The Little Things
June 16, 2013

Another week over. I had a weird 3 day cold at the beginning of the week that left me feeling a little low on energy, but thankfully it passed really quickly. Even training for a very short triathlon, it is pretty time consuming, and I don’t get to fit in all the workouts that I would like to fit in each week. But, since life isn’t all or nothing, we don’t have to fit in every workout that we enjoy doing each week 🙂 That’s the good news!

Even doing this little bit of extra exercise has increase my appetite tremendously, and it seems that I can’t stay full for long no matter what I eat. I can’t even imagine training for a longer tri- yikes!

June 13, 2013

Happy Thursday! Are you all looking forward to the weekend? I would love to have a weekend where the weather was nice and possibly even above 70 degrees. I can dream about summer, can’t I? In the meantime, let’s get thankful for a minute!

I’m thankful for biking. I can’t believe I went over a decade without being on a bike! I bike a few times a week now, and really love being able to be outside with the breeze blowing against me! I love the sense of freedom that biking provides!

I’m thankful for manicures and pedicures.  While I don’t get them very often at all, I really enjoy when I do get them! It’s such a fun way to have a little “me-time”!

I’m thankful for fresh summer fruits! I’m a big fan of most types of fruit, but I especially love when all the summer fruits are readily available! I’m eating my share of peaches, watermelon, blueberries, and strawberries at the moment!

I’m thankful for Best Body Bootcamp. Strength training has been such a positive aspect of my training. I wrote a whole post dedicated to this earlier this week.

I’m thankful for wildlife. Monday a baby buck was out in my garden (this is a whole story unto itself– ending with me getting chased a bit by him!), and on Wednesday a big turtle was on the side of the bike trail. The birds are out, and the chipmunks are running all around my front deck where I eat meals in the summer. It’s so fun to see everything come alive again!

Now it’s your turn! What are you feeling thankful for today? Have you ever been chased by an animal? (I have been– more times than I wish)

June 11, 2013

Back on March 30th, I got an exciting email from Tina from Best Body Fitness with the following subject line: “You won the Best Body Bootcamp Giveaway!” I had previously thought about joining best body bootcamp after I heard great things from the start of round one, but hadn’t signed up in previous rounds because I was a little afraid (to be honest). Winning the free entry was the kick I needed to start on my strength training journey! In mid-April I posted some initial thoughts on best body bootcamp weeks 1 and 2, and I was already really loving it. Now that bootcamp has been done for a few weeks and I’ve had time to process, I thought I would do a follow up post. Here are some thoughts:

While I didn’t have to pay for this past round of Best Body Bootcamp, I am very confident in saying that it would still be WELL WORTH THE MONEY! I didn’t sign up for this summer round because I’m traveling too much, but I definitely plan on signing up again in the fall (if there’s a round then, that is!). Participating in Best Body Bootcamp allowed me to not only get more comfortable with strength training, but also showed me how incredibly important strength training is, not only for our overall health, but also for running and triathlon training!

Now it’s your turn to share! Have you ever done a round of Best Body Bootcamp? Do you do any form of strength training regularly? 

June 9, 2013

I definitely just typed week three for a minute- I can’t believe this is technically only week two of training! This week was tough. My run in the middle of the week included lots of hills, and I normally don’t train on any hills. My legs were ACHING for the next few days, but I felt really good after the work out!

The foam rolling class was new to me, and I loved it!! My core was so sore the next day, and I’m really excited to go back again. My bike ride yesterday was the longest I’ve been on since maybe 7th grade (yikes!!), so it was really fun to hit a new distance like that!

Now it’s your turn to share! Did you do anything new this week? 

June 6, 2013

It feels like I blink once and we’re back to Thursday again each week. I’ve forgotten that today was even Thursday- oops! I’m sitting here with my legs aching and throbbing after this crazy hill run that I did yesterday. I don’t like hills, but I’ve decided that this summer I will train on them. I started to second guess myself as I struggled to stand upright and walk out of my bedroom this morning. Ooof! But that’s not what we’re here to discuss today, is it? Here are a few of the things I’m thankful for today:

I’m thankful that I can run. Yesterday was National Running Day, and as I did this crazy hill run, I reflected on my time as a runner. I’m glad I can run, even though there are days that feel like today afterwards.

I’m thankful for fun fitness classes. They’re such a fun way to break up a traditional training schedule! This week I tried a new foam roller pilates class, and OUCH in such a good way! The class was tough and I’m excited to go back!

I’m thankful for grace. We all need it. It’s beneficial for all of us to give it too. Grace- it’s so important for health.

I’m thankful for moments of sunshine. I have to admit that I’ve done quite a bit of internal grumbling the last three weeks as we’ve had rain almost every single day. In fact, as I type this at almost 3 pm, it’s exactly 60 degrees- (HELLO SUMMER! PLEASE COME SOON!). However, I am trying very hard to appreciate the rays of sunshine as they peek out from behind the clouds. Some sunshine is better than no sunshine, after all.

I’m thankful for all my potted plants. It might be cold and rainy, but my plants are growing like crazy and their colors are vibrant and beautiful. Even when it’s raining, I can look outside and see the beautiful colors.

I’m thankful for my brothers.  They’re awesome. We had a fun group phone call this past weekend and it was just really fantastic.

Alright- now it’s your turn! What are you feeling thankful for today? What’s the weather like where you live? (if you have any summer, would you mind sharing with me?? Please! 😀 )

June 5, 2013

I’m a runner, and I’m so proud of that fact. It’s a new part of my identity, you see, because until recently, I would’ve told you that I hated running. I have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and that makes running way more difficult than it is for the average person. For me, running is about so many things. It’s about feeling the freedom that comes from breezing through the outdoor air. It’s about having a healthy outlet for the frustrations and stress in life. It’s about proving that I am stronger than I thought I was. It’s about showing care and love for myself. It’s about proving that my illness doesn’t have to define my life. And it’s about having fun.

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Running has allowed me to push myself in ways I didn’t think were possible. I’ve completed three half marathons and finished a triathlon, all the time refusing to be completely defined by POTS. It was a really long journey to get here, involving almost fainting on my first run (oops- talk about trying to do too much too fast!).

National Running Day 2013

I run because I am able to run. Yes, it’s difficult. Yes, I have to take extra precautions with my heart and other aspects of health. But, even with all of that, I recognize that one day I may not be able to run any longer. And so, for today, and for as long as I can, I will run. BECAUSE I CAN. And it would be a shame to not take advantage of something so wonderful, frustrating, and beautiful.

June 4, 2013

I love training for the triathlon because there are three sports instead of just one! I love the variety and I love that each week I “have to” do all three activities! I like running, but it’s also really nice to jump in the pool or on the bike too. Especially now that it’s summer, I love to go on longer bike rides. One of the parts of training for the triathlon that I like (for the most part!) is The Brick Workout! Basically, the brick workout is a combination workout of two out of the three triathlon events. I think that the bike to run combo workout is the most popular, but I like to mix in other combinations as well. One of the difficult things about the triathlon is that the muscles used for biking are different than running, and blood flow is different.

When you jump off the bike you only have a few minutes in transition before you start the run, and your legs feel HEAVY- like a brick (hence the name- I think!). My legs tend to feel like they’re about 50 pounds heavier and don’t quite move right as I start the run, and mentally it can throw you off if you aren’t prepared. Doing brick workouts helps your body get used to this transition, both mentally and physically. I enjoy bricks because it makes me feel really tough, even when I’m doing short distances. It also adds variety, as you mentally make a very quick switch from one thing to the next. Sure, it adds more time to the workout, which can be tough, but it’s incredibly beneficial!

Here are my bricks so far:

My legs have felt heavy after the bike, but nothing that I can’t power through at all. Obviously these distances are pretty short, but for a sprint triathlon these bricks are just fine.

 

June 2, 2013

A few weeks ago I announced that I would be participating in my 2nd sprint triathlon. I’m only officially training for a few weeks, but please don’t think I’m starting from scratch. I’ve biked and ran all winter, ran my 3rd half marathon a month ago, and have been cross training a lot since then. So, while I haven’t been in official training, I’ve been in good shape (I hope!). This week was fun as it was the first time in months that I did all 3 sports in the same week, I got to do a new to me fitness class, and did my first two brick workouts! Here’s what the week looked like:

This week was lots of fun, and I had a fun balance of activities. Both of my bricks were really good, and I was able to push myself hard and felt great at the end of them. It’s really fun to get back into bricks again!

 

May 30, 2013

Could it possibly be Thursday again? In the summer I have a hard time remembering what day it is, and I guess I find myself fully entrenched in my summer schedule! Here are a few things I’m thankful for today:

I’m thankful for the rain. Ok, I’m not so much thankful for the fact that we’ve had rain every day at some point for almost two weeks now… and now end in sight. It’s frustrating and is making it pretty cool outside. BUT, I’m thankful because the plants are growing, and also because I don’t have to water all of my flowerpots every day like I had to last summer. The silver lining… right?

I’m thankful that I got to be with both of my brothers for a few days! It’s a very rare occasion where all 3 of us siblings are in the same place at the same time. We had a really fun couple of days together, and I’m so glad it worked out for all of us to be together.

I’m thankful for pilates! I wrote a whole post about the many benefits I’ve received from pilates. I wish each of you could get to regularly practice it so you too could so how wonderfully beneficial it is!

I’m thankful I have the opportunity to try out some new to me fitness classes this summer! Summer is where I get to add some extra fun and variety into my workout routine, and I’m looking forward to all the new forms of exercise that I’ll learn. I actually got to try my first one this morning! (more on that soon!)

I’m thankful for my neighbors. They are such fun people with so many really fascinating life stories. I’m thankful that I had the chance to grow up most of my life next to each of them.

Now it’s your turn to share! What are you feeling thankful for today? What’s a funny story about your neighbors? 

May 29, 2013

I’ve mentioned Pilates quite a bit on the blog, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually written about it. My journey to a regular Pilates practice was a long one. I was first introduced to it when my mom started taking Pilates classes (she says it was her way of me coping when I first went to college). She started teaching Pilates pretty quickly, and I remember doing Pilates with her for the first time in 2006. While I took a mat class my senior year of college, I got busy in grad school and didn’t continue to practice. I finally got back into it when I came home to visit over Christmas in 2010 and haven’t really stopped since! However, this winter and spring I’ve been more dedicated than ever, regularly scheduling it into my training schedule. I think Pilates made a huge difference in my half marathon at the beginning of the month, and I credit that with actually being able to finish the race.

So why Pilates? Here’s what wikipedia has to say: “Pilates is a body conditioning routine that may help build flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in the legs,abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong core or center, and improving coordination and balance. Pilates’ system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginning to advanced. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises…Pilates improves muscle tone, balances musculature, supports correct posture, and teaches to move with ease and grace.” (source)

pilates quotesource

We could all use stronger core muscles, whether we work out or not. Through our activities of daily living, having a strong core helps to stabilize us and help protect against injury, which is absolutely critical with each passing year of our life. I often do mat pilates at home, but when I have the opportunity to do apparatus (reformer) or chair pilates, I will immediately take it! I love having machines to help the workout!

Pilates Collage

Pilates has changed so much for me. I engage my core as I do a myriad of activities: running, carrying groceries, vacuuming, putting dishes in the dishwasher, and driving to name a few. Not only is my body better supported, but I get a little workout while doing these every day activities. Pilates has not only added a huge amount of strength to my body, but it has kept me flexible as well. While training for my first two half marathons, I lost a huge amount of flexibility. For example, I was tight enough that not only could I no longer touch my toes, but when I bent over my fingers were many inches off the ground. This third training cycle when I incorporated pilates, I kept my flexibility all the way through race day! This has been incredibly beneficial as I’ve continued to run with the muscles I’m supposed to use. When we get too tight, we can kick into other muscles which creates a cascading list of problems.

Pilates also has a calming quality to it, sort of like yoga. It slows me down, and I have to focus on my breathing and how my body feels as it moves. I feel like Pilates has done so much for me, and I’m thankful that my mom has not only encouraged me to try it, but spends hours each time I’m home correcting my form, pushing me, and teaching me new exercises. I can’t even imagine training for something now without doing pilates at least once a week! So here’s my encouragement to you- TRY PILATES and add it as a regular practice into your training schedule!

Now it’s your turn to share! Do you do Pilates? Are there ways that you “work out” while doing every day activities?