One Year Later...

Facebook has been reminding me daily of all my life events throughout the years. Today's could not have made for a better start, for one year ago at about this time, I got a taste of my first Spartan. Facebook chose this photo to remind me of it.

Under it, I wrote this "Vowed I'd never take on a Spartan race. Have registered for multiple obstacle races in the past and chickened out at the end. Huge thanks to these awesome ladies who in 4 months gave me the confidence to toe the start line. Some obstacles went better than others, but am incredibly grateful to them and look forward to gaining more strength and doing another!"

This could not be more true. I talk a lot about how much I have grown at bodyco, so not going to get too much into that, but you always know when you achieved something great, when you look back at it, now a year later and still get butterflies.

Looking back, I find it so crazy how far I've come since this day. I remember the morning leading up to it, pacing the grounds for an hour, nauseated, teary and wondering what I was really doing. When I got the start line and found out I had to get over a wall before I could even start the race I almost left. Luckily, I was running as part of the Biggest Loser Challenge, and they wouldn't let me. Not only did I follow through that day, I broke from the pack half way and finished solo.

Since then I have completed two more Spartans and four half marathons. This weekend i'll be taking on my 5th for the year in Philly, followed by two Spartans the following week and an OCR the week after that. With dad's anniversary looming, I know these next couple of weeks are going to be a toll on me, but to be able to channel my emotions in a positive way helps tremendously.

Things I've learned this year...
~Mind over matter. As much as you may think your body can't handle something, if you can train your mind to push on, you will get there.
~Don't be afraid to ask for help. If someone is offering their assistance it's probably because they want to. Let them in.
~As you change, you will gain wonderful people in your life. You will also lose some. Accept it. Embrace it, and move on.
~Push yourself. If you don't, you will remain the same. You will feel better after, I promise.
~Do what makes YOU happy. This was certainly the hardest thing for me because I have always been the one to do things for others and make sure everyone else is happy. I never took time for me nor pursued anything that I was really passionate about. By re evaluating this, I have become a much better person, which in turn has made me a stronger person.
~Learn from your mistakes. You will definitely make them. You will slip up. You are human. It's allowed. Just don't dwell on them. Pick yourself up and keep going.
~Smile. It helps. A lot. 

This morning both of these ladies took my class, which I would have never even thought possible a year ago. They constantly push me to be better in all aspects of fitness, and when I try to slack, have no problem with calling me out. It has certainly paid off, and they have motivated and inspired me to help spark that in others.