A Little Story on Inspiration

RicaJamie

I was messaged by a couple friends today congratulating me on my start to C25K, I wasn't too surprised, as I've been getting messages of congrats about me working out again. I was reading them as I was sitting on my couch staring at the Advil bottle, deciding whether I want to take anything for this whole body pain I am experiencing. The next message that came in was from a friend I rarely hear from.

She said, "Ok you inspired me! I'm going to do my first day 1 of Couch to 5k tomorrow! I'll do it alongside you (in spirit anyway)! I will probably need you to keep me motivated!"

The other day on MFP I got this message. "That is in part because of you, Jamie. I was at the gym when I commented on your workout and I set myself a higher goal, so thank you."

Inspiration to go further was given by me without even meaning to. I inspired two friends to work out harder just by doing something. I hear a lot of, "I lost my inspiration" from people daily. It occurred to me as I was reading the messages from people that what they are really saying to me is, "I've lost my motivation and I am asking you to be it." I believe we won't do anything unless we want to but sometimes it takes a force outside of us to make it something we want to do.

As I was literally hitting the pavement today I was flooded with memories of running when I was younger. I have ALWAYS hated running. Why? I wasn't good at it. I loved softball but hated the conditioning. Why? We had to run. I have always been an overweight person and when I say always, I mean always. Birth to now. So, you can imagine what my thoughts on running with a whole team of in shape people did to my psyche. My brother used to run on the freaking track team (long distance even) and I could barely make it around the bases without dying. Yup - that seemed fair. But, running is one of those things most people aren't just "good at." It is one of those things you have to work really hard to do and take your time training to get better.

So, why am I inspired now? Yes, I am working on the whole fitness thing. Yes, I am getting older and feel like I need to. But why this C25K? Yes I want to run with my sisters from other misters and Dad in Disneyland. Couldn't I just walk the whole damn thing? Yup. But, where is the challenge in that? My inspiration is doing something new and seeing if I can in fact still do something just because I want to. I am inspired by people, complete strangers running by me when I"m out for a walk. When we were in college my roommates and I would literally sit in our living room and watch the "motivated people" run by as we were playing video games. Those people inspire me to this day.

I guess I have chosen to try this because it is something that is hard for me. I want to feel like I can conquer something that I've been avoiding (with excellence) my whole life. As I was feeling the cramps in my thighs and literally counting down the seconds until my phone told me to "WALK" for the next 90 seconds I had this little inclination that I just might be able to do this. As I watched my heart rate recover less and less after each running interval and begged time to slow down just so it could drop a little more I felt a little sense of pride growing.

I feel in my bones though it will take a lot longer than 9 weeks. It will probably take me closer to double or triple that. But, it is okay. I don't care about the time frame. As long as in the end I have tried with my best effort. I will run in that damn Disneyland 5k with my fellow Disney fans. If I cannot run the whole thing I will at least be able to run/walk it.

I invite ANYONE who feels like they MIGHT want to try it to just try Week 1 Day 1. I sucked so bad I wanted to quit. I was literally cursing the world and wondering how I could be so out of shape after working out so much the last few months. I'll do it with you. I think there is something special about being a motivation to someone else, just by trying. I plan on doing Week 1 a few times over - so - anytime anyone wants to come - please do. I do these things better with friends. I might not be able to talk much and might punch you when I feel like I'm going to die but you can punch me when you feel the same. Inspiration works both ways. I inspired a few people and in turn they inspire me to keep going. I mean, what a let down if I inspire them to get going and then I stop after 1 experience?