Running – imperfectly courtney

My First Fitness Love + Chia Seed Pudding

July 30, 2012 Courtney

Dear Running,

I wanted to write and say I have missed spending hours and hours with you, but the truth is I don’t. You were my first fitness love. I’ll always have a spot in my heart for you and I’m certain the challenge you bring me will always taunt me. I’m not exactly giving up on “us” but I need something you’re not exactly giving me… muscle. See, we were exclusive for 2 years, and they were two great years. I got faster, found courage and drive I didn’t know I had, and attempted things I never thought I could do. We have spent many hours together through blood, sweat and tears… But after just a few months of seeing my new love I have seen more progress than I did in the two years we were together. I’ll still spend some time with you, just not as much as it once was. Don’t worry, I won’t forget about my promise to revenge my Disney DNF, and for that I’ll need your help. But until then, I think we should see other people…

Sincerely,
CrossFit Obsessed

I was inspired to write that letter this morning as I finally dusted off my Garmin, went for a run and actually uploaded my run data from the month….

That is less than 8 miles for the whole month. That doesn’t count the short runs we do at CrossFit… but for someone who ran at least 10 miles a week for a long time, this is crazy talk for me! The truth is, I honestly have noticed more changes in my body in the last 2 months than I have in the last 2 years! Lifting weights works! CrossFit Works! I’m living proof.

Back when I was running all the time I read about Chia Seeds. They were supposedly a running superfood. I bought a bag and it has been sitting in my pantry for awhile. Turns out its not just for runners, who knew right? (sarcasm) Chia seeds are great for their fiber, Omega Fatty Acids, Calcium, Antioxidants and Protein! They help you feel fuller longer, which also helps with weight loss.

I knew that after soaking in liquid it turned into a gel of sorts, and I heard about people turning it into pudding. This idea isn’t a shockingly new one, but I decided to amp up the protein and flavor with some protein powder! Here are the measurements I used:

I used 1stPhorm Coconut Chocolate protein powder. A little bit of tropical and a whole lot of yummy. Perfect afternoon snack!

Have you ever “broke up” with a hobby/fitness first love? How did you move on?

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Life Lessons, Running

WDW Marathon Recap {lessons learned from a DNF}

April 5, 2012 Courtney

{you can read about the expo/pre-race activities here and read the race recap here}

I did not finish.

I DID NOT finish.

I DID NOT FINISH.

Man, that’s a tough pill to swallow. I was super emotional about it right after it happened, but tried to suck it up… After all we were at Disney! Then I would remember that moment I knew I wasn’t going to cross that finish line and my heart would sink.

Looking back I can see there were several practical lessons to learn from my DNF. I want to share those with you in case you are thinking about doing a marathon, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.

Conquer smaller distances first. I know, this one may seem like the logical thing to do; it is. Looking back, I should have done it. Before I signed up to run the marathon I hadn’t run in an actual race. I ran a 10k back in my internship days, but it was just around campus and not a true race experience. In the first few weeks of my training I ran a small local 5k, but that was nothing like the huge race experience that Disney is. I should have run a half-marathon or even a 10k. Not only is knowing how the flow of a larger race important, it is also a great confidence builder!
Track your mileage accurately. For all of my training I used Nike+ with the shoe pod. The problem was it would never calibrate properly. So for every mile I thought I was running, I was really only running .90ish miles. Which adds up during long training runs. It also gives you false hope of a decent pace, so my estimated time was WAY off. I have since invested in a Garmin, which is way more accurate… but some times depressing when you realize how slow you’re really going… but I digress…
Race in the Environment that You Trained in (At least for your first). While I started my training in the summer, I did the bulk of my mileage in the fall/winter. The temps I was used to training in were in the 30s and 40s. On race day the temps got in the upper 70s, probably at least 80. This is probably by far the biggest problem I ran into. My body hadn’t seen temperatures that high in months, let alone run in them! It made me (even) slower than I already was! If you are planning on running a big race for the first time at least make sure the race temperatures will be relatively similar to those that you trained in to ensure success.
Plan for bathroom stops (or not). I know that I could have finished had I been allowed to. It wouldn’t have been fast or pretty, but I would have finished. And the difference between them letting me finish and making me stop was literally 10 seconds or less. They were letting people complete the race once they passed the on ramp that I got stopped at, even if they were slow beyond that point. I’ve thought about this time and again and if I could have a do over of just race day with my same training I would simply pee on myself. I stopped at Miles 3, 11 and 18. Each stop was probably at least 5 minutes. That’s a 15 minute difference. Thats a whole mile at the pace I was going. I should have just peed on myself…

While having a DNF (did not finish) on record isn’t what any runner wants, it’s better than a DNS (did not start). I learned a lot about myself and turned my negative into a positive. Now I’m more determined then ever to get into shape and sometime before I’m 30 I will return to Disney to redeem myself. Not only do I want to finish the Disney Marathon, but I want to one up it and do the Goofy Challenge (Where you run the Half-Marathon Saturday and Full on Sunday). I tend to overcorrect, haha.

Have you ever had the opportunity to turn a “failure” into a lesson learned? Tell me about it!

Running

It’s all mental. {and a Team Living Water Update}

March 29, 2012 Courtney

Goodness, is it Thursday already?

I feel like my days kinda melt together during the week. Especially this week (although I could probably say that about every week). With the traveling home from Texas, a trip to the ER, adjusting back to life at home (laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, meal planning) plus trying to get back on track with my training there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day.

I went for a run on Tuesday. I made several mistakes in the preparation and execution of this run…. I’m going to share those with you in hopes that you don’t make the same mistakes. First of all I’m certain I wasn’t drinking enough water throughout the day. I was struggling with guilt about my lack of running (or workouts of any kind) last week so I was itching to get back to it. I decided to go for a run at lunch/nap time, another mistake. It was the middle of the day and it was hotter than I’ve been used to running in. Third mistake, I ran shortly after lunch… probably not long enough after, so my stomach was unsettled. My legs felt so heavy. I struggled through all 3 miles. Simple mistakes led me to some very negative thinking.

I wondered why I even bothered to try to be a runner. I struggle with this often, but this time I thought, even if it was just for a second, about quitting. And I hate that. I felt ashamed after that. I may not be the best runner, but I am certainly NOT a quitter. The fact that quitting even crossed my mind really frustrated me. I want running to be fun. I want it to be challenging. And I realized that it is completely up to me. It is all mental. Sure, there is a physical aspect. But if I can’t get my head in the game mentally, it is pointless.

For all you runners out there, or even those of you who aren’t runners but what to be… Just remember you CAN do it as long as you think you can do it.

Today I decided to go out for a run in the vibrams, I wanted to redeem myself from Tuesday run. I took Payton, she started out in the stroller but then she decided she wanted to run too. She actually went almost 1 mile by herself… I only had to carry her for a little bit after we dropped the stroller off, lol! Love that girl.

This weekend I plan on getting in my long run… hopefully 10 miles. The half-marathon is in 3 weeks. I’m still fundraising for Team Living Water and have set a goal to rase 131.00 (representing the 13.1 miles I’m going to be running). I’m currently at 38.00, so we have just $93 left to go! I’m running this race to help raise money to build clean drinking wells for those who don’t have access to clean drinking water. If you can help, even just a few dollars, please go here and donate now. If you want to know more about Living Water International check out www.water.cc.

What are some mental struggles you have worked through? What helps keep you motivated?

Running

Make it Work!

March 15, 2012 Courtney

The family and I have been spending some time in Texas, and I absolutely love it. There is just something about Texas that begs me to come live here. We got a rental home for the time we are here, which is a little over 2 weeks. It’s back in a hidden little neighborhood on a canal off of Lake Granbury. I knew that I would be breaking my 80/20 rule when it comes to eating, trying to eat 80% vegetarian/20% meat, it’s Texas after all… Texas IS meat! Anyway, I figured it would be even more important to stick to my workouts. I was planning on getting my runs in early in the mornings and I actually got up early on Monday so I could get in a few miles but when I walked outside I realized it probably wasn’t the best idea. While the weather was beautiful, It was literally pitch black outside and since I’m not really familiar with the area (or hidden woodsy night creatures), I decided I needed a new plan. I could hear Tim Gunn’s voice in my head saying “MAKE IT WORK!” So today I decided to try out a naptime lunch run! I did a 3/1 interval for 3.1 miles.

Not a PR by any means, but pretty good for still acclimating to 70 degree running temps.
(ps- have I told you how much I love my garmin? Thanks for hooking me up Julie!)

I knew I needed to get a good run in before Saturday’s 4th Annual Granbury Road Race. I’m so excited for that! I’m interested to see what the running community around here is like, ya know, just in case we ever end up living here. Also, can I just tell you how awesome it was that the race info stated “Sorry, no horses allowed this year”… Only in Texas, right?

Anyway after my run I enjoyed some light stretching out on the dock

(or maybe I just wanted a reason to show you my freshly painted “Mango Sorbet” toes… with an attempt at green polka dots… that went horribly wrong… and I was too lazy to fix)

Anyway, just a reminder for you guys… if you are away from home it is still possible to make it work! It takes determination, it sure would have been easy to just give up on the idea of working out.

What are some ways you have “made it work” while away from home and/or your normal routine?

Continue reading “Make it Work!” →

Weight Loss

progress.

June 15, 2010 Courtney

i love seeing progress. little milestones that encourage me to continue. today when i weighed myself i was down another 2 pounds. that means i have just 6 pounds to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. only 63 pounds to get to my goal weight of 150. hmm, 6 pounds sounds a lot better. i was NOT feeling like going out running today. usually i go after Payton’s first feeding in the morning so i can get it out of the way and not make excuses. today mother nature made excuses for me. it rained most of the morning and by the time the rain stopped i was already well into my day and didn’t feel like stopping everything to go out in the midday heat and jog. dinner time came and this week chris and i are eating salads for dinner every night. i have throughly enjoyed that. i don’t feel horrible after dinner. granted, i still have a sweet tooth, but I combat that with my fresh berries and italian ice popsicles. mmm speaking of fresh berries, i think i’m going to make a recovery smoothie!! mmm mmm good.

where was i before i got distracted by the tantalizing thought of a fresh smoothie? oh yes- i did NOT feel like running. I have about 70 more pages to read for psychology, i need to clean the house, finish the laundry, get ready for my cleanings tomorrow… excuse excuse excuse… so i went looking for motivation. i tried on my pre-pregnancy jeans and i could actually button them. granted there is still a little “overflow” of that baby belly, but i got them all the way on and could breathe. kinda. so i tried on the pair that i remember fitting the loosest. i’m pretty sure they are almost public wearable (with the right top of course). that felt good. so i took off my jeans and replaced them with my running shorts. and i ran. for the first time in almost 2 weeks i ran without the stroller and a baby. and to my surprise, i ran the fastest mile i can ever remember running. like ever. 12:55. and i got to the 2 mile mark before 30 minutes… i think it was 28:33 or thereabouts. thats huge. all my life i’ve struggled with fitness, and some of the most hurtful shameful things i can remember have to do with not being able to run fast enough. like not being able to pass my JROTC physical fitness test. and not being able to go with my HA class to the mountain because I couldn’t run the mile fast enough. i’m determined to overcome this hurdle to my fitness. and its an exciting process to get there.

now i’m going to finish my list of things i used as excuses not to go running… much love!