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