We all have defining moments. I have one that stands out in my mind.

It was a cool day in December, the day of the Tucson Jingle Bell Run – my first 5K race. The defining moment came when my Etonic running shoe hit the finish line. Two girlfriends who’d encouraged and supported me through the months of training that had brought me to that line were standing there screaming for me to sprint it to the end. You might be thinking that this moment was defining because I accomplished something that was physically challenging. Considering my history as the fat girl who was always the last picked for the playground dodgeball game, you might be right. But the reason why I really hold it in a place of honor is that it was a moment of life when I truly celebrated success. I’d envisioned that line for months, and now I’d crossed it.

No matter what your goal may be, knowing what it looks like is the first step in reaching it. The second step is understanding exactly where you are now. Two services that can help you get there, no matter where you’re starting from, are the Basic Fitness Assessment at Canyon Ranch in Tucson and the In-Depth Exercise Physiology Assessment at Canyon Ranch in Lenox. Both offer a detailed assessment by an exercise physiologist of your current physical fitness, including your aerobic capacity, muscle strength, flexibility, endurance, body composition and agility.

Once you know where you are and you have an idea of where you want to be, an exercise physiologist will work with you to map out a program designed just for you. This will take into account your schedule, time restrictions, the current status of your fitness and the “finish lines” that you have in mind.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re worried that your current “state of affairs” will be bad news. As surprising as it may sound, there’s always a positive side to your fitness status, even if it’s far, far below what you’d like. Your body adapts quickly to the demands placed on it, and starts doing it right away. You can always turn your state of fitness around, and the exercise physiologist is there to tell you exactly how to do it.

The information that you gain from these services will help you for years to come: It’s your baseline, and will aid you in envisioning future goals. Give the Basic Fitness Assessment or the In-Depth Exercise Physiology Assessment a try. Whether you’re looking to transform the physical activity in your life or explore all the finish lines that are possible, this is how you start. With a little knowledgeable planning, you can use today’s resources to define tomorrow’s successes.

What an encouraging thing to read. I too am gearing up for a race and I would be the last person on earth to do such a thing.. I have been working at Canyon Ranch for a little over a year and I am wanting to ride in El Tour de Tucson. I have started riding my bike on my own and trying to get my body used to it.. I think setting up a service with an excersise physiologist is just my next step.. I never had goal physically before and I'm not the most athletic of people so it is a big challenge. Even the 35 miles I am signing up for.. But yesterday I had my AHH HA moment.. I made my goal for the week 2 days early and I rode even beyond that goal.. What an exhillarating feeling!!! I was giddy and screaming YES I DID IT. Thank you Canyon Ranch for the encouragement. I'm not there, but I'm on my way!!

I did the basic fitnes assesment during my Life Enhancement Program, June 2007. You're right that finding out where you are is enpowering as you move forward. I'm 50 this year and widowed for a year now, so I'm kinda coming out of a lost time, but before I left Tuscon I set a goal to hike-raft the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon next summer. So I hired a personal trainer in conjunction with my ranch plan and I joined a local hiking group. Talk about change, but being educated about how to help yourself and be effective in your efforts has helped me relax and have fun along the way.