Nashville ~ One #YogaState at a Time

Last weekend we were in Nashville for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon.

On the course...somewhere around mile 11,
 I thought I'd distract myself from the rain
with a selfie photo op. 

The idea of walking 13.1 miles is no longer as taunting and 'scary' as it was about 2 years ago. It was never that I didn't think I could walk 13.1 miles, but it was more about could I do it in under the 3.5 hour time limit races typically put as the maximum amount of time before the 'bus' sweeps you off the course.

This particular weekend in Nashville was especially different, because it truly was about a Yoga State of mind. We woke up around 5am to rain.....and I mean lots of heavy rain. I knew the race was going to go on rain or shine....I just really was hoping, praying and just not even fathoming the fact that it might actually rain for this race. My true dislike for walking came out at that moment. I did not want to be a part of the race, I really could not imagine being wet...let alone getting my cute gym shoes drenched....nor could I imagine carrying an umbrella with me for 13.1 miles. I really just wanted to cuddle up in my warm, dry sheets and stay inside maybe with a cup of coffee and a book.

I'm not sure what part of me decided....or maybe it wasn't me at all, but my husband who is a devoted runner...or if it was the fact that I made a commitment to do something that I had been training for that urged me to leave the warmth of our hotel.

I was drenched before I crossed the START line. Deciding that it was only going to get worse...I snagged a discarded poncho from one of the crazy fast runners...and started out on my 3.5 hour walk through Nashville. With every mile I thought i was crazy...but at least I was crazy with thousands of other people who were out walking, facing their own state of mind, battling their own demons of will power (and the heavy rain and winds).

In the end...I can say I am happy I did the race, I was able to be surrounded by nature, a beautiful city...and after being through something completely uncomfortable...it's so much easier to appreciate the comforts of our everyday.

Additions to #YogaState, a yoga pose in every state ~ Downtown Nashville

As I announced in my One Yoga State at Time blog post, I have a goal to merge yoga, silliness, tourism, photography and FUN to each state I visit, with the intention in my lifetime to visit all states....and of course, if there is any international travel there must be a fun yoga pose involved (Keep an eye out for Paris and Berlin this June!!).

Join me on this adventure with the hashtag #YogaState.