Teamsiliconvalley - Sports Blog

The big challenge is to become all that you have the possibility of becoming. You cannot believe what it does to the human spirit to maximize your human potential and stretch yourself to the limit.”  — Jim Rohn

Can you say exhausted?  Good, because I can’t, I am too tired.  My body has been through a lot and is speaking out against me.  I hurt, all over.  And I do mean all over.  I hurt in places that I did not know existed to feeling.  I have these weird muscles growing in places that I didn’t think would show.  I have worn large blisters in the arches of my feet that I thought were going to be the end of me.  My lower back is killing me.  My quads are tight, my calves are overgrown and my daughter told me I was ’skinny’ this week.  I tried to tell her it was all muscle baby (and that I had finally bought some clothes that fit me).  She just nodded and gave me that once over look. Trust me, my ass is still there in full force.  Even better, I have some stress I am working through and I feel like my life is all about going uphill.  Uphill runs, uphill bike climbs, upstream currents…uphill, Uphill, UPHILL.  Seriously, ugh!

But, I’m not done…  I am scared.  Really, really scared.  There are times in my life when I am sure about what I want and because of that I just go forward and plow my way through – no looking back, no second guessing.  The past few months, all I have done is question myself.  How do I do this?  Why did I say that?  Which way do I go?  Where did I put my keys?  When am I ever going to learn Algebra?  What am I going to make for dinner?  Who says I can’t wear big hoop earings with a t-shirt?  Oh wait, off topic.  Then there are the other questions.  Am I strong enough to take this?  Am I brave enough to do this?  Am I alone sufficient enough to tackle the hard things?   Oy vey.  This isn’t the only obstacle I am tackling, yet all the same principles apply.  What is an obstacle but an opportunity?  An opportunity to be better, live better, have more, do more, excel, go beyond normal, conquer, succeed, overcome, grow – live your best life?  Most limits are illusions.  It’s all about your belief.  Simply put, if you think you can you’re right and well, if you think you can’t you’re right too.  We all have the power to create the lives we desire – either live it fully, half-way or given over to your fears.  Your choice.  This is hard, but I choose it.  I’ve worked through things that were hard that were NOT my choosing (and still do) so the relief that I signed up for this trumps my fear, my body aches and my self-depracation.

Well, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way.  (I like to start my blogs with whining and then bring it home with a smile!) This week we took our orienteering class.  BORING, plus – honestly (and no offense my nature loving friends) I think I was one of the only girlie-girls in the room.  I was not wearing hiking boots, I did not have a puffy North Face coat, I had make-up on, big hoop earrings and carried a big fat shiny purse instead of a small backpack thingy.  And really people, I know you are rugged individuals – the outdoorsy type (me too, only different), but it is okay to smile.  Really, it is.  <“Smiling’s my favorite”.  (Buddy the Elf)>  When I went to the rock climbing counter, I told the guy that I was looking for a ATC rappel device and I wanted one to match my climbing harness that had red and pink flowers.  He grinned and found a shiny red one for me.  (I think secretly he was thinking, “This poor girl is going to die out there…”)  When I crawled up on the map station to have my picture taken to prove I took the sleeper of an orienteering course, the hundred year old man at the map center told me I was “a wild one” and laughed.   Really, I didn’t dance on the counter?  I am quite sure that Stephanie and I were the most interesting people at REI on Friday.  I refuse to conform.  Always have.

We took a (what else but an uphill) bike ride on Saturday morning and were all smiles when we realized we never stopped on a climb and for the most part, we passed the “talk test” and at only one point in a climb were we silent. (I know, shocking.)  Even with all my aches and pains, I am so stinkin’ strong.  I think that is what has surprised me the most about training for this race.  I am tired, but I have a second and even a third wind that steps in to rescue me.  So, what’s that obstacle you’ve been tossing around in your mind?  Obstacle, smobstacle.  “You can DO it.”  (Thanks Waterboy.)  I promise you can.