Living from the inside OUT!

Please to welcome Lori. She’s another NOT The Biggest Loser and a blogger, runner, reader, writer, WOMAN I adore and admire.

Writing guest posts always takes me way out of my comfort zone.

Those who know me argue that I’m not as introverted as I think I am but I know who I am.  Unless I know someone I tend to be shy when it comes to strangers.  I’m just not “that” girl.  You know the one who seems so comfortable with who she is that she can constantly walk up to strangers and start a conversation?  Yeah, not me, I’m not her.

 

Rather than recreating the wheel, for a quick bio on me, you can click here.

 

So about 4 ½ years ago I decided I had to change my life.  I was getting bigger and bigger and I was barely exercising (ok, honestly I was NOT exercising) and eating crap day in and day out.  I couldn’t even walk my dog for a mile without feeling like I wanted to pass out.

I am another one of Carla’s “Not the Biggest Loser” friends.

In the past 4 years I’ve lost 4 pant sizes and have managed to go from running 0 miles to finishing a full marathon in May of this year.  I am a firm believer that we all have greatness inside of us.  If we want to accomplish something, we already have the power within us; we just need the mental strength, discipline and commitment.  I’ve been there and done that so don’t tell me what you “can’t” do, tell me what you “can” do.

 

But now I am sidelined from running again.  During the last 2 months of my marathon training I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot. I’ve already had it in my left.  I ran through the pain because I wanted that marathon finish.  I kept mentally bargaining with my foot, “just give me this finish and then we will take some time off and fix you.”  Last week my injury told me in no uncertain terms that it was time to pay the piper.  A three mile run became agony and I could barely walk for the rest of the day.

 

But I digress…my point is not to whine about my injury that has made running take a back seat, but to express my extreme JOY that now I finally have time to do the physical things that I LOVE.  I love to swim.  I love to cycle.  Nothing gives me greater freedom than to be out there on that bike trail cranking out 30-40 miles at a time.  I also like tennis – who would have thought that???  I am using this experience to see what else is out there in the world for me to explore.

 

Sure I hang out a lot with the “running” tribe on twitter, but it is not all of what I am and I am realizing that more and more each day.  I see many decide they want to be runners because they think it is glamorous and how cool would it be to get a big honkin’ medal at the end to march around in while you proclaim to the world what a bad mama jama you are for running 13.1 miles or the amazing 26.2?  Let me assure you there is nothing glamorous about it and it is miles and miles of hard work and discipline.  It is always worthy, but it is never easy.  If it were easy, everyone would run a full marathon.

 

Why do we find the need to validate who we are by defining ourselves in such a narrow perspective?  This is so intriguing to me.  I’ve met many, many people over the past 4 years who say “I’m a runner!” Personally, I think “ok….so what?  What ELSE are you?”  I’ve participated in over 24 road races, 4 half marathons, a 62 mile cycling event, and one full marathon but those are just things I’ve “done”.  They are not who I am.  Who I am cannot be measured in a race bib, a finishing chip time, race t-shirts or finisher medals.  Who I am is measured by what I’ve done to get to the start line and how I live my life each day, especially when no one is looking.

 

I am not the “Biggest Loser”.

 

I am not “that” girl.

 

I am just a simple woman who loves her husband and adores her children; a simple woman who wakes up each day thanking her lucky stars that she has lived to see another day; a simple woman who tries to make each day an experience worth remembering; a simple woman who loves to read, cook, play with her kids, spend time with her friends, and help others.  This is “who” I am.  I believe we all exist in this world to help one other.  If we are not doing that, we are not fulfilling our destiny while on this earth.

 

Oh, and when I’m not doing all those things, I squeeze in some endurance events like running, cycling, and my first triathlon coming right up!

Did I mention I’m terrified of dark water and haven’t swum in anything other than a swimming pool since I was 10 years old? 

YIKES!  Carpe Diem!!!