A Journey to Fit & Fast

I'm taking this post-holiday day to reflect upon the last few years. I was looking through old photographs and just taking in all of the changes and tides that I have gone through in the last few years. 2014 marked my divorce, and with it some unhealthy weight loss (just not eating because of stress). It also marked running a marathon, and gaining a small amount of weight during that training time. Then came January of 2015, when my world was taken by storm by meeting my soul equal. Life happened, we got busy, we bought a boat, spent a lot of time having fun during the summer, and on the other side of summer, I had gained a little bit more weight. Now, I don't say this to criticize myself. My weight is something I have been aware of since being a teen, and it's a thing I work toward 'keeping down' daily.  I do not fixate upon it, but I am aware as all people who have lost a significant amount of weight are. I learned through all stages of life recently that I ne...

In January, I dedicated this year to new beginnings (ok, I sort of set that mantra at the conclusion of running my first marathon in October of 2014-but still, it is the theme of 2015 for me). I meant that in lots of different ways: starting a new year as a divorced mama, deciding to give life 110% of what I had (going 'all in') and dedicating my year to living the hell out of this crazy thing we have called life. I had NO idea what was waiting for me on the other side of January 1st. This weekend was a huge weekend for me. I stated last year that I wanted to do triathlons, and that my goal for 2015 was to complete an Olympic distance triathlon (Swim 1500 meters, bike 25 miles, run 10k or 6.2 miles). This Sunday, I crossed the finish line right along side the best training partner a gal could have (whom I seriously neglected to train with in training season this year). I believe all things happen for a reason, so when I came up behind him on the run, I knew we were to help ea...

Back in the saddle I did an interesting thing in the last few months: I let myself get put down on the 'list of importance' that mamas do in life. I put my life I am busy loving ahead of taking genuine care of myself. This of course meant I put back on a bit of weight. Not a terrible amount but an amount that prevented me from feeling as fantastic as I do currently.  The past two weeks have been amazing. I learned, from being ill prepared for a sprint tri, that I had to get back to eating strictly (with a cheat day each week) and committing to my workouts. And I ramped them up to include a swim and run.  Today, I was able to swim 1200 meters and run 5 miles. I haven't run 5 miles in many months. And I haven't kicked my own butt in a workout in a long time. It reminded how much I miss it. So friends, I am great at telling others how to stay on top of their goals and motivating others. But I failed to do that myself. Which I promise won't happen again. I will cross th...

It's been an interesting last few months, to include combining households with the love of my life. It has meant finding new 'normals' for all of us, and managing the somewhat crazy schedules that go right along with 6 people under one roof.  It has meant interesting new hurdles for my fitness as well. In the wake of changing jobs (and being at work earlier than before), it is harder for me to commit fully to my workouts. This means I have to make it a priority later in the day, when we all know it's easier to find things to fill the day with. After looking at some pictures recently, I knew that letting the comfort of happiness and the craziness of a new normal get in the way of putting me first was no longer acceptable. I lost 65 pounds  3 1/2 years ago, and by gosh-it's not going to be allowed to come back. I am grateful it is only a few pounds that helped me wake up, rather than being 25 pounds into it and going 'how did that happen?'. I am grateful f...

I briefly mentioned in a previous post about the iCan marathon training team. Coach Loran (a coach,  athlete, owner of Iron Works Athletics and awesome community member) takes a team each year to train together (and with mentors) for the Des Moines Marathon each October. You get individualized running plans, nutrition and strength/stretching advice and assistance. As well as a sense of community and company on long runs that is second to none. This team is who I trained with as part of the 2014 iCan team. Have you ever wanted to train for a marathon but didn't know how? Ran a 10k without walking? Then apply today and be a part of this awesome team! Hope to see you all on the training runs-(I am a mentor this year!). Click HERE to apply!

Have you ever thought to yourself “well, I’d really like to run a marathon, but I really don’t have the resources to train to do so?” If you have and have also run at least a 10 k (6 miles) without walking before, then I have the perfect opportunity for you. iCan marathon training group will soon be taking applications. You are paired with a running mentor and for 24 weeks you train to run the Des Moines Marathon in October 2015. I can speak to the awesome sense of community and awesome people that act as support to your goal. These folks trained with me last year for my very first marathon!  Stay tuned for more information and application links. Turn  iCan’t into iCan in one simple move

I’ve talked a lot of about inspiration from outside sources recently. The past month had some tough times with the loss of a friend an amazing person. However, I am able to draw strength from that situation and inspiration as well. At Jesse’s funeral, a video by OneRepublic was played. It is called “I Lived.” Essentially the song talks about living and loving with everything you have so that when your life is over you can say “I Lived, I did it ALL, I gave it all I had.” In the video, they discuss the disease cystic fibrosis (CF) and show scenes from a kid’s (Bryan)’s life (home videos, etc) who has the disease. To say the video is inspirational is an understatement. It is amazing. And it changed my life.  Also in the video Bryan, is shown cycling. How amazing that someone with CF can cycle, as I have no doubt it is tough as heck for him. Not only does he cycle, he raises money through an organization called CF Cycle For Life.  He and his team have raised ...

In November I decided to make some new goals for myself. Coming off completing the IMT Des Moines Marathon (and having gained some marathon training weight-yes it’s a real thing), I decided I wanted to do a few things. Now, a number no longer has the power to define me (the number on the scale). So weight loss was not a goal of mine. I did however want to do a few things: improve my swim time, get leaner in appearance and feel & run without pain. Fast forward to now: I am improving my swim time, I am running almost 100% without pain and I am leaner. I have stayed relatively the same weight (a few pounds of marathon weight are gone), but I have toned up quite a bit in just a few months.  I added in strength training 4-5 times a week. It is not even a lot of strength training, but instead a quick circuit of arms, abs and legs that I rotate through. I used to hide behind the mentality of “I will never have a flat tummy because I spent a significant amount of time as an ...

This week has been a heck-of-a-week. Many lessons that inspired personal growth, personal reflection. Most of all, it showed me the power of love, how loved and supported I am, and how even in the face of extreme loss, love conquers all. This week a very courageous, funny, talented man who lit up the earth with his smile and laughter lost his lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. Jesse was 3 years post lung transplant, and 9 months into a marriage when this all happened. No one, and I mean no one, will forget meeting Jesse. His laugh was contagious, his humor fantastic. Even his facial expressions were one-in-a-million. Luckily, one of the sweetest people on earth, my friend Jessica, got to love him for 6 magical years. Their love is (yes is, not was) the kind of love that is palpable. You can see them in the same vicinity and know that they are together. Looks, smiles, feelings. You know that they are bonded by heart. They share goofy mannerisms, they share knowing looks, smiles: ...

I am proud to say that this week I am 'gearing up' for my first triathlon. It is a sprint tri, so it contains a 400 meter swim, a 10 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile run. But excited and ready I am regardless. I get to be a REAL triathlete after this!!  Excited for a week of fueling my body and keeping it moving! It is amazing, looking back at where I've come and where I am currently. Last year I vowed to tackle a marathon. This year, I vow to tackle an olympic distance triathlon. It makes me so very hopeful for what is to come after this. I do not know what tomorrow holds, or what fun challenges I will tackle next, but I'm sure that it will be rewarding in ways I have not yet discovered. Self discovery continues to abound, and with it my heart is growing exponentially.  Last night, while watching a TED talk, I learned about the brain in love (and loss). A fun little fact: the area of your brain that is stimulated with extreme feelings of love is the same area that is s...

Good Monday Morning! I hope that all of your weeks are starting off well. Mine started off by my phone taunting me that I skipped spin class this morning (because today is a rest day for me). Well….about that…. :-) I wanted to let you all know, mostly for accountability purposes, that I am making a commitment to eliminate as much added sugar in my diet as possible (hoping for sugar free). I know how I and my body feel when I am eating sugar (revved up, inflamed), and I know how much I like the taste (A LOT!). Which means that it is certainly something that I need to work at eliminating. I am working  a lot on strength training, and being leaner in general. I see my body changing, but know that I can do it more justice by improving my diet. Did you know that our brains respond to sugar the same way that they respond to cocaine? Look at this image below. It's telling, as a CT scan of a brain on sugar and cocaine are side by side. It is not hard to see why there are so many people...

In fitness related news….I have run 4 miles twice, without pain. HALLELUJAH. I am lucky to have a therapist who practices postural restoration, and treats the cause of the pain, not simply the pain itself. Here's to continued progress. 4 is not 26.2, but it sure as heck isn't 1 or 2. The revelations continue, which really speaks to opening your heart and your mind to all that the world has to offer. This week's revelation included the building of one's network, or tribe as I affectionally call mine. I realized, while doing some introspection that the importance of building a tribe is two fold: to gain lots of perspective, and so as to not exhaust one person with your needs of attention and affirmation. It's why we don't only go to our significant other for advice, or friends for compliments. Multiple people help to vary your tribe and help you gain wisdom and insight. I'm not sure why that was such a revelation to me, but there you have it. Build a tribe, ...

I promise my posts will return to 'fitness and wellness' related posts (as soon as my huge bounds in self discovery take a backseat to my fitness).  It was recently discovered that sushi & thai food is a medium for revelations and self discovery. Who knew? Today was no exception on a 'new beginnings' trip to Iowa City (for awesome friendship & connection, and of course for new ink).  I find that a lot of revealing, personal, fantastic things come out of my mouth amidst word vomit. The first tidbit that my heart released was "If someone is not a part of your present (meaning if they are in your life without presence), then they don't deserve to be a part of your future." WHOA! It's ok to say goodbye if effort isn't equal. Secondly, I affirmed my self discovery.  I stated "a lot of what I've been through has been painful at the time, but rewarding in the end." Again-whoa! It's ok to embrace the suck, but learn fro...