We Need Your Help!

Through running, I've made incredible friends, sole mates actually, and I've found ways to incorporate running in my life that gives me the opportunity to help others, coach, teach and spend quality time with my family (especially my children). I've ran many races, half marathons being my farthest distance, I've coached Girls on the Run (a program that uses running to teach life skills to young girls grades 3rd-5th) and I've spent a lot of time supporting the running community and using this amazing exercise as a way to enhance my life and the lives of others.

Team Sole Society has joined up with Team in Training to raise money and awareness for Leukemia and Lymphoma.  Each of us have an individual goal to raise $3900, but we're fund-raising as a team. We are 8 dynamic women who share a love for running and feel a strong passion to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, as for some of us it really hits home and this cause is near and dear to our hearts.

Throughout this journey, I'll share stories of our personal heroes and honored teammates.   Heather shares,

"My aunt Cathy is a cancer survivor, who I watched run through her year of chemo. She is an amazing person, but especially she is an amazing athlete. She is a 6 time marathon finisher, the first marathon she ran post-cancer was her all-time personal best. She is a badass, and I'm glad to run in her honor!"

My friend Marnie, speaks of her nephew as she made a donation to our team:

"My nephew is a survivor of leukemia. He was diagnosed at age 6 - he is now 19!! It is my pleasure to support your efforts!!"

We've started our kick-off for fund-raising, and I'm reaching out to you all for support as we strive to reach our goals, of not only running this marathon but giving back and helping to fight blood cancer as best we can!

Please consider donating to our team (don't click my name, just donate to the team please!)
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc14/teamsolesociety

NO DONATION TOO SMALL or TOO BIG ;o)  Be sure to check to see if your company or spouse's company does a match donation and don't forget corporate sponsorship opportunities are available as well!  There are SO many ways to get involved!

We appreciate your support!

NYC 2014 Team Sole Society

"A society can enable its members to benefit in ways that would not otherwise be possible on an individual basis."

So our team name is set "Team Sole Society" and I think it fits us perfectly!  We are a society all on our own.  We share common interests, goals, and values, yet we are all unique and bring our own dynamic traits and characteristics to the group that enhance each other in ways we didn't even know possible.  I could not be more thankful for this amazing group of women and the knowledge, support, encouragement and camaraderie.

We are all signed up with Team  In Training (www.teamintraining.org) as we will be working to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma; it is a cause that so many of us hold near and dear to our hearts.  As soon as our team fundraising page is up, I'll post it and we would certainly appreciate any support, no donation too small, OR too big :o)

It's really happening.  We're committed and ready to start this journey!  

Marathon?!?!

Well, it looks like I've committed to run the 2014 NYC Marathon!  Oh Lord, what have I done!?  A few months ago, a group of us entered our names into the lottery to see if we would have automatic entry to this most amazing race (my sister-in-law, Jessica and I saw first hand how incredible this experience is when we went to support our two good friends Kathy and Heather last year).  Out of the 7 of us, one was picked.  I can't imagine a more deserving person to be drawn in the lottery.  Heather, who has registered, paid and fund-raised for the race THREE times, but only able to run ONCE, was finally picked.  We're an all or nothing deal, so the other six of us have committed to fund-raise so that the seven of us can do this marathon together.  We chose to join Team in Training to raise money for Lymphoma and Leukemia, a cause that is near and dear to many of us, and we will participate as a group to reach our goal of $3900/runner.  Stay tuned for our fund-raising page ;o)

Of course, we had to meet to discuss the ins and outs of this endeavor, so we chose to get our liquid courage at the Mexican Cafe in Annapolis.  Missing from the picture are Heather and Kelly, but they were certainly with us in spirit.  It was a fun evening of planning, freaking out, brain-storming fund-raising ideas, and more freaking out.

(Ann, Jessica, Kathy, AA, and Susan)

The next step was for me to be cleared by my doctor to begin training this June.  I was SO nervous, as a few friends, and even my husband, didn't think he would give me the clear.  Of course, I had high hopes.  As much as I tried to accept the possibility that he would tell me "no", I went into my appointment yesterday with FULL intention of telling him that I was strong and able to train and run this race.  I nearly dropped to the floor when he answered my inquiry with, "Absolutely!  Just listen to your body and be smart.  If pains come up as a result of the training, we can reassess, but I see no reason why you can't do this."  YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!  I got the clear!

So, last night, we all started individually registering for Team and Training.  Getting this email made is REAL.  It's happening.  Our journey begins! 

Now...we just need to come up with a cool team name?  Taking suggestions ;o)

Slow and Steady

I wanted to share this from one of our fitness/weightloss challengers. She's never won the cash prize, as she has inched her way along over the years. I affectionately call her my turtle. I'm very very proud of her!


"I have lost 29 lbs. I was hoping to hit 30 this week! Next week.
My high point (weight wise) was in Aug 2012 which was my first full challenge that I participated in. I just measured yesterday and am down 18 inches since then (5 in my belly!). I have gone from a size 16 to a size... 10 (regulars- not relaxed fit!!). Whoo whoo! I haven't really haven't gained in MONTHS.

It took 3 challenges before the weight started to really drop. I lost less than 5 lbs the first two challenges and was frustrated. The group kept me positive and encouraged changes and gave me ideas. I made MAJOR changes in challenge 1 and 2. Although, I think my body did NOT believe me. PLUS challenge 3 is where you gave me the big speech/challenge/smack-down regarding the 3 egg white veggie omelet for breakfast. That added to my other changes turned the corner.
During challenge 1 and 2:
- I stopped eating out (4-7 times week and started cooking MOST meals at home)
- I stopped eating after 7:30 or 8 p.m.
- I gave up soda (as a computer programmer, I was drinking 8-10 cans of diet soda per day- this was my biggest/hardest thing to give up!)
- I started to pack my lunch everyday even if I wasn't leaving the house. I take my lunch in the car if I run errand so that I don't get caught out needing to eat without having my healthy choice handy.
- I try to eat a 3 egg white omelet with veggies and turk sausage.
Again, it took until challenge 3 for my body to believe it wasn't just a "phase." ha! ha! I am your turtle and it is working-- slowly. When times get tough, the group keeps me focused. I flip flop back and forth between being a super active poster in the group and just reading with my hand barely on base, but it works! I want to lose 20-25 more lbs. I will keep plugging along."

Thank you so much for sharing your story! Keep working, girl! You got this!

Day 23 and Start of New Challenge

I've come a long way in the last 11 days.  These have been much much better than the first 11.  I'm starting to get up and about, I was able to drive my kids to and from school a couple days last week, and I'm feeling stronger by the minute.  I will never ever ever take my health and physical abilities for granted!  I'm hoping to be cleared for light walking/exercise in the next 2 weeks.  I think just being able to get out and get some fresh air and move my body (albeit slowly) around is really going to help get some normalcy for me.  Every day has been a step forward, some smaller steps than others, but I'm moving in the right direction and feeling like I can see my life returning to at least a slower version of normal soon.

The Spring Weightloss/Fitness Challenge kicked off this past Friday, we've got another great group, nearly 70 challengers, and Blythe and I have made a few adjustments as we want everyone to get the absolute most out of this challenge.  We have weekly physical and nutritional challenges as well as tips to discuss and help everyone find their groove.  This week's discussion is about motivation; What motivates you?  I closed my eyes and thought about the question.

PEACE.  I just feel like a better person when I'm eating well and exercising. I feel like my mood levels out, my body handles stress better, I'm stronger and capable of handling... LIFE. When I wasn't in a healthy mindset, my life was very chaotic and stressful. The stressors haven't changed, but my outlook on life has. So that's what keeps me motivated, because I never ever ever want to go back to a place where I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I can't control the world around me, but I can control how I feel and how I treat my body.

I think it's important for us all to think about what motivates us.  What keeps us going when we want to give up?  Motivation is something that gets us started, gets us back on track and pushes us when we just don't think we have anything left to give.  When I start feeling lack of motivation, I think back to the times in my life when I wasn't very healthy.  I think about that girl, how lost and trapped and frustrated she was with everything going on around her.  PEACE.  It's when you can be confident of your abilities and know that you'll get through it as best you can, regardless of what's going on around you.  It's peace within yourself, in a chaotic world that doesn't care what you're going through.  PEACE.  You cannot control it all, you can only control yourself.  PEACE. Believing that you and you alone can pick yourself up and if need be, put all the pieces back together.  Everything you need, is already inside of you.