Inspiration Wednesday

If you set a goal for yourself

and are able to achieve it,

you have won your race.

Your goal can be to come in first,

to improve your performance,

or just finish the race it's up to you. 

-Dave Scott

This one hits home. To me it doesn't matter where I finish in my race, as long as I meet my goal. Lately, my goals have to been to just enjoy my race. I don't care if I PR, and I definitely don't care if I place (though both of those things would be awesome), I just want to have a good race. 

It also reminds me that I win every time I go out and complete my planned workout, I have won. I achieved my goal for that day. With me, winning small goals is important, it helps me continue on to my long term goal. 

How about you? Do you have short term goals or just long term ones? 

Speed Work

I've always been okay with how fast I run, and I still am, but I started feeling like maybe I could do more, go a little faster. Shouldn't we always change up our training just a bit to keep it exciting and challenging? I really didn't go into this with too much of a plan. I thought I'd try a speed and then see how I felt after a minute or two and then walk, and I wasn't even sure how far I was going to run. I guess you could say I really had no expectations on this run, I just wanted to try speed work. Here's how it went - 

1 min walk

5 mins at 10 min/mile

then I started a routine of 2 mins run/1 min walk

first round was at approximately 9 min/mile

second round was at approximately 8:30 min/mile

the next 5 rounds I did around an 8 min/mile

finished off with 3 mins at a 10 min/mile

3 miles in 29:54

I was always afraid of doing speed work, now I'm wondering, why didn't I do that before???? It was fun and challenging and I can't wait until the next time. Speedwork will definitely be incorporated weekly into my training plan. Here's my plan - 

Mon - XT

Tues - speedwork

Wed - XT

Thurs - easy run

Fri - XT

Sat - rest

Sun - long run

I also would love to add yoga in there - maybe Tues and Thursday mornings. 

What do you all think about speedwork? And how do you incorporate it into your training? Any success stories because of it?

Week 6 Marathon Training

The week started and ended strong, but the middle was extremely weak. I started off on Monday with some cross training, did some yoga on Thursday, and finished off with an awesome 12 mile run and some laps in the pool. Hopefully that run is exactly what I need to get out of my training funk. Below is my week - 

Monday - 30 Day Shred Level 2

Tuesday - nothing :( Hunter's last soccer game of the season

Wednesday - bowling :)

Thursday - yoga didn't run because I had Ryan's band banquet

Friday - nothing :(

Saturday - rest day 

Sunday - 240 yds swimming, and 12 mile run on the treadmill :)

I am so excited that pool season is back. I love to get in the pool and swim. I'm not the  best swimmer, but it's a great way to exercise while still staying cool in sunny, hot Florida. During the summer, I spend at least a little time in the pool every day either doing some laps or playing with the boys. 

My run was AWESOME!!!! I felt so strong, and I concentrated  on my breathing and form. Boredom was cured by watching Lifetime Movie Network (a channel I don't get to watch when hubby is around). 

I'm back!!!!!!!

How did everyone's training go last week?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Inspiration Wednesday

"Mental will is a muscle that needs exercise, just like the muscles of the body." 
-Lynn Jennings


I'm definitely still in need of some inspiration and motivation. I am just feeling extremely lazy right now. I know if I exercise I will have more energy, but I just can't find the energy to do it. It's a catch 22. I need to talk my mind into exercising. I think that's the hardest part of it. Not allowing your mind to give up. Oh well, I have been there before and pulled myself out, so I know I will get back on track. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

What tricks do you have to keep your mind in the game? 

Week 5 Marathon Training

Week 5 complete and as my 13 year old son would say - epic fail!!

Monday - nada
Tuesday - nada
Wednesday - 21 mins of yoga (Woot woot)
Thursday - nada
Friday - nada
Saturday - 1 hour of fun with Hunter (basketball, football, kickball, dodgeball)
Sunday - zoo and 20 mins of basketball with Hunter

I did almost nothing all week, and I don't have any excuse for it. Yes, I was still a little tired recovering from my cold, but not enough to make me not work out. I was just plain lazy, and I need to change my attitude quick or I will never complete a marathon. Marathon runners cannot be lazy, they have to be dedicated because it's not easy to run a marathon, matter of fact from what I heard it's pretty darn hard. I need to get out of my funk and get my sweat on!!!!!

Are any of you in a training funk? What are you going to do to get out of it?

Things that make you go hmmmm.....

A friend's status on facebook had me thinking this morning. She said that she was looking back on her life, and the things she would change. So that made my reflect back on my life, was there any thing I would change? Yeah, there are things that I have done that I'm not so proud of, and things that happened to me that made me very upset, but if I change those things would I be the person I am today? I don't think so.

Every bad thing in my life has made me stronger; every stupid choice has made me wiser and every good moment has made me happier. If I had stayed in college after my freshman year, I would never had the opportunity to meet my husband. Then I wouldn't have the two wonderful children I have.  I also wouldn't have the career I have today, while it's not perfect, it's enjoyable most days.

So I am not going to dwell on past mistakes, and what I think are bad choices, I'm going to remember all the joyous times and the good choices I have made. I am going to move forward and rejoice in the person that I am today, and the person I will be tomorrow.

How about you?