SIX WEEKS

So, No Boundaries is over with until June 14th.  That's when the summer session starts and I plan to move into the 2.0 class.  I'm a bit nervous, because that is about SIX weeks away, and then some! SIX WEEKS, not cool at all.  What am I supposed to do until then?

I'm so afraid I'll loose what took me so hard to gain over the last 12 weeks.  I need a schedule.  I need a routine. I have trained my body with a set running and workout pattern that in the end became a reward to myself.  My kids love routine, and I see what happens when we break it.

"I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME!"

I have talked with Pina and Tanya about meeting up to run along new paths or trails that they know of. I know Melissa and I have chatted about meeting up as well.  However, it all hit me TODAY,when my husband signed me up to run the Corporate Challenge on May 29th. The CC is 3.5 miles.  I'm not scared about it, but I also know that I can't just do things here and there and meet up when people are able to.  I'm going to have to do things on my own. And, I need a game plan!  NOW!  I need something written down, predetermined, so I can follow it as best as I can!  But how do I know what I need to do?

I did some reading and actually pulled up an 8-week 10K training schedule.  The first few weeks look pretty doable, and I'm excited to see where this could take me.  I modified it a little it and even put in exactly what I can do at the JCC to cross train.  I've added my Pilates and Body Pump classes to it, and gave myself 2 rest days like NoBo gave me.  Not only do I think it will put me in great shape for the Corporate Challenge, but it will make me feel pretty confident at the start of No Boundaries 2.0.

I go back and forth if I think about what I'm looking for or how I'm feeling. Am I excited to see what else I can accomplish? And these goals are what is pushing me... OR am I just so scared I'll go back to my old ways and loose the interest or ability to run that I'll do ANYTHING to avoid that.  I hear it happens, and I don't want it to happen to me!  It's like I made more than just a commitment to "learn how to run" at the start of February.  I made a commitment to make sure I keep up with something that I now I can do, and really am starting to love... well, at least really like!

So, with that being said, here goes the next SIX WEEKS.  Look out, I have a whole new schedule to follow!  This girl has her plan of attack, so let's see she can do this!

The Finish Line: Another Beginning

Before I left, I needed to take one last look at that finish line. The kids were ready to leave, my hands were full and family was waiting, but I just needed one last moment to "not forget" what today meant for me! Everything in the past 12 weeks was leading up to this beautiful sight!  As I took this pic, a flood of emotions, memories and excitement almost made me not want to leave. I felt like I had to say something... like "good bye...and thanks.... or hope to see you again soon".  I had dreams leading up to the race about what it would look like, what would it feel like....{outside of the recent nightmares about being late and forgetting my bib}, and I had to take it all in so I could remember everything! What moves me today?  The Finish Line.  Crossing it with so many other No Boundaries participants who were just like me, 12 weeks ago, made it feel like we could do anything.  We were that unified! The Finish Line made us realize how much could change, if you were willing to put in the work. Running beside these new friends, coaches, mentors and everyone else who had that same finish line as their goal was extremely powerful!  Moving!! Today's Finish Line is just the beginning.  Now that I know I can run and that I like it, I'm ready for more. More races this summer, more training, NEW GOALS. "I'll be back to see you, Finish Line."  And I promise to look at you at the end of that race too, so you can push me to set my next goal!

I'm ready

In 48 hours I will have completed my first 5K race, running the entire thing! I can't believe it! 12 weeks ago I'd laugh at you if you said this was possible. That I could actually do this!

This past week I went out with friends and we completed our homework.  I was able to preview the race route with my favorite mentor, Pina and new friend Tanya. We ended up turning down the wrong street and when all was said and done, we ran 3.4 miles. So crazy! That was a personal record for being the longest distance I've ran without stopping to date.

The sun was shining, and the end felt absolutely amazing. I'm glad I was able to preview the course so I wouldn't be so anxious the day of the race. Even though I am confident I can run the distance of a 5k, doing it on Wednesday with friends eased any worries. 

I really can't believe how far I've come in such a short time. I remember the day we previewed the race course.  It was the day of the St.Patty's day race.  We were walking longer than running. It doesn't seem that long ago but the amount of progress everyone in No Boundaries has made is just awesome! 

I'm so excited for Sunday and know that this will be something I'll always remember!!  I'm READY!

I don't get it

I don't get it.  How can I have an amazing, awesome, "oh my God, I love myself" running workout and then, the next day, struggle to run for even 15 minutes????  It's just so different to me.  Like polar opposite experiences!?!  I know, I know... I'm still new.  I can't get over confident just because I've completed new and amazing milestones recently, in such a short span of time.  Just because I could run 3.14 miles yesterday without stopping... {after having a bunch of days off while on vacation} and then  FEEL AMAZING with life... DOES NOT MEAN THAT  I'M THIS RUNNING PRO!!!

I'm glad that I'm confident and determined that I can conquer anything... (again, just because I can run 3 miles without stopping)... I still need to REMEMBER THAT I DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING!

I am still learning about pacing myself, about making sure that I'm following the homework plan, about hydrating, and FORM.  I feel like I have to take a step back and realize, than I'm not {IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM} someone who has this whole running thing "under her belt".

 I have to remember that I exerted my body yesterday and I may need to rest.  I haven't figured out the "formula" that my husband seems to have.  He knows his body inside and out, and I'm still learning mine.  

Apparently, not only do I need to know "how to run"... I need to know "when to run" and "what to eat before I run" and "the amount of running and distance I should do in a given calendar week".... etc.  You get the drift, right?  

Again, I'll go back to the original No Boundaries statement.  "Running changes everything".  I'm finding out that YOU may think you know the obvious changes...but you will stumble upon numerous more, when you least expect it. 

Not Feeling It

Today stunk. I set off to run 3 miles and walked part of the way. My body couldn't get into the rhythm and I was freezing!! I was angry because I was in such a beautiful place but just wasn't feeling the workout. I guess you need to have a bad run at times to appreciate the good ones! Mine was today. Enough said.

It's Happening

The past three days have been incredible.  27 of our closest family and friends have taken over Myrtle Beach's Palms Resort hotel. Three swimming pools that meet up to the sand and the Atlantic Ocean is my view from our penthouse balcony. Waking up to the sound of waves and watching the sun rest on the clouds both am/pm is the prettiest thing around.

We got here on Saturday. Instead of RUNNING THREE MILES with my running family at 8am, I was driving through Virginia with the three most important people in my life. Even though I was headed to my beautiful vacation destination,  I was sad that I was missing out on this humongous milestone with my NoBo friends. I wish that somehow I could have teleported myself to Fleet Feet for just an hour and then return to the passenger seat of my minivan without notice.

A highlight of the morning was passing by Fleet Feet Roanoke. A slight part of me felt "home" as we waited for the light to change green at the intersection outside the store. I wondered if the NoBo Roanoke team was off on their workout, since it was around 830am.

Around 9am, I logged on Facebook to see how the workout went. Tons of friends shared their pride and achievements of the mornings' 3 Mile Run with no walking. I was so proud of them. Happy that THEY DID IT, sad that I missed it. Regardless, I somehow felt connected to them through their posts and made sure to send congratulatory comments their way!

When we finally arrived to our hotel and got settled, I decided that it was my turn to follow suit. I knew that if I was going to get the chance to hit my 3-mile milestone, then I had to go right then.

I laced up my brand new Brooks Adrenaline sneakers, strapped on my hand held water bottle and left the penthouse view for the strip of hotels. My watch was ready and my run was mapped out to 47th Street. 1.5 miles there and back.

IT WAS HOT! About 78 degrees in the 4pm South Carolina Sun made this run even more of a challenge.  I wanted to turn back after 2 minutes and put this workout off until the morning. After 5 minutes my knees were screaming and I already had a layer of sweat across my face. What the heck was I thinking?? 3 miles. No walking. Sure.............

It was easy to doubt myself and come up with every excuse in the book.  But then I thought about my NoBo friends, mentors and Coaches. I thought about how this is what I wanted when I first signed up. I wanted to feel the pain, push through it and NOT GIVE UP even if I hated every single minute of it. I knew the end was going to be monumental. And somehow I could not give in.  Besides, by giving my brain the time to run through all of the negative things,  I was already a half a mile down, and my body had started to get into the motion. 

IT'S HAPPENING. Like a light came on or something. It had just clicked that I was going to succeed. Perfect timing!! I was trained for this step in the workout plan, and the belief of "trusting the program" was staring me in the face.

The hotel in the distance as I was about to finish made me tear up. I checked my watch and realized with the distance I had left to go, could put me at a 5k. The pride I had inside that I could do this gave my over tired self the craziest feeling. IT'S HAPPENING... and I want to remember this feeling every time I want to quit and walk or turn back. 

Today I was able to feel it again. My sister Laura came with me this morning and we put another 5K in the books. I even shaved off about 2 1/2 minutes from Saturday's time, plus our third mile was our fastest! It was great running with her. I loved it.

I'm also happy that I ran alone the first time. I'm glad I could have that "growing inside experience" that pushed me through to the end and it was all on my own.  It made today's run feel not as challenging, even though I felt the same pain as before.  And again, the accomplished feeling afterwards was the best reward! 

IT'S HAPPENING... and I wouldn't change a thing.

Last NoBo workout of the SEASON

As I pulled up to Fleet Feet to gear up for my last NoBo Group Workout, the sun's glow made me know that I was exactly where I needed to be.  The warmth of it's light as I was sitting in my car, eating my Perfect Zone Protein Bar somehow made me feel how far I've come in just three short months.  I'll always remember that gloomy first day of this running program.  That day I was terrified that I wouldn't succeed, and fail at something that all along I knew I could never do.  I was not that girl anymore!  I was the girl that kept up with the program and that was about to run for SEVEN MINUTES with only a 30 second break of walking, for SIX intervals.

I went inside and met up with the friends I have made along the way and we talked about how crazy our workout routine was going to be. Even if we didn't think we could do it, the NoBo program, coaches and mentors assured us that "We've got this".

There was a tiny chill in the air, but we had the sun and we needed to take advantage of this!! "3-2-1, start your watches and RUN".

Like always, the first 10 minutes took a little time to get into the motion.  My brain was telling my body that we were going to be doing this for a while, so "GET USE TO IT ".  Patty, a mentor that I haven't met until tonight, stayed by me the entire time.  It was great listening to her stories while I focused on my nose breathing in air, so I could successfully push it out my mouth. She taught me a new tip.  Along with keeping my arms relaxed, keeping my thumbs up  was a good thing to practice.  It helps the hands to stay open, instead of tensing up!  Another tidbit to throw in my "running treasure chest". I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow, and will not be able to workout with the group for the program's last three workouts.  I'll need to tap into all the words of wisdom as I run so I can stay on track!

At the end of the workout, I was beside myself.  Were the numbers displayed on my Garmin watch accurate??  Really?  This is for real?

During the run, I focused on myself instead of staying with friends who are at a difference pace than me. Patty stayed by my side and helped when I needed to go slower.  She was awesome, but did I expect anything less from a mentor?? (NO!)  Just like Saturday's workout, at the last interval I ran faster than the other's.  I had saved energy and wanted to give it my all for that last leg of the workout.  As I passed other runners and coaches, hearing them yell "You look Great, Divina... keep it up and finish strong" pushed me to the end.  What a great way to end the NoBo workouts.  It felt incredible!!

Even though I'm going to miss the new friends I've made as they finish up the program and workouts, I know it's not goodbye.  I'll see them at the graduation race, and hopefully many will continue on to the second level of the program... LIKE ME!!! At least I'm certain I'll still see the wonderful  mentors and coaches who have been able to get me this far.

From here on out, it's all on me to keep up with the homework leading up our graduation race.  It will be a new and fun experience running in Myrtle Beach and my sister Laura has even said she'd run with me!!  I can't wait.  I better finish packing!!!

Form & Pace

This week was so informational.  Homework went pretty well.  On Monday, a new friend and Mentor, Pina joined me. We met up and ran through the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College.  The sun was shining and it was a new and beautiful scene to workout at.  The race last Saturday gave me so much energy and excitement that I was more pumped to knock out this week's workouts.  

On Wednesday, I joined the Westside Group at Ridgeway for our Group Run.  Another sunny day, and 6 intervals of running for 5 minutes, walking for 2 alongside the canal.  It was beautiful.  At times I was on my own, in the long line of runner's just like me, trying to find themselves, pushing to the next walking interval.  At one point, Coach Kate jogged up next to me.  She said she was watching me run and wanted to know if I felt tension on the tops of my shoulders. It took me by surprise, since the only thing I wasfeeling was the burn inside my body,  while hearing my inner voice chanting "You can do this".  

My shoulders? Not really, but it's not like I was concerned with "checking in" with them.  Especially, since in my opinion, there are many other (NON-RANDOM) things going on in my head.  However, the second I concentrated on my shoulders, I felt a sharp pain and tension in them.  It was crazy!  How could she see something that I never thought about, even though it was happening INSIDE my body???

Coach Kate explained that the way I held my arms was making my core and the rest of my body work way harder than it needed to. She explained that my body was using strength to keep them where they were, instead of just letting them fall, relax and "go with the motion". 

"Drop the shoulders and focus on opposite hand and opposite leg. Over exaggerate your arm movements and extend them more than you are currently doing"

I'll admit that it was so hard to think about at first.  I felt so weird trying to get my arms and shoulders to do what she was explaining. It took a little bit, but once I got the hang of it, I really focused and determined to stay with that form. Towards the end of the workout, I think I achieved what she was talking about. My arms felt like they were helping me way more than I was allowing them to! They were almost like wings, without sounding too corny, pushing the air behind me and making my stride a little longer.  

On Thursday, Pina joined me again.  She met me at the house and we went running around the neighborhood and in the back of the Industrial Park my house. I told her about how I was trying to keep up with Coach Kate's advice about running with better form in my arms.  Then, there was another tip she offered. She said that I seem to haunch my back forward while running.  She said that I should stand taller while I run so the air will get into my lungs better and breathing wouldn't be so labored. Hmmm.. so now I have my Armsand Back to think about. Great!  Up until now, all I thought about was putting one foot in front of the other, pushing myself to the limits and NOT STOP... even if it hurt!

After taking in these great tidbits of information, I began to practice. Practice makes perfect, right?  Pina left and I decided to practice for a short run down to the corner and back.  WOW, things seemed to be falling in place.  Another reason why NO Boundaries is just the best. Coaching tips like this can make all the difference.

Okay, so one last thing... PACE!  If improving your FORM can help, PACE, (I've come to learn) makes it or breaks it with this whole running thing. From the beginning, each coach or mentor has uttered these words... "Go Slow.  Start off slow.  Don't over do it, especially in the beginning".  You get the point, right?  Over the past few months, I've realized that this is another item I need to focus on. 

It's hard, especially when I'm feeling great in the beginning of a run and am just so excited to go fast.  But then I seem to over do it and regret it in the middle of the workout.  OR, I see that hill and just wanna push myself harder and faster to get up it, so it'll be over with!  Those hills get me EVERY TIME!!

Yesterday at our Group Workout, we advanced to SIX minutes of running, ONE minute of walking for 6 intervals.  If I was going to survive, I needed to tap into the words of wisdom those mentors and coaches tell us every time we see them. "GO SLOW".... what do you know? That was the key!  Despite the cold weather, hail and wind (in Spring, mind you) I needed to make sure that I didn't over do it in the beginning. 

All I can say is that I think I'm finally getting the hang of this.  I know I've said it a million times, but running with the group, with people just like me, allowed me to control my pace and stay at a great speed.  Those 6 minutes were MORE than do-able and I felt so accomplished by the end. I could still hold a conversation AND I didn't feel like I was going to crash and die!  At the last running interval, I ditched my friends, and pushed myself faster.  I pretended it was the last leg of the race and the finish line (The Armory and my car) was in sight! It felt awesome and I'm so happy I could show myself how much I've truly progressed in this program.  I'm getting stronger by the end of each workout, and I'm just truly grateful for everyone who has played a part in it!!!

Pina, Christine, and all the mentors and coaches have given me more than just the ability to show myself that I can achieve this. They've given me something deep inside I never asked them to give. Something I never thought they could.  The confidence and strength I feel about myself, INSIDE, is because of them. I know it's easy to listen to them say "You can do this", but  hearing them and allowing yourself to absorb these words to the areas inside your body that need them is INDESCRIBABLE!  

Sure, the No Boundaries Learn to Run program has been proved time and again to work... but for me, I know it's the people involved and not just the workout schedule that truly makes it Successful.

Feeling the Change

It's crazy how different I'm feeling these days. For years I've dreamed to look skinnier and weigh a certain amount.  I wanted to be that "perfect size".  I think about how many different things I tried for a period of time.  Some worked, some I gave up on.  Some made me loose weight, some made me gain weight.  I guess I never really thought I was going to succeed, or my success would last a little bit, and then I'd go back to the point of starting to dream about it once again. And it would be a "cycle"... a never ending cycle that tore me up inside.  Disappointed that I didn't achieve what I wanted.  

During the months leading up to No Boundaries starting in February 2014, I started to slowly change some habits. After I signed up to walk a 5K @ Webster's Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day, I knew I needed to incorporate the treadmill and track to build up some endurance so I could participate walking that distance. I wasn't worried about it, but still wanted to feel prepared for the race. After completing the Turkey Trot, I realized that learning to run would be so beneficial, terrifying and truly rewarding. Then, I found out about this program through Fleet Feet and it was a done deal for me. I signed up. I committed going to the gym more, just for the mere fact I was terrified my body wouldn't be up to par to even begin the No Boundaries Learn to Run program.  Plus, I needed something to counter act with the holiday cookie eating season.  I wanted to be "ahead" of the game.

3 months have passed in this new year as I greet today, April 1st, 2014. And in just a few months, I feel a change.  A change where I'm more confident then ever, and the drive I have for myself far surpasses anything I have felt in a long time.  I feel tighter and more pulled together, if that makes any sense.  Plus I've been able to make more of a workout routine that I think is definitely shaping my body, my self esteem and the way I greet each day.  It's hard staying  home with two kids and fitting this all in... but I think it would be harder if I worked full time.  I joke and tell people that this is MY time to do it. MY time to raise my children, but also to be able to fit in a Pilates class at 8:30am, or Body Pump at 10am.  I won't be able to do this in a few years, so I know taking advantage of this now is KEY!

I don't want to feel like I'm bragging or insinuating that I deserve people to recognize this and say "Great Job" or "I'm so proud of you".  I think I'm getting this and more, on my own, from my inner SELF.  It's ME who's noticing, and ME who's for once excited that I've beaten that "cycle".  That I'm at a point where I'm excited to complete 5K Running Homework and Group workouts because it's proof I'm getting stronger.  I was so eager to get out there yesterday to complete my 4 minutes of running / 3 minutes of walking intervals. The race on Saturday made me so excited to keep with this program, and is also allowing me to think about the future!  

This feeling, this change, is so much more rewarding that any number on the scale or dress size could offer.  I feel that this CHANGE is something that couldn't have happened at a better time in my life.  I'm young and have two beautiful kids I want to grow old with.  I have a husband who's already a skilled runner that I can now participate in races with.... and this is just the BEGINNING!  Just today at dinner he showed me 10+ races he'd like to do by the end of the year.  It was so exciting to talk about them with him, and to also set goals for myself to even join him in some.  Change is good.  Not all like it, but THIS girl, right now, LOVES THE FEELING!