Lotte challenges herself to transform from coach potato into a fanatic racing towards the finish line by racking up 12 medals in 12 months. Perfect plan, now the execution.
How do you go from couch potato (who only travels distances from the fridge to the couch) to fanatic racing towards the finish line?! You know, someone who likes to set the alarm an hour earlier to go for a nice run before the working day.
Could a challenge help you with this? I'm trying it out! And I do that with the 12 medals in 12 months challenge. I will participate in a running event every month for a year. For example, I want to rake together 12 medals and fill in a whole year with running. Perfect plan, now the execution.
The best thing about this challenge is that you don't need much for it, just a pair of running shoes and some perseverance. Buying the shoes has already been successful, but a whole year of perseverance?! That remains to be seen. Oh and don't forget the starting tickets! So it's time to pick out the first ticket! This will also be my very first run EVER and the uncertainty immediately sets in:what if I think it's terrible?! Then I have to plod through 11 more runs! Don't think about it, register quickly and go outside for a practice round!
Read here how to start running if you've never done it before.
My first run will be a 4 mile. That seems feasible. The distance is far enough, but it is doable without water bottles, energy gels and extensive preparation. Fortunately, because in three weeks the time has come. Now I'm starting to get a little jitters.
And sure enough, just before the start of my very first running event, those jitters have tripled. Fanatics are already breaking in, adjusting the sports watches accurately and wearing fast sunglasses and high socks. Today I have to do without the break-in, the watches and fast outfits, but that shouldn't spoil the fun. Already after the first meters the jitters give way to a feeling of victory. A bit too early, because I can still run for half an hour and it is a bit heavier than expected. With the finish line in sight, a head like a tomato and what little energy I have left, I sprint towards my first medal. What a wonderful feeling! As if I saved the whole world from destruction, I proudly flaunt my well-deserved medal all day long. Only 11 more to go. This will be a breeze!
Oops, unless there are hardly any runs organized in my neighborhood in February. And I swayed my arms across the finish line during the March run. Full of joy to receive my second medal, only to receive only half a banana. They don't hand out any medals at all on this run! I should have thought of that better! I am now three months further and the score is still 1 medal. K.A.K. I'm going to do it right from now on. With sweat still under my armpits and half a banana in my stomach, I scour the entire digital running world in search of the best runs. A run especially for women, a route through buildings, a spectacle in a village you've never heard of in your life, everything will pass. And with the feeling that the entire online running community is encouraging me, I sign up for everything.
Did you know that you can also run through Disneyland Paris?
And that works perfectly, I entice my friends to sign up too, go to places I've never been before and really enjoy all the buzz that comes with an average running event. While running I'm secretly already thinking about what I'm going to do with all my starting tickets and medals. Hang from a special medal hanger, wear a different medal to work every day or wallpaper an entire wall! (I will give an update on the progress of this wall in 2029, for now I can only clad a toilet window).
Between the runs, I make my meters neatly and as soon as another run comes in sight, I feel the pressure and spontaneously put on the running shoes more often. It really works, running is starting to become a common thread in my life. After every run and every medal, my running motivation gets a boost and I'm already looking forward to the next run. So excited that I'm already running across my twelfth finish line in September and then happily continue to register for runs and collect even more metal plates.
I ended up raking in 15 medals this year and I'm still running. And I really have to admit, I'm a person these days who sets the alarm an hour earlier to be able to run for a quick run. Especially if another run is planned!
So this is with full conviction:challenge done! I think it would be great if you take up this challenge too. On your own or with your running buddy. I'm very curious what it will bring you, keep me posted!
Want to read more from Lotte? Every Sunday she writes a blog on Santé about a new challenge. Also take a look at her Instagram @happy_lotte_
