Good Friends Never Say Goodbye...

They simply say "See Ya Soon!"

Thank you for all that you are

It's not often that a good friend comes along and becomes your sister. 

Meet Tammy...she's the one on the left. As fate would have it, Tammy and I meet at Virginia Key trails.  She had just arrived in Miami and was looking for people who had the same passion for trail running as she did. She found out there was this group of women who ran on Saturday mornings. Low and behold, she found me. 

Our first run together was magical. We ran. We talked. We laughed. We smiled. But most of all, we enjoyed each others company. Well, that run turned into another and another and before you knew it we became Sole Sister's. 

Tammy, I just wanted to say thank you for having touched my life in such a powerful and meaningful way. Your steadfast loyalty, trust, honesty, encouragement, and positiveness are qualities that makes you a true friend.

Although miles may separate us the bond between us will grow ever stronger. 

See you soon my friend!

A Long and Winding Road - a sista's perspective

My friend posted on her blog a story that bought tears to my eyes. Not because it was sad, but because of the fond memories of a long time ago. While we were chatting about her blog, she thought it would be interesting to hear the other perspective of her story. So here I am, blogging my view of "A Long and Winding Road."

On July 26th, 2009 I was training for my first Half  Ironman. A friend and I meet a local tri group to head out for my second LONG ride and my very first big group ride. I was a bit nervous and I knew what 60 miles looked like.  

Even though it was still dark, we prepared for the ride. We filled our tires with air, packed our bikes with food, and made sure our water bottles contained Cytomax. When the group leaders called out for our attention, we headed to the middle of the road to listen to the announcements. Of course, I couldn't hear a thing as there were so many people riding that day. It almost looked like a race. 7:10 am off we went to begin the first half of the ride; 33 miles to Robert's Is Here!

It was an uneventful ride to Robert's. The group was personable, the speed was amicable, and the weather was cooperating. On the way back, however, all hell broke loose. The group split; the speedy Gonzalez's and the rest of us. The weather got hot. And I was beginning to feel the miles.

My friend, a seasoned triathlete, rode with me for awhile, making sure I was able to keep up. But once we hit 87th and Old Cutler Road, she took off to put in her work. All was well! I was well hydrated, well nourished, well prepared. I was feeling wonderful. 

By now, my group was on 57th Ave headed toward 88th Street. Just a few short miles, and I'll have this puppy done! Life is GREAT!  

I was at the front of the pack, the group was pedaling fast. I was hearing all the call outs. I was in the groove! Then all of a sudden I hear BANG! BOOM! POW! It's a crash behind me! I immediately slowed down, pulled over, and waited to see what had happened. I saw a huge pill up just a few hundred feet behind me. I get back on the bike and head over to see if there is something I can do. 

It was quite chaotic at first. All these men were talking at the same time, surrounding this one girl, asking if she was ok. Everyone was scrambling. One group was with the bike, looking it over. Another with the girl, checking her out. Yet a third, directing traffic. All seemed well till the president of the club saw the rider had a flat. 

Everyone immediately pulled out their tools, spare tires, and began to help. I remember the rider being so embarrassed about the whole thing. She kept saying..."I saw the first set but didn't see the second." Within minutes, the guys had the flat fixed and the rider back on her bike.

As we pedaled away, I saw my friend. She told me she came back to look for me because she thought something had happened to me. I explained I was alright but this girl behind me had crashed into the poles. So I stopped to see if there was something I could do.

All was well and we kept riding. Soon, the president of the club passed us both. I asked her if the girl was ok and she replied. Yep, she's fine. Just going to take it easy back to the car. Well, something inside me told me she wasn't okay. I kept looking back for her. When I noticed she had dropped out of sight I told my friend to head back without me. I was going to check up on the girl. She asked me why and I replied...cause something tells me she's not ok. 

So we headed back till we found her peddling all by herself. We immediately asked her if she was fine and she insisted she was. I didn't agree. I asked her when was the last time she had a GU? She replied: "What's that?" I immediately handed her one and told her to eat. I then handed her a few more to put in her pocket. 

As we continued to head home I realized she didn't know where she was so I told her to follow us back. I promised we wouldn't drop her and get her back to the car safe and sound.

66 mile later, I completed my first big group ride, had a better understanding of my internal strength, and best of all made a new friend. Today I am proud to call her my sister! 

Thank you Danielle and Grandma Lynne for opening your hearts to me and my family! 

1 millimeter to Center - A run with a purpose

Today my inner voice told me to go somewhere new. This is where I found myself;  Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park. The thing is...it's not "really" a new route. 

A run down memory lane.

You see, in 2009 I completed my very first Half Ironman right here. Why did I end up at Penny Park? I wasn't sure but I knew that fate had dealt me this card and here is where I was supposed to run.

The sign says NO SWIMMING....hmmm

The first place I came across was the crystal clear lake. This is the first leg of the Miami Man Half Ironman.  As I stopped to snap this image, the memories flooded my mind.I could hear the sound of the gun going off sending my age group to the two loop swim. I heard my inner voice say; left, right, left, right, breath, left, right, left right, breath...glide, kick, sight. In my memory's mind, I could see hundreds of arms flopping all around me; someone kicking me in the face because I didn't pay attention; others grabbing one of my ankles just to pull me down into the depths of the lake; my head then popping out of the water to grasp air. I literally felt my blood pressure soar as I remembered my fear and excitement of a time gone by.

Run in the lake...priceless

Off I went to continue my run. Before I knew it I found myself just half way around the lake. This time the memory was filled with joy and excitement.  Three years ago I did my very first Merrell Down and Dirty Mud Race. It was a birthday celebration with a sister from another mother. What fun! Who would have known that Mud+Obstacles+Run = FUN! I was hooked. I have done this race every year since. And each time I can say I have had a blast. The 10K course takes us right into this lake. I saw myself stopping, dipping full body and floating along side the drop till the life guard yells MOVE IT! I left this scene with a smile on my face and song on my feet. 

Open field of days gone by.

I continued along the lakes edge till I stopped to snap this picture. This is the "transition" spot for Miami Man. Again the memories flooded; 3 am wake up call, 4:30 am transition opens I can hear the generators running flooding the field with lights. I can see the athletes pumping air into their tires, checking to make sure they do not have a flat. I can smell the excitement in the air as we set up our bikes and run gear.

5 am run to the bathroom. 5:15 run to bathroom. 5:30 run to bathroom...nervous stomach I just stay near the bathrooms for awhile. 6:30 am still dark and nerves are running wild. 7:15 swim call. I can feel the fear of the impending swim. OH LORD! Hear my prayer. Let me survive the swim. 

Off I went to continue my run down memory lane.

Running to the finish line.

I quickly turned around and traveled back up the lake till I reached the paved entrance to the Miami Man running path. It twists and turns along the pine tree till you get into the mango grove. This is where the Campground begins and the run begins to wind down. So, off I went and ran into the campground till I found the exit that takes the racers from the Zoo grounds back into the park. I remembered how hot the run was and how I used to think this part of the race was my favorite. Amazing how I never noticed all the details of the mango grove and the beautiful swimming pool just past the gates entrance. 

Time was ticking and I looked at my watch; 3.1 miles done - 3.1 miles left to go. What to do? Do I go back the same way I came? 

As I approached the campground gates it dawned on me that I have NEVER ran the entire park. It's always been the same path, the same scenery, the same old same old. What if I shifted my step by one millimeter? Where would I go? What would I see?

So instead of making a sharp right hand turn back through the mango grove I kept moving forward. Before I knew it I was running a NEW path.

1 millimeter is all it takes

Allow me stop my story and explain the 1 millimeter philosophy. Motivational speaker and Life Coach, Tony Robbins talks about what we really seek in life is completely available to us when we make just one tiny adjustment in our life. 

In his speeches, he references an experience while taking a golf lesson where his instructor introduced him to the idea of making small adjustments: One Millimeter Off From the Results of Your Dream (video worth watching)

“What a great belief system that when all hell is breaking loose and nothing is working that you are only one millimeter off. Because, most people think it is impossible and so they give up.”

1 millimeter shift takes me to an unexpected aha moment

So I began my incantation along my 1 millimeter path.

"I am not my past nor my future...my past holds nothing for me and my future holds nothing I am certain off. I am present."

I ran till I saw a fork in the road. Again, I am left to make a decision? Which one to take? Where does it go? What will I find?

All roads lead to...

It didn't matter really, as I soon came to understand.  No matter which path I take, where I might travel, what I may learn, there is only one truth. All roads lead to the same destination...my center. 

Living mindfully is just a millimeter away.