Put Your Shoes Back On

Six year ago I weighed 220lbs and was severely depressed. After a discussion with my family Dr. I vowed to get better. I started cycling and bought a membership at the Sportsplex here in Dartmouth, NS. I also met my know wife who quickly become my chear leader and personal trainer. When I was in my 20's went to the gym before and after work and Jane Fonda's workout was still the featured activity at a womens gym. So, being nastalgic I thought I would do the the aerobic classes. Well, they were step classes and my feet hurt so bad that I instinctively took my shoes off. The instructor told me to PUT MY SHOES BACK ON. I explained that the shoes were hurting my feet and I was fine with my shoes off. I started hiding in the back of the class and would take my shoes off when she wasn't looking. The pressure to put my shoes back on continued as I attended other classes like kick boxing and circuit training. I decided to head to the pool where shoes were not a requirement. I was lucky to have an instructor kicked ass in the shallow pool and was so encouraging. I am also short and therefore tended to push a lot more water when she had us racing the 25 metre length. This was all a great start but I realized with my trainers advice that I needed to add running to my twice daily workouts. After an embassing trip to the mall, where my wife (then girlfriend of 3 months) made me cry. She took me to the sports store to show me Oasics running shoes in hopes that it would help me get running. When I realized that they would work she offered to buy me 2 pairs (sale for 2) as a Christmas gift. This is the embarassing part...I started to cry in the store. The sales clerk wasn't sure what was going on. I had not had anyone care so much about my health including myself in so long that I was overwhelmed with emotion. I also felt I couldn't accept such a gift since we had only started dating. She was not expecting to make me cry. This got me to the next step to getting healthy. The next year I competed in the 1st World Out Games in Montreal. It seemed fitting that I made Mark Tewksbury cry when I met him there and told him how he inspired me to participate in the games by letting me hold his olympic gold medal. He came to Halifax to talk about the games. I raced on the Formula 1 track and logged 5,000 km's on my Trek bike that year. I've since competed in a sprint triathlon, swam 100,000 metres and cycled all over Nova Scotia including the Cabot Trail. I think back to the beginning of this journey and wish I had not been pressured to PUT MY SHOES BACK ON. I realize now that I didn't only need to heal my body but also my mind. In doing this I am more confident and trust my instinct and don't let people tell me what to do. My wife has said this more than once "you don't listen to your personal trainer". I guess I am getting there. Now it's learning and maintaining balance.

Comments

Your story rocks! I don't mean to sound corny when I say that, even though that phrase is a bit of a cliché. It seems appropriate to me anyway. A lot of people have visited that dark place you left behind. Good for you for getting up the gumption to swim, cycle, and run your way out. Good for you finding love along the way as well. Happy barefoot running!

John T.
 
I love corny and I love that saying. Thanks for your comment it means a lot. One of the most surprising thing I came accross during my transformation journey to a happy healthy person was all the people out there that were so generous with their encouragement. Initially I was shy and embarassed to participate and compete in event early on because I wasn't as fit as I thought I should be but outpouring of support and cheers that I got as I crossed a finish line was overwhelming and just what I needed to spur me on to my next fitness goal. So thank you for your surport. It will be that little voice that keeps me going in this next journey 'sans soulier'.
 

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