I Can

Hey Guys! Today I did the PRT (physical readiness test) with James' command. I did better than I thought I would. Yay!

Monday was my first day of actual running. I have never really ran before, more than from here to the stop sign type of deal. So Monday I was like, "Okay Audra, let's see what you can do." Well I ran on the treadmill for almost 20 min without stoping. I was proud of myself for that. Then I just did intervals of walking/running until the hour was up.

Wednesday I went to the command PT. I felt a little awkward, just a civilian with all these Navy peeps. Once we got started it wasn't so bad. When we started running though, thats another story. They started running at a pretty fast pace. James was next to me for that part. I was like "Babe, I can't do it. They are going too fast. They are 19 yrs old."

He said, "Exactly, they are 19 yrs old. They get beat everyday, and they are right there in front of you. You can do this."

Mind you we were only like 2 blocks into the run. I was already feeling like I'm in way over my head. He said just wait, they will start dropping like flies. Sure enough I started passing people. He told me to just pump my arms. I kept saying in my head, "pump my arms, pump my arms, pump my arms." You know what happend? I kept going. I was able to complete the 3 mile run with the group and I was even ahead of about 15 people. I was so proud of myself. I ran for about 45 mins. 45 MINUTES!!! That is such a long time for me. I'm still proud of myself.

Today was the PRT. I have to tell you I did fail on the sit ups. For my age, I need to be able to complete 43 sit-ups in 2 minutes. I did 34. I need to complete 13 push-ups in 2 minutes and I did 23. Yay! I need to run the mile and a half in 16:08 I ran it in 15:12 or 15:20. I was too exhausted to really hear. I thought I was going to throw up. I did it though! I'm so proud of myself! I wanted to cry, but I didn't want everyone looking at me even more so I held it back. AHHHHHHH! I can do this guys.

A year ago I never would have thought this was possible. In the process of trying to lose weight and get my body healthy to carry a baby this dream to join the military came alive again. I have lost 37 pounds over the past year. I still need to lose about 10 more pounds to comfortably pass the weigh in. For my height of 64.5 in I need to weigh less than 160. At 160, I will get measured. I weighed in at 159. If they measure me a half inch shorter I need to weigh 156.

I have discovered in just this past week that I am capable of more than I thought. I want this. I pray for this and about this. I still get scared but when I complete a run I'm excited. I'm going to succeed. If I'm the only one who believes in me, that's enough. I'm enough. I CAN!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.