New goals

Accountability is the key factor in life sometimes.  Whether it's fitness, job, life, passion, school, etc. related.  I have been going to the same gym now for a few years and have become a regular in certain classes (Zumba, Body Combat, Body Pump).  It's great being a regular - people know your name, you develop relationships and accountability with your classmates...but the staff knows you too.  So when I stopped going to Combat for a few months, the teacher happened to find me in the gym one day and called me out for not coming to class anymore.  Yeah, that one hurt a bit.  So I said I'd come back for one class...3 weeks later, I finally fit it into my schedule.  I did back-to-back classes of Zumba and Body Pump last night and I can assure you - every inch of my body hurts right now...but it hurts in a good way because I know I'm changing and changing for the better.  I also forgot how much fun it is and know I'll be back next week.

One thing has become clear to me recently, and especially last night - GOALS MUST BE CLEARLY DEFINED.  I love races as an excuse to travel (as mentioned in my last post) but it also gives me a goal with an end date.  Goals are great, but having an end date spurs me on even more because I know their is a definite end to intenese training or a day where I can show off my hard work.  Tomorrow is the first day of December and with that comes New Year's Eve and new year's resolutions.  I say to heck with that.  If you want to start or change something - start now!  Who says you have to wait a whole month?  Get ahead of the curve and start your change now.  It can be fitness/health related (as most new year's resolutions are) OR it can be to get a new job - update and start sending out resumes; work on stage fright - do you have a speech at wedding to give, know someone with a big milestone coming up?  Ask if you can make a toast.  Looking for love - put yourself out there!  Whatever your goal may be - start now; ask for help - not only does it hold you accountable but you may make someone else's day by letting them help you.  Lastly, don't forget to have an end date you can keep in sight.  Mark it on your calendar - use different colored pens, make a countdown, make mini-goals...but no matter what, keep it fun!  Now, GO!

What was I thinking???

So I'm supposed to run a 10k in Central Park the first week of December...I have even planned an entire trip to the city around this race.  When I signed up a few months ago, I thought, sure this will be easy.  I ran a half marathon in February; if I can run 13.1, I can definitely run 6.2.  Done.  Sign me up.  Silly me forgot to factor in the fact that I stopped running for almost 2 months after my half marathon because I just needed a break and wanted to WANT to run, not just do it because I felt I HAD to run.  Then came the summer time when I was completely slammed at work, working crazy hours so the last thing I wanted to do was go run in sometimes 100+ degree weather.  These are all excuses.  Fall finally came along and I stepped outside to start my running routine up again...funny thing about stopping running and expecting to pick it right up again.  You don't.  I worked hard to get into half marathon shape and I was no longer at that level. 

What did I do?  I turned to the Internet, found a half marathon training plan that happened to run along with getting in my mileage to prepare for my 10k.  I'm now 3 weeks into training and 3 weeks away from my 10k.  There are days I sit here and think, what in the world have I gotten myself into?  Is it too late to back out?  Answer:  An amazing and fun weekend; and YES, it's too late to back out.  This is also what I love about races:  once you sign up and pay the fee, you are committed.  For better or worse.  Another thing that's great about races: an excuse to travel.  I get to go to NYC and see the tree lit up and experience the energy, shopping, food and everything else the city has to offer because lets be real - there's always something new to find in NYC.  So google races in a city you have always wanted to check out.  If you are aiming for a certain distance - google the distance and see what races come up.  Pick a race, sign up, find a training plan, find fun things to do and explore during your trip and get ready for your next adventure! 

I CAN

I don't know if you've seen the new Jennifer Hudson for WW ads or not, but they're all about the phrase "I CAN" and concentrating on what you can do rather than what you can't.  Of course, this got me thinking.  Often I'm tempted to think about all the things I want to do but can't which sends me down a dark path.  Whenever I start this thought process, I have to stop myself and think of what I can do.  When I do get to something I can't do, I make it my goal..so I start to think, I CAN...go rock climbing eventually, I CAN ride in a gondolla, I CAN go skydiving eventually, I CAN find a job that I enjoy.  I have gotten to the point where, if someone tells me I can't do something...because I'm too young, a girl, too big, too southern, too whatever - I make it a goal to prove that person wrong and to show myself I'm stronger than I ever imagined.  Some people call this stubborn...I call it a will and a drive to succeed. =) 

I challenge you to look back at your life and see the obstacles you have overcome (celebrate them!) and look at what you CAN do, then look at your life and see if there's anything you want to change.  I'm not saying it's going to be easy, you may have to train, go back to school, see someone you don't particularly care for, face certain fears (I mean, I'm scared of heights...but I still want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane...strapped to a professional, of course :o) but it's worth it in the end.  Don't forget to include your family and friends in these goals...or at least 1 person.  It's nice to know someone has your back when you fall down and need that encouragement to keep going.