I made my first promise on Barking Sands beach in the fall of 2004. I was over 240lbs at the time and was sitting alone on the sand watching my boyfriend walk up the beach without me. I sat there thinking “You idiot. Here you are in paradise with a man who loves you. You have everything you’ve ever dreamed about but you can’t keep up with him because you’re too fat.” The soft white sands of the furthest south shores of Kauai were just too much for my overloaded body and I just couldn’t walk any further.
That was my “ah ha” moment. It was the point where I decided my life needed to change.
Yesterday, I sat on the Moloaa Bay beach just steps from where earlier this year I married the boyfriend from 2004. I thought about all the promises I’ve made on the beaches of Kauai. Each time I’ve come here I’ve been struggling towards my weight and fitness goals. Either not quite there, or needing a renewed push to turn me back towards the finish line. While my husband snorkeled in the clear water in front of me I thought about what this year had brought and where I was this time.
Did I hit my goals for 2009? Technically no. I had hoped to go into 2010 without having to lose any more weight. I had hoped to have all the letters dangling from my bracelet to mark that I was finally an athlete in the way that made sense to me.
Am I on my way? Absolutely! If I look back at where I was both physically and mentally I’m in a much better place. This time last year I’d let my running slide to the wayside, and had allowed the needle on the scale inch closer and closer back up towards numbers that just made me sad. I was getting close again to that place I had been on the beach back in 2004.
What a difference a year makes. Today I got up and ran. I ran 10 miles beside my promise making beaches of Kauai. I nearly keeled over from the heat and humidity, but I ran. I could only do this because I’m lighter, stronger and fitter than I was a year ago.
I’m stronger and fitter because I’ve run over 1300 miles this year.
That number had shocked me. It made me wonder how far I could really run in a year. And if I did put a point out there to measure myself against where would it be?
And there, sitting on the beach making other promises to myself it came to me. I would virtually run to Kauai. I’ve looked it up. I would have to run 2478 miles to get from my house in San Francisco to Moloaa Bay in Kauai. It’s the perfect place.
So I’ve promised myself I will virtually track myself running to Kauai over the next year. Now don’t get too excited, I won’t make it in a year. It would require me to average around 50 miles per week of running and I’m closer to 30 these days. But I promised myself I would get there as fast as I can.
Yes, I made several other promises to myself on the beach that day. Stay tuned and you’ll hear about my anti-new year’s resolutions.
PS. If any of you know how I can visually show my readers where I am in the ocean on my virtual trip I’m trying to come up with a solution. Help!
Jo - Congrats on all your life changing successes. Your story is truely inspiring. Thank you for sharing!
xo
Mary
Posted by: Mary | December 30, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Awesome! Love it! I can't wait to see what you come up with! I definitely want to share in the journey!
Posted by: Julie | December 31, 2009 at 08:48 AM