TIGER FIT!Nutrition, Moves & Motivation!

Just Keep Going!

The glory is not in the finish but in the journey. You prove more to yourself by how you prepare than by what you do on that one day you finally race.

After I finished my second half marathon, I felt quite victorious. It was a Chariots of Fire moment! Okay, picture one with frames slowed down even more dramatically to match my pace. Haha! No shame here, I finished it! So put down that Dorito bag and let me tell you how I finished my third half marathon!!! Rock n’ Roll LA!

Why so victorious? My time was almost identical to my last! I enlisted in my second race almost immediately after my first ever. I began my new schedule with shin splints. Next, someone in my life was constantly mocking how slow I ran. Whether for spitefully or for fun, it hurt just the same.  I myself laugh when I think, “Who am I to run so far with my cardiovascular limitations?”  To top it off, my high hopes with this ‘great’ guy I was seeing caused me to foolishly delay inviting anyone to cheer me on, hence I had no family, no friends and of course not my new ex to greet me at the finish. (Who’s fault is that? Got it.) Therefore, showing up for that race was ever so victorious.  I had to be true to my own word despite all these discouragements. I got a costume, woke on time and finished with a smile on my face.

This year, two of my most inspiring workout buddies proposed we should do a race. These were friends who recently had their first child and yet, were among the few voices that despite my speed cheered me on while I trained for both my races last year.  The LA Rock n’ Roll Half, again? Well, I did it before…So I signed up again thrilled to run with my own “Gym Class Heroes.”

Charlie is a rescue puppy I gifted myself when I completed this race last year.  Now, he was nearly a year and I could not wait for us to do more than just stairs and long walks. He would be my running buddy!

Following Hal Higdon’s training schedule for Novices II, I would run 3-5 mile runs on 3 days  a week and do one long run on Sunday. Every weekend, I added a mile. To condition my puppy’s heart, I would do walk/runs 2 miles around a hillier route after work two or three days a week.

It was surprising to me how strong my heart had become! I would always run farther than my set distance on the weekends and I found that I just felt like running with only stop light breaks after work with Charlie. Charlie made it up to about 8 miles before the heat and distances would make him go bonkers. So…we eventually just stuck to after work runs.

Little did I realize, running with him was like running with a 40lb weight. When I finally ran without him, I just flew!

Einstein once said that doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result was madness.  My new goal was to increase my speed yet this schedule only made me comfortable with the distance. It so happened that the London Olympics were on and I was mesmerized by the physiques of runners such as Allyson Felix and Lolo Jones. It dawned on me: Get STRONGER! That’s it!

My morning began with a Jillian Michael video and then, I did my assigned run, stretch or rest. After work, I strength trained with worked out with another buddy as well as began attending a Saturday bootcamp class.

Running and strength training paid off! I could not believe the difference so I began to photograph and post what I called  my “Water Commercials.” In these photos, I truly feel like a picture of health, strength and determination. There is real post-run sweat on my face and I usually drank the entire bottle afterwards. This was my way of saluting results for every step I had finished for this cut physique!

Hey, I also walked my dog, showered up and chilled out at the pool with intentions to eat something lots more decadent than my daily portions. Running more than 6 miles burns a lot of calories!

My mother came to town, I joined my costumed girlfriends at the start and I set my heart on completing faster than ever before.

Once you run 10 miles, you think that you could probably run anywhere anytime. You figure out what foods work and what foods do not. You have discovered fun ways to mentally drive yourself forward when your body just wants to stop.

Did I stop? Yes! Did I take a bathroom break? Okay, once! What mattered most for me was to keep going.

I went from 3:10 to 2:47! My mother, my friends and even another super inspiring fitness buddy showed up to hug and high five me at the end. Of course, I had a great meal and even hit the pool for a Halloween party.

Sign up, show up and listen to the positive voices- especially that mantra in your own head. Whatever happens, just keep going!