Accomplish your own impossibilities.

When I first got pregnant, I thought being a full-time mom would be the thing that would bring me all the personal fulfillment I’d ever looked for.

That it would make me feel complete.

That it would satisfy my every need, wish, and desire.

Well,

I was wrong.

Now let me be clear.

I love being a mom.

I love staying at home with the kids.

But it’s not enough.

I want more.

I want to do bigger things with my life.

And just recently, I discovered what those things are.

It started with the blog.

I love it.

Giving other moms (and dads) a place to come for a little relief makes me feel good.

I like to entertain.

I like making people laugh.

I look forward to writing every day.

I feel passionate about it.

But then, in January, the weight loss journey started.

And people told me I was an inspiration.

I liked that too.

A lot.

I didn’t set out to do that; it happened by mistake.

So the e-course, Fit, Fierce, and Fabulous was born.

I like that too.

A lot.

Ultimately, I want to combine the humor, the entertaining,  and the inspiration into a public speaking career.

And if you are looking for a speaker for an event,

no matter how small,

please contact me.

But that’s not all.

Since doing the NYC Triathlon last weekend, I’ve had another epiphany.

I have always loved sports.

I like to compete.

It has always been a…

passion.

I had a brother who died from leukemia when he was 3.

I was 16 at the time.

You can read about him here.

But you might want to get some tissues first.

Anyway, that was 27 years ago.

If fucked me up pretty good.

I feel like I’m just getting my shit together now.

I’ve always wanted to do something to honor him.

Something big.

To keep his memory alive.

And also to help other families and patients going through the same thing my family and my brother did.

But I haven’t been able to find that thing.

Until now.

I thought about volunteering at a hospital with cancer patients.

But I know how I am.

I’d be crying the whole time.

It would kill me emotionally.

Last year I connected with Team in Training.

They raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through participation in athletic events, like triathlons, road races, and bike races.

I participated with Team in Training in 2 different triathlons in 2012 and raised $3700 for LLS.

It felt good to contribute to the cause, and I felt like I had made a little difference,

but it wasn’t the thing I was looking for…

My New Year’s Resolution was to run a marathon this year.

I’ve never done one before.

I thought I’d start with the Hartford Marathon here in CT.

The NYC Marathon seemed like too big a place to try and start.

But then I ran out of Riverside Park at the start of the running leg of the NYC Triathlon.

I can’t get that memory out of my head.

As soon as I stepped onto 72nd Street, I envisioned myself running the NYC Marathon.

It’s too late to register for that as an individual.

Plus, I think it’s really hard to get into. I think you have to qualify or something. I don’t really even know.

But then I got an email from Team in Training.

Saying it’s not too late to register.

For the NYC Marathon.

It was…

a sign.

But I still haven’t even met my fundraising minimum for the NYC Triathlon. I still have to raise about $1800 by the end of August for that.

And if I do the NYC Marathon, I need to raise another $3900.

I would need half of that by the end of August too.

So in the next 4 weeks I need to come up with $4000.

And then another $1900 by November.

I’ve been told it’s impossible.

So I started thinking.

How can I raise a significant amount of money in a short period of time?

And how can I set something up that will continue to raise money for this cause, and more Team in Training events in the future?

What can I do that will combine the things I love to do?

The things I’m passionate about?

And then this weekend,

while I was out for a run,

I thought,

why not start my own race?

Why not organize a 5K, where all the proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?

And why not make it a race that is novice, and family, and kid-friendly?

That encourages women,

moms,

anyone,

to try their first 5K?

Why not organize a race,

in my brother’s name,

to raise money for an organization very close to my heart,

which will enable me to participate in something I’m very passionate about,

and to inspire women to try something they’ve never done before, and improve their overall health and quality of their lives?

Make it an annual event?

I ran it by a few people who weren’t exactly super optimistic about it.

I started to doubt myself.

And then this morning I was scrolling through facebook.

And I guy I went to high school with had posted a video.

It’s a talk from a guy named Scott Dinsmore.

It’s entitled How to Find and Do Work You Love.

Another sign?

Maybe.

So I watched it.

There were quotes in that video setting off bells and whistles left and right.

But when I heard him say

accomplish your own impossibilities,

well,

the die was cast.

I opened a new tab,

and I registered for the NYC Marathon with Team in Training right then.

It’s official.

Now,

to do the “impossible.”

Time to get this race organized and off the ground.

The 5k for Christopher.

I can’t wait.

I’m going to make him really,

really,

proud.

Day 1

 Day 194

 Day 1

Day 194

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