Don't tell me I can't.

This video has been circulating the cyberworld for a while now, most often in its dramatized-with-music version which you can see here if you prefer that sort of perspective. And if you want to see a not-so-remarkable interview with this remarkable young woman, go here.

I needed to look at this today.

I'm feeling shaky... and I know that I am my own worst enemy.

I'm staring down the barrel of my first long race in over a decade, and injury is still fresh in my mind.

I've been setting some goals... pretty lofty ones. I don't set my goals cavalierly...a lot of thought goes into their creation. I am generally hesitant to share them because I tend to perceive anything other than..."Awesome! Go, XL! You CAN do it! I'm right here with you!" as naysaying. And at first, I whole-heartedly believe those naysayings... or perceived naysayings. I always climb out of that abyss. And I pretty much always hit my goals... sometimes it just takes me a little longer than I thought :)

I need to remember this.

Don't tell me I can't...  go to college. I'll just prove you wrong and do it on my own... and get two degrees.

Don't tell me I can't...  be good at rowing. I'll just prove you wrong and win a couple of national championships and medal in international competition.

Don't tell me I can't...  have kids because I am too old. I'll just prove you wrong and have babies at the age of 36, 39, almost 42, and almost 46.

Don't tell me I can't...  be strong because I'm weak right now. I'll just have to prove you wrong and show you that immeasurable strength lies beneath this seemingly-physically weak exterior.

Don't tell me I can't...  be fast because I'm slow right now. I'll just have to prove you wrong and show you how far and how fast I can go on determination, experience, and heart.

Don't tell me I can't... I won't listen.

Ultimately, it isn't about showing you or anyone other than me what I can do. And even though that sounds incredibly self-absorbed, it's actually quite the opposite.

making a blog post about it is awfully narcissistic, though! 


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Shooting the Moon and my running goals

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."

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 :)