Compassion is Key

Fishing: I had been begging my parents to take me fishing for weeks on our annual summer trip to North Carolina. Probably around the age of 7, my father finally gave into my request. "Kelsey, before we pay we are going to observe to make sure this is something you want to do." However, my mind was set that I needed to fish. My father was wise, knowing I had a compassionate little heart for all living things, and as soon as I saw a fish pulled out of the lake with blood gushing out of its punctured lip, I was sobbing to leave. This is my earliest memory of passion for animals.

Being vegan is not nearly as important for my health as it is for the well being of all living things and the planet. Yes, the planet. My journey to becoming a vegan and a vegan activist encompassed my entire life; from being raised with a knowledge of what happens to animals, as a vegetarian family, and my furthered education in my college years has all shaped how I see animals today. Daily life for me is shaped by my compassion for animals; running gives me tunnel vision for nature and living creates. I eat ethically; a plant based and simple diet free of any animal derivatives, and I share my feelings and knowledge on the topic of animal rights and the environmental impact with anyone who will listen. I find many are "interested" but it's just "too hard" for them to give up meat. I reply that is bullshit, eating plant based is the most natural and simple way to live! 

Running has helped me to delve feeler into my passion for the environment and animals. On my runs I think and appreciate the earth more than ever else in my life. While running I enjoy listening to like minded individuals on their podcasts that open my eyes to other people who care strongly about animals, the Earth, fitness, nutrition, and consciousness. I look up to people like Rich Roll, Scott Jurek, Jackson Foster of Plantriotic. These activists lend their lives to sharing their knowledge of the subject and spreading the wealth with anyone they can. 

I believe that through actions like this, and forms of exercise or meditation they can help us to clear our minds and think more deeply about subjects that are important and matter to us. These are uninterrupted hours of my day where I can direct all of my thoughts and feeling onto these things that matter most to me.

So now, I contemplate my next steps. I want and need to make a difference in this world for compassion for all living things, people and animals alike. I have decided to change the name and the purpose of my blog to better represent who I am and what I want to write about. Writing solely about running out me in a bit of a corner because running means so much more to me than just a form of exercise. I also don't want to be a "mainstream" blogger writing about products and running fads, but more about sharing my passions, my thoughts, and my writing beyond just running to include poetry and meditative thoughts. Join me on my mission and follow my thoughts about peace for all. 

Why I Am Taking on the Marathon

Everyone has a different reason for why they do things; run, bike, yoga, knit, fish, whatever the hell you do just for you. But, everyone has a vastly different inner reason for this as well. Sometimes it is not until well into your journey that you discover your purpose for what you do.

***Side note: Let's also set something straight, I don't like to use the concept of "journey", and am going to try to refrain myself from using that term. To me, journey means a path to a destination. Ultimately, we all only have one destination from life, and that is death. So rather than me constantly trying to find a destination in life, I will remain present and describe my process as just being.***

Struggles in life are something everyone of all races, cultures, and incomes faces, and I have faced my fare share of struggle. From early adolescence I struggled with body issues and eating disorders, wanting to shrink my strong and muscular thighs I thank figure skating for. I allowed the media to dictate how I thought I should look, and with my thighs as thick and strong as a tree I did not fit in their category of "beautiful and thin." Through over exercising and controlling what I put in my mouth I shrunk to a very dangerous weight, while still continuing to strive to improve my skating abilities which I finally learned could not happen after depleting my muscle. So through my desire to become a better skater, and to live my life in a healthier way for myself and my family I healed myself and gained weight and muscle to grow stronger than ever. Through conditioning and healthy eating I excelled more than ever at my sport. 

In my young adult years as stated in an earlier blog post, A Little About Me, I found running to both feel good physically and mentally. Now, as a college graduate and feeling lost as most 23 year olds do in what their "purpose" and career path is, I have decided to take on the marathon. To me, a marathon is a pretty huge feat to face physically. I have never run more than about 14 miles and want to prove to myself that I am both dedicated and strong enough to do it. 

Mentally, running a marathon makes you strong. I call it free therapy. Sometimes you can be on runs for 2-3 hours, with nothing but yourself and your thoughts, much more time than most people spend not distracted by technology, other people, work, etc. I thank running for making good decisions, when you can argue and debate with yourself about something for unobstructed hours at a time you tend to make the right decision. I find myself thinking more about my direction in life and making choices based on what my heart wants rather than what society wants. Relationship wise on runs I can recollect the good times and also the bad times which helps me to heal the wounds I carry in my heart from friendships not working out (I am an empathic person and tend to always remember the good times.)

The marathon is a goal I can work towards and singly rely on myself to accomplish. As a type A personality, I like to work alone and control what I am working towards. Whether or not I complete this feat is something only I can place reliance on myself for; and at this state of my life it is important for me to spend some time alone and with my thoughts. 

I hope you will follow me on my physical and mental journey through this process. Weekly, I will post my runs, distances, the woes and the triumphs I learn from my body and my mind. Be prepared for some deep and emotionally driven posts, as I tend to get deep into my core on my runs.

Some life updates:

Everyone go see this documentary! "He Named Me Malala." SO inspirational in every way of life. Shakes you up and makes you feel very thankful for our education in America and our rights as humans. Sometimes the things we fight for here seem miniscule in retrospect to what others want as basic rights.

Just got in my new Garmin Forerunner 220! Love it, a big step up from my old watch which will now allow me to clock intervals for speed training and tell me my pace while I am currently running.

Have a peaceful and meaningful day, friends!

Just Keep Running!

Hi friends! So as you have noticed I haven't blogged in awhile, due to some personal reasons, absent mindness, and also adjusting to my job that I recently went back to. However, I wanted to say that I am alive and well!

Some fun things I have been doing:

Trip to South Florida to see parents/ and some not so fun and sad events:

Amazing vegan restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale: Green Bar! I had the sweet potato burger

My best friend in the world, Allison came to visit me:

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, I was the evil queen from Snow White:

Lots of running! I am in week 3 of my marathon program for my race January 31! More to come in my following post about my training schedule I am following. I have gotten bored of my go to running courses near my home, so I found some trails and Disney resorts to run around...

And best of all.... my new Garmin Forerunner 220!!! My old watch died so I upgraded. I love it, you can set interval timers, it actually shows current pace per mile (my old watch didn't), elapsed time, distance, and allows you to make a training plan that the watch can help you to follow. Two thumbs up!

Thank you friends for being patient with me, here is a little mantra I have been following in tough times:

Keep running friends :)