Don't be intimidated

I decided I'd really love to review DVDs I use, books, tools, and equipment that may help you on your fitness journey.  That, or just introduce you to something new to try!  I hope now that my coaching season is winding down, I have more time to post on here, but for now, I will write about a fairly new tool I've been using at the Bootcamp classes I teach:

TRX Training Straps.

These total body toning straps were created by a Navy SEAL for help anyone at all fitness levels.  The trainer consists of a set of nylon straps that create resistance using your own body weight and gravity.  There is a clip to the wall where the straps are locked into place.  They have two handles at the end or holsters for your feet.

They are lightweight, portable, and can help a person at any fitness level.  The cost is kind of pricey but can range from $189-$200 for the basic TRX Suspension Trainer (prices found on Amazon.com) 

I have come to love these, although at first I was a bit intimidated by them.  But if you think about it, I can't lift or push or hold up my own body weight when it comes to dumbbells or a bar, but I can when I use the TRX system!   They are good for upper body, lower body, stability holds, abs, anything you name it! 

Here are some great images of the straps at work



Great investment!!!

Share the roads....running with friends

If you are like me, you may be obsessed with getting in a great workout.  If it you're supposed to run 40 minutes, you go out and do just that with your GPS running, Ipod, watch and all other gear that keeps you focused.  But what if you left those things at home? Would your workout suffer?  Sometimes when I think about, I kind of freak out.  What will I do if I'm not counting exactly how far I run???? 

But there is definitely something freeing and awesome about not only forgetting all the "stuff" but running with someone else. My friend Caitlin and I have been running pretty regularly for a month now whenever we get a chance.  There's a park nearby our homes with a 1.5 mile trail so we meet there and literally the miles just melt away.  Time goes by so quickly when you aren't concentrating on the time or a particular song.  And we talk....a lot.  Now, this may cause my speed to decrease but it is well worth it.  Name the topic, we've covered it.  Stress, fears, joys, pain, stories galore.  Most of the time when you think of getting to know someone, I think of going out to dinner or a date to just look at one another and talk.  But for us, the friendship has come through the miles.  It brought us closer and closer than I am to other friends that I see every so often.  We've prayed for each other, gotten insight, and seen life through a different perspective. 

There is something magical about sharing, basically yourself with someone over a common bond.  I have not only come to enjoy it, but it brings me ease knowing that long run is coming because it will not seem that long.  There is a realness shared on the roads.  It pushes you and also allows you to de-stress.  And the coffee or treat afterwards doesn't hurt either! 

Try a new challenge this week!  Workout with a friend!

Great lyrics

Today on my way to work, a song lyrics hit me. 

"So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to alter you

You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes and you can
Walk on the water too"

I'm going through a time right now where I know I was made for more than what I'm doing now.  I can feel the seed God has placed in my heart.  He has also recently given me new and exciting opportunities to do what I love.  But my fears of failure seem to be overtaking me.  I love the line, "Your insecurities try to alter you."  Why am I letting them rule me when he has the final say?!  Have faith, step out, and don't be afraid to move.  The world tries to tell us we're not made for anything better, but we are because of who calls us. 

Step out today and never look back.  "Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game."

Almost the weekend!

Crafting!

It is one of my goals for this year to complete 10 crafts.  Most of them I will have stolen from Pinterest but seriously who doesn't steal ideas from there?!  So I started in January with a vengeance...

So I decided that I needed a wreath or something for my front door and since Valentines day is the next official holiday (sort of), I decided to make a wreath I found.

I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics last Friday and bought heart shaped styrofoam, burlap, and pink ribbon.  My glue gun was still in the packaging waiting to be used so that, in a sense, was free!

Here's what I started with - 

 

So I first cut the burlap into 2.5 x 2.5  squares - not precise but definitely not rectangle shaped...square worked better

Next, I folded them in half, then folded them in half again, dabbed a little hot glue on the end and stuck it to heart.  I criss-crossed the burlap pieces so they overlapped (sorry no pictures...I'm new to this and probably had hot glue on my fingers)

You can make them closer or farther apart...however crowded you want the wreath to be!  And burlap apparently sheds like crazy...still haven't quite figured this one out yet.

 

I stayed up until midnight finishing the wreath and in the morning, I cut the pink ribbon and glued it one the back....it was a little top heavy but in the door, it doesn't much matter

Finished Product! - Total cost - $7.82.  I challenge you to find a wreath cheaper in a store!  

And one tip, I sprayed the wreath with hairspray hoping the burlap wouldn't keep falling out.  Did it work?  Not quite sure but as long as I don't bump into it on my way inside, it has worked well.

9 more crafts to go!

Goals in the New Year

I'm not big on the word "resolution" because just like everyone else, a resolution usually means that it will be broken.  But I am about making changes or steps in a new direction.  I was in church last week and I just started jotting down things I wanted to do differently this year.  Some are running related but some are not.  One is run 3 more half marathons and make my total 10!  Another is to volunteer at our local food pantry ten times this year and have our youth group help out as well.

Maybe you want to make a change as well.  My suggestion would be to take a step in a new direction TODAY!  Nothing huge or monumental with the potential for failure, but something doable and achievable for YOU.  Nobody else should matter.  Do something healthy for  yourself or for your family, get in the Bible more, volunteer, clean out your closets and give everything away.  Whatever it is, now is time to do it! 

I look forward to sharing with you this year more running tips and ideas.  Be looking for cross-training workouts, the benefits of running with a friend, time management, and cool running gear.  I also hope to post on here at least 2x a month.  Hopefully you'll still be reading.....and running!

Happy New Year!

Do you ever just run to run?

I was massively ill on Sunday and haven't been like that for a long time, so getting back to running has taken it's time.  Tonight, I ventured out.  I wanted to enjoy the sunset, Christmas lights in the neighborhood, and to really work on my form.  I planned on a slow, easy run, about 30 minutes.  But I hit the watch, covered it up, and ran.  Felt awesome.  Through streets, on sidewalks, by a park, and a couple schools.  Just me and streets.  I love the feeling it gives me.  To just run.  At any time, I can put on my shoes and go.  I don't need all the gadgets, just roads.  It's freeing and exciting.  You get to experience the world through different eyes.  You see the kids playing hockey when it's 40 degrees out.  The random little ones playing with their Santa lawn ornaments.  The cats in the windows staring and me and judging me no less.  The few strangers who smile when you pass as they walk their dogs.  The "stop and stares" from male drivers (which are few and far between).  And all the while, it's just me and road.  My mind gets to wander, to pray, to get away from what life has waiting for me when I return.  I have found nothing yet like running.  You can make it a challenge or an adventure or a fun run.  Anyway you want it, it's yours. 

Somehow at the end, I am relieved, rejuvenated, and ready to conquer anything.  It's like, "okay, the run is over.  Now I can do X, Y, and Z."

At a time when the world is all a buzz and everything is go, go, go, I took 45 minutes to JUST RUN.  As Robert Frost once wrote, "And that has made all the difference."

Run On!

Runners can't be stopped

I ran the St. Louis Rock and Roll Half Marathon this past Sunday.  It was my 7th half marathon....not my worst time, not my best.  A few things hit me while I was running this 13.1 mile course.

#1.  Runners are a unique breed.  If you have ever run, you are a runner.  You are unique.  You have legs, you have stamina, strength, ability.  There were even wheelchair participants in the race....runners. 

#2.  Running is always there.  I got sidelined in late September with a back injury.  2 weeks no running whatsoever.  My nightmare!  But I learned some valuable lessons through that trial.  God took that opportunity to show me that he should be #1.  After all, he gave me the ability run and he can justly take it away if it replaces him.  A Nike Ad I saw once says, "The roads are always open."  They are.  Put your faith and hope in something solid and real...like Jesus.  Make him your priority today.

#3.  Runners cannot be stopped.  As I looked around on Sunday and took in the atmosphere, I realized that runners are crazy, stupid, insane, noble, courageous, worthy, loyal, and determined.  Let me give you some examples -
1. My friend Nicole had a problem with her tibia and was in a boot not long before the race.  She slowly got back to running order and was determined to run the race.  She did, she finished with a great time and rocked it!
2.  My friend Jaidra, who I vb coach with, rolled her ankle (we're talking black, blue, and huge - Cankles anyone?) 1 week before the race.  She was on crutches, ran 3 miles the day before and finished her first half with an impressive 2 hour finish.
3.  My brother Ryan didn't really "train" per say for the race.  A few 3-5 milers here and there and he finished with a 2:20 time.  Impressive.  I wonder who else can just show up and run 13.1 miles?!
4.  My uncle Marty just finished the Chicago Marathon at the young age of 60.  He is truly an inspiration.  He decided last minute to run the half and had a 2:11 time.  Nice.
5.  Scott, Medals for Mettles guy, finished his probably millionth run and I'm sure donated his medal to a child in need.  He made me awesome signs for Kailey Wilmarth when I raised money for her in April.  What a heart he has and truly worthy cause.
6.  Guy running for the Determination American Cancer Society and had about 50 ribbons in memory of and in honor of those affected by cancer.  He ran for them.
7.  Lady on the side of the road wearing her race day bib, cheering on runners.  She was wearing a boot, but she still came and did all she could do.
8.  Several pregnant ladies running- this will be me someday!!
9.  Old guy after the race told me I was his pacer.  An honor but I feel bad I affected his time =)
10.  Ladies running with signs for their friend who died from cancer.  "We miss you Annie and love you."  Almost made me cry.
11.  And finally, yours truly, still technically injured with a ligament strain.  "Shouldn't push it" is what the doc said although I was cleared to do the race. 

**I also want to note that my friend, Carrie, recently ran the Denver Rock and Roll after having her 3rd child in January and being a stay at home mom. There really are no excuses.  Great job Carrie!

How is this possible?!   I think what it comes down to is your drive and passion.  If there's a will, there's a way.  For me, it's several things.  I run for One, as in the title of this blog.  I run because Christ gave me the ability and as Eric Liddell put it in Chariots of Fire, "When I run, I feel God's pleasure."  I believe before that he said, "God made me fast."  God did no such thing in me, but that hasn't stopped me from lacing up my shoes and hitting the road.  My love for Christ drives me but I am solely inspired by his unconditional love for me which I can freely accept. 
Running is my release.  It brings me back to life.  When I don't know what else to do, I can run.  I ran for the American Cancer Society because Dad told us that we have been given much and thus much is asked of us.  I ran for Kailey Wilmarth because she was an amazing athlete and I wanted to run because she couldn't.  Both of them get to run in heaven today (it may sound corny, but I like to believe it=).  Pain cannot stop running.  Death cannot stop running.   Sickness cannot stop running.  Injuries cannot stop running.  Odds cannot stop running. 

If you are a runner (meaning you've run at some point in your life...maybe to your car in a storm or to catch a bus), then you cannot be stopped.  You have the power to do whatever you want.  What drives you?  Where is your passion?  What can you do that no one else can?  What is your 'release'?  Remember, the roads are always open....

Happy running =)