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Taking my practice for a run

17 Jun

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Yoga has been a part of my life for many years. Classes helped my dancing for years and it was what I went to when I wanted to get back to dancing. Little did I know how much it would help my running.

I knew my strength would help, but I didn’t expect the mental aspect to help even more. My inner dialogue helps me keep going on the treadmill but my practice helped me be strong with where I was in the process. I had learned to do my best and be ok with not being the “best”.

The treadmill became my mat. It became my place to shut out the outside world and focus on breathing. I can be on the treadmill next to someone going faster or slower and still have a shared experience. I might not be able to keep up with my husband or friends outside, but we can be on the treadmill together. The speed doesn’t matter, just like it doesn’t matter if you are in child’s pose and the person next you is in downward dog.

I never expected the influence that yoga would have on running. Thankfully, I get to keep going and enjoying the process!!

Do you take your practice off the mat?

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Getting ahead of myself…

11 Jun

Yesterday was a little rough on the treadmill. Without a race to focus on, I went back to my old ways. I decided it was time to increase my speed. Mind you, I haven’t finished a race without walking for a minute or two.

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I started off faster than usual and felt pretty good. To be fair the first mile went pretty quickly and then the battle began. I pushed myself to 1.5 miles and then walked. I was sucking gas and needed to walk a little longer than I would like. I decided to crank it up and really pushed it for a little while. Again, I was walking. I decided to run again, but at my usual pace and all of a sudden it was fine. I made it another mile and realized the error of my ways.

Today, I set the treadmill to the pace that works for me and made it through 3 miles without walking. I realized that I need to continue gaining endurance and not get ahead of myself. I went a mile further in 30 minutes than I did a few months ago. I need to recognize my small victories and stick to my plan.

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With time, my speed will increase; but I have to keep going and enjoy the process. From here on out I will be sticking to my steady progress and try not to get ahead of myself :)

Do you get ahead of yourself when working out?

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Dress for success

7 Jun

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An aspect of healthy living that is often overlooked, is dressing well for workouts. The first time to the gym or a class can be uncomfortable, don’t let your clothing add to it. You don’t need to run out and spend a lot of money but there are a few key pieces that will help. Sneakers are a given, but that is for another time.

You want to find clothes that you can move in and not feel that you have to adjust. I like my t-shirts a little baggy when I’m running but I don’t want my tank tops moving in yoga and pilates. I try all workout clothing on in store. The sizing is often a little funky. I also move around in the dressing room so I can see how it will look when I’m working out. I can’t say enough about the new moisture wicking materials. If you haven’t tried any – check it out. Every brand, in every price range is making wicking material. You will never go back! While I own a few different brands, my Adidas t-shirt, is my favorite. It’s comfortable and wicks better than my other shirts.

A very important garment for women is the sports bra. This one item can make or break your experience (no matter what your size is). Like your shirt, make sure you try them on in the store and move around. You don’t want to spend money on an item that doesn’t work. I use the Under Armour Still Gotta Have It. See what works for you!

Personally, I don’t like my shorts too short. This is completely different for everyone. I enjoy soccer style shorts. Some people prefer basketball or running styles. Again, try them out and see that you are comfortable. Nike soccer shorts are my favorite. They are light, wick and they come in fun colors!

The best advice I can give for buying workout clothes is to try them on (they often run small) and test them out in the fitting room. Join a rewards program and stay as loyal as you can. This is great if you have active kids. I rack up rewards points on the boys’ cleats, sneakers, etc and use the rewards to buy myself new workout gear.

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Finding inspiration!

5 Jun
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http://venspired.com/

I am a sucker for inspirational quotes. All you have to do is look at my Inspiration board on Pinterest and you will see what I mean. Yet, the best inspiration comes from being out with people in the community.

A large part of my day is spent taking classes or teaching classes. During these times I can’t help but be inspired by my fellow classmates and students. Some days it’s the most obvious sources. For example, my student with a prosthetic leg or the woman working with limited mobility. Today, it was one of my students completing the Tough Mudder in NH and later it was a new classmate in tap who hasn’t danced in years and decided to get moving again.

Often, I am lucky enough to be along for the journey. I have watched so many people begin with one class and branch out to a variety of classes or different forms of fitness. As I branch out in my own fitness journey, I have found a whole new group of inspirational people. The running community has been nothing short of amazing.

When you are feeling sluggish, go out and find a group. You never know who will inspire you and who you are inspiring!

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http://soitsbeensaid.tumblr.com/

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Viva 5K! Becoming comfortably uncomfortable

2 Jun

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Today was our second race and our first 5K. Thankfully, it was not as hot and humid as the last few days. The first race was so much fun, I was a little nervous that this one would be a disappointment. Luckily, I was wrong.

I hadn’t run outside since the last race and we didn’t know the course. We left the house a little early so we could drive the course and get a feel for it. Once we were registered and had our numbers, I began to feel less nervous. We saw some familiar faces and the nerves were mostly gone.

A few people ran with me for short distances. I am still slow and need to walk from time to time. They went along when I needed to walk and regroup. While I wanted to keep up, it was nice to see different faces. It definitely helped the race go by faster.

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Running continues to teach me how to worry about myself and not compete with others. I am extremely competitive and have shied away from running as a result. I (like many people) don’t like doing things I’m not good at. This is magnified by the fact people assume I’m faster than I am. Along my journey, I have become strangely comfortable in my ability (or lack thereof).

I can’t say enough about the support of my husband, kids, parents and friends. I have also found support among runners here and on twitter and Facebook. Support doesn’t always come from the people you expect but it is amazing to find. The Internet allows us to cheer each other on over long distances and nearby.

This adventure began as a way to get out of my comfort zone and I have become comfortably uncomfortable!

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Core work video!

31 May

Here is one of my favorite, and quick core workouts! All you need is a playground ball or a pillow :)

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Cinderella only got one pair of shoes…

28 May

I got two!!

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From http://www.ilovetorun.org

As a mom, my sneaker needs fall to the bottom of the wish list. I see all of the new styles that come out and when I go to the store, I buy whatever is on sale. I do make sure that my shoes are supportive and fit correctly; but I’ve never been able to justify sneakers for different activities. My running shoes double as my class shoes and vise versa.

Then, I went to #FitBlogNYC, hosted by Fitness Magazine, and became a very lucky lady. I received not only one pair of sneakers, but two pairs!! Imagine my surprise that one pair is for running and the other is for training.

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The first pair is the Saucony Kinvara 4. I have never owned true running sneakers and these shoes did not disappoint! They are extremely light and comfortable. The shoes are supportive, but I am aware of how my foot is striking the ground. This has helped me run with better form. I have nothing but great things to say about these shoes, not to mention the boys think they are “wicked awesome”. I have been running in them and I can’t wait to wear them on Sunday in a 5K!

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The Reebok SubLite trainers are great too. I often wear running shoes for class and hadn’t experienced the difference of trainers. They are light, stable and move around easily. I enjoy wearing them when I’m teaching abs classes because they give great support and aren’t too heavy when we are doing lower abdominal work. The boys don’t like the extra pink, but I enjoy the bright colors.

This experience has shown me the importance of proper sneakers. I will pay more attention the next time I need new shoes. Be sure to check out different shoes and set yourself up for success :)

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First race is in the books!

21 May

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Two months ago, I decided to lace up my sneakers and give running a try. The first day was brutal! I knew if I was going to stick with it, I needed a goal. There is a local, charity race called the Piggy Trot, for a great cause with a flat and pretty course. I also knew that many people walk this event so I wouldn’t be embarrassed by my lack of speed.

My husband has been running for years and I asked him if he was interested in running with me. He was on board and the adventure began. He continued with his usual running routine and I began my training.

There were so many days that I wanted to walk on that treadmill and restart. Thanks to my (slightly crazy) inner dialogue, I kept going. My husband and I ventured out and did a trial run on the course. This was a huge help. At the time I realized how much work I had left to do; but I really appreciated it on race day.

One of my good friends ran outside with me about a week before the race. Again, I realized that I wasn’t going to be super speedy but I was getting better. It took a lot of work and dedication (not to mention amazing support) – it was so worth it!

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Words can’t describe how cool it was to be running (and walking) with hundreds of like-minded people. There were people as far as I could see in front of me and behind me. I was in a good group, people were walking and jogging alongside me. I had to swallow my ego and accept the young kids passing me and focus on my goal. It was truly a balance of feeling a sense of community and reaching personal goals.

As I was nearing the finish line, my cheering section was great. My youngest ran out and joined me as I finished. Acquaintances, friends and family were cheering me on and giving high-fives at the finish.

It was a rush as I crossed the finish line. I hit my goal for time and finished my first race. It was an amazing day. My husband and I have the bug. We are looking into other races, but none of them will be my first.

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If you are considering a race, pick one that fits your goals. It should push you and let you be successful. Best of luck! I hope you find the joy in accomplishing your goals :)

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Find yourself, be yourself, embrace yourself!

20 May

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On Thursday, I was lucky enough to spend the day in New York City (one of my favorite places) with fitness bloggers for Fitness Magazine’s Meet and Tweet (#FitBlogNYC). What a lucky lady!

The day was filled with meeting amazing people, both speakers and fellow bloggers. As everything has been settling in my brain, I realized while each speaker spoke about different aspects of health, the consistent theme was to embrace yourself and your journey. It was discussed through beauty tips from Sarah Lucero, health tips from Dr Jennifer Ashton, the amazing panel for My Blog is My Business (Deb Perelman, Dana Weiss, Jill Hanner and Erin Whitehead), extreme fitness with Brett Hoebel and cooking with Rocco DiSpirito.

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Sarah Lucero, Executive Director of Global Artistry at Stila Cosmetics and make-up artist for celebrities, gave lots of great advice and courageously shared her battle with stage 3 breast cancer. While she gave make-up tips that included matching your cheek and lip color, importance of good mascara and matching the weight of your make-up to the weight of your clothes, Sarah also spoke about the importance of caring for yourself. She emphasized “fixing the problem” by getting enough sleep and eating healthy for helping diminish dark circles under your eyes and clearer skin. The idea is to take care of yourself and let make-up highlight, not hide, your face.

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Dr. Ashton, ABC News senior Medical Contributor, ob-gym, triathlete, and author of the book Your Body Beautiful: Clockstopping Secrets to Staying Healthy, Strong and Sexy in your 30s, 40s and Beyond, began her talk about Angelina Jolie. She explained that not only is Angelina a hero, but all women facing cancer and potentially facing cancer are heroes. Dr Ashton, went on to talk about the importance of having a great relationship with your doctor, and taking care of your whole body. She recommended the 5/2 diet, where you eat healthy and clean for 5 days and enjoy what you want on the weekends. The theory is that over time your body will adjust to the healthier foods and crave less of the junk foods. In addition to eating well, Dr. Ashton talked about the need to move and incorporate physical activity in your daily routine. Finally, a quote that has stuck with me “Life is an Olympic event, you have to train everyday!”

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My Blog is My Business was an amazing panel that included Dana Weiss (Possessionista), Deb Perelman (Smitten Kitchen), Jill Hanner (Ford Fiesta agent) and Erin Whitehead (Fit Bottomed Girls). These women are excellent role models for all bloggers. Again the theme was being yourself and not letting others bring you down. Some key points were to blog for you, be unique, and don’t obsess over numbers. Another general point was to know your vision and your value. This can be applied to advertising, book deals and any sponsor-ships  The more you are yourself, the more successful you will be!

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Brett Hoebel, founder of Hoebel Fitness, featured trainer on The Biggest Loser season 11 and creator of RevAbs, talked about extreme fitness trends. Having taken his class in the past, I can tell you – he kicks your a** in 20 minutes without a lot of gimmicks. His point is always to maximize your time and give your all. As he talked about new trends, he pointed out the social aspect of fitness. There is an element of bragging about extreme races and workouts that leads to peer pressure and people who are not prepared are getting hurt. The key is to be yourself, work hard and as Brett says, “get breathless”.

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Rocco DiSpirito, author of Now Eat This! Italian and star of Now Eat This! Italy web series on AOL, talked about the importance of cooking at home. Rocco was clear that eating healthy is not more expensive than eating unhealthy; your friends should support you in ordering low-calorie options at restaurants; cooking at home is a step in the right direction and try to be social when eating. Again, it comes back to doing what’s best for you and making healthy decisions.

Life is a journey, finding yourself and your goals can be difficult; but embracing your uniqueness, training for your own Olympic event and getting breathless will help you on your way!

Thank you to everyone at Fitness Magazine! Betty Wong, Mary Christ Anderson, Christie Griffin, Lisa Haney, Heather Muir, and Pam O’Brien, you were all amazing bringing insight and inspiration to all of us in attendance!

I will be writing about our amazing yoga class with Tara Stiles and all of the new friends I made in later posts :)

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Sneak in a 2 mile run – ha, that’s hilarious!

7 May

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Not even two moths ago, this would have been my response. Making running a priority, let alone two miles wouldn’t have crossed my mind. Now, it’s my reality.

In a little over a week, I will be running (more of a jog) my first race. My goal remains finishing, not winning. This journey has been a struggle; yet more satisfying than I could have imagined.

Ironically, my schedule has become crazy. My running plan has been tweaked along the way. I have been fortunate enough to add new classes to my teaching schedule. This has caused me to find different times for running and make sure I get it in. So, yes, I snuck in a two mile run.

Each time I start on the treadmill or get outside, I have to work through wanting to stop. Thankfully, I have an ego that won’t let me quit. Each time I’m pushing myself, I focus on my goal. I remind myself that I won’t reach my goal if I don’t make the time.

When I finish my run, I couldn’t be happier! Yes, because I’m done but also because I accomplished something I never thought I could. The feeling of my accomplishment lasts the entire day.

Where are you on your journey? Continue down the road and find the amazing sense of accomplishment for yourself!

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