Self-Doubt Before Race Day | Rock N Roll Half Marathon Nashville

So, as I type this I should really be packing for my trip to Nashville, since we’ll be out tonight. My flight leaves at 6am tomorrow, so I have an early wake up call. Anyhow, I’ll get to it before I have to get into mommy-driver duty!

I’m super excited to be running the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Nashville this Sat. Not so much because I love country music, hilly courses, and humidity, but because I’ll be running alongside my BFF since high school! This will be her first half marathon and I’m thrilled I was the one who motivated her to sign up. I was asking if maybe she’d like to run the 5K, but she surprised me and said she’d join me in the half marathon! You can imaging my excitement!!! She’s been training for about 12 weeks and I’ve been supporting her via text messages and phone calls. This got me thinking about my own first half marathon and how my cousin, who’s an avid marathon runner, came to run alongside me for my first half marathon. I remember how happy I was to have someone with all of her experience running with me and supporting me. It really helped make my first half marathon experience such a good one! As excited as I am to now be the one paying it forward and being the “experienced” runner, I’m also nervous about my own performance. Hills aren’t my jam, I mean, let’s be honest, they aren’t anyones jam! I’m also not as fast or fit as I was a few years ago and it’s messing with my head (see what I did there?). I’ve put in the miles and ran hills in my training, but I’m afraid I’ll be seen as a fraud. Like, yea I call myself a runner, but then I’m huffing and puffing at mile 10. I’m afraid I won’t be the best support for her or worse yet, that she’ll be the one supporting me! Won’t that be embarrassing!?!

I’m working on keeping a positive mindset and trust that I won’t fail. I need to trust that it’s going to be a fun experience, no matter the outcome. I admit, this is hard to do. It’s hard to feel your best, when you know you could do better because you have done better. Ok, I know I am overreacting to a hypothetical situation and it’s silly, but it’s the truth and I can’t be anything but honest. Have you ever felt this way before? Be it running or another aspect of your life, I bet you have. I can also say from experience that things aren’t usually as bad as you think they’re gonna be. Am I right? So, I am leaving it all here on the blog. I’m typing it out here but then I’m going to think of how happy I’ll be seeing my best friend, who I haven’t seen almost 5years. I’m going to focus on how awesome it is that I’ll be running my 14th half marathon in 2 days. I’m excited to visit and explore a new city and eat some pretty good food too!! And, I’m gonna go pack…

Who’s been to Nashville? Any recommendations on must-see or must-eats? I’ll be back next week to let you know how it went and if you are struggling with feelings of self-doubt too, stay strong and know you aren’t alone. XO

2018: The Year of Consistency

The start of a new year is always a good time for change. It’s a time to set goals and make plans on how to achieve them. Don’t let the haters bring you down before you even get started. We all have to start somewhere and for a lot of us, January 1 just feels like an ideal time for a fresh new start.

I feel that in 2017 I was not just treading water, but actually taking some steps in reverse. Life has it’s ups and downs but if we don’t get a hold of ourselves, we can continue on a downward spiral that is even harder to get out of. I know I’ve been inconsistent with just about everything in my life lately and it’s time to make a conscious effort to be consistent with my actions. From what I eat, drink, how I work, use of my time, etc. It’s time to stick to the plan. So, I’m here today to share my goals and plans and hopes for this new year.

Fitness + Health Goals

Consistent Meal Planning/Prep – Working from home, I always felt that meal prep was something I didn’t need to do. I could always take a break from my work and make my meals. But the truth is, I don’t always feel like taking the time to cook just for myself so I end up winging it and it’s not always balanced or the healthiest options. I have been pretty good about meal planning for dinners, so I want to keep that up and add meal plans for breakfast and lunch too. I also plan to use Sundays as a day to prep some meals or have semi-prepared options that I can easily and quickly turn into a complete meal. For example, making a batch of paleo egg muffins, having boiled eggs on hand, and making enough dinner for lunch leftovers the next day.
Run 3 days/week + Gym 2 days/week – Getting consistent and back to a routine with my workouts is a must. Although I always have a monthly plan on my calendar for my workouts, I do not always follow through. I am determined to make this a priority in my life again!
Weight Loss – Without having consistent workouts and meals planned, I have let the weight creep back up. This is the year to get back on track and not let all the hard work I’ve done go to waste.
Post Monthly Goals – When I first started my weight loss journey, I shared a lot. Maybe even over shared! But, it helped me stay consistent and accountable to myself. Somewhere along the line I started thinking that maybe I was sharing too much, that people didn’t want to see/read about what I was doing and I stopped sharing and eventually that led me to taking it easy. I started relaxing too much and without that accountability on social media and my blog, I started to overindulge too much and workout less and less. That stops now! Hope you’re ready for a maybe a little over sharing but just know, I’m doing it for myself! Not to brag or make anyone feel bad, but rather to put myself on blast in the hopes that it will keep me accountable and maybe give someone else ideas on how to do it for themselves too 😉
Blog a min. of 2 times a week – You’ll be seeing a lot more of me this year! I really enjoy blogging so I want to make sure I’m on here a few times a week sharing my thoughts, ideas, frustrations, travels, race recaps, family life, and everything/anything else of this messy life!

I’m also working on my race schedule for 2018, so be sure to check those out HERE! If you have any suggestions for races I should put on my radar, please let me know in the comments. Or, if you’ll be running one of the races I’m doing this year, let me know so we can meet up! I’m debating if I want to run a marathon for 2018. What do you think?

These are the main goals and objectives to get back on track and feeling better about myself. I don’t want to feel sluggish and tired all the time like I used to, so it’s time for consistency! Do you have a word for 2018?

Bristlecone Events Groundhog Day 5K Community Run

Earlier this month the kiddos and I woke up early, drove to the other side of town and ran Bristlecone Events Groundhog Day 5K Community Run! I’m part of a running group on Facebook and one of the members was offering free registrations for this upcoming event and of course, I was all for it! Free Race, count me in!

Bristelcone Events is a new racing company in Las Vegas and they’ll be putting some new and fun events this year. The cool thing about their community race series, is that they are only $15 and although they don’t have tshrits and medals at the finish, they’re still fun, community oriented, and organized. They also provide a water station and treats at the end 🙂

This was Diego’s first 5K and he did so great. He took off at the starting line and Elysse and I never caught up! The race was 3 loops with 1 aid station. Jason was waiting at the aid station and cheered us on at each lap. Since Diego was running ahead, I stayed with Elysse and ran alongside her. She started off super excited but about halfway through our first lap, she started to get tired. I’ll admit she got a little whiny and started complaining. It was hard to keep positive with her complaining, but I tried to motivate her as we ran and walked.

Diego finished strong about 5 or so minutes before us and he was so pumped! I think he may have experienced his first runner’s high!!! He went on and on about how much he loved it and how good he was feeling. I was a proud momma 🙂

We’re already looking into doing another family 5K run together and hopefully Jason will join us next time 😉

Have you ever ran a 5K together as a family? What’s been your favorite race?

Happy International Women’s Day

I woke up this morning to instagram and facebook posts all about girl power, girl bosses, and women’s rights. Today is the day that all over the world people are getting together to celebrate women. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #PledgeforParity. Check out their website HERE and read all about the campaign, how you can become involved, and activities in your area.

Today, I would like to celebrate all the strong, amazing, and diverse women I know. Everyday I am in awe of all the accomplishments I see from women all over the country. Mothers, athletes, daughters, wives, sisters, friends, regardless of our title or status we are all women. Let’s not compare ourselves to each other. As the saying goes, “comparison is the thief of joy.” As women, we have so much to overcome. We may feel we need to work harder to prove ourselves. And, yes, this is very true, especially in the workplace. But, we should not have to work so hard to prove ourselves to each other. We are all doing the best we can. We are all working hard. We are all making the best choices for ourselves.

As mothers, our choices, our actions, make an impact on our families. Our children look up to us and it’s up to us to be the best we can be for them. This is pressure enough. Let’s not pressure ourselves even more with comparing what we do to what anyone else is doing. Let’s not tear each other down, but build each other up. There is no room for that in our lives. Why wast time with criticism, when we can empower each other instead. Let’s show compassion, love, and acceptance. It is so much easier to love, than hate. Our daughters will thank us for it.

To all the women in my life: Thank you! Thank you for building me up, for pushing me further. Thank you for sharing a little or a lot of your life with me. Thank you for running with me, for celebrating with me, for laughing with me, for putting up with me, and mostly, just thanks for allowing me to be me and for always being you. XO!

2016 Goals: Reclaim

While we still have a few days left in January, I thought I’d finally share my goals and plans for this new year. On January 1st a good friend of mine held a Vision Board Party. We talked about what worked and what didn’t for 2015. We discussed our goals and dreams for 2016 and then put together our vision boards to go along with these goals. Mine is hanging in my office, so I can see it everyday and not lose focus of what I intend on working on for this year.

As I mentioned in my Year in Review post, 2015 was full of ups and downs and we went through a lot. A lot of my plans and goals for last year ended up being put on hold and on the back burner. Well, here we are in 2016 and I am ready to RECLAIM those goals and take on some new ones. I intend on taking on 2016 with lots more determination and hard work than ever before.

A big running goal to start the year has been to run the LA Marathon. Training for this race has really been kicking my butt and it’s taken up a lot of my time. It has definitely been a challenge. I actually have my last long run of 21 miles on Monday and then I taper for the race, which is on Feb. 14. I’m super nervous and excited about meeting this goal! 26.2 miles here I come.

I’ve got lots of business goals and plans that I am working on and have started to put in place. I’ll be working on rebranding my photography business, which means new marketing materials, updated portfolio, etc. Fun Times for sure to reclaim my business and get back on track! I need to make money to pay for all my races 😉

A personal goal I have for myself is to focus more on my style. I work from home, I workout, and that’s most of my week. I never have anything to wear when it’s time to go out for a nice dinner or anywhere else that’s not they gym, really! Shopping is a chore for me. I really do not enjoy it at all. So, my goal for 2016 is to figure out a way to enjoy shopping for clothes and shoes that are not fitness related. I have no problem spending $100+ on running shoes. $12 for a pair of Injingi socks, no problem! My favorite running bra is about $60. Now ask me to spend more than $30 on a top and I hesitate! This is gonna be a tough one, but i think it’s important for me to find some balance in this aspect of my life and to reclaim my fashion sense!

Lastly, now that both of my kiddos are in full-day school (YAY!!!!) I have a lot more time to focus. This has been a blessing and a challenge. Time management has never been my strongest attribute, so I fully intend on working on that this year. Since I mostly work from home, I’m putting together a schedule for myself so I can have ample time to reclaim all the pieces that make up my days: motherhood, housekeeping, workflow, and fitness.

How about you? What are your goals for 2016? Is there anything you’re looking forward to?

The Gym in January: Sharing is Caring

Here we are just 6 days into January and lots of people are complaining on social media with “funny” memes about how packed the gym is in January. Yes, they are most definitely correct. The gym will be busier than usual at the beginning of the new year. We’re all making goals and resolutions and just about everyone has some sort of goal to do with their physique. Wether its to lose weight, gain muscle, or tone up, the goal usually leads them to the gym.

But, rather than hating on the new folks, let’s remember what it was like to walk into a gym for the first time. For me, it was terrifying. Walking into that first Body Pump class, I felt everyone was staring at me. I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt frumpy and alone. I didn’t dare make eye contact for fear of being sneered at. I’d like to think that most of these fears were all in my head, but I’ll never know.

What I do know, is that it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t want to be the reason why someone doesn’t reach their fitness goals. Remember, you were once a newbie too. So, rather than complain, why not be welcoming. Why not be the reason someone does reach their fitness goals. Just a little welcoming smile or a few seconds to lend a helping hand could make the difference. That gesture could be what makes someone, who like me was terrified walking in, feel a little bit better about their decision.

If you’re new to a gym, don’t feel bad about it. Own it. Sure, you may not know how to use all the machines, but neither did they when they first started going. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for showing up. Better yet, prove them wrong. Show up again and again and again. Before you know it, you’ll no longer be the newbie and you’ll be the one offering a lending hand or friendly smile.

For those of us who have been going all year let’s try this: See someone who’s looking at a machine with doubt, give them a quick tutorial. The girl next to you at Body Pump looks scared, give her a reassuring smile. Not only will you be helping them, you’ll also feel so much better about yourself 🙂

Laughlin/Bullhead Half Marathon | Race Recap

Woohoo!! I’m so happy to say, I finished my last race of the year strong! Per usual, I was nervous before this race. Again, I didn’t get all my training runs in and I was not feeling too confident about how I’d do. However, I was determined to have a great race, since Disney’s Wine & Dine was such a disappointment with it being cut short and all.

I won the race entry from an instagram giveaway from Clarinda over at Enjoying the Course. This was the inaugural race, so it was a small race in Laughlin, NV. I believe there were a little over 500 runners, including the 5K. I felt the race was well organized and managed. Packet pick-up was quick and easy. The tech shirt that was included in the race swag, was really nice and fit well. I love it when they have both ladies and mens sizes for shirts!

Jason and I left the kiddos with my parents to spend the night (Thanks Mom & Dad!) and we took off Friday afternoon to Laughlin. It’s about 1.5 hr away, not too bad of a drive, just a little boring. This was our first visit to Laughlin. It’s a small town right on the Colorado River and Arizona border. There are a few hotel and casinos along the river and an outlet mall along the main street, which is all we saw. I’m sure there are some nice hiking trails too and of course, in the summer there are lots of water activities on the river.

Once we got to Laughlin, we went straight to race registration at the Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino. The Edgewater Hotel and the Colorado Belle Hotel were both race sponsors so they offered runners a really great (read: Cheap!) hotel rate for either of the two properties. I made the reservation for the Edgewater Hotel. At check-in, we were given a cute welcome gift from the race directors. I thought it was a very nice and personalized gesture 😉 After dinner, it was an early bedtime for us, as we had to be up early for my 7am race start.

The race was across the street from the hotel, so we just walked to the start line. I met up with 2 other runners I knew from a facebook running group and we took a quick photo before heading to the start line. It was a chilly morning, but I chose to run without a jacket, as I figured it would warm up as I started running. I’m glad I didn’t take the jacked, the weather temps were perfect. It was a bit windy for most of the race, but nothing too crazy. Once the race started, I was prepared for the big hill they warned us about at packet pickup. They weren’t joking, it was a steady uphill climb for the first 2 miles or so. But, what comes up must come down and that downhill felt great. I made up for the slow pace and took off. I was really enjoying the run and the view of the dam and mountains when we were directed left for the trail portion of the race. I enjoy trail running, so it was a nice change of pace. I’m assuming it was added to get the full 13.1. The trail section, was an out and back. I don’t particularly like, out and backs, but I knew it was not going to be for the entire race, so it wasn’t too bad. The trail was soft sand/gravel, so going uphill on that felt like forever! Once we were out of the desert trail, it was back to road running and another steady and steep uphill to cross the dam into Arizona. I took a quick break to stop and take a photo of the view at this point 😉

Thanks Emily for the photo! I sure was happy to be running down this trail!

When we got to our turn-around, I spotted Jason! We hadn’t planned a meeting spot along the course, so it was a very welcomed surprise! He ran along side me for a bit, then took off to meet me at the finish line. It was a quick run down the dam until it evened out at the river. It was nice running on the paved trail that went along the river. The views were a nice distraction from my aching feet. Once I crossed a bridge, it was a nice downhill run to the main street, where the end was so close! I hadn’t really been paying too much attention to my pace, but when I saw the clock at the finish, I gave it my all to barely come in under 2:30. My official time was 2:28. I was so happy with my time! I’m no speed lightning, but that course was pretty brutal and I was sure I was going to end up with a time of 2:45 or so. It had more ups and downs than I was expecting, but it kept it interesting and the downhill runs were my favorite.

I saw Jason soon after crossing the finish line and I even met Clarinda, whom I’d won the race from! YAY for meeting new runner friends 🙂 We got a free beer and a nice post-race snack tray, with a bagel, banana, orange slices, and granola bar. All and all, I really enjoyed this race. It had a little bit for everyone. Some trails, some challenging uphills, followed by fun downhills, pretty scenery, and a great atmosphere for a small grass-roots race. The race directors did a great job and I’m sure this will turn into an even more awesome race in the years to come!

So, how is your year coming to an end? Any fun races? Are you making plans for next year already? I know I am!

XO,

Jessie

Happy National Running Day 2015 | 10 Ways Running Changed My Life

In the past 3 years, I’ve learned to love such foods as cauliflower “rice”, brussels sprouts, beets, and almond milk. I eat greek yogurt like it’s going out of style! I’ve learned how to do burpees, Bulgarian split squats, and deadlifts. I am the proud owner of a pull-up bar, foam roller, and yoga mat.

I’ve also found a love of running that I never thought possible. Running is a great cardiovascular exercise and great calorie burner. But for me running has become more than that. Running pushes me to try harder and reach new goals. Running keeps me motivated and signing up for races is a sure way for me to keep at it! Running has an amazing community of people. Running can help me clear my mind on crazy days and will just about always put me in a good mood. So, today in honor of National Running Day, I thought I’d share a few fun ways running has changed my life:

1. I spend more money on running shoes than heels.

2. I’m always hungry.

3. I wake up earlier on the weekends to go on long runs than I do during the week.

4. I plan vacations around races.

5. I’m kinda obsessed with compression socks.

6. I don’t take selfies, I take feetsies.

7. I have more running shorts than jeans.

8. I don’t just drink, I hydrate 😉

9. Food is now called fuel.

10. The only watch I own is a Garmin.

BONUS: I get some pretty rad tan lines!

How about you? Do you love running? Running isn’t for everyone and as with all things, it’s best to do what you love , but don’t be afraid of running. Don’t give up on running because you’ve told yourself you’ve never been good at it or because you can’t run fast, or because you tried it once and it was hard. Yes, running is hard, we aren’t all fast, and we are definitely not all good at it all the time. But, the key is consistency and just giving it a try. Get out there today and celebrate running. Celebrate the fact that you can run. Run for those who can’t today. You may end up loving it.

Spartan Race | #WhyIRace

Spartan Race started a new campaign recently asking folks to share their story. Everyone has a story as to why they race. Below is my reason. I race for many reasons. I race to keep myself motivated in my fitness journey. I race to be a good role model for my kiddos. I race to push myself beyond my comfort zone. I race for those who can’t. I race to prove that I can. I race because it’s fun. But, mostly to be stronger than I was before.

I’ve never been athletic. Running was not something I did for fun. Running wasn’t something I did. Period. Finding this new passion in running and obstacle course racing has been an amazing addition to my life! It’s woken up a spark in me to be stronger, healthier, and better than I was before.

What’s your story? Why do you race? Share your story HERE!

How to Stay Motivated Through Life’s Challenges

You guys, having a hubby with a broken ankle, on crutches, and not able to do a whole lot is tough business (you can read about his accident: HERE) Being honest here, I’m exhausted. I’m taking care of all sorts of things these days. I’m kind of an introvert, so going out to run errands and get groceries has become his thing. I know, I’m a lucky girl to have him take care of all that for us. Anyhow, it’s been challenging these couple of weeks tackling it all alone. I’m not complaining, just keeping it real. It does make me realize how good I’ve had it with a hubby who helps so much, but boy do I miss it now! So, what’s the point here? The point is, I have a million things to do and my workouts and training runs were starting to suffer. I was not working out regularly and I kept my runs short. But the other day I had a good 3 mile run and felt amazing. I was able to tackle the rest of my day with more energy and I just felt in better spirits. I’m sure my family noticed too. Cranky mom was gone! Hello, fun mom! After that run, I have made it a priority to go back to my regular workout schedule and improvise when I have to, but really make an effort to not miss it. While things have been sort of crazy in my life, here are a few things that have kept me motivated through it all:

1. Plan ahead. It really helps to plan your day. I’ve been using Jenny Collier‘s free printable planner. You can check it out HERE! I specifically use the Daily To-Do list and weekly meal planner. I try to get up a little earlier and with my coffee in hand, I work on my to-do list. I put it all down, from dropping off the kids at school to doing laundry. And of course, I put my workout time in there too.

2. Be flexible. Once you have your day planned out just right, things sometimes don’t go as planned. I’ve learned that remaining flexible to what life throws your way is key. So, you slept through your 5am alarm and weren’t able to get your early run in, can you make/find time to do it later? Your appointment is running late and your going to miss your Body Pump class. Can you adjust your day and make it to a later class? Hey if all else fails, you can do a quick workout at home and get your sweat on anyhow! Maybe include the kids too! You’ll feel so much better knowing that you still got that workout in even if you could have easily called it an “unscheduled rest day”.

3. Be realistic. As much as I’d want to, I know I can’t do it all. By the end of the day, some things just aren’t going to get done and I’d much rather it be folding laundry than my workout! Seriously though, sometimes a good run is way more beneficial to everyone in the family than whether the book shelf got dusted. Just sayin’ 😉

4. Don’t forget your goals. Think about why you started working out. Was it to lose weight? Get healthy? Are you training for a marathon or your first Spartan Race? Whatever the goal is, keep it in mind. Don’t give up on your goals just because life gets hard.

Do you have any tips to share on keeping motivated when life gets complicated? I’d love to hear them!