By Melissa Lowry
I came across a friend’s Facebook post that deserves sharing…
My friend posted her pride in watching her seven-year-old son attempt his first 25-meter breaststroke for his school’s swim squad. He woke up begging her to let him try out. He hadn’t swum the breaststroke or butterfly and although she wanted to protect him, he pleaded, “Mom, I can at least try.”
Without hesitation, he jumped right in, feet first, swimming his heart out in every stroke and touching the wall in last place. She expressed her astonishment in his display of “true grit and character” knowing his courage outweighed the outcome.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do, “ springs to my mind; however, children think they can do anything, so perhaps, Nike’s slogan “just do it” is more appropriate for pursuing your passion. And, if your passion is fitness, you’ve come to the right column and live in the right place.
This month, I will participate in the Dubai Desert Warrior Challenge for the first time. Technically, it’s my first DWC, because I had the pleasure and pain of competing in Hercules Trophy and Wild Wadi Adventure Race (WAR 6) this spring. I must say I was blown away with WAR 6‘s 10k obstacle course in Al Ain. I ran the first few kilometers with a 20-kg ruck sack before climbing walls, fighting an uphill stream, crawling under never-ending barbwire, climbing walls and swinging on monkey bars, to name a few.
The adventure races in the UAE trump my humble beginnings in a 5k Warrior Dash in Texas, so I’m preparing myself for the upcoming DWC by incorporating sprints and additional distance into my treadmill work while continuing weight-lifting. I’m also looking forward to creating basic routines with plyometrics like burpees, tuck jumps and broad jumps and primal-based exercises like lunges, squats, push-ups, pull-ups, and planks – all of which can be done without any equipment in the privacy of your own home or backyard.
What I know, with or without prior experience, is it takes putting one foot forward. I had no idea I would embrace boxing, a sport I didn’t previously support, until I wrapped my hands, put my fists into gloves and hit the body bag a couple of rounds. I found my inner athlete in boxing and within the same year, with increased stamina and conditioning, I was running half-marathons.
At age 33, I stepped foot in a ring (and won in a split-decision) to duke it out in front of 1,000 spectators for a charity event. My pursuits led to increased confidence in and outside of the ring. I wouldn’t have had the courage to move 8,300 miles from home to Abu Dhabi if I hadn’t tested myself physically. I know I wouldn’t have succeeded in placing first in my age category in a WBFF Bikini contest in May if I didn’t train with true grit and character. Most times, that’s all it takes.
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