Yesterday, one of the ladies I train in a six-week weight loss challenge came into the training studio to thank me for the motivation and encouragement I have given her during the competition. She is nearing 70 years old, but is extremely active, playing competitive raquetball and golf with her friends and attending classes at the gym. Our weekly workouts are extremely challenging and push members to their physical and mental limits. From week one, she has kept up with her teammates who are 30 years younger. Her work ethic and willingness to attempt new exercises has pushed her past what was holding her back ~ she undervalued her capabilities.
With tears in her eyes, she hugged me and said, "I want you to know what a difference you have made in my life. I feel stronger and more alive because you encourage me to attempt feats I thought were impossible for a woman my age."
This struck a chord with me for a few reasons: 1) Even though I encourage people I barely know that they can accomplish their goals, I do not do the same for myself. 2) I, too, undervalue my capabilites and achievements. 3) I focus on the negatives (what I didn't get accomplished) rather than the positives of my workouts.
On Saturday I completed my 8th week of training for the Kansas Half Ironman. In my two months of training, I have swam 45,150 yards (or approx. 26 miles), biked 325 miles, and run 92 miles. Each week has had its own challenges and more workouts than I like to admit have been missed (see, focusing on the negative here), but these totals show how much I have accomplished in just a few weeks on my trek to make it across the finish line.
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