Mind Over Matter

For those of you that know me well, you know I hated running! I actually made fun of people that woke up at 5am on the weekend to run. In my mind, "those people" (as I called them) didn't have a social life! I'm sure many of you non-runners can relate. 

 Then along came my dear friend, Mitzi Espino. Mitzi spoke to me about something called the "Color Run." For those of you unfamiliar with what that is, it's a 5k (3.1 mile) race where people dress up in all sorts of bright colored costumes, run around a park for 3 miles, while music is blaring and colored powder is being dumped all over them. Hence the name: the "Color Run" aka the happiest 5k on the planet. I told her, "I don't run!" But, because this sounds more like a party than a run, I'll do it! Little did I know, that was the beginning of a year full of so called "fun runs." 

The runs ranged from 5k's, to mud runs, to obstacle course races. Hey.... it was all in the name of fun and to support fundraisers, so I thought. 

The ultimate challenge came when again, my dear friend Mitzi, came up with another bright idea! "Let's sign up for a half marathon training program" she said. My reply, "you're crazy..... I can barely run 3 miles and you're asking me to run 13.1 miles?!?!" But guess what happened??? I signed up! :) LOL 

I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I determined to give it a try. Four months later, and a lot of 5am runs into it, I was able to complete a half marathon (13.1 miles). A year later, I ran a full marathon (26.2 miles). How did I do it you wonder.... I changed my mindset. My frame of thought went from "I hate running" to "I'm going to try my best" to " I can't believe I just ran a marathon!" 

But I could not have accomplished this alone. I had friends who challenged me, encouraged me, and coaches who guided me along the way. 

My advice to you today is: surround yourself with people who build you up, believe in you, and propel you forward into a greater destiny. 

Love, 

Jeanette,
An Athlete On A Mission

  Proverbs 13:20 ~ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.