Why I run

Runner's World has a great campaign going on this week, #RWNewbieWeek, complete with tips for new runners, training plans, and inspiration. If you've been on the fence about getting started running, or have been running for awhile and need some extra inspiration, these are must-reads.

It got me thinking about why I started running originally. Despite brief stints in cross-country and track doing the "long-distance" 800m and 1600m (it was the cool thing to do and it got me out of gym class!), I never considered myself a runner until recently. I focused on field hockey in high school and college, and, while running was always a part of my life, it was more of a means to an end, than an end in and of itself. We warmed up with a three mile run, went through drills, scrimmages, and ended with sprints. In this mindset, I never embraced running.

But two years ago, the D.C. Young Republicans were putting together a team to run the Arlington 9/11 Memorial 5k, so I signed up. I thought it would be a good way to encourage me to get back in shape, and a fun way to meet people outside of the usual happy hours. Thanks to the encouragement of friends I met doing that run, I quickly followed up with more races including the Marine Corps 10k, the Hot Chocolate 15k, and the Rock n' Roll Philadelphia half marathon.

Now I'm hooked.

I love having the motivation and sense of accomplishment that comes with completing an organized race, but I'm completely addicted to the morning training runs these races require.

Last summer, I was training for the ING Hartford Half Marathon, preparing for my wedding, living with my in-laws after just moving to Connecticut, and working from home. I had no car, didn't know anyone in the area outside of my now husband's family, and was pretty overwhelmed with the stress of wedding planning. While I knew training was important to get me ready for the half marathon, I was also motivated by the chance to be on my own for an hour or so each day, clear my head, think through any issues I might be having, and just enjoy myself. Every run was a freeing experience that honestly saved me from a lot of regretted words or would be fights during that stressful time!

I had a few key revelations that made my enjoyment possible around this time:

• Focus less on how fast you go, and more on how far you go. It's about personal improvement, and conquering new challenges you never thought were possible.
• Running is a blessing. Your body is capable of amazing things, don't waste it.
• Workout clothes can be affordable, as long as you don't care what you look like. I've been rocking some neon pink Under Armour spandex lately. I think someone comments on them every time I wear them, but hey, they were $20. 
• Find a plan and schedule that works for you. I run first thing in the morning, so I'm out the door before I even realize what's happening. After work, I always seem to be able to think of something else that needs doing (or a glass of wine with my name on it), so I've found these morning workouts are most effective for me. 
• Running is free! Cross-fit, yoga, and even my beloved gym memberships, can all be expensive, especially when you're living on a tight budget! For under $100, you can get yourself a nice pair of running shoes and go for a run - any time of the year. Track your progress for motivation with a free app - I use Nike+. 
• The more you run, the more you can eat. Nuff said. 

What about you - why do you run? What tips do you have for new runners, or those who need some extra motivation?

Foam Roller Fun

This week, I went to what can only be described as a brutal bootcamp. Think: suicide bear crawls and TRX hip lifts. While stretching, someone suggested doing a few minutes of foam roller afterwards, and I readily agreed.

(Image from Rumble Roller.)

Honestly, I've never understood what a foam roller does exactly, other than it delivers a sort of hurts so good pain. To manage your expectations a bit, you will not be smiling when you use a foam roller. My expression is more of a grimace, eyes closed, hoping no one is watching me. Foam rolling helps your muscles recover, so these exercises are very important, especially after an intense session where you know you're going to be sore the next day!

Shape Magazine recently posted a how-to video for foam rollers that I find pretty helpful. The main thing to keep in mind is to keep shifting your weight around until you find the sweet spot for you - it will be different for everyone and depending on your recent workouts. Enjoy!

Figuring it all out

There are only a few blogs I am really committed to following (read: a few blogs that I remember to visit again). When I think about what these blogs have in common, it's that the authors have it all figured it out. Whether writing about running, cooking healthy, or fashion, they know exactly what works for them and share those experiences with others.

So I'm kind of wondering what I'm doing writing a blog.

I definitely don't have it all figured it out. I'm nowhere near my dream body right now, still trying to conquer my sweet tooth and commit to regular exercise. I'm no crossfit-convert or ridiculously flexible yogi (is that even what you call someone who does yoga?), and while I like to think of myself as a runner, my track record and lack of marathon experience might beg to differ.

Why I am doing it? Well, for two reasons. First, so many blogs I read document amazing results - a picture of a woman once pushing 200 pounds who is now nearly unrecognizable at a healthy, thin weight. But you rarely get to see the process - the weight is already lost, the lifestyle changes have already been made, the problem has been conquered. While these stories inspire me, I think seeing the process is important - like the monthly check-ins you see magazines do. They establish camaraderie, and help show you what sort of results are possible month by month. 

Second, a more selfish reason, I want to hold myself accountable. Sure, I don't really know that anyone will see this, but it's possible they will - and so I have to keep going! In the past, I've worked toward a certain event, like a race, and then completely fallen off my fitness goals, or everything is going well until that week-long work trip and suddenly I'm full of excuses when I get home. I know it's not healthy for my weight to keep fluctuating, even if just a few pounds now, as I get older, it's just going to get worse. I'm trying to establish this habit now - stay accountable to the blog. 

So here goes. I hope you'll follow along and share with your friends! I need the encouragement!

Back at it

After a couple of false starts this year, I finally took the plunge and joined a gym. Knowing I have a lot of work to do and we're under a tight budget, I weighed a few different factors - focusing mainly on monthly cost, class schedule, and proximity to our house. The gym I chose is less than a five minute drive, the cheapest option in town, and has a bare bones class schedule. I guess you've gotta sacrifice somewhere!

After signing up, I was excited to do a complimentary fitness assessment with one of the trainers. Boy, was I in for some unsettling news. 

We went through some basic exercises - push-ups, squats, and planks, and it was clear that my core strength was... not what it could be. Stepping on the scale, I knew I was above my comfortable weight, but I'd stayed within five pounds of that, so not too shabby, right? Wrong. He then pulled out a little torture device - calipers - to measure my body fat and the truth hurt. For those not familiar with calipers, check out this video. 

My fitness assessment: below average. 

Well, technically, on the border of below average for a woman my age, but still. I went home and cried. Productive, right? 

I looked up a training plan, based on what the trainer recommended - cardio, core, and weight lifting. Apparently, my "just keep logging more miles running," strategy wasn't the right one. 

I settled on this Women's Health workout program, and have been following it for two and a half weeks now. My diet could be better - I'm still struggling with the urge to binge and a strong sweet tooth - but I'm getting there. I can already feel a difference, not only in my strength, but in my happiness generally. Now I need to keep at it! 

I have a "check-up" with the trainer in a week and a half. Four weeks from our first one - time enough to make a difference, but not too far to lose focus (hopefully!). 

I'm back at it, now I just have to keep at it! 

Eat More to Weigh Less?

Sounds too good to be true, right? When you look at food more as fuel, and focus on not just calories, but also the nutrients you're getting from indulging in certain foods, you'll find you can feel fuller, eating more of what's good for you and recognizing many sweets and treats as the empty calories they are.

The holidays have wound down but somehow my sweet tooth is still around! Unfortunately all those holiday Hershey's Chocolate Kisses that seemed like a great idea before our Christmas party are still around, and are a kiss of death for my diet plan.

No joke they're everywhere. They're in the pantry, seemingly the perfect thing to grab when I want something to eat but not too heavy. They're on the kitchen counter, so I can casually eat a few while making dinner... or lunch... or breakfast. Shameless. They're on the table next to the couch in the family room, so I can mindlessly snack as I watch TV.

An easy solution right? Toss them out? Have the husband take them to work with them? Put them in a secret drawer? Problem is, I don't want to admit defeat. Just because it's Hershey's Kisses today, tomorrow it's cookies I made, or a cake my mother-in-law drops off, or something! So my real question is, how do I curb the sweet tooth?

I posed this question to Shape Magazine last week, when they were have a Twitter conversation with Elizabeth Ward, a dietitian and writer for Men's Fitness.

More protein! But that got me thinking about a bigger issue for me, at least, which is eating enough during meals and snacks period. When I "diet," (if you can call any of my couple days' attempts dieting), I jump in with both feet. I find myself attempting extreme diets, limiting my calories and inevitably, failing withing a few days. Something isn't working.

So, it's time to attempt a different diet approach. I'm going to focus more on having a fully defined meal each time. Rather than eating a little yogurt here so I can have an excuse to grab some chips later and maybe some cookies later on, I'm going to take the time to prepare a meal with all of the nutrition and calories I need. Here goes nothing... 

For your viewing pleasure, today's lunch: Tuna sandwich with celery, carrots and Special K Chips

Book Review: Born to Run

I finally got around to reading Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run!" It was fascinating, and I really think now, as I'm getting more serious about running, was the right time for me to read it.

The book is truly inspirational and centers around a common topic any runner has pondered: Why does my foot hurt? This leads to a quest to find the remarkable Tarahumara Indians in Mexico, the world's greatest distance runner, tales of (what I'd consider) super-human feats, and the conclusion: everything we're doing to become better runners is ruining us.

For a girl who has often scoffed at people running around in Five Finger Shoes while rocking my Asics with built-in arch support to prevent shin splints and other injuries, this came as a shock. But as I sat there curled up with this book, I found myself wishing it were warm enough for me to give this a try: running in grass three times a week to strengthen the muscles in my feet. Sounds crazy, but after this book, it seems worth a try.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a true believer just yet. I went to my local running store, Fleet Feet Sports, and had them run me through different tests to find the best shoes for me, settling on the Brooks Ravenna 4. But I'll consider incorporating some of the minimalist theories into my training plan.

There were so many quotes in this book that hit home with me, but one of them really rang true. As the author is lined up, about to embark on a 50 mile race through Tarahumara wilderness, his friend says to him, "Look, I got some bad news. You're not going to win. No matter what you do, you're going to be out there all day. So you might as well just relax, take your time, and enjoy it."

For too long, I didn't bother with road races, knowing that I wasn't going to be the fastest. I knew I didn't stand a chance, so I focused my energies elsewhere - giving up track and cross country for field hockey, soccer and lacrosse, where speed and endurance were just one tool in your arsenal.

It was just in the last two years that I've found my love of running. It sounds simple, but once you find your "forever pace," you can let go, enjoy the run and take pride in finishing the race. There's a certain freedom I've discovered by focusing on this. Dropping comparisons to others, and knowing that I'm better than when I started. Alright, I have to include another quote that goes right along with that idea...

"They were expected to accomplish nothing, so they could try anything. Audacity beckoned."

"Born to Run" is a must-read book for people in any stage of their running journey. You won't regret it!

New Year, New Resolutions, New Commitment

Well, my first attempt at launching the blog was a bit lackluster. I won't say failure, because I'm back and ready to relaunch.

Things missed in the past couple months - I ran two half marathons. One in Connecticut that I trained like crazy for, and one in Chicago that I... did not train as much for. And it showed. I was feeling good until mile 8, pushed through to mile 10, and then dragged till the finish line. But, I stayed under two hours (1:54) and finished, so I'll take it. Lesson learned as far as training though.

We bought our first home and moved in in November. The scale is already showing the effects of my cooking habits and my lack of a gym, so I'm ready to change that. I've been shopping around gyms, trying to find the right one that's close enough that I don't have any excuse not to go, and has the right combination of classes and machines. And of course, comes at the right price!

Meanwhile, I'll also be experimenting with some new healthy recipes, that are hopefully tasty too! I'll share those on here, but get ready - I've already had a few kitchen mishaps, including "purple chicken" and "pasta mush." Never a dull day in the kitchen with Katie!

Anyways, just a quick post to say I'm going to be back at it!