Try Something New

Each year many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Some vow to exercise more, lose weight, eat better, find a new job, be a better husband or wife, take a trip, etc. I admit that I have made many of these types of resolutions in the past. Sometimes I have been successful in adhering to them and sometimes not. But, whether I was successful or not, I always looked back and realized that I was thankful for each challenge, because it allowed me to build both my strength and character. I am not saying that I have great strength or character. I am simply saying that when I take on something new, challenging or something that may be outside of my innate abilities, I grow as a person both physically and mentally.

This year I decided to take on two new challenges both of which I have never attempted before. I am very nervous about my ability to succeed in both of these challenges. It would be very easy for me to be so intimidated by imagining all the worst-case scenarios that I wouldn’t even attempt them. As I have aged, I realized that life without new experiences is dull and boring. I also know that I don’t want to live a dull and boring life. So, I have been committed to challenging my comfort zone regularly in ways that are both challenging and, yes, intimidating. As I have taken on each challenge, I have learned something new about myself and have really enjoyed the resulting benefits.

The first of my two new challenges this year is taking on the role of Director of the Westborough Players Club’s Youth Musical which will go up in front of an audience on November 18, 19 and 20th. The Youth Musical is for kids from the age of 8-15 and is a way for our club to teach kids interested in theater about the process of putting on a full length musical by having them participate in a full production. My role as the director is to come up with the overall look of the show from the blocking, dance numbers (I thankfully have a choreographer), sets, lighting, etc. I have been in shows as an actor in the past and I have designed and built sets. I have just never been the overall director. I have never been the person that everyone looks to for, well, direction. It is a daunting task.

I spent over a month going over the script to come up with the blocking and where I wanted dances versus simple movement to music. I consulted with the costumers on the costumes I wanted the kids to wear. I got approval for the set design and have started putting it together. I went through the auditions process with my music director and choreographer. We cast 24 kids in the show. Now that rehearsals have started I have to say that I am so happy to have put in the prep time. It has helped my nerves and hopefully will result in a good production that the audience will enjoy. I am finding that the skills for planning and prep I have learned through my training for marathons have helped me realize that this challenge will help me to grow my skills and knowledge of what it takes to put on a musical. But, more importantly, it will help me believe I can accomplish anything if I put in the proper preparation and planning needed to succeed.

The second and more frightening challenge is helping a fellow runner achieve her goal of completing a marathon in less than 5 hours. My friend and fellow runner Helen Morey asked me last year if I would sign up for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) in 2012 and help her complete the 116th Boston Marathon in less than 5 hours. Without thinking I agreed. I was accepted as a member of the DFMC Team and now am facing the challenge of helping Helen get ready for marathon and give her the proper training and coaching to help her shave over 1 hour off her best marathon finish.

As I think about the training program I am going craft for Helen, I realized that as her coach I will need to be fully committed to the job. I have the patience and love for running that will hopefully enable me to impart words of wisdom and motivation when she needs them. I know that for Helen to succeed, she is going to have to go through some very tough mental and physical training days. Knowing Helen these past 3 years, I have faith that her strong personality will be the key to keep her from quitting when the going gets tough. This coupled with our common sense of humor should help to make the training program fun. I want to make sure that Helen has fun during her training. But, I still am nervous about the challenge as I do not want to fail my friend.

As you can see, I am definitely getting out of my comfort zone over the next few months. I will be pushing my limits both physically and mentally. Hopefully, in the end this will make me stronger in both aspects of my life. There is that little bit of doubt that I am going to be able to succeed in both of these endeavors. Despite that doubt, I am ready to take them on and know that I will put in the time and effort needed to succeed. Even if for some reason neither challenge turns out the way I planned them, I will be satisfied in knowing that I gave it my all. The good news is that the kids in the show are working really hard and Helen is anything but a quitter. This makes me believe that in the end they will all make me proud to have been a part of the process that enabled them to succeed.

“Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.”

Bernice Johnson Reagon

Sept. 29 – 6.20 miles (58:51, 9:30 pace)
Sept. 13 – 3.20 miles (25:12, 7:53 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 14 – 8.10 miles (1:09:36, 8:26 pace) – Tempo Run, Manhattan, KS
Sept. 16 – 6.20 miles (57:06, 9:13 pace)
Sept. 17 – 10.10 miles (1:30:01, 8:55 pace)
Sept. 18 – 10.10 miles (1:30:13, 8:56 pace)
Sept. 19 – 6.10 miles (57:57, 9:30 pace)
Sept. 20 – 3.20 miles (25:27, 7:57 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 21 – 8.10 miles (1:09:14, 8:33 pace) – Tempo Run, Orlando, FL
Sept. 24 – 6.20 miles (Unknown) – Hike to the top of Mt. Monadnock, NH
Sept. 25 – 8.20 miles (1:14:29, 9:05 pace)

Total Miles: 75.7 miles
2011 YTD Miles: 1,213.5 miles