For those of you who don’t know, Colorado is typically at the top of the list for healthiest states. You will normally see people running, walking, biking, basically doing anything that pushes the body into a state of endorphin bliss.
When you ask people what they’re up to they will say more often than not “We’re training for…” In fact, you hear it so much that it creates some peer pressure to be active and participate in athletic events such as: The Rock and Roll Marathon, Yoga on the Rocks, the Zombie Run, and the list goes on. If we can, Coloradans will incorporate physical activity into everything that we do: drinking beer, hanging out at the park, and spending time with our kids. We are always thinking of ways to be active.
Before you start saying not everyone does this-obviously! There are a lot of people here in Colorado who consider their daily exercise their walk to the coffee shop. I’m pretty active but, I was never a hard core athlete. I was a dancer. I danced as much as I could and I stayed super fit for a very long time doing something that continues to be a passion of mine. Then, I started to work my office job. My weight gain ironically enough coincides with when I began working my office job.
Peer pressure ensues…
My colleagues would tell me tales of competing in races; the camaraderie of training with a group; pushing yourself when training alone; the thrill of achieving more than you ever thought you could (physically); and the feeling of crossing the finish line when you thought you had nothing more to give.
I resisted. I would joke about not running unless I was being chased. Then I would say that if I was being chased by Brad Pitt or WIll Smith I would stop running. I was intimidated. I was afraid. What if I couldn’t do it?
But, I love living in the fittest state. I love that health and wellness are considered a right. That the people around me are all ages from their early twenties to seventies and they take it for granted that they should focus on their health. That they could and do push themselves a little further.
Slowly, I became curious. Could I do this too? Do I have the metaphorical “balls” to push myself further than I’ve ever pushed myself before-physically? I wasn’t sure but I decided to give it a try. So, I signed up for the Fight for Air Stairclimb in 2011. I struggled and a lady who was at least 20 years older than me blazed past me and asked how I was doing. I was struggling lady! But, I kept going. (The Stairclimb is where you race up the tallest building in your city. The money raised is for respiratory ailments/research).
Then, I ran in the Cherry Creek Sneak. Just a 5k, but that was a victory for me. I didn’t train, but I did it.
This year I got sick of my almost 70 year old colleague and other older peeps talking about the 1/2 marathon that they were going to fly to and compete in, in San Francisco. WTF?! They are almost SEVENTY!
I decided then and there that I had to step it up. I like being active, but I didn’t want to exercise. I was going to train for the ING Miami 1/2 Marathon in February of next year. Why? Because I live at altitude. Because I have attitude. Because I want to be a bad a@@. Because I can, and I’m a Coloradan. I have a reputation to live up to.
It’s time to step it up and I’ve started by working out. I will then transition to running in the next couple of weeks. I love having a goal that I am working towards. So, I take my rightful place alongside my fellow Coloradans. Talking about gear, gel, electrolytes, and my personal best.
I’m going to be running without being chased and I don’t plan to stop. Wish me luck!
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Colorado sounds a lot like where I live! Everyone is always training for a marathon, a tri, mud run, volleyball, you name it! I’ve been avoiding it because of cost, but I really want to do Run For Your Lives, the zombie obstacle course, which is in Sept. I’d just rather not do it myself and having a hard time finding people to do it with me. I think having something to train “for” is a big motivator for people to achieve fitness goals, otherwise I guess it can just get boring to work out just to work out. Keep us updated on your progress!
I am about to start the running part of my training and I am so nervous. I know I can do it…I just don’t like how I jiggle when I run. Feel free to laugh! One of the reasons why I don’t move to other parts of the country is the focus on wellness and fitness. VERY important to me. Will keep you posted on how the training goes.