Olympics: Inspiration all around

In case you haven't noticed the London 2012 Summer Olympics are in full swing.  You know what that means? My life is in absolute chaos.  The house is an absolute wreck. I'm not gonna lie, but I actually bought extra socks a few weeks ago in preparation for the Olympics because I knew doing laundry was not going to happen.

The hubs didn't vacuum over the weekend like he always does.  Our yard looks like a jungle because it missed a cut. 

We almost ran out of dog food. Almost. It came down to watching a badminton match and giving the dogs prime rib or getting off the couch and driving to the store.  I think the dogs are upset with our decision! 

The only way I'm getting through the rest of these games is running on the inspiration fumes the games constantly provide. 

My top three sources of inspiration:

1. USA Women's Soccer Team. Special shout-out to Megan Rapinoe 

Source: mrapinoe's instagram

Rapinoe's Credentials: 

Funny as heck on twitter, yet possesses a bucket full of skills on the field.  Ideal teammate because she gives out great assists as well as remembers to wish her injured teammate a happy birthday during an Olympic game.  Not afraid to flaunt the bleached out hairdo.  Sweetest left-footed crosses the women's game as ever seen. Has handled being under the public microscope with exceptional humility, honesty, and most importantly with humor. 

Obviously I'm in love with the entire USA Women's Soccer Team.  I go through media blackouts when they play and then the hubs and I watch the games as soon as we get home from work.  Last Saturday I was able to get in a 16 mile run and have the best recovery time cheering on the team in their win over Columbia.  Double work-out for my lungs, but it felt so good. 

The only one in the house who isn't cheering for the soccer team is Jax.  He gets frightened when I yell at the tv and that means he's been hanging out on the opposite end of the house in his kennel.  Don't worry, we give him lots of treats and his kennel is one of his favorite napping spots. 

2. The Commercials

Source: Nike YouTube Channel 

There have been a ton of inspiring commercials throughout these games.  The Proctor and Gamble commercials make me want to cry when they show the videos of the Olympians when they were little kids.  The one where the athlete says he hasn't eaten dessert in over a year... yeah I was totally eating a Klondike bar when I saw that for the first time.  Whoops! 

I know the Nike "Find Your Greatness" ad above is creating some controversy because people are attacking poor Nathan, age 12, from Ohio for being overweight.  Well, if you actually watched the commercial and listened to it you'd be inspired by Nathan.  Kid is out there doing what he can and finding the greatness within himself and that's really all we can ask of ourselves. He's out there, putting one foot in front of the next, and chugging along.  

I'm never going to be an Olympian, but I can work harder and find my own inner strength.  It's what has been getting me to actually wake up every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning at 5am to go running.  Next week I have to start getting up at 4:30am on Wednesdays in order to get my mileage in and get to work by 8am.  I'm going to need a little inspiration in order to do that.  I also need to start to going to bed earlier, but that's not going to happen until the games are finished. 

3. Michael Phelps

Source: Visa YouTube Channel

Okay, clearly there is a regional bias here since I live in the Baltimore area, but you can't argue with 19 Olympic medals (and counting!). 

I find it absolutely hysterical that people are saying, "Michael Phelps is finished," and making it sound like he's the world's worst swimmer.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but he hasn't missed a final yet.  I'm pretty sure he's a better swimmer than oh almost everyone in the world! 

I'm actually more inspired by Phelps this time around than I was during his reign at his previous two Olympics.  Beijing was insane, actually words don't even truly convey how perfect he was at Beijing.  But you know what, we're all human beings.  We aren't meant to be perfect and now that Phelps isn't absolutely crushing his competition it makes me like him even more.  He's fighting at these Olympics and having a good time while doing it. That's inspiring. 

I can only swim a modified version of a drunken squirrel, doggy paddle stroke and I'm inspired by Mr. Phelps to learn how to swim.  There has got to be some type of adult swimming classes in the area.  Crap, I guess if that's going to happen I have to buy a bathing suit and I haven't bought one of those since my honeymoon :( 

You know what's truly amazing?  The track and field events haven't even started yet and I'm already running on crazy fumes.  I don't know how I'm going to survive the second half of the games!  I need to figure out a way to bottle up all of this inspiration and slowly tap into it as needed.  Marine Corps Marathon is only 86 days away!!! 

Are you inspired by the London Olympics?  What is inspiring you?