What is beauty? #IWILL #FitFluential

This post is sponsored by Under Armour through FitFluential.

What is beauty?

For as long as women have asked themselves this question, the answer they have been given has never really been the same. Even when we looks to others to help define it for us, we still have no real clear idea of what it is, not really.

Scientists typically break it down to genetics or perhaps even relate it to the appeal of a person's facial symmetry. There is an abundant amount of research out there attempting to do just that, define what is beautiful. Yet we are no closer to finding that answer today then we were when we first attempted to take it apart and analyze it.

Artists look at beauty even more differently then scientists. From Picasso to Monet, there is no clear distinction between what each artist has seen as beautiful and how they themselves portray that same beauty to the public through their art. This shows us that there really is truth to beauty being in the eye of the beholder. Just take a stroll though an art gallery and you will see that people will gravitate towards some styles more so then others.

However, despite this realization, women continue to attempt to define beauty for themselves and strive to become that ideal version of beauty that they feel others are looking for. In fact, we spend billions of dollars each year trying to create it, keep it, or fake it. Perhaps, we have had it all wrong. Maybe, just maybe, we have had the answers all along deep down inside of ourselves, in places that we never thought to look before.

For me there is nothing more beautiful in a woman that shows inner strength, courage, humor, and empathy for others. These are all things that cannot really be defined by science or accurately portrayed by any artists as they are internal and very subjective. Yet, it is beautiful to see a woman surpass tremendous odds with style and grace, having the courage to do something that is risky or uncertain, and all the while being able to laugh at the inevitable foibles that will occur as she does so. A woman who faces a challenge (physcial or emotional)  head on, not without fear, but in spite of it. This type of beauty is not really anything that can be seen, but rather an intangible essence that we each posess but demonstrate in our own unique way.

Much of my life I spent not feeling beautiful because I did not understand this concept. The reason? I have had an overbite well into my thirties. I always took compliments given to me with a grain of salt. Not feeling that I could really believe anyone that said I was pretty as really being honest about it because I focused so much on the physical things that I thought others would notice and not like about me. Getting my teeth corrected as adult was much more for me then any external benefits I will get out of it. It was overcoming a demon I have had since childhood. It was about getting past something that I felt always had held me back in some way. To put to rest those mean kids that would make fun of my teeth at school. To me it is much more about overcoming it then looking a certain way, though I am excited to see the results. [I will have my braces removed on May 29th]

I am now very much about changing my perception of how I feel about myself, and to hopefully inspire others to start thinking about their own self-perceptions. To identify things we don't like is fine, but we need to also look at the things about ourselves that truly make us beautiful.

Race for the Cure #CureSN2013 @KomenSN

Last weekend I participated in one of the most rewarding events, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I am not only a board member but also function as the Social Media Chair for the race. I woke up race morning at about 3 AM and headed down to Freemont then made a startling discovery. The Flash Special that I had set up the night before was non-existent. I was using the Foursquare business app and as I waited for the gas to pump into my car I checked to see if it was running. It wasn't. In fact, the entire event I had set up for the race was closed.

I ran back home to try and fix it but after a few minutes knew that it would delay me too much to try to get it working. I was able to add the race event back in, but looking at the clock I knew I had to go. I packed myself up once again and headed downtown.

Once I was parked I grabbed coffee for my friend, Angela (Race Director) and her hubby Woz, and began to help out where I could. Directing volunteers where they needed to check in and started taking photos with my phone. Ben, my hubby, was heading down to help take pictures. He was such a trooper, work wouldn't give him time off to stay the whole day so he stayed as long as he could and got some great pictures.

I was supposed to have an on-air interview with Paul Francis of Channel 8 but that was nixed due to technical difficulties. Sadly though this meant I missed the finish line photos I normally take because Ben had to leave and I was waiting for them to decide what to do about the interview. There are plenty of photographers there that day so we will get some great photos either way.

Regardless of my little technical issues, the day was overwhelming as usual. This event is by far one of the most challenging and most rewarding ones I get to be a part of. It was awesome to see my friend organize this whole thing and do such a fantastic job at it. After months of planning, Facebooking, tweeting, etc. it was all over in just a few short hours. From everything I could tell, and the feedback we have gotten via social media, everything went off without a hitch.

There is nothing like seeing thousands of people out there for a common goal: To rid the world of breast cancer forever. 

It truly is a sight to see....

...they're off!

LVFD

Lynda P. and Angela W.

Me tweeting away. My hat had my donation names on the back.

Mom

It has been nearly 5 years since my mom passed away. Every year around Mother's Day I can't help but think of her. I wonder what she is thinks of when she sees all that is going on with me and the rest of the family. Especially this past twelve months. I got married and Sarah was married (my mom loved my BFF's). Lots coming up too: I will graduate with my Master's (well, if my grade is ok that is). Carlee gets married in June - the last of the "girls". Sarah is having a second baby too! So much more that I cannot even start to mention here in just this short blog post. 

I know that she is proud of me. Proud of them. Yet I wish I could have her here to see it all in person. To hear her quirky laugh just one more time. 

Miss you mom!

Under Armour: What's Beautiful 3.0 #IWILL #FitFluential

This post is sponsored by Under Armour through FitFluential

I know what you may be thinking. Here she goes again....another challenge. This is very different though. I promise you that. 

Do you have a goal to be more active? Perhaps try something new? Have some fun while getting fit? Me too! That is why I'm so excited to be working on a campaign with FitFluential and Under Armour to help redefine What's Beautiful. Join us! 

What is this campaign all about? 

It is an 8 week challenge designed to help you reach your goal. YOU set your goal. Then you go AFTER IT! 

Three awesome women will win a trip to the Armour Retreat in Costa Rica for four days of yoga and surf lessons. Sounds like a great idea to me!

And get this, throughout this campaign you'll be eligible for swag bags filled with Under Armour gear! Woo hoo!

First....kick off your own profile, set your goal and if you want to take on this challenge by my side, join my team: Team INSPIRE!

Check out my profile! 

My goal and my team's goal is fairly simple. 

To encourage others to find fun new ways to be more active. I WILL.

Again your goal is your own. Be creative, but be ACTIVE! Share your story. 

#IWILL

Ever Catch A Cheater? #Fitfluential #GirlsGoneSporty

Recently on Facebook a woman posed a question that had to do with seeing someone she believed to be cheating at a race. I won't get into that post exactly since it was not posted directly to me or my page. Besides, it is her story so I feel it should remain as such. However, it did get me thinking about the topic in general.

Have you ever saw someone cheat at a race?

I am not talking about a mistaken change of course that may have shortened a race for a runner. We see runners get lost on improperly marked courses all the time. It happened to me once when volunteers sent me by accident heading in the wrong direction, under a very low underpass that I had to literally crawl on my hands and feet to get under. In my case my little detour added time to my finish. It does happen. I am talking about a clear cut case of cheating, red handed.

If you ever saw someone cheat at a race, by taking a shorter route, or maybe by allowing a faster friend run for them to get a better time, would you say something? Even if a threat of retaliation may be likely? Would it matter if that person was a well-known member of your running community? Would it bother you more if it was a big race as supposed to a small race in your area? What would the appropriate punishment be if guilt could be proven?

I pose these questions not to say that the community of runners we know and love is full of these instances. Yet, I think these topics are ones that are good ones for us to discuss, so that if it does happen we know how we would respond. Perhaps knowing what to do is a sure fire way to never actually have to do it.

I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.
Sophocles 

Labor of Love Weekend Race Report #Fitfluential #GirlsGoneSporty

Last weekend I participated in the Labor of Love weekend at Lovell Canyon. If you follow my blog you know that this is the same canyon that my husband and I go to for target shooting (at a different area of the canyon). So for me this was a great race to run. I had planned to do my typical race report, what went right what went wrong but decided that it was better to tell you why and for whom I ran this race.

After the events of the last week or so, most definitely the total 19.3 miles I put in for both days (Half on Saturday, 10K on Sunday) were for Boston. No doubt many of you dedicated races to the town, the runners, and spectators affected by the events of Monday, April 15th.

For me there was another reason I ran. An alum at my high school, Dan, had a lifesaving double transplant this past fall. His family and friends in Pennsylvania, where I originally hail from, were walking in the Heart Walk that same day. I knew I wanted to do a half marathon during my birthday month (I turned 39 on April 8). This seemed to me like it was kismet. I was meant to run this race.

Despite the hardships I faced both days, none of that matters. It pales in comparison to what those that were there that day in Boston went through, as well as what Dan went through to become well again.

Sometimes, we just run to run. The times don't always need to matter. The performance can be secondary to the feeling of accomplishment felt doing something for someone else or in their honor.

So run on....and be Boston strong.

United, we run!

Terror.

The word itself came from a French word that meant "great fear". Our interpretation of it now, after several large scale attacks these last few decades (both domestic and foreign) has taken on a whole new sinister and terrifying meaning.

Terror is now a coward's way of getting whatever they feel entitled to: whether that be to create fear in people, to point out political or religious beliefs, to justify their hatred as righteous anger, to some misguided sense of wrong doing that was inflicted upon them, the list goes on. Regardless of the reason, one thing has become increasing clear. They cannot be allowed to win.

It is going to be up to you, me, and all the people we love and respect in our lives to make sure that this event and those of our past which have also been etched into our memories, be remembered and learned from, but NEVER allowed to make us fearful. That is what they want. They want to create that "great fear" in all of us. They will stop at nothing to get it, and we must be as equally determined to stop them from getting what they want.

There is something else that these cowards need to know. You have messed with the wrong group of people. From novice to elite, runners are fiercely united. From each step we take there is a sense of purpose, a determination that cannot be rivaled. We are warriors. Our spirit is strong. Even in our weakest moments we are a force to reckon with. Even when we are scared, tired, hurt, emotional we always keep moving forward. One step at at time.

Even now, as I write this, there is this anger that arises in me when I think about what it must have been like for the runners and spectators at that finish line. My heart goes out to each and every one of them, and to all the people that cared about them, who were frantic to hear word if their loved ones were safe and sound. The thought that their feeling of pride of completing this race was quickly turned to anguish for them breaks my heart.

I know that my anger, and that being felt by my fellow runners, will only spurn our running community to action. I already see it happening. Numerous stories out of Boston of runners who had finished their  race seen giving their medals to those that could not, to people helping those injured without hesitation, to the epic and swift response of EMT's and police...all the way to those on the web and twitter rallying support by wearing race tees today or the colors of the Boston Marathon, to virtual events to raise money to help the injured, or simply to send their thoughts and prayers to those that now need them most.

This is what human nature should be about, not the senseless acts of violence and tyranny of people who are too easily able to blame others for their misfortune.

Right now, tears well up for those that were lost and my love goes to each of them and their families. For many days, weeks, from now, please know that we now run for you. We run towards a world where terror is word no longer in the forefront of our minds.

One thing is for certain, we will never run away.


Cause we are 
We are shining stars 
We are invincible 
We are who we are 
On our darkest day 
When we're miles away 
So we'll come 
We will find our way home...
"Carry On" by Fun.