just and ad?

It wasn't the first time I had gotten lost in time scrolling through and watching Nike ads. If you know me at all... you know I am a tad bit OBSESSED with NIKE!!! Nike everything.

This time I was viewing all of the "Find Your Greatness" videos when I began to watch the "Jogger." Within seconds I was frozen. Sucked in. Grasping on to every word.

At the end of that minute and three seconds I wiped away the tears that had fallen down my face and smiled.

That kid was me. I didn't start running. On the journey to find my greatness I took many (many) steps and those steps often looked like walking... or shuffling. I found my greatness, not someone else's. It has it's own look and the steps to get there were all their own. And that journey continues every day.

I just hope that somewhere on this journey I have the opportunity to work for/with Nike. This "brand" has been such a positive influence in my life and on my journey that I want to be a part of that for others. At the end of this... "ad," I was clearly touched by how accurately it had captured a piece of me but what I was really thinking was, "That's what I want to do." I want to be a part of changing people's lives. I want to create something that encourages, motivates and inspires others to live their best lives!

The advertising/marketing world is flooded with crap. It can be very discouraging. But, there are some gems and this is what I want to do. This is what I want to be a part of. An ad that is more than an ad.

Anything

When I'm running, anything seems possible; because when I'm running, I'm doing what once was impossible. We can all come up with excuses to avoid doing the things in life that scare us. Stop it. Your excuses will become your regrets.

I wish I could explain just how much I used to hate running and how it scared me so that you could understand the feeling of overcoming and conquering that fear. When I would hear people say, "I love running." I would think to myself... "LIAR! They are just saying that because it sounds cool." How could anyone actually love running? A mile seemed like a gargantuan feat and finishing one seemed like an eternity... and now here I am. I love to run. I'm ready to run my first Half Marathon. In fact, I pick up my pace and try to sprint the last mile of my runs... cuz a mile is just a mile.

It was a year ago that I ran in my first official race. It was KC Track Club's 34th Annual St. Patrick's Day Run in Westport. It was four miles long and I ran it with a time of 37:44:9. My goal had been to break a ten min mile pace for it and really I wanted to get below 38 minutes, so I was ecstatic with this time. That was the beginning of me really falling in love with running, because I found that it was fun. YES, fun! At a race my adrenaline is going. I have the energy of the crowd to feed off of, and passing people feels so darn good. Since that first run, I have also completed the Warrior Dash, Color Run, Glow Run, Santa Run, Rodeo Run...

I was thinking of that first run from a year ago this past weekend as I completed my ten miles as part of my half marathon training. What a difference a year makes. What a journey, and it's only the beginning.

It was a rough ten miles. I loved running the nine the weekend before, but I felt every. single. mile. of those ten. Rough, but got it done. Rain and all, ten miles... done. Loved the "Emergency Stopping Only" sign. A good reminder to keep going!

I feel alive when I run. Lost in my thoughts, everything becomes clear. The world around me is white noise and suddenly it's me, my thoughts, and God. And ANYTHING seems possible.

If you want to do something... do it!
Don't just think about it. Don't just talk about it. DO IT!
Be the person you want to be. Do the things you want to do.
And if you're afraid of failure... you have to let that go. Failure is inevitable. Wouldn't you rather fail while chasing wildly after your dreams than to fail sitting on your couch... with your regrets?!
You were made for more and you have it in you.

Chase after your dreams. 

Get rid of your excuses or

YOUR EXCUSES WILL BECOME YOUR REGRETS

Along the way I have had a lot of excuses I could have fallen on. Some frivolous and some very legitimate! When my back went out last February, I couldn't go to the gym like normal, but I walked on the treadmill for as long as my body would let me at a time and worked my way back. A year ago I was out playing catch with my brother and got hit in the eye with the baseball which gave me a huge black eye. It swelled up so I could hardly open that eye and see... and still I went to the gym that Monday to train. I've worked late and have had to rearrange my schedule to fit some kind of a work out in. I've traveled and done my Nike Training Club workouts in the hotel. Oh, and the food!!! Gosh the food! Oh, the temptations. You should see the stuff that comes through my work that I just have to move past. Lordy, lordy, lordy, the food. 

I could go on with excuses that just pile up: job, family, time, etc. But if you want it, you have to find a way to make it work. You have to fight for it. It's not going to happen on it's own. Make a plan, then work the plan. Adjust and change as the world around you changes. But, YOU CAN DO IT!

Attack life the way you were created to!

There was a moment when the switch went off in my head and I knew at that very moment that my life WAS going to change and I've been going full force ever since. Here's the thing, as badly as I'd like to, I can't give that to other people. I can try to motivate and inspire, but they have to turn that switch on their own, no one can do it for them.

Motivation Monday

It's Monday... Time to get motivated for the week ahead!

I am obsessed with motivational quotes, workout memes, scripture verses, funny sayings, etc. and have a stock pile of ones I have saved. Literally, half the images in my phone photo album are screenshots of these quotes. It's time to start sharing and what better place than on here?

Enjoy!

So many times I have been overwhelmed with the trials of this world. I am thankful for my Rock, Jesus Christ, who brings peace and understanding to my life. "Let the peace of God rule your heart." -Col. 3:15

It is because I have stared Absolute Failure in the face that I am so determined. Facing failure, slapping it in the face, and moving past it is what has built me and made me strong.

Preach!
Working out (especially long runs) is my therapy.
It's also like medicine. Several times I have felt awful and still gone to work out and feel so much better afterwards.

A LOT of little steps!
Whenever someone talks about how they can't believe how much I run I make sure to tell them... I started walking.
One step at a time.

It's all about changing your lifestyle and making Excellence a habit.
Meaning... it won't happen over night, but it will happen.

QUIT MAKING EXCUSES!!!
You're cheating yourself and your loved ones!

This one has run through my head several times when I've gone to workout and just don't "feel like it."

Feeling Motivated?!

Now get out there and kick some butt!

(and come back next monday for some more)