Monday, May 9, 2011

Biggest Loser Moment

We are big Biggest Loser fans in our home.  We watch it religiously every Tuesday and love watching the contestants shrink and grow.  By shrink I mean the obvious... all the pounds that are falling off them (as if it is that easy!). 
But my favorite is to watch them grow. 
Watch them overcome obstacles that have held them back their entire lives.  Watch them believe in themselves.  Watch them think differently of themselves.  Watch them do things they NEVER thought they could do.
 Being a Biggest Loser fan has also made me love (and hate) Jillian Michaels.  I have bought several of her workout DVD's and man do they push me.  I have begin to internalize some of the things she says too...

"Pain is fear leaving the body"
"Don't be afraid to fail"
"When it hurts that is you getting stronger"

As I have begun to train for the BolderBoulder every time I run those quotes repeat in my head... especially when I feel like I want/need to stop.

So today I had one of those growing Biggest Loser moments.  I have never run more than 4 miles. EVER.  I had decided I was going to shoot for that today, 4 miles.  My route was a total of five miles but I had planned to walk a little at the beginning to warm up and a little at the end to cool down.  I started walking and went about a quarter of a mile, then decided I was going to run... even though the hill in front of me was fairly daunting.  So I started (and I was pushing a jogger I might add!) running, and kept running. 1 mile, 2 miles, 3miles, 3.5 miles.... As I was approaching the place where I was planning on walking (4 miles), I got there and felt like I could push through... again with a steep hill looking me in the face.  I ran, and ran, and ran.  I even added to the end of my run to make sure I got a full 5 miles (since I walked at the beginning).  There were times I wanted to stop, wanted to walk, give my body (especially my knees) a break.  But I pushed myself... and I made it!

I have always said that I am not a runner.  I don't have a runners physique and I have past injuries that I felt had impaired me.  But today I felt like a runner.  I overcame something I never thought I could do... run 5 miles straight!!  I have grown as a person just by allowing myself to believe I could do it and to push myself.  And though my knees have been throbbing all day, it was worth it.  I bet I will be able to run the entire 10k in three short weeks... another thing I never thought I would ever do.  Man, I am just growing all over the place! :)  (now I wish a little shrinking would happen too lol)

To many of you, this feat is no big deal... you run marathons, do triathlons... for you a measly 5miles is nothing, but to me it is so much more.  It makes me want to shoot for an even steeper goal because I know if I push myself I can do it.  We each have our own "5 mile obstacle" we need to conquer and I learned today that conquering something has more to do with our thoughts than our ability. So I will keep pushing myself, knowing that I may fail, but eventually will succeed.
So I echo Jillian ...  "Don't be afraid to fail"

I am FINALLY doing it!

the Bolder Boulder, that is.


For the last several years my brother and sister in law have tried to talk me into running the biggest 10k Memorial Day race in the Nation... the "Bolder Boulder".  I have always politely declined.  I have made many excuses up over the years, but most go back to the fact that I have bad joints, specifically my knee.

But this year, I decided to take the plunge.  I decided last Sunday and therefore only giving myself four weeks to train.  I went in thinking that I would run about half (maybe more) and walk the rest... BUT then I had a friend that has inspired me and pushed me as well.  My second day training I ran three miles with her.  (I thought I was going to die and I wanted to rip my legs off my person... but I am still alive and, believe it or not, running!)

I am excited for a new experience... and if I can run a 5k my second day training maybe, just maybe, I will be able to run the entire 10k!  (I have to add that is will be my first 10k ever... we will see!)