1-11-11 = Day 1

I couldn’t let today’s date go by without posting something on here!

1-11-11…..What an exciting date right? Well if you ask my 10 year old, she would tell you “It’s not every day that you have that many ones on one day?” She said that she would be watching the clock today because she wanted to remember exactly what she was doing on 1-11-11 at 11:11 am so that she can write it in her letter to Daddy. Kalyssa said she would try but she doesn’t really get to watch the clock that much because she is usually writing or reading when she is in her class. I had to keep my laugh to myself on that one =)

Anyhow, I thought the date was fitting to share my new adventure with you. Not too long ago I posted something on here about how I really wanted to get back into my running mode. I even put a page on here to help motivate myself. Well, I haven’t done that great. I can sit here and explain the many reasons why but in the end, they are all excuses.

One of the hardest factors when it comes to motivation for me is that lack of events in my area. I love to run but more than that, I love to run for different events. I don’t know if I can quite put into words what it’s like to run in an event that is helping out a child or raising money towards finding a cure for cancer. Crossing a finish line that is sponsoring a family or a group of people who need a little help in life is amazing. Not only am I doing something to better myself, but I also have the opportunity to help reach the lives of others, even if it’s only in a small way.

Last week, I went to the gym on base and decided to sign up for a new challenge. It’s not exactly what I have been looking for but it’s a starting point. I signed up for Run & Cycle Your Way to Disney World. I know it might sound a little lame, but like I said it’s a starting point. Over the next few months I will log myself in and track my mileage. 912 miles from here to Disney World, that’s how many miles I either have to run or cycle in order to earn my medal and my t-shirt. I am hoping that this will give me the motivation I need to start focusing on reaching one of my goals of running a full marathon. Maybe, just maybe if I make the 912 miles to Disney World, I can convince my body to run the real 26 miles inside the park.

While I was at the gym, I ended up getting a full body assessment. The gym offers different programs for spouses of deployed members one of them being a free full body assessment. That was interesting to say the least. I have never had anyone measure me or weigh me before, well besides my doctors but I can’t really count that. Awkward and uncomfortable are the two words to use when describing the scene. I am not one to broadcast my weight nor do I like others to know what exactly is going on or not going on with the proportions of my body. The one nice thing about all of this mess was that they gave me a fitness journal so that I can keep track of my progress. I did learn that in the 11 days since Jason had left, I had lost 8 pounds. That was some pretty shocking information. My Jay was not thrilled with the news but I’m pretty sure he has forgiven me =)

So, today was Day 1!!! I logged in 3 miles. Normally I would be thrilled with a 3 mile day but looking at the big journey ahead of me, I have to say that I haven’t even put a dent in my new path. However, I am always up for a new challenge because after all......

“Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

~Joshua J. Marine