Owning My Strong

I think everyone knows by now that I love a good challenge, that I enjoy running, being active and pushing myself to the limits to see if I can do it.  I have fun doing that.

So, when a friend posted on Facebook about the Muddarella run/challenge, it got me thinking.  It looked like a lot of fun.  It involved running, mud, obstacles and teamwork.  They stress that this is not a race, but a challenge where you can own your strong while having fun and teaming up with others to reach your goals.  Who wouldn't love all that?!

You can check out the details here  This is not one of those fun runs where you can just sign up and go and get it done.  They suggest training for this challenge as there are physical challenges, heck, you have to run about six miles to do the challenge!!  I love that their site even has a legit training plan and you can follow it to prepare for your big day! 

The obstacles look fun and I can see how having your friends by your side would make it that much more fun.  I will be doing it with a group of ladies from the gym and I couldn't be more excited.

I really like looking at the obstacles and trying to figure out just how much I might struggle with them.

The local one that I am doing is in September so I have some time to make sure that I am physically ready for it.

I am hoping to have even more friends sign up to do it too.

I will leave you with more awesome that the creators of Muddarella are featuring, stories of strength as women share their stories of how they own their strong.



Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  All opinions and expressions are my own, I was not scripted for this post. 

Race Recap: 2015 Pittsburgh Half Marathon

I did it!  I reached my goal of running my first Pittsburgh Half Marathon and earning the title of "Runner of Steel."  This is a goal that I have had for a very long time. I spent years wanting to be one of those runners.  I wanted to run those 13.1 miles all over the city.

I was very intimidated by the course though, I had always heard about how tough it was and all the hills along the course.   I decided that in order for me to prepare for the course, I was going to incorporate strength training and cross training into my training. I have to say, that it worked!

I went in to the half with a plan.  I had tried out intervals of running/walking to figure out what timing I wanted to go with so that I could keep a steady pace.  I have done intervals before for a half marathon but the timing wasn't quite right and I wanted to make sure that I got it right this time.  I decided on a 4:1 interval.  Four minutes of running and 1 minute of walking....the entire course.

Okay, so training was done, a plan was in place and I was ready to go!

The process of getting into the corrals and waiting for the race to start is almost torture.  You are mentally getting ready and the anticipation is rising.  You just want to get going.  There are thousands and thousands of people all around, there are helicopters flying overhead and again, the anticipation is rising.  This is when most people are hoping that they don't have to go to the bathroom from all of the anxiety.  It is something that most runners experience and some people don't tell you about that haha.

The race is getting started.  My excitement is building as I am frantically messaging with another runner that is farther up in the corral.  We are supposed to run the intervals together but I've never met her and I have no idea how I am going to find her.  We were messaging back and forth for a few minutes as my corral was walking toward the start line.  She stops near an Arby's to wait for me.  Thank goodness, I didn't really want to run alone.  We are walking in the sea of people all there for a common goal.  Rock this race course.

And we are off!!  We are trying to jog/run but it is kind of hard when there are so many people.  I found that to be the hardest part for me.  I wanted to speed up and go but we really couldn't.  I asked her around mile 1-2 if and when the crowd thins out and we can move...she said, "never."  Oh. I was sort of frustrated because even though my goal was to simply finish the race, I had a time goal in the back of my mind.  I really wanted to finish around the 2:20-2:30 mark but it wasn't happening, not at the pace we were going.  It was then that I decided that I need to stop looking at my watch.  I needed to stop being fixating on the pace.  My second goal was to enjoy the run and take in the surroundings.  I did that.  I am so very happy I did that.

I was loving the run, I was loving the surroundings and I just kept saying how much I love the intervals we were running.  It was perfect.  The weather was great, the crowd was great and I couldn't have asked for a better run.

My parents were there to see me run and they said that they would be somewhere between PNC Park and Heinz Field....well okay then.  Amazingly, I found them and was able to give my mom a hug and high five my dad. I love that they were there to support me.  It really helps me keep going.

Okay, back to the run.  As the race went on, I actually was feeling better and better.  I was getting into the rhythm of what we were running, the hills weren't strenuous and the scenery was amazing.  I was really enjoying the run. My running buddy and I were able to talk about our families, our running history and all sorts of things. It's funny that I met up with her minutes before starting and we ran together for over two hours.

As we kept going, the temperature was rising, which was one of my concerns.  I hate running and being overheated so I said a little prayer that I would finish before it got too hot.

We were approaching the part of the course where the runners split.  The half marathoners go to the left and the full marathoners go to the right.  At this point, I was getting excited because I knew that my race was almost over and I was getting so close to saying that I finished!

I had some final hills to tackle and then it was all downhill to the finish.  I sped up a bit at that point because the crowd was very thinned out and I had the open road ahead.  I could see the finish line!!  I continued on at a steady pace and ditched the intervals and decided that I could run the rest of the way.  It felt so good to cross that finish line and be done!  I felt great, no soreness, no pain at all.  Thank goodness!!

All in all, the experience was a wonderful one.  I was a bit surprised by how I felt because I almost felt as though it wasn't as much of a challenge as I thought it would be.  That means two things...I was very well prepared for it physically and that I most likely could have run at a faster pace.

I am already excited to run it again next year and I will run the same intervals but I think I will challenge myself to run faster and get a PR.  It is quite possible that if I continue training well and smart, I could get a much better time.  I finished in 2:39 and although that isn't a bad time, I know I can push myself to bring that down to 2:20.  That is my goal for next year!!

You can see my race photos here 
I love them all, too bad they are insanely expensive to buy!! :(

The Wrong Message

It's no secret that we have become a society obsessed with image.  I am also guilty of it.  I have been obsessed with my body image for years.  I always wanted to be skinnier to fit into the tiny clothes and have people comment on how skinny I am.

Thank goodness my thoughts have changed and I'm no longer wishing for a skinnier body. I am now okay with not being in a certain size but I'd rather be healthy and have a stronger body.  I am always amazed at the things that I have been able to do with some hard work and determination.

It's sad that many people will go to any length to be that shape or size that they believe is perfect.

There is no perfect, folks. Every size is beautiful. 

No, society and some companies won't tell you that but it's true.  We need to change the way we think.  We need to start telling our young daughters that it's okay if you aren't wearing a size 2.  It's okay if you are wearing a size 12. The bottom line is, you need to be healthy. It's true that as your weight or size increases, you are more likely to have health problems which is why health and fitness is important.  The scale is not.

Go to a mirror and really look at yourself. Find the things about your image that you like.  Go on, do it. There is so much about you that is great and beautiful.  Inside and out.

Your image does not define you. You are more than your size.

I have noticed that some people who are working for "health and fitness" companies are trying to find customers in prom goers.  They are advertising to teen girls to "be skinny and beautiful for your big night."  NO!  That is the last thing that teenage girls need to hear.  When they put on their gowns or dresses and have their hair and makeup done, they are enhancing the beauty they already have.  They don't need a magic lotion, gel or wrap to be beautiful.  It's the wrong message. Every single time I see the ads, it infuriates me. We cannot send this message to kids that being skinny equals being perfect or beautiful.

Of course I workout daily.  Of course I want to be as fit as I can be.  Am I trying to be perfect?  Nope.  There is no perfect.  Even the skinniest girls, the most beautiful girls have problems.  We are human.  We are imperfect in many ways but that's okay.

I hate to see companies that are perpetuating an image of perfection appeal to young girls.  Instead, these girls need a positive image to follow. One that encourages healthy eating, daily exercise (even if only for 30 minutes a day) and a big smile on their face.

Race Recap: The Pittsburgh Marathon Relay 2014

Last year, I worked at the health and fitness expo for the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.  I had such a great time and seeing the excitement of all the runners made me excited.  I left that day thinking that the marathon was something that I really wanted to do.  No, I have no plans of running the full marathon.  I really wanted to just run in it.

The marathon relay is a great option for those starting out.  I decided that I was going to get a team together for the marathon relay this year.  I put out a note on Facebook to see if anyone would be interested and just like that, I had a team....in literally, minutes!

I was so excited and so was the rest of my team.  We all did our training separately for each of our legs of the race. My leg was 6.1 miles so I just followed a training program for a 10k.  It was a great way for me to prepare for it.

Here's me after one of my training runs:

This was one of my last runs, supposed to be easy and I pushed myself.

Leading up to the race, there was a ton of information and you could say that I was getting a bit overwhelmed and instead of the information making me feel more prepared, I was feeling more nervous although I am sure that was not their intention.

Fast forward to race morning.....

The race started at 7am so that meant that we had to get up around 4am in order to get ready, meet up and head down to the city.  I was awake before my alarm even went off. Thank goodness I laid everything out that I needed the night before because it made my morning go much smoother.  We arrived down in the city with plenty of time to spare for walking to the start and figuring out where we needed to be, gear check and feeling prepared and ready.

I had to ride a shuttle bus to get to my starting point and then I waited...and waited....and waited.

I was feeling like I was going to have a bad run because I was standing around for so long waiting. My back was starting to hurt and my joints were sort of sore from the cold (does that make me sound like an old lady?!)

My friend came running up and I was so happy to see her and I think she was happy to see me (it meant she was done running!) I took off and was feeling okay to begin with.  I started to get into my stride and pace pretty comfortably.  I had my Map My Run app going but I had my earphones plugged into something else for music so I wasn't hearing my mileage as I was running.  This was both aggravating and liberating to me.  I am so used to knowing where I am with my mileage but it was nice to not concentrate on that and just enjoy the course.

I felt like I was running a little faster than I normally run when I am on the roads but I felt good and the energy of the spectators and fans was electrifying.  I was smiling, saying "thank you", giving high fives to kids along the way and I loved every single minute of my run.

I was coming up to the end of my leg of the race and I could see my friend waiting for me. She got a picture of me too which was nice to see....I didn't look like I was absolutely dying haha.

Before we knew it, it was all over and we were done!  We did it and we were so proud and happy to have done it. I think we all had a great experience.  Even my poor friend who experienced a terrible blister on her foot and ended up having to hobble her way to the end of her leg of the race.  She was a champ and didn't want to let us or herself down so she really pushed herself to get there.

Here's the picture of our team after the race!

Adding In a Little Extra

Over the winter months, I was doing monthly challenges for all the different body parts that needed work.  I was actually sticking with them too!  I recruited my teenage daughter to do them with me for both our health and for accountability.  It was great to do those with her and we looked forward to the workouts everyday.

I sort of slacked off doing them as I was increasing my running and attending spin classes on the days when I wasn't running. I also started with weight training.

It is time to start back up with the monthly challenges though in an effort to get ready for summer.  The amount of monthly challenges that you can find online is amazing.  I've found some really great ones that I loved and I look forward to going back and doing some of them again.

Here are the two that I am going to do for the month of May:

I found these on Pinterest and I am so excited to get started.  Well, I actually already got my pushups in.  I am trying to do full pushups, not modified so we will see how long I can continue with that.  It is such a major goal for me to be able to do the full ones.  The Beach Body Challenge is interesting to me because the workouts are different everyday so there is far less chance of getting bored with it.

Feel free to join me this month!!  Let's see what we can do!

Race Recap: SuperHero 5K

When I look into the races that are being put on in my area, I often take the time to read about what the race is benefiting and how it will impact the lives of others.  I don't just simply pick one randomly and go run it.   I want to know that the race fees are going to a good cause.  I had heard about the Superhero 5K before and had seen some pictures from some friends' pictures in past years on Facebook.  I was interested already.  Here was a race where I could dress up?!  Awesome already.  The race benefits an organization that is helping abused and neglected children through the CASA organization?  More awesome.  There were going to be kids there to see all the superheroes?!  More awesome.  Count me in.

Of course races that benefit the lives of children are close to my heart.  As a mom, how could they not?  I am very lucky in that I have three healthy, happy kids who live in a safe, happy home.  I feel like it is almost a duty to help those that don't have that.  We help in other ways but for me, if I can run and help them, I am definitely in.

I decided early on that I was going to dress up as Violet from the Incredibles movie. I had the hair and the costume was very easy and simple.  All I had to do was order some red tights and make a black mask and I was done.  Chuck helped me add in the final touches and here is how I looked before the race started....

Not too bad considering this is the character I was trying to portray......

Yes, there are quite a few differences but come on, it was sort of, kind of close! haha.

Anyway, it was a good run, the course was great, we did two loops on a road that is lined with trees in a park so it was nice scenery.  There were over 700 people running and walking.  The temperature was perfect and the kids were loving the run and characters.

I had friends there and my friend's dad captured this photo of me as I was running.  I am not sure if this was right before I finished or during the transition into the second loop.

This was definitely a run that I plan on doing again next year.  I ended up with my personal best live 5k time!  I ran the 5k in 30:18.  I was the 24th female in the 31-40 age group out of 113 and I was 277 overall out of 773!!  I was very happy with how I did.  I had a great time and I maybe even helped out a child in need of help.

Run This Year

There is a group, yes another group.  I am becoming addicted to groups.  I may have to head to a groups anonymous group but then that would be counterproductive to my addiction, heh. Sorry, it's early my humor is horrible. Anyway....

There is a group, community, addiction called Run This Year.  Basically, it's for those that are running in 2014 and we create a mileage goal and log our miles and it is interesting to see just how many miles will build up over the course of each month.

I needed to set a goal and I really wasn't sure what that goal was going to be.  In 2013, I really wanted to run a total of one mile for every day of the year so 365 was my goal and I made it to 368 for the year.  So, the question was, do I keep that goal or do I up it?  I decided to up it and I made my goal for 2014 to be 500 miles.  That is pretty lofty for me because I feel like I was pretty consistent in the last year with running and I had way less than that.   I'm shooting for the moon here but I hope to be able to say that I did it.

I have said before that I like goals, it gives me a way to strive to be better than I was before and shouldn't we all strive for that, in one way or another?

I'm excited to take this challenge on and see where it takes me.  So far, I have 7.5 miles and I am running 2 tomorrow and 5 on Sunday so I will be in the double digits soon.  It takes baby steps to get to the big steps.

Goals for 2014

It's good to have goals, to have something to look forward to, strive for and obtain. I like to create goals and I think it makes me aware of what I am doing or not doing with myself.  I want to do better, that is the reason why I make a list each year of what I want to achieve.  Over the years, the focus of the list has changed.  As I get older, I am finding more time for myself and so I am able to make changes for me.  I think the last year was the first year that I did a lot more for me and at first, I felt guilty about it but then I realized that I am better for everyone else when I am better to myself.

So, here is my 2014 list of goals:

FAMILY -

Anyone who knows me, knows that my family comes first, as it should. I want to spend more time as a family, the five of us.  We did more of that over the last year and we all enjoyed it.  We went on hikes, went for random road trips, went fishing, went to the lake for picnics, etc.  It is good for a family to have that time with each other without others.  We want to build a strong foundation of what family means for our kids. Our parents did it for us and we want to pass that on. So, here's some goals centered around that.
   
     * Go for hikes at least once a month as a family. Possibly choose a different location each time to discover new places. (weather permitting, we do live in PA)
     * Eat dinner together more.  We don't really do this too often and it's terrible.  Some of us eat at the table, some in the living room.  Usually, I am eating after everyone else because I am busy doing too much to eat when they are.
     * Do one fun outing a month.  I want to go to museums, the zoo, science center, trip around the city, etc. with the kids.  We don't get them out as much as we should.  There are so many places they have never been.
     * Take the kids for a weekend away.  We are planning on a trip to Virginia this summer for a long weekend or a week but we want to do a weekend away, maybe to an indoor water park hotel. We haven't made definite plans on when or which place yet, but we want to do it.
     * Make it to more of the kids' sporting events this spring.  The kids are both doing lacrosse and track & field and I want to be there to cheer them on and see them succeed.  I wasn't able to go to too many last year with work but I hope to this year.

FINANCES-

This could be a blog post on its own but I am going to keep it short and sweet.

     * Save money. We plan on putting away at least $25.00 a week to build up a savings plan.  I know that doesn't seem like much but we need to do it and well, most weeks, that is all we can afford to put away.  I've read the plan that a lot of people are using online, where you save the dollar amount equal to the week of the year.  It is just easier to do a straight $25 and call it a week.  Plus, you save the same amount, if not a little bit more, than that plan.
     * Work more.  Yes, you read that right.  I plan on working more hours to make more money.  I am able to work more than I do but I haven't been doing it.  I am reducing my days at the gym so that I can work more at the rink.

HEALTH-

I am all about improving our health this year.  I worked hard to get back into shape over the last year and I think that a ton more can be done in the way of our eating.  I am so guilty of preparing dinners out of convenience.  I am a box and bag kind of cook I'd say, at least 3-4 days a week.  Lately I have been doing better but I need to improve more.

     * Cook healthier meals that are not out of a box or bag.  Processed foods are not our friend.
     * Start incorporating the Paleo lifestyle into our meals.  I am doing research on this lifestyle and the benefits of it.  The concept is pretty simple actually and I have heard amazing things from people that live it. Words like "life changing" "never been healthier" have really appealed to me.  It's not all about losing weight for me, I want to be healthy.  I want my family to be healthy.
     * Drink more water.  The detox stage of the Paleo lifestyle (notice I am not calling it the Paleo Diet because it is a lifestyle change, not a diet) has you drinking a ton of water to flush your body and start fresh.
     * Schedule regular checkups for all of us.  I am always behind on these so I need to keep a better schedule of them.

FITNESS-

I couldn't not include fitness into my goals because it has become such a large part of me. I have a passion for working out and seeing how strong my body is and how I can change my body.

     * Run 14 races as a part of the 14in2014 group.  These will be a mixed bag of distances and races. Some will be virtual but I'd like to do as many "real" ones as possible. I actually hope to do more than 14.
     * Run two half marathons.  I ran one last year and I will be running that same one again this year but I'd like to add one more in for this year.  If I do them far enough apart, I think I will be fine.
     * Continue to do monthly challenges for different muscle groups.  It's amazing the things we can do as we build up to them.  I find these challenges really fun and I love that my daughter is doing them with me.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE-

So many people and organizations have been there for us over the past few years and I want to give back as much as possible.  We don't always have the resources to help but I will do what I can to help.  Even if it is just sharing on Facebook, I want to get the word out about the organizations that hold a special place in my heart.


The list is big, I know.  I can't do it all in one day that's why they are my yearly goals.  What are yours?  What are you hoping to achieve this year?

Mind Over Matter

I am three days away from my first half marathon and several people have mentioned the fact that completing a run this long is more mental than physical.  I am not naïve enough to think that my physical strength and ability have no factors in this race but I am also trying to mentally prepare myself for it. 

I have a game plan and I hope that it works well for me.  I am going to do my intervals and I have my playlist ready for motivation and getting into a rhythm while I run.  I am planning my race day outfit and what exactly I will need for optimum efficiency. 

I am excited and nervous.  I have been looking forward to this day for so long and I have worked so hard to prepare.  I am nervous that something unseen with happen.  I am nervous that I won't be able to get into a good pace and/or rhythm.

At the same time, I am fairly confident that I can do this.  I feel like my training has prepared me pretty well.  I have been running a lot of hills lately to strengthen my legs and my lungs.  The course is mostly downhill so that will help.  I think the drink stations are spaced well to help me in the hydration department. 

The weather will be cooler, which is very helpful for me.  The rain should hold off until the late afternoon so we should be dry (as far as rain is concerned, not so much on the sweat front.) 

I can't wait to cross that finish line and shout from the rooftops that I did it.  I want this achievement so badly that I should mentally be right where I need to be.

MAMAVATION MONDAY, ER TUESDAY: What I have been doing lately

It has been a very long time since I have posted a Mamavation Monday post and I'm not quite sure why.  I'm back though so here's my first post to get back into a routine....well, a day late but hey, it's progress, right?! 

Anyway, I have been working out but not as much as I probably should.  I am not participating in any monthly challenges or workout routines but I have been running a lot since I am in training for the half marathon.  Included in that training in cross training and strength.  I haven't been doing any big lifting but rather lower weights with more reps and I've been walking or doing ab work for my cross training. 

This month, I am going to participate in the Virtual Ride for Breast Cancer with Jess from Run With Jess.  I will be riding 31 miles this month, most likely in a few rides.  I can incorporate that into my cross training and it will help strengthen my legs and keep me aware. I would encourage everyone else to sign up too and we can all ride together!

I need to find a monthly challenge to do!  I think I will look for an ab one to do so that I can strengthen my midsection and core.  I haven't been pushing myself as hard as I should be so this is a target area for me to strengthen.  I love the monthly challenges because I don't lose focus and I am building up gradually instead of trying to go balls to the wall.  Yes, I just said that! haha.

What have you been doing lately?  Do you have any monthly goals this month?  My monthly goal is to run at least 50 miles which shouldn't be too hard for me since my daily runs are at least 5 miles.

Reaching For A Goal

Many times and many days, my running has been therapeutic.  I can get outside or go downstairs to the treadmill, turn on my music and just go.  I think about a lot of things and I've let go of a lot of things while running.  I have motivated myself, pushed myself and I've even cried a bit on the runs thinking about life, my family and tons of other things.

There is a sense of pride every time I reach my running goal.  Every mile is a victory for me.  I celebrate every single mile I achieve.  The time came for me a set myself a goal. 

I am currently training for my first half marathon!  I know a few people who have done them and they followed the 12 week training program that I am following now.  Hal Higdon has come up with these programs for all levels of ability. You can adjust them a bit to better suite your weekly schedule but I feel like his program isn't too daunting or scary.

I completed my first week of training on Sunday as the weeks run Monday through Sunday.  I did well and I was able to complete all my workouts.  There are three days of running, one day of rest, two days of cross training and one day of stretch and strengthening. 

I am planning on doing my first half marathon in October and the course is said to be mostly downhill and perfect for those doing their first half.  I don't know if I will make it to the race.....meaning if my body will be able to handle all the training but I am willing to give it my all in an effort to make it. 

I am not going to give up without a fight though.  I want to prove to myself and others that I can do this.  At this point, I do not have any timing goals or anything like that.  I am just plugging along the training schedule and taking it one day at a time.  I know it's not going to be easy but I am going to give it my all.

I Am A Sweat Pink Ambassador

As I make my way around the internet and find different groups of fitness-minded people, I am intrigued, inspired and motivated to just keep going.  I enjoy being a part of several groups where everyone is at different levels of fitness, running and life.  Some are true rookies, finding out how to take the first step and some are true mentors, having several dozen marathons or fitness competitions under their belt. 

I've learned that it doesn't matter which category you are in.  There are going to be people to cheer you on, give you advice, keep you motivated and to be there to support you when you need it for whatever reason. 

One of the groups that really caught my attention was the Sweat Pink community.  There are so many wonderful ladies in this community that are raising awareness, doing great things in the fitness community.  I wanted to be a part of this movement to help motivate and get people moving.  I applied to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador awhile ago because I feel like I have something to offer others.  I am not an expert, I'm not perfect and my mind, body and spirit are a work in progress but I wanted to help. 

I was accepted as a Sweat Pink Ambassador!  I got the email to let me know and I almost started screaming at work!  I was so excited and honored to be a part of this. 

This means that I am going to help as much as I can when someone says that they want to get healthy.  I have already encouraged two people to run their first 5k.  One friend did her first one two weeks ago and she was so proud of herself.  She cried as she crossed that finish line because she pushed herself and beat her goal time by 5 minutes!  The other friend is training for her first one and we will be doing that one together in two weeks.  I cannot wait to run across that finish line together with her. 

I was so happy to receive my official Sweat Pink tank top and pink laces.  As I find those special ladies who have pushed themselves and complete things that they didn't think they could do, I will be giving them those pink laces to let them know that I am proud of them, that they did it....all on their own. 

I finished my last 5k in my Sweat Pink tank and here's the pic:

I don't know if I can change the world but fitness and running has changed my life and I hope to help others find what makes them happy and fit and encourage them to change their lives.