On the eve of my greatest challenge…

September 12, 2009.   Much like March 9, 2009 will go down in history for me.  March 9, 2009 was the day I said enough is enough and committed to a new lifestyle.  September 12, 2009 is when I will officially put it all on the line for the first time and see if how hard I have worked for six months is successful.  My first triathlon.  I admit, I am nervous, but a type of nervous that inspires us to do great things, to push beyond what is our preconceived limit.  I no longer fear this triathlon.  I have trained for it, I have honed my biking swimming and running abilities, there is no doubt in my mind that I can finish this.  But I’m still nervous, as we all are when we try something new.

On a positive note ,a friend of mine who is listening to me and following my training method, did her first weigh-in this week and has lost 3 pounds.  HIGH FIVE!!  It gives me great joy to see others work toward their goals and succeed.

So, without further ado:

March 9, 2009: 325 pounds, 35% of it was fat.  PURE FAT.
April 9, 2009: 295.8 pounds (-29.2 pounds lost)
May 9, 2009: 280.6 pounds (-15.2 pounds lost)
June 9, 2009: 271.6 pounds (-9.0 pounds lost)
July 9, 2009: 263.8 pounds (-7.8 pounds lost)
August 1, 2009: 260.2 pounds (-3.6 pounds lost) **THIS WAS THE HALFWAY POINT IN THE CHALLENGE*
August 9, 2009: 258.0 (pounds (-2.2 pounds lost)
September 9, 2009: 243.6 (-14.4 pounds lost)

After frustrating month in early August, I turned up the heat and have knocked out -14.4 pounds since August 9th.  Probably the most important thing was my body fat, it is now at 24%, I have eliminated 11% of pure body fat.  That is the most important thing.

People always ask me, why do I run, why do I put myself through 50-mile bike rides and swim until I can no longer breathe normally.  I tell them its because running, swimming, and biking, there are no competitors.  Yes, you have other runners, but the true competitor is your self-doubt.  Your inability to see past your own shortcomings.  All the time when I talk about the triathlon, people tell me “I’m amazed at you, I could never put myself through that or do it.”  IT IS POSSIBLE, 6 months ago I said the same thing.  It’s the way of thinking that must, ABSOLUTELY MUST change in everyone.  This is why we run.  Every time I shatter a personal best, I look back 6 months ago and I’m amazed at how much self doubt I had.  I believe I can do anything now.  This is why we run.  Running gives you confidence in your ability, and takes you places team sports can’t do.  You have only yourself to rely on, only yourself to blame if you fail.  And trust me, if you come up short, it’s the worst feeling in the world, but you also get back up, one more time, each time, until you do it.  And if you’ve never failed, or met someone who has never failed, I’ll show you a person who has never tried to push beyond their limits.  Because without failure, how can you know the pure joy of success, and the agony of defeat?  If you know not defeat, success means nothing.  THAT is why I run.

Next week, September 14th will be a big day, it marks 100 days left in the challenge.  It’ll probably also coincide with my triathlon post.

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