Who Needs a Pep Talk?

"Attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude."- Zig Ziglar

Kid President gives a good pep talk.

"All I wanna be is awesome."- Lisa Frey

In my quest of awesomeness, which I have a LONG ways to go in attaining my perceived awesomeness, I have learned some amazing things.  Here are just a few observations:

• Awesomeness means getting out of your comfort zone and feeling a bit of discomfort. 
• When you are out of your comfort zone, you find people to help you along.
• These people are their own journeys' out of their comfort zone as well.  You are there to help them along! 

My Training for Tri Coach, Nancy, encourages us to get out of our comfort zone in every practice. This week, we did the dreaded time trials in swimming and biking.  After a long day at work and still recovering from the flu, this practice was an easy one to bail on.  If it wasn't for a post on Facebook from a teammate, Melissa, I would have firmly planted myself on the couch.  This post asked for luck in our 10-minute swim.  Immediately, there were words of encouragement from teammates and friends. Some posted their own concerns with the time trial.  After reading this, I reluctantly put my swimsuit on and went to practice.  Thanks friends for that kick in the butt.

Did I post my best time?  Nope.  I'm recovering from the flu- duh.  I was proud of myself because it would have been so easy for me to park it on the couch and hack.

The same goes for my yoga practice.  Starting back in December, I started to practice headstand 5 minutes a day.  Next Friday, I am going start my practice of handstand.  This is going to be interesting since I am afraid to kick up into one.  If I have assistance, then I can do it.  My goal is to kick up into handstand all by myself.  I wonder how many days it is going to take me to get this down?

Headstand practice- I highly recommend.

If you listened to the pep talk by Kid President, then part of all of this is to thank those who have encouraged you.  I would like to thank:

My husband, X-t- every crazy idea I have had, he has always supported and believed in me.

Family: My sister, Laura and my Mom

Running buddies- can you believe we have run thousands of miles together?  Wow.  MAP, Diane, Cathie, Nikki, Sarah- we have solved many of the world's problems.

Training to Tri Coaches- Nancy, Debbie and Stacy

Training to Tri buddies- Karen, Rebecca, Melissa, Jen, MJ, Peggie, Maggie, Linda, Tracie, Kristina, Sherry and Dina...just to name a few.  Special shout out to my triathlon and swim buddy- Carla- I wouldn't be in the pool every week if is wasn't for you!

Yoga Instructors: Silvia, Page, Brooke, Mary, Andrew, Sarah

Work: Laurie and Janice as well as all of the volunteers we work with

And of course, you!  Thank you for reading my blog and being on this journey with me.

I Fought the Flu and the Flu Won

"Sickness shows us what we are"- Latin Proverb

Last Saturday, I went out for my long run.  It was a beautiful day and the run was going pretty good, that is, until mile 10.  I started feeling not very well, so I cut my run short.  I was supposed to run 14 miles, but only got in 11 miles.  I got home, took a shower and over breakfast, I started getting the chills.  I was still in denial.  I was feeling ok, just a little off.  It was cold on the run, perhaps I was just having trouble warming up?

Sunday, I woke up and got in my swim and yoga.  I was still feeling off.  I was going to take it easy for the rest of the day.  Whatever this was, it was going to be a 24-hour virus.  I was convinced.

Thank you X-t for sharing the flu.

But alas, it was not.  Monday, I woke up to the full-blown flu.  Body aches, chills and just overall malaise made for a long day.  I felt nasty.  So nasty that I didn't run or practice yoga, but it didn't stop me from not going to work.  

By Thursday, I was over the body aches and chills and had acquired the hacking cough, runny nose and sore throat.  I also lost my voice.  Today, I still feel awful.

This has really thrown a wrench into training.  This is what this week's training looked like:

Monday: Sick

Tuesday: Sick

Wednesday: An attempt of a 5-mile run that resulted in a 2-mile run. Stupid.

Thursday: Sick

Friday: Sick

What is a girl to do?  I have taken this 'opportunity' to heal myself and rededicate myself to training. I am hitting the reset button.  My plan is to resume where I left off with my training when I feel better.  

The lesson of this whole flu debacle is to not give up training.  Yes, it is a setback.  Adversities such as illness, injury or other responsibilites that cut into training serve a purpose.  The purpose is not to give up.  Nothing is easy and nothing is perfect, which also applies to training.  And, by the way, race day is never perfect either!  These challenges help you adjust to the conditions that you are given- great practice for race day.  At least this is what I am telling myself...

Training Update

"I will beat my ass today to kick yours tomorrow-IWBMATTKYT"- The Sufferfest

This is this year's training mantra...

Hello!

I know it has been awhile- my apologies.  Since my last blog post, I have completed the Tour of Sufferlandia.

A 9 day Sufferfest of bike training videos

During this time, I also maintained training for the Kentucky Derby Marathon.

April 27th!

Even though I should be proud of myself, I don't feel that way.  "So what?  There are people out there who are faster and stronger than I am."  It is a terrible mindset- I shouldn't compare myself to others.  I should compare myself to myself!  I haven't trained so hard in all of my life.

During the tour, this is what training looked like:

Monday:  AM Speed work, Sufferfest and PM Yoga

Tuesday: Sufferfest

Wednesday: AM Run and PM Sufferfest

Thursday: Sufferfest

Friday: AM Swim, Sufferfest, Yoga

Saturday: AM Long run then Sufferfest 

Sunday: AM Sufferfest, Swim and Yoga

I completely burned myself out.  I was running slower, my legs felt like rubber bands and I was cranky.  I had a long talk with myself.  "This is stupid," I said to myself.  "I am working out all of the time and not gaining anything".  

I took a long look at my schedule and modified my training.  Here is my "new and improved" training program from this week:

Monday: AM Speed work and PM Yoga

Tuesday: Sufferfest

Wednesday: AM Run and PM Training to Tri (I didn't go this week- I had a board meeting for work)

Thursday: Sufferfest

Friday: Yoga

Saturday: Long Run

Sunday: Swim and Yoga

I dropped the swim on Friday morning.  I feel really guilty about that because swimming is one of my favorite activities along with practicing yoga.  Logically, I know I need the rest and should be enjoying my 'sleep-in' day, but today I woke up all nervous and jittery that I wasn't at the gym working out at the crack of dawn.  Why am I putting myself under all of this pressure?  Isn't this supposed to be fun and enjoyable?  Isn't this my hobby?

Perhaps 'Beating my ass today to kick yours tomorrow' shouldn't be my mantra.  Perhaps this year's mantra should be 'Train hard, do your best, enjoy the process'.  It just doesn't sound as badass as the Sufferfest mantra.

Weighing In

“In two decades I've lost a total of 789 pounds. I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.”

 - Erma Bombeck

The Enemy.

Hello Dear Readers-

Yes, I did it.  I stepped on the scale Friday.  I shouldn't have done it.  I am the heaviest I have ever been.  You know what?  I don't care any more.  

I eat healthfully.  I track every morsel of food that goes into my pie-hole.  I eat a mostly vegetarian diet.  I drink two glasses of wine every night and I am not going to stop because I enjoy it.  

I exercise every day.  Here is last week's routine:

Monday: Yoga

Tuesday: Speed work 8x400s with a mile warm up and a mile cool-down

Wednesday: Training to Tri- swim and bike

Thursday: Run 4 miles, Sufferfest Climb

Friday: Swim 1800 yds., yoga

Saturday: Run 10 miles

Sunday: Swim 2100 yds., yoga

I started training from the Kentucky Derby Marathon last week. 

April 27th- my 13th Marathon!  

I finally came to the realization that I would rather be healthy and be able to complete marathons and triathlons, than to worry about a stupid number on a scale.  I am TRUSTING my body to tell me what fuel is going to power me.  By the way, BBQ doesn't work well with speed work.  I learned that lesson last Tuesday.  

Life is too short.  Enjoy moving your body, exercising your mind, fueling your body and playing with friends. 

Changing subjects...

I finished by 40-day headstand challenge.  I am enjoying it so much that I have decided to extend it to a 100 days. 

One of the many photos with Bakon.  More Bakon headstand photos to come- promise!

For me the headstand is meditation.  It gives me time to quiet my mind and focus on my breath.  I must stay present otherwise I will fall over!  My goal for the 100-day challenge is to do a headstand in the middle of the room.  I have to tell you that I have never been one to practice yoga at home, only in a class.  This experience has really helped me discover a self practice with yoga.  

Until next week...do something you enjoy.  You deserve it.

New Year, New Plan, New Routine, Same Sturdy Girl

"When the determination to do well is felt as stress rather than enthusiam, trust yourself more and push yourself less." - Unknown

Happy New Year to All!

Now that the holidays are over, it is time to get back into a routine.  If you recall, my 2013 intention is to TRUST myself.  To that end, I have planned some interesting goals for 2013.

Yes, yes, I do have the usual race calendar goal.  Here is the list of confirmed races for this year:

April 27th:  Kentucky Derby Marathon
May 4th: Indianapolis Mini Marathon
June 23rd: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon (Olympic Distance)
July 21st: Door County 1/2 Ironman
September 23rd:  Canada Army Run (1/2 Marathon)
October 19th: Des Plaines River Trail Races (Marathon)

I would also like to get in a century ride sometime in the fall.  We shall see how things shape up.

So, how does all of this add up in helping me to learn to TRUST myself.  I have changed up my workout routine and have added things that scare me, namely interval training and training by myself.  I love working out with a group, but I need to save some coin.  The training I am doing by myself is on the trainer for cycling.  I have found some cycle training videos to ride called the Sufferfest.  So far so good in keeping my promise to myself to get on the bike and ride after work. They have a 9-day tour of Sufferlandia starting on January 26th.  Each day you complete one of their videos that has been predetermined.  I am going to give the tour a go.

"I Will Beat My Ass Today To Kick Yours Tomorrow" is their tag line.  I'm sold!

I am also on day 38 of my 40-day headstand challenge. I have really surprised myself.  I haven't missed a day.  After the challenge, I am going to keep practicing my headstands every day.  The headstand challenge started as popping up for 3 minutes against a wall.  I am now doing my headstand not as close to the wall (I still need the wall to get up), but I can hold my headstand for 5 minutes all by myself.  After my 5-minute supported headstand, I am practicing my tripod headstand in the middle of the room.  I am not there quite yet, but I can get up into a tuck position.  I am also practicing crow pose.    I am learning to love crow pose after 9 years of practicing yoga...yes, it has taken quite some time to embrace crow pose!

Headstand with Bakon

So now you know the race schedule and my scary, challenging training goals to help with my 2013 intention of TRUST.  What does the workout schedule look like for the first half of 2013?  Here it is:

Monday: Yoga

Tuesday: AM Speed work, PM Sufferfest

Wednesday: Training to Tri

Thursday: AM Run, PM Sufferfest

Friday: Swim, yoga

Saturday: Long run 

Sunday: Swim, yoga

Once the weather gets nicer, the Friday swim will be replaced with an outside cycle and a Sunday cycle will be added.  I am also planning on riding my bike to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays as weather permits.

I wish you luck in achieving your 2013 intention and goals!

The Power of Intention

“All great acts are ruled by intention. What you mean is what you get.” - Brenna Yovanoff

Always the mantra of a race...

I have been thinking very hard lately of what my intention for 2013 will be.  It finally came to me in a yoga class at Santosha Yoga a couple of weeks ago.  We had a class on arm balances.  I hate arm balances.  No, I LOATHE arm balances.  I can't do them.  I get frustrated and mad.  Yoga sucks when arm balances are involved.  Yes, arm balances elicit a very violent response from me.

So, there I was- struggling to get my legs on my arms, ass in the air, sucking in the abs, clenching the *sshole and of course BREATHING.  God, I hate arm balances.  When Page, the yoga instructor, paused in front of my mat and said, "You can do this.  You are strong enough.  You just don't trust yourself."

It was a revelation.  No, I don't trust myself and I especially do not trust my hands to support me.  This is my problem and I need to work on this.

Drumroll please.....the 2013 intention is to trust myself.  Trust the little voice inside me.  Be confident. Shoot for the stars without abandon and don't hold back.  Believe.

I start my 2013 journey tomorrow by embarking on a 40-day headstand challenge.  Every day, I am going to do a headstand for 3 minutes.  This practice will help me condition my abs, my balance and see the world with a different perspective- upside down.  Hopefully, being upside down will get rid of a couple of wrinkles too... hey, one can hope!

Next week's blog: Why I still hate the bike.

Grateful- In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

“A grateful mindset can set you free from the prison of disempowerment and the shackles of misery.”- Steve Mariboli

The two things I am most grateful for in my life- X-t and Bakon.

Last year at this time, I wasn't in a very good place.  I was in a job that made me miserable.  I just turned 45, which meant I was now middle aged.  I still mourned my golden retriever, Otto.  I was in a real bad funk. I acknowledged this and knew I needed to do something to get me out of it.  I worked with Tiara Coaching on a women's leadership initiative at another job.  Tiara Coaching is a place where women rediscover and refresh their sense of purpose and direction in the company of bright, successful, interesting women.  It is a place where you can reclaim your life.  I needed to do some reclaiming, so I contacted them.

My life coach was Ellen Burton.  She asked the hard questions, demanded the true answers and opened doors.  She changed the way I thought about myself, situations and other people. 

One of my homework assignments was to write down five things that I am grateful for each day.  I am not a writer- as you can tell from this blog. I don't keep a journal of thoughts or ideas.  Writing five sentences each day about something that I was thankful for was going to be a stretch.  Writing five unique things every day seemed nearly impossible.  

I started my journal on Tuesday, January 17th.  The first entry was pretty big.  Here it is:

1) I am grateful for my husband.

2) I am grateful for my family.

3) I am grateful for my friends

4) I am grateful for my health.

5) I am grateful for wine.

There!  Not too bad.  In fact, this is all (or so I thought) that I am grateful for- it sums it up!  Even though I thought this is all to be grateful for, I kept at it every day.  I still write in my gratitude journal.  

After a couple of weeks of writing, I started to notice something.  Life wasn't so bad after all.  In fact, there is a lot of good that was happening to me.  Someone complemented me on my outfit.  I got an adjustment in yoga class. Someone opened a door for me. I got a postcard in the mail from a friend.  I got $10 off coupon.  My dream job became available and I got the offer!

Where I am in my life is light years from where I was last year, or is it?  Did I just need to open my heart and my eyes to see all around me with a sense of gratitude?  As Mr. Mariboli said, "A grateful mindset can set you free from the prison of disempowerment and the shackles of misery."  

It certainly set me free.