Rugged Maniac

I just finished another mud run, the Rugged Maniac.  I can't get enough of these races!  They make me feel like a kid again and it is one hell of a workout.  I have run the Warrior Dash 3 times so far, which is similar to the Rugged Maniac.  Both are 5K races filled with muddy obstacles.  Today, I climbed walls and cargo nets, crawled under barbed wire, jumped over fire, and made my way through a lot of freezing cold water.  The rain made the course expecially muddy, which only adds to the fun.  And of course it helps to know that there is some beer waiting at the finish line for you.  I don't have any photos from this race yet, so I will share a photo of me and my son from the last Warrior Dash I did (He is making a weird face because he said, "It smells like poop sandwiches here").  He was right, but that's not going to keep me away.  I am already beginning to plan my race schedule for next year and there will be several mud runs included.

An Almost PR and a Kitchen Makeover

This past Sunday, I ran the Saratoga Palio 5K in 23:37, my fastest race of the year, but not technically a PR because I ran a 5K last year in 23:23.  I was determined to get a PR for that race, but I came up short at the end because I had a little too much pumpkin pie the night before.  Instead of pushing hard at the end like I usually do, I was busy trying to hold vomit down.  This experience opened my eyes to the fact that I need to eat better if I want to perform better so I was on a mission the next day.  I cleaned out the entire kitchen and got rid of all the processed junk in my house.  Then I went shopping and bought whole foods.  Not everything in the cart is clean eating approved, but I still think I did pretty good so I thought I'd share my list with you:

• lots of fruits!
• veggies (fresh & frozen)
• chicken
• turkey
• tilapia
• tuna
• quick oats
• raw nuts & seeds
• natural pb
• almond butter
• plain greek yogurt
• eggs
• chick peas
• kidney beans
• brown rice
• 1% milk & chocolate milk
• unsweetened applesauce
• pure maple syrup
• honey
• ezekiel bread
• kashi cereals
• whole wheat flour
• green tea
• orange juice

Do What You Love

As I say goodbye to another friend, I am reminded once again at how short life really is.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow and we should live everyday like it is our last.  However, that is easier said than done because things like reality and responsibilities get in the way.  So instead, we try to find a balance between the things we want to do and the things we have to do.  Over time, the things we have to do take over and we are left with very little time to do the things we love.  My son once said to me, "I don't want to be a grown up because I don't want to lose my magic."  Even a four year old can tell that most adults are just existing, not really living life to its fullest.  Well I don't want to lose my magic.  I want to do the things I love with the people I love!  

 

Find a Cause

If your own health isn't enough reason to get active, you may need to find motivation somewhere else.  Find a cause that's important to you and you'll be amazed at how you no longer doubt your own capabilities.  There are many opportunities to participate in activities to support various causes, especially when it comes to running.  The majority of the races I run, benefit local charities.  Also, the team I run on, Team Gabby Gabs, represents the Gabby Rocco Foundation: (www.GabbyRoccoFoundation.org).  Here's a picture of me racing in my team shirt:

I placed 2nd for my age group at that race (Yay!)  I was also able to raise awareness of the foundation and remember the children of families who are grieving.  Everybody wants to change the world, but most people miss the fact that there are opportunities everyday to make little changes that add up to greatness.      

Dream Big, Work Hard, Make it Happen!

Dream Big, Work Hard, Make it Happen - words to live by!  What am I dreaming about right now?  The same thing I've been dreaming about since I starting running 2 years ago - a marathon.  So what did I do about that dream?  I signed up for a local marathon, read every book I could find about running marathons, picked a training plan that was right for me, and ran A LOT!  What did I do when I started having issues with my knee?  I signed up for high intensity interval training (HIIT) 5 times a week to build some muscle.  Why?  Because muscle helps prevent injury.  How do I workout and run that many times a week?  Time management!  I often hear people say that they don't have time for fitness.  Well I'm here to tell you that you do.  You just need to make it a priority.  I knew that the only way I could train for a marathon was to workout before my kids get up and after they go to bed (I have a 4 year old, 3 year old twins, and a 2 year old).  Did I want to get up at 5:00 everyday?  Hell No!  I was not a morning person.  But guess what?  Exercise is better than caffeine!  After a couple weeks, I had no problem getting up at the time.  I tip toe around in the dark and get my butt to gym for my first workout of the day.  Then I go to work which happens to be the lower level of my house  (I run a registered home daycare).  What do I do after 11 hours of chasing toddlers and preschool children?  I run!  Yes, I am tired, but I NEED to run after that.  I run to get some alone time and to be able to hear my own thoughts for a little while.  I come back refreshed and ready to hit the books (I am also a grad student).  After that, I collapse in my bed and pray that all the kids sleep through the night so that I can get a decent amount of sleep before doing it all over again.  I actually enjoy having such a busy schedule.  I am not afraid of hard work because I know that's what it takes to make my dreams a reality.  With the marathon 1 month away (October 7th), I am feeling confident that I can make this happen!  The best part is that I am already planning my next challenge.  I look forward to pushing myself to new limits!