Carry On: Lessons learned...

There is always a lesson to be learned. We just need to have our eyes and our hearts open to it, and reflect on it. That is what I have spent some time doing, reflecting on this past week, dubbed Hell Week @ PR, and I've learned this: I'm am truly NOT the same person I was one year ago; and for that I am grateful!!
You see I took my first "freebie" class at PR during 2011 Hell Week, and in that class we did a 3ish mile "rifle run" w/ a 10# weight plate, and when we were not running we did situps, pushups, bear crawls, crab walks, relay sprints, and some Indian runs. I remember that workout and the pain I felt just like it was yesterday, but it wasn't it was a year ago!! In that year I've truly changed, I remember constantly thinking how weak I was and angry at myself that I couldn't keep up with these athletes! I hated walking and slowing everyone up, I recall leaving that class just physically and mentally beat down. I was weak, overweight, and truly miserable. So instead of wallowing in my self-pity, which is what I normally did, I put on my big girl panties, and did something about it. I called up the Coach and setup my foundations courses. Big Daddy Z was pretty hesitant at first, he is the realist you know, pretty certain he thought this was just another one of my brilliant ideas that I wouldn't follow through on. But he joined up with me, through some prodding.....
Fast forward one year to Hell Week 2012. In retrospect, I truly enjoyed this week as a whole, maybe not in the moment, but always afterwards. There was not once that I thought, "I am too weak" or "I can't do this". I didn't completely doubt my ability to complete any of the workouts to the best that I have. I knew that when I would start to get down, my family would be there to help me through it, and they were. I also found how much I loved being there for them as well. At home I really focused on my nutrition, trying to properly fuel my body and give it the rest it needs. It paid off, I was able to hang with the guys sometimes, and be there to contribute to my team. While I still need to work on that voice inside my head, she isn't nearly as loud as she used to be, that or I've gotten better at proving her wrong!!
What a difference a year has made, excited to see what the next year will bring as I continue growing and learning!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
2 Timothy 4:7

Sharing some of the week in pictures from PR Facebook page....