Dear Friends,
I have gone missing once again. This is partially because so much has been going on. My four children keep me right on my toes. Summer came and went, School started, Fall was upon us, friendships ended, and new ones began, Christmas adorned us, and we rang in the New Year! 2012 was one of many proportions.
Last May, I started on a very interesting journey. A Fitness Journey. I have never been one to exercise. I mean, I took dance lessons when I was a little girl and up through the beginning of high school. I also was always a cheerleader...but NEVER one to really "workout." I decided to try a Zumba class, which began me on a incredible journey.
I enrolled in a Boot-camp. Now, this was something I could of never of foreseen me doing. But I had determination. See, I had baggage that I NEEDED to get rid of...emotional and very personnel baggage. So, instead of focusing on what was killing me inside, I decided to face it head on, and take control through my fitness.
The first day of boot-camp we had to run a mile. My instructor, Kristy and I, still laugh about this. Lets just say, it was NOT pretty. It took me 14 minutes to run/walk that one mile. I was EXHAUSTED when I was done. I thought there was no way I would make it through the month of boot-camp if I could not even run/walk one time around the track. But, I was not the first one to finish, nor was I the last...so, there was hope!
Boot-camp was tough...through the whole experience, Kristy would say..."Just wait for the end evaluation. You will not believe the results." We all pushed so hard and Kristy pushed us further. The level of toughness could not be compared to anything I had been involved in before...But I made it! I finished! I ran my second one-mile evaluation at 10:52...I lost 4lbs and 8 inches. I was HOOKED!
I signed up for Kristy's second boot-camp and decided to take up running! Yes! you heard me right! On the days that I did not have Zumba, Body Pump, Cardio Jam, or Boot-camp I would run. At first, it was one mile, slowly working up to two. It would take me 30 minutes to do those two miles...sometimes more...but I never gave up. At the end of the second boot-camp I was running my mile at around 9:30..and I lost 2lbs and 9 inches!!! 9 INCHES!!! I had gone from wearing a size 11 to a 7...It was life changing for me...and a new passion was born.
As I continued to workout daily, toning became a passion along with my running. I began running 3 miles...then 4. Kristy would constantly tell me..."If you can run 4, can run 5, and if you run 5...you can run 6" She also began to put little hints here and there...like "Oh, your almost running a 5K" or "Before you know it, you will be up to a 10K." NOPE, I kept saying...I just don't think marathon running is for me. I was doing it out of pure motivation to be fit emotionally and physically It was never something I cared about doing...It was something I would of thought was insane for others to do!
Well, guess what? I was WRONG! We had a weight loss challenge around Christmas time. Most people gain on average (I believe) 5 lbs over the holiday's. Well, I had been working to hard to do that...so, I joined Kristy's Biggest Loser Challenge. I knew I would not win the challenge...I just wanted to use it to keep me in tack. And it did! and I ended up losing another 2lbs...By now, I had dropped even another size and was down to a 5...This was astonishing to me! Even through high school and years after...I had never been a 5! Anyway, at the end of the challenge, we had a finale workout. At this workout, we were to write our goals for 2013 on a piece of paper and put it in a container that Kristy kept. In 6 months, we meet back again and open the jar and see how our goals are coming. I was standing in the workout room staring at my paper...but I was to scared to actually write down what I had been considering. I was the last one to turn in my folded piece of paper. I watched Kristy close up the container and right then and there I was committed! There was no going back! A new goal...A new ME had been established
3 goals were written down that day...1. To continue on the path I have been on. Eating healthy, working out, and taking time for me! 2. To RUN the Mackinaw Bridge. This was something I had wanted to do at the end of last year, but my confidence level was not there...basically, I chickened out! Well, NOT THIS YEAR! I have a horrible fear of heights...I WILL RUN the bridge and cross at the 6.4 mile mark! 3. I WILL RUN A HALF MARATHON! 13.1 MILES! I WILL RUN THE CHARLEVIOX, MI. BOSTON QUALIFYING MARATHON....June 22, 2013!
And so the training begins! I know it is not a FULL marathon, but that is OK I have to have another goal for next year right? The thought of running for 13.1 miles straight is so scary. But as of today, I am up to 7.5 miles in 1 hour and 13 minutes! Not bad for a girl with asthma who hated to run a year ago!!!
Running has taught me so much. It really has been a life saver for me. My mind is more focused, my heart is not broken, I am working on fixing emotional baggage...all while my feet pound the pavement. I have a new found confidence that I never knew existed I am actually proud of my body and see changes and muscles I did not even know I had. My appetite is completely different and the food I use to fuel my body is much more beneficial to my muscles and health. Making this change has changed my life...it has made me whole. If I have a bad day, I can say to Larry, I need to run...and I come back relaxed and ready to deal with what is ahead of me...I am not sure if people really understand what this past year has been for me. Life changing in so many ways, and the day I decided to sign up for that boot-camp, was the day everything changed.
I am now stronger, happier, healthier than I have ever been. I can lift weights that I never thought possible. I find it hard to believe that at 37, I have put my health first with fitness. I find it unbelievable that I have the confidence to run, and I am astonished that at 38, I WILL CROSS THE FINISH LINE!
Till Next Time....
Shelby
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