You Can Do More Than You Think You Can

Note: I had a shitty-assed work week and a resulting a shitty-assed eating week. So I am not posting a weigh in today. I choose to post about something positive instead.

I recently agreed to do the 3-Day Breast Cancer walk in November with a friend of mine. This friend weighs about 110 pounds so really had no idea what it was she was asking me to accomplish in 10 months so she probably did not understand my hestitation. My hestitation had nothing to do with the wonderful cause of finding a cure for breast cancer. I have walked in many Race for the Cure 5K's and have loved doing every single one of them. There is nothing more moving than walking with a crowd of people, some of whom are wearing "I walk in celebration of..." banners (for those who have won their battle) and some of whom are wearing "I walk in memory of..." (for those who did not). So I knew that participating in the 3-Day event would be an even more wonderful experience.

But...

I am fat. And not just a little fat, alot fat. So I worried. Would I be able to do it? Would they look at me funny when I showed up at the first informational meeting because I so clearly do not belong in a 60 mile walk? And I considered telling her no. But then I decided I have to try. I would never know if I could if I didn't try. (Plus, walking in the 3-Day on my 160 Things list.) So I studied the 24-week training program they gave us and knew I wasn't even CLOSE to fit enough to start this training. But that is OK because I have 14 weeks before I needed to start this training. So I am calling the next 14 weeks my "Pre-training Training".

During my Pre-training Training my goal is to work up to the point that I can walk for an hour at a 3.0 - 3.5 mph pace. Once I am there I will feel comfortable that I can handle the official 24 week training. Yesterday was my first Pre-training Training walk and I headed out with my dog, my heart rate monitor, and my pedometer for my first attempt at walking for an hour. And to be honest, I didn't think I would be able to walk for an hour. But I did! Yes, I had some back pain. And yes, I was glad on the several occasions my poochie wanted to "stop and smell the roses." But in the end I walked for an hour and lived to tell about it. My pace was no where close to where it needs to be (1.8mph....doggie pit stops did slow me down some, but still, I am clearly no Flo-Jo at this point) but I was thrilled to find out that I COULD walk for an hour. And now all I have to do is keep doing it and tracking my pace. I know I will be able to build up to 3.0 - 3.5 in time for the real training, especially as more weight starts coming off me.

So as I was heading into the final 10 minutes of my walk and it was clear I was going to do it, I thought, "You can do more than you think you can." And I remembered the Biggest Loser episode from a few weeks ago where orange team contestant Daniel, who started out weighing 450 pounds, was doing his "last chance workout" where Jillian pushes people to the max. He was running on the treadmill and Jillian turned it up. His response wasn't "No, I can't." He said to her, "Give me more." And I thought, "Man, if this guy weighs 450 and is running on the treadmill wanting more, surely I can do more too." And yesterday I proved that to be true.

It was just Pre-training Training Day 1 and I have many miles to log before the final 60 mile event. But I can do more than I think I can. So give me more!!!!