I’m Doing Something that Scares Me, Wanna Join?

Some housekeeping things before I start this post:

1. I’m sorry I’ve been MIA these past few days. I’m finally done with finals and am ready to get back to blogging (and sleeping!). I’ve missed you guys.

2. The winner of the Bestowed Box giveaway is Debbie @ Live from La Quinta! Congratulations! Please email me at [email protected] with your address so I can forward that over to Bestowed and they can mail out your box of goodies.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way I’ve got some exciting news to share with you guys. Some news that might even sound a little crazy if you know me. I’ve committed to doing something big. Something huge. Something I never though I would be able to do.

I’m training to run a half marathon. I’m not planning on running this tomorrow or even within the next month or two. But by the time fall rolls around I want all of my cardio and strength training to have paid off in a big way. I want to have the fitness ability to go out there and run 13.1 miles. And through hard work, consistent effort, and good nutritional choices, I know I will be able to do just that.

When I started running I always laughingly tossed out the fact that I would like to run a half marathon someday.  The thought that I’m now committing to that dream is both incredibly terrifying and incredibly exciting. While I know I have what it takes I’m also so happy that I am not doing this alone. My personal fitness journey is a part of the much larger Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful campaign. It is dedicated to inspiring women to achieve their goals and helping them redefine what it means (and looks like) to be a female athlete.

Because Under Armour knows a little competition can be a lot of fun they decided to try to motivate women to achieve their fitness goals by turning it into a contest. Logging your fitness progress into the What’s Beautiful website automatically enters you to win Under Armour swag bags distributed periodically. And for the women who go above and beyond in accomplishing their personal goals, four will be picked to go on a four day trip to Costa Rica to be pampered with yoga classes and surf lessons.

So what are you waiting for? Step out of your comfort zone and set a goal. Let that goal be big enough that it scares you. And then every day, make a little progress on that goal. Before you know it that goal won’t be so scary. As I remind myself all the time, I am not made up of my occasional decisions, it is my choices I make day in and day out that define me.

Under Armour also realized the power behind women motivating and encouraging each other. That is why for the first time they have allowed teams in their What’s Beautiful campaign. There are a variety of teams based on common interests women share. The goals of the team are separate from individual goals but these goals also count towards prizes and progress.

I created the team Young, Fit, and Fabulous for 20-something women looking for a place to receive encouragement and motivate each other throughout their fitness journeys. Whether you are a novice with a goal of creating an exercise routine or a pro athlete shooting for the Olympics this is a place for you to open up and connect with your peers. Our mission statement is simple:

The choices we make in our 20s shape our future. There is no better time to make our fitness goals a reality. We’re young. We’re getting fit. We’re freaking fabulous. And we’re here to support each other. WE WILL.

I think it is beautiful when a person gains confidence in themselves and finds strength in their body. My goal is that this campaign will encourage a whole lot of women to do just that.

Questions of the Day: What is your fitness goal that scares you? Are you going to join the What’s Beautiful campaign?