This last weekend, my friend and Body Wise teammate Vanessa Hamilton walked for 24 hours straight to bring awareness and raise money for Cancer at the Relay for Life. Next year she is challenging her bootcamp recruits to walk with her. She already has a name picked out…”24 for 24 hours KICKIN’ ASS On CANCER”. She won’t limit it to 24 but her goal is to find at least 23 people who will do it with her. Vanessa is a busy personal trainer and community advocate for health and wellness and an inspiration to many. We had a little email chat and she offered some words of inspiration for YOU!
rk: You have a busy fitness studio that specializes in group fitness and pushing people to new heights. What is your personal motivation for staying fit and pushing your limits?
vh: I have 3 main reasons and that would be my three children. I want to be alive to celebrate every aspect of their lives. I don’t want to miss anything if possible. A large majority of illness are derived from poor health, if it can be prevented by staying fit then I’m all over it!
Again with my children I want them to be healthy and active and there is no better way to motivate and encourage them then to be healthy and fit myself!
There is quite a buzz about your 24 hour walk for the cure. What gave you the idea to walk for 24 hours straight?
In the past I did fundraising for the Canadian Diabetes Assoc and raised over 30k and ran 3 full marathon and 1 half marathon to raise both money and awareness to help defeat the disease. My father is a survivor. He fought and won his battle with both colon and kidney. Recently my step-father was diagnosed with colon cancer he has gone thru radiation treatment as well as surgery and only three weeks ago went through his last chemotherapy treatment. I needed to do something to help raise both money and awareness. Walking for 24 hours was not easy… really is was awful but it was nothing compared to what someone with cancer must deal with on a daily basis.
You always have a ‘next’ goal in mind and usually two or three. What other events have you committed to this summer?
Well I was training to compete in the Western Canadian Natural Bodybuilding and Figure show that is happening May 21st, however my priorities have change recently and I will not be competing in Figure again until the fall of 2011.
My goals for the next few months are:
The Canadian Deathrace in Grande Cache ~ July 30
The Warrior Dash in Whistler ~ August 6
Femsport ~ August 27
The Victoria Marathon ~ Oct 8
Sandra Wickham Bodybuilding Show ~ November 12
The Vegas 1/2 ~ Dec 4
Where do you look for inspiration when you ‘don’t feel’ like it?
I like to advertise my goals…tell everyone! It’s keeps me accountable. It’s easy to quit when you don’t have to explain why. For example today I posted that May was a great month to win and IPAD… Well I better get to work on that. lol
Everyone has days when they are afraid of failure, or worry that they ‘just can’t do it’. The events you take on are not easy. What do tell yourself on the days that you feel overwhelmed with how much you have taken on?
I’m always afraid and there are events that I have not completed as well as I had wanted to but I was there and I did it and at the end of the day that’s all that matters. When it’s all said and done I can look back at my life whether I KICKED ASS or NOT and say “ya I did that and it (kicked ass or it sucked ass)” lol
We have Body Wise clients that have tried diets and failed, or tried fitness programs and quit and are afraid that they just aren’t built for success. What would you tell them?
Everyone fails, I think I’ve perfected failing! The hardest part is to keep trying. Organization and time management play key roles in making sure you succeed at any endeavor you take on! Lol Failing creates the adventure in the journey!
Any great quotes that you live by?
My favorite quote right now is ” NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP… KICK ASS”
