Saturday, June 22, 2013

Being Thankful...

On this Saturday (after a particularly frustrating morning with Isla), I decided to focus on positive things, instead of negative. Here are a few things I am feeling thankful for today:

- the sunshine
- fresh vegetables from the farmers market
- my health and the health of my girlies
- the gym (and all it has done in my life)
- my gym BFF
- my backyard, to sunbathe and to play in
- yogurt covered almonds
- good music
- Spartan Races
- supportive, encouraging friends
- my strength
- my parents
- Cam
- grace
- goals and aspirations

That's it.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Race Recap....

Well, this race season is off and running (get it, running? I am SO funny). As I previously blogged about, I have 5 races this Spring/Summer. I have completed 2 of them and I am incredibly proud of myself and my accomplishments. I set personal goals for each race... I don't care what 'place' I come in, I could be dead last for all I care, I just want to meet my time goals that I have set for myself.

June 1st - Spring Sprint (5km): I finished this race in approximately 22 minutes! I was aiming for under 25 minutes, so my goal was achieved! I was surprisingly nervous to do this... it's always a race against myself.

June 15th - VOH Run (10km): I finished this race in 47:55. My goal was under 55 minutes so I blew this goal out of the water! When I crossed the finished line and looked at my watch, I was so happy! I really set a fast pace from the beginning and managed to maintain it throughout my entire run. My second half was 40 seconds faster than my first half... not great but better than being slower. My aim is to always finish strong... kick it up a notch at the end!

I have worked incredibly hard (although, most days it NEVER feels like work... I genuinely LOVE being in the gym... and could be for multiple hours a day) and it is amazing to see and feel your hard work pay off! I think it's ok to be proud of your accomplishments and I know I certainly am!

On June 29th is my first Spartan Race... the one that I have been specifically training for! I am both insanely excited and nervous for this day! We (Cheryl, my training partner) and I run at 8 am! Fresh course, fresh air... should be an overwhelmingly awesome feeling! My goal is to finish in under 40 minutes (and more specifically, 38 minutes but I'll settle for 40). After we complete our race, we are going out for pancakes to celebrate! Woot!!!

Monday, June 10, 2013

Top 5 Things I'm Loving Right Now...

(No, I am not going to talk about how it has been a month since my last blog post).

1. Training: This is a no brainer but I AM IN LOVE with training (nerdy, right?) I finished my 8 week session with my trainer 2 weeks ago and I nearly cried. Eight weeks with him was an invaluable experience for me. I learned so much from him (and I feel as though I just grazed the surface of what he could teach me). I now walk into a weight room and fluently lift... I know what to do and how to do it... properly! I have noticed a significant change in my body and I have never been happier! I was once a cardio girl but this girl is now focused on strength and conditioning... with some cardio thrown in there for good measure. I am just so incredibly passionate about fitness and overall health. It's both wonderful and incredibly geeky. (And just to show you how geeky I am, I have started a journal where I am recording all of my workouts - what I do, what I lift, sets & reps etc... WHO AM I??)


(I chose this picture of The Rock as a representation of 'training': not only is he incredibly jacked, he is also extremely dedicated and disciplined in his workouts... and a bit of a sex pot.. just sayin').

2. Jason Derulo - (officially hanging my head in shame). His new song "Take Me to the Other Side" is totally my jam right now. It's on my workout playlist... and my dinner making playlist, and my bath playlist, and my doing anything playlist. I even purchased a few of his other ones. Scoff if you wish.


3. Adams Natural Crunch Peanut Butter - I eat a jar a week. Enough said.


4. Michelle Chamuel - She is one of the top 5 contestants left on The Voice this season and I love her. She is the only remaining member of Team Usher and the two of them together is magical. If she wins, I will just be over the moon! She is incredibly talented and seems like such a kind soul. If she comes out with an album, I would buy it with enthusiasm... and truth be told, I RARELY feel that way about any contestant on any music show. She's a winner!


5. My kids - Because they are just the cutest, most precious, most significant things in my life and they bring me so much joy (and frustration) and enrich my life beyond words. I love them.

* best picture of Annie to date *

bug catching

There you have it.