Urban dictionary defines shooting the moon as A task or feat that is difficult to the point of near impossibility.
In the game of Hearts, it involves taking all 14 of the penalty cards worth a total of 26 points. Wikipedia has this to say about shooting the moon... Attempting to shoot the moon is often a risky strategy.
My dad loved to play cards. We spent hours and hours playing Gin and Hearts. Whenever we played Hearts, he would shoot the moon. Pretty much every single time. He'd occasionally miss. Sometimes he'd have an escape route and other times it would all just blow up in his hand! He never seemed frustrated or disappointed when he 'failed'... he knew it was just a game. The outcome didn't really matter as long as you went for it and as long as you had fun.
"Always aim for the moon. Even if you don't make it, you'll land among the stars."
In the game of Hearts, it involves taking all 14 of the penalty cards worth a total of 26 points. Wikipedia has this to say about shooting the moon... Attempting to shoot the moon is often a risky strategy.
My dad loved to play cards. We spent hours and hours playing Gin and Hearts. Whenever we played Hearts, he would shoot the moon. Pretty much every single time. He'd occasionally miss. Sometimes he'd have an escape route and other times it would all just blow up in his hand! He never seemed frustrated or disappointed when he 'failed'... he knew it was just a game. The outcome didn't really matter as long as you went for it and as long as you had fun.
"Always aim for the moon. Even if you don't make it, you'll land among the stars."
You could also use the expression "Go big or go home."
Or "Go all in or don't go at all."
All of these work for me but...
I love shooting the moon.
It always reminds me of my dad... and that makes me smile :)
After spending a chunk of the summer semi-injured (which was nothing compared to spending 8 years hurting) and then participating in that awesome, life-altering experience as a part of Team Nuun (which I have been told to get over because people are sick of hearing about it), I am not solid in my half-marathoning place. And that's what's next.
October 9 I am running in the Long Beach Half-Marathon in... you guessed it... Long Beach. Based on where I was when I entered the thing, I had set a time goal for myself. It was unrealistic but not impossible at the time, but hey, Go big or go home. I was shooting for 1:50. Unless I get me a pair of rocket boots, that ain't happenin' now fo' sho'.
Re-evalute. Reassess. Reset.
Stretch goal: sub 2-hours.
Solid goal: 2:07 (yesterday I ran 12 in 2:01 and felt great)
Can-do goal: survive and don't get hurt.
Sub-2 hours will be my shooting the moon goal for this race. And this race will be the jumping off point for my next two goals, one of which I never thought I would ever consider again. Have you guessed what it is?
Yep... a marathon.
Shooting the moon :)
Yep... a marathon.
Shooting the moon :)
Shoot the moon, blast it out of the sky!!! I wouldn't be surprised if you pull off the sub 2. Not at ALL. Then onto the big M.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Shoot for the moon and a sub-2!
ReplyDelete:)
It's funny how we ran the same race and came up with to totally opposite goals! I was supposed to run a 1/2 on the 9th as well, but instead I dropped the clinic (hello realization of burnout!). You are definitely going to rock the half!
ReplyDeleteHooray for the marathon!
Hurray! And hey, if your blog isn't the place for you to obsess about things that are huge in your life, what is? I haven't commented on everybody's HTC posts, or at least not on all of them, but I've really enjoyed reading them...and you're going to want every moment documented for later on when you look back...or at least that's how I do it. I love rereading my posts about races that were really special to me or significant.
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled across your blog, and this post made me a subscriber. I love the can-do attitude and can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteOoh- can we train for the Napa marathon (in March) together??
ReplyDeleteOh and here I thought shooting the moon had something to do with bare behinds. Woot for your half, your full and exceeding all of your goals!
ReplyDeleteGo get it darlin!!! KEep talking about HTC it is OK..
ReplyDeleteLots of fond memories of playing cards with some of my departed loved ones too. Shoot the moon every time! The big M is within reach!
ReplyDeleteGo big or go home, that's one of my favorite expressions : )
ReplyDeleteInspired. Signing up for a hilly half here in Portland with my Hood To Coast team mates. Instead of running as a team, we'll be competing against each other.
ReplyDeletegood for you! I know you can do it!
ReplyDeleteIf I did my half in 2:05 then I think you can absolutely do yours in less than 2! (Half of mine was down hill which really helped :-) !)
ReplyDeleteYou'll do a sub-2 based on your performance on the relay. Just take the start conservative so you have some left in the tank for the finish and all will be good! It's coming up, so exciting!
ReplyDeleteyeyeyeye, Marathon here she comes!! hehe, I actually hate that expression when it comes to Hearts, because my boyfriend ALWAYS wins by shooting the moon. I hate it!! I get competitive with card games...eh.
ReplyDeletePsst....I run in Berkeley all the time!! It's only between 5-6 mile from my place, so my longer runs (14+) often end up in Berkeley. I do some of the hills back there, or sometimes just run to the campus (up telegraph, down College). If it was this past weekend, probably not me though...I was feeling sluggish, not purposeful!
You're my girl-crush. I love a woman who shoots for the moon. I think you'll do great in your half-marathon, and just doing one is an amazing feat. My dad used to say "When your time's up, your time's up!"...yeah, he was quite the philosopher. That must be where I get it from :)
ReplyDeleteIf you don't set your goals high, you'll never know what you're capable of. Sometimes we surprise ourselves! Good luck on you half. I'll bet you'll kick some serious A*$$!!
ReplyDeleteI know you're gonna kick butt, that is for sure! I'm sad I probably won't be in town to cheer you on!
ReplyDeletethe M word!!!!!!!!!!!! you said it. Me I am thinking about it. shhhhh
ReplyDeleteok you are too fast to run with me madame. so you can shoot to the LB Moon and wait for moi at the finish line and catch me when I fall..I usually do...
Woo-hoo!! You will be fabulous at Long Beach-I can't wait to hear about it!
ReplyDeleteYou said marathon out loud!! go get 'em.
DoItDoItDoIt!!!! :)
ReplyDeletelove this - shoot the moon! Sub-2 for you! And then the big M - wow!
ReplyDeleteWow! I hope you hit that moon square on. You are such an inspiration. Good luck with the Long Beach race and tell ol' Queen Mary hi for me.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have chosen you to receive The Versatile Blogger award.
Please do come visit my blog at http://artisticcomposition.blogspot.com/2011/09/versatile-blogger.html and pass on the love.
I think you will surprise yourself! And I love love love playing cards! My family and I play a lot of cribbage!
ReplyDeleteI like it! I love it! I especially like how worst casse scenario is you land in the stars. I'm SOOOOO stealing this from you :) Nanny nanny boo boo!
ReplyDeleteI KNOW when you set your mind to something you do it and BLOW YOUR WAD!! GO FOR IT XL!! i believe in YOU!
ReplyDelete