Well, it is a new year, so it’s time to be a better person. It’s time to make those resolutions to be smarter, nicer, wealthier and healthier.
(Have you noticed that the buzzword this year seems to be “intention,” not “resolution”? Personally, I think “intending” to do something is remarkably similar to “resolving” to do it, but I’ll leave it to you to decide if you want to pursue an intention or a resolution.)
Let’s check in on local fitness experts to see what they suggest for achieving your New Year’s goals.
Sharon Bart, the long-time owner of the Running Shop, 3055 N. Campbell Ave., says it’s important to share your goals: “Be accountable and find a friend or family member to work with.”
Pete Snell from Fleet Feet Tucson, 7301 E. Tanque Verde Road and 7607 N. Oracle Road, also takes a collective approach: “New Year’s resolutions are like rules — they are meant to be broken. There has to be more internal motivation than just a date on a calendar to get someone moving.
James Johnston at Performance Footwear, 5350 E. Broadway, cuts to the chase: “You’re never going to ‘find’ the time; you must ‘make’ the time. Schedule your workouts like you would schedule any other appointment.”
John Woolf from ProActive Physical Therapy gives this advice: “Get a plan by getting clear on the results that you want, and making sure that you have the tools to make it happen.” ProActive has five Tucson-area locations, including 8770 N. Thornydale Drive in Marana.
John Corbett from Oro Valley’s All About Running and Walking, 12162 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., is pretty candid about his motivation for change: the fear of death. “Like so many others, I’ve made and broken countless New Years resolutions, but the ones I’ve kept have been the important ones. In my case, being told by my doctor 18 years ago to get active or I might not make it to 50 was my ‘aha’ moment.”
Finally, Amy Mattox, the employee wellness specialist at Tucson Medical Center, has this to say: “I think we should make ‘affirmations’ instead. Resolutions tend to address our actions, while affirmations address our thinking.
Visit the experts mentioned here to see what programs they offer and what tools they can provide, then check out the community calendar at www.azroadrunners.org for a listing of the many charity events in town. Whether you decide to intend, resolve or affirm, just get out and get moving, Tucson.
