It started with a Text.

I was sitting in my kitchen looking at the grey, sunless, cold, and wet day attempting to get myself motivated to go out for a run.  I could think of a million reasons NOT to go out there, most of them are already listed above.  I texted Ann about my lack of enthusiasm and her text came back “Go.  You will be glad once you do.” So, a million reasons NOT to go, and only one reason TO go.  I did what I usually do, I pulled on my shoes and I went.

Of course, Ann was right.  I was not only glad that I had done the run, I was also very glad DURING the run.  The air was more than crisp – freezing in fact, but as I huffed and puffed I noticed that the world looked grey but it smelled brand new.  I had my bestest running buddy with me, Stella, the wonder dog, and together we plugged away at something we really weren’t wild about doing at the beginning of the day.  I should say, I wasn’t wild about it.  Somehow, Stella is always wild about running.  Crazy beast.

Life is like that.  Full of opportunities that we can either use to our advantage or let them slip past for a myriad of reasons.  Often times the reasons not to take a certain path outnumbers the reasons to take that same path.  How do you choose which way to go?  Make a list?  Ruminate until the opportunity has expired?  Blindly throw caution to the wind and take the leap of faith?  I do not have an answer for that. Wish I did, I’d make a million bucks.

During my run, I thought about the ladies I have been coaching through Team CWW.  The previous day, they participated in their first attempt at a triathlon as a practice race.  It took place in Washington Park with a swim in the recreation center pool, bike ride around the park and a run around the lake.  Most of the ladies in CWW are somewhat older – like over 40 (GASP!), most do not have an athletic background, most are a bit overweight, and all are trying to learn something new.  To say they are intimidated by riding a bike in their swimming suits is an understatement.  Terror is more accurate.  But they do it.  They take the leap, they don’t weigh pro’s and con’s, they push beyond their comfort zone and they do it.  And they are glad once they do.

Preparing for RAAM will be like that.  There will be many moments during training and during the race that we will consider all of the reasons NOT to be on our bikes.  The one that will make the difference is keeping the idea that we are helping spread the message about keeping active and using your body for a lifetime.  Partnering with LiveWell Colorado has given us a sense of direction and determination.  And when we have those low moments, perhaps we should all get Ann on her cell to text.

Go.  You will be glad once you do.

Yep. We are up and running. Not only running but cycling and, for some of us, swimming, time trialing, walking, spinning, hiking, cooking, working, teaching, coaching, organizing, and basically jumping off the big cliff that leads to RAAM. Is committing to RAAM in 2012 a bit of forward planning? You betcha. It is going to take a lot of planning, a lot of commitment, and a whole lot of time. Something that we, like everyone else on this planet, have very little of to spare.

This time around we are riding on behalf of LiveWell Colorado, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to fighting obesity across our state. We thought long and hard about which non-profit we would ride for on this trip. All of us wanted to contribute to something positive in our community and our state. Something that helps the families of Colorado stay healthy, stay out of the doctor’s offices and living a lifestyle that is active and happy. LiveWell Colorado is that organization. We are ecstatic to be providing support to our communities and emphasizing the importance of staying active at any age, not for the short-term but for a lifetime.

So, Amy, Rainey, Ann, and Julie. Or Ann, Julie, Rainey and Amy. Doesn’t matter much. We are a team. We are Rocky Mountain RAAM 2012. We are working as a team to ride across our country while helping to provide for the people of our state. You betcha there is a lot of work to be done. And we are ready to do it. We will be using this blog to chronicle our training, our ups and downs, our lives, and just about anything else that rolls off the computer screen. Stay tuned for the ride of a lifetime!

And on we roll.