FULL CIRCLE

When I started my own journey back in 2008, I was quite alone. I had just had my daughter and went from working full time in a very full and busy medical office to being home with just me and Lola. And trying to figure out being a mom and getting healthy. 

I then discovered this great little online Mom's group and found an entire community of Mom's getting healthy - JUST LIKE ME - and I found "my people". I loved that little group so much (Work it out Sexy Mamma) and it was really get to connect with others all over the country to exchange ideas, challenges, and just talk. They were so integral in getting me to a really good place.

Life got busy and my focus changed - from weight loss, to running to triathlon and I lost touch with that group but still connected with a handful via Facebook. 

Here we are, 8 years later. Lola is now 8. I left a toxi marriage. I moved. I discovered so many things about me. The last year of my life has been so chaotic and stressful and fantastic, all at the same time. 

I am starting over in so many ways - a new life, a new love, a new perspective. I am starting from base on training. I have a long way to go to get back to where I was as an athlete. So much has changed but so much has come full circle. 

And now that the movie, From Fat to Finish Line is out, a whole new world of friends and opportunity to help OTHERS has opened up from OUR online community. Now it is my chance to pay it forward. 

I  want to share this blog post from my FFtFL cast mate, John: 

Friday, October 21, 2016

From Fat To Finish Line - The Facebook Group

If you know me at all, you know that I am very proud of my involvement with the documentary film, "From Fat To Finish Line." It's the story of a dozen people who each lost weight through running and then took on the challenge of the Ragnar Relay Race in the Florida Keys. We battled the heat, the humidity, and the miles, and *spoiler alert* we ultimately crossed the finish line as a team. It was one of proudest moments as a runner.

The film is available now for purchase on iTunes and Amazon or you can watch it on NetFlix.

Believe it or not, the documentary isn't what I'm most proud of, though. It's amazing to be part of it, absolutely. But even more important to me is the community that has sprung up as a result of the film. Let me introduce you to From Fat To Finish Line - The Facebook Group.

Our little group of twelve has become a tribe of more than 7,000 people.

Yes. I said 7,000.

And we're still growing every single day. Because people want to be part of a running community that celebrates who they are right now AND who they want to become. We are fat and thin, tall and short, male and female, young and old. We are every color and religion and nationality. We strive to be the very best at welcoming all walkers/runners/joggers.

We celebrate miles. We cheer finish lines. We applaud non-scale victories. And most importantly, we recognize and support each other when those miles and finish lines and victories feel unattainable and out of reach.

We ARE the reason that people are pushing themselves to try more, to do more, and to be more. We are running buddies and shoulders-to-lean-on and a global support network unlike any other I have ever known.

Thanks to all of you in the group for becoming my running family. And to the rest of you, what are you waiting for? Come join us!

Ready Set GO!

2014 is already flying by quicker than I hoped and I have not even had a chance to finish my recap on 2013--which was a year of adventure, accomplishment, firsts and growth!

While I continue to paw through 2013 and try to get my thoughts on the year down on "paper", I'll catch you up on things that are going on NOW.

January 8 2014.

In just a few short weeks, I will be hopping on a jet plane and flying to the left coast--
Los Angeles CALIFORNIA! What was supposed to be a bucket list race, The Surf City Marathon has been downgraded to the Surf City HALF Marathon (so I guess this leaves the race on "the list").
I spent the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years battling a pretty stubborn case of bronchitis and I am finally NOW just coming back to "my normal". The training wasn't happening. While I did not fear the ability to finish 26.2 miles under-trained, I feared the reality that this could set me up for some sort of injury. Something I DO NOT WANT heading into 2014. I just do not have the miles on my body just a few weeks out to risk it. It's not a gamble I am willing to take.

So I will still got to California.
I will still run.
I will still get to see people I love like Angela, who is making this awesome movie called From Fat to Finish Line (yeah, shameless plug! ha), also my teammate and AD from Breaking Bad Nina, Tough Chik Shannon and my GOTRIbals gals Tanya and Marison. Pretty much hanging out with REALLY.AWESOME.PEOPLE.

Speaking of FFtFL, here is a 3 min teaser Angela released on our "anniversary" of crossing the finish line in Key West, a year ago Sunday. Enjoy!!

Bienvenido a Miami! RagnarFLK Part II

Bone chilling temperatures came to Maine just as I was getting ready to head south to Florida. The timing could not have been better! I had been looking forward to this trip for so long, it seemed like Mother Nature was giving me the perfect send off to make sure I REALLY enjoyed the Florida sunshine!

I opted for a late night flight and would not arrive into Ft Lauderdale until 12:30am. I figured I'd just sleep on the flight (not really) or get some work done or read. I found a Starbucks in the airport and with my own little bit of Rocket Fuel, I was really ready to FLY!

I arrived in Ft Lauderdale to this!

My darling team mate John holding up my before/after magnet that would grace the van during the race!
I was so excited to finally meet John, he was one of those people I just connected with immediately and knew that we would get along famously!

Of course, me being me...we had go get slightly inappropriate in the airport in the middle of the night!

It was a quick drive to our hotel in Miami and I was ready for sleep!

Woke up the next morning to this view from my window

So naturally I dragged my room mate Carly, kicking and screaming  out into the sunshine for a cup of coffee and a quick walk just to see what the temps were like.

It was a gorgeous Miami morning and our quick walk turned into a leisurely 4 mile walk along the water. The day was starting to warm up and Coach has given me a run to complete so it was time to lace up and get moving!

I spent the next 8+ miles checking out the area of Route 1 and then Bricknell Key and then Miami River walk area. It was getting hotter but I was just so happy to be out RUNNING in this amazing sunshine! It had been years since I was in Miami and it was refreshing to see it with THESE eyes and on foot!

sweaty miles-taking a break at the Mardarin Oriental  

I had a couple hours to kill before I had to get ready for dinner and filming with The Today Show for our team dinner so I chatted with one of the local guys who was working on the film, Billy. Billy was heading out to take care of some film business and so kindly offered to take me down to South Beach. All I wanted to do was chill by a pool or by the beach!

After I walked around South Beach a bit and then settled into some calm reverie at the Ritz Carlton

So as you can see, life was NOT sucking sitting on a cushy lounge chair on South Beach-enjoying first class service and yummy iced tea!

I got to swim in the brilliant turquoise water and dig my toes into the white sand beach. I'm not quite sure why I even came home...

Billy was nice enough to come and pick me up later in the day, just in time to jump in the shower and get ready for our team dinner!

We were going to be filmed by the folks from The Today Show for a New Year New You piece they were doing--and they would be with us for part of the Ragnar Relay as well.

Dinner was being hosted by a place called Randazzo's Little Italy in Coral Gables. After a long 24 hours with not a lot of healthy fare, I was hungry and excited for a nice Italian dinner with my team mates!

After some filming business, we "wrapped" for the day. The owner came over and said a few hello's and shared with us how he started his restaurant-he was a former boxer and liked to eat. Then he disappeared  not to be seen again that night. It's really funny how awful the whole dinner experience was...and I almost feel bad for the people at Randazzo's (but not really).

Within a minute of sitting down--now mind you it's the 12 team mates, several spouses, and an entire film & production crew trying to get settled--we were asked by the tall blonde with a demanding Eastern European flair what we wanted for dinner. "You get 2 pasta and 2 salad. What do you want?"

Now first, we had to set up and arrange all of our own seating from small four-top tables (there must have been 35 of us) and we were not even given a menu so we had no idea what they ever offered. We were all kind of shocked and laughing like "what the heck is going on" and tried to figure out what we were doing. We have some team members who are very particular on what they eat, we have some that are gluten intolerant, etc. so getting a menu together for a group based on "2 pasta and 2 salad" was going to be an experience. We then discovered that the restaurant had been generous enough to offer our dinner gratis but apparently it was based on the "2 pasta 2 salad" deal and if we wanted anything other than that, we would be paying for our own dinner--and that was just fine with us!

So we got a veggie pasta dish, a chicken pasta dish and a vegetarian salad and one "meat salad" (as they called it). We finally had a server, got our orders figured out and wanted to EAT! Ada and I were going to split a chicken picatta dish and we'd have some of the pasta and salad.

The salad came out relatively quick compared to how the rest of the night's meal would progress. The salad was actually fantastic too-both of them!

They were antipasti style salads, the veggie one with tons of veg and artichoke hearts (love 'em!) and the "meat salad" had mozza cheese with salami chunks. Delish! They also served a crusty bread with a fantastic hot pepper & garlic olive oil. I could have had this as a DRINK it was sooo good.

It is a good thing that I liked the salad and the bread so much because it would be a LONG time before we say any other food...or plates.

The veggie salad-yummm

the "meat salad" equally yumm

my very empty plate-we would spend A LOT of time together

with Team Captn Rik

The service was just down right horrible. The waiter who had our section just seemed pissed off whenever we asked for anything. I mean, really...we did not have any plates other than our appetizer plates. We were never asked for drink orders (though we did have water). I'm find with water but an iced tea would have been nice.

It was taking SO long for our dinner orders to come out that one team member John finally spoke up and asked. John explained that we had been waiting a very, very long time and we were so hungry he did not really care WHAT they served at this point! I think we had been waiting close to two hours by now. We did not order any appetizers other than the salad that was offered so no idea what the problem would have been.

Pasta was finally delivered to the table. Now, one of my team mates--Jersey Jen--is gluten intolerant and they had been made aware of this long before our visit. They even said that they had gluten free pasta just for Jen! What a happy surprise when they remembered and brought out the special plate of gluten free pasta topped with....

wait for it

GLUTEN!! 
The chicken was covered in flour and sitting on top of the gluten free pasta.
At this point we just had to laugh. So we made jokes about it and Jen continued to eat more salad and eat around the Gluten Covered Chicken Chunks.



Then Katie ordered chicken lemone and asked that it be prepared sans butter or oil. Not only did the waiter give her hard time about it, but it came out swimming in...

wait for it

OIL. You can read about Katie's take on our team dinner on her blog Runs for Cookies.

So really, dinner was just SO BAD it was comical. We ended up making jokes all night and even invented our own word.

Randazzo'd

Randazzo'd-getting totally frickin screwed on something that could have been really good.

Regardless of the disaster that was dinner, we laughed and enjoyed spending time with our team mates. It was a good night and a great way to be starting 2013...now to sleep!

I'm Home-Ragnar FLK Part I

**written just I got home from Florida, jacked up on NyQuil and feeling quite awful** 

All I know is it is going to take several posts to put together my experience with the From Fat to Finish Line crew and the whole Ragnar experience. It was one in a lifetime I tell ya!! What an adventure.

We laughed.
We cried.
We ran.
We swore. A lot.
We got really hot.
We loved every single moment.

Where to start? I have no idea. My mind and heart are just flooded with the images and moments from the last 6 days in Florida; I am a little overwhelmed (in an amazingly good way) by the whole experience now that I have a moment to sit down and breathe.

Actually, the breathing isn't going to well at the moment as this little chest cold is the one thing I brought back from Florida that could stay there...but what else could I expect from staying up for nearly 40 hours straight, feeding my body "food" it wasn't used to and running a 197 mile relay in hot humidity? I knew I'd come home and get sick.

What I am walking away from this experience with is a full heart and 11 friends that will forever have a place in my heart. Doing a Ragnar Relay has been on my "List" for a long time, since I started taking running seriously, so when I got the invite to do this project it was an easy YES! I am so grateful that THIS was my first Ragnar! Yes, FIRST. You bet your running shoes I'll do more!! What an experience...LOVED IT!

I am actually struggling to put into words all that I experienced this weekend. I think I need a few more days to let it all sink in...so here is a little note from Team Capt'n, Rik, aka Captain Crunches. He says how I feel right now so much better than I do!

As we drive north, I am seeing landmarks from the run. And I am struck by how far we have come, in so many ways. 

First and most obviously, we ran a long, long way, doing something together that none of us could have done alone. And it was truly amazing. And so big, physically and emotionally, that I know I will be months processing it all. 

Then I think about how so many of us have never seen this part of the country, and how, if it wasn't for this team, we may never have. 

Then I think back about this team coming together: how we were all just acquaintances at first, then teammates, and finally, a family. We made that huge and wonderful transition in less than one year.

And then I go back even one more level, back before we knew each other. At one point, we were all sitting on our couches, fat and miserable, thinking this was our lot in life. And one day, each of us decided that wasn't going to be the end of our story, and we each got up off that couch and figured it out. We each found our own path, and we each found our way into a pair of running shoes. Then we found other runners, and a new community, and a new way of life.

And then, we were ready for all this to happen.

From Fat to Finish Line. 

Gate C14 - Florida Bound!

No time like the present to keep up on my promise to blog more! Here it is the second day of the New Year and I'm blogging already! (ha ha ha)

I am currently sitting at Gate C14 of Logan Airport in Boston, waiting for my flight south to Florida where I will embark on one of the most exciting adventures to date. If you have been a reader for a while, you know that I am headed to Miami to run the Ragnar Relay to Key West with 11 other amazing people. While we are running, we will also be filming a documentary film--From Fat to Finish Line!

Make sure you check us out on Facebook and Twitter to follow along!
Facebook
Twitter 

Time flies...it seems like just yesterday I was being asked to be a part of this amazing project.
I spent a lot of time in South Florida. During that time, I was in a very different mind set and my priority would have been more party focused than anything else. Having left that part of me behind quite a few years ago, it is going to be a very interesting experience being there--and running from Miami to Key West--with a very different, healthier set of eyes.

I am certainly expecting some tears to flow. Not sad tears, happy tears.
Happy that I am where I am right now.
Has it been easy? NO
There have been some tough times and struggles. But everything happens for a reason (or so I believe with all my heart) and each and every step brought me HERE.
To this moment.
To right now. 

To fully embrace the NOW and the NEW and THIS LIFE, I have to be thankful for the hard times and the pain. IT just makes it all so much sweeter NOW.

Every step I have taken has brought me right where I need to be.

I am so excited and ready for this. I have said before I started this blog to inspire others to change.
Now, being able to be a part of something so much bigger--to inspire and motivate MORE people through this film, it is just so awesome!!

So in a few minutes, I'll jump on a plane and head south.
And run a bunch of miles.
And make a movie.
And enjoy every minute of it.

ABtastic!

This getting up at 2am business is starting to get old...and least I can embrace the quiet time and get stuff done. RIGHT??

I think I have had an epiphany about it though. Not only is it the time change having an impact in my internal clock but I am not training the amount of hours and putting the miles on my body like I was just a few weeks ago so my body does not require that much sleep. Maybe?
Seems like a good theory to me!

I am really happy to be back in the weight room (yes,  I am saying it again!) and cleaning  up the diet is having quick effects! My hands are starting to get calloused again (no gloves for me!) and "The Vein" is making an appearance again! 

While most of October was focused on running and planning for the marathon, I was easing into some circuit training and doing my own classes again (something I avoided during tri season). There is also this little Rev3 Abtastic Challenge I am doing with some of my Rev3 team mates and I have to be rocking a killer 6-pack for Knoxville (in May 2013) but I also have this little 200 mile run to complete in January.

So here is a peek of how things are progressing:

SEPTEMBER: my starting point. I was not happy with how "soft" I had become without weight training.

OCTOBER: dropped a bit of belly fat and starting to get back to a learner mid-section. Obliques and that lower V are starting to come around again...

NOVEMBER: (this week, so mid-November) two solid weeks of clean eating and lifting heavier than I have been. Throw in some high intensity circuit training and running/biking and we are finally seeing progress!

Seeing how my body has responded with and without weight training over for the last two seasons was an eye opener and I will work to KEEP it part of my regime next season. 

I have been asked many times about my tummy (considering what it used to look like). 

Yes, being fat heavy and carrying Lola to an astounding 42 weeks of pregnancy took it toll on my body, but luckily genetics are on my side with this one. I don't have any stretch marks on my belly from either life event...but neither did my Mother.

I also contribute it to my weight loss being slow and healthy. I was losing the weight slowly, I was eating nutritious foods and I drank a TON of water. I think this certainly played a role. 

I am also asked often HOW to get a lean belly.

You can crunch away until the cows come home but that is not going to do a thing for you if there is a soft layer of fat covering up those abs! So how do you get a lean midsection?

EAT CLEAN!

There is a little saying "Abs are made in the kitchen" 

What you eat and how you eat plays a huge role in this. Eating clean simply means eating REAL food. Ditch the processed stuff, get rid of the sugar- and sodium- filled foods. Alcohol needs to go too...look to eat lean proteins, lots of veggies (green ones!), fiber rich complex carbs and water, water, water! 

CARDIO!

and while nutrition is 80% of the battle, you need to add in cardio (I love HIIT drills in conjunction with steady state cardio). Cardio is going to help rid the body of some of that fat and water covering up those abs! Core stabilizing cardio activities like kickboxing are a great way to have fun AND work your body!

CORE!

you need the above two along with CORE specific training. You need to target the upper, lower and sides of your core. Twisting crunches, bicycle crunches, hanging leg raises, planks...

I also like to incorporate compound exercises that force the core to work-a favorite being walking lunges holding a weight overhead and my all time favorite body-blasting exercise-

BURPEES!! (cardio blast-core engaging, upper body!)

So with less than two months until the Ragar Relay in Florida with my FFtFL crew and Knoxville a good 6 months from now, I've got a lot of work to do to get HERE...

So with that, I am off to work my abs at AnneMarie's Core Class and then I'll do some running and lifting. Getting up at 2am has it's benefits...I'll be ready to rock and roll at 5am.

What is your favorite CORE exercise?

Monday Motivation: The Morning Blend

My Fat to Finish Line team mate and Team Captain, Rik was on the Wisconsin show, The Morning Blend today.
Check it out!


From Fat To Finish Line 

Monday, Oct 15, 2012

http://www.themorningblend.com/videos/173511951.html

click the link to view Rik's interview with The Morning Blend-I am not able to upload it here. 

      Many people who are overweight do not think it is possible to get in shape. Formerly overweight, guest Rik Akey joins us to encourage folks struggling to lose weight not to give up - and he says running is key to making the change possible and even fun.

     Rik is part of a team of 12 who were all obese and who have gotten into shape and lost a significant amount of weight. In January 2013, the group will run a 200 mile relay race in the Florida Keys as a camera crew follows their journey to make a documentary about it.

     For more information on the team and the film, visitwww.fattofinish.com. Join their Facebook community of inspiration and fitness tips at www.facebook.com/FatToFinish.

     Rik and his team are in the midst of raising funds for the film. Until October 23rd, if you pledge anywhere from $5 to $5000 dollars, you can obtain great rewards such as the movie on DVD, signed posters, unique fitness experiences, and more! Visit www.indiegogo.com/fattofinish.

Media Blitz

Last week I got to meet with the local paper, The Portland Press Herald, to chat with reporter Steve Solloway about my adventures. It was really nice to relive some of the shining moments of the last few years.

It really has been so cool! From making the Rev3 Team to being asked to be a part of an amazing project, From Fat to Finish Line-The Documentary. There is but one simple message I hope to convey to everyone; 
It is never too late to change your life for the better! 


This is the article that went online last week and I a bit disappointed when I initially read it. There were a couple errors in the article and while I was most likely hypersensitive to it, I just want to clarify a couple points. Ahhh, the media...they can be so liberal with words.

But once I saw the actual print in the paper, I have to say I was quite blown away. I certainly was not expecting to see me and my beautiful bike plastered front and center on the front page of the sports section. Who would have thought that THIS girl would grace any page in the sports page just a few years ago...

September 19 Steve Solloway: Trying, trying, and now a triathlete Jen Small cut her weight in half and plans to enter her first full triathlon next summer so she can be a role model to her daughter. SACO — Jen Small was a party girl. A regimen of Diet Coke and cigarettes by day, and much stronger beverages, good food and more cigarettes at night. Courtesy photoJen Small decided a change was a must. She was 33, her weight had soared and her habits were not good. That was five years ago. Today half of her body weight is gone, she’s competed in a half-triathlon, and is planning for a marathon and full triathlon. And most important? “I’m very happy.” Jen Small, before and after. She married a football player from the glory days at Biddeford High and had a good job at a medical lab. Life was fun. Her weight reached 250 pounds but she didn't hear any alarms. She wasn't listening. That was about five years ago. Tuesday, I walked into a pub in Saco for a lunch date with a 38-year-old, 125-pound triathlete*. A very fit blond-haired stranger sat alone in a booth with her laptop open. Jen? Jen Small? It's difficult to downplay the transformation. She was never an athlete at Biddeford High. She tried competitive figure skating and showing horses during her middle-school years. She tried more traditional team sports. She wouldn't commit herself to any. Run? She was a self-described couch potato. Just three years ago she cheered herself after completing a mile on a treadmill without stopping. On Sept. 1, she swam, biked and ran 32 miles* in the Revolution3 half-triathlon at Old Orchard Beach. Small finished 190th out of 444 entries and eighth out of 27 in her 35-39 age division. Three days after the coming New Year, she'll join 11 other runners in a 200-mile Fat to Finish Line relay race from Miami to Key West, Fla. The individual stories of those who lost an average of 100 pounds will be told in a documentary film centered on the two-day relay. She plans to enter a marathon and next summer, a full triathlon in Cedar Point, Ohio. She has picked up sponsorships through her new membership on the Revolution3 triathlon team. Her racing bike, she says with some amazement, is worth more than her car and her husband's truck. "It's an older truck," said Small, "but you get the idea." She has a new job as a personal trainer. "When I started, I didn't have the money for a trainer or a nutritionist or any of the support people you should have. But not all trainers have walked in my fat shoes like I did." She realizes she can be that coach and that trainer for someone else. The former Jennifer Ouellette got religion soon after she got pregnant*. Certainly the nicotine and the alcohol had to go. "Oh, I really abused my body." After daughter Lauren was born, Small decided she didn't want to be a fat mom. "If you're healthy and happy, you'll be a better mom and a better friend." Small sat back and smiled more broadly. She and Casey Small have been together for more than 13 years. He was the youngest of three brothers who played for football coach Mike Landry when Biddeford was the dominant high school team in the 1980s. This summer Casey Small got religion, too. He pushed away the beer more often, talked to his wife about a training plan and started running. He did his first three miles recently. The last time he did that was in his college days at the University of Southern Maine, running around Portland's Back Cove with his hockey teammates. Now he wants to beat his wife on the bike, which has become her strength. "They called her the freight train (at the Rev3 competition). She was moving," said Casey Small. "But I'm coming." Jen Small dreams about becoming a professional triathlete* although there's relatively little money in the sport. Being a role model to her daughter is more important. "I want my daughter to think she can do anything." Small has a blog: milesmusclesmommyhood.blogspot.com. She doesn't want mothers to think it's too difficult to compete and raise a child. She also knows her husband has stepped in to care for Lauren when mommy is away from home training or competing. "I think it's awesome what she's done in the last two years," said Casey Small. "It doesn't surprise me. She's always been very strong-hearted. You can't tell her she can't do something." Jen Small knows she's changed. She doesn't hide her so-called fat photos. She wants people to see where she's been and where's she's going. She also knows this: "No camera can go inside me and take a picture of what really changed. I'm very happy." __________________________________________________ So yeah, it is a very nice article but I want to clear up a few things: 1- I do not weigh 125lbs. I never said I weigh 125lbs. I guess the writer took a little creative license there because we never talked weight. I weigh 145lbs and I am proud of that. I was 262 at my heaviest recorded weight.  2-A "half-triathlon" is not 32 miles, it is 70.3 miles. A 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. Every mile counts! And Rev 3 Maine was on August 26th. 3-I quit smoking and drinking before I was pregnant. The idea of getting pregnant is what motivated me to get healthy in the first place. I wanted to be smoke free for a year before getting pregnant. It happened a little faster than planned but I had a solid 6 months of smoke free and alcohol free living before I was pregnant. It was always my goal to be a healthy Mom so I could be a role model for my child.  4-I DO NOT DREAM OF GOING PRO. My dream is to be able to make enough money to be able to continue to live my dreams by helping others reach their own goals through personal training and coaching. I enjoy racing but I do not have the talent to go pro! That actually made me laugh a bit.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Saturday I found out that my friend, fellow blogger and From Fat to Finish Line team mate, Jen was featured in Health magazine!  How fabulous is this picture?? ...and there it was! I was in the article too!!

Health got all the facts right too!!
Guess you will have to go check out this months issue of Health to read about Jen and me! 
:)

Catching up

Wow, it has been a crazy couple of weeks and I am so behind on blogging! What I can tell you is that life has been fantastically crazy and I have so much to share too--my Rev 3 Maine race report, my adventures working for Rev3 at Cedar Point plus some other cool stuff. So much awesome to pack into a couple blog posts!

I am now in full-fledged marathon training (5 weeks! eek) and it is nice to be switching gears a bit. I had to take off a late season triathlon because of family stuff aka Lola's 4th birthday AND her first day at pre-school! 

I want to extent a huge thank you to each and every one of you who pledged support From Fat to Finish Line on Kickstarter. Our initial efforts to raise funds for the film fell short so the $11,000 pledged was returned to supporters. But we are fighters and we are not going to stop at the first road block! So we are starting over at $0 and have a new fundraising effort underway. 

Check out the Indiegogo site!





There are still great rewards to claim like DVD's of the film, custom medals and more! Please, help us make this happen. I know that we can inspire others on their own journey to finding HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

Rev3Maine Awesomeness (and a winner)

I don't even know where to start on the chonicle that is Rev3Maine Weekend!

Wednesday night I went down to the race site to get in a swim and several of the Rev3 peeps had arrived and I was getting SOO psyched for the weekend. This race has been on my calendar since last fall when they announced it and it was finally HERE!

Thursday morning while out on my ride, I hit up the bike course for a final ride and the big Rev3 trucks had arrived! WOO HOOO More excitement. I got to chat with a couple Rev3 friends and knew I'd have to bring Lola right down to see her favorite Rev3'er, the beautiful and fabulous Laura!

Thursday when I got to finally pick up the friends arriving at the airport--but there was a small twist to the plan. Mama Bear herself needed a ride to the race site from the airport and I was happy to provide transportation!!

Jason and Scott did not get in for quite a bit so Carole made sure to make good use of the time by teaching Lola some karate.

Scott and his family, Kristine and Laila all arrived safely and then it was Jason's turn. One more Rev3'er needing help, Pat (could listen to that brogue all day long!). With the help of my friend/training partner/coaching-guinea-pig, Marc everyone was well taken care of and made it to the  places they needed to be!

Friday was promising to be a full day so it was time to get home and get to bed!

The first order of business was to get out to the Rev3 swim site and introduce Jason to (not-so) cold Atlantic ocean water. While the rest of us marvelled at how nice the water temps were, Jason was a tad cold but manned-up quite well and was swimming just fine.

At the swim I got to meet up with another team mate I have been dying to meet, Joshua. Who, in my opinion is just freaking awesome sauce. Not just as an athlete (congrats on London!!) but just an all around decent human being who has overcome his own obstacles in life and is living healthy now.

This is team mates Kristen and Joshua on race morning,
picture lovingly hijacked from Facebook :)

So Friday brought more fun at the Rev3 site, getting to see my team mates, friends and just enjoying hanging with some really cool people.

And speaking of cool people, two new cool people rolled into my life this weekend too.
Jen and Angela.
Jen is a fellow blogger and we have been in contact via social media for at least a year or a year and a half. Jen is the gal who invited me to be a part of the From Fat to Finish Line film and the Ragnar Relay team in the first place. Jen is also the Executive VP of Program Development at Media Meld Studios and Angela is the President of Media Meld, the company producing the documentary.

They were able to schedule a visit to Maine to get some footage of the Rev3 Maine race and start getting some back story on my journey (more on that later).

The best part of their visit is Jason had NO IDEA that Jen was coming to Maine for the weekend. They have gotten to know one another through this lovely little thing called social media as well.

I also got to experience THIS awesome bomb!!

with Jason (me) Heather and MATTYOOOOOO!
I seriously don't think I could have been more delighted to spend time with such awesome people. My energy was on EXPLODE and I was SOOO ready to race!!

Dinner was a crew of us at Jimmy The Greeks

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Thanks to all who commented on the Caption Contest!


The winning caption is:

"Um, Mommy? I think you need to add shower to that awesome training plan from Coach Sonja!"

Wendy Nitschke please email me at jsmall14(at)maine.rr.com and I will get you hooked up with some Foggle and TriSlide!!