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Thursday, April 23, 2009

What a week!

First of all, I'm trying to get back into running. I KNOW! Again?? Hopefully this time it will stick. A bunch of people that I know from the Weight Watchers board are doing a challenge associated with Weight Watchers called the, "Momentum Walk-it Challenge."At the end of the challenge you sign up for a 5-K.

You have two options. You get a walking schedule OR a, "learning to run," schedule. It's really easy intervals and even at the end you still walk/run the 5-K, but I figured it would be a good starting point.

Even though I kind of gave up on running when I started doing Tae Kwan Do, I still secretly dream of being a runner. I don't know what it is, because I hate it when I'm doing it. I DREAD doing it, up until I'm in the middle of my intervals. Then I fall in love with it. The feeling of pride and knowing that I've accomplished something that is REALLY hard for me, is the best feeling in the world.

I went into this without intentions of doing a 5-K at the end. Just using it as a tool to jump start my weight lose and get some desperately needed cardio training for Tae Kwan Do. Now I'm seriously toying around with the idea of doing a race, even if I have to walk/run it.

I suppose I'm just way too hard on myself. If I can't do it perfectly then I get all bent out of shape. One of the black belts in my class, Mr. Mike, gave me some valuable Tae Kwan Do advice, that applies to more than just TKD.

He said that as long as I was putting forth my all, it's all that matters. It's not necessary to be an Olympic caliber athlete to get to black belt. All it takes is heart, dedication and a willingness to push the envelope.

I may never be able to do a perfect jump back kick, or some of this other fancy foot work, and leaps in the air that some of these guys do. I shouldn't let that keep me from trying. If even after I put all of my heart and soul into it, I can't do it, then it's ok. I'm going to struggle with some things and others will come naturally to me. We are all individuals and I can't compare myself to anyone else. Just keep at it, it's all worth it in the end.

Those were very wise words, and after I pondered it a bit I realized I had heard that same speech from several of my running friends before, and it made me smile.

So here I am, my first week under my belt and I'm feeling good about it. I've arranged my schedule so that I'm not running on Tae Kwan Do days, and it's working well so far.

Legs are feeling good, the feet....eh, but that's from kicking the crap out of people, not running. Trust me, the random knee or elbow is nothing nice. I think I've permanently damaged the joint on my left big toe, due to all the lifted knees I've caught with a front snap kick. I've had a bruise there for at least a couple of months, and when I first step on it in the morning, it makes this God awful cracking sound.

My feet are starting to look all nasty and beat up, like everyone else in class. I'm loving it! It's something that a pedi is never going to fix. Besides I don't think they book entire afternoons for appointments. I NEED those calluses on the bottoms of my feet and I'd have to jack up anyone who tried to scrap them off.

I'm super excited that I'm learning my new form, Taegeuk Sa Chang or Taegeuk 4. We got all the way up to step 12 on Monday and hopefully we will learn the rest tonight. All the forms that I've learned to date were all rather similar, this one is TOTALLY different.

I so appreciate the beauty that comes along with this Martial Art. At first glance all you see is allot of raw aggression and brute strength, but it also holds a beauty and precision in every move, that fascinates me and makes me appreciate it all the more. I watch in wonder, and like a child I say to myself,"I want to be just like them."

1 comments:

Carly said...

*smoochies to Paige* I miss ya! Sounds like a great challenge on the board. I need to drag myself back there.