Are you SPARTAN strong?

just over FOUR WEEKS until my Spartan Super in AZ with my brothers.  Honestly, I can not WAIT!  I am terrified and super excited all at the same time.  Knowing that we are doing it together and sticking together through the course is of great comfort and also what is going to give us some fun, laughs and fabulous stories!!

Are YOU Spartan Strong?  They have races all over the country, you can find the schedule on their website here:

SPARTAN RACE

use code IDSPARTA002 for $15 off your registration for any of the events and find out!

Now, off to the gym with me!
Alex

Running from ZOMBIES?!?!?

This app looks absolutely FUN and hysterical!  I do not have a smart phone, but you can bet that when I do, this is going on it!  What a great way to change things up.  Just BRILLIANT!

Get going Runner 5!!

Reflections on the year and 2012

I was thinking the other day about all the things I want to do for 2012.  It is that time of year you know.  I was thinking about the Spartan Super in 7 weeks and wondering if I am really ready or just how crazy I am and so glad to have my brothers doing it too.  Thinking about being excited to do the Race to Robie again this year.  Thinking about my daily grind and how to make it less of a grind.  Part of me became very overwhelemed.  I had to step back and instead reflect on 2011.

One year ago:
I had not started running and learned that after the first 1 1/2 miles, I LOVE it.
I had not gotten to know my friend Betty so well and I am soooooooooooo blessed to have her in my life.
I had not considered running the Race to Robie, EVER.
I had not done a 5k.
I had not done a half marathon.
I had not finished a FULL MARATHON!!
I had not considered signing up for a Spartan Race.
I had not realized how much power is 'IN ME'.
I had not fully appreciated the amazing friendships I am surrounded by (how many people do you know that will come run part of 22 miles with you and support you on the rest of them during their weekend retreat?-thank you Kimberlee!)
I had not realized and appreciated how silently supportive my fabulous husband is even when he just doesn't 'get it'. 


I am truly blessed!

Now, it is time to build on this.  Really build.  I have made so much progress, but I am not done!  I will constantly BE a Work In Progress.  That is what it is all about.  So, for 2012...

I will continue to set goals for competitions.  I have learned these are what keep me motivated to get out there and MOVE.

I will continue to improve my eating habits.  I have learned (but need reminded sometimes) some things about myself.  Sugar is my addiction.  I love sweets.  I am very much one of the one bite is too much and the entire pan is never enough variety.  IF I do not have the one bite I am fine.  Once I do, the will power is out the window.  I completely agree with everything a person reads that one bite will satisfy and the first bite is the best, etc., etc., etc.  If you can do this, DO!  It is correct.  However, I need to just not have it.  That is when my will power works.  I can say no to the entire spread, until I start, then the will power no longer exists.

There truly is NOTHING that tastes good enough to do situps, pushups, 5 mile run and burpees for.  NOTHING!  Not even creme brulee, and for those of you that know me, you know what I just said.  I can NOT complain about the way I look and eat the way I have.  That is hypocritical.  If nothing changes, nothing changes.  The ONLY person responsible for this is ME!  I either want it enough or I don't.  End of story.

My time is valuable.  I need to spend it doing things that make me happy.  Now, with regard to my daily grind.  I only have a certain level of control there.  BUT I can control how much I invest.  I will give it my BEST on a consistent basis.  Yes, I will have bad days, but since I am there I need to truly 'show up'.  Will it be perfect, nope.  Will I survive, yep.  Can I give more, most certainly.  I am being paid to be there, I need to give what they are paying for.  Show up, put up and shut up - or get out.

Life is too short to be surrounded by misery.  People who drain me, may no longer get my energy.  I can love people and care about them, but I can NOT change them.  I can't help anyone who doesn't TRULY want it.  That is not mean, that is taking care of me.  The only person I CAN change.

For the last several years, a group of gals I am blessed to know have participated in an exercise to select a word for the upcoming year.  This year, I spent a lot of time thinking and am actually reusing one from several years ago.  My word for 2012 is STRENGTH.  I have learned there is more strength in me that I realized and I need to call on it.  I also need to develop more of my physical strength, intellectual strength and strength to be the best I can be.  I want to continue to strengthen the wonderful relationships around me.  I am truly blessed and should nurture that!   I want to be an example and source of strength for those around me that wish to have it.

So, what did you DO and LEARN in 2011?  How will you 'TAKE IT FORWARD"? 

Wishing you all the very best in the upcoming year of 2012, and THANK YOU for being part of my journey this far.

lots of hugs and strength!
Get Inky!
Alex

Make your dreams you GOALS!

Here it is. THE medal. Yep, THE one from THE marathon.

I did it, yep - I did!

I finished the marathon.  Yep, after all that hard work, months of miles and my family putting up with me either gone running or completely useless when I returned on Saturdays, I have completed my marathon.  I am proud.  Very proud.  I am also never doing it again.  EVER!  Well, as of right now.  I have to tell you, it wasn't the marathon itself, it was all the time it takes to train.  Hours and hours, many of those in a row!  I just don't want to spend my life that way.  I don't like leaving my family hanging that much either.  Perhaps later in my life, I will do this again.  But, for now, half marathons it is :)

Some days ARE harder than others

There are days that you don't want to work out.  Or there is something you want to eat you shouldn't.  But then there are the days when it isn't that, it just really is a hard day!  You do the workout, but no matter how hard you work, the results aren't quite up to normal.  You just can't get the muscles and the brain and the lungs all working together.

What do YOU do on those days?  I have learned to listen to my body.  Sometimes these days are my body telling me to take a day off.  Time for an extra rest day.  Keeping in mind this doesn't turn into a rest week, month, etc.  That is ok and a good thing to do when appropriate.

Sometimes, it just is a day that is harder than others and the very best thing I can do is do it anyway.  I feel great at the end because I did it even when I didn't want to.  When 10 pounds FELT like 40.  When my brain wanted to know why I was even bothering.  Those are the days I really NEED to do it for me.  Not for the physical, but for the mental exercise.  Those are the days that once done, fuel me the next time it is a hard day, and I know there is another one around the corner someplace.