Pushing the Limits

Have you ever been asked to do something and you thought, "There is just no way?!"  Like, no physical way. Like beyond fathomable? Yep, that was me a couple weeks ago when I met with my trainer. I had showed up to the appointment and was blindsided when he had found out just the day before from another client how SLOW I ran The Great Potato 10k. Mind you, I was not running that race for any specific time but just did it with a group of friends from work. In fact, the first 1.5 miles I ran along side my best friend's mom at her pace and encouraged her along. Not to mention, the first 1.5 - 2 miles were gridlocked and I could only go as fast as the person in front of me as we were on a sectioned off part of the road. Anyway, Jacob informed me that we were going to start our workout that day by me running the fastest mile I could run. Ha! I thought he was kidding. Then it clicked in. "You've known him WAY too long. He is so NOT kidding!" And on the treadmill I went. At first, as I started running, Jacob kept increasing the speed. With each raised number, I tried more to confirm to him that I couldn't go as fast as he wanted me to go. In fact, I grabbed the sides of the treadmill and jumped off. At that point he informed me that every time I jumped off, we were going to start over. Yikes!!! I'm not really sure what clicked, but I knew if I was going to make it through this mile, I needed to focus, concentrate, and give it all I had. 8:47 minutes later I was done! Surprised? Very! Happy? Not at all! In fact, it felt like torture at the time. Then I was informed we'd be doing the same thing this past week. I think that put me in a bad mood for the rest of my session, because Jacob told me he didn't think he's ever seen me testy like that. He was probably right. 

This time I came in with a mindset of what I knew I needed to do. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I knew I could do it. I picked a song on my I-pod, got a focal point, and went to work. Jacob pushed and pushed a little further, always encouraging me and cheering me on along the way. I tried not to focus on looking down at how far I had left to go but instead focus on the fact that I was doing something I hadn't done before. A new challenge. This time I did my mile in 7:57. Again, Surprised? Yes! Happy? Yes!

Just like losing the weight initially, I was scared, unsure of myself and skeptical of the outcome. But the thing that brings me back for more, the thing that keeps pushing me to live healthy and keep the weight off that I've worked so hard to achieve, is the fact that just when I think my limits are being pushed as far as they can go, I still am learning more and more about myself. About the person who's been hiding in this body all these years. About the person who has discovered discipline and determination and is willing to push the limits to find peace and happiness. 

Now, I meet with Jacob again today. Who knows what he'll have in store for me this time, but the good news is, regardless of how hard he pushes the limits and how frustrated I get in the process, I know deep down he is only trying to make me a better me. That is why he does what he does. And that is why I am forever grateful!