I’ll announce details as the event approaches, but I’m excited to have been asked to give a 35 minute presentation at a wellness event! Here’s what one of the event organizers wrote when pitching the idea to me in an e-mail:
I’m thrilled by her kind words and so excited to speak! Normally my public speaking is focused on food choices and the environment. I can’t wait for a chance to talk about fitness and motivation since they’ve been my passion and the focus of this blog for four years.
So. I’ll have 35 minutes.
How can I make the most of that time?
I’m looking through past posts and thinking about the most helpful topics as I work on a description for the event organizers.
Troubleshooting fitness roadblocks. Time management. Choosing appropriate goals. Being inspired and not intimidated by others. Habit formation. How to be comfortable with where you are in your fitness journey, but also believe in the power of the long game and being curious about where baby steps will get you.
I’m so excited for the chance to step back, look at my work over the years, and consolidate it into a 35 minute “So What?”
What have I learned?
I’ve done a lot in the past 5 years. I went from Couch to 5k to half marathons. I’ve walked into over 20 fitness classes as a newbie and done my best. I’ve run races pushing a double jogging stroller and woken up at 5 a.m. to go for a 10 mile run. I’ve failed to meet time goals. Walked the last 4 miles of a half marathon I didn’t train properly for. Compared myself to faster friends. Learned to swim and completed two open water triathlons. Successfully formed habits and just as quickly lost them.
I’ve learned how to accept my position in the starting line. How to let go of a race I didn’t have time to train for. How to choose appropriate next steps and embrace the process more than the results.
Most of all, I’ve found joy in being active. My hope is that in 35 minutes I can share the best strategies for making fitness a joyful and regular part of life.
I want people to find the activity that makes their hearts sing and choose goals that make their hearts pound. I plan to share practical advice for making time for fitness, how to stay motivated, choosing appropriate fitness goals, finding an activity you love, and embracing the journey.
I couldn’t be more excited.
In the meantime, here are some old posts I’m finding inspirational as I plan.
Why Aren’t You Running? Troubleshooting Your Roadblocks
How Mindfulness Can Help with Goal Slip-Ups
The Best Running Goal I’ve Ever Had
Do Your Long-Term Goals Pass the “Then What?” Test?
Stay Motivated: Give Yourself Goal Windows
How to Embrace Being a Little Fish in a Big Pond
Lessons From a Triathlete: Karen Rand
I Stink – No Wait, I’m Awesome
If You’re Tired of Your Own Excuses Stop Making Them
Putting Psychology to Work: Motivate Your Running With Confirmation Bias
Thinking of Running Your First Marathon? Ask Yourself These Questions First
Have any favorite past posts or themes from the blog you think I should include? Let me know! I’d love to hear from you via e-mail or in comments below.
Congratulations on the invitation to speak!! I can’t think of any other topics than the ones you listed (and it was fun to go down memory lane and re-read some of your older articles) except maybe talk about how awesome your readers are. : )
Congratulations! What a smart choice by the event organizer. 😉 I think that you’ve got more than enough content to speak for several hours. I’d encourage you to really narrow your focus, so that you can give one aspect its due, rather than rushing through lots of material. If I were in the audience, I’d love to hear you talk about how to create a plan to succeed. You could share a template and a set of questions that would help me understand my own challenges and roadblocks, and walk through tips and pitfalls, based on your experience. at the end, i’d feel like i know how to start making a plan to fulfill my fitness goals.
Thanks! Incredibly helpful. I love the idea of focusing and offering a tangible worksheet.