Becoming Untouchable

I want to make myself untouchable at the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco on October 14, 2012. Becoming untouchable does not mean that I will win the race, it does not mean that I will even finish in the top 10. Being untouchable to me means that I will have trained harder than I ever thought possible, fought through the moments when I wanted to give in to the pain or my tiredness, and I will be ready when my moment comes. I want to crush my previous marathon time and set my own sub four hour marathon PR.

I have had moments throughout the last few months of training where I questioned what I was doing and why I was putting my body through this rigorous training. Luckily, I have always had another voice in my head that wins out, this one telling me to never stop, that it will all be worth it. Sometimes this voice comes from the girls on the Nike Women Team - Lydia, Nicole and Marie - through a phone call, email, brand new box of Nike gear or tweet. Other times I get support and the fuel to push forward though Elizabeth, Tiara, Nerissa and Jenae - my fellow Sisters In Nike. When I am feeling like sleeping in I just have to look at my Facebook or Twitter feed to see my friends training and working hard and I know that I want to do this with them. I want to become my best self. I want to be untouchable. I don't want to ever feel like I could have given more than I gave.

The Nike Women's Marathon is only two months away and my training time is quickly flying by. I am enjoying the experience immensely and couldn't imagine a better way to live my life. I know that this experience and the opportunity that Nike Women have given me is immeasurable. I have decided to pursue my dream of becoming a personal trainer as soon as the marathon is over, and maybe even someday reach my ultimate dream of working for Nike Women, the very people who gave me the chance to push myself and reach my potential. I have never felt more alive than when I am training and chasing after a goal. I never want to lose track of this feeling. I am in my element when I am training and know that this is my true calling. I have only been sitting at my desk job for two years, but I am beginning to realize how much I have missed my calling.

When Leah Kim wrote her book "From Office Hell to Yoga Heaven," she could not have been speaking to anyone more than me. I could relate to everything she said in her book, and I mean EVERYTHING. I went to business school, and like her find myself hating my desk job. I LOVE working out and yoga and would enjoy sharing this with everyone. My dream job would be to work with Nike, and she received an email from them out of the blue that led to her Global Yoga Ambassadorship. I also received an email from Nike, asking me to be their Nike Women's Marathon Training Ambassador for the Nike Women's Marathon 2012. I enjoy writing like Leah and would one day love to write a book like she did. The only difference I see right now is that I have, until this point, not been brave enough to quit my current job and pursue my dreams.

2012 has been full of surprises and new opportunities. It has been a year where I have learned more about myself and my career passions than I ever learned in college. I am realizing the truth that when you follow your passion and dreams things really do start to fall into place. I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for me. At this point in my life it seems that with hard work and belief in my passions anything is possible.

I need to say a huge thanks to Nike Women, Leah Kim, Marie, Lydia, Nicole, Tiara, Elizabeth, Nerissa, and Jenae for showing me the way to follow my dreams, for inspiring me to never give up, for giving me the support I need to push myself daily and for lighting a fire in my life to begin to pursue my passion and not wait for things to happen. This year I am going to make myself untouchable. I will find my greatness. 

My Day to Find Greatness

My Best Nike Fuel Day!

This past weekend I was able to participate in Nike's "Find Greatness" day and am proud to say that I was able to make this day my most active day yet. I pushed myself by running 15 miles on a very hilly course, doing NTC workouts, boxing drills and generally anything I could think of to stay active. I did not allow myself to stop during the entire day. When Nike gives me a challenge I accept wholeheartedly! All my activity paid off when I achieved my 12,000 NikeFuel goal and earned the "find greatness" badge. I'm going to display that with pride! 

Running along the water and running the Swoosh!

My day started out with a 15 mile run that went through town and then hit a picturesque trail with a few ponds and waterfalls. They were a gorgeous sight to my eyes and I enjoyed running past the cool water. Once I found a turtle along this path. I always enjoy seeing wildlife out on my runs, it makes me feel like I am in nature instead of the middle of a big city. I also attempted to run the "swoosh." Needless to say from the above picture, my running/spelling skills need some work. With two more months of Marathon training I will have many more opportunities to master my art.

 The personalized badge I received from Nike Running after I synced my 15 miler!

I have been working on my running form lately and found this great video from the Born to Run coach Eric Orton. He explains proper running mechanics and ways to make your running an experience that is fluid and injury free. I am going to put some of these drills into practice on my next run. Some of his rules are basic but so important. For me, the focus he puts on striking toe to heel is huge, I'm a total heel striker and am ready to give this a try and see how it feels.

Video: Running with Eric

And just because I really want this and totally don't need it, don't you think this is a great tennis/running outfit? I want it! I'm a sucker for grey tennis skirts and long sleeved running tops. Oh well, maybe some day. Until then, goodnight!