I am a turtle

When I was a little girl, I had to have tutoring. I would walk two streets down from my house and spend an hour with Susan. I would sit at a dressing table and try to do my assignments. I will admit that I spent a good amount of time looking in the mirror and around the room. On the right side on the mirror was a little turtle made from green construction paper. Susan had printed a message on that turtle. It said, "The steady man wins the race." Thirty-five (or so) years later, I still think about that turtle and having to have tutoring...but I think about the life lesson Susan taught me with the saying on the turtle.

I have never been one to do anything quickly. In fact, I am very reluctant to try new things. I am a bit of a perfectionist and I don't like to do things unless I can do them correctly and at the same pace as everyone else. I am very competitive too. This makes my fitness journey a bit difficult. I get discouraged often. It doesn't take much...a look or comment from one of the other campers, criticism from the wrong person, another injury, or not feeling like I am good enough are just a few examples. I have a tendency to just shut down. This is something I am working on.

This journey has been interesting. I would have never thought that I would be where I am today if you would have asked me several years ago. I was a mess. I weighed between 350 and 400 pounds in 2008. In June of 2015, I weigh around 250 and I have done things i have never thought possible.

In March, I completed a half marathon. I went with a group of my friends from Camp Gladiator. They all finished long before I did. Bethany (my trainer/best friend) finished her race in a little over two hours. They waited for me as I plugged along. I was slow, but I did finish. It took 4 hours and 8 minutes. I am a turtle.

I can still close my eyes and see that finish line. I can still remember how I felt when I turned the corner toward it and I remember hearing these words, "You finish strong, you hear me?" I didn't think I had anything left, but I took off running. I crossed the finish line. I looked to my left to see Crystal (who had been sick and didn't run). I hugged her. She said, "I am so proud of you! I promised you I would be here when you crossed the finish line." It was her voice telling me to finish strong.

That half marathon was a major victory for me. It helped me realize that I was capable of doing things that I felt were impossible. I didn't finish with my friends, but I finished the same 13.1 miles they did and I have a goal for next year.

Slow and steady. One step at a time. A lesson taught to me as a child that has been a benefit to me as an adult. Finishing the half marathon by myself was something I needed to do. You can do these things too...the first step is the hardest (you know, the one that takes you off of your couch). Be blessed!