Baked goods with your motivation monday

Happy Monday! I hope you have a great start to the week. I am really excited it's March, that means we are one more month closer to summer, and it's officially spring in 18 days. That means I can start to wear anything other than boots, right?! And maybe get a run in when it's not wintery conditions?!

Last night I baked some PB&J muffins. I had some bananas that were starting to turn so I decided to use them. These muffins smell and taste just like you are eating a PB&J sandwich. Good thing the recipe made so many, MMR and I are already fighting over them.

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Weekly dose of motivation. These quotes I found really speak to the type of week I want to have:

 The theme of this week. My long run was so hard yesterday it really reminded me that I need to be 100% dedicated or I will be doing double the work.

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School and work has been keeping me pretty busy lately. Every time I finish something, I think of another something to do. Running and working out is my time for me.

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It's so easy to live in the past. This week I'm going to try and remember that each day is new, and to have a grateful heart. 

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This is something I have started reminding myself when my  workouts get tough. The hardest battle is your mind. When I am running and my legs start to get uncomfortable I just keep reminding myself of my goals and its a little easier to push through.

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What are some of your Monday routines?

Coffee/breakfast/me time, work, school, gym, nighttime festivities - AKA hang out with MMR and work on homework.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Napping on Saturday - I very rarely take naps. It gave me the motivation to work out.

What is your goal for the week?

Get all the laundry done, I have about 6 loads or so left. I hate when I let it pile up. Complete a full weeks worth of work outs. Three runs, yoga, and cross training.

TBT 5k Edition

It's been a really long time since I've thrown it back. This Thrusday is all about the 5k's I've run. There are a few races where I don't have any pictures - or can't find any - like the one where I fought the entire time to not have a major bathroom accident - that Turkey Trot was super fun!

My very first race ever. Beat Coach Pete down in Boise - I definitely made it challenging. I hadn't really run much before this race, and I just went pedal to the metal in the beginning and just about died when I realized I had only gone 1 mile. I ended in 30ish minutes and did beat Pete. Except I missed out on the tee-shirt that "proves" I beat Pete - so what do they do - ask me if I want a shirt that says, "I'LL BEAT PETE NEXT YEAR". Yeah no thanks. Oh and thanks Mom for being my personal aid station and Dad for being my photographer.

Another 5k I did - The Race 2 the Summit 2012. I did the 5k and got first in my age group! What?! I had to ask if I heard that right too. I finished in 40ish minutes but I think the course ended up being close to 4 miles so thats not to bad!

Race for the Cure this last May - we got to walk with my itty bitty nephew!!! I love these girls so much! I had such a blast having girl time. Speaking of girl time, I think I hear Boise calling my name! ; )

Here's another fun one I did - I don't know what it is about 5ks that feel so hard. Maybe its because I feel like I need to go fast to keep up with the crowds, I'm more of a slow and steady for lots and lots of miles type o girl.

I'm off to run those hills! Wish me luck that hill repeats don't kill me its been quite a few months since I chose this form of torture.

It's all about being random

So this one is going to be all over the place. I had quite the productive day today. I made some money, gained some knowledge and pumped those endorphins. On my 4 miler today I thought about how AWESOME the month of February is going to be and it starts in just 3 days.

The Super Bowl is Sunday in case you have been under that rock. Growing up I use to BEG my parents to let me stay up through half-time. One thing I love about living on the West Coast, the game is on so much earlier! Then after the Superbowl its the OLYMPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if you know this, but I am OBSESSED with the Olympics.  For the summer game I brought my laptop to work so I could stream the events. GO TEAM USA!!

I had 4 miles in the training plan today and I really wanted to run outside, but mother nature had different plans. It started snowing sometime during class and it felt like the tempuratures dropped 10 degrees. What I'm actually trying to say is that I am a wuss and moved my run to the treadmill. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, and as always it was worth it. I wore my favorite crops ever today. I wish I had gotten them in every color especially because some of the went on sale.

It kinda looks like I got punched in the face but I didn't I was just really warm and walking out of the gym.

Yesterday I forgot to post a progress shot from my bathroom. Here are the before pictures, and then after of the one wall. I bought both canvases from Home Goods a long time ago. I have the frames hung on the other wall but I need to run to pick up the pictures I ordered.  Considering they've been ready since Sunday afternoon I will need to pick those up tomorrow!

Now I'm off to do the dishes and get some sleep, I have another long busy day tomorrow - Unit then!! 

Today started the pace. Literally.

Today is finally here, and over for the most part. In just 10 short weeks I have my first race of the season. I am really excited and kind of nervous. I love running, working out and feeling good, but there's just a little extra motivation when it comes to actually having a training plan. Since the most I have off between races is three weeks, I will be sticking with the same plan, just modifying it between races. I got it from my Runner's World book I got for Christmas!

This week has 4 running days, 2 cross training days and one rest day. My long run is Sunday and depending how my body feels I may be swapping an easy run for some cross training or rest. I have told myself I need to be flexible as the training gets heavier; I will really need to listen to my body.

Today I created my own spin session. I took from different websites and my general knowledge from going to classes, set it to my own music and went for it. It was so hard, like really hard. I had sweat in my eyeballs by the third track. My legs were so tired when I got home I sat down, and literally almost fell over trying to stand up.

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It was so nice to stay home this past weekend. On Saturday I went into crazy cleaning mode and re-organized our bedroom closet and cleaned the kitchen. I would've taken some really embarrassing before photos, but I didn't remember until I had everything together. We are renters until we start bringing home some real bacon and closet space is limited. But now all my flats and work out sneaks have homes!

Sunday we went for a drive to get out of the fog and clouds. We saw the sun for about an hour and got a nice little mile hike in. We even got Dude to sit still for a few minutes to get his picture taken. He HATES getting his picture taken. It's so funny, he will bark and charge the camera. We can get him to sit where we want to take his picture, but then when he sees the phone or camera come up, he loses it!

I love spending time at home, but our weekends in Boise our so much fun too. Here's a look back at our weekend away in Boise:

Triple moon on our midnight drive.

Wine tasting at Koenig Vineyards

Visiting with my Grandparents. It was so much fun catching up and hanging out/

Every scale should look like this. Out shopping with my MIL.

Baked potatoe and chili bar and my MIL's. It was so so good!

Thursday Running Tips - Warm-Up Running Drills

Over the last couple of weeks I've been doing some running research. Nerdy I know but I have a huge goal I really really want to accomplish and I want to make sure I can be successful.

This week I'm bringing you some warm-up drills I do. I had started implementing these drills into my workouts right before I got injured. It's really important to warm-up before doing any kind of workout. Even after my warm-up I still walk for 5-10 minutes before I start running.

Warm-ups help prep your body for the demands of your work out and help keep you injury free. When I would do my warm-ups I noticed that I felt stronger during my workouts. A proper warm-up should increase heart rate, your breathing rate, and blood flow. Be sure you don't over exert yourself you don't want to be tired for the work out.

Here's a look at what I do before I run: Please note...I am no professional model ;) and MMR so graciously volunteered his photography skills. Enjoy!

Warrior Lunge

Start in standing position.

Lunge forward ending in a variation of Warrior 1

Repeat each leg 2 sets 6 reps

Side Lunge

Start in standing position

Lunge out to each side with stance slightly wider than your hips

Lean over to touch your toes

Make sure your knee stays over your toes

Repeat each side 2 sets 6 reps

Windmills

Start with feet way wider than your hips and your arms

Reach down to touch your toes with the opposite arm

Windmill back up and reach down to the other side

2 sets 6 reps

Leg Swing Through

Stand in a running man start position. Like me :)

Then swing your leg through to reach the ground

2 sets each side 6 reps

Ending with a standing stretch.

Hold each side 1 minute

***Please know that these stretches are what work for me and that they may not work for everyone. Feel free to change any part of the work outs to suit your personal needs!

How to Set Goals With a Dose of Motivation

Oh Monday - the brightside of Monday's are that it is the beginning of a whole new week.

This week is going to be another busy one, we both have a couple tests, and we are getting out of town this weekend.

Since time change on Sunday it now gets dark around 4:30. That is so early!! I honestly think this is the only complaint I have of living here. It makes the days seem so short, but then so long when it's only 8:00 and it looks like the middle of the night.

This morning I felt very discouraged. I had a not so good run last night, and this morning my heel just really really ached.  I'm frustrated because I know I need to take it easier this week, but I just don't really want to. I just felt defeated. I am terrible at running on the treadmill. I woke up this morning to almost 3 inches of snow (dramatic I know). I just started thinking ahead of how long winter is going to be and how hard and unfun running will become for me if I have to spend all 32 weeks of winter running on a treadmill. Enter in my goals for the week:

I picked these goals because always having a positive outlook on life/week/situation makes it easier. My running goal is staying on track because I think taking 4 out of my 5 runs this week on the pavement/gravel that I am use to should really help, including my long run. No more long runs on the treadmill. I also need need need to get all my laundry done. It is my least favorite chore and has been backed up for weeks now.

That is the only time this week I am going to get down on myself. Negative thinking can really derail you. On the positive side I am thankful for the seasons. This one is kinda cheesy so grab some chips, or a tissue. For me the seasons bring change, refreshment, and excitement. I am the type of person that loves subtle changes in short increments. Winter brings the Holiday's (my first and second favorite), new activities - I love skiing - the end of the year. Each season has something to look forward too! Seeing as winter made it's appearance I'm looking forward to what the season has to offer.

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What are your goals for the week?!