Many of us like to set ourselves short—or long-term goals. Maybe we want to lose weight, up our fitness regime for a planned holiday, or improve our overall health. I know my limit, and my body sets the bar relatively low. But any win above the norm is a win, right?
When my DIL, Amy, and son Ian said they had applied to run in the London Marathon again, I thought they were crazy. Both held down high-pressure jobs while juggling the challenges of parenting two hyper-boisterous boys (3 and 6).
Anyway, luck of the draw on this occasion, only Amy’s application was accepted.
I want to give a ‘shoutout’ to my DIL, Amy, who, despite nursing an injury incurred while training, completed the London Marathon on the 27th April and raised nearly £900 for the Parkinson’s UK charity!
Although I was in France, I followed her progress throughout the day via the London Marathon App
Yes, it is great to go to the gym and walk miles to keep fit and get in shape, but this training was working towards an end goal beyond body toning and fitness. I applaud this. Amy, despite working full-time in a high-pressure job and the challenges of being a working parent raising two small boys, ran in all weathers, plus went to the gym at the crack of dawn.
Well done, Amy. A great achievement!
While I won’t be entering a Marathon, I feel inspired and have decided to review my waning fitness routine and focus not on steps walked in a day but distance walked in one session. The beach and track walk are back in the frame.
What specific goal, such as a Marathon, race, or other activity, are you working towards that requires long-term commitment?
Piglet in Portugal 
This Post presents such an inspiring tale of inner and outer strength as well as the capacity to truly endure something. Because, as they say, A Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a Single Step …
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I wanted to do another triathlon this year, but sadly, the dates of the local ones just won’t work with other commitments.
My real long term goal is still to be skiing and biking at 75. Then I will reassess and hope to keep going.
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That’s a great goal to have, Bernie. I thought your cycling tour in France was a challenge … do you plan to do that again in another area or have you ticked that box?
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I have huge respect for marathon runners. Over the past few years, I’ve been hopeful to enter a 10K walk race so a part of my dedication to power walking has been training for that. Fingers crossed that my recovery will be sufficient to allow at least one race.
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Fingers crossed, Terry that you your recovery continues to progress well and you not only achieve one race but several more.
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Congratulations to your daughter in law. Not marathons but 5ks are our territory!
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Hi ganga. 5k is still a good distance at a run! I’d be happy to be able to just walk it.
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Congratulations to Amy! That’s an awesome accomplishment.
Our youngest son (36) is a marathonist who is currently training for his first IronMan competition in November.
For me, my long term phyiscal commitment is a Morning Mat workout each day (yoga, stretching, weights, cardio) anywhere from 20 – 50 minutes each time).
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Hi Donna, I had to look up IronMAn compteition. Wow! That is quite a challenge.
I admire your commitment to the Morning MAt workout.
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Salute anyone who has the tenacity to train for a marathon. Back in the day.. I ran three Comrades marathons 90km +-, about fifty standards and a similar number of half marathons. And tens and fifteen kms too.
Trained most days. Was never a fast runner but I usually got there in the end! 😊
When my best friend and running pal emigrated back to Cyprus, the impetus changed and running was not so much fun anymore.
I do walk, to exercise the dogs as well as myself.
However, these days my fitness and health routine is geared around gardening, specifically vegetables and feeding ourselves with the goal of being self sufficient in as many veggies as I can muster.
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Ark, it does take a certain type of tenacity and bloodymindedness to train and complete a Marathon. the three comrades Marathon sounds a challenge! As for speed… as the saying goes…’the race is not won by the seift but by those who keep running’!
Strangely enough my fitness and health is now also foucsed on the garden. IT is the best gym and workout and productive. 🙂
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Indeed! If you have ever watched the Netflix Series:Blue Zones, the presenter after so many years and miles traveled is convinced that gardening is one of the key aspects of a long life. I am hoping he is right!
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So do I! I think it is not only the body work out but the calming effect gardening has on the mind.
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