Finding Myself through The Great British Bake Off

In these times of staying indoors for the good of humanity, I know I'm not the only one who's found myself delving into parts of Netflix that never interested me before. After years of hearing how watch-worthy The Great British Bake Off is (mostly from my mom), I finally fell down the rabbit hole.

I've always enjoyed cooking shows, although I tend to gravitate away from competition-based shows because they stress me out. But, the GBBO has a completely different feeling about it. The challenges are pretty straightforward as far as expectations go - there are no surprise ingredients or last-minute twists in the instructions, like we see in American cooking shows. The bakers are competitive but respectful of each other; you can tell they want each other to succeed. Most of them seem to compete the way non-professional runners do: against themselves and their own limitations.

This show is so wholesome. The contestants offer each other help when they can.

While the judges are honest and blunt in their criticism, they aren't cruel or dramatic. They've also mastered the sandwich-theory of delivering feedback, couching negative or constructive comments between two genuine compliments. As someone who has always feared criticism, watching hours of its delivery and acceptance has started to change something in my brain.

This show has been a relaxing background to my continued isolation, but as I've been watching I realized there's actually something to be learned from the show outside of how to bake the perfect genoise.

Life Lessons I've Learned from The Great British Bake Off

• Have confidence in what you know, and don't be ashamed of what you don't. Be open to learning.
• Be proud of your accomplishments, even if they're not perfect. 
• There's a lot to be said for personal taste - you can't please everyone.
• Try new things; test the limits of your comfort zone.
• Don't be afraid of criticism or take it personally; take it at face value and grow from it.
• Having a bad day or delivering a bad product doesn't make you a bad or unlikeable person.
• Don't be afraid to take risks; put yourself out there.
• Have confidence in what you know, and don't be ashamed of what you don't. Be open to learning.
• Don't hate your competition - forge friendships and learn from each other. You're in this together!
• No matter how dire things look, never throw it all in the bin. Never give up. 

• Don't hate your competition - forge friendships and learn from each other. You're in this together!
• Being a master of one skill will only get you so far; branch out, learn new trades, and keep adding tools to your toolbox.
• Mistakes happen. Pick your battles - sometimes you can let them go, and sometimes you need a redo.
• Don't panic - improvise.
• If you're going to do something, do it. Give it your all.
• No matter how dire things look, never throw it all in the bin. Never give up.

We've all heard these pithy words of wisdom before; they're not revolutionary or anything. But here's what got me: it's rather like the writing advice "show, don't tell". I've now seen example after example of how people actually implement these life lessons to follow their dreams, and it's incredibly motivating!

I've been doing a lot of soul-searching lately, because I'm facing some huge life changes right now, and lots of what I'm reading talks about being unafraid to be your authentic self. I haven't been afraid to be myself in ages (thank goodness we don't stay teenagers forever!), but I'm beginning to realize that I've spent so much time repeating a pattern in daily life that I've lost touch with who I really am. Who is my authentic self these days? Working long hours in an emotionally taxing career completely sapped any motivation for self-reflection.

With a big move on the horizon, now is the perfect time for reinvention.

People who've known me since childhood would describe me as creative...a writer, a dreamer. I feel a bit disconnected from that part of myself, even though it's how I still see myself. It seems silly, but as I've been watching GBBO and seeing these bakers follow a dream and put themselves out there, I've felt that part of myself wake up a little bit.

There's a tedious journey from realization to actualization, but I'm feeling a little more aware of my wants and dreams, and I'm excited about starting fresh. Outside expectations and messaging still cloud my head every day, but it's becoming a little easier to push past it and focus on what I want.

Now that I've seen how it's done, I just need to put it into practice.

ABK

A Thought on Race Goals and Chattajack!

Thanks for the supportive comments on my last post. It's hard enough to completely miss your goals when no one knows them. It's way harder when you have to break the news to people you respect and who were cheering for you!

Hanna's comment in particular got me thinking. She brought up that maybe the pressure of this race impacted how it went. My last two 5k PRs were both unexpected and I hadn't advertised much confidence in myself beforehand. In fact, I kept my pie-in-the-sky goal private for Sup & Run and I didn't have major goals for Howl.

But I built up Sanibel.

Hanna's comment made me reflect on A1A this year. I ran that full without telling anyone but a few select people. I wanted to remove the pressure of race day by just treating the race like a solid long run and it really worked - I redeemed myself and nabbed my hard-earned PR!

Still the best feeling ever!

(Last night I was rereading my BDR and A1A recaps to help me remember how BDR fueled me for A1A. Disaster races can be really good in the long run. You know, there are times I'm really glad I have a blog.)

Of course, a marathon is different. There's a little less pressure in the sense that finishing at all is a huge accomplishment, and I wasn't ever planning to gut out super-fast miles, either. But I should probably apply what I learned about that race - which is that if I just let myself have some quiet determination and don't make race day a big deal on the blog (the lead-up, the goals, etc.) then I'm able to have a more successful race - to all my races. I'm able to just race it without any outside noise creeping in.

That's not to say that support isn't appreciated! But I wonder if my mind buckles under the pressure.

I also think that I have such a history with Sanibel now, having run it five times, that I need to pick a different 10k when I'm ready to try for a PR again. Even though I love the course and the atmosphere, there's just too much baggage to run it with confidence and freedom.

I hope I can remember all this as my next few races come up this winter. (More on those later.)

I feel way better after taking Sunday and Monday off and enjoying a nice run Tuesday. I gave Elizabeth my full attention as I listened to her race experience. It's clear she enjoyed it and she's excited to run a half; her competitive nature came out and she had fun picking people off as she ran. But she still doesn't "get" why people spend money on races (totally understandable) and she didn't feel totally "life changed!" by finishing because, in her words, it was "only 6 miles". She's become a jaded racer and she's only run one race!

I love this pre-race picture of us! We always take post-run photos so this is the first time you get to see us looking cute and excited beforehand!

In other news, Chattajack is this weekend! Remember last year when Matt paddled ~32 miles in Chattanooga? Well, it's time for him to repeat his performance!

He's switched up his board class this year and has trained using a totally different method and plan than last time; he's really gunning to make it to the podium.

That's Matt leading the pack, obviously.

So, needless to say really, I won't be around the blog much this week because we'll be traveling. But when I get back I'll make sure to post a recap of his race, like last year! (Hopefully this year's recap doesn't include a busted board or any other obstacles on our way up to Tennessee!) In the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram to see how things are going and follow Matt on race day.

Do you think vocalizing your goals helps, hinders, or doesn't impact your performance?
Do you have any baggage surrounding certain races?
Wish Matt good luck this weekend!

ABK

The Purpose of Life

Funny the things you think about when you're up super early for a run and have some quiet time alone. In the quiet hour between the end of last Thursday's morning run and my commute to work, I was thinking about...life.

I don't often get too contemplative these days - I think I left a lot of that navel-gazing behind with my teens - but I had read this comic from The Oatmeal recently and I think it was lodged in my head:

This is just an incomplete snapshot of the entire thing. He goes on to write that the things he loves don't often bring him joy - sometimes they make him suffer but they are compelling. That's how I often feel about writing and running!

I hate the two ends of the "meaning of life" spectrum: the positive side that thinks life is meant to bring you happiness and that you should feel fulfilled always, and the nihilistic side that thinks we're all just existing and there's nothing more to it, and that life owes us nothing so if we're not happy who cares?

Although I do find the Nihilist Memes page on Facebook pretty damn funny if you're into dark humor.

Side note: There are a million articles online about how to find happiness in life, and I feel like if you're reading those articles trying to pick up tips, you're going about it the wrong way.

Then I was thinking, really, what do I think the meaning or purpose of life is? Because when I'm just living it, I'm not enjoying it, and when I'm enjoying it, it may all still be meaningless, but at least I'm not miserable. I came up with three things that, to me, speak to the purpose of life:

The reality of the world we live in is that we won't enjoy every minute of every day. We need to do some things we don't love or aren't passionate about in order to survive, and I think anyone who says differently has more privilege than I've ever known. But we do need to enjoy life if we want to thrive, and there's a difference between surviving and thriving.

When I'm satisfying my curiosity, learning new things, exploring, and experiencing the world around me, life feels a lot richer.

We need to seek out things that engross us and prioritize them in a way that makes them part of our lives on a regular basis. If you don't know what that thing is for you, it's time to explore. Take a class. Volunteer. Learn to cook. Read more. Take a day trip. Go to a museum. Try your hand at drawing. Go camping. Whatever. For me, obviously, one of those things is running. It doesn't always make me happy, but it compels me.

Life itself may not have a definite purpose (to paraphrase the Oatmeal: that's okay) but it feels better when we're engaged with living. It's like I used to tell my students: you have to be here, so you may as well make the most of it!

How's that for a marriage between blind optimism and nihilism?

Do you think there's a purpose or meaning to life?
What enriches your life?

ABK

First, Running Saved Him

Matt and I spent last Friday enjoying a legitimate date night. We had dinner at one of our favorite Thai/sushi restaurants, spent some time browsing Barnes & Noble, and then saw Unbroken.

I was looking for a running calendar and found the most perfect one EVER.

I have the book on Kindle and have started reading it (FYI - it's AMAZING), but this post is about the events of Louis Zamperini's life as depicted in the film. (I'm not going to review the film itself in depth, so I'll just say this: while I felt some of the scenes and transitions were a little awkward, the movie was successful in creating poignant, intense moments. It kept me engaged and was definitely enjoyable and inspiring.)

Obviously Zamperini's story isn't all about running, but the role that running plays is integral to the story's outcome.

...in a nutshell.

First, running saved him. Zamperini was the child of Italian immigrants who struggled to find his place in America. He was stealing, drinking, and getting into fights at a young age. His older brother introduced him to running. Pete saw it as a way to save Louis from himself, to make him more than he was, to harness some of that destructive power and energy to turn it into something good.

So many of us have turned to running for a similar reason. It was a way to test ourselves and find our limits; it's a way to learn what we're really made of. Zamperini learned he was made of better stuff; running pulled him off a destructive path and onto a better one.

Running made him strong. Zamperini learned to dig deep the way runners must. You can't run a 4:xx mile without growing through pain. Running gives us a mental and emotional strength that transcends the sport itself, and when Zamperini was stranded in the ocean for 47 days, we see that strength. When he was captured by the Japanese and endures torture and starvation in POW camps, that strength kept him alive. 

(In the ocean scenes, we also see another aspect of running: the spirit of camaraderie and teamwork. Part of that may be his military training; I can't help but think that his treatment of Mac on the raft exemplifies the best part of a runner's spirit.)

So, running saved him from a life of crime. It made him strong and gave him the knowledge that pain is temporary and can be conquered. And that knowledge saved him again when he faced the brutalities of POW camps.

Throughout the movie, you see glimpses of Zamperini's running career and you see, through the memories, that running sustained him. It taught him his value, his true strength, moral fiber, and resilience. It prepared him for a future he could never had imagined. The other soldiers in the POW camps needed something to keep them going - most of them seem to be holding onto memories of family or hope that the Allies will win the war - but it's clear that running lit a fire in Zamperini that kept him moving forward even when it seemed all hope was lost.

This movie truly captures the indomitable spirit that makes runners great. It shows what runners are made of, even though the majority of the movie isn't about running, and even though most of us will never have to endure even a fraction of what Zamperini lived through. It shows us, through his amazing ability to overcome without ever losing his integrity or his identity, what a runner's heart truly is.

If Pete had never encouraged Louis to run, would he have survived? Would he have developed the mental skills and bravery that kept him going? Beginning to run turned Zamperini's life around, and I have to credit it (at least partially) for the courageous man he turned out to be.

In 1998, Zamperini returned to Japan and carried the Olympic torch past one of the prisons where he had been held captive.

Watching greatness in running translate into strength and greatness in near-death, real-life experiences was more moving and inspiring than I had expected, and I left the theater filled with awe and more than a little teary-eyed.

Have you seen Unbroken or read the novel?

Which runners do you look to for real-life inspiration?

ABK

The Definition of Failure

Last night's run was a failure.

I was due for a 5-mile tempo run with the middle three miles at 9:43. I ate dinner at 6:30 and went to run at 8:15. By the end of the first mile, I was covered in sweat from the humidity and suffering those rolling chills you get when your body wants to expel what you ate and is deciding which avenue would be best to get rid of it.

I immediately slowed down, determined to get five miles in even if they weren't at tempo pace.

By the halfway point, I was in agony. I texted Matt, who was at the gym, to take a specific route home so he'd pass me. He picked me up at just a little under 4.25 miles.

Sulking in the car, blasting the AC to bring down my core temperature, I mumbled, "I'm a failure."

To which he replied, "No, you're not. You got out there and tried. You can't be a failure if you try."

I have a couple opposing views on failure myself. On the one hand, failure's not a good thing; but on the other, we learn from it, and we can't grow or change without it. I tell my students this all the time, and I would be a hypocrite if I didn't apply it to myself.

So yes, my run was a failure, but I can concur with Matt that I, myself, am not.

I've reflected on the run and taken three important lessons from it. 

1. This is the second speed-workout that I did at night and got sick during. I need to do hard-effort runs in the morning.

2. I can't get cocky and expect that hard runs will be easy during the summer. I have to anticipate and plan for speed-work to be tough.

3. I hated to cut the run short and I feel stupid for doing it, but it was for the best based on how dizzy and sick I felt. It doesn't count as quitting if you plan to get back out there.

I won't let this one failed run ruin my week, and I plan to be much smarter and more dedicated to getting all three of my runs done in the morning next week. I can't bounce between evening and morning - I have to be consistent. I usually love tempo runs and I'm not going to let this one jade my feelings toward speed-work.

Spot the apostrophe error and win...pride in being able to tell when an apostrophe is being misused!

I've decided to learn and grow from this run and call it a mental workout. I've decided not to let it beat me.

How do you define failure?

Do you avoid risks (and failure) at all costs?

Tell me about a time you failed and learned from it.

ABK

I Run...

Happy National Running Day! Last year, I had a really hard time filling out the "I Run" badge you see here. There were so many reasons, and putting them into a single, direct phrase was pretty daunting.

This year, I was a little better prepared. Looking at all running has given me and all it has taught me, it can be summed up simply enough:

Really, isn't that what it boils down to? Running challenges me. It shows me what I'm really made of. What I can accomplish. It has shown me that I am...

...stronger than I ever thought...

A new 5k PR and the first time I ever placed at a race.

 ...more capable...

Finishing my last leg of Ragnar with one final kill.

...braver...

The first time I ever raced alone.

...and more resilient.

A new half marathon PR just a week post-Ragnar.

 I know and understand myself so much better because of running. That's an invaluable gift.

 

Even as a "seasoned" runner (I've been running for five years now, I can hardly believe it!), I still fall into the trap of seeing runners and assuming it's easy for them. But we all know the truth. Running takes effort, and it's the effort that makes it great.

Recently, I've been getting those messages I so love from old friends. You know the kind...they tell you that your running has inspired them, and they want to try it out, and can you offer advice?

So this is for you, newcomers. Welcome to the tribe! Of all the things running has given me, I think the friendships will always be #1.

Why do YOU run?

ABK

How NOT to do Speed Work

Step 1: Skip the hydration + energy sports drink you've been using over the last couple weeks in preparation for a product review post. 

Step 2: Eat too small of a dinner because you're on a time constraint and don't want to wait to digest/feel too full.

Step 3: Forget that you're planning a group run the next day and running two days in a row usually means using the first day as an easy run. Which speed work isn't. Obviously.

I was willing to run twice in a row because Thursday and Friday I won't be able to fit it in...but deciding to do speed work tonight was not smart planning.

Step 4: Warmup at a much too-fast pace because you're just so excited to be running.

My half-mile warmup should have been at about 10:00, or even 10:10.

Step 5: Forget that you took 3 weeks off and bolt during your first 400, going a full minute faster per mile than your usual speed work intervals call for.

This was just stupid of me. My interval times are usually around 8:50.

Step 6: Recover at a reaaaaally slow jog instead of being smart and walking, thus putting pressure on your legs and not fully recovering. Multi-tasking!

Seriously, an 11:00 jog for recovery? Walking about have served the purpose and conserved energy to keep me going my full 30 minutes.

Step 7: Repeat steps 5 and 6, then call it quits early in order to avoid injury.

Inconsistent and much too fast. I ended up doing 22 minutes instead of the 30 I planned to do.

Step 8: Mumble, curse, drink water, use The Stick, build a bridge, get over it. Tomorrow is another day.

 
How do you come back from a bad run?
How do you fit speed work into your schedule?

ABK

Things I've Learned from My Half Marathons

Long-distance running is a wonderful teacher. (It's also pretty relative. There was a time when 4 miles seemed like an impossible feat for me!) You have to respect a distance that bleeds into the double-digits and during which you may need to literally eat while you run.

Now that I've done six half marathons and am gearing up to try-try again for a full in the winter, I find myself reflecting on those previous races. They've definitely taught me a lot.

Half #1: Naples Daily News 2011

The pain in my face is real. I stupidly ran this because I'd paid, even though I had no business running it.

My first half marathon, run on literally zero training, taught me the value of following a plan. I let work and stress get in the way and ended up "running" this half in 2:56. I came out of it humbled, injured, and angry at running. I learned from this race that dedication is key. I was fired up to try again and do it right next time.

Half #2: the St. Pete Women's 2012

Training well with my partner really helped us PR this race!

Learning from our mistakes, Kelsey and I trained our hearts out for the St. Pete Women's Half the following year. And boy did it pay off! I PR'd by over 40 minutes, finishing in 2:15 on the nose. This half taught me that you can achieve way more than you expect if you do the training. I never expected to run a race of this distance in that kind of time. I learned that sometimes dedication means running at 4:30am. This race also taught me the value of long runs! I'll never neglect those again.

Half #3: Naples Daily News 2013

Kelsey and her oldest daughter cheer me on at the finish.

There was a light and dark side to my lessons with my second attempt at the NDN, and I think this one was the biggest learning experience for me. While I did learn to take failure in stride (my time was 2:37, and coming off my PR that was hard to swallow), I also learned that I need some time off between big races. This race had me convinced that January was a bad race month for me in general. I raced this half totally burned out, and it showed. I learned that rest and recuperation are key.

Half #4: Fort Myers Beach 2013

Lesson learned: stay positive!

 If half #3 taught me to accept failure, then half #4 taught me to stay positive. After the second NDN half, I decided to change my mindset. I vowed to be more positive about running, because after all, why run if I don't love it? This race was supposed to be my first full, but an injury knocked me down to the half. I nearly didn't run it at all - I was on antibiotics for an upper-respiratory infection - but I just couldn't back out. This half was painful in many ways (my finish was my second-slowest at 2:41), but I felt like superwoman for finishing because I stuck it out and gave it what I had. I raced smart for my circumstances. I learned that we can't control every aspect of race day - like the jump in temperature or my illness - but we can control our attitude. I learned to be mentally tough. On a practical note, I also learned the importance of hydration on fueling during the training for this race!

Half #5: Suncoast 2014

I wonder if Mom knew she was going to be matching me when she went with her purple vest!

I was so excited for this half. It cut through my parents' neighborhood, meaning I'd run most of the route at one time or another and knew exactly what to expect. I wanted to make up for the previous half's bad luck, and boy did I! The weather was cool and overcast; it even rained toward the end. But what I learned from this race was 1) to never underestimate the energy boost a cheering section will give you, and 2) making friends on the course is a great distraction. This race taught me that coming into the finishing chute with your hands raised is totally acceptable, because even if you don't PR a race (my time was a respectable 2:24 on this one), you've still done something amazing. I also broke two "curses" on this race: the January-curse and the mile-9-slump!

Half #6: Paradise Coast 2014

Could this starting-line photo be any more perfect?

The pattern I've noticed in my most recent half marathons is that the more positive I feel going into a race, no matter my goals, the better experience I have. This race, which I ran the day after my birthday as a celebration for myself, was my best by far. I remembered my previous lessons: fuel, hydrate, dedicate and push yourself, and be mentally tough. Coming off Ragnar, I had no goal. I just wanted to have fun and do my thing. But here's the beauty of teaching and learning: when you remember the lessons and apply them, great things happen. It took three half marathons (not including the distance I raced overnight for Ragnar) in between to do it, but I finally earned a new PR (2:11) on this race. More importantly, I learned the value of digging deep and challenging myself. I learned that even training mostly alone, I am capable of great things. I learned to balance running with others, running alone, long runs, speedwork, and other training/cross-training techniques. Oh, and I learned the right podcast can really give you a leg up.

One of the best things about running is how much it teaches us about ourselves and our abilities. With these lessons under my belt, I feel ready to tackle my first marathon in November. I know now that I must (and more importantly, CAN) do the training; control what I can and let go of what I can't; and stay positive and mentally tough.

(Detailed race recaps can be found under the "My Races" tab at the top of the page.)

What have you learned from your previous races?
What is your favorite distance to race?
Have you ever had a race that was just ROUGH, but taught you a lesson?

ABK

Change Your Life

Today, I've got something a little different. This past week, I've been doing an in-class retreat with my students using Sean Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Our school is actually implementing The Leader in Me and using the 7 Habits to teach students about personal responsibility, planning their future, working with others, leadership, and healthy habits.

The retreat has been eye-opening...for the students and myself. (And yes, I've read the adult version of this book and find the teen version much more engaging and relevant to my life, which is kind of sad, isn't it?)

Here's a short breakdown of the habits and videos I've been sharing with my students over the last week. If you want to learn more, I highly recommend picking up the book!

1. Be proactive. Being proactive boils down to taking control of your life; don't let others dictate how you see yourself. When I showed this to my students, they were enthralled and moved. Lizzie is a great example of how we can take control of our lives no matter our obstacles and naysayers.

2. Begin with the end in mind. Make decisions and choices that are true to the path and goal you have set for yourself. Lakeisha set her mind on her goal and worked tirelessly every day to get there. There are no excuses.

3. Put first things first. Organize your schedule so that things that are important to you - and your future - come first. This means learning to plan ahead, making time for friends, and being brave enough to say no to things that are time-wasters or of importance to others, but not to you. This is also where students write a mission statement to keep them on track, which for me is the same thing as a running mantra.

4. Think win-win. Find solutions to problems that allow everyone to benefit; consider the bigger picture when working with others, not whether you "win". I'm sure some of you have seen this, but it gets me every time.

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Actually listen to others; don't offer unwanted advice or steamroll over their opinions and thoughts. Yes, I teach 8th grade. Yes, they get a kick out of ridiculous videos.

6. Synergize. Work together. United we stand, divided we fall.

7. Sharpen the saw. Take time to relax, re-energize, and keep yourself mentally and physically fit. Obviously, I choose running as my main way to sharpen the saw.

Since teaching this to the students, I've been trying to utilize it myself. The first three habits are "private victories", meaning you're learning to control yourself and really follow a plan you've set. The second set of three habits are "public victories"; you are learning to use your new self to work with and benefit others.

I'd be surprised if my students weren't a little tired of me linking these habits to running. It's the easiest way for me to explain how they work in my life; but I've seen them improve my personal and professional life as well.

I'll never be a Type A, organized person naturally, but at least now I have the tools and knowledge I need to improve myself and how I work with others.

Are you familiar with the 7 Habits?
What are you strong areas? I think I'm usually pretty good at "seeking to understand..."
What do you need to work on? I definitely could work on "putting first things first"! I'm super unorganized and give in too easily to what I want to do versus what I should be doing.

ABK

A Daring Heart

I do not have a daring heart. I am not naturally a risk-taker, adventure-seeker, or new-thing-trier. My first reaction is usually to say "no" to anything that requires any kind of courage.

If someone wants me to try something scary, they need to introduce the idea slowly, and preferably with a bribe. It took Matt 8 months to get me to try paddling, and the night before my first paddle I literally threw a tantrum, had a panic attack, and cried at the mere thought of getting on a paddleboard.

My first time ever paddleboarding.

The next morning, on the board itself, I cried with sheer terror...But the tears were cathartic, in a way. They broke down a barrier. Anyone who reads my blog now knows that we paddle weekly, and I even had my first (accidental) night paddle this last Friday.

For how much I hate water, it seems to be a major gateway to learning to have courage. Here I am snorkeling in the Bahamas.

If I can be successfully led into something that terrifies me, I'll usually love it. The person behind most of these new experiences is Matt, and for that I'm forever grateful. He was the one who encouraged me when I first wanted to learn to run, and I think becoming a runner has had everything to do with my willingness to, slowly but eventually, face what scares me.

My first-ever solo race, and the first time I ran a sub30 5k.

Looking back, I realize now that I've conquered a lot of my fears. Maybe I'm teaching my heart to be more daring, and with each new conquest and victory comes a little more bravery.

Matt was the one who prompted me to take my Birthright trip to Israel before I aged out of the program. (Come to think of it, he was also behind getting me to study abroad.) Here I am with my cohort excavating underground ruins.

Running has something to do with it too, I think. After all, every time I set a foot over the starting line of a race, I'm facing that evil little voice in my head that tells me I'll never be a runner. It was right for a long time, but it hasn't been right in years.

It may not seem as scary as traveling the world, but choosing to go to grad school was a major leap of faith...And for an introvert like me, teaching takes courage every day.

Running builds confidence like few other sports can. It forces me to look doubt in the eye and steamroll right over it. It has taught me that my mind is strong and that my body can accomplish great things.

Ziplining in the rainforests of Panama.

The greatest thing about conquering fear and teaching my heart to be more daring is that it's keeping me active. When we live in fear - of ourselves, what others will think, of the world at large, whatever - we tend to hide in safe spaces. Safe spaces rarely get us moving.

Hiking up Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.

Climbing rock faces in Leo Carillo, California.

My initial response may still be "no", but at least now I know that "no" is often a lie. Slowly, "no" is becoming "maybe." I hope in the future, my first response to risks and adventures is a resounding and confident "YES!"

Learning to be daring has taught me that I'm not made of glass, that life can be bigger and more enjoyable than I'd ever thought possible, and that if you fake it 'til you feel it, eventually daring will come.

What's the biggest risk you've ever taken?
Are you a naturally daring person?
What has running given you the confidence to do?

ABK