The Wenatchee Valley Gold’s Gyms Blog

“Next Journey” by Jessica Tyrrell, Gold’s Gym 2010 Most Inspirational Challenge Winner

 While most of you are tucked in bed and sound asleep this coming Saturday morning I will be wide awake and stretching for my next run.  Once 7am strikes the clock and the gun is fired I will take off on my next journey. This is my second half-marathon that I will be participating in this year and I am so excited! I will be running from Tukwila,WA to Seattle,WA. You run along the water, freeway and even into downtown Seattle. I can only imagine how beautiful it’s going to be. I want to be very honest when I write these blogs so; I want to share a little secret with all of you and especially the ones who tell me they can’t run.

When I was in high school I played volleyball. Now, all the teams had to warm up and most of the time they would make you run around the school. I went to Wenatchee High school and if you’ve never been there just picture a giant gym and as you leave the gym you go directly into the cafeteria and then you run in a huge square circle around the entire school, up giant ramps or stairs and back down the other side. However, what I figured out was there was a bathroom about 50ft from the entrance to the gym and I would run into it and “blow my nose” but really I was just hiding out because I never could make it around the gym and it was embarrassing to me that I was always the last girl running in. So, for those of you who tell me you can’t run I will tell you differently because I never thought I’d be able to run either.

I got inspired to run my first half-marathon from watching The Biggest Loser because they would have their contestants run one at the end of each season. I figured if they could do it, then so could I. That’s when I got set up with my trainer and I started training for endurance. Before my first run even started I almost chickened out. My heart rate was sky high, I was shaking and almost in tears. At 8am I was at the start line outside the convention center. The gun fired and I took off down the first block and I was already tired and it took all of my will power to keep running and to not run back to my car. Once I hit mile marker number one I was completely fine like it was another work out. When I saw the big clock at the finish line I just started running as fast as I could and people started cheering and it was the best experience ever. I am so happy I finished my first run and cannot wait for Saturday to come and to have that feeling again.

My whole point of sharing this story with you guys is because I want everyone to know that whatever YOU dream of doing really is possible. I use to be the fat girl hiding out in bathroom so I didn’t have to run around a school. My trainer always reminds me that the sky is the limit and I hope everyone remembers that. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it! I know that if I can this that anyone can.

You may also enjoy:

1. “My Trainer” by Jessica Tyrrell, 2010 “Most Inspirational” Gold’s Gym Challenge Winner
2. “Thumbs Up to the PPC!” by Jessica Tyrrell, 2010 Most Inspirational Gold’s Gym Challenge Winner
3. “Keeping Your Motivation” by Jessica Tyrrell, Gold’s Gym member and the 2010 Most Inspirational Challenge Winner
4. “Discipline” by Melissa Schwab, Gold’s Gym Challenge Participant
5. “Misconceptions” by Jessica Tyrrell, Gold’s Gym Member