Dramatic? I know. Here's the deal this wasn't my first race but it was an important one. I am a fitness professional and have been working steadily in the field for about five years with a varied and wide past, part of which includes HS track where I was a sprinter. I joined track, as many kids do, to stay in shape and keep my mind and body occupied during a cold winter season. I have always been fast but have always dreaded any endurance bearing activities. This summer the truth behind that mystery was fully uncovered: I have exercise induced asthma.
Now I am not one for using labels as crutches, especially something as dweeby as asthma, but alas this previously non diagnosed condition is creeping up as more and more of an inhibitor as the years move on (Training with Asthma is surely to be another topic of discussion at a later date but not for the introductory log). So when this condition was labeled for me on a HS track this summer by my boss and mentor in front of a fellow coach as we were reviewing speed camp drills I was devastated and immediately embarrassed. For years people would run with me and ask me if I was okay because my breathing was so heavy and I had insisted, "I sound scary but I'm totally fine." Denial has always been my default setting.
So we are out on a business lunch with last week when the DAM is brought up...the Downtown Auburn Mile is a fairly non-serious race that my entire hometown community tends to participate in...you know get your name and time in the paper ect. So the question was asked, Maureen are you running? I tried to segway the conversation to past DAM course routes to avoid answering (since I graduated and started a "real job" I have slackened on my fitness...a lot) my fellow coaches and mentors started making wheezing noises from the other side of the table. Infuriated I vowed to rev my engines and uncover the ol Vette body that I know still exists.
THIS BRINGS ME TO THE PURPOSE OF MY BLOG: The challenge of balancing the dreams and pleasures of life with the responsibilities and practicalities of it. Ah! The title makes sense! I am 22 year old female Kinesiologist currently working in CNY (that is Central New York for those not down with the slang...and that is about five hours Northwest of NYC for the 95% of the world unfamiliar with the idea that NY is indeed an entire State with NYC attached to it). And as a professional in the fitness field I have been all kinds of fit with all kinds of not healthy and I am sick of the yo-yos and am ready to fix this unsteady health level start into adulthood once and for all to establish a better life path for myself (and of course any readers!).
My challenge has begun with the DAM...a race I actually exceeded my own expectations by showing up but also the time was not as bad as I thought! (about a 7:15! untrained!!!) I was impressed...and that's all that matters. So imagine what this 'ol girl can do with a little maintenance! But the trick is...I'm taking the maintenance for life plan...that means I get all the check-ups, premium fuel, regular hand washes and waxes, with daily use! (yes I reverted back to the vette analogy). So I challenge you to upgrade your body to the Maintenance for Life Plan! I started on Sunday and am not looking back. Interested? Keep reading my posts to see my transformation, to get motivated, and to really do this thing! Fit for life: it's not a myth...let's do this!!
