Tag Archives: Running

Jan 21 2013

Monday Motivation

Warning: This post contains some serious self-love and motivation. Hopefully, you yourself will be inspired to do some self butt kicking in the near future. :)

This past weekend I got some serious workouts in. The weather was nice (well, as nice as January can be in New Hampshire!), I got a lot of sleep, I had no major plans, and I was just feeling the urge to workout as much as possible. Plus, after picking up these new kicks at the New Balance outlet earlier in the week, I knew I had some running to do.

There will be no slipping with these treads this Winter! Why did I never think of purchasing trail running shoes for the Winter before?!

I have been working out on the treadmill a two or three mornings each week, and although it helps keep me in shape over the Winter, there is nothing like running in the fresh air. I’m happy to say that I got two runs in this weekend – one each on Saturday and Sunday afternoon – just under three miles a piece, and at a decent pace. I was pleased, especially since this was not my first workout on either day.

Treadmill workouts are fine for cold, snowy days, but I much prefer working out outside in the fresh air!

Both mornings started off with a yoga class at a nearby studio I love, The Yoga Tree. The first morning was a slower-paced class I attended with my soul-sister Ellen. It may have been slower, but it was still an excellent workout for both of us! Sunday morning I went solo to the Vinyasa class. When class was over, I turned to the gentlemen behind me and said, “WHOA. That was an awesome class! I’m so glad I got out of bed early for this!” to which he smiled and agreed.

Each day I logged two hours of physical fitness. Each day I felt great, strong, happy, satisfied, and proud of myself. I could have never accomplished this double-workout, two days in a row until a few years ago. Most of my life was spent being non-active, moody, and non-physically ambitious. Since 2010, I have ran quite a few 5k races, a half marathon, have done Bikram yoga multiple times a week for an entire Winter season, have walked probably thousands of miles, and have incorporated a Vinyasa style yoga practice into my weekly fitness routine for nearly a year now. Each activity, run, walk, yoga class is a stepping stone – each one of them makes me stronger not only physically, but mentally as well. 

I’m writing this blog post to let you know that it is never too late to start. If you have never been physically fit before, it doesn’t mean you can’t be in the future. The body is a powerful machine and when it is fueled properly and treated with love, it can accomplish even the most daunting tasks. It can help you reach fitness goals that you never thought were possible. It can help you reach a level of peace and happiness that you never knew existed.

Best of all, fitness can help you love and appreciate your body, even if you’ve had pretty crappy self-esteem up until this point (like I did most of my life.) I found myself saying the following mantra in my head during one of my runs and both of my yoga classes.

This mantra made me realize one very important thing…

I am not only thankful for my body, but I’m incredibly grateful for the Institute of Integrative Nutrition for teaching me this important trait – it is okay to love myself. This past year has been an eye opening experience for me, as I have learned not only how to properly fuel my body (and how to teach others how to properly fuel theirs!) but possibly more importantly, how strong the mind-body connection truly is. Although I may have been able to accomplish difficult physical activity without the help of IIN, I know I definitely would not be as appreciative of my body without their program.



Lastly, I have the New Balance bag my shoes came in to thank! It must have inspired me to get moving this past weekend – both my body and mind thank you, New Balance bag :)

Now it is time for you to go out there and not only make excellent happen, but love yourself too! What fitness activities do you enjoy most and help make you your best you? 

Nov 19 2012

The Importance of Listening to Your Body

For two years, I would run nearly every day – at least four times a week. I trained for a half-marathon in the Summer and Fall of 2011, and ever since then, I have not enjoyed running as much. I joke and say that the half-marathon ruined my love for running, but in all honesty, I kind of think it did.

This past Summer was particularly stressful for me, as my father, who is also my boss, was sick, in the hospital, and out of work for over three weeks – during our busiest part of the year. Even though I was not all that into it or enthusiastic about it, I ran a lot to cope with my stress. I ran so much I wore out my latest pair of running sneakers. While researching what new pair to buy, I discovered that being flat footed, not only could I not find a good pair of running sneakers made for me, but it was actually recommended that flat footers DO NOT run due to increased risk for injury. Although I had not been injured physically, could over-running be the reason why I had lost interest and stamina in the activity?

Even if that were true, I was not ready to give the sport up. Not run?! How could I not run?! I had been running for the past two years – running helped me lose weight, helped keep me level headed. If I stopped running I would gain weight and be a stressed out crazy witch! I did not want either of these things to happen, so I started incorporating other high intensity workouts into my fitness routine.

Great reminder!

I dusted off my bike and started riding around town and doing some off dirt trails. I took up Zumba. I swam laps in the pool. I managed to reduce my running to once or twice a week, but I felt exhausted whenever I did run. I had no endurance, and my paced slowed quite a bit. Frustrated with the direction I was headed and a bit fearful that I might injure myself, I decided to stop running.

Missing the green of summertime, sigh…

By then it had turned cold outside, so I continued with the Zumba and started incorporating yoga back into my weekly activity. First once a week, then twice a week, then classes three times a week and doing postures at home on my days “off.” Yoga felt great. It helped me unwind and de-stress, provided me with the heart-pumping I craved, and tested the limitations of both my mind and body strength. My responded well to the yoga and wanted more, so I gave my body more yoga! The best part about yoga was that it did not exhaust me like other physical activity, but instead gave me more energy.

Then, this past weekend, I had the urge to run. I’m not sure if it was the sunny, crisp day, or the fact that I had some extra energy to burn, but I decided I was going to go for a run. I felt like my body needed it. Being Mid-November, I had only ran once since Labor Day weekend. I was a bit nervous at how my body would react, afraid that it wasn’t as strong as it used to be, but I have to admit it felt good putting on my running clothes and pressing play on iPhone running playlist.

The run started out great and I cruised right along. Before I knew it, my MapMyRun app chirped in my ear, “You have just completed one mile. Your pace is 9:45.” 9:45?! Seriously? But I haven’t run in two months! My pace during the Summer was always between 11:00 and 12:00 (I have never been a fast runner, but this Summer my pace was particularly slow). AND I felt great! I felt strong, powerful. My breathing was a consistent in and out, I wasn’t too much out of breath, and my form was nearly perfect. I finished the run strong, only having to walk a short bit after mile two, and completed three miles in seconds over thirty minutes.

Feeling great post-run!!

I was overjoyed when I finished. I felt so proud that after taking so much time off, I had such a successful run! I ran into my driveway and announced to my waiting husband that I “totally killed it.” I strongly believe that a break from running is just what my body needed, as was replacing running with yoga. The yoga strengthened my body; my core, legs, and arms are all much stronger than they were back in the Summer. The yoga also re-trained my breathing; while I was running I focused a lot on my breathe and making sure to breathe in and out at a consistent basis.

My reason for writing this post is a simple one…. everyone needs to listen to their own body. As a health coach, I am always telling my clients to listen to their bodies, but even I need a reminder of this from time to time! If your body is saying you need to stop doing an activity because you are feeling exhausted, YOU NEED TO STOP. I am all for pushing yourself and working out, but you do not want want to push yourself too far – extreme fatigue and exhaustion are not something you want to mess with. If an activity is feeling good and giving you more energy, then THAT is what your body needs at that time. It is a simple theory really, give your body what it is asking for, but one we all seem to forget when we are caught up in our day-to-day lives.

Going forward, especially into the cold Winter months that lay ahead, I plan on continuing with my yoga practice at least three times a week. I love the way yoga makes me feel, and the results I’m seeing on my body. As for running,  I will squeeze in a run whenever my body feels the need to do so and not put pressure on myself to get a run in!

Perfectly stated!

Apr 22 2012

Running Buddies

” I always loved running…it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.” – Jesse Owens, Track and Field winner of four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics

I have been running for two years now and I have always run by myself. I enjoy the alone time, the peace and quiet, and the opportunity to reflect on the day, week, or month. When I finish a run, I always feel calm and relaxed. I always say that running for me is more about mental health than it is about physical health – being in shape and having more energy are just bonuses to feeling more relaxed and at peace with myself. I don’t care about how fast or how far I run, all I care about is giving myself the time to unwind. So often we rush from day to day never allowing ourselves alone time, where we can reflect and de-stress. Over the past two years, I have remained loyal to giving my body and mind the time it needs to reflect and de-stress, and I’m so thankful that I have.

Recently some of my friends have started running and I am so proud of them for doing so. I have a lot of respect for anyone who takes time out of their busy schedules to workout and devote time to their bodies and minds. My friend, Lindsay, just started running and asked me to join her this past week. I thought it sounded like a great idea, but part of me was thinking, “Hmm, how is this going to work? If I get tired, or out of breath (I have asthma, so this is common for me) and want to stop, will she stop too, or will she think I’m a whimp?!”

This past week we went on two runs together and it is going great! We are hoping to run twice a week together. I’d be lying if I said we run the whole time – we are both very chatty people, so we do a combination of walking and running! When we run we keep a good pace and still manage to carry on conversation. I feel as though running with someone helps give me the motivation to keep going and not stop when I get out of breath, as I typically do. When I ran by myself this week I also did not stop and had one of my best times I’ve had in months!

Having a running buddy also holds me accountable to go for runs. I’m typically a regimented person and when I say I’m going to do something, I do it. However, there are those days when I’m just not in the mood for a run, or I want to sleep in, or I’m tired from a long day at work. Knowing that Lindsay is there waiting for me to run with her gives me that extra kick to get me moving. I can’t help but think I should have had a running buddy all along! Don’t get me wrong, I still plan on running by myself at least once a week to give myself time to reflect and de-stress, but having a running buddy definitely makes for a fun running experience.

20120422-162320.jpg

Do you run? If so, why do you love running? Is running more physical or mental for you? Do you run with a friend?