Third & Final Guest Post - Heidi

<p>Hello everyone!! My name is Heidi, and Darci asked me to write a guest blog for her. I feel very honored, as I am super proud of all her accomplishments!</p> <p>I have known Darci for about 10 years now. We went to the same church growing up, and I was really close with her younger sister. She has become a great friend of mine and someone I know I will always be in touch with. Like I said, I am super proud of her, and she is a true testimony that you can do anything you set your mind to!</p> <p>I would like to tell a little bit of my "fitness story" and how it has affected my entire life...</p> <p>It all started the day before cross country was going to start my freshman year of high school.  I decided the day before cross country was starting that I wanted to go out.  Before this, I had never run more than the P.E. mile test, and my best time was 10 minutes.  I didn't really even know what cross country was.  I only participated in volleyball, basketball, and softball in middle school.  I went to practice that next day and said I would run at least a mile without stopping and work my way up to two miles (that was how long our races were).  I made it the mile the first day, but it was tough!</p> <p>Before our first meet, I was up to running two miles without stopping, but it was a struggle for me.  Our first meet was in my home town, Manson, IA.  I was so clueless to what was going on. I just knew I had to run two miles without stopping, and I was suppose to do it as fast as I could!  That's exactly what I did! I ran it as fast as I could, and I got third place that day!  There was a volleyball game going on at the school, and I ran in with my medal and told all my friends! Everyone was in shock thinking "Heidi can run?!" I couldn't believe it!</p> <p>I ended up qualifying for state that year, being the only one from my school to go. When we were running at the qualifying meet, I had no idea what I was running for.  After I finished, my teammates ran up to me and said "you made it to state!", and I said "what is state?" haha..</p> <p>After cross country, the track coach asked me to come out for track, and I also qualified for state in the 800 meters that year. I didn't even own a pair of track spikes...I ran in my tennis shoes at state! I improved my times every year after that, and ended up running cross country and track in college too at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA.</p> <p>My goal when I first went to college was to qualify for the national meet at least once. I qualified in both indoor and outdoor my freshman year, and was an All-American in the 800meters with third place!</p> <p>After my freshman year, my goal was to be a national champion, and I wouldn't rest until I was!  I thought about it and wanted it so bad. I missed it my 2nd year, getting 4th place. I graduated a year early, so I had to do it my 3rd year.  I dreamed about winning. For that whole year, anything I did, I would ask myself "is this going to make me a national champion?" I would do anything I could at all times of the day to improve. While in class, I would stretch or down ounces of water or Gatorade. I had all my meals planned out, I never slept less than 8 hours, and I always visualized my races at least 100 times before I actually ran them. I was dedicated!!</p> <p>My third year, I broke both indoor and outdoor school records in the 800. I was ranked number one in the country for division 3 when I went into nationals. I wasn't going to settle for anything less. I wanted that title more than anyone there, and everyone else knew it.</p> <p>I had never been so nervous in all my life. I sat in 2nd place for the first lap of the race. By the last 300 meters, I kicked it into gear and went flying.  I ended up winning by a full second (which is a lot in an 800 and doesn't usually happen at a national meet)! I fell to the ground bawling!!! I went and hugged my family and coach. It was the happiest, proudest moment of my life!!  I don't know if anything will ever top that 2 minutes and 8 seconds of my life!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39ea-zjG-icuBWOhoFLNbsEmMkV1jvmNqNq1W6FaEcdCMrDaIdKNrPAGnXaIialGAp9UDmh5HAuiMjBre-ACKNsKRhDu1F1I7FpVzhMSD39eMA1WSO7rsp0LaW7faejWlnK_juM6hAFLr/s1600-h/hedi4.jpg"><img alt="hedi" border="0" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnFLr0hQYgWMP0cx3NKRSzBFdqeXCWh0rgAiiAXB_zLgjSBfb3Fxg9Vy1FRc2AqS7XURLa2Er6-aYc-oKcoNYhz909PTRGQDW8KpYDSRfv_PtVX00Sy5bY0NzIsOuiZl_UN_1JYd1K6yY/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="hedi" width="354" /></a> </p> <p>Running has truly changed my life, along with health and wellness. I have now gone on to be a personal trainer, motivating people all day long. I LOVE it! I also run as much as I can.  I am training for a marathon right now, and I am contemplating trying to qualify for the Olympic trials in the 800 in 2012.  I tried in 2008 but missed it by 1.9 seconds. What do you think?! Should I try again??! :)</p> <p>I would not be the person I am today if you took away my running career.  I did not come from the best background, and I could have easily taken a wrong turn in my life, but with my dedication and commitment to everything I do now, I have been able to overcome some of the hardest obstacles anyone could face including sexual, physical, and verbal abuse, and a recent divorce. I know without a doubt that God never wants me to settle for second best, and I never will. I believe you can do ANYTHING you want if you truly want it with all your heart!!!!!!!!! </p> <p>SO GET OUT THERE OFF YOUR BUTT AND GO DO IT!!!! :)  --Heidi </p>

Third & Final Guest Post - Heidi

Hello everyone!! My name is Heidi, and Darci asked me to write a guest blog for her. I feel very honored, as I am super proud of all her acc...

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