Most people write about the end of the year around the end of December or January. But I’m not most people.

While the calendar may say it is Feb. 4, 2012, today is my end of one year and start of another. Today also happens to be the day I am running 100 miles. Yes running. Yes all in one day (or less). When I first registered for the race, I didn’t notice the date. Till a few weeks ago. I don’t believe it is a coincidence. And for some, running 100 miles seems impossible. But for what I have been through in my life, 100 miles doesn’t really seems all that bad. I don’t know you how celebrate surviving one tough year, but as fate (?) would have it, I am running 100 miles. True Sarah Stanley fashion (I ran my first 100 miler on my 30th birthday to celebrate it). 

2011 was (another) tough year. Let me highlight a few of the majors.

1) Setting a goal of running all 18 RnR’s and raising funds and advocating for different causes (the FIT Project)

2) Sensing God’s call to move to Colorado and four weeks later I packed whatever would fit in my car, took the rest to Goodwill, drove 2,000 miles solo in the worst winter storm in 50 years and spent the first night in Colorado in my car (it was 9 degrees). Feb 4, 2011.

3) Lost several part-time jobs and a roof over my head

4) Had former friends (some so-called Christians) not only turn on me, but stab me in the back AND chest

5) Being falsely accused, mocked, bullied, attacked and hated

6) Betrayal of agreements and promises

7) Sometimes flying to the races I was committed for and not knowing where I would stay or how I would get there (because of 3)

But I want to focus on 2. I left the Washington, D.C., area on Jan. 31, 2011 and started making the trek to Colorado. That evening I ended up in Columbus, Ohio due to a bad ice storm moving in. I got stuck there for the next 36 hours. Finally, on Wednesday morning, Feb. 2, I was able to start driving again and drove through some nasty weather to end the day in a foot of snow in Kansas City, Mo. Feb. 3, I left Mo. and started the eternity drive across the state of Kansas. I thought it would never end. God bless all of you who live there. I spent all day driving through it! I shouted out loud when I saw the wooden “welcome to Colorado” sign! Driving over the mountains on Route 70 I hit a blizzard. Welcome to Colorado, Sarah. I finally made it to the promised land. Barely knowing a soul. 150 percent knowing that God wanted me here.

Feb. 4, 2011. Unknown future. Uncertainty. But a peace that calms even the most stressed out soul.

I was in a brand new place, new state – everything was unfamiliar. Unknown. There were moments when I wondered how I would ever make it, let alone survive. While the full details of 2011 will be disclosed in my book, I can say that I did survive (who else would be writing this?!) and in spite of some VERY tough times, I kept the faith. Was it easy? No. Was it hard? You bet. Was it the right thing to do? Absolutely.

So today as I run 100 miles, it is a celebration of living and surviving a very tough year. Running 100 miles will be a piece of cake, comparatively. Because when God wants to do a good work in AND with you, you heed that calling. Even when it is tough and rough and dark and lonely and just doesn’t make sense.

I listed the seven major things that made 2011 a very tough and rough year, but I always believe in the positive in spite of the negative.

1) That friendships I thought were good, but God knew they weren’t and replaced with much better ones

2) I learned that God always provides, but not in the way I thought he would

3) Strength doesn’t come when we are strong; strength is made when we are weak

4) Determined to keep living with the passion and the faith and the grace that brought me this far

5) Forgiveness is healing

6) A few key people that made me believe in friendships and trust again

7) That just because I had/have tough times, it doesn’t mean I quit/give up, it means you dig deep and keep the faith

Perhaps you just found this site because of what I am doing today (running 100 miles) and you are having a rough, tough year or just plain life. You might feel alone, depressed and wondering why you are here. Let me assure you that God not only loves and cares for you, but has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). That plan looks different for each one of us, but the one thing that remains the same is this: God loves each and everyone of us, no matter what state of that plan we are in.

Dear 2011, you taught me to never give me up. Dear 2012, remind me of 2011 when I am tempted to give up.

And Lord, to all of those who are struggling, help them not to give up. May my struggles help them to see that you are a God who cares and loves. Even in our darkest valley. Amen.

peace, sweat, love: life

Goals. What does that word mean to you? No doubt when you hear it you probably think of things you want to do. Or you think of goals that a work in progress. Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged when life doesn’t go as planned. Take running for example. You might be training for a half marathon or maybe a full marathon. Your runs are going well. Getting up early in the morning seems to finally be sinking in. Even having a diet of GU’s, sport beans, is

Then a little thing called “life” happens. Could be a injury. Or more hours to your work schedule. Maybe you lost your job. Maybe you got sick. Maybe you just don’t feel like it (trust me, I have been there). What happens to your goal of your race?

Let me offer some things that helped me.

#1) Acknowledge the present. Whatever you are going through is real. It is happening. You may feel alone. You may feel frustrated. But here is the key. How you choose to deal with your challenge, will be how you survive. When I am faced with tough times, I remind myself to remain focused on the goal, but live in the present.

#2) Keep the goal! If you are dealing with an injury, then still keep your goal and dream alive. It may not happen when you want to, but it will happen. Take this time to recover, heal and recharge.

#3) Don’t give up running! Ok, if you have an injury, then this one is out for you, so sorry! However if life has given you a bunch of sour lemons AND limes, then running or working out is a critical part of your well being. Running is a great stress reliever.

#4) Get support! Call a friend or two. Go out and watch a movie. Connect with others. Maybe read a book. Use this time to refocus and get pumped for your goal race. Don’t lose sight of it! It will happen, just a matter of when:)

#5) Help someone else. The best thing you can do is to use this time in your life to help another life. It may sound crazy, but it works. Reach out to someone else in need. Could be very simple like giving someone a smile. Or maybe inviting that person over for brunch. Once you start thinking about how you can help someone else, your issues will seem a little less urgent.

I have used these tips in my own life and I hope they help you. I remember once when I had a goal race (Boston qualifying marathon) and I had a really bad injury set me back for 5 months (a REALLY long time I might add). It was very hard to accept the fact that I had to sit the race out. But I am happy to tell you that after I healed I came back to my BQ dream and I did it. Keep your goal alive. Keep your dream alive. And never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it:)

Photo by Randy Son of Robert

So, for the month of July I had a **little** personal goal of running+cycling 1000 miles. Yup you read that right, 1k miles. I knew that it would be tough to get in the miles due to my travel schedule. Over the weekend I realized that I would have to get in 350 miles in 6 days. Totally doable.

However, a little thing called “taper” was going to start. AND. I was starting to feel tired. I really did not want to face the facts swirling in my head. Then I remembered what my coach told me a few months ago, “being an athlete is more then just performance, it is being a smart athlete”.

So with that thought, I made the hard decision to NOT go after the personal goal. I will be VERY close to it. But for my main goal to happen-and do it WELL-I know I made the right call. And, I said all of that for the next profound statement. Be smart, not head strong. This is mainly for me to read. But I hope it helps you as well.

As you know, I am a very focused gal. And sometimes I am SO focused on a goal that I don’t want to admit that it might not be the right thing to do. I am slowly learning the lesson. It has taken a few years. While I really want to do the miles this month I know that I will set my self up for injury, tiredness and a mile heavy body.

The lesson that I am STILL learning is to be smart. Not only in training. But also life. Sometime we have goals or things we would like to do, but how often are they really the smart thing for us? Its GREAT to have goals, but as you go about achieving them, make sure you are being wise about them. I know, easier said then done.

That is where friends, coaches and good, sound & wise counsel come in to play. Use it. Do it.

But watch out September, I will again go after the 1000 mile goal. And I know at that time it will be the right AND the smart thing to do.

Photo by Alainf1

Q: Do you start the week off by thinking that “this is the week I am going to not eat junk food, cut out sugar, drink more water, say no to coffee, and workout 5 days a week”?

A: Raise hands

Ok, so, why do “we” fail with our GREAT intentions? Below are some reasons WHY (weren’t you just dying to know this info? )

#1) Too many goals at one time!

#2) Start SLOW!

#3) Go SLOWLY

#4) T0 succeed you must PLAN to succeed

#5) Make excuses (hard week, stressed, I “deserve” this ________ (fill in the blank)

#6) No support

Those are just a few of the reasons why our best intentions fail. Do you want to be successful? Go ahead, raise BOTH arms!!! YES!!!!! YOU CAN!!:)

THIS WEEK DO ONE of the following things:

#1) Define YOUR weekly goal (drink more water, less soda) really think about. What do you want? Will you be able to do it?

#2) Get sweaty for 30 minutes a day! Brisk walk, stair climber, jog, just MOVE!

#3) Set your clock 15 minutes before you usually wake up (yes, that is right). You will be surprised what those 15 minutes can do for your day ahead!

#4) Make a daily choice to make healthy choices (do I really need this 5th cup of coffee? Do I really need this cookie? Do I really need to stress about “this”?).

I hope these ideas sparked your interest & you are able to use them! Please let me know! Watch this week for more ways to make YOUR life HAPPY, HEALTHY and FIT!!

Photo by lepiaf.geo

How can it be April already? If you are like me, you are wondering how time flies….this is also the time of the year where you can see if the goals you set at the beginning of the year are working for you or not:)

Did you have a health/wellness/fitness goal? Are you having trouble with it or have you let other things get in the way of you reaching it? No mater your answer, I hope that this post will INSPIRE you to go DO IT.

How can you DO IT? Please make your goal attainable! For example: today is the 3rd of April, by the end of April, you can set a goal to drink more water & less coffee, soda, iced tea or other beverages that you like.  The human body is made of about 60% water. YOUR body needs water:) This is a simple goal that you CAN make a priority:) I encourage you to make a simple goal & share it with someone (me if you want to). The keys to making a goal:

#1) make it attainable

#2) tell someone about it

#3) make it a lifestyle!

So, what is your goal? I would love to hear about it so I can support you!

Smiles & peace!

Photo by Notsogood Photography