Do you need a specific race or event to keep you motivated to workout? I’ve long enjoyed running so much that I only race a few times a year because that was secondary to simply enjoying the activity.
However, I have to say there is something invigorating about selecting a challenge then focusing with all your mind, heart and body on making it happen. The upside is clearly that it creates within you a desire to dig deeper and push harder than if you weren’t training for a specific event..but the downside is probably what has kept me from competing sometimes…fear of doing all that work and not achieving the goal.
What I love about watching the huge variety of women chasing their own personal challenges in the Under Armour What’s Beautiful Challenge is that the challenge is ever changing and there are so many ways in which you can push yourself. Maybe you have maxed our your weight, but haven’t master the pull up…or maybe you can run 26.2 miles but not even do a pull up (raises hand).
I’ve always said that healthy living is about the journey and with this challenge I was reminded that applies to every aspect. Putting in the training and not reaching a goal can be heart breaking, but it’s also a moment to to acknowledge that you were willing to do the work and recognize what that says about you.
In trying to take pictures to document my journey I started to realize…that not only do I hoard running shoes, but apparently UA Heat gear too. I actually have 7 different shirts just for running! I’m not big on tight shirts that move while I run, so these are loose and light for the heat…but also I’m just kind of a fan of the solid colors. 
For me the PR challenge was largely a mental one..I had to let go of the people who told me in the past that I wasn't fast and I had to let go of fear of injury. It may not have worked out the way I hoped, but I love that I was able to spend my time thinking about these things and not what shirts wouldn’t chaffe or what shorts wouldn’t ride up because I already had that area covered with my UA Heat Gear.
Giveaway
Interested in purchasing some UA Heat Gear for yourself? Enter for a chance to win a $500 Under Armour gift card by leaving a comment answering the question: How do you keep motivated to achieve your personal fitness goals?
SWEEPSTAKES/GIVEAWAY RULES
Rules:No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion, including exactly the following unique terms in your tweet message: “#whatsbeautiful” “#sweepstakes”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post. To comply with FTC Guidelines (see http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm), entrants’ blog posts must disclose that they are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post.
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
Entries from all participating blogs will be pooled for winner selection; only two entries per household. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 6/12-6/30.
Be sure to visit Under Armour's page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
