With the busy holiday season upon us, I have the best intentions to exercise on weekends or outside of work, and completely forget the plans I have made. This Saturday, instead of doing a long luxurious run outside I slept in till 8:30 and went for brunch with friends. So much for a great run day.... Later that day it was Sugar Cookie decorating at Grandma's followed by Family Dinner. All of my great planning, tossed out the window.
Thankfully, during this great season I have friends to come along and motivate me. So Monday morning, instead of sleeping in because I had the day off, I awoke at 6:30 to exercise in a friends basement (thank you Beach Body Workout and Andrea for holding me accountable). I often find that my biggest issue when it comes to exercise is getting to the point of doing it. Why am I so exhausted prior to putting on my running or exercise clothes? Yet once I'm doing the exercise, typically I am so happy that I started! I feel great, sweat begins to drip down my face if I'm really pushing it the head band isn't even a match for the sweat as it inevitably runs into my eye balls. Oh the stinging of sweat! Thats when you know your doing good!
So, during this holiday season, I have concluded that my friends and I who are trying to not tip the scale this holiday season are going to do active things together. I mean, we still get to hang out, but rather than drinking an Eggnog Latte will burn some of the calories we would have otherwise consumed. Its a win win for all, hanging out, enjoying the holidays and heck even if it is 'just' walking, that's better than doing nothing. So here's to the holidays, hanging out with friends, family all while doing some fitness. So bring on the Snowboarding, walks and group runs this holiday season!
Tuesday 18 December 2012
Friday 14 December 2012
Being friends with a Runner (it can change things)
As many of my friends can tell you, it is not always easy to be friends with a person whose idea of a picturesque weekend involves double digit mile runs (while looking fabulous in neon florescents).
When I was training for my first Marathon, we began to joke that training was my boyfriend, as a lot of time was spent laying a solid foundation which I could build up from. Instead of hanging out after work or going for coffee on a Saturday morning I was either pounding the pavement or making a splash in the pool. If you add up the hours I spent running and cross-training it may be alarming at first, but the reality of it is, what else would I have been doing with my time? Now don't get me wrong, there were plenty of times when I didn't feel like running or swimming. Or I would start feeling fantastic and then 5 minutes in be experiencing a complete mental lapse and spend the next hour or so thinking what was I doing and why? But at the end of the day, a runner is something that I wanted and want to be; therefore, I pushed through the bad in hopes that the next one will be better.
The fact of the matter is that if I'm in a slump I know it is only a matter of time before I fee like I'm flying when I lace up my shoes.
But back to the friends thing, being friends with a runner can be annoying. I realize this, and my friends are fantastic. They appeased me and listened to my talks of training runs, the things I was experiencing and allowed me to grow. Now this is great, but the best gift my friends have given me is picking up the challenge of running and joining me in living a more active lifestyle. Just as my relationship with running has involved, so has my relationship with my friends. We find, try and swap healthy recipes, and enjoy nights in of fantastic food experiments that are full of flavor, protein and veggies. A friend of mine even went as far as to deem Tuesdays as running and pizza night (she lives on a massive hill/mountain that equipped me for the hills of San Fransisco). Another friend of mine has begun a couch to 5 km program, which although I would like to say I inspired, the truth of the matter is that she has decided that this is the year that she is going to make a lifestyle change. As a runner, I have to thank my friends and family for inspiring me to do things I never thought possible by listening, believing in me and pushing themselves outside their comfort zones.
So I warn you, if you are friends with a runner, do not be surprised if they try to talk you into trying it out, and do not ever compare yourself to someone else. While it is good to set goals, be realistic and remember that even on the worst work out or running days, at least you did it! There are plenty of people who wouldn't have even gotten out the door or put their workout gear on and tried. And if you don't want to run, that's okay too! So if you are friends with a runner, thanks for listening to us oddballs and pretending you care about chaffing, dry fit, compression socks and fueling.
When I was training for my first Marathon, we began to joke that training was my boyfriend, as a lot of time was spent laying a solid foundation which I could build up from. Instead of hanging out after work or going for coffee on a Saturday morning I was either pounding the pavement or making a splash in the pool. If you add up the hours I spent running and cross-training it may be alarming at first, but the reality of it is, what else would I have been doing with my time? Now don't get me wrong, there were plenty of times when I didn't feel like running or swimming. Or I would start feeling fantastic and then 5 minutes in be experiencing a complete mental lapse and spend the next hour or so thinking what was I doing and why? But at the end of the day, a runner is something that I wanted and want to be; therefore, I pushed through the bad in hopes that the next one will be better.
The fact of the matter is that if I'm in a slump I know it is only a matter of time before I fee like I'm flying when I lace up my shoes.
But back to the friends thing, being friends with a runner can be annoying. I realize this, and my friends are fantastic. They appeased me and listened to my talks of training runs, the things I was experiencing and allowed me to grow. Now this is great, but the best gift my friends have given me is picking up the challenge of running and joining me in living a more active lifestyle. Just as my relationship with running has involved, so has my relationship with my friends. We find, try and swap healthy recipes, and enjoy nights in of fantastic food experiments that are full of flavor, protein and veggies. A friend of mine even went as far as to deem Tuesdays as running and pizza night (she lives on a massive hill/mountain that equipped me for the hills of San Fransisco). Another friend of mine has begun a couch to 5 km program, which although I would like to say I inspired, the truth of the matter is that she has decided that this is the year that she is going to make a lifestyle change. As a runner, I have to thank my friends and family for inspiring me to do things I never thought possible by listening, believing in me and pushing themselves outside their comfort zones.
So I warn you, if you are friends with a runner, do not be surprised if they try to talk you into trying it out, and do not ever compare yourself to someone else. While it is good to set goals, be realistic and remember that even on the worst work out or running days, at least you did it! There are plenty of people who wouldn't have even gotten out the door or put their workout gear on and tried. And if you don't want to run, that's okay too! So if you are friends with a runner, thanks for listening to us oddballs and pretending you care about chaffing, dry fit, compression socks and fueling.
Wednesday 12 December 2012
How Much Is Too Much?
Monday Evening - Ran on Treadmill 6 miles
Tuesday Evening - Ran on Treadmill 3 miles
I first started running long distances, and training for half marathons last year. The end of December 2011 (I think it was the 28th or 29th) I signed up for my first Half Marathon, which was to take place in February. Prior to this, the longest I ran was 4 maybe 6 miles every now and then but I typically stuck with the tried and true 3 miler. As many runners may know, once you start running races, you catch this type of running-bug. So naturally I did another half marathon three months after my first, got into the Nike Women's Marathon and started training for that shortly after my second half marathon.
Although I tried following a training plan, what I quickly realized that my body is not made for high mileage training. I do not think that I will ever be one of those people who can consistently run 5-7 times a week and stay 100% healthy. Instead, 3-4 runs a week, and cross-training (alright, the goal of cross-training, great intentions... but really, who wants to go for a bike ride in December, or drive to the pool in the cold to get into a cold pool and do laps... not this kid), with one rest day every week seems to be the way my body functions best.
So all of this being said, why did I decide to run back to back nights? Because giving advice and adhering to it are two very different things. But perhaps, this upcoming year, I will do a better job at listening to my body, training smart, and cross-training. :)
Like I said, I'm getting a jump start on this whole New Years resolution...
Tuesday Evening - Ran on Treadmill 3 miles
I first started running long distances, and training for half marathons last year. The end of December 2011 (I think it was the 28th or 29th) I signed up for my first Half Marathon, which was to take place in February. Prior to this, the longest I ran was 4 maybe 6 miles every now and then but I typically stuck with the tried and true 3 miler. As many runners may know, once you start running races, you catch this type of running-bug. So naturally I did another half marathon three months after my first, got into the Nike Women's Marathon and started training for that shortly after my second half marathon.
Although I tried following a training plan, what I quickly realized that my body is not made for high mileage training. I do not think that I will ever be one of those people who can consistently run 5-7 times a week and stay 100% healthy. Instead, 3-4 runs a week, and cross-training (alright, the goal of cross-training, great intentions... but really, who wants to go for a bike ride in December, or drive to the pool in the cold to get into a cold pool and do laps... not this kid), with one rest day every week seems to be the way my body functions best.
So all of this being said, why did I decide to run back to back nights? Because giving advice and adhering to it are two very different things. But perhaps, this upcoming year, I will do a better job at listening to my body, training smart, and cross-training. :)
Like I said, I'm getting a jump start on this whole New Years resolution...
Monday 10 December 2012
Welcome! Christmas Season and Fitness
While most people create resolutions around New Years, I'm getting a bit of a head start. With the holiday season in my grasp I have realized that I need to set some serious goals in order to stay true to myself and truly enjoy the Holiday Season.
Now how am I going to do this? Well hopefully starting this blog will help! (keep me accountable) Here's the thing, I don't do 'diets', instead I try to eat food which my body responds positively to and counter indulgences my being active year round. With the rain 24/7 this time of year, and the frigid cold seeping into my bones, running outside is not that appealing... insert Treadmill love! So hopefully, this week, my treadmill and I will be besties in the evening (realistic goal, 3 x's), and during the week I will be able to resist the sweets and treats going around the office.
Will I be successful, who knows, but the worst that can happen is I don't follow through, gain 5 lbs this Holiday Season and hit the pavement hard in the New Year.
Now how am I going to do this? Well hopefully starting this blog will help! (keep me accountable) Here's the thing, I don't do 'diets', instead I try to eat food which my body responds positively to and counter indulgences my being active year round. With the rain 24/7 this time of year, and the frigid cold seeping into my bones, running outside is not that appealing... insert Treadmill love! So hopefully, this week, my treadmill and I will be besties in the evening (realistic goal, 3 x's), and during the week I will be able to resist the sweets and treats going around the office.
Will I be successful, who knows, but the worst that can happen is I don't follow through, gain 5 lbs this Holiday Season and hit the pavement hard in the New Year.
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