Tuesday Thoughts

Good morning folks!

Just checking in quickly to say happy Tuesday. Am I the only one who thinks that Tuesday is the worst day of the week? You've got Monday in all it's manicness and Wednesday with it's humpiness, Thursday is like Friday-eve, and then of course it's TGIF. But Tuesday really has no identity of it's own. Maybe I just have too much time on my hands to think about obscure things!

I'm excited because the inaugural winter season of Pathways starts tonight. In the past, we have taken the winter off. We still run together, but it's loosely structured and not organized. I find myself struggling with motivation or lack there of because it's dark and/or cold. Well this year, Fleet Feet listened to it's participants and initiated a winter season. I'm glad. It will be good to run with an organized group during what I think is the toughest running time of the year. I'm moving up a pace group this session. I'll be coaching the 11:30 group with my friend, Dave. I'm looking forward to this session. I plan to make it as fun as possible to help keep them motivated. I've got a fun idea, team building idea that I can't wait to implement!

I believe that my job as a coach is to help keep them motivated and find their confidence. I often say that I'm not a perfect pacer, but I'm their biggest cheerleader. One way to help them be successful is to have a fun, cohesive group. Let's face it, running alone is ok sometimes; but running with a group is the best! You're sharing a common interest with like minded people and often times, you make life long friends. I'm really looking forward to this adventure!!

In other news, I'm still eating clean and sticking to the 21 Day Fix meal plan. So far, so good!!  I haven't had any candy in over a week, with the exception of peppermints. I have allowed myself  to have coffee with 1 tsp of sugar and 1.5 TBSP of coffee creamer. This doesn't seem to be too much as MFP allows for 40g of sugar a day. This is way under that!!  My stomach is much less bloated, so that's the goal that I was hoping to achieve!!  I'll keep plugging along with it. I know there will be tempations and struggles but hopefully, I've broken the sugar addiction!!

This weekend, we're travelling to St. Louis, Missouri for the Hot Chocolate run. My friends and I ran it last year. It was so cold, but so much fun that we're going back!!  Hubs had just had knee surgery so he couldn't participate but this year he is walking the 5k. I hope this gives him the motivation that he needs to run/walk again. He has some pain in that knee post meniscus repair, probably arthritis. But he is afraid that he will reinjure himself. I keep telling him to stick to shorter distances and walking but I haven't been able to convince him. I just don't think that he is that committed. But, fear can do strange things!

I'm still slacking on my weight training. I was doing so well with consistency and not missing workouts until last week when I did the 3 Day Refresh. I had no energy whatsoever and physically felt ill, so I didn't workout. I have been so busy with day to day stuff and holiday preparation that I haven't got back to it. I'm hoping to change that tonight. When I get home from running, I'll immediately workout, then I can put on my pajamas!!  Here's what I'm hoping the rest of my week will look like, workout-wise:

Tuesday: Pathways run, Body Beast Build chest and triceps
Wednesday: Body Beast Back and biceps
Thursday: Pathways run (2.5 or 3) Body Beast Lucky 7
Friday: Body Beast Shoulders
Saturday: rest
Sunday: Hot Chocolate 15k

So, now that you're updated, you can carry on with your regularly scheduled programming!!

Until next time: get up, get out and get moving!!  Whatever you do today, be awesome at it!!

Your friend,

Theresa

How do you stay motivated to run in the winter??
Do you run with a group or prefer to run alone??

Monday Motivation

Good morning folks! Here we go again!!

 Happy fall y'all!!

 I hope that you had a great weekend!!  It was a whirlwind busy one here, as usual!

Friday was my birthday. I took the day off work and ended up driving my son to the airport in Oklahoma City to pick up his friend. It was a long day but I really didn't mind. At 25 y/o he doesn't really ask to hang out with mom very often so I took advantage of the situation, even though I think I was only there to navigate. :-)

Saturday morning was the Quarter Marathon at Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa. We usually have a Pathways training run on Saturday mornings, but we were running the race for our training run instead. I encouraged them to consider it a "dress rehearsal" for their goal race, the Tulsa Run 15k next month. I had already warned them that I was going to run my own race. I wasn't planning to race this and didn't have a goal finish time in mind. I started with a group of my runners but I was feeling pretty good, so I passed them. We've been running intervals. I didn't run intervals in my race. I usually don't. I run until I feel like I need a break. This is exactly what I did Saturday morning. The humidity was ridiculous at 97% and it was warm, plus I've been dealing with copious amounts nasal and chest congestion. But, I was feeling pretty good, so I just ran. I finally had to take a short walk break at mile 4.4 I couldn't breathe anymore so I had to blow my nose.....YUCK! I only walked for about 30 seconds then I picked up the pace again. I ran loose run/walk intervals for the remaining 2 miles. At mile 5, I met another Pathways coach. He was walking too! We both commiserated about the heat, humidity, etc, for a couple of seconds, then started running again. I ran with him for a short little bit then he stopped to walk again, I kept going. The course was VERY hilly!!  I was so glad when I topped the last hill! I knew I was about 3-4 blocks from the finish. I turned the corner on 2nd street and kicked it back into high gear. I saw my hubs waiting for me. I high fived him, smiled big for the camera and pushed onto the finish line. I stopped my watch at 1:13 which I was fairly certain was a PR for me. I checked my previous finish times later and discovered that it was in fact a 3 minute, 49 second PR!!  What a birthday present!!  The rest of the day was spent visiting with good friends that I hadn't seen in a long time and watching college football! It was all around a great day!!

Yesterday, hubs and I got up early to go get our shopping done. When we got home, we did our usual household chores, including decorating for fall and meal prep. This week, I made: crockpot chicken, turkey burgers, brown rice, baked sweet potatoes, green beans, mixed veggies, cut up raw veggies for snacks, and HB eggs.

I'm really excited that the fall TV season starts tonight! I'm eager for my favorite shows like the Voice and Blacklist to return. I plan to DVR them so that they don't derail my fitness goals though!
I'm continuing the Body Beast/21 Day Fix hybrid this week. Here's my schedule:

Monday BB Build Chest and Triceps
Tuesday: Run w/ Pathways, 21 Day Lower Fix
Wednesday: BB Build Chest and Back
Thursday: Run w/ Pathways, 21 Day Dirty 30
Friday: BB Build Shoulders
Saturday: Run w/ Pathways 7 miles
Sunday: 21 Day Fix Upper Fix and/or BB Lucky 7

So, that's all I've got for now. I hope you have a fabulous Monday!!

 

Until next time--get up, get out, and get moving!! Whatever you do today, be awesome at it!!

Your friend,

Theresa

What TV shows are you looking forward to this fall?
What did you prep this week?
What's your workout schedule look like this week?

Dream Big and Give Freely

Good morning folks!!

We survived another Monday!! 

It was a busy day at work, catching up from the long weekend. After work, I met my friend Rozdi for a run. It was a beautiful evening for a run, I actually wore a skirt! We did 3 miles and decided that we would run again tonight to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather that we're having, before the next winter storm blows in. I should do 10 - 12 miles this weekend. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage that as the forecast is predicting snow and ice.  Have I mentioned lately that I really do not like winter??

I hope that you all took advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping and got some good deals!!  Now that those days are passed, I want to bring another important day to your attention. It's called Giving Tuesday and it's TODAY!! It is way too easy to commercialize Christmas. I think this is a fabulous way to get back to the true meaning of Christmas! Too many families will have to do without this holiday season. It doesn't take much and every $1 helps. Even if it is only a dollar, it is better than nothing!! I would like to encourage each and every one of you to do the same. If you're unable to donate monetarily, find other ways to give back and to reach out to those in need this holiday season. You can volunteer your time. It's free!! :)

As you know, recently I've been trying to live life to the fullest and to dream big. Well, I would say that I accomplished that yesterday. You see, on a whim, I took a chance and entered the lottery for the 2014 New York City marathon!! I don't really expect to get in, but it's kinda fun to try! I have nothing to lose and one thing is certain, I'll never know if I don't try!!

Alrighty, that's all I've got!

Have a terrific Tuesday!!

Be Kinder Than Necessary

Good morning y'all.

This morning, I'm grateful for all of my friends and blessings. I can't stop reflecting on all those affected by the storms of the past weekend. Life can change so quickly in just a matter of seconds. We all need to aware of that and mindful of the fact that it could happen to any of us.

I've been so touched by all the out pouring of support for those victims. It reallys renews my faith in humanity.

We're all so busy in our daily lives that it often takes a tragedy like this to make us stop what we're doing and focus on others. I firmly believe that we are meant to be more mindful of the needs of others, rather than our own. I see people on a daily basis stuggling with health issues who need help with resources. Many of them are grateful for the help that is available to them. But, there are many who don't seem to be appreciative. It saddens me to see such selfishness.  But, the fact of the matter is that is what has become of our society.

I think that the world would be a better place if we were all more sensitive to the needs of others. The only way I know to do that is to lead by example. Recently, a friend of mine challenged herself to practice a random act of kindness every day for 7 days. I think that is an excellent idea and I think that I will challenge myself to do the same.

It appears that today is going to be a beautiful day. We need that here in Oklahoma. There is just something about a sunrise that instills a sense of hope in us. It gives us faith that no matter how dark the night was, there is always light. As my good friend Marty said "a sunset in one place is always a sunrise somewhere else"

Get up, get out and make it a beautiful day!!  :-)

Have you ever performed a random act of kindness??

Has you ever been the recipient of a random act??