Peer pressure takes over

After lots of encouragement from my friends and fellow MIMs, I finally spent the $27.99 to purchase the photo of myself jumping over fire, (yup fire!) at the Warrior Dash. I am notoriously cheap and may not have done so otherwise, but finally decided it was worth it.
Women tend to work very hard without giving credit to themselves. Especially when it comes to their athletic abilities, always giving an excuse, rarely giving credit where credit is due. You know what I mean..."Oh I could never run, I only walk." Or, "I can't keep up with her, she's way too fast." "a 10k, forget it, how far is that?!?"

And then, we prove ourselves wrong and do the things we didn't think we could. I have seen women begin with MIM as walkers, cruising along at a comfortable, slow, relaxed pace, turn into some of our most competitive runners! Women who couldn't run more than a few feet, run entire 5K's in just a few seasons! Women who came to MIM planning to walk their first 5K, and winding up completing a triathlon the next season. You are making it happen, toot your own horn now and then. Even if it's as small as calling yourself a runner.
Do you get out there and run (there is no pace required) several times a week? By golly, you ARE a runner! Tell other people that and you may even begin to believe it yourself and commit more to your running.

So, I decided that if I'm going to do an event where I jump over fire, then I should do what I say and buy the darn thing to show off. So be ready to see lots of this silly, fun, crazy photo, cause I'm posting it all over the place.

What are you proud of?

The Warrior...What?!?!?

This past weekend was a personal victory, and I must share with you why. Ted and I completed an event called the Warrior Dash...together!
It is a 3.5 mile run with at least 7 obstacles along the way. Before MIM, I would never have even considered participating in an event like this with my husband.
3.5 miles seemed like such a FAR way to run, my husband didn't run at all and worked out irregularly and I couldn't have imagined having the strength to climb up cargo nets, jump over walls or complete the other challenges.
I kid you not, the first one was a row of 4 beat up old cars we had to climb, jump, crawl or somehow get over!
MIM and my fitness career has truly changed all of that for me. I transitioned from a walker to a runner, corrected an injury with help from MIM sponsors & members, added more strength and core training and am motivated each day by the women around me doing the same things.
About the same time as I ran my 2nd 5K with MIM in '08 ( yup, running the whole thing!) and improving my time, my husband starting going to the gym more often....and started running. He'd not done this partly due to some foot issues, work and life style. His career in pharmaceutical had also "enlightened" him on the advantages of avoiding the high blood pressure issues running in his family. One morning, he even told a mutual friend that he was going to the gym because he had to keep up with me.
Since then, we have a friendly rivalry going, keep tabs on each others workouts, have run together with the kids on bikes, lift together at the gym and really make an effort to make our family trips and weekends include active activities. I also have to try and keep up with him!
So doing this crazy warrior dash with Ted was more than just a weekend event, I really felt it was another chapter in our lives together, and for me as a mom, wife and woman.
I share this with you because I want you to know that others have the same struggles with fitness as you do, that you are an Excellent role model to your whole family and that the support you give and receive with MIM can make the difference.

Please share your own story on this blog, the MIM facebook page, meetup page or any outlet you are comfortable with. It will give you strength and inspire others.

Let's keep movin together mamas!
Wendy

P.S. There was ALOT of mud involved too...