My friends and family know that I have a penchant for signing up for athletic challenges. I'm not talking about 5Ks. I'm talking about challenges that are way beyond the norm for a Jewish Princess from Atlanta. I am not particularly athletically inclined, but since I was little, I dreamed of being strong, fast and fierce. This may have been a problem since I was the girl always asking about snack time and not particularly good about following the rules. My family still loves to retell the story of my father driving to my boarding school in Massachusetts for my championship ice hockey game only to find me retired to the penalty box. I sat out the entire game after hitting a girl with my hockey stick. She was too close to me. Jeez!
I have always had these thoughts of being strong and athletic with never-ending stamina. They fill my dreams on a daily basis. Can anyone relate to my ruminations? I am an entrepreneur, actress, speaker, single mom and author. Why do I keep adding "athlete" to my life resume? Why isn't going to the gym or taking a spin class enough? I have completed 7 triathlons, biked 50 miles for charity and hiked in the California mountains in between two 90-minute strenuous yoga classes. I still feel like a lazy bum!
My latest leap into extremism was prompted by one of my mentors, Jesse Itzler, author of 'Living with A Seal' and 'Living with The Monks.' It involves me flying to Utah and committing to climb a mountain similar in height to Denali in Alaska. Denali is the highest peak in North America. This challenge is not to climb the mountain once, but to climb it AS MANY TIMES AS I CAN in 30 hours.
What the fuck am I thinking?!
Well, I learned from my sister-in-law that anytime I have these questions or doubts, I'm on the right track. So, I bought my ticket and have 3 months to train.
I think I'm drawn to this kind of craziness because it's not about competition or winning anything. I literally get energy from being part of a group of like-minded people trying to achieve something out of their comfort zone. It's exhilarating and I find my fellow humans are incredibly supportive.
A few years ago, I trained and took part in several triathlons. In one of them, I finished dead last and it didn't matter! I was in it for the experience and my only goal was to train and finish. I wish this was how all of us would look at our lives. The journey, people, the journey! The experience is what it's all about and I like to believe there are no limits to what is possible even when people tell me there are.
Today I received the training guide for Utah and it's terrifying. On paper, it looks like I should quit my job and pretty much climb mountains for the next 12 weeks. I'm committed. I will get on a plane and go. I probably won't scale the mountain as many times as others, but I will be present to the experience. I will laugh, probably cry a lot and take deep satisfaction in knowing that I challenged myself to do something beyond my limits.
What is something you have always wanted to do that you are putting off and why?
What can you put on your calendar and commit to today?
Please join me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as I share my progress as a wannabe athlete. Better yet, want to come to Utah?