Simple

2016 kind of creeped up on everyone, kind of like that full frontal snapchat you really didn’t expect to get.  I’m torn between good riddance 2015 and impending doom going into 2016.  Everyone always starts with the new year, new me.  Well, I promise I’ll be the same sarcastic pain in the ass in 2016. I’m not a fan of the fact that people wait for a new year for a fresh start.  I had a “fresh start” on a Thursday two weeks ago at 4:46pm.  Your problems aren’t going to disappear when the clock strikes 12, look at Cinderella.  But I get it; let me not burst the magical bubble of unicorns and rainbows of people everywhere.  By my tone, it’s obvious I’m not one for resolutions.  For the most part they last about 5 weeks and then you kind of ghost them.  But I do like to make lists of things I want to focus on going into this year.  We can’t tackle it all, as much as we feel motivated going into the New Year because well, life happens.

This year was hard, challenging, and an all-around character builder.  I’ll spare the gory sob stories.   But I’m sad to see it go because there were some great things sprinkled around between those tough days and the year ended so damn peacefully.   I met people this year that pushed me harder (physically and mentally) and forward in my life.  If it weren’t for those tough times, they wouldn’t have come into my life.  See, the silver lining to the sad stories (insert inspirational quote here).   If there is anything that I learned was the importance of having the right people in your life, never feel bad for saying goodbye to the wrong, the biggest critics are sitting on the couch trolling your world, and PLP (a spanish acronym) is a perfect response to everything and anything.

There is no doubt, to anyone that knows remotely anything about me (and creeps my Instagram), that one of my focuses is training and bike related.  So I’m not going to touch on that, it’s a given.  I’m sure there will be a follow up post of all my tragic cycling moments and power test conquest on a later day.  My focus for 2016 is a mix of simplicity and change.  I don’t mean a new comforter, paint my walls; I’m talking about life altering, mass climate change.  It’s been a long time coming and something I will embrace with open arms, anxiety, and well fear, logically.  Simplicity makes me sound slightly ridiculous (PLP).  It means keeping it all simple: relationships, work, thought process, possessions, goals, people, social media.  It’s not that serious and what worries us now, we won’t even remember in our next new years resolution .   People spend more time being, what do kids call it nowadays? butt hurt?… than focusing on what matters, the Starbucks Christmas cup of course.  So lets appreciate the good, the bad, and the very ugly of 2015, toast to 2016, eat your 12 grapes and make your wishes, wear the yellow undies, throw the bucket of water, stroll your neighborhood with an empty suitcase and lets do this.  Happy New Year.  ~Adding Mo Miles

The Not so Resolution, Resolution.

We’re 16 days into the New Year; many of us have looked at our resolutions post and wonder how we already went wrong.  It was a plague of “new year, new me”. I wonder why we wait for new years to better ourselves, but that’s a philosophical question for another post. So in true fashion, I evaluated “resolutions” that I could and maybe should make for the New Year.  I realized that most I will not keep, nor will I try.  I probably made them in 2008, 2009, another attempt in 2011, and failed miserably in 2013.  So in 2014 I focused on two goals, not a resolution.  One was to better my career.  Six months of about 210 resumes sent, 130 e-mails, and about 25 interviews, I am sitting in a job that a genuinely enjoy.  My second goal was to do something I considered really epic.  I wasn’t sure what, but I wanted it to be memorable.  So I signed up for an Ironman.  290 hours of training later and that goal was completed.

Failed resolutions included mundane things like eat less dessert.  Who are we kidding?  Get abs…please refer to previous resolution.  Cut back on coffee, this would never lead to a positive outcome. Religiously get mani and pedi’s (never.going.to.happen.). Call my mother more.  I try, I really do.  Make better romantic/relationship decisions.  But then life would be so extremely boring. Control my sarcasm.  I’ve learned it’s just part of my charm.  Make sure my room is always organized; after all I’m a grown woman. It’s just too exhausting, so some days my bed will not be made.  Curse less, skip out on pizza, drink less beer…just plain miserable.  I’ve learned through my many years of failed resolutions that none of these things make me a better person, athlete, or really help me grow as a human.  Most of them just make me grumpy and possibly less tolerable.

AMEN.

So for 2015, I don’t have resolutions because life improvements started months ago.  So I’ll just challenge myself to do more this year.  Put in more miles, double 2014.  Ride my bike more.  Run more, lift more, climb more, hell do more burpees.  Do more epic shit. Love more, laugh more, and add some  more kindness.  If it scares me, do it.  If I have to seriously deep dig to accomplish it, do it.  If it makes me stronger, do it. If a race is going to hurt, do it.   Stop thinking, doubting, over analyzing.  If it isn’t for me, get rid of it.

This year is a little different.  I am apparently supposed to have all my races for the year selected and planned but that really isn’t the case.  I’m actually kind of torn and have taken a bit of a detour.  I am genuinely enjoying my road bike.  Yes, there are a few triathlons I plan to do but what I’m really excited are road races.  I’m looking forward to learning more, riding smarter, and putting in more time.  New experiences, like the possibility of a Team Betty 2015 training camp and some tough rides.  “Turn the pain into power.”~ AddingMoMiles

Count Your Blessings

Food comas and food babies plagued people all over the US last night, myself included.  Actually I still have a food bump this morning…and I’m ok with this.  I was lucky enough to be surrounded by lots of love this holiday and two of my favorites.  I say it that way because most of my life I wasn’t able to.  It’s not a tradition my family participated in.  Last Thanksgiving didn’t go as planned, and wasn’t exactly filled with love but that’s a story for another day.  So before we dug into the grub, someone at the table asked what we were thankful for…and it got me thinking:

• How much and how little my life has changed.
• My friends and the women who surround me.  The family I got to pick and that have been there so much for me, especially these last two years.  I’m still waiting for our reality show contract.
• My family, we are a circus of crazy (and I’m an active participant in this crazy) but there is not a group of people that can make me feel so absolutely loved as they do.  My sister is on speed dial, you know incase I ever have to hide a body.  My mom, she’s the ring leader of crazy, is an example of real strength.  My old man, he keeps me grounded.
• My health.  No matter what I put my body thru (A LOT), it keeps going, keeps fighting.  I’m lucky to be able to do what I do, train and race. I know that one day, that won’t be the case.
• The mental and physical strength I’ve reached this year.
• Ironman, sometimes you lose yourself in what you love…sometimes you find yourself.
• Pizza, of all meanings.
• The little home my roommate and I have built.  Sometimes messy, but it’s ours.
• Finding a job I am genuinely enjoying, where my opinion actually matters and coming into the office isn’t so bad (though I rather be on the beach)
• Cold sand…just feels nice between your toes.
• My training buddies, jungle buddies, Jungle Fitness, Reaction, All4Cycling, all of it. Where else can I find someone as insane as myself?
• Whatsapp.  Don’t judge.
• Coffee.  I don’t even have to explain this.
• Motivational quotes.  Not all of us may post them, but I know all of you love to read them.  Your secret is safe with me.
• Love and losing it. You learn a lot about yourself.
• Team Betty.  Now, representing this brand is beyond great.  But what I wasn’t expecting was the impact of getting to know some of these women, their story and their strength.  It’s humbling and motivational.
• My bike, how did my bike end up so low on this list??
• Champagne and orange juice…yes mimosas, which of course is included in brunch.  Again, don’t judge me.

This list can continue on and on, may have even forgotten a few important ones.  I know that some of them sound mundane and a little silly but it’s kind of the little things that make you happy you have to be grateful for.  We can’t always control health or peoples actions but we can have things that just kind of make it easier to get by (yes I’m talking about coffee).  Its things that without, you wouldn’t exactly be as happy as you are.  Do you know how many great moments I’ve had around a few glasses of mimosas?  I found out about the first baby in my group of girlfriends over mimosas.  We were having them, momma to be wasn’t.  I’ve had some of the greatest conversations and laughs over a cup of coffee.  I’m a lucky girl. ~AddingMoMiles.

 

How old am I?

I’m convinced I’m an old lady. Here’s the proof:

 

• I can’t eat too late it keeps me up.
• Going out Sunday thru Thursday, not happening.
• Is that heart burn?
• I pee every 15 minutes.
• It’s 11 o’clock…wow it’s late.
• I’m at Publix on a Saturday night.  Not buying goodies (ok maybe wine) for a party but doing groceries.
• I’m doing more research on vitamins than weekend events.
• I forgot what vodka taste like.
• “The music is too loud”
• My ears are still ringing.
• I can’t believe kids these days.
• Girls night… at Starbucks.
• My party dresses have collected a layer of dust.
• Tea for everything: digestion, nerves, sleep, detox. Tea, tea, tea.
• PJs > Dress
• DVR > Movies
• Savings > Shopping
• Date night = Pizza and PJs (my favorite)
• Hangover = 3 days
• I’m repeating my mother’s sayings
• How much for a pair of heels??
• Shots????
• What’s good on a Friday night?…. No idea.
• Dinner at 10pm, who does that?
• Everything my dad has told me makes sense.
• I follow my instincts.
• Can no longer sleep in past 9am.
• Nights out are planned weeks in advance.
• I no longer need the Bank of America number for a new debit card after most weekends.
• I can read a mans bullshit.
• I feel odd shopping at Forever21.
• Routine…I like it.
• My group of friends is small and I prefer it that way.
• I’m reading up on wrinkle cream
• I wear lots sunblock and a pamela (aka sun hat) to the beach

And I wouldn’t want it any other way. ❤