beach body

Now's about the time we all start seeing posts about our beach body and how we can look great in a swimming suit this summer if we act fast and start now. There's almost always some swimwear model posing on her knees in the surf, and for a moment we think, yeah that's what I want.

But is it?

I mean, if that's your goal, rock on.

Work it out and rock that bikini.

Me?

I'm not training for a beach body.

I'm training for an old lady beach body.

Running has taught me to appreciate what my body can DO, and not so much what my body LOOKS like. I mean, I like to look good, sure, don't we all? And I used to really worry over what my ass would look like in my swimsuit.

Now, though, I'm happier knowing my ass can go run 10 miles down the beach. And I want that type of beach body for the rest of my life.

I want to be that cool old lady who runs every day because she loves it, who has no problem bending over to pick up shells, who runs gleefully into the surf and dives headfirst into the waves, laughing as she pops up to the surface on the other side.

I want to swim and paddle and run and laugh as long as I possibly can.

My brother and I are at the point now where we are watching our parents become limited. Back pain, joint pain, inflammation, they are limited in what they can do. They worked all their lives, have plenty of time and money to go do all the things they've always wanted to do, and they can't.

Don't get me wrong, they aren't housebound, by any means, but they could fly to Hawaii if they wanted, they could travel all over, they could see the world, but they just don't have the health or the stamina or the mobility for those adventures anymore, and that makes me just wanna cry.

And it makes me determined to not let that be me.

What's my kind of training? Well...

Squats are my daily friend, cause I want to be able to get down.

And get back up again.

Do I super enjoy doing strength training? Nope. But I super enjoy being strong. And I wanna keep being strong. Cause I've seen the alternative.

I am however very fond of walking. (If you know where this quote comes from, we should form the Elizabeth Bennet walking club!) In my opinion, we should all walk more. Lots more.

I'm also very fond of yoga. And mobility. And stretching what parts feel like they need a stretch.

Swimming laps may not be as fun as just splashing around in the ocean, but those laps each week give me leaner muscles and a relief from all the pounding that running does to my body.

Running trails keeps me agile and teaches me balance and adapting to different terrains.

The woods give me peace in this stressful world. And a connection to source energy.

The lake gives me calm but also winds to paddle against so I can develop stronger arms and a solid core.

The beach brings me joy. And play. And childlike wonder. Barefoot miles and Vitamin D.

And Vitamin Sea.

We are actually headed to the beach this weekend. Did I buy a new suit? Worry over my hips and thighs and what my ass might look like? Stress out cause I don't have a perfect figure? Nah.

Cause I'm not training for that kind of beach body.

I'm training for more.

So...

Here's to summer fun.

For years and years to come.