Comparisons Between T-Rex and Tova

Today my story is one fraught with something new.  Sound scary?  You have no idea…

If I had to choose, for instance, between running and biking…I’d pick running.  Although I attribute this choice to my lack of coordination, if I’m honest with myself, I choose running because this is my “comfort zone.”  I know that after five minutes of sucking air my lungs will stop burning and I’ll reach my baseline and run with ease.  I know that at mile 5 my right knee will hurt for about 10 minutes and at mile 8 my left hip will feel like it’s locking up – but will go away by mile 9.  I know I’ll have comfortable run at a 10 minute/mile pace and if I run at a 9 minute/mile pace I’ll want to barf afterwards.  All of these things I know about my body.  My mind knows them.  When I’m not tripping over a rock and skidding on my face down a dirt road, I feel very comfortable in my body exercising.

Knowing what you are good at and where you can get the benefit of a good workout is a great thing.

My husband isn’t what you would call a runner.  Oh…the poor man loathes it.  He’ll go and squeak out two or four miles and come back purple, sweaty, and having a breathing fit.  He’ll curse at the running gods and be filled with amazement that he ended up with such a crazy woman who could actually want to run…versus being chased and made to run…one of his very endearing qualities.  He tries.  Clearly this isn’t his comfort zone.  He’s a weight lifter and loves to golf.   Heads to the gym and lifts weights every day…would golf more if he didn’t run with me.  J 

Lately, he’s been suggesting I come to the gym and pump some iron with him.  The thought is…well.  It’s plain scary.  I feel like I could crush the world with my legs but my arms have little to offer humanity.  If any of you have kids, maybe you have seen the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons?  The evil man played by the voice of Jim Carrey sets Tyrannosaurus Rex on the “good guy (or kid)” and T-Rex more or less fails because he gets stuck - his tiny little arms can’t reach the kid and his big head gets in the way.  I’ve been compared to this T-Rex, of course, very lovingly by my siblings.  Not because of the size of my head (I don’t think) but because I have little baby arms.

I’m working on the courage to make an appearance  at the gym.  Soup cans.  Small rocks.  Carrying the water in the pot I fill for pasta over to the stove.  It’s the little things, right?  As much as I hate to admit it, my arms could use some muscle.  I know it would help me run better.  Still…ugh.  But!  I am determined.  I will do this.  And you will have a detailed summary of the event…not without mishaps I’m sure.

My point today is this…when I got married, that whole something old something new saying?  I’m taking it seriously in my exercise routine.  Change is tough.  And sticking your toe out there past the comfort zone line takes some serious courage.  What if you fail?  How about this-what if you don’t try?  You don’t jump?  You might not ever find that you are pretty decent at two or three things instead of just one.  The hard part is sticking with it through that “awkward” phase.  You won’t be a pro the first time you try golfing for the first time.  I know.  I’ve done this one too.  In fact, I’m still not a pro and I’ve done it three times.  But I’m getting better each time we go. 

Take the plunge.  Pump some iron.  Put the pedal to the metal.  Hit the ground running. 

Whatever it is you’ve been thinking about trying…go for it!   And let me know how it goes!!!!As for me, I want to be a different dinosaur.  One more…proportionate…

Have a great week everyone!!!