Because the main character in Black Sand Forest is an avid runner, today’s post is dedicated to her! Check out the first chapter here (just scroll to the bottom). And enjoy health tip #8!
A Story…
Years ago, I decided to to be a runner. Feeling very important and very motivated to achieve my goal, I went out and purchased some great gear. I diligently laced up my shoes the first day and took a few jogging steps out my door.
Wow, this is hard work! I thought to myself halfway down the block.
But I kept going. One foot in front of the other. Clomp clomp. Puff, puff.
And this is where I am supposed to say that it lead me to where I am today…
Nope.
I think that routine lasted about three days. I did make use of my pretty pink running shoes and matching tops and shorts and such…just not in the huff and puff way.
Fast forward a few years. I had kids. My kids had energy. And lots of wheeled contraptions. Because we lived on a busy street, we had to go somewhere to safely partake of the pleasures of wheeled items.
Coordination has never been my strong point, so I had no wheeled things. I prefer my feet securely on the ground at all times. So, I walked. And walked. And walked some more.
They got older, and faster…
One day I took off in a jog for a few steps. My lungs didn’t burn. My muscles didn’t protest. So I took a few more jogging steps….
And you see where this is going…
Today, I run about 4 miles at a stint a few times a week. At my peak, I was running about 4K from my house, down the road to the beach, a few along the sand, those few back along the sand and 4K back home nearly every day.
And the moral of the story?
You don’t pull on pretty shorts and tops, lace up fancy shoes and set out at a 12 minute mile pace to run a marathon. You train. You start walking, add some intermittent jogging, then some more, then some more. And pretty soon you step off your porch at a jog and run your way to the finish line.
Same goes across the board in exercise. Buying some stretchy pants and a gym membership does not mean you are going to win a cross-fit competition the next weekend (maybe you will…) Setting your expectations sky high, especially coupled with a credit card and a crumb of knowledge, usually leads to sitting on the couch in said stretchy pants and drowning your failure in a pint of ice cream.
Instead, set yourself up to win!
What Do Winners Do?
- Know Yourself – If you don’t like people. Don’t plan to workout where people congregate. Gyms, parks, running tracks. If you hate to get up early. Don’t plan to hit the gym before work. If you need a cheering squad, join a team sport, take a class, set up a network of buddies to meet at the gym or the park or the hills.
- Know the Human Form – As brilliant and capable as our bodies are, they still need time to adapt. Stamina and strength and speed are desirable bi-products of progressive overload. Coordination fine tunes as neural pathways become stronger through repetition. Don’t set your expectations outside the range of possibility.
- Positive Practice – Back yourself with a few lifestyle changes. Put good things in your mouth. Flop your head on the pillow for decent stretches. Calm your monkey mind at regular intervals. Curb your cortisol levels by knowing how to find your happy place.
Make taking care of yourself easy and good health will come easily.
Set yourself up to win! It’s easy. It’s productive. And winning is just plain fun!
Now Go out there and WIN!