I just recently turned 25
~ gasp ~ I know...
I'm soooo old...
Since reaching this momentous year I've been looking back at everything I've accomplished throughout my short lifetime. I have done a lot. Like seriously, heaps of stuff has been checked off my bucket list. I have found, however, that to grow as a person we need to continually challenge ourselves and our preconceived notions.
For example, last year I set out with two major goals; to quit smoking and to complete a triathlon. Now each of these goals in their own right are difficult (
trust me I tried quitting a million times), but trying to conquer them both in the same year? Crazy!
Well I am pretty crazy. I had always been in awe of people who compete in triathlons. How insane...to put your body through 3 serious sports one after the other! But I wanted to do that. I wanted to be one of those insane people who could say to others,
"Ya, I've finished a triathlon. No biggie!"
I got this crazy idea from my superbly awesome dad. When I was younger he was crazy enough to compete in an Ironman! What a weirdo. He trained for 4 hours a day, everyday, for almost a year!
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What a stud! |
My dad wasn't in peak physical condition when he started out for his Ironman, so why couldn't I accomplish my pretty achievable goal of a Sprint Triathlon? I could. The only person stopping me was, well, me! As cliched as that sounds, I would be the only one capable of completing my goal, or standing in my own way.
So I trained, and I trained. And then I trained some more. I certainly wasn't (
and still am not) in the best physical shape. Having worked at an office where it was very regular to be sitting at a desk 10+ hours a day, smoking around a pack a day, and routinely eating terrible foods, I knew I had my work cut out for me.
But on November 3, 2012 I completed my first ever triathlon! I somehow even convinced my dad to compete with me!
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My dad and I after completing the Marin County Sprint Triathlon |
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My biggest fan! |
My entire family came out to support us! It was the most incredible feeling...accomplishing something you knew was going to be extremely challenging.
I would never have been able to finish the triathlon if I hadn't stuck to my first goal...quitting smoking. That in itself would have been enough of an accomplishment for me. I had been a smoker for 5 years before finally quitting. My life will never be the same again.
I don't bring up my incredible feats to rub it in your face! Far from it. I share with you these goals to remind myself that you have to keep challenging yourself.
Which brings me to my next list of goals - 30 things to do before I turn 30. To be shared soon!