Mindset Shift

Choosing to Challenge Myself 

The Journey of Miles, Milestones, and Memories - Part III

A Golden Year Decision

Last year was my golden year. It was the year that I made radical decisions to meet this new season in my life with movement, courage, and curiosity rather than caution. 

Setting An Intention Bigger Than Fear

So I set an intention for 2025 that felt both bold and improbable, and that was to tackle three 5Ks, two 10Ks, and one marathon, with more than a decade from any previous running. It was not about proving anything to anyone else. It was about listening to the part of me that wanted to see what was possible when I stopped negotiating with fear and started honoring my capacity to grow. 

Training as Exploration, Not Punishment

I began training in the fall of 2024, not with rigid rules or punishment, but with exploration. Training became an invitation to move more, breathe deeper, and rebuild trust with my body. I registered for the She Power 10K in Chandler, Arizona, and suddenly the journey had a destination, but the real work was happening long before race day. 

Finding Strength Through Variety and Community

I had joined ClassPass and said yes to new experiences: yoga, barre, Pilates, cycling, kickboxing, HIIT, boxing. Each class taught me something different, not just about strength or endurance, but about rhythm, recovery, and resilience. I found spaces that felt like home, like Urban Yoga, Jabz Kickboxing, CycleBar, and Title I Boxing with Mr. Frazier. These were places where community mattered as much as performance.

Learning to Adjust Without Quitting

On days when motivation faded, I adjusted rather than quit. I walked indoors while watching my K-dramas because sometimes outdoors felt unreasonable, especially on 100+ degree days. I tracked my movement in ways that felt encouraging, not obsessive. Closing my rings, meeting my steps, and showing up became quiet promises I kept to myself. 

When the Shift Became Visible

Slowly, something shifted. 

My pace improved. My confidence followed. What once took nearly an hour per mile began to settle into something steadier, something stronger. I ran when I could with the Black AZ Run Club, and even when I wasn't consistent, I was inspired, especially by women my age reclaiming their speed, their stamina, and their joy. 

The She Power 10K: Testing the Edge

Then came January 26, 2025. The She Power 10K.

It was my first 10k EVER! I hadn't even completed an official 5K before, but something in me was ready to test the edge of what I believed I could do. The rules were clear: complete the first 5K in under 45 minutes to qualify to continue the full 10K. I started near the back of the pack, which meant I had to move with intention from the very beginning. 

I jogged.

I walked with purpose. 

I breathed through discomfort. 

I listened to my body and kept going. 

Witnessing Myself in Motion

This race was not about winning. It was about witnessing myself in motion; legs trembling, knee aching, spirit steady. It was about discovering that I could do hard things without rushing, without comparison, without abandoning myself in the process. 

A Mindset Shift That Reaches Beyond the Road

This was a mindset shift. Not just in running, but in life. 

The journey taught me that growth doesn't require perfection, only presence. That progress is often quiet. And that the most meaningful victories are the ones that change how you see yourself long after the finish line fades. 

Still Becoming

This is the heart of Miles, Milestones, and Memories: learning to enjoy the journey, honor the body you're in, and trust that every step, no matter the pace, counts!

And, I'm still just getting started. 

Mindfully, 

Stacie J.