A Canadian Athlete
Robert Merrin from Ontario
May 10th, 2020
Smaller goals lead to greater success. Do not set your goals too high! Make them achievable!
How did you hear about the challenge? Tell us about your goal.
A Great Canadian Running Challenge was recommended by a fellow member of the Heart and Stroke Activate program forum. My goal in 2020 is to do the best I can as I have a hernia that can limit my walking distance or ability to walk on certain days. I hope to get my hernia repaired this year. Recovery after surgery is usually 6 to 8 weeks.
Did you walk, jog or run this challenge?
I only walk because jogging and running tend to cause the hernia to pop out. My New Years’ Resolution for 2017 was to lose weight and get back to my goal weight. I have been working on my diet and have been walking since January 1st, 2017. Three years and three months is a long time, and setting goals for each week of the month is a necessity.
How often do you walk?
I try to walk 5 days a week with a goal of 80 to 100KM per week, but it all depends on my hernia and the weather.
What was your greatest obstacle while aiming to reach 1000KM?
I was confined to my house for two weeks in January so that I could get over a cough. I was restricted in order to get healthy and ready for surgery. However, my operation was cancelled at the last minute, and I am waiting for things to get back to normal so that I can get my surgery.
How do you stay motivated and find the time to walk?
I stay motivated by setting goals that are achievable and can be reached with some effort. Creating goals that are too easy to reach are not challenging. You want to challenge yourself, but you also want to be able to set obtainable goals that will lead up to success! Unobtainable setting goals may set you up for failure and the possibility of quitting what you started.
What advice would you give someone to stay focused on reaching 1000KM in 2020?
I believe that people struggle because they set their goals too high. Smaller goals lead to greater success!
Let’s say you are walking 5KM a day but you want to be walking 25KM a day. If you push your body too hard and try to get up to 25KM a day within a week or two, you will most likely fail because your legs will be sore and painful and you may feel exhausted.
If you set your goals at an increase of just 2KM a week for the next five weeks, it will be easier for you to reach your goal in 10 weeks because your body will have the time to adjust to the new routine and exercise. You will feel good about yourself because you are achieving your goals each week!
You should also reward yourself at the end of your walk, jog or run by giving yourself a treat such as a coffee or something else you like.
Set yourself up with a playlist of upbeat music to take your mind off your activity and make the time go by quickly. It may also help you keep a good pace.
“For all the Jack Rabbits ahead of me on the Leaderboard, you can run but you can’t hide…. and the tortoise always wins in the end.”
Great job!! Wishing you the best with your surgery, whenever that may be!
Thank you for the comment. I hope to see my surgery this year but who knows.
Well done Robert. Achieving your goals and overcoming adversity shows what a great athlete you are. For some of us “Slow and ‘steady’ wins the race!” Celebrate with a great cup of coffee. I’ll have one in honour of your achievement tomorrow morning. ☕️
Thank you for the comment. I hope to see my surgery this year but who knows.