Tips for Keeping Your New Year Health & Fitness Goals

Right now, most of us are planning, making lists, and getting ready for the new year ahead. We’re reflecting on this year that is so quickly coming to an end – seriously, where did the time go? Just about everybody always adds losing weight and/or exercise to their list of goals for the new year. I know I always do. But what I’ve learned is that just writing down or saying “I want to lose XX lbs. in 2014” or “I want to start working out more” Is not gonna cut it. I know, because I always did this and always failed. I failed because there was no action plan. It’s great to set goals to become healthier or more active in your life, but without a plan, it’s just a dream. This is the year to turn those dreams into reality. Here are a few tips to help you get started on the right track!

1. Have a game plan. Saying and doing are 2 different things. Write down how you plan to lose those XX pounds. Will you do a 21 day sugar detox? Will you practice better portion control? Will you join a gym? Workout 3 days a week for 30 mins? What workouts will you try? Write it all down and keep it in a handy place to go back to!

2. State why you want to make these changes. These statements can be very powerful and have a big impact on keeping yourself motivated to make these lifestyle changes in the coming months.

3. Put it on your calendar. Make appointments, set reminders on your phone, and/or recurring events on your calendar. Whether it be scheduling time to go to a fitness class, go for a jog, or pop in a workout DVD, make it a part of your daily routine.

4. Weekly meal plan. This is major if you are looking to make healthy lifestyle changes. Pick a day out of the week that works for you (Sunday is my day) and write down your meal plans for the week then go shopping accordingly. If you have a super busy schedule, then you can even try prepping your meals on this day to make it easy to just grab & go during the week. This will really help you stay on track and not make hasty or bad food choices because you don’t know what to make for dinner or you didn’t pack your lunch and just went out for fast food.

5. Be realistic. Saying you want to workout 5 days a week can be daunting, especially if you haven’t been on any set routine before! Start off with smaller goals and work your way up to the ultimate goal. Start by making it a goal to workout 2 days a week for the month of January (Don’t forget to put it on your calendar!) Then add a day each month thereafter and by May you’ll be working out 5 days a week!

6. Step out of your comfort zone. Sometimes we need to try new things and go out on a limb a bit because that’s where the magic happens. If you do the same thing over and over, it can start to get boring, so try something new! It could be a new healthy meal, a new fitness class, or even just a different running trail. You’ll never know if you’ll like something new unless you try it. It will be scary, but just think how proud you’ll feel when you actually do it. You may find you really love it and if not, at least you can say you tried it!

7. Keep yourself accountable. Telling someone else about your goals is a good way to stay accountable. Having a good support group will help you stay on track with your goals.

8. Sign up for a race. I know this is what keeps me going and I firmly believe that signing up for a race will keep you motivated too. It’ll give you a goal to aim for. Sign up for your first 5K or your first marathon. Try an obstacle course race or a fun run. There are so many options available right now, that there is bound to be something you’ll find fun. Sign up with a few months in advance and get to training! You won’t regret it.

9. Don’t give up. None of us are perfect. We’re gonna miss a workout or indulge in a meal that’s not part of our meal plan. It happens. The key is to not let one bad day, ruin your goals. Honestly one bad day won’t ruin your progress, giving up will. So, if you know you’re going out for a special occasion, allow yourself a “cheat meal” and move on. So you missed a workout because you worked late that day. It happens. Those are small bumps on the road. We all have them. Don’t be too hard on yourself. I’ve read it takes 21 days to make something become a habit, so don’t give up!

10. Rewards. Who doesn’t love to get rewarded for a job well done? Some people like to buy themselves a new outfit after reaching their weight loss goals others will plan a night out. Workout 3 days a week for 30 days and get a pedicure. Get a new playlist for your ipod after you run your first 5K. Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be expensive or big it just needs to be something to keep you motivated! Set your goal + reward and you’ll be on your way 🙂

Do you have any tips for staying on track with your fitness goals? I’d love to hear them.

14 in 2014 Running Challenge | Fitness Friday

During my morning coffee and blog reading earlier this week I came across Jill Conyers 14 in 2014 Challenge. Maybe it was the caffeine rush or the lack of sleep from the night before, but I signed up almost immediately! It seemed like such a great idea and such a fun way to stay motivated. Well, now that the initial caffeine rush has subsided, guess what? I’m still excited about this challenge! Yes, it’s a little scary for me to commit to running 14 races in one year, considering that last year I ran 6 and proclaimed it the Year of the Races! Hello!! But, it’s challenges like this that keep me motivated and moving forward, so I’m up for it! How about you?

Yesterday I started researching and writing down some races that I was interested in doing. There will be some virtual races I’ll be participating in too, but so far I have 10ish tentative races on my list, 3 that I am pretty sure I am doing, and only 1 I’ve actually signed up for! Yikes, I’ve got my work cut out for me, huh? Here’s what’s on my list, so far:

Jan:

Feb 1 – Death Valley 10K (Death Valley, CA)

Mar 1 – Blood, Sweat, and Beers 10K Trail Run (Las Vegas)

April 5 or 6 – Super Spartan (Las Vegas)

April 27 – Tough Mudder (Las Vegas) REGISTERED

May 24 – Trails of Fury 10K Trail Run (Las Vegas)

June:

July:

Aug 29-31 – Disneyland 10K or Half Marathon

Sept 21- Sprint Triathalon (Las Vegas)

Oct:

Nov: Napa Valley 10K (date TBD)

Nov: 22: Valley of Fire 10K

Nov: 27: Hoover Dam Half or 5K

(There’s no way I can or want to do all of these races in 1 month, but they all have potential, so I hope to get one of them done)

Dec:

If you’re interested in reading more about the challenge or if you want to sign up, you can check it out HERE! If you know of any other races around Las Vegas, NV, Southern California, Southern Utah, and maybe even Arizona, please let me know!! I’d also love to hear about your upcoming races and fitness goals for 2014! Happy Running!!

2013 The Year of the Races

If you asked me last year where I thought I’d be at the end of 2013, this would definitely not be it!! I never dreamed I’d be sharing my personal ups and downs on this blog. I never imagined I’d sign up, nonetheless finish a half marathon. Yup, 2013 has been a life changer. I went from never participating in any sort of running/obstacle races to running 6 races in one year. It’s been an amazing journey and I couldn’t have done it without the support from family and friends, especially those who came out and ran alongside me! I used to dread working out and therefore rarely (read: NEVER) did it. I only ate “healthy” if I was on a “diet” and let’s be honest, fad diets aren’t healthy. They don’t last. Only a change in your lifestyle and your attitude is what makes the changes happen. The magic is in the commitment, not a pill.

I found that change in me by signing up for all these races/events. Signing up for these events has kept me on track with my exercise routine and eating habits. It’s given me a goal to reach and has made all the difference in my attitude towards working out and eating healthy. I can’t wait to see what 2014 will bring! So far we’re signed up for our second Tough Mudder in April and signing up for Blood, Sweat, and Beers 10K trail run in March. I really want to run a Ragnar Relay race and as soon as I learn to ride a bike (Yes, you read that right, I don’t know how to ride a bike!!) I want to do a sprint triathalon.

The Color Run 5K really introduced me to event racing. I had no idea what to expect, from the packet pickup to to the run itself, it was a great first experience!

After Color Run, I did Tough Mudder! I’d trained hard and really got into fitness during this time. I’ve said it time and time again, Tough Mudder changed my life!

The obstacle course race bug hit me hard and in May, I was ready for more! This time, it was a family affair and my sister, Norma, joined me for the Badass Dash 7K. The kiddos also participated in their first kid OCR and loved it!

Later in May, my sister and I, along with our friend, Veronica, did the Race for the Cure 5K with the LVAC team. This is a very important cause for us and our family and we were excited to have a part in raising awareness!

As most of you know, summers in Vegas are HOT! So, summer was spent vacationing and having fun with the kids with our Summer Bucket List. Towards the end of summer, I began training for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon!

I recently blogged about my first half marathon experience, if you missed it, you can check it out HERE! If you want the short version: It was by far one of the hardest and most amazing experiences I’ve had in my life!

Six days after the half marathon, I joined some of my book club girls for the Dirty Dash 5K and my son did the 1 miles Piglet Plunge! What a way to end a super fun year of races! You can read my review of that race, HERE.

I’d love to hear about your favorite races of 2013 and what you’re planning for 2014! Do you have any suggestions on races I should be looking into? Don’t be shy…

Dirty Dash 5K Recap

So, six days after the Rock N Roll Half Marathon I was ready to take on the Dirty Dash 5K with my book club girls! We had my hubby design a shirt for us and then had them printed at a local print shop. Isn’t it a cute shirt? Here’s a little recap of the day and a review of the Dirty Dash event itself.

A few days before the race, the weather in Vegas goes bonkers! Lots of wind, rain, and cold temps. We kept hoping it would clear up by Saturday but it just kept getting worse. So, we all made sure to bundle up with layers, hats, and gloves. We put our big girl panties and drove out to Boulder City for some fun in the mud! I made a “girl power” playlist to help pump us up for the race, which was fun, but I think we were all a little freaked out by how cold and rainy it was. The weather didn’t really clear up and we were actually getting some rain mixed with flurries Brrrrrr…..Once it was our time to go and we started running we warmed up a bit and the rain even died down some. We all made the best of it and had a good time together!

Since the weather was so bad, Jason decided to stay home with the kids until it was time for the kid’s Piglet Plunge. I had already paid for Diego’s registration, but thank goodness we were leaving Elysse’s till the last minute and of course, we did not have her participate since the weather was so bad. So, we only have a few iphone photos of us before and after the race.

As for the race itself, it was definitely not my favorite. I know the bad weather didn’t help but, there were lots of things that could have been done better and they had nothing to do with the weather. It was also a shame they had to deflate the slide at the end and we didn’t get to use it. That would’ve been fun. So, let’s here goes:

Pros

Pre-race communication was great. Emails were informative, albeit a little cheesy, and clear directions were given.
We got a nice tshirt, beer koozie, temporay tatoo, and sticker.
There were enough port-a-potties and didn’t have to wait in line.
The part that had mud was great! It was smooth like frosting 🙂

Cons

Packet Pickup was unorganized and the volunteers/workers were pretty rude. I understand they had to change their setup due to the rain, but seriously a smile wouldn’t hurt!
Not a lot of obstacles. We ran for 1 mile with no obstacles, except for a few mud puddles and we aren’t really sure if they were part of the race or just due to the rain! The obstacles were in mile 2 and again the last mile was running without obstacles.
Beer Chug was actually an obstacle! I would’ve preferred a free beer at the end.
The 3 main obstacles were one right after the other. Having them spaced out would’ve spread out the fun!
The course was not clearly marked. Not sure if the rain & wind washed off their markers, but I had a hard time figuring out where to go.
Piglet Plunge was a joke! It was about 3/4 mile and the kids ran through 2 (maybe 3) watery mud pits at the start and end of the run. That’s it! I think they may have been counting on the slide to be an obstacle, but that was deflated due to the weather.

It was so cold and rainy, I think the photographers, organizers, and volunteers were just ready to go and not at all enthusiastic. Motivation and fun were definitely lacking. I’m sure had the weather been better, that it may not have been so bad.

My First Half Marathon | Rock N Roll Las Vegas

I’m going to start off with a warning: There are lots of pictures in this post! lots!

With that being said, I apologize for being MIA for a few days. Not only was I getting ready for the 13.1 miles, I also had my cousin and her husband (who also ran the half with me) visiting from Texas and we were busy catching up! It was a blast. Now, on to the half marathon…

I survived! YAY!! Truth be told, I trained for over 15 weeks, I was pretty sure I’d finish. What I wasn’t sure of, was how I’d finish. And I must say, overall, I am happy with the results. I finished in 2:34:20. I was aiming for 2:30 but that was ambitious, since I never really trained for speed, just endurance. I’m also really happy that I ran the entire time. No stopping, no walking! Slow jogging? You bet ya’!

So, we checked into The Venetian hotel at noon. Shout out to my sister for the family discount and upgraded room with an awesome view of the strip! We had plenty of time to settle in, have a pre-race snack, change our clothes, and try to relax a bit. Getting a room on the strip was a great idea. Huge thanks to Anya from my fb running group for suggesting it 😉 The kids and my parents had a warm place to hang out and wait till we were done running, we didn’t have to travel far afterwards, and we had a great place to celebrate our accomplishment!!

Here we are, ready to head out the door and get our run on!

My sister and Jason drove us as close as we could get to the pre-race area. They were able to park in a business center and walk with us the rest of the way. Big thanks to the security guard for letting us park there, even though we weren’t supposed to!

Runners were really pouring in now and it was getting real!

Once inside the pre-race area we took photos, rested, listened to the live band, and used the port-a-potty twice. The lines were crazy long! But, I’m glad we went twice, since we didn’t have to stop along the course.

My cousin had custom shirts made for them, since just a few days before the marathon, they celebrated their 20th anniversary!

Here I am at my corral ready to go. There ended up being 36 corrals total, so we were towards the back and although the race officially started at 4:30pm, we didn’t actually get to the start line until 5:15pm or so. Yup, 45 mins. of walking in a huge group of people towards the start line. It was pretty crazy and crowded! Once we got started, it was already dark. If I do another marathon, I will try to have a closer corral number 😉

I was really looking forward to mile 4 because I knew my family and friends would be there cheering us on. It was awesome hearing them cheer and giving us high fives. Next time, I’d like them at miles 9 or 10 because that’s when I started to get tired!! I really could have used the boost then!

Once we passed our family, I felt really pumped! That lasted a few more miles and up until that point, I was right on target for finishing at my goal time of 2 hrs and 30 mins. And then…we got to downtown Vegas. The crowds dwindled, the noise was gone, and the lights were gone. Those were some dark and tough 4 miles. Once we headed back towards the strip and I could see we were getting closer to the end, my mind was ready to push harder, but my legs just couldn’t go any faster. No matter what I did, I couldn’t speed up my pace. I am so thankful for my cousin and her husband for pushing me to keep going and for giving me tips to so I wouldn’t slow down too much.

Crossing that finish line was an amazing feeling. I turned around and asked my cousin, “Did that just happen? Is it done? Can I stop running now?!?” I was pretty chocked up. Crying at the finish line was not something I thought I was going to do, but it’s what happened. I’m blaming it on the adrenaline rush 😉

Celebratory tequila shots with my dad! Because that's what you do when you finish running 13.1 miles!

Dedicating My Miles…

Earlier this year, I came across a blog that was talking about how some runners dedicate their race or or their miles during the race, to family, friends, organizations, etc. This helps the runners keep their momentum going and to really focus on something or someone to get them through the miles, especially the tougher ones. This really resonated with me. I remember reading and thinking that I’d do that if I ever ran a marathon. And then thinking, “Yea, like I’d ever run a marathon!” Well, here I am, I’m running my first half marathon (baby steps, people) on Sunday. I’ve had so many people believe in me and support me through this newfound passion and this amazing journey I’m having transforming myself from the inside out.

Well, with out further ado, here’s my list of people I’m dedicating my first half marathon to:

{Miles 1-2} My parents. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. Literally, yes. But, my parents have never discouraged me from following my dreams. They’re always there when I need them. And, they’ll be watching the kiddos on race day! I love them so much!

{Mile 3} My friends. The new ones and the old ones who’ve stuck with me through thick and thin. The ones who believe in me. The ones who encourage me to keep going and don’t think I’m crazy for trying new things. Ok, maybe they think I’m crazy, but they’re rooting for me anyways. I love you, guys!

{Mile 4} Ashley. My trainer. She’s so encouraging and has helped me get stronger by focusing on my individual needs and pushing me to try harder. She believes in me and I don’t want to let her down.

{Mile 5} It’s A Messy Life blog readers. Yes, I know most of these are friends and family, but I’m still happy to have a place to share my experiences with people and motivate others to keep trying to improve and live happy lives. Thank you for your support & I look forward to growing my little blog into a fun community to share, uplift, and laugh about our messy lives together!

{Mile 6} My aunts and uncle who passed away too soon and can’t be here cheering me on but I know they would be if they could. Especially my aunt Norma. I know she’d be front and center cheering me on from the sidelines.

{Mile 7} My crazy fun and awesome family! For my cousins who no matter how long we go without seeing each other, when we finally do get together it’s always like we were never apart. I love that. I love laughing and being myself around them. There’s no drama, no comparing, no agendas, it’s family and we’re always there for each other. Thanks, primas 🙂

{Mile 8} My cousin Anel, although she will always be Nelly to me 😉 She is flying out from Texas today to come run my first race with me. Talk about supportive, huh! She’s even dragging her husband with us. She’s been motivating me and training with me via text messages. Love those sweaty post-running photos she shares with me. And, even though I say she’s crazy for all those miles she runs (she’s training for a full marathon next month) I really do admire her dedication and secretly wish I could run like her 😉

{Mile 9} My sister, Norma. She is my bff. She gets me. She is the one person who I know will always be there for me. She has to be. She’s my sister. I love her for putting up with me, for always being there for me. We can lean on each other and stand tall together knowing that we’ll never be alone.

{Miles 10-11} My kiddos, Diego & Elysse. I want to be a strong female role model for them. I want them to know that they can do anything. I want to be a good example for them and help them become healthy, active adults. I want them to be proud of me.

{Mile 12} My husband, Jason. I’m so grateful for his immense support. For believing in me wholeheartedly, even when I don’t believe in myself. Fo never complaining when I need to go on my runs, but rather encouraging me even when I’m grumpy! Thank you seems so little a phrase for all he does for our family. I love you, babe.

{Mile 13} This one is all mine. This one is to prove to myself that I can do it. I never imagined that I would be running a half marathon. Never. Yet here I am. It’s so amazing to know we all have it in us to make changes for the better. We can all become the person we are meant to be, even if we didn’t know we had it in us. It’s there. It’s just waiting for you to make the first move.

Thanks again everyone for supporting me in this and all I do! I am so grateful to have so many amazing – awesome – caring – funny – uplifting – loving – people in my life. xo

Preparing for my First Half Marathon | Tips & Tricks

It’s 5 days until my first half marathon and I’m getting really excited and a little nervous. One thing that helps keep me calm, is to have a plan. I like to plan just about everything! Ask my husband about family vacations, hahaha! I’m not going to totally freak out if things don’t go as planned, but having a plan relaxes me and makes me feel stable. I’m working on being more spontaneous in my life, I’m not sure I love it…

So of course, I am planning the logistics of race day down to the last detail. Huge thanks to the folks at Rock N Roll Marathon Series for the awesome event details, complete with PDFs of the course, road closures, etc. They’ve been very helpful 😉 I’ve heard that the crowds are huge and traffic gets really bad around the strip due to the road closures, so we want to allow for enough time to get to the strip early, check in to our room, and make our way to the start line with plenty of time. Our room is close to the finish line, so my parents and the kids will have a warm place to hang out while we run and we won’t have too long of a walk afterwards. We’ll also be having our own private “post-party” there! Woohoo!!!! Bring on the champagne!!!

Another thing that makes this race unique from other races is that it’s in the evening, so fueling up for the race would be a little different than regular morning races. I found these 2 articles that helped me plan for the day, down from what to pack to how to fuel. If you are running the Rock N Roll Vegas race this Sunday or any other night race, I totally suggest checking them out. Here are the links:

http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-runners/how-do-i-fuel-evening-race

http://runeatrepeat.com/2013/11/06/fueling-for-a-night-race-disney-wine-and-dine-rnr-las-vegas-half-marathon/

I’m also planning to hit the grocery store to stock our room with snacks and drinks for before and after the race. I’ve gotta pack my bag with post-race clothes, but I already have my outfit laid out, maybe that was a little too early!

Big thanks to Brooks for this handy checklist!

So, for those of you experienced marathon runners, is there anything I’m missing? Do you have any race day prep tips and tricks you’d like to share with me and other newbies? I’d love to read all about your experiences in the comments, don’t be shy!

5 Steps to a Good Run

“I am not a runner.” I told myself that all the time, mostly as an excuse to not run. I did a couple 5Ks and wasn’t really into it. I love obstacle course racing, mostly because you get to take breaks from running and jump over walls and trek through mud. And then, I signed up for my first half marathon. Yup. Me. The girl who doesn’t like to run. Go figure, huh?

Well, I’m in my 14th week of half marathon training and my long runs are up to 9 miles. The Rock N Roll Half Marathon is happening November 17th and I’m a little nervous, but super excited. So, do I have a newfound love for running? Yes and No. I love the feeling after a run. I love how I can see myself getting faster and it amazes me that I can actually run farther distances than I ever imagined! I don’t love the treadmill. I’ve learned that the first 3 miles are the hardest (maybe that’s why 5Ks aren’t for me). It takes me a while to warm up! I like how running clears my head. I may start thinking about my “to do” list, but soon my thoughts are simply about getting it done. I become my own cheerleader. I still sometimes dread the idea of going out there and running, however I’ve found a few things that help my runs go a lot better than ever before. I’m clearly no authority on running, but these are a few things that have helped me, as a novice, enjoy running. So, if you’re like me and were never a big fan of running, check out these 5 Steps to a Good Run and let me know if they help you! With the right attitude, everyone can an enjoy a good run, even if running isn’t your favorite 😉

5 Steps to a Good Run

1. A great playlist! I could not get through my runs without my running music. For me, this isn’t even the genre of music I listen to on a regular basis, but the fast beats help keep me going at a steady pace and the lyrics are entertaining and/or motivating. I start my playlist with a few warm up songs, then a few favorites towards the middle to keep me going, and finally I save the real pump-me-up songs towards the end to keep me from stopping! I’m really loving Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia, Stronger by Kanye West, and Light Em Up by Fall Out Boy right now!

2. Water! You have no idea how many times I’d go for a run without water! I just didn’t like having to hold a bottle of water while I ran. It felt cumbersome, but then I’d be wishing I had some water when my throat was so dry and I started panting. Then, I learned about hydration belts, camel backs, and water packs. Running with water just got easier! And, I’ve got a place to hold my phone & asthma rescue inhaler too! There are lots of brands and styles out there, so try one out and find what works best for you. PS. you can find these at TJMaxx and Marshalls too for a fraction of the cost at a sports store 😉

This is what I currently use for all my runs!

But, I've got my eye on this one, maybe for shorter runs. — But, I’ve got my eye on this one, maybe for shorter runs.

3. Start Slow! Like I mentioned earlier, it takes a while for your body to warm up, so don’t feel like you have to start out at a super fast pace. Take a few moments before your run to figure out where you’ll start to increase your pace. For me, they are visual markers along my run, but it could easily be after 10 mins I’ll speed it up a bit or after 1 mile and so forth. The important thing, is to give your body the time it needs to warm up, otherwise you’ll get tired fast and will feel like quitting, believe me, I learned this the hard way!

4. Don’t Wear Cotton! Cotton tshirts were all I used to wear to the gym and for running. I was already wearing shorts or workout leggings, the last thing I wanted was to wear anything form fitting & show off the the muffin top! But, alas the t-shirts would get weighed down with sweat super fast. Yeah, pretty gross! I’d spend a lot of time adjusting my t-shirt so it wouldn’t stick to me. Yes, it was unflattering and uncomfortable. Sweaty t-shirts can also cause chafing under your armpits. Again, another thing I learned the hard way! This also goes for cotton yoga pants & undies! Grab yourself a few of those tech moisture-wicking shirts and thank me later 😉

Ps. I’ve found some that aren’t super form fitting either!

5. Track Your Runs! This is helpful for a few reasons. First, you’ll have an accurate detailed account of your run, such as distance, pace, and even average calories burned. Second, you’ll see how much better you’re getting! Tracking your progress is so important when running and working out in general. It really helps keep you motivated and proud of how far you’ve come. I just use the free RunKeeper app, but there are a ton of options out there!

BONUS TIPS: Don’t forget to do a quick warm up stretch before your run and a longer stretch afterwards. Check our Runner’s World for a ton of different stretching exercises for runners to find what works for you!

So, do you have any tips you’d like to share that help you with your running? Sharing is care 😉

Tough Mudder Las Vegas 2014 | Tough Cookies 2.0

Yesterday I did it. I signed my husband and I up for our second Tough Mudder event. I’ll be honest, the thought of going through that electic eel makes me want to throw up. Yup, that’s me getting shocked by 10,000 volts of electricity ———————–>>>>>

When I signed up last year, I had no idea what I was getting into. I just knew I was ready to do something completely out of my comfort zone. I didn’t know it would change my life. Because it did. Tough Mudder changed my life (I’m not even exaggerating)! Training for the event got me to do workouts I’d never dream I could do. I’d never heard of a burpee before, let alone attempt to do one!! It got me eating healthier. I began to care for my body. It wasn’t about trying to get skinny anymore, it was about trying to get strong. It got my family eating healthier and becoming more active too. And once I completed Tough Mudder, I was hooked. Tough Mudder showed me that I can do whatever I set my mind to do. It takes a lot of discipline, determination, and some pain, but it’s possible. Just like Tough Mudder, you can’t do it alone. Ok, maybe some people can, but I ‘m not one of them. Our team was there for each other and we all helped each other out from start to finish. That’s how life is too. You need your support group to get you over those hurdles! And I have the best group of friends & family supporting me all the way. I’m sure I can get annoying sometimes, so thanks for putting up with me peeps!!!

I’m excited to get some of the original Tough Cookies back together for our second Tough Mudder and super excited to get some new recruits (you know who you are!!) These next 200+ days of Tough Mudder training are going to be amazing and I cannot wait for April 27th! But first, let me get through my first Rock N Roll half marathon, the Dirty Dash, and Spartan Sprint! See, I told you I was hooked 😉

Let the Training Begin | Rock N Roll Half Marathon

You know when a new store is about to open and sometimes they have a “soft opening”? They open quietly without the bells and whistles and work out any kinks they may have. Then they have the big Grand Opening a few days later with a bunch of balloons out front and all the hoopla!

Well, that was me last week. I decided to kick start my half marathon training without any big announcement. I really just wanted to get an idea of where I was in terms of my running endurance. The most I had ran nonstop and without obstacles up to that point was about 3 miles. Last week I ran 2 days and had 2 personal training days and 2 P.I.T. (pure intensity training) Classes. I ran my usual 3 miles on Tuesday and Friday I ran 5.45 miles on the treadmill in 1 hr. That was quite the accomplishment for me. I learned a few things that day.

I don’t like the treadmill.
My feet will go numb from running farther than 4 miles.
Running makes me sore. Very sore.
I’ve got a long way to go.
I will get blisters.
I can do this.

So this week, I start training for real! I’ve got my playlist ready and the training schedule is on the calendar. I’ve also started a running board on Pinterest. You can check it out HERE! I will be using a modified version of Hal Higdon’s Half Marathon Training Program. His is a 12 week program, but I felt I needed more time than that to get ready, so I’m working on a 16 week program. Most weeks I’ll be running 3 – 4 days, with one of those days being a long run. My first 4 weeks will consist of 2-3 mile runs, with my long run being 4-5 miles. The milage will be increasing more in Sept. & Oct. I’ll have 2 strength training days and 1 – 2 P.I.T classes a week, as well. I’ll get one rest day a week. I’m tired just thinking about it!

Like I’ve said before, I don’t consider myself a runner, so I’m really hoping these next months will change that and I hope will find the runner’s high I hear so much about!

xo,

Jessie

I'll definitely be taking this advice! — I’ll definitely be taking this advice!