It Has Been a Busy Winter

This has been a really busy and eventful winter. As far as my goals of trying new things in the workout world, things are going great, as far as dropping weight, not as great, but I am still working on it and I feel great. So here are a few of the highlights of the last couple of months:
WORK OUTS:

    I had to have a cortisone shot in my knee a few weeks ago. Everyone told me how much these hurt, but honestly, my doc has a magic touch and it was not bad at all and it felt great immediately.  It actually feels amazing but the ortho suggest lots of cross training to add to my running. More reason to keep trying new stuff. I have been doing yoga and spin at Madison Improvement a few times a month. I really enjoying yoga at Madison. It is tough, but Brain plays music and makes it super fun as well as relaxing and spin there is too fun...they call it Party on a Bike, so there ya go.

   I have also been doing twice a week workouts at Orange Theory at Arcadia. It is a super fun, super challenging workout that is a combo of cardio intervals and core and strength training. The best part is they monitor your heart rate on a TV screen while you workout and you can monitor your intensity and see your end results...very fun and you can see the view is not too shabby.

I am also still running and swimming which I ALWAYS LOVE. I am so blessed to be able to do so many fun things and have so many great friends and a husband who always support me along the way.

10K at GCU

Swim practice workout at PSC

WORK: Mario and I have had a good winter in this department as well. Mario was named Supervisor of the Quarter...yes he does ROCK thanks for noticing General Dynamics. 

   I was surprised and honored to get the Achievement Above All award for my high school. I work with so many amazing folks, I was pretty shocked to receive it. Again, I am super blessed to work at a school where going to work is a pleasure and I work with such amazing folks

Hanging with my homey, Tami!!!

LIFE: I often have to pinch myself when I realize how amazing my hubby is...I waited a long tome to get married, but it was worth every minute of waiting and wondering to live life with Mario. Winter is super fun in AZ and we hit just about every street festival, art walk and home tour in Phoenix. We are all about cheap fun, plus we create our own entertainment. No matter how tough a work week may be, weekends are always an adventure. Thanks Mario for always humoring me with goofy shots and self-portraits. I know deep inside you LOVE it.

I think that about catches us up. Spring is now in the air, the smell of orange blossoms are everywhere and more adventures are on the horizon. The goal, is to lose 10 pounds by May. I got the workouts down, it is all about the food at this point....oh yeah, I got this.

I love it when my students surprise me....

     People always tell me they are amazed that I can handle a whole day with freshman girls. While there is nothing more entertaining than 14-16 year old girls and their vast array of drama and emotions, along with a plethora of eye rolls, super loud laughter, and general goofiness, but there are times when they totally amaze me.
   One of those days took place last Friday during my 7th hour. We were fully engaged in their favorite activity, "Fabulous Fitness Friday" and this week it was "Teacher Pursuit". The girls were to complete two laps on the track, pretty easy, but there was a catch, I would be chasing them. I wore my GPS watch and stayed right on a 10 min mile pace. I also gave them a head start. For every student I passed during the run was equal to 5 push ups for the class (and me) because "we were doing this as a team".
     My first 5 classes of the day went well and much as I expected. The speedy kids took off and some of the others had to be encouraged a bit. On average, we did about 25-35 push ups a class. The kids were pretty nice to the kids that were passed as we tried to keep it very none-threatening though a few were not too happy, but then came 7th hour.
   This is my class with quite a few athletes. I told them them the activity and they took off swearing they would not do any push ups. I gave them their head start and as I got a little closer to the end of the group, I noticed that three of my fastest kids were at the end of the pack. I thought that was a bit odd until I got closer and I realized that these athletic, popular girls were pushing along their classmates that were at the end of the pack. They were yelling encouragement, putting their hands on their backs, and cheering like crazy and to my surprise, these girls, who usually don't make it one lap without walking were running and SMILING. It could not help but smile and tear up a bit. My girls are getting it, they are understanding that fitness and activity is not just about physical ability but about being healthy, about accomplishing something as an individual AND as a team. They are learning there is joy and satisfaction in the success of others and that being first is not always the only outcome. WOOOHOOO! If I can teach them that, I have accomplished a lot. This moment made all the craziness worth it.
    I wish I could end this blog by saying everyone of my students has fallen in love with fitness and healthy living. Believe it or not, this is not always a high priority for a 15 year old. But there has been a major shift in attitude. They like working together in their fitness teams, they talk about their fitness improvements (they all tell me about their 6 packs and the workouts they do at home :) ), they tell me what they eat for lunch just because they decided not to have Hot Cheetos that day....this is all awesome. I still get lots of eye rolls when it is time to run, but the difference is, now they actually give it a try...that is really all I can ask.
   Yep, I LOVE my job.....plus there is always the bonus that I get to wear cute workout clothes everyday for work...not a bad deal at all.

13.1 Miles - Run and Done (for today at least)

2013 Rock and Roll Half Marathon in the books

    This morning I made a trip to Tempe for the 10th Annual Rock and Roll Marathon. This year I decided to do the half instead of the full and it ended up being a very fun race. I love this event as it holds lots of great memories for me. It was the site of my first half marathon, my first full marathon, my first below freezing race (the year it was 18 degrees at the start...brrrr) and best of all, the site of my engagement to Mario... All great times for sure.
    This morning's race was really fun. The weather was PERFECT, the event well organized, the course fairly flat, and I felt really good the whole race. I ran a 2:20, not my fastest, but not too bad, and the new race course was really nice as it went through Papago and the Desert Botanical Gardens.
     My attitude towards running and racing has changed over the years, and I think for the better. While I am still very competitive and always train and race to do my very best, I have also come to grips with some of the limitations of my body. I am almost 48 years old, have had two knee surgeries and am honestly not built like a distance runner. On the other hand, I can still bust out 13.1 miles without walking, can still train and work on improving and enjoy the journey of getting there, still LOVE doing running event and triathlons, and love how my body feels after pushing it physically. While I used to stress over how well I would do in a race, I now am able to just enjoy the experience (yes, I still look at my watch A LOT, but it  now does not stress me out).
   I have to thank Mario for some of this change as he has been great about reminding me of why we train and race...if I start to stress about my speed, or lack thereof, he always makes some comment about "the prize money" he was counting on :)
    If you have ever thought about giving this running stuff a try, I say GO FOR IT. The experience is more than worth the effort and sacrifice. Besides, getting new shirts every so often is not too bad either.

Just keep swimming.....

     This time of year, when the mornings are chilly (or just dang cold), I get these questions on almost a daily basis. It comes in three parts:"Did you swim this morning?" "Yes" I say... quickly followed by "Outside?" Again the answer is "yes" then followed by "Are you crazy?". I usually answer that one with a sarcastic laugh, but I have to say the answer to that is probably yes as well. (I am guessing many of you may have said that as well:) ). Since daily swims are part of my exercise adventure, I thought the coldest day in Phoenix this year would be the perfect day to explore just why I roll out of bed each morning and head to the pool.

The view of the pool from the parking lot of cold mornings

    Each weekday morning, about 4:45, my alarm cranks to life jolting me out of a deep slumber. I hit the snooze, roll over and snuggle on my deeply sleeping husband and contemplate just why any sane person would wake up while it was still dark outside. The covers are so warm and comfortable and each and every morning, it takes me a good five minutes to convince myself that I am already awake, I might as well get up and go to swim practice. Once that decision is made, I actually start getting a little excited about getting to practice, seeing my friends and starting my day with a great workout. I think there are a few factors that lead to me getting in the pool each morning but also I think are true for just about anyone who is or is wanting to get into a workout routine.
1. HAVING A SET PLAN
Knowing that practice starts at 5:30AM, or I have an appointment to lift weights at 5:00PM, makes it feel like a non-negotiable. I can't push it back a few minutes are do it later, it is then or not at all. Of course, no one is really making me go, but knowing that is the planned time helps motivate me to get out of bed and get going.
   I do this with my solo workouts as well. I actually plan and write the workouts in my calendar each week so I can find ways to fit it in my often crazy schedule.
2. MONEY
Investing a little cash into the deal seems to help me stay motivated. It could be that I am a bit of a cheapskate, but if I put money into something, I am going to be there. It does take a bit of budgeting and planning, but paying to be on the Masters swim team at Phoenix Swim Club or having a training once in a while to motivate me to lift is a great way to assure my butt will be there. Granted, I do a lot of stuff I do not pay for (running, biking etc...) but once I get in a workout mode, it is much easier to get out the door.
3. LIVING IN THE DESERT
This is really only true in the summer, but it gets you in the habit of getting up early. When the temperature is close to 100 degrees by 9AM, getting your run or ride in early is not a matter of discipline but a necessity of survival. While swimming at noon in the summer is sometimes an option, the sun beating down and baking your head through your swim cap is just no bueno.
4. FRIENDS
This may be one of the greatest motivators for me. I have some amazing friends in my workout world. At swim, I have some incredible women (and a few brave guys) that swim in our lanes. We call ourselves Team Hurricane because we are so fast we create our own vortex. (OK, we are in the slowest three lanes on the pool, but we at least we feel fast and I am guessing faster than those who are not in the water). This group of folks are not just workout buddies, but friends who over the years of braving the early morning darkness and cold of the pool, have become close and important friends. We celebrate our successes and support each other in our tough times in and out of the pool. I am so grateful for these folks, love them dearly and look forward to seeing them each morning.

Team Hurricane posing for a post swim photo op. Love these girls!

Notice the steam coming off the water. Makes getting in not too bad, but getting out is killer. 

   I also have meet some of the best people, and now friends, though the running and triathlon world. I see these folks on the canals and races as well as in the community. Knowing you will probably see a friend when you head out for a solo run/ride is a nice motivation as well. Also friends like Lisa M who will go try just about any workout or class with me is great fun.
5. HEALTH
It is a given that exercise is good for your health, but honestly, I feel so great after a workout. I have more energy, more confidence, more everything if I make time to take care of myself. Plus, the whole loving to eat thing makes it necessary. :)
5. SUPER SPOUSE
My husband makes this whole workout and race thing work. He also is an exercise guy so he gets the whole "need" to move, the crazy early alarms, and the one whole bathroom dedicated to wet workout clothes. There is nothing better than seeing his smiling face when I cross a finish line except the dry clothes he brings for me to change into for the ride home.
Thanks Mario and all my fun fitness friends. You are all my motivation.

And so it begins....

     It is the beginning of a new year and at risk of sounding cliche, I have been looking at what I want to change or improve on for 2013...yes, the dreaded "new year's resolution". I know I am not alone when I list "weight loss" as my primary goal for 2013 as is evident by the crowded gym and endless fitness infomercials.
     I feel like I should begin with that between the ages of 30-40, I had lost the battle of balancing calories in and calories out and topped out at over 200 pounds. Who knew that an hour of elliptical did not equal a full pizza? Crazy! Anyway,with the help of some awesome folks (JR and Bob) I dropped 80 pounds and begin competing in triathlons, road races and Masters Swim. I also met my amazing husband. A journey I wished I had journaled as it was a life-changing time.

My favorite before photo. For some reason I thought a bright orange, floral suit was slimming

One year later at the same race.

My wedding day...yeehaaaa

    Fast forward to age 47. While I am still training and competing, I have also gained, what I like to call, the "happily married 15" and it is time for it to go. I thought it would be fun this time around to blog the process. To journal the tough times, the food choices, the new workouts adventures, and any other craziness that occurs along the way. Luckily for me, Mario (my amazing husband), is jumping in on this adventure with me, which makes it a little more fun and a little more do-able. Below is our plan of action:
1. FOOD- While I know many people struggle with emotional eating or use food to cope with life's struggles, that is not the issue with us. We just like to eat. We enjoy good food--a great burger, a perfect pizza, cheerful Chinese, an occasional hot dog and a sweet treat as a reward for a hard week at work. We also both have a great understanding of what it takes to lose weight and know that food is key. So tomorrow, the careful food choices begin. We will be surrounded by protein shakes and endless chicken and veggie dinners. This is the true battle ground for us...Tonight we will enjoy the "last hurrah" with something fun for dinner. :)
2. WORKOUTS- We have this part down. We can run, elliptical, swim, bike.....for hours on end and actually enjoy it in the process. The goal this year for me is to add variety to my workouts, to try new things, to consistently do weight training, and do a few races to keep things interesting.

3. LIFE-I can get very obsessed with work,training and food. Lucky for me, Mario is great at keeping things balanced and will call me out when I start getting a little crazy. My goal is to reach my fitness and weight goals while maintaining a balance of work, fun, friends and family...

   Well, this should be fun. In fact, today I tried a "new" workout by going to spin class at Madison Improvement Club. Despite the fact that I was the only one there not dressed in Lululemon, it was still a super fun class. The building has been rehabbed from a 1913 women's club, there were cool orange towels on each bike, a sweet light show during the ride, good bikes, a fun instructor that looked like he just stepped off a football field, and a grand finale of a girl bringing wipes to each bike and being given a sample of orange smoothie....not bad at all and a good workout to boot. They even have a educators discount for drop-ins so I may have to come check it out again sometime.