Through my association with Fitfluental, I am incredibly excited to be part of a sponsored campaign in Under Armour's What's Beautiful competition. I was provided Under Armour gear to participate in the competition. All opinions are my own and I am under no obligation to give them a positive review. If I hated it, I'd tell you.
I have a small confession to make.I wrote a post on Wednesday about my involvement in Under Armour's What's Beautiful competition through Fitfluential. My confession is that when I originally opened the email from Fitfluential about what would be expected of me as a sponsored blogger, my heart sank and my head started to spin. I was initially overcome with dread. Is this what I signed up for when I applied? I didn't recall that my participation with this campaign would involve me entering a public contest, declaring an epic goal, recruiting teams, and possibly recording a video? What? I can't do this!
My initial thought was to back out. It was a thought driven by fear. What if I look stupid? What if no one joins my teams? (How the heck am I going to get people to join my team?)
But ultimately, it came down to the fact that I really value my association with Fitfluential. It is a great community of like-minded bloggers, it provides tremendous opportunities, knowledge, support, and friendships. I knew if I backed out, it would reflect poorly on me and could possibly hinder my future relationship. That is something I am not willing to risk. I made a commitment to Fitfluential and I became determined to follow through.
Suck it up buttercup...I'm doing this!
But you know what happened? I started out by visiting the What's Beautiful site and creating a profile. Then I declared a pretty awesome goal that I wouldn't have made if it wasn't for the competition. I even recorded a Vlog declaring my goal, and while still a bit awkward, I realized that I was already getting a little better in front of the camera (i.e. it did not take me three days of retakes to film 3 minutes of unedited video). I was starting to feel really good about this.
That night as I was completing challenges on the site, interacting with other athletes, and joining some teams, I realized...wait a minute...this is really fun! I was loving this competition! What's Beautiful is like a social media site for motivated people all working towards their goals together. I was incredibly inspired as I read through the other athlete's profiles. I had become more motivated than I had been in months! I had new inspiration, a new awesome (scary) goal, and the pure excitement to fuel my first blog post about it.
This is one of the best things I have done in a long long time...and I nearly let fear keep me from it, because I was uncomfortable with the idea at first.
That is when I decided to name my team Comfort Zone Crushers, because it turns out that this What's Beautiful campaign is an absolute perfect fit for me, my blog, my goals, and maybe for you too, my friends and readers. I just had to take a tiny step outside of my comfort zone in order to see it.
![]() |
At the Rock 'n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon 2012 |
What's Beautiful? It is beautiful to break through your own self-imposed limitations, one at time. Will you join my team on What's Beautiful and become a Comfort Zone Crusher too? Let's do this together.
Like this post? please consider sharing.
Tweet
Keep Running,
Lea
Ways to (legally) stalk me:
"LIKE" the Running with Ollie Blog page on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @GeaLenders
Let's track each others workouts on Dailymile
See what I am up to on Pinterest
Add me to your circles on Google +
Follow me on Instagram @runningwithollie
Follow me on What's Beautiful?
Tweet
Keep Running,
Lea
Ways to (legally) stalk me:
"LIKE" the Running with Ollie Blog page on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @GeaLenders
Let's track each others workouts on Dailymile
See what I am up to on Pinterest
Add me to your circles on Google +
Follow me on Instagram @runningwithollie
Follow me on What's Beautiful?
photo credit: Property#1 via photopin cc
Love this! I had a lot of the same feeling about this campaign. I'm glad we're both working to bust out of our comfort zones.
ReplyDeletethanks Debbie! It is nice to hear I was not alone in my insecurities!
DeleteWay to go! When you get out of your comfort zone that is when you truly find yourself and go BIG! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm in. I was not going to do this, but your post was on the money. I already have a pretty big goal for myself, to run my first half marathon, so that is what I put as my goal. I sent a request, hope I did it right?? This is pretty out of my comfort zone! LOL
ReplyDeleteYAY Karen! Great goal! Let's crush them together!!!
DeleteLove this! 2013 is all about taking me way out of my comfort zone!
ReplyDeleteI love being uncomfortable ;)
ReplyDeleteand it shows! you rock!
DeleteExcellent!I felt the same way...overwhelmed. But we'll get there! You're so right. Limitations are so self-imposed!
ReplyDeleteYAY! thanks!
DeleteI still am too scared to do my video! Yikes! I need to just do it and realize it doesn't need to be perfect:)
ReplyDeleteYes! Just do it! Mine is SO far from perfect! :) Let me know when it is up so I can watch it! good luck!
DeleteGreat to read your sincerity and honesty!
ReplyDeleteHi, Lea, I was inspired by your post. I am also participating in the competition. I would like to run a half marathon. Do you know of any running classes/programs I can join? I live in Denton.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks and I really enjoy reading your blog!
Xiaobo
Hi! I don't know if it is too far for you, but I am dong my training at the Fort Worth Running Company on 7th street in FW. The training starts June 1st and they have full and half training. Let me know what you think! :) Lea
DeleteLife's been nuts this past week and I haven't gone past my profile. But I love how you grew into this challenge and how it molded your goal. I've hit a bit of a wall myself lately. It sounds like I need to make a stop on the What's Beautiful site and get inspired!
ReplyDeleteI totally had the exact same reaction when I first got accepted as a sponsored blogger!!
ReplyDeleteBreaking your own limitation is the best way to go :)
ReplyDelete