To give anything less...

This is one of my favorite quotes in a new book I'm reading, "Be Iron Fit." Right now I'm spending all of my time in the pre-training phase: I'm reading all about nutrition and fitness and training. I'm figuring out how I'm going to juggle my schedule with training. I'm joining groups on Facebook of people that have done the Iron distance. I'm talking to other working moms that are training or will be training for a 140.6 in 2016. I've begun to hang out socially with local triathletes who are also doing the same race I am next fall. It's the support, camaraderie and friendships that will get me through. 

It all gets real January 1. And I'm ready. 

So back to the quote - I know that I can be successful - and here's why: I'm so blessed with the gift of perseverance. I have been through so much. And I'm super stubborn. I never quit and I never want to fail. It's these qualities that will not only help me survive the next year, but also this goal. Another one of my favorite sayings is this - 

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, 'I used everything that you gave me.'" I want to empty the tank with every bit that I have - no matter whether it's this goal or with my kids, something for work, etc. Win or lose, if I leave it all out there, I know I did my best. 

So just a few thoughts this exhausting evening after a long day at work and working out and with kids...I know the days only get longer from here. But always put your best out there - no matter what you do. You'll always put your head on the pillow at night with a feeling of satisfaction...win or lose. 

JC

Making it Happen - The Beginning of my Journey to Ironman

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Ironman Florida. I had a few friends that were participating in the race, but my true mission was to be there to sign up for IMFL2016. I knew that if I didn't go there, I probably would never sign up.

So late Friday night after Maddie cheered at a football game, I jumped in the car and drove the 4ish hours to Panama City Beach. I got there just in time to grab some breakfast, much needed coffee and shuttle over to the start just in time for the swim.

A few hundred people lined the beach waiting for a glimpse of the 3000 athletes in the water. At first, it was a bit intimidating to me to see this (being the swim is my weakest event). The waves were crashing and tossing people like rag dolls, but once they got past that part, it looked fairly calm.

Most everyone made it out of the water before the cutoff, so that was encouraging, I watched most jump on their bikes and begin the 112 mile ride before I headed over to the medical tent to begin my shift.

I had signed up to work medical from 9-1. I thought that would give me time to head back to the hotel to check in, rest a bit since I had driven most of the night, catch a few snaps of LSU/Bama before heading back to watch a few finishers. As it turns out, not enough people were signed up for the evening shift, so they asked me to work another shift, if possible. Since we had only seen 10 patients in my entire morning shift, I agreed.

I have to admit, working the medical tent for an event like this is NOT pretty. I was rained on. I was bled on, I was sweat on. I was puked on, I was cried on. I saw some of the most nasty blisters and injuries I've ever seen. But the most encouraging part of the whole thing is that I knew these people left everything they had out on that course. So while some of the things I saw should've scared me from ever attempting it, it inspired me to know that I HAVE to do this.

Around 9pm, the rain we were anticipating all day finally began to fall. But the athletes kept streaming in. And working only a few feet from the finish line, I was able to hear  - "YOU are an IRONMAN!" about 1000 times - fulfilling dream after dream for those folks.

So Sunday came, and it was do or die for me as far as registering. See, I was told that Ironman Florida fills so quickly that you pretty much have to volunteer and be onsite when registration for the following year opens so that you can get in. I was told to be in line for 8am. This is what the line looked like at 7:15am - in the POURING rain:

The line moved quickly as I chatted with a few sweet ladies from North Carolina that had come to volunteer for the same reason - to get the golden ticket for 2016. We were all nervous as it will be a first Ironman for all of us. But we talked about how to juggle kids, work, life, training, illness and injuries and how to still make it all happen. Just to know there are others in the same boat is encouraging.

And about 30 minutes later, I had this in my email inbox:

So today is a new day. It's a day for dedication and balance and planning and accountability. I've already been to the gym once - at lunch. If using my lunch is the only way to get it in, so be it. I know I have a great support system of family and friends, so I trust the journey. Now all I need is a little luck for decent health that doesn't decline substantially over the next 12 months and I am sure I will make it there.

Fingers crossed!

#IMFL16

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