Yesterday’s 2 Things

I saw 2 things yesterday on the interwebs that made my heart soar.

CAN YOU SAY #FITFLUENTIAL?!

I LOVE THIS PAPER.LI by Vanessa. I read her stuff. A lot. She makes me chuckle and want to run wild at the same time.

The Jessica Journey

I think it’s rare to meet people who are optimistic and enthusiastic in such a way that it is not annoying but is actually contagious. Probably because I tend to be a Pessimistic Patty. Enter Jessica. Like Molly, I also met Jessica at the airport and she was also on my relay team for Hood to Coast. BUT, Jessica was in my van! Bonus.

Jess and I mid relay.

Jessica kept repeating “This is so exciting!” and “This is so fun!” and other similar things until I couldn’t help but laugh. She was completely sincere and her words were just the overflow of her happy heart. It was great.

Jess and I walkin and talkin at the first major exchange in Sandy, OR. Photo by Tonia?

Jessica is a fabulously fast runner. She beat us to her second exchange because she was averaging 6 something min/miles. She got lots of road kills. (I had absolutely zero, by the way. It was like my first relay all over again.) The funny thing about Jessica is that she doesn’t seem to own the fact that she is so fast. Not yet anyway. Apparently it still seems new to her. Throughout the trip I kind of pieced together Jessica’s running journey.

Jess on her 2nd leg & oh so excited!

Jessica wasn’t super into running until adulthood. Her first couple marathons were 5+ hours. However, she eventually moved into a new level of speed and, like Molly, ran a Boston qualifying time even with a couple potty breaks during the marathon! What? Really? She talked about nearly winning a local 5k but not realizing that the other woman on her heels was using her as a rabbit and waiting to sprint by her just before the finish. She has become a runner that others are sizing themselves up against at the starting line. She is now a certified RRCA running coach and Pilates instructor!

This is the kind of running journey I find REALLY encouraging. An adult starts running, trains for a marathon, and ends up becoming a fast runner and doing a lot of marathons! I like that story. I want that story. I wish I had more time to hear about her journey and discover her secrets.

Her last leg of the relay was long and lonely but she savored the moment and came in to the exchange glistening with sweat and glee. She shared her sweat and glee by hugging each of us in turn and leaving Jessica imprints on our Nuun jackets. I even got some ear-to-ear sweat transfer in the hug. I know that sounds gross but sweaty hugs among a relay team are a privilege. She said she was thinking about how amazing it was that we all got the chance to be here for this relay. How silly we all were for making fools of ourselves on video and putting it on the internet for a chance to do this. And here we were. Our dreams fulfilled. How lucky! How blessed!

Jessica must have some magic sweat. After that hug I kept thinking about how right she was, how lucky we are, and how blessed I am. Jessica was a breath of fresh running air. She is a great runner, but not in your face about it. She is so appreciative about the opportunity to run. I think that kind of gratitude is super important if you want to be a runner for life and also if you want to encourage others to be healthier and happier, which is exactly what I want to do.

Jessica is headed into another relay later this month and I fully expect her team to win win win! Check out Jessica’s blog, Pace Of Me and follower her on Twitter @PaceOfMe.

The Molly Mentality

One thing I’ve learned about myself through running is that I don’t have the mentality of a runner. What does that mean? Well, I started running for charity as an adult with no background in athletics or sports. I still haven’t actually timed myself on a puke-your-guts-out mile to see how fast I could actually go. I’m scared too. I’ve briefly (200 meters?) maintained a sub 8 pace according to RunKeeper. I like how that feels but then it starts to hurt and I gasp for air and I slow down because it’s uncomfortable. So, that is what I mean about not having the mentality of a runner.

Molly of Mollyberrie’s Hodge Podge

Compare and contrast. I met Molly at the airport and she was on my relay team for Hood to Coast but she was in Van 1 and I was in Van 2. I was constantly hearing about how she was totally annihilating her legs and thundering into the exchanges with smoldering asphalt behind her. It wasn’t really until the ride BACK to the airport that I got to talk with Molly and learn a bit about her runner mentality.

At 5 years old she attempted her first 5 MILE RACE! She was an athlete in high school and college. She qualified for Boston even though she stopped to pee a few times. She actually won a half marathon. She loves the marathon distance and is excited to be learning about how to race a marathon, not just run a marathon or finish a marathon, but RACE it (insert the sound of my mind exploding at the thought). She knows how to push herself. She runs through the pain. She knows what she’s capable of doing.

Running into her 1st exchange at HTC!

Perhaps Molly had this runner mentality coached into her. Her Go Sport ID was engraved with the quote, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” Push through the pain. That’s how you get stronger. That’s how you get faster. That’s how you find out what you’re capable of…and once you know that…you have that mental strength to push to your threshold and maybe beyond. This is the mentality I recognize in strong runners.

As I listened to Molly talk about her running goals, it was clear that she has a very different mentality than I do. While I’d love to be as fast as she is, I think what is more interesting to me, is her inner drive to improve. I can FINISH a marathon – a pretty big step up from where I used to be. However, I haven’t broken through to “the next level” of running through the discomfort and developing speed. I’m not completely sure how, but I’m now more eager than ever to find out. Sometimes I wish I would’ve just done sports in high school with a coach and a team to push me beyond my comfort zone. Having a coach is part of why I’m really liking CrossFit right now. At any rate, my take away from listening to Molly is that my mind needs to be trained to push harder, not just my muscles.

What I loved about listening to Molly was how honest she was: she gets nervous and obsesses about how well she will do before a race and she considers stopping or slowing down mid-run (but rarely does). She may run at a different level than me but the thoughts that go through her mind aren’t all that dissimilar. And she’s still seeking the stronger runner within. I’m excited to hear how her upcoming races go!

You should check out Molly’s blog: Mollyberrie’s Hodge Podge.

Also, follow Molly on Twitter @Lightsoutstout

RELATED POST: The Power of “I WILL”! by A Veteran Runnah

What Running Does For Me

Click for more SPA swaps!

Hi friends! It’s time for the Sweat Pink Blog Swap! I’d like to introduce you to Mindy, a fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador who loves to run. She blogs at Road Runner Girl and today, you can find MY post on HER blog!

What Running Does For Me
By Mindy Bobe

I open my front door and step outside. I stretch…and then I’m off. It’s just me and the road. All I can hear are the sounds of my footsteps on the pavement. I can feel the breeze in my hair. I can smell nature…the smell that is indescribable but if you are a runner then you know what I’m talking about.  I can see all the beauty that God created. Without running, I wouldn’t sense all of these things.

Running is my “me time.” The time I can be by myself or with a group of friends who love to run as much as I do.  The time that I can forget about everything but the road ahead.

Running keeps me sane.  Without it…I would go crazy!  I NEED to feel those endorphins and that high that only a good run can bring.

Running helps me strive to be a better me.  It helps me be a better wife, a better mom, a better friend, a better teacher.

Running keeps me healthy. It shows my kids how important it is to take care of your body.

Running helps me eat a better diet. I fuel my body for that next run.  I know that too much sugar and too much soda will hurt my next run.

Running gives me those toned legs that I’ve always wanted.

Running gives me goals to focus on…the goal to run my next marathon, the goal to cross train, the goal to make my core stronger.

Running makes me feel strong!
Running makes me overcome doubt that I can’t achieve great things.
Running gives me a sense of accomplishment like nothing else.
Running has changed my life…for the greater good!

I am a runner…and will ALWAYS be a runner!

What does running do for you?

Follow Mindy at http://www.roadrunnergirl.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindybobe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoadRunnerGirl

Blog Hoppin!

Exciting times are ahead, my friends! In the coming weeks, my words will be appearing all over the blogosphere as I will be participating in a couple fun blog swaps and a guest post coming up! As it turns out, I feel a lot more pressure writing for someone else’s blog. There’s a good chance you’ll want to go read me in these other places cuz it might be better stuff.

The first will be the 20 Something Bloggers Swap TOMORROW! I’ll be swapping with someone from Australia! You’ll be able to find my post on her blog tomorrow and you’ll get to hear from her here on RunningHutch.com! Cool, huh?

I’ve also got a guest post going up for Pavement Runner where I will talk about starving my husband! Good stuff is always going on at pavementrunner.com!

And, in August, I’ll be swapping again with one of my Sweat Pink sisters! Stay tuned to find out who! I know who and I can’t wait!