My first long distance race...

I remember the day I decided to run my first long distance run.  I was mad at myself for losing control of my weight once again.  I had lost up to 40 some pounds before I moved to Columbus but when I moved here in 2006 I let myself go.  I was drinking to much, eating crappy food and not working out enough.  I had probably put on at least 10-15 pounds.  I needed something to motivate me, something to hold me accountable.

I heard someone talking about Marathon's at work and I thought to myself.... I could do that! That night I got home and started searching the internet for ways to train for a long distance race. I decided that Team in Training would be the perfect place to seek professional advice, as well as get the motivation I needed to run something as big as 26.2 miles. I didn't think twice about joining! I was going to run the 2007 Columbus Marathon and I would raise 3,000 dollars for a good cause.

 (I was so out of shape and heavy around the waist.)

I talked Big Joe (my dad) into joining me in this journey.  He loved the idea of running a marathon with me because it was something he had never accomplished...this would be his first race too.  Training was hard.  I was a rookie, making a lot of bad decisions. There were runs I would lay on the bathroom floor so sick because I didn't hydrate enough.  After a hard 16 miler I was so sick, I almost called the squad to come pick me up.  I couldn't stand up or do anything for that matter.  I remember my roommate helping me in the shower... I just sat there with cold water running over me thinking "I am going to die." Gatorade and sleep helped with this horrible rookie move.

During the training I started getting sharp pains on the bottom of my foot.  I ignored the pains and continued to run....Rookie move again.  I had to stop training for a solid month because of a case of Plantar Fascistic. I was in the heart of my training when I had to take the month off.  Due to that I decided to only run the half marathon instead.

I completed my first Half Marathon in 2 Hours and 21 minutes. My Dad finished his first Marathon in 6 Hours and 13 minutes.  Big Joe hit a wall around mile 18 but finished with a small smile on his face. Since then I have ran 16 Marathons, 1 full marathon, 4 Tough Mudders, 4 sprint triathlons and 1 olympic Triathlon.  My Dad also has a long list of accomplishments too!

In one week we will be back at the Starting Line of the Columbus Marathon.  We are now experience runners! We both trained hard! We have the proper shoes, clothes, fuel and understand why it is important to lube up.  We will finish this race strong and will have another awesome memory to add to our list of stories together.

I can't wait!!!

(I ran 2 miles the from the finish line to find Dad struggling.  I ran beside him till he crossed the finish line. This is a picture my Mom took of us.)

 

 (6 years later from the picture up above.  I look stronger, happier and certainly healthier)

Do you follow the Three Simple Rules?!?!

Source: Uploaded by user via JoLynn on Pinterest

The three simple rules of life seem so easy to follow but I can bet that many people afraid to follow them? Most of those rules are hard for a lot of people to follow because so many people are stuck in the motions of life.  They fail to take action to change their lives because many think life can not get better or simply can not get worse.

It kills me to think how much time I have spent "going through the motions".  Nothing happened in my life and I wasn't enjoying it either.  I would wake up, eat, work, eat, workout, eat and go to bed.  Nothing special happened during the morning, day nor did anything special occur at night. Nothing to make me feel different or to make me feel alive.  I have changed so much in the last two years that "going through the motions" is something I try to stray away from.  Why? For me "going through the motion" is a place that is sad, lonely and just plan boring.

I like to live outside the box, push the envelop sort of speak...why live life doing what others think you should? I am really good about going after the things I want!I will push myself to the limit and kill my body to get the goal.  However, that only comes in my physical life (workouts, races..etc).  When it comes to my personal life (friends, family, relationships) I tend to take the action step forward but when it comes to asking/talking about feelings I always sit back and keep silent.

It bothers me that I can't ask and tell people how I feel.  It has caused me to walk away from great relationships with guys and/or keep me back from even starting relationships.  I am afraid of failure in every aspect of my life but I am mostly afraid of rejection.  <----Probably why I am still single! So this is something I need to work on and plan on working on.  There are things in my life that I continue to keep silent because I don't want to lose a friend or mess up the work scene.   But I can't enjoy life by being silent anymore it only means I am heading back to "going through the motions."

So hopefully, I will suck it up and start telling people how I feel.  Start believing in everything I have in life to give someone and to give a job.  Hopefully, I can do this without fainting or having a panic attack! :)

We all should live life this way.  Go afraid what you want, ask because you never know what the answer could be and continue to move forward instead of standing still.  What simple rule do you need to follow more? I challenge you to start improving that area and I bet you will see a big difference in your life and the lives around you.  Positive thinking is attractive and addictive :)

Symbol of hope

Source: Uploaded by user via Lance on Pinterest

I have prepared for my upcoming Marathon for five long months.  The journey was certainly NOT easy but the journey was one I needed.  Training always allows me to think about my life and my future.  This marathon training was no different...in fact I believe this marathon training has allowed me to let go of some things I been holding onto and bury some hurt. 

As I logged mile after mile, I slowly was able to let go of things that have been weighing me down.  Things in my career, personal life, physical life and mostly spiritual life.  I have found that when you let go of pain and hurt that you are able to open up and see new wonderful things right in front of you.  

You see this journey wasn't about just running, it was about me being able to move forward with hope of a better future.  I know I will finish the race with the biggest smile on my face and I might even cry a little....who am I kidding I will probably cry like a baby.  Finishing the race means more to me than crossing the finish line and receiving my medal.  Reaching mile 26.2 is a symbol hope, a symbol of an amazing future and a statement to myself that the mission is POSSIBLE with hard work and effort.

So many people say they can't do what I do but I say you can if you believe and take the step towards the finish line.  Training has allowed me to say to myself that you can step towards many things not just finish lines....if you believe in yourself you certainly can do anything.  

I am so excited to see what the future holds.  I just know that big things are coming my way.  I don't know what they are but I do know I am not going to sit on my couch and wait for them to happen.  I will continue to remove the negative things out of my life and bring more positive things in.  This journey is not just about a race it is about my life.  

I just wish more people would take this challenge of running a race... maybe not a marathon.  I am telling you training and racing changes a people.  If you have any interest or are sitting on a fence about trying out running.....I am telling you now to DO IT!!! It will make you a stronger person, a better person! I will gladly help you with a training schedule and I will be there cheering you on.

Here is what I get at the finish line! My symbol of Possibilities :)

Source: via James on Pinterest

If it doesn't challenge you .. it doesn't change you.

Source: gfiacwnm1959900.tumblr.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Insanity

1: a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)

2: such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility

3a : extreme folly or unreasonableness

  b : something utterly foolish or unreasonable 

So it makes complete sense as to why some people think Shawn T's Insanity series is CRAZY.  It is a little unreasonable and at times your mind is a little deranged but I am certain that you would enjoy every single minute of it...while hating every minute of it too!

My friend Sarah was a little worried about taking on Shawn T's Insanity 90 day challenge.  She wanted a change in her life but wasn't sure if she was strong enough to take this challenge.  I convinced her to give it a try because I knew if she could run a marathon with tendonitis in her foot she could certainly do this insane workout.  I was right! 

Sarah is now a little more than a month into the Insanity challenge.  She down 5.5 pounds and has lost over 14 inches.

Here is a little what Sarah has to say so far about her progress.. 

"I've never been so driven with my health as I am today.  We as a family are eating so healthy, I'm turning unhealthy foods away, and even cut out caffeine mostly.  Since starting Insanity I have had one diet coke and I might drink a total of 2 cups of coffee/week.  Before I was drinking 1-2 cups of coffee daily and I would probably drink 5 cans of diet coke/week.  The key has been lemon water.  I put a quarter lemon in a BIG cup of water and set it on my nightstand.  I drink it first thing in the morning and it really wakes me up.  Then I'm drinking lemon water throughout the day too.  I'm not snacking as much or I should say I'm not eating out of boredom.  I'm eating 5 small meals daily with one of those being my shakeology.  I have so much more energy to play with the kids and to get things taken care of around the house while they are sleeping.  Before all of this I would often times naps or lay down either watching tv or reading while they were sleeping."

Sarah has even started to talk look at future program or plans she will do next.  She is developing a lifelong habit that will keep her happy, energetic and healthy.  I couldn't be more proud of her motivation and dedication.  I know she will continue to have amazing results! Watch out for her success story in two months...I am 100% sure she will have a hot lean body, a new look on how she views herself and maybe even a desire to help others reach their personal best! Keep kicking ASS girl!!

Check out the new Insanity: The Asylum volume two! OUT THIS WEEK!!! If you want to take the challenge email me and let's chat! katmorgan2004@yahoo.com

Source: via Janea on Pinterest

life is a roller coaster

Source: inspiredbythisfeeling.tumblr.com via Starring on Pinterest

I went on my first roller coaster ride when I was probably five years old.  I loved everything about the ride; the ups, the downs and all the crazy turns.  To me nothing was better than a roller coaster! I hated to ride the swings (they made me sick), the water rides were boring and I didn't care to ride the silly cars.  I wanted the trill; the ride of my life! I loved that I had to close my eyes most of the time and would scream like I was dying!

Little did I know that my life would be a roller coaster ride too.  No matter what direction you look at it there are many different ways to ride my life roller coaster, in fact I believe I have several different coaster rides in this life of mine.  I have had so many ups and downs, twist and turns and even sometimes my ride has comes to a complete stop.  Just like that five year old girl my ride has made me scream, cry and even sometimes smile. 

Life shouldn't be simple! It should be hard and it should feel like at times the world is against you.  I remember feeling like everyone was against me when I was near 200 pounds.  I felt like I was almost to big to enjoy the ride anymore, to big to even get on.  But then I remember life isn't fun sitting on the sidelines watching life is about screaming, laughing and sometimes being so scared you pee your pants a little.   :)

I have had my kid coaster, my high school coaster, the college coaster, the 20 something coaster and now I have my health coaster. The college coaster I was on before was SUPER fun! There were times I even got sick because of all the drinking and partying I had on it.  The 20 something coaster was complete hell. However, the health coaster is my favorite ride of them all!

The health coaster is about growing up and taking the step towards the never ending ride. I had to leave a lot of passengers behind on this new ride. Ones I felt would always ride my roller coaster (life) with me but I picked up a lot of awesome new passengers who encourage me to reach new levels of highs! 

You will find a lot of passengers on your ride that will hold you back.  Don't let them! Leave them off your ride because you honestly will never reach your potential, your true success, until you release all the bad weight.  I know this first hand! A ride shouldn't be about drama or negative comments.  It should be about the adventure, the trill and awesome feeling you get when you reach the end. 

So go ride that ride! Ride it with a smile, with tears of happiness and go ahead scream a little.  Remember this is the best ride of your life and you only get one chance to get it right!

My Peanut Butter Confession..

Source: meijer.com via David James on Pinterest

I hate to admit but I have to confess it once and for all.  I am in LOVE with something.  I am in LOVE with Peanut Butter.  I knew for a long time that I liked it but sometimes I there are times when I feel lost if I don't get it every day.  I LOVE it on a sandwich, apples, celery, ice cream, in a shake, on a spoon, in my oatmeal and sometimes even out of the jar.  I love peanut butter balls cover with chocolate, honey and almonds....I LOVE THE STUFF but my behind does not.

I haven't been to honest with my love for peanut butter or should I say my tablespoons worth.  I usually measure EVERYTHING I eat....but not this creamy wonderful stuff.  I realized lately that I might be getting a little to friendly with the Jiffy Jar. So today I have decided to give Peanut Butter up for a full month.  CRAZY-YES!! I don't know what I am going to do without this stuff but honestly I don't need it.  I am not going to drop over dead if I don't get my spoon full of it every day.  I can live without it....or so I hope!

Today I decided to check my measurements out, a true Kathy experiement.  A normal Kathy scoop of peanut butter is giant. A normal tablespoon of Peanut Butter is not giant.  I basically was giving myself almost an extra 2.5 servings of this stuff every day. CRAP! For someone that is trying to maintain her weight that extra 2.5 servings is worth 230 calories.. SERIOUSLY! I would have to run almost 2.3 miles to burn off that almost of calories.

NO... Peanut Butter is NOT bad for you unless you are to friendly with your spoon like me.  If you are honest with your serving size than you will be fine.  This my friends is why it is so important to measure and write down everything you eat! I have done this with my Peanut Butter every day for almost 4 months....EVERYDAY.  That is a lot of unwanted extra calories.

So that is my Peanut Butter Confession..... What kind of things are you hiding from yourself?? Do you have a confession to make?? Be honest and keep the measurements REAL!

Helping Hand

Source: Uploaded by user via Cydney on Pinterest

I have no words for this one..... What do you think?