Let’s be honest. You ate too much high octane food during the holidays. The weather outside was bitter cold, so you ditched your exercise program. You haven’t darkened the door of the gym since the week after Thanksgiving. And the scale doesn’t lie: you’ve gained a few pounds.


This is the conversation I had with myself in the mirror on New Year’s day.

It’s time to start making good on my New Year’s resolution and start training for the Country Music Half Marathon is scheduled for April 24, 2010. If you have had a similar conversation with yourself, maybe you should join me. I’d love to have you come along.

 Here’s why I think you should sign up, too:

1. You will lose weight. I know that’s on many people’s mind
   during this week. It is better and more healthy than a crash diet. We have had
   people in our company lose as much as 40–50 pounds just training for the half
   marathon.


2. You will get in the best shape of your life. Even if you
   are not exercising right now, you still have plenty of time to get in shape
   before April 24. You begin by walking. Some people chose to walk the race
   itself. Regardless, you will be surprised at how far you can come in just four
   months.


3. You will feel more energetic and productive at work. This
   is a benefit I didn’t expect when I first started. I thought regular
   exercise—especially training for a half marathon—would sap my energy. It had
   exactly the opposite effect. I am never more focused and energetic than when I
   am in the middle of training.


4. You will have a positive way of dealing with the stress in your
   life. The stress of modern life takes its toll. The economic realities
   of the past two years haven’t helped. Training for a half marathon will give you
   a positive outlet for your stress. You will even sleep better. Guaranteed.


5. You will have an incredible sense of accomplishment when you
   finish. There’s nothing like crossing the finish line after running
   13.1 miles, especially if you have never done it. The feeling is exhilarating.
   You will feel rightly proud of yourself.


6. You will gain the confidence to take on other challenges.
   This is one of the main reasons I love to run. It gives me the opportunity to
   tackle my biggest challenge—me. If I can overcome the mental obstacles I
   encounter on the way to the race, I can put those skills to use in other
   endeavors.


7. You will provide an example for others. True leadership
   begins with self-leadership. When you lead yourself, you inspire others to want
   to follow. Maybe it’s a spouse, or a friend, or one of your children. They need
   to exercise, but they don’t have an example to follow. You can be that
   example.


8. You can help raise money for a worthy cause. I am running
   on behalf of New Hope Academy. This
   is an incredible school in my neck of the woods that provides high-quality
   Christian education to underprivileged children. This takes running to a whole
   new level. It’s no longer just about me, but about something significant that
   makes a difference.

Convinced yet? If you want to run, I suggest you start with the Jeff Galloway method. It’s specifically designed for beginners. You can find his various training schedules here. It basically involves a program of walking and running. It allows you to incrementally improve over time without killing yourself.

For information on leadership and creating a platfrom check out his blog at www.michaelhyatt.com

What Can Runners Teach Us About Life? Jenny Price 
excerpt from www.iwokeupyesterday.com


1. Runners form a special, committed, and rewarding community. They smile at the start line. They have conversations with  strangers, as if they have a bond from the start – because they do. The bond is the race, the challenge ahead, and the finish line.

2. Runners come in all shapes and sizes. All levels of fitness. All different kinds of equipment. But they all go for it, no matter the shape, level, or what they have in their fuel belt. They get out there, do their  best, and have fun along the way. Old. Young. Petite. Large. Fuel belts. Short  shorts. Spandex. Elvis suits. It’s all different, but it’s all the same too –  runners all run!

3. Runners are dreamers. If they are pros, they are going for their PR (personal best time). If they are beginners, they are tackling their first finish line. And then there are all the mediums in between. Either way, runners are seeking to live more full
lives, with more dependence on God, and on the strength he provides.

4. All the runners get cheered for. No judgment. The spectators may be there to cheer for “their” person, but they don’t hold back on celebrating all of the runners that pass them by. Enthusiasm. Passion. Unbiased support for every person on the course. “Go Jenny! Go Wil!” “Keep running. You can do it!”

5. Every runner gets the prize. Even the last one crossing the finish line. The medal is there. No matter what. When you finish the race, you get the reward of knowing your hard work paid off, and a medal to remind you of your determined pursuit.

6. Runners work hard to get to the end of their race. It doesn’t just happen. They train. They invest hours on the road, pounding their legs, pumping their heart, pushing their spirit. They find joy in the journey, and passion for life as an overflow of their training.

What can we learn from this for LIFE?  You tell me.  What # above most challenges what you need to apply to your life today?

Why I Started Weekend of Wins by Michelle D. Howe
July 10, 2012— Leave a comment 
 
 Why did I start “Weekend of Wins? So that I can help support others in building a renewed sense of confidence and the evidence needed for them to achieve their God-given potential.  This is what God used in my life, a transformational experience like a half marathon, to discover the “real” me.
 
It is Finished Weekend of Wins
 
In a race, you can’t manipulate the outcome or quit.  I guess you could but why would you?  In a  race, everyone finishes and receives the same medal as long as you continue to intentionally move forward.  Those 13.1 or 26.2 miles is a journey and whatever the distance of the race, it’s an experience – an experience that can transform you in the moment if you allow it to.  How do you allow it to transform you?  By attaching a meaning to “why” you are running.

Why run the race?
Anyone can just run a  race but what if you ran a race and at the same time you…

• healed from a past hurtful
  relationship


• started a new business you always wanted
  to start


• overcame an addiction


• finished writing that book


• renewed a broken relationship


• began to be creative again


• learned to love yourself


• forgave those in your past


• became free from abuse


• 
  _________________
  You fill in the blank

The  above list is many of the reasons why I have run 4 half marathons and 1 full
marathon in the past 2 years.  Could I have just ran them and had them not mean
anything? Yes, but understand I was never a runner.  Running was the furthest
from my mind but in the Summer of 2009 I was ready for something new.   
Ready to be real rather than fake

Ready to give rather than get

Ready to love rather than hate

Ready to be responsible rather than a victim

Ready to heal rather than live in pain

 You see much of my life before God transformed me in these experiences was one that needed some restoration.  My business had fallen to pieces, my marriage was
shaky and my friendships were crazy.  I needed something else.  I needed to begin to commit myself to God and His ways.  Stop manipulating my life.  Stop controlling everyone in it.  Stop faking it and start living a “real” life of freedom, hope and potential with the only one true savior, Jesus!!   

Ready Set Go!!!
The starting line is set and all the runners are ready to go. The gun sounds and
they are off.  What are you running towards or running from?  Either one you are
running in the same direction it just depends on your motivation.  We have the
choice everyday to run to God or to run from Him.  To choose His ways or mine. 
I decided back in 2009 to choose His path because mine was not working anymore. 
Life is hard sometimes and so is the race.  You hit obstacles, bumps in the road
but you continue on.  What happens when you are learning to ride a bike?  You
fall down.  Then what happens?  You get back up, right!  YES!!  

Evidence leads to Confidence
Why do we collect evidence?  In a crime scene you collect evidence to prove  something happened or not.   When I trained, ran and achieved these races, it gave me evidence –  evidence that I can do it.  I can build a business again.  I can have a 10+ marriage.  I can have healthy, positive and supportive friendships.  I can write
a book.  I can develop a team of people to execute a leadership event for my
community.  You see the more evidence I had the more confidence was developed. 
In my own effort, impossible! But in God’s totally possible. (Mark 10:27)


Celebrating the Wins
Each of us have a different journey.  The race may look or sound the same but they are different depending on what each participant brings with them.  We each have different gifts, talents, pasts therefore comparison is not welcomed.  What is welcomed is celebrating each others wins.  A win for someone may be buying their 1st running shoes where another may be creating a PR (personal record).  During our weekend, we will celebrate each forward step for each individual.  You determine what that step looks like everyday. A win could be choosing to answer an email you
are avoiding or setting up a lunch date with your difficult teenager.  What if we lived in a world where people really supported, loved and encouraged one another from start to finish.  You experience a bit of heaven during these race events because everyone is excited and wants to see you do your best.

 My Mission and Vision
My mission at Weekend of Wins is to create an environment where we will compliment and celebrate each other’s wins and forward movement thereby giving them permission to create the same in their everyday lives. My dream is that as a church and the world we will stop judging and competing with each other and begin to compliment each others God-given talents and gifts.  We are all one body with many parts. (1Cor. 12:20)  Now let’s start working together AS ONE!!!   

It is Finished!
These words are precious and are the foundation of my beliefs.  Jesus voiced these
words when we was crucified on the cross.  It is finished, accomplished, done,
complete!!!  He has already done it so let’s live in it!  (John 19:30)

Though He has already finished, completed His mission on earth to restore man to a
right relationship with God, we as believers are still a work in progress. (Phil 1:6)  And He asks us to be ready to not fall asleep or by lazy but to be prepared to run the race set before us. ( 1Cor. 9:26; Hebrews 12:1)

So are you ready? I invite you to come along on this journey with us.  It’s a
different one for each of us but we are here loving you, supporting you and
cheering you all the way to the finish line.  www.weekendofwins.com

 Michelle  D. Howe – My Life is Not My Own (1Cor 6:19)  


What is your fill in the blank above?  Why would you run or train for a half or other
distance race?  Tell us here at our comments then share it with those in your
life.  Thanks!!
  
 Related articles

• You Can Finish by Michelle D.
  Howe (iwokeupyesterday.com)


• It is Crazy, It is Scary, It is
  Possible and It is Finished by Michelle D. Howe
  (iwokeupyesterday.com)

In life, we sometimes find ourselves not finishing, stuck or stagnant.  What stops us?  What keeps us from crossing that line?  How do we push through to
reach the desired results?  Why don’t we see the impossible as possible?


I am passionate about seeing people push through, to be transformed in that
experience and to be about giving Glory to God for finishing strong on life’s
journey.

So much of life is like a race.

 Even Paul compared the work he was doing on earth to spread the news of
Jesus Christ to a race.
Philippians 3:14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Timothy even encouraged those to continue to push on towards the finish line.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

I believe that many of us are just going through the motions of life – not
really too passionate about anything.  Maybe you tried in the past to start a
healthy eating plan, exercise program, a business, a relationship, or a
not-for-profit but somewhere along the way you stopped short of the goal.

 Why?  Well I believe that self-sabotage plays a huge part in this starting
and stopping cycle.  I know it did for me many times and still does in areas of
my life.   What I mean by self-sabotage is something in you subconscious is
telling you to stop or not start at all due to a defense mechanism that was
formed at an early age from a negative experience.

Stop the cycle of Self-Sabotage
So how do you stop this crazy cycle and really push through to the prize? –
by committing to new experiences that create new results thereby giving you
evidence that it is possible.  Choosing an experience that will shift you into a
stronger belief and faith in God and in yourself.

One way I know to begin creating the evidence of finishing is to actually run
a race.  Ok before I loose you, understand that I not talking about a
competition like Chariots of Fire. (Great movie by the way).  No I’m talking
about participating in a 5K or 1/2 marathon so to create a “win” in your life to
counteract the other negative “stuff” running around in your head.

When you have new evidence in your life that what you thought was impossible
is now possible, you will begin to take more risks in your life – like releasing
that extra weight, cleaning out clutter in your home, starting a business,
climbing that mountain or creating new positive relationships thereby moving you
closer to what God designed you to be on this earth.

 Why I began to run/walk
This is exactly why I choose to run/walk my first 1/2 marathon back in 2010. 
I had never ran in my life and this terrified me but God moved in my heart to
create this goal.

I knew that there is no way that I could cheat or manipulate running and
finishing this race and I needed new evidence and faith that God was going to do
this in me so that I could continue to learn to surrender daily to His ways
instead of mine.

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to
the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially
the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the
race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Was it hard sometime?.  Yes it was hard especially at the end but that is the
point. - to practice pushing through so you can initiate that in others areas of
your life.

You are invited to  start

 At the beginning of 2012, I made a goal to take 20 or more women to
the Women’s Running Magazine’s 1/2 Marathon in St. Petersburg, FL in
November. I ran this race last year with my friend, Bethany and loved
it with the flat terrain and water views along the whole course.  I felt called
to help encourage others to start and finish something that seemed bigger than
themselves.

 To Start and Finish a goal
To Start new relationships and Finish together
To Start and Finish healing from past hurts
To Start and Finish loving ourselves and others
To Start and Finish giving in big and small ways
To Start and Finish living in abundance
To Start and Finish being what I was made to be

This is the reason I run the race.  This is the reason I want to see others
to do the same.  This is the reason why I created “It is Finished”
Weekend of Wins on November 16-18, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida. 
  
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will
continue his work until IT IS FINALLY FINISHED on the day when
Christ Jesus returns. Phil 1:6

I have created a special weekend package that includes 2 night stay, 5 meals
and two days of transformation experiences that creates more wins therefore
giving you more confidence and evidence that YOU CAN FINISH!!!

Visit www.weekendofwins.com  to learn more and to sign up.  Also, feel free to message me personally to  answer any questions you may have at michelle@everydaylifeline.com.
Many Blessings, Michelle  

Do you have a 1/2 or full marathon experience
you can share that helped transform you in some way?  Please comment below.
If you would like to read my marathon story, comment below or message me and
I will send you an excerpt from my book “Copying is the Highest Form of
Compliment. Giving others permission to follow your lead.”


What is keeping you from moving forward to the finish line?  Let us know so we can be lifting you up in prayer and encouraging you.  

 Related articles

• It is Crazy, It is Scary, It is
  Possible and It is Finished by Michelle D. Howe
  (iwokeupyesterday.com)


• I Decided…I Did It…and So Can YOU! by
  Michelle D. Howe (iwokeupyesterday.com)

Today I am writing you from Western Washington State.  It is 57 degrees outside and it is starting to sprinkle a bit.  This is not my norm.  I’m a Florida girl and I love the warm sunshine.  So why am I here?   I committed at the beginning of year to run/walk a half marathon with my sister.  Believe or not, we live over 3000 miles away from each other.

Miles separate us.

Our beliefs separate us.

How we live life separates us.

What we like in music, TV and books separates us.

But we are still sisters and a half marathon brought us back together again to make a lasting memory.

Why a half marathon?  So we could spend time together.  Time we don’t get living over 3000 miles away.

To tell you the truth we really don’t talk much on the phone because we really don’t have much in common in this stage of our life. But we now have something in common.  We both ran/walked a half marathon and finished TOGETHER!!

This is what I will remember from this day:

• The weather was supposed to be rainy but it was sunny, cool and beautiful.
• I started the night before seeing it a certain way and she saw it differently - not wrong just different. 
• I choose to show up ready to lead and coach her with the 3 mins run/2 min walk but didn’t quite happen.
• I shifted in the midst and allowed this to be her race not mine.  I was her coach not her counselor. 
• So we walked and walked some more.  We walked up the hills and ran down the other side like little kids having the time of their lives.
• We met people.  Talked along the way.  Learned more our about dreams and plans for the future.
• We crossed the finished line hand in hand then they took our picture.
• We were handed lots of free yummy food.  Hey if it’s free it’s for me.  hehe
• As we walked back to our hotel it started to rain. Blessings and cleansing from above. 
• We hung with our kids, ate at the Cheesecake Factory and saw Madagascar 3.  We both fell asleep during the movie. 
• We ended the evening at the Seattle Space Needle. So amazing!!!

Before my sister woke up on Saturday morning, I had my quiet time.  Just me and God preparing my heart, mind and body for the day ahead.  During the devotion, Jeremiah 32:17 was mentioned.  It read, “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

Hard is me trying to control everything and everyone in my life.

Hard is being so competitive that no one else gets a chance to shine.

Hard is me needing to look like I have it all together.

Hard is me trying to fix those in my life not living up to my standards. Doing rather than being with.

Oh thank you Lord for your words that day.  I know that nothing to too hard for You and so I lay it all at Your feet.  You are the Sustainer, Giver, Healer, and Perfector of all things.

Memories created, love and grace extended, peace made, and lives changed.  That is how God likes to work in and through us.  Praise you Father.  May this win bring you Glory, Honor and Praise!!

Thank you for reading, sharing and commenting on our blog.  Would love to hear from you so here’s a question. What relationship in your life can be improved?  Jenny says in the 7 shifts, ”I can improve every relationship in my life.”  So be open to how that may happen today or into the future.  I never dreamed God would use a half marathon.  God Rocks!!! Michelle

Would you like to create a lasting memory with someone?  Then, join us for “It is Finished” Weekend of Wins at the Women’s Half Marathon in St. Pete, Florida on November 16-18, 2012.  We have only 17spots lefts.  So go to www.weekendofwins.com now to learn more and sign up.

Related articles

• You Can Finish by Michelle D. Howe (iwokeupyesterday.com)
• I Decided…I Did It…and So Can YOU! by Michelle D. Howe (iwokeupyesterday.com)
• It is Crazy, It is Scary, It is Possible and It is Finished by Michelle D. Howe (iwokeupyesterday.com)