Good Samaritan Time

Today I got a call from a kind lady who needed to return her Uhaul truck. She had driven it from Ogden, Utah. This woman had my same first name and the same last name of my friend in Santa Barbara. We began talking I asked a couple questions let her know I was familiar with Ogden as I had grown up in a small town called Farmington just 25 minutes South of Ogden. She was surprised I pronounced her last name right and I asked her if she knew a gentleman by the name of Rich with her same last name in Santa Barbara. My customer then responded he was her cousin. My customer needed to coordinate return of her rental truck to my work and a ride to the airport to get a car. She asked if I would be willing to give her a ride. I was so anxious at the opportunity presented to me to be a Good Samaritan that I said yes I have a 6:00 obligation, but I'd be happy to coordinate transportation for her. 

My 6:00 obligation was a run with a new running group. I had such a terrific time!

I then met my customer at work so she could return the rental truck and off we drove to the airport. I learned so many wonderful things about her.

I absolutely adore my new job. Some days are stressful and challenging, but I'm constantly learning and I value that so much.

I feel a tremendous amount of blessings have been pouring my way lately and although I was hesitant toward this transition it's created the most amazing change for me. My attitude, my health, my focus and happiness have improved an incredible amount in a very short time.

I will be moving and transitioning into the on-site living quarters at work and with that comes new surprises. Tomorrow evening I have a friend who is willing to come help me paint the one accent wall in the master bedroom. I will miss my little beach studio above the garage at my friend's house, but I'm also very excited about this new larger living space.

I think it has been said when we lose ourselves in serving others it is we who receive the greater reward and I'm truly watching that unfold daily. 

Marathon Time

This month began with my first marathon run.

I'd given myself 26.2 days to train to finish my first marathon. I remember reading in A Non-Runner's Guide to Marathon Training that you shouldn't make time constraints on your marathon finish. I decided I wanted a steady pace, not to have to walk and to finish in 5 hours or less. Yes going against all I'd read.

I got up early on race day 4:00 am early and parked my car at a friends house and walked to the starting line. My friend Ashley rode her bike to the start to wish me well. A friend and his wife from my running group yelled my nickname at the start line. I saw my team captain who was running barefoot and my teammate who had a troublesome knee. The countdown by Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes started I pressed my strava timer put on my headphones and started running through city streets. Mile 1 was crowded and I began my positive self talk. Mile 3 I ran past a guy I once dated as he was at a stoplight cheering on runners he later sent a text to say congrats. I stayed focused on to mile 4 or was it 6 where friends in my running group were handing out beer and cheering on runners. Jen yelled my nickname and said you're my hero. That made me laugh and keep running. They had done trail chalk marks on the road and made the course entertaining. I had two gels in my bra that I kept fueling with and periodically accepted fluid that was handed to me at aid stations. I talked to a young lady because I liked her pink shirt and I continued to run. I decided to lose the headphones and become aware of my surroundings. At the halfway point I passed my friend Corinne who was on the uphill on her way to the halfway mark and carrying a 30 pound pack of dog food and supplies. She was running for a good cause. I got so overwhelmed with praise for her that I forgot to breathe and I almost toppled over just after I high fived her. Mile 14 and 15 I was ecstatic because I'd never run that far before. It was shortly after that my IT bands began protesting and I was faced with back to back hills I was determined to conquer. Shortly after mile 16 I began walking and here comes the woman in the pink shirt who tells me to keep going that I have been her pacer the entire time. I learn her name is Eunice and she and I complete the last ten miles talking and encouraging one another. There is a bridge at mile 25 and a tiny hill near the finish line. At that hill I get a pep talk from some awesome young man and I walk and run to the finish line. I didn't achieve my time or not walking goal, but I did finish and learned so much along the way. I didn't tell any of my family I was doing this I wanted to tell my mom when I went home to visit the following weekend.

I ran four days later with my running group and two days after that a 5k at altitude while visiting my family. I got to surprise my dad and all of my family with a visit home. It was great to see my youngest down syndrome brother Ben still knew who I was despite the schizophrenia that has altered him so much. He's very quiet, but still funny and sweet like he has always been. My mom showed me all her fabric and new quilt design and let me take baby quilt fabric with me. She also gave me two books by Carla Kelly. She's an author my mom got me to thoroughly enjoy. I loved seeing my 4 month old nephew Sol he is so sweet. My youngest niece and nephew didn't remember me that was hard, but as time went on they warmed up to me. My niece was hilarious as she learned I lived near the beach she said,"I hope not one with jellyfish."

On my flight home from Utah I was in the San Francisco airport as I learned of the Boston Marathon bombing. My heart was immediately turned to my friend Scott and the athletes of Los Angeles Speed Project. An overwhelming sigh of relief came over me when I received report they were okay.

The following week I used my days off to push my fitness limits. I did a CrossFit workout that really tested my abilities. It was run, toes2bar, 95# weighted lunges...shut up legs!!! Then I spent 3 hours sitting in a car traveling to a bike race. The following morning I learned I could test ride a mountain bike on the race course and for almost 2 hours I had the best riding I'd experienced in the 2 years since I discovered the sport. The next day my legs were more sore than I ever remember them being. Even the marathon didn't leave me sore...only tired for days!

Friday I treated myself to trading in my Tahoe for a smaller SUV and honestly 3 hours in a dealership can't compare to a marathon! I'd much rather be running.

Saturday I ran a successful 5k that was a struggle and today I ran a short trail run with Ashley who is doing her first half ironman at an event this weekend. I only wish I could cheer her on and take pictures and ride my bike to push her on course when she needs it most just like she did for me.

This month was one long month that felt like alot of full and mini marathons. It's been full of changes and all very welcomed!

Commitment Time

I started my day by not being motivated to get up to do my usual Tuesday early morning fun run before work. I went to the trail ran a couple minutes got bored and turned around to walk back to my car and drive to work.

I started my shift made my usual egg, sausage, sweet potato hash brown breakfast. I then did the usual Tuesday shopping trip and came back to the house.

I took a break and saw that our new SLO Ambassador had posted he had 8 comp entries to fill for the SLO Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k. I asked if I could do the half. Another individual asked if he could do the half as well. Bentley our new ambassador responded that if we could do half we could do the full. I immediately responded that my last long run was 5 miles and I'm in.

I have read the non-runner's guide to marathon training followed its schedule to train for the half marathon I successfully completed 3 years ago and I know that 16 weeks is a great guide for the recommend amount of time to train for a marathon. Okay so I'm short 13 1/2 weeks no big deal!

I don't have room for skeptics or pessimism here or those who might tell me I'm setting myself up for injury or failure.

I've very recently read Matty Long's success story of his Long Run, Carissa Phelps story of triumph, Cheryl Strayed's journey down Pacific Crest Trail, I'm currently reading Bill Bryson's Walk in the Woods and just tonight I learned of an amazing inspiration Jeremy P. McGhee I will take his amazing words and ignore the voice in my head that says I'm not good enough and it can't be done. Let go of everything and do what you love profound words spoken by an amazing individual!

My dear friend and ultrarunner friend Kevin asked me if I'm prepared. I replied no I'm not prepared, but I'm willing. He's running it too. I expect him to be twice as fast and qualify for Boston.

Okay so last week the Crossfit Open Games 2013 started with WOD 13.1 being announced. I completed 40 burpees, 30 snatches at 45 lbs, 30 burpees, 18 snatches at 75 lbs in 17 minutes. For the next 4 weeks WOD 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5 will be announced. 13.5 will be announced just 3 days after I finish running my first marathon. I don't think it's a coincidence I completed workout 13.1 last Friday and committed to running 26.2 today.

I got my photos from the bicycle photo booth and my favorite is the one where I'm in runners pose holding the bike. My favorite little self mantra is CrossFit, Mtn. Bike, Run...always have fun!!!

Sometimes I take a different trail

I was so fortunate to have two days off work loaded with adventure.

I got off work Thursday morning and went to have my makeup done by Angela at Sephora. She did a wonderful job and my bright pink lipstick matched the neon pink on my jersey and socks.

Thursday afternoon I went to Kman Bicycle and Run to a bicycle photo booth that was sponsored by App Photography. It was such amazing fun I cannot wait to see the results!

Thursday evening I went on a hash run where I learned of a descending rope climb to a very small beautiful beach. That was then followed by a climb up a hill with a 16% grade. As I was ascending that hill my mind reflected on the book Wild that I had just finished reading and I was inspired to keep pushing myself up that hill which earned me a course record on my little program I use to track my progress. It's a good motivational tool for me.

Friday I went to CrossFit Grover Beach and I really enjoyed the WOD. For those of you thinking ugh I hate when people talk about CrossFit feel free to skip reading this. I don't care for rowing so the 1000m row tested my attention span. Hey look there's a squirrel running across the beach and wow look at that view. See that's what happens when I am on a rowing machine one block from the beach with an ocean view. I then got to move on to burpee box jumps (yes I like them) followed by pull-ups and ring dips. For the first time ever my first two pull-ups may have had a kip in them and I felt really strong. Then I moved on to deadlifts which are so frustrating to me because prior to hurting my back over a year ago I felt I did well in that area. I still complete the movement, but the weight is clearly much lighter than what I feel I could be lifting.

I left CrossFit Grover Beach and met my friend to go for a night mtn. bike ride at Lopez Lake. My friend let me use his very bright light as he decided he wanted to test his old technology light that he had modified. I hadn't been on any of these trails and the purpose of the ride was to see what I missed out on by not participating in the off road triathlon I volunteered at last year. I decided to turn around and ride back and told my friend I didn't want to test my limit and get fatigued. On our way back we each got disoriented and ended up riding roads and numerous trails to try to get back to the fireroad we knew we had ridden out. I ended up walking up to the house at the boyscout camp and I met the nicest most lighthearted man. He said,"I bet you're going to ask me how the heck you get out of here." That was precisely my question. My friend's light had run out of battery so we knew we would be riding with only the reflection I had lighting the way. The man at the boyscout camp we learned was Ranger Mike told us the way out to which my friend Mike and I just laughed. We had been past where we needed to go at least 3 times 2 of those times going left when we should have gone right. Mike and I both remained positive the entire time later joking that we would call that our lost adventure.

I look forward to seeing the next adventure my day off provides...

Time to Admit I'm Posi+ively Defeated

Friday I left my house to run errands. That got derailed when I came upon a vehicle versus pedestrian accident scene.

A number of bystanders stopped to help the individual who was struck by the vehicle. The main individual that assisted really impressed me because he knew all the patient assessment questions to ask. Another bystander approached and I recognized him from the previous crossfit box I used to attend and I knew he is a firefighter so I knew the individual was well cared for. I later learned the primary individual assisting is a chiropractor and he attends crossfit as well. He ended up asking me when I was coming back to the box to which I responded I go to another box now, but I ended up clarifying knowing full well I've had zero desire to crossfit.

A month of being sick has derailed my positive attitude, my motivation and my overall interest in the physical activities that I usually crave doing.

I attended a memorial service for a dear woman Paula on Friday afternoon. Paula was the individual who trained me to do my job at the Santa Barbara Sheriff Department. Paula was only 38 and lost her battle to cancer. She has a dear husband and a toddler son. The service paid such an incredible tribute to her! I didn't know what was once my favorite song by Metallica to run listening to could indeed make me cry.

I forced myself to go to crossfit Friday evening. It was good to be feeling well enough to go, but it was a real struggle.

Saturday morning I made myself go for a run. It was only 3 miles and I was glad I wasn't coughing the entire time and my stats showed a great first mile pace, but I feel like I've lost so much headway that I had made.

Today I went to do the regular crossfit workout and I felt okay. I felt I had a little motivation back so I decided to take a small break to meet up with a friend for tea after which I went back to crossfit for the strength training element. Here's where that feeling of complete defeat set in.

There is a technique in a specific lift that no matter how hard I try I can't seem to fix my mistake. Some days I can fix the mistake and most days I'm unable to. As I hear the one trainer remind me not to swing the bar out like a kettlebell and I try to improve I hear the other trainer say that I just don't listen. It's at this point that I just get mad! I don't want the trainer to see that he broke me and I know I just have ten minutes of lifts left.

I later ask for feedback and how to improve which is reinforced with the one part of the strength element I did great, but the other part leaves something to be desired.

I came home and my friend I met for tea asked how my workout went to which I responded I have a lot of room for improvement. He responded by saying practice makes perfect. I'm sure glad there's that one person to throw out the positive note when clearly mine has taken a path in a negative direction.

I can't honestly say what it's going to take to get myself back on track or even how long it will take. I do know this isn't something I can fix with my usual formula of It Starts With A Decision!

Transition Time

At the beginning of 2011 my blog post looked like this:

My resolution is to be a stronger, happier, kinder, healthier me in 6 months and then continue on after reaching my goal until years end.

My game plan: Have a support network
Accept accountability
Complete one competitive run monthly I almost have until June planned out
Utilize the gym at home
Utilize down time at work for stationary strength training
Drink water and plenty of it
Focus on staying positive and not self critical

I don't even remember setting goals for 2012. My resolution for this year is to not duplicate patterns or habits from the previous year. I'd like to believe I learned from my life lessons. I faced alot of loss, but I'd prefer to focus on the knowledge and experience I gained.

I received a great invite to a gathering yesterday evening at a friend's home. He is such a kind, fun host. He let me cook mahi tacos and share with everyone. I was lucky enough to talk to an endurance mud runner who I've admired and been inspired by for a long time. I'm fairly certain she's completely unaware of this.

I got out of bed this morning wanting to do an hour long run, but instead changed it to a timed mile with pull-up practice and a recovery walk. I successfully ran a mile faster than my previous best time of 8:57 shaving off a mere 6 seconds. It's a small improvement, but it's improvement and that's where I want my positive focus to be.

I remember a dear mentor once told me her one consistent yearly goal was to be kind to herself. I think I will mirror that resolve and not make any specific goals other than continued daily improvement in my attitude, my choices and of course my love for fitness and health.

The days where I may fall short of my improvement expectation I will remember there are new opportunities every day and I will smile!!!

Time with my second family

I got a message on Sunday from one of the most profound influences in my life over the past 15 years.

Patty said she needed her house "Joanietized." This is a term she coined because when I was her nanny I liked things organized, routine and a certain way.

I went down to their home Monday night and surprised my Godson Chandler.

Tuesday I was given the task of bringing the Christmas ornaments up from their storage area. It was fun to reminisce seeing different items I remembered the boys having when I shared my Christmases with them.

I would often share my thanksgiving with them as well. I hadn't had a chance to do that for the last 4 years so it was good to go visit this week. I am so thankful to my friend who pointed out to me that my priorities were a little displaced and brought to my attention that I needed to go spend time with my second family.

I went to my favorite orchid wholesale shop. Westerly Orchids in Carpinteria and I found a deep violet infused phaleonopsis that I placed in the front entry way of Patty's beautiful peaceful home.

I was able to take a lunch break and go do a crossfit workout. I was happy to do all the pull-ups in the warm up and do the wod and learn how to do a weight lift better. I'm excited about the challenge the ladies of crossfit Grover Beach are doing its really helping me with my health and fitness goal and has made it easier to hold myself accountable.

Tuesday evening my Godson Chan and I went to the hardware store and had fun maneuvering the plywood board through the isles. Afterward we went to the place we still call the pumpkin patch to pick out a Christmas tree. He selected the first one he saw then we proceeded to look at others and settled on his first choice. He and I worked together and lifted it off my car and into the house. Everyone commented on the large beautiful tree we selected. We then picked up dinner from a drive thru we've been going to since he was 4 and had a parasite that had him living on a bland diet of chicken noodle soup and French fries. I found our order comical I had the bunless burger no sauce no pickles he had the burger with the bun no sauce no vegetables. I loved watching Chan just having fun hanging out together enjoying his sour apple sticks, loving the pine scented candle, seeing the horse at the Christmas tree lot that he says has been there forever, but I only just noticed it last night because he pointed it out.

Today I got up to make Chan and his brother JT breakfast. I woke JT up and he requested pancakes. It's so great to think he's almost 18 and he knows he can ask me for nearly anything. My reward is his appreciation. He says thanks for breakfast Joanie then asks when I'm coming back again I tell him I want to make it back before Christmas which is also just before his birthday. He gives me a hug and thanks me for coming down and he asks if I can drive Chan to school so he isn't late.

I got to spend ten extra minutes with Chan and snapped a pic of him by the Christmas tree just before he left for school. I made sure to sneak in that extra hug too when I dropped him off at school. I loved that he wasn't too cool to give me a hug or say love u too as he headed off to class.

I am so grateful for this little time away with the people I cherish the most who always give me so much love.