Begin Again and Again and Again...

The fabulous Jess of Run With Jess , hosted a virtual 5k this past week.  Today is the last day, so hurry and get that run in!!  After your run, treat yourself to a cupcake!!  I'd love to say that I got my run in, but... I walked it.  No worries!  Jess is an equal opportunity virtual run/walk/crawl host!! If you've read my last post, you'll know I was just getting back into the running groove after a summer hiatus.  Well, that ended five weeks ago when I injured my back.  I've been out of commission and am just now slooowly working back into being active.  So, my 5K was a walk, not a run, but it was glorious!!  I decided to take my favorite trail and enjoy the beautiful day that Southern Wisconsin was dishing up yesterday. The trail is open at parts, and covered with leaves and down tree branches in others.  My favorite part however is:  The downhill that leads to the creek!!  So pretty.  A little slick due to ...

Day three of my running plan is in the books!! Go me.  I really have missed running! Weird, right?  ;)  Trail running is definitely my cup of tea.  I am kicking myself that I won't be running in the North Face Endurance Challenge ! Next year. So, I am in the market for a good, stabilization, running shoe.  Any suggestions?  I feel like I need a little more sole than my current shoes. I'm also in the market for a new diet... I need something that I can live with for life.  I've tried most diets, so maybe what I'm looking for is a new way of eating.  One of my friends swears by Paleo, but I'm not convinced I could do it for life. If only... :) Trish Oh yeah, GO PACK GO!!!

I have not run since June, when I did the LoziLu Mud Run.  Whoa.  I could give the laundry list of whys, but let's just say that running has NOT been a priority.  That's the bottom line really.  It has to be a priority.  It has to been planned, scheduled and treated with the respect it deserves.  Respect the Run.  Respect your ability to run. Plan it.  Do it.  And no matter how many times it takes, you Begin Again.  I am going to follow the 5K training plan that I used to train for the LoziLu Mud Run.  It is a 12 week plan that includes strength exercises and was developed for LoziLu by Orange Shoe Fitness . I have also been doing yoga pretty religiously and I plan to continue with that.  Yoga gives me such a since of peace and it is super secret strength training ;)  You don't even know you're building strength!  I can plank with the best of them now and it's all due to yoga!! Unfortunately, I haven't dropped a p...

Recently,  I learned about a new sports watch for women (settle down boys, they make a model for dudes too ;).  This awesome watch is from Bia Sport .  It's pretty sweet, with lots of cool options not currently available from other watches.  However, I can't buy it.  :( You see, the watch isn't is not in production yet.  Bia is trying to raise the money to produce the watch via Kickstarter .  Check out the video here:  http://kck.st/LghrH4  and you'll see why I think it rocks!  I am super excited about this watch and I hope Bia can raise enough money!  I'm totally a backer and you could be one of the cool people too, with a new Bia watch on your wrist before your friends!! Peace. Trish

Mezamashii Run Project Click on the link above and you will see that Mizuno Running is doing something amazing.  Rather than throwing money at an ad campaign, they are putting shoes on runners' feet.  Genius.  By giving away thousands of pairs of shoes to runners everywhere, Mizuno is igniting not only a spark related to their shoes, but perhaps reuniting runners with why they started running in the first place! Simply go to http://www.mizunousa.com/mezamashiirunproject and click on "Apply for an invite." A friend of mine just got in -- the contest just started so there aren't loads of people who have applied, so there's not much competition right now -- so do it quick and your chances are very good! Good Luck! Trish

Yesterday I "ran" the LoziLu Women's Mud Run .  I had lots of fun!  It was super hot, but there was a nice breeze, a creek trek, water slide and plenty of aid stations.  I have to say that the water slide was probably the best obstacle I have ever encountered at a mud run! The reason I say "ran" is because I only ran about half a mile.  It was just too hot and humid and those conditions combined with my asthma made me feel like I was breathing through a straw!  However, I have no shame in saying I walked most of it.  I finished and completed every obstacle and that is what truly matters to me! The course layout was such that Mike was able to see almost all of the obstacles.  He missed the creek trek, although I'm sure he would have taken great pleasure in seeing me waist high in creek water ;) (I'm not a fan of water I can't see the bottom of !) LoziLu puts on a great Mud Run and a percentage of the proceeds are donated to support le...

One of my most recent mixed media pieces, above.  I love to create these pieces, sew, make collages, paint, some glass work and I'm trying to teach myself to knit and crochet.  I also do resistance training and... I'm RUNNING again!!!  All of the above has been on the back burner for the last couple of months.  What else have I been doing? Couldn't tell ya!  I've been busy with kids' activities, life in general, BUT, it's time to refocus on me.  I've been a little crabby lately too.  I think refocusing on me will help.  I will be happier, my kids will be happier, Mike will be happier, my home will be happier!! Runners beware, there's a new old gal on the street (trail)!!  :) I'm sooo happy to be back!