I absolutely hate running. Honestly, I'd never run more than a mile until the Fall of 2010. As a dancer I was conditioned in a more pilates type of way and when performing a dance piece, I probably exerted energy for 6-8 minutes at most.
I have always looked at those who run marathons as very special people, yet people I don't care to be. No offense, but as one who hates running, why on earth would I want to run 26 miles? What would I do for the 10 hours it would take me? Even after watching my father complete the Iron Man twice, I was not interested. Impressed, but not interested.
Enter Samara. Though born in March I did not even enter a gym until around June (I think). But along came the Warrior Dash, sometime in the Fall. I completed the 5K obstacle course, hating it probably half of the time it took to complete it. Then I arrived home, learned about an even harder event - the Tough Mudder - and am now registered to run it in April. I've registered for a triathlon to take place in February and plan to do the Warrior Dash again in June... And as of tonight, I have committed to run a half marathon.
WTH? I cannot explain this. I now listen to books when I run and when I swim. That kind of, to me, is like killing two birds with one stone. Amidst my constant scholarly reading, finding a way to listen to a "fun" book while exercising is very appealing to me. So it isn't even the event that matters to me, but I am enjoying the training for these events.
THEN my parents tell me of the Daniel Fast. So I thought of this Fast as a new, yet different, type of challenge. Okay, well it was a good way to get in a last "diet" before Aruba, but it's turned into much more.
This Fast is supposed to be a spiritual experience, in addition to the physical experience of a very restricted diet. The diet for this Fast is basically a vegan one with no caffeine, processed sugar, alcohol or anything not "natural" allowed. I kind of like this challenge - it is rather an easy diet in the sense that you pretty much know you can't eat anything. I do not like drinking water, I am not a fan of fruit, and I can only take so many vegetables in my diet. But that's what I've got, besides nuts and legumes.
So anyways, I'm loving this Fast (though I could not continue past a few more weeks). I am not at all worried about tracking what I eat - I know what I eat is good for me and I know that it'd take A LOT of fruits, veggies and nuts to exceed my caloric intake limit. I cannot explain how food creates baggage, but it kind of does. The obvious benefits of no caffeine, alcohol or sugar are well-known. Though I miss the actual cup of coffee, I feel just as alert after a nice morning swim as I would after a nice cup o' joe. But I don't feel worried about wanting to eat what I shouldn't - I guess that is it. I know I can't, I know I won't.
As I mentioned this is intended to be a spiritual experience. There are scripture readings that accompany the Fast but I am up at 4:30am and in bed at 10:30pm, so I'm having a little trouble finding some time to devote to them. However, I read them just before writing this post, and it turns out the Fast is intended to help you let go of the past. Now how great is that? I mean, the Fall of 2010 was seriously challenging for me. I struggled over priorities; I lost a few very much loved folks in my life; I learned a lot about people and how I am perceived by others. They were very hard lessons, but I realize the Daniel Fast came at just the right time. Here are the seven steps to letting go of the past.
1. Let go of the baggage
2. Close that chapter
3. Quit talking about the past
4. Let go of the shame
5. Enjoy today
6. Walk by faith and not by sight
7. Believe and understand the power of forgiveness
Truly, the Daniel Fast and these new physical challenges are, for me are, helping me to let go of the past. 2011 here I come.
