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Friday, June 26, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
How to Be A Runner (Even If You Have Small Kids)
I know you've seen those mom's and dads out running pushing a gaggle of kids or being stalked by a group of kids on bikes. No matter the age of your kids, you too can be a runner! Here are a few tips on how to get it done.
I've been running since 2013 and as I've gotten more serious about my hobby, I've learned how to get more chances to train consistently. Even if you can only get a small run in a few times a week, kids in tow, it's better than claiming that it can't be done because you have kids.
- Just Do It.
Half the struggle of being a runner is actually getting up off the couch and deciding to run! Don't let the idea of you having kids to look after keep you from doing it. Step 1 is to get a plan. I started with The Color Run 5k 8 week running schedule. It guided me from running 1 minute at a time to running 30 minutes at a time.
- Set a goal.
I've found that with my own running if I have something I'm training for, whether it be a distance, race or even a better time, working towards something keeps me more motivated than anything else. Having kids can sometimes make sticking to a routine hard, but if you have an actual finish line in your mind, anything that you do to move towards it is a positive.
- Plan ahead.
Make plans and have someone watch the kids if you can at least one time a week so that you can do a long run without them. At first you'll probably only be running for 30 minutes or less so it shouldn't be that hard to have someone help watch the kids.
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| This was the first day I had my stroller and this is about 0.75 miles away from home. |
- Get a running stroller if you want to run outside.
There is a little bit of expense that goes along with getting a running stroller if you don't already have one, but trust me, running with a regular stroller might be a great feat if you are planning to enter The Strong Man competitions, but your back and your legs will thank you if you get a runner. For me it was like going from driving a mini van to driving a sports car.
- Get a gym membership with daycare if you can afford it.
I've recently gotten a gym membership so that I can run and workout without having to deal with my kids. I highly recommend this option. Not only is it great for me, the Kids Club at our gym is great for the kids. My son is about to start preschool and this was a great test to see how he'd react to being left with someone else.
- Look for a Mommy Running Group
Personally I've had a hard time getting on a schedule that fits with the local running groups due to my husband's erratic work schedule, but if you can swing it, running with a group of people at least once a week will also encourage you to not give up. Check out Moms Run This Town or just look up your city name and Running Club and you'll probably be able to find something that fits your schedule.
I've been running since 2013 and as I've gotten more serious about my hobby, I've learned how to get more chances to train consistently. Even if you can only get a small run in a few times a week, kids in tow, it's better than claiming that it can't be done because you have kids.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Progress...
Either way...I'm excited that I'm brave enough now to post a picture showing my stomach.
The Zen of Treadmill Running
A lot of “soul runners” tend to be outdoor runners and most of them claim that outdoor running is the end-all-be-all of running places. I mean really, how often do you hear about a great marathon that happens indoors? Location seems to be a very important factor in the enjoyment of a runner. As with most sports, weather plays a huge role in a person’s running experience. Also the regimented pace that a treadmill forces you into, isn't some people like to have hanging over them. From what I had heard, I didn’t believe that someone could reach a Zen-like state while running on a treadmill, but after three weeks of steady treadmill runs freshly in my mind, I believe that you indeed can reach a state of Zen while running in place.
For me, location, aka, the gym with daycare, is the perfect place to jump on the treadmill and run. Where else can you have the distraction of running in front of televisions on the wall sometimes can be a blessing. Running on a treadmill let’s you run non-stop. Since the average runner is running in urban settings, this eliminates the issue of traffic and other obstacles in their way. As much as I like to run outdoors and take in the scenery, letting my mind be distraction free, unless I want it to be distracted, for long distances, outweighs location.
As with location, the weather plays a huge role in someone’s running experience. Running indoors at the gym illuminates the need to worry about what the weather will be like. Air conditioning and fans make my running experience the same every time. Not having to worry about rain or snow or mud or dirt eliminates most of the wear and tear on my running shoes. Yes there is mileage put on them, but most of my shoes get worn out due to the elements. Indoor running creates a very controlled environment that leaves the runner with fewer distractions.
The regimented pace of a treadmill to some can be a hindrance, but for me it takes the work out of paying attention to my pace. Letting the treadmill do the work is something that I really love. The “set it and forget it” way that a treadmill works takes the guess work out my run for me. Having a pace to follow, at least for me, helps me push myself to faster speeds. In the last few weeks I’ve gone from an 11:30 mile to a 10:30 mile just by using a treadmill. Technology in general is created to make our lives easier. The technology of a treadmill wasn’t made on a whim. The person that invented this knew that if someone was going to be able to use it, they’d be worried about pace and speed and the way that it calculates your speed on command is something that I really find helpful when dealing with all the other distractions during a run. _
If you take into consideration all the perks of running on a treadmill you indeed CAN reach a Zen-like state while running on a treadmill. While I’ve enjoyed some great locations to run through, location follows the adage of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. For me a static place to run fits my needs on a daily basis. Without weather to worry about, your mind can relax. The technology of a treadmill takes the guess work and brain strain out of running. Clearing the “Monkey Mind” as the Buddhists call it can be difficult no matter where you run, but for me I find that the treadmill removes location, weather, and pace issues. With fewer things to concentrate on, running on a treadmill lets me clear my thoughts more easily than surface running, letting me reach a state of Zen. _
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-- I was inspired to write this entry after reading a runner's world article. http://www.runnersworld.com/sports-psychology/find-zen-through-running
For me, location, aka, the gym with daycare, is the perfect place to jump on the treadmill and run. Where else can you have the distraction of running in front of televisions on the wall sometimes can be a blessing. Running on a treadmill let’s you run non-stop. Since the average runner is running in urban settings, this eliminates the issue of traffic and other obstacles in their way. As much as I like to run outdoors and take in the scenery, letting my mind be distraction free, unless I want it to be distracted, for long distances, outweighs location.
As with location, the weather plays a huge role in someone’s running experience. Running indoors at the gym illuminates the need to worry about what the weather will be like. Air conditioning and fans make my running experience the same every time. Not having to worry about rain or snow or mud or dirt eliminates most of the wear and tear on my running shoes. Yes there is mileage put on them, but most of my shoes get worn out due to the elements. Indoor running creates a very controlled environment that leaves the runner with fewer distractions.
The regimented pace of a treadmill to some can be a hindrance, but for me it takes the work out of paying attention to my pace. Letting the treadmill do the work is something that I really love. The “set it and forget it” way that a treadmill works takes the guess work out my run for me. Having a pace to follow, at least for me, helps me push myself to faster speeds. In the last few weeks I’ve gone from an 11:30 mile to a 10:30 mile just by using a treadmill. Technology in general is created to make our lives easier. The technology of a treadmill wasn’t made on a whim. The person that invented this knew that if someone was going to be able to use it, they’d be worried about pace and speed and the way that it calculates your speed on command is something that I really find helpful when dealing with all the other distractions during a run. _
If you take into consideration all the perks of running on a treadmill you indeed CAN reach a Zen-like state while running on a treadmill. While I’ve enjoyed some great locations to run through, location follows the adage of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. For me a static place to run fits my needs on a daily basis. Without weather to worry about, your mind can relax. The technology of a treadmill takes the guess work and brain strain out of running. Clearing the “Monkey Mind” as the Buddhists call it can be difficult no matter where you run, but for me I find that the treadmill removes location, weather, and pace issues. With fewer things to concentrate on, running on a treadmill lets me clear my thoughts more easily than surface running, letting me reach a state of Zen. _
****
-- I was inspired to write this entry after reading a runner's world article. http://www.runnersworld.com/sports-psychology/find-zen-through-running
Hey! I know her!
How cool! Motivation Rhonda was featured in an article at prevention.com. She's part of the big group of Beachbody coaches I work with!
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/over-40-fitness-instagrams
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/over-40-fitness-instagrams
Gym & Training Day 16 Recap
I'm really starting to love the routine of going to the gym. I drop the kids off, stow my swimming stuff in the locker then take my stuff to the "girly" workout room and get on the treadmill then do my weights/cardio workout after. There are a few regulars that I see in the gym, but for the most part I just do my thing and enjoy the peace and quiet of being in there.
The TVs in the gym play the news and talk shows so I do get to see whats going on in the world, but I stick with listening to music on my iPhone so I don't really hear the stories they are talking about.
Checking my calendar a little more closely, my running training program said that I needed to run 3 miles, bumped up from 2.5 miles last week. As much as I want to follow plan I just can't run 3 miles without stretching it out to a 5k! I mean really? 0.11 miles is not that big of a stretch, right?
After a few days off of running due to the weekend it was great to get back at it. Had a great long run last week, but the weekend was full of birthday cakes and Fair food, so I was a bit discouraged by the scale Tuesday morning.
That first warm up mile still is a battle, but about the 3rd mile now I'm getting into a rhythm that I'm sure is "The Zone". I think if I could keep up that pace without distraction I probably could run a marathon.
The one frustration I have is that the treadmill and my Nike App are a little off on the distance so the Treadmill said I did it in 30:48, but the Nike App said something different.
After a cool down it came out to moving for 33:51 total time.
My favorite part of the workout today was seeing my splits. For once they were pretty consistent and FAST! Starting out with a 10:24 and having a negative split was an awesome feeling! Having a slower one after that came I'm sure because I pushed it on mile 2.
My monthly miles are amazing too. Running consistently sure does rack them up! After Day 16 I'm at 37 miles for the month!
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| 5k in 00:30:48! |
Checking my calendar a little more closely, my running training program said that I needed to run 3 miles, bumped up from 2.5 miles last week. As much as I want to follow plan I just can't run 3 miles without stretching it out to a 5k! I mean really? 0.11 miles is not that big of a stretch, right?
After a few days off of running due to the weekend it was great to get back at it. Had a great long run last week, but the weekend was full of birthday cakes and Fair food, so I was a bit discouraged by the scale Tuesday morning.
 |
| Negative Split! What? |
The one frustration I have is that the treadmill and my Nike App are a little off on the distance so the Treadmill said I did it in 30:48, but the Nike App said something different.
After a cool down it came out to moving for 33:51 total time.
My favorite part of the workout today was seeing my splits. For once they were pretty consistent and FAST! Starting out with a 10:24 and having a negative split was an awesome feeling! Having a slower one after that came I'm sure because I pushed it on mile 2.
My monthly miles are amazing too. Running consistently sure does rack them up! After Day 16 I'm at 37 miles for the month!
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
5 Warning Signs That You're Addicted to Working Out
As a former high school and college basketball player, I knew that I always had to workout to better myself for my sport, but it's only been recently where I've really become someone who is addicted to working out. I think this time it's more important because it isn't because I have to do it for a team or a coach, but because I'm doing it for myself.
The following is a list of how I knew that I was a workout addict.
- You immediately start to notice the type of shoes people are wearing and begin to have shoe envy.
- You've only been going to the gym for three weeks but you knew your locker lock combo after the first day.
- You have a whole page of workout apps on your iPhone.
- When your kids wake up in the morning and see what you're wearing they ask if you're going to work out.
- You're making blog posts about how you're addicted to working out.
I know when I was younger I always had shoe envy when I played basketball. I grew up in the era of Michael Jordon, when sports shoe companies were just starting to market to the masses. I still remember the aqua and purple Air Jordon's a classmate of mine had and i WANTED! I swear if I could find them now I'd buy them.Now though I notice mostly running shoes. I look at people wearing expensive running shoes usually in the grocery store and wonder if they know they know that they are wearing the NASCAR car of running shoes instead of commuter car shoe they probably should be sporting.
I don't know what it was about this locker lock, but I had it memorized by the first day! I used to hate gym lockers in school, but the one at the gym is my lifesaver. I can do all my workouts without having to carry anything more than my phone and a workout mat.
Yes...I'm guilty. I have more than my fair share of workout apps. The one I've used the longest is my Nike App. I've logged 600+ miles on it and love the way it speaks to me while I run. I just recently have done more with all it's bells and whistles. I probably need to even spend more time looking at it, but really, when you run, all you do is set it and forget it.
I have a pretty good routine going with my kids about working out. I bribe them with a trip to the gym if they stay in the Kids Club while Mommy works out. When I worked out at home my daughter, who I swear is slightly OCD, or just being a very truthful 5 year old, would guilt trip me if I didn't do my workouts.
Enough said...right? I'm addicted, but I think for the first time in my life it's the best thing to be addicted to. Working out has not only changed my life physically, but it's changed my life mentally as well. I've become more confident, feel more energetic during the day and I sleep better at night.
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