2015 The Year for Finding Balance

I’ve been on this “fitness journey” for almost 3 years now. Like all these stories go, I was tired of being overweight and sluggish. I’m not saying my life was terrible and depressing, far from it! I was enjoying life, with maybe a little too much indulgence 😉 One day it just clicked. I needed to do something about my weight. So, in February of 2012, I joined a gym. One of the scariest things I’ve ever done is walk into a Body Pump class alone. But, as embarrassed and unprepared as I was, I kept going. I also started running and the weight started to come off. Slowly. Since Feb. 2012 and into the first part of 2013, it was all about the weight loss. It took 15 months or so, but I lost 30 + lbs. and I was feeling great! I was sure I would meet my goal to lose 50 lbs by the end of 2013. Well, it didn’t happen. I ran my 1st Tough Mudder in April of 2013 and I became hooked on obstacle course racing and running. I ran 6 races in 2013 and I couldn’t get enough! I blogged about 2013 being the year of the races. Never in a million years would I have said that crawling through mud and barbed wire, climbing over 6 ft walls, and running 13.1 miles would be my idea of fun. My friends didn’t recognize me. I was a changed person. Changed for the better. I was training hard and eating good, maybe too good! Hence, I didn’t lose the weight. I gained some, actually. My trainer says it’s muscle, I’m pretending I believe her 😉

Well, here came 2014 and I stumbled on a challenge to run 14 races in 2014. I was so on that. I’m running my 14th race today, but more on that later. All of this year I’ve been focused even more on running and training and getting stronger. I ran another half marathon, I did 2 Spartan races, 1 Tough Mudder, some trail races, and fun 5Ks. It’s been a very active year, but again, my weight has not changed. I’ll admit, it’s even gone up. I’m not happy about that. Sure, I feel stronger, but a part of me still knows that I’ve been totally slacking lately when it comes to making good food choices. I’ve let myself become overindulgent again, allowing way more “cheat meals” than necessary. I’ve tried to fool myself into believing that I’m “maintaining” but the truth is, I feel myself going down a path I don’t want to go down again. So, after thinking a lot about my fitness goals for 2015, I’ve decided to call this “The Year of Balance”. I want to focus on eating healthy again. I want this extra weight to come down. I no longer have a magic number that I want to reach on my scale (we broke up) or a must-have pant size. No, I am no longer going to allow myself to be hung up on a number. I know what I want my body to look like and that’s the goal I’m setting. Of course, I’m still going to be running in races and obstacle courses, they keep me focused and give me something to work towards. Plus, it’s fun 🙂 I just won’t be using my races and training as free passes anymore. No more, “It’s OK to eat this or that, I’m running 6 miles tomorrow.” Or “I’m carbing up!” OR “Good thing I work out” as I stuff the doritos in my mouth! Yeah, it’s time to be accountable for my eating habits and my results. It’s time to for balance.

Of course, I’ll be sharing lots more on goals and reaching this balance in the next few posts and throughout the year in my monthly goals blog posts. I will also be sharing my racing schedule for 2015 soon. Now, I’d love to hear about your goals for 2015 and how you intend on reaching them!

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Trails of Glory 12K | Race 13 of 14

This past Saturday Jason and I ran the Trails of Glory race put on by Desert Dash. We also ran their Blood, Sweat, and Beers 10K trail race earlier this year and loved it. Trails of Glory was also a great time! We ran the 12K distance, but there were also 8K, half marathon, 30K, and full marathon distances. Vegas is a small town and it was a local race, so we saw lots of familiar friendly faces and even saw one of our neighbors there! For being a local race, there were lots of folks that came from all over the country and even Canada to run this race.

The race started at 8:30am and it was sunny and warm! We could not have asked for better weather mid-November! The trail was just as advertised, not too technical, no steep inclines, and lots of fun. The trail started with a bit of a decline, which was super nice and got me off to a fast start. Jason took off ahead of me soon after the start. He was never too far ahead, though. At the first mile we ran by the famous “Duck Tree”. Apparently it got it’s name because bikers would have to duck under it and yell “duck” to warn anyone coming behind them. Eventually, people started putting ducks on the joshua tree for decoration and voila, Duck Tree was born. I was having issues with my headphones and had to slow down or stop a few times to fix my music. I seriously need a new phone!!! Anyhow, at some point around mile 3 or so I passed Jason. At that point I started to get a little tired and the trail’s elevation started to go up nice and steadily. I slowed down some till I got to the aide station and then it was fast-going again and I had a strong finish. I looked down at my Garmin I noticed it read 6.90 miles, not quite the 7.45 miles a 12K should be*(more on that later!). I was sort of bummed, but didn’t make a big deal about it. I felt great and was able to take a few pictures of Jason coming through the finish line. He came in about 10 minutes behind me. He wasn’t too happy with his time, but he hadn’t been training for this race and was just happy to get out there and run a good trail. We hung around a bit, took a quick pic with our pal, Lisa (she’s awesome!) grabbed a banana and called it a day!

We live about 12 minutes from that trail, so we stopped by our house to shower and change before picking up the kiddos at my sister’s house. When we got there we were greeted with mimosas! I know, I say it all the time, but my sister really is the best! Of course, we were starving after the race so after picking up the kiddos and enjoying our celebratory mimosas, we went to our usual breakfast spot, Egg Works!!

*So, turns out some jerk (not anyone running the race) was seen removing some of the race flags and signs and most of us running the 12K missed a marker and turned too soon, cutting our race distance by half a mile or so. Why someone would do this, is beyond me!! Grrrrrr…..

I’ve got one more race to run before 2015 to reach my goal! Woohoo!! How are you doing with your fitness goals this year?

5 Tips for Running in the Morning | Motivational Monday

I am not a morning person. I’ve ignored my 6am alarm more times than I care to admit. I’m not a night owl either. I can rock 10am like it’s nobody’s business, though! I have a flexible schedule and can get away with mid-day workouts at the gym and when the weather is just right, I can go for a mid-morning or early afternoon run. Unfortunately, even with a flexible schedule, sometimes it’s just best to get your workout done and over with first thing in the morning, then you can focus on the rest of your day without interruption for a mid-day sweat fest. An early morning run also guarantees it gets done. I’ve had plenty of days when I had every intention of working out or going for a run mid-morning, but then life happens and my workout doesn’t.

Take today for example, I ignored the 6am alarm clock. I told myself I’d go run at the indoor track at the gym this afternoon, but then my 9 year old woke up sick and didn’t go to school. Now, I’m left trying to figure out when I’ll get to run today and it most likely won’t be the 5 miles I was planning. How I wish I’d just sucked it up and gone for my run this morning. I know I would have felt great afterwards. And that’s just it, while I’m fighting with myself to get out of bed, I need to remember how good it feels when it’s done! I’m determined to make early morning runs part of my routine, especially since I’m considering running the Hoover Dam Half Marathon in December! So, I’ve come up with a plan to help me and those of you who also struggle getting out of bed in the mornings to prepare for early morning runs.

Set out your clothes & gear the night before. We’ve all heard this before, but I think it really does help. Not only does it save you time in the morning, but by going through the motions of setting it all up beforehand you are making a commitment to yourself that you will get up!
Go to bed early. Here’s another given. If you want to wake up early, you have to go to bed earlier than usual. Plan an earlier bed time and make it happen.
Visualization. Visualizing yourself running your route is a good way to keep motivated. It especially helps to visualize the end of the run and how you feel when it’s done.
Make Plans. Whether you make plans to run with a friend or a running group, having that accountability will always get me out of bed!
Suck it up buttercup! No whining, no complaining, just get up and go for it. Because, when it’s done, you’ll feel amazing!

Do you have any tips or tricks for getting your morning runs done? Feel free to share them in the comments below! Thanks 🙂

Virtual 10K and Spartan Trifecta Training Update

Just 17 more days until we head to Temecula, CA and I take on the Spartan Beast & Spartan Sprint! I’m still really nervous about, not only getting my butt kicked during the 12+ mile Beast course, but doing it again during the Sprint. I keep reminding myself that my hubby will running along with me during the Sprint and he’ll be a huge help for me over walls and such! Plus, after 12+ miles, the 5K Sprint shouldn’t be so bad right?

Either way, I have amped up my training and have been really focusing on endurance & upper body strength training. This past weekend, I put my training to the test. I ran the Moms Run This Town Summer Safari virtual 10K with some other amazing ladies Saturday morning. We started at 6am, knowing that it was going to be a pretty hot day. We met at a local park with a nice paved running trail. The run was great and totally non competitive. We ran together at a nice pace, chatting it up! I forgot how much I enjoy running with a group. I’m so used to running alone that it was definitely a nice change and I really need to remember do it more often. This was also race 11 of 14 for 2014!

After the 10K, I went over to an LVAC gym nearby for a nice stretch, shower, and snack before meeting up with 2 other amazing ladies from my facebook running group and we headed up to Mount Charleston for Camp Rhino‘s Elevation/Spartan training at 11am. This was an awesome 2 hour workout that really pushed me. It was tough and brutal at times, but so rewarding! Getting to the top of that ski slope after carrying up a sandbag and then pulling a tire up the slope felt unbelievable. Literally ever muscle in my body was being used. My legs and arms were burning and sweat was just dripping off of me. Once at the top of the slope, we could take the ski lift down or walk/run back down the very steep slope. Let’s just say, I conquered my fear of heights this day and got on that chair. I was scared and nervous, but the view and rest were totally worth it!

Once I got home, I had my Skoop recovery protein shake (review on that coming up tomorrow!). I stretched and took a nice warm epsom salts bath. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel too tired or sore. I figured it was the adrenaline still running through me, but when I woke up on Sunday morning, I really wasn’t as sore as I thought I would be and I made it to Sunday morning’s 90 minute Camp Rhino boot camp! I’m glad I survived this weekend! I figured it would be a good test on where I was physically and endurance wise. I think I did pretty good and even doubled up on boot camp classes on Monday! Putting my body through these tests is definitely helping build up my strength, but also my confidence. Whatever happens during my crazy Spartan weekend, I’ll know that I trained hard and gave it my best.

A Couple that Runs Together, Stays Together

I am so proud of Jason for running his first half marathon (Bryce Canyon Half Marathon) with me earlier this month. He trained hard and it totally paid off. He finished strong and more importantly we finished together. It was pretty amazing.

Our 18 year wedding anniversary is coming up and it got me thinking about how we do so many things together and enjoy lots of the same things too and I think this makes for a happy marriage, it really does!

When I started this “fitness journey” Jason was so supportive and understood that in order for it to work it had to be a lifestyle change. He knew that eating healthy and exercising wasn’t just about me, but about the whole family. He not only stood by me, he joined me. We’ve been having so much fun running races and participating in obstacle course races together. Not only is it better for our health, it’s been better for our marriage and our family life. Having a spouse support you in following your dreams and cheering you on is so important!

Running is such a metaphor for marriage. It’s about staying beside each other even if you know you can go faster, it’s knowing when to take the lead or slow down a bit. Jason’s helped me up dozens of walls and obstacles, he’s literally carried me on his back, he’s encouraged me to not give up. Jason has been to every race of mine either, cheering me on or running besides me. No matter what life throws our way, I know we’ll be able to deal with it. Together. Our marriage is one big fun crazy adventure and I love it more and more each year.

What are some things you and your spouse do together to keep your marriage strong?

Bryce Canyon Half Marathon Recap | Race 10 of 14 for 2014

So, you all know how much I love my sister, right? It’s apparent. She rocks. She’s my bff, my biggest supports, she puts up with my craziness. I could go on and on, but for today’s blog post we’re going to talk about how she became my super hero/lifesaver! Here’s the story:

Jason and I, along with the kiddos, headed out to Bryce Canyon, UT early Friday morning. My sister & nephew would be coming later that afternoon. We took our time driving out there and stopped in St. George to have Chick-fil-a (YUMMM!!) We saw Dick’s Sporting Goods had a tent sale, so we walked around the tent full of running shoes for a bit but didn’t buy anything. So, off we went. We made it to Bryce Canyon around 2pm. When we pulled over to one of the lookout points and were ready to walk a short trail, I go to the back of the car to grab our shoes. You see, I packed the kids hiking shoes and my shoes in a separate bag and we just wore our flip flops for the trip. It’s way easier to travel with kids in flip flops than in shoes that need to be laced up. Well, alas, there was no bag. I asked Jason if he put the bag in front with the kids, but I knew the answer….the man forgot to pack our shoe bag. How was I going to run a half marathon in flip flops?!? I may have started to panic, but then I quickly thought to call my sister and see if they were near St. George. It was about 2 hrs away and the closest town with a sporting goods store. We had to drive a bit to get signal, but when I called and spoke to my nephew and he told me they were about to drive into St. George, I knew I’d be ok. Big sister to the rescue. Long story short, she found me some Saucony ProGrid Ride 5 sneakers on sale at Dick’s Sporting Goods store and grabbed some shoes for the kids at the Old Navy next door. I was pretty nervous the rest of the day, but glad that I would at least have sneakers to run in for the half marathon. When she arrived, I was so anxious to try on the shoes and even more relieved to see that they fit and were comfortable.

I had a rough time sleeping that night. I was still anxious about running in new shoes in a brand I’d never used before. What a way to break in your shoes, huh?!? 4am came way to quickly. I felt like I was in a fog getting ready and drank some bad in-room coffee maker coffee to help wake me up. I went through the motions, but just couldn’t get excited. I was more nervous and scared than anything. My super hero sister came to to our room to keep sleeping with our kiddos & we walked out of the room to catch the bus driving us up to the start line at 5am. I really lucked out when booking our hotel room because the pick up was right across the street from where we were staying and the half marathon ran right in front of the hotel too!

Thanks to Jason for taking these pics of the starting line and during the first part of his run! I still can't manage to get myself to take pics during a race! — Thanks to Jason for taking these pics of the starting line and during the first part of his run! I still can’t manage to get myself to take pics during a race!

It was still pitch black as the bus drove us to the start line and I couldn’t help but think how crazy we all were sitting in this cold bus way too early in the morning, to go run downhill for 13.1 miles! We managed to stay warm(ish) by standing next to one of the 4 or so bonfires that were set up at the start line. A few runners made small talk with us, I ate my Larabar, had my Island Boost, and just waited to start feeling better. Well, I can tell you that that didn’t happen until after mile 2. At this point, Jason was running way ahead of me, I had told him it was ok and he took off! After the first flat 2 miles, I found my groove and the road started to go downhill. The scenery was beautiful and was really enjoy the downhill speed. I was able to see Jason up ahead of me running with the 2:20 pacer but I didn’t try to catch up. I was already running way faster than normal and I didn’t want to push myself too much so early in the race. By mile 8 he started to slow down, so I ran a little sprint and caught up to him. We were running through the town so we slowed down to see my sister and the kiddos! They were out there with their cow bells making noise and cheering us on in their PJs! It was awesome to see them and it got me pumped up for the next 5 miles. At this point, the downhill incline wasn’t as steep and I knew I was slowing down, but I was keeping a nice pace and feeling really good too. Jason was also slowing down and I could tell that he was starting to struggle around mile 10 or so. By mile 12, I was ready for it to be over! I wanted to run faster, but Jason couldn’t go any faster than what he was already going so I stayed running by him. I knew I was going to PR at this point and I remembered how crucial it was for me to have my cousin with me for my first half marathon and I wanted to do the same for the hubs…even if he did forget to pack my sneakers in the car!!! When we spotted the finish line, we did a mini-sprint to the finish line together and it felt great! Our official time was 2:25:27:06! Jason finished his first half marathon, I PRed by 9 minutes and couldn’t be happier! The finish line had the regular post-race snacks of bagel pieces, orange slices, bananas, water, and chocolate milk. We stayed around the finish line area, walked around, stretched, enjoyed some free ice cream, and waited for my sister to pick us up.

All and all, the race was very well organized, we had no issues at all with packet pickup or at any point during the race. There were plenty of water stations along the road and port-a-potties at about every mile (Woohoo to not having to use them, though!) The scenery was lovely and the downhill course was just fantastic! And, although I wouldn’t recommend trying a new running shoe on race day, the Sauconys worked out just fine!

Be sure to come back tomorrow to read and see pictures from the rest of our trip and our family time hiking through the Bryce Canyon hoodoos!

I loved running with my Swings! !! They added that extra little “umph” I needed! I think I’ll be wearing them on my next race 🙂

Being Grateful for Friends and Family

We head off to Bryce Canyon tomorrow and, like I mentioned in my previous post, I’m really excited and hoping my knee doesn’t give me too much trouble on Saturday! All my races, thus far, have been local and I’m looking forward to a bit of a change in scenery and for cooler weather. Just really hoping it doesn’t rain on us 😉

This past Sunday, I had my last long run of 12 miles and I’ll admit it was a challenge. The sun was starting to burn layers off my skin & my knees were aching, but I finished. I didn’t give up, although I did consider it! Towards the end of the run, I reflected on all the support I’ve had throughout this journey and began to think of how lucky I am to have people who really care about me in my life. Especially, my family! Yes, I started crying on my run! Please tell me this has happened to you before or I’ll be super embarrassed…Yes, you have too?!? Ok, on with my post!

I am beyond grateful and appreciative to my husband for making my favorite post-run breakfast countless times. In case you’re wondering, it’s sweet potato & bacon hash with eggs over medium and avocado! I’m grateful that he’s joining me on this adventure and running races with me! He’s never once complained about me going to the gym or when I go out for a run and he stays with the kiddos! He’s always encouraging me and never doubts I can achieve my crazy goals, even when I do! I love that about him.

I am grateful for my kiddos for embracing this active and healthy lifestyle. They love talking about my races and going on runs with me. I love that they are involved and get excited about running their own races. I’ve never felt guilty about running or going to the gym because I know they appreciate it and it’s showing them that exercise is important and beneficial in our lives and that it can be fun!

I am grateful for my friends who have stuck with me in this crazy adventure! My friends who’ve come to watch me run or even better that have come out and ran some races with me! Thanks for trudging through the mud, running through bubbles, and jumping off planks with me! Woohoo!! My friends who have gladly watched my kiddos so Jason and I could run some trails or get some training at Camp Rhino! To my friends who listen to me talk about Paleo and upcoming races: Thanks for pretending not to be too bored with me 😉

I am grateful for my parents who also support me without end. Without their support (read: they watch my kids most of the time) I wouldn’t be able to do so much of what I do. They’re on a 3 month trip now and we are totally missing them!!

Lastly, I am grateful for sister. My #1 supporter, my BFF! We’ve ran 5Ks together. We’ve ran an obstacle course race together. She was there to watch me run my first 5K and she’s been there for most of my other races too. She’s the best race photographer and cheerleader!

When I signed up for this half marathon at Bryce Canyon, she said she was coming along too without being asked. She just knew she’d be there for me and I couldn’t be more grateful to her for that. I mean, who does that? Who says they’re going to take a 4 hr road trip to wake up at 6am to watch you run by for like 15 seconds? Only the best sister in the world, that’s who!

So really, I just want to say “Thanks” to all of you. I couldn’t be here following these crazy dreams of mine without you. You all mean the world to me! xo

I’ll be off the blog scene for a few days, but I’ll be back on Tuesday to tell you all about the Bryce Canyon Half! In the meantime, follow the fun on instagram @jessieemeric!

Last Week of Half Marathon Training

Just 4 more days until my second half marathon and the hub’s first! I’m super excited about it and so proud of all his hard work with training. Having both of us training for a half marathon at the same time had it’s challenges with scheduling and kiddos, but we’ve made it work and I can’t wait to get out there together. I don’t think we’ve ran together this whole time we’ve been training, crazy huh?!?

I’ll definitely be taking it easy these next 4 days. I did my last long run yesterday and my knees are bothering me. I’ve been out of my glucosamine for about 2 weeks or so and I know my knees are missing it! It’s also unusually humid for Vegas and I don’t think that’s helping either. So, I’ll be resting, icing, and using some KT Tape on my knees until Saturday 😉

Not only am I looking forward to running the half marathon, I’m looking forward to getting away with my family for a few days and exploring Bryce Canyon together. It’ll be a much needed getaway for us. This summer has been crazy busy so far with year-round school, swimming lessons, basketball, and gymnastics, on top of working and training for the half marathon! Yup, much needed time away from Vegas and the daily grind!

Oh I almost forgot, I got a new Nathan hydration vest! I’m loving it so far. I never really loved my belt and had been considering a vest for awhile now. I ended up choosing the Nathan’s Intensity Hydration Vest for women and I just love how I have access to everything I’ll need at arms reach. I plan to write a full review after the half marathon so stay tuned 😉

Happy National Running Day | 10 Reasons Why I Run (and you should too!)

I’ve never been athletic. I’ve never enjoyed sports. I didn’t like exercising. I’ve been overweight for a long time. I wanted to be skinny but I didn’t want to work hard for it. Sweat?!!? UH, No Thank You!! And then, one day it clicked. Nothing was going to change, nothing was going to get better with my self esteem, my body image, my mind, until I got out there and did something about it. And so, I started running. Wait up, I didn’t start running, I started speed walking, then I moved up to an awkward trot. It was difficult to run. I felt heavy, my legs felt like they had lead weights on them, my asthmatic lungs felt like they were on fire. The air was thick. Running sucked. But soon it started to feel easier. Not easy, but easier. The more I ran, the easier it got, the less it sucked. The more I ran, the more I loved it. I started to miss it on days I didn’t run. What kind of freak have I become? I guess, I’m a running freak. Don’t get me wrong, running still isn’t easy. I don’t think it ever will be easy and I’m ok with that. Some days it’s hard to get out there and run, but I do it anyways. Here’s why:

I run because I love how I feel after I’m done.
I run because it makes me feel strong.
I run because it’s a great way to lose weight.
I run to clear my head.
I run because it’s good for my heart.
I run to reach my goals.
I run to tune out the world around me.
I run because I want to be a good example to my children.
I run in the hopes of inspiring others.
I run because I can!

BONUS: I run because I love the cute running shorts 😉

Why do you run? Are you running today for #nationalrunningday? You don’t have to be fast (I sure am not) You just have to want it. Get out there and give it your all. You may surprise yourself and end up loving it!

Wild Land Fire Awareness 5K Trail Run | Race 8 of 14

This race was organized by a local racing company here in Las Vegas, Desert Sky Adventures and hosted by Bureau of Land Management out in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. They offered both a 5K and a Half Marathon distance through some awesome trails! I absolutely love Red Rock Canyon. It’s a quick drive from my house and we love to go there for hikes with the kiddos and I’ve recently enjoyed running some of the trails, so running a race there was really a treat! It was put together nicely and it had that small race atmosphere I like.

For a FREE race, I cannot complain one bit. They sent out 2 emails before the race with all the race details on parking, water aid stations, etc. so communication was clear. I didn’t make it to Packet Pickup the day before but my friend who picked up our packets had no issues. We got a free tech tshirt, race bib, and some Smokey the Bear goodies in a drawstring bag 🙂 The morning of the race, everything went along smoothly. They were taking donations for families of firefighters who lost their lives while fighting wildland fires and had some pretty buff firefighters doing pushups when they received donations 😉 After the race, they had a table with bananas, oranges, muffins, water and gatorade. We also got a nice dog tag style metal at the finish. Yup, definitely a great local race!

Another great thing about this race was the sense of community. There were lots of runner friends from the running groups I’m a part of and it felt nice to have that camaraderie among the other runners. I’m not much of a social butterfly and well, I can be a bit awkward in social situations, so it’s nice to have a group of friendly like-minded people who don’t make me feel like an outsider! Thanks so much for that 🙂

I didn’t get much sleep the night before, I was on my feet all day photographing a wedding, I had a headache, and just felt BLAH!! Needless to say, it wasn’t my best race. I felt sluggish and tired. My legs felt like lead and I just couldn’t focus or find my groove. I was just happy I finished strong. When I signed up, I was sure I’d PR from my last 5K trail run, the Xterra Trail Race. I didn’t. I should’ve. I was disappointed. I ran with my husband and he did amazing! He PRed by over 7 minutes! He’d been working hard and it really paid off! I was so happy for him, but I just couldn’t shake the horrible feeling of failure I had. Then of course, I felt guilty for being selfish and not being more excited for him. But, I am so lucky to have such a wonderful man as my husband because he never gloated about his success and did everything he could to make me feel better. And I did eventually feel better. He gave me the space I needed to make peace with it and even made me a yummy post-race breakfast! Thanks babe! I love you!! Oh and I’m sure the TOMS shoe warehouse shopping & happy hour with girlfriends helped too 🙂