Big dreams - For a new reality

Several years ago when I set out on this journey - I had no idea where it would take me. For me, this blog was just an accountability piece...to let people know - "Hey! I am attempting to lose weight! When you see me eating a Big Mac, yell at me!" Little did I know that 4.5 years later, 130+ lbs lighter and millions of miles clocked on the roads, I would be here.

I really thought no one was watching, no one was reading...then people started to comment. People would stop and say - "Wow, I read your blog...how awesome." Race directors, editors from local and regional magazines and even Runner's World have contacted me, written about my story and I have even written a chapter in an upcoming book published by RW, to be released this December. It's crazy because it's not attention I ever longed for or even wanted. Don't get me wrong - I am NEVER going to turn down the opportunity to share my story with anyone - especially if they can learn from it. But if you know me, I am more about personal connections. The people that mean the most to me are the ones who have said - "I've followed you for a while and your story is awesome. You've gone about this journey all wrong and you don't even care. You still inspire me. And you inspire others - and it's not even a big deal to you." My friend Russ once said that and to me - those words still mean more than ever being on the homepage of RW.com or included in a book.

Yet every day I find myself wanting more - needing more. 2015 has been TOUGH - to say the least. Most of you know by now some of the health issues and injuries I'm battling, but I am still fighting every single day through them. It's not ideal. But I think a quote by Elizabeth Edwards sums it up best:

So I will continue to run. I will continue to fight through it all. And as I approach my 40th birthday in a few months, I've decided to make 2016 a year to remember. How am I going to do that?

Well, let's start with this email I got yesterday:

WELCOME TO IRONMAN FLORIDA...

Don't have a heart attack yet. This is not for the race taking place in 2 weeks. This is for the race taking place in about 54 weeks. To get in IMFL, you have to register EARLY - like onsite a year before. So, that's what I am doing. I will go down to IMFL2015 and volunteer at the medical tent so that I can signup onsite Sunday morning for 2016.

So what made that decision? Well, after being a part of Tri-Dat for a few months and volunteering at triathlons for years but not actually racing any bigger races, one of my good friends told me after IMAugusta, "Janel, it's your time. We love you for being here for us - but now it's our time to be here for you." And with that - it was done. 

It's going to be a long, hard road. I know that. Between juggling work, a family, illness and injuries, training, and a million other distractions, it's probably going to be the toughest year of my life. But if you know me, you also know that I am not one to back down from a challenge. And if you know me REALLY well, you know that once I set my mind to something, it's tough to stop me. 

So I guess this is my new accountability. It's not like before where I want you to yell at me about eating a Big Mac. But I will need encouragement, and probably a few babysitters :) along the way. 

Never forget - be mindful of everything you do. You never know who is watching. 

Janel 

Quick thoughts on a very early Monday...

Excuse the mini-blog:

Took this (very) small plane from Augusta to Charlotte to eventually head home to NOLA after Ironman Augusta 70.3 this weekend. Long story short(ish)... This plane only seats 40 people. I heard one flight attendant tell another flight attendant that they had run out of the 10 seatbelt extenders on board the plane. TEN! That's 1/4 of the plane. They prepare for 1/4 of the passengers to require an extender. Which got me to thinking...

People - we've GOT to start moving more and eating less (junk). Yesterday at IM Augusta I saw people of all sizes/shapes out there. Some were faster than others, but they were doing it. I'm not saying to run out and sign up for an Ironman event, but take a walk at lunch, park farther from the door, take the stairs, cut out sodas. Every little thing counts. 

And I'll just say this: this is not a rant or personal dig against anyone at all. I used to be one of those people that would ask for the extender. And now on the other side of that I know how amazing it feels to make that change and feel a small victory each time I buckle up on a plane and have at least 8-10 inches of extra belt. 

It's Monday. What better day to make some positive changes?  

Race season is near!

It's halfway through September and about a month away from race season kicking off in full force. I think I finally survived the summer months and am ready to run in some cool weather. The weather was so perfect here this past Sunday that I decided to run 8 miles and follow it up with a 62 mile bike ride.

Bayou Lacombe Bridge

I've had some struggles with health this year, but I am committed to doing several races in the next few months. Some are oldies but goodies, and some I will be doing for the first time.

On the schedule:

5Kanine - Sept 19

5Kiwanis - Oct 3

Covington Classic - Oct 10

Bike Big Easy 20 mile Ride - Oct 17

Gulf Coast Half Marathon (my 5th consecutive!) - Oct 18

Cane Field Classic with the Machete Medal - Oct 24

Jazz Half Marathon - Oct 31

Battleship 12K - November 15

Big Easy Half Marathon - November 21

I was training to reach sub 2 for GCHM, but the partially torn LCL and some other issues put an end to that. Well, not an end, a pause. I'm going to do it - if for nothing else to prove to someone that I have not given up on that dream. 

The next few weeks will be tough, but I am also looking forward to heading to Augusta to support some people in the Ironman 70.3. Gonna be a fun 4 days of team dinners, chasing them around to catch pics and post on social media. Can't wait!

There will be a day when you can no longer run...

Time marches on. I am not even going to pretend to give lame excuses like, "I've been busy, the kids' schedules are nuts, work is insane..." I suck. I am terrible about writing events of my own life outside of quick forms of social media.

But it's mid-year. Already. And it's been tumultuous to say the least as far as running goes. 2015 opened with 2 half marathons back to back in January and February ushered in the Glass Slipper Challenge in DisneyWorld (10K + half) followed by a trail half the next weekend. Needless to say, I was reallllly ready to be done with running. And then, I was. I partially tore the LCL in my right leg mid-March doing a plyometric lunge. So I was forced out for 6-8 weeks. 

I tried to stationary bike, walk and elliptical as much as possible. But I still missed that release that running provided. And soon enough, I was back - albeit VERY slow. And going from the cool temps of March to the already way too hot temps of May nearly killed me. I have still struggled to get back. 

I decided to do the Dusk til Dawn Hotter Than Hell Ultra on July 4th/5th. My goal was 40 miles: a mile for every year and since it was a 2 mile loop - one to grow on. I finished, but wow, it was HOT and it was very slow. 2 weeks later I headed to Chicago for my annual Rock n Roll Half with friends. We had a blast, as usual, but that was no doubt the HOTTEST half marathon I've ever done. 

Louisiana Half Marathon - January 18, 2015

RnR NOLA Half Marathon - January 25, 2015

Glass Slipper Challenge - Feb 21-22, 2015

Hotter Than Hell - July 4/5, 2015

RnR Chicago - July 19, 2015

If I have learned ANYTHING in 2015 so far, it's NEVER take advantage of your health. If you are able to run or workout, you NEED to be out there doing it. As it says on my Road ID - "There will be a day when I can no longer run - today is not that day." Maybe it is. But you never know when that day will hit for you. Take advantage of every day, every minute, every second. And no matter what you do, "Never Settle." Ever. 

-JCE

Walking through the fire

In 2014, I set a few challenges for myself: 1) Completing the Dopey Challenge (check) and 2) running at least one half marathon every month (check). So now what?

I ran across an interesting quote yesterday: "What matters most is how well you walk through the fire." Not sure why, but I loved it.  It's crazy because I constantly feel the need to do something bigger, better, stronger, scarier...It's like I have this vision of setting a major goal - something I think is next to impossible (for me at least) and then to completely smash it - somewhat similar to bursting through a wall of fire. So when I saw that quote, I thought - yep, exactly. But then I thought about it more and it doesn't necessarily represent accomplishing that crazy goal, but it's more like survival of all of the distracters in life to keep me from achieving that goal - kids, family, work, training schedules, doubters, money, time, selfish ambition... And then I thought that the way I handle all of that is the true success - not just the completion of something. God knows in 4 years of this journey I could have quit a million + times. And there were many things that pulled me out of focus. And I know I am not where I need to be but I know at least I'm not where I used to be. 

So as far as goals for 2015... I have 2 options. One is way cooler (in my eyes) than the other, but there's a chance I won't get to do that one. In fact, it's a high chance. But there's always a Plan B. And to be honest, Plan B is tough. And it will take a ton of focus and training. So I am leaving it up to fate. I will know by February 15th for sure, one way or the other. And no matter how it goes, that was the option meant to be. And that's when the walk through the fire will truly begin.

JCE

Back to the basics

Time keeps marching on... Kids get older, school years fly by...winter turns to spring to summer. My last blog post talked about ice storms. Here we are again in the thick of the heat and lunchtime runs are brutal! 

Since the last post, I've successfully completed 4 more half marathons: Mercedes in Birmingham, Zydeco in Lafayette, Gulf Coast in Pensacola and Wisconsin in Kenosha, WI! Slowly marching toward one a month for accountability. Stil looking for that June half...

I'm also participating in the Varsity Sports Hot 100, which is 100 days of events. It's been really fun so far! I'm having to run at least a mile a day and it's been tricky at times to fit it in each day. 

Tomorrow is the first official day of summer schedule for the kids, so I thought it would be a good time to get back to basics- more blogging, tracking food and exercise. So many people ask me how I was able to lose weight, so I point them to my blog and then I realize it just kind of ends. Obviously the story has continued, but not online. So because transparency is the best form of accountability, I'm getting back to it. Whether anyone reads it or not, it will be here for the journey. 

JCE

It's a great big beautiful tomorrow...

It's 2014...

I write all the time- everyday actually. Writing is what I do for a living. While 98% of what I write pertains to how you can have the backyard of your dreams, I find it sometimes hard to keep up with my own blog. If you follow me on Facebook, you know my life- work, kids, running/fitness. Why would you possibly want to click another link and see me expound upon it? Maybe I write and no one reads. And that's ok too because I've found over the years that writing for me is therapeutic. And reflective. 

I just spent a few minutes reading over my past 3 years. I can't believe it's been 3 years since I made the most important decision of my life to get healthy. It's been quite a journey. I can't help but wonder as I make future decisions what 3 years from now will look like. No matter what happens in the future, I want to thank you all for the love and support the past few years! You are the best. 

It's been a crazy start to 2014! Last month, I completed the Dopey Challenge in Walt Disney World! It was a 4 day challenge to compete a 5K, 10K, Half and Full Marathon. What an adventure! I can say it was one of the best experiences of my life! 

We were also able to sneak in a few days at the parks. And then- back to reality. 

It became an even crazier month when we encountered not one, but three ice storms in SE LA. Needless to say, that's made it tough to get on the road, but luckily Franco's has been my BFF and a great place to recover from running with swim and bike. This will come in handy for the next few triathlons I've signed up for. 

It's a start to a whole new year- albeit a month late... And a whole new tomorrow. 

It's a journey...

JC