It's the end of the month!!

Wow, can you believe that August is over already?!?! Where has the summer gone? This weekend is a long weekend for most of us, me included. Tomorrow is going to be a super busy day, but before I get into that, I want to recap about a little challenge that I participated in.  Somehow I found this challenge on facebook where the challenge was to do at least 50 crunches or twists everyday for a month. I signed up to do it, and I followed through. I actually enjoy the fact that I work up a sweat while doing the ab circuit that I was doing.  In 31 short days, here are the results...

 

 

While I know that the changes aren't drastic, they are there. I am going to keep doing the ab circuit this month, I am just going to step it up a notch. If the changes are appearing after 1 short month, I am excited to see what the changes will continue to look like down the road :) OK, enough about the ego boost...

 

Tomorrow, I am running 8 miles. 8 miles. OK, there I said it. I am not dreading it anymore. No, I was never dreading it, more scared about it. Since I went to physical therapy for my IT Band, I haven't had any "pain" running. Now that I am stepping up the mileage, I am nervous to find out what will happen. But, I will take it slow and steady, and finish the 8 miles, with a smile. After running tomorrow I have a wedding shower to attend. I am looking forward to it, there is something about celebrating some one's love that makes everyone smile. After the shower, is a Picnic at my uncle's house. Hopefully, the weather will allow for some swimming because besides M loving the water, I am sure my joints will appreciate the water.

 

I am not sure if anything is in the works for Sunday, but I am sure it will involve me hanging out with my mom. She's kinda awesome! Monday of course is labor day and a day off of work, again will probably consist of hanging out with my mom.

 

Anyway, I hope August was special for you, and that you are hanging on to the summer like we are.  While I am ready for the fall, I am wanting time to slow down, I don't want my sweet little girl to grow up too fast.

Happy Friday!

Workout Wednesday

I never ever thought I would ever admit it, but I have to admit it. Today, my friend Bob met me with at Lafayette's stadium. I haven't done these beasts for over a month, and I missed it! Me, missed running stadium steps. What is wrong with me?!? Bob is more than a friend, he is kinda like my coach, although we push each other through the steps. Our goals for the steps is to do 10 reps, 5 full and 5 half, and between the reps either push ups or crunches. Today, we did 11!! Bob, I know I said that it felt like the halfway steps got easier, I found this and thought it was more appropriate...

So, while you are dreaming about making a goat out of limberger cheese, I am constructing ways to keep you motivated for your marathon training.
Thank you pinterest for this...

Just know that when you finish...

In the meantime, I will see you next week for more of our

 

 

Hope you had a great workout today, I know I did!

 

Trusty Tuesdays

I have no idea while my post is titled that, I  am not very good at naming the blog posts. I just let things flow from my brain, sometimes filtered, sometimes not. Sometimes things just came up. Like today. Err um this morning.  I woke up, did my awesome ab workout (did I just say that?!?) and then wanted to run. But, Joe wasn't home from work yet and M was still sleeping so I didn't. I went to work and then came home. The sunset was beautiful so I hoped that the night was going to be a good one to run. I packed up M and we headed out.  I love these twilight runs with her, she chatters on about finding her moon, looking for woof-woofs, and blue bye-byes, and all the fun little things that come out of her mouth. She likes it when I go fast, and whenever I stop to catch my breath she always says "uh-oh." She cracks me up. She doesn't like it when I ask her if she wants to go for a walk with me, but as soon as I ask her if she wants to run with me, her face lights up.  I even busted out the headlight, which by the way is uncomfortable and hard to do. Maybe I need a new headlight?!? Anyone out in the blogiverse, have any suggestions? I have to admit I wish running with the jogging stroller was getting easier, although I have only been doing it for not even 3 weeks.  It does count as a good cross-training right?!?

Anyway, I wanted to put into this writing so that I can remind myself of what I want to achieve....
MY FITNESS BUCKET LIST
1- I want to run a marathon. A FULL Marathon. But, I don't want it to be just any marathon, I want it to be flat, particularly by the beach, with some of my BCR friends, no family, there cheering me on.
2- I want to run an ultra. Nothing like Decker, but something fun and new and exciting. I guess anything over 13.1 miles will be new and exciting.
3- I want to do a chocolate run in Canada. This particular race. Not necessarily May of next year, it depends on finances and vacation time at work, but it looks tempting. I would love to take my running internationally :)
4- I want to do a triathlon
5- I want to conquer 10 full reps of the stairs at Lafayette
Those are the first 5 things that popped off the top of me head. I reserve the right to add to the list. I hope one day I can look back and be like wow, what kind of kid wrote those?!? LOL!

Anyway, speaking of steps, tomorrow is my day off and I have a date with Bob and those killer steps at Lafayette.  That is after hopefully spending all day with M, well I will be spending all day with her, to visit a daycare, lunch with some friends, hopefully seeing my cousin's baby, then finishing the day off with the steps and some where in there a trip to the gym. I think I am going to need a day off to recover from my day off. But anyway I get to spend time with M is time well spent. I love all of these adventures that we go on, I am excited to see what tomorrow brings. Until then!

Hope you had a sweat-tastic Tuesday!

Get Down and Dirty

I just got down and dirty. How, I did my 26th day of my AB challenge and since I stepped up the bar with the type I am doing I get really sweaty. I AM NOT complaining! I love that I am sweaty, makes me think I am actually working, which makes me feel great! Maybe just maybe in a year I will actually like my body. I know my plan for next month's ab challenge and I am excited to see the results. More so after next month, but I guess if I look at how far I have come, I cannot complain. (although I do, just to myself). I need to start finding the good in how far I have come.

 

 

Looking at this picture should put things into perspective, but it doesn't. Well, it does, but it also makes me want more. I need to step it up. No more backing down, no more excuses.

I put so much pressure on myself in the gym, and in what I eat, and then the weekend comes and I let it go. I need to put my finger on it. I think I have, and now I need to overcome, I will overcome

I will overcome. I just need to forgive myself when I make a poor choice, instead of throwing it all away.

 

Saturday I ran 7 miles. 7 pain free absolutely beautiful miles. I am so thankful everyday for what Breakfast Club Runners have given me. Friends that I never knew would understand my need to run, and my silliness. Next week I will be celebrating my runniversary. I think that on Labor Day, I will head to Plainfield Township's running trail to where it all started and run there again. It will be an emotional run, but a run that I deserve.  At breakfast on Saturday I was talking with Roger, Chris and Kim about what changes I have seen in my body since running. I think the biggest thing that I can say that the BCR gets is not that I am running because I am getting chased, but I am running from what I once was, and chancing down who knows what. Who that girl was almost a year ago. She sometimes rears her ugly head, on a day like today when I wasn't really active, but most days, she is in check. Those long runs remind me of where I came from, how much of a struggle running once was. How even just pushing M around is only 1/2 of the weight I lost in that year.  While the number on the scale may not be changing, it doesn't mean that I am not losing weight, it just means that I am getting more muscle. (I hope anyway).

 

I blog, not for the accolades. I blog to show the real me. The down and dirty me. The reasons I do what I do. The everyday struggles that I have. This is the real me.  Don't get me wrong, I love running, I love getting fit. I love that people come to me to help them get healthier, but I also have my moments where I ask myself why. Well...it has to stop. I need to believe in myself. I KNOW I can do it and that I will do it. My mom even "yelled" at me today when I made a comment about my pudge today. She reminded me to look at where I came from.

Feb 2010, before I got pregnant

April 2012

And to see where I have grown.

 

I will continue to get down and dirty. I will continue to embrace the struggles that will make me a better, healthier me. I will do it! I might whine and complain, but I know I will definitely need your support.



Catch up!

I really feel like I need to play catch up sometimes. Today, was an unplanned trip to the beach. By unplanned I am saying that last night at 9 pm we left for the beach. We got there at a little before midnight, til we unwound and was able to get M to go back to sleep it was probably close to 1 am. We were back up at 6 and she was ready to go! She was awake all day until we put her in her car seat at 4pm to leave. She passed out before we even left the driveway and slept until we stopped to eat. She really is a good passenger, and all this traveling is making me excited about her upcoming first plane ride! Anyway,  I wanted to reflect on something that I have been thinking about since yesterday...
So, Joe now works 11p-730am. My routine here has to be adapted in order to still continue with the gym and well life in general. Anyway, yesterday was a run day. So, without hesitation I figured out how to adapt my schedule to still achieve my run. Well, I busted out this handy dandy thing. I have to say that I naively thought that it couldn't be that hard if I see people racing all the time pushing their strollers.Well, after 3 miles, I looked like this...

This was only 3 miles! I am glad that I was able to run while pushing M, and at the same time I have gained a lot of respect for those moms/dads who run pushing their children in the jogging strollers. They make it look VERY easy! I am currently training for a half marathon, so I know I really can't afford to not run. So, now I am trying to figure out how to be creative to get my workouts in. This week I have figured out how to still get my runs in, get my daughter out there with me, since I thank her every day for everything.  Well, this is where I put things into perspective. My daughter is approximately 28 pounds. I started getting teary eyed when I reflected on how hard running was for me not just 28# ago, but also 57# ago. I still get teary eyed thinking about that.

Anyway, I had no plans to run today (I lie!) I packed to run, but didn't know if I was going to feel like running. I slept on the floor last night and felt a little sore from yesterday so I set out to run a mile. I ran 3 instead. There is something said to go set out to run 1 mile and run 3.

So, here is to all of the little things that we do that everyday that amazes us. Here are to all the little milestones we meet. Hopefully together we will all achieve our own greatness and all feel more comfortable in our skin. I hope we give 100% in all we do, if we don't care for ourselves, who will. I have a destination wedding and a trip to Florida next year, the Game is on suckers! I am stepping it up so that I know I will feel comfortable at the destination wedding. I know it's not about me, but I also want to feel comfortable in whatever I wear and be proud of how far I have gone. There is no turning back, I am not the same person I was when I began the journey a year ago, and I am excited to see who I will become in the next year.

 

 

I chose to be the best Michele I can be. If that means I look like a fool doing crunches on the beach, then be it. At least I know I am doing everything I can to widdle away the middle! A stronger core will help my self-esteem as well as my running. See, it is a win win situation.

 

Happy Wednesday!

It definitely happened at the zoo

Today I ran a 10K at the LV Zoo. This weekend was my planned 6 mile run, I just changed up the day of the week. Anyway, with knowing that today was coming, Sat was an earned day off. So, before I went to bed, I went through my ritual of laying out what I was going to wear the next day.

This morning, I woke up at 530, and felt not well rested. I knew it was going to be a long day, but I also knew I was ready for it. I have already completed a half marathon, what's 6.2 miles. Well, let me tell you something about this race. I really felt like it was really well organized and there was an awesome crowd. The course marshalls were awesome with directing the 5Ks and the 10Ks onto the right path. Now...I know I do steps, but apparently I need to do some hill work. Especially with the half marathon coming up, I really need to step the hills up a notch. We entered our first major hill at mile 2, and we hit the peak at mile 3. Down the hill we went and then we hit another hill at mile 3.5 and that went on until mile 4. I would also like to point out, that I am not really sure if anyone ran up that first hill. It was NEVER ENDING!! Anyway, I went into the race hoping to do it in 1 hr and 6 minutes, and even with the hills, I managed to do 1 hr 10 minutes (unofficially). My favorite part of the race, getting to Ford the Creek by foot. That was at like mile 5. At that point, I met up with a boyfriend and girlfriend pair who had a great pace. I was trying to make up time but I was way too spent from the hills. (I really respect my friends who did Quadzilla and if anyone wants to drag me along to run hills, please take me) Anyway, I stayed with their pace and even encouraged the girlfriend on to keep going strong. We hit mile 5.5 and the boyfriend and I started to pull a little bit away. I kept trying to encourage the girlfriend on, but at this point my legs felt great although tired. At mile 6 we entered the zoo and were teased by all of the finish line stuff. We still had to run around the zoo in order to cross the finish line. The boyfriend was a little bit ahead of me and he signaled that the finish line was in view. I cranked it on and finished hard and even ended up passing him when it really matter most. I wish I would have turned it on a little sooner, but now I know how great my legs can feel! At the end of the race, I ran into a girl named Rachel (I really hope that is her name) I had met her the week before at one of the Breakfast Club Runners trails and it was nice seeing her again. She asked me if I heard her husband as I was finishing to which I said no. She said he was shouting that he knew me. Me? Really? Wow? Thanks.

After the race, we were able to enjoy the zoo before it opened. We had taken M earlier in the year and she just wasn't really into it. Well, that all changed this time...

To us, this is a Zebra to M it was a neigh neigh (horse)

 She loved this owl. She was able to say owl, and she kept talking to it and talking to it and talking to it.

 Here, she is pretending to be an otter...I promise, she is enjoying this, she is saying "cheese"

 Here, she is being a Penguin, although she was really trying to find them...

We think this Ostrich was trying to peck his way out of the cage, but no worries, he didn't get very far.

While I wasn't happy with my time, I was happy that I was able to run pain-free and to help me know that the steps are paying off, but that I need to incorporate hills into my training. I am hoping that my bike is up and running soon, so that I can also add that to my training schedule. Will I run this race again, quite possibly, but I will make sure that I am more prepared for all of those hills!

Hope you had a great Sunday!

It's the weekend eve!

So, this whole 10 hour shift thing is kicking my butt. I am not really complaining, but I am still trying to adjust to working 10 hours. It is not like I sleep in either. I am up before 5 every day, even weekends. I feel like I have wasted some of the day if I sleep in past 7.  The last 2 nights have been restless, M woke up early Wednesday morning (2am) screaming, and wouldn't go back to sleep unless I was holding her. This morning it was 4am. By the time I was deep asleep, it was time for me to get up and get active. Today, was a run day. I try to keep my run days to Tues, Thurs, and my long runs on Sat. With a 10K on Sunday, my plan is going to hopefully ride my bike on Sat with the Breakfast Club Runners while they run. However, that is up to my uncle who is servicing it. Otherwise, it will be a short slow run. Back to today. I haven't run with music in almost a month. I did take my music today, but I changed my playlist.  I had set my mind to do the 4 miles in 44 minutes and pain-free. Last Saturday when I ran, I had a strange twinge down my leg.  It wasn't pain, it was like an electric shock for like a split second.  Anyway, I am also trying to slowly increase my mileage since I am currently training for a half marathon. Well, so I got to Fairview Park, which lately is my go to place to run.  It was an absolutely beautiful morning. It was in the 60s, with low humidity.  They were setting up for the local carnival that is going on there, otherwise there was the occasional walker on the path.  I started running, focusing on my breathing since I still feel like that is the hardest part of my struggle. I am not sure if that is due to the fact that I couldn't run for 6 weeks due to PT or if it is because I haven't taken my allergy medicine going on 2 months now. Anyway, I made sure to focus on the breathing and the surroundings. Like I said, I was ok with running 11 min/miles so when I was at 1/2 a mile I noticed that my time was at 11. I was like, this feels good, let's push it a little bit more.  At the mile marker I was at 10:30. It still felt great, so I kept pushing it. I noticed that each mile was closer and closer to 10 minutes, I even think mile 2 was under 10 minutes. I continued to focus on my breathing, and how great it felt to be running. There was no pain, no weird shocks.  When I was finished my 4 miles, I looked down at my trusted Garmin

And saw that!!! 4 miles in 40 minutes!! Even the last mile at 8:41, although I am not sure how accurate that time was,  I wasn't even giddy about that. I was stoked over the 4 miles in 40 minutes!  I feel like all of my hard work is starting to pay off.

This run is just what I needed. If you recall from this post, things have been really hard for me. I have been losing motivation because I feel like I am not seeing results. Then I had that conversation with my cousin that made me totally stoked! This morning, I reread that post and noticed that I had comments on it.  A sweet lady named Jenna commented on the post and it made my day how I have touched someone else. I sometimes forget where I came from.  That here in the next 2 weeks in my 1 year Runniversary! I cannot believe how far I have come in such a short period of time. Yes, all my runs won't be this spectacular, but maybe they will. I will continue to work hard both in the gym, running, and in life in general. Good things come to those who wait, and those who work hard. I believe I do both of them.  I have the personality where I don't give up on anything I do, and that I give 100% in all I do.

I have also realized that I might want to try a triathlon one day, and even crazier, I want to do an Ultra. I will probably do the Ultra sooner than later, but before I am 40, I will do at least one Ultra. There, I have it in writing. What a lofty goal I have.

Here is to the weekend eve! I hope you have a great Friday! Enjoy the weekend! I cannot wait to hear all about it! I also cannot wait to see what it has in store for us!

How an awesome day got even awesomer

So, after the baseball game on Saturday and M enjoying it, I was excited and nervous all at the same time. We haven't been to the beach in almost a year, and I wasn't quite sure how M would do. So, at 530 this morning I took this picture...

Sorry about the photo quality, I don't know how to use the flash on my iPhone. Anyway, she kept saying "go Mama go." I guess she couldn't wait to get there either.  She slept most of the way down there, and when she was awake she wanted to watch Rocket (Little Einsteins). While I love having the ability of watching Disney Junior shows on my iPhone, it has reaffirmed the need for a portable dvd player and Little Einsteins videos when we fly to Chicago. But, that is an adventure for another day. Anyway, in less than 2 hours we were at the beach. Tell me this isn't an awesome view...

We were like the 3rd car of people there. With a view like this, and weather like we had today, it reaffirmed my love for the beach and my need to go there more often. Hmm, random road trips coming anyway.

Here is the first picture I took of the day, when M was going for a walk with my mom.

Guess it was safe to say that she loved it. She always needed her "dig" to go with her wherever she went. Of course, being there since 8 am led to needing to eat. So, when she wasn't digging somewhere, or rolling around in the sand and getting covered head to toe, I was able to get her to sit down to eat, of course, in "Mama seat."

I couldn't get her to nap, and she wasn't really fussy.  She just wanted me for everything. When it was time to leave, I was able to rinse her off and get her changed. She said she wanted her seat, I put her in her car seat, and before we even left our parking spot this is what I saw.

I guess you could say she had an awesome day.  But, that was only half of it for me. Before all of this cuteness was captured, I took this picture...

I just thought it was a nice picture, and now, it has more meaning.  My cousin went with us to the beach. Him and I used to spend time together when we were both younger, we just hung out. Went to lunch, made fun of people, you know silly stuff. Anyway, I don't see him that often because he is busy being a college junior and swimmer and working and you know living life.  Anyway, there was a person at the beach that I perceived myself as looking like. It's a long story, and writing this is helping me admit that I have low self-esteem issues.

Anyway, I asked him if he saw me that same way. Now, he is not one to lie. If you ask him a question he is uncomfortable with, he either laughs when you ask it or he quickly changes the subject. Well, when I first asked the question, he without hesitation said, "No, you don't look like that. Not at all. You look really good. Much better than you used too." He then continued, "Whatever it is that you are doing it, keep it up!" While he has no idea how much hearing that meant to me, or how hearing that helped push me through this little funk, his words re-energized me. 

Later, on the way home, he was looking at Runner's World Magazine and saw this add for people hiking through the desert. He started laughing, and when I asked him what he was laughing at he said, "I don't know. For some reason, I can picture you running this." I laughed, he has no idea that doing an ultra (maybe not running through a desert) is on my bucket list.

Thank you cuz! You really helped make an awesome day awesomer and you really made me feel like all of this running, these early morning trips to the gym, all this stuff is actually working and maybe, while I cannot see it because I am so critical of myself other people can see it. People who I never would have known noticing actually are noticing. Maybe just maybe, one day I will be comfortable in my skin again?!?! Wow!

Speaking of that, I am almost half way through my August Ab Challenge. I took a picture when I started and I will take one half way through and then at the end. Here's hoping that I will even see changes. In the meantime, I have to remember this...

From Pinterest



So, here is to the start of a new week, and a new outlook on life! Have a great week! Happy Monday!

Friday and Saturday fun...

Photo courtesy of Brian





So, as you may or may not know, we were supposed to go to the beach on Friday. We didn't however because mother nature had other plans. It was still a nice day off, we hung out at my folks house, well until Makayla needed to nap. We came home, and she napped for 3 hours. While it wasn't the day we had planned, it was still a nice break from the 4 day work week. Saturday was also a relaxed day. I ran 5 miles with my BCR friends, and while out of no where I had an odd twinge in my leg, I ran with a great running partner and she helped me get through the run.  Thanks again April! After running we went to breakfast, and while it wasn't the best service, you really can't help enjoy yourself with this group of people.

So, that night a friend of mine had baseball tickets available to see the IronPigs. I was super excited, I had only been to one other game so far this year, and that is totally a shame! Anyway, we went and I think Makayla had a lot of fun. Here, you tell me what you think.

She wanted to sit in her own seat, with a little help from me.

This was her hat, and she wouldn't let me forget it.

Anyway we made it until the 7th inning and she was getting restless and tired so we left. While I took this photo because I thought it was cool, I had no idea that right after we left the heavens would open up and unleash more of Mother Nature's fury.

Still, it was awesome, I just wish we would have gone to more games, and maybe each year we can go to as many games as Makayla is old.  Last year we went to 1, this year 2. Haha, and I thought I was so smart. Anyway, that is how my weekend started, I can't wait to tell you had it ended.

Quick Moment

Being a nurse, is hard work, working 10 hour shifts is hard work. Balancing work and life is an even harder task.  But, for now, it is working. That will be until my hubby's work schedule changes, then my schedule will change.  Not my work schedule, but my workout schedule. But, I will figure it out. Not working out kills me in a way, it is my way to work off stress, and I have noticed how much more relaxed I am now that I am back in the habit. Today, though, was going to be a rest day.  I was going to go to the gym, but I have a 12 hour work day ahead of me. I wanted to sleep just a little longer. I wanted to stay in bed just a little longer. So, while I didn't go to the gym, today is not a waste. As you know from facebook, I am currently involved in a 31 day August Ab Challenge, so, I did my 50 crunches today to stay on track. I feel better knowing that today is not going to be a wash. While I am going to be exhausted, I won't be able to be upset with myself for not working out. I saw this quote and once I read it, it pushed me to do my crunches...

So, while the rest of today will be a blur and will be spent at work, I know that I won't beat myself up from being lazy. I slept 20 minutes longer, still did my crunches, and even got to blog. All before I leave for work. Looks like today will be a good day after all. The only downside, no running of stairs. It's ok, I know that I will get back at it as soon as possible!

Have a great Hump day!

Happy Anniversary to my husband! While it has had its rough moments, joyous moments and craziness, I love you with all of my heart! I found this and it made me think of you..

Happy Anniversary, I love you today, tomorrow and always.

Setting the standard

You know, working 10 hours days are killer. I don't know what is worse, the fact that I still get up at 6 am then go to work for 10 hours, or the fact that I am working 10 hours. See, when I get up at 6, it isn't like I am not doing anything. Today, I got up and ran with my friend M. We try to get together as often as we can, and in turn, I am helping her get in shape. Tomorrow, I will get up and go to the gym. It is nice to have these workouts done before work because after work it is rush rush rush to spend time with Makayla before she goes to sleep. But, don't get me wrong. I am not complaining, I am going to enjoy ever single moment of that well deserved day off. For instance, this weekend is my 4 day weekend, you bet your red rider I will enjoy every moment. Friday we are going to the beach, after that, nothing else is really planned, and I like it that way. But, I want to take a moment and thank all of my friends on facebook for liking my status the other day. It is because of each and every one of you that I did 10 minutes of planks (20 at 30 seconds/plank). I know that I probably could have done it, but I put it out there and you all stepped up, thank you! I know how to figure out how to up the ante.  I also want to see if I can find a boot camp, I really enjoyed the one I did on Sunday, and I wish I could go to one more often. Hmm, and find yoga...oh, if I could win the lottery.
My goal for Saturday is to run 6 miles. I haven't run that far since my half, and I am actually looking forward to see how my cross training and running will make this run feel.  I am hopeful and nervous all at the same time. No matter the outcome, I still have time to get ready for my half in October, that is what all of this training is for.
Because of the challenge I gave myself yesterday, I am stepping up my game.

I have some goals that I need to write down so that I see them so that I can live up to them. I need to keep the momentum going. I am going to keep doing steps (I actually missed them 2 weeks ago when I couldn't go). I am currently getting my bike worked on so I can add cycling to my cross training. I am going to keep running, and keep working on my diet and curbing those moments when eating everythings seems to be what I want to do. I have come to far, and I am too close to my goal that I cannot go wrong know.  There are some other things that I want to look into doing yes, we all know bootcamp and yoga, but other things as well. I ask you, my friends now, to help me. Help me stay strong, work hard, and work even harder. I will stand by your side and help you, will you stand by mine and help me?!?



Boot camp!

So, today I went to Central Park in NYC to do a FitApproach SweatPink ambassador meet up/boot camp/yoga session, followed by brunch. I have to say that I had no idea what to meet, and while it was a 1.5 hour drive, I knew that if I didn't seize the opportunity I would look back and regret it later.  See, Alyse and Jamie, the founders of FitApproach are based out of San Francisco and I didn't know when or if they were planning on coming to the east coast again.  And, if you know anything about me, when I do something, I either do it 100% or I don't even start it. As soon as I heard about this meet up, I KNEW I had to be there.  Have I mentioned how excited and glad and awesome this experience was.  I got to meet awesome women like myself and we all share a common goal, to help get ourselves into shape, whatever that means to us. SO, while I was extremely nervous at first, I quickly got over that. When I first got to Central Park, I was a little a lot overwhelmed.  I have never been there before, so, getting there by myself made me a little nervous. At first I thought I was lost, but then I looked for the group wearing their SweatPink shirts. Once I spotted them, my fear and nervousness left because I was getting to meet my blogging friends.  We got to chit chat a little bit and get to know each other, some were in NY for Blogher conference and 2 of them were there because they had just graduated from Yoga Instructor training.  We all came from different walks of life, and yet we were already like a family.  It was awesome. Jamie and Alyse were on time (hey, no penalties for getting lost, from what I saw today Central Park is HUGE). Jamie jumped us right into boot camp. It kicked my butt, and I am so pumped! My core is one of the weakest assets, so I am glad to hone in on them any time. I wish I lived in San Fransisco so I could take a boot camp class with her more often. It was the best/worse 45 minutes of my day :) After boot camp, we settled down with some yoga. I have dabbled a little bit into yoga before, and as always I was hesitant to do it again. For some reason, I just don't think I fit into the "yoga type" persona. Anyway, yoga was taught by Melissa, who just graduated from Yoga Training. I would not have known it was her first class. It was an awesome class where I learned a lot and because she is very tactile, stuff I was doing wrong was corrected so I could really feel what she was trying to tell me to do.  I really appreciated the time she took out to teach us. It made me miss the dabble in yoga I did and made me want to take it again just so I can learn how to do a head stand.  If only I lived closer to her in NYC!!
So, what had I learned so far today...that I really am interested in becoming a personal trainer, so I can teach boot camps to make people love me/hate me all at the same time. Not only will I push others to better themselves, but since I will be participating in boot camp, I will be bettering myself. Oye, look what steps are doing to me!!!

After we sweated up a storm, we took  a short walk to a place called Sarabeth's were we all had brunch and continued to talk and learn about each other. I couldn't have asked to better spend my day than with this awesome group of ladies. I cannot wait to reach out to each and everyone of them, learn from them, grow with them and hopefully meet up with them again sometime soon. Thanks so much for a wonderful day. Not only did I get to do a boot camp, yoga, continue my ab challenge, and see Central Park, but I really truly feel I made some awesome friends. Thanks again!

Fitness Friday

Whoa! Friday is here! Wow, how quickly the week is going by. Yesterday, I ran 4 miles, 2 of the miles were sub 10 minutes, the second mile was my fastest ever at 9:35.

It looks like all those trips up and down these blasted things....

And all of those early morning trips to the gym are finally paying off. I am happy with that, it's exciting to know that with hard work and determinationg, good, no scratch that, great things come to those who wait. I am really excited and looking forward to seeing how my training continues as I am preparing for my next half marathon. I cannot wait for it, to hopefully run the entire thing pain free. Slow but steady wins the race, right?!?

Tonight, I ran with my friend M again. Yep, I did a double session, and honestly it felt fantastic. She ran her longest distance ever, 2.5 miles, but more importantly, I, no wait, she ran the last 4 minutes nonstop. It is great for her, her entire 2.5 miles was a walk run walk combo, but I encouraged her to run the last "lap around the track" nonstop. I knew she could do it, and now, hopefully she knows she can do it.  I really think she is starting to believe in herself, just like I have believed in her all along. While we were running, she asked me where I came up with the one liners. If only she knew, ha! Things like this...

Or,

And lastly, I told her something similar to this, and I believe it is so very true...

So, here is to a happy, healthy, fit weekend! Tomorrow, I am going to do a bootcamp, and then back at it again next week! Don't forget the 30 day August Ab challenge going on. I am going to do this everyday, and since I took a photo at the beginning, I will take a photo half way through and then at the end. How will you challenge yourself and change yourself?!?

Shirt Exchange and other stuff

So, there is this awesome chicka named Heather who lives in the Pacific Northwest. Anyway, she is my blogging friend, who one day I hope to meet in real life. Well, we were talking on facebook and decided amongst ourselves to do a shirt swap. It all started because she loves my running club's logo...

I then asked her if she wanted one, and that is when we developed this swap. I had hoped to build this awesome package and well, I failed miserably on my end. I ended up sending her a shirt and my infamous "Doubt is a Skanky Wuss" so she could hang it up in a place that she could see. It's OK, I have plans to make her random care packages, especially when she needs one the most (I hear she has a marathon coming up ;) ) Well, my loot came yesterday, but because of my new work schedule, they were closed. I got it today, and let me tell you, she out did herself. 

That shirt says "Pints to Pasta" and now I want to go run it and want to meet her in real life! Receiving this package makes me kinda miss the Pacific Northwest, especially because I lived in Seattle and lived in an apartment above a Starbucks that delivered. I cannot wait to make more care packages and sending them her way. Who doesn't love getting mail that is not a bill.

Now, onto more fitness related topics. I heard through the grapevine, also known as my fellow #SweatPink Ambassadors, who told me about this awesome August Abs Challenge. You can read about it on facebook here.  The gist of the challenge is as follows:

50 abdominal crunches, ab twists or ANY abdominal exercise of YOUR choice every day of August!!! If you can do more... do more! But I challenge each of YOU to do a MINIMUM of 50 repetitions!!!

retrieved from pinterest

Day 1 was a success and I have Bob to thank for that. After each trip up/down the steps we do 10 crunches, therefore we did 100 today. And, speaking of the steps, who needs a sandbag. I had my daughter with me, and while I knew it was going to be difficult,

Pinterest.com

So, I did just that and I did 8 pf the 10 reps carrying my daughter. And, since I didn't want to hurt myself, I only went half way up the total steps, but half carrying an additional 28 pounds is a huge deal, right? Yeah, I thought so too. What did you do today?