Winning!!!!!!!

It's been two weeks since I have posted, but I have been busy!

Yes, work continues to be busy, but I've also been really busy on the courts too.

As I mentioned in my last post, my USTA Mixed Doubles team and I traveled to Augusta August 11th weekend for the Georgia State Championships. Back in March I committed to getting in better shape to be fit to endure and win in Augusta. It was HOT HOT HOT! I played 5 matches in 3 days, and my endurance was great! I never got winded or too hot on the court and stay energized the entire time. I brought meals with me so that I could properly fuel, and I got up in the mornings to get in a little strength training or warm-up cardio before matches.

Winning!

My effort paid off--my team won our division in the Round Robin (my partner and I won all of our round robin matches--enduring a few three setters in high heat!). While we did not take the prize, we showed up and played well. We'll continue to build our team, and I know we'll be back next summer!

Winning!

Coming back from Augusta to lots going on in the office to hosting my family this weekend, I did not get in as much gym time as I liked. Thank goodness lean bodies are made in the kitchen! Even with my family in town , lots of eating out and entertaining friends this weekend, I exercised discipline with my eating and did not blow my progress (because progress can be blown in one weekend! Trust I know!).

Winning!

Last but not least--I AM SO PROUD OF MY WOMEN'S USTA 3.5 MCGHEE SUPER SLAMMERS! This team is the epitome of tough! We started the season 0-3. This could have derailed us, but we are Champions (literally Champions-recall we won the State Championship at 3.0)!

After an awesome 4 match winning streak at the end of the season, we earned a play-off spot as a 16th seed. We beat the #1 seed in the first round and Kept the Momentum going all the way to yesterday winning the Semi-final Round! It was a tough day, but my team was tougher!

My partner and I--Captain and Co-captain (no pressure there) played the 5th line of the match. We found ourselves at 2-2 with advancing to The City ON THE LINE! One could imagine the slight anxiety as we prepared to take the courts (again-Captain and C0-Captain--need I say more). I had to get mentally focused. I wouldn't watch the end of the matches before us because no matter what happened my partner and I HAD TO PLAY!

I told my partner--we have been here before. We are Champions! Let's play smart and aggressive tennis and take this thang! Well, the first set didn't go as planned (smile). We weren't playing aggressively and found ourselves 4-6 at the end of the first set. But, we had been in this position before. We are Champions!

We changed strategy; switched sides (with me on my more comfortable backhand side) and GOT THE JOB DONE--4-6, 6-1, 6-1!

WINNING!

Next Saturday is The City Finals! This week means PREPARATION! I KNOW WE CAN DO IT!

This week also means official 11th week preparation for the Race & Relax/Rock & Roll Half Marathon Savannah! This is going to take some real commitment from me. I don't particularly care for running, but I like the challenge of it nonetheless. I will do this again and run well!

Let the Winning Continue!