My Journey With Weight Loss – Recognizing Your Limitations

The weather has been pretty nice this week which has meant walks along our beautiful promenade. The challenge has been that due to a family crisis (it seems to be a regular event with my family) for a couple days I have only been able to do 1 long walk instead of 2. I’ve tried to make up for it on the other days and am still averaging over 20k steps each day.

My coach, helping me get ready for the Grouse Grind, suggested I add one more day a week of interval training. She told me to do 4 intervals jogging up Oxford St and then gently walking back down the hill (note that would be 3:30 minutes of jogging each time). Yesterday I did another walk up Oxford and thought there is no friggin way I can do 1 interval never mind 4. This is a really, really steep incline that I plod up trying to make it to the top. I just am not willing to set myself up for failure but I also so want to work on my strength and endurance. I decided I just needed to come up with another plan.

I was out doing my walk after lunch and was heading down to the beach when it hit me, Stayte Rd hill. Now this hill is nowhere near the grade of Oxford St but it is still a decent hill especially the first 2 blocks. I thought, why not try an interval on my way back. Oh but then that voice got in my head as I was walking the promenade, maybe the best thing to do would be start jogging after the first 1/2 block of the hill (the steepest part of the hill), yeah I know I could do that. So I finished a lovely walk on the promenade, got to the bottom of Stayte Rd and decided no, you are starting here at the steepest part. I set my timer and away I went. Yes that first part was really challenging but I did it. Tomorrow will be the big challenge as I try 4 intervals but I can’t wait for that feeling of accomplishment when I am done.

The important thing is I recognized my limitations. I don’t think my coach realizes how steep Oxford St is and while I am good shape, I am not quite ready for that yet. But I am ready to bump things up a notch and I start that tomorrow. Moreover, I overcame avoiding taking on the challenge which I think is the most important thing.