Fearless Friday – It Was Uncomfortable

Posted on May 25, 2012 by

Woah, so late in the day for this, but Fearless Friday here we go…

This week I wanted to work on doing a few things that forced me to be uncomfortable. I, far too often for my liking, don’t do things because it might make me feel uncomfortable. So in my effort this week I did a few new things as well as told people about these things without being self-conscious and surprisingly to me it turned out alright. I only had one minor mishap when I panicked part way through doing something and it got a little awkward. But ya know what…It’s okay.

This week wasn’t the greatest workout wise. It was only an 8 mile week (last Saturday to today) with a pace around 9:15. No time in the gym. No extra stretching. Gah. The pace I can feel good about, it’s the mileage.  I’m not trying to build too fast but still I could have done better.

I didn’t do that much better eating wise.  I managed to bring my lunch 4 out of 5 days, but I ate a lot of sugar and didn’t stick to my supper plans either. Little fruit and even littler yogurt. Not my healthiest week.

Lastly, I should be home in Indiana Carb Day -ing and bbq-ing with my bestie Rachel and her two beautiful babies (Okay I’ll give her husband Brad a shout out too…I adore him but those are my girls) but life got in the way and I’m forced to spend Memorial Day in the city this year. Rather the pout I decided I’m going to DOMINATE Boston’s Run to Remember. SURPRISE! Though I really want to run the half I’m going to be a smart about this and run the 5 -miler. AND I’m going to risk the jinx and say I’m shooting for 8:30s so a 42 min race. I think it’s going to force me to push as I haven’t been running real fast lately but I know it’s within my range and I can do it. Out of comfort zone here we go!

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Streaking

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

Last year Runner’s World started a Running Streak where they challenged their readers to run at least 1 mile per day, every day, starting on Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s day. This year, they are doing a Summer Running Streak, starting Memorial Day and ending on the 4th of July. That’s 38 consecutive days of running. I don’t Twitter (is that even what you say?) but I am kicking off my summer by participating in the challenge.

Speaking of streaking. Apparently if you run every day (at least 1 mile) for a whole year you can register with the United States Running Streak Association. Whaaaat!? Okay, awesome! This just might be my New Year’s Resolution for 2013.

Who else is up for the 38 day challenge?

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Willpower and Super Hero-ing It Through Life

Posted on May 23, 2012 by

Remember a while back when I went to that running clinic on how to have a committed training mind-set (check it out here)? Well I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.  And oddly enough I saw that Jenn from Fit Bottomed Girls was offering a free online class last night entitled ‘The Truth About Willpower – And How to Harness It to Get Healthy’ so I signed up and listened in.

Willpower impacts everything in life. From forcing yourself to get out of bed, to your workload, to being stuck in traffic, pretty much every thing in life that we don’t LOVE involves some willpower. So we just love what we do and we don’t need it right?  Ha, don’t we all wish!?  Remember that willpower and motivation are synonymous.  After all these, what I call, ‘life suckers’ you then have to come home and still get yourself to accomplish that goal of yours.

So how do we stop relying on willpower?  Well we have to start forming small habits so those habits become something we do, not something we have to do.  Then those something we do habits shape our goals.  No more ‘mental ping pong’ of I should but I don’t want to but I should…just go, Nike up and Just Do It.

Harnessing your willpower by looking objectively at your ‘life suckers’ (i.e. stress, saying yes too frequently, not getting enough sleep etc.) isn’t easy and it’s a slow process. But once you can focus on you and making time for what is important to you, you can make those small sticky habits and you are on your way.

No one has more will power than anyone else. It’s just in how we use it. And hey, its infinite.

Put a little more awesome in your life.

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Being Conscious of Feelings

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

It was near 60 this morning when I got up and hello humidity, I feel like I’m back in the midwest. I didn’t sleep well last night and woke up several times so my mood was Foul with a capital F (I bolded it too because seriously it was bad). When I finally forced myself out of bed at 5 am I figured I’d just run and get on with the day.  I had planned 4 miles and let me tell you, they weren’t easy.  My body hurt, specifically my ITB on the left hurts and oddly so does my shin on my left leg. I swore at a few cars, thought an endless stream of negative things about myself, my life, and a few about others, and pretty much decided I suck and so does life.  Way to start your day kid!

I showered and start getting ready for work where I get an email that sets me off into a further negative nosedive.  First let me say this, I work in a hospital and a change of plans is pretty much my life but anywhere else I hate change. To be really honest and fair, sometimes it gets under my skin at work too.  So rather than just shrug it off and figure I’ll deal with it when I get in, I proceed to stew on why that email sucks (this is also why we shouldn’t have email sent to our phones and learn to disconnect but let’s not even go there).  By now I’m really feeling really swell and I’m pretty convinced I’m going to kick random strangers today.  LOVELY.

Then on the train I was catching up on some blog reading and I happen to read a post from Peanut Butter Runner about wearing her heart on her sleeve (read it here). Woah, that’s me. It made me think, I had a crummy morning and my day wasn’t looking to great but I’m not going to let it not be a good day.  Like Jen, I want ‘to feel in control of my life and not like life is just happening to me.’

As a runner I would say I am pretty conscious of my body and how it feels at any given time. Perhaps it’s time I am more conscious of my feelings and stop reacting to all the negative.

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Doing Good & Working Out

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

I had a do gooder weekend.

Friday I headed up to New Hampshire for an American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life event. In a nutshell teams gather at a local high school, set up camp around their track, and then walk the track to remember those lost, celebrate those survivors, and to raise funds and awareness.  This particular event was a 24 hour-ish event. Since I hadn’t gotten in a run on Thursday I decided to run on Friday at the event.  I figured I was going to be there anyway and why not.  However, my Garmin had other ideas.  Apparently the wide open spaces of NH were too much for the satellite and I couldn’t get a solid read.  Go figure!? But I had overheard someone say 4 laps were a mile so I figure I ran a solid 3 miles and then probably walked another 3 or 4.  Not bad for the 3 hours I was there.

Every year there is a luminary ceremony where the track is lined with decorated bags. A lap is taken behind a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace, it’s so emotionally beautiful and my favorite part of the event.

I didn’t stay the whole time because….

Saturday I went to volunteer in Peabody, Massachusetts for Habitat for Humanity. If you don’t know, Habitat is a non-profit that works with communities to build affordable housing.  Unfortunately none of the future tenants were on site, but after about 7 hours of sweeping, carrying, measuring, cutting, building, I was dirty and beat.  No workout needed.

We’re gunna build a house in nothing flat…

By Sunday I was too tired for anything but sitting on my porch and drinking the first mojitos of the season and just relaxing.

Giving back and working out at the same time…such an awesome way to spend my weekend.

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The Beginning of Fearless Fridays

Posted on May 18, 2012 by

I’m angry with Under Armour right now.  They are doing a really cool contest/movement called ‘What’s Beautiful – Redefining the Female Athlete’ you can check it out here.  But what I am mad about is you have to be on Facebook to enter/be apart of it. I get the social media thing and why this benefits Under Armour and honestly probably Facebook but I’m not on Facebook.  I used to be a part of Facebook but I chose to remove myself as I didn’t find it to be a value add to my life. It was a personal decision and the right decision for me and I almost never feel left out.  However I am really disappointed Under Armour forces participation of another entity just to be a part of their movement.

I wanted to participate. My goal would have been…

I will…stop comparing myself and my fitness goals to those around me and live my own goals fearlessly.

You see, I’m a confident girl most days of the week. I know I’m smart, I know I’m pretty, I know I’m capable of reaching every one of my wild dreams…but sometimes I struggle to remind myself.  I struggle when I see the things others have that I don’t and I get a case of comparitis (that has to be a real medical condition). Then I start feeling pressure to do or be something I’m not and so begins the dangerous trip down the rabbit hole.  I think this is a pretty common thing, but it’s a nasty habit I don’t want.  I want to be happy being me and be proud of MY accomplishments and dreams but in order to do that I have to stop the comparisons and live my own dreams fearlessly.  That is what this goal is for, to just be me and be happy and confident and okay with that.  Because, I AM ENOUGH.

From this I have been inspired to do something else.  I’m starting Fearless Fridays.  My goal is to make every Friday a day to post about living my goals and being fearless. Feel free to jump on board…Facebook free.

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PSA – Bacon Jam Is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to tell you about Foundry on Elm’s Saloon and their bacon jam. Holy heck is it good.

Allow me to back up…first Saloon is a prohibition era themed restaurant/bar which is just flat-out cool. It also happens to be one of those places that has no sign so you have to know about it, which is stupid but I secretly love that too. The joint is in a basement so it’s dark and some areas border on what I’d consider too dark to eat in but the roomie and I decided to sit at the bar so it was fine. After some friendly banter with the bartenders I started off ordering a mojito that was eh, serves me right for ordering a mojito in a bourbon bar. I ended up trying one of their house cocktails which was well made but not for me as it had an orange taste to it.

Then came the food. I ordered the sliders because I was intrigued by the bacon jam. Oh my goodness they need to jar that stuff, like now. It was unbelievable. I may or may not be salivating while I type this. Honestly probably one of the best tasting dishes I’ve had simply because of that jam. I will no doubt be back for it.

To top the night off I naively let MG convince me to try a cocktail that was made with pork belly infused whiskey, grenadine, lemon, and sugar.

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Mmmm liquid bacon. It was another very well made drink but not for me. Seriously it tasted like I was drinking bacon and that’s just gross. Sorry bacon lovers it’s true. It also had a sweetness to it so it was kinda like a breakfast sandwich with sweet and savory. It was weird. But it wasn’t bad, you just have to get over the liquid bacon idea.

Though service was a little spotty (I sat a few times for too long with an empty glass) the place was great and will be back for sure. For those who care, the prices are similar to
The Foundry which doesn’t bother me as I look at it as a way to keep the Tufts kids out. Sometimes you gotta pay a price to avoid college kids. But even if you just go in for a drink it’s worth it as the bourbon list is insane and all the drinks we had were well made.

I highly encourage anyone who is in the area to head to Davis Square to check it out. And have the sliders, because that bacon jam stole my heart. Swoon.

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