Friday Five Link Up!! 5 Goals for 2015

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with Goals, Link Up, Marathon Training, New Year, Running January 2, 2015

I’d been wanting to write about what I want to work on/improve to in 2015 so I decided to go for a 5 miler this morning to think more about it. When I came back, I opened up my laptop and started checking my e-mails to see two always anticipated alerts–new blog posts from my faves Salt and Mar!

Mar and her buddies Cynthia and Courtney host a weekly Friday Five link up and it’d been a while since I’d joined and it’d been a while since Salt had participated too. I had already wanted to write about this topic so I figured I’d join in on the party too!

Here they are! My 5 goals for 2015!!

1. Challenge myself

This was a repeat from last year. I want to continue to challenge myself and find opportunities to do so. I find that I need challenges to help keep me focused and motivated. I like doing hard things.

That being said, there are times where I get complacent and start to make up excuses on why it’s okay for me to not try. The Fiesta Bowl 1/2 Marathon last month is a perfect example and that race taught me and showed me that if I combat those negative voice and challenge myself, I can do some pretty awesome things.

2. Drink more water

I’ve been a lot better about this having gone through my 100 Days of No Soda challenge but now that it’s been over, I find myself going more for a can of coke instead of a bottle of water. While I haven’t drank as much soda as I used, I could definitely be drinking more water. So I downloaded a free app that alerts/reminds me to drink water throughout the day. Yesterday was my first day aaaand I failed 😦

I feel so guilty for having let down the poor water drop 😦

3. Practice better time management

I’m a busy girl. Between working full time, having two kids, running and training, I often tend to neglect things or prioritize other things that maybe I shouldn’t.

I love blogging and most often than not, I just don’t have the time. And even though I really want to write more, it’s not something that will ever take precedence over more important things in my life.

4. Run more with my family

I love that my husband runs and I absolutely love running with him.

One of my friends sent me this picture of me and my husband approaching the finish line 🙂

And lately, my daughter has said super freaking adorable things–like when she sees me lacing up, “Mommy’s going for a run!” and then, “Run fast mommy!”

And when I get home she’ll tell my husband, “Your turn to run Daddy!”

And then when she says, “My turn!!” I just die…

I mean, c’mon ❤

5. Have more confidence

I struggle a lot with this. I mentioned in #1 how I often make excuses on why I can’t do something and I really almost gave up at my recent 1/2 marathon PR race. I don’t know why but I have this thing where I just psych myself out. Like I’ll run and I’ll be scared to run fast because I don’t want to burn out. And that totally makes sense, but how will I ever know how fast I can really go if I don’t ever try? That’s what I want to work on. I don’t have to go fast every. single. time. but once in a while, why not? I don’t want to get stuck in a comfort zone of a pace because I feel like I shouldn’t go faster.

This is something I’ve known about myself and something I’ve been working on throughout this training. For example, the last two recent long runs have been two 14 milers and the usual me would’ve run those at best at a 10 min average thinking that’s what I should do. BUT, I ran both at what felt good and natural and just going with the flow and ended with a 9:25 average on BOTH!

14 miler Part I

14 miler Part II

Tomorrow I have a 16 miler and already I’m starting to hear the voices in my head telling me how 16 miles is always where I fall apart, where I struggle, and how it’s likely I won’t do well.

I need to tell those voices to shut it! Yeah, I might not run a 9:25ish pace (and really, I should probably slow it down) but I need to believe in myself that I can do it and do it well.

–What are some things you want to work on/improve in 2015??

Phoenix Marathon Training Week 1 Recap

Posted by hellyontherun in Marathon, Running and tagged with Goals, Marathon Training, Phoenix Marathon, PR, Running November 18, 2014

Here we go again!

So pretty much my blog is about training recaps. LOL! I hope I don’t bore you!!!

I mentioned in my previous post that I’m on a mission. I really, really want that PR. Typically, I’m not crazy overly goal driven. Like, I have a goal in mind but I’m never super bummed or upset if I don’t get it. But for some reason, this goal of getting a marathon PR is something I’m very serous about….as evident in my Week 1 Training Recap 🙂

Sunday was Bunday. Yes, you read that right. I did a series of videos focusing on hips and glutes and worked my ass off. Literally. I feel like this is an area (ahem) that I need to work on to help improve my running/fitness so I’m making it a priority in my training.

Actually, strength training is something I feel like I’ve lacked and need so I’m def making sure to include it this time around. I’m not much of a free weights/machines person but prefer body weight strength training like pilates-esque stuff.

Monday I met up with some teacher co-workers for a post work workout (<—try saying that ten times). We met at the football field and did some stadium drills, track lunges, and core work. While I had a blast with them, having just had Bunday the day before, I was hurting.

Upness

I met up with my run club Tuesday evening, got in a nice 4 miler, and worked the core after.

Negative splits? Yes, please!

Wednesday was speed work at the track but it was SO cold out (I know, I know, here’s Helly starting her complaining it’s cold when it’s barely 60 degrees out) and I was so sore that I made it a mile (8:30) before I called it quits. I didn’t want to push it so I went home, foam rolled, and stretched instead.

I’ve decided to try running after work on Thursdays before I head home to pick up the kids. I figure I can get in a decent 4-5 miler in the time I have. So as soon as the bell rang, I changed in the faculty bathroom and headed out for an easy, breezy 4

From work to play 🙂

Friday was rest day and it felt oh, so good! Even my kids partook in resting with mama and wore their pajamas to school (I kinda wish I could’ve too!)

Pajama Day @ school! 😀

Normally, I run long with my run club Saturday mornings but it’s been a tough bedtime/morning with my kids lately so I knew it was unlikely I’d be able to make it. I took advantage of grandma and one toddler’s nap and went later in the morning. I had 8 miles on the schedule and was able to check it off–and be happy with the results! I even managed to squeeze in a couple of core vids later that evening 🙂

^^ Along the lines of my thoughts during my run

Overall, I am digging the start of this training and hope it continues this way throughout. I’m going into it very motivated and inspired and with positive thinking that I can accomplish my goal. We shall see! 🙂

Total miles: 17 miles
Soda update: I am doing pretty good with this–averaging one a day!

How was your running week?
Do goals motivate you to train harder/better?
Do you strength train? What do you do?

100 Days of No Soda–DONE!

Posted by hellyontherun in About Me, Healthy Eating, Running and tagged with Challenge, Goals, Health, No Soda, Perseverance, Running, Weight Loss September 9, 2014

Today is the day is the day! I’ve finally completed my 100 Days of Summer Challenge–No Soda!

Did I celebrate by drinking a Coke? Well….

I did take a sip lol!

I honestly didn’t wake up with an urge to consume 6 cans of Coca Cola. While I was going through this challenge, I’ve had a lot time to reflect on what I’ve learned.

I am a lot stronger than I think.

When I would shock friends by declining a Coke, they were always impressed by how serious I was taking the challenge. Self-discipline is something that I continuously struggle with but one thing I gained during this challenge is the knowledge that I am in control of what I put in my body. I know that I could have cheated or “treated” myself to a drink, a sip, a can, whatever but each time I made the decision to not to.

I make the decisions.

When things are 100% up to me, I feel like I have the responsibility to make the best decisions. I will have no one to blame, no one that I can say put me up to it.

It kinda makes me feel powerful.

One of the reasons I wanted to do this (and many people asked me why I was doing it) was that I was genuinely curious to see if I could do it. I knew myself. I knew that I succumbed to excuses very easily and this would be something legit challenging.

To me, going 100 days is such an accomplishment. I chose a number I knew would be difficult. A month, I could’ve done no sweat. But I knew I wouldn’t feel/see a significant difference. One hundred days makes me feel like a badass. Each day, saying no became so much easier. I remember going to a Pizza Hut Express and ordering a pan pizza and breadsticks and the server telling me that it was only 30 cents more to upgrade to a meal and get a soft drink. I told him, “Nope! All good!”

I’ve changed.

I definitely feel like my confidence has soared because of this challenge but the biggest thing is that my overall perspective on drinking soda has changed. Not only have I become more comfortable declining something I once felt I needed, I truly feel like I don’t anymore. That’s not to say I’ll never, ever drink it again. I know that’s just not realistic. But, I do feel like I’m more conscious of when I really want it. With a meal I feel goes great with a soda? Sure! Just because it’s there and I want something to drink? No.

My body has changed.

The summer weather hasn’t really let me see how the challenge has helped me with running but I think being able to maintain decent paces (for me) despite the heat is a definite win. I know that I would have been dehydrated drinking soda through summer trying to train for a marathon. The extra water intake has been a huge factor in me staying healthy and hitting my targets.

I absolutely feel like it’s prepared me for the upcoming fall season. That I set up my body the best that I could for the races to come.

I’m not going to lie. I was really curious to see how/if my body would change.

It has.

The scale says I lost 7 pounds. I went down a pant size. I’m the thinnest I’ve ever been. But, even then, the biggest difference is just overall health. I don’t feel as sluggish or tired or weighted down. When I once felt that soda gave me energy, I feel like I’ve had more without it. While there were days where I’ve felt like a soda would give me an extra boost, I would remind myself that the challenge was mental. Could I think of other ways of getting that extra energy?

People notice.

It kinda became contagious. When I would decline soda from friends and ask for water instead, it wasn’t rare that they would change their minds and put their own soda away.

At restaurants, I would always order water (with no lemon!) and my husband would follow suit. Then whoever we were with would go with water too. This wasn’t always the case, but we saw it happen more often than not.

My husband was completely on board with the challenge and went the 100 days with me. The person we felt noticed the most was our daughter. Because we drank a ton of water, she would often ask us for it herself. Lauren has always been a fan of water and preferred it more than anything–she must be the only toddler who doesn’t like apple juice!–but I think seeing mommy and daddy constantly drinking water really contributed to her love of it. We smile every time she finishes her sippy and says, “All done agua!” Or when she says, “Mas agua!” (more water!)

I know that she will continue to be an influence in me keeping my soda intake to a minimum.

Overall, I feel like the challenge was worth it. I know that I can hold myself accountable for something, that I can stick to a goal if I set my mind to it, that I can do things that are difficult.

What I’m excited for the most is not so much that I can drink soda now but the fact that I’m just so much more aware. I’ve seen how my mind and body has changed and it makes me feel like I don’t want to ruin the hard work I’ve put in. That is what I think will keep me from going back to my regular drinking habits. I know that I will drink a can or two here and there, but I can confidently say that my days of drinking 6 a day are gone.

I will keep you posted. Thank you for sharing this challenging journey with me ❤

helly

–What is a health related accomplishment that you’re proud of?

–Think you could go 100 days doing something or doing without something? What?