My goal for this most recent IRONMAN race was to prepare myself for the two full IRONMAN races I am registered for in June and August. Therefore, my focus was to ensure my mind and body are ready. Unfortunately, my training did not go as planned due to life and sickness. I had only 3 bike rides and no open water swims prior to the event. Even though the training was minimal, I still enjoyed the day. I found myself appreciative to be surrounded by friends, perfect weather, and a beautiful course.
Here are 9 lessons learned from Chattanooga 70.3: 1- Learn to be flexible, life happens, and setbacks are normal. Sometimes you have to revisit and recalibrate your goals. Setbacks may slow you down, but the trick is not to let them stop you completely. 2- Adopt a no-quit mindset. When your body is in pain, quitting can certainty creep into your mind. In those moments you must harness the mental override. You must solely listen to the voice urging you to preserve. Allow it to propel you onward. 3. Nutter Butter cookies are the best fuel on the bike. I added Nutter-Butters to my fueling and it was glorious. These will now be a staple to my plan moving forward. 4. Surround yourself with people who uplift you. Ensure you're connected to people who are going to challenge you to make you better. 5. Celebrate big and small wins. Be the person who celebrates all-the-things. Not just wins but fun and growth of self, too. 6. If you have a fear of the open water, train in the Open Water! I did not train in the open water which led me to have a terrible panic attack. I doggy paddled about a mile, then found a kayak to rest on until I could get my heart rate down. I was able to finish but it took all I had mentally to do so. 7. You can do your best and still have fun. These two objectives can coexist. You don't need to throw challenge out the window to experience joy, and you don't need to be miserable to experience a personal best. 8. Leave no room for excuses. Stop making excuses and start making room for changes. You may need to pivot, get curious and keep going. 9. Ice cream is the best post-race meal. Until Next Monday...
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Steve and I arrived in Hamburg 3 days prior to the marathon. With perfect weather, we filled those days with sightseeing, delicious food, and drinks. Unfortunately, I couldn’t adapt to the time change and so I was only getting about 1-3 hours of sleep each night. Regardless of the sleepless nights, we made the most of each day as we toured the city. We covered most of the sights and put in hours of walking. We also ate most of the foods on our must-try list. The experience was amazing, but it made getting to the start line of the marathon a real struggle. My belly was full, and I was tired and dehydrated.
However, after a 2-mile walk, I made it to the start line and was sure glad I did! The Hamburg marathon course was scenic, with crowds similar to that of the Boston Marathon. The marathon is as much a sight-seeing tour as it is a running race! The course couldn’t be more diverse and exciting. It wanders through Hamburg’s main highlights, and in a city like Hamburg, the highlights are abundant. We ran along the Reeperbahn to Altona then along the Elbchaussee to the Harbour, where we saw spectacular buildings like the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Around mile 9 we ran through a tunnel where the locals chanted, and the sound was incredible. We moved out to the green areas of the city towards the Stadtpark. The last section of the running course brought us through Alsterdorf and Ohlsdorf. At mile 20 my quads locked up. I switched to intervals, running for 10 minutes and walking for 1 minute until I hit the finish line. We then ran from the “Witch's Cauldron" on Eppendorfer Baum. After running along the west bank via Dammator I ran then ran through the Finish Line! With a 4:06 finish I was feeling amazing. I recovered from the run with a brat and beer. After hanging out with the locals for a while, we walked back to our hotel. The day ended with dinner with the best Sherpa EVER! Hamburg is a beautiful city, and the Hamburg marathon Inspires! Last month, Steve and I celebrated 26 years of marriage. When I think back to all we contended with during our first year married, I wasn’t sure the sun would ever shine on us. That first year was easily the craziest, hardest year of my life (and if you’ve been reading my posts, you know my life was by no means a walk in the park). But the storm cleared, and the sun shone brightly on us.
We were broke, each having less than $100 in our bank accounts. Additionally, Steve was a single father paying alimony to his ex-wife in Korea AND I was pregnant with our first child together. Steve dealt with the courts/Korea to end the alimony so we could afford to live. We could have easily been torn apart from the stress of our daily struggles and uncertainty of our future together. We both brought with us experience from past bad relationships. However, because of this, we knew the love we had for each other was special. We were committed to making us work at all costs and regardless of the challenging circumstances. Beyond our financial woes, our time together was limited and taxed. Steve was working two jobs (military and Sam's Club) and was away on TYD in Egypt. There was no facetime, and the only correspondence we had was through old-fashioned letter writing. I was juggling my difficult pregnancy/ postpartum experience, adjusting to being a wife, and new mother to my firstborn and new daughter from Steve’s previous marriage. Postpartum, I dealt with depression from having a newborn with colic and two breast infections from breastfeeding. Regardless, I was determined to build a loving home for Steve and our girls. With so few resources, we made the most out of what we had. We always took advantage of anything we could do as a family for cheap. We attended festivals, garage sales, and planned short getaways. We celebrated holidays modestly in our small apartment (we didn’t have a big extended family to gather with, it was up to Steve and I to make holidays meaningful). In fact, I would run the local Turkey Trot in an attempt to win us a turkey. Steve would jokingly say to me, “no pressure, but if you don’t win, we won’t have a turkey this year…” We shared the load and the love and we made it work, the best we could. Although our time together that first year was limited, the time we did have was wonderful. We prayed, loved, laughed, enjoyed, and supported one another. Even though year one was our hardest year, we sit back now and appreciate how much we learned and how close we grew. Steve and my foundation is STRONG, and we are blessed to still share the same love and affection now as empty nesters. Every time we hear Danny’s Song, we both instinctively break into a smile and sing in unison: “even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey, and everything will bring a chain of love…” We continue to love, laugh, and learn together. Our love has only grown. I have no regrets, and cannot imagine my life without my partner, Steve Keller. Until Next Time… Dear Steve,
April 20th marks our 26th anniversary! On this date, I married the love of my life. I remember driving in the Mazda 8 with friends to Reno and driving home afterwards because we had no money for a hotel stay. I recall how we promised to love each other ‘til the end of time, and how determined we were to know we could make that promise come true. We knew we were perfectly imperfect for each other but that was more than enough. We ALWAYS knew we would make it no matter what! We overcame every obstacle that came our way and did not allow anyone (or anything) to hold us back. Our love has always been unconditional and STRONG! On this day I remember everything we have been through together, and all we have accomplished (the truth is we have accomplished A LOT): college degrees, raising three amazing kids, traveling the United States running a marathon in every state just to name a few. I cannot imagine my life without you in it! You add so much joy and laughter and have been a part of all my favorite experiences! You are the source of my Joy! You have always inspired me to become the best version of myself. You have always pushed me forward and remind me that with God, hard work and determination I can be anyone I want to be. You are my better half, my lover, and my best friend! You are my biggest support and cheerleader. As Sierra would say, “Dad is team Pollyann!" I can never thank You enough for being my best friend in the whole world, my safe harbor, my peaceful joyous haven! Thank you for never making me doubt you, your intentions and your honesty. Thank you for remaining faithful to me. Thank you for being a Godly, loyal husband worthy of my trust. Thank you for taking care of me and always taking my needs into consideration (even through menopause). Thank you for always making our marriage your number one Priority! You are the Best Sherpa Ever :) Thank you for being the best possible Pops to our children–raising them together has been FUN! Thank you for making me proud to have children with you. Thank you for putting up with me all these years. Thank you for embracing my imperfections and for loving me because of them. Thank you for being YOU! And thank you for allowing me to be myself. I have fallen more in love with you each day of our 26 years together. You make marriage so EASY and so FUN (especially when life has seemed so challenging otherwise). You are ‘peace’ to me. I love you with all my heart and I look forward to growing old with your hand holding mine. Even though we ain't got a lot of money I am still in love with you honey… And in the morning when I rise YOU bring a tear of JOY to MY eyes… Happy Anniversary to my fun, loving Husband! Here’s to the next 26 years…. CHEERS! Love, Pollyann Don’t let anyone steal your joy. In a world where many people are unhappy with themselves or their lives, it is a common occurrence to attempt to bring others down to their lower level. I don’t think people always do this on purpose, but misery loves company. So, I am issuing this crucial reminder: Don’t let anyone steal your joy.
In fact, FOCUS on your joy. Joy is one of the most powerful and positive emotions we can experience. And similarly how misery is contagious, so is joy. When we see the world and our lives with joy, we see the beauty and goodness in and around us. The recipe for joy is different for each of us. For me joy is found when I spend time outdoors, with family, or appreciating the simple pleasures in life. When I compete in a race, the time is never my goal. Saying that doesn’t mean I don’t push myself, but rather I prefer to immerse myself in the atmosphere of the race and help someone push through if they are struggling or need help. So often the first thing people wish to know is my time or place for completion of an event. And here I remind myself: don’t let them steal your joy. In addition to people stealing our joy, there are sometimes circumstances in life that are out of our control that may cloud the joy in our lives. For instance, I have truly struggled with menopause for the past few years. My symptoms have been extreme and I would be lying if I didn’t say sleepless nights, frequent hot flashes, and depression haven’t brought me down. But I remind myself that going through this difficult chapter means I can help someone else. And I know that I can work around it and still enjoy the race (albeit a little more tired or weak sometimes). Menopause won’t steal my joy, it will just be another obstacle to hurdle. So to the person who is about to complete their first half marathon, someone breaking the cycle to work at McDonalds and be the first person to live off welfare, or the single mom struggling to support her family: don’t let others steal your joy. Be happy that you FINISHED the race and EXPERIENCED the event. Be proud of the fact that you can feed, cloth, and house yourself without the government assistance and are the first in your family to do so. Celebrate the fact that you are doing your best to love and support your child, even if that means you can’t give them the extra bells and whistles Don’t. Let. Other. People. Steal. Your. Joy. We must not allow their negativity seep into our minds and hearts. We must learn to disconnect from their words, actions and sometimes their lives. I have found that they are usually jealous, insecure, resentful or just not understanding of our happiness. Keep looking for the joy in the life you’re living. Even in darker moments or challenging chapters, you can find and focus on it. We must not allow their negativity to seep into our minds and hearts. “Don’t allow negative people to steal your Joy. When you lose your Joy, you lose your strength.” -Joel Osteen Until Next Monday… “Only a confident, secure, courageous person can choose to trust.”
-Richard Fagerlin It is safe to say that after years of betrayal as I grew up (parents, extended family, foster parents, and two ex-husbands by 21) I struggled with confidence, security, and courage. In fact, I lost all hope in humanity. I was powerless, disconnected, and vulnerable. I never thought my trust could be restored; I was content staying closed off and moving through life with trust in no one other than God. But in 1997, when I married Steve, I gave trust another try. Slowly but surely as time went on and with a strong intention to try, I successfully (brick by brick) built a safe haven of trust with my husband. Opening my heart and trusting Steve was one of the hardest (and most worthwhile) challenges I have overcome. It took FIVE years before I felt truly at ease in our relationship. No relationship is perfect, misunderstandings happen, and the hurt eventually passes. When something arises that could hurt our relationship: we address it, clear it up, and heal the wound. Be mindful of who you trust and pay attention to red flags, especially those that relate to your safety. Set boundaries and hold people you let in accountable. Trusting others can be difficult, especially when you come from a world of hurt. But trust in the right people is worth it! [Recap]
I woke up to three letters of encouragement from my hubby and received three big hugs from my favorite athletes upon arriving at the event (Stacy, Brandy, and Martin). I couldn’t have asked for a better way to begin my Sunday morning. Miles 1-5 greeted me with perfect weather (foggy and overcast). We moved quickly through the corral and were off! My fellow runners and I were surrounded by supporters who were cheering us on, and music filled the streets of downtown Fort Worth. Miles 5-13 are always my favorite at Cowtown. I absolutely love running through the Stockyards. At mile 12 a bakery was handing out chocolate chip muffins, and I of course enjoyed one myself… SO yummy! Miles 13-20 are always emotional for me. Around mile 13 we head up to the courthouse and the course is flooded with American flags, service members, and photos of the veterans who have died serving our country. My heart always swells, and gratitude fills me. I was still running strong at this phase of the ultra. Miles 20-25 were enjoyable! My body felt great; I was sure to stop at every stop that offered candy, and any rest stop I could for Gatorade to stay hydrated. At mile 25 I saw my favorite cheerleader, Mary, and gave her a big hug. Miles 25-31 are the hardest portion of the course. The sidewalk cement is more taxing to run on. At mile 27, I turned around, got some snacks and was off for the finish. Then came the struggle at mile 28. My hamstrings locked up and I listened to my body and stopped to walk for a while. When I felt slightly better, I picked up my pace to a slow jog/walk. Again, my cheerleader Mary was there at mile 29.5. I was hurting and she embraced me with another hug and the encouragement that I could do ANYTHING for one mile. And yes, Mary was right: I CAN do anything for one mile. I found a little pick me up with the end in sight and increased my pace for the last 400m. Mission Accomplished! I crossed the finish line with a time of 5:03 for the Ultra. I placed 2nd in my age group and 10thfor Overall female. While walking back to my car I chatted with a New York runner who told me she loved this event because people at Cowtown were so friendly and helpful. THIS is exactly why I love this event and have chosen to run it for ten years! I returned home to my hubby who had a big hug, proud smile, and finisher’s breakfast waiting for me. I am so blessed. [Reflection] Steve and I have loved running Cowtown over the years. In ten years, I have completed one half marathon (the year we had the ice storm), one full marathon, and the Ultra eight times! This course is positive, uplifting, and has an environment filled with fun. You can’t be a spectator or participant and not feel joyful. I am running strong and feeling great, but unfortunately Steve’s long-run days have ended. Now it’s time to turn the page and find a new adventure together. I know he will always support my future goals, but we are finding our new “next adventure” together. By the time I turned 21, I had been divorced twice, homeless, and lost all trust in humanity. I want to spend some time expressing what that darker time of my life was like in order to help others realize the importance of never giving up. Life can (and does) get better. I was holding on by a thread, but because I did hold on, I have twenty-five years of bliss with the love of my life (of course filled with many peaks and valleys).
I graduated at the age of 17 and married my first husband at 18. The college I was attending was closing, so I married my boyfriend and moved with him to Springfield, Missouri. The traumatized mind often tries to protect itself, and I cannot recall many details during this time. I do remember he dropped me off on the side of the road with the clothes on my back and (I think) a single bag when we were back in Washington state. We hadn’t even been married an entire year. I was homeless for a while, and then ended up staying with my sister briefly. She was dealing with her own issues at the time, and from there I found myself in my uncle’s basement while I worked and attended another two-year college. Within another year I was married again and living in California. Unfortunately, Husband #2 was an abusive marriage. I won’t dwell on the details of the abuse or issues in that relationship. But to put it into perspective, the marriage ended in a court martial and was the first case concerning a husband raping his wife. After a night of abuse, I moved in with a friend’s parents. Though the torment did not end with leaving the house. Husband #2 stalked me day and night. I feared for my life and sustained constant harassment. At one point he tried to put on a show that he was a changed man who wanted to salvage his marriage and convinced the pastor of our church to come to the house and get me to reconcile. That did not go well. One day when I was out for a run, a private detective assigned to the case was disguised as a fisherman. He jumped out at me and told me Husband #2 was hiding in the woods waiting for me. He told me I needed to stay with him and eventually I saw Husband #2 retreat to her car. That detective saved my life that day. After the court martial, I never heard from Husband #2 again. These years were incredibly difficult, and I wondered how much lower I could go. Homeless, lost and divorced twice by the age of 21. I was humiliated and hopeless. I didn’t have parents to turn to and felt so alone. This wasn’t the life I dreamt of, and I felt as though my entire life had been fighting in survival mode. How could I trust anyone? But my faith in God and good friends (who became like family) helped me get through it all. At 23, I found my person and partner in life. Life is amazing, but it can be awful. There are peaks and valleys, and most things are out of our control. Hold on. Breath. Trust that things WILL get better again. “One day you will thank yourself for not giving up.” –LR Knost Until Next Monday... Dear Pollyann,
What a rollercoaster ride this last year has been. You've had so much on your plate and at times the load has overwhelmed you. Though, you remained grounded, focused and hopeful. You did not give up, and instead you overcame. You held onto your peace, your confidence, and your joy (even in difficult moments). I know you felt like you lost yourself at times during this difficult season, and like life was crumbling around you. But you have and will continue to prevail. When you felt like giving up, you made the decision to get up, show up, and never give up. You are strong--a fighter-- and you have endured through everything hurdled your way. As you approach 50 in 2023, you feel like you haven’t been living your life to your fullest potential. But this next chapter is just beginning, and there is so much time to become the person you're created to be. You have embraced the challenges of menopause, took a new position at work, became a certified life and health coach, and began your new journey to becoming a personal trainer. You also placed in every marathon you ran this last year; completed the 50 marathons in 50 states journey with you best friend by your side and completed 2-full IRONMAN races. Your marriage is stronger, your faith is stronger, and you have become spiritually, mentally and physically stronger as well! Remember what you have gained over this last year: a love of learning, knowing the importance of surrender and how to give grace to yourself. You haven’t lost yourself, she’s right here. This chapter is finished, turn the page. 2023 is waiting for you and there is plenty of love, learning and growth to be had. Happy New Year! Love, Pollyann P.S. You did it! You've been writing your Foster Kid 2 Ultra Athlete blog for one whole year! Thankfully, this year was filled with grace, love, and teachable moments. Situations and experiences that 2022 provided contained many precious life lessons for my loved ones and me. I am excited to be able to share them with you in this post; here are 22 lessons learned from 2022, I hope they hold something for you, too!
1. The impossible becomes possible as soon as we totally surrender. 2. Don’t shy away from challenges of life, confront them voluntarily. 3. Comfort is a waste of potential. 4. If you master the mind, you can master anything. 5. The opposite of growing is dying. 6. Sometimes our fears (and even our love) can blind us. 7. Do the next best thing…. 8. Turn your wounds into a gift for society. 9. Learn how to recover from falling by failing. 10. Love yourself unconditionally and be yourself fearlessly. 11. If and when I notice negative thoughts creeping in, allow them to pass through with acceptance and without judgment. 12. We are here to honor our own individual path. 13. Your mind has to tell your body who is in charge. 14. 70 degrees is perfect for an Open Water Swim. 15. Move well, move strong, move more, move fast. 16. If you bite off more than you chew, chew! 17. Reflect, Release, Reset. 18. Suffering does not destroy faith, it defines it. 19. Immerse yourself in prayer. 20. The more you let go, the more you have. 21. When the mountain seems too steep, think about what the view will look like on the peak. 22. This world is not my home; I am just passing through... Have a Happy New Year, stay safe, and well. Until next Monday.... |
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December 2023
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