9 weeks ago i decided to participate in a “Get fit challenge” at Stroller Strides. It was an 8 week challenge to get fit and lose weight with a $$ prize for the winner. There were 6 parts to the challenge: weight, measurements, 1 mile run, holding a perfect plank, a wall sit and push ups. I knew i wasn’t in the running to win because i don’t have weight to lose but i thought this might be an awesome opportunity to train and compete for some personal goals. I also thought it would be fun to cheer on the other girls who were doing the challenge and motivate each other to hit our goals together.

I had some pretty crazy goals i set out to achieve and i didn’t even know if it was possible for me to achieve them. I wanted to run under a 6 minute mile and hold a 6 minute plank which meant i had 8 weeks to train and drop almost a minute and a half off my mile time and add 4 minutes to my perfect plank. Was this possible?

I had great intentions of doing interval training and getting in some good tempo runs but after the first few weeks life got the best of me. It was hard doing sprints and tempo runs with Jordan and i felt bad having him in the stroller for training and then stroller strides. Then there was throwing and planning Jordan’s 1st birthday , my sister and my mother in law came in town for two weeks and then i got hit with major depression after weaning Jordan from nursing.  I realized it is not the same when you have kids and a family. In high school and college my entire life was centered around school and swim/cross country. I never had to worry about working, taking care of a baby, cooking, cleaning and all the other responsibilities i have now that i have a family. I remember my old swim coach said  that one day i was going to wish i could go back to the days all i had to do was worry about school and swimming fast. Now i totally know what he means. Training was now on the back burner.  I started to get discouraged and didn’t know if i could pull it off.

The one thing i did do was show up to stroller strides every day and give it 100% while i was there. If i wasn’t able to train specifically for my goals by running tempo and sprints & doing extra core exercises i figured i would give it my all while i was at class with Jordan. Every day Jordan and I showed up ready to work hard and get in a good sweat. I pushed myself harder than i had pushed in years and it felt great. I could feel myself getting faster and stronger and i was starting to gain the confidence i needed in order to achieve this crazy goal i had.

The days leading up to the big “Get Fit Challenge” were nerve-wracking. I have never been a good competitor. I was always one of those athletes that was great at practice but when it came to race day i always let my nerves get the best of me. I used to take about 10 poohs before race time and then would have to go again at the start line. My stomach hurts just thinking about it. I was determined to not let that happen to me all over again.  The night before the challenge I put in my Louise Hayes affirmations and i just listened for hour before i went to bed the night before. When i woke up the next morning i felt refreshed so i listened to affirmations again while i was working. It seemed to help the nerves for the moment.

It was weigh in time, then measurements, then race time. I was as ready as i was going to be. I started out pretty fast, probably faster than i should have started out but i think the adrenaline got to me. I beat my goal by 2 seconds finishing the mile in 5:58! I did it! Next was the plank. I felt pretty exhausted from the mile but i took a feel minutes to warm down and i went into my happy place and just tried to mentally zone the pain out. The first 4 minutes weren’t too bad but then my body was starting to shake. Shake badly. Thats when the positive affirmations kicked in. I can do this. I got this. I am strong. I did it!!! 6 minute plank. I accomplished my goals! It felt so good and i felt like the inner athlete in me had been unleashed again.

The mind is such a powerful thing. I think the words of affirmation/positive self talk and the hard work i put in day in and day out is what helped me accomplish my goals. I am the only person that can stand in my way from accomplishing whatever goals i set out to achieve. Since the challenge i have been thinking about what my next challenge for myself might be. I have some ideas and can’t wait to share them very soon!