I've always been someone that doesn't have a problem pushing myself (if I really want something)... but I absolutely have no desire to push other people into doing things they need to do. I enjoy sharing my experiences and telling people what I've done to improve my health, but I'm a strong believer that if you don't have the desire... I can't give it to you. There is a difference between wishing you were something and having enough determination to reach the goal. For the longest time, I just dreamed of being physically fit... now I'm achieving it.

On weekends, I've started showing Kim (my booty sista) how I run intervals. We've gone out a couple times and I can see she's really pushing herself (and even running intervals on her own during the week). I am completely impressed with her determination to become a runner. I'm confident that she will see significant results in the months to come because she wants to push herself.

This morning we ran 5 laps of intervals on the boardwalk... then I asked her if she wanted to run one extra lap. I told her that I was fine with stopping at 5 (because I knew I was going to go run another 3km by myself after anyway)... but that it's very important for her to push herself out of her comfort zone... I could see her wondering what she should do.... I told her if she thinks she could do the extra lap then she should... but if she's exhausted then she should listen to her body. I also told her, that once we added this 6th lap, that we will not go back to only running 5 laps again. I believe you should not go backward in training, you have to just keep pushing further ahead. I wasn't going to try to coax her to do it... because really it's her body... it's her experience... and it's her decision to push it or not. She opted for doing an extra lap and I couldn't be more proud of her for making that decision.

We ran the extra lap and then didn't the girl push it even further and sprint the last 30 feet!!! I ran right along side of her smiling ear-to-ear... I knew she could do it... and I was so happy that not only did she push herself to run the extra lap but she finished off on a major high by sprinting at the end! After she left, the happiness I felt for Kim deciding to push herself helped me to complete my extra 3km that I had set out to do.

When I first met Devin and Gina, they would tell me about how they are always trying to improve their run times or run more hills to challenge themselves. Honestly, I didn't get why they would do that. Back then, I told them I was just impressed with myself that I got out to do the run... but now... I also push myself. Devin and Gina have given me amazing techniques on how to improve my stride and my strength while running... I think of them every time I run. I focus on pumping my arms to go faster, I engage my abs, I focus on my breath, I keep my chin up high and my posture straight. I watch my shadow to make sure my form is the way it should be... all these things to try push my running further. When I plan my "off road" running courses now, I always make sure there will be some hills to run up (I would have never done this in the past). Tomorrow, I'm going to run my first 10km run. My route has plenty of hills and I can't wait to try it. No one is making me doing this except the deep desire I have within to see if I can do it. I know it will be hard... but I'm looking forward to pushing myself to this next level... and after I do... there will be no going back. I'll still run the boardwalk to get in my interval exercise... but my “off road” runs will be at another level after tomorrow.