Fear by definition is a distressing emotionaroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. We all have experienced this emotion and it is always a challenge to overcome it. For me, as silly as it sounds, I have a fear in running. “Running”, you ask?! Perhaps the bigger picture was my fear of failing at it.
I have, for the last 15 years of my life, dabbled in the activity of running. However, I could never label myself as a “runner”. Having played Field Hockey in high school, we would run several miles a week during the season. I say “during the season” because you would never catch me pounding the pavement during the rest of the year. Running has always felt like a chore, and something I was never good at. Whenever I did run, all I could think about was how much I was not enjoying what I was doing. It was a mental challenge.
After working for a number of years at a specialty running store called Fleet Feet Sports, running really started to fascinate me. I was intrigued by the people that would come in to get their brand new kicks after they had completed their races. I wanted to know what on earth would make someone want to endure 26.2 miles of an activity that, let’s face it, is not always a picnic. Little by little, I would lace up when I was at home and try out some of the hills around where I live (pretty much the only thing around here are hills). For a few weeks I would discipline myself to get out there, but I still did not enjoy what I was doing. “Why is this so hard for me?!”
Well, perhaps it was the tiny (negative) voice in my head telling me to quit, or looking up and seeing yet again another hill! Needless to say, I never stuck to it.
One of the best things about my job is being able to motivate and challenge people to overcome their own obstacles. Nothing makes me happier then experiencing the joy my clients get when they have accomplished something that they did not think they were able to. Once you get that feeling, you want more!! I wanted to feel that way about this silly activity. So, I signed up for the 2011 Warrior Dash in Windham New York. Giving myself a deadline and specific goal time was the only way I was going to get my butt out there and just run. I needed to suck it up and run! So knowing that I had a few months to train for this 5K obstacle gave me a reason to overcome what was in my head. Race date, August 14th.
One month before the race, miles still not exceeding more then 1.5, I hurt my foot. It became difficult to doing any weight bearing on it, let alone pushing off through my gate. Frustrated.... This was an understatement!
Only weeks away from my first race and I may be throwing in the towel before even getting to the start line. I could not let this happen, there was no way! I spent several times a day with ice, stretching, doing self massage, and applying essential oils to my foot. I had to get better! Three days before the race, and foot not 100 percent, I came to a decision. I would not be running in this race. However, I had dedicated my time to this, I had made a commitment. So, I was going to walk the hell out of it!!! Warrior Dash, here I come! Let’s get muddy!!!
Race day, my foot is feeling great and I am going to try and run. I was not prepared for the ski slope that we had to endure for the first half of the race. There were so many times in the beginning that the little voice came back wanting me to give up. I couldn’t though, I had to finish out what I had started. I would never be able to look my clients in the face and push them along their own challenges if I quit this. My boyfriend, who did the race with me kept saying “just keep your feet moving, it doesn’t matter how long it takes.”
I used his encouraging words to get to that finish line, reaching it two minutes under my goal time. I was tired, I was muddy, and I felt AMAZING!!! This was one of the hardest things I had done. It was not so much the challenge of the run or the obstacles, but more the challenge of coming out of my comfort zone. I had to overcome the fear that I would not be able to finish. I had to focus on my breathing, feel my feel hit the dirt, and forget about how hard it was.
All I can say at this point is that I want more! There is an overwhelming feeling of accomplishing something that you thought you could not. Having Craig there to push me along was what I needed to realize that I could do this. That is what I try to give to my clients everyday.
I know first hand what a struggle it can be overcome a fear, especially a physical one. All I can tell you is that no matter what your goals are with your health, fitness, or life, just “keep those feet moving”.
Tell yourself that YOU CAN, and YOU WILL! Failure only occurs when you throw in the towel. So no matter how long it takes, moving forward towards those goals will always equal a win. OK, who is running the Rugged Maniac with me? :)
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