Making Time

You don’t just “have” time for things, you must make a conscious choice on which things are worth your time each day. If you’re anytging like me, you have a giant list of things to-do each day, chores, errands, appointments, kids activities, work, whatever right? I know my list is never ending, and I’m always adding more!!! Yet there are still only so many hours in a day and you do have to sleep (which probably should be a high priority) So how do you decide which tasks get out at the top on the list?

For me is simple, the top is made of things that absolutely have to get done, bills that need paid, food (making or shopping), appointments, etc. Then there are the chores that constantly move up and down. Mowing is getting close to be thrown at the top of my list again, dishes are a never moving chore since there always seems to be some in the sink, my house is rarely in pristine condition though I swear that is in my list somewhere. Then there’s the garden that needs care, the chickens need some attention (currently their coop needs a nice cleaning), plants need water, animals need fed. And all these have to be pretty high on the list since if they didn’t get done this would die or get sick.

So as you can see my list is most definitely looooooong, and these are only things that are on top! However I have one thing that not everyone agrees on being a priority, but for me there is no other way. My physical and mental health rely heavily on me putting this at the top of my list each and every day.

Training is also at the top of my list, because of it isn’t, it most definitely wouldn’t get done, and it is a to priority for me. Whether I’m actually training for a race or wanting to improve my time for a race next year, if I don’t keep putting it up at the top of my list each day it would get buried somewhere in the bottom never to been seen again, probably somewhere near matching socks and folding laundry. Now I’m not saying that some days I don’t concisely decide I need to skip a workout, whether from being down or from prioritizing something else (sometimes sleep) over it for the day. But those times are getting farther apart, especially now that my kids actually sleep all night! I rarely get the opportunity toworkout first thing in the morning, more often than not I find myself doing it after the kids are asleep for the night. But if I keep skipping it because it’s too late, or I’m too tired, then I push it down on the list, and it gets harder to bring it back up to the top.

So make time for something today that is for you. Something that will help yourself be better, mentally, physically, emotionally. Doing something for yourself will actually make it easier to get through the rest of your to-do list.

Your ideal body weight

There are articles, excel sheets, videos, quizzes, experts, equations, and many other sources that can try to tell you your “ideal” body weight for your height and body type. There are free and paid versions of all these. Well let me save you the time and money.

Your

“Ideal”

Body

Weight

What

You

Are

Comfortable

This could be an exact weight, or a precise body fat percentage, or it could be a range of 10-30 pounds. Perhaps you are comfortable and feel beautiful and wonderful no matter what the scale reads. That is your ideal body weight. It is not what the media tries to portray, nor is it that magical BMI number that can be calculated. If you are comfortable and confident in your skin then do not fret about not being at that magical number that is supposed to be “ideal”, you’re already there!

Now with that it of the way let’s discuss another topic. Can you be comfortable and confident and still want to change your body? The short answer is yes. The ling answer is absolutely. You can want to push yourself or change yourself without thinking your ugly or hating those parts of yourself. It’s perfectly okay to want to see if you can get a flat stomach, or grow a booty, or gain some guns! Loving yourself as you are and wanting to change is possible and normal!

Now that we’ve covered those topics go out there and be your awesome confident self, no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Setting Goals is Scary!

So, it’s been a hot minute since I last posted! I have more or less fully recovered from shoulder surgery (still getting working on getting strength and full ROM). I completed my first full marathon in November, and though my time was not what I had hoped when I signed up (I finished at 5 hours and 13 minutes), it was to be expected since I had to cut out 7 weeks of an 18 week training plan… Even though it was painfully slow, I finished and will most definitely be doing another full, this time following a complete training plan 🙂

Christmas was super busy as always, plus my kids were sick most of break which makes one tired momma! I had to do a few more treadmill runs than I prefer, but at least I was able to get in some much needed miles! I luckily did not catch the sickness (yet) but my husband did. Though I have kind of had a sore throat for the past 3 weeks, I feel just fine!

Now onto the point of this post, goal setting. I received a training journal for Christmas and it has asked me to set goals (doesn’t have to be just for running) and I have been spending a lot of time thinking about short term and long term goals. Let me tell you, this can be a scary process, I mean, what if I fail?!? What if I admit to others (or myself!) what I really am striving for, and I cannot get there? It would be easy to just set some easy, realistic goals that I know I will get within this year, but what about thinking down the road, 5 years? Where would I like to be, and how can I set myself up to get closer to that goal? I think it might be scarier to work towards big, far off goals that are set really high, than these shorter, not quite so high goals.

For example, some of my short term goals that will push me but I think can be attained are as follows: complete the Heartland 39.3 series (again), PR in the half with a 1:50 (this will be hard), PR in the full with a 4:30 (still hard), complete a 50 mile and possibly 100 mile bike race, and complete at least 2 triathlons.

Now this list seems daunting, but it is also doable. I may hit some this year, or they may take until next year, but I know I can obtain these at some point!

Onto the more daunting task of setting long term goals. Here they are: Complete an Ironman one day (doable but I want to be able to actually follow a legit training program for this which is A LOT of time commitment), Qualify for a big marathon (Boston?, NYC?, Chicago?)(not even sure this is possible as I am currently NOT fast, but with time maybe!), 1:30 half (again, is this even possible, time will only tell).

These are obviously goals that are specific to racing and I do have other goals that are not racing related, but for the purpose of this post these are the only ones I am sharing. It took time for me to admit some of these goals to myself, because the chances of failure are significantly higher for all of the long term ones. I want to challenge myself though. It might take me 3 years or 10 years, but I can keep striving towards these for a long time!

I challenge you to set some serious short term and long term goals for yourself this year. Make the long term ones high and hard to reach, and the short term ones can serve as steps to get there!

Power in Positives

“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” -Henry Ford

Having positive thoughts will impact your life, your performance, and your mental well-being. If you constantly tell yourself that you are not a runner, well guess what, your not and you will not be one, unless you start telling yourself that you are. Even if you give it a go, but still have the mental thoughts surrounding the “I am not a runner”, you can’t possibly be successful. For starters, running is a mental game, and even the best get drug down by negative thoughts, and it hurts their performance. Second, if you are already telling yourself you can’t, then you are most definitely going to feel like crap for all of your runs, and you will stop because you of course “are not a runner”. However, if you change your thinking from “I am not a runner” to “I am becoming a runner”, or “I am getting stronger as a runner”, then you will find, quite surprisingly, that with each run you do, it does feel easier. You get better because you stay with it. You keep running because you relate it mentally to something positive instead of negative. Before you know it, you are a runner, because you didn’t give up.

Some people have an easy time finding the positives, and others find it very difficult. It is as important to train yourself to be a positive thinker, as it is to follow a training plan to run a race. For those of us who find it hard to pick out the positive, it is necessary to focus on one positive thought at a time. Pick a mantra or a quote or even just a word to focus on while your running, or whatever fitness endeavor you are doing. Focus on it instead of picking out negatives like: I’m slow, I’m not very fit or strong, or I don’t look as good as her”. Focus on yourself and find only the positive things. “Developing a positive attitude means working continually to find what is uplifting and encouraging” -Barbara Johnson. You need to find what works for you, what encourages you to keep going and not give up. Negativity and doubt will sabotage your efforts, so don’t let them creep into your thoughts. “There are a million things telling you that you can’t keep going, but if you find the things that say you can, you’re golden” -Dr. Stephen Walker. You can do it, you can stick with it, you are amazing!

The body achieves what the mind believes. So make up your mind on whether you want to crush your goals or if you want to let those negative mental thoughts allow those goals to slip away.

Comfortable

I completed my 10th half marathon a couple weekends ago. I used to do only 1 “big” race a year, but I have completed 6 of these in the last 2 years! 13.1 miles has become comfortable, not easy, never easy, but doable. I have no problem signing up for a half, because I know I can finish it and feel great at the end, it’s a distance I know I love. I have only recently really been trying to focus on improving my pace and increasing my weekly milage, and I find it has been a lot of fun to chase these goals. The half marathon, 13.1 miles, once a daunting goal to finish, now a race against myself. Even though I am pushing myself more to get faster, it is still a comfortable goal I know I can finish. Comfortable. It is time for me to find a new goal that is uncomfortable, daunting, scary; one that I do not know if I can obtain. This doesn’t mean I will stop doing half marathons, in fact I plan to do the same series next spring that will get me 3 more, but why not go for something more?

Now what should I do? I have been wanting to do a full marathon, 26.2 miles, double the distance of what I am used to. I want to know, can I finish with a smile, or crawl across that finish line? How long will it take me? Will I hit a wall? While this is definitely on my bucket list, it doesn’t exactly scare me. I am a runner, I am comfortable running.

Why stop there though? I have competed in one triathlon, many years ago (before kids). It was a small sprint triathlon, and I absolutely LOVED it. Could I finish a Half Ironman Triathlon, or even a Full Ironman? Now this scares me, not the run, that I feel like I could get through. Not the swim, I am pretty comfortable in the water. But the bike portion? The thought of having to go as fast as they do to finish in the time limit, scares me. I think of wrecking, of popped tires, of not being able to go that far. I am not a biker, I’ve never raced on a bike, not really. I like to bike yes, but not at the speed it takes to go 56 miles, or even 112 miles!

SO the question remains, what is next? Well maybe that marathon I want to do will be part of my next training plan, maybe I’ll have the guts to sign up for an Ironman or Half Ironman. I am scared, but I just ordered a new triathlon suit.

Do something that scares you, it’ll only make you stronger.

One Size Fits Most

So I think we have all reached the conclusion that there is no “one size fits all”. However we are seeing more and more of the “one size fits most” philosophy. Though it does not claim to fit “all” it still gives the impression that you will most likely fit into this size because you are probably part of the “most” right? Well, too many times I have tried on garments that are labeled as this, and guess what, it doesn’t fit. (GASP!) One or more parts of it are too big/small, too long/short. Now I am not a tiny human, but I am also not big. I am a runner, but I don’t have what you would call “runner legs”, instead I have voluptuous shapely thighs and buttocks. My stomach isn’t as flat as it was before kids, but it doesn’t exactly stick out, it is just…a different shape. I am considered “average height” at 5’6″ yet many pants are long on me. I am as uniquely shaped as I am uniquely wired in my personality and thinking.

Now this thought of “one size fits most” does not limit itself to articles of clothing, many people (including “experts) apply this to diet, to exercise, and even to faith. What we need to realize is just as this approach is unreliable with clothes, it is unreliable with everything else. God created each of us as unique human beings, so why do we think that what worked for so-and-so down the street will work for us? You want to lose weight, so you ask your doctor, who recommends the low fat diet because it is most widely advertised. But instead of losing those pounds, you gain a few more. Your friend lost weight on this certain exercise program so you decide to try it, however you find it boring and skip a few days, or you cannot do all of the movements, and you lose nothing. A runner claims that running 40 mile weeks are the best way to improve your time, but you can only ever seem to get around 25, so now you think there is no way to get faster until you have more time to run. Half of your Bible study group claim to wake up every morning and have a quiet devotion time because that is the best way to start the day, so you give it a try, only to find your kids are early risers and you spend more time trying to get them distracted than on your devotion. Then you feel like you aren’t faithful enough because you can’t spend your morning one on one with God. All of these things worked for “most”, so you must be an outlier, not one of the few privy enough to be in the “most” group.

Guess what, nothing is one size fits most, and simply because it doesn’t work for you does not mean you are a failure, it only means you have to be willing to find what does work. You have to experiment and see what is the perfect combination that is going to work uniquely for you. Now there are experts out there who know this, and will help you and guide you to find it, but keep in mind it’s not all of them.

So the low fat diet eating doesn’t work for you, try something else, low carb, clean eating, paleo, whole 30, count macros, count only calories just find which one makes YOU feel the best.

So you dislike workout videos, try walking, biking, swimming, lifting, yoga, etc. Find something you enjoy doing so you can stick with it.

So you can only run 25 miles a week instead of 40. Throw in a couple speed workouts with your current routine and you can find a way to get faster.

So you can’t get in that devotion every morning. Send up a quick prayer as you hear your little one’s footsteps coming down the hall, and get in your Bible reading some other time that day or set aside a few days a week to make sure you get it in. God enjoys any time with you, whether it is in prayer, with children, or one-on-one.

All in all please ignore anyone who is trying to sell you their “one size fits most” approach and YOU DO YOU. Do what makes YOU feel good, what works with YOUR life, and do what YOU love doing.

Time

Some days drag on while others fly by in a flash. Around here the summer days are “longer” with the sun setting later and later; the winter days are “short” with the sun setting as early as 5 sometimes! It seems that even though the sun is up longer during the spring and summer, there is not enough time to get it all done. You see, during the winter I am able to run, lift, and clean the house easily, along with spend time with my kiddos, and still get them to bed at a decent bed time! During the summer, well, if I don’t get my run in the morning it likely won’t happen (waaaay to hot after about 8:00), and lifting comes second to chores which multiply during the summer. Not only am I supposed to have the house clean (which I dislike staying inside unless it’s 100+ or under 10 degrees Fahrenheit), but during the spring, summer, and into fall, there is mowing to be done (about 3-4 hours worth of it), gardens to be tended, weeds to be picked, projects to be done, wood to be stained, trees to be taken care of, and the list goes on! By the time I realize what happened, it is 7:00 and I still need to make dinner and get the kids to bed!

The house falls behind, my workout routine is all thrown off, and unfortunately my devotional time also falls behind. All of the sudden I realize its been a week since I’ve opened my Bible. For the most part this could be solved by me simply setting my alarm clock, and doing it first thing in the morning. It wouldn’t require much, my kids normally get up around 6:30-7 in the morning, so a simple 6:00 alarm would allow me to get in that much needed daily time in His presence. This “simple” alarm gets harder when my husband is not working, when I need to start my run earlier and earlier, and when my kids wake up earlier. Truth is, I could still make time. My kids are getting old enough (almost 3 and 5) that I can still do my time while they eat breakfast or play around in the morning. I can still cuddle with my husband that extra 30 minutes and go do my devotion during that loll in the morning, in between breakfast and getting outside. If I can get up to go run early, then I can get up an extra 15 minutes earlier to read my Bible as well. That is the truth, and I even though I struggle to keep it in routine year round, I am forced to recognize that it is my priorities that are getting in my way. I need to continue to check in with myself and make sure God is my number one priority, and that I am spending time daily with Him.

Trying to fit it all in is impossible. I cannot possibly get all of the chores done, the house clean, a run, throw some weights around, take the kids to the pool, blah blah blah, and a devotion. However, I can make sure I do a couple things every day that will show where my priorities lie.

Do my devotion first thing in the morning, then it won’t get lost in the day.
Do something fun with my kids (and husband when he is off work).
Run OR Lift (maybe both, maybe not)

These 3 checklists are all I really need. Everything else will work out eventually. The grass will be mowed, even if it grew a bit too tall. The house will get cleaned, even if it really needed it a couple days ago. The chores will be taken care of, and nothing will spiral out of control if they have to wait another day, there are more important things to focus on.

Sub 2

I have enjoyed running (off and on) for about 8 years now. Some years I am more committed than others, and two of those years I did not complete a “bigger” race. My first race ever was a half marathon, the Rock N Roll St. Louis in 2011. I ran for fun, followed a program that just had the basic milage, and finished it feeling great with a 2:10 time. I LOVED it, and I was hooked. I ran another half the next year, 2012, a smaller but beautiful run (the Mother Road Marathon half), and got a 2:03:something and placed 3rd in my age group! (the beauty of a smaller race). I decided to do my first triathlon in 2013, which was a small one in Manhattan, Kansas. It was only a sprint distance, so 500 meter swim, 12 mile bike, and a 5k run. I really enjoyed training for that race and will some day do a half ironman triathlon (though probably when both of my kids are in school). I had my first child in the summer of 2014, and ran in a Go Girl Half marathon that fall. It was so hard, and I really was NOT trained well for it, but I was able to check it off my list and was proud to finish in under 3 hours, without injury. In 2015 I ran the St. Louis Half marathon again, along with the challenge of completing a 5k Saturday and the 1/2 on Sunday. It was fun, and I have no clue what my time was (for some reason that year is not online and they have stopped doing this run in St. Louis) but I think it was around 2:10?? In 2016 I had my second child (late summer) and though I did not complete any “big” races, I walked and ran more local 5k’s during that year than I ever have. 2017 was another year of smaller races plus I completed a couple obstacle races which were a lot of fun but still only 5k in distance. I decided at the end of 2017 that I was going to start running in half marathons again, so I started training and, since I do not do anything half way, I signed up for a series called the Heartland 39.3 Series. It is composed of 3 half marathons within a 3 month period in Kansas. My goal changed during that time, I really wanted to run a Sub 2 hour half and I was hoping to do it in one of those 3 races. Now, I fully understand the stress of running so much, so I decided to make the first two races training runs, and the last race I would go for time. Looking back I should have looked more at the course descriptions before I decided that (haha). I ran the first race in a 2:02:18, unintentionally; I felt so good, and my goal for that race was to have negative splits, but the coarse was relatively flat, and had great vibes. The second half was very close to that one (only a week in between), so I took that one easy, and still finished with a 2:11:12. The last half, I still thought I could break 2 hours, was super hilly, and I didn’t know until half way through that the pacer I was by was getting us there just over 2 hours (the one getting just under was way ahead by then). SO, I tried to catch up, and burnt out with a couple miles of rolling hills left. I finished with a 2:04:08. I signed up for the same series this year, and I recommitted to getting a Sub 2, found a new training plan (80/20 Running), and have had a blast training on this plan (more on this in a later post). This year I knew my goal was to attempt the sub 2 in the one I ran a 2:02 in last year (Rock the Parkway). The first half of the series this year though was in March, and in Liberty, MO. It was the most challenging coarse I have ever raced on! Luckily, I went in knowing it was going to be cold and hilly, and I was just running to get the miles in. I finished with a 2:18:15, and felt good throughout the whole course, despite the hills. Yesterday was the Rock the Parkway half, the second one of the series this year. It was perfect running weather, I stuck with the right pacer this time, and I already knew the course was great! I was diligent and stayed with the pacer until mile 9.5, then my friend and I decided to speed up slightly, still feeling great! I am happy to report that I finished with a 1:57:02!! I am ecstatic to have reached this goal, and though next year I will aim for a new time goal, I will just enjoy the last half of the series as a fun run! (BTW the next race, Running with the Cows, has a BUFFET for post-race eating, I highly recommend it). I also have one more major running goal for this year, but more on that later 😉