RunMyssieRun

A few months ago I was told that I needed to be more assertive to survive in this world. I was in an industry that is fueled by greedy incentives and mastered by bulldogs. I’m a playful squeaky longhaired chihuahua that gets fulfillment from a simple hug and pat atop the head.

But a few days ago, I told someone off. It was quite liberating and proved to me that my assertiveness was in check. Granted she deserved it and was long overdue but I do hope I am not put in this predicament again. I do not enjoy hurting people’s feelings even when they deserve it..

Anyway, my point being is that a year ago, ten years ago, I could not have had the guts to do this. I’ve changed. Or rather, I’ve changed back to the girl I remembered a long time ago…. when she was 10 years old and limitless. She was going to conquer the world, become an Olympic ice skater. Who cared if the closest ice rink was at the Houston Galleria?!?!

I smile a lot more. I walk a little taller. I feel better about myself.

But don’t kid yourself… I still have insecurities. I bought my first bikini in ten years. I wore it. I’m ok with it.Still won’t wear it in public. I train like an insane maniac. Doesn’t mean I’ll place in the top 3. I’m ok with it but it sure would be nice to wear the bikini to the beach and have a medal placed around my neck and it is the need to continue to try to improve myself that will lead me – eventually – to check those two insecurities off my list.

In the meantime, I lean on those who have guided me thus far. After all, I have come long way. I’m not bragging. This isn’t shoving my accomplishments down your throat. It is an honest statement and I can honestly tell you that I’m certainly not done yet and still have a ways to go. And I can’t do this by myself. My coaches (many of them now) have all shared words of wisdom.

In the email I received today, I was reminded of how so many of them have said the same things to me. None of this is new to me but the reminder was needed for this week as I enter “tapering week” and reflect on who I was, where I’ve been, where I’ve come from and where I could be, who I could be and how I can get there.

With that, I share with you the advice given to me by an IRONMAN that I so dearly admire:

You’ve trained all season and race day is your time to celebrate all of your hard work.  So… the mental game on race day… you might be freaking out on the swim, it might seem really, really far, the bike loops might be hot and full of turns, you might lose a bottle or get a flat tire, transition might not go as well as you think, and the run might be super hot.  Oh well!  Or it might be perfect!  It’s an incredible journey through your body- physically and mentally.  You will go through so many different emotions and your thoughts might surprise you!  Everything about races is addicting:  the rush, the people, the emotions, crossing limits, smashing goals, your perseverance, the starting line, and the finish line.

It will be hard at some point, BUT “You can quit and they won’t care, but you will always know.” ~John Collins

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

The only limits in life are those you impose on yourself.

Embrace the suck!

“The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you.  And you don’t have to listen.”  ~Nike

We are not defined by the days where everything clicks, those days are easy and fun.  We are defined by our perseverance when everything does NOT click! ~Mark Jackson

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

I just stole this off my friend Victor’s fb wall “Great things are waiting to be delivered to you, but are blocked by your doubt, fear, limiting beliefs, and attachments so let go and let them reach their destination.”

What would you do if you were not afraid?

Something is going to go wrong.  Learn how to deal with it.

Why watch a sport when you can DO a sport?  Keep moving forward.

Sometimes you need to stop racing and just finish what you started.

The person who starts the race is not the same person who finishes the race.

It’s a line you have to cross to understand.

CHECK OUT THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO:  He has an amazing attitude and everything he says is very inspirational! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vrjp2P0GlE

This entry was posted on May 21, 2013 at 12:44 am and is filed under Uncategorized with tags assertive, inspiration, inspirational, ironman, taper, tapering, training, triathlon, triathlon training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.