I’m currently working on my race recap for Escape the Cape, but it probably won’t be out until later in the week.  The race has free race photos (amazing!) so I’m waiting and hoping to have a few good pics from the race.

But I just have to say – this event was amazing.  When I set up my race schedule this year, I made it a goal to do something that scared me.  Last year, that race was Augusta 70.3.  The distance was daunting, and the idea of that training was a little terrifying.

This year, I had initially planned to register for a different 70.3, which ultimately got cancelled, and I just couldn’t find a 70.3 that I wanted to do that fit well into my schedule.  I’m a busy lady, after all.

So instead, I decided to jump off of a boat.

Escape the Cape starts with a leap off of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.  You jump off a boat.  And then swim a mile (or .35 miles if you’re doing the sprint).  It is intense and intimidating.

And it was awesome.

Eleanor Roosevelt said “Do one thing every day that scares you.”  I certainly don’t do something frightening every day, but when I do, I like to go big.

Of course, now I’m wondering what I have to do in 2018.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Motivation Monday, but I wanted to share the story of Lauren Hill.  You’ve probably already heard of her.  But if not, check out her story.

Lauren is a college freshman.  Last October, she was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare pediatric brain cancer that usually strikes children under the age of 7.  In September, she was told that she only has months to live.

But rather than curl up in a ball and cry or retreat into her family, Lauren is spending her final months raising awareness and raising funds for research into this cancer that has no cure.

Lauren did have one thing she wanted to do though.  She wanted to play college basketball.  She had been signed to Mount St. Joseph prior to her diagnosis, and when she found out that she had months to live, the opening game was moved up a few weeks so Lauren could play.  She only played a few minutes, and the team ran a play that they had planned with the other team to allow Lauren to score during the game.  But this day was about more than allowing a young woman to achieve her dream.  The story grabbed attention from around the world.

Not only has Lauren succeeded in her goal of playing her first college game (and three more after), she has done an amazing job raising awareness.  Fundraisers have popped up all over the country in her name.

Lauren has officially retired from college basketball, as she won’t be enrolling in the spring semester of school, but she will continue as an honorary coach with the team.  She has already raised $700,000 for The Cure Starts Now Foundation.  Here’s hoping she makes her goal of $1 million by the end of the year.

Source

This applies to running – when you hit the wall, dig deep and get going.  But I think it applies for a lot of life as well.  We’ve all gotten fed up or scared or thought that we couldn’t keep going.

Don’t stop.  Keep Going.

Half Full 2013 Promotional from Half Full Triathlon on Vimeo.

The above video brings me to tears every time I watch.  It’s not the triathlon I’m doing this year, though many of my fellow Team Fighters are featured in the video and I’m sure I will be out there volunteering this year.

This is why we Fight.

Thank you again for all your support, be it through donations or purchasing from my Stella & Dot trunk show or providing emotional support during my training.  I appreciate each and every one of you.