Breaking Up Is Hard To Do...

I've been dealing with some issues in my own head this past few weeks I've been training for my half marathon.  I've been afraid to admit them because I'm supposed to be the girl that lives and breathes marathons...I think I'm no longer having fun running.

Thank god my sister-in-law (fellow marathoner and best friend) texted me this morning.  She made me feel less guilty which took a huge weight off my shoulders.  She texted me, "I don't think I like running anymore."  I smiled when I read it, not because she was disappointed because maybe I wasn't crazy or alone in thinking running may no longer be my "thing."

In case you don't know already in the past year I've completed multi-sport endurance races, like a Tri.  Also, in July I started crossfit and in December I hit my one year mark for teaching spin and now teach 4x a week.  I just can't find the same joy I used to find in running that I now find in these other ventures.

I'm a little sad/mad/disappointed to see this passion of mine be put on the back burner, but for my sanity I think it will have to sit there..at least for the time being.

This is me post-Chicago Marathon.  I was crazy happy and flying in cloud 9!

Have you tried anything new? How do you feel about running?

2012 Look back and even more to look forward to in 2013

As the New Year approaches I tend to look back and think back on what I did and what I can't wait to do in the coming year.  There were SO many great things that happened in 2012, but the biggest thing also led me to my number one plan (I don't like resolutions because I nail down things that don't have an end date).  After being chosen to be a ENERGYBits Brand Ambassador, I was able to connect with some pretty amazing people!  One, in particular, was Sloane Pitman.  A bright young, fit freak like myself. After reading her story, I realized we had more in common than just fitness.  We both battle with our relationship with food.

(FYI- THIS IS WHERE I GET A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS..Skip these next paragraphs if you don't like serious talk and feelings..)

Ever since I can remember I've always had a little "extra."  I've never been overweight or anything, but I've never had a flat stomach or felt 100% comfortable in a bikini.  So starting at a young age I would try and run extra or cut back on food.  Other times I would have a bad day or stressful week, so I'd binge and feel like even more crap.  I'd always tell myself that I'm going to stop and just eat healthy, then the "fluff" would definitely come off and I'd look like all the girls in the fitness magazines I read.  Well, strange thing happened...it never really happened.  I'd eat healthy, but then I'd indulge a little around birthdays or holidays, enjoy a cocktail or two, and I'd be right back at it..trying to analyze everything that went into my body, counting every calorie, measuring EVERYTHING.

It wasn't until after I read about Sloane's "freEDom" (freedom from eating disorders or disordered eating) and I was thinking really deeply, this past week, about what I really wanted to change in myself.  The number one thing that coming back was I wanted to eat and feel good, eat a piece of pie at Thanksgiving and not regret it, or have a margarita and not secretly hate myself for it because I knew exactly where it was going.  So this year instead of a weight loss or fitness related goal for 2013, I'm going to NOT diet.  Does this mean I'm going to stuff my face with whatever I want?  No, it just means I will eat what I know my body needs to complete what I demand of it and not worry if I indulge a time or two.  I want to get back to being able to go out with my friends and enjoy myself, instead of stressing so much and staying home to avoid temptation.

Okay..feelings and seriousness is over, so here's my main highlights from 2012 in pictures :)

My first duathlon

My 5th Full Marathon

I started CrossFit

My first Warrior Dash

I lost my best friend

My first vacation since I can remember that didn't involve a race..or any agenda

My first triathlon

My first Ragnar! RagnarGR

My first CrossFit Competition

Sub 25min 5K with my amazing cheerleaders

My boyfriend got to come for the first time to one of my races!  (he was a collegiate baseball player)

Being chosen as an ENERGYBits Ambassador

Being chosen as a Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador

While that's great and all; I CAN'T wait for what fate has in store for me in 2013...Here's a few things I have on my schedule and I'll see what life decides to throw in between..

3rd Half Marathon (February)

2nd Duathlon (April)

GRADUATION (May)

CAMPING post-graduation in Colorado (May)

4th Half Marathon (June)

2nd Triathlon (August)

Ragnar Las Vegas?! (October)

What're your highlights from 2012? What's on your goal list?  Do you have any plans for 2013? 

Gotta Tri

Today I survived AND LOVED my first triathlon in my hometown.  It was an amazing experience that I won't forget and plan to go back for more!  It was not only a very well run race, but everyone was so positive and we were all cheering each other on, especially during the bike ride.

The race started pretty much the day before.  I had to attend a race briefing to learn about the course and rules since it was a USAT sanctioned race with USAT officials attending.  I also had to set up my bike in the transition area before I could go home to relax.

After relaxing and icing sore muscles I decided to try and catch some sleep (it wasn't very successful).  I was up again at about 3:30am because I had to be at the race course at 5am to get chipped and marked up and to finish setting up my transition area before the area closed at 5:45am.  The transition area I keep referring to is pictured above.  It is the area that is blocked off from spectators and it is where the athletes keep all their gear for each of the legs of the race (bike, helmet, towel, bike shorts, run top/shorts, shoes, etc.).  Here's some pictures pre-race!!

Transition all set

The lake right before we got in..a lot prettier than it was when we got in!

Getting body marked

Me right before the swim

Then we lined up at 6am (yes, it was still dark) at the edge of the water according to our swim caps.  I had a pink swim cap since I was in the women's sprint division.  After waiting about 15mins and trying to keep myself warm because it was finally a little chilly in the morning. We walked down the ramp into the water (which was 80 degrees, so it felt like a hot tub!) and took off!  I had practiced in a pool since January, but unfortunately never got the chance to open water swim.  It was eye opening!!  Water constantly in your mouth, having to avoid people's flailing feet, and getting used to not being able to see anything whenever I put my face under the water.  I had practiced a freestyle stroke and also practiced a little side stroke and breath stroke in case I got super tired.  Well after about 5 feet I took to the breath stroke.  It was much harder, but it kept me calmer because during the freestyle I kept running into people and was panicking every time my mouth because filled with nasty lake water.  I tried to keep my mind off the fact that I had .5 swim in front of me, so I just counted strokes.  I would do 10 breath, 10 left side, 10 right side, and it actually went pretty smooth and quick from there.  It took me about 25min to get through the water.  

Next, I ran out of the water and back into the transition area to get ready for my 12.4 mile bike ride.  It was going to be hilly, but they got the course closed (the streets were not open to drivers).  It was a rough route with all the hills, but I am so glad I had been training on the hills around my house because, man did that pay off today!  I was on my little Walmart mountain bike, but I could tell how much stronger I had gotten because I would fly by other people on mountain bikes, especially on the hills. 

Transition #1: swim to bike

Hoping on my bike!

After getting back from the bike ride; I hopped off and ran through the transition and off to my last leg (and what I was most looking forward to), the run.  It was just a 5K, but it was on an unpaved trail, which was great for my knees, but was a little rough on my ankles since I haven't gotten to train on unpaved trails in a while.  It was awesome though and my favorite part!!

Transition #2: bike to run

FINISH

Overall, it took me 1:57:32..I'm not sure if that is good or not, but I'm just so excited I finished!!  I was even more excited that I didn't need help from any of the staff in kayaks during the swim..I did it all by myself :)  

Days like these (where I push myself to limits I didn't think I could pass) make all those months and bad days of training worth it.  It was worth all soreness, training injuries, EVERYTHING.  Will I be signing up for another...you bet!!  Unfortunately, it probably won't be until next spring because the season is winding down since it gets harder due to water temperatures.  

I don't have any races on my calendar for the rest of this year (crazy to think that since I haven't had a time of year I haven't been training since my freshman year of college..maybe??) so I am going to focus on my strength and speed.  I want to be conditioned enough to be able to run a 10K whenever I want, so I will keep at least one longer run a week.  I will also keep up with the running and swimming because the cross training has kept me injury free better than anything else.  I'm also going to work extra hard at CrossFit.  I am LOVING that as well.  I love the feeling of getting stronger!!  

Since my workouts will not be so cardio focused my nutrition will also be adjusted.  I'll move to more protein and fat and less carbs.  I'll keep updates on how that is going, but now I will finish and leave with some finishing pictures!!

My best cheerleader!   She comes to all my races.

The night before the race: apparently they didn't get that we were trying to relax!

Workouts On Vacation

Here on the workouts I did while on vacation!  I didn't have access to a gym, so I had to incorporate cardio and bodyweight training.

Saturday: 200 single under jump ropes warm-up

3 rounds: 15 pushups, 20 burpees, 100 jump rope, 1.25 mile run (on the 3rd round I did 30 pushups, 40 burpees, and 200 jump ropes)

Sunday: AM- warm-up: 200 single under jump rope

3 rounds: 25 pushups, 25 squats

Finished with a 5 mile run in less than 40min! with my uncle on the golf course (hilly!!)

PM- swam 21 laps in that beautiful pool pictured above.

Monday- Rest Day

Tuesday- AM warm-up: 500 jump ropes (got creative- single unders, one foot, back and forth, side to side)

6 rounds: 10 burpees, 20 lunges (each leg), 10 pushups, .5 mile (hard!)

PM- 7 laps at the pool

Wednesday- 1 hour on bike

100 body weight squats, 50 pushups, 4min plank, 50 burpees, 100 crunches, 30min on bike

Thursday- 1 hour on bike, 2 mile run

AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) 15 min: 10 lunges (both legs),10 pushups with toe touches, 10 jump squats, 10 full burpees

Friday- 4 rounds: 15min on bike, 25 pushups, 25 squats (ass to grass)

Saturday- AM: 7ish mile run

                PM: 7 laps in the pool

Sunday- OFF (walked around an outdoor mall for a few hours)

Monday- Warm-up: 300 single under jump ropes (creative)

10 rounds: 

10 burpees (full)

20 jumping jacks

20 squats (ass to grass)

10 squat jumps (ass to grass)

10 pushups 

Expanding My Knowledge and Capabilities

This weekend I got the chance to expand my knowledge and certifications in fitness!  I am now officially certified in TRX (suspension training) and Kettle Bells.  Both of these can be used by people of all shapes, sizes, and fitness capabilities.  They are a great way to diversify your workouts and challenge your body in a whole new way.  I especially was drawn in because I love seeing what else I can throw at my body and conquer (probably because of my trainer- she always has some new workout idea that pushes me to a new level I didn't know I had).  They also both speak to my athletic side.  The whole time we were learning about both of these techniques, Friday night and all day Saturday, all these amazing ideas were popping in my mind of what I could do with these to challenge athletes, since I want to become a Strength and Conditiong Coach, eventually.  Now I just can't wait to start teaching both of these :)

Kettle bells: a great addition to anyone's cardio/strength workouts.  It's applicable to people of every shape, size, and ability.

TRX: Another great addition to both cardio and strength training because it challenges your core and balance (LOVED THIS). 

Not only am I expanding my knowledge in fitness, but starting March 1, I will officially begin my triathlon training schedule, which will expand my capabilities in fitness as well.  Since the start of the year I have been running, biking, and swimming, but not according to a strict schedule, distance, or time.  This Wednesday is when I crack down with the help of my trainer's triathlon training schedule.  I am excited because over the next three months I will learn to move my body in a whole new way.  I've already noticed some crazy changes by adding all these different workouts.  I went running when I was visitng my boyfriend out of town and decided to run 6 miles.  Not only did I run it faster, but I also was less fatigued, the hills didn't seem to difficult, and my lung capacity has grown!  I'm loving these changes and can't wait to see what else will change. 

My challege for this week is a couple of things.  Nutritonally I want to try something new, so when I was at the store yesterday I bought kale, star fruit, and mango.  I made kale chips last night and I LOVE them!  They taste just like potato chips, but they're healthy!  I'll let you know how the star fruit and mango go! 

     

Kale chips                                      Star fruit                       

 

Fitness and nutritionally I want to challenge myself to stick to my schedules.  There are some days when I DO NOT want to get up with my alarm to go workout, but this week I don't want to let myself put off my workout because I tend to feel better throughout the day when I get my workout completed before everything else.  I have more energy and then once I'm done for the day I can go home and study instead of worrying about my workout AND studying AND dinner, while still trying to get to bed at a decent hour.  Also, nutritionally I want to stick to my planned out meals every day.  I don't want to allow myself to veer from it because usually I tend eat not as clean foods and then I tend to let myself slack more during that day.  To encourage myself (I know it will seem juvenile, but it works for me) I am going to place stickers on my calendar each day I complete both of these.  I am such a visual person that seeing those stars placed on each day will motivate me to keep working because I don't want to see a blank day. 

Lastly, something that I am noticing becoming more popular that I have a little issue with is seeing kids working out at the gym.  I see them with weights or on the treadmill.  Now I'm talking about a 15 or 16 year old; I mean a little 9, 10, or 12 year old kid working out!!  Now I'm not saying it's bad a thing to see them moving, but working out at the gym like an adult??  Maybe it's because of how I was raised, but my "workouts" growing up was playing basketball, baseball, soccer, kickball, etc. with my older brothers and the neighborhood kids.  Then if it was a rainy day we would play "lava" inside (you weren't allowed to touch the ground because it was lava AND you had to be the last man standing, so you were allowed to push everyone else onto the ground).  We were pushed outside by our parents and ddin't come back home unless we were hungry or it was time for dinner.  I don't know what has changed, but I think people should be encouranging their kids to be active outside with their siblings or friends, not sitting in front of a TV or computer and then going to the gym.  Kids will be A LOT more active and probably workout harder if they think they're playing a game, such as basketball, then if they're forced to get on a treadmill or bike and move.  But I'm not a parent, so I guess I can't tell people what to do, but I know that if I ever have kids they'll be playing tag outside before I let them jump on the elliptical.

Am I the only one that thinks this is wrong?

Til next time and one step closer to a hardbody,

Mo

Chitown and more..

It's finally here!! Only 3 more days and I will be just a few miles from the finish line of the Chicago Marathon.  Like I've said before, those itching days before my races I find that burning passion for running I had the first time I laced up for endurance racing my freshman year of college.  It's the butterflies and knots in my stomach and knowing that 45,000 people this Sunday have the same feelings, dedication, and love I do that gets me pumped.

During my last marathon in Minnesota, the pacer I was running made the most amazing statement that I will always remember, "Only 1 in 100,000 people will ever run a marathon."  Sometimes I forgot how truly amazing we, marathoners are because we tend to surround ourselves with other marathoners, so it seems normal.  In reality though we are a rare class of crazy people who will train for 16-20 weeks piling on mile after mile, running on ice and 10 degrees to heat exhaustion and 100% humidity because that's what was on our training schedule.  We will run 26.2 miles through tears, pain, joy, and accomplishment all for a little medal on a lanyard.  If that's not true love, I don't know what is?

So, if it wasn't clear enough yet- I pretty much can only think about the Chicago Marathon and only have motivation for things involving this.  But, I had some other fun news:  after I finish Chicago I am going to take a little time off of marathons, so that my body can heal and mentally marathons and I need a break.  I have been training since my freshman year of college for endurance races (and that doesn't include cross country and soccer all through high school and freshman year of college).  Now I'm in my senior year- and have yet to take any time off of training for some sort of full-marathon or half-marathon.  So, this upcoming June I'm going to switch it up a bit and participate in a TRIATHLON!!

I'm excited to push my body in a new way (and I think my body will enjoy a little change from just running ;) ).  After Chicago, I am going to try almost only no impact cardio like, cycling, swimming, elliptical, and anything else I can try.  Also, I'll be intensifying my workouts since I do not have to worry about wearing myself out before a long run.  I'm also going to switch up my nutrition entirely (with the help of my trainer, of course) so that I can tone up a little bit and I won't need so many carbs since I won't have to worry about getting up on a Saturday morning and having to run 15 miles.

Well,  that's about all I can get out for now since I can only seem to focus on Chicago!  I'll make sure to post some updates and pictures from Chicago.

So, I will leave you with a quote from one of the running coaches for Team in Training- Nebraska.  He and his wife are truly the most giving, unselfish people I know and they helped get me through my first marathon and find my true passion in running:
    It's an interesting passion we've chosen to pursue: it scares us, it thrills us, it introduces us to feelings us accomplishment we may have never thought possible. Cherish those knots in your stomach -- they're a sign you're on the verge of doing something remarkable." -Dan McCann

One step closer to a hardbody,
Mo