My own path

I decided not to do the 1/2 marathon after all. It is happening right now and I can actually hear the cheers of the supporters because it starts and finishes at a park right by my buikding. But, I'm ok with not being there. I was really not ready and I'm also not ok with quitting in the middle of it and not willing to risk an injury (I need my legs to get me around!). I have failed before and I'll fail again. But I know I will also succeed someday. I know I will. I attended a great yoga class at the Yoga Shack last night and a lot of it was about figuring out your own truth. The instructor talked about being self-contained and that really resonated with me. As I understand it (or interpret it, at least) it means loving yourself fully; knowing you are intelligent, beautiful, worthy, good enough because you believe yourself to be so. It is about not looking for external validation for your existence. It is about being on your own path: not on other people's paths and not allwoing other people to direct you on your path.

Well, when it comes to fitness and health I am definitely on my own path. It is a very different path from someone who has been athletic all their life, It is a very different path even than someone who has a similar story in terms of weight, exercise, etc. It is my own path and I will stumble. I have also gotten distracted and deviated from my path. I have turned around a couple times and headed back to where I was. But I feel confident that I am going to get to where I want to go. I have come so far and when I've stumbled, I've dusted myself off and gotten back up; when I've headed down the wrong path, I've turned around. My goal is not to finish a particular half-marathon, or triathlon, or marathon. My goal is to be a fit and strong person who lives a healthy lifestyle - physically and emotionally. This half-marathon wasn't meant to be but I am going to keep going: I think I'll sign up for the Island Girl's half-marathon September 25 in Toronto. That gives me a long time to train so I can do it with confidence and happiness. It will be a pleasurable challenge.

Here are a few practical things I have learned from this particular stumble:

1. I don't want to run races in early Spring because I don't like training in the winter. I have to stop signing up for Spring runs! I run in the winter but I don't always enjoy it and it is somewhat sparadic. I get cold, sore fingers, and would rather mix up my running with warm activities like hot yoga, swimming at the Y, and fitness classes at the Y (zumba anyone?)

2. Running will never be my only physical activity. I can not just focus on one form of exercise. I get very bored and am easily distracted. I need to train for a looong time so that I can have time for other activities. If I get too bored, I will stop and that is counter-productive. I need time to dance, do yoga, bike, do fitness classes, swim, do weights, etc. And this all needs to fit into the rest of my very busy life.

3. I can't do the running clinics. There is just too much happening in my life. My work schedule is topsy turvy and if I miss classes and fall behind, I find it very hard to catch up. I need to devise a personal schedule and try to follow it on my own or with friends.

4. I am not the type of person who will run through the pain, or run in all weather. I don't like to be uncomfortable and exercise needs to feel good or I don't want to do it. I am never, ever going to be a top athlete and that is not my goal. It feels good to be strng and fit and that feeling is why I do it.

So, there are some things I have learned. live and learn, right? And, women, if you want to join me at the Island Girl's half-marathon let me know!!

http://www.islandgirlrunning.com/ 

Here's a little inspiration for me in all aspects of my life - not just fitness/health, of course! It ties into the message of that yoga class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI1IC90Rwp4&feature=related