I Believe I CAN! I Believe YOU Can!

“Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right.”  --Henry Ford

13+ weeks ago, I issued a fitness challenge.  My challenge was:  In order to help me to "keep moving forward" [with my exercise program], I would like to invite you to join me and participate in the “2011 Moving Forward Mary-thon”.  To date, I have received a positive "Count me In" response from 175 individuals.  As news of the Mary-thon travels and others see YOUR success, more people sign up.  Some have just come in the past couple of weeks!  I couldn't be more excited and more thrilled with the response!  THANK YOU!!!   

On December 23, 2010 the challenge went out, and I wanted to share with you a few of the many, many positive responses I received:

“Please add my name to the list. I've been doing better, but you may be the push I need. Thanks for keeping us healthy and happy.”

“I’m in Texas walking for 2 to 2 1/2 hours a day on the beach (with a cane).  I used to be a runner before Multiple Myeloma did serious damage to my spine.  I don’t let it keep me down.  I’ll take your challenge since I already exercise almost every day.”

“Count me in!  How could I not be on that list?  I love a challenge.”

"I decided I'm going to train for my first half-marathon!  Thanks for the incentive!" 

“What a great idea!  I need and want to be a part of this "Mary-thon".  I am wanting to get back on track with my exercise program and this will be a great incentive for me, so, yes I am on board….So, sign me up!

“Sign me up! I'm ready to go... this is fabulous!   Thanks!

“I have been trying to find something to get me motivated and well, Mary . . . . . YOU did it!!!  I will sign up for your 26 week commitment.”

“Your e-mail came at a good time.... I need to be accountable to someone, so if you don't mind.... sign me up!!!  Here's to starting a 26 week journey, one step at a time!!!! Thanks!!

“My 3 daughters would like to be part of the Mary-thon if there is room and if you are allowing family members.  Could you please let me know if they can join?  Thanks!”  (Anyone is welcome – and they did sign up!)

“Please sign up my husband and me for the “Mary-thon”.  We commit to 30 min of exercise 5 days a week.  Thanks!”

“Mary, I will happily join your Mary-thon group.  I already walk 2.2 miles, usually 6-7 days a week, but don't when vacationing or out of town.  This will encourage me to exercise even while away from home.  Thank you for creating this "mission”.”

“My husband and I just this morning talked about doing something to RETURN TO BETTER HEALTH, cholesterol, weight, etc.  and so I opened your email/blog and I AM GOING TO DO IT !!!!  You are such an inspiration to all of us, and your encouragement and sense of humor will be so valuable.  Thank you SOOooo much....I have to go get on the elliptical now!”

“I would love to do this challenge for 2011.  I love how you set it up and am so thankful that you got this going :) I'm excited!!”

“Please sign me up for the 2011 Mary-thon.  I will finish..... I will finish......I WILL FINISH!!!!!!     Thanks for sharing your challenge with all of us.”

Can you feel the excitement as you read the words of other fellow Mary-thoners?  Can you feel their commitment and dedication to themselves and improving their health?  How about you?  Are you still excited?  Are you still committed?   Are you feeling better about yourself? Is your body feeling better?  I know there are a few of you out there who have fallen off the fitness wagon.  You CAN get back on - with 39 weeks left in the year there's plenty of time to find 26 weeks to start again and finish the Mary-thon. 

This week (Week #13) begins a defining moment in the 2011 Moving Forward Mary-thon:  it begins the half-way point.  From this week on, you will be finishing a “Half-Mary-thon” and heading toward the Mary-thon finish line!!! Congratulations to each of you!!! What an inspiring accomplishment!!!  I'm sure those around you have felt the impact of your dedication to yourself and your health!   BRAVO!  Conversely, if you are surrounded by "nay-sayers" calling you obsessed and trying to knock you off the fitness wagon from their perch on the couch, remember:  

"Obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated."  

As Henry Ford said – whether you believe you CAN or believe you CAN’T, you’re probably right.  When you think back to the day you committed to the Mary-thon, did you believe that you COULD, or did you think you probably COULDN’T?  If you were the latter, my guess is that you are not currently participating in the Mary-thon and you’re thinking of a way you can avoid ever seeing me or e-mailing me again.   Please don't feel ashamed or embarrassed if you decided this challenge wasn't for you.  It's OK!!!  Some have asked "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?"  I want each of you to know that I am doing this because I care.  I care about fitness and health and eating properly and never having to visit the doctor for ailments related to a sedentary lifestyle.  But most of all, I really care about each of you.  I want you to be healthy and I want you to be happy!  I know how exercise and fitness has totally changed my life and I want to share that with anyone who will listen.  You may have felt that the Mary-thon just wasn’t for you but you have still found a way to keep fit and that’s OK too.  

Practically speaking – I still need to order the 2011 Moving Forward Mary-thon finishers medals and need to know how many of you will be meeting me at the finish line.  So – here’s what I need from you this week:

1.      If you plan to finish the Mary-thon (26 weeks of exercise, 5 days per week, 30 minutes per day with a 2 week “grace” period) by December 31, 2011, PLEASE let me know.  I can only order the medals once – and I want to have a medal for each person who finishes.

2.      When you have finished the first 13 weeks of the Mary-thon (the Half-Mary-thon), please e-mail mary.balagna@gmail.com with your home address so that I can send you a little motivational gift of encouragement to help you through the next 13 weeks.  

Congratulations to each of you for your OUTSTANDING success and I want to sincerely thank you for motivating ME to Keep Moving Forward! 

As always – “Keep Moving Forward”!

Mary

Spring Forward! Going Above and Beyond!

"The only way to define your limits is by going beyond them."  Anonymous                            

When I first decided to run a half-marathon, I had already been running 4 times a week for five years and I was ready to do something a bit more challenging.  Fortunately, I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into!  Well - maybe a teeny morsel of an idea...but not a "realistic idea" - which I see now was a good thing.  My 4 day a week running routine consisted of putting on my Garmin tracking device (because I need to know EXACTLY how fast and how far I run on any given day), finding my "running playlist" on my iPod and go.  My route was usually the same - I would leave my front door, run up the street, turn left at the T in the road, run past the park, turn right past the Professional Building, touch the flagpole by the movie theaters and run back home.  2.58 miles.  So, my warped thought process was that if I could run 2.58 miles - I simply needed to multiply my run by 5 times which would equal a 13.1 mile half marathon.  Easy!  I went on the internet and found a twelve week training program for beginning half-marathoners.  I knew I couldn't run the entire distance and was pleased to discover that a "run 3 minute, walk 2 minute" routine was very acceptable in the running world.  So, that's what I was going to do.  The weekly running schedule included a "long run" that increased by 1 mile each week.  Two miles was a cinch, 3 miles was still very do-able, 4 miles, 5 miles, 6 miles - oh my gosh - the miles kept increasing and I kept going.  I was absolutely amazed that I could actually keep up the pace for such a long distance - and still live to tell about it.

Was it easy?  NO!  There were some runs that were worse than awful, and some that were actually relaxing and enjoyable.   Rain was not fun and cold winds were worse but sunshine and 45-50 degree temps were heavenly.  There was absolutely no rhyme or reason as to when I would have a good run, and when I would feel like I would NEVER be able to finish.  That shocked me!  I couldn't believe that I could run 6 miles one day and then struggle to run 3 miles a few days later.  But I kept at it.  I didn't quit.  I trained and trained and trained and then did it!  I made it the entire 13.1 miles and have the medal and picture to prove it.  I personally needed to go above and beyond my usual fitness routine.  I needed to do something that I had never done before.  I needed to prove to myself that although I was never an athlete - and had never run a race before in my life - that I could indeed run with the big dogs if I wanted.  (Of course the big dogs were home, showered, had lunch, a nice nap and probably off to their next adventure before I crossed the finish line...but that was ok...there were a couple of hours when we were actually running in the same race together!)

So many of you have written me e-mails about your progress as you too are going above and beyond in maintaining good health through exercise.  Some have never kept with a fitness program for an extended period of time - until now!  Some of you have exercised for years and continue to do so, without fail!  With Spring right around the corner, some of you are just getting started with your Mary-thon while others are nearing the "Half-Mary-thon" point.  Some have had to start over for one reason or another, but EACH of you have promised me that you are committed to finish!  Remember - there's a beautiful medal waiting for you at the finish line to forever remind you that you did indeed go "Above and Beyond"!  


I received some pictures from one of our Mary-thoners - Sharon - from San Jose California.  Sharon just returned from her vacation - where she was able to keep up with the Mary-thon.  Where did Sharon vacation?  ANTARTICA!!!!  We have truly gone global with the Mary-thon!  Thank you Sharon for taking the Mary-thon to our 7th continent!!!!


Bravo to each and everyone of you as you spring forward - going above and beyond!  


Keep Moving Forward!
Mary

Sharon - Mary-thoning with the Penguins!

Sharon (wearing a Project Linus t-shirt!) sharing a Mary-thon moment with a precious baby seal!