Hello,
In the town I live in, Ponte Vedra
Beach, Florida, there is currently a display at the Cultural Center on the
Donna Hicken Foundation.
The Donna Hicken Foundation, for those
of you not familiar with it, helps to raise money for Breast
Cancer. One of the big events for the foundation is a
marathon.
As I've said in emails before, attaching a cause that
drives you is a great motivator in staying active. Picking a charity that
regularly has fitness events to raise money can do several
things:
1) Gives you a goal that is bigger than
yourself
2) Gives you perspective
3) Grants you the
opportunity to meet many inspiring people which will keep you going when
it is toughest
How does this give you perspective? In the
aforementioned Donna Hicken Foundation display, a portion of the display
is dedicated to "why they run". One runner says, "...If you think
training for a marathon is hard, try CHEMO!"
Now that gives you
perspective!
And inspiring people? There are hundreds of remarkable
people which push their bodies further than they ever have simply because
it is for something bigger than themselves.
If you haven't
picked a charity and are running low on motivation one day, just take a
minute to read some of the stories left on the Donna Hicken Foundation Web
site. Stories about grandmothers running their first marathon AFTER having
a double mastectomy...stories about women running for their children so
that they will never have to experience this disease...
And check
out some of the "why I run" messages left on the site:
- "I run because I feel the most alive when I test and challenge my body--a body that betrayed me..." Dana Loewy (ran during Breast Cancer Treatments)
- "...if one step can bring courage or encouragement to you, then I should run a million miles for your honor and for your life." Joynicole Martinez
- "I don't want to be on the sidelines anymore...I run because I can."
- "As a present to myself...I want to finish"
I know it is difficult when you are experiencing pain related to injuries. I've been there. I know it is hard to keep motivated and make the time for exercise...with the kids, the job, the house...I've been there too. Keeping perspective can truly help as can a little inspiration from others.
And in case you need a little extra motivation this week to get you moving, keep you moving or need some tips FOR IMPROVING YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS FITNESS BY AVOIDING THE NEED FOR THE perfect workout, check out this week's article, "Just Move" on my forum at http://www.mikeryanfitness.com/forum.php .
With Healthy Regards,
Mike Ryan PT,
ATC, PES
** The contents of this weekly email are not to be considered
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