We are back from the island. WOW the last three years were the most memorable, active, engaging, and best years in our military career. They really were.
Have you ever been someplace you couldn't get enough of, but at the same time, you couldn't wait to leave?
That's sort of how GTMO was for us. We moved to Cuba in the fall of 2009 not knowing at all what to expect, except that it was going to be different than any other duty station. I could not find any information online about what it was like to live there, which was frustrating as we were moving with kids and I really needed to know more, but that wasn't the case. Just about anything out there concerning Guantanamo Bay relates only to the Detainee Camps. That is not what it's all about. But I'm not going to try and cover it all in my first post back on this site. If you really want to learn more, read my blog Our Life In Guantanamo Bay and start at the beginning. That's the first thing I did when we arrived. I created a blog to help others learn about life in GTMO. The blog was a huge success and I met many wonderful people who moved to Cuba knowing a little more than we did.
While living in GTMO we were engaged in so many activities that it was hard not to stay in shape. You have to really want to not do anything because there was something for everyone, every age, every level. Before leaving the states I was teaching fitness and trying out a few new things. I felt so accomplished.
Then I went to Cuba and started teaching Bootcamp, SPIN, Pilates. OK well I was doing that before. But then I met some friends and started running again. Both of them accoplished marathon runners and me. NOT good. But they didn't give up on me and they "allowed" me to walk when I needed to. I didn't like slowing them down so I worked hard to run through those hills but they pulled me back and said "just walk the hills, your run time will be about the same, you'll do great." Then I started doing 5Ks, 10Ks, 1/2 marathon and before long I realized I was no longer walking those hills.
There were no specific expectation from anyone, just me not willing to be the slow one and me really enjoying the time spent with my friends during those runs. I was most proud when I started running alone or with my dog and still managed to feel great and exceed my own limits.
Now I'm back in the states and I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone out running. I'm not happy about that because now I'm not teaching, I'm not diving, not Kayaking or playing Soccer, I'm really not doing anything that even comes close to my level of activity when we were still in Cuba. More than anything, I miss the natural energy and desire I had for running. The temperature and environment are definitely better here so I really have no excuse. Except that I'm stressed. This has been the hardest move for us and while I realize that running will help manage stress, it is that stress that is eating up my motivation to run.
I know what I need to do. I know running will help me manage stress. I know once I'm out there I will be happy, I will enjoy it and I will get my mojo back. But that's just it. Everyday I get up early because I'm going to run and everyday I end up not running because I'm tired, didn't sleep well, I feel achy. I have never whined so much.
I decided to write about my lack of motivation because maybe I need a little external push. If I see it in writing I'll realize how ridiculous my excuses are. I'm taking action. I have to.
1. I will find a 5K and sign up.
2. I will set up some goals for the week--write them down and tell my family. I need to be accountable to someone other than me.
3. I will keep a log of what I eat on MyFitnessPal.com and Set up some running goals on Nike+ Running.
4. I will be back!!!
I'm fighting my way back and I know it will be worth it.
Have you fallen off your fitness wagon? What are you doing to get it back?
Stay Well,
Terie
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