This morning I put on my comfy, exercise clothes and went for
a walk and a run. It was a lovely, sunny morning. It felt good to be running
again, and I was glad to be getting back to my exercise goals.
During the week I got to thinking about this being my third
attempt to run 5ks. I wondered if I would ever get there. I wondered if my body
was trying to tell me that I had left it too late. I started last August and
here we are in May. Gulp!!
 |
| along the running track |
And yet, I knew deep inside that I wasn’t ready to give up.
Fortunately, I’ve never had tackle a weight problem but I used to
watch The Biggest Loser in its early days and found it quite inspiring. The contestants would be overwhelmed sometimes
by the challenge of sticking to their program and overcoming hurdles. Even when
they may have lost no kilos in a week they were expected to keep going. Some of
them had battled weight issues for years and years.
I recall the coaches giving pep talks to the contestants and urging them
to go on. As much as they had to take time out to reflect on what might be holding
them back from achieving their goals, it was essential that they got back on
track immediately.
I see parallels in embarking on a diet and exercise program and working towards my own personal goals. Much of the advice given by (creditable)
weight loss gurus can be applied to other goals in life.
One of the key messages I’ve held on to is not to be put off
when do we come up against hurdles that divert us from the goal. Yes, it happens. People "fall off the wagon"! But it's important to shift the focus on to what is going to help you move on rather than wasting time and energy on putting yourself down for what you haven't done. It is not just talking about what can be done at that point but actually getting up and doing something.
I try to keep all of this in mind when I think
about starting over again with my running goal. Rather than thinking that I’ve
failed completely I try to refocus and look for the next step in moving closer to reaching my goal. This is the philosophy that has kept me staying on track along the "pot-holed road" in my running
journey.
This morning as I took baby steps running along the path, I pictured myself running 5ks around the neighbourhood, feeling fit and strong. I’m not ready to give up yet
and but I am eagerly looking forward to Monday
