Facing the SNAKE

"Oh, it's not really gambling when you never lose." Jennifer Aniston

That's right. I made a bet with my sister-in-law, Rita, but I wasn't gambling - I couldn't lose!

Here was the gist of it: whoever collected fewer donations for the ALS Association during the specified time frame would have to put a LIVE SNAKE around their neck. I took the bet without hesitation (I couldn't lose!), and for two weeks, Rita and I were neck and neck (kind of funny considering our actual necks were on the line)!

We both received so many generous donations from family and friends trying to spare us from our fearful snaky fate. Then came the moment of truth... time to tally our donations. I collected $291 - an impressive amount, and certainly enough to keep me safe, right? Then Rita told me her total... $425! What?! Did she say $425?!!!

I was instantly panicked, but I found security in the fact that I would have weeks (maybe even months) until we planned our fateful trip to Lake Tobias to fulfill the bet.

Then came Memorial Day... 

Picture the scene: A Memorial Day picnic, family and friends sitting happily on lawn chairs, drinking beer, eating hot dogs, relaxing, laughing. Our host casually pulls the cover from the wood pile to prep for the annual bonfire. Sitting there calmly on top of the logs was a fat, green gardner snake. 

I'm not sure who said it first (I wouldn't be surprised if it was my husband), but it was suggested that this would be the perfect opportunity for me to "pay up" (commence screaming now).

I didn't trust that snake. He was a sneaky one - I knew it. He didn't come from the safe confines of Lake Tobias. He was wild. To make things worse, apparently he had the ability to infiltrate the defenses of young children - they loved him (I was still screaming).

Caleb (age 3) - fearless!

Me (age 33) - not so fearless. 

All glimpses of rational thought were now gone - just pure terror remained. It made no sense at all, but when does it? I'm sure I scared that fat old gardner snake just as much as he scared me - yet I had no control over my screams (and eventually tears)! 

So we made a plan - Chris would hold the snake's head and drape his body along my neck, Hilary would hold my hand, and Shawn would take video. Did I do it? Watch the video below to find out!

As I recover from the ordeal, there is one thing that makes me thankful for my sneaky snaky encounter - Team Perry has now raised $3,654 thanks in part to our slithery little friend. And that makes it all worthwhile. 

Only for you, Perry Thoman!

 

Team Perry at the Wild Half

Christmas 2013. Perry had been dealing with the reality of ALS for two seasons. We watched him go from cane, to wheelchair, to motorized wheelchair, to hospital bed. At the same time - in stark contrast - Rita, Kelly, and I were becoming seasoned runners. Perry was losing mobility, yet we were blessed to be able to RUN.

As our family shared that final Christmas with Perry, we three sisters got a crazy idea - a WILD idea.  We found a half marathon in Wildwood, NJ - and one of the non-profit beneficiaries was the ALS Association. It was then that we decided to register together and run The Wild Half Marathon in honor of Perry.

This past weekend we fulfilled that mission.

We hit the beaches of New Jersey on Saturday in anticipation of Sunday's run. Our first night was filled with silly pictures, pizza on the boardwalk, and rides on Morey's Adventure Pier (they made me ride a terrifying roller coaster)!

 

On Sunday, we woke up at 4 a.m. for race day (we needed plenty of time for coffee). We had been training all spring, but we were also faced with training conflicts, knee injuries, and other stumbling blocks. As we approached the starting line, we had one question on our minds... Could we go the distance? 

We set off on a beautiful 13.1 mile course down the length of boardwalk and throughout Wildwood. What a unforgettable experience to be in one of my favorite places (the beach!) with my two awesome sisters! When the miles got longer and our legs got heavier, we remembered how much of a gift it is to even attempt to run this distance.

And we kept running because we could. We had to - We were running for Perry. 

Did we cross the finish line? YOU BET (Rita beat me by one second!), Rita and Kelly completed their first official half marathon, and a new annual tradition was created (Can't wait for the Wild Half Marathon 2015)!

Perry Thoman - this one was for you, Bro!

 

Become a part of TEAM PERRY. Make a donation now to help us find a cure for ALS. CLICK HERE

Snake Charmers?

Me and Rita: Currently in a pickle!

The Thoman boys have yet again put me and my sister-in-law Rita in what I consider to be a very big pickle!

In June, Team Perry will be participating in the WALK TO DEFEAT ALS. This will be our first time participating in this event since Perry's diagnosis (and since he lost his battle this January). In memory of Perry, we set a very high fundraising goal. Three of the sister-in-laws wanted to hit the "Extra Mile Club" (meaning that we each raised $1000).

I hit the goal earlier this year thanks to the amazing generosity of my Central Penn College family and friends. Kelly hit her goal this month (thank you Ted Watson!). So last night, Team Perry plotted on how Rita could raise the remaining amount to reach her goal.

Leave it to the Thoman boys to come up with an idea that BOTH of us hated!

HERE'S THE DEAL: Rita and I are officially in a fundraising competition until next Friday (the deadline for the Extra Mile Club). Whoever raises the LEAST will have to put a SNAKE around their neck during our visit to Lake Tobias this summer! 

Initially I imagine a scene where I channel my inner-Britney and totally befriend the snake (and look pretty darn cool in the process!). Then reality kicks in, and I know it's going to be a little more like that famous scene from Psycho.

Fantasy

 

Reality

My only solution - I need to WIN! So for the next two weeks, I'm on fundraising overdrive! Donations on MY PAGE will get Rita closer to that snake! But donations on HER PAGE will count against me. So skip the Starbucks this week, and make a $5 or $10 (or more) donation! You'll get to torment me and Rita AND help find a cure for ALS!

Don't worry - when the big scene goes down, I'll be sure to post lots of pics/videos on this blog! 

Getting Schooled on Balance

"You can have it all. Just not all at once." Oprah Winfrey

At the beginning of the year I was given an amazing opportunity to teach Zumba classes at a gym owned by one of my mentors - the women who I credit with making me fall in love with Zumba, Liza Smith! I was already teaching four classes a week (plus working full time), but I LOVE teaching, so why not teach MORE? Especially when I could team up with my mentor! (More is BETTER, right???)

So since January I've been teaching six classes a week. And I love teaching every single one of those classes. I want to "be the change." And every Zumba class gives me a forum to teach, entertain, and (hopefully) inspire others.

But here's the problem... I realized recently that I wasn't being very inspirational. 

With my new schedule I started missing my morning strength training sessions with my trainer, Derek. Although I've been rockin' the cardio in my Zumba classes, I know that some heavy lifting with Derek is necessary if I want to achieve my fitness goals (Ab Muscles, I'm talking to you - I know you're in there somewhere!).

I also realized how much I miss complaining about Negley Hill on Tuesday nights with my running friends, and joining my former American Cancer Society volunteers at our "reunions," and having time to snuggle my boys at home. With so many weekly class commitments, my time to do those things became greatly limited.

My boys, Max and Puggy!

So here's the question... How can I (1.) Find my ab muscles, (2.) Have time for family and friends, (3.) Make a positive impact on the world, and (4.) Still work toward becoming a Zumba superstar?

My answer? BALANCE. 

My next thought? Easier said than done! I couldn't imagine my Monday nights without Joy, Lindsay, Lena, and all of the amazing gals at Progress Fitness, but I also considered that I wouldn't reach ANY of my goals if my schedule went on as-is.

Then I made the decision to do something scary and HARD. I told my mentor that I wanted to give up my classes at her studio and step back to the sub list.

Derek put it this way - "It's better to have fewer classes and make them AWESOME classes." He's right (I hate when he's right). And I'm (slowly) realizing that balance is important and necessary to make not only my Zumba classes, but ME better.

It's been a tough lesson for me to learn, and probably one that I'll need to be reminded of again. But (as I snuggle next to Max and Puggy on the couch), I know I'm one step closer to being the person that I want to be.

I learned a tough lesson this week, and need your feedback! How do you find balance? Give me your best tips and tricks!

Numbers and the Nike Half Marathon

13.1. That was an important number for me this weekend. On Sunday, I participated in the Nike Women's Half Marathon in Washington, D.C. where I ran 13.1 gorgeous miles full of cherry blossoms, historic monuments, and lots (and lots) of cheering spectators!

I stood at the starting line with 15,000 amazing women and a few (500) good men. And I was lucky enough to run next to one great friend (Shawna Strine) who allowed me to share in her first half marathon experience!

I never considered myself to be a runner. Running was one of those things that "I could never do" (or at least that's what I told myself). Yet this was my second year to cross the finish line and have a man in a tux hand me my necklace from Tiffany & Co. (one of my favorite parts of this event!)

 

So how did a non-runner make it 13.1 miles to claim her little blue box? I didn't do it alone. I was lucky enough to connect to Team in Training - a facet of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that trains team members for endurance events like this one. I committed to raising $2100 and in return I received a coach (Larry), a mentor (Cyndi), and a staff partner (Caroline). I also become part of an unforgettable team (a sizable roster of athletes who I now call my friends). Together they helped me do the impossible - they made me a runner!

Now let's talk about some really serious numbers - and these numbers are not as fun to share. One person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer approximately every four minutes. By the time you finish reading this post, another person will hear the words, "You have cancer."

But what does this have to do with D.C.? How did a post about running 13.1 miles turn into stats about cancer? Here's the connection... This year's Nike Women's Half Marathon (the 2nd annual) raised $4.7 million in the fight against blood cancers! That $4.7 million will help to fund life-saving research like that being done by Dr. Brian Druker.

When you think of the good that can come from it, 13.1 seems like a small number. It's a short distance - just a few miles longer than a 5K, right? Before Team in Training, I thought 13.1 was impossible. I know better now. 

What if I told you that YOU could do the impossible? Is 13.1 in your future? It could be! Join me in DC next April or find a different Team in Training event online! I'll see you at the finish line! Go Team!

What I learned from Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher - actor, producer, writer, pop culture icon, and... philosopher!? I know what you're thinking. What can we learn from this 30-something cutie pie on the ways of the world? He's eye candy! But before you disregard his insight, listen to this Kutcher quote...

"I'm continually trying to make choices that put me against my own comfort zone. As long as you're uncomfortable, it means you're growing."

Let's start with the one word the jumped right out at me - UNCOMFORTABLE. Kutcher is saying that we need to deliberately put ourselves into uncomfortable situations in order to reap the benefits of learning and growth. This is a tough challenge because very few of us enjoy this. We'd rather do what we know, what we are good at!

Just this week I registered for the annual Zumba Instructor Convention. It's a four-day convention in August that brings over 6,000 licensed Zumba instructors to Orlando for education, networking, inspiration, and fun!

Zumba Instructor Convention 2013
Selfie with some of my fave Central PA ZINs 

It's my third year to attend the convention and (of course) I immediately wanted to register for my favorite sessions! I wanted to see Tamara Said and Amanda Grant in BROADWAY LIGHTS; I wanted to see Steve Boedt in BE THE INSPIRATION; I wanted to see Nick Logrea in SWING BABY SWING (all sessions that I was guaranteed to love)!

Zumba Instructor Convention 2013
ProSkills training led by Steve Boedt and Donna Giffen

Instead, I challenged myself (and it really was a challenge) to register for the sessions that I didn't naturally want to go to - the ones that I probably need the most! So I'll be taking a class on injury prevention, a Zumba Gold boost, Salsa/Merengue Mash Up, and even a personalized feedback session (now we're REALLY talking about UNCOMFORTABLE)! 

But here's what I can look forward to... Just like Ashton promises in his quote above, I can expect to walk away with much more than I would have by taking my favorite classes. I may be uncomfortable, I may not be very good at what I'm doing, and I may look a little silly (maybe a lot silly). But I WILL walk away with new insight about myself, new strength in areas that I need to work on, and new security that I can put myself into those uncomfortable positions and come out better in the end!

What have you learned from stepping outside of your comfort zone?

A Special Day With Area M Athletes

Last week I had the opportunity to volunteer for Special Olympics Area M at Messiah College! It's an annual tradition I share with a wonderful group of gals I met while working for a different non-profit (the American Cancer Society). These ladies rock - they have tirelessly donated their time for so many great causes, and I love our reunions!

So every year around tax time, we head to the field to volunteer for what I believe is truly the best job available at the Games. We are RIBBON PRESENTERS! The athletes come to our station after their race or event, and we have the incredible honor of announcing the winners and presenting everyone with their ribbons!

Over the years we've noticed the joy of the participants as they hear their name being called. So we've gradually increased the pomp and circumstance surrounding the presentation. We add drama, excitement, and theatrics similar to that of an announcer at a heavyweight bout! "And the heavyweight champion of the world is…" It's a BLAST!

There is much to gain by celebrating the successes of others. By the end of the Games, I'm hoarse, sunburned, and 100% fulfilled. But we don't need to wait until next April to find that joy again. Every day offers us the opportunity to support and encourage each other, and to celebrate the successes of our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers.

Who can you celebrate today? Who will you encourage?