid=ambassadors-mirnavalerio">Merrell</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">socks by <a href="http://www.swiftwick.com/">Swiftwick</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and bra by <a href="http://enell.com/">Enell</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I started my fitness journey, I would run on the treadmill in my office almost every o dark thirty morning and dream. I would imagine that I could do any event I wanted, wear gear that fit and looked good, and that when people watched me in action, they would feel as though maybe they could do that too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Over the past year, I've had many, many cool opportunities and experiences thrown at me and somehow, with the blessing and support of the Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, my students, my family, and my fitness community in general, I was able to take advantage of many of them.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVje2HuhzDwWeKjRQY98sB79zaXHog-hYwUWAvHwCWQEyscYaPRDIK-Tay2KdHaW0Q-npVYmMxWD4x0Xtf7Itvh8DztV0hlyNl7iNiF74spcPw1nvdSuW5txAcKHkB2OD_vxhVGAPdXA/s1600/berlin+wall+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVje2HuhzDwWeKjRQY98sB79zaXHog-hYwUWAvHwCWQEyscYaPRDIK-Tay2KdHaW0Q-npVYmMxWD4x0Xtf7Itvh8DztV0hlyNl7iNiF74spcPw1nvdSuW5txAcKHkB2OD_vxhVGAPdXA/s320/berlin+wall+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From Tough Mudder Long Island 2016</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I started out the year in January doing the <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=42516">Atlanta Fatass 25K </a>run hosted by the Georgia Ultrarunning and Trailrunning Society in Atlanta</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In early March, I did the <a href="http://www.uberendurancesports.com/Nakedbavarian.html">Naked Bavarian Trail Marathon</a> in Reading, Pennsylvania</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oUPERGfGCKSapalMgNV1BWNaFkvCNsgRjc1RD8xWQBQva8MEpieUi2a9CmwDK7q8p7Rm2CGRQCj1S4xQxwIUA5ozPchdTdRtK0DwpQYi11Yb_i969GMCbZTfuuNW0S25_HEySdrn9qg/s1600/0032578_584ef1b6-e655-4c09-903c-1dbf7cafc397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oUPERGfGCKSapalMgNV1BWNaFkvCNsgRjc1RD8xWQBQva8MEpieUi2a9CmwDK7q8p7Rm2CGRQCj1S4xQxwIUA5ozPchdTdRtK0DwpQYi11Yb_i969GMCbZTfuuNW0S25_HEySdrn9qg/s200/0032578_584ef1b6-e655-4c09-903c-1dbf7cafc397.JPG" width="158" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Narragansett Beer Half, Easton MA</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In April I participated in a photo shoot for <a href="http://www.evansusa.com/">Evans</a>, a plus-size fashion company based in the UK.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I did my first <a href="https://toughmudder.com/">Tough Mudder</a> Training event and the Shape Magazine Women's Half Marathon in New York City</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At Catamount 25K</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In May I did my first ever Tough Mudder in Atlanta</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Early June I did the Tortoise and the Hare 12 Hour Run in Canton, Georgia. <b>Oh, I also got a book deal too. I started writing that.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A few weeks later I did the Catamount 25K in Stowe, Vermont. I<b> wrote my book.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A week after that, I did the Finger Lakes 50s 50K. <b>I worked on my book</b>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I drove up to Massachussetts and did the Naragansett Beer Half mid July. <b>BOOK? Yes! And beer too!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following week I did my second Tough Mudder in Long Island, NY. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I was still writing that book.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLcDqiSOgwKHj85BDB690T6rYkKlGQitLvaKr6onPLVACN5yDuQ0KMfrBb20__0QOoPKV0ktMANQdReSmiPatZKMgOa8SgDmbi7sftK9ckocBxu_muKpS3R1EOXVBwFkGgZ7mT70cNYk/s1600/14925594_1094074853973115_4482123441226180392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLcDqiSOgwKHj85BDB690T6rYkKlGQitLvaKr6onPLVACN5yDuQ0KMfrBb20__0QOoPKV0ktMANQdReSmiPatZKMgOa8SgDmbi7sftK9ckocBxu_muKpS3R1EOXVBwFkGgZ7mT70cNYk/s320/14925594_1094074853973115_4482123441226180392_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post Marine Corps Marathon with my cuz</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In August I got to tape a show of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (which hasn't been aired yet)! <b>Did somebody say book?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In September I got to try out some the (then) top secret new obstacles for Tough Mudder. <b>Book, book, book, book.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>October featured the most events:</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, I did the Tri-State Tough Mudder in New Jersey. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Escribía mi libro</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then I did my fourth Tough Mudder in Dallas. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">J'ai ecrit mon livre.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I met NYRR CEO, Michael Capiraso! <br />What a cool guy!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My penultimate event was the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. My cousin and her children gave me VIP treatment before, during, and after the marathon. It was a difficult one (it was extremely hot!) but the hardship paled in comparison to the good times had with family, new and old friends, and new respect for the marathon distance I gained.<b> Ich habe mein Buch geschrieben und I finished the first draft the day before the marathon at 9:28pm the night before Marine Corps.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And finally, to top of an incredible year of running, reading, writing, and doing a little diversity and inclusion at work,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ran the <b>New York City Marathon</b> in November. To say it was one of the most fantastic experiences ever is an understatement. Also, I got to meet NYRR CEO Michael Capiraso, shook hands with Race Director Peter Ciaccia, went to the <a href="http://rw.runnersworld.com/selects/ultra.html">Runner's World </a>Party that weekend with my Swiftwick bestie Ashley, hugged Ryan Hall, and heard Kara Goucher, Stephanie Bruce and Sara Hall speak at the <a href="http://www.nycustompt.com/#road-to-recovery">NY Custom Physical Therapy</a> pre-race partay! And then to top it off, my family was able to see me run the race of my dreams in their own backyard.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mom, sis, niece and nephew cheering me on at the NYC Marathon in Brooklyn!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wow, right? I am so fortunate to have the sponsorship and ambassadorship opportunities I do. I love each of the companies I get to represent as they align with both my lifestyle, mission, and intention. They have allowed me time to learn, grow, prosper and succeed as an athlete, even though those things might look and feel different for other, more traditional athletes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check out this <a href="http://nicoledeboom.com/podcast/34-mirna-valerio-of-fatgirlrunning-promotes-health-at-every-size/">podcast </a>that Nicole DeBoom, founder of Skirt Sports, and I did a few weeks ago!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For this incredible and still surreal year, I thank Merrell, Swiftwick, Skirt Sports, the folks at <a href="http://trailandultrarunning.com/">Trail And Ultra Running</a>, my publicist <a href="http://www.margauxnissengray.com/">Margaux Nissen Gray</a>, my literary agent <a href="http://www.dystel.com/blog/about/">Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret</a>, my family, and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">countless others who have supported, encouraged, and motivated me to keep doing what I'm doing. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus, Happy Holidays, and Happy Winter!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-51029679374407274122016-12-22T00:06:00.000-05:002016-12-22T00:13:41.889-05:00IntentionsSomething got me out of bed yesterday.<br />
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Maybe it was that I woke up without a deadline looming over my head.</div>
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Perhaps it was my excitement about returning to one of my favorite yoga classes at my favorite gym, <a href="https://www.lifetimefitness.com/en/clubs/manhattan-ny/your-lt.html">Lifetime Athletic.</a><br />
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Or that I knew my mother would make me dinner (cuz I'm still a big baby).</div>
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All of the above.</div>
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Plus, I was excited the fact that I would actually have a minute to sit down and post on the blog today.</div>
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I know, it's been a while and what actually inspired me to blog was something that my yoga teacher <a href="http://www.ericasergott.com/">Erica Sergott</a> said yesterday during practice.</div>
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It was really simple.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaKHKtUHVILnY7FZB3Hea7e9hjfaKmdbKfxTfYMiVP3oFQtJLkOlX8UYmcCXp243uRMCDCqKst6QqIV9CGZPTyiWtOEEwvs39y_n2-tGLBrIUR3rgB0N2aDwJQcREF2_txCG8m0ZVAAQ/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaKHKtUHVILnY7FZB3Hea7e9hjfaKmdbKfxTfYMiVP3oFQtJLkOlX8UYmcCXp243uRMCDCqKst6QqIV9CGZPTyiWtOEEwvs39y_n2-tGLBrIUR3rgB0N2aDwJQcREF2_txCG8m0ZVAAQ/s320/IMG_1501.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning of NYC Marathon!</td></tr>
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At the beginning she said "Set an intention for your practice today" and I immediately thought of my breath. </div>
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I haven't been running regularly since the New York City Marathon because:<br />
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1. I needed and still need a break from running after that back-to-back-marathon-palooza (Marine Corps followed a week later by NYCM) followed by life.<br />
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2. I've had some pretty major breathing problems since the beginning of November, when thick smoke and particulate matter filled the air of Northeast Georgia because of wildfires as close as four miles to our town.</div>
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Two doctors visits, one x-ray, one CT scan (clear!), and two different steroid prescriptions later, I'm slowly approaching a state in which I can breathe again without feeling like I'm drowning in peanut butter mixed with molasses and Elmer's glue. Breathing is essential.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNfY-WvRXSgqJ95234My0ws4enkZEfRLYi5Go_AVV-QCC2XHOUtySN0yIisoVeO4ifberPAGeG96fXyYR0gom7ngvirdxQ5-WGwwcw138b-hKO-W8Gn3ixN1HPkdyQQ6MD5BPCvNuMgE/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNfY-WvRXSgqJ95234My0ws4enkZEfRLYi5Go_AVV-QCC2XHOUtySN0yIisoVeO4ifberPAGeG96fXyYR0gom7ngvirdxQ5-WGwwcw138b-hKO-W8Gn3ixN1HPkdyQQ6MD5BPCvNuMgE/s400/IMG_2588.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erica Sergott, yogi extraordinaire!</td></tr>
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I've also been under a bit of stress lately. If you read my <a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2016/12/fat-girl-running/look-back-everything-accomplished-year_69259#8SP3lGaHA4ZXDwgb.97">Women's Running Magazine post</a> from last week about my goals and accomplishments from this past year, you'll understand why. And also, if you are new to this blog, you should know that I'm in the midst of writing a book. That's been giving me a little bit of anxiety.</div>
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But back to yoga yesterday morning.</div>
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I set my intention for my practice. It was--<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"Thank you lungs for allowing me to breathe." </span><br />
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Throughout the practice Erica reminded me several times to call to mind my intention for the practice, and it refocused me in a really powerful way.</div>
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My breathing became less labored, and I became less afraid of giving my full self to movement. I gave into quietude of the mind, and to opening myself to the bounty of good that has come my way in the last two years.<br />
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I returned to my intention, expressed gratitude for my lungs, and then reminded myself of the intent of everything that I do in the name of fitness, including this blog. I recommitted to <i>health and wellness</i> a few years ago, because I was letting them escape from my life. I started the <i>blog</i> because I wanted to share the journey with others.<br />
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So here I am. After a hectic-in-a-good-way year I want to recommit myself to blogging on this platform and continue to share my journey with you.<br />
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Thank you to Erica, yogi extraordinaire for helping me to realize this with a simple but incredibly meaningful yoga practice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkKyADodp0Qzb0RFpV3YcKOV3qY8RSJMsU8PCqGSq5kDKkiuVR31NE_IhvltBkwJYkSVdLlBNT677B_iaCjDRitELQaPZ93iCyld9Ji6-6V8xuDukOyMmOiExBvo9tYwYnkoNd44PiTA/s1600/IMG_2606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkKyADodp0Qzb0RFpV3YcKOV3qY8RSJMsU8PCqGSq5kDKkiuVR31NE_IhvltBkwJYkSVdLlBNT677B_iaCjDRitELQaPZ93iCyld9Ji6-6V8xuDukOyMmOiExBvo9tYwYnkoNd44PiTA/s640/IMG_2606.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-42906405802966083972016-11-10T23:06:00.001-05:002016-12-04T13:26:13.139-05:00Heading to Las Vegas?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting your workout on while traveling, EVEN IN <a href="https://www.vegas.com/">LAS VEGAS</a></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been traveling a lot lately. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I travel to a new city, even one that’s in my own country I love to explore it by either going for a run or an extended walk with no particular plan in mind, other than to breathe in and experience the city in the most visceral way possible.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this way I’ve explored Paris, Madrid, Granada, Sevilla, Nice, Chicago, Rome, Florence, Spoleto, Quito, Philly, Orlando, and many other cities and towns around the world. It’s an awesome way to travel and appreciate what a city has to offer.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what if you’re in a place like, say, Las Vegas in August, the hottest place on earth?</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2ml126JiVfqBazMQjneU2H9Q8sG4E_s89SHJFKMyA7q2S9rd04B3DXLvcYROwXRWtX2ac2arwJBk4HQA5RKBig4-cmE1Guudlwxv9b7YZtneLzXEtg6Gbx6b-DohuGUoZ0aoSM2YyxU/s1600/0324160803-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2ml126JiVfqBazMQjneU2H9Q8sG4E_s89SHJFKMyA7q2S9rd04B3DXLvcYROwXRWtX2ac2arwJBk4HQA5RKBig4-cmE1Guudlwxv9b7YZtneLzXEtg6Gbx6b-DohuGUoZ0aoSM2YyxU/s640/0324160803-2.jpg" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing a little T-25 in my hotel room</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s the <a href="https://www.vegas.com/restaurant/">food</a>, the shopping, the crepes, the <a href="https://www.vegas.com/shows/">shows</a>, the people-watching, the burgers, the <a href="https://www.vegas.com/attractions/">Bellagio</a>, the casinos, the buffets, all the things you've found on the <a href="http://www.vegas.com/">www.vegas.com</a> page, and the throngs and throngs of people milling about and enjoying themselves twenty-four hours a days, seven days a week, 365 a year no matter how hot-as-Hades it is. Is there even space or time for a workout? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was in <a href="https://www.vegas.com/">Vegas</a> this past summer to tape <a href="http://millionairetv.dadt.com/">Who Wants to be a Millionaire</a> for Teacher’s Appreciation Week it was </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HOT</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! Like 107 degrees hot. It was so hot, in fact, that I felt like I was melting every single time I stepped outside of my hotel and I actually </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> heat. Like, I really LOVE heat. But this was too much.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did I mention it was hot?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what do you do when you want to get your run on or do some exercising and it’s a brick oven outside? I’m 100% a fan of exploring the outdoors, but if it’s like you’re on the surface of the sun and your body is not acclimated to the extreme, dry heat of the <a href="https://www.vegas.com/tours/las-vegas-atv-tours/zero-1-desert-adventures/">Mojave Desert,</a> maybe you can go with Plan B or Plan C or Plan D which is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stay-in-your-room-until-it-cools-down-and-then-you-can-run-but-it-never-cools-down-and-now-you’re-screwed</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are dead-set on getting your workout on,<img height="16" id="54ou0i79ptsv" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /> you totally can! Here’s what I usually do, wherever I go:</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LtZiJcPBFyNokjs9V-oQn4haRFMYKxdE0DD-8SLtgKzPPQjZTk-Dfrdkb_2SAWxdrAyzRA5cIRhUWn2XjgYtihVH1HlI8g4290OGOhc7JABd-qiv5un-NGAHSfNF6l23xvXwzfvIWaE/s1600/0323160624a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LtZiJcPBFyNokjs9V-oQn4haRFMYKxdE0DD-8SLtgKzPPQjZTk-Dfrdkb_2SAWxdrAyzRA5cIRhUWn2XjgYtihVH1HlI8g4290OGOhc7JABd-qiv5un-NGAHSfNF6l23xvXwzfvIWaE/s640/0323160624a.jpg" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a session at a swank hotel gym</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I get to my hotel, I drop my stuff of in my room and head immediately for the fitness center, if there is one. I generally exercise early in the morning, so I check out the schedule and make sure I can do what I need to at an insane hour. I also check out the equipment to make sure it’s in working order, because been there, done that. </span></div>
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<ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the fitness center is non-existent or gross, that’s when Plan B comes into play. I work out in my AIR-CONDITIONED room. In <a href="https://www.vegas.com/resorts/">Vegas</a>, the rooms are nice and spacious, so I can move around and do what I need to do. </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To make sure, I don’t miss important workouts, I almost always travel with the following, especially if I’m not sure about a hotel’s fitness offerings:</span></div>
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</ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>a yoga mat and strap</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>running shoes</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>a running outfit (weather appropriate)</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>and if I remember, a resistance band</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These things are all light, and except for the yoga mat they don’t add a whole lot of bulk in your luggage (unless you have a fancy, expensive, foldable travel yoga mat)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, since I always carry my computer or tablet with me, I can also access exercise videos via Beachbody’s streaming service, Beachbody on Demand. So if I’m not in the mood to make up my own workout, I turn to Chalene or Shaun T and his fine self.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One time, I even tried to put 10lb weights in my carry-on and they were confiscated. Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking either…</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I’m all set. If it’s too hot and the fitness center is not to my liking, I work out in my room. There are many things that I can do to ensure that I get my workout in--especially before I go out and get all sun-tired and Cirque de Soleil’d out…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can do yoga on my yoga mat. There are tons of videos on Youtube so pick one and go! (My favorite series is Yoga with Adriene. I love her!)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I put together 3-4 sets and do 8-12 reps of the following bodyweight exercises:</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Burpees</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Squats</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Lunges</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Push-ups</b></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Crunches</b></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Planks</b></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Jumping jacks</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Push-ups</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Speed skaters</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Jumping lunges</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Leg lifts</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Mountain-climbers</b></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>V-ups</b></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I have remembered my resistance band I try to diversify my sets by adding some strength-training to the mix with the following (obviously not a complete list):</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Overhead press</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Bicep curls</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Triceps kickbacks</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Lat pulldowns</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chest press</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Boxing moves (jabs, crosses, uppercuts, hooks)</b></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can create cool sets and supersets, or make up your own AMRAPS (As Many Reps As Possible), create stations in your room (or hallway if you’re brave), and/or get your intense cardio in by running up and down the stairs. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are so many things you can do to keep yourself moving, even when you’re on vacation IN VEGAS. Working out wherever I go makes me a better (and more tolerable) traveler.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you exercise while on the road? How do you do it?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-d2a817b8-5187-e873-dc25-b64a2f100aac"></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-48652554375968611372016-10-20T12:07:00.001-04:002016-10-20T12:07:49.086-04:00<span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-large;">Having a negative body image day today? Read this...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="660" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D1277610852281622%26id%3D939724599403584&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-90709107700620603612016-10-11T15:25:00.000-04:002016-10-11T15:25:09.269-04:00I'LL BE BACK<span style="font-size: x-large;">BACK IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bl04iSuZIUjZgBSMi8Hvl1YeLaOTdkGWOAuWKuGzgcGYJKmqguUgZSfSzhGPB5ffgXFoqWcUGhu4vbw-VhBlZ2Aony7KNPIlPYx7cvTT-UfuVF9NRNWz8L_VdEbgFt-PyQaVImU3xIw/s1600/ADFF0027-34EC-4C16-990F-7DFFB41C24B0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bl04iSuZIUjZgBSMi8Hvl1YeLaOTdkGWOAuWKuGzgcGYJKmqguUgZSfSzhGPB5ffgXFoqWcUGhu4vbw-VhBlZ2Aony7KNPIlPYx7cvTT-UfuVF9NRNWz8L_VdEbgFt-PyQaVImU3xIw/s640/ADFF0027-34EC-4C16-990F-7DFFB41C24B0.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am at the point in writing my book, <i>A Beautiful Work in Progress</i>, that requires me to live, eat, and breathe it every single hour of the day...of course, while managing work, being a mom..etc, and doing events. My manuscript is due on November 1, and that is just around the corner!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiFg_Vjy3S6xk-GrBwV7lHqsxc8HlloU5kH0NNSrntlpYl03KvzGslaQuo1Vrl0bLc2q62beTtJAb5qqaPr7tya-xhdpKfE2k03NjZbY-pty7ElrkdXysubqa0MISQRpjrycw7TuG6Sw/s1600/95FA7E66-648D-433F-83D2-B68DDE1108AC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiFg_Vjy3S6xk-GrBwV7lHqsxc8HlloU5kH0NNSrntlpYl03KvzGslaQuo1Vrl0bLc2q62beTtJAb5qqaPr7tya-xhdpKfE2k03NjZbY-pty7ElrkdXysubqa0MISQRpjrycw7TuG6Sw/s640/95FA7E66-648D-433F-83D2-B68DDE1108AC.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">So I am taking a short break from blogging both here and on my <a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/author/mvalerio">Women's Running Magazine Page</a>. I'll be back though!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">In the meantime, come and say hi if you're at either of these events--message me on Insta or on my Facebook page!</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://toughmudder.com/events/2016-dallasft-worth">October 23: Tough Mudder Dallas</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.marinemarathon.com/">October 30: Marine Corps Marathon</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/">November 6: New York City Marathon</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Can't wait to be back blogging regularly! It's been too long....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mirna</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-53495912118908231902016-09-23T00:30:00.000-04:002016-09-23T00:30:14.268-04:00The Fat Activism Conference<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll be speaking at the ONLINE Fat Activism conference starting TODAY September 23 and ending SUNDAY Sept 25! Please sign up and listen to the great variety of speakers on all different subjects. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My talk is entitled <b>The FATASS BADASS ATHLETE </b>and will be presented from 8:30-9AM Pacific Time on Saturday September 24.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Really hope you can join in!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Register for this ONLINE conference <a href="https://fatactivismconference.com/">HERE</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mirna</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6beHu3I919cYeoLtTFooenqIUGM3_rQXbApqN2Pl6671MoF3wiPdOAIvVXcfrP8dKsDBYiaYDlLWJHg0PjeXVGLsnEOpD8rCu7dZrZ4vfsitnyzMcXgceyIlCnuUHosabpMN4x2qYaU/s1600/SavedImage_0618161136_01%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6beHu3I919cYeoLtTFooenqIUGM3_rQXbApqN2Pl6671MoF3wiPdOAIvVXcfrP8dKsDBYiaYDlLWJHg0PjeXVGLsnEOpD8rCu7dZrZ4vfsitnyzMcXgceyIlCnuUHosabpMN4x2qYaU/s400/SavedImage_0618161136_01%25281%2529.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-87991158811068792882016-06-07T05:00:00.000-04:002016-06-07T05:00:19.714-04:00The Secret is Out<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well it's not really a secret anymore, but this big writing project that I've been working on and alluding to every now and then...I can finally announce! The contracts have been signed and I have already started on the journey.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KYE_nt7cQKf6wMBIm9A_3sIFPeY6IrUYkmjU6ZCWg18MSzPkQbrMFpuEx1vrHwHD-qtz5JOvRoFVdqwWD-mO2PZjbtu-z_v1HIzaRUvtSaggYIf690bNI7l5BfbJ7LXHV4Ad2WLAfUU/s1600/0504161656_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KYE_nt7cQKf6wMBIm9A_3sIFPeY6IrUYkmjU6ZCWg18MSzPkQbrMFpuEx1vrHwHD-qtz5JOvRoFVdqwWD-mO2PZjbtu-z_v1HIzaRUvtSaggYIf690bNI7l5BfbJ7LXHV4Ad2WLAfUU/s400/0504161656_HDR.jpg" width="315" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I'm writing a book.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In none of my wildest dreams did I ever think all the good things could happen all at once.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been on TV a few times</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been written about in a number of publications</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've had the opportunity to participate in a bunch of amazing events all over the country</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did a FASHION PHOTO SHOOT (Remember? Wildest dreams...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a couple of high profile sponsorship/ambassadorship opportunities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>WHAT FAT GIRL GETS TO REPRESENT ATHLETIC APPAREL COMPANIES??? </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>This one right hyeah, y'all. RIGHT HERE.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm over the moon <i>again </i>and now I get to WRITE MY VERY OWN BOOK. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've always been a writer, but I never imagined that I would be writing about my running life, or that ANYONE would ever be interested in it. I always thought I'd be writing a book of personal essays at some point after I had experienced some life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">FOLKS, in the last half decade, I HAVE DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED SOME LIFE. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope that my experiences, fledgling wisdom and knowledge that I have accumulated over the past few years will be helpful to people considering becoming and embodying the athletes they already are. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>A Beautiful Work in Progress</i> is scheduled to be published in October of 2017 which seems far away, but I know that in the blink of an eye that date will be here, staring me in the face as I await whatever is to come next. It's also my birthday month and the older I get, the shorter the years are so yeah basically this is tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took this title from a talk I gave to some middle school students at the Latin School of Chicago in January and thought that in terms of who I am and what I hope I represent, this phrase best describes all of the things that I endeavor for in my life's work, both in process and product, never allowing myself to forget the progress that I have made, and the fact that our raw humanity is indeed beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am forever thankful to my literary agents Jane and Miriam at <a href="http://www.dystel.com/">Dystel & Goderich Literary Management</a> in NYC for believing in my writing and in my story, and for their extraordinarily conscientious and generous editing of the many drafts of my proposal. I am also thankful to Tanya Mckinnon of <a href="http://www.mckinnonmcintyre.com/">Mckinnon Mckintyre</a> for having that initial conversation with my <i>completely </i>green self back in September of last year. I am also elated to have on my team, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaux-nissen-gray-9875164">Margaux Nissen Gray</a>, my publicist.who has been at my side since I started not being able to handle all of the requests for interviews, writing, appearances, etc. all by myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally, I am grateful for the opportunity to be an author because acquisitions editor, Erin Calligan Mooney at <a href="http://www.brilliancepublishing.com/grandharbor.html">Grand Harbor Press </a>believed that I could actually bring this book to fruition and that it might be remotely interesting to some!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is so exciting, friends. As I say a lot when I'm having a difficult time on the trail and I forget that I have the exquisite privilege of running that not everyone has, I AM LIVING THE DREAM! I have the exquisite privilege of writing a book This is my dream, and I am living it. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-13057738383110593662016-06-01T08:30:00.000-04:002016-06-01T08:58:03.696-04:00HOW TO BE A FATRUNNER IN 10 SIMPLE STEPS<h3>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Updated on June 1, 2016:</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> GLOBAL RUNNING DAY</span></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you're not a runner yet, you can become one today !</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It's easy to become a FATRUNNER. Here's how:</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Embrace the name.</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many times, nomenclature makes decisions for us. It's time to take the name and <i>do</i> something with it. Use it as a weapon, a sign to let people know who you are and what awesomeness you are about to achieve. LIVE IT. Be proud. Be active. And even though many of us are trying to lose the fat for health and wellness reasons, EMBRACE it and LOVE it. </span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Decide to run. </span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whether it's slow running, run-walking or walk-running, sprinting, limping with/without a crutch, or running with a prosthetic--running is running. <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2014/03/haters-gonna-hate-rant.html">Don't let <i>anyone</i> tell you what you are doing</a>. Only YOU know.</span></li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA-OtRXNgWDGVF3wrlFhiPTt-w0JbjFv6eObIOlOwaJoAzjdlLu-mxtsUlInv8BeDwfx3KZQUjkIUuPK_Qj8z6KtHJck_fpMpZjoOHgFGn6MR15S6na599Jvnif4G-iAIYb2BnLzFYdA/s1600/TNP_7416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA-OtRXNgWDGVF3wrlFhiPTt-w0JbjFv6eObIOlOwaJoAzjdlLu-mxtsUlInv8BeDwfx3KZQUjkIUuPK_Qj8z6KtHJck_fpMpZjoOHgFGn6MR15S6na599Jvnif4G-iAIYb2BnLzFYdA/s1600/TNP_7416.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tamminowackphotography.com/">Tammi Nowack Photography</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Look in the mirror and smile, even if it doesn't feel genuine. Sometimes, we have to fake it until we make it.</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank your body for how it has supported you thus far. Make a promise to your body that you will honor and nourish it, as it has you. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have a favorite mantra? Now is the time to repeat it several times. I like this one from <a href="http://www.drnorthrup.com/" target="_blank">Christiane Northrup</a>, MD: "I love myself unconditionally right now."</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Put on your <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2014/04/zaftig-sisters-dress-your-curves-and.html" target="_blank">running clothes</a>. </span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you only have sweats or jeans? Yoga pants or cargo pants? Have a favorite t-shirt that makes you feel and act fabulous? WHATEVER, they're running clothes so put them on.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. Put on your sneakers, kicks, tennis shoes, gym shoes, wedges, stilettos, sandals, Doc Martens. Or not. You can run barefoot too. </span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shoes tattered and falling apart? Totally fine, because that's why duct-tape and Crazy-Glue were invented. </span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. Look in the mirror AGAIN and admire yourself for being a badass fatrunner. </span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Repeat your mantra again, several times until you start believing it or until you start feeling crazy. Either totally works.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7. Leave your house. Lock the door if you're in Brooklyn.</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8. Take a breath, or several if you're asthmatic. (Maybe you should take your inhaler too...)</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seriously, there are a lot of people out there with asthma and sometimes this makes us scared. Talk to your doctor about exercising beforehand. If they discourage you from exercising without trying to find a safe balance for exercising, find another doctor. Our bodies were meant to move and there are tons of <a href="http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/famous-athletes-with-asthma">successful athletes dealing with asthma</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9. Take a <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2014/05/selfie-affirmation.html"><span id="goog_370495117"></span>selfie<span id="goog_370495118"></span></a> to record this momentous occasion--YOU <i>KNOW</i> YOU WANNA POST THIS ON INSTAGRAM!</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">10. Run. </span></h2>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Run-walk. Walk-run. Run to the lamppost. Breathe. Take another selfie. Run. Again.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><i>Originally posted in March 2015</i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-83592287516067815172016-05-28T15:58:00.000-04:002016-10-20T09:52:33.839-04:00Haters Gonna Hate: A Rant<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>Here's a little glimpse into my head from March 3, 2014</i></span></b><br />
<br />
I'm fat and I'm a little bit angry.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-7z1zRCMcr7IE94k_dWHT9O3J-0P5YHlFnfp0jLuHN5XxjgNLaNI4cPzUl38ESvPg40IKGMu04Ujv1jlprqgMkd85qF_z8mQ8VHSD-lp1yIAiMmIGA3ioTe8F2AUSzhY4yuJWKFu3xE/s1600/2014-02-15+09.05.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-7z1zRCMcr7IE94k_dWHT9O3J-0P5YHlFnfp0jLuHN5XxjgNLaNI4cPzUl38ESvPg40IKGMu04Ujv1jlprqgMkd85qF_z8mQ8VHSD-lp1yIAiMmIGA3ioTe8F2AUSzhY4yuJWKFu3xE/s1600/2014-02-15+09.05.16.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
I'm pretty much in love with my body. It can do so much that it couldn't do years ago. And if I am able to continue what I am doing now for years, it will continue to surprise me and reciprocate the love that I have given it over my lifetime. Sometimes, I get disappointed or angry with it, but like any long-term, committed relationship, it usually comes right back to love and respect.<br />
<br />
Also, and thank goodness for this, I didn't grow up in a body-dysmorphic family culture where girls are encouraged not to eat too much, or to worry so much about their appearance that it blocks them from being who they are. I am so thankful for this.<br />
<br />
So this post is for all you haters out there. And let me apologize on BEHALF OF YOU to YOUR BODY, for you projecting your own insecurity and feeling of inadequacy on others. I don't typically waste mental energy caring about what other people think of me or other fat people. But sometimes, the hating comes in waves and it has to be dealt with. I don't always have a snarky comeback, but some level of snark is definitely deserved, even if it comes days or weeks later. Here are some things that people have said to me, either to my face or behind my back, or to others along with some of my actual or imagined responses:<br />
<br />
<b>For as much as you work out you should be thinner, don't you think?</b><br />
No, why?<br />
Because you have some preconceived notion and idea of what it means to be fit and flippin' fabulous?<br />
Because you haven't bothered to get off the couch?<br />
Don't get me started.<br />
<br />
<b>You run too much. All you do is run. You run in the <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2013/07/who-let-cows-out-moo.html" target="_blank">woods</a>. You run in the rain. You run in <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2013/08/great-alaskan-marathon-cruise-2013-part.html" target="_blank">ALASKA</a>. Do you ever think about doing anything else? </b><br />
Yeah. Like, I work. I raise my kid (along with my hubby.) I read. I write. I travel. And yeah, <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-finally-have-something-to-say.html" target="_blank">I run because I like doing it.</a> Have you not found something that you love doing whenever possible? Something that nourishes you and renews you? No? Sorry but not sorry.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>You might wanna stop running so much. For a big girl like you, you may be better off on the elliptical or like, playing tennis. </b><br />
Why are you so concerned? Last time I checked, getting any exercise is better than getting no exercise. Do you know what's more dangerous on the knees and heart? Not doing anything. And by the way, my joints are just fine. But my brain hurts trying to explain basic shit to you.<b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Wait. You're black. </b><br />
Not this again, and yep, I am.<br />
Guess what black folk? White people don't own the outdoors. No one does, in fact, except for Mother Nature. No one owns your health and well-being, except for you. I'm <i>really</i> sick and tired of black people from ALL socioeconomic strata saying to me or to others who spend considerable time outdoors, "WE don't run in the woods. You know, because of..." Because of WHAT? Have we forgotten who our ancestors were and how they lived?<br />
<br />
What part of health are we not understanding? Have you looked around lately and noticed that we are DROPPING LIKE FLIES (and I mean dropping dead) because of heart attacks, complications with diabetes, hypertension, and general obesity related illnesses? So why berate ANYONE who is out there doing their thing, fighting preconceived notions about what it is to be black and to be healthy? Let's get out of this mindset. It's not only hurting us, it's killing us.<br />
<br />
Read <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-hills-are-alive-or-black-people.html" target="_blank">this</a> for further commentary.<br />
<br />
<b>Don't you feel weird going into a gym-you know, cuz everyone's a size zero and you're not?</b><br />
Thanks for pointing out the obvious. So perceptive of you.<b> </b><br />
What gym do YOU go to? That apparently is not my gym because although my gym has its share of meat-heads, there are tons of different body types, goals, people, sizes. Dud/ette, get out of your house. And another thing, when I walk into the gym, I OWN IT. I rock those machines. I have a good time and don't EVER worry about haters like you.<br />
<br />
<b>Wow, you're really hungry.</b><br />
Yep. That would be because I just ran 20 miles. What did YOU do today? Right.<br />
Also, I love food, and I'm not going to let you make me feel bad about enjoying and partaking in nourishment. Unlike a lot of people, I don't starve myself to fool people into believing that I care about what they think about my body. Never been a part of who I am, and sorry for you, never will be. Next topic.<br />
<br />
And this:<br />
<br />
<b>Have you gained weight? </b><br />
Let me say this: It is <i>never</i> a good idea, in fact it's downright inappropriate to ask someone IF THEY'VE GAINED WEIGHT unless you're their WEIGHT LOSS SPECIALIST. Or someone who has embarked on a weight-loss mission with them. It is <i>never</i> your right to ask something so personal or potentially devastating no matter what your relationship. <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2015/04/please-leave-your-food-anxieties-at-door.html">And also, comments about what a person eats. Same rules apply. </a><br />
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<b>You run really <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html" target="_blank">slowly</a>. </b><br />
Yep. But have you done a marathon? Yeah, didn't think so. Next comment. (<span style="color: red;"><i><b>Even if you have run a marathon, why are you concerned about my pace? How does it affect your life? It doesn't, right? Moving on...)</b></i></span><br />
<br />
This one was from a woman I sat next too on the Super Shuttle to the cruise terminal in Seattle. We had started up a conversation about what cruises we were doing, etc...<br />
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<b>Well, how many marathons have you done? <span style="color: red;"><i>(I have now done 7 marathons and 7 ultras as of May 2016</i></span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><i>)</i></span></b><br />
<a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2011/11/ich-bin-eine-marathoner.html#comment-form" target="_blank">Four</a> so far, plus an <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-next-logical-step.html#comment-form" target="_blank">ultramarathon</a>. I'm hoping to do many more. I really like marathons.<i><br /></i><br />
<b>Well I've run over 150 marathons all over the world. You'll get tired of them soon enough. So what else are you doing to lose weight?</b><br />
Um, I'm not really trying to lose <a href="http://fatgirlrunning-fatrunner.blogspot.com/2011/08/this-is-not-weight-loss-blog.html" target="_blank">weight</a>. I just love to run.<br />
<b>Oh...um....</b><br />
<br />
I really have no comment for this, except for, it made me a little sad.<br />
<br />
<b> </b>One more thing. I'll let the screen-shot speak for itself:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvzWUaAA7YbEz5-YCTgYaAIsPGIctZxBOSGB5C1CCfSnU9UUVbdmjxyUJsBYkgYlIhkCa5hPA1FS1RDRE_Qayz6aO6E2epOOrKnLaAedA8qoCnX3DLflKXwbkUdSAH4594YRwenHGDok/s1600/Screenshot+2014-03-03+15.28.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvzWUaAA7YbEz5-YCTgYaAIsPGIctZxBOSGB5C1CCfSnU9UUVbdmjxyUJsBYkgYlIhkCa5hPA1FS1RDRE_Qayz6aO6E2epOOrKnLaAedA8qoCnX3DLflKXwbkUdSAH4594YRwenHGDok/s1600/Screenshot+2014-03-03+15.28.38.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's my final commentary to all you haters out there:<br />
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There are many of us dealing with the repercussions of a fat-shaming society. We don't need YOU to remind us that we<br />
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1) are not an idealized version of what a human is supposed to look like according to unattainable and simply unrealistic beauty/being standards.<br />
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2) don't look like the Nike models or the Fit Magazine models when we are working out and doing our thang. We don't care, but why do <i>you</i> care so much?<br />
<br />
Just because we're working out, running, or god forbid doing Zumba, it does <i>not</i> mean that we have a problem with our body image. When you allude to that in your thinly veiled criticism masquerading as compliments, it simply means that YOU have a problem with YOUR body image. Get some help.<br />
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In the end, we love ourselves and our bodies. Maybe not all of us are fully aware of this, but we do. If we didn't love our bodies, we wouldn't be doing this.<br />
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That's all.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-39844323730459933582016-05-27T05:00:00.000-04:002016-05-26T22:07:02.231-04:00Slow And Steady Does NOT Win The Race<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>Flashback Friday</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This was originally posted on September 5, 2011, two years into my running renaissance:</i></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiM4P-f8ImIMKguASZ-1TNhRLJ5KXqVj7MAsIpq-jn1KZk3REz8-K_4JP_TDeIJGaXUnNX9WijQJADtLYenUtKxO2qunkJM64JxSiUrd_LJ_iHjqeMRRS3TruGcqfOv3vPq-5jKQZCgQ/s1600/Scan+19.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiM4P-f8ImIMKguASZ-1TNhRLJ5KXqVj7MAsIpq-jn1KZk3REz8-K_4JP_TDeIJGaXUnNX9WijQJADtLYenUtKxO2qunkJM64JxSiUrd_LJ_iHjqeMRRS3TruGcqfOv3vPq-5jKQZCgQ/s400/Scan+19.jpeg" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Marathon: Marine Corps 2011</td></tr>
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I'm all about being positive in general (actually, most of my friends would probably disagree heartily), but the old adage "slow and steady wins the race" just ain't true. For me, that is.<br />
<br />
For every time someone asks me if I won the race I just did, I should actually get a medal.<br />
I won my age group in one race last year--I was the only one <i>in</i> the age group, but it was an accomplishment nonetheless!<br />
<br />
I run at a pace that many very fit people can walk at. Some people might call it a jog but I specifically remember someone, it may be John "The Penguin" Bingham, saying something to the effect of "if it's not a walk, then it's running." I may be grossly oversimplifying what he did or didn't say, but I'm pretty sure he was confident that his own slow pace qualified as running.<br />
<br />
I'm not always last, although I tend to be last when the number of participants is under say, a thousand. Yesterday, as I completed the Charm City 20 Miler with an amazing pace of 15:30 (I managed to pump out solid 13 minute miles the first 7 or 8 miles then slowed down MAJORLY after the 14-mile marker), I chatted with myself (internally, that is): I<i> know I'm going to be last and that's OK! No it's not OK to be last. Didn't I pass that girl at mile 5? Did she pass me while I was in the port-a-potty? Really, it doesn't matter if I'm last-at least I'll have finished. I just hate having all those people at the finish waiting for my slow butt! That's what they're there for-for you, silly! But what are they thinking? This fat girl had better hurry, I wanna go home.</i><br />
<br />
I was worried that there wouldn't be any FOOD left after the race. I have a friend (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) who is much faster than I am, so she gets to the finish, picks up a hot dog and Gatorade for me (brats and Zico, if it's a fancy race...), and waits and waits and waits for me. Good thing or I wouldn't get any of the post-race refreshments. At a 10K in Upstate New York last year (a pretty well-known Turkey Trot, that's all I'll say) I was dead last. So last in fact, that as soon as I stepped off the timing mat, they rolled it up, almost tripping me in the the process. And then I walked through the finisher's area. There were no oranges, bananas (except for the very, very green, not-edible-unless-they're-boiled ones), no potato chips, no Fig Newtons, no Nutri-Grain Bars, no anything, except for a couple of liters of Saratoga Springs water. I was so angry, I contemplated taking an entire case. Alas, my car was about a half mile away and it was cold as hell...<br />
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There are race organizers who WILL wait for you, however, no matter how long it takes (I know this from personal experience). The NJ Trail Series (www.njtrailseries.com) was founded and organized by Rick and Jennifer McNulty, a couple whose goal is to "make running fun again". The first time I went out for one of their events, I DNFed. It was a 10 mile trail run in 2 loops. It took me so long to do the first one that I quit half-way. I distinctly remember Rick asking me if I was going for the second loop-I may have looked at him as though he had three heads (AM I GOING TO DO ANOTHER LOOP SO YOU CAN WAIT ANOTHER HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES? HA!)-No, I think I'm done. We'll wait, whatever you decide, he said. Wow, I was tempted to do another loop, but the anxiety of having people wait for me in the woods, no less, was too much to bear, so I declined. But, I've learned that they really <i>will</i> wait! One particularly grueling 13.1, I was last by at least 20 minutes from the penultimate person, but they were still out there, watermelon, snacks and all! Thanks, NJ Trail Series- You <i>have</i> made running fun again. Race directors have a lot to learn from you!<br />
<br />
So no, I have not won any races, and I don't expect to, EVER. But that's OK by me. I'm not in it to win it-sorry for the cliché but it's true. I have no desire or physical capacity to even try to win--I'm in it for the thrill, the workout, the friends, the running community. And if you don't quite understand, sign-up for a local 5K and see what I'm talking about. You'll get hooked, and you'll only care that you're out there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-72174662029546354562016-05-26T23:06:00.000-04:002016-05-26T11:25:13.872-04:00Please Leave Your Food Anxieties At The Door<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'd Like To Enjoy My Meal, Please</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Original Post: April 13, 2015</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNXAhNeOsc5TiqHfqcKdzXiSKdDHtzsucIJgbkWgTBo8u5sjLTsu63GDBf_Tu907QQuIo-PfCvZ8lLA92rWfFG_3qw2AsYqhMFkFMQ9PEtsaRGH0NdrWKD_UHw-UWnmcpn159oPYPfGY/s1600/39485_10150225678260344_3752328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNXAhNeOsc5TiqHfqcKdzXiSKdDHtzsucIJgbkWgTBo8u5sjLTsu63GDBf_Tu907QQuIo-PfCvZ8lLA92rWfFG_3qw2AsYqhMFkFMQ9PEtsaRGH0NdrWKD_UHw-UWnmcpn159oPYPfGY/s1600/39485_10150225678260344_3752328_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fat person eating in Spain.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">About 10 months into our courtship, my then boyfriend and I went out to eat with some friends at the Pink Teacup in New York's West Village. The food was sumptuous--exquisitely prepared macaroni and cheese dripping with grease, collard greens simmered in a smoky broth, and fried catfish. MMMM! And then there was dessert. Bread pudding soaking in something alcoholic. I ordered a slice. And then I ordered another.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My boyfriend noticed this and surreptitiously placed his hand over mine with the intent to stop me from enjoying my dessert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"It's not too much?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't know if it was the (very) nasty <i>I-WISH-HE-WOULD</i> look I gave him or the fact that I said in a low voice that I was going to eat what I wanted, where I wanted, in front of who I wanted, and when I wanted and don't ever say anything like that to me again that ended that particular conversation. Six months later I married him. That was 15 years ago and to this day he has not made another attempt to ask what he thought was probably an innocent question.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I'd like to note that at this particular juncture in my life, I was running, swimming, working with a personal trainer, living in a fourth floor walk up in the Bronx, walking everywhere, and just being plain active every single day of my life. My then-boy-toy-now-hubby was very, very much aware of this and in fact offered to run with me one morning. But </i>that,<i> my friends, is another story...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I like food. I enjoy eating good, quality food. Whether that food is a salad, or a piece of homemade apple pie with cheddar baked into its crust, or some good ole-fashioned bracciole with pasta and gravy simmered all day on a Sunday, or my mom's crispy baked chicken I'm going to eat it--and that is with or <i>without</i> your approval.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm being so bad right now.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are you really going to eat that?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aren't you on a diet, though?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really shouldn't be eating this.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wow, I'm going to need to run a marathon tomorrow after this meal.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'll just have half. I mean I really shouldn't even be eating half.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I probably shouldn't eat this.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm gonna have to put my fat pants on after this.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'll just eat this salad and be hungry all effin-day.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You eat too much.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><i></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
LIVE AND LET EAT</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From the personal stories told and showcased on shows like Biggest Loser, Extreme Weight Loss, to the less sensational shows such as AE's Heavy, there is always a plethora of "before" pictures in which fat people are "caught" engaging in the ritual and necessary act of eating. The following may be controversial statements. People eat. Skinny people eat. Fat people eat. Fat people, in fact, need to eat too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So why is there this <i>incredible</i> shame attached to doing what we as humans, as living and breathing animals of this planet? Why do we have this obsession with what others put in their mouths?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Why do people feel the need to sabotage their own food experiences and others'? There are no easy answers here. I think about this on a daily basis--not a day goes by that I don't hear someone engaging in this type of behavior. I often catch myself doing the same thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is not to negate the existence of the major epidemic of obesity that we are currently dealing with in the US. This is not to deny that fact that we are facing a <i>real</i> problem with the very low quality of food that many people either have to eat or choose to eat. Also, my purpose here is not to ignore the real issues with eating disorders that many men, women, and adolescents have. This is not any of that. The issue here is that negative food talk is so pervasive and omnipresent in our society that it has become normalized. We are accustomed to excoriating ourselves and subsequently projecting our negative and destructive feelings towards food on others. This isn't fair. It is <i>especially</i> unfair for fat people who may already be dealing with compromised self-image.</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
We have enough of this to deal with. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that many of us who are either overweight/obese/perceived-as-being-abnormal-because-we-have-big-bones-big-thighs-and-big-asses have dealt with, at some point in our lives being looked upon disdainfully when we eat, NO MATTER WHAT WE EAT. Salad? People are judging. Fries? Judging. Chewing gum? Drinking water after a sweaty workout? Fried chicken? Let's not even go there. </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have deeply held beliefs that aren't always substantiated by research and science about what constitutes a healthy appearance, lifestyle, diet. Let's deal with the REAL and very complicated root causes of obesity and what causes people to be <i>unhealthily</i> fat (it's not always as simple as calories-in-calories-out, folks.) Let's do this without judgment, without yelling at fat people, without portraying them in reality shows as unwieldy, out of control, and gluttonous; without parading them (us) in front of the world so that everyone can gawk at their profound shame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Concerned about a friend who eats what <i>you</i> perceive to be an unhealthy diet? This is a dilemma, I admit. Have you considered <i>why</i> a person may be eating what and how they're eating? Have you modeled healthful eating yourself without relentlessly and thoughtlessly forcing your own food values and choices on others? Have you considered WHY you are worried? Have you considered that your concern might actually just be judgment?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But sometimes our concerns are just that, genuine concerns--that we can <i>choose</i> to express carefully, lovingly and respectfully without shaming in the process. Let us stop interrupting our own and others' enjoyment and pleasure in eating and nourishing our bodies and minds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Live and let eat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-43909372273016507542016-05-25T04:00:00.000-04:002016-05-24T13:23:06.230-04:00Potato Chips and Eggs<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>This is my second ever post on the blog from August 10, 2011</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go Daddy Go 5K in 2009. That had on the left would be my boy's.</td></tr>
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No, I'm not referring to the actual ingestion of these food items, but to the great advice on form I received during a running program sponsored by The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. This was in 1998, my second flirtation with running regularly. I was working in CORPORATE AMERICA, single, and carefree. One day in the office during an extended "break" in which I would spend much coveted time with the PAPER version of the New York Times. (What is paper? you may be asking yourself...) I happened upon a small ad announcing a free 8-week running class for women that would meet on the Upper East Side. WOW! I had been running on and off around the 1.5 mile loop in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx for a couple of months and always looked jealously as the super-runners who would 1. bounce around at a seemingly effortless pace while I lumbered around and 2. subsequently lap me, twice. So this would be a great opportunity to run and to prepare for my very first RACE, the Avon 10K that would take place at the end of the eighth week of the program.
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<br />
That first day, we convened at the hospital, listened to a panel of seasoned running enthusiasts, former Olympic athletes and sports medicine doctors who talked about the benefits of running. We did a brief aerobic warm-up, stretched and went out for a run on the East River Esplanade. Being a born and bred New Yorker, I'm embarrassed to say that I hadn't even known that the Esplanade existed before then. Anyway, they started us out slowly-run to the street lamp, walk to the next one, run past one street lamp YOU CAN DO IT, walk to the next one. This is how it went for the first few weeks. Panel, questions, stretch, run, stretch and snacks-see ya next week.
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I looked forward to those Tuesday evenings. The participants in the program were friendly and encouraging as we had all come for the same thing-to be part of something awesome and healthful. I also looked forward to completing the homework they gave us, which was absolutely doable and plain fun. Run 1-2 miles alternating 1 minute of walking with 2 minutes of running. I could do <span style="font-style: italic;">that.</span> I've always been an early riser, so I enjoyed getting up at the crack of dawn, greeting Tony and Maria, the superintendents of my apartment building, crossing the street and running the loop in Van Cortlandt Park. (If you a New York City resident and have not yet experienced the wonders of VCP-GO NOW! You won't be disappointed. The loop is a cinder pathway-so easy on the feet and legs. There is also a wonderful cross country trail that is used on the weekends for high school (and college?) meets, along with an oval track.) So it is absolutely imperative to get your run on in the Bronx.
<br />
<br />
We did speed workouts, hill workouts. Today the goal is to do ten hills, ok? NO, NOT OKAY. Of course that's just what I was thinking, but I did it, albeit not without a tremendous amount of mental effort. They coached us on form-keep your shoulders relaxed, your elbows at a 90-degree angle pretending that you're holding potato chips (I preferred to imagine the Cape Cod brand) or eggs in each hand. I still abide by this advice today. People may laugh or scoff, but the potato chips have saved my shoulders and neck from muscle soreness. So eat that!
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During the 5th week, the crazy people who ran the program thought it would be fun to do a three mile run without stopping for walking. Just to make sure we would do it, they paired some of us slower-I-need-to-walk-now-please runners with trainers. I got a former Olympic discus thrower-GREAT! She ran right behind me, encouraging me the whole way, even up the damned hills and stairs. I worried that I was running too slowly, but she just kept on keeping me on. I finished my first 3 miler without stopping, running with an OLYMPIAN. We even got to meet GRETE WAITZ. I wish I had had more of an appreciation of who she was back then, and how she would help set a precedent for women in the marathon distance. May she rest in peace!
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<br />
After getting through the first 3 mile hurdle, the next two weeks were 4 and 5 mile runs, respectively. We had one final panel that last week of the program and then they gave us our T-shirts. My first race tee! It's torn in many places, has missing seams, but it's one shirt I will never throw away for obvious reasons. That Saturday we met before the race to give each other final words of encouragement. It was bittersweet; these people (both participants and coaches) had given me the gift of running, camaraderie and personal accomplishment, and I probably wouldn't see them again. The gun went off and we started running. I ran 4 miles without stopping (a first!), and alternately walked and ran the last 2.2. The rest is history. (Well, not really but I'll get to that in future posts...)<br />
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Thus began my burgeoning addiction to potato chips, eggs, races and t-shirts.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-25872381519948530142016-05-24T10:16:00.000-04:002016-05-24T10:02:18.414-04:00I finally have something to say<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">This week: I'll re-post some of my original posts on this blog from 2011, the summer that I started training for my first full marathon. It's always interesting to look back, see, and feel the progress. </span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">This was my very first post.</span></b></h2>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> August 8, 2011</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9clr_8F02lkoBTUzvU2pkECAlQkJRKbiiswBSozhzVMTm9BxAlZ7faJFY-Iw2esvx21P3yDzjK5tC8Lzp7eSGLHYIHlKT2O4Huqv_L6zIq9WqNAEWyqDodEh3kLgXJDz8-OlMMCWkyYI/s1600/10426703_10152541904339319_2435477805124819750_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9clr_8F02lkoBTUzvU2pkECAlQkJRKbiiswBSozhzVMTm9BxAlZ7faJFY-Iw2esvx21P3yDzjK5tC8Lzp7eSGLHYIHlKT2O4Huqv_L6zIq9WqNAEWyqDodEh3kLgXJDz8-OlMMCWkyYI/s640/10426703_10152541904339319_2435477805124819750_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funny story about this photo...(2009 Lake Shawnee 5K)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although I created this blog TWO YEARS ago, this is my first post. I think the primary reason for me not posting was a fear that I didn't have anything useful to say about running, you know, being a bigger gal and all. Before I get into various musings, I'll tell you a bit about myself:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During the summer of 08, I was driving back from Baltimore to Central Jersey (where I live) after a full day of giving piano and voice lessons. Somewhere in PA on Rte 222, I began to have intermittent chest pains-you know, in the cardiac area, and I got scared. Was I dying? Would I make back to Jersey? Was I HAVING A HEART ATTACK? Obviously, that wasn't the case, but I became very nervous during that drive. So nervous in fact that my heart rate became elevated and my breathing became very shallow. I made it back home and immediately called a friend and asked her to take me to the hospital, where I would get 2 EKGs, many blood tests, and an x-ray. The tests showed nothing. No irregularities, nothing except for slightly elevated cholesterol levels. Maybe it's a muscle spasm-the attending physician suggested. But you should go see a cardiologist, ASAP.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To make a long story short, the cardiologist looked me straight in the eye and asked "How old is your son again?" Five. "You wanna be alive when he's older?" No need for an answer. "Lose 15 pounds in the next 2 months". Ok.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It took a couple of months to get on the wagon, but eventually I bought a treadmill and started "running" after a four-year hiatus and an added 60 lbs. My first mile was 17 minutes with a lot of walking. But I persevered, alternately running on campus (I live and work at a boarding school) and using the treadmill. I took out my Yoga Booty Ballet and Tae-Bo videos and started using them, again. I did South Beach Phase 1 several times and signed myself up for several 5Ks. I lost weight, and loved running again.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Signed up for more 5ks, got a good friend involved in my journey-she had her own, too!-and then I was off.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, running is sort of an obsession. I subscribe to every single running mag, and look for races everyday on<a href="http://www.runningintheusa.com/"> www.runningintheusa.com. </a>I try to run as much as possible, as frequently as I can. The endorphin high, I can't find anywhere else--maybe except from singing classical music--but not even that, really. My family thinks I'm crazy, but they're CRAZY supportive of me and my fitness endeavors. I still am aiming at losing another 80 pounds so that I can be at a really healthy weight, but I know it will come with patience and perseverance.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I absolutely love the running community, and cherish every time a fellow runner nods his/her head, says hello, yells GOOD JOB sister!, asks HOW MANY MILES TODAY?, or simply establishes eye contact and smiles. I may not be the fittest, thinnest, fastest runner around, but I am a runner.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I run just to run and be around runners. This is my blog.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-19511430877205454302016-05-21T05:00:00.000-04:002016-05-21T20:34:37.334-04:00I DID NOT DIE: A Shocking Ending, Tough Mudder Part 4<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Lx_KPMkd21xK8QQXaL6LKO5LkkcLtquQHKaGU-JGaws_P58UHJrhxoYkPGZ-tii1mqNdYu-qXL9hlDlHZjRf4PZ80Vr_iBKjUt9M6GiXhAZNOZAt1nx2evhW1uyEyyWC97M49JdXLY/s1600/ToughMudder1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Lx_KPMkd21xK8QQXaL6LKO5LkkcLtquQHKaGU-JGaws_P58UHJrhxoYkPGZ-tii1mqNdYu-qXL9hlDlHZjRf4PZ80Vr_iBKjUt9M6GiXhAZNOZAt1nx2evhW1uyEyyWC97M49JdXLY/s400/ToughMudder1.jpg" width="256" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The last time I encountered live wires (and it wasn’t <i>willingly</i>) was when I was about nine or ten years old. I had just gotten a pink bicycle, complete with those colorful plastic streamers on the handlebars, and training wheels. I was only allowed to ride up and down the block, so that’s what I did for a few hours a day—up to the candy store where the botánica was, down to the end of the block where the shoe store Momo’s used to be, and then up to the candy store again</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">One evening I rode too close to the street lamp up the block (whose bottom panel had been removed) and got shocked by the live wires that had made their way out, waiting for some unsuspecting child to walk or ride by. I heard a popping sound, and at the same time the force of the electricity knocked me over completely. The current coursing through my ankle and lower leg hadn’t hurt much but landing fairly hard on the concrete sidewalk, and becoming entangled with my bike did. In any case, I popped up, got back on the bike and continued my ride down the block, newly electrified.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAHO4-eGrbWzSbawMOVDUWqEZY5i57mE0bdIz2-l5cnxPVM9Wn9A0k21bT5hj7ILAckIZF2oHNoJPtuRlXAhEL3XwGy8SpXIST8tQ9YJb0AwLkVfwQjhZ3J8rIagAyXOoDS42jakp8H4/s1600/ToughMudder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAHO4-eGrbWzSbawMOVDUWqEZY5i57mE0bdIz2-l5cnxPVM9Wn9A0k21bT5hj7ILAckIZF2oHNoJPtuRlXAhEL3XwGy8SpXIST8tQ9YJb0AwLkVfwQjhZ3J8rIagAyXOoDS42jakp8H4/s400/ToughMudder2.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This was exactly the sensation I had the pleasure of experiencing during Electroshock Therapy, the obstacle that would bring me to the much coveted Tough Mudder headband. Only this time, the shock sent me face-planting right into a pool of mud. For some reason I had thought that emerge from EST relatively clean and mud-free after having-slid into 10,000 gallons of ice-water at the previous obstacle, Arctic Enema (which actually did <i>wonders</i> for my left glute cramp and Rebecca’s calf cramp). Nope. The millisecond my right arm brush against the nearest wire, I went face-down into the muck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We had been told explicitly not to crawl, but <i>FUCK THAT</i>. I didn’t care how long it would take to get through the three consecutive pools of nastiness, I wasn’t touching that shit again. I ended up getting shocked twice more anyway, each time having the wind knocked out of me—hmm, makes you realize how awesome electricity is and makes you wonder how it has the capacity to blow a 245 pound human being over like a dried-out, dead flower. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCly0Mucc7nqZkhnuGa-y0_o8M3JfnchMgTIBb44ZP3wJwqWgcJ6xX3PmiPZWjPTNp8jMm2iNMdL5qFELCoQaESgIS3nV_IdFg3h3hNWvZONZjHq3fzrQWJBbHsftIq9LXbca7Bo6fg2Y/s1600/34439647_race_0.7273634878128642.display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCly0Mucc7nqZkhnuGa-y0_o8M3JfnchMgTIBb44ZP3wJwqWgcJ6xX3PmiPZWjPTNp8jMm2iNMdL5qFELCoQaESgIS3nV_IdFg3h3hNWvZONZjHq3fzrQWJBbHsftIq9LXbca7Bo6fg2Y/s400/34439647_race_0.7273634878128642.display.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebecca and I muddy-hugging</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After making it through the last mud-pool I was spent. I had exerted so much energy trying to avoid those wires that it was more difficult than I had expected to hurl myself over the last little bump. But then I did. I FINISHED!...VICTORY. This thing that I had been so afraid of was done! I gave Rebecca a muddy hug, and then gave Coach T. Mud an even muddier hug complete with a big, muddy grin (I felt like that dirty kid from Peanuts...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I loved it, not every single minute of it, but it was pretty damn close. Even the really difficult and disappointing parts were enjoyable. Why? Because I knew going in that I would not be able to conquer everything that day, but that I would at least try. I knew that I would have opportunities to have at it again, so I was was comforted knowing that these small failures were only preparation for success in the future. Time to reconfigure, time to analyze where I need to build more strength, flexibility. Time to rid myself of fear and self-doubt.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-Do71Tb0Rot6DEg3DNnzd_f3P-e6POUyoskh4z35oLEBBIZ2KZ-F1I4E52eXbBEd8wcO0iRnUw5O0JFwB_DQYJQrJr36MPlicEcfOx-HFUEXRJHTygdxg_5tBeec-jfr2Pn8vGE4MvA/s1600/0507161814c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-Do71Tb0Rot6DEg3DNnzd_f3P-e6POUyoskh4z35oLEBBIZ2KZ-F1I4E52eXbBEd8wcO0iRnUw5O0JFwB_DQYJQrJr36MPlicEcfOx-HFUEXRJHTygdxg_5tBeec-jfr2Pn8vGE4MvA/s320/0507161814c.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gear: Merrell Capra Adapt Tights, Merrell Adaptive<br />
Cinch Tank, Merrell All Out Crush Shoes,<br />
Torrid Bra Tank, VSX Incredible Bra. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As part of my Merrell ambassadorial duties, I get to do even MORE Tough Mudders!!! Just a few months ago, I would have absolutely balked at the idea of even considering doing these crazy obstacle course events, but now I'm kind of curious to see how much I can improve, and how well my body will respond to more training and preparation. So what's next? I'll let you know soon...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See you at the next Mudder (TBA)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-77646269471213302792016-05-20T04:00:00.000-04:002016-05-20T04:00:07.923-04:00It's All In My Head (And In the Training): Tough Mudder Report Part 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I lost count after seven, but here are some of the more memorable <a href="https://toughmudder.com/obstacles">obstacles </a>from Tough Mudder ATL. (Notice the lack of photos-this was due to neither of us having a GoPro (next time, bruh) and starting in a fairly late wave. We've got some fabulous photos of our finish!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvALIhhMvYdBDBBy3kRXBoSs1EwWAh9qAbvFNK1iHGNaXSSQrOkftENArMILasEfNH9jSYpygytfHerQWu8BIzY9VGBgyHZ2Aazh4IAmBQmhZGeG4XCZQ8Dwr3oAWpxS_Zz1QmqRfnU4/s1600/Skidmarked-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvALIhhMvYdBDBBy3kRXBoSs1EwWAh9qAbvFNK1iHGNaXSSQrOkftENArMILasEfNH9jSYpygytfHerQWu8BIzY9VGBgyHZ2Aazh4IAmBQmhZGeG4XCZQ8Dwr3oAWpxS_Zz1QmqRfnU4/s400/Skidmarked-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://toughmudder.com/">Photo Courtesy of Tough Mudder</a></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Skidmarked</i><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">, a wall slanted at about a 45 degree angle TOWARDS you was one of the first real walls to climb over. Unless you could jump of your own accord, grab the top and hoist yourself over, you would need help. Another mudder and I hoisted Rebecca up first. I lent a hand or two to others before I asked for help getting myself up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>I asked for help.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is a fairly new concept for me. I don’t like asking anyone for help until I’m in dire need of it, and often it’s too late. This Tough Mudder thing was an exercise in doing just that, and willingly accepting it early on in the process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So two people gave me a leg up, and then slowly I was able to lift myself over the wall. I felt like the queen of the world. My arms and legs felt strong. Our training had paid off. Rebecca and I had worked for this, to be able to conquer <i>precisely</i> this. I climbed down to the tire buffer in the middle of the wall, and jumped down, this time landing successfully on my two feet. Rebecca and I high-fived, helped a few other people over the wall and went on to test our new-found strength and confidence on other obstacles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwicI4mt00QZ0mbAnHQheHej7q3pmSTtf0kjQg5q-UEfsHM3A7vMUsuHh-vW0POex2d5v7dLZOuhCubS6qeFhBugNNJMRnmsaLa9zibsJWRQe_q7fbcE9iK3u-9mTzksHtRfKn4-0JkDs/s1600/Carousel-Image-01REVAMPED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwicI4mt00QZ0mbAnHQheHej7q3pmSTtf0kjQg5q-UEfsHM3A7vMUsuHh-vW0POex2d5v7dLZOuhCubS6qeFhBugNNJMRnmsaLa9zibsJWRQe_q7fbcE9iK3u-9mTzksHtRfKn4-0JkDs/s400/Carousel-Image-01REVAMPED.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://toughmudder.com/">Photo Courtesy Of Tough Mudder</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There was the <i>Pyramid Scheme</i>, a slippery wall with nowhere to grip. One had to literally climb on top of and over people to reach slippery, outreached hands at the top. It took me a bit longer to muster up the confidence to use actual human bodies for climbing (like say, toddlers do), but I did it with help from people at the top and bottom. I’m not a crier, but after worrying that after all of everyone’s efforts I still wouldn’t be able to reach the top, I felt enormous relief when I did—and the waterworks were ready and willing to spill without any input from me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Balls to the Wall</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">, <i>Liberator</i>, and <i>Chunky Monkey</i> were three obstacles that required superior upper-body strength, excellent grip, and patience with oneself. Although I tried—and it is quite possible that I did NOT leave everything on the field—I did not get over the two walls. At <i>Chunky Monkey</i>, I froze with fear at the top of the platform, knowing that I probably would fall into the water right away. I felt like one ledge-dive was enough for a day but I would be back to test my non-existent prowess at a later date. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>The Liberator</i> required you to insert pegs into holes, lift yourself up to the next level of holes with legs on slanted (not in your favor) notches on the side walls, liberating yourself from any traces of hubris. <i>Chunky Monkey</i> was a supersized version of the my childhood monkey bars, only it required swinging from pole to pole using momentum and strength from your hips and core. Rebecca and I were late in practicing our hip taps while hanging, so this will be one to try again, next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Balls to the Wall</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> required rope-climbing against a wall, with deceptively helpful knots spaced at intervals just out of reach for simple climbing. This was another obstacle that required teamwork. I attempted it once, took a break to observe other folks, and then tried again, getting a bit higher the second time. </span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">I thanked the folks at the top who held on to me as I contemplated trying one more time to swing my body higher. Then I dropped back down.</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> I started to realize that my biggest issue is not necessarily a lack of strength, rather it is not know which muscles to engage and how to engage them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I’m looking forward to attempting all three of these again after doing some more work on grip strength, pull-ups, hip flexibility and utilizing momentum to propel myself forward--basically everything! I’m know that I will do better next time, knocking out some more of these babies, and proving to myself that it really is all in my head (and in the training)! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Next up: Final TOUGH MUDDER POST!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-20007135987744796362016-05-19T05:00:00.000-04:002016-05-19T17:58:30.683-04:00On the Precipice: Rebecca's Tough Mudder (GUEST POST)<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
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My heart pounded in my ears as I looked at the bar a seemingly unfathomable distance away. I was standing at the top of the rise of the King of Swingers, one of the obstacles I have been dreading the most in the Tough Mudder. I have a HUGE fear of heights, and now I was 12 feet off the ground looking at a foot-wide bar I was supposed to leap out and grab. It took me a couple of tries, but I sprung out over the abyss......</div>
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When my hands made contact with the bar, and I felt my solid grip carrying me smoothly through the air, I let loose a rebellious cry that lasted the whole swing. Even more terrifying was the drop after I let go: I closed my eyes and waited to hit the water. It felt like forever and I became afraid the water wasn't there: someone had moved it, I was about to hit the ground, I was falling through outer space.</div>
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The shock of hitting the water was electrifying, and I suddenly remembered my body and started swimming for the surface. As I broke through another scream ripped through the air, and language came back to me. "I can't believe I f**king did that!" was my mantra as I swam for the rope netting to escape.</div>
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For me, this was the core of the Tough Mudder experience. Overcoming my fears, challenging myself when I thought I couldn't do any more, and pushing myself to do as much as I could. This was not the messiest obstacle, but the ones like it requiring upper body strength were the ones I was most challenged by and made me feel the most powerful when I completed them.</div>
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There were many other obstacles, such as the Liberator, where you are climbing a wall with pegs in your hands and notches under your feet, or the affectionately names Balls to the Wall, climbing a wall using a knotted rope, where the amazement at reaching the top was immediately replaced by the anxiety of how to get over and back down again. The pride and accomplishment once again took over as soon as my determination brought my feet back down to the ground.</div>
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A great thing about the Tough Mudder was the sense of camaraderie on the course. The inspirational speech at the beginning included talk that everyone would be your teammate by the end, and it was very true. Without my teammate Mirna and so many other helpful people on the course, I would not have accomplished half as much. Strong arms hoisted me over the lip of Everest on my second attempt, I conquered the Pyramid by using someone else's shoulders as a ladder rung, and even Balls to the Wall had a volunteer scrambling (with ease) up the back side to talk me through getting over the top. When I thanked the helpers for their assistance, the reply was, "you got over it because you wanted to."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wind-sprints practice--up Mirna's driveway hill</td></tr>
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The combination of training and teamwork was really amazing. Mirna and I had been weightlifting and doing various forms of prep since February. It all came together as I reached for waiting slimy hands to grab to get out of mud pits, but then amazing the same men ready to hoist me out as I set a foot as solidly as possible in the muck and set leg and arm strength in motion to get myself out, with their leverage being the final push. Each time I felt that much more powerful. Helping others was wonderful as well, knowing my training could help pull someone else up the Pyramid after I had been hoisted to the top, and I was part of the team assisting others to success.</div>
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As we ran from obstacle to obstacle, Mirna and I lost all sense of time, living in the moment. We reflected on what went well, what we would need to work on for our next attempt, and just the beauty of the landscape around us. We met some that were concerned with their time, some who were painting designs on themselves and their clothes, some who danced or flapped like birds as they traveled, and some who ran Everest multiple times for the thrill, the fun, or to help someone out.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished!</td></tr>
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For those who say, "That's crazy! Why on earth would you want to do that?" (especially running through live wires at the end), my answer is this: There are few times I have felt more alive, at peace, and in touch with the amazing things my body can do. Throughout my life I have struggled with weight fluctuations, body image issues, and overall negativity and self doubt. The Tough Mudder this weekend, and all the prep that went into it, have brought me a long way on my journey of empowerment and taking control of my life. I am so proud of all I accomplished, and can't wait to challenge myself again. I want the victory cry as I emerged from the water pit, and the bellow I let loose as I picked myself out of the mud after passing the last 10,000 volt wire, to be the sound my life makes moving forward.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><u><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bexterknittingrunner/">Follow Rebecca on Instagram!</a></u></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-14388329793129752992016-05-18T05:00:00.001-04:002016-05-21T20:31:02.892-04:00Not the Queen of The Swingers: Tough Mudder Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I got on the ground, assumed a rolling position to protect the ladies,2 and gingerly but ungracefully made my way across the fifteen yards or so of the obstacle. </span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">That was easy.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I realized that as long as I didn’t freak out and as long as I didn’t make any stupid jerky movements I would be ok. This sentiment along having successfully hurled my heavy body over the unexpected baby wall at the beginning would set the stage for the entire event. The obstacles may have been scary or overwhelming to look at, but when I acknowledged my fear, shook its hand and pushed it away, I was mostly able to accomplish whatever task awaited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There were just about twenty obstacles on the course, and each section it seemed was progressively more difficult and less single-athlete-friendly (although there are a bunch of folks who are absolute superstars at OWNING the obstacles, many of us would require help.. Many would require teamwork to get over, under, or through them).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I won’t bore you with the details of each obstacle, though NONE of the them were boring. In fact, every obstacle had a different challenge. Most were physical, but there were certainly some in which you had to engage your brain, letting go of whatever self-doubts were holding you back, and then use your physicality to succeed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Out of 20 obstacles, I managed to completely skip only two obstacles; I was not able to complete four of them, but I tried earnestly to do so and will keep trying until I am able to master each and every one of them. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>NOT </i>The Queen of the Swingers: The one obstacle that gave me nightmares....</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What I had been most afraid of was the <i>King of the Swingers</i>. I have no problems with height. I also have no problem with swimming. But jumping off a 12 foot high platform with murky water at the bottom </span><i style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">having to simultaneously grab onto a swing seemed impossible, and well…scary. I’ve NEVER dived off of anything. I love swimming. I adore water. Heck, I’m always the one they had to force out of the water during family trips to Rockaway Beach in NY. I love water that much. And heights? We’re best friends. I love being on top of a cliff, or or knob or ledge leaning over, looking death straight in its eyes. But something about the combination of the two gave me very vivid, anxiety dreams leading up to when I was actually standing on the platform waiting my turn. Is there a logic statement that makes sense for this? If p and q then z? If q then not p then r but not r or p then k? I dunno.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">One woman approached the ledge, took a few breaths and decided not to do it. I can’t do this, I just can’t. Her team tried desperately to encourage her, gently but insistently. She declined their valiant efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Would that me, I asked myself? Will that be me too? Highly possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When fear and anxiety take over, I morph into this quiet, laser-focused, person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was my turn. I thought about letting the guy manning the obstacle at the top keep counting the others in until I was ready. But then he said, possibly sensing my incredible angst, <i>look at the swing</i>, <i>don’t look down, and jump</i>. <i>Your instinct will take over</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I bent my knees a little and tamped down the rest of any errant fears that remained. I jumped. I don’t remember being in the air or hitting the water, but I do recall vividly being underwater for a few seconds, wondering if I was dying, then forcing myself to relax completely.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I didn’t know which way was up, but hoped that my body would know which way to float. Eventually, I broke the surface of the water and doggie-paddled tentatively as my heart rate slowed down, and then freestyled it over to the other side. I coughed, having swallowed some water, but I was not dead. I did not die.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.com2