Think positively!

I'm terrible at remembering jokes, but I remember part of one about a little boy opening the door to a room, packed floor to ceiling full of horse crap. While everyone around him was grossed out, he thought, "Yay! There must be a pony in here somewhere!" He definitely was thinking positively!


Which brings me to week three of our walk/jog/run program. The weather was less than optimal when we first woke up, but for those us who made it to class, we were pleasantly rewarded when the snow stopped and the sun came out. It was gorgeous! Yay us!


But I worry that those who stayed home will fall behind and throw in the towel, and we're not even half way through the program! So I sent out an email, pronto with some tidbits to put things in perspective.


The Walk/Jog/Run program runs for 8 weeks. Now for some who say they're too busy to start running (or start any sort of exercise program), let's look at the numbers in relation to the commitment.

• there are a total of 1,344 hours in 8 weeks
• classes = 8 hours (maybe a bit more for travel time)
• the homework drills = 12 hours total
• Which means the whole program = .015% of time in the 8 weeks. 
• seems simple enough, right!?

For those who are slacking or thinking they can't do it, I suggest:

• Have a support team. Tell your friends and family you are training. Who can cheer you on? Who can run with you? Ask for support!
• Make a schedule. I have mapped out suggested days to do the homework. You need to set a specific time, day, and where to run to make sure it really happens.
• Modify if you need to. Even if you can't do all the homework, do as much as you can. Can't run for 3 minutes? Then run for 2 or 2.5. Or take longer walk breaks. Something is better than nothing!
• Think positive. This goes back to your support team. Fill your head with images of doing well and surround yourself with people who believe you can do it. We are running for 3 minutes this week, not a marathon, so you can do it!
• Think of other accomplishments. We take for granted what we do well, or things that come easy to us. But those accomplishments are something to be proud of and for another person, what you feel is easy, is very challenging. So pat yourself on the back and recognize that you can do great things.
• Wear another persons shoes. When you feel a pity party coming on, think of folks who are facing much bigger challenges than you.  I see a man with one leg ride his bike up a hill in my neighborhood every week and I hate that hill, but I have two good legs! There are runners who have no feet, cyclists with no legs crossing America, cancer survivors who exercise regularly, etc. You are lucky to be in your shoes, so take care of your body, mind and spirit so it can take care of you!

Cheers ya'll!