I’ve learned how to say “thank you” in Portuguese – it’s “Obrigado.” I said it quite a bit while enjoying my time in beautiful Portugal, with my family after my epic race in Spain. Today I want to say thank you, gracias and obrigado to everyone who helped me on my way to (and though) that race. You have no idea how much it means to me or how grateful I am to have your support.
I made a huge mistake, when I posted my finish line picture to Facebook, when I wrote “I did it!” What I should have written was “WE did it!” because it absolutely takes a village, and today I want to thank my village.
As I have written here many times, racing is a mental game. Anyone who has pushed though a tough workout will tell you that 85% (or more!) is believing you can do it. Throughout my six long months of training, I had a lot of doubt. Your mind can play tricks on you, tricks that involve guilt, pressure and defeat. Each time one of those days crept up and tried to beat me down, I would reach out for support and I always got it!
At Nationals, you may recall that I had no clue there was serious altitude in Tucson where I was racing, until I got there. I called my best friend, crying, looking for help. She laughed. It was exactly what I needed to hear. She also told me I was a machine and that air was for wusses. She was right.
Shannon is always setting me straight when training beats me down. THANK YOU!
When crisis hit just before leaving for Spain, and I realized I had to ship my bike out before my big local duathlon, my friends came to my rescue. I had multiple offers for bikes, help to find another bike and just well wishes and good thoughts surrounding me. I was filled with gratitude. THANK YOU.
Let’s face it, it was hard being my friend these past six months. How many times can you hear me blab on about my training or whine about a crappy run or bike ride when you’re working a 40 hour week and just trying to get to Zumba twice in a month? My friends let me know their support had no bounds. Each time I felt I was pushing my luck with my yapping – they all rallied around me.
Me and my biggest fan aka Aunt Carla, after I won the Glastonbury Duathlon. Who is more excited??
The morning of the World Championship Duathlon, my Facebook feed was filled with support and luck. I was crying over how many of you were awake on the East Coast (at 6am on a Sunday!) posting:
“I was thinking of u this morning when I was running the iron horse half!!! I’m sure u killed it in ur race!!!” – Jess K.
“Alice, you are one amazing Chiquita !!!!” – Tara M. (all my high school friends call me ‘Alice’)
“Thinking about you!!!! Rock it out girl!!” – Allison G.
“Been up since 5 am thinking of you…can’t wait to hear how you rocked this race!!”– Barb B.
“Thinking of you today! You rock! It’s a gorgeous day here and it’s opening day at Coventry. I take that as a good sign. Can’t wait to buy you a big cupcake there!” – Tamara B.
“Wide awake at 6am, thinking about you…. can’t wait to hear about your adventure!” – Kris W.
I was so overwhelmed and felt ready to race, knowing how many of my friends were thinking of me. It’s truly an amazing feeling. THANK YOU.
When I returned home, it was a total bummer. It was a let down on so many levels – the high of the race, the vacation, the relaxation and much needed family time – all came to a crashing halt after a God awful 9 hour trip back home.
When I got home…actually, as I was pulling up my mountain, I could see there was a sign on my door and balloons with “USA” on them, bobbing from our front porch posts. I knew there had been an “Aunt Carla” afoot:
What a welcome!!! It made me instantly happy and gave me renewed energy. Plus the boys were distracted playing with balloons while I unpacked and started 14 loads of laundry. THANK YOU!
And then I went to my first Spin class at the YMCA where I teach and saw this:
So many members and staff had signed it. I stood in the hallway and just cried as I read what each and every person had written. There are no words to describe how I felt and how it feels to have the support of a community. THANK YOU.
If you want to absolutely make my year, tell me that I inspire you. I never get tired of hearing it. I take being a personal trainer and fitness instructor very seriously. I walk the walk and don’t just give lip service. I want to be a leader, but I also want people to find their own way, their own goals and to achieve them. To motivate and inspire someone to that end, and to watch them transform, is an honor.
So today, for anyone who has ever said “Good luck” or “You can do it” or (especially) “You inspire me!” I want to say that you all motivate and inspire me. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. WE DID IT!
Who motivates and inspires you?
Who would you like to thank today?
That was very sweet! I know I could probably speak for everyone on this – you do inspire me and all of us who have been with you (virtually or otherwise) through your journey. You have shown us that you are not only a world class athlete but a world class person as well! I can’t wait to see what else you do!
Oh Kris – thank you so much. As you know, being the “world class person” is a far bigger accomplsihment. xoxo
It takes a village, huh? Your hard work and dedication inspired all of us. THANK YOU!
It may even take half the eastern seaboard! Thanks Angela 🙂
All my blogging friends inspire and motivate me! So many people out there turning the ordinary into extraordinary. When you were racing, I don’t think I ever thought about someone I didn’t know more than I thought of you. That isn’t good English but does it make sense?
It makes perfect sense! And you KNOW I was thinking about you. You will forever be my “transition woman!”
Aw, you are even more amazing then I already knew and seriously love that you wrote this post to say thank you to all that encouraged you along the way. Huge hugs and once again so damn proud of you!! You rock 😉
Big HUG for you Janine!! And thank you again!
Awwwww you are SUCH a sweetheart, I am not surprised you get all this love and support on your FB, you are so loving and giving, that I am sure it comes back x100 for you. Good things happen to good people, and I am a HUGE believer in this! You are also right that the blogging community is inspiring, especially you and some of the other lovely ladies who have commented above me. Keep inspiring us, and we will do our best to support you 🙂
You are a huge inspiration to me Tina! Thank you for all your support and encouragement and advice – it’s so appreciated!
Girl, you definitely inspire me! The hard work you put in, your dedication to your sport and to other people pursuing fitness, it’s pretty incredible!
Thank you so much!!! It’s all about spreading the motivation and supporting one another!!
I think what you have done is amazing! I will always be one of your biggest supporters! But remember you are just as good a friend!! Here’s to more great things!
I know you will. I can’t thank you enough!!!
Aw! What a beautiful post!! I am so, so, so glad that you feel the love and support of so many friends and loved ones because you are such a positive and supportive person!! And on top of that, you are an inspiration to me and countless others. We love you, Allie. You are a powerhouse. I am so glad that you feel uplifted by your people when you need it, because so many of us feel uplifted by you! –Lisa Ps. I just adore that photo of you and Aunt Carla. SO cute!!)
Thanks so much Lisa! And YES, I love that picture of me and my Aunt. 🙂
You are so lucky to be surrounded by so many supportive people!! I love seeing your gratitude and acknowledgment of those who helped you along the way!
I wish I could do more because I feel like everyone has done so much for me. I just wanted people to know how much I appreciate it and how much it helped. Thanks Ali!
Love. Just love this.
Thank you so much Christine.
That’s so awesome! You deserve all the cheers you can get! I think it is so amazing how many people got behind you! The posters from the Y and your Aunt Carla are so great! I am sure every single person cheering for you wished they could be there in person to do so (and maybe take a nice vacation at the same time!).
I’m so lame. I just realized that the race was at 6am EST. I thought it was at 6am Spain time so I scheduled my tweet to go at like 2am. Hahaha. Oops! Well, you got the idea! 🙂
Ha ha – I just put that together! The fact that you took the time to think it out, is so appreciated!!! Thanks Britt 🙂
You KNOW you inspire me!!! So happy that all of the support from all your friends and family was so motivating for you! You rock, mama. PS: I’m sure you’ll kill it speaking at Fitbloggin, too!!! 🙂
Thanks Carly!!! I’m sooooo nervous to speak. I definitely need a glass of wine before I do it!!
Allie- I have been following your blog since you were featured on “follow this mother” on another mother runner. I look forward to your posts every week. When I was diagnosed with strep throat 24 hours before the Nike women’s half this spring I still ran because I knew you (the baddest mother runner I know) would do it. Keep up the great work 🙂
OMG Ellen. I cannot thank you enough for telling me this. I just got chills reading it. THANK YOU!…and I hope you totally killed the half!
That is so awesome!! And well deserved!! I need to thank my hubby on a daily basis for supporting me and my running habit. Without him, I would never be able to do what I’m doing. Not even close to winning any races, but he knows that my mental health is key 🙂 Congrats again!
Winning is not the important thing – at all!! I’m so glad you get so much support from your husband – and that he can see how good all the running and racing is for your mental health. Happy mama = happy family!
The half totally sucked. I was SO sick finished 2:32 and I was trained to finish sub 2 which would have been a PR. I didn’t care if I crawled across that line with bloodied knees and elbows I was getting that Tiffany necklace 🙂
LOVE IT!!!!! Tiffany is a huge motivator 🙂
The support and encouragement of the fitness community is amazing! All well deserved Allie 🙂
It absolutely is! Thanks Jill.
My blogging friends inspire me for sure.
I consider myself lucky because I met you in these last six months. You deserve all of this great support and you give great support too!
Thank you so much Tamara! We ARE lucky to have found each other!!
I think so many people wrote about the fact that you inspire them because you are an inspiration!!! You truly make the impossible look possible!!!
I hope that the time since you’ve been home has gone OK and hasn’t been a time of “the blues” for you!!!
Thank you Kim!! Honestly, it’s been kinda crazy ever since I got home (I’m at FitBloggin’ in Savannah right now!) so I literally haven’t had time to be upset. It’s only sunk in a little that my huge goal has been reached… 🙂
You deserve all the love and support, because you rock and you ARE inspiring!
Once the twins are born, and I’m cleared to work out again, I’ll need SOMEONE to kick my ass. I think you’re one of my someones.
YOU KNOW IT!!!!! Twin mama butt kicking workout here we come!!!
This is so, so awesome! And one of the reasons that I adore the running blogging community. You’re so right- it takes a village!
Thanks Laura! You’ve been such an inspiration to me and one of my favorite cheerleaders 🙂
You deserve it all, girl! I think I may have gushed and fawned over you to the nth degree but damn, you’re just good – in heart and in deed and it seems I’m not the only one who thinks so.
It was so great to hang out with you this past weekend. I’m glad we’re “blends” who have turned into friends! I hope to see you again very soon and in case it isn’t clear enough, I definitely find you inspiring in more ways than one.
PS – You rocked your Ignite presentation!
xo
I’m going to gush over YOU for a little while here. Like I said, I can’t thank you enough for just taking care of me though my very first blog conference experience. Right from the start, managing me though my airport delays, calming my nerves for Ignite, helping me though a rough break-out session, introducing me to all the amazing fitness bloggers you know and just being a great friend. Really, I cannot thank you enough. I’m so, so glad we’re friends and if something doesn’t bring us together soon, I’ll just come visit in LA 🙂
Oh Allie, you know you have a cheering section in me. But YOU are the one that makes things happen!
I couldn’t do it without your (and everyone else’s) support. Truly.