Race to the Finish Line

[dawsond1-blog]

Serenity.

My #lolastrong moment of today was making it through the ENTIRE hour and 15 minute hot yoga class this evening. I found strength even when I needed to sit and rest... Which is not easily done for me (at all). Our instructor today, as we were doing our vinyasa flow, explained finding strength and peace in our bodies just like being in the depths of the ocean where the water is still, but having our minds soar on wings like eagles as we find freedom and serenity in the sky. I'm learning that strength comes in all forms... Not simply muscle.

[dawsond1-blog]

Wait... I won?! How did my body survive that? 1st place 5k in the 20-29 age group. When I started this blog I said that I would post every day. I was FIRED UP. I was alive. Did I do that? Nope. Not really. Movement in times of depression is nearly impossible, but giving up in times of depression is absolutely not an option. When I look at this photo I see ME. When I look in the mirror I see someone I don't recognize. The Love to Move 5k 10k 13.1 Fest was necessary for my journey not only to remind me that I CAN do it, but because I needed to see strength in myself--in the photo version on myself. So, it's time to step far away from the mirror and jump into the pool, on my bike, and on the trails because, Ladies, the Mermaid triathlon is TWO months away. 💛

[dawsond1-blog]

My 4th of July consisted of about 16 miles of hiking through the mountains in Tahoe with a group of 11 amazing humans. I needed this. Tahoe. Fresh air. RESTART.

[dawsond1-blog]

Play!

Sometime you have to just go out and play. I've gotten in to a pretty consistent routine with working out... And to go along with that I am someone who gets bored with routine easily. It leads me back to that place of Netflix watching and lack of motivation to move. SO yesterday we (the Jr. high staff at Twin Lakes) took the Jr. Highers out to Arroyo Seco for a day of adventure! We hiked a little over a mile out to the gorge where we swam, cliff jumped, slid down natural water slides, ate together, and adventured together. Sometimes I just have to get out into nature, do something random, soak up the sun, and PLAY!

[dawsond1-blog]

When your i am Lola hat matches your Jolyn suit.... 🙌🏼💪🏼💙

[dawsond1-blog]

This is my brother. He's kind of legit. He runs track and pole vaults and jumps on trampolines. Some day I'll be able to keep up with him 😊 He graduated from high school today.... So I experienced the world of people who go to the gym at 5am. It was a deliriously hilarious workout... 3 AMRAPs and 2 miles of running later I was at Silver Spur having breakfast with the family. 5am-9am has never been so jam packed with goodness. 💪🏼💁🏼

[dawsond1-blog]

Success.

My right knee made it. For the first time since I was 8 years old I'm not back at the orthopedic office talking about surgery. I had no idea this day would come… Ever. My challenge now is pacing myself so that I don’t injure myself. I’m kind of known to “go big or go home”. My competitive nature and big personality always lead me to pushing my body to the limit–sometimes even beyond what I can handle. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be to slow down. Every muscle in my body is sore… I even had to take an extra rest day. So, it’s time to figure it out. CONSISTENCY. That’s my new goal.

[dawsond1-blog]

Fish out of water...

I have swam for at least 20 minutes EVERY day this past week... i feel AMAZING. I had forgotten how great it is when I put myself back in my natural habitat (You guys... I swam across a pool at two years old. The water is where I thrive as an athlete). 

I LOVE the freedom water sports give me, especially being someone who has a lot of knee injuries. I felt ALIVE today. Now, that’s something I haven’t felt in a while. 

[dawsond1-blog]

In my happy place ❤️

[dawsond1-blog]

Oh, my knees!

Will I EVER be able to work out without knee pain? I HOPE SO!

This morning I got to start my day with a run on East Cliff with my good friend Uriah. As we were chatting I realized why this whole long distance running thing is so hard for me. My WHOLE life I have been a short distance sprinter. A power athlete. Gymnastics for example: vaulting... sprint and power. Floor... power and endurance and strength. My best event was beam... explosive movements and control. And then when I moved on from that I was a “slamma-jamma” (as my friend Treva calls us outside hitters) on my club volleyball team. And, to continue my point further I was a sprinter on swim team. I did the 50 or 100 Free, the 100 IM, I was the free relay anchor and the 200 IM free anchor. I have always used my adrenaline and competitive nature to my advantage and would move as fast and hard as I could to win. I would sometimes come out of the water so out of breath that I couldn’t always get out of the pool right away because my heart rate was at such an accelerated speed.... “well, at least I won,” was something I often said to myself after a race.

So, this is completely new to me. My body is not use to this concept of “pacing yourself” or sustainability. I’m shifting gears from “GO! GO! GO!” to slowly going father and father in my workouts as consistently as I can. Little by little the goal is for my knees to feel better; for my spirit to feel more alive. My knees have been through too much to be perfect, but perfection is not what i’m after anymore. I just hope to get stronger and stronger every day... and obviously have a LOT of Fun. :)

[dawsond1-blog]

You guys....

It’s OFFICIAL! I will be FINISHING the Mighty Mermaid Triathlon on October 3rd, 2015. 

[dawsond1-blog]

Unplugged. 6-3-15

Alright... here it is. Better late than never!

See that photo up there? THAT perfectly sums up how I feel right now. My first day of training was incredible. freeing. challenging. eye opening. fun. 

I started my workout with a warm up on the infamous Seacliff stairs, some box (bench) jumps, push ups, and stretches. Then ran and an easy pace for 20 minutes. Then cooled down with a 20 minute freestyle swim at Cabrillo Fitness... my best friend Michael joined me for that one. :)

So... why did I title this entry unplugged? Every time I work out or run I listen to music. This time I didn’t even take my headphones. I spent my time listening to the birds, the ocean, the waves crashing on the sand, the sound of my breath and stride. I focused on being present in my workout instead of being sucked in to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”... as incredibly catchy as that song is. And yes, there is ABSOLUTELY a time for pump up music. Who doesn’t like working out to a great song?! In my life, I like to look for times of peace. Times where I can just rest and be in awe of nature. So, why not incorporate that aspect of myself into my workout?

I have a long way to go... lets do it!

Oh! And Happy National Running Day!

[dawsond1-blog]

Love to Move is committed to helping women transform their lives through movement, motivation and adventure. All women 5k-10k california

[dawsond1-blog]

[dawsond1-blog]

The Beginning

Hello!

My name is Deanna. That’s me on your left... the kid who looks like he’s really excited about being in this photo is my little brother John. He’s the best. 

I am so excited to start this Race to the Finish Line and I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride. I am notorious for beginning quests and not finishing, so I will be posting an entry on this blog everyday to not only keep myself accountable, but to share my experience! 

Over the next four months I will be training for a 10k (August 1st) and the Mighty Mermaid Triathlon (October 3rd). 

So... let me tell you a little bit about how I got here. I have ALWAYS been an athlete. I grew up doing gymnastics, soccer, swim team, rock climbing... basically anything that got my body moving. Then I retired from gymnastics because of knee and hip surgery. BUT! That did not hold me down. I continued to play sports: Main Beach club volleyball, Squash (I know, such a random choice), I swam on swim team in high school, messed around in crossfit for a minute, did 2 sprint triathlons, and skied as much as I could every winter. You’re probably thinking “woah. that’s a long list..” And yes.. the list is extensive, but I loved it. I loved it so much. 

Between 2005 and 2013 I had four knee surgeries and one hip surgery. I was in constant recovery mode for a LONG TIME. I still am. BUT, here’s the thing... my knee will always be something I will take caution with and it’s not going to hold me back from training to be the BEST version of myself that I can be. 

I have spent countless days of my life worrying about my body... Am I skinny enough? Is my hair blonde enough? Am I in shape enough? Did I eat healthy enough? Is my pant size small enough? AM I ENOUGH? 

It’s time to live and breath and work out in freedom! 

Are you ready? Because I AM!

“LOVE YOURSELF AS YOU ARE. And live your life, you know the one YOU”RE in, with the body YOU have. You’re worth it, YOU matter. Just as you are, beautifully wonderfully imperfect.” -Heidi Boynton

[dawsond1-blog]

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

Isaiah 40:31