The holidays are HERE. I like to incorporate the holidays into every single part of my life, and so, of course, that includes my workouts! Ever wonder what the true spirit of Christmas sounds like? Need help propelling yourself up a big hill during a run? I've compiled a list of joyful Christmas songs to infuse your workouts with hot beatz, cheer, and joy! From Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, to Diplo, to Justin Bieber, I've got you covered!!
Girls on the Run - Beauty and Breakthroughs
On Monday we talked about beauty. Not beauty in the way your brain will automatically define it. We're talking real beauty. Inner beauty. Things like positive attitude, funny, self-disciplined, honest, creative, helpful. I asked the girls a bonus question. How does inner beauty relate to friends and friendship? Read on for my favorite answers....
Plus - we were shorthanded today. I have two girls on my team who seem to require the direct supervision of at least one person at all times. I pulled the two girls aside while we walked down to our meeting place. I told them I was going to need their full attention and cooperation today. I also told them that it was my job as a Coach to make sure they had the best 5K experience ever, so I needed them to really focus during our run so they could be well prepared (aka: no climbing the fence, no finding giant branches to 'herd' people with, no 30 minute bathroom breaks, etc.). Find out how that went....
Girls on the Run Nashville - Week #1
The first week of Girls on the Run Nashville was a major success! I have 15 lovely third and fourth graders on my team this season! I always forget how young the girls are in the Fall! I have two girls from past seasons, and a younger sister from a past GOTR!
Every single GOTR ran at least a mile on our first day! One of the girls ran 2.25 miles! In my experience, one of the most valuable things the girls learn during Girls on the Run is about running. This is where many of them start to build a positive foundation for lifelong activity and develop an appreciation for running!
The #bigpayback and Girls on the Run Nashville UPDATE!
$14,285 = 60 full scholarships, 60 pairs of new running shoes, and new curricula and activity sheets for 30 program sites (which is equal to about 450 girls). Obviously the scholarships and running shoes is SUPER EXCITING. Selfishly, I am pretty excited about the new curricula which is something we don't really talk about that often. In particular, the new curricula for Girls on Track (serving girls in 6th - 8th grade) focuses on the whole girl - body, brain, spirit, and social connection. It also addresses life skills such as team building, developing a support system, boundary setting, decision making, and asking for and providing help.
Developing a support system? BOUNDARY SETTING???? Boundary setting? Can I just tell you that it was only a few years ago, maybe three to be exact, that I even learned what boundary setting was and why it was helpful? Learning about boundaries CHANGED MY LIFE. (thats a whole different post in itself) Asking for help??? CRIPES. That is good stuff. And you know what? Middle School is where we need to be learning this kind of life-giving stuff, especially if we have parents who never had the opportunity to learn it, or aren't capable of teaching it to their kids.
20 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD donate to Girls on the Run Nashville!!! #BIGPAYBACK
The Big Payback is a 24 hour day of online giving here in Nashville. It is a day to celebrate 755 participating non-profits from Middle Tennessee. Girls on the Run Nashville is participating and I would love to have your support in reaching our goal to raise $8,000 to provide 30 full scholarships to GOTR participants, 30 pairs of new running shoes for GOTR scholarship participants, and new curricula and activity sheets for 30 program sites in the Fall! If you feel moved to donate, click here!
Here is a list of 20 reasons why you should donate to Girls on the Run Nashville! It was quite difficult to narrow it down to 20!
Marathon Music!!!
For the first 10-13 miles, I will probably be successfully distracted by the specatators and other runners on the course. But for those next thriteen, more specifically, miles 20 – 26, I will be conducting orchestras, marching to the beat of the drumline, joining a gospel choir, and pretending I’m in the Hunger Games as I inch towards the finish line.
Here is a sample of what will be on my playlist tomorrow! What I need from you is suggestions for music to add to my Marathon playlist!! If there is a story behind the song, please share that as well! Please leave your suggestions in the comments section, or comment on my Instagram post!
22 MILES & 8 Reasons Why you should TRAIN with a group
Less than 21 days until I will run my first marathon. Today I did 22 miles, the most I have ever run. Four more miles would have been doable, from both a physical and mental standpoint. That gives me an extra boost of confidence for race day! Running with a group has undeniably helped me get to this point. My long runs would not have been as successful if I was on my own.
My focus for 2015 was CHALLENGE. What better way to challenge myself than run a marathon right (read more here)? On January 1st, with encouragement from my sweet friend Stephanie, we both signed up for Fleet Feet Nashville's marathon training group. I used to HATE running with other people because I'm kind of competitive, so I was a little nervous at first! It was the BEST thing I could have done for myself!
17 Mile Struggle and Love
I hobbled over to my car as quick as possible. As soon as I got myself in the car, I took a deep breath and called P. I glanced at the stack of clothing lying on the passenger seat. My nephew’s last basketball game of the season started in 15 minutes. There is no way I was going to make it.
‘IT WAS AWFUL. Really, really difficult. It was so hilly.’ And then the tears came. I was so disappointed in myself. This was the worst run that I can remember. I didn’t enjoy very much of it and finished with a less than admirable attitude.
Running a MARATHON
Here's something I never thought I would do but have always secretly wanted to try. It kind of feels like jumping off a diving board to say this. That might not be a big deal to you, but I HATE swimming and when I was little only a box of Lucky Charms cereal could coax me into the deep end and off of the diving board. My first big CHALLENGE of 2015.
I am running a marathon.