Fierce Forward for Life!

This weekend, I'm teaming up with an amazing woman who embodies everything I promote on The Heavyweight Runner!!  Ash runs a great website you can find here and she also makes beautiful "intention" bracelets you can buy here.

She is generously giving away one of her brand new "Less Sugar Bracelets".   It's a "petite bracelet hand made by me using only the finest African Trade Beads. Comes with a Fierce Forward logo Stainless Steel Charm that freely moves around the bracelet. This “candy bracelet” is to remind you to eat less sugar and be mindful of what you put in your body. Moderation is key!"

These bracelets are handmade, and because each bead is variegated, it's literally one of a kind!

Here's how to enter:
1. Like The Heavyweight Runner here
2. Like Fierce Forward here and write a note on her wall telling her why you'd love to win this bracelet!!
3. SHARE the giveaway post 

Character Building

6 Weeks?!  How can there only be 6 weeks until the 70.3 IM??  How is that possible??  This thought invokes terror into the heart of me.  I've run marathons.  They're nothing compared to this training.

For anyone wondering what I'm talking about, it's a 1/2 Ironman Triathlon.  It consists of 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run, ergo 70.3 miles.  It seemed like a great idea.  The one I picked is an Inaugural race, the first ever, and the first public sporting event, privately organized to be partially inside the restricted gates of Kennedy Space Center where the shuttles launched and lived.  Plus, cool scenery around the wildlife refuge there.

Yesterday, I set out on what would be my longest bike ride EVER....50 miles.  50 miles?  Alone?  Yep.  Great tunes, beautiful weather, new trisuit, Beast mode on, at least it was like that for 36 miles.  I drank my water exactly as I was supposed to, ate my blocks on time, even had some oatmeal muffins along the way.  Then, I made the turn to come back home, and it hit me.  WIND...in the face...15 MPH, and gusts from every direction up to 30....for 14 miles on legs that still had to run.  OH NO.  I put my head down, laid out over my bars, and peddled home.  My hands hurt, my feet were numb from effort, my eyes were watering, I was a mess.  I thought, "overall, that was good, except the last hour". 

Transition.  Let the puppy out, have a snack, get the Garmin going, change shoes, get my hat, put on my sunblock, pee, out the door to run.

The first mile off the bike always feels like and alien has inhabited my body.  Miles 2,3,4 were brutal because the wind I had battled on the bike was stopping me in my tracks on the run, but my pace was still good.  I was actually feeling good (and LOVING the new suit), and then it happened.  I bonked.  My legs literally quit moving.  My hamstrings and calves had been shot to Hell on the ride, and were barely making it through the run against the wind.  I could feel them asking to cramp.  So I stopped.  I stretched.  I ate some extra electrolyte blocks and walked...and walked...and walked.  Have I ever mentioned I hate walking? 

Knowing there was no chance of making it 8 miles, I cut through and ended up with 7. 

I went into this knowing that not every workout will be perfect.  Some of them are downright awful. This was one of those days.

By the time I walked in my house again, I was ready to cramp out (which happened soon after), puke and die in my floor.  And I was ready to call it quits.  But, my coach says "Bricks build character".  So, with 6 weeks to go, I'll rest up, train harder than ever, eat for fuel, and keep building character.  Not everyday will be perfect, but I will certainly TRI no matter what. 

To 2,500 and Beyond!!!

It's finally time to open up the 2,500 and Beyong giveaway I've been promising you!!! 

There are some awesome goodies in this $75 value giveaway!!
*A 2-pocket iFitness belt
*A "Suck it up, Cupcake" Bondi Band
*A  New Balance Calorie counting pedometer
*A jar of original PB2 powdered peanut butter
*A sampling of my favorite teas
*A sleeve of NUUN electrolyte tablets in Lemon-lime flavor
*A "Fearless" Silver shoe charm

 Here's how you do it!

1. LIKE www.facebook.com/theheavyweightrunner
2. SHARE that same page with your friends or followers!
3. Leave a comment on this blog telling me why you'd like to win!! 

You can enter ONCE A DAY if you want!

Someone Else's Story

There is a song I love called "Someone Else's Story" from musical nobody has ever heard of except music theater geeks.  Anyway, the lyrics go, "Long ago, in someone else's lifetime, someone with my name who looked at lot like me.....In a way, it's someone else's story, I don't see myself taking part at all.  And if that girl I knew should ask my advice, I wouldn't hesistate, she needn't ask me twice.  Go now! I'd tell her that for free.  Trouble is the girl is me."

I decided it's time to sell my wedding dress.  It lives in my spare bedroom closet, and it stares at me every time I go in there.  It's gorgeous, and fluffy, sparkly and white.  It has beautiful beaded flowers on it, and it was and still is the dress of my dreams.  It was for the wedding of my dreams to the boy of my dreams, in my tiny country church where all my friends and family gathered for a beautiful Spring day in 2004.

As I was writing the listing, the website suggested a professional picture from the wedding day.  So, upstairs I went to dig out my albums.  It's been just over a month since the divorce was final, and I didn't think it would really bother me so much to look over the pictures (after all, we separated almost 3 years ago).  But, my goodness, so many emotions welled up in me. There were people I cherished, no longer with us, those whose days are numbered, and those who have simply fallen away.  Children who are now nearly grown, and family who are no longer part of my world.

Looking at those photos was like being with the Ghost of Christmas Past, looking into a different person's life, except all the people I loved were there.  The girl in the giant princess ballgown looked sort of like me, and she bears my name, but nothing else about her resembles me today.  Eric didn't know me then, and he has a hard time understanding how I was ever that unhappy, unmotivated and generally miserable, because I'm the complete opposite of that now.  It's hard for me to look her in the face and remember what pain I was really feeling under the surface.  It's impossible to reconcile the two creatures who have inhabited this mind, body and soul.  It's inexplicable. 

I wasn't always what I am today.  Change has been hard on me, harder than I ever imagined possible.  It has taken a tremendous toll on my heart, but has also grown it 10,000 times stronger, wiser, and more loving than I ever fathomed.  You cannot change the past; and wishing to do so does nothing but waste time in the present.  For me, going back and remembering where I've come from is painful and sad.  Looking at those albums of another life stabbed my soul a little bit.  I caught a glimpse tonight of "someone else's story", and I'm so glad I have the chance every single day to write a new story that belongs to a new life and better person. 

Dude, you really shouldn't do that...

Today I was late getting to the gym.  I was in a hurry, and in a very intense mood.  I had pedaled hard for 20:00 minutes, hopped off the bike and onto a treadmill, and pounded out 3 miles at tempo pace.  It was also shoulder/back day, and I knew with the long ride coming this weekend, I needed that workout.

I had noticed 2 guys lifting; one was in ok shape showing his very not in shape friend around the weight floor.  Then there's me.  I walk over, put on my lifting gloves, take off my long sleeve and immediately see the interest peak from the quasi in shape guy.  As I pull my iPad outta the backpack and go about grabbing the 50# barbell off the rack, then the 40# next to it, I see them stop to watch.  I wasn't doing anything amazing, just some anterior rows and posterior deltoid press ups in super sets.  I finish those sets, move through a couple more sets, and then realize the not so in shape guy head to the barbell tree.

He decided to try to lift my set.  So I stood there and watched.  I could see the hamster wheel in his brain saying, "If that kinda pudgy chick can lift this 50# bar, so can I...".  He quickly realized how wrong he was.  Watching him try not to throw out his back, coupled with the agonizing look on his face was like watching the thought bubbles of a real life cartoon strip in action.  His friend literally came over and said, "Dude, you really shouldn't do that.  Have you see her shoulders?  She's experienced."  At which point, I nearly died laughing as in one statement this guy's ego, hopes and dreams had been crushed because I had put him to shame.  What his friend failed to tell him was leave your ego at the border of the weight floor and lift light the very first day, lest you should hurt yourself or look like a meathead.

As I moved on to my dead lift sets, they decided it was time to attempt a conversation with me...3 separate times.  By the time I was done, they were lucky I hadn't thrown weights at them.  Don't you know?  Never interrupt me in the middle of a set!  EVER.  I don't wear headbands that say "SUCK IT UP" because I'm sweet and cuddly whilst lifting; I wear them because I'm hulking out over here...leave me alone.

At some point, the quasi in shape guy realized, Dude, you shouldn't bother her.  And then his ego was crushed because he clearly wasn't the kind of guy who is used to getting ignored.  Bottom line here?  The male ego is a fragile creature that apparently can be shattered by a chick lifting more than him and then ignoring his existence.  The gym really is no place for ego; it's a place for hard work, dedication, and accomplishment to shyly poke it's head out in the form of shoulders that are FINALLY starting to come in.  It's a place where I can claim my little corner and build up the muscles I have waited so long to meet.  It's where I can just be strong instead of being "strong for a girl", and I can have respect from the trainers and other gymrats for putting in the hours of sweat and commitment.

Do everyone a favor, leave your ego at the door.  While you're at it: leave all your pretenses at the door, including your self-consciousness, your shyness, your worry about not being good enough or your comparisons to someone else.  Leave it outside in the garbage and GO...BE AMAZING.  Dude, you really SHOULD do that.

With the end in mind

There is a little book out there called "The Seven Habits Of Highly Successful People".  I don't remember who wrote it, only that one of those habits is to "begin with the end in mind".  I think "the end" is always changing, but to be something great has always been part of my ultimate plan.  I used to think I'd be a great opera singer, then maybe a cover singer.  Now, I'm content with being a great teacher.  No, I don't have fancy degrees, or an extensive performance vitae, but I'm a great teacher (and so modest) because my students thrive as musicians.  They have happy souls, which in turn means I'm doing my job.

Look to what has become my second love and newest business venture, The Heavyweight Runner.  If asked 5 years would I be doing anything today other than teaching, I have called you bat shit crazy.  Yet, here I sit, putting together plans for a website, experts for content articles, product partnerships, and clothes with my website name on them.  I'm training for my first 1/2 Ironman Tri, getting ready to register for my 5th full marathon.  I'm a heavy weight lifter, swimmer, runner, and lover of cycling.  I'd rather ride my bike to the bank than drive, and I tell people who live less than 5 miles from the gym, they're lazy if they drove a car there.  I'm an advice giver, amateur life coach and public figure for natural weight loss.

While "the end" keeps changing into something new with every idea that pops out of my brain, I've always known being a business woman was in my blood.  Entrepreneurs are genetically designed to have many irons in many fires.  I finally have the will and desire to make this happen.  "The end" is in mind, and my, oh my, it's gonna be a fun ride with twists and turns, but it's gonna be so awesome!  Thanks for coming along!