Adventurous spirit

I consider myself as having a somewhat adventurous personality; I'm game for most things, albeit with some normal (and not-so-normal) anxiety and hesitation.  I've traveled halfway across the world to spend 3 1/2 weeks with strangers. I've rafted the Upper Gauley River during Gauley season (a time when they open the dam; someone dies every single year on those five class-5 rapids) TWICE. I've gone ziplining, I've experienced the horror of taking swim lessons as an adult. In about 95% of situations presented, I'll try anything once. So why was it so easy to get stuck in a rut in terms of fitness?

For the past 10 years, I've found myself doing the same old fitness things. Classes like cardio kickboxing, running, the occasional weights, repeat.  I had a bout of spinning, a bootcamp here or there, but I found myself always reverting back to my comfort zone. Run, kickbox. Over and over. 

Deciding to do this triathlon has been a life changer, in terms of getting me out of my exercise comfort zone and into new things.  Swimming, while incredibly frustrating to this day, has become one of my very favorite forms of exercise. It challenges me because I'm still new to the game, still honing my techniques and finding my style. It's holding my interest.  Getting into swimming encouraged me to try some new types of exercise.  I started going to other classes at the gym--Tabata, 20/20/20. Pi-Yo.  I signed up for a month-long trial of hot yoga, which I absolutely LOVE; unfortunately, it doesn't love me back.  Or more accurately, it doesn't love MY back. I haven't gone as much as I would like.  Bottom line: I'm out there, trying everything I can, because who knows what might stick? I may love it, I might hate it, but I'll never know as long as I'm standing on the sidelines.

My advice to you is that if it sounds interesting, just try it. One time. If you hate it, you don't have to do it. But odds are, you might love it. Don't worry about being the newbie...just own it. Anytime I walk into a class I've never done, I enthusiastically let the teacher and other participants know that I'm a first-timer. That way should anything embarrassing happen (and if you know me, you know it will), hey, at least I'm the new girl.  I've never been in a situation where anyone made me feel out of place or uncomfortable because I'm new.

What is your adventurous spirit telling you? What will you try?