One Conscious Thought...

Happy November Pasadena Lufriends!

Most of you know that on Sunday, November 4, I ran and completed the NYC marathon. What most of you don't know is how hard it was to finish, and how much more mental strength a marathon requires. What? You mean it's not about strong legs and lungs? Well....read on!

I ran the NYC marathon because I was challenged to enter the lottery by a Michelin co-worker. All of my co-workers know that I am a runner, and most interested in all things fitness. I think those who don't run think that EVERY runner does marathons. That is a false assumption! I had never had a desire to do a marathon. I have run half marathons, and other distance challenges involving multiple sports, but never a full marathon prior to New York. My co-worker challenged me to enter the lottery for NYC. He told me: "You probably won't get in, so don't worry about it. However, if you do get in, you know it's meant to be. " I fully believed that meant that if I got in, there was something God wanted me to learn from this. If not, it would be the proof that I shouldn't ever run 26.2 miles at one time.

So you all know the end of the story. I got in. Approximately 100,000 entrants bought a lottery ticket ($10) and only about 40,000 got race entries. I was one of the 40% who hit it big in that lottery. On July 2, I started my marathon training program and committed to train my mind and body to complete the marathon on November 4. Training was pleasantly uneventful. Mid way through I had pretty painful hip issues, but was able to run through them with a lot of determination and my new found love for yoga and Paul Katani's Saturday morning class. These two additions to my training helped strengthen my body, while giving it time off from the stresses of those long runs of 15 or more miles.

The physical part of the training went well. I knew physically I could handle this challenge. About 3 weeks before the race, finally, I felt mentally ready. Something just "clicked" on a long run, and I knew that I had "it" in me to finish the distance in New York. So, I was ready!

Race weekend arrived. I was a nervous wreck. At times I can be paralyzed by perfection. What I mean here is, I won't go out unless I go out great. I was so worried about all the unknowns of the marathon. I had never run in NY. You don't run more than 20 miles in your training. What about those last 26.2?

The guns went off. It was an amazing and emotional start. The toughest hills of the entire course were the first two miles on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, but I was so excited I didn't even feel them. I signed up to run with the 4:15 pace group to finish in that time. I was so pumped during the race, at times I was outpacing my group and having to slow down and save energy. Miles 1 through 18 were a blast! I couldn't believe how fun this was. The ENTIRE course was lined with cheering spectators, NYC firefighters, church choirs in the streets, you name it. Mile 19 I felt a little tired. Mile 20 I was thrilled to see that number!

Mile 21 happened and my body decided it was time to quit. My mind was saying " This is stupid. Why am I here? I can't finish this. I am not a distance runner. This was a stupid challenge." But then I thought about all the people who knew I was running, who were watching me on the internet, or cheering and praying for me. I remembered the quote from the manifesto about One Conscious Thought. I decided to take control. For miles 21 through 24, I consciously and forcefully told myself:
"I am a marathon runner. I am happy to be here. I am so lucky! I am going to finish! I am strong! I have trained for this! This is not scary it is fun! Finishing is worth this fight!"
Over and over, I controlled my conscious thoughts.

You know the end of the story.
I finished! My time was 4 hours and 23 minutes. I was in the top 50% of all runers, and the top 25% of women. My times were impressive, but that's not what I'm taking away from this experience.

What did I learn from running the marathon? What did miles 21 through 24 teach me?
I can do anything I want to do. So can you. When you set goals, you set action plans and you tell people about them. You set out to achieve your goals You get 90% of the way, something happens and you have to decide whether achieving those goals is worth the fight. It IS worth the fight. You CAN finish. But the hard part it, it's up to YOU to believe in yourself. Everyone around you believes in you and will be there cheering for you at the finish. I can promise, with every goal will come reasons not to achieve them. You just have to decide if you are strong enough to fight for the finish and get that medal of achievement.

So, don't go out and run a marathon. Just tell yourself "I can do it." Those quotes on the manifesto aren't a waste of paper. Put them to work in your life, and you will see your world elevate from mediocrity to greatness!

My favorite shirt I saw while on the marathon course worn by other runners:

(Well, two favorites)

1) Pain is temporary...finishing lasts forever!

2) Powered by fear of aging.
(worn by a 50+ year old man who was super cool!)


Hugs and lu luv!
Mere

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thriller!

Wow! I just got home from taking a special class at Equinox tonight. Alex taught the original choreography from the music video, and it was so much fun! I think I shall be very very sore tomorow though! Paul even took the class. He was dressed in torn up gym clothes. What a sport. If you haven't gotten over to Equinox yet, it is such a priviledge that we are able to go over there for free! A BIG THANK YOU TO LULULEMON!!!

TORI

Sylviane...cont.

Sylviane officially signed up for R&D today! She was so much fun to have in the store + she has some major feedback!

club sportif

Soo...I'm know I'm not really part of the team anymore but I just wanted to say that I took a lot of classes at Club Sportif and focused on getting Sylvianne to join R&D (has she done that yet?). Anyways, her brand new booty class kicked my well booty every time and she works on the core in that class much more than in her Pilate's class. You should try it and see what you think!

...Enough from me...miss you guys!

-- Rochelle

Pilates at Club Sportif!

Hello all!

Yesterday I went to Sylviane's mat pilates class at Club Sportif! Sylvaine is super nice... One of the first things she asked me was if I am a dancer...when she heard I am a cheerleader she brought up the fact that she is getting a sport aerobics team together and is trying to find people...I told her it seemed like an interesting proposition, but I don't know if it's exactly my thing...so we'll see about that one...

It was just me and 2 other ladies in the class. I was really disconcerted at first because she turned the lights really low...maybe it's just personal preference, but I am more aware of my body when I can see what I'm doing really well in the mirror. The other women were regulars and knew most of the routine, but I caught on pretty quickly. I felt pretty good about it after, but overall it wasn't as challenging as I'd hoped. I really wanted a sore core today, and I don't feel it anywhere!

Anyway, I thanked her for the class after, and she told me she wants to come in to Lulu soon...she's in desperate need of bras. I told her we had some great options, so hopefully she will be in soon!

hello from BOSTON!

HELLO MY LOVELY LUS!
Well I thought it was about time for me to post since I've been away from you all for ...too long! I'm getting super jealous of all the posts though because you guys seem to be having a blast in classes and I miss, miss, MISS going to classes with you guys! Well I miss going to classes in general for that matter.
Boston is GREAT! It's still pretty warm; fall unfortunately has not kicked in quite yet but the trees are already starting to change colors and every year it seems more and more beautiful to me! I saw my very first Boston lulu wear-er! She was jogging on the street I live on and I seriously had to put effort into not screaming, "YOU'RE IN LULULEMON!!!!" She's the only one, besides myself, who I've seen in our lulu garb in this whole city which is very very surprising...however, I think that'll change soon because I heard there's a store opening up! I think there is a showroom somewhere right but my friend who goes to Emerson said she heard there was one going up in the Emerson College area.
My parent's took a trip to Vancouver and took pictures of the very first ever lulu store...it was so cute that they thought of lululemon (since i allllwwaaayyys talk about it).
Anyways, I'm rambling on and on and on and I really just wanted to say this:
I miss you guys so much! Being with each of you at work really made my day, every day. I am so grateful for having all of you in my life because you are all such amazing individuals. I love you all and cannot wait to see you when I'm back home!
Much love from Boston! Take care!!

love,
Rochelle

p.s. hello and nice to meet you cyber-ly all you newbie lulus!