Epic Five-Oh

For someone who runs a 5K on occasion, I can't fathom how a person can survive and prevail in these so called "ultra" competitions. Like a 100-mile Ultra-marathon. My half-marathon a few years back was an "ultra" challenge for me!

I was fortunate to recently hear a guest speaker who competed in Hawaii's infamous Epic 5. It's 5 triathlons in a row. One per day... one on each of the Hawaiian islands... covering a total of 703 miles. It's ultra. It's Epic!

Chad Esker from just up the road in Mosinee conquered this grueling challenge of swimming, biking and running earlier this year. I guess only a handful of people around the world get invited to compete in the challenge each session. And, until 2017, only 11 people had ever made it through the competition.

What is impressive about Chad is that he went from out of shape (his words) to a world-class athlete in just a handful of years. He seriously couldn't run a non-stop mile when he decided a few years back to shed some weight and get in shape.

That is impressive and so it his humility. He really is genuine when he says he couldn't have made it through the intense training and competition without the help of his hand-selected support team. Each person had something to bring to the table, he said. Some specific talent, knowledge or skill to keep him going, surviving and thriving.

When Chad and his team shared their inspiring story with my co-workers and me, they also related it to leadership, teamwork, and clarity of purpose. And they challenged us to achieve our own "Epic 5."

Based on today's date and the fact I am facing a milestone in exactly 6 months, I will call mine an Epic 5-0. Uff da.

And I got more than one reminder today! Yikes. Don't you hate it when you get someone else's mail?!

Funny how I was thinking of this thing today and my twin sister – who will reach this milestone 9 minutes after me – posted a picture of her treadmill, which she resurrected from hibernation today. I guess we are both subconsciously thinking about recapturing our health since we are past the point of recapturing our youth!

What I learned from Chad, his team, and a followup session with co-workers is that we need to get to the heart of our Epic goal so we really know why we are setting it and why we'll make it a priority to reach. Ask yourself "why" 5 times.

Why do I want to get my body in shape? So I can live longer. Why? So I can be active and have fun. Why? Because I want to be around for my husband and children and grandchildren someday. Why? Because they are important to me. Why? Because they make me happy.

See? Really get to the heart of your end goal.

Visualize it happening. Then, set tangible, measurable mini-goals or steps to reach it. And keep it simple. Right now my only mini-goal is to drink the recommended 64 ounces of water a day. Maybe in a week or two, I will add in the daily goal of getting 10,000 steps. But for now, one goal – hopefully a habit-forming one – at a time.

The other takeaway from Chad's presentation and our followup discussions is that we need to hold ourselves accountable. From experience, I can tell you that HAS to involve someone else. I am way too easy on myself. I make and accept any excuse. I let myself fail and lose my determination.

Find a drill sergeant. Create your own "team." Choose a person or people who complement your skills and talents. Find people who want to see you succeed and are willing to call you out when you're not following through. (Critical, if you ask me!) I am a firm believer that together, we can accomplish anything.

So... what does YOUR "Epic 5" look like?

Goal Tender

Since late February, I have been trying to do more than fit into my high school earrings.

I joined a Weight Watchers at work program with a few goals in mind. Ultimately, I wanted to drop some pounds but I also wanted to do it correctly, not in some drastic, quick-fix fashion that would result in me gaining it all back as soon as I quit the magic pill or potion. Essentially, I wasn't shooting to be skinny, just fit rather than fat (or fluffy anyway).

My weight goal was my driver's license weight, which wasn't crazily out of line and also jived with the Weight Watchers' guidance to lose 10% of your weight (if needed). Plus it was a number on the scale reasonable enough to maintain – as in continue to eat and enjoy food and not have to work out twice a day to keep it off.

It took me 19 weeks, but I hit that goal with a loss of 16 pounds!

If you need proof, here's me with my GOAL charm!

Along my journey, I also earned my 5 and 10 percent charms, and fitness charms, too.

Makes it seem easy but it took all of 6 weeks to lose the last 2 pounds. They were stubborn, like me I guess, and didn't want to go!

They may be back but for now I am going to see if I can manage at this magic number for the next 6 weeks. Then I will still be in the program but wouldn't have to pay a weekly fee. Incentive!!

When the group asked how I did it, I admitted I didn't always make great choices but I made better choices more often. When I bragged I had only been to King Cone twice since it opened, they pointed out it hasn't been open that long! "How do you count the points there?"

I said, "I don't!"

I guess I have a few things to learn! But really, I work it in. Oprah has her bread and I have my ice cream. We just make it work and make a concerted effort to work it off when we can. If I deprive myself of everything, this is no longer a "lifestyle change," because I am not enjoying life!

So yes, I will frequent King Cone as needed (or desired) and will have a piece of cake at every graduation party we attend – as long as it's the good, sweet frosting. None of that healthier whipped stuff.

It's gotta be worth my points!