My Fitness Journey - Caroline
Saturday, 26 March, 2011 - Member Post Caroline
Caroline's fitness journey over the last 6 months has been inspiring to follow. I always look forward to her regular updates and posts, and her optimism and enthusiasm shines through. Her insights are humble, motivating and demonstrate her persistence, focus, commitment and undoubtedly, her enjoyment of her morning routine. Thank you, Caroline!
Being fit and active has always been important to me and for many years, gym sessions helped me maintain fitness. But, at a certain point last year, I lost interest in going to the gym and needed to find some other way of maintaining fitness. Enter Donna and “My Fit Project”! My profile tells me that I have now been a member of “My Fit Project” for 26 weeks – and what an amazing 26 weeks they have been!
At around the same time I joined “My Fit Project”, I was also beginning to take up regular running, an activity which my husband and 18 year old son have pursued for some time. With the help of a structured training program (including bodyweight sessions and daily core exercises), I began running in earnest. The few extra kilos I had been carrying since turning 40 quickly tumbled off, and I found myself setting goals I once would have never dreamed of achieving!
My first goal was simply to be able to run 10km, but I quickly achieved this, so I set the goal of running 10km in under 60 minutes. I achieved this by Christmas last year. With the support and encouragement of friends, I have continued to amaze myself setting new PBs quite regularly! My current goal is to run the half marathon in July at the Gold Coast! (I’d also love to run 10km in under 50 minutes sometime this year!)
But – fitness to me is not about success at competition and in races – it is about having fun and feeling great because I am fit. Sure, I do get a real buzz when I run a new PB and I also love the atmosphere which accompanies organised races – but I love more the fact that I can now go for 100 minute runs with my husband on Sunday mornings and I can train with friends early on Tuesday mornings.
My morning run is “my time”, and as I run, my mind clears and I return home feeling invigorated and ready for the challenges of the day! Setting monthly goals helps keep me motivated and inspires me to achieve things I would not otherwise even think of doing. I use the “My Fit Project” website as a tool for recording what exercise I do daily and I also use my blog to record my fitness journey. I love getting little comments of encouragement back from Donna.
The photo shows me on the “Great Ocean Walk” in Victoria at the start of this year. This was a great holiday of walking and running with my husband. It is symbolic of the fact that the path to fitness should be challenging yet at the same time bring happiness, friendship and a sense of accomplishment!
Fit Happy
Caroline