Enjoying the journey!

I had a conversation with myself and I won!

cakboliv — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:25:13 +0000

This morning I had a little conversation with myself at 5:55 am…it went like this:

“Hey, get up, you have to go run at the gym!”

“No, I am really tired and I need to rest.”

“But if you don’t go, there isn’t another time today that works and you’ll regret it!”

“But if I stay and sleep I’ll be happier and won’t be tired today.”

“Well, it would be better to be tired today knowing that your got your run in, and actually your run will probably give you more energy!”

“Fine…I’ll go.”

About 1 hour later…

“Yes! I’m so glad I got my run out of the way this morning!”

NOTE: Sometimes you just have to do it. Even when you don’t want to. And in other news….how about those Broncos! Whoop!

4 days in a row? What?!

cakboliv — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:22:27 +0000

Yes, that is right. I ran (my training run mapped out by Rob) 4 days in a row. What?! Never thought that would happen. Every time I think I just want to warm up a little and then do my other strength training I just feel like running. So, I do. I expected to be so sore that I couldn’t move and I was sore, but actually running is keeping me limber. Is that normal?

Today I wish I could have run outside but my schedule was packed all day and I didn’t feel like running in the dark. So, the treadmill it was…but at least there were no mishaps on the treadmill.

I was a little stressed out when I began to run. I discovered that running is a great way to release pressure that is built up in your mind. As I ran I began to release each of my concerns from the day. I released them by remembering who is control – God, not me, and I asked Him to take my burdens from me and I prayed for each of the people I love who are going through a hard time. I got a lot of praying done during my run. What a great combo! Running and praying. Another fun discovery.

I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday and we were discussing how to know you finally “made it” as a dedicated worker-outer. I think I still have a long way to go. But, I see progress! Six weeks ago I pretty much had to drag myself to the gym or to any kind of physical activity. I made about 2000 excuses in my mind why I couldn’t make it…but little by little I just kept going. Not sure what magical moment it started to turn in to an actual desire to go, but I’m thankful that it did. I still argue with myself about going sometimes, but it’s a lot easier to get my work out in regularly. I think about the “seat belt law”. Before the law I may or may not have worn a seat belt when driving. Once it became the law, I was constantly having to remember to fasten my seat belt. Now I don’t even think about it when I get in the car, I just do it. It’s automatic. That’s how I want working out to be in my life. Something that isn’t even a discussion, it’s just something I do. Will I get there? Well…I sure am gonna keep trying!

Tip of the day: Don’t give in to giving up. Just keep talking yourself into doing something. Find what works for you. Even doing a walk around the block every day to start is a great thing! Then one day just be crazy and walk 2 blocks. Before long, maybe I’ll see you out running with me! YOU CAN DO IT!

Funny time at the gym this morning…

cakboliv — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:56:22 +0000

…so, I was going to just jump on the treadmill for a warm up and then do my regular strength training on the circuit, but I decided to go for it and log in another full run (the one that Rob has mapped out for me to do over the next few weeks.) I felt okay. It was a little hard as I was sore from the day before, but overall I was feeling pretty good. I kept having to remind myself to run relaxed…that’s been a tricky because for some reason my body will start clenching up, like it’s trying to hug itself as I move. But I kept talking to myself, soothingly saying, “Relax, just relax!” The problem with that is usually when I hear those words the next thing that happens is the dentist gives me a shot, or my good friend Ryan does an amazing series of crunching moves to align my back. Why is it when you are told to relax it sends a shot of crazy anticipation adrenaline into your body and mind that makes you immediately want to take on a fierce ninja stance to avoid being taken off guard and ward off the oncoming possibility of attack? Oh, well, I suppose over time I will learn to run relaxed.

Anyway…I was finally in a great groove, hitting the pace I wanted and things were going well when I remembered seeing a runner on the side of the road yesterday and had a conversation with Rob about her running form. He helped me identify that her arm movement wasn’t keeping her body straight or working for her but was making her body shift side to side which can slow you down. Reflecting on that, I immediately began to work on my form today on the treadmill. As I attempted to use my arms to keep my body straight and level, I accidentally got my thumb caught in my earphones cord which then whipped my iPhone that was attached to the earphones cord out of it’s cubby in the front of the treadmill and it was precariously dangling above my pounding feet and the treadmill! Yikes! Somehow I gently tugged on the earphone cord and it was a tight enough connection into my phone that it was soon safe in my hands and then back in it’s cubby. Whew. Crisis averted. Well….almost, about 4 min. later, again while trying to focus on my form, arms moving correctly, feet springing up correctly…I felt good! I sauntered into a little daydream of what I might look like crossing a finish line someday. I did it! Cheers all around..a glorious accomplishment. But, I wasn’t paying too much attention to myself and the distance between my body and the front of the treadmill. And I was really motivated by a song and was just running my little heart out when…BAM! My hand struck the emergency STOP button on the treadmill and I about catapulted off into space! Ooops! That was a teensy bit embarrassing as I collected myself, started the treadmill up again to finish my run, I looked around sheepishly and smiled a confident smile that said, “Hey, I might have meant to that! You don’t even know. Anyway, nothing to see here…move along!”

Tips/Lessons Learned: #1 – I need to buy an arm band for my iPhone to avoid it falling and smashing to bits as I run. #2 -The STOP button on a treadmill really works and works with a vengeance! Never press STOP when you are running at your fastest pace (any pace really) and are daydreaming of when you are actually running a race, it will be a hazard that will be quite entertaining to others and will make you feel pretty dumb! #3 – Big machines are to be respected.

And in other news…Robbin has been feeling our baby grand-daughter move…so fun! And yesterday she sent a text that Jake felt the baby for the first time. This year is gonna be filled with some amazing moments. Wow! I am a blessed woman.