 My bling collection | Hello! My name is Michelle and I am a bling addict. I am not usually attracted to bright, shiny things, but anytime I get an email advertising a new race, the first thing I do is scroll down to see what the medal looks like before I make a commitment. The more amazing the medal, the more committed I am. I must admit that one of the only reasons I ran the Awesome 80's race was for the medal--an old school cassette tape (see photo to the left). But as much as I love my bling, I have come to realize that there are definitely things more precious than any medal. |
Pre-race photo in beautiful Sedona, Arizona
#1 FUN: No matter how intriguing a medal is, there must be some entertainment value to the race or the miles just drag by. My favorite race to date has to be my very first one--The Disney Half Marathon. Not only did we get to run through Disneyland and California Adventure, but we also had the opportunity to run through Angel's Stadium and have our faces plastered on the Jumbotron. Those experiences alone made this race worth all the miles, but in addition there were bands, cheerleaders, and all sorts of entertainment provided by the residents of Anaheim. Just when I thought I couldn't go another step, I would run by a mariachi band or a group of Polynesian dancers, and they would remind me that I need to keep moving. Now not all races are this fun-filled, but there are many ways to keep yourself entertained. I think my next favorite race was the Sedona, Arizona half. I ran this without any of my running friends, but the scenery was breathtaking and kept my attention throughout a very challenging course (high altitude and very steep hills). So pick your races carefully so that the experience will be a positive one--no medal is worth 13.1 miles that just drag on.
It is also important for me to make my training miles fun as well. I look forward to my Tuesday/Thursday runs with my running buddies. We push ourselves on the runs, but we catch up on our lives and take time to document our adventures with photos. I also try to make sure we have a group at the gym or on long bike rides. It just makes the miles fly by when you can focus on something other than how many miles are left to complete or focusing on the fact that your legs feel like jello. Training with others is definitely a greater gift than any medal could ever bring.
It is also important for me to make my training miles fun as well. I look forward to my Tuesday/Thursday runs with my running buddies. We push ourselves on the runs, but we catch up on our lives and take time to document our adventures with photos. I also try to make sure we have a group at the gym or on long bike rides. It just makes the miles fly by when you can focus on something other than how many miles are left to complete or focusing on the fact that your legs feel like jello. Training with others is definitely a greater gift than any medal could ever bring.
Size 8 jeans, finally!
#2 FEELING GOOD ABOUT MYSELF: I spent most of my twenties, thirties, and part of my forties feeling horrible about myself. That is a long time to have to look in the mirror and be so unhappy. I avoided many social situations, largely because they don't make cute clothes for sizes larger than 16. Who wants to go to a party wearing clothes that look like they have been made out of furniture fabric? I hid from photo opportunities on a regular basis, because I did not want any documentation of the lowest point in my life. Now I am known for my manic need to document all our training sessions--you may not have noticed all my picture posts on Facebook.
Not only do I no longer shy away from social situations, but I feel amazing. I have more energy than I have had since my teens, which is very important when you have an extremely active 5 year-old boy in the house. It also takes a lot of energy to wake up between 3 and 4 am to get in all the swimming, biking, and running I need to fit in in order to be prepared for my full Ironman. I often have to do 2-3 hours of exercise before I go to work, so that my training does not take too much time away from my family. I could never have kept up this grueling schedule when I weighed over 200 pounds. All my energy was sapped just doing everyday things like housekeeping, work, and playing with my children. No medal could ever replace how I feel about myself these days!
Not only do I no longer shy away from social situations, but I feel amazing. I have more energy than I have had since my teens, which is very important when you have an extremely active 5 year-old boy in the house. It also takes a lot of energy to wake up between 3 and 4 am to get in all the swimming, biking, and running I need to fit in in order to be prepared for my full Ironman. I often have to do 2-3 hours of exercise before I go to work, so that my training does not take too much time away from my family. I could never have kept up this grueling schedule when I weighed over 200 pounds. All my energy was sapped just doing everyday things like housekeeping, work, and playing with my children. No medal could ever replace how I feel about myself these days!
Me, Karrie, and Leslie at a chilly morning swim.
#3 FRIENDS Part I: Running brings me together with incredible people. How many people can say that they have friends that would get up at 3 am to drive them down to a race and spend almost 5 hours waiting in the cold air to cheer them on and support them as they run their first marathon like Emily and Stephanie did? How about a group of friends, that will get up with you well before the sun rises to run, or friends that would brave temperatures under thirty degrees to swim in an outdoor pool with you like Karrie, Emily, and Leslie? I have come across the most consistent, supportive training partners because of my new lifestyle. I know that I would not be as far on my journey to flabulous if it were not for my training friends--they are much more important to me than any medal I can add to my collection.
Ed Ettinghausen supporting my marathon finish.
#4 FRIENDS PART II: I have met some people that, while I may only see them every couple of months at races, I consider them a support none the less. It doesn't matter if I run in Portland, Oregon, Las Vegas, Nevada, or a small local race in Redlands, California, I can count on the fact that I will see my Marathon Maniac (MM) or Half Fanatic (HF) friends there to support each other. These runners are a hard-core group of people that, once you join the ranks by completing a certain number of races in a specified amount of time, you are a part of the family. At my Carlsbad race Marathon Maniac Ed not only took the time to run the last half mile to the finish with me, but he did the same for many other competitors as well. And all along the route my MM and HF friends cheered me on--this kind of support is certainly more beneficial than any medal.
My beautiful family
#5 FAMILY: Last but not least, I have a family that supports me in all the crazy things I decide to put my body through. While I attempt to do much of my training before my family wakes up, there are times that I have to rely on my family to watch my son so I can get some of my longer miles in. Today I biked for 56.5 miles in preparation for a 100 mile bike race at the end of March, but then I had to run 2 miles to practice my bike to run transition for Ironman. It was a long day, but my amazing daughter took her brother to lunch and a trip to a children's museum, so I could fit this workout in. I wouldn't trade her for every race medal in the world.
I also have a husband that not only allows me time to train, but he does much of the bike miles with me. We have been on this journey to better health together, and nothing is more precious than being a good example for your kids--not even an amazing piece of bling.
And while my medals are certainly good reminders of all that I have accomplished, my improved health and self-confidence and my family and friends are worth more than any medal I could ever win. I will continue to be drawn to fancy medals, but nothing can ever replace the incredible second chance I have been given at life because of my new lifestyle.
I also have a husband that not only allows me time to train, but he does much of the bike miles with me. We have been on this journey to better health together, and nothing is more precious than being a good example for your kids--not even an amazing piece of bling.
And while my medals are certainly good reminders of all that I have accomplished, my improved health and self-confidence and my family and friends are worth more than any medal I could ever win. I will continue to be drawn to fancy medals, but nothing can ever replace the incredible second chance I have been given at life because of my new lifestyle.
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