Turn Your Dreams into Reality

For dreams to come true you must write them down and never stop reaching towards them. You must constantly strive to find new ways to work harder and learn more. I started to implement this principle after reading Nike Global Yoga Ambassador Leah Kim's book, From Office Hell to Yoga Heaven, on how she became a yoga instructor sought worldwide and represents one of the biggest names in the athletic world, Nike.

Her book made me realize that I hadn't been writing down my dreams and I had only been thinking about them, keeping them hidden from the world. With the advance of social media, blogs, and youtube, you can write down almost anything and share it with the world. These resources have helped me seek out new opportunities and write down my goals and aspirations, effectively causing me to work hard to achieve success.

Today is another chance for me to share what has become of the goals I have written down and how I am working towards goals that are still to come true and setting new ones.

Completed Goals:

• Top 10 in the 2010 Nike Field Reporter Competition (so close to this dream!)
• Black Belt in Taekwondo
• 2012 Nike Women's Marathon Ambassador for Nike Women
• 2013 Athleta Sponsored Athlete
• Run Club Leader 
• Run Hood to Coast with Team Nuun Hydration (will complete in August)
• Nuun Ambassador, Fitfluential Ambassador, Sweat Pink Ambassador
• Work in social media
• Connect with Nike employees - met amazing Nike representatives at NWM 12 and via Twitter I was able to speak with a Nike Digital Recruiter. 
• Run a sub 2-hour half marathon (1:53!)

Current Goals:

• Become part of a Crew for Nike and represent them at Nike Women's Marathon SF 2013
• I am inspired by the NWM Runway Crew, SF Runway Crew and SheRunsLA Crew
• Work for Nike in event planning, social media, or Nike Women
• Participate in a Nike Running photoshoot
• Run a 3:45 Marathon (Follow-up goal, qualify for Boston Marathon!)
• Complete a race in Europe and Australia
• Run for a cause - I want to run for Crohn's disease, which is an illness my sister fights everyday

As you can see, the majority of my goals are athletic related. I am a very fitness oriented person and running allows me to express myself everyday. If I could turn this love of running and motivating others into a career, or even an insanely fun hobby, I would do it in a heartbeat.

These are the goals I am working towards this year. I'll keep you updated on my progress and if you have any ideas to help me reach them I welcome your advice, assistance and mentorship!

~Karen

Social Running

Running is a sport that has grown over the last 50 years. It has been and always will be a sport that welcomes anyone and everyone. It is a non-judgmental sport that allows for constant improvement. Recently, running has become incredibly social with the growth of social media. Personally, I have become more of a runner due to the support I have gotten from other runners around the world. I have friends I compete with in England, Canada and Australia. Whether I am having a good day, a bad day, a great run or a slow day, I can always look to my Twitter and Instagram followers for support. 

Today I went for a run with my boss, yes she is that cool! Running has definitely given my boss and I common ground to bond with. It's a relationship builder. After my run I posted a picture to Twitter and Instagram, and got cheers for my efforts. I love receiving feedback from the Nike Running team or from my friends after my runs. It is so motivational. I know that my social friends will always be there to motivate and inspire me. Plus, I'm very competitive and having friends that can challenge me to push myself further is great!

Today, Robin Arzon, the creator of the blog Shut Up and Run and a panel of influential runners and social media guru's from companies such as Nike Running, Google, Runner's World and tech companies, held a discussion on the implications of running and the social sphere. It was an amazing event that showed how running has evolved into more than just a solitary sport and into a movement. You can watch the replay of the event here. 

Social tech products such as the Nike+ Fuelband, Nike Running App, Nike GPS Sportwatch or Nike+ Missions Game all have been game changers in the world of sports. How I make it count everyday is measured by my different tech devices. When I'm having a tough day or not feeling like getting out there I look to my social friends to pick me up and push me out the door. One of my favorite tools is the Nike+ Fuelband because I can set my goal and then have to push myself each day to reach it, no matter what. Running is the best way that I earn NikeFuel.

My run crew is social, it is the group I ran my second marathon with in San Francisco when we were ambassadors for Nike Women together. We are #sistersinnike and we motivate and empower each other everyday to succeed. The power of a group of people, a crew, is incredible and together we have achieved great things. All of us have improved our running pace and our friendships through running together. Social media has given us the ability to run virtually together and cheer each other on from afar. 

Social media is constantly changing and in the running world it is becoming a movement. New crews are popping up everyday and there are networks around the world to motivate and inspire. I have jumped on the social running train and am learning more everyday. 

How are your using the social world to enhance your running? Are you in need of some inspiration? Follow me on Twitter @superwomankw and let's join the movement together!