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!

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?!?

What doesn't kill you...

Makes you stronger.  The Kelly Clarkson song Stronger, while is not about being this kind of strong, fits completely. " What doesn't kill you makes you stronger/ Stand a little taller/ Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone/ What doesn't kill you makes you fighter" So, today, 2 days later I am finally feeling the affects of the steps.  I am not complaining, it actually feels good to know that something is working on making me a better, stronger runner.   I found this picture today, and thought it was perfect..

http://www.positivequotes.us/

I will have to remember that when I hit the steps again next week.  I know that these steps will help me in the long run and while I was disappointed I couldn't run all of the steps 10 times, I did take that first step and I did run them 10 times. That is huge for me. And crazy me, is looking forward to doing it again next week. I had every intention of going to the gym this morning, but Makayla had other plans. I went to kiss her goodbye and she said "Hi, Mommy!" She wanted nothing to do with me leaving so instead I just held her and we nuzzled and hung out. I made breakfast, she wanted breakfast. She wanted my cereal with milk, so I gave her cereal with milk.  I have to say, I really enjoyed the time we got to spend together this morning even though it meant I didn't get to go to the gym. I am sure there are going to be days when she wants nothing to do with me, so I will hold onto these moments forever.  While I am hoping the pain in my calves is only temporary, since I have a 5K tomorrow. It is the Quiet Valley Rooster Run. From what I read, it is mixed terrain and cross country. I have no idea what to expect tomorrow, but with a name like Quiet Valley Rooster Run, it has to be fun right. Stick around tomorrow, I will sure to tell you all about it.

Speaking of tomorrow, my sister J and her family is coming in from Chicago tonight, er um tomorrow for the weekend. I am finally going to meet my month old nephew for the first time. I am sure the kids are going to be up to no good, and I cannot wait! Have a great Friday!

If the gym fits...

Join it! Well, I am thisclose to doing just that. As you know, I am leaving my current position in like 2 weeks. With that, I am going to be leaving the hospital's gym and therefore it led me to look for the right fit.  Well, I started looking last week, and again today. Last week I went to LA Fitness and while I liked what it looked like on the outside, and it having a pool is a plus, I just didn't feel like I belonged there. I didn't get to just look around, and before I got a tour, I had to sit with a sales guy who told me that what I was doing currently at the gym was wrong, and that I would benefit from this this and this. Yes, I know they have to make a living, but I would have loved to just see what they had to offer. So, after 1 hour, I left the gym, still confused as ever, wondering if what I had been doing so far was completely wrong, and if I would fit in. So, I took some more time, to think about it, look around, and today I went to Retro Fitness.  Those of you who are familiar with Easton will know it's location because it is where the old AMC at 25th St used to be. I went in and was immediately greeted by a super sweet lady who knew her stuff. She greeted everyone that walked in and out of the gym by name, without having to look at the computer screen.  She was eager to give me a tour, told me all that would be included with the membership (2 levels of cardio, with one level in a movie theater, extended ab room, LifeFitness machines, free weights and a cardio room). She also told me up front that the tanning they offer is extra a month, and so is the daycare. Without hesitation she told me to go and enjoy the gym, and I took her up on it. I went right into the movie theater and ran 1 mile on the treadmill while watching SpiderMan. I would have gone longer, but it got to be WAY too hot for me. Other than that, I saw how clean it was, and even saw this lady cleaning the water fountain. While I was leaving, I stopped by the juice bar and had a smoothie that she recommended. It was DEVINE! It was my morning protein shake and I savored every minute of it. We chatted some more and she told me when the busiest times at the gym were and that I too with my membership get 1 hour with the trainer. That was it. She didn't try to pressure me into buying anything, that was it. Any question I had, she answered. As I was leaving, she gave me another 1 day pass but for 2 people (in case Joe wants to try it) and told me that she hopes to see me again. She asked me when I thought I would be coming back, I told her Monday and she told me to have a good weekend and that she would see me Monday.
You know how it is when you walk in somewhere and it just feels like you belong, yeah, that feeling, I got that today at the gym. It doesn't have a pool, but it has a movie theater. Afterall, it is summer and there are pools almost every where I will go to visit.  Now, for me to think about the gym for the weekend, go back Monday and see if I get the same feelings I had today, and if so, I am going to join. There is nothing better than feeling like you belong somewhere, and with that, will make me hold myself accountable for hitting the weights. Yes, finally, somewhere I think I belong!
And yes, I ran a mile, but it felt great to stretch my legs...here's to the restart of doing what I love..eating right, exercising, and RUNNING!
Happy Fitness Friday!