Every Mother Counts

'Like your life depended on it!’

This morning I was in need of some serious motivation while getting my booty kicked in spin class.   I started thinking {daydreaming!} about my friend and spin instructor back in California.  She would often throw out sayings during class to motivate and get us to work harder.   Usually they worked {at least for me!}.

“Do it like your life depended on it,” was a saying she threw out at least on one occasion.  The quote made me think.  My life doesn’t depend on whether or not I work as hard as I can in spin class, or while out running.  I have the ability to bike or to run, or to exercise any way I want.  And go for miles.  

But not everyone is that lucky.   

And, in some cases, a life does depend on how far someone can walk.

This month, along with my fellow Oiselle teammates {and anyone else who wants to join!}, I am raising money for the organization Every Mother Counts through the app called ‘CharityMiles.’

Every Mother Counts is a campaign to end preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the world.

Every day I am going to run {or walk} at least one mile.  Because every mile does count.  Every mother does count.  Someone’s life DOES depend on it!

What are you willing to do for others?

Do it like your life depended on it. 

Because you can.  Because I can.

Because someone’s life does depend on it.

Will you join me in supporting Every Mother Counts?  

I will. 

Every. Mother. Counts

Join me!!  Just download the Charity Miles app onto your phone, and log in before your run {or bike, or walk} and for every mile you log, Every Mother Counts will receive $.25.  Yes, it IS that easy!

Want to do more? You can help fundraise here.  Or, you can shop the Every Mother Counts collection from Oiselle and 40% of the proceeds go directly to EMC.

And, check out this video!  Why We Run Video

 

There’s an ‘I’ in my team!

As the saying goes, ‘there’s no ‘I’ in team.

But, there is an ‘I’ in my team.  It is spelled  O-I-S-E-L-L-E.   

Phil Jackson once said,  

“The strength of the team is each individual member.    

The strength of each member is the team.”

I couldn’t agree more!

Growing up I was on numerous teams.  I’d say my ‘best’ sport was basketball.  But I was in no way one of the best players.  I was an average athlete who mostly played to do something with my friends, to be part of the TEAM.   My freshman year, I was awarded the Coach’s Award – translation: your basketball skills aren’t the greatest, but you work hard and we like you on the team.   Again, I wasn’t great, but I enjoyed the part about being on the team. 

I was just selected to be part of another team, the Oiselle {pronounced wa-zell} Volée running team.  {Check it out}  Honestly, when I first received the email I was selected, I was in a bit of shock.  Really?  Me, the mediocre athlete, was selected out of over 400 applicants to be part of the Oiselle team?  Woah!  

I am super excited to be part of a group of 150 woman athletes all over the country.   

It is an honor.   

A big-time honor.

The other members and I make up the Volée team.  We are spread all over the country, and most of us don’t know each other, but we are a team.  All individuals connected through running and Oiselle.  All women who are dedicated and determined athletes.

But it is me, the ‘I’, who is motivated and inspired by my teammates.  Knowing that my race results will be posted on the Oiselle website and that my teammates will see, and I will see their race results. 

It is the ‘I’ who wants to do well. 

The ‘I’ who wants to succeed.  

The ‘I’ who want to run faster.  The ‘I’ that wants to win.

I don’t want to let myself down. 

I don’t want to let me team down. 

Running is an individual sport, but the individuals make up a team.  A team of dedicated and determined athletes with one common interest: running.   We all run for different reasons.  Each ‘I’ has her own reasons to run, but we all run.  We are a team.  A team made up of 150 individual women. 

 

Being selected to be part of the Oiselle team has given me a new motivation to run. A new dedication to improving my running and my overall health.  Being part of the team, as Jackson stated, has given me a new strength that can only come from being part of a larger cause.  A team.  The Oiselle Volée team.

Thank you, Oiselle, for the opportunity for this little bird to join the flock!  

I shared this post idea with my friend Liz, her response, 

“You can't call yourself a "mediocre" athlete. Sorry.   

Please don't hide your light. You're a runner. A really fast one.” 

Thanks for the kind words my friend.  Guess I will be adding her name to my ‘do not let down’ list too!

I won’t let you down, team Volée!  Here’s to a year of running fast and having fun!

I will spread my wings and fly!  

Fly high. Run fast.  Shine bright.  Team Volée.

 Check out my Oiselle profile {here}!