I realized I had been talking about my goals earlier but hadn’t yet posted my letter of intent. Here are my stated goals for the Ultimate Black Belt Test, some of which intersect well with some things that were already in mind. I have really appreciated how lessons at the dojo have contributed to a developing practice of discipline, which …

Sore. Achy. Grouchy. Sunday’s everything hit like a ton of bricks but I pushed through to finish the daily requirements before class. Even a little prideful that I did 6 miles instead of 3. My knees are suffering for my pride… Then in class we did a third set of exercises. Yes. A third set. All but the last crunches …

My Statement of Intent Over the next 13 months I will: Complete 50,000 push-ups and 50,000 sit-ups Complete a 1,200 mile journey by swim/bike/run/walk Complete 1,000 repetitions of my basics/kata Complete 1,000 acts of kindness Complete a community service project Meditate for 15 minutes a day Read 6 books Complete 1 personal goal: 10k in less than 50 minutes I …

Week 1 So, it’s not really been a week yet, but I’m a the Monday – Sunday week kinda’ gal, so… This week felt good. I’m able to get a lot in during my hour lunch break which is pretty lucky. I slip away from my desk right at 12 and am out the door for my run by 12:05. …

Sunday. Not a day of rest this last weekend. My aunt is moving rather unexpectedly and the whole family is helping. The day’s objective was to move the garage, storage shed, books, games, movies, other media and glass into storage. An early start and off we went to Escalon with muscles ready. I was a bit concerned when we left. …

Well, its the end of week 1. It went by faster than I thought it would, of course it wasn’t a full week so that might have added to it. I have decided that I don’t completely hate running, or getting up early. It fills me with a sense of accomplishment when I get up early in the morning and …

This first week of any new adventure is very critical. It is the time to establish habits, discover challenges, and learn how to have fun on the new journey. That is why I decided to journal daily for the first 7 days. It is the freshest, most inspired time for reflection. Today’s reflection is on hydration, or rather dehydration. An …

I long ago learned to listen to my old injuries when they started talking. And oh man! They are talking today. Yesterday was nearly a double dose of the exercise requirements between my own ambitious morning exercises, daily activities, evening karate class, and a late night hot yoga session. The UBBT is about pushing our limits, expanding them even. Yesterday …

Balance has been a struggle since an inner ear infection at the age of one. 12 years of dance, various sports, and now karate have helped. But! Nothing felt quite right until tonight. Yoga. A while back I told someone I was thinking about trying yoga. They responded by saying, “Yoga is for flexibility. You’re already flexible. Why do yoga?” …

My second day…I awoke to true motivation…I gave into my cup o joe, did my 15 min of meditation/breathing, streched, 70 pushups, 70 situps. Fast pacedwalked 3 miles and meet two new walking, jogging comp nions (10 min)with them. Brunch 70 more pushups and sit ups followed with my upper body basis