Paralyzed woman finishes marathon 16 days after start
A 32-year-old paraplegic woman using a robotic walking suit has completed the London Marathon, 16 days after the event began.
Hundreds of onlookers cheered a tearful Claire Lomas on Tuesday afternoon as she crossed the finish line on The Mall in central London, The Sun reported. Lomas, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2007 horse-riding accident, walked the 26.2-mile course using crutches and a £43,000 ($69,500) suit that uses motion sensors to help her move her legs. When Lomas shifts her balance, the ReWalk machine moves her joints forward, allowing her to take a step, the BBC reported.
Lomas, of Eye Kettleby, England, averaged more than 1.5 miles per day since the marathon began on April 22, following the official route. She stayed at a hotel at night and was driven to the spot where she stopped the day before, according to the BBC. Her husband, Dan Spicer, accompanied her the whole way, and her parents and 1-year-old daughter also were with her for parts of the walk.
“The support has been breathtaking and it feels fantastic to finally finish,” she said, according to The Sun. “I really didn’t expect this and I can’t quite believe it’s all for me. Everyone has been so supportive and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Lunge Challenge check-in! How you doing?
I’m at 800 for the week: have 200 left to hit my 1000 lunge goal (she doesn’t know it, but I’m racing Nicole from my Facebook page- last I heard she was at 816). My quads and glutes haven’t been this sore in a loooong time, and while I typically add lunges to my workouts a few times a week, it’s never at this volume (or intensity - plyo lunge MURDER).
Even if you started late, and are FAR off the 1000 target, give yourself a mini-challenge and do 200 with me today (or tomorrow)! Break them up, fit them in, count them and pat yourself on the back. :). I’ll post my 200 lunge workout below.
FEELING ”BLAH”
Aside from a little soreness, today’s gonna be mentally TOUGH for me: I’m feeling MEGA blue & bummed. I don’t usually post admissions of feeling crap-o-la, but hey, it happens. Sometimes I’m just NOT in the mood. I woke up feeling sad, tired, cranky and anxious this morning, and despite a hearty breakfast, a walk and a piece of chocolate (a BIG piece, lol), I’m still not ”myself”. Blah, blah, blah.
:)
Why do you workout?
People work out for different reasons & having a goal is important (whether or not you’re losing weight, trying to get fit, or mastering a technique). But goals aside, there’s ONE common denominator of successful fitness freaks: they mix up their workouts! Different workouts are like different kinds of menu options. You might LOVE one thing on the menu, but if you have it everyday, you’ll get sick of it fast. You may also be limiting yourself by not exploring new favorites.
Trying something new & incorporating different kinds of training is key to sticking with the program longterm both mentally & physically. Our bodies & minds crave new challenges & new ways to train. When we’re stuck on ONE kind of workout, we may be limiting ourselves to a WORLD of possibilities.
I’m very eclectic when it comes to my workouts (like workout A.D.D.). I certainly have my favorites, but I try new things constantly and go through ‘phases’. When my workout ‘lust’ has dwindled for a certain type of workout, I switch things up sooner rather than later. A week of my workouts might include a little Turbo Kick, NTC training, Insanity or P90X, TRX, sports drills, running, yoga, dance, Crossfit WOD’S, Body Rock, Pilates, strength training etc. Sometimes I plan it, sometimes I work it out on the fly. But the common denominator is that I shake things up and stay open to trying new things. It keeps me from getting bored, keeps my body challenged and helps me find new favorites.
And it makes me feel BAD ASS. I’ve got lots of tools in my toolbox, and even when I suck at something (ugh, Zumba), I know I’m still getting a good workout.
This week: Try something NEW! A class, a DVD (the library has tons), or even a change of scenery. If you workout from home, try heading to the gym or to the park this week. If you’re a gym rat, head outside or take a class in a new location. If you work out solo, ask a friend to join you! If you’re all about the weights, try some body weight work. No yoga in your repertoire? Namaste it OUT. Try changing 1-2 things in your routine for a quick motivation (and results) boost. :)
Monday Motivation Playlist
Need new tunes? This is what I’m using today! (lots of Madonna. Her new album MDNA
Today’s Mantra: Flexibility isn’t just about stretching.
Staying flexible with your game plan is KEY to adopting fitness as a lifestyle. If for ANY reason your plan A is simply NOT in the cards, you have the choice to change course to suit your needs & goals.
Can’t make it to the gym? Take a walk at lunch instead. Need an impromptu rest day? Take it, and reschedule. Can’t workout in the evening? Switch to the morning. A friend cancels a workout? Fly solo, or do a DVD at home. Legs are sore on booty day? No reason you can’t do abs or shoulders. Bored with your current workout? Switch it UP.
Things don’t always go as planned, and while it can be frustrating, the most important thing is our attitude towards it. Curveballs don’t have to suck, and your ability to keep fit is NOT about being perfect all the time. Not every workout is ideal and not every workout will even happen. The ability to adapt and change your plan on the fly will help you stay on track for a lifetime.
Far too much energy is spent on feeling guilty & getting down on ourselves for not being ‘perfect’: it’s not forward moving. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. If something’s not working, change it. Stay flexible & adapt as you go!
xo
“It’s a BIRD!”
“It’s a PLANE!”
Slow down crazy. Slow down.
Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability
You’ll love this talk. Incredible insight into being vulnerable, why we feel shame, and our ability to empathize. Powerful stuff.
Brene Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.
don’t think, don’t think, don’t think.
it’s easier than you think
just take a step when you’re on the brink
to think, don’t think, don’t think.
don’t think, don’t think, don’t think.
act fast before you blink
if you pause from treading you will sink
flap your limbs till face be pink
don’t think, don’t think, don’t think.
Isn’t this great?! (Hope she doesn’t mind that I re-posted, but I think this is just freaking AWESOME).
The mind is a powerful tool and it can work for you or against you. When in doubt, sometimes you just need to turn that sucker OFF.
Thanks for this cute poem!
:)
I like this perspective. Don’t you?
How does a woman get to be the world record holder for pullups?
By doing ONE at a time!
Crystal West is the reigning pullup queen. 36 consecutive pullups earned her that title (a video on her site shows her busting out 39 in the gym).
And the most amazing part? She started with 2. And she started in her late 30’s. And she had no other motivation except to do one more than she had done before.
Bad. Ass. Motivation.
Think about Crystal’s journey next time you feel like your workout bubble’s deflated! The only competition you have is with YOURSELF.
Crystal West, On Her Pullup Journey
I started trying to do pull-ups four years ago. I was feeling lethargic and like I needed a new challenge and since I think I am an ATHLETE… I thought well, I will do wide grip pull-ups. So, I went in expecting to knock out ten to fifteen..I did TWO ummmm…just barely..hmmm.. OOPS..
I was embarrassed and went home and was disappointed and thought about not doing them at all REALLY..but then I thought oh what the heck, what if I look whimpy? Who cares? So, I went to the gym the next day and my plan was not to use the assisted pull-up machine, although I do think this is a good way to get your strength up, but my plan was to ask someone for a spot.
It turns out, I am not kidding, I asked the meanest, crabbiest, most negative person I have ever met for a spot. He looked at me and said why do you want to do pull-ups? I said uhhhh I just do…he said snottily no one does pull-ups… I said well uhhh are you gonna spot me or not…so he did and it was a terrible spot and after that I told myself that I would keep doing pull-ups every other day until I could do ten in a row by myself. I have the journals where I did three and then four and so on.. I am so competitive with myself that I would literally get nervous before I did them because I wanted to do better each time VERY BADLY (I know… it’s a personality defect:). Long story short I did do ten and then by the time I could do 15 I realized I was above average at doing pull-ups, and then when I started looking up the pull-up routines for Olympic athletes and mine were more difficult, I realized that I MIGHT BE BETTER THAN PRACTICALLY ANYBODY AT PULL-UPS….WHO KNEW.So, the moral of this story is you might be either better than you think you are, OR BETTER THAN ME….and you might train for two years and kick my ass.
By the way if this happens, I won’t complain if you are younger, I won’t complain you are a guy (if you are), I will give you a hug or a virtual hug and a high five and say doesn’t it feel awesome? But then of course, I will train harder to try and crush you (competitively speaking) the next time around, nothing personal… :)
Something IS better than nothing. Half-assed is better than no-assed. 10 minutes is better than 0.
And perfect doesn’t exist. :)
There is no ‘right’ way when it comes to health & fitness.
Personality & circumstance play a HUGE role in determining what you’ll like, what you can stick to, and what’s right for you.
Are some methods quicker than others? Sure. But are they right for YOU right NOW? Maybe not. That doesn’t mean you should close yourself off to them entirely, but it does mean that you can continue your quest for YOUR soulmate plan without guilt.
Not everyone will love crossfit, yoga, Zumba, Turbo Kick, running, the gym or working out from home. Not everyone will be able to stick to a vegan, vegetarian or organic diet. That doesn’t mean the workouts or the plans suck: they just might not be right for YOU. There’s always a middle ground and always a learning curve.
Don’t allow others to judge you for your choices, and try not to judge others for theirs. What works for them might not be your cup of tea, and vice versa.
xo
Just a quick & sincere thank you to everyone who likes, reblogs, reads and sends me feedback for my posts & blog!
I don’t always get a chance to reply to each message individually, but believe me, they mean the world to me. They make my day a little brighter, motivate me to keep going when I’m feelin’ blue (I’m human!) and make me smile. Life’s tough sometimes, but I’m so fortunate to have found a family of such hilarious, loving, positive, fit-minded bad asses here on Tumblr. :)
You guys keep me going and inspire me to spread the love (and sweat) around. Love ya with every inch of my booty!
xo
