Learning to Love the Treadmill

If someone would have asked me a month ago if I thought I might learn to enjoy a treadmill run, I'm pretty sure the answer would have been "NO WAY!" However, over the past month, I've learned to really enjoy my treadmill runs.  In fact, I've chosen to run on the treadmill instead of running outside multiple times.  That is something I never thought I would do.  Today, while I was running 7 miles on the treadmill in a really hot room, I started thinking about why I'm learning to LOVE the treadmill.

In the last couple of months, I've read a couple of articles in different magazines and online about the benefits of treadmill running.  The articles talk about improving form and cadence.  They also talk about monitoring effort and output and intensity.  I've thought about those articles and really, mostly I just thought they were relevant to professional athletes.  However, I think they may be right.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that they are right.

Here's what I've learned about loving the treadmill...

I push myself HARD on the treadmill.  I haven't had such great runs in years...literally years.  I'm fatter than I've been and I'm running faster than I have in years!  Today, my entire t-shirt was soaked...there wasn't a dry spot on it.  I'm pretty sure I could have wrung a cup of sweat out of that shirt.  I was running at puke pace with a smile on my face!  It feels SO good to push myself SO hard.

I can mentally challenge myself better on the treadmill.  I love the positive self-talk that rolls through my head when I'm pushing myself through some hard intervals. I love banking those hard runs and I'm certain that these mental challenges will absolutely pay off in my races.

I love the intervals I can do. There is something seriously cool and dare I say fun about bumping up the speed and pushing myself.  I think it's hard to run "a little bit faster" when I'm running outside.  I'm really loving the intervals.

I'm really getting into the numbers.  It's been great to see legitimate improvements in my runs and to especially see those improvements through actual data.  I'm running faster and my HR is staying the same, so I know my fitness is improving.  The numbers are definitely working for me.

How great is it that Tim and I can go running "together" and run at our own paces.  Tim and I do not run at the same speed, so running outside means that one of us has to run faster or slower to stay together.  When we're on the treadmill, we can run next to each other and do our own workouts.  Oh and Tim totally cheers me on and pushes me by reminding me of my goals, and yelling things out like "Bikini!"

When I'm running on the treadmill, I can totally focus on my running.  I don't have to think about dogs running out of yards or cars driving past me or stop signs and crosswalks.  I can totally get inside my head and pull things out of myself that I'm not sure I would pull out if I were running outside.

Mostly though, what I'm loving about these treadmill runs is that I'm running faster and harder than I have in a long time.  I'm totally feeling like a RUNNER again and I'm LOVING the feeling!

2012 Races

Earlier this year, I was talking with Tim about how I was missing doing races.  Last year, I think I only did a few events and I realized that I really miss racing and training.  So, because he's such an awesome hubby, he's been encouraging me to sign up for races and making sure that we have the $$$ in the budget so I can race like I like to.

I haven't really come up with my race schedule for the year, but I am registered for 3 big events.  Here they are!

May 19 - Ogden 1/2 Marathon

June 2 - Little Red Riding Hood Century Ride

September 8 - Bear Lake Brawl 1/2 Ironman

Like I said, I haven't decided what else I would like to do, but I'm kind of toying with doing the Top of Utah 1/2 Marathon, but I think it's just a week or two before the 1/2 IM, so that probably won't happen.  However, there are lots of other options.  I'm just excited to get back into racing.

The Biggest Loser: Hansen Edition

Before Christmas, Tim and I were over at my Mom and Dad's house with my brother Eric and my sister-in-law Karen.  We were sitting around talking and my Mom asked us if we would be interested in doing a Biggest Loser challenge.  My Dad said he even had a prize.

Tim and I talked about it and decided we were in.  We would both like to lose some poundage and thought this might be a fun way to do it.  Then, we found out the prize.

My Dad is giving the winning couple 2 free airline ticket vouchers.  I don't remember how much they're worth, but 2 free airline tickets.  We're definitely in!

Yesterday was the initial weigh in.  We all (except for Tim because he's been sick) met at Eric and Karen's house and weighed in. Tim and I were the "smallest" couple...not my much.  We will weigh in again in 2 weeks on January 14.  Then, we will continue to weigh in every 2 weeks.  The couple who loses the highest percentage of weight wins the airline tickets. 

Here's hoping it's us because we could really use a vacation.  I will say this though...I would rather just lose the weight, regardless of whether we win or not.  I'm ready to get moving on this challenge!

Happy New Year: Goals for 2012

For about a week now, I've been thinking about what goals I want to set for myself this year.  I looked back over my goals from 2011 and even evaluated them to see how well I did and I didn't do so hot.  I've been thinking that maybe I should work on some 3 month goals and then move forward so that I don't lose steam and so that I feel a sense of accomplishment sooner.  I've debated on what exactly I want to work on this year.  Tim and I have discussed some things we want to work on.  In spite of all of this thinking, I still don't have a final list, but I'm hoping that maybe if I list a few things here now, that I'll have some more concrete ideas come into my head.  So, here goes...

1.  Lose 40+ lbs.

My family is doing a Biggest Loser contest and we started today.  I'll post more about that tomorrow.  I'm hoping that will kick the weight loss off to a good start and get me motivated.  Tim and I are starting P90X next week to go along with that, so I think we have a good plan in place to see some results.  So, I think I'll see how the next 3 months go with P90X and the Biggest Loser and then I'll go from there and re-evaluate how this goal is going.

2.  Temple Attendance

Last night, Tim and I were talking about goals and he mentioned that maybe we ought to set a goal to attend as many temples in Utah as we can this year.  We have several temples pretty close to us so I think this is doable.  We just need to make the effort to plan instead of just saying, "hey, we should try to go to the temple this week."

3.  PR at the 1/2 IM distance.

Yes, this has been a goal of mine for the past few years and I haven't done much about it.  I've already looked at races this year and I'm planning on registering for the Bear Lake Brawl 1/2 Ironman in September.  I feel like that race will give me time to get a headstart on the weight loss and start my training when I can actually train outside.  Tim is on board for this goal and I'm hoping that my summer will allow me to really train the way I would like to in order to achieve this goal.

4. Learn to mountain bike.

Tim loves to mountain bike and he's pretty good at it.  I on the other hand can climb like a champ and will climb all day long on my mountain bike.  The problem for me is going downhill.  It scares me and I don't like it at all.  So, I told Tim the other night that I would like to learn to mountain bike.  I won't be able to start on this goal until the spring and summer, so I'm going to keep it off the radar until then, but I did want to write it down so that I can remember.

Those are the goals I have for myself so far.  I really do think that if I focus on shorter goals, like 3 month goals that I might actually feel better about my accomplishments and feel like I'm making progress instead of having them sit out there, sort of forgotten.

Happy New Year!

May 2012 be even better than 2011!

A Review of my 2011 Goals

Since it's the last day of 2011, it's time to do a self-check on how my goals went this year.  I'm a little apprehensive about doing this, because to be totally honest, I think that I really didn't do that great on my goals.  I guess that's just life and new year's resolutions and the good news is that I have next year so...  here goes. 

To see my post about my goals for 2011, see HERE.

1.  Read the scriptures daily.

This is the goal that I completed this year.  Maybe I should just pick one for next year.  :)  I read my scriptures every day this year.  I read the Book of Mormon 3 times.  I read all of the General Conference talks several times.  I read the New Testament, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. 

Reading my scriptures daily brought so many blessings into my life.  I feel like I had the spirit with me more regularly and more noticeably.  I was able to learn more and strengthen my testimony.  I was also able to connect the words of our modern-day prophets with the writings of past prophets.  I was also able to set an example for the young women in our ward, as well as my family.  This has definitely become a habit and I plan on keeping it up.

2.  Attend the temple twice a month.

I started the year off doing great with my temple attendance.  I think, if I remember correctly, that I was able to get to the temple twice a month up until June.  Then, summer happened, trips happened, the temple closed for cleaning, and I didn't make it a high enough priority.  This is definitely something I need to do a better job at and will definitely be one of my goals for next year.

3.  Lose 20+ pounds by eating healthy and working out and/or training regularly.

This SO didn't happen.  I worked out pretty diligently in January, then got sick and it was a battle throughout the year to get into a routine.  I ran pretty regularly in August.  I worked out sporadically throughout the fall.  I absolutely have got to GET IT TOGETHER and get my workouts in.  I'm hoping a new family challenge will help me to kick it in gear here in January, as well as some other goals I'm working on for 2012.

4.  Write daily.

I thought I would do a better job at this goal than I actually did.  I think I just need to do a better job of prioritizing my day and being a little bit more productive so that I feel ok about taking the time to write and work on my own goals.  I have done better with this lately, but only because I've been making it a priority and adding it to my "to do" list.

5.  Develop a new skill or talent.

Honestly, I had forgotten about this goal.  Ooops...I guess that's sort of the point of re-evaluating progress.  However, I think this is another goal that I've been working on and successful at.  I learned to crochet this summer.  I haven't done it much since then and I absolutely need to keep working on it, but I did learn.  I also joined the ward choir and was able to work on my singing...not that I have a nice voice at all, but I did work on it.  The working on singing led to getting my keyboard out and playing the piano, so I will have to check this goal off as one that I definitely completed.

6.  PR at the 1/2 Ironman distance. I'm leaning towards the Bear Lake Brawl in August.

I don't even know what to say about this goal.  It's on my list of goals for 2012.  Last year just got super insane over the summer and I didn't take the time to train.  In fact, my races last year pretty much sucked.  I didn't finish Little Red Riding Hood.  I'm not even sure what I signed up for and am not coming up with any races that I did at all last year.

That has to change.  I LOVE racing and I really need to make sure that I'm doing races because it's part of who I am.  I will say that I have been working on my race schedule for 2012.  Tim is on board with my doing a 1/2IM, so we'll see how that goes.

So, there's my self-evaluation.  I'm thinking that maybe I should just pick 3 goals for next year, so maybe I should pace myself and not have so many things to be working on at once.  I'll write more tomorrow about my goals for 2012, but I'm thinking it will definitely be better. 

Awesome Killer Dreadmill Workout

The other day, I came across some new dreadmill workouts from Triathlete magazine, so today, I finally got motivated to try one of them.  Of course, I modified it because while I was running, I realized I needed to be successful and not discouraged.  So, this is what I did.

5 min warmup
5 min @ 10K pace
5 min @ 5K pace
2 min @ 5% incline
3 min recovery
2 min @ 6% incline
3 min recovery
2 min @ 7% incline
3 min recovery *At this point, I was supposed to start the incline at 6%...I stayed at 5%.
2 min @ 5% incline
3 min recovery
2 min @ 6% incline
3 min recovery
2 min @ 7% incline
3 min recovery
10 min @ increasing speed each min
5 min cooldown *Except I did some strides and finished with 2 min of sprinting.

I finished 5.25 miles.  My average heart rate was 169 and I maxed out at 182.  Definitely a great workout.  I've decided that dreadmills are much more bearable when I do intervals.

Oh and the picture...LOVE IT!  I'm pretty sure this is me...in the form of a hippo!  :)

A Grateful Heart

Today, I got to wake up early and think about all of the many, many things I've been blessed with in my life.  I'm so grateful that we have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving and take one day out of the year to focus on all of the "stuff" we've been blessed with.  The other night, Tim and I were talking and I asked him to list the top 3 things he's grateful for.  To be fair, I thought I would post mine here...in no particular order.

TIM

I'm so grateful for my husband.  He has brought so much MORE to my life.  I'm grateful that we get to do all sorts of fun things and that we truly get to live life!  I'm grateful for all of his love and support in all that I do.  I'm grateful for his hard work and that I get to spend so much time with him.  I'm grateful for his patience with me and I love him more each and every day.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

I'm grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I'm grateful for the spirit that we have in our home.  I'm grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful that we are led by a prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and that we receive such amazing counsel and blessings.  I'm grateful for my testimony and for the scriptures.

FAMILY

I'm grateful for my family.  I'm pretty sure that I have the very best family in the whole world.  I'm grateful that I get to be a stepmom to Kyra and Rylan.  I'm grateful that we get to spend so much time with them and for all of the joy and excitement and stress they bring into my life.  I'm so grateful for my parents and for all they have done for me and all they continue to do for me.  I'm grateful for my brothers and sisters-in-law and all of my cute nieces and nephews.  I'm so grateful that I get to be an aunt.

LIFE

I'm grateful for the life I get to lead each and every day.  I'm grateful for all of the adventures I get to have.  I'm grateful to live where I live and to be able to enjoy all of the beautiful creations around me.  I'm grateful for my body that is healthy and strong that allows me to do all of the fun stuff I love to do. 

CHALLENGES

I'm grateful for the challenges, trials, and hard things in life.  I'm grateful for the strength that I develop through them.  I'm grateful for the personality traits that I've been given that allow me to endure my specific trials.  I'm grateful for my desire to challenge myself and for the drive and determination that is in me.

Those are just a few of the things that I'm grateful for.  I hope you all have a grateful day and enjoy the feast!

Motivation...

I have been struggling with motivation lately...especially in my workouts.  I don't know what the deal is.  It seems like a constant struggle to talk myself into working out.  Usually I feel pretty good after a workout, but lately, I've just felt more tired.  I can TOTALLY relate to this comic.

This morning, while I was lying in bed, catching up on Facebook, I found some motivation.  I'm "friends" with Siri Lindley, who is a phenomenal triathlete coach.  I've never met Siri Lindley, but I have read alot about her and have been totally impressed by her coaching abilities.  I love the athletes she coaches and I love the positive energy she sends out.  Each morning, she posts some inspirational quotes.  When I come across one that I like, I write it down. 

However, this morning, her quote got me out of bed and into my workout clothes and I even got a workout done.  Here's the quote:

"Don't wait until everything is just right. 

It will never be perfect.  

There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions.  

So what.  

Get started now.  

With each step you take, 

you will grow stronger and stronger, 

more and more skilled, 

more and more self-confident, 

and more and more successful." 

~Mark Victor Hansen

How could this statement not motivate you?!

I often find myself waiting until all of the stars are aligned and everything is perfect with no distractions and everything going my way before I start working towards my goals.  It's not that I don't want to, I just want "stuff" to be in place so that I can be successful.  But, this quote reminded me of something I already know.  Life will NEVER be perfect. I need to just get my butt in gear and start kicking it.

Now, if I can just remember this tomorrow morning...