The Weekly Chase...Burpees, Massage, and Birthday!

It's the first day of school!  Hayden is going into second grade this year!  He's getting too big!  And Sawyer (my baby) is going to Kindergarten!  I still can't believe it!  It's going to be weird not having them around today.  Luckily my friend Stephanie is kidnapping me so that I won't spend the day in tears. :-)

It's that time again...The Weekly Chase time!!!  If you haven't signed up then head on over to Melissa's blog and join us!  I promise you won't regret it!  These goals help keep me in check each week!


Here are my goals from last week:

• Goal #1: Continue the Burpee Boom Challenge.  YAY!!!!  I did it!  I did a total of 155 burpees this week!!!
• Goal #2: Get my business cards and sub info to the schools this week.  CHECK! I gave business cards and sub info to FIVE of the local elementary schools around here!  Call me teachers!  I'm ready to sub for you!
• Goal #3: Clean out my closet and get everything priced for the consignment sale.  Almost done with this!! I WILL be ready to take my stuff to the sale tomorrow morning!  And I will be so happy to have my dining room floor back too!

I felt pretty accomplished last week!

So here are the goals for this week:

Goal #1: Continue the Burpee Boom Challenge. This goal will be ongoing until the challenge is over.  This week I have to do a total of 200 burpees!  Yikes!  I'm a little scared!  My plan is to break the burpees up during the day so I'm not so intimidated! 

Goal #2: Make an appointment for a sports massage.  My hubby got me a massage for Valentine's Day and I haven't used it yet.  I always have the boys with me so I haven't had a time when I could do it.  Now that they are both in school I'm going to get this done!  Yay!

Goal #3: Make Sawyer's 5th birthday special! Yes that's right...I have another birthday boy this week!  His birthday is on Wednesday!  Since it is a school day we won't get to celebrate as much but we have a birthday party scheduled for him and Hayden on Saturday at the pool!

So there are the goals for this first week of school!  Wish me luck as I drop my baby off at kindergarten this morning! :-(

QOTD: What are your goals for the week?

Runner Spotlights #1

Our weekend has been super busy thus far!  I had a 10 mile run yesterday then came home to shower and go to Sawyer's swimming T-Ball party.  Then we went to lunch with friends.  After lunch we came home and I tagged some more clothes for the consignment sale.  Then my sister came over for dinner.  Today we have church in the morning, more clothes tagging, Hayden's T-Ball party, a meeting at church, and getting everything ready for the first day of school tomorrow!  Whew!  It's been a busy one!

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am going to be spotlighting runners once a week!  I love learning more about runners and of course reading their blogs!  Thanks to everyone who has submitted their info to me!  And it's not too late...I still have room for more.  Email me at mindy@roadrunnergirl.com if you want to be spotlighted! :-)

My first runner is my friend Larisa from Zero to Twenty Six Point Two who lives here on the Gulf Coast with me!  Larisa has been so encouraging in helping me get this little blog more successful!  Thanks so much Larisa!!! Keep reading to learn more about this awesome lady and her many accomplishments!

State: Alabama

When and why did you start running?
In April of 2011, I had lost 40lbs and had finally gotten my “fitness” back. And decided to conquer a sport that I had never done before. Especially a sport that I thought I would never do.

What is your favorite race and race distance?
I am a half marathoner (13.1) lover all the way. To me it is a distance that is challenging, but doesn't tear your body up.

What is your race day routine?
Wake up 2 hours before race time and eat ⅓ of an energy bar, I try and pick one with a higher carb ratio, go back to sleep. Wake up at the last minute possible to get to the start line .RUN!

What is your most favorite piece of running gear?
My Saucony Kinvara 2, now 3’s. I wont run anything over 3 miles in anything less.

Do you follow any diet or take any specific supplements that complement your running?
I use Advocare Spark for longer runs. And protein powder after.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started running?
Great question. LOL, It would def be that I didn't have to run so fast at the beginning of a run/race. I have had to learn how to pace myself for different distances.

What is your fondest running memory?
I have so many, but my favorite was definitely my Rock n Roll San Diego Racecation. You can read about it here, http://zerototwentysixpointtwo.blogspot.com/2012/06/rock-n-roll-san-diego-recap.html

What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
That I am obsessed with flip flops, lol! I have about 40 different pairs, but only wear about 4. Crazy I know:)

Here are all the different ways you can connect with Larisa!

Blog: http://zerototwentysixpointtwo.blogspot.com/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/0to26point2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/0to26point2
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/0to26point2/
Instagram: 0to26point2

Thanks so much for sharing Larisa!

QOTD: What did you do this weekend?

The Fuel Belt Woes!

Stats-
10 miles/1:55:15
Average pace- 11:31

It's week 10 of training with the Sole2Soul Sisters!  We had a smaller group today...some of them waited around last week for the rain to stop and did their 10 miles.  So there were only 5 of us (compared to about 24) who ran 10 today.  It was a great run for me!  I was able to pace myself correctly and it made the run so much more enjoyable because I didn't run out of gas.  I finished my 10 miles and still had some energy in me to be able to run the last few minutes with some of the other girls and help them finish their 10!  Love when runs feel that great!

The only downside to this run was around mile 2 when the pocket on my fuel belt completely ripped off!  So then I had to carry the pocket in my hand for the rest of the run!  It wasn't fun juggling the pocket, GU when I needed it, and water!  I've known for a while now that it was time for a new fuel belt.  Mine won't stay tightened any longer so it slips and drives me crazy!!!  So I need your suggestions!  What kind of fuel belt do you use?  I want one with two bottles, a big pocket that my iPhone (with otterbox) will fit in, and one that won't slip, ride up, or turn.  I'm not asking for much right???

Here's the fuel belt I have...it's actually by the company Fuel Belt.  I can't remember what it is called but this is me after my first run with it. The back and front view lol!

I've had it since September of 2010 so it's lasted me a long time and through many training runs and races!  But...it's time to part with it and get a newer one.  

QOTD: What hydration belt do you use and what is your favorite thing about it?  I need suggestions please! :-)

Fitness Friday...Nike Training Club App!

I am super excited that Megan at Running Toward the Prize featured me on her blog today!  Head on over there and read please!  Thanks so much Megan!!! :-)

Happy Fitness Friday!  Here are the workouts I did this week!

• Saturday- #plankaday 2:23, 15 burpees for the Burpee Boom Challenge
• Sunday- #plankaday 2:04, 15 burpees, and 7 mile run in 1:13:58 avg. pace 10:33

• Monday- #plankaday 2:24, 25 burpees
• Tuesday- #plankaday 2:06, 25 burpees, 3 mile run in 33:14 avg. pace 11:03

• Wednesday- #plankaday 1:33, 25 burpees, Sculpted Arms Workout on the Nike Training Club App

• Thursday- #plankaday 2:26, 25 burpees, 3 mile run in 30:53 avg. pace 10:16 (sporting my new ViewSport Fitfluential tank...which shows the word "#proof" when you sweat enough! Pretty cool!)

• Friday- #plankaday 2:14, 25 burpees

I did really well this week with my runs.  If you remember last Saturday I couldn't do my planned 10 mile long run due to the weather.  So I ran as much as I could before church on Sunday...ended up being 7 miles and I was proud of that!  I woke up at 4:30am on Tuesday so I could run with friends.  Runs are always better for me when I am running with my girls!  Thursday morning I was lazier and slept until 5:45am but I still got my run in!

Strength training was ok this week.  I did burpees every day.  On Wednesday I wanted to do an arm workout and I remembered an app my friend Erica told me to download a long time ago...Nike Training Club.  This app has been on my iPhone for months but I have never used it.  I opened it up, selected the workout "Sculpted Arms" and began the workout.  It was only a 15 minute workout but it was awesome!!!

My goal was to only work out my arms because I knew I was going to run the next day.  Well...this workout was a whole body workout!  You used weights for your arms but you did all the reps while also doing lunges, froggers, and planks!  I woke up Thursday morning to super sore legs AND arms!  I could barely walk but somehow I ran anyway lol!  I will definitely be using this app again!!!

Tomorrow I have the rescheduled 10 miler with the Sole2Soul Sisters!  Hopefully the weather cooperates this time!

QOTD: What are some of your favorite apps for workouts? Please share because I would LOVE to download them!!!

New School Year Reflections

source

I met Sawyer's Kindergarten teacher Tuesday night....I LOVE her!!!  It is going to be an awesome year!  I truly believe their two personalities are going to go well together!  I was so worried about him getting a teacher that would stifle his personality but I think she is going to be so good for him!  She's like a cheerleader and is so bubbly and he is going to LOVE her!!!  It was just a parent meeting last night...but Sawyer will get to meet her on Friday.  And since I am subbing this year and will have a little more time on my hands I signed up to be a room mom...I'm super excited about that!

Last night I got to meet Hayden's second grade teacher at the parent meeting.  Let me tell you that the atmosphere is totally different for second grade lol!  I felt like a student myself walking into his classroom...I even got to sit at his desk!  His teacher seems very nice but I can also tell that she is very structured and expects a lot out of them...and I love that!  Because that's the kind of teacher I am too!  I also loved how organized she seemed!  And she is the IT person in the school and so she LOVES technology.  She said he will be doing a lot of things on the computer!  Even his spelling homework will have to be done on the computer!  I think this is awesome (although that means I am going to have to give up some of my computer time so he can use it lol)!  She also loves frogs so her room was decorated cutely with frogs! I hope she is perfect for Hayden.

It's a little sad for me...this is the first year in a long time that I haven't been hustling around trying to get my classroom ready!  I miss that!  But I'm also looking forward to the change and new opportunities subbing is going to bring!

I gave all my updated sub info to the boys' school last night while I was there.  They all seemed so happy that I wanted to sub!  And one teacher said the school would for sure keep me busy.  That all sounds like good signs!  Fingers crossed!

QOTD: What are you looking forward to in the new school year? 

Runners Needed and WINNER Winner!

Please pardon my lack of creative blogging this week...I am up to my eyeballs in price tags, hangers, and clothes!  I'm trying to get everything ready to sell at the consignment sale next week!  It's a lot of work!!! I'm a lot little overwhelmed!!!

Ok I know all you care about is knowing the winner of the Bondi Band Giveaway!!!  So....here ya go!  Random.org picked number 28!

Congratulations Jennifer Nelson!!! Please email me at mindy@roadrunnergirl.com so I can send you your Bondi Bands!!!


Starting on Sundays, I am going to be "spotlighting" runners on my blog!  I'm super excited about this because it's always fun to learn more about other runners AND find new blogs to read!  If you are a runner and are interested in being featured on my blog please email me and I will send you all the details!  Basically I'm going to pick your brain ask you some questions and want pictures of you!  I promise it's not as creepy as it sounds! ;-)

QOTD: Do you like to sell things or would you rather just donate them to goodwill?

Running On A Prayer

I am so excited about our first Sweat Pink Blog Swap!  One of my Sweat Pink sisters, Katie at Healthy Heddleston, came up with the idea for us to swap posts with a fellow Sweat Pink sister.  Basically I would write a post for that sister's blog and she would write a post for mine and all the Sweat Pink blog posts  would link up on Katie's blog!  Fun!

Cute badge is by Tiffany...thanks for sharing!

I was lucky enough to get paired with Tiffany Henness, aka Running Hutch, who blogs at Heavy Medal! It was a perfect match because we are both runners!

You can check out my post on Tiffany's blog HERE.  And please visit Katie's blog to read ALL the Sweat Pink Blog Swap posts!

Here is Tiffany's awesome post!!!  Please leave her lots of love in the comments!  :-)

It was well past sunset and the road in front of me was a dark void amidst the distant glow of streetlights below. I was running on a bike path built on top of a damn wall above and removed from the city streets. If I looked up and outward my eyes adjusted to the lights beyond the park and I felt like I was outside the world, looking in. If I looked down toward the path ahead, my eyes could barely make out the white lines. My husband and I ran side by side in complete silence and there was no one else around. Barely listening to the rhythm of our steps and breath, we were focused on our own thoughts. I was thinking and dreaming of things that rarely enter my mind.

I thought about my place in the world and how in-touch I am with the world God created, the natural and spiritual side of it. The spiritual world is not something I claim to know about or think much about, but as a Christ follower, I do believe that it exists (as do many people of other faiths). More often than not, I'm preoccupied with the physical world. Running requires moving my body, and I'm very well aware of how heavy it feels and sweaty it gets. Then I get hungry and I want to eat something hearty. Then I shower and enjoy the feel of clean clothes on my happily sore body.

This run was different. I had no distractions. I prayed and I breathed. I recognized God’s greatness and my smallness. I imagined how many amazing and crazy things God had created that I couldn’t possible know about or understand. Did God design my body and soul to be active at the same time? What would that even mean or look like? Can running be an act of worship? I don’t know, but I was thinking and dreaming about the possibilities.

On this dark run, I felt like my physical side and spiritual side were closer together somehow. I closed my eyes for a while (still running) and imagined my soul floating with my body as my legs propelled it forward. I know God created my body and soul to work together, somehow, and in this moment, it seemed like they were. It was one of the most calm and yet joyful runs I’ve ever had. Some might call it zen-like. I felt like I could go on forever.

Do you connect your running with your faith? If so, how?

Do you pray when you run? Meditate? Have you tried it?