Marathoners are a Nuisance!

This post was originally going to be a Friday Five a few months ago, but I put it in my back pocket for a while.  Suddenly, my last Wednesday before the Marine Corps Marathon, the Wednesday Word pops up as nuisance and it became the perfect time to post!  So here are the five people I have annoyed the most with almost a year's worth of blathering on about running my first marathon!

5. Puppy

Yes, my dog.  This poor pup has had two giant puppy earfuls of marathon talk almost every single day since last December when I decided I was probably going to try running one this year.  You might think the dog doesn't know what I'm saying, but my Kaalia is smart and I swear she understands every word I say.  That's why she tries to squirm away when I start telling her how nervous I am for my long run or how excited I am for the crowds or when I start tearing up while I'm scrolling through the MCM Facebook page at night.  She's probably even more annoyed when I pull her back into a tight "you're stuck listening to this" hug...

4. Dad

Originally I thought my dad would end up at the top of this list, but he's dodged a pretty big bullet by jumping into the deep end of going back to school.  If he weren't hiding in the library all the time, he'd probably be much higher.  On the other hand, prattling on about my training runs and shoving my Map My Run data in his face when he's trying to study probably could make up the difference...

3. Coworkers

This is probably 50-50, since my full time work as a race manager kinda means everyone should be used to race talk by now.  A couple of my fellow managers are runners as well, so they are a little more understanding of the whole mental and physical process and I try to keep my marathon talk limited to those people.  That still leaves about half the office of non-runners who are probably getting tired of hearing "oof, I have a long run this afternoon after we finish working" or "ugh I'm soooo sore from my 20 miler last night" both in the office or at our weekend events...

2. Boyfriend

Bless his heart; my boyfriend has dealt with my incessant marathon focus more than almost anyone.  Half of my training runs (including my first true long run) start and end at his place, so he gets the full brunt of my post-run crazy.  He's patient and encouraging, though, and helps me recover when I'm hurting (even if it means holding me down in the ice bath while I cry and scream about getting frostbite).  He's believed in me from the start, and while his constant harping on my admittedly pretty awful diet can sometimes get annoying, I guarantee I'm far more obnoxious about all this than he'll ever be.  Someone once told me "if you're still in a relationship at the end of marathon training, you're not training right", but I believe my boyfriend's infinite patience and support has pretty solidly stomped that to pieces...

1. Mom

My boyfriend gets a lot of marathon rambling, but no one gets more of it than my mom.  I talk incessantly about training when I'm home, AND I call her after races and training runs that aren't around the house, AND I call when I'm trying to figure out what I should do for different training problems.  She's been sick of marathon talk since probably, oh, April?  When I found out I got in to MCM?  But she's still driving me all the way out to DC, spending the whole weekend there supporting me, and doing her best to encourage me all along the way.  I can't really blame her for getting glassy-eyed when I launch into another analysis of my most recent run or a one-sided discussion about whether I should do my training run in the rain or wait until morning and hope it's drier.  Gonna have to find some way to make it up to her after the race, maybe moving out will be a nice little gift..?

"Oh no, she's gonna start talking about running again..."

As always, the Wednesday Word is hosted by Deb Runs!  Check out the linkup, visit some other bloggers to hear what they consider to be a nuisance, and share what annoys YOU in the comments below!  Thanks for stopping by!

Let's Talk Taper

Apparently, it is time for that marathon training segment that leaves a lot of runners baffled: tapering.  The last two or three weeks before the race, training focuses more on rest and maintenance rather than long runs or hard workouts, with the idea of keeping in your best shape without over-tiring.  I've heard a lot of horror stories about taper anxiety, weight gain, feeling lethargic, and then ruining taper by giving in to the gut instinct to go run more.

I was hoping the warnings would prepare me for what I would actually experience.

Already, though, it is clear that the only way to know what taper will actually be like is to DO it.  I'm hungry and exhausted all the time, I've seen the scale go the "wrong direction" a little more than I thought, and yup, I'm freaking out about training harder and not trusting that I've already done the legwork (so to speak).  Honestly?  I'm getting pretty down on myself.

Now to be fair to myself, there have been a few additional "circumstances" (I'm a Clevelander, so apparently that's the big excuse these days) contributing to the way I've felt this week.  For a few days I was a little under the weather, plus it's "that time of the month" again.  On the other hand, I've also been slipping on nutrition and hydration, which is a major setback after all the improvement I'd made over the past few months.  My run the other day was cut short because I felt awful; I've been putting off my next run for fear of feeling that badly again even though it's only three miles!

More important than anything at this point is staying focused despite these other factors.  Instead, I find myself becoming a taper opportunist - using taper as an excuse to be a little lazier and to gain a little weight even if it's from the wrong sources.  This is NOT good!  Marathon training plans, including the very important taper portion, are structured to make a huge physical undertaking possible.  I've impressed myself for months by actually sticking to a training plan for once, and MCM is far too close to fall off now!

I need some advice: what can I do to beat the taper blues and stay on track for my first marathon?  Tell me in the comments, shoot me an email (fitnyx@gmail.com), whatever it takes!  Help me stay on track and make this marathon an amazing experience in my life, not a flop that I ruined last minute!

Oh, and don't forget to check out today's Wednesday Word, which happens to be to "opportunist", over at host Deb Runs page!

Beating the Bridge

One of the big features of the Marine Corps Marathon is the Beat the Bridge challenge: participants must cross the 14th Street bridge by a certain time before the majority of the route reopens to city traffic, otherwise they are swept from the course and are unable to complete the marathon.  It's an intimidating cutoff for a first-timer, and it's been looming on my mind all year.  Would I be able to Beat the Bridge?

Normally, the Bridge is at mile 20 along the MCM course.  Runners have about five hours to make it across the bridge before the roads open, and that probably shouldn't have put me in so much of a panic considering my half marathon times get me through 13 miles in a reliable 2.5 hours or less - 20 miles in 5 hours should be no problem, right?  But still, I've been nervous.  Then, MCM released an updated course map when the DC metro service announced it would not be opening early this year to accommodate runners trying to get to the starting line.  In an attempt to give runners a little cushion, the route has been changed to put the Bridge at mile 18 instead of mile 20, which means it's even more likely that I'll be able to make it (provided I am at the starting line in proper time).  Even with the shorter distance, though, I knew I'd be much more confident if I could prove to myself I would make it.

Of course, my marathon training schedule was ready to accommodate me.  With my long runs getting increasingly longer, I'm running distances I've never dreamed I could.  And about a week ago, I actually completed my first 18 mile run!  Thanks to a great running buddy (slash training coach) I cruised through the run with far more ease than I expected.  Though I struggled at the tail end of the run from poor electrolyte planning (it's my longest run by a lot, I wasn't sure how to prepare properly), I still finished my trial Beat the Bridge run in 3.5 hours - proving that I will have AMPLE time to cross the bridge and stay alive come MCM race day!

With additional long runs coming up, I'll be well-practiced at the long haul in plenty of time to make MCM my first complete marathon.  I have to admit, right now I'm feeling pretty accomplished: following a training program, seeing results, and completing a half marathon every month along the way...  So I guess I'll be linking this post up with Deb Runs and the rest of the Wednesday Word gang since today's word happens to be "accomplish"!  Check out what other bloggers think about their accomplishments by visiting the linkup via the button below - and tell us about YOUR biggest accomplishments in the comments!

Pokemon GO and Fitness

Been a while since I tackled the Wednesday Word, but this week's captivate is just too perfect to pass up, especially considering the latest craze that has indeed captivated the nation: Pokemon GO.  Though it may be marketed as a video game, Pokemon GO is secretly (or perhaps not-so-secretly) one of the best things to hit the fitness scene in ages.  Sorry Michelle Obama, but GO has been more effective in a month than the Let's Move campaign has ever been, getting more Americans off the couch and out on the pavement than any other health initiative I've ever seen.

And I have to admit, even I have been captivated by this game.  Part of it comes from the nostalgia my generation has from growing up with the original game, but part of it is just that the game is really kinda, well, cool.  The augmented reality function may drain my phone's battery like crazy, but some of the little snaps I've grabbed while out on a short run or waiting in line for bathrooms at a race make me giggle.

Many people whine about the dangers of the game, and it's true that walking, biking, or even driving blindly while trying to play can be a major issue.  It's also true that there has been violence and theft associated with game play.  But at its core, the Pokemon GO craze has mostly been a positive force, encouraging more people to increase their activity.  Just like fancy pedometers like the FitBit or Jawbone UP encourage people to hit a target number of steps per day, Pokemon GO encourages activity by requiring distances from 2k to 10k be covered in order to hatch in-game eggs for a wider range of Pokemon.  Even if you're not playing to hatch eggs, there are only so many types of Pokemon you can catch from the couch.

It's not just physical activity that is heightened by playing the game.  Social interactions generated by game play has astonished me.  When I end up near a Poke-gym or a good location for Poke-stops, I often find myself meeting new people in my area.  Even if it's only for a few minutes, I'm connecting with people over a shared interest and getting face time with interesting personalities, where other games would have me interacting only with emotionless fonts and cartoonish avatars.  One night at a nearby Poke-nexus, we ended up with a huge impromptu gathering with dozens of players, covering all ages from young child to grandparent, all hanging out and chatting while we took turns dropping lures, catching Pokemon, and battling over the nearby gym.  To be completely honest, it was an absolute blast!

So from my perspective, I can't help but think it's actually okay for people to be so captivated by Pokemon GO.  I've had nothing but good experiences with the game, and everyone I know or have met who plays does so with common sense and caution.  Any experience can be dangerous if done irresponsibly, but when proper consideration is taken, many things that are labeled as "dangerous" or "disruptive" can truly be awesome.

Have you tried Pokemon GO?  Has your experience been a positive one?  What fads or crazes have you seen create a positive impact on society?  Tell me about it in the comments!  And as always, check out the Wednesday Word linkup to see how other bloggers create consistency!  Hosted as always by the wonderful Deb Runs, check back every week for another Wednesday Word and a new batch of great posts!

Creating Consistency

This week, I started marathon training "for real."  I have a plan (sorta) and some loose weekly goals (kinda) but the number one thing I know needs to happen if I'm really going to run a full marathon in October is that I need to increase my consistency.  Running "when I feel like it" was fine when I was starting out and just testing the water.  Now, however, there has to be structure, and there HAS to be consistency.

Fortunately, I've been learning a lot about how to stay more consistent.  While the vast majority of consistency comes from eliminating excuses and simply doing what needs to be done, there are some very simple ways to set yourself up for success.

1. Tracking.  Between Map My Run and my JournalMenu planner, I record every run.  Not just my distance and pace, but notes about how I felt and what I ate and what products I used for nutrition and recovery.  Any trends in your training are much easier to spot when you're looking at a record of them!  So far I've learned that Cocoa Krispies are an excellent pre-run food for me, compression sleeves are perfect for post-run, and I struggle severely when the temperatures are above 80 degrees.  All of this is usable information that can help me train better and more consistently during the next few months.

2. Recovery.  Learning how to recover is vital - it's hard to be consistent if you're always sore, tired, and injured!  I can't tell you how many days I have skipped because of soreness that could have been prevented with proper recovery.  Taking care of yourself can include eating properly, getting enough sleep, practicing self-massage, or even finding the right products to help your aching muscles or bruised feet.  Without recovery, you simply can't bounce back to stay consistent!

3. Positivity.  I cannot stress enough how important having a positive outlook has been for my training.  If you consider every run to be torture, well, why are you even doing it?!  But when you can find the fun in every step, and stay positive even after a tough or flat-out bad run, you'll stick with it longer.  The same can be said of any exercise program: the more you enjoy it and the more positively you look at it, the greater your chances of making it routine and consistent.

With marathon training starting in earnest this week, it's time to put my consistency lessons into practice!  What advice do you have for building a more consistent program and sticking to your planned workouts?  Share it with all of us in the comments!  And as always, check out the Wednesday Word linkup to see how other bloggers create consistency!  Hosted as always by the wonderful Deb Runs, check back every week for another Wednesday Word and a new batch of great posts!

I'm Free

Today, I'm not talking fitness.  I'm talking freedom.

A couple weeks ago, my divorce was finally signed into judgement.  While I'm still dealing with a little of the fallout (including an atrocious lawyer... or is that redundant?) I am, for the most part, free of one of the worst situations I've ever been caught up in.  Many things in my life changed over the past year since I finally made the decision to leave, and while at first those changes seemed completely awful in every way, I have learned that every change really DOES happen for a reason.  My world is a totally different place than it was a year ago - totally different from anything I even imagined, to be honest - but it is also an amazing place for the first time in a very, very long time.

It's appropriate that this week's Wednesday Word is freedom, because while the judgement was entered almost a month ago, it wasn't until the past couple days that I finally felt like I was actually free.  Maybe it's the changing weather, or realizing I have the power to stand up for myself and make my life better, or settling more and more into my new career path...  Whatever it is, this week I have been walking on air, feeling powerful and confident and ready to keep moving forward.  And that feeling makes me incredibly happy.

Could have been Genie being set free, went with Rescuers instead. Deal.

So what does freedom mean in your life?  Tell me what sets you free in the comments, or check out the Wednesday Word linkup to see how other bloggers find their own freedom!  Hosted as always by the wonderful Deb Runs, check back every week for another Wednesday Word and a new batch of great posts!

Bravery

Yup, I'm going to talk a bit about the Marine Corps Marathon again.  Get used to it - I pretty much have a one-track mind these days.  At least this post is going to help explain why the MCM is such a big deal to me, and the reason is simple: bravery.

Many times in my life, and especially in the past decade or so, I've encountered some major hurdles.  At times it's been one thing after another, an onslaught of setbacks and deterrents that have fought to throw me off my path.  Honestly, there have been times when those issues succeeded, and I have had to change direction or scrap a plan I'd outlined for my future.  But more often than not, I have powered through and found some sort of success.  Most recently, the slow deterioration of my marriage set a lot of upsetting wheels into motion - but also some very unexpected (and exciting) ones.  Primary among the positives was my introduction to the world of running.
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Though I think in many ways I have always been a little brave, running has given me stores of courage and confidence unlike any I've had before.  Now that I'm a runner, I am brave enough to go after life changing things, like pursuing my dream job or running a full marathon.  The steps at time have been small, but I can look back at the past two years to see miles and miles (both literally and figuratively) of progress.  A few days ago as I was running, it dawned on me that only I am in control of the direction I travel.  Just as I never have to stop moving forward during my running unless I want to, my life can continuously head in the right direction as long as I choose not to step backwards.  Every step I take at a race or in training now is symbolic of the choice to bravely move forward.

But here's the thing about bravery: it is defined by fear.  You cannot have bravery without fear, as it is moving forward despite being terrified that makes one brave.  It was not easy to pick up and leave my awful situation last year, and I was so scared to do it.  Pursing a goal no one else around you believes in is just as frightening; pouring all your resources and hopes into something meaningful but rare without support can feel like jumping off a cliff.  Putting in my lottery bid for the MCM was exciting, but also terrifying, knowing how much effort and stress and dedication and sacrifice I would have to make to follow through if I was accepted into the field (not to mention loved ones who don't even think I can finish it).  I did it anyway - not because the fear went away, but because I have become stronger than my fear.

I have become brave.

Don't forget to visit Deb Runs, host of this wonderful linkup, to see what other bloggers are saying about bravery in their lives!  And check back next week for another edition of the Wednesday Word!

How have you become brave in your life?  How has running helped you overcome fear or adversity?

Wednesday Word: Stability

Today's word is stability, and to me, that can mean a lot of things about which I'd like to write.  For example, I'm still struggling to find stability in my career and living situation, but that's a blog post for a different time.  Instead, I'm actually going to stick to my running roots today and talk about the importance of finding the right footwear for your running style - because without proper footwear to help keep your body stable and properly aligned, you're setting yourself up for pain, injury, and early retirement!

When I first started running, I didn't think the shoe I wore would make much difference - all the running shoes are the same, more or less, right?  I didn't realize how wrong I was until my already sore knees started aching with even the easiest jog around the block!  After doing a little research, I learned that every person has a unique foot shape, leg alignment, and stride combination.  Different variations on the configuration of your "natural running gear" can affect the areas in which running impact is most felt, and the areas in which you will experience the greatest amount of pain or highest risk of injury.  It was a little scary to know that my knees were putting up with more stress on my runs than any other part of my body, especially after years of soccer knee injury horror stories!

Fortunately, I also learned that local running stores offer gait analysis and shoe fittings to help me find the RIGHT pair of shoes to keep my entire body more stable, which therefore would distribute the impact more evenly and help prevent immediate soreness AND long term injury.  I popped over to a nearby store and had a full fitting and analysis done.  It only took about ten minutes, and I received so much important feedback on my personal running mechanics!  Honestly, it's pretty cool to see your stride broken down and your weak points analyzed.  Knowledge of your mechanics can make you more aware when you're out on the road or trail, so you can correct any instabilities or imbalances on the go.

After my analysis I was able to purchase custom-fit inserts to help correct the splay of my feet (and therefore my knees) on top of purchasing a shoe designed to alleviate some of the strain of my gait.  Between the proper fit and support of the shoe and the made-for-me inserts, my running game has changed drastically!  I'm more stable on my feet, and I feel almost no knee pain anymore.  My imbalances are mostly corrected, and I've hit some crazy PRs in my special shoes!  And any runner knows that means you're doing something RIGHT!

If you're serious about upping your running game, get serious about your stability early!  Not only will your body thank you for it, but your PR board just might, too...

Don't forget to visit Deb Runs, host of this wonderful linkup, to see what other bloggers are saying about stability in their lives!  And check back next week for another edition of the Wednesday Word!

Have you tried custom shoe fitting yet?  Do you have running pains that might be addressed with better footwear?  How does stability factor into YOUR life?

Wednesday Word: Triumphant

This isn't a post about a triumph I've already experienced.  It's a promise to myself to make my next decade truly triumphant.  Now that I am officially 30, and my rocky 20s are a thing of the past, the future is wide open for any victories I choose to pursue.

Most triumphant.

I'm already achieving, and setting goals to propel me further forward.  There's that old saying, "life is what you make of it," and I used to think that was a crock.  Now that I'm living the life I'm making for myself, I've learned that it's spot-on.  Set your purpose, roll up your sleeves, work hard, and never lose sight of what you truly want in your life - and suddenly you'll start to feel like the perfect opportunities are simply being handed to you.  Put in the work and the results will come.  It took me a long time to see results on some of the hard work I've done in my past decade, but with the way this new decade is starting, I have every confidence that by 40, every day will start with a victory dance.

That's right - TWO Keanu triumphs today.

Apologies for the super-short post again today - as I mentioned yesterday, there were many birthday and Fat Tuesday shenanigans taking up my time so I stayed away from the laptop for an evening.  You can still go check out all the other Wednesday Word posts by visiting Deb Runs.  See how my fellow bloggers have triumphed in their lives!

Do you have a moment of great triumph in your life?  How will you commit to making every day of your future a triumph as well?

Sapphire Soul January Unboxing - New Moon Wishing

It's no secret: I am head-over-heels in love with Sapphire Soul.  Part of my "fitness" lifestyle includes mental and emotional fitness, and receiving these Mindful + Mystic subscription boxes is helping me get back in touch with my spiritual self for a healthier soul.  My shooting star arrived the other day with January's box, and I could barely contain my excitement!  Even the Sapphire Soul packaging (this month a giant, shiny, sapphire-blue envelope) brightens my day - my shipping label says "You can make a wish, you can make it happen, you WILL make 2016 the Best. Year. Ever."  It's been my goal to have 2016 be MY year, and I think it's just another sign from the Universe that even my packages believe in me!

Of course, the label isn't just talking about me.  ALL of us can make 2016 the Best. Year. Ever.  And that's why Sapphire Soul compiled this amazing box to kick off the new year.  Rather than just sending an assortment of mystical items based on a theme, this box is actually a guide for a new you!  Sure, there are a few metaphysical toys to play with, but the focus of January's set is the New Moon Wishing program.

Disclaimer: I received my box at no cost in exchange for my review.  All opinions expressed herein are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.

Developed by Sapphire Soul founder Allison Dailey, the New Moon Wishing guide around which the January box is built provides essential parts for your "soul toolkit."  New moon energy promotes growth, and this phase is perfect for launching new beginnings.  Dailey's practices outline ways to harness that energy, while also encouraging the notion of co-creating - that is, taking an active role in the pursuit of your future.  She draws an important distinction between simply wanting change and "going through the process of wishing for it."  When you participate in this wish process, you are taking control of your desires and manifesting your dreams rather than sitting back and waiting for the Universe to just give you what you want.  Making the wish in your head is not enough; you must make it in your heart, then make it over and over again with your intentions and actions.

Missed the January box?  That's okay!  The New Moon Wishing

guide is available year-round!  Get it here!

The New Moon Wishing program includes information on moon phases and crystals, ideas for creating sacred space, and ideas for how to practice your own New Moon Wishing rituals.  Though Dailey writes about the practices she has developed over the years, your wishes are your own, so why shouldn't your wishing practices be your own as well?  Dailey encourages participants to adapt her rituals and methods into something more personal.  Her guide provides all the insights and directional advice for how to approach wishing as an active process, but it is up to you to really make the practice your own!

My packet contained additional items to help enact my wishing rituals, too.  One of the steps to fulfilling wishes is making your desires known to the Universe - and one of the best ways to tell both the Universe and yourself that you are dedicated to a wish is to write out what you want in detail.  The New Moon Wishing practice included in this month's kit suggests keeping a journal dedicated to mindful wishing, so Sapphire Soul provided a delightfully cute crystal-filled pen for participating in the wishing packet and keeping your journal!  As always, the crystals have been infused with good vibes - and in this case, a little extra sun and moon light energy!

I also received a small box of moon incense, which perfectly compliments this month's new moon ritual theme.  It smells wonderful and will be a much more apropos to my wishing ceremonies than any of the more generic incenses I've accumulated over the years.

Finally, I received a moonstone and crystal pendant.  Breathtakingly beautiful, these stones are a great way to channel moon energy.  According to the must-have moon crystal guide (included in the New Moon Wishing packet), moonstone is used for personal reflection, and channeling visions and dreams.  Clear quartz is an excellent stone for healing and invigorating overall energy levels.  Combining the two stones ought to generate substantial positive vibes for making dreams come true!

The next new moon will occur on my birthday, so you can be certain I will be practicing my New Moon Wishing as I leave the hectic 20s and enter what will hopefully be the amazing 30s.  I suppose it's up to me how amazing these years are - after all, if I take an active role in my wishing, I can make it happen!

HEY BONUS!  Today's Wednesday Word happens to be OPTIMISM!  What a perfect tie-in to the Sapphire Soul wishing theme!  Optimism is all about believing that the best not only can happen, but will happen.  But optimism is only one part of finding success.  There's an old blonde joke (sorry blondes) that talks about a woman who keeps praying to win the lottery but despite her devout belief in God's power, she never wins.  She asks God why he won't help her win the lottery.  God replies "I'd love to help, but first you have to buy a ticket!"  Optimism is crucial in making the future as bright as you can imagine, but you have to follow up on belief with action.  New Moon Wishing is just one example of how optimism plus action equals an amazing future!

Don't have the Sapphire Soul magic in your life yet?  First-time orders placed by 1/29 (Friday!) can use code GARNET to receive a free garnet stone with your shipment.  This is a great addition to the What Color Is Your Love crystal box coming out in February - a delightfully mystical twist on traditional Valentine's chocolates!

Allison Dailey is offer a couple of interesting self-development courses as well - more gear for your "soul toolkit"!  You can join her 28-day Dreamcatcher Challenge, a daily program to create deeper self-understanding and to explore your personal curiosity; use code 28NEWMOONS for $28 off the enrollment fee.  She'll also be leading one-on-one Desire Mapping programs, another way to become a co-creator of your own future with personal guidance from a truly sparkling soul!  You can also receive $28 off the cost of Desire Mapping workshops with code 28DESIRE.

Sapphire Soul is also releasing their first-ever quarterly box starting in March!  Described as "boho-chic luxury," the quarterly boxes promise to take subscription boxes to a whole new level of excitement!  Curious mystics can check out the first quarterly at a discount, using code MGODDESS for $28 off the March quarterly box.  Or you can stick with the monthly subscription in March and tap into your inner Moon Goddess instead!

What are you wishing for in 2016?  What types of boho-chic items would you like to see in the quarterly boxes?  What other types of subscription boxes would you be interested in receiving?

Quality vs Quantity

A couple months ago, I was starting to feel like I'd hit a wall in my training.  I was doing so much - teaching six classes a week, boxing regularly, weight training on my own time, running with my dog - but I wasn't feeling any stronger or seeing any measurable results.  Rather, I was feeling burnt out, constantly exhausted, and sometimes straight up sick.  I took a step back and looked at what I was doing, and realized that I was juggling so much quantity that I had lost my ability to work out with quality.  And wouldn't you know, that's this week's Wednesday Word!

In the past few weeks I've taken a step back and trimmed down my schedule a bit.  I'm teaching fewer classes but I have so much more energy and enthusiasm for them; my students can tell I'm doing better than I was a couple months ago.  I haven't been to boxing in a while, which makes me a little sad, but I have made good use of the time and, considering the last few times I boxed I ended up throwing up, my health has appreciated it for a while too!  Hopefully I'll start getting back into it soon, but I definitely needed the recharge.  My running always slows down when it's snowy and cold, so that's also giving me a bit of a break.

By recognizing I was sacrificing quality in favor of quantity, I was able to adjust and reinvigorate myself.  When I can straighten out my schedule and get back into some of the things that have taken a backseat lately, I'll be rested and ready to hit it hard again, allowing me to train with intensity and reap the benefits.  So much of fitness relies on the quality of the work you're doing, it's too important to ensure you're able to give that 110% every time to blow needless energy overworking yourself.

The Wednesday Word is a weekly linkup hosted by Deb Runs.  Pop on over to her page to see what other bloggers, runners, and lifters have to say about how quality impacts their lives!

How do you ensure your workouts are performed with quality?  Have you ever encountered a time when you realized you were putting too much emphasis on quantity?  How did you adjust?

Wednesday Word: Accountable

This week's Wednesday Word is accountable, and boy is this a good one for me to have to wrap my mind around for a bit.  Generally, I'm pretty accountable for the things I do for others, but I have difficulty holding myself accountable to myself.  My struggle is readily apparent in the constantly inconsistent nature of my blogging, as well as my flakiness on hobby commitments.  I tend to make a lot of excuses (some legitimate, others less so) but later I feel bad for not keeping those commitments.  I'm not really one for making new year's resolutions, but if I had to make one for 2016 it would be to figure out how to hold myself more accountable, and to follow through more often on projects or comments I start.

With some of the major life happenings I have on the horizon, staying accountable is likely going to be more difficult for me than ever.  In the interest of creating better habits and forging a new level of accountability in my personal life here are some things I'm going to try to keep myself on track in the coming weeks and months:

• Create shorter term goals for myself to break up larger goals into more manageable pieces.
• Post more of my personal goals on the blog through the Weekly Chase linkup.
• Create to-do lists - and make sure I'm actually checking things off in a reasonable time span.
• Schedule time to tackle projects that have gotten behind or need specific focus.
• Keep calendars of due dates or planned deadlines.
• Dedicate space to certain types of tasks, such as office space to blogging and work.
• Maintain better levels of organization, both at home and at work.
• Determine some sort of self-reward system for accomplishing daunting tasks.

I'm not 100% sure any or all of these things will actually help, but I'm trying what I can think to try and we'll see how it goes!  I am, of course, open to suggestion for better ways to establish accountability measure in daily life, so if you've tried something that has worked wonders in your life, there's a comment form at the bottom of the page with YOUR name on it!

Do you struggle with accountability?  What helps you stay on track?

Wednesday Word: Stressful

Okay, so I already wrote a post last week about how blogging can be stressful, and it might be a little redundant to rehash too much of that, so instead I'm going to list a few things that help me EASE the stress when I start to get too bogged down in the anxiety of it all!

• A back rub.  Especially focusing on the neck and shoulders, where I definitely carry the majority of my tension.  Throw in some oils or a good soundtrack (see below) and I'm gone, worry-free for at least a little while.

• Easy listening music.  One of my favorite sources is the Aersia playlist online - a repository of video game music, with a subset created for the most mellow tracks.  They've even added a thunderstorm backdrop to the playlist that can be toggled on or off depending on your preference.  I've melted away to this playlist MANY times!

• Parks and Recreation - the TV show.  With a stellar cast and amazing writing, every episode is a feel-good adventure.  In fact, there have been some psychiatrists who have started recommending Parks and Rec as an alternative to medication for some depression patients!  I'll admit I cry at some of the most beautiful moments, but it's never because of sadness, it's always from joy or happiness!  If you're new to the show, a word of caution: many new viewers don't care much for season one.  KEEP WATCHING.  By the end of season two, new cast members will replace the one you don't like (yup, I already know who it's gonna be) and you'll LOVE the results.  Oh yeah, all the gifs and pictures in this post are from P&R, too.

• Crocheting or crafting.  Used to be knitting, but for some reason after I learned how to crochet, the hook became my zen and needles became stressful.  With most of my yarn and other supplies still in storage, I don't do as much crafting as I used to, but occasionally I find time to make a few stitches here and there, and once I'm settled into my own space again, I guarantee my craftiness will come back to play.

• Working out or running.  Honestly, this hasn't always been true.  It didn't start until a particularly stressful event occurred a couple years ago, when I laced up my sneakers and pounded the pavement to try to get over the incident.  Exercise isn't my go-to for every stressful situation, but I do find that a good run or lifting session helps clear my mind and gives me a kind of "reset button" when I need it most.

• A nap.  As kids, we tend to hate nap time.  It was always right in the middle of play time and that was NOT okay.  As an adult, I have a newfound appreciation for naps.  Sometimes you just need to drift off for a while before you can tackle the next item on the agenda.

 And there you have it!  Six things that help me relax when I'm starting to get overwhelmed.  AND I got to use half a dozen clips from one of my favorite shows!  See?  I'm feeling better already!

Wednesday Word is hosted and coordinated by Deb Runs! Want to see what other bloggers had to say about what they cherish in their lives? Visit the Wednesday Word linkup page and share the love with other writers. Don't forget to check back every Wednesday for an entirely new set of the Wednesday Word!

How do you handle stress?  What causes you the most stress?  What is your favorite show and why is it Parks and Rec?  ;)

Wednesday Word: Cherish

I sat down to tackle this week's Wednesday Word and honestly found myself at a loss for words.  Today we're talking about cherishing and I was surprised to find myself struggling with the topic.  I understand the meaning of the word, both in denotation (the literal definition) and in connotation (the adapted meaning cherish has received in my own mind), but when I tried to think of things I actually cherish, I was coming up short.  Sure, I can say what everyone says: I cherish my family, the friends who have stuck by me through good times and bad, memories of amazing days or moments, and so on...  But for some reason that little list doesn't make me feel like I am truly catching the spirit of cherishing.

As many of us do when we are stuck on something, I turned to Google.  Running an image search for "cherish" brought up hundreds of inspirational quotes on fancy backgrounds, all perfectly Instagramable and ideal for tossing up in the middle of my post to add depth to my writing.  But none of them inspired me.  For example, "cherish every moment" made me scoff - I can think of hundreds of moments I will never cherish.  Not in a million years.  I can appreciate the "cherish it because you're alive and still have it better than others" mentality but that's not what makes me tick.  Naturally there's "cherish the ones you love" because that seems to make so much sense - until you look at a long history of loving people who never deserved it in the first place.  It's hard for me to cherish time that was ultimately hurtful and wasted.  Perhaps "cherish happy moments" gets through to me a bit; when I tried to think of things I actually cherish, there were flashes of smiles or a glimmer in someone's eye or a remembered sense of elation or other overwhelming emotion.  Even still, I'm not sure "fond memories" are necessarily "cherished" in my heart.

Then I found a quote from Mark Pothier, who said "don't dwell on those who let you down, cherish those who hold you up."  I honestly don't know who he is, but it's a good quote, and it helped me understand what I do truly cherish.  Surprise, surprise - it was on my original list, I just hadn't realized why it was on my list in a personal context.  So what is it that I cherish?  The very small handful of people who have, for the past decade or more, been there always.  I've gone through the wringer more than a few times over the years, and every time I come out stronger, but it's not because of me.  It's because of the people who are there supporting me, believing in me, and doing whatever they can to help.  There are many times when these people actually can't help, and they get frustrated and look for other ways.  They don't give up on me.  And that is what I cherish.  I wish I had more of these people in my life, but I am intensely grateful to have the few I do.

And to those people (you know who you are): THANK YOU.  Without you, I would have given up ages ago, and probably wouldn't even be here anymore.  I certainly wouldn't have made as much of my past few years as I have without the unrelenting support of my inner circle.  Sending big hugs to all of you, all across the world!

Wednesday Word is hosted and coordinated by Deb Runs! Want to see what other bloggers had to say about what they cherish in their lives? Visit the Wednesday Word linkup page and share the love with other writers. Don't forget to check back every Wednesday for an entirely new set of the Wednesday Word!

What is it that you hold dear and cherish?  Who helps you through your darkest times?