Let me start off by saying that I've never considered myself to be much of an athlete at all. I've taken dance classes intermittently throughout my life, performing okay but never great. I participated on a swim team years ago, and let's just say it wasn't pretty (read: finished 26th out of 27 people, where number 27 was disqualified). The closest I've come to being remotely athletic would have to be the summers I spent springboard diving in high school, and the trips I take to the ski slopes each winter. And I suppose my performance in just about every sport I've ever tried has been fair, maybe even satisfactory, decent enough to get me through PE classes anyway. But there's one thing I've never been able to do well, no matter how I've tried — which, honestly, hasn't been much, because when I do try, I don't do well, and so I quit trying, which keeps me from getting better, and on it goes... I'm talking about running. I'm a horrible runner, and I always have been. However, in spite of my lack of jogging prowess, it appears that running is about to become the newest addition to my relatively non-existent athletic repertoire.
It's my all my Dad's fault, really. He's the one who went all triathelete on me, with my brother, making me jealous that I couldn't join in the fun with them. And he's the one who discovered all of the recreational and training opportunities I could participate in through the local women's fitness store, See Jane Run - including a program leading up to a half-marathon in June. And he's the one who told me about a 5k run here in Oakland in March, along with another event in San Francisco sometime in May that apparently half my extended family already wants to do. So you see, it is his fault. But honestly, I have been thinking to myself for some time that it would be nice to get in better shape. Granted, I don't have any ambitions for a killer bikini body anytime soon, but it would be nice to have some abs, not to mention a little more stamina than I've got now (which is practically none). And I wouldn't mind getting my weight to stop jumping in and out of the ideal range for someone my height - but then again, the numbers aren't really what matter, right? Most importantly, I think this thing's going to be about feeling good and having the ability spend quality time with family members and not get left in the dust.
Fantasizing about what could be is actually the easy part. Before any of the fun stuff can happen, I have to get up off my lazy, NCIS-addicted rear and start working out. It's not as much fun on my own, but that's why they invented discipline. And gym buddies. If I don't want to pass out in a pile of goo while everyone else zooms by me at a million miles an hour, I have to put in the work. And the hardest part, I think, is taking the first step. Once I do it once, it's bound to be easier the next time, and even easier the time after that. So goes the theory, anyway. And I think that a lot of the principles and philosophies behind something like training for a race apply to life in general, which is my thinking behind this blog. Maybe I'm hoping that I can make the rest of my life seem more interesting by interweaving it with this whole fitness kick thing. We'll see. In any case, I hope there are a few sweet souls out there who will have the kindness to patronize me by reading this blog. Hopefully you will enjoy it. Should be an interesting ride!
I'll wrap up with an explanation for the title I chose, "Stronger Than She Seems." It was inspired by one of my favorite quotes, contributed by the great A.A. Milne. Hey, the guy who created Winnie the Pooh must be pretty legit, right? Anyway, the quote, spoken by Christopher Robin to Pooh, goes like this: "Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." You can probably tell where this is going. The point, I think, is that I like so many of us don't tend to give myself enough credit for the things I know I'm capable of. I tend to lack confidence, and in so doing, to short-change myself, if you will. And as cliche as it sounds, it's reassuring to be reminded that whatever insecurities I may have about myself are not based in truth, but in my imagination. For in fact, the truth is... I'm gonna make a runner out of me yet!
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