Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Discouraged ...

Why is it so easy to get discouraged?  Why is it when you let one doubtful thought creep in, all the positive and happy ones LEAVE so quickly and more mean ones come rushing in?



I couldn't sleep last night my mind was so full of crap and what ifs and why can't's that I was feeling very bogged down this morning already.  That isn't a great way to start the day.  Then I happened upon this quote...one of my favorites!  

I have to believe in my abilities, to not doubt, to be happy with where I am even though I am striving for more, I need to not let the discouraging thoughts creep in and KNOW that things will work out and I will succeed in the things I want to.  It may not be a smooth ride, but it will be worth it.  There will be bumps to get out of, hills to climb over, but the feeling of success will be very worth it after conquering all of those obstacles.  Now to change my outlook and have a GREAT day!

--What helps get you out of a funk?
--How to you keep the discouragement at bay?

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Foam Rollers ...

Coach J and I have had this discussion on many occasions.  "This foam roller is awesome.  It has saved my muscles a lot this summer."  Just this morning we had it again while he was rolling out after his 10 mile run.  I used it last night after my 17 mile bike ride, so did he!  It is a priceless tool to have in your living room (or HOUSE).  We were hesitant to get it, but boy are we glad we have it!  It is funny just how much we have used it.  We have the 36" full round one.  I love using it on my calves, hamstrings and IT band.  I firmly believe it has saved me from having IT band issue during this summer's training regimen.  If you don't have one, save your pennies and get one!  They are worth every single one.



Another valuable tool we use a lot is the Tiger Tail roller.  We don't use this nearly as much, but it is super handy to take in the car when you need it.  I love it to stretch out my shins/calves and just above my knee where I can't get my body to go over the foam roller.  Another great thing to save my muscles from being overworked and not ever get stretched our properly.



One more thing I LOVE is my TENS unit.  I put that on my REALLY sore muscles and let them work out the kinks.  Feels weird, but works wonders!

Product Details 

---What are your favorite products to help sore muscles?
---Have you used a foam roller?  Love it?  Hate it?

Monday, July 29, 2013

A family full of runners ...

 I find extreme joy in teaching my children to be healthy and active...or they help teach me to be healthy and active :).  I think it is a 2-way street at our house.  Nene loves to be active and embraces any sport we let him play!  He is always asking about different ways to make his body strong. Brownie is getting faster and faster in her running ability and loves to be my running buddy!  Blondie has already run more races this year than I have and loves every minute or running with her dad.  And Cheese is just along for the ride :). 

It brings me great joy to watch them enjoy exercising and that I am able to be out there doing it with them.  They motivate me to try harder, to push past the HARD things and be successful.  It teaches them that even I as their Mom can push through hard things, so they can too!   They frequently have mock triathlons by swimming in our little pool, riding their bike than running.  It makes me happy!  They love to stretch out with either Coach J or I when we get back from a run/bike.  So fun to watch them love something as much as we do!


--What do you do to help keep your kids active?
--What are your favorite things to do with your kids?

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week's workout ...

Another week of training to recount ...
Monday: 2 miles on the track, horrible.  Didn't want to start, didn't want to keep going, very happy to be done...but I still did it.  19:20

Tuesday: 800 yard swim.  100 yard splits.  Good swim, felt good to get out in the water again.

Wednesday:  REST

Thursday:  17 mile bike ride with Bill's Bike Shop ladies.  16.9 MPH average pace.  Another great ride!

Friday:  REST

Saturday: 800 yard swim.  400 yard splits.  Overcame quite a few mental blocks.  Swam in the rain, wind.


Overall a great week of training.  I felt happy with all of the days and know they will help me meet my goals!

--What was your favorite workout this week?
--What keeps you motivated?


Friday, July 26, 2013

Do not doubt yourself ...

The week before my first triathlon was kind of a hard week mentally.  I was nervous for my triathlon, but I let the doubt creep in.  I let the "I can't" dwell in my mind for a little bit too long....until I read this post from a motivating friend.

"Mentally and emotionally you begin to steel yourself to the challenge ahead. Doubts may begin to arise, but the belief you have in yourself will crush them. Fear may rear its ugly head, but you focus on the strength you possess and it is forced to flee before you. Uncertainty may creep in, but you will have none of that because you not only can do this. . . but YOU WILL DO THIS!"

 

I cried when I read this and pushed those "I Can't" thoughts out of my  head right that minute.  I knew I had put in the time, I knew I had sacrificed a lot to get to the fitness level I was at, I KNEW I would finish the goal I had set out to achieve...Finish the triathlon!   

We need to not doubt our abilities. We need to trust that we CAN succeed if we want to.  Trust your abilities, trust your training and trust that you can do HARD things.  Let's not doubt what we CAN do, instead prove that YOU WILL DO THIS!

--How do you get doubt out of your life?
--What keeps you motivated to Never give up?

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

With a little time ...

Oh how your PERSPECTIVE changes...

Two weeks ago, I completed my first sprint triathlon and I thought I would not do another one this year.  The very following week, Coach J did the Echo Triathlon (watch for a race report from him) and I found myself to be extremely jealous! I wanted to have another attempt at doing something so challenging and rewarding!

Lemony Snicket

To be completely honest, it only took about a day to help my perspective change.  While I was going through the swim, I wanted to quit.  I wanted so badly to call over the kayak and have him take me in.  But I didn't!  I kept going and then enjoyed every minute of the rest of the triathlon. Same thing in life, while we are going through trials or hard times it sometimes feels like we just want to quit.  We want to throw in the towel, claim a Did Not Finish, but once we have gone through those challenges/trial/hardships, we are better because of it.  We are a different person and stronger and more able to take on the next challenge.  

Now that I have had time to think about my triathlon experience, I KNOW I want to do more. I know I need to work on my swim to be quicker and more efficient and my run to become faster, but there is always something you can work on to get better, right? If we wait until we are 'perfect' to go after something we desire will we ever be ready?  Will we ever do something that causes us to be fearful if we don't just Go for It and enjoy the journey?

Bring on the next TRI!!

--What has changed your perspective in life?
--Have you ever said you won't do something and then do it anyway?





Monday, July 22, 2013

Last Week's Workout ...

Here is a recap of what I got in this last week for my training...


Monday ~ Life got in the way so nothing happened.

Tuesday ~ Jilian Ripped in 30, week 1 day 1, 5 lbs weights:  Felt good to do strength training again

Wednesday ~ 2 mile run in the heat of the evening: 9:05 pace:  GREAT run, felt strong!

Thursday ~ Jilian week 1 day 2, 5 lbs weights:  Awesome!
19 mile bike ride with Bill's Bike Shop Group : So fun to ride with other ladies!

Friday ~ Exhausted from yesterday, rest day!

Saturday ~ Camping with the family, just stayed active.

--What did you do this week for your body?
--What was your favorite workout?

Sweat Pink Ambassador ...

I am SO excited!  I got selected to be part of the fitapproach Sweat Pink Ambassadors!  

This is their mission statement and I cannot wait to get to know more of the girls there and to help people be the best people they can be!

We have learned that real women sweat, and sweat hard.  We know that assertiveness, strength and ambition are the ultimate feminine qualities.  We're convinced that we run faster in pink shoelaces.  We believe in pushing ourselves, and we believe in giving ourselves a break, too.  We're all about the rush of endorphins and the thrill of the challenge.  We're all for looking great and feeling even better. We're committed to finding our best fit, and making it stick! 

 http://api.ning.com/files/em81Rx77avVaOXcoQoQ9AcOXVUDUa4fPj-Z7lz1m0pwk6rGYlifEAkxi1oHTWQ8lsO2j3-5fsjy3GyXZhVzUvfXApwUpsiR9/SPambassador4.png

Friday, July 19, 2013

Sabotaging thoughts...

 Wow, this article was eye opening!  I love when I find a great article to really help me with the emotional side of my weight struggles.  When I can write them out, figure them out and move past them, I know I am in a better place.  I know that I can leave them as part of my past and stay the healthy person I have worked so hard to become.  

Go check out the article HERE.

I know we are all guilty of saying many of these sabotaging thoughts. 
Here were a few of mine when I wrote them down.

-- My kids are driving me crazy, I NEED some chocolate.
-- Nobody will know if I eat this if I don't write it down or eat it in front of everyone.
-- I want it so I can have it.
-- I don't want to feel deprived when everyone else is having something.
-- They are eating it, so I can too.
-- I am too tired to work out.
-- I don't have enough time to work out and shower and get everything else done I need to.
-- I am not physically fit enough to do that activity.


Well, guess where those thoughts got me?  Overweight and unhappy in my own skin.  I had to change those thoughts into something that I knew would serve me and my body.  It wasn't easy, I still struggle with some of these thoughts, but I KNOW what I want my body to feel like and feeding it junk and sitting on the couch only makes me feel like junk and to stay on the couch.

I still want sweets sometimes.  I still enjoy them, I just do it every once in a while instead of every day.  I just have a little of something and am satisfied with that.  I do enjoy working out and am always glad I do, some days are just harder than others.  This change of thoughts and actions isn't easy, it takes time and effort, but I am worth it.  YOU are worth it.  We are ALL worth it.

*Enjoy a Beautiful day!!

--What are some of your sabotaging thoughts?
--What have you done to change the way you think?


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

To Bone and Back Report ...

It has been a little while, but I got all caught up in training for my triathlon right after doing our relay this year and didn't get this up.  We really LOVE the To Bone and Back relay.  We look forward to it every year.

We have never had the same team members each year, although we have several repeats, but this is our 6th year of being Team Faster Than Tar.   This year we were also lucky enough to be sponsored by a local running company Personal Best Performance.   They support and put on so many local events in Idaho Falls so it was fun to be able to run free :).  Maybe it helped me be faster!

Anyway, the race starts at 7AM and we all meet at the start line and pile in the truck.  This year we had the whole team with us all day.  It was lots of fun to all be together.  My husband was out on the course and was with us in spirit.  He did the 40 mile ultra marathon this year!  YES, he is AMAZING!

We 'stay' with our runner for most of their race, leap frogging with them every few miles to cheer them on, make sure they don't want any water/food/help and then meet them at the next hand off station to get the next runner on their way.

This year, we were really FAST!  We beat our last years time by almost 40 minutes!  It was a very strange feeling to be out in front when we are usually right in the thick of things.  Way to go team!

My leg was #3.  I went out strong, going down hill and had about an 8 minute mile!  Yahoo...that is SO fast for me.  Love that down hill stuff.  It was good I did the first mile so fast because I got progressively slower as the leg went on. I felt great through mile 2 almost to mile 3 when there was this HILL.  Oh boy, a hill.  I had only run on them once before and that was the week prior when I found out I would be running them on race day.  I knew I could do it, I had done it before, so I shortened my stride and ran right up that hill.  That was so empowering.  I had done it barely even slowing my pace down!  YEAH!  After that mile 4 and into 5 was fine.  It was a nice day with a nice wind to keep things cool.  I finished in just about 48 minutes ... yahoo!

Until next year ... Team Faster Than Tar!


Monday, July 15, 2013

You do get better ...




When I first started running, it was almost a joke.  Nobody in my family EVER ran past when we had to in school *anybody remember the Wellsville Mile?* or what it took to get us around the bases in baseball. I thought I didn't like to run. I thought I was too 'fat' to run.  I thought 5 miles was going to be TOO far for me to run.  Oh boy, did I THINK.  I truly over thought every part of it.  But, Coach J convinced me that I could if I really wanted to.  

If you change your thoughts, you can change your world!

And change my world it did.  Now, when I go out for a 2-3 mile run, it doesn't seem as monumental.  Now, when I start to train for Bone to Back the 40 mile relay team of 8 (so I run 5 miles) I don't get intimidated, I just do it!  In fact, when I have to take on a harder leg because it has hills, I embrace it.  I know I can do it, I know I will survive and I know I will LOVE almost every minute of it.



And just so you have a witness that exercising/running/eating healthy does get make you better with time, when I completed my 5 mile leg, I was on a harder 5 miles and I had not run more than 3 miles before that day, I got a Personal Record (PR) time and felt GREAT after I ran.  YEAH!!

 Enjoy a Beautiful Day!!

---What do you do to help realize things get easier? 
---Have you done something that was once hard and now isn't?