You laid out the perfect plan to achieve your goals and everything was progressing according to your plan. You could see the physical improvements, and you were developing a mental toughness and mindset that nothing was going to get in your way. Until "it" happened...

"It" comes in many forms and when you least expect it - disguised as a family crisis, work demands, or a nasty case of plantar fasciitis. Clearly it's not something you expected to encounter, but it derails progress toward your intended goal. Although it may be disappointing to backtrack to re-gain fitness, re-lose weight, or simply gut out a less-than-ideal situation to get through your intended race, there is comfort in knowing that: "I did it before, so I can do it again!" While that may not be the most comforting thought, sometimes it's enough to get you through the moment (e.g. workout, training plan, or even the race) - and that's all you need.

Let me share with you some experiences and see if you can place yourself any of these scenarios. I'd been putting off surgery for a nagging shoulder injury, but finally had it done in 2012 - after one of the best running years I'd had in quite some time. I'd been fit, lean, and just finished a new ultramarathon distance which was a huge personal triumph. After the race, I had the surgery and couldn't run a step for three months. That major setback in my training cost me many more months to regain the same level of fitness prior to the surgery. As it turns out, I ran the same race again in 2014 and finished faster! I was burnt out by the end of the 2014 running season. I'd worked hard to regain that fitness, but lost my joy for running in the process. For most of 2015, I spent my time hiking, riding my bicycle, or doing many other activities - but I thought that my running days might be in my past. After nearly a year away, I'm back to running and enjoying it as much as ever. My fitness and weight have both declined in the past year, but at least I've recaptured the joy in my running and can work toward improving both. And speaking of weight, with the inevitable march of time, my weight seems to be an ongoing (losing) battle. It's tougher and tougher just to maintain my weight, so I accept that I need to adjust to a new "normal" and work with what life provides. Being at a less than ideal weight is not going to stop me from getting out and doing the things I love.

From the stories I've shared about my own challenges, I hope you take away two important messages:

1) every woman you know is working on overcoming some obstacle between her and her goals - so you aren't alone

2) know that whatever challenge you are facing can be overcome if you don't quit trying!

Let's face facts; most of us are weekend warriors who don't have the luxury of the singular pursuit of our personal goals, and we need to juggle a lot of balls while we are working through our plan to achieve great pursuits - but that makes the achievement that much sweeter. Accept that your plans will probably need to change, and understand that is part of your journey. Most importantly: believe in yourself and your ability to overcome those obstacles to achieve your goals. And never, never, never give up in the pursuit of your own greatness!

-- Linda

Author's Bio: 

I’ve never considered myself a remarkable athlete – and still don’t. I did a little recreational running in my 20s. In 1992, I ran my first 5K race. It wasn’t a remarkable finishing time, but it was a great sense of achievement. Shortly thereafter I got married, had two daughters. Like many moms, I got caught up in the day to day business of being a caregiver and lost sight of the importance of taking care of myself.
Now let’s fast forward to 2005. I’m a 40-something full time mom. Although I loved that role and found it very fulfilling in many respects, I had little identity outside my role as “Mom.” I didn’t like the tired and frumpy image in the mirror any more – so I decided to change it by doing something positive for myself. It was time to take up running again.
Over the course of the next decade, a spark ignited something within that I never imagined existed. I trained for and completed another 5K – and just kept going. 5K’s gave way to half marathons. Half marathons became full marathons. Full marathons progressed to ultra-marathon distances. After my 50th birthday, I’d run and completed two 100 mile ultra-marathons. Today, my passion is trail running. I prefer the slower pace, a softer running surface, and the ability to enjoy the solitude and peacefulness of being out in the forest. Trail running is about connecting with nature and conquering the course, whether it’s climbing mountains, navigating stream crossings, or scrambling over rocks and roots.
Motivational mantras have always been instrumental in helping me endure the mentally and physically challenging times when nagging self-doubt tries to creep in and derail my goals. I used to write mantras on my arm with a Sharpie pen to help channel the power of positive thinking. I’d repeat these mantras over and over to drown out the voices in my head begging me to quit.
It is from this idea that Run Inspired Designs was born. I created a line of jewelry called Wearable Inspiration so that the wearer could have their mantra close to their heart to always remind them of their “why” when the going gets tough.
I find it incredibly rewarding to share my passion with other women and to help them realize that runners come in all shapes, sizes, abilities and ages. Running gives us an opportunity to cultivate a deep belief in ourselves and to follow it to achieve something amazing. It’s also about finding the joy in your journey – not necessarily the result – and dreaming up the next journey.
I authored my book, Running Inspired – A Journey to Finding Inner Greatness, in order to share my story and send a message of empowerment to all women to find and chase their own passions – and dare to achieve something they never dreamed possible. It’s a quick read with tips on how to set goals, change your mindset, and break out of your comfort zone.