The Race is Won By Running

Do you have a motto or a saying that you like to live by or refer to when times get tough? When I'm working out, it is easy for me to hit a plateau. Often, when I set out for a run more than 3 miles, I will hit a brick wall. When I was marathon training, it never failed that at mile 18, I ALWAYS hit a wall. Self doubt creeps in and immediately, the rest of my body wants to fail. My lungs gasp, my legs ache, and even my eyes start to play tricks on me.

But then I remember the words my father spoke to me when I was much, much younger. I was 4th grade competing in track. I was never fast, well not fast like some of my peers. Certainly, I wasn't as fast as my sister was when we were younger. And let's face it, I was really clumsy! One particular practice, my father recognized defeat in me. He told me a story of a race and those finals words stuck with me:

The race is won by running.
There is no other way.
If you keep on running, you may win some day.

So simple and so true in many facets of life. They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. That is true for any task, great or small. Every race I run, I take note of the first step and tell myself, "Ok Bianca, you've started this, now you best be sure to finish it." I won't win any marathons. However, starting the journey is the first part.

If you are struggling with your health and you just don't know where to start, start small. Just go for a walk around your block and next time see if you can go around the block twice. Forget about your speed. Forget about the negative energy and the bad thoughts like, "Well, I'm not running" or "I can't even do a mile." You'll get there, but start small and work your way up. You'll discover that one of the best gifts you can give yourself is health. The quiet time to reflect, breathe oxygen into your body, and get going is amazing!

Now go out there and run YOUR race!

Motivation

Working out has always been a part of my life until May of 2001. Something was wrong with my body and my only guess was Rheumatiod Arthritis. My mom has RA and I remember her describing the feeling of RA like having a really tough workout and not being able to roll out of bed the next morning. That was exactly how I felt, but 100x worse!

 I had a new baby girl (just 3 months old), that needed me and it hurt to sit up...it hurt to walk to her crib and the most painful part was bending over to pick her up. My hands did not work so good any more! The hands that got me through school: writing all those college scholarship applications, playing volleyball and coaching...they struggled to lift my 9 lb baby girl. I set up an appointment with my PCP and told him that I thought I had RA. He scoffed but ran all the tests. My rheumatoid factor was in the 1400's which is pretty high/bad. I was referred to a rheumatologist. My first appointment would be 6 months away. After a week, I decided to call every morning and every afternoon to see if any appointments were cancelled so I could be seen earlier. After the 10th day, I broke down to the appointment lady and told her that I was a 28 year old mother of a 3 year old boy and a 3 month old daughter. I was hurting and tired so much that my son learned how to climb the cabinets to get a bowl and was strong enough to pour milk into his cereal because Mommy could not make it down the stairs. I begged for help! That kind lady got me in three days later to a Nurse Practitioner. I was so grateful and overjoyed!

However, when I got to my appointment I felt selfish! Despite the fact that I was barely walking, I realized that there were so many others worse off than I was. For a year the doctors were unsure if I had RA or Lupus. Sometimes they would say it was Rufus. I was not allowed to work out and I was so defeated I turned to food. I ballooned up to 215 lbs. My insurance was changing which meant my doctor would change too. I was lucky and Dr. Joseph took me in and started my new journey with living with RA.

First thing was to slim down to a manageable weight, so I joined Weight Watchers! It took me 3 years but I got down to my goal weight and have maintained it for the last 5 years! Four years ago my son asked me to join his summer swim team and I did! I qualified for state in the 50 meter butterfly because they take the top two competitors from the region meet and I was second (out of 2)! Hahah, but at least I did it! At state the top 3 finishers get palm size medals and they qualify for Nationals! I got 3rd (out of 3)! But again I did it and noticed that others were coming up to me telling them I was motivation for them.

A year after that I decided to try running...just because, to see if I could. My doctor said not a good idea, but after seeing what my mom has gone through with her RA and she was diagnosed so much later in life than me...phepht...it was a no brainer to try and run. My first 5K was the EvanMan for a dear friend's son that was raising money to fund his medical expenses. I finished it in 33 min. Next, was the Susan G. Komen Dallas 5K with my amazing sister. I finished that in 28 mins. The last race I did that year was the White Rock Marathon Relay...I was the last leg, 10K, and I was so lucky that my kids were there to cheer me on! I was sick and I finished it in 55 min. I did a few more foot races and then discovered Sprint Triathlons! Last year I placed in the top three of my age and class 5 times! Even though I was advised against running, it has given me a renewed strength and power to not let RA consume me.

Finally, last year a student's mom asked if I could cycle in a race for her to raise money and awareness for MS. Her son said I had what it took to do the race. I could not say no. I biked 82 miles that day! The last 12 miles were the most brutal, but I pushed through while thinking of my loved ones who motivate me: my mom in her walker, my family that goes to my races and cheers, my friends and students that are not afraid to honk a hello when they see me on my bike around town, my children, my family, my students, my friends. Even people I don't know motivate me!

 Someday....probably soon, I am going to be the one not able to participate, but I will never have any regrets about not trying to swim, bike, run, hike or whatever.

Si se puede...yes you can! So do it now while you are able!