 I didn't do much work during my birthday week, but I did make sure I kept pushing toward my goal of running 1000k (just over 621 miles) for the 2016 running season. This was my first run as a 40 year old and one of my last runs leading up to my 20th anniversary as a runner which is in September. I bought myself some new running gear to celebrate this milestone and I was excited to use it. I'm not much of a clothes shopper because I don't like trying things on. I'm also very casual so jeans, sweats and t-shirts make me happy. I just like to be comfortable; running gear is usually comforable. I'd been using an armband to carry my Android while I ran, but it rubbed my underarm and left this ugly, dark bruise so I was very excited to get a code for a free LED running belt from Level Up Runs.  I run at night, lately really late because it's so hot, and I'm glad to have this belt to keep me visible. My kiddo even likes it so much he asked if he can have it. Normally I'd give it to him, no big deal, but because he doesn't use it as much as I truly need it, I offered to share. But, the cool thing is that Level up gave me an ambassador's code for 50% OFF: RCE5FGY8 so I can get another the next time I order from Amazon. I always put things in my cart and then when I get to the amount needed for free shipping, I check out. I'm very excited and blessed to be 40. I know some people don't enjoy growing older but because I've grown, and am continually growing, wiser I look forward to every milestone. I must admit I began adulthood completely immature and I'm thankful to God that I'm alive, not maimed and not in jail. That might give you an idea of how far I've come and why I believe that anyone's life can be turned into something extraordinary if they truly desire it and are willing to take action. If you're not living the life of your dreams, I can help. I have a 3-step process (A.C.T. - Assess, Construct, Track) that has led to countless success stories of breakthrough into next levels. I say all the time, there are too many success stories in the world for you not be included in history as one who overcame. Schedule a call or book a package today, and begin to live the life you dream of tomorrow.  It's Spring and new things are happening all around me! Yep ... 2016 has truly turned into a true Jubilee season. I shared previously that I'm in my 20th year as a road runner and I've used this milestone as inspiration to change my game. Consequently, as I've accomplished more in my running realm that confidence has spilled over into other areas of my life. This is a normal occurrence - often once we hit success in one area, the hunger to be successful in other realms ignites and we go for it. Here are some of the firsts I've achieved already in 2016:
I enjoyed the first virtual race I did very much so I'm doing another this month. I welcome you to join me. Sometime between April 15 and 30 I'm going to run a regular 10k for The Incredible Virtual Run and collect a sweet finisher's medal in the process. You may ask why anyone would bother signing up for a virtual run when they already run anyway. Lots of reasons. My mains are I like the bling without the crowd, early race time and competition. As I mentioned above I run as my chosen form of exercise and I've been doing it alone for two decades. I've never enjoyed fraternizing when working out - which is one of the reasons I don't like gyms. With virtual races, I have all the spoils of being a runner on my own terms and schedule; and being a teacher I appreciate that Level Up Runs donates to schools' sports programs. I hope you're breaking through old mindsets and limitations in this season and making your own list of firsts. I hope this post inspired you to try something new. I'm telling you ... the right inspiration is contagious. If you find it, you'll be unstoppable. I'm a witness. I'd love to help you locate the motivation you need to achieve your next milestone. Schedule a call or book a package today. The newness of Spring is waiting for you to take hold. Do it now. #IWill  I've decided to step up my running game and break through into the new. It's exciting and the personal accomplishments are fuel for more and greater. Watch.   My 2016 running season is progressing wonderfully. I completed my longest run - distance and duration - of the year 3 weeks ahead of schedule. I'm a warm-weather runner, and spring came early in the Northwest so I'm taking full advantage of it. I did my first run February 17; two full months before I began last year. Here it is three weeks later and I completed my first five-miler of the year. I'm excited about that because I usually take 6-8 weeks to get up to hour runs of 5 or more miles. I did it in three weeks because I joined a running a group and a challenge to run at least 1000 KM (621.371192 miles) this year. It's amazing how little electronic badges on an app and 10,000 others who love running can motivate you to push yourself to achieve your goals. I even ran five days straight last week. Which is a quite a bit of running for recently coming off of a four-month break. I'd planned to rest Thursday but the weather was gorge so I had to get in a 5K. Then I planned to rest Friday but someone proposed #FiveMileFriday so I went for it. I ran slow and talked myself through it. The strategies I used to get through this milestone have been included in my talk on supernatural strategies for success I'm giving at The 3rd Annual Grow Your Dreams Conference in April. By pushing myself in running this year I've seen many success strategies with fresh eyes. They include:
  I started running last night. For 15 minutes. I have to start somewhere since I hibernate during the cold months. I always begin my re-acclimation with walking first and then I get so bored with the slow pace that I have to run. So I walked three days and on the fourth I was ready for my first run of the year. Congrats, Me! I'm using the MapMyRunTrainer app that has a couch-to-5K training plan. It starts with one day running every four days with 15 minutes of 3/2 run walks. I didn't follow that, of course. I wouldn't be Zari if I didn't adapt everything to fit me. I ran the whole 15 minutes and didn't rest the next day as the program suggested. I ran again today. And it felt so good. After the first 10 anyway. But I know myself, what I can handle and how to listen to my body. I know I can run (jog) 15 minutes without stopping even though I haven't run in four months. I'm taking this as extreme encouragement for a wonderful running season ahead. I started earlier this year than ever since moving from a hot desert to a cold desert. Which either means I've adapted to 55 degrees being tolerable weather or spring is coming three months earlier this year. I'm hoping for the latter. Call me cutie, but I love 100 degrees. Back to adapting things to fit me. That's what life is all about, right? We have to collect information, resources and strategies and then adapt them so they fit our lifestyles for maximum effectiveness. There are times when following instructions to a T matter. I've learned this ... the hard way. But as individuals, we have the right and necessity to mold things to what we need to be successful. This excludes being mean and nasty and breaking the law, claro que si. For example, look below at the feedback I received from a client. I gave her an assessment and plan with strategies and it was up to her to implement in a way that worked for her need and family. I provided the outline for her just as the running app did for me, but she did the work to get the results she wanted and so do I. I want to get up to my normal run of 60 minutes 3-4 times a week, and while their plan is good it's slower than what I want as a 19-year runner. If you need a plan for communication breakthrough, or anything else, schedule a call or book a package. I'll provide an outline and then you will get the results you want. 
My favorite form of exercise is running. Running is great for quick weight loss and maintenance and it just feels good. At the beginning of July I set a goal to be at 10-minute miles by month's end. I'm a warm-weather runner only (and when I say warm I mean hot) so I didn't begin until some time in June, and yes, 10-minute miles in four weeks is a lofty goal for someone who only exercises four months a year. It wasn't always this way. When I lived in Arizona I ran 10 months a year because the weather permitted it. I didn't make it. I seemed to have plateaued at about 11.5 minutes per mile. Well, that's not ok with me so I began doing a little reading on running and marathon training. I found several strategies that potentially could offer me improvement, implemented a few and I'm pleased to announce that on my run Sunday, August 16, 2015 I broke 10 minutes per mile!
Look at the picture on the right. I broke 10 minutes and shaved almost 60 seconds off each mile in 2 days. If you know anything about running you know that's pretty significant. In order to get off the plateau and begin improving as a runner I did three things:
I always get life lessons and flashbacks of teaching strategies out of re-conditioning my body to run each summer and this situation is no exception. Here are the things that stood out to me that apply to any area we want to break through in:
As a mentor, I want to you see you succeeding at the things that matter most to you. If you're a self-starter, you're probably able to take the strategies above and apply them to your life independently. If that's you, the Supernatural Success Mentee Portal is perfect for you. You get access to breakthrough strategies that'll help you achieve extraordinary promotion. If you need a detailed plan of attack to break through in a specific area of life schedule a call or book a package right now. There's a $25 Financial Breakthrough special available for a limited time. Don't put off success any longer. Decide and then act today.  |
Zari Banks, M.EdLife-Hack Strategist 
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