Showing posts with label Nicole Megaloudis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nicole Megaloudis. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

5k Schmive Kay! 4.28.2008

5K Schmive Kay
Current mood: rejuvenated

Ahhh, the morning after....After my 5k that is. Woke up yesterday and I was going to set out on my way to Richmond, most likely by myself. This 5k is for The Nicole Megaloudis Foundation, a cause very close to my heart... so the fact that I couldn't get any of my family or friends to join me was a major bummer. Until, my lovely roommate Erin woke up and treked with me for the nearly 5 hour roundtrip.I just wish it was easier to get more people in my life to realize what this means to me. I will probably be 40 no 75 years old and still doing 5ks for Nicole, it's just something that I will always make time for and I hope eventually people will catch on and start doing it with me.{ It is only 3.2 miles people!}
Maybe all this training scared everyone away! They are all afraid that I am too bad ass and they can't compete with me any longer. Well let me put that nasty rumor to rest hahaha. At the 5k on Sunday, Erin and I showed up and they were already lining up on the starting line and as she used the restroom and I held Jordy, they yelled "Go!" and so I took off, not giving in to the overwhelming need to use the restroom myself. Crossed the street , found the path and skipped out on paperwork and tried to look like I was supposed to be there! I carried Erin's dog-like thing with me until she came out of the port-a-john and I waved her over to the path we had already set down. We put the dog down on the leash and took off. We were passing person after person and that felt great. But the best part was that as we passed each group the most common phrase we heard was "WHAT is that?" referring to Jordy of course. We quickly explained that she was clearly half squirell, half cat, half dog, part kangaroo, part yoda part gremlin and all Jordy! We couldnt help but laugh and with her on the leash and embarking on her first 5k she was poised to take the lead! If only her human countrparts could keep up!
One lap down and Jordy wasn't gonna make it, neither was I. Not because I was tired but because the likelyhood of my bladder bursting seemed to be growing by the step. So I ran off course and revisited the port-a-pottys and gave the dog to Nicole's mom,Gail. I told Erin to keep going, since this was her first 5k as well I wanted nothing to skew what it would really be like for her. Even though I had to take a potty break I quickly got back on course and set out to catch up with Erin. Well the girl who always says she only likes to run for a little bit and then walk had no walking in her for this race! She was beyond a point where I could catch up with her and not exhaust what was left to finish the entire race. I have blogged before about the fact that most of the time at Nicole's race I would jog two laps and be done. Not only would I be finished I would be panting hard on the sidelines acting like I had just run much longer. This time I was on my third lap when God thought he would test me by giving me those lovely cramps that come once a month right in the middle of the race. On a mostly empty stomach mind you. I thought I was going to die with each step I took. And I allowed myself to think that way for about 40 more steps. And then I put it out of my mind and realized just how easy this was actually going to be. And I finished. With a race time of 29:30 I was pretty proud. I knew there were some other factors that went into that time and I was pretty sure that my finish time would have been closer to Erin's at 25 minutes and some odd seconds, had I not veered off course for a pee break! Either way, we both felt pretty good after that race and I now know to a deeper extent how actually likely it is that I will kick ass at this Triathlon in a month. That's right I have a little over 30 days until my event!
Got my cute new bathing suit in tow most mornings and I am finding it easier and easier to get the swimming part done. My breath control is looking better and better. I do, however think that either due to new found allergies or exercised enduced athsma I am having major difficulty with my breath control on the later miles of the biking and the running. I am working on that too. I went to Potomac River Running last week and finally got some new running shoes. Oh lord do those things help. I ran the 5k with them and I felt this odd sensation. My shins did not feel like they were going to explode!. The entire race! They dont hurt the morning after either! Hallllllelujah! And guess what .. they are Brooks' shoes. They have to be good then, right? I am very pleased and think this will make a huge difference on race day. I am looking into getting some more gear that will aid my journey to becoming a Triathlete. Gosh that still sounds cool to me. I get so jazzed up sometimes just by thinking that I will be able to have this for the rest of my life. I will be a triathlete. Whether I continue .. my first race {and I will} or not, I get to say I am a triathlete. Probably one of the cooler things I have ever done in my life thus far. I do know that I will continue on because I am planning on signing up with Team In Training {like my roommate Brittany is doing for her Rock'n'Roll San Diego Marathon} and I will be doing the Nation's Triathlon. It is in September and this time the distance is Olympic! I can't wait... oh yes I can. First I have to complete {and kick ass in} this one coming up in a month!
So as progress continues I will continue to blog about it... For now I must go ingest some healthy calories and get my new shoes out in the rain some more!
As my Aunt Jeanne keeps telling me.. Run Forrest Run!

Days on End 4.17.2008

Days on end...
Current mood: adventurous

Here it is nearing the end of April and I am back again to write more. I have just gotten home from a long day of work and each of my days lately seems to be longer and longer. I think mostly because, these days I am in a routine where I am up and off to the gym by 730 or 8am every morning. I get in about a two hour workout and then head home to get showered and eat a hearty meal and actually start my day.. Today I was able to fit in a 15 mile bike and a 2 mile run which feels awful and fantastic at the same time. Some days are easier than others and I can just hop on a bike or strap on some shoes or slip into my suit and go... but some days I feel like I can't possibly finish my triathlon. I shouldn't even try. I should just stick to getting fit and healthy and be satisfied with that. But then something kicks me and says.. "WTF you will NEVER be satisfied with just that." I can't freaking wait to show up on race day and actually kick some ass. Today was one of the better days I've had, especially since last night I ran four miles. I mean this was absolutely UNheard of before I started training. I would have never in a million years thought that I would be putting in 10-15 miles a week on my little feetsies. But here I am.
I have to say one huge aspect of continuing training is that I have told every one of my family members that I am doing it and they are cheering me on. What helps is the change that everyone is able to see in me too. I just feel good all the time now. There is something to be said for excercise. Erin and I were talking and I swear if people only knew what it does for you and how easy it is to get hooked on to fitness this world would be so much better off. Excercise is a miracle drug that most people just don't know about yet. Believe you me I am going to be preaching away about it. People know how I like to preach when I find something I truly believe in. Have you heard me talk about "the secret" ? Hahaha

So lots of things are different right now and I think I am starting to get the hang of it.I've had my ups and downs lately. The whole moving out and finding a place to live process has started again and I remember just why I hate it. Every year I seem to get up and go somewhere else. I want to get settled to some extent. I would like to know that in another 12 months I do not have to pack my shit and get on the road again. My love life is a litle rocky these days and it can really take a toll on me and my mental status but luckily I have the endorphins from exercise to keep me going at times. I miss my best friend more than words can say. She is part of me.. so when we aren't together enough, I feel like I lose a little bit of myself. She is scheduled to return soon though, thank God! And she will return a graduate of Virginia Tech, I am so proud of her! Oh and my mother recently asked me to commute up to Baltimore two days a week in order to help my Step-Grandfather heal from recent surgery and all fo the getting old struggles. He isn't doing well right now so I am not even sure if I will be making those weekly trips but what a thought. To fit into my already crazy schedule I would be in Baltimore two days a week and trying to work as much as possible to make up for those days of work lost. So naturally I figure my current place of employment can't possibly cover that for me. I must get a second or technically third job at this point. Oh gosh that is a frightening thought. If my days seem long now, I cannot imagine what they will be like in the coming weeks when I try to fit in three jobs and triathlon training and trying to start my new business without losing my social life too... oh the stresses of being a 23 year old! When it's bad it ain't that bad and when it's good.. it's freaking amazing. So I take all my complaints back and I am going to enjoy the ride.
I got a new bathing suit for my triathlon and I am in love.It is bright green and bright blue.. it's reversible so I am glad that while I will be in the water, if I start to go down.. there will be enough visibility on me that someone can come save the girl in the bright green bathing suit! Not that that will happen. I just finished a conversation with my aunt and she is super motivating. She is is great shape and a wonderful athlete and just happens to be doing a 50 mile bike ride this weekend.. what an inspiration.. gosh i love my life ...
and I cant wait... hopefully I will have much more to write about my new business venture in the coming blogs.. I am working hard and doing some research to figure out just how to get this thing right. So more to come on that note I promise!
Its almost 10 o'clock and I figure I should probably get something to eat now.

Oh and I have only a few more days until Nicole's 5k in Richmond and I am super excited that I will actually be able to RUN this year... and I know I had always planned on that since starting training but I am at the point right now where I know that I can actually do it.
Staying motivated can be tough at times but other times I find inspiration in each person around me. I have an incredible cheerleading team in the ladies that I work with. They tell me day in and day out how proud they are of me. My family thinks I am crazy and that is all the more reason to keep going because if they think I am normal.. then I must be doing something wrong! My roommate is doing her own feat of amazement in that she will be running the San Diego Marathon. Crazy woman I tell you. So she keeps me motivated too And the more results I see when I look at my ever sculpting body I cant help but get more and more addicted to the way I feel. Freaking good. Now don't get me wrong. I have my days where I feel like I can't get enough sleep even if I slept for 3 days straight and I don't want to move because the weather is just not ideal. So in those moments if any of you have words of wisdom or encouragement, feel free to pass them along. I don't use an IPOD when I train so all I have are my thoughts and to hear someones voice in my head to keep pushing me is a great help!
More to come..
Stay tuned!

Nicole, My Soul 2.9.2008

Nicole, my soul.
Current mood: calm

Today is the fourth anniversary of one of my best friends passing. There is rarely a day that goes by that I dont think about her. She is an incredible influence on my life. I wear a blue bracelet in her memory and it may not be much but it's what I have left of her. It blows my mind that time goes by so quickly. I can recall the first time I heard about her and who she was and knew instantly that my whole family was going to be a part of hers. Her stepdad coached D.C United and her whole family was a soccer family. Much like my own. Their talents and experience in the soccer world outweighed ours {except my brother Billy's unmatched ability in the sport}, but there was a bond instantly formed between her, her brother and me and mine. Her parents and mine. She was unlike any other friend I have had and I am thankful for that. She was going to make me a better person whether I liked it or not. She just happened to speed up the process the moment she left this earth. She will always be credited with the good I do in this world.

I can't grasp the fact that she is gone and has been for four whole years. Luckily I know that she sits and watches over me. A presence best described as discerning.

She was someone that in life made me think about what kind of person I wanted to be and in death has shaped the person I am. She was 19 years old when mine and many worlds were shattered. I will always remember the gut wrenching day that February 9th turned into for me. She had so much to give, so much talent, so much of everything. It seems unfair that that her youth was filled with potential and yet she wasn't allowed to continue her journey that would have surely changed this world for the better. Fortunately I have found that she is living inside of many people now and has inspired enough people to carry on the good she was going to do. I hope that I can live up the her spirit and pass on what she believed.

Every April there is a 5k fundraiser in her name. Ironic because she was not a runner to say the least. However, the money is raised for the Nicole Megaloudis Foundation. With the funds they raise, scholarships are provided to deserving student athletes. She also had a grand scheme of orphanges in Africa and goodwill across the world. We continue to seek out other places to bestow the magic of Nicole.In a matter of weeks I am going to start fundraising for this event. This year will be different. I have decided to run the 5k. You may ask what I did in years past if not running. I, like Nicole am not much of a runner. I chose year after year to embody her and walk/jog/run/complain until I decided I wanted to stop. This year however, I will run it and I will be reaching out to every resource I have {you all } to raise as much as I can before April 27th.

Her motto was "make it happen" and I recently stumbled upon an incredible quote that will motivate me to stop being a dreamer and be more like Nicole...

"Those who dream by the night in the dusty recesses of their mind. Awake to find that all was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous, for they may act their dreams with open eyes and Make It Happen."

This 5k is only in preparation for the Triathlon I plan to compete in later this year. More on that later!

I will leave you with the poem I wrote the day after Nicole Marie Megaloudis left this world and became my guardian angel.

My angel

I can't seem to shed anymore tears
but believe me I am crying
I hope you had no fears
while you laid there all alone and dying
You've finally gotten your wings
and now your soaring above
I'll remember your smile among many things
but mostly your whole hearted love
If you thought I missed you then
it's nothing compared to now
I'll eventually get back to life again
although I really can't see how
I now have an angel and I am glad its you
I knew you were bound for heaven but I never thought so soon
Our friendship is best described as true
and I'll think of you everytime the sun fades for the moon
You were my girl with that damn ponytail
and you could play soccer pretty well
Always there with words of wisdom, you'd never fail
What I am trying to say is I love you Nicole, if you couldn't tell.