Believe and Achieve

"I cannot express how HAPPY I am with where I am in my life right now, and how grateful I feel for being able to do what I do. I just wouldn't trade it for anything and any time I am feeling not very motivated, I think about how miserable I feel when I am not training or doing something else I don't LOVE. I totally and completely love this life I'm living and the most fabulous thing is that I know it's only going to get 20 times better by the end of the year. Woo hoo baby!"
-Sally Meyerhoff, Blog post on March 6, 2011

It's very evident that the above words were written by someone with a great deal of character and passion for what they do.  I don't know anyone who wouldn't want to have that same attitude towards life and that same strong belief in what they are doing.  If you are reading this blog, I'm sure you are up to speed enough within the running world to have heard about the unfortunate passing of the outstanding athlete and Olympic hopeful, Sally Meyerhoff ...the same person who wrote those words above just two days prior to her perish.  I consider myself fortunate to have been in Sally's presence on a couple occasions, but I wouldn't say I knew her. Despite not knowing her personally, I was well aware of her presence within our sport and the impact that she had on it, both as an athlete and as a person. In that sense, I knew her very well.

I had already planned on putting up a post this week talking about some other less important things, but after hearing this tragic news, I decided to keep it short and focus solely on the more important things.  As I read through more of Sally's blog, I was very moved by her writing as it both inspired me and saddened me.  This person certainly knew what she wanted and was doing everything she could to achieve it.  At 27 years old, she had achieved more than most do in a lifetime, but she was just getting started.  I have always considered myself a faithful person and stand by my beliefs with great pride.  But more than just believing, I too want to be achieving.  I'm not saying I haven't had achievements ...I have. However, I have a bigger picture in my mind than what I see in my life right now.  I know I am on my way and I have a lot to offer ...that, I believe! Now that I've laid the groundwork through my experiences, I am ready to take some steps forward and start achieving once again.  This applies to all aspects of my life.

In the more immediate future, I will be headed down to Jacksonville, FL this weekend to participate in the Gate River Run 15K / US Championships.  This may seem a bit early to start competing (I agree), but after only one visit in 2009, I consider this race one of my favorites and one of the better events in the country. I knew there would be too many positives in this experience to pass up on it.  So I'm taking whatever fitness I have and will use my experience to get the best out of myself on Saturday.  It would be great to try and run with some of the guys up front, but I know I'm not ready for that.  It will surely be a fun event and I know I will be well taken care of while I'm down there (thanks to the generosity of Richard Fannin). Therefore, I know I will not walk away disappointed.  If any of you reading this will be racing/running this weekend, or know someone who is, please spread the word that runners will be wearing skirts, high socks, and pink ribbons in their hair in memory of Sally.  We all know she would be doing the same!

"I don't like to make the excuse "Oh I'm still pretty young. I have time"...because we don't know how much time we will have in life, and I want to live every day with no regrets ... If your mind can conceive it and your heart believes it, you can achieve it!"
-Sally Meyerhoff, "Keep your eyes on the prize!" February 3, 2011