Sunday, November 27, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Mind Control
I do LOVE the matter of simple mind control, LOVE. I truly believe exercise is 90% mental and only 10% body if that (man, I wish my 10% body wasn't afflicted with achilles and hip issues but I hate to be nit-picky). I have only been able to run for the past few years because I have changed my way of thinking in regards to running. It is no longer physical for me, it is a mental game and has been since I spent 6 + hours in the rain at Portland Marathon. Now, I run because I want to & I need to and I make my body follow, even if it isn't willing!
Today I wrapped up my run at 6 miles but wasn't feeling done, since I had hoped to do 10-12 and I had the time but I had other things I wanted to do. So basically I felt like I was ditching my commitment...soooooo I started the silent chant "I OWN you!" to my legs and feet and made them do 2 more miles and it felt awesome. It wasn't 10 but it was a brillant 8 :-) My two favorite phrases to scream silently in my head are "I OWN you!" and of course the American Pie favorite "Say my name B*&ch!" Works for me in getting my feet to move onward! :-) Also the pic below is gonna be a new mantra, from myself to myself...getting out of my own way is always a good thing & usually ends up a huge success.
*Looking to take a long Thanksgiving morning run and an even longer Sunday run after all the eating & gluttonous partying.*
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Green Machine
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Run Time
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Big Ride Big Fun
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Do LIFE...
Go to this blog. Now. Watch the video. So honest, this young man just lives it & tells it like it is. Be inspired to BE happy.
Ben Does Life
Ben Does Life
Friday, November 4, 2011
Its a Runners World
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Awesome
Nike asks: I run to BE.... and Saucony says: Find your strong. I say I run to feel strong & beautiful~I feel amazing when I run. My mind drifts to thoughts of marathons, ultras, my family, friends, jr. jazzercise, food, life journeys...
When I run I am lean, strong, super fit & feminine..I am my OWN ideal woman when I run. No magazine, lipstick, fad diet or $200 pair of good-ass jeans can make me feel as gorgeous as I feel when I am out running. That's a fact.
Big ride, Big fun
Awesome ride as always with Blondie on the backroads. The roads are steep but man, we kick ASS! We just chat away merrily as we pound up these grades (only 1-2 times did we have to stop talking to grunt away or suck air to get up the hills). Riding is just insanely awesome therapy, girl talk all the way & amazingly fantastic cardio. After we finished up our heart-pounding ride we jetted for tacos in the 15 minutes we had before preschool pick-up. I could feel my blood still rushing, my cheeks flushing, I just felt ALIVE and I love the way exercise does that for a person, LOVE. Watched a cheesy ABC news clip today about the happiest woman in America, yadda yadda she had her kiddo at the right time (27-33 apparently is the sweet spot) and her husband, who is a doctor makes dinner every night (she's got a winner there) but the things about her happy/balanced life that really stood out for me were this: a 10 min walk can give you energy & endorphins for up to TWO hours, 30 minutes of exercise a day can reduce your chance of depression by 12%...SO true! Moving & grooving are natural anti-depressants for the body & heart & soul. it's a simple fact, you move your body & get your blood pumping and your lungs moving in & out, you will feel good, I promise! It's in our genetic make-up, we were meant to MOVE.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mojo...
Even though last week, I ran 11 miles (and before that 13, before that 12, 11, 10...so I'm no slouch) ~ lately I had been feeling like I lost my running mojo or it was hibernating. No idea why, it was only a few days lag, maybe coming off Nike Half or the fact that I have been rolling a lot on my bike & loving it so much (I almost feel like I am cheating on running, oy vey). I dunno. Last week I took two big bike rides, a short swim, a long walk and a short 3 miler in the scorching sun and STILL felt like I had lost my mojo. I'm not sure what it is but there is a big difference for me in waking up in the morning and feeling this pulsating energy of "nothing is going to stop me from a long awesome run today!!!" and " oh, hmmm I guess I 'should' run today, I 'need' to get in a long run, buuuuuut..." My marathon buddy is at 15 milers right now and I envy her get'up and go, lately I feel my "get up & go has gone up & went", to quote a Hallmark birthday card.
Yesterday I drove to Spring Lake for a run, not keen on the drive when I could just as easily walk out my front door & run but I thought the scenery & the fact that everyone there running, walking or stroller'ing it might motivate me. I spent too much time dorking around & so by the time I got on the trail it was warm & in that sluggish late morning zone. I set out, my original plan of a looong run geared down to 'whatever' I ended up doing. Once I was out there, after a few water stops & Gu, I felt IT. I felt my mojo, I was happy to be there, the 'should' faded away and was replaced by my favorite feelings of "I LOVE running, I love being out here, I feel free and this is absolutely the exact way I want to spend my time right now!" YEAH! Overall I ran 2 hrs~10.2 miles, not breaking any speed records for sure but man it felt AWESOME. I finished so much stronger than I started which always rocks. I still had gas in my tank for 3 or 4 miles but I didn't have the time. Always so much better to run out of time before stamina, woooohooooo. It was just what I needed.
Was supposed to bike today but woke with sore legs (and a pain in my ass, lingering hamstring issue) and my riding buddy felt more like yoga than biking today. It is gorgeous outside and I always feel guilty about not soaking up gorgeous biking weather, something I have to contend with (feelings of guilt when I am not being 100% productive every day, a bad SAHM habit :-) So I took the day off from fitness (I was going to swim but never made the trek) and it is surprising to me how many hours are in a free day when you aren't off running, biking or swimming...crazy! Worked on my house like mad, felt good to literally clean house in a lot of ways.
Still dealing with the lingering hamstring issue which doesn't hamper my running or biking but aches a lot and is a pain. I am trying not to get too stressed or anxious about 26.2 in January and if my body will happily & healthily be able to accomplish that distance. Pondering....
SLEEP, gotta sleep more, going to bed at 1am is not the same as going to bed at 11pm...gotta hammer that into my brain!
Also pondering diet & how to eat as close to whole foods and healthy as possible, especially heading into the danger zone of the holiDAZE. I love really tasty favorite holiday foods but I loathe the way I stuff my face with junk (like gross packaged onion dip or fruitcake) that I seem to eat even if I don't like it. I am really hoping to fill this season with insanely healthy & great tasting foods & dishes, whole foods that reflect the season and brim with wonderful flavors. Foods that fill up my body & my heart with holiday goodness.
Yesterday I drove to Spring Lake for a run, not keen on the drive when I could just as easily walk out my front door & run but I thought the scenery & the fact that everyone there running, walking or stroller'ing it might motivate me. I spent too much time dorking around & so by the time I got on the trail it was warm & in that sluggish late morning zone. I set out, my original plan of a looong run geared down to 'whatever' I ended up doing. Once I was out there, after a few water stops & Gu, I felt IT. I felt my mojo, I was happy to be there, the 'should' faded away and was replaced by my favorite feelings of "I LOVE running, I love being out here, I feel free and this is absolutely the exact way I want to spend my time right now!" YEAH! Overall I ran 2 hrs~10.2 miles, not breaking any speed records for sure but man it felt AWESOME. I finished so much stronger than I started which always rocks. I still had gas in my tank for 3 or 4 miles but I didn't have the time. Always so much better to run out of time before stamina, woooohooooo. It was just what I needed.
Was supposed to bike today but woke with sore legs (and a pain in my ass, lingering hamstring issue) and my riding buddy felt more like yoga than biking today. It is gorgeous outside and I always feel guilty about not soaking up gorgeous biking weather, something I have to contend with (feelings of guilt when I am not being 100% productive every day, a bad SAHM habit :-) So I took the day off from fitness (I was going to swim but never made the trek) and it is surprising to me how many hours are in a free day when you aren't off running, biking or swimming...crazy! Worked on my house like mad, felt good to literally clean house in a lot of ways.
Still dealing with the lingering hamstring issue which doesn't hamper my running or biking but aches a lot and is a pain. I am trying not to get too stressed or anxious about 26.2 in January and if my body will happily & healthily be able to accomplish that distance. Pondering....
SLEEP, gotta sleep more, going to bed at 1am is not the same as going to bed at 11pm...gotta hammer that into my brain!
Also pondering diet & how to eat as close to whole foods and healthy as possible, especially heading into the danger zone of the holiDAZE. I love really tasty favorite holiday foods but I loathe the way I stuff my face with junk (like gross packaged onion dip or fruitcake) that I seem to eat even if I don't like it. I am really hoping to fill this season with insanely healthy & great tasting foods & dishes, whole foods that reflect the season and brim with wonderful flavors. Foods that fill up my body & my heart with holiday goodness.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Good Things...
Was all set to do the Cloverdale Half Marathon today but the website threw me off a bit (carry your own cell phone we can't provide EMS) and it was the first annual event. I think i'll wait until next year after they work out the kinks. It was also $100 smackers which I will gladly spend instead on a new pair of shoes or vest I am eyeing. So I planned to get up at 6:30am and out the door at home by 7am. The problem with long weekend runs are that weekends are so gloriously lazy at our house and I hate to leave the nest. I always end up leaving to run about 10am, when it's hot & my belly is too full of pancakes, UGH. Kiddo is too young for the crazy weekend soccer shuffle yet & we are notorious for not accepting weekend activity invites, just so we can do..NOTHING. Still, I had to get in a long run today and it was predicted to be warm so I had to make myself GO and the earlier the better.
6:30am was waaaaaay too early though, so I chilled, made breakfast, had some coffee, and ignored my slight migraine headache (since I have been getting them like every single morning, they have become a bore). I geared up to get out the door. By the time I was ready to roll I had decided I would just do 5-6 miles and save the long run for mid-week. I strapped on my new camelback fanny pack water carrier (every single hand-held I have bought I have loathed after a few runs, my arm gets tired, my stride gets thrown off & I end up sticking it in the back of my pants, *awkward*).
8:45am I started off on the Rodota for a no frills no hills run. The morning was still cool, and I could see hot air balloons landing & vineyards to my left...there are worse ways to spend a Sunday morning! At first I didn't like the Camelback, (I love to run free~no packs, no phone, nothing but my tiny shuffle clipped on my bra) I could feel the weight (lord knows I don't need to carry any more weight when running, I'm slow enough as it is!) and it cinched tightly at my waist and I could feel my belly pooching out the bottom below the strap. Sigh....gotta let the vanity go though, I know for me I can NEVER run vain or it will be a terrible run, thru and thru...so I had to just let it GO. I did like the tightness of the pack against my waist, I can never put anything below my waist (on my hips) since it will flop around (with a big backside but smaller waist, everything rides up, always) and anything floppy is a run killer. So I had to pull an Urkel and cinch the Camelback high under my ribs, I'm sure I looked like a fashion maven..NOT.
After a few miles I settled into the Camelback and the way it hugged my lower back felt awesome. My mind wandered to Caz hugs and how everyone there always squeezes you tight and rubs your back and after having that visual I think I ran the next few miles with a huge grin on my face. The run was EXTRA-ordinary...body felt amazing & strong, no side aches, barely a twinge from my ankles, everything felt so aligned and again, strong strong strong. BLISS. Eleven miles and it felt like a 10k as I wrapped it up, big win!
I kept thinking about the long ride to Dillion beach I had taken on Friday with Miss Amber. I was a bit stressed about the time since I had to meet kiddo & my folks and I am looking forward to a repeat ride when I don't have to look at my watch. It was an amazing ride, gorgeous weather & conversation, hilly & long. I was so surprised and pleased at how I powered up most the hills. My legs were barking near the final hills but overall, I felt so strong & fit. I have come so far from that first ride a year ago, when Blondie and I rode Rodota & a little bit of Stony Point road & I was a nervous wreck, I think any soreness I had from that ride was from anxiety not fitness. I feel so differently now and that has to do with one thing: Getting out there repeatedly, facing the fear monster & moving ahead. KEEP CALM~CARRY ON....this has never been my strong suit but man, have I changed a lot in the past year. Crazy awesome.
One thing I have been thinking about during my running (ok, I think about a bazillion things but...) is Volleyball. In Jr.High I was on the volleyball team and it was hard & I'm not even sure why I was on the team, maybe it was because my friends did it. At the time I thought our coach was insanely demanding & evil (but I was not naturally athletic & I was shy, two very difficult things to be on a team sport). I did not give up though, I did the endless liners, I swallowed my fear during games and bumped the ball and also became a winner when it came to serving. I had a sneak serve, while all the other girls jumped up and smacked it open handed (way too athletic for me) I hit it softly underhanded & the ball would ...just barely cruise over the net and then not be returned, it was my one & only stellar move. I basically just showed up, tried to be invisible & not get hit in the face with the ball all while smiling and appearing relaxed (yeah right!) I really didn't enjoy any aspect of the game but I wanted to be a part of the team and so I smiled, joked and just tried to act like I belonged. After the season ended and there was awards night, I just sat back and watched everyone else get their kudos, which was cool for me, I didn't mind. The only awards I ever got were academic ribbons, for things like ordering the most books every month from scholastic book club or for being the only one who honestly liked the 1950's Romeo & Juliet movie they showed in English class. The volleyball coach handed out all the awards & then was talking about the final award which was for the coaches award or sportsmanship award, I can't recall. The award sounded awesome though, it was for team spirit & commitment & a positive attitude...overall it was for having a winning personality even if you weren't the most athletic or coordinated person on the team. I gotta admit in the back of my mind I was praying about how cool it would feel to win an award like that some day...and then she called MY name. MY name...I wasn't even positive she knew my name, that is how invisible I tried to be or felt I was. I had never been awarded a trophy in my life, let alone anything associated with athletics or commitment or spirit. It was an amazing feeling, I'm not sure I really took it all in at the time. I was in Jr.High too so maybe I didn't really care all that much at the time. Well...yeah I did.
I still have that trophy. Now when I'm running I think about it, how I unexpectedly got an award for just being myself, for giving it a try & being funny & smiling even though my stomach was in knots and most of the time I was sure someone would yell from the bleachers "what is SHE doing out there on the court?!?!" Yet, I was OUT THERE. I got an award for just being me & apparently me was good enough back then and it is even better now that I actually believe it :-)
6:30am was waaaaaay too early though, so I chilled, made breakfast, had some coffee, and ignored my slight migraine headache (since I have been getting them like every single morning, they have become a bore). I geared up to get out the door. By the time I was ready to roll I had decided I would just do 5-6 miles and save the long run for mid-week. I strapped on my new camelback fanny pack water carrier (every single hand-held I have bought I have loathed after a few runs, my arm gets tired, my stride gets thrown off & I end up sticking it in the back of my pants, *awkward*).
8:45am I started off on the Rodota for a no frills no hills run. The morning was still cool, and I could see hot air balloons landing & vineyards to my left...there are worse ways to spend a Sunday morning! At first I didn't like the Camelback, (I love to run free~no packs, no phone, nothing but my tiny shuffle clipped on my bra) I could feel the weight (lord knows I don't need to carry any more weight when running, I'm slow enough as it is!) and it cinched tightly at my waist and I could feel my belly pooching out the bottom below the strap. Sigh....gotta let the vanity go though, I know for me I can NEVER run vain or it will be a terrible run, thru and thru...so I had to just let it GO. I did like the tightness of the pack against my waist, I can never put anything below my waist (on my hips) since it will flop around (with a big backside but smaller waist, everything rides up, always) and anything floppy is a run killer. So I had to pull an Urkel and cinch the Camelback high under my ribs, I'm sure I looked like a fashion maven..NOT.
After a few miles I settled into the Camelback and the way it hugged my lower back felt awesome. My mind wandered to Caz hugs and how everyone there always squeezes you tight and rubs your back and after having that visual I think I ran the next few miles with a huge grin on my face. The run was EXTRA-ordinary...body felt amazing & strong, no side aches, barely a twinge from my ankles, everything felt so aligned and again, strong strong strong. BLISS. Eleven miles and it felt like a 10k as I wrapped it up, big win!
I kept thinking about the long ride to Dillion beach I had taken on Friday with Miss Amber. I was a bit stressed about the time since I had to meet kiddo & my folks and I am looking forward to a repeat ride when I don't have to look at my watch. It was an amazing ride, gorgeous weather & conversation, hilly & long. I was so surprised and pleased at how I powered up most the hills. My legs were barking near the final hills but overall, I felt so strong & fit. I have come so far from that first ride a year ago, when Blondie and I rode Rodota & a little bit of Stony Point road & I was a nervous wreck, I think any soreness I had from that ride was from anxiety not fitness. I feel so differently now and that has to do with one thing: Getting out there repeatedly, facing the fear monster & moving ahead. KEEP CALM~CARRY ON....this has never been my strong suit but man, have I changed a lot in the past year. Crazy awesome.
One thing I have been thinking about during my running (ok, I think about a bazillion things but...) is Volleyball. In Jr.High I was on the volleyball team and it was hard & I'm not even sure why I was on the team, maybe it was because my friends did it. At the time I thought our coach was insanely demanding & evil (but I was not naturally athletic & I was shy, two very difficult things to be on a team sport). I did not give up though, I did the endless liners, I swallowed my fear during games and bumped the ball and also became a winner when it came to serving. I had a sneak serve, while all the other girls jumped up and smacked it open handed (way too athletic for me) I hit it softly underhanded & the ball would ...just barely cruise over the net and then not be returned, it was my one & only stellar move. I basically just showed up, tried to be invisible & not get hit in the face with the ball all while smiling and appearing relaxed (yeah right!) I really didn't enjoy any aspect of the game but I wanted to be a part of the team and so I smiled, joked and just tried to act like I belonged. After the season ended and there was awards night, I just sat back and watched everyone else get their kudos, which was cool for me, I didn't mind. The only awards I ever got were academic ribbons, for things like ordering the most books every month from scholastic book club or for being the only one who honestly liked the 1950's Romeo & Juliet movie they showed in English class. The volleyball coach handed out all the awards & then was talking about the final award which was for the coaches award or sportsmanship award, I can't recall. The award sounded awesome though, it was for team spirit & commitment & a positive attitude...overall it was for having a winning personality even if you weren't the most athletic or coordinated person on the team. I gotta admit in the back of my mind I was praying about how cool it would feel to win an award like that some day...and then she called MY name. MY name...I wasn't even positive she knew my name, that is how invisible I tried to be or felt I was. I had never been awarded a trophy in my life, let alone anything associated with athletics or commitment or spirit. It was an amazing feeling, I'm not sure I really took it all in at the time. I was in Jr.High too so maybe I didn't really care all that much at the time. Well...yeah I did.
I still have that trophy. Now when I'm running I think about it, how I unexpectedly got an award for just being myself, for giving it a try & being funny & smiling even though my stomach was in knots and most of the time I was sure someone would yell from the bleachers "what is SHE doing out there on the court?!?!" Yet, I was OUT THERE. I got an award for just being me & apparently me was good enough back then and it is even better now that I actually believe it :-)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Running takes the pain away
It is so odd to me how I can be limping & so sore I don't want to squat down to tie my shoe because my quads are screaming but....a run/walk takes all that soreness away. Crazy how that happens! It was slow going at Spring Lake and there was more walking than running the first 20 min but then after warming up, the body felt great and now hours later almost all my half mary soreness is gone.
Pondering Cloverdale Half Marathon. I love local events, especially new ones and I really would love to support this one in being an annual event. I guess I could volunteer to be involved but I would rather run...selfish me :-)
http://runthewinecountry.org/
Pondering Cloverdale Half Marathon. I love local events, especially new ones and I really would love to support this one in being an annual event. I guess I could volunteer to be involved but I would rather run...selfish me :-)
http://runthewinecountry.org/
Monday, October 17, 2011
Nike Half Marathon...nice necklace & more
Nike Women's Marathon DONE! Long story short: won a free entry from Athletic Soles & ClubOne. Stressed about driving & parking at 4:45Am but it was a breeze. Event was HUGE, first time ever I felt anxious about being trampled if anyone started to freak out or yelled 'fire', it was that cozy & close quarters. Lots of crazy great energy & sooooo many ladies and first timers out there. So many shapes, sizes & ages. The course was scenic, a bit too many hills for me but maybe I'm just lazy. I was sweating buckets, overcast & gray but warm.
Felt really strong until mile 7/8 and then lost some steam but overall I just LOVED being out there running, with my music and so many other runners. It was a dream. I really like Mermaid & town sponsored events (SF, Santa Rosa, etc) a lot better. Not a fan of the Nike Giant, their hugely expensive branded clothes & bloated crazy confusing website (horrible) BUT love TnT and the 108 million raised. I also LOVE the attention NWM gets and how many women go from couch to 13.1 miles, even if only for once in their life...they are out there. I love that.
- Was thirsty before the start & gulped water at every aid station despite having super hydrated the day before with Nuun & water. Gotta take a look at my hydration strategy for next event. Three GU's, might need more & gummy bears & salt.
- Outfit was perfect, exactly what I wear at home, no chafe or issues.
- Might need new shoes & socks, got blisters & hot spots near big toe, sore feet and soles for first time ever by mile 11.
- Shuffle said "battery low" after one hour, might need a new one as well, I think I wear out the battery blasting my music.
Felt really strong until mile 7/8 and then lost some steam but overall I just LOVED being out there running, with my music and so many other runners. It was a dream. I really like Mermaid & town sponsored events (SF, Santa Rosa, etc) a lot better. Not a fan of the Nike Giant, their hugely expensive branded clothes & bloated crazy confusing website (horrible) BUT love TnT and the 108 million raised. I also LOVE the attention NWM gets and how many women go from couch to 13.1 miles, even if only for once in their life...they are out there. I love that.
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