Fears and excitement

I feel that part of an adventure is facing your fears and doing things that scare you and excite you at the same time.  Here are a few of those things for me:

• Moving to a new city and starting over
• Getting married
• Completing a half-Ironman (and maybe even an Ironman)
• Starting a new job
• Skydiving

Some things that scare me:

• Gaining back the weight I worked so hard to lose
• Being alone the rest of my life
• Losing my family
• Letting someone down/making them lose faith in me by my actions
• Singing karaoke  :)

I believe in knowing your limits - and then shattering them and finding your new limits, in constantly pushing yourself to be better and grow as a person (in whatever way that may mean for you).  I also believe conquering your fears makes you stronger and also identifying exactly what it is that scares you helps you achieve more in the future.  Finding the root of your fears but also finding a counter-statement to what scares you.  Be honest, be vulnerable, be you.

Combat, friends, gym, run. What a week!

Well this week brought Combat with friends thanks to open house week at my gym!  After the class, my friend Kristi said she thought I hated her by asking her to come to because of the intensity of the class.  However, I'm glad to report I received an email the next day saying she loved the class and felt great afterwards!  Wednesday brought bootcamp with my friend Tiffany who was there for the first time.  It was definitely better than the first one last week - the exercises were harder and more intense and the order of things were switched.  We were hanging around afterwards, waiting for the parking lot to clear out, and one of the instructors came over to talk to us.  In the course of the conversation I was able to set Tiffany up to run with the trainer before bootcamp Mondays and Wednesdays.  She just loves me right now.  Hey, you never know what will come out of my mouth - I like to help my friends out and she wanted to run. =)   It's a win-win.  Tonight was running and breaking in new shoes, which I've never had issues with before however even if you get the same brand of shoe (mine is Adidas), the cut can be different and it's going to take a few more runs to break these in.  I remember running with a friend a few years ago when she asked if I had gotten to the point where my body hurts at first and then says, well, I guess I'm running and just gets over the pain.  Tonight, it took about 7 minutes of running to hit that point.  Not too shabby.  Tomorrow brings a long day starting with a run in the morning followed by a 3 hour drive for a good friend's wedding with plenty of dancing!

30 minutes (21 running, 9 walking) - 2.15 miles. A smidge under 15 minute miles.  Do I wish I was at 10 minute miles like before?  Sure.  But I know I will get there, I just have to keep pushing myself.

Whenever I get discouraged, I think of a quote by Henry Ford - Whether you think you can or you think you can't, either way you're right.

Bootcamp, bring a friend and weigh-in's

Well today was weigh-in day and I was down 3 pounds!  I will take every bit of lost poundage I can. =)  The gym and I had some quality time last week and hopefully that will continue.  I also started going to a bootcamp on Monday - it was interesting to say the least.  This was one of the deals from the living social site, but I don't think they were expecting the response they got.  We packed the parking lot at Deep Run - people were parking in the grass, on the side of the road, on hills (yay for 4 wheel drive, right?).  I think they'll have to adjust the exercises they do and how they go about structuring the activities but it seemed to get off to a good start.  However I do have to rant about one thing - complainers at bootcamp.  Don't get me wrong, I groaned a little when they told us what we were doing - mainly on the burpees, supermans, and the v hold but I did them and I didn't say one word about it.  The people around me were griping saying "I'm out of shape", "Why are you making us do this?", "you're horrible" and so much more which really irritated me.  I get that you're out of shape; most of us are which is why we signed up for the bootcamp.  You know how you fix that?  You work out, you go to bootcamp, do the exercises and get stronger.  You voluntarily signed up for these classes - you weren't forced.  If you don't want to be here, then don't come; if you do want to be here, then hush your mouth and get to work!  And now I'll get off of my soap box.

I'm having a mini freak out thinking about the 5k's in DC and Atlanta next month and will I be ready?  I'm about 2 weeks behind on my running plan but I'm running tonight (the weather is AMAZING!) and will up my intervals again but I was hoping to be farther along in my training so I could do speed work because I selfishly want to beat a few *certain* people in these races.  Good, healthy competition goes a long way. =)  It seems I will be frequenting DC quite a bit - I was up there this weekend to visit a friend and then we headed to Baltimore to see Brian Regan who was hilarious!  It was my first time in Baltimore though I really want to go back and visit the inner harbor, however if you're up there and looking for a diner - I highly recommend the Paper Moon Diner (not to be confused with the gentleman's club in Richmond).  It was delicious and they have quite an array of food.  Be sure to try the fried green beans.

The week ahead brings more bootcamps (hello 8 AM Saturday morning), running and gym time.  HEAD'S UP FOR RICHMONDERS - American Family (my gym) is having 'bring a friend' week next week (5/9-5/15) so if you're up for a workout and some fun classes, let me know and you can come as my friend.  (I highly recommend Combat Monday nights at 7:30.)  I love working out with people so this will be fun!  Until next time - go have your own adventure - and then tell me about it!!!  :)

Back at it

I decided last night was the perfect night to head back to the gym.  I went to take a Body Pump class since I hadn't been in awhile and go for a quick run.  Well I hit some traffic on the way to the gym and by the time I got there and changed, it was almost time for class so I decided my run would have to wait until afterwards.  I think I've mentioned I can be competitive and a little stubborn sometimes so when the instructor said to load up the bar because the squat track was easy, what she meant was - if you've been coming for awhile now, you should load up the bar because it will be an easy track for you.  What I heard was - you slacker, you haven't been in awhile so you really should go all out and load up to get back in the swing of things.  Needless to say, my legs were shaking by the time we were done.  Once we got to the lunge track and even the back track, to say my legs were wobbly would be an understatement.  Once that was over, it was time for my run.  In the words of my friend, Amy, OH MY B'GOODNESS!  From the first step, I could feel the work I had just completed in Pump class but I told myself it's only 30 minutes and 3 cycles.  I can do this.  As I started the run, all I wanted to do was stop because my legs hurt but after I got into the groove, the pain lessened considerably and I was able to power through.  It also reminded of my first Sprint Tri when my friend CJ came and found me on the course towards the end.  I was walking because I was so tired and she told me I was SO close to the end, I needed to run and I could do it.  So I ran with her and as we were running I remember telling her "my calves better look AWESOME right now" and she slowed down a bit and yelled to me that they looked great.  As I was running around the track last night, I felt like my calves were popping out of my legs so I knew I was working hard.  So to get me through the last cycle I just kept laughing and repeating I was sure my calves were looking hot.  Haha.  Whatever it takes to get through a workout, right?

This should be a good week for me.  Tonight I'm doing the eliptical (give my knees a break) and swimming, tomorrow morning will be Combat and Zumba and then later in the afternoon I'm meeting a friend to go for a run (this could be a slightly painful day of running) then a few runs over the weekend as I travel to DC and Baltimore!!!  Yay!

I also signed up for a deal from livingsocial.com (which I highly recommend signing up for living social and groupon - deals around your city) for 20 bootcamps for $20 which I think starts next week!

A run, skip and a fall

I met up with another Sarah friend of mine on Monday to go for a run (apparently Sarah's and I seem to be really good friends).  I upped my intervals so now I'm running 7, walking 3 for 30 minutes.  It was great to catch up with her and be motivated by hearing about completing her first marathon!!  I'm only supposed to run for 30 minutes each time, however on Saturday's I typically do longer distances and then walk the difference.  As Sarah and I set out on our run, we decided to run from Flatwater to Pony Pastures which completed the 30 minute run/walk portion.  I suggested walking back and Sarah said we were running.  Well, Sarah won so we ran/walked back to Flatwater and I could feel the extra running in my calves and right above my heels.  Sarah, working in the sports therapy world, told me the exact muscle that was acting up...but let's be real, I don't remember it.  I know I worked hard because I basically made it home, showered, sent a few emails and was in bed.  I was tired, in pain and not feeling great.  (I forgot to turn a light off downstairs and just debated leaving it on all night because the thought of going back downstairs and climbing up the stairs again almost sent me into tears.) 

I may have gone to bed in pain, but I woke up feeling much better...though I figured it was best to give my legs a rest yesterday.  I'm keeping up my intervals with a run today, tomorrow and hopefully upping my intervals to 8 & 2 on Saturday.  It was great running and catching up with Sarah and she helped remind me that while I may have fallen from where I was at my peak, I'm still farther along than I first started on this journey.  The important part is that I'm trying.

0 to 100

I got up this morning with the intention to go for a simple run so I went to the gym and hit the inside track.  While I was running, I decided to go ahead and up my intervals - which was awesome!  I finished my run right as combat was starting so I decided to stop in - it just happened to be the day of a new release.  Somewhere around the 2nd track, I decided this was a BAD idea.  Around the 4th or 5th track - right at the first cardio peak - I almost puked.  When I was working with my training team 1 1/2 years ago, it was my goal to work so hard that I puked, however that was not my intention this morning.  When it comes to working out, I seem to do nothing or go balls to the wall and give it everything I have; there is no halfway.  While almost puking came as a surprise, it makes me happy to know I'm pushing myself.  I may pay for it tomorrow with an incredibly sore body, but as my friend Jeff says - pain is weakness leaving the body.

Big Richmond weekend

This past weekend was a big weekend in Richmond.  The Monument Avenue 10k sold out and I think almost every person in Richmond was cheering on the runners, VCU played in the biggest games of their life - the final 4....and I think every TV in Richmond was turned to watch the game and support our Rams.  It's been really awesome to see the city come together and support the team.  Oh, and it was also my Daddy's birthday. (Yes, I'm 27 and call him Daddy - I'm a Daddy's girl.  Deal with it. ;) )

We hung out on the back porch, had family friends over for dinner and it was fabulous and yummy.  Leave it to my Mom to bring out the kids in 60+ year old people by placing whoopie cushions at every persons place setting.  The hilarity that ensued was priceless.  With the Monument Ave 10k, this brought the annual carb-load with the Kriegers!  It was great to see everyone and catch up.  This is also why I love my friends - not only do they come in from out of town, but they keep me accountable.  I was talking with Jorie (we used to be in a running group together) and she was asking me if I was training for anything and when I was coming back to the group.  (Ouch)  I told her once I can run my distance consistently and can get my speed back up, I'll be joining them and she told me she would keep on me about when I was coming back.  I love that my friends don't let me off the hook and hold me accountable.

I also love that my friends are up for running with me...even in (according to Sarah) snake infested areas.  I met Sarah for a run, Monday after work, by the river and we were running intervals.  We were done so we were finishing up by walking and I looked down and saw a snake which, to me, looked like it was dead.  Keep in mind, they're re-doing the on-ramp and fixing the bridge in this area, so it's a highly traveled area and construction zone.  I took a step and the snake started slithering toward me.  I have never high-stepped that high and run that fast in my life.  Sarah, who is petrified of snakes, screamed like a 5 year old girl and sprinted down the street. HA!  It was scary and my heart was racing at the time, but looking back, it's pretty funny.  When we got back to the car, we tried to re-create the terror of the snake...but we need to work on our camera timing.  I think we just kept jumping because we didn't know when the picture was actually being taken.

As we finished walking back to the car, Sarah told me she was listening to what I said but was really scanning the road for snakes and freaked out by every sound in the woods.  We made it through the snakes...so we thought we deserved from Bruster's ice cream....or sherbert.  Whatever your preference.  Sometimes you just have to listen to your friends, lean on them, gather support from them, and then have fun and enjoy your life with them.