Marathon Inspiration Mantras

What are some of the things you say to yourself when things get tough during a run? Sometimes I say, "Stop being a wimp." Other days its, "You've got this" or simply, "Keep going!"

This is SO adorable. I say this to myself a LOT during my races! You can do it!! You're doing it!!

Kristin Armstrong's Circle of Life at Runner's World

I loved this article so much, I had to share it! Enjoy, and I'll be back with another story of my own soon...

Kristin Armstrong's Circle of Life at Runner's World

Brooks Superfan

I have no idea how I missed posting this commercial. I found it about a year ago, and it is hands down my favorite running commerical of all time. The Brooks Superfans commercials are ALL fantastically funny, but this one in particular is the tops. Brooks Running Superfans - Ultramarathon

Since discovering that commercial, I have become an increasingly bigger fan of Brooks Running. This is a company that is exclusively about running and runners. And they "get" it. Every Brooks product I have tried so far has been spot on excellent, from shoes to shirts to tights. Nothing binds, chafes, rides up or otherwise messes up your run. I was lucky enough to be selected recently to be a Brooks "wear tester." I can tell you I was so excited I almost knocked myself out of my chair when I got the email that they'd chosen me. Basically, they've sent me a pair of test shoes for me to run in. I get to critique them to my heart's content to help them tweak the shoe. When I'm done, I have to send them back so they can "study" them, and if they don't have to cut them up as part of their research, they'll send them back and let me keep them. These are shoes that ONLY wear testers have gotten to see and wear so far, and that has me totally geeking out. As if that weren't enough, they sent me a technical t-shirt to boot!
Yes, I am gushing. But how exciting is it that a running shoe company actually cares about what I think about their shoes? That they want MY measly opinion?! That has me hooked on Brooks. And the fact that they know how much runners love new gear that they sent me a tech shirt, too, just proves my point. They know runners. And I have become the next Brooks Superfan.

6 Amazing Reasons

There are so many reasons why you should get out there and run. Here are a few.

1. It will transform your body. You will build muscles you didn't know you had. You will develop incredible cardiovascular fitness. You will lose weight. You will amaze yourself.

2. It will transform your resolve and ability to set goals. When you set a goal, and work hard to achieve it, it feels incredible. Running and training for a race (ANY RACE!) is a great way to learn to set goals, deal with issues that come up, and keep pushing forward. You will be tested. Things will not always go the way your training plan scheduled it, so you will learn to work around problems. You will amaze yourself again.

3. It will transform your confidence. Acheiving a goal is a huge boost to your confidence. You learn that you CAN do things that at some point you thought were too hard or even impossible. This will overflow into your life outside running. You will begin to realize that you can set your sights higher and achieve bigger goals. You will be completely amazed with yourself.

4. It will transform others. Whoever is within your circle of influence, your spouse, your kids, your extended family, your friends, will all see the amazing transformations you've undergone and they will want to know what happened and how they, too, can transform themselves. The number of people you know that suddenly decide to start running after observing you will amaze you.

5. It will transform your atittudes. Regular exercise can help ease stress, emotional strain, and even help cure mild depression. It's amazing the change in perspective that can come with a good run. It can leave you feeling mentally refreshed and renewed. Studies show that endorphins really do make you feel happier, and adults that exercise on a regular basis have been proven to be generally happier overall than those that don't. You will feel amazing.

6. It will transform your energy level. Though it might seem counterintuitive, people that run in the mornings have reported having more energy throughout the day. I can totally attest to this. Even though I might get up an hour or even two hours earlier than I normally would in order to go for an early run, I generally have more energy and enthusiasm to get through the rest of the day in spite of having less sleep. If you're feeling tired, maybe you just need to go for a run. You'll notice an amazing difference.

Glycerin and Geekdom!!!

New shoes always make me giddy. Seriously. When I grow up, I want to be a running shoe tester. Is that a job? Recently, it was the Mizuno Wave Rider 13 that I was crazy over. A few weeks of Physical Therapy after my marathon, however, I was convinced that a needed a different pair. Not that anything was wrong with the Mizunos, but alternating between a couple of shoes is a good change-up for the body. At least that's what my therapist said.

Enter the Brooks Glycerin 8. These shoes have become my new favorites, and not only because they are the NEWEST new shoes I have, either. As comfortable as my Mizunos have been, I still experienced some toe numbness and twinges of pain from time to time over the course of a run over about 8 miles. I figured this was 'normal' because it's a problem I always seemed to experience at some point during a long run with all the shoes I've had. It happened LESS with the Mizunos and overall they are awesomely comfortable and light. However, so far, at up to almost 9 miles, I have no numbness at all with the Glycerin. In fact, while the heel fits super snug (and I'm prone to heel slippage with a narrow heel), the toebox is roomy to the point of being luxuriant for me. It feels amazing. Not only that, but the cushioned, springy ride is unlike anything else I've run in to date. In short, I LOVE these shoes for my long runs.

That's not to say that the Mizunos are going to be packed away anytime soon. I wore them for a five mile run today and was reminded again of how much I like them for their light weight and amazing arch support. I love them, too, for my shorter, weekday runs.

I have to laugh at myself for getting to this point. I now have shoes for short runs, shoes for long runs. What's worse is, I am more crazy about my running shoes than I am about the adorable red slingback pumps and the gorgeous chocolate brown stiletto heels that I once used to drool over.  I have convinced myself, once again, what a geeked out runner chick I've really become.

Onward once more!!

This past Saturday, our long run was 7 miles. I have been starting to get nervous with the miles building up that my hip would start to bother me again, but so far, it's okay. The odd thing is, it actually feels BETTER when I run. It will hurt AFTER, but during the run it feels fine. I would actually go so far as to say that it feels best when I'm running. Afterwards, I'm just icing it and stretching it a lot and so far it has been tolerable when it does start to feel sore. I'm excited that my miles are getting up again, and getting really excited for the upcoming races! Doing two on consecutive weekends is going to be a big challenge, but both of them are going to be FUN events and I'm looking forward to doing them with good friends.
I'm ready to push onward and leave my days of injury behind me!!

I run to be...

Recently someone asked me how I find time to run. It's not easy, I said, I have to actually make time for it on the calendar. Sometimes it's a struggle to fit in a run, but I somehow manage to work it out. Then he asked me a seemingly innocent question. Why? Why do I bust my tail to find the time, make arrangements for the kids, get up at THE crack of dawn, miss out on good sleep and generally inconvenience myself just to get in a run?

I had to think about that. I'll get to what I finally replied in a minute, but first let me say that the upcoming Nike Women's Marathon has a "fill in the blank" motto this year. It's "I Run to Be..." Each runner is supposed to fill in their own words. It got me thinking even more about why I do what I do.

I run to be strong. Running has made me fitter than I've ever been in my life. It's helped me keep that weight I lost a few years ago off. It's made me realize that I can accomplish ANYTHING with a little hard work and self-discipline.

I run to be still. Yeah, I know, it seems contradictory. My body is moving, true, but so many times when I'm running is when I have a chance to let my mind and my soul be quiet. Some days my mind is going just as fast as my legs (probably faster!) but I love the days when I can push everything out of my head like I'm clearing a table of dirty dishes off with one swipe of my arm. Don't think. Just run. It's a peace that I don't get often as a busy mom.

I run to be spiritual. There are days when I run that all I do is pray. It's an amazing quiet time for me, when I'm able to focus without distractons on all the people and things that I'm praying about, and I can truly feel and express exhiliration and thankfulness for all the blessings I've been given.

I run to be a good example. My kids started life with an overweight mom who didn't eat well or exercise, and that's something I wanted to remedy. Now I hope they are seeing the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle. I truly get excited when they want to run with me...I want them to learn to feel joy and strength in moving their bodies.

I run to be a better person. Running clears my head. It gives me quiet time. It gives me peace. Yes, there are days when I don't want to run. I feel tired or under the weather or just don't feel like dragging kids to the gym or a sitter. But when I focus on how I'll feel when I finish the run, I never can take a pass. I am more patient with others. I'm kinder. I'm more able to cope with stress when I run. I feel GOOD. I feel sane. I like the person I am when I run. I am the best version of myself then. Running just makes me...better.

In the end, that's finally what I answered when asked why I do it. I run to be a better person. Why do you do it?