Who's a Maniac? I'm a Maniac!

So school's been out for about five or six weeks now.  It's actually gone by pretty quickly as we've been busy little bees!  Between the kids' swim practices and meets, my workouts and training for the Rugged Maniac 5K, vacations to Disney and day trips hither and yon, there hasn't been much down time; and when there is, it's usually spent vegetating on the couch or in front of the computer too tired (read lazy) to write.  But it's a rainy day here in the Garden State and the kids are watching The Spy Next Door, so I'm stealing a couple of minutes for myself (because Facebook and Bubble Witch Saga and Words with Friends totally doesn't count!!)

Last weekend I ran with many of the girls from Team Alpha and completed the Rugged Maniac 5K race in Englishtown, NJ.  I am very proud of myself and although I finished one minute and 15 seconds after my goal of one hour, at least I finished!  I have bruises and scrapes for battle scars and photos to document (to prove) my participation.  I wouldn't describe it as fun but I did have a good time.  Even when I was by myself on the course (well, not by myself but not with my fellow Alpha girls), I was feeling pretty full of myself.  Even when the cretin beside me decided to combat crawl through the muddy water under the barbed wire while simultaneously kicking his feet splashing said water in my face, I was happy to be a part of the event.

I definitely think, when you do something like this, whether it's a 5K, a marathon, or a triathlon, however big or small the competition, when you finish you feel part of something.  This is only my second competition ever, so the novelty may wear off, but for now, I'm enjoying the ride.  Even got me a Rugged Maniac sticker for my car! That's right! I'm rugged!  Just don't make me change a tire on Route 295, thank you!

Looking at my dirty bib or feeling guilty when I miss a workout or a training run, I realize how far I've come in the past year or so.  When I say I never competed in anything athletic before, I mean NEVER.  I did play softball for an office team when I was 21 but that was just to hang out afterward at the bar! 

I don't think I look that much different...my clothes fit a bit better but I expected to look like a fashion model by now...and don't, if you were wondering!  But I do feel better.  I feel great, actually.  Not only do I breathe better and run farther and lift more and push more, I'm not beating myself up about talking and not acting.  At least not on this point.  There are still plenty of things I plan on doing....and plan and plan and plan...but that's another story!  No, with regard to fitness and health, I really think I've done myself and my family a real justice.  I went from the couch to the track and never looked back.  I almost cried more than a few times and was embarrassed at my lack of ability or stamina, but thanks to a wonderful trainer and a fabulous team of girls, it never ever stopped me from going or made me consider quitting.  I started with two days a week, moved to that plus the gym a couple of times a week, to that plus running the streets or trails on the other days.  I went from wheezing at the 50 meter mark to running 5K's once every couple of weeks trying go farther and faster.  

I have friends who want to work out with my group and my trainer but are too afraid they won't keep up.  These are women (mostly) who are in far better shape than I was when I started but I completely understand where they're coming from.  At my first session, I very seriously told my friend that if anything were to happen, I'm not allergic to any medications and I'm an organ donor!  It was a Sunday morning and I couldn't walk normally until Thursday.  It was TOUGH!  But I went on that next Saturday and woke up a few more dormant muscles and whimpered through the next week and the next until finally, when I'd wake up without pain, I'd think I must not have pushed myself enough at the workout!  

So what I'm saying, other than how great I think I am apparently, is that it wasn't hard to do once I started.  I can't quit now because I feel like exercise now defines part of who I am.  Even when I'm a slug for a couple of days in a row, I still feel like part of the club.  I may not pay as high a dues as many of my fellow members (and they know who they are; the ones that don't miss a day, no matter what, to do some sort of workout), but that's okay.  Maybe someday I will.  Maybe when school starts up again in the Fall.  Maybe. Maybe not.  For right now, though, I'm cool with my three to five days a week (usually), working and laughing with my Alpha girls, and planning my next accomplishment!

~Eileen Cassidy Bishop