I'm so proud of you...
Morning everyone!
Ash here
What an amazing Saturday we had running the Pride 10k race in Victoria Park! It's now 15 months since I ran my first race and on Saturday I scored another personal best! Since that first race last year I have shaved off 6 minutes from my time and my next goal is to try and get under 45 minutes As happy as I am with my time, and as much as I could use this email to talk about the importance of goal setting or challenging yourself or taking yourself out of your comfort zone (all very important!), I want to use the opportunity to talk about Pride again…
We had a few people run with us on Saturday who had never ran a race before. There was a nervous excitement in the air as we all made our way to the start and it was at this point that I took a moment to admire our group made up of Fitness First staff and our SMASH community. I know that I throw out the "I'm so proud of you" statement a lot… but it's always sincere and true so I make no apologies for it! We had people in this little group of ours running their first race! People who had overcome anxiety to reach the start point. People who didn't class themselves as 'runners' but were prepared to challenge themselves. People who, for two little hours in time, became a team who motivated each other and cheered like we had been a family forever! This is what Sam and I are most proud of when it comes to SMASH, that we have been able to create this community who unknowingly support each other just by showing up to class each week and being a recognisable face to train with. A year ago we set out on a mission to create a class that is for everyone, a class that would inspire you to look after your physical and mental health and make fitness a part of your lifestyle that could stay with you forever - a mind shift. Hearing all of the amazing feedback from so many of you over the past few months has allowed us to understand that we have created something special, something that was visible on Saturday, and we are so proud of that... and you
At the end of class we always finish with a little minute of mindfulness where we allow our bodies and mind to reconnect. We use this as a reminder that we should congratulate ourselves for showing up and giving the class our best shot. How often do you tell yourself how proud you are... of YOU? For turning up, giving it 100% and leaving the gym a little bit stronger than you were when you arrived? How often do you tell yourself how proud you should be of where you are standing right now? Even if your present moment is not exactly what you want it to be, you have overcome so much to be exactly where you are now... and for that you should be proud
Congratulations to everyone who ran the Pride race on Saturday! We have to give a special mention to Reka, Craig and Alex who ran with us in SMASH vests. A year ago you started coming to a little class called SMASH with 2 nervous Instructors who had no idea if anyone would enjoy this new concept we had created. You embraced our motivation and accepted our invitation to run with us and we are so proud of you! A year ago you were members in our class, at the weekend you were friends running alongside us Here is to more races in the future!
Have an amazing week everyone and no matter what, find something to be proud of. I'm pretty certain that when you start looking you will see there is much to find…
Sam and Ash
