Time to Be Real: My Health Endurance Journey
Today, I want to talk about a different kind of endurance—the one I’m building to become the healthiest physical version of myself.
I’m sharing this for two reasons:
1️⃣ To highlight that this part of life is rarely a “figure it out once and you’re done” situation.
2️⃣ To hold myself accountable to what I’m working toward.
When I talk about leadership endurance, I often come back to my I-CAN model:
Intentions, Create the plan, Act on the plan, and Navigate when things need to shift.
Here’s how that framework applies to my health journey:
Intentions
Set my body up to support me for another 40+ years (my grandfather lived to nearly 107—so I’m playing the long game).
Feel confident in my beach-ready appearance as we head into our first full summer living at the beach.
Improve strength and mobility to support my fall half-marathon goals.
Realign eating (and drinking) habits to support my goals and best practices for people with autoimmune diagnoses (mine is Rheumatoid Arthritis).
Create the Plan
When you’re creating a plan for high-performance—health or otherwise—these are the kinds of questions I believe we need to ask:
What will it actually take to reach my goals?
How do I need to train, physically and mentally?
What’s the right schedule and structure?
What resources or skills do I need?
Where will I need support—accountability buddies, a coach, flexible routines?
How will I celebrate milestones and adapt when life throws curveballs?
For me, I’m working with a health and running coach who focuses on women my age. We mapped out a plan that works with my life: strength training days, running days, and a meal strategy that aligns with my health needs and goals.
Act on the Plan
Here’s the real talk part—I sometimes struggle with this phase. Maybe you do, too.
I’m focused. I have the plan. I start strong. And then… life happens.
Some days, I just don’t want to do the strength workout, or I reach for the comfort food, or I pour that extra glass of wine.
I’ve learned that my plan has to be flexible enough for me to feel like I own it—not the other way around. There are seasons where I’m highly disciplined, and others where I’m just cruising. And then, sometimes, I fall off track—intentionally or unintentionally.
That’s part of the endurance journey, too.
Navigate When Things Shift
“Navigating” in this context means two things for me:
Getting back on track quickly when I make choices that aren’t aligned with my goals.
Recognizing when the approach itself needs to change.
Recently, I realized I had drifted from some of my intentions. This winter was tough for a lot of us. I decided it was time to bring back my version of “discipline”—the little d kind—not perfection, but recommitment.
➡️ I don’t always want to do the workout. But 98% of the time, I feel better after I do. So I’m choosing to show up, even when no one is there to hold me accountable.
➡️ I often want the comfort food. And sometimes I’ll have it. But I know I feel better when I choose something nourishing and delicious.
➡️ I love a second or third glass of wine. But I also know I feel better stopping at one. So I’m aiming to make that my new norm.
This reset is going to feel hard. I know I’ll struggle. But I want to reach a place in my health endurance journey where I can “cruise”—doing what I know works, consistently.
Your Turn
Where are you on your health endurance journey?
Are you setting intentions?
Creating a plan?
Trying to stick to the plan?
Or realizing it’s time to navigate a shift?
Wherever you are—know that you’re not alone. And if I can support you in that journey, I’d love to hear from you.
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