Motivational Monday

Becoming your best requires you 

to overcome your worst.

Happy Monday people! Yea...that's a bit painful to read (and trust me, write!). LOL! But, it's time again for Motivational Monday. Something that I have been iffy about posting each week. I commit to finishing the year strong with a Motivational Monday every Monday until the end of the year!

With that said, my commitment to Motivational Monday comes from today's motivational quote. If I want to be the best me I can be, I have to overcome my worst tendencies. What are they? Procrastinating, ignoring when I get off track, allowing myself to think my poor actions are a true reflection of my abilities. In order to meet my goals, I must overcome these. 

The first step is to acknowledge what you believe is to be your worst. In my case, I procrastinate, I ignore when I get off track, and when I fail I allow it to mold my opinion of my abilities. I signed on with the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge this holiday season to keep myself on track so that I can be happy with myself come the new year. It is a chance for me to focus on positive action, rather than hoping I can do it on my own. I also have the completion of the 13 in 2013 race challenge. I have run 11 races out of 13 and plan on running a Turkey Trot and hopefully the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler. I wanted a Jingle Bell run, but the dates aren't working out for me. :-( So, I know I will meet my 13 in 2013 goal and since I loved the idea, I signed up for the 14 in 2014!

So, think about it today, what are your "worsts?" What keeps you from your goals? What do you need to change in order to be your best? I'm taking the time now to figure that out so I can be successful in my goals and to run strong at The Love Run in March. Because that is a priority for me. A very high priority.

Follow @NeverTrade2013

Spring Celebration Virtual Marathon

Apparently it's spring out there. I'm sure someone is enjoying the new season. Here in the Mid-Atlantic Mother Nature is desperately hanging onto winter, maybe there has been a secret wedding...

For The Love Of The Run is hosting a fantastic virtual race to get us all in the spirit of the season though - Spring Celebration Virtual Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k. This great virtual race is now open and goes through May 19, 2013. For your $20.00 registration (only until April 2nd, then the price raises to $25.00) you'll receive a custom medal, random prizes, and a portion of the proceeds go to Jersey Rising.

Why am I promoting this race? Honestly, I'm getting nothing out of it. I paid my registration fee to run the 5k, no discount other than the early bird. I managed to be within the first 10 to sign up so I scored a t-shirt, but that's it. I'm doing it because I'm a Jersey Girl. I grew up in South Jersey, near Philadelphia. When Sandy tour through the shore area into NYC my heart hurt. Here's a wonderful way to continue supporting those families still dealing with the aftermath. It's been months since the storm hit, but there the area is still working on recovering.

So, I invite you to participate in this virtual race. The medal will be revealed in time and my inside sources tell me it's going to be epic. Let's go 13 in 2013 peeps! I'm sure this race will be perfect for you - one more race to your 13 and supporting a great cause!

Follow @NeverTrade2013

January 2013 Goals Round-Up

Last day of January 2013. This is weird. It seems weird that February starts tomorrow. I don't usually say, "this year is going by so fast" this early, but yea. It's going by at hyper speed!

So, as you know I set up more attribute goals than I did specific goals. But, that's not to say I didn't do my own specific goals list. Here's what I wanted to do and whether or not I met it.

This month I'd at least like to:
* Loose 4 pounds
* Exercise every day

But I'm really hoping to:
* Loose 5 pounds
* Exercise 30 minutes every day
* Find group class to take

And I'd be thrilled if:
* Loose 6 pounds
* Start normal spin class

Monthly Mileage: 34

Of the above, did I meet any of those goals? Uhhhh...I met one of them. I lost 4.6 pounds this month. Way less than I hoped honestly. I really thought I would do better this month. I thought I would have met at least 5 pounds and honestly figured 6 pounds would be a give-in.  Guess not...

After that, I didn't do a single one of those. I exercised 27 out of 31 days. I missed Jan 13 (no idea why), 22 (spent all day researching and lost track of time), 24 (thought I was getting sick/had a headache), and 25 (snow). I had hoped to exercise 31 out of 31, but apparently that didn't happen. And since I didn't workout 31 out of 31, I didn't exercise for 30 minutes each. I did do 30 minutes of exercise when I did work out. That's something, right?

I also didn't find a group class to take or start a normal spin class. I fell on Jan. 4, which meant I didn't feel comfortable taking the beginner spin class. Aaaaaand there's only one a month. I could have tried jumping into a class without the beginner class, but I didn't feel comfortable. I also meant to try a Pi-Yo class, but they changed the times on it and I  have yet to make the adjustment.

The only one that I can say I did do is the Monthly Mileage, but not in the way I anticipated. I wrote out 34 miles for the month thinking they would be running miles. Uhhh...I reached 34 miles, but not by running. Here are my mileages for the month:

Running: 22.36

Walking: 16.68

Cycling: 104.07

I completed the Get Out & Run Challenge on Jan. 20, running 9 miles in 2:09:45. Not my goal time, but I did the miles. It was my first 13 in 2013 race (I asked, people said it counted). I signed up for the Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k and Light Lager Jogger 5k. I also got some Tribesports Challenges crossed off the list:

Book Worms Read On! Read 4 Books a Month

Shadow Boxing (50 upper cuts, 50 jabs, 50 hooks)

15 Gym Sessions in 30 Days (this one I've had since July 2012! Finally did it!)

So there you have it. January in review. Not the worst month, but it could have gone better. Move over January, February is coming full-speed ahead!

Follow @NeverTrade2013

13 in 2013

I've mentioned a few times I'm participating in the 13 in 2013 challenge. This challenge pushes you to get out and run in 13 races in 2013, whether virtual or organized. I've got some of my races set up so far and thought I would share. I'll be adding to this list (obviously). Maybe I'll see you out there!

Get Out & Run January (1/19) - Manchester, PA ~ Registered

Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k (3/10) - Baltimore, MD

Shamrock 8k (3/16) - Virginia Beach, VA ~ Registered

Shamrock Half Marathon (3/17) - Virginia Beach, VA ~ Registered

Movie Madness 5k (4/6) - Manchester, PA

Lager Jogger 5k (4/13) - Pottstown, PA

Sole of the City 10k (4/20) - Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Women's Classic 5k (6/23) - Baltimore, MD ~ Registered

Celtic Solstice 5 Miler (12/-) - Baltimore, MD (the date is set, I just can't find it)

I want to run the Armed Forces 5k in May, but the day isn't up yet. I'm debating a second half marathon in May or June. I'm not a big run in June person and I'm not sure if running 13.1 miles in Philly in June is a good idea. We shall see on that one. Most race calendars do not have anything really up past June, so my fall races schedule is a bit sparse.

Have you started your race schedule for the year? What is on your list? Will I see you at any of mine?

Some specifics

Well, here is me writing down some specific goals to go with my resolutions from yesterday. These are the things that each year I try to accomplish and one new one. What specifics do you have in mind for 2013?

Eat healthy

Exercise

Lose weight to reach my goal weight of 140

Train to run a sub-

     2:50:00 half marathon

     60:00 8k/5 mile

     35:00 5k

Use my camera more

Write a book (1918 Influenza Epidemic)

To this end, I've decided to take on a few physical challenges (anyone else remember Double Dare?). These won't be the only ones, but this is where I am now. Hopefully throughout the year new ones will present themselves.

13 races in 2013

Tribesports

Dolphin Challenge at Virginia Beach: 8k and half marathon

100 Day Challenge presented by John Bingham

13 in 2013

Hubby and I were talking last night about this challenge I decided to take on in 2013 - the 13 in 2013 Challenge. It's being hosted by Jill Conyers at Fitness, Health, and Happiness. See, in 2012 she ran challenged herself to run 12 half marathons. For 2013, she's challenging everyone (including herself) to 13 races in 2013. They can be all the same length - 5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2 or they can be a variety of lengths. The idea is to get out there and run 13 races next year.

So I counted up the number of races I did this year and if you count two virtual races and the Spartan Race, I managed a respectable (in my opinion) 14 races this year. Not bad. So, I am taking on the 13 in 2013 challenge. I'm going to run 13 races in 2013. I've opted for the variety challenge though. I could do all 5ks, but what would be the fun in that? I already know I have several races of varying lengths scheduled for 2013 so why not count them all?

March 10 - Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k (Baltimore, MD)
March 16 - Shamrock 8k (Virginia Beach, VA)
March 17 - Shamrock Half Marathon (Virginia Beach, VA)
April 13 - Lager Jogger 5k (Pottsville, PA)
June 23 - Baltimore Women's Classic (Baltimore)

Then there are races I'd like to do, but I haven't seen a date yet:

Hershey 10k (Hershey, PA - it was in April 2012)
Sole of the City 10k (Hershey, PA - it was in April 2012)
Armed Forces 5k (Harrisburg, PA - it was in May 2012)
A Halloween race
A Turkey Trot
Celtic Solstice 5 Miler (Baltimore - December 2013)

Obviously I have to add in a few more races to make it 13, but there are TONS of races out there, especially 5ks. I am pretty sure I can do this. It seems like a fun thing to do and a nice challenge to make sure I get some running in next year. Though, I'll be honest the July and August calendar is going to awfully bare.

What about you? Want to join? Click on the link above to learn more and to sign up!