water.under.pose.up.accomplish.stretch.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
a lesson learned.
so...i don't really know how to say this, but i didn't succeed on my 100 day challenge, round two.
i went to vancouver and got involved in some family stuff (excuses, excuses) and before i knew it there were two days during the week where i did not complete my MOVEment. i was a little surprised at myself. after all...this is my project, isn't it? if i couldn't complete the challenge again, am i still a capable leader? i like to think i am and even in this small failure (dare i use that loaded word?) there is a learning experience.
i talk a lot about goal setting and this experience proves an important aspect of setting goals. when i decided to complete the MOVEment X 100 days challenge for the second time, i have to admit my heart wasn't completely in it. i was doing it partly because a friend asked if i wanted to and not because it was my goal at that moment. also, because i had done it before, i did not give the challenge enough thought or respect. i thought it would be easy the second time. but clearly, it wasn't. 100 days is a long time and as i proved, in order to accomplish a challenge (or goal) of that length and magnitude, one must be completely committed and the goal must be important to them. i'm not saying the goal wasn't important to me, but it wasn't my priority, like it was the first time. so, as with any goal, make it and truly claim it as your own. put your heart in to it, believe in it, gain support, and achieve it. for you.
so there you have it. lesson learned. i do have some other goals and challenges i am excited about, however.
the first of these is a new iyengar yoga practice. i am completing an intensive beginners course that runs four days a week for 1.5 hours a day, until june 1st. my goals for this include learning some of the sanskrit terms, increasing my flexibility, and increasing my knowledge and appreciation for the physical and spiritual side of yoga. i have dabbled in yoga for a few years now but this will be the longest i will have ever committed to a practice like this. i am looking forward to what this practice can add to my life and how it will complement my other activities.
i went to vancouver and got involved in some family stuff (excuses, excuses) and before i knew it there were two days during the week where i did not complete my MOVEment. i was a little surprised at myself. after all...this is my project, isn't it? if i couldn't complete the challenge again, am i still a capable leader? i like to think i am and even in this small failure (dare i use that loaded word?) there is a learning experience.
i talk a lot about goal setting and this experience proves an important aspect of setting goals. when i decided to complete the MOVEment X 100 days challenge for the second time, i have to admit my heart wasn't completely in it. i was doing it partly because a friend asked if i wanted to and not because it was my goal at that moment. also, because i had done it before, i did not give the challenge enough thought or respect. i thought it would be easy the second time. but clearly, it wasn't. 100 days is a long time and as i proved, in order to accomplish a challenge (or goal) of that length and magnitude, one must be completely committed and the goal must be important to them. i'm not saying the goal wasn't important to me, but it wasn't my priority, like it was the first time. so, as with any goal, make it and truly claim it as your own. put your heart in to it, believe in it, gain support, and achieve it. for you.
so there you have it. lesson learned. i do have some other goals and challenges i am excited about, however.
the first of these is a new iyengar yoga practice. i am completing an intensive beginners course that runs four days a week for 1.5 hours a day, until june 1st. my goals for this include learning some of the sanskrit terms, increasing my flexibility, and increasing my knowledge and appreciation for the physical and spiritual side of yoga. i have dabbled in yoga for a few years now but this will be the longest i will have ever committed to a practice like this. i am looking forward to what this practice can add to my life and how it will complement my other activities.
Friday, May 6, 2011
TC10KM
01.05.11: day 25
may 1st, i ran the TC10km race with thousands of other people. i didn't really have any expectations for this race as i'm not really a 'speedy' type person. i figured i would just jog the route and if i could make it through in 01:10:00 or so, then i would be pleased, especially since the crowd was so big.
this year the race route was changed to a loop course, which allowed for more running space on the road and more spectator viewing points. the route was beautiful and showcased some of victoria's spectacular waterfront. the tc10km is one of victoria's largest events and it seems the entire city comes out to run and support its runners. it is truly a wonderful event to be a part of and i would highly encourage anyone to attempt it...with the appropriate training backing them up of course!
my race strategy changed when i began running with a colleague and she took off faster than i was accustomed to. i realized i had a challenge and an opportunity and i began to chase her...for the next two km! we weaved in and out of the crowd, her in the lead and me on her heels, until i lost her among the other racers. i continued alone in the sea of people, but never really feeling alone, thanks to the spectators on the side of the road cheering for all the runners. this made me really think about the value of spectators in any sport or event. in most cases, they are just as important as the participants! the spectators participate in their own way, and on a 10km race, i was sure thrilled to have them cheering me on! my favorite moment in the race would have to be when a spectator on the side of the road pointed directly at me and leaned towards his friend saying "now she looks too happy!". i must have been running along with a big smile on my face or something! his comment made me laugh. it wasn't all fun though. i did push myself to run a little faster than i was anticipating and i finished with a time of 00:57:13, which i was very proud of!
i'm already looking forward to next year and maybe even trying to go a little faster :)
may 1st, i ran the TC10km race with thousands of other people. i didn't really have any expectations for this race as i'm not really a 'speedy' type person. i figured i would just jog the route and if i could make it through in 01:10:00 or so, then i would be pleased, especially since the crowd was so big.
this year the race route was changed to a loop course, which allowed for more running space on the road and more spectator viewing points. the route was beautiful and showcased some of victoria's spectacular waterfront. the tc10km is one of victoria's largest events and it seems the entire city comes out to run and support its runners. it is truly a wonderful event to be a part of and i would highly encourage anyone to attempt it...with the appropriate training backing them up of course!
my race strategy changed when i began running with a colleague and she took off faster than i was accustomed to. i realized i had a challenge and an opportunity and i began to chase her...for the next two km! we weaved in and out of the crowd, her in the lead and me on her heels, until i lost her among the other racers. i continued alone in the sea of people, but never really feeling alone, thanks to the spectators on the side of the road cheering for all the runners. this made me really think about the value of spectators in any sport or event. in most cases, they are just as important as the participants! the spectators participate in their own way, and on a 10km race, i was sure thrilled to have them cheering me on! my favorite moment in the race would have to be when a spectator on the side of the road pointed directly at me and leaned towards his friend saying "now she looks too happy!". i must have been running along with a big smile on my face or something! his comment made me laugh. it wasn't all fun though. i did push myself to run a little faster than i was anticipating and i finished with a time of 00:57:13, which i was very proud of!
i'm already looking forward to next year and maybe even trying to go a little faster :)
what are you afraid of?
what really holds us back?
this is a topic i have explored before...but i need to get to the bottom of this. what is it?
i think it is FEAR.
fear
–noun
1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
what are we all so afraid of?
i am afraid of failure. afraid of failing the people who have believed in me: my family, my friends, and my MOVEment supporters (yes, i am afraid of disappointing you,of not being who you wish i was, of failing you.) i am afraid of failing and making that critic inside my head say "i told you you couldn't do it".
i am afraid of not achieving, not succeeding, of trying too hard, of not trying hard enough, of not making a difference, of being too real, of being vulnerable, of not being real enough, and of actually being successful.
and i am sick of being afraid.
so what's your advice? what would you tell me?
i know what i would say to you.
you probably can't beat the fear, you just have to learn to work with it. stand up to it. yes, you might fail...but you should try anyway. why? because what would be the point if you didn't? if nobody failed, learned, got back up again, and just TRIED, what kind of lives would we have?
even as i write this, i have an idea brewing in my mind of a challenge i want to take on...a challenge i am afraid to tell people about yet because what if it's not possible for me? what if i fail? in many ways it is easier to not try, not venture outside my comfort zone, and not put myself in the path of failure. but then i might always have this thought:
what if...
25.04.11: day 19
30 min walk.
full body strength.
26.04.11: day 20
1 hr trail run around mt doug with my running coach and friend.
27.04.11: day 21
upper body strength workout.
28.04.11: day 22
am: 20 min waterfront jog.
pm: lower body strength.
29.04.11: day 23
37 min run.
30.04.11: day 24
upper body strength.
this is a topic i have explored before...but i need to get to the bottom of this. what is it?
i think it is FEAR.
fear
–noun
1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
what are we all so afraid of?
i am afraid of failure. afraid of failing the people who have believed in me: my family, my friends, and my MOVEment supporters (yes, i am afraid of disappointing you,of not being who you wish i was, of failing you.) i am afraid of failing and making that critic inside my head say "i told you you couldn't do it".
i am afraid of not achieving, not succeeding, of trying too hard, of not trying hard enough, of not making a difference, of being too real, of being vulnerable, of not being real enough, and of actually being successful.
and i am sick of being afraid.
so what's your advice? what would you tell me?
i know what i would say to you.
you probably can't beat the fear, you just have to learn to work with it. stand up to it. yes, you might fail...but you should try anyway. why? because what would be the point if you didn't? if nobody failed, learned, got back up again, and just TRIED, what kind of lives would we have?
even as i write this, i have an idea brewing in my mind of a challenge i want to take on...a challenge i am afraid to tell people about yet because what if it's not possible for me? what if i fail? in many ways it is easier to not try, not venture outside my comfort zone, and not put myself in the path of failure. but then i might always have this thought:
what if...
25.04.11: day 19
30 min walk.
full body strength.
26.04.11: day 20
1 hr trail run around mt doug with my running coach and friend.
27.04.11: day 21
upper body strength workout.
28.04.11: day 22
am: 20 min waterfront jog.
pm: lower body strength.
29.04.11: day 23
37 min run.
30.04.11: day 24
upper body strength.
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