When I won this challenge, it came as a big surprise that I鈥檇 be聽receiving workout gear in addition to the personal training and nutrition support.聽 Talk about helping set聽me up for success!聽 I was really excited聽but also, more than a聽bit intimidated.聽 Clothing stores scare me.聽 A store that focusses on healthy living, fitness and running 鈥� terrified me.聽 Part of this is because I鈥檓聽much larger than the average person聽and have a really hard time finding聽things that fit.聽 To be honest, I鈥檓聽also secretly afraid that staff and other customers are looking at me and wondering聽why I鈥檓 there鈥β�
So I made聽my way to聽FrontRunners on Vancouver Street, took a few deep breaths before entering the store, and reminded聽myself that聽finding gear was a聽part of the journey.聽The FrontRunners聽team was聽AMAZING.聽 A special shout out to Dave and Torben聽who were patient (and up for the challenge) in聽finding the perfect pair of shoes for my feet, my body type, the way I walk, and my anticipated exercise regime.聽 I think I tried on a dozen or more pairs of shoes and finally landed on a pretty pair of聽GT-2170 Asics聽(see photo).聽 I also left equipped with聽socks, a water bottle and a new sports bra.聽 The Capri pants聽and micro-fibre shirts are on order and I hope to have them soon.聽
While I had a difficult time finding clothing,聽Dave (sales guy extraordinaire)聽had no problem looking in catalogues to find聽something larger,聽to order in聽for me.聽 People who have faced similar challenges and聽can identify with what I鈥檓 saying need to summon聽up the聽courage to聽go into these stores and ask for help.聽 Have someone properly fit you for a pair of shoes and invest the time/money to ensure you have a solid foundation for your workouts.聽 Having the聽right聽gear (fitted by a professional) makes a difference.聽
My workouts at聽Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre involve聽circuit training 3x per week with my hard-core trainer Dana, and cardio 3x per week on my own (gotta love the elliptical machine).聽 The workouts are more than hard, but my feet are comfortable thanks to my great shoes, and聽the 鈥榣adies鈥� well supported :-).聽 I can鈥檛 wait to have聽the rest of my gear.聽 I think it's going to change聽the way I feel while I鈥檓聽busting my butt and聽sweating hard.
