Thursday, January 11, 2018

Yet here I am...



Life is impossible. Yet, here you are

No truer words have been uttered…
The strength it takes to look at where you are at, especially when your circumstances have you in a place that you feel uncomfortable, is undeniable.
Strength of character comes from hardship, and hardship sucks…. Because it is uncomfortable…..
Kinda like my hot yoga training… yep you heard me, I’m comparing my very uncomfortable life circumstances to my brand new hot yoga practice….. When I first arrived at the yoga studio I was so happy, the room is a beautiful 30+degree’s with this amazing TV type screen that projects beautiful colors into the room. I laid on my mat and thought “I’ve found my happy place”….. And then we started to Yoga.
My idea of Yoga is soft bends, and happy fluffy moments…. THIS was not fluffy…. In fact, every muscle in my body was shaking by the end, as I curled into fetal position on my mat and waited for the stretcher to cart me off…. Feeling the pain of defeat I figured I would instead try Core Yoga, because I really wanted to lay down in that beautiful Hot Lotus room once again… and come on, its core Yoga, that’s got to mean that I get to spend an hour on my mat, mostly in a vertical position.  Also, because my coach will happily tell you, my major issues are due to my hate of building core… so core makes me a better runner?????
I laid in the glorious lotus room, set to 33 degrees, while with wind whipped around outside at a minus bazillion degrees, success, if anything I am escaping the brutal cold… As the rather loud Male voice pulled me out of my reverie (more like startled the heck out of me) I had my first ting of worry….
This was not the soft, relaxing voice of lay on your mat and chill yoga I was dreaming of…. No this was the Yogi Version of a drill sergeant. (note to self… always read the class descriptions, they are very insightful!)… as the Yoga Planks, and Funky Yoga Crunches, and balancing poses began I realized I was in WAY over my head…. As we adjusted our poses to rely on Core stabilization every cell in my body screamed… I tried short cuts, ways to get more comfortable, only to have Master Drill Sergeant pose next to me to ensure I understood I was cheating.  
30 minutes in I began to watch the clock, how much longer until the Lay down poses, cuz I needed to lay down, my legs and abs hated me…. And my arms could not hold another single Yoga Plank….
As we sunk to our mats for the last moments of Class I realized my mistake, Lay on your mat CORE sucked more than stand on one foot, airplane arms after a bazillion Yogi Crunches and Planks….  I am certain Master Yogi Drill Sergeant watched in dismay as my poses got weaker and weaker and I tried to fade into my bright orange mat. 
I laid in a crumpled heap of ouch… with my cold scented towel over my whole face in shame, and realized I’d be back…. There is something very addictive about the pain found in the lotus room…. I think it’s the scented towels they hand out at the end… erasing every memory of what occurred moments before…
This morning I woke up feeling the pain, Stiff and Sore all over. I was pouting about the fact I don’t have a beautiful bathroom to retreat too and relax, I cannot find my Rock Balm since my move, its minus a bazillion outside, and the circumstances I find myself in threaten to crush my spirits….
That was when I found the words on Face Book…. Life is Impossible, Yet here you are…..
In that moment I realized, the only thing I control right now is my own outlook, So I’ll sign up for the even more vigorous class at 3, because why not… I’ll head out to the gym and brave this cold weather, and I’ll dust off my resume and build myself a great new life again…. Even if it is not in my mountain town….  Because I’ve got places to visit, and goals to reach, and a life to live…  Because Yet…. Here I am.


Products I cannot live without: Rock Balm http://www.rockonclay.com/
Training http://www.5peaks.com/coaching/  Because Jacob really loves coaching and changing lives
Best Coaching retreat EVER: Rocky Mountain running Retreat

Yoga from Hell Currently found at Bliss (ironic right??) http://blissyogaspa.com/

Monday, January 8, 2018

It Starts with the Wins.....


It’s been a full year since my last blog, and life has changed so much.
I would have not returned to this place of blogginess if it were not for a simple request by a few friends…
So where do you go with your blog when you are no longer sure what to blog about….
I figure Lets start this year with the win’s… Because the rest of this year will be a journey in self-discovery, rebuilding mental strength, physical strength and spiritual strength…. And that my friends will be what this year’s Blog will be about.  I’m certain, as with everything I do, hilarity will follow closely….

To start 2018 off right, I’m focusing on my major wins from the last month.
1.     I gained no weight over the holidays
2.    I got a shiny new 100 mile buckle that I really should not have been able to finish….
Yup…. That is about it for now.
To say my life has had a few changes recently would be the understatement of the year, so as I sit here in my humans humble abode, in the non-mountain town of his existence, in my jammy pants and tank top… I am forced to admit that I am temporarily a part time mountain girl once again…. I get to split my life between my human and my mountains. It’s hard to explain how your heart can live in two places, how you love being with your human but your soul remains at home on the trails of your dear mountain town….How I feel an emptiness in my soul when I am away from the mountains I love….
With that said…. I have the most amazing opportunity to live in both worlds, with the ability to focus on training and playing as much as possible….
So let’s start this New Year with a fresh outlook.
I’ve got new XC skis calling my name
I’ve got an amazing run coach
I’ve got beautiful friendships
I’ve got a great Mountain retreat to escape to
I’ve got nothing but time for the new few months, time to re-build and re-focus on my physical strength, nutrition, and as with anything in life to be successful my mental and spiritual strength…
And I’ve got a blank Blog to fill….

So….. Stay tuned…. As this could get crazy!

Image may contain: 1 person, outdoor and natureRunning with Jade "coach" in Kimberley BC. Altra Kings, wicked snow traction and comfort! 

(coaching by Jacob @ Peak Run Performance. check out his site... it will change your life!)