Monday, February 23, 2009

Return of the MOJO and Extraordinary Runner Award

Wow I am so excited! I got an email today that I won an Extraordinary Running Award from the Runners Lounge! If I had lost my mojo before..I DEFINITELY got it back today! I put a link to my story below.

My Joints Are In Motion

I have won a free pair of shoes and I am also being interviewed for the Open Mic for this Friday! I feel like such a celebrity - at least in running blog land (that's good enough for me). I feel great today and not just because of this but when I reread my story it really reminded me of what drove me to come back to running in the first place. I shouldn't care if my butt is bigger than it used to be or that I don't have time to become a stellar speedster or even that I look like a bag of dodo at the end of a race (insert hottie magazine runner pictures here). I did some speed work this morning and at the end of it I felt fantastic - and a little sick to my stomach so I guess it was a success. A personal success. That's all I need!

This year I am participating in a few other events but I am doing another marathon with the Joints in Motion Training Team in December so I have that to drive me on. This time I am participating with a friend (Marci) and I am just as excited as I was the first time. I needed this reminder to confirm for me that I get my validation from myself. Logging heavy mileage or getting a record time is fantastic and I look forward to getting there once kids are older and life is easier but I can and should be just as easily motivated by the simple fact that I laced up my shoes and got out there.

Anytime I am losing my faith or feel the mojo slipping away, I will reread my story and many others like mine and tell myself that I run because my daughter might not or because so many people would love to run and can't/won't. I will be reminded that the only roadblocks to success are the ones we put up ourselves. I will also remind myself that the definition of success should be as flexible as my commitment to a sugar free diet (imagine crazy fits of laughter at this point).

Next time the big green blog of ectoplasm comes calling, I will sit on him with my "less than Jillian Micheals standard" backside. Then I will lace up and head out.

Thanks for all the great comments from the last post - it helps!

24 comments:

Mel-2nd Chances said...

Congrats on the award!!! You ARE extraordinary!!! and looking forward to reading the interview! Just a heads up in case it hasn't changed... they don't ship to Canada, so if you have someone in the US that you can ship to that will forward them on to you (perhaps choose a non-runner with different size feet than you) so they don't decide to keep your shoes :) Congrats again!

Meg said...

That is the most amazing and inspiring story. I actually have tears in my eyes (at work..lol THANKS! :P ). You should be SO proud of all you've accomplished--*I'M* proud and don't even know you! Your kids are lucky to have you :o) Well done!

Erin said...

Yes, you are running blog famous now! Or at least you will be after Friday. Congrats!

Your story is very inspiring and well-written. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!

Kristina said...

Congratulations! What a great motivator!

Carly said...

Congratulations! You are extrodinary! I am wiping away the tears after reading that. You are a huge inspiration. I am looking forward to reading the interview.

Lindsay said...

congrats on the award and hooray for free shoes! how cool. i'm lookin forward to seeing your interview on friday :)

Aron said...

CONGRATS!!!! such a great post :) you are amazing!!!

Denise said...

CONGRATS!! You definitely deserved the free shoes!! Looking forward to the interview.

Marlene said...

Congratulations! Very well deserved.

I am inspired by your story, so I'm glad you're able to look back on it and get that mojo back.

Marci said...

Thats amazing! You are most definately a worthy recipient!! Looking forward to Sun. I got the sign up papers from JIM today!

Velma said...

Fantastic inspiration! Way to go!!!!!!!!!

RunToTheFinish said...

oh so glad that something came along to get you inspired again. it's definitely a journey and we are all learning along the way!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the award! You are awesome. Way to find some motivation and share it with all of us.

Felice Devine said...

Fantastic!!! Way to go!

Kick that ectoplasm right out of your life.

Unknown said...

Yay - congratulations! From one previous winner to another, way to go! Can't wait to read your Open Mic!

Marcy said...

OMGOSH!! CONGRATS chica!! And I so can't wait to see you on Open Mic Friday! YAY!

BeachRunner said...

Congrats! I knew you were extraordinary.

Running and living said...

What an amazing story! You are inspirational! Ana-Maria

Laurel said...

AWww, great job on the award! Good for you. Very inspirational.

N.D. said...

aww - that's good that it helped you to get remotivated! you sound really excited.

joyRuN said...

Great interview! Congrats :)

Alexandra said...

I just read your Open Mic interview! How obvious that you should receive the "Extraordinary Runner Award"! Congratulatins!

I admire folks with such passion and determination! What a great role model you are for your children!

Chris said...

Congrats on the award!!! Keep it up.

RunnerMom said...

Congratulations! I knew you were an extraordinary runner and mom!