REACHING BEYOND ONESELF

            Last February, I entered a Biggest Loser competition with the goal of losing weight, getting healthy, and becoming Connecticut’s Biggest Loser. The months of training, learning which foods fuel the body, and setting weekly weight loss goals paid off by the end of May. Then, in June, I took the learning experience a step further and started working out at a gym in Enfield that has regular classes of kickboxing, weight-training, and instructors who are motivational and fun, which is half the battle. The summer was flying by, when in July I wondered, “What else could I achieve?” We’re a goal-oriented society. We make resolutions every New Year’s Eve, during the start of  new school years, on monumental birthdays (think Oprah’s 50^th), and even when we’ve fallen down or disappointed ourselves, we resolve to “do better.” So, having never been a runner in my life, and being part of a family that loves to run for exercise, I decided, “Why not me? I could run a 5k if I really wanted to.” Thus, the wheels were set in motion and the past two months have consisted of discovering how much further I can push my body and mind, because really, running does become a mind game at some point. The runner, aching and sweating, pushes for one more minute, mile, day.

            Well, this was going along quite nicely until I was faced with the realization that to be included in running an organized 5k, one must formally register and declare her intentions. It felt like the night before I took my graduate comprehensive exams, “Why of course I’m going to do this, I’ve set this goal, no I can’t back out now, yes I’m scared to death. What if it rains? Do they hold exams in the rain?” You get the picture. This had to become something greater than just running a 5k. It had to have a “purpose” for me to resolve to stand at that Starting Line, no matter what the weather. And the purpose needed to be something other than “bragging rights.”

            I started to reflect on what was most meaningful in my life today, at middle age, in America. My family, of course. I’m a recent grandmother to a beautiful little girl. When I see her, I see hope for the future. That means keeping her healthy and fit so she lives a long life. As an educator, I see many young people who aren’t exercising and who eat unhealthy foods, mostly because they don’t have the resources available to change their habits. So, one of my “purposes” in running the Hartford 5k is to raise money for the Hartford school children’s healthy minds/healthy bodies program. Knowing that children will benefit from my running because of donations fuels my stamina.

            Another purpose I decided to join in on was running for our Troops. Whether we believe in this war or not, there are thousands of men and women who are sacrificing their families and their lives every day by serving overseas. I respect that. Contributing to their needs with a small donation, I’ll be proud to wear a race number with “I Support The Troops” emblazoned around it.

            There are many more organizations runners and non-runners can support. What happens when we look beyond ourselves and our personal goals is that we already become achievers. Knowing I’m running a 5k for something other than myself makes the goal that much sweeter. And anyone can do this for themselves and others—set goals that will make you healthy and let you contribute to a great cause. Come Saturday afternoon, after I’ve eaten my Finish line bagel and orange, I’ll be a different person, one who reached beyond herself for a greater good.  Hope to see you at the Hartford Marathon, Oct. 9. Starting time is 8:00.

Cheers!