Something New

It's essential to keep an open mind, and to be willing - better yet, eager - to try new things - Michael Abrash

Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there - Will Rogers

This week, I had the pleasure of meeting up with an old friend ("E") that I haven't seen since high school (trust me when I say it has been a while!).  It was a wonderful visit and I am so happy to have reconnected with him after so long.  We talked about how we are going through a similar transition in life and how sometimes we need to let go of the things that bind us or keep us from being our authentic selves.  He recently left his job and is now doing what he is passionate about - helping others get fit and healthy.  

Our conversation turned to me and my health, my weight gain and my lack of exercise.  I mentioned how there are several things "binding" me right now and one of them is my body.  We discussed how after doing all the half marathon and marathon training I felt burnt out and took time off.  My time away from running was only supposed to be for 4 months but it has now turned into 2+ years.  I told him that I DO exercise but I am far from consistent.  We talked about my eating habits which, overall, weren't too terrible but we agreed that I do need to limit the eating out.  E could hear that I was making an effort to get healthy.  He knows that I am anxious to get back to my regular athletic self but understands that I don't want to have to run 50 miles a week to maintain it because, as I have proven to myself in the past, it's not something I can sustain.  Now, I still want to run an ultramarathon at some point because it's something that I have dreamt of doing but I know that the level of training needed is not something I can realistically continue for a prolonged period of time.  Long story short, E is going to help me make the changes in my diet and supplement intake to get my weight down (because he believes that I am vitamin/mineral deficient and that is causing my body to not lose weight as it should.  I kinda suspected that or a thyroid issue.  A thyroid check is on my to-do list).  

I'm very excited about this new program because I think it will help me and that it will alleviate a lot of the frustrations I have with my body not being able to perform as I would like it to.  One thing he did say that I was not too thrilled about was....we are going to limit the running at the beginning of the program.  He wants me to do lots of walking although he did okay running perhaps once a week.  In all honesty, these days I am lucky to even be able to run 3-4 miles continuously so I guess cutting back isn't a big deal.  The idea that there is going to be a limitation set on the running felt like a jab to my heart though.  We are setting this up so that it's not a chore or inconvenient for me.  When I was training my hardest, my life was monopolized by running and if I wasn't running, I was cooking and prepping foods for the week (strict diet).  I had to be very disciplined and organized.  The level of commitment I had was pretty impressive, if I do say so myself, but I missed out on life while I was doing that.  I don't want being healthy/fit and having a life to be an either or thing and E totally gets that.  The plan he is putting together for me is all about moderation, simplicity and balance.  I like the sound of that and I can't wait to get started.  A glimmer of hope!

Happy Trails!

Valeka