Motivation Monday - Super Hero 5K Recap

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<center> <a href="http://www.dailydoseofdelsignore.com/"><img alt="MotivationMonday" height="400" src=" http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv234/Wendy413/MotivationMondayCrew2.jpg" width="600"></a></center> </div> <br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thefittrainblog"><img src="http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/tiffrunner/facebook-1.png" /></a> <a href="http://pinterest.com/tiffershult/"><img src="http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/tiffrunner/pinterest-1.png" /></a> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8065515"><img src="http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/tiffrunner/bloglovin-1.png" /></a> <a href="http://instagram.com/thefittrainblog"><img src="http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/tiffrunner/instagram-1.png" /></a> <a href="mailto:tiffhult27@gmail.com"><img src="http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/tiffrunner/mail-1.png" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFitTrainBlog"><img src="http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/tiffrunner/twitter-1.png" /></a> ------ This weekend I was able cross an item off my "bucket list" that has been there since I was a freshman in high school. I completed my first (with many more to come) 5K.

All proceeds from the Super Hero 5K went to an 8 year old little boy in town who is fighting cancer. There were participants of all shapes, sizes and ages. Over 170 runners/walkers were there to support this amazing kid. Including a few who are currently fighting cancer themselves. It was such a great group of people.

As we stood at the starting line, I found one girl just in front of me that appeared to be in much better shape than myself. I decided if I can keep her in view, that would be a good pacer. I followed her about 1/4 mile before realizing I could pick up the pace and started passing people. 

I was not prepared for the hills. I rarely run hills because I hate them. Hate. That's what mile 1 was - a giant, never ending hill. But I refused to walk and kept telling myself, "Just make it to mile 2." Mile 2 was shaded and downhill. The perfect mile. 

The third mile was straight, sunny and energetic. There were people all over cheering the runners on. I was able to sprint into the finish and completed it with an un-official time of 29.52 minutes! I'm hoping they post official times soon, but I was somewhere around #20-30 out of 170. Something that I never thought was possible. 

This experience has definitely helped me to find that "runner's high" everyone always talks about. The running community is so positive and encouraging. If you've been debating signing up for a 5K, regardless of your fitness level, just do it! I promise, you won't regret it. 

Fit Test Friday

Dun Dun Dun... Fit Test Friday has arrived. Although, it's really not that exciting this time around being as it's just my starting numbers and there's nothing to compare it to. Regardless, I can already tell I'm going to enjoy this additional method of tracking my progress. The scale and tape measure can only tell you so much. Regularly performing a fit test really shows you where you at. It gives you the opportunity to see all your hard work in black and white. Not to mention, when the scale and tape measure are at a stand still, fit tests are great motivators to not give up. Which, lets be honest, is exactly what I need lately. So... let's get right to it.

-- One --
First things first (in case you missed it earlier in the week), here's the actual Fit Test. I made it using some of my favorite moves, and ones that I really want to improve on.

And my starting numbers:

I'll be doing the actual test on Monday's and sharing on the blog every Friday, for now. My one mile warm-up was extended to 2 miles since my running buddy begged to go longer. However, my 1 mile time was 9.54 minutes with my 35 pound buddy and jogging stroller. 

If you would like to try the fit test, here's a blank tracking sheet.

-- TWO --

This will be going in the crockpot at lunch. Mmmmm. No, it's not overly healthy. But I'm allowing myself a bit of a splurge tonight.

SOURCE

If you haven't checked out "Damn Delicious", you need to. Yum.

-- THREE -- 

It's time. Potty training. The day I've both dreaded and looked forward to is coming. We're starting to buckle down and get serious with it next weekend. Overall, I'm one of those very laid back mothering types. I don't get worked up if Wyatt doesn't do things where, when, how other kids do. I don't stress or worry about every little thing. Not that there's anything wrong if you do. That's just not me. I'm a go with the flow kind of person, for the most part. However, potty training is a whole different story. So, keep your fingers crossed for all our sakes and sanity. Oh, and if anyone has any awesome tips, I'd love to hear them.

-- FOUR --

Tomorrow is the big day! My first ever, official 5K race. I'm neerrvvoouus. Ridiculously so. Not only is it my first race, but I'm going by myself. This is a big deal in my "stepping outside my comfort zone" goal. Big. 

While on the running topic, I have a question for runners out there. When you up your mileage, how do you handle the hunger? I've upped my weekly mileage quite a bit these past two weeks now that we have the jogging stroller, and I am starving. Constantly. 

-- FIVE --

Go check out Amber for information on Get Your Shit Together September. I am so excited for this! I lacked motivation with my plateau in July. Then, I spent most of August sick. So, the extra motivation and challenge will be perfect!

Don't forget to link up with us next week for Motivation Monday! Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

NSV - Fear of Failure

I fear failure. More times than I'd care to admit, this fear holds me back from trying many things and getting out of my "comfort zone." I've been a "runner" off and on for years and was active in high school sports back in the day, but I have never participated in an actual race. I feared being last. I feared what people would think of me. I was just plain terrified to disappoint myself.

A couple months ago I made a goal to push myself, in all areas of life. From trying new things in my workouts and overcoming the mental hurdle that happens. To being a more active, present mother. A better boss and employee. As well as make a bigger effort in social situations. (I'm a bit of an introvert, so this hasn't been easy for me.)

When I heard about the Super Hero 5K, and it just happened to fall on a weekend I would have help with Wyatt, I knew I had to jump that hurdle and run my first official race. Then I got sick. And the sickness lingered (still not 100% over it). The deadline was approaching for pre-registration and my form and check were still sitting on my table. I hadn't sent it in, because I just knew that 2 weeks of junk food and lack of workouts were taking their toll and I wouldn't be at my best the day of the 5K. There's no way I can run that race if I'm not going to be at my best. See, there's that old way of thinking creeping again. But, with a near panic attack, I dropped my registration off at the post office and there was no going back. I accepted that it wouldn't be a PR. I accepted that I might have to take some walking breaks and decided I was ok with that.

That acceptance didn't mean I was just going to lay around for 2 weeks, though. I got out there and did everything I could. Not expecting some magical time, just so I could say "I did my best." I made a goal of under 31 minutes for Saturday (which I've only ever done once.) Last night was my last opportunity to run without my 35 lb running buddy and jogging stroller before my upcoming race. My goal for last night was to take zero walking breaks. With the way my times have been the past 2 weeks, I figured it would be around 33 minutes.

Whaaaat? Where did that come from!? I am still in shock. It just goes to show that hard work really does pay off, and a setback doesn't mean that all is lost. 

Clearly, this means a new goal is required for Saturday. I'm a bit nervous to put my new goal of "under 30 minutes" out there, but I'm all about pushing myself these days. So there it is. I hope to run a 29 minute something 5K (even if that means 29.59). Eeekkk. 

Non-Scale Victories - 5K

Being as I'm in the mist of "No Scale August," non-scale victories are keeping me going this month. July was hard for me. My plateau messed with me mentally. It's not easy to work so hard for something, and feel like you aren't reaping any rewards.

As it turns out, stepping away from the scale is just what this gal needed. I've been right on track this week. I'm eating clean and within my calories. I'm killing it on my workouts. Most importantly I feel great. Probably the best I've felt since the first month of this journey.

Things are starting to cool down here in Wyoming already. So, yesterday, (for the first time in months) I put jeans on. They were falling off of me! I couldn't keep those puppies up with a belt if I wanted to. I'm going to have to go hunting through the storage room this weekend for my smaller clothes (thank goodness I saved them). I know somewhere there is a pair of size 6 pants that I was only able to wear a couple of times. I plan to drag those out for my goal pants. I know I have a long ways to go before I fit them again, but I'm looking forward to checking my progress.

This past Saturday I headed out for my long (for me) run. I got a late start and it was in the upper 70s before I hit the pavement. That is hot for me. I struggled mentally through the entire thing and I stopped for water several times, but I didn't give up. I'm too hard on myself sometimes. When I first picked up running again, if I checked my time mid-run and saw that I was going much slower than expected, I'd give up and feel defeated. "Op, you're not doing better than last time, so might as well stop now." Ridiculous, right? I did feel that way during this run. I knew I was not going to PR. I was upset with how often I was having to stop for water. Sometimes, okay - a lot of the time, I want things now. I want to be fast, now. I want those size 6 jeans, now. I want to be able to run a marathon, now. That's not realistic, of course. I'm slowly learning and accepting that these things take time. Every day is not going to be magical. I'm not going to PR every run. What's important is that I don't give up. It's taking time, but I'm learning to find joy in the journey.

One thing that I've really been working on throughout this process is to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I have a long term goal to run a marathon some day. The thought of running a marathon, or any race for that matter, terrifies me. But, it's been a dream for a very long time. So, I'm taking a baby step towards it. I'm registering for my first ever, official, 5K race! All proceeds from this race are going to a little boy in town that's fighting cancer. It's a cause dear to my heart, so I'll be there August 31st. I'm nervous, but also very excited for this step!

My next cardio day is Saturday, and I had so much fun with the burpee comment challenge, I figured it was time for another one! I'm leaving it open longer this time. For every comment made on this post before 5:00 PM MST on Friday, I will do 5 rockstar jumps on Saturday as part of my cardio. 

Help me push myself past my comfort zone! Comment and "like" away!