Live Love Run Together

I Survived My First 2 Weeks of School I never envisioned being one of the many people switching careers later in life. I didn’t think I’d ever go back to school or need any added education to take on a new job after staying at home for so many years. Yet, here I am. Going back to school is proving to be just the challenge I was looking for this summer, especially with all my key races cancelled or postponed. I enrolled in the NASM Certified Personal Trainer guided study a few weeks ago and was intimidated as soon as I received my new textbook in the mail. Excitement outweighed trepidation and I logged into the online platform to get started. After getting familiar with the online platform, which is a whole new way of learning for me, I launched into the first week materials and began to second-guess my decision. The sheer volume of information in the first week seemed overwhelming. Waves of self-doubt kept washing over me. How can I possibly remember all of this information? When wil...

Celebrate Cancer Survivors Day Today, the first Sunday of June, is Cancer Survivors Day, a day to celebrate the cancer survivors in your life. This is a special day because we are gifted with the opportunity to spend more time with our loved ones who won the cancer war. However, there’s more to surviving cancer than you think. H ere’s what to keep in mind  as you celebrate your friends and family who have fought this epic battle. Early Detection, Innovative Treatment, Improved Outcomes The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that improved screening and earlier diagnosis, as well as new and innovative treatments, help people live longer after being diagnosed with cancer. It can’t be emphasized enough – early detection is essential for improving outcomes. Healthcare has come so far with improved screening and testing innovations. It’s important that we all know our risk, genetic factors and take advantage of these tests whenever possible. A Blueprint for Survival The ACS ...

Summer Reading, New Goal I just picked up a really big book to read this summer - the NASM Personal Fitness Training program. This hardcover book been on my ‘must-read’ list for some time and I’ve finally found the confidence to enroll in the online certification program. The long and short of it is that I have wanted to learn more about health and fitness for my own personal goals, as well as launch a second career. Since on-the-job-training didn’t pan out at the gym last fall, it seems that all the arrows are pointing me toward the online NASM-CPT program. I’m definitely nervous, but equally excited. My former career was in the environmental field. While in college and upon graduation, I worked as an intern on one of the most contaminated sites in the state of Michigan, then went on to be an environmental consultant for many years. I even spent a short time as a minority shareholder in an environmental consulting company. After starting our family, so many years ago, my...

Be the Light on Giving Tuesday Today is Giving Tuesday, a global movement that inspires community, compassion and helping those in need. Participate in this global generosity movement by donating to one or more of the charities that are important to you. They need your support more than ever! Many of the races that we do as runners, virtual or in person, support a charitable organization. Many charities also put on special events to raise funds, such as golf outings, auctions and elaborate dinners. Obviously, many of our races and special events have been postponed, canceled or transformed into virtual events this year. While we are all hurting in one way or another, during this COVID-19 Crisis, giving helps ease the pain and today is the day to promote giving. I’ve seen the famous quote by Mister Rogers floating around quite a bit during our Shelter in Place orders: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me ‘Look for the helpe...

Use Journaling to Set Goals and More Journaling is a multi-purpose tool that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Putting thoughts on paper solidifies memories, brings clarity to feelings and emotions, and is a perfect starting point for developing plans or goals. In this digital age, it may seem odd to revert to a traditional notebook and pen, but it works for this specific purpose. Right now, it may be particularly useful to write a few notes about what you are experiencing during this Coronavirus crisis. We’ve all felt some level of fear, anger, confusion and frustration. Consider journaling what has happened since the Stay-at-Home order went into place. Describe what a current day looks like and what you want to do once the order is lifted. Be sure to write about something you are grateful for or happy memories you’ve made with your loved ones. Writing down your experience during this crisis could be both cathartic and enlightening.     Startin...

How Are You Doing? What’s New? How are you? How has life changed since the Stay at Home order? Checking in to see how you are doing and what you’ve been doing during this Stay at Home order. Things are calming down a little as we’ve learned more about the virus and what we need to do in order to flatten the curve, as well as stay safe at home. We’ve also established new routines, which helps calm the chaos. It’s definitely different and sometimes frustrating, but we are adapting. Do You At Your Fullest Motivation on the trail We’ve Made Some Changes My big running goals have changed into keeping up a solid base and participating in some virtual activities. I'm spending time in my gym, walking Stella and running as much as I can, of course. My key races were postponed, so there’s no reason to keep up with big mileage. I do miss race days, run clubs and running with my training partner, immensely. However, I’m also looking forward to when we can get together agai...

Finding Motivation When It's Lost Some days I wake up ready to run; other days, not so much. I occasionally struggle with motivation like most runners. Over the years, I’ve implemented several methods for finding motivation when it's lost. Let’s be real, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to staying motivated all the time. However, maybe some of these tips will be helpful the next time you are debating whether or not to skip a run. Look for Inspiration I am often inspired by other athletes. Learning about other people’s achievements and seeing excitement for our sport reminds me to celebrate my own successes. 1. P odcasts and books: There are so many running-related podcasts that are both informative and entertaining. My favorites are Marathon Training Academy and Trail Runner Nation, though I listen to many more. Books written by or about athletes are also inspiring. I’m following a plan from Run Less, Run Faster by Bill Pierce, Scott Murr and Ray ...