This past week I have had the amazing pleasure of hanging out and working out with an amazing group of our ambassadors at the Ambassador Summit. I could not have imagined a better way to spend the week before race day.
Sweaty and happy after a 12k run around Vancouver!
We created and shared our goals with each other, we woke up every morning at 6am to run 6 miles, got our butts kicked with circuit training, and found our OMs with yoga all week long. What I really realized at the end of this week, besides the fact that I am beyond lucky to work with and know these rock stars, they are the running group I have needed all along.
We always remembered to celebrate our workouts together!
As some of you may have noticed by following this blog series, I kind of have a story about myself that I am not a good runner. Along the way you all have been so inspiring and have been my peers that held me accountable to my training and have helped me to realize that there is no such thing as a bad runner. In my long runs I have honestly thought of all of your encouragement and have never second guessed my strength or ability.
These friends are going in the gel pocket of my Run:Empower Crops on Sunday for sure...
It wasn't until I signed myself up for a 12k run with the ambassadors on Wednesday morning that my fear of being a bad runner resurfaced. Needless to say lacing my sneakers up and sizing up the crowd at 6:15am I felt a bit uncomfortable and wondering if I had made the wrong decision. But, I swallowed my fear, which was actually just a huge moment of ego that did not want to be embarrassed, and hit the pavement with the most ridiculously fit running group I have ever seen.
Flexing our muscles after our run, can you find me in tang light?
I was indeed the slowest runner in the pack. My running time was even beaten by a fellow lululemon lady who is pregnant, and rocking it! But, as soon as my feet hit the ground running, I realized that the group around me was empowering me and not turning around to point at the slow girl in the back of the bus. At the end the only thing that mattered was that I shared a beautiful run with wonderful people, and we were united by our joy of movement and not our speeds. A lesson I will definitely take with me on race day this Sunday.
On August 15 I will run the America's Finest City half marathon without a single negative thought, and will finish in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Can't wait to feel the energy of our ambassadors and all of you on Sunday! Namaste.
P.S. Do you have any race day tips for tomorrow's big race?
