Raw Food Diet...

Has anyone ever tried a raw food diet?

Well, I am going to start one on Monday October 19...no if's, and's, or but's.

Wish me luck!

I'm done being ordinary...

I want to start being extraordinary!

It doesn't matter how the world sees us. How do we see ourselves? If we see ourselves as being simply ordinary, then that is all we are. However, if we see ourselves as being extraordinary then we are. It is that simple.

What makes someone extraordinary?

Ordinary people want to make money, extraordinary people want to make a difference. I want to make a difference! I want to become an Ironman so that I can motivate others to set and go after seemingly impossible goals.

This raises another question. How do we make a difference? There is no right or wrong answer to this one. I think we all have opportunities to make a difference. How many of us take advantage of them? I know I am certainly guilty of letting some opportunities pass me by. One of my favorite quotes is "Opportunities don't disappear, they go to those who seize them!"

If we want to stop being ordinary, and start being extraordinary we have to start seizing opportunities when they knock at our door.

Have you made a difference today? Do you see yourself as being extraordinary? Have you made someone smile today? Sometimes that is all it takes.

Ironman 70.3 Boise

So as many of you know I don't train or race on Sundays. This is very difficult as I only have Saturdays to do long rides/runs. It also complicates race selection since so many events are held on Sundays...especially in the world of Ironman.

I think I will be ready for a half ironman next summer. The distances for this are swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles. You have 8 hours to cross the finish line.

While I am technically still unable to run, I know that I am almost there. My ankles rarely hurt anymore, and I have been playing intense ultimate frisbee every week now. I know that means I have been running, but in my opinion the doctor only told me that I could not do long-distance running. Frisbee is a lot of sprinting back and forth so hopefully I am not breaking the rules on that one. ;)

Part of being ready for a half ironman next summer will also require making an investment into a new bike. My trusty hybrid has been good to me...actually on second thought it really hasn't. The chain pops off anytime I try to downshift, and the tires have way too much traction for longer rides. I am hoping to buy a Cannondale. I love the feel of those bikes, and they are popular in the triathlon community. However it will take some time before I can afford one, so until then I continue to train on my (un)trusty hybrid.

Boise 70.3 is scheduled for June 12, 2010 which is a Saturday. The problem with this one is that it is in Idaho and will require some tough hill climbs. I would need to fly to Boise a few times before the actualy event to train in the climate as it is very different from what I am used to on the East coast. These are some of the factors I am trying to weigh into my decision and therefore I have not signed up yet. I hope to make a final decision in the next few weeks. Since it is one of the few races that does not take place on a Sunday, it may end up being my best bet.

Any thoughts? Has anyone done this race before??

Setting SO BIG goals...

"Set a goal so big that if you achieved it, it would blow your mind!" Stake Conference Boston 2007

I was reading through an old journal and I found that quote. Unfortunately I didn't write down the name of who said it. More than likely it was the Stake President. It sounds like something he would say.

Setting the goal of becoming an Ironman before my 30th birthday is definitely a huge goal. If you know me, you know that it is a super huge, and seemingly impossible goal. I know that when I achieve it, it will totally blow my mind.

Sometimes it is hard to stay motivated when we make long-term goals. I am definitely going through one of those phases. I know that it is the challenging times like right now that will make the victory even better. When I cross that finish line one day, I will be filled with emotion.

Crossing the finish line is a day I constantly dream about. I have to admit, sometimes I don't think I am capable of it. I am too big, losing weight is taking too long, and I have too many health issues. Those are some of the things I think about when I get in this mood. But then I think about the joy that will come from crossing the finish line, and I kick my butt back into gear.

I have set a goal so big that when I achieve it, it will blow my mind! That will open the door for me to share my testimony. I know that God lives. I know that his son, Jesus Christ, lived, he died, and he lives again. I know that one day I will have the opportunity to return to live with him. I am thankful for his love, and for the atoning sacrifice of my savior Jesus Christ. I want everyone to have the comforting love that comes with this knowledge.

I hope that one day I will be able to share this testimony with people all over the world. I especially dream of the day I will be able to motivate the youth to set SO BIG goals. If I can finish an ironman (which I can and will one day) then I know nothing is impossible. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Got milk? Got a sippy cup?

I love milk! Actually that is the understatement of the century. Drinking a big cold glass of milk is how I start and finish most days. I also drink a glass with most of my meals throughout the day. Don't get me wrong, I am a big water fan as well...but nothing beats my addiction to milk.

I do drink skim milk so hopefully it is not too bad, but nonetheless I am working on cutting back and making the switch to more water. With all of the training I am doing it is important to stay hydrated.

In order to help cut back, I have started drinking my milk from a sippy cup. The kind that are made for toddlers. You have to work really hard to get the milk out of the cup. It is built like this so that if a toddler drops the cup it doesn't spill all over. I have found that it helps me to drink less because I have to take smaller sips. Therefore I get just enough to quench my thirst but I am not guzzling the whole glass in seconds.

Anyway, not sure if anyone else has this problem, but for me it has been very helpful over the past week. When I had my jaw surgery years ago I had to eat lots of baby food (even though I was 16) because I couldn't chew anything but needed the nutrients. I always said that eating baby food was an awesome diet! Well this sort of takes a little of that 16 year old mentality...but just using baby tools...not eating baby food. :)

Discover the Champion in YOU!

Every Sunday I watch Joel Osteen on TV. I know he is not of my faith, but he is very inspirational. These are some of my notes from today. Sorry if they don't make a lot of sense to you.

Today's message #414 was on explosive blessings. Some of us are planning on having an average year, but God is planning on an extraordinary year. He has supernatural opportunities, supernatural healing, and his is planning on doing supernatural things in our lives. It is going to be a year where new seeds of promise will be planted in our lives.

Joel talked about three words we have to constantly repeat when things look down, "Lord I Believe." Whenever we think we can't do something we are told to do, just say "Lord I Believe." There are so many biblical (and for that matter BOM) stories that show the way the Lord can multiply our strength but we just have to believe and be ready for the supernatural and amazing things that will be done in our life.

I want to dare to believe in supernatural increase. I know my job is not my source, but God is my source. When we put our faith out there we are allowing God to show up and do supernatural things.

PSALM 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." God is longing to be good to us but we have to get our thoughts in the right direction.

Genesis 18:14 is where God said to Sarah "Is any thing too hard for me Lord?" Joel even said we could phrase that "Is there anything too wonderful for me Lord?" I like that. We have to make a decision to stay in faith. When we believe it sets a series of events in motion.

I have the faith to know that I am going to see supernatural increase and explosive blessings. Without that faith I would not be able to even dream about becoming an ironman.

He even talked to us single people...He encouraged us to know that someone great is going to come into our path. We just have to believe that we will be in the right place at the right time to meet that great person. God knows what we need and how to get it to us.

For more information on Joel Osteen visit his site at www.JoelOsteen.com

My Custom Orthotics are AWESOME!

I know I was technically told to hold off on running for at least another couple of weeks. However, on Friday my custom orthotics came in. They are amazing. I was told to only wear them for a few hours the first few days to slowly build up to getting adjusted to them. I 'accidentally' wore them all day on Friday. Then on Saturday I played ultimate frisbee in them. Which as you know has a lot of running!

I continued to wear them the rest of the day on Saturday. I even did some light short jogging Saturday night, and my feel still feel great. I am going to keep taking it easy because I don't want to mess anything up, and obviously the treatment is working. But at the same time it is really hard not to run when my feet and ankles feel better than they have in years! This is truly an answered prayer.

I have always said my weakest link in the ironman is the run...hopefully with my feet getting better I will be able to run more and improve making the run my strongest link! Wouldn't that be incredible!!?? I mean after all in 7th and 8th grade I did cross-country. So I should be able to go 26.2 miles now that I am older but still young. We shall see. I am super excited to try and now I cannot wait for my next doctors appointment. I hope he tells me it is okay to start training again!!! Wish me luck.

I can Go the Distance

I have never been a fan of Michael Bolton, even as musical as I was.  I always thought his music belonged in an elevator and never on someones collection of favorites.    That being said, one of my new favorite's is actually a Michael Bolton song.  But it is from the Disney movie "Hercules" so it is ok.    Here are the lyrics:   I have often dreamed of a far off place Where a hero's welcome, would be waiting for me Where the crowds will cheer, when they see my face And a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be   I'll be there someday, I can go the distance I will find my way, if I can be strong I know every mile, will be worth my while When I go the distance, I'll be right where I belong   Down an unknown road to embrace my fate Though the road may wander, it will lead me to you And a thousand years, would be worth the wait It might take a lifetime, but somehow I'll see it through   And I won't look back, I can go the distance And I'll stay on track, no, I won't accept defeat It's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope Till I go the distance, and my journey is complete   But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part For a hero's strength is measured by his heart   Like a shooting star, I will go the distance I will search the world, I will face its harms I don't care how far, I can go the distance Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms   I will search the world, I will face its harms Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms     I just think that is an amazing song.  It is definitely getting added to my play list.  I think we can all be hero's.  A hero to me is someone who goes the distance [in anything].  Sometimes life is hard, but with the strength that comes through faith, anything (and I mean anything) is possible!    I know I will cross that finish line one day.  I hope it is before I turn 30.  I can go the distance!

"Face Trials with Smiles"

I recently read an amazing article on lds.org. It is entitled "Face Trials with Smiles" and was published in February 2008 in the New Era. Here is a link to the article:



http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=d64682066bda7110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD



It is about a boy named Porter who only has one arm. His story is very inspirational. My favorite quote from the article is when Porter tells the reader to "Tackle your biggest trials with your biggest smiles...Do everything happy. When I'm happy and I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I do better at it. No matter how rough the road gets, you can always make it a happy situation. Just put it in the Lord's hands, and then do everything you can."

I want to face all of my trials, the big and the small, with smiles! :)