Amp It Up!

How Hard Is It?

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:39:19 -0800

A quote today from Rosa Sugrañes, a founder of Iberia Tiles in Miami, a very successful businesswoman, and a speaker at the Women's Congress. She quotes her father:

"Nothing is difficult. It's either easy, or impossible."

I love this philosophy. Break it up in small enough pieces, and you can climb Mount Everest, triple the size of your business, run a marathon...accomplish anything you want. And have FUN doing it.

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

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Equipping Your Expedition to the Future of Your Dreams

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:17:11 -0800

Equipment, equipo, equipage, accoutrement. Don't go trying to cross time and space with just a breakfast bar.

I knew that while I was running my half marathon, I would need to manage my energy level to make sure I could go the distance. So, Michael and I stopped at a 24-hour McDonald's at 4:20 am to get breakfast.

Well. Some of you may know that at 4:20 am, McDonald's is not serving breakfast. They're serving their all-night menu, which consists of 3 things, one of which is a QuarterPounder.™ I did not know this, because I am old, and I very seldom visit Mickey D's at 4:20 a.m. Anymore. So, anyway, we decided that we needed some time to digest this meal before running 13.1 miles, so we went ahead and bought a couple of QuarterPounders.™

Along the route, we drank what they provided at the water stations, which was both water and some kind of energy drink. Energy drinks are usually pretty acidic, but they provide important fuel, carbohydrates, which your body can draw on as you run. And then there are the energy gels, which are also hard on your stomach. I started to worry a little bit.

However! I had packed two Pepcid AC's™ in my little waist pack, because everybody needs a contingency plan!

Fortunately, I never needed to use them, because I was tuned into my body and switched over to just water as I noticed my stomach getting unhappy. A friend of mine who ran the full marathon, though, had a horrible time with his stomach, and ended up vomiting after crossing the finish line. So I was glad I had my contingency plan.

Before I left the house, I took 3 Extra-Strength Tylenols™ and 2 B-complex vitamin pills. I rubbed Aspercreme™ on my feet as a precaution. (Remember how unhappy my feet were.) At 11 miles, I shared a gel with Michael that we had brought in our packs.

If I had not equipped myself so well to take on this challenging task, I would not have faired as well, and perhaps would have failed. By packing the right equipment and supplies, I had a successful and fun event.

Are you equipped for the journey to your dream future? Do you have a thought-out contingency plan?

I want you to get there feeling good!

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Half Marathon Results

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:32:28 -0800

Well, my friends, I did it! Yesterday I ran 13.1 miles in 2:11:49, just a smidge over 10 minutes per mile. I LOVED it! One thing that really contributed to my joy at this event was the companionship of my boyfriend, Michael. We made an agreement before we ran that we would only run the event as fast as the slowest runner. So, he stayed back with me in the front of the race (I was holding my pace down on purpose), and then I stayed back with him in the back of the race (his knee was on fire). It was so wonderful to be part of a team! We watched the sun rise over the Fort Lauderdale beach, and it was gorgeous. It was freezing cold (well, for South Florida, and for people in running shorts) in the dark morning hour before the race, but we warmed right up after a mile or so. Runners began to shed pieces of clothing as they warmed up, anybody out there could have put together a fabulous t-shirt collection by picking up the discards. At the 10th mile, a rain storm that had threatened the whole race finally let loose, pouring freezing cold rain on us and blowing a cold wind up our shorts. But I was still smiling! At the finish line, it was a relief to line up to get our legs rubbed by professional masseurs.

So now--on to the marathon! Considering an October event in Lowell, Massachusetts...could combine a changing-of-the-leaves tour with the run.

My feet do hurt, but not as badly as I thought they might. Maybe they're getting used to it. I certainly hope that's the case, because I have miles to go before I'm through!

Wishing you success in your next big risk-taking adventure, and think about who your support team should be!--K.

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Marathon Update

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:25:14 -0800

Ran 10 miles yesterday! My knees and feet really wish I would stop it. Bu I can't! I'm running my first half marathon on February 18th.

It was a great feeling to accomplish that long run, despite the aches and pains and stomach upset along the way. I kept telling myself, "none of this will matter in two hours." It really did make me feel better, and gave me what I needed to keep running.

What if you could apply this to all your goals? Will the impatience, frustration and anxiety you're feeling matter once the goal is accomplished? My guess is that we will only remember the joy of accomplishing the goal, and the emotional investment we made to get there will fade away.

What are you working on today? Are you running into some obstacles? Try it: "None of this will matter once..."

Let me know how it works!

Wishing you every possibility--K.

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Turning Possibility into Reality

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:12:04 -0800

Yesterday I ran 8 miles for the first time in my life. In a row. Next week, I will run 10. And on February 18th, I will run a half marathon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As I reach each of these milestones, getting my body to do things it's never done before, I realize what a great metaphor it is for all areas of life. If you're afraid of starting your own business because you've never made money as an independent before, I can assure you the fear evaporates when someone hands you that first check. (After that you just have the fear of whether you can do it again.) Asking your boss for a raise is only impossible until you set the meeting with his secretary and show up for it. By taking just the first steps toward your dream life, the rest will fall in place. You may show up for those first steps with your knees knocking, but you will have started the process of amplifying raw possibility into probability, and then into reality.

Each of us is a perfectly designed possibility amplifier. Design the reality you want to create, and then take the first step. The universe will be right there with you.

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Why train for a marathon?

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 13:07:04 -0800

Does a marathon sound like a really far-fetched goal to you? If so, let me suggest that that's the very first reason you should run one! By reaching as far outside your limits as you can, you set new, broader limits for yourself. And of course, being the Possibility chick that I am, I think we don't have any limits, anyway, just the ones we impose on ourselves.

I became inspired to run a marathon while I was in New York for a conference recently, during the same weekend the New York City Marathon was happening. I ran in the crisp, autumn mornings in Central Park surrounded by marathon runners, it was very inspirational. On Sunday, we were able to see the wheelchair racers and the first few women come in before we had to run and catch our plane. My editor, Stephanie Gunning (www.stephaniegunning.com), actually ran in this marathon. She finished in exactly the time she thought she would, and that was even MORE inspirational to me. She makes it sound like running a marathon is EASY and FUN! (As you may know, it is my belief that creating the life of your dreams should be just that: easy and fun!) Keep an eye on my newsletter, I'll be sending out a link to an audio interview with Stephanie about how her marathon experience has changed her life soon.

I told you yesterday that my goal was to run 20 miles this week as part of my own marathon training program, and I just wrapped up that goal! Yay! (Note to self: Celebrate!)

Care to join me? Stephanie recommended and I am following Hal Higdon's marathon training program at www.halhigdon.com. Check it out, and Amp It Up!

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