Rewind: A problem with ARTISTIC Gymnastics

With the current code of points demanding crazy amounts of difficulty, the gymnasts on floor exercise are now packing in 6 tumbling passes in 1:10 and they have no time (or energy for that matter) to show any sort of artistry or style. 

Thomas Gonzales from Chile is an exception. At the recent 2011 Pan Am Games, his floor routine really caught my eye (the moustache should probably go though…):

I loved this routine because he pays attention to the little details. He holds his chin up, his arms moves purposefully, there are little subtleties in his routine that make you want to press rewind. In fact, I did rewind this video multiple times after every pass because I felt compelled to analyze it more closely. This routine is awesome and I strongly believe that there needs to be some sort of way to reward a gymnast for their style other than just with youtube hits ;) 

Now, for a comparison, take a look at this routine from the 2008 Olympic Champion, Zou Kai:

Sure, he can tumble like the wind, but a cardboard box has more style. His head is down, his arms are lazy and he looks like he's going for a walk in the park on a Sunday afternoon in between passes. There is no ownership of innovation and no attempt to be eye catching - it's a stock routine that gets great results because he has a higher difficulty score than everyone else (of note, Zou was 2nd at Worlds and Thomas was 6th). And, to me, it's boring and I have no desire to watch it again after it's done. Don't get me wrong, I think Zou is an amazing athlete, but I'm also a purest who believes that style should be equally, if not more important, than the big tricks. His gymnastics is not the gymnastics that I fell in love with. I wouldn't want to go back into the gym after watching Worlds on TV and pretend that I was Zou Kai - I would want to learn the cool corner part that Thomas Gonzales did and add it into MY routine.

I am becoming very frustrated with the lack of artistry in gymnastics these days! It's not called Extreme Gymnastics…it's called ARTISTIC gymnastics and the art of the sport is being lost.

A while back, I made a proposal to one of the FIG men's technical committee members to restrict the number of passes on men's floor exercise to 5 and to add 10 extra seconds to the length of a routine in order to encourage time for a little bit of artistry. I believe that this could make a huge difference in preserving the "artistic" part of the sport. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting to hear back…

All I know is that something needs to change and it needs to change fast. Routines like the one from Thomas Gonzales should become the norm and not the other way around. Artistic Gymnastics needs to start encouraging artistry again. It's a core value in the sport (it's in the NAME for goodness sake!) and having fans wanting to press rewind is how we keep the sport alive and vibrant. We have to think of the next generation who are watching at home and we have the responsibility to show them that attention to detail, artistry, innovation and uniqueness are as important as learning the big skills. A jump full turn with elegance and control is much more impressive than a full-twisting 1 3/4 roll out (and the former is something you can try to do in your living room - a place where many gymnastic dreams are initially discovered!)

So, what's your thoughts? Do you have any suggestions on how to bring back the "artistic" in artistic gymnastics? Which routine do you feel more compelled to watch and which one would you rewind and watch again? 

Busted Toe

I was helping Kristin move some furniture into one of her renovation projects when I dropped a very heavy drawer on my big toe. OUCH!!! It took every ounce of my self-control not to yell out a giant F word and scare the entire neighbourhood. I would honestly put the pain on the same scale as what I felt when I broke my legs. Toes are sensitive little nuggets and they are not meant to have heavy things slam down on them. Yuck. 

A couple of days after the incident, I spoke at an event in Kelowna and I took the stage in my sock feet because my toe was so swollen I couldn't even get my shoe on. Good thing I wear fun socks!

This has put a bit of a damper on my running rampage - I haven't been able to hit the pavement in a week now and I am starting to go crazy. Like, really really crazy! I lie in bed at night and my legs are shaking because they haven't been exercised. My mind races. I am super disorganized and I am losing all sense of my own focus zone. Hopefully this sucker heals fast so I can gain back my sanity soon…

You don't notice how much of an impact that running and exercise have on your ability to focus until you can't do them. I've got to figure out an alternative plan because I can't stand being inside my head for another second!!!!!

5K for Gymnastics Canada

Yesterday, I ran the 5K at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront run in 21:31. My goal was to come in under 23 minutes so it was definitely mission accomplished!


I ran today in support of the next generation of Canadian Gymnastic stars. I believe in their potential, and I know that it is going to take funding to get them there.


Thanks to everyone who played a role in helping me raise close to $3000! And to those of you who would still like to donate, you're in luck! Donations are being accepted until mid-November. If you feel so inclined, my fundraising page is here. *Note: All donations over $25 receive a tax receipt which is always nice;)


I've got to admit, running a 5K is much different than running a Half Marathon. You have to access a different part of your body and mind. The longer the run, the more strategic you have to be in the your approach. You can't go out too fast or you are in for big trouble at the end. But when it comes to a 5K, you just have to give 'er. From start to finish, you have to grind the gears and push yourself to the max. Today's 5K made me feel physically strong and powerful and it felt great to cross the finish line in support of Canadian Gymnastics!

Annie and I ready to run!

Annie, myself and Helen 

Focus Zone

I don't know if you heard this or not, but multi-tasking died in 2009. In order to make a real impact in this world, it's essential to create a focus zone. Shift happens when we have the space to be single minded. 


Major gains in any project are made when we find our perfect formula for focus and go there often. 


It's natural for the inner villain to pipe up when you create this space. It often says, "You can't just focus on one thing. You have so many things to do"!


What the villain doesn't know is that more things get done when we create the space to start and finish them. And, the more we complete, the more productive we become because we gain momentum when we feel a sense of accomplishment.


My Focus Zone looks like this:


- Phone off
- A specific task to complete has been outlined and sits in front of me (ex. complete blog on focus zone)
- Desk cleared
- Email closed
- Internet off (a biggie! google searches can be addictive when you start to struggle)
- A small pad of paper at a far corner of my desk for "backburner" items that come up in my mind and try to take me off task. I write them down and deal with them later.
- A timer set beside me for a designated amount of time (usually for 45 minutes, but can be up to 2 hours)
- silence in the background - or occasionally music, but something ambient without words.
- A glass of water or a coffee. 
- And I've usually done some sort of physical activity within an hour and a half beforehand.


Without my focus zone, my mind races with my list of things to do. I can be so easily distracted. I find my villain comes in to attack me often when I haven't created boundaries. Sometimes I can start writing an email, then go to a website to reference something, then hit up facebook "just to see", then remember something else I forgot to do, then start walking to the kitchen to write myself a note, then unload the dishwasher, then fold some clothes, then play with Cooper, then check my twitter on my blackberry and then come back to my computer half an hour later having completely forgot that I was even writing that original email.


I have found that creating a focus zone in my life has literally doubled my productivity. I have become so much more effective because I have the space to get things done. I'll admit, some days it's hard to go there - especially when my list of tasks is overwhelmingly long. But the thing I've found is that I get things done faster and of higher quality when I simply focus on one thing at a time.


So, now it's your turn. What does your focus zone look like? I'd love to hear your comments! 

Half Marathon

At the beginning of the summer, I felt desperate for a fitness goal. I was craving commitment and I needed a challenge. I was feeling very unfulfilled because I was trying to do too many things at once. I needed a fitness focal point and so I decided to run a half marathon - a big part of me didn't think I could do it. Remember, I used to run a mere 25 meters at full speed towards a stationary object and flip over it. 21.1km seemed slightly impossible...


I spent the entire summer committed to the goal. I sweated my face off as I ran up massive flights of stairs (multiple times, may I add). I ran around the entire town of Westlock 3 times in order to get in my required km's. I ran in the pouring rain. I ran on vacation and while camping (of course, I had a beer right after :) ). I almost got heat stroke a couple of times. I fought off the lazy demons and even organized an informal 10K race in preparation for the big event. I was up EVERY Saturday morning at 7am hitting the trails with my amazing running crew (Breezer, Kimbo, Kung-Fu and De-Rock; I love you guys!). I remember one Saturday morning, though, when my running buddies were all out of town - I ran for nearly 2 hours by myself while listening to TED talks on my ipod. I hated it, but I loved it. Oh, how the life of being committed to a goal makes my wheels turn! I loved that morning because I felt like I was gaining momentum with each cement footed step I took. I could have easily said NO, and I wanted to, but I didn't. Giving up was available to me, no one else was there to hold me accountable, but I chose to push through and it made me stronger. 


After a summer full of training, I am extremely proud to say that on Saturday October 1st, I successfully ran my first half marathon. It felt amazing! My goal was to run it in under 2 hours and I came in at 1 hour 47 minutes. Booyah! 


I started off nice and slow just to make sure I would have some energy left for the end. It was a beautiful course and on a couple of occasions I completely forgot that I was running...I think they call that runners high ;) Then, when I saw the 18km mark, I started to pick up speed. I moved to a 4 minute km and started to blaze past people - I was in my element. Zoom. Zoom. Zoom. My inner superhero was screaming inside, "Move it people. I'm coming through!" When there was only 250 meters left, I found a totally new gear and sprinted to the finish line.


When it all ended, I was tired and satisfied. I felt like I had just experienced a really big moment in my life.


I also thought to myself, "I think a marathon IS possible"…


Uh Oh.

Arrrrg! Crossing the Finish Line

Team Awesome - L-R: Shewfly, Kimbo, Breezer, De-Rock, Kung-Fu

Nice medals!

We did it!!!

I'm running 5K for Canadian Gymnastics! Please support me :)

Friends, Family and Colleagues:

I have decided to run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 5K on October 16th to raise funds for the next generation of Canadian Gymnastic Superstars!  

My goal is to raise $10,000 (all of which will go towards the Canadian National Teams) and I need your help over the next 2 weeks to achieve it. 

To donate, please click on the link below:

KYLE SHEWFELT SCOTIABANK TORONTO WATERFRONT 5K

Good news: I give you permission to share the link with any gymnastic fans in your network :)

Extra good news: Online donations of $25 and over will automatically receive an official electronic tax receipt.

I LOVE gymnastics and I know you do too. To find out why your contribution matters, please check out this link: KYLE SHEWFELT.

Thanks so much for your support! 

My advice to Olympians with 10 months to go!

As the calendar turns to 10 months before the 2012 Olympics, here is my Top 10 advice to athletes preparing for the London Games:


1. Don't change too much - what you've been doing is obviously working. One mistake I see often is that athletes start to panic. Stay calm and trust yourself. You've still got 10 months.


2. Put yourself in pressure situations beforehand. Try to recreate what Olympic sized pressure feels like. It's impossible to completely recreate, but the more you hold yourself accountable to the "one shot" mentality, the more comfortable it will become.


3. Pick a time in this next 10 months where you can relax and take a mental break from your intense training. Put it in the plan. Our minds need rest and recovery as much as our bodies do.


4. Start an Olympic blog and engage your network in your journey. The pursuit of excellence is most inspiring when the journey is shared. You'll feel the momentum with each comment you receive!


5. Don't be afraid to say NO. Make your Olympic dream your biggest priority. Beer drinking and camping can wait until you're retired ;)


6. Turn negatives into positives. Feel like the pressure is building? Guess what? You've earned it, sucka!


7. Focus on the details - Olympic titles are won by milliseconds, centimeters and pointed toes. Little details make all the difference.


8. Be consistent - show up everyday and execute your plan to the best of your ability. Simple, but a tried and true technique to reach your potential.

9. Visualize the perfect performance every night before you go to bed.  

10. Focus on your preparation, not the outcome. You have no control over who stands on the podium. You do, however, have total control over how prepared you feel when you stand there with a chance.


Good luck!

The Canadian Sport Centre Calgary had a really fun golf tournament called "Golf with an Olympian".


My team rocked! My golf skills, however, are very very bad...


It's a good thing I like to drink beer.


Interestingly enough, my friend Robyn's (who's wedding I attended in Kelowna this summer) Dad, Don (far left), was in my foursome. What are the chances?!

I benefited greatly from the incredible services that the CSCC offers to athletes. In fact, I think I used every possible service atleast once (nutritionist, fat testing, life services, athlete resource centre, YES program, sport psych, chiro, massage, doctors, surgeons, physio, MRI, sonorex, etc, etc, etc, etc…) Without their support, I would not have been able to have such a successful career in sport. 

Netball Quest 61

Congratulations to my friend, Martin Parnell, and his team for breaking a World record this weekend!


They played 61 simultaneous hours of netball. Holy smokes. That's crazy.


Check out more info here

photo courtesy of www.pushstart.org

I showed up for a mere hour on Sunday morning to lend my support. The game was in it's 40th hour and it had turned from "netball" to "zombieball". What an amazing feat…it really goes to show you that anything is possible when you set your mind to it and have an amazing team.


To contribute to Martin's goal of raising $25,000 for Right To Play, please donate here.

CBC Sports Day In Canada

I was part of an awesome panel discussion with my buddies Jenn Heil, Hayley Wickenheiser and Brian McKeever for CBC's Sports Day in Canada.


Please check it out here.


I just have to say, Scott Russell is my idol. He is so awesome at what he does and it inspires me...


Also, my friends Jason, Karen and Rosie were rockin' the trampoline action at the Distillery in Toronto. Check out their performances here. 


Thanks to True Sport and Participaction for their enthusiasm about what sport can do to help shape the future of our Country.


Yay for #sportsday!

35 days until World Gymnastics Championships...

There's 35 days left until the beginning of the World Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo. This competition also serves as the first Olympic qualifier. The pressure is on.


For the Canadians, they have their work cut out for them. They need to be top 8 in order to guarantee full teams to the Olympic Games. At last years Worlds in Rotterdam, the men were 14th and the women were 13th. There is no room for mistakes in Tokyo if they want to travel to the Olympic Games with their teammates.


With 35 days to go, this is the time to buckle down and start committing to excellence. Every turn needs to be done with intention. The details need to be perfected. Consistency, team building and confidence should be the priority. Every gymnast should be in a position where they know they WILL hit their routines - the big question now should be: how GREAT can I make my routine?


Each gymnast and coach should be assigned their roles. Every gymnast should know where they stand in the line up. Every coach should know who will be on the floor and what each gymnast needs them to do or say before their routine so they feel comfortable. Everyone should know how to execute their job seamlessly. Ego's should be left on the sidelines. The teams need to be teams - not just a bunch of individuals wearing the maple leaf. 


The gymnasts should be forced to come to the gym each day with a detailed plan. It should be demanded that they take ownership of excellence. Each day, they need to be a little bit better than they were the day before. 


The gymnasts should also be using a lot of mats in training to stay safe. Safety is essential at this point - everyone needs to be feeling strong and healthy. Feeling healthy leads to confidence and momentum. Fluke mistakes are the only acceptable ones at this point. Mind games are unacceptable.


The gymnasts should be put in pressure situations NOW. Olympic qualifiers are stressful and we deal with stress best when we know what kinds of thoughts and feelings will come up. Meaningful competition scenarios should be created in the gym so the athletes can stand on the podium in Tokyo and feel like it's just another routine. 


The gymnasts should be working on visualization and positive self-talk. You can't DO the perfect routine until you can see yourself doing it. That's a fact.


With 35 days to go, this is when it starts to feel like the hard work is paying off. The hard part is done. Now is the time to switch gears into warrior mode and start training like a champion, not just another competitor.

Best buds

After a long run, my boys and I had a little nap. Heaven. Most times it's the little things that make life grand.

Patch and Cooper

Stuck

I am at a standstill. 
My mind is frozen. 
I keep running into a brick wall. 


I am working on a big website revamp and at the moment, I am completely and utterly paralyzed.
I have written everything else, but I saved the hardest part for last.
The Bio and About Me.
I like it better when someone else writes these types of things for me. 
I don't know what to share. I don't know what people want to hear. I don't know what sounds impressive…(am I even supposed to sound impressive? Perhaps that's my problem) I keep having a battle with my villain. I write the same thing over and over again, hoping that it will be different. Oddly enough, it never is.


What I'm struggling the most with is sticking a stake into the ground and taking ownership for something. I feel the need to write a lot about the past, yet I am so focused on the future.
I am focused on what can be. I am focused on possibility.
I am not focused on what was. It's done. 


I had a conversation the other day with a friend's sister who is a fashion designer in London. We talked about having to let go in order to become something new. She wishes she could throw her old collections into the middle of the street and watch cars run over them. I found this very intriguing.


We dedicate our lives to something and then it comes to fruition. But once it's done, it's done. Why does the the world want us to define ourselves by what our past entails? Why do we have to write biographies?


I start to edit before I even write. My inner critic is judging me. "That doesn't sound good", he says.  I am on the verge of giving up. Being on the verge feels like a lump in my throat. It would be so easy to say, "Screw it, I'm over this. I'm not doing it. It doesn't matter". But it does matter. I want my story to be told in the perfect way. I don't want it to be dry. I want it to be funny and have character. I want it to be interesting and to capture what I stand for. Why is it that when we live through our experiences it is so difficult to make them sound exciting? Should writing your own 'bio' and 'about me' pages just be outlawed? That would make life easier.


I tend to be very critical of myself and get stuck in patterns. This I know is true. 


I guess sometimes the best way to cure a writers block is to take a step away and stop judging the fact that it isn't working. I think that's what I need to do. 


I am going to read a bunch of other fun bios and see if they spark something new inside of me. Because the reality is; I get to write what ever I want. It doesn't HAVE to impress anyone except for me.


I love you blog. Thanks for helping me gain perspective once again.

My job as coach

My one and only rule = Realness. 

This is a BS free zone.

As a coach, I care about your agenda. I help you get through the clutter and discover what’s best for you. I can help you improve your focus, productivity, time-management , organization, relationship and health.

Do you want to make a bigger impact in this life? What will your legacy be?

As a coach, it’s my job to listen and to be curious. It’s important for me to hold your agenda so that you can get to the next level.

My job as coach is to help you discover who you want to become, what your values are and what is standing in your way from getting the life you want. I'm over excuses.

My job as coach is to help you get unstuck from a place of stagnation to a place of new perspective – a place where new and exciting possibilities are available.

My job as coach is to help you be open to the options without letting the little voice inside your head (also known as your saboteur) tell you that you aren’t good enough, you can do it later, you don’t have enough money, you’ll do it when you have more free time etc, etc, etc, etc…

My job as coach is to help you design, create and actively engage in living your best life. The person who you want to become is accessible to you today. 

Life can be as BIG as you make it.

My job as coach is NOT to inspire you to live a more fulfilling life. The motivation must come from you.

My job as coach is NOT to fix you. I don’t think you’re busted! My coach training gave me an amazing set of tools so I can put you in a position where you can create the life you want. And if you don’t have a clue about what that life looks like, that’s OK too. We can work together to help you uncover something about yourself that you have never recognized or acknowledged before.

My job as coach is NOT to make you take action – it’s up to you. I can, however, help you find that momentum and purpose you seek. It lies within you.

My job as coach is to celebrate your victories and to feel your defeats. Life is an experience and I believe we should experience every part of it.

My job as coach is to help you be in touch with what’s happening in your human experience and to appreciate it.

My job as coach is to champion you to hold yourself accountable to greatness.  All I want for you is for you to reach your potential.

My job as coach is to make you wildly uncomfortable.

My job as a coach is to help you push through the obstacles and to stop settling for something less than what you are capable of.

Life should not be a constant string of incompletes.

My job as coach is to be your sounding board. Want some suggestions? I’m your man!

My job as coach is to hold you accountable. Things get done when we have accountability.

I am here. Be in touch. Let’s do this! 

Stop doing something and start standing around...

Have you ever heard the saying “stop standing around and do something”? Well, I think it’s sometimes valuable to “stop doing something and start standing around”. In life, it’s important to breathe and to be comfortable just being where you are. Validation isn’t always necessary.

Many people run away from what they are feeling or try to cover it up. Oddly enough, many people feel like something is missing in their life. Coincidence? I think not.

Could it be that they are always trying to run away from discomfort? It’s OK to feel. It’s OK to cry and to be frustrated. It’s OK to be overcome with joy and feel like your heart might explode. Emotions make us real. You can’t progress until you’ve taken then time to experience and process where you’re at.

Ok. I know. I know. This sounds pretty hokey pokey, but when was the last time you actually sat in your sadness and just felt what that was like? Most likely you bought something, ate something, called someone or tried to come up with a solution as to how you could remove the discomfort.

It’s amazing what you notice when you take a few moments to just sit/stand there and observe your life. For me, when I’m confused, I notice my left temple pulses and my teeth clench. When I’m joyful, my chin lifts, my shoulders push back and my eyes feel wider. What happens to you? These reactions are patterns that have a big reflection on your life.

So what becomes available to you when you start to notice these things? Simply put, awareness and choice.

Awareness of the fact that your body has a natural tendency to react in a certain way. This knowledge is powerful because you can catch the reaction before it starts to control your life. When I feel confused and I notice that my teeth are clenching; I make an effort to breathe and relax my mouth. Usually this simple action gives me a new idea or perspective on my problem. You are now in the drivers seat and things become more pro-active rather than reactive. You also now have an choice - do you feed it? 

Meditation is teaching me that we always have a choice.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, out of control and like your day (or life) is starting to be a constant string of reactions then I suggest you stop doing something and start standing around…even if just for a little while.

The higher we aim, the more we learn

They say that the higher you aim, the further you fall. 


Perhaps that should be adjusted to say: The higher you aim, the more you learn.


Success isn't always defined by the external. In fact, personal excellence is ONLY felt from within. 


It's the internal victories that help us grow.


It's that peace of mind in knowing that you did everything you could to be at your absolute best. At this place, outcomes and external rewards are secondary. They are meaningful, but they don't hold nearly as great of meaning. Perhaps to others, but not to you.


One thing I've found time and time again is that the world wants us to seek external victories and rewards. It wants us to define success and excellence by the things we have. Medals, money, cars, positions, power, etc. These things don't matter. They can be taken away, lost, stolen or forgotten. 


Reaching OUR potential is the only reward that lasts forever. As many can attest; when you know you've reached it, you don't need validation. You just know. And that is enough. There is nothing higher than YOUR best.


The higher we aim, the more we learn.


So, how's the view looking from way up there? And what are you learning right now? 

10K - 45:30

Yesterday was the informal 10K and I ran it in 45:30. I celebrated with Eggs Benedict.


Last year, my quickest 10K time was just over 43:00. Even though I didn't go faster than that this time around, I am still really pleased with my time. I've been training a completely different system and my focus hasn't been on speed, it's been on endurance. 


Next Saturday is an 18K run, my furthest yet! I am already nervous about the way my feet will be feeling at the end. I've started calling them "cement feet" because they literally feel like they've become one with the pavement. 


What I loved most about running the 10K yesterday was that it wasn't daunting at all. 10K? Easy! Last year though, 10K was my max and I couldn't even imagine going beyond that.


It's amazing what becomes available to you when you push past a limit. All of a sudden a whole new realm of possibility opens up in your mind. It's fun to proceed through life and to look back and know that you've advanced or made progress since then. Even though I didn't destroy my 10K time from last year, I still feel like I've accomplished something. Knowing that my mind has changed and my level of tolerance has grown makes me feel really proud. My approach and my limits are stretching and I get glimpses of that every single time I run.

Tuesday's are HILLS day!

Memorial Drive Monster Stairs in the winter

Last night, I ran these stairs like they were going out of style. Today I feel powerful and alive. And busted! Good busted though ;)

Half Marathon training has been going so well. I have been very dedicated to the plan and I am starting to feel momentum. 

I remember being a gymnast and feeling the shift from 'everything being hard' to feeling like I was in a groove. I am starting to feel that shift happen in my running training, especially on the days when I am doing longer distances. I used to run 5km and pray for the end, but now I am finding that I start to feel warmed up after the 5km mark. 

The longest run I've done thus far is 16km. I've done it twice and both times I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment and agony at the end! Can you say lead feet? * I'm laughing at myself because my villain's trying to tell me that 16km's is not that far, but I am not going to let it attack my victory. 

All of this running has started to make me curious about how far I can push myself. What's my max? What's my limit? What's my potential? I ask myself these questions a lot.

I am really enjoying having my plan on the fridge and being able to cross out each completed run. I'd recommend it to everyone! There's something very satisfying about looking at  a bunch of X's. If I didn't have the plan, I would definitely not be feeling the same amount of progress that I do now. Being able to look back at all of the work I've done is motivating. Also, being able to look forward at what's to come allows me to mentally prepare. 

Next Saturday, September 3rd, is an 18km run and I know that I need to set myself up for success the night before. I used to feel such a sense of pride and self-confidence when I was a gymnast and I would have my 'One Beer Only Friday's'. I would go out with my friends and they would all get pretty saucy, but I would only have one pint. There was nothing that could steer me away from my goals. I couldn't even be tempted because when you know what you want and what you are working towards then that becomes your focus. It's a game of priorities.

Training for this half marathon has also made me realize how much I crave potential. I notice the competitor starts to come out of me from time to time. The other morning, when we were running our Saturday 16km, I noticed that we were a bit behind our pace from the previous week. I didn't want to come in over that time at the same distance and so something inside of me started to scream, "PUSH! MOVE! GO!" I had to listen. I broke away from the group to complete the last 3km on a faster pace so that I could come in under our previous weeks time. There's just something inside of me that needs this sense of progress and accomplishment. Thankfully, I know this quirk about myself and I know I need to fuel it. Otherwise I would have felt guilt the rest of day knowing that I "could have", but didn't.

Having a goal is great. Pushing my own limits is even better. Working towards something is a requirement in my life. And I am so glad that I have an amazing group of friends who are doing this together.