And the Winners are...

In between clients I wrote the names of those that did their ABC's of running on little pieces of paper. I then put them in a cup and gave cup to "Abigail" asking her to draw 2....
MICHELLE R
DANIELLE
Those are the name "Abigail" pulled.

MY Favorite letters were:
Michelle R: U-UNDERWARE...Underware Michelle R.??????!!!!
Amber: P-Prayer...Love this!
Michelle B: L-"Lose Yourself"...This was my training song for my first Marathon...L-Love it!
Danielle: U-"UP Up Up"...I laughed till I almost cried reading this. This was what we said to each other each time we were running UP another hill at Kensington 2 weeks ago!

Thanks for playing along with me..I had so much fun reading your answers.
If you could email me your addresses that would be great. I will get the gift cards out right away.

Anita

Husky Roadrunners

Even though I was not running at Indian Springs I still have the number 8 in my head. I headed to the gym determined to do what had to be done. To be honest most of the time I love running but sometimes it is a chore. Today it was a chore. At 6:30am I knew I was digging deep when I was out of coffee.
I quickly told myself  "You do what You HAVE TO DO Anita." It was not an option. RUN. Do not entertain any other thought. Just RUN. No excuses. RUN.

When I got to the gym I signed up for the INCLINE Class. Before the class I did abs and upper body. The Incline class was pretty cool only it didn't run a full hour. I could barely get a mile in and I would accidentally hit the pause button and shut down my TM. UGH. I was getting so irritated with myself and the TM because it would not start back up and everyone was in a rhythm but me! The instructor gave me her TM and once my legs followed her instructions the sweat started to pour! Unfortunately the class only gave me 5.5 miles so I hit track to top off my 8 miler.

Tim Hortons was the direction my car headed as I pulled out of the gym. Coffee..oh sweet nectar from the gods!

Next Thursday is the launch day for our running club. Husky Roadrunners! I am coaching the Intermediate group which is 10-12 minute miles. Anyone can join, for 40$ you get a club running shirt, coaching, a group run once a week and your registration to HA5K!
I am really looking forward to the group. I have about 5 people in my group, it is actually the smallest of the 4 groups!

Hmm..I think I should throw a training tip out there...
TREADMILL Training:
A lot of my running buddies are die hard outdoor runners. I have Michigan running friends who have not ran outside for 2 years and this year that all changed.

• Adjust the incline on TM to 1 to 2 percent at your regular pace
• Or adjust the speed by 10-15 seconds to make up the lack of wind resistance you might get while running outside. 
• Adjust your speed as you feel fatigued on the TM. Often times runners get injured because they let the belt move them and do not change their speed when they are tired. This adds stress to your joints and if you are prone to plantar fasciitis TM running can enhance that condition.
• If you have to hold on then you should slow down! 

LAST DAY FOR CONTEST!!!  What's your ABC's of Running? Share your ABC's and get a chance to win a gift card to Starbucks!! I am picking 2 winners!!

Anita

STRENGTH

RUNDOWN:
Distance: 10miles
Pace: 7:54
Time: 1:19


Even though I look like a Smurf I have always thought of myself as a Super Hero.
I have never looked at myself as weak, inadequate, incapable or wimpy.
Now I have entertained them for dinner a few times but I have never let them stay too long.

I have always thought of myself as STRONG, COURAGEOUS,TENACIOUS and MIGHTY.
To look at me though..Yeah, I look like a TWERP! 

I have used the adversity I grew up in,the challenges that have been placed before me and the multitude of mistakes I have made to grow and build from.

I have used Mantra all my life thinking:
"What doesn't kill you only makes you STRONGER."
"Never Never, Never Quit."
"Failure is NOT an Option"
"God is my Strength."
"God never gives you more than you can handle...Therefore God Knows YOU can get through this."

AND YET....
The last 2 days I feel so weak and defenseless. It has been 4 months since the loss of Ariel. I feel like I am falling apart the last 2 days. I know I will be fine. But I feel like I am just dying inside.

I have always gotten what I want. I have tried to be obedient to God, I seek him every part of the day and night, I pray, I try to be a good person, I try to give, forgive, love, and all the things he asks of me. I am far from perfect but God has usually supplied me with most of my dreams and more.

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto to me and seek me and I will show you great and mighty things with thou knowest not." I have adopted this verse and God really has done this for me." 

I feel like a spoiled brat. I am kicking and screaming and nothing I can do will ever bring Ariel back. Nothing, nothing nothing,
I am not strong enough to fight for her.
I can not run fast enough to catch her.
I can not pray any harder, plead anymore or be any more obedient.
I feel like a failure.

Around and around the track I went. 6 miles, 7 miles my legs were on autopilot. I tried to run hard to feel the physical pain and not the heart ache. I wanted to wipe the sweat off my brow not the tears down my cheeks.
I could feel my stomach unfold.."No God, please. No more tears, not right now, please God."

I tried to teach Ariel STRENGTH. If you could see our messages back and forth. I always told her to "Stay Strong."
"Believe in YOURSELF and what God has placed in you."
"We are More than Conquerors."
She would come to me with problem after problem.
"Aunt Nita, how do I......?  Aunt Nita, How did YOU...."
I would share my stories, from growing up in Dysfunction Junction to my marriage and all the chaos 16 years can birth and everything in between. She always wanted to know about the Obstacles, the Challenges, the Heartache and How I got Through.
What would she think of me now?  I was drained. I felt so weak.
I miss our talks so much. I miss having her inquiring. She showed me how God carried me through everything.

I am not sure what unleashed my heart the last couple days....
My other niece "Sarah" called about how she colored her own hair, that could have been it. I was the only one that EVER touched Ariels hair. She trusted NO one!
I had to go to Hurley 2 days in a row..this brought back terrible terrible memories. I don't know how Andy does it working there.
I picked up my necklace from the jewelers for Ariels hair...that probably didnt help..all this in the same 2 days...
And like the cherry on top the song Blessing by Laura Story.
I have not recovered real well.


Dear Lord, Hear my cries, Comfort this brokenheart. When I am confused and searching remind me that you will give me peace in my storm.  When my heart wanders off please Lord reign me in. Set me under your arms, Wipe my tears, Comfort me and Forgive me for my selfish thoughts.
And Thank You Lord..Thank you so much for every perfect moment I had with her.

When I am weak He is Strong.

The ABC's of RUNNING!

 I thought I would have some fun and list My ABC"s.

A. Anita
B. Boston Marathon
C . CRIM Festival of Races
D. "Danielle" 
E. Endurance
F. Fartleks
G. Garmin
H. Hansons
I. Indian Springs
J. Juice Plus
K. Knees
L. Long Run
M. Meb Keflezighi
N. Nike
O. Oatmeal
P. Playlist
Q. Quotes
R. Ryan Hall
S. Stretching
T. Tempo 
U. Under Armor
V. Vomit
W. Wicking
X. X Country
Y. Yogurt
Z. Zeal
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday Madness ...Seriously!
My Stupid thyroid pummeled me with a tired day. I woke up at 6 am no problem however by 11:30 I hit my wall! I tried to fight it but eventually I gave in about 12. I am sure yesterdays run was part of the equation. I laid down for a quick power nap that resulted in full on drool!
Austin woke me up and it took everything in me to pull it together. I get so angry when I get that tired. I made the boys some lunch and we headed up to GAC.
I really enjoy being with the boys even when they fight and argue.

I had a great run at the Mothership.
400 meter repeats.
1 mile warm up, light run
3 miles: 400m Repeats..I didn't have a watch to track my repeats so I ran till I wanted to PUKE, whatever that pace was!
Run Jog Run with another mile cool down.
I hit the Cold plunge for 10 minutes and in my miserable state I got a text from "Amber" a friend of mine who is joining a running club I am helping with.
"Amber" purchased her first pair of RUNNING SHOES and was so excited..I  jumped on her magic carpet and road that in to finish my cold plunge!

"Ambers" New Shoes!! Brooks!! 

Everything seemed to be recovering till I got a call from Andy who had a flat tire up in Flint and I had to go get him as dinner was ready to come out.
Poor Andy.

On the Bright side it is only MONDAY!! We have the rest of the week to recover! 


I have a little Game for you! I would love to see your ABC's of Running! If you are currently following my blog AND reply with your ABC's of running I will put the responses in a drawing and give out 2 5$ GIFT Cards to Starbucks! I will do the drawing SUNDAY the 24th. And drop the cards in the mail first thing NEXT Monday!!

Anita

Hurt hurts no matter how you Cut IT!

The weather may have said sunny and 21 but it was more like PARTLY sunny and with the WIND CHILL: 13 degrees!

Every mile was so difficult today. At mile 7 I was doing pretty good staying on pace but the icy wind had me really fighting back some mental demons.
I didn't bring any water with me and I brought some chomps but my hands were so cold I couldn't get to them. Every movement was effort, conscious effort.

When I get this cold my brains shut off. I can hardly think. Any thinking that is done at this point of a long run is usually coming from my body pleading with me to STOP.  Any other thoughts coming in or going out are usually drowned out by extreme duress.

I had asked a friend of mine if he would pick up the last leg of my run with me. . "Jeff" said he would but as I left to run I had not heard from him to confirm. I left him a message telling him where I would meet him and was really hoping to see him. "Jeff" is  quite a bit older but  has ran with Andy and I quite a few times so I feel comfortable running with him. BUT I am not one who runs with guys/men. I am pretty conservative.....


HURT Hurts... 

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

During my run I was comparing this miserable long run to other runs that I have done that hurt just as equally yet different.
Today's 16 mile run hurt. I wanted to give up as I came up yet another wind blasted hill. Then I thought of those who may have ran different distances yet  felt the same pain or have had a difficult work out and felt pain also.
My pain doesn't weigh more because I ran more miles...It is just as relevant to them.

It was a reminder that even in LIFE we can be quick to judge other people hardships based on OUR Experience or our Pain.

Hurt and Pain are very powerful. They are twins that go everywhere together. In our hurts and pains we can become isolated and convince ourselves "Nobody knows how I feel."  And as TRUE as that MIGHT be the other question is "Do YOU know HOW others FEEL?"
Pain and hurt can make us self centered and judgmental.

While I was running I reminded myself of the challenges that others have had. I let that INSPIRE me while I ran. I really wanted to wobble in my own miserable state. I wanted to remind myself how cold and tired and beat up I was but I knew that that would only make my JOURNEY worse.

I knew my tank was empty and I needed some help getting me the finish. As I came up on the place I was supposed to meet "Jeff"  I looked up and he was running towards me!  I was so grateful because I was running on fumes. 


No matter your distance, your pace or your work out...CONGRATS! You accomplished it. Some of you had some hurdles to jump through to even get to your work out today, great job staying focused and not giving up.
Some of you may have been beat up today during your run or work out..but you still did it and did the best you could..Great JOB!
Some of you may have hurts and pains on a different scale. Stay focused..The only way o get through is to get through...

The RUNDOWN:
Distance: 16:42
Pace: 8:46
Time: 2:24

"Angie" at my work brought in this CHIA Pudding. It was really good!  It has the consistency and texture of tapioca pudding.

CHIA Pudding

1. 2  cups almond milk 
2. 1/2 cup Coconut milk
3. 3 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
4. 1/2 cup chia seeds (3 ounces)
5. 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest or Cinnamon  

In a 1-quart jar, combine the almond milk with the agave nectar. Close the jar and shake to combine. Add the Chia seeds and lemon zest to the jar, then close and shake well. Refrigerate until very thick and pudding-like, at least 4 hours or overnight, shaking or stirring occasionally. Serve the pudding in bowls.
 

NOTES: I used Honey instead of Agave Nectar and Cinnamon rather than Lemon Zest and I put a dash of vanilla

Anita~

Grateful.

Valentines Day. I didn't think anything about it when I was packing my running bag this morning. The only thing I thought about was how much fun my run was going to be with "Danielle".

  "Hills are speedwork in disguise."
-Frank Shorter

Today we were changing our location to Kensington Metro Park.
Kensington is a 8 mile loop that will put hair on your chest. This route will make you talk less and breathe more. I LOVE IT...but only with a partner!

It was absolutely beautiful as we were rounding the lake. The lake was frozen with spots of land peaking through the ice. The trail was close to the water. With the frozen lake to our left and a steep hill on our right we felt like we were in a Fairytale. The trail wound back and forth with snow dancing around us, the scenery looked majestic.

"Danielle" and I did our fair share of huffing and puffing but neither one of us were complaining.
You couldn't help but see God's beauty. Even in these harsh conditions it was still all HIS design and it was perfect.

Everything aligned wonderfully our run.
I was grateful for the cold crisp air.
I was grateful for the icy snowflakes that drenched my clothing.
I was grateful for the hills that stumbled over themselves, engaging me to push PASS my limits.
I was even Grateful for the sound of my breath as it heaved from my lungs reminding me I was still moving!

But what I was most grateful for was "Danielle".  As we were running along the curve of the lake I saw a guy ice fishing and commented to her. "Danielle, that guy is crazy to be out there fishing." "Danielle" responded "He is probably thinking the same thing about us!"

I take great pleasure in other people VICTORIES. I love playing the cheerleader! And today was one of those days.
Our course was more difficult than our normal Indian Springs route and "Danielle" ran her best since her hamstring tear back in June!

THE RUNDOWN
Time: 1:08
Pace: 8:39
Distance: 8:01

"You can never run a hill too hard; you will collapse before hurting it."
-Adam Born 

I ate better today. Started my morning off with Grandmas Oatmeal and continued eating fruits and vegetables all day.
For dinner we had herb crusted salmon with a spinach and shrimp sauce and all the sides.
It was our Valentines dinner.
And at my place setting rested 2 gifts!!

Andy Got me a BIB Folio for all my BIBS!! SOO COOL!!

One from the Boys and 1 from Andy.
It was the sweetest Valentines.  I not only enjoyed getting gifts but it was equally as fun getting independent hugs from the boys when they found their cards and goodies.

Today was a good day.
I have a lot to be grateful for.

Happy Valentines Day. Even if you did not have a Valentines..Did you take time to Love yourself?
Did you treat yourself to something special? I have a client who says we should learn how to "Romance Ourselves.":  I like that!

Anita

Productivety

I have been very productive today..But it is all catching up with me now!

I had debated on whether or not to go to the gym because the forecast was looking pretty good today.
But I had a neighbor that needed my help in the afternoon so I opted to head up to GAC.

Last week I was in the "Hurt Locker" for several days. I really did not want to be sore for any other reason than running so I also opted out of Spin class also. 

I like to do a tough run every other week. This week I was on.
REPEATS.
I hit the track for a easy 2 miles. It felt so good around the track..I felt so good. I had a bit of dread knowing what was ahead for me but knew it was what HAD to be done.

2 weeks ago when I did repeats I was quite a bit slower but I did more of them. Not as effective.

Today after my warm up I punched in the numbers 9.0 on the treadmill and felt my legs start to turn over. 
My arms moved swift back and forth. I could see my hands as they took turns rising and falling.
6x800m repeats@ a 6:40 pace.
I couldn't wait for my walk break after the first 400 meters. I would just crank the music up louder in my ears and  purposely plant my feet with confidence that come Hell of high water I was going to finish!
Other than my nose running as fast as my legs everything went really good. Blowing a SNOT ROCKET is not proper etiquette so I had a handful of tissues I kept wiping my nose with. I felt so good that I topped my distance off to 7 miles back around the track as a cool down.

I got so much accomplished today..but because I was so busy I forgot to eat. Not a good day in the nutrition department.
However,  I made it to Kohl's, Starbucks, Sam's, 2 hours of basement organizing, picked up kids, hit Michael's, Target, mopped floors on hands and knees, vacuumed, made dinner, Valentines cupcakes for Alec AND enjoyed the ending of my night catching Sundays episode of Waking Dead!!
Why can't every day be this PRODUCTIVE???

I also spoke to some of my favorite people, Sarah, Becca, my brother and mom~
GRATEFUL. Thank you God for a Incredible Day. 

"If you spend to much time thinking about a thing you will never get it done." Bruce Lee

Anita