Tag: challenges

#TinkRuns2024, featured, fitness and nutrition

I Run 2024 – January

2chicksandapen

I did it! 

Month one is in the rear view and I far exceeded my expectations. 34.25 miles accumulated. I ran 26 days out of 31. I even ran 15 days in a row at one point. Never in my wildest dreams did I have that as an expectation. Eleven more months to go and so many adventures are on the horizon. Who would have thought I would be so into running after 1 month. Certainly not me!

The start was bumpy. Day one running at midnight in Colorado. Cold. Dark. Unforgiving. I could have been done with one run. Just quit. That would be easy. And trust me I thought about it. Just a bizarre start to my adventure, I guess you could say. A flight home gave me time to pause and think about my game plan for the coming days. A regrouping of sorts. Time to think about my why or why nots.

I got a half mile in the next day. It was effort but nothing to jump up and down about. The next day I rested. My body was still recovering from travel. The day after I planned to run but life got in the way. I was beginning to get discouraged way too soon. Even having the realization of how hard my task to myself was actually going to be gave me a taste of humble pie. Training myself to do something I don’t want to or even like to do takes a lot of self talk. Over and over again. One step. The .11 miles running around a building at the gym to accumulate a half mile seemed tedious. The hill that seems like a mountain was on the other side of the building. I had avoided that hill many times. A mental block of sorts. All of it. Repeat the self talk. You can. You will. 

It was Friday. I was full of excuses. My body was achy from CrossFit. I asked a couple of family members to run a mile with me. No takers. It’s cold. That doesn’t sound fun. Why? That’s what I heard. I grabbed my AirPods and said I’m doing it. I just said I had to. I eventually want the words I utter to myself to be go now. No hesitation. For now I will settle for self talk because I’m trying to form a running habit. Holding myself accountable. Just this journal is a portion of accountability.

I hit 1.5 miles on that Friday. I set a small personal best for my first mile which is really what I’m focused on as I grow as a runner. Not sure if that’s the most effective focus but it’s what I’m working on at the moment. I walked some to cool down but all in all I was happy with my distance and productivity especially getting out there mid work day, alone. Battling the elements wasn’t really an advanced thought. The wind is just gross on a cold day. The wind may be your friend running one way but the way back it’s a slap in the face. Harsh as it comes. 

I ran 4 days the first week for 3.75 miles.  

I signed up for a virtual 5k. 

I ran an impromptu 5k on an air runner on a rainy day. For no reason. Who am I? I guess this will be my air runner bench mark time. I didn’t really plan to do this but I guess it’s now a data point. Go me! 7 miles accumulated in week 2. Yes, I am celebrating myself at every little milestone. 19 miles by the twentieth day of the month. Is this really happening?

I actually completed the virtual 5k by month end with a time of 38:58. I had to fight a lot of wind on this day as well. It was brutal in spots. I was excited to see my mile times were evenly dispersed when I reviewed my Apple Watch. This was a big win for me that I didn’t think was achievable. I guess this will be my 2024 bench mark 5k race time and my split times. Although I think a virtual race is slightly less significant due to it being self monitored versus say a chip time in an in person race. I did get a race bib for my 2024 collection so it does count as an official race. Still miss the hype of the crowds on race day that normally get you going faster.

My 5k time was logged after my first month of committing to running. A first and best official race time for 2024. It will be great to see where my 5k time ends up at the end of 2024. My last official recorded 5k time was 45:18 minutes back in May of 2023. A more hilly course and no training leading up to the event which means I should have improved but it definitely feels good to give myself a baseline 5k time to work on over the year. I also had an unofficial 5k park run time of 42:52 back in August of 2023. Definitely good to have some progress points to refer back to.

 I ran in 2 states (Georgia/Colorado).

 I ran in the cold.

I ran at the park.

I ran in the city.

I ran at midnight.

I ran alone most days. This is where the biggest growth is for me. Putting in the work when nobody is watching. Striving for better, solo. Getting up the courage to go alone. This can be scary at first but empowering in the long run. Getting punny here.

I ran at 6am with my crazy friend! The smile is also before the run. The red face was definitely the after look with no smile. The darkness of the photo reiterates the wee hours of the morning before the sun rises.

I ran inside on an air runner, more than once.

I ran stairs and liked it.

I learned that music can distract your mind from running if you can sing along to the soundtrack. For me this is important for pacing as well as going further before stopping. It also helps to maybe run for a song length estimating the time elapsing. This is exactly why I have a new running playlist thanks to a dear pal who keeps me on track. I also snagged a good running play list from the virtual 5k group as an added bonus.

My 1 mile best pace was 11:31 on 1/5/24.

My 1 mile pace dropped to 11:11 on 1/10/24.

Not every day was a personal best, but every day I had some sort of effort towards my goal. Writing. Reviewing. Running. Planning. Taking steps every day that will keep me on track. And don’t forget running isn’t my sole focus. I’m also active in CrossFit and paddle sports like tennis and pickleball. All of which are in full swing making me work hard to balance life and fitness goals.

I also made a visit to the local running store to make sure my feet were equipped properly for my hefty goal. Enter a new pair of shoes. My first pair of Brooks. I tried several other brands but decided on this one. We shall see how it goes. Not so excited about the color but we will see if the performance is a winner.

First run in the Brooks was decent. Cushiony but firmer than the ASICS. On we go to month two. February. The chocolate month. The Hot Chocolate 5k is on the books with friends which will be yet another 5k time to catalog. Let’s see what month two looks like for me. I’ve already come so far in such a short time. Feeling confident after month one even if the confidence is short-lived when I look at the big picture.

I also pulled the trigger on signing up for a half marathon in November of 2024. This goal is getting real, quick. Another fun fact is I’m taking pictures along the way to document my journey. And boy is my running face a sure sign of distress or pain as my friend noted. Hopefully that will change in time.

Happy to report month 1 was a success. Keep following to see where this journey leads.

inspire

OLW for 2024

2chicksandapen

It’s January, which means it’s One Little Word time. In past years, I’ve chosen a variety of words for a variety of reasons to guide me through a year. Some words seem to stick as the year progresses, others aren’t quite as durable.

This year’s choice was not too hard to zero in on: Venture.

I have a lot of travel planned. Ventures.

I am craving new things and stretching myself. Adventure.

I’ve also been thinking (and mulling) about business and trying to develop several of the businesses I am involved in / owner of. I have sort of shirked my responsibilities in this area. Whether writing or creativity or sharing ideas broadly, there are several ventures I need to work on. In fact, one of my businesses actually has Venture in the name.

It’s a spirit of extension. Of growth. Of embracing the new and stretching myself.

In addition, I am trying something new at the beginning of the year. I made a “24 in 24” list instead of a single resolution. They are tasks large and small, fun and tedious, that I hope to get taken care of this year. This is a practice from Gretchen Rubin. You’ll hear about these as the year goes on. 

What did you take on for reframing, refocusing, and refreshing at the beginning of 2024? 

challenges, perspective

Out and Back

2chicksandapen

Something about an out and back course makes me cringe. 

Whether it’s a hike or a run, if I see it’s an out and back, I’m immediately turned off. I want to see something new, not the same thing twice but backwards.

My first event this year was an out and back. Why did I choose it? Well, it was local, it was cheap, there was a 5k and a 10k option, and it fit my schedule. The out and back was a strike against, but since I had friends doing it with me, I figured I would survive.

I’ve actually done a couple of other out and back events this year, and there is one more thing to consider. If you’re competing and the course doubles back, you have to see other people who already made it out to the turnaround point and are heading back to the finish. For some, this might be challenging. For a “back of the pack” competitor like me, you get to see MANY people who are WAY ahead of you. Maybe if I cared about my finish time or placement it would get in my head. But for a person who thrives on cheerleading, I take the constant reminder of how many people are ahead of me and flip it into an opportunity.

I cheer for EVERY SINGLE PERSON ahead of me. From the teen cross country star who is flying along to PR or win to some of the older folks who are pushing along to the inevitable 8 year old who is gangly and gasping but waxing the floor with me nonetheless, I wave, I clap, I yell, I encourage. At the absolute least, I smile. It’s the very best part of an out and back race. I am very aware that I running all these races is not a “have to.” I get to come to the start line. I get to move through the miles. I get to challenge myself. And, I get to see others who are challenging themselves. 

So, even if a course is boring or repetitive, it’s another chance to reframe your mind and refresh your perspective. You may even find ways this happens to you at work or in your home life. You may be the smile and encouragement someone needs today. 

travel

Trapped In 1976

2chicksandapen

Vacation was winding down. All loaded on the plane to make the final leg of the journey. All was looking good until the final pilot check showed a leak in the hydraulics. We wait on the mechanic to diagnose. We sit on the plane. Tempers flare. The people watching gets interesting. Then the news arrives. We must wait for a part to be flown in. We are removed from the plane and the sighs begin, instantly. Then the pilots time out of available fly time to get us home. Nobody is getting home today!

Chaos begins. People are grouchy. Lines are long to get rebooked. Unaccompanied minor’s facial expressions show worry. Airline employees brace for the worst. Plans need to be made for an unexpected night stay. The list goes on an on. Since I was just wrapping up vacation, I was sad to have to wait another day to get home but was overall pretty chill compared to some others who might have just been starting their vacation. I waited in line for hours. I was shuffled to another line for another hour. The process wasn’t as smooth as it could have been but I survived. 

Now the first positive I celebrated when heading to my mystery accommodations was the sunset. It was beautiful and I wouldn’t have seen it, if my plans weren’t altered. The second positive was I had a great burger for dinner before heading off to the motel I knew nothing about. The rest of the adventure was…

This was a field trip. A time capsule to the 70s. Just an interesting experience all together. The main lobby door was closed which seemed weird upon arrival. We had to enter the side door. The reason was the holiday nutcracker display took up the whole lobby. I can’t remember the exact count but it was a massive amount of poinsettias, nutcrackers, little trees and many interesting holiday decorations.  The lobby was old-fashioned and somehow I felt like I was stuck in a time warp.

I even felt like the arrival to the locked main door was the onset of bad things to follow. A horror movie of sorts. What would be lurking around the next corner. Was the lobby going to be smoke filled like lobbies were in the 70s? Was the clerk going to have that raspy smoker voice? Would I get a key on a weird wooden keychain?

My room was on the main floor. Literally in the parking lot. Glass door facing the lot and the road. The wall to the outside was glass. I felt like anytime a vehicle was going to just come crashing through the glass into my bed! The pool was in the basement of the lobby. This was extra odd to me. There was a sign in sheet to enter and exit. I really wanted to explore but it seemed so odd I just didn’t. A hidden pool beneath the motel stuck in the 1970s. Oh I had too many questions in my mind.

The interior. Maybe it was stylish to some but I felt trapped in 1976. The lack of everything modern. The outlets or lack thereof. The heating system. The decor. It was like a carousel of progress broke in 1976 and I was just stuck in a time warp. The TV might be the only accessory updated since 2000. The picture below shows a glimpse of the bathroom. Clean of course but style was definitely outdated. The half tiled wall. The marbled sink. The plaster-type wall surface. The sink handle gave me flashbacks to childhood. It was all just too creepy for me.

I just need to circle back to the glass door and wall of glass. My entrance way to heaven or hell. It was bare to me. Left me feeling exposed. Vulnerable to a break in. Paranoid for a vehicle crash. It was cold to the touch. The outside temperature was in the teens that night adding to the ambiance. Then there was the sound. The opening and closing. Not just of my glass door, but others. Above me. Next to me. Down the way. 

Clack. Slam. Vroom. The sliding. The slamming. The clacking. Is it locked? The checks. The rechecks. It seemed to go on for hours. Above me. Beside me. Near me. Click. Click. Click. Sirens they zip by here and there. The sounds of whispers on the walkway. The whisper grew louder and they were in the room with you.  The environment was full of adventure if you were just still. Lord knows I was still waiting for death to come crashing through my glass doorway!

The cars outside. Zipping. Zooming. Screeching. Too close for comfort. The still of the night finally arrived and I faded off into dreamland. I absolutely never would have picked this motel as my accommodation. I definitely won’t be back. I don’t see myself making a recommendation unless someone wants to relive that time era.

I had a lived experience. I wrote about it. The experience was not my favorite but I lived to tell about it. I wouldn’t hit the redo button but I can definitely giggle about many moments lived. Embrace the unknown, unexpected and down right weird moments of your life.

Cheers to the unexpected days life brings. This may also be my second or third excursion this year to a desolate airport. So many differences in each experience of the wee hours of night or early morning at the airport with a handful of people before the hustle and bustle of day arrives. 

The photo above was my last airport picture. I enjoyed sitting by the warmth of the fireplace with the holiday decorations and gathering my thoughts before hopping on my now fixed plane to journey home.

perspective

Good Bye 2023

2chicksandapen

What a year. So many cool things came up on my radar. Many fun adventures. A few trials. A few set backs. Many lessons learned. All in all it was a good year.

I learned to play pickleball in 2023. A new sport for me. A new social group. I very much enjoyed picking up this new hobby. I even enjoyed getting beat by old people my first season in a league. Maybe a little humbling too.

For 2024 I’m spending time with the 1sE app a friend recommended. Basically documenting a second a day for the year. A picture or video or combo. Can’t wait to see what makes the reel. Seems like a fun way to rewind 2024 a year from now. 

I got a chance to travel a good bit in 2023. Spent time on the road with different travel mates adding to the adventures.  Travel by plane. Travel by car. Travel by RV. The variety kept things spicy. Some planned in advance. Some spur of the moment. Each memorable. The travel bug that hit in 2023 will continue in 2024. I’m feeling the need to explore on my horizon. New places. New experiences. Checking out the hidden gems along the way to each destination. Being present in my life journey while I’m able to enjoy it.

Fitness has been in the forefront in 2023 and will continue in 2024, adding a running goal for my special focus and long term goal. In 2023 I chipped away at 1 million meters by row, bike or ski erg and now I need a new focus. I was recently asked about the why of my long term goal. Since I have a short attention span it’s important for me to have a long term goal to chip away at. I might have to break it up into bite-sized pieces or add variety to get it done, but it helps me overall to have that focus in the background. Somehow I’m able to mirror my life and fitness balance in similar ways. Chipping away seems to work for me.

Friendship has been valued in 2023. Through the high and lows of life it’s good to have a solid group of trusted friends to help you sort through the chaos. Friends are by choice. Some stay awhile and others fade. I’ve seen friends fall ill, needing support while I remain healthy. I hope to continue to fuel myself so that I may continue to be a good friend to others in times of need. i don’t expect much in return but it’s nice to know I do have good friends in my corner. I plan to spend 2024 nurturing relationships that are meaningful.

Reflecting on the year was bitter sweet for me. I focused on thankfulness and let others know how valued they were. I wrote sweet notes. I gave away funny keepsakes. I made a point to impact others as the year closed out. It felt good all around. I even played Cupid in 2023 and the couple is still going strong. Such a fun and unexpected part of 2023.

Feeling free as I roll into 2024. Free of baggage weighing me down. Free to explore and enjoy life and its beauty. One day at a time. I guess I may choose to write a little along the way too. Just a glimpse of my reflection from me to you.  Wishing you all the best in 2024 and beyond.