Why Make Excuses?

I really dislike excuses, however, that doesn't mean I don't make them. Just the other day I made up a whole list of excuses as to why I needed to shorten my run mileage. I went home last weekend to visit my parents and got up Saturday morning to participate in a 5K at my Alma mater.

So the original plan was to complete the 3 miles of the race and then run 10 more on my own. I completed the 5K and started on the 10. About mile 3 is when the enormous list of excuses began to flood my mind. "Mandy you did a solid 6 straight weeks of climbing, 7 miles, 10 miles, 12 miles, 14 miles, 16 miles, 18 miles...you need a break. 8 Miles is good enough for today. Next week you'll do more." By mile 4 I already turned back, I had my mind made up and the excuses won me over.


"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." (Benjamin Franklin)

Why does this happen? Why can we buy into the white lies our minds feed us? Why can't we always just stick to the original plan? Here's a short list of ways we can win against excuses:

1. Understand rationalization. Rationalization is the process of constructing a logical justification for a belief, decision, action or lack thereof that was originally arrived at through a different mental process. It is a defense mechanism in which unacceptable behaviors or feelings are explained in a rational or logical manner; this avoids the true explanation of the behavior or feeling in question. (Wikipedia) I think rationalization can be very dangerous as we might not realize we are doing it.

2. Examine your progress. Look at where you are at from where you have been and where you want to be.

3. When you make a mistake take time to learn from it. Don't repeat it but accept responsibility from the mistake. (although I don't ever believe mistakes are really mistakes, rather stepping stones to get us where we want to go by process of elimination)

4. Come to the realization that your successes or failures depend on you. The choices and attitude you have play a huge role in winning and losing.

Now I understand that from time to time excuses will happen. It's just the way life works out. This post doesn't apply to the random here and there excuse, rather the chronic excuses that stop us from getting what we want.


"Sometimes what we don't want to see is exactly what we need to see."(Mandy Froehlich)

August Race: Race for the Cure

This month I participated (along with 22,000 other people) in the race for the cure. What an amazing event! I could not believe how many people walked or ran in this event. It was such a rush to be around that many people. Only 4 more races left....2008 is just flying by!

July Race: Sticking with the Goal

Most of you know that my 2008 goal was to participate in a race every month. July has proven to be very difficult to keep up with that commitment. I signed up for the "Run to the Sun" race a couple Sunday mornings ago. However, I was sick with "stomach issues" for 2 weeks during July. Boy did it slow me down-I hate having to slow down! Instead of going to another race, my husband and son decided to create a make-shift race for me to participate in. We called it the Froehlich Fun Run. Basically we just strolled around the neighborhood, took a picture and called it a race! No matter how much I plan, improvising and accepting change is a very big part of the plan despite my scheduling efforts.

Halfway There!

Yesterday I completed my first half marathon. Hospital Hill was just that-a big huge hill! It seemed as though the hills would never stop. I have to admit-I loved every minute of it though. It was super challenging as I felt my body being pushed to it's limits but worth it in the end. I'm halfway there as this was 6 out of 12 races set to complete in 2008. I'm looking forward to SF even more after yesterday with 20,000 participants it will surely be an awesome experience.

May Race: Walk for the Homeless

Today there were several of us that walked/ran 2.8 miles for the hillcrest ministries. The weather was warm and it was good!

Trolley Run 2008

Another Run bites the dust! We completed the 4 mile Trolley Run this morning. I wish I could say I enjoyed it but I struggled through the whole 4 miles. Maybe next year will be better and my IT band healed. On a more positive note: Brenda had her best 4 mile time ever-way to go Brenda! Formerly a highly competitive swimmer, Kasie completed her first official running race-she did great! Sharon did great even though her rheumatoid arthritis has been flaring up-she's so strong! Johnna participated in the run as well even though she's been struggling through a chest cold-I am so proud of you. Great job ladies! I know it was rainy and cool while we could have made a million excuses to sleep in you all showed up. I love it!

We did it: Snake Chase 2008!

Mary, Jennifer, Sharon and I participated in the Snake Chase last Saturday. It was somewhat of a windy day but we made it through. It was a lot of fun and Mary even got 1st place in her age division...way to go Mary!

I hope more of you will think about joining me for the trolley run (or walk) next month!!!

February Freeze: CHECK

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in February Freeze. Although we didn't get to run outside, we did get our 5K in. I hope we can actually get outside this year-I have a fantastic location in mind once the weather starts coopering with me:)

1 Down 11 To Go!

We made it through the tunnels of Hunt Midwest Cave this weekend to the finish line of our first 5K race this year. A pre-race picture of me and the hubby!


Sharon, a former client, also ran the 5K with us. I have to brag on Sharon because just 1 year ago she was a completely different person. Here's her story:

My name is Sharon Muir. I am 36 years old. I am the wife of Rob and mother of 4 year old, Ethan. I have rheumatoid arthritis. I was diagnosed with this chronic illness 10 years ago. I take many medications to control my disease. My goal more than weight loss is to live a healthy life in a more healthy body. I am achieving that goal by eating healthy including adding more veggies to my daily diet and eating smaller portions. In January 2007, I began taking the Women's Equilibrium Class. I took the class for 8 months and went from a size 16 to a size 10. Since the year 2005, I have slowly lost a total of 35 lbs. The most current 20 lbs. just melted off due to reshaping my body and reshaping my daily diet. My new hobby is exercise. I have made exercise a social and stress relieving part of my life. I am part of a small group of ladies who have a 2008 goal to run/walk at least one organized 5K race every month. With my current combination of weight loss, exercise, healthy eating and arthritis medications I am in the best mental and physical shape I have been in since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

Sharon shaved 10 minutes off her 5K race time at the Groundhog run. Way to go Sharon....I am so proud of you!!


Here's Sharon's Before Picture

And Here's Sharon Now!!!