This past month has been a trying one on my fitness regime. For the past month, it's been all about packing to move across town to a place closer to the boys' schools. While it's all great, and we are all really excited, my fitness has suffered. Since we all know I'm short on time already, I've often had to decide to pack or run, pack or get my weights in. My 10 minute rule usually doesn't pan out. I have been running with my Sunday running buddy, but that's about it. Once a week really doesn't cut it for me.
Good thing is, I FEEL the urge to run, pop an X2 DVD in, do some AB Ripper 2, anything! Since the beginning of May, my fitness regime was my habit, but I wasn't "feeling it". This weekend begins the actual move, and I'm happy to say, on July 5th, I get to get back to normal. And if I see another box again, I just might chunk it across the room!
How do you handle your fitness while moving?
Have a safe and wonderful weekend!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Love My Recovery
One thing I love about running are the post run recovery meals. Hey, I LOVE food. What has been awesome is the experimenting I get to do with food, especially on Sundays when I have leisurely time to play in the kitchen.
First of all, you guys know I love my Shakeology. I have it everyday whether I run or not. I got my shipment of the vegan Tropical Shakeology on Thursday, and I've been totally digging the variations I've been creating. Today, I made a tropical watermelon cream slush. Yummy! I drank most of it out if the blender!
Tropical Watermelon Cream Slush
8 ounces of original Almond Breeze almond milk
4 ounces of frozen watermelon puree
1 scoop of Tropical Shakeology
8 ounces of cold water
Blend to desired consistency
About an hour later, it was time for our Sunday brunch. Omg, I love this meal. P suggested we call it the Benedicto
1/2 English muffin, toasted
2 Tablespoons guacamole
1 large egg, over easy, pepper to taste
Spread guacamole over muffin
Lay egg over the guacamole
Grab a knife and fork, then dig in!
Holy cow, this rocked my socks!!!
That's my recovery for today. What's your favorite recovery meal?
First of all, you guys know I love my Shakeology. I have it everyday whether I run or not. I got my shipment of the vegan Tropical Shakeology on Thursday, and I've been totally digging the variations I've been creating. Today, I made a tropical watermelon cream slush. Yummy! I drank most of it out if the blender!
Tropical Watermelon Cream Slush
8 ounces of original Almond Breeze almond milk
4 ounces of frozen watermelon puree
1 scoop of Tropical Shakeology
8 ounces of cold water
Blend to desired consistency
About an hour later, it was time for our Sunday brunch. Omg, I love this meal. P suggested we call it the Benedicto1/2 English muffin, toasted
2 Tablespoons guacamole
1 large egg, over easy, pepper to taste
Spread guacamole over muffin
Lay egg over the guacamole
Grab a knife and fork, then dig in!
Holy cow, this rocked my socks!!!
That's my recovery for today. What's your favorite recovery meal?
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Save Yourself
Before I started running and learning how to positively change my mindset, I constantly wished for a hero. I looked to my husband, my friends, acquaintances, anyone who could rescue me from the life I was living. All I found was pieces of the whole hero package I was looking for so desperately.
Part of it was the depression I had not recognized yet. Part of it was my loss if self-confidence.
Slowly but surely, confidence came back. As I made accomplishments in my running, weight lifting, on the soccer field, etc., I gained part of myself that I had lost; the pieces of the whole package were coming back together.
I write this to you now as someone who has rescued herself. Someone who has changed her life from the downward spiral I thought I was in to the life I want. I am content with how I go through each day. Yes, I still have "relapses" of the mopey, Debbie Downer syndrome, but I remember the life I have built for myself, the ones that I love, and the rescuing I did.
How have you been your own hero lately?
Part of it was the depression I had not recognized yet. Part of it was my loss if self-confidence.
Slowly but surely, confidence came back. As I made accomplishments in my running, weight lifting, on the soccer field, etc., I gained part of myself that I had lost; the pieces of the whole package were coming back together.
I write this to you now as someone who has rescued herself. Someone who has changed her life from the downward spiral I thought I was in to the life I want. I am content with how I go through each day. Yes, I still have "relapses" of the mopey, Debbie Downer syndrome, but I remember the life I have built for myself, the ones that I love, and the rescuing I did.
How have you been your own hero lately?
Friday, June 15, 2012
Race Shirt Rules
I in this great online group of Running Moms. These ladies are awesome because of their support, accomplishment, and laughs! One of them posted these race t-shirt rules, and I have to share with you!
Race Rules for the Shirt
1. A shirt cannot be worn unless the wearer has participated in the event. There is an exception, though: "significant others" and volunteers are exempt.
2. Any race tee, less than a marathon distance, shouldn’t be worn to an ultramarathon event. This goes double for the wearing of sprint-tri shirts to Ironman and Half-Ironman events. It simply doesn’t represent a high enough "cool factor " and sends a red flag regarding your rookiness. It's like taking a knife to a gunfight. It's probably best just to wear a generic name-brand athletic shirt, and go hide in a corner until race time.
3. When you are returning to a race in which you have previously finished, then wear the shirt from the first year you completed the race. Don’t short-change yourself by wearing the shirt from the year before. It doesn’t adequately display the feat of accomplishment or the consummate veteran status that you are due.
4. Never wear a race event shirt for the (same) race you are about to do. Only rookies do this. It displays a total lack of integrity and might put the bad-heebee-jeebee-mojo on you for the race. Wearing a T-shirt of the race, while currently running said race, is discouraged. It’s like being at work and constantly announcing "I’m at work". Besides, you wont have the correct post-race shirt then...unless you like to wear sweaty, pitted-out clothes on a regular basis. If you do, then go back to the swamp, Gomer.
5. Never wear a shirt from a run that you did not finish. To wear a race shirt is to say "I finished it". Exceptions: see guideline #1.
6. A DNF’er may wear a race shirt if... the letters DNF are boldly written on the shirt in question (using a fat Sharpie or a Marks-A-Lot).
7. During a race, the wearing of shirt from a previously completed year is acceptable. Wear the oldest T-shirt you have from that race (see guideline #3). This is probably a good practice because you now have no excuse to drop out since you’ve done it before.
8. If possible, runners should buy significant others T-shirts which can be worn without regard to running the race. (see guide #1). Keep in mind, they support your "running Jones" more than you think. They also have ways of punishing you that you can't even imagine. Or maybe you can.
9. Volunteers have full T-shirt rights and all privileges pertaining thereto. So there. Remember, you can always volunteer for a race and get a shirt. I encourage this as your civil duty to be a member of the running community. Races don't happen without volunteers, folks.
10. No souvenir shirts: therefore, friends or anyone else not associated with the race may not wear a race shirt. If your mom thinks that your Boston shirt is lovely, tell her to QUALIFY for Boston herself, & send in her application early for next year, so she can earn her own shirt. A downside to this: she still has plenty of time to write you out of her will between her training runs for the big race. Note that your mom CAN wear your finisher's shirt under one of these 4 conditions- 1) you still live with your mother; 2) she funded your trip to the race; 3) she recently bailed you out of the slammer; or 4) All of the above. There is an exception to this guideline: (refer to # 1...If you are a "non-traditional family," and your mom actually is your Significant Other).
11. Always wear the race shirt of your last race at the current race’s pre-race briefing. The more recent the race, the better. This is a good conversation starter. However, avoid the tendency to explain how that it was a training run for this, and this is just a training run for the next, etc. It just sounds like your rationalizing mediocre performances. Sometimes it’s best to live in the here and now.
12. Your t-shirt should be kept clean, but dried blood stains are okay, especially if it is a trail race or a particularly tough event. If you're an ultrarunner, you can even leave in mud and grass stains, (and porcupine quills). Not washing-out the skunk scent is pushing the macho thing a bit too far, though.
13. Never wear a T-shirt that vastly out-classes the event you're running. It’s like taking a gun to a knife fight. Or like unleashing an atomic bomb among aboriginal natives. You get the idea.
14. Also: never wear a blatantly prestigious T-shirt downtown or at the mall among non-running ilk. People will just think you have a big head, which you do. You'll also get stupid questions, like, "how long was that marathon?" If it's a shirt to a 50 or 100-miler, they'll think it's a shirt for a cycling event or just think you're totally nuts, which (of course), you probably are.
15. Never, ever, borrow a race finisher's shirt from another runner to wear to an event that you didn't run. If you do, remember that in Dante's Inferno, he wrote about a special Hell for characters such as you; right between Tax Collectors and Lawyers.
16. The Bad Ben Guideline: All children or grandchildren of mine can wear hand-me-down race finisher's shirts for races that I've run in. When they are asked, "did you run in that 100-mile trail race?" They can proudly respond, "no, but my daddy (or grandad or mommy or grandma) did." If your progeny has put-up with you being an ultrarunner, they have said rights too. If you have completed an Ironman, your kids also have the same rights. They've put up with a lot of crap (or outright neglect) over the years, and deserve to wear them.
So, here's the question: do you wear your race shirts? If not, what do you do with them?
Race Rules for the Shirt
1. A shirt cannot be worn unless the wearer has participated in the event. There is an exception, though: "significant others" and volunteers are exempt.
2. Any race tee, less than a marathon distance, shouldn’t be worn to an ultramarathon event. This goes double for the wearing of sprint-tri shirts to Ironman and Half-Ironman events. It simply doesn’t represent a high enough "cool factor " and sends a red flag regarding your rookiness. It's like taking a knife to a gunfight. It's probably best just to wear a generic name-brand athletic shirt, and go hide in a corner until race time.
3. When you are returning to a race in which you have previously finished, then wear the shirt from the first year you completed the race. Don’t short-change yourself by wearing the shirt from the year before. It doesn’t adequately display the feat of accomplishment or the consummate veteran status that you are due.
4. Never wear a race event shirt for the (same) race you are about to do. Only rookies do this. It displays a total lack of integrity and might put the bad-heebee-jeebee-mojo on you for the race. Wearing a T-shirt of the race, while currently running said race, is discouraged. It’s like being at work and constantly announcing "I’m at work". Besides, you wont have the correct post-race shirt then...unless you like to wear sweaty, pitted-out clothes on a regular basis. If you do, then go back to the swamp, Gomer.
5. Never wear a shirt from a run that you did not finish. To wear a race shirt is to say "I finished it". Exceptions: see guideline #1.
6. A DNF’er may wear a race shirt if... the letters DNF are boldly written on the shirt in question (using a fat Sharpie or a Marks-A-Lot).
7. During a race, the wearing of shirt from a previously completed year is acceptable. Wear the oldest T-shirt you have from that race (see guideline #3). This is probably a good practice because you now have no excuse to drop out since you’ve done it before.
8. If possible, runners should buy significant others T-shirts which can be worn without regard to running the race. (see guide #1). Keep in mind, they support your "running Jones" more than you think. They also have ways of punishing you that you can't even imagine. Or maybe you can.
9. Volunteers have full T-shirt rights and all privileges pertaining thereto. So there. Remember, you can always volunteer for a race and get a shirt. I encourage this as your civil duty to be a member of the running community. Races don't happen without volunteers, folks.
10. No souvenir shirts: therefore, friends or anyone else not associated with the race may not wear a race shirt. If your mom thinks that your Boston shirt is lovely, tell her to QUALIFY for Boston herself, & send in her application early for next year, so she can earn her own shirt. A downside to this: she still has plenty of time to write you out of her will between her training runs for the big race. Note that your mom CAN wear your finisher's shirt under one of these 4 conditions- 1) you still live with your mother; 2) she funded your trip to the race; 3) she recently bailed you out of the slammer; or 4) All of the above. There is an exception to this guideline: (refer to # 1...If you are a "non-traditional family," and your mom actually is your Significant Other).
11. Always wear the race shirt of your last race at the current race’s pre-race briefing. The more recent the race, the better. This is a good conversation starter. However, avoid the tendency to explain how that it was a training run for this, and this is just a training run for the next, etc. It just sounds like your rationalizing mediocre performances. Sometimes it’s best to live in the here and now.
12. Your t-shirt should be kept clean, but dried blood stains are okay, especially if it is a trail race or a particularly tough event. If you're an ultrarunner, you can even leave in mud and grass stains, (and porcupine quills). Not washing-out the skunk scent is pushing the macho thing a bit too far, though.
13. Never wear a T-shirt that vastly out-classes the event you're running. It’s like taking a gun to a knife fight. Or like unleashing an atomic bomb among aboriginal natives. You get the idea.
14. Also: never wear a blatantly prestigious T-shirt downtown or at the mall among non-running ilk. People will just think you have a big head, which you do. You'll also get stupid questions, like, "how long was that marathon?" If it's a shirt to a 50 or 100-miler, they'll think it's a shirt for a cycling event or just think you're totally nuts, which (of course), you probably are.
15. Never, ever, borrow a race finisher's shirt from another runner to wear to an event that you didn't run. If you do, remember that in Dante's Inferno, he wrote about a special Hell for characters such as you; right between Tax Collectors and Lawyers.
16. The Bad Ben Guideline: All children or grandchildren of mine can wear hand-me-down race finisher's shirts for races that I've run in. When they are asked, "did you run in that 100-mile trail race?" They can proudly respond, "no, but my daddy (or grandad or mommy or grandma) did." If your progeny has put-up with you being an ultrarunner, they have said rights too. If you have completed an Ironman, your kids also have the same rights. They've put up with a lot of crap (or outright neglect) over the years, and deserve to wear them.
So, here's the question: do you wear your race shirts? If not, what do you do with them?
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Another Soccer Player Emerges
Today was the Cy-Guy's first soccer game! As a passionate soccer player myself, today was an exciting day in our household. Cy's only ever played around with me in the yard or at parks. Organized soccer, here we come.
Cy is #11 for Team Lightning in the U6 Division for the indoor league. His number is special because it's right behind mine (10).
Cy was cool and collected from the moment we walked into the gym. He waited with a few of his fellow teammates to play the first portion of the first half. When they called for subs, he went in as goalie. Out of the 4 shots taken on him, he only let one slip by. Not bad for a kid who's never played keep.
After halftime, he went in on the court. He's a fast runner, and his head is on a swivel. Natural instincts, I tell ya. He had a couple of breaks and stopped a few plays from the other team.
All in all, he had fun, and did awesome! I'm so glad he enjoys the game and hopes he continues to find sports just as fun as his mom did (and if he sticks with soccer, I won't lie, I'd be overjoyed!)
Here's a couple of short videos I took during his game. (Warning! I'm still learning how to record and cheer at the same time.)
This one is part of his goalie time.
Cy is #11 for Team Lightning in the U6 Division for the indoor league. His number is special because it's right behind mine (10).
Cy was cool and collected from the moment we walked into the gym. He waited with a few of his fellow teammates to play the first portion of the first half. When they called for subs, he went in as goalie. Out of the 4 shots taken on him, he only let one slip by. Not bad for a kid who's never played keep.
 |
| My little Cy-Guy, fellow soccer player! |
After halftime, he went in on the court. He's a fast runner, and his head is on a swivel. Natural instincts, I tell ya. He had a couple of breaks and stopped a few plays from the other team.
All in all, he had fun, and did awesome! I'm so glad he enjoys the game and hopes he continues to find sports just as fun as his mom did (and if he sticks with soccer, I won't lie, I'd be overjoyed!)
Here's a couple of short videos I took during his game. (Warning! I'm still learning how to record and cheer at the same time.)
This one is part of his goalie time.
This one is him on the court
I'm such a proud mom right now!!! Let the soccer tradition continue!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Running Through Pregnancy: Experience Required
**Following is a guest post from Katie Moore, author of Moore from Katie**
The
benefits of exercise for expecting moms have long been known to
medical researchers. Every pregnancy features weight gain and some
amount of fatigue, and both of these conditions can be successfully
managed by increasing mom's proportion of lean muscle. Delivery
itself is comparable to any intense athletic event, and exercise
throughout pregnancy will go a long ways toward ensuring top
performance. After delivery, the extra lean muscle will help mom
return to her normal weight.
Before
starting any exercise or diet program, an expecting mother should
always consult her doctor. Working closely with her doctor throughout
the entire term is important for mom to be sure that her diet and
exercise habits are fostering the best environment for baby to grow
in. An expecting mom should also consult her doctor about labor
planning and considerations such as pain management, Umbilical
cord blood banking
and circumcision.
Is
Running Appropriate?
Experts agree women should avoid high-impact and competitive sports during pregnancy, but there are many misconceptions about other types of exercise best suited for pregnancy. Fitness professionals have devised a few guidelines to help mom in deciding on the best forms of exercise. The first rule is applicable to every pregnancy. Begin with an exercise program below your tolerance level.
Women with a history of aerobic exercise will likely have little trouble initiating a running or jogging program. Those with no history or a long lapse in exercise should begin with less intense exercises, such as swimming or walking. Over-exertion does not help mom and can put baby at risk by reducing available nutrients and robbing oxygen from the blood. Also, over-exertion increases the risk of exercise injuries. Any injury to muscles or connective tissues will take away from exercise efforts.
The next guideline is to stay hydrated. Especially during warm weather, any physical exertion will remove water from the body due to sweating and flushing out lactic acid produced during muscle contractions. Keep a bottle of water handy at all times. During pregnancy, it is important to always drink enough water to satisfy thirst.
Experts agree women should avoid high-impact and competitive sports during pregnancy, but there are many misconceptions about other types of exercise best suited for pregnancy. Fitness professionals have devised a few guidelines to help mom in deciding on the best forms of exercise. The first rule is applicable to every pregnancy. Begin with an exercise program below your tolerance level.
Women with a history of aerobic exercise will likely have little trouble initiating a running or jogging program. Those with no history or a long lapse in exercise should begin with less intense exercises, such as swimming or walking. Over-exertion does not help mom and can put baby at risk by reducing available nutrients and robbing oxygen from the blood. Also, over-exertion increases the risk of exercise injuries. Any injury to muscles or connective tissues will take away from exercise efforts.
The next guideline is to stay hydrated. Especially during warm weather, any physical exertion will remove water from the body due to sweating and flushing out lactic acid produced during muscle contractions. Keep a bottle of water handy at all times. During pregnancy, it is important to always drink enough water to satisfy thirst.
Running
Throughout Pregnancy
Physiological changes during pregnancy will require consideration for even the most physically fit moms. Increasing levels of natural fatigue and changes in body weight and proportion will require cutting back on exercise amounts gradually as the due date approaches. There is no need to run a marathon prior to delivery, and many other concerns will likely take precedence in the final weeks.
Pregnancy provides a number of opportunities to learn more about your body. Expecting moms can, and should, take advantage of exercise classes designed specifically for pregnancy. Even seasoned runners can benefit from engaging a in a pre-natal yoga program for total-body stretching. Since more intense workouts, like running, require greater consciousness of safety issues it’s best if you’re not experienced to stick with lower impact workouts.
Physiological changes during pregnancy will require consideration for even the most physically fit moms. Increasing levels of natural fatigue and changes in body weight and proportion will require cutting back on exercise amounts gradually as the due date approaches. There is no need to run a marathon prior to delivery, and many other concerns will likely take precedence in the final weeks.
Pregnancy provides a number of opportunities to learn more about your body. Expecting moms can, and should, take advantage of exercise classes designed specifically for pregnancy. Even seasoned runners can benefit from engaging a in a pre-natal yoga program for total-body stretching. Since more intense workouts, like running, require greater consciousness of safety issues it’s best if you’re not experienced to stick with lower impact workouts.
“Katie Moore has written and
submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the
topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things
Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people!
To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore
From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.”
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sitting in FUNK-y Town
I get in funks often ( a bit too often for my liking). Usually I'm over-trained, over-scheduled, over-everything, and they usually happen when I'm due for a rest day anyway. After a day or two off, some extra rest, and a glass or tow (or heck, maybe a bottle) of wine, I'm golden. I firmly believe in sweating bad moods out.
But the past couple of weeks, I can't shake it. Normally, I would just go ahead and get out the door no matter what, but it's like the inner drive is gone. I feel lost. I don't know what it's like to not have that inner drive. Am I burned out? Maybe. Not from training, though. Just burned out on everything. I've been "on" basically every day since May 1st if not before. "Off" time is a luxury right now it seems. It's definitely vacation time, and vacation time isn't even on the calendar right now. I need to get out of the funk though.
Here's my plan:
Take the holiday weekend off. If I get runs in, great. If not, whatever. Tuesday starts the "working out even if every cell in your body doesn't want to" phase.
Share with me how you get out of your funks.
But the past couple of weeks, I can't shake it. Normally, I would just go ahead and get out the door no matter what, but it's like the inner drive is gone. I feel lost. I don't know what it's like to not have that inner drive. Am I burned out? Maybe. Not from training, though. Just burned out on everything. I've been "on" basically every day since May 1st if not before. "Off" time is a luxury right now it seems. It's definitely vacation time, and vacation time isn't even on the calendar right now. I need to get out of the funk though.
Here's my plan:
Take the holiday weekend off. If I get runs in, great. If not, whatever. Tuesday starts the "working out even if every cell in your body doesn't want to" phase.
Share with me how you get out of your funks.
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