Wednesday, February 03, 2010

That Extra Incentive

There is a 5K this May in Del Mar - just north of San Diego.  And, since I am insane, I've decided to run in this race.  Actually, I use the term "run" rather loosely here.  What I mean by "run" is actually more of a fast walk/slow jog.  I haven't run on purpose since I got out of high school.  My expectations for this race are fairly high - I want to finish and I don't want to puke.  Reach for the stars my friends!  Reach for the stars.
Unfortunately, my desire to do the race hasn't been enough to keep me motivated in my training schedule.  I've had really good excuses for not running every day... things like "I'm going shopping.  I'll do lots of walking there and that will count as my workout." or "Meh.  I don't wanna".  And so, oddly enough, I'm not progressing.
I decided that I needed to find something to motivate me to get up and get moving.  Apparently having good health isn't enough.  Meeting my goals for the race doesn't keep me moving either.  I thought about rewarding (a.k.a. bribing) myself somehow.  But, the only rewards I could think of were edible, fattening and therefore, highly counterproductive.
But I think I have now found a motivator that might actually work.  Three little words that for some reason strike fear into my heart: high school reunion.
I graduated in 1995 and there is a group trying to get a 15 year reunion put together.  Why is it that the thought of seeing people from high school makes me panic just a bit?  Are these people really going to judge me and my life?  Possibly.  Should I really care?  Probably not.  But I do.
And so, I'm going to attempt to loose a little weight.  And hopefully preparing for this race will be a good way to do it.
Have you attended any of your high school reunions?  Did it make you nervous?  Or am I just being weird??  (that's always a possibility...)

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Good for you doing the 5K. I think it's the perfect race to do if you're not a big racer!

I've never been to a reunion before but my 20-year is this summer and I'm really tempted to go!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

It is beyond normal to feel a bit panicked! I was so scared our school might have a ten year reunion a few years ago and was SO relieved it didn't happen (I had just had a baby and was at my highest weight ever at the time - ugh).

I want to loose enough weight that I'll want to PLAN one...

Yvonne said...

I'm so excited that you're going to do a 5K. Way to go. You'll do fine.

YOu'll find that as you start running, you'll enjoy it more and more. It's just so wonderful to be outdoors. I wish our weather was better--I'd love to be outside running.

Regarding the reunion--yes, mine made me very nervous. I went to my 20 year reunion many years ago. I'm glad I went.

Tonya said...

Way to go girl. You can totally do it!

I feel the same way about reunions and that would be why I haven't been to any of mine. LOL

Jodi said...

Ummmm, yeah. Would you believe me if I told you I still have nightmares about high school? So the reunion definitely made me nervous. I was 7 months preggers when I went to my 10 year reunion, too. But just remind yourself that you AREN'T in high school anymore and you don't need to let those old feelings get to you now. You're an amazing gal with an awesome family and that's something to be proud of! Oh, and BTW...could you stop mentioning this upcoming race? It makes me so jealous every time I hear about it. MMMMM-K? Thanks

Adena and Greg said...

Reunions freak me out a little too. Which is particularly weird since i live in my home town. My 10 year is coming up and I'm due only two months before. It's not going to be pretty. But I look at it this way; I'm not in jail, I haven't had any kids out of wedlock, I actually graduated college and I haven't divorced. Those things alone put me in front of 95% of my graduating class. I'm feeling better already.

And I'd love to "run" that 5K with you, but I'll be six month pregnant by then. That's probably not going to work. Good luck! I know you can do it.

... said...

i totally get the motivation - or lack thereof - thing. it's hard. you have to find what does work. maybe the hs reunion will do the trick. do you have any friends nearby that has a desire to workout? having a friend to do it with helps (imho).

i only attended my 10 year reunion. anything after that (and it's been 30+ years) was not anything i wanted to do.

Bonnie the Boss said...

Going to a high school reuion is a nightmare and somehow I always end up on the comittee! So I have to go! Nightmare I tell you. I can totally see that as a modivator!
I am training to run on a team, awesome modivator!

flip flop mama said...

I didn't go to my 10 year reunion but I would be nervous too.

Get out there and workout woman! We are doing this together, remember? You are motivating me to do this race so keep it up! :)

Alysa@atticgals.blogspot.com said...

I would feel the same way as you about your reunion. You are just wanting to lose weight, I didn't see anything about liposuction or enhancements so I think you are safe and not too freaked out. I'm going back to my hometown in a few months and that is my incentive. It's because we don't see these people often enough that we want to leave them with the right impression. If they knew us day in and day out, they would know us for who we are rather than how we look. Unfortunately for one evening, that seems like the judgement. So far I haven't been to any partly because of distance and partly because of just having a baby. I'm vain for sure! :)