And so it begins....

My 2010 race season will officially start this Saturday with the Dallas Half Marathon. I'm so pumped to finally put all of the hard work of the last few months into a race and see how I do. I of course have super high expectations for myself, and I know I can can meet them as long as the stars align for a great race. I'm hoping to take 15 minutes off of my half marathon time from September which is a lot, but I know I have it in me thanks to Val.

This is just the beginning of a busy, and hopefully successful race season. This season is different, I am actually training properly, thanks to my wonderful coach. I have done so many races with little to no prep, so I'm really looking forward to see what my potential actually is. I have some goals set for myself, surprise surprise. I would love to place in my age group is some races so I can try to get into elite waves in 2011. I know that won't be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

I cannot wait until my "A" race this summer. I think of racing Steelhead during every one of my training sessions. It is what keeps me going during my long and hard workouts.

I'm going to try and enjoy this week, tapering is not my favorite. I'm going to add in more yoga during the time that I would usually be training to keep my body moving and my mind clear and focused. I can't wait to get into some warmer weather and tear up the Dallas Half.

Wish me luck!!

Happy New Year!!

I started 2010 out the perfect way, a threshold run this morning followed by a yoga class. If that wasn't good enough the Universal Sports Network had a marathon of the Ironman World Champoinships from the past decade on all day! So inspirational to hear everyone's stories. Talk about the kick I needed to get myself in gear for my shot starting at my half IM in July. I can't wait!
Last year my resolution was to do more yoga...and I can honestly say I accomplished that and more. Not only am I doing more yoga, I now get to teach it and bring it to the lives of my students. I can't explain how much happiness that brings me. My resolution this year is to be kind to myself, emotionally and spiritually. I have a tendency of being very hard on myself, I expect to be perfect at everything. That takes its toll on me and I want it to stop. I plan on meditating more, learning more about pranayama, going to gong baths, getting more massages, you get the point. I am going to follow my heart and do what feels right, regardless of what my "plan" is. I know that doing this will not only make me happy, but everyone that I encounter everyday.
The yoga class that I went to this morning was taught by a great teacher. She ended our class by reading us a poem that I want to share. To me, it was something inspirational to hear at the beginning of a new year.

Our deepest fear is not that

we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are

powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that

most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be

brilliant, gorgeous, talented

and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't

serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about

shrinking so that other people won't

feel insecure around you.

You were born to make manifest

the glory of God that is within us.

It is not in some of us:

It is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own

fear our presence automatically

liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

Happy New Year!!