Day 2 & 3

Completed three days of the thirty day challenge. Yesterday I had a strength training workout and walked. Today before I left Boston I went out for a run. In the morning I tried to talk myself out of it, telling myself I will do it later. However I know myself and later would never happen. So I made a deal with myself and said, if you go out for a run in the morning your route can end at paneras and breakfast will be waiting. So I headed out on the cool sunny morning and ran along the wharfs, into the North End and back and finished at Paneras. It is nice to know your workout is done and the entire day is ahead.

DAY ONE...

DAY ONE ... of the 30 day challenge is complete.  I ran after work and as promised I completed the workout before I left campus tonight.  Tomorrow I travel to Boston for work so I am trying to figure out when I am going to get my workout in during the day.  Will I do it before I leave or hope to get something in when I arrive?  This is when travel becomes a challenge.  Stay tuned and I will let you know tomorrow.

30 Day Challenge

I am taking on a challenge, a 30 day challenge.  I read that if you are going to take on something like this it is best to make it public so everyone will know. So hear it is ... THE 30 DAY TRAINING CHALLENGE!

I have been slacking with my workouts and training.  I have been using every excuse known.  My favorite and most convenient excuse has been work travel.  The only one I am hurting with these excuses is me.  My workouts have been hit or miss and my weight is at an all time high.  The reason I know my weight is at an all time high is because I headed back to Weight Watchers last night.  I figure if I am going to take on this challenge it has to include my food choices too.  And at the rate that I have been going I won't be heading to any start lines let alone finish lines.  I am heading towards destruction and it doesn't look pretty.  So it is time to make a change.

So today starts a new day.  Day 1 of the 30 day challenge!  Today's workout will be a run and I can't leave campus tonight until it is done!  Every day I will train for 30 days.  I will swim, bike, run or strength train.  I know what you are all thinking ... you need a rest day.  I have had too many rest days already and some days will not be as intense as others.

Back in 2005 I completed a marathon in San Francisco and the medal that everyone received when they crossed the finish line was a Tiffany necklace.  I wear this necklace almost every day to remind me that I can do it.  Well I took the medal off and told myself when I complete this 30 day challenge I can put the necklace back on!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

Quiet Time

Some times you need to take advantage of quiet times.  It's often a gift you weren't expecting.  And sometimes you don't even realize you needed it until you are in the midst of it.  Today I attended an all day conference/retreat at work.  It's one of those retreats that you find yourself thinking all day long and by the end of the day you are brain dead.  It was a good day and a lot was accomplished but by the end you were done.  The gift that was given to us is that we were able to leave work early.  I decided to take advantage.  I got up this morning and swam so I didn't have to complete a workout so I gladly left when we were done.  I walked outside and the sun was shining and the temperature was about 30 degrees.  I ran a couple of errands and then I headed home.  I was in my house before 5 pm and I couldn't tell you the last time that happened.  I got changed out of my work clothes, put my sweats on, made a cup of tea and sat on the couch.  There wasn't any noise and it was heaven.  I didn't realize I needed that until I took advantage of it.  We all need time to rejuvenate our souls.  We need time to recover from all that life dishes out.

Sometimes we need to take the time to rediscover who were are and what we want.  To reconnect spiritually.  This usually takes longer than a quiet 30 minutes on the couch but I can tell you there will be a cup of tea involved.  This is what I am working on now and this quiet afternoon was a special gift I didn't see coming!

Day two of lent and I was in bed at 10:30 PM, up at 6 and got my workouts done before work!!!

Tri Mo Tri

40+ days

Today is Ash Wednesday ... the beginning of Lent! Forty plus days until Easter.  Yes, as Christians we often say 40 days until Easter.  However, if you count and include Sundays there are 46 days until Easter.  Lent is a time for Christians to prepare for Jesus' death and ultimately His resurrection.  During this time Christians prepare through sacrifice and spiritual reflection.

I am going to take advantage of this time to sacrifice things, renew my commitment to myself and my own spiritual growth.  I believe by strengthening my Spirit, Mind and Body during these 40 days I will be prepared for the prepared for the Joyous time they call Easter and be able to recommit to what I find important.

What do I plan to do you ask?

Declutter the house over the 40+ days - I need to clean out this space in order to help renew my spirit.  Every day I will take care of a different area even if it is just a pile of mail.

To be in bed by 10:30 PM

Get my workouts done in the morning

No Popcorn (I eat it almost every night)
No Doritos - my go to comfort food
No Pringles - my go to comfort food
No chips & Dip - my go to comfort food
No processed food

Make a commitment to go back to church

My spirit is broken and I need to renew it and recommit to myself.  This is a time to prepare and reflect!

traveling and training

Today I went for a run, did laundry and started packing for work travel that I have this coming week.   My job has me on the road quite a bit which makes it interesting when training.  Most hotels have "fitness centers" but the majority are lacking a good pool.  I have to admit I use the term "fitness centers" loosely because usually a hotel's fitness area is made up of a closet with an old treadmill, some free weights and a recumbent bike ( I hate recumbent bikes).  If I am lucky my hotel is located in an area that has either a running path or well paved streets.  Earlier this fall I was in Chicago and took advantage of the lake shore.  It was a great experience running along Lake Michigan.

Last week when I was home in Massachusetts for Christmas, it was easy to transport my bike and get my workouts done.  However when you are traveling via mini van with other co-workers, then onto an express train and finally a bus back home it is difficult to transport your bike.

When traveling your day usually does not following its normal schedule.  Travel can get interrupted and you usually are attending meetings and events at all hours.  You have to be dedicated to your training.  Get it done when you can and make sure you get plenty of sleep.  In September I traveled for a week out west.  On one of the legs of the tour I ended up in the fitness center of my hotel at 1 AM ... sometimes you have to do what you got to do.  That night I chose my workout over sleep!

Let's hope that the hotels I am staying in this week have really nice fitness centers.  Fingers Crossed!

Happy New Year!

2014 ... a clean slate ... an empty book.  The pages are before you and you can create the story any way you want.  Will your book be a mystery, fiction, self-help or inspirational?  Will you first put together an outline of your book?  Will you set goals for yourself in 2014?  Or will each day be a blank page or chapter picking your path as you go?  

I began my plans for 2014 in 2013 when I registered for some races.  So far I have registered for four races for the 2014 two 5Ks and two 70.3 Half Ironman races.  I have plans for 3 or 4 other races but registrations haven't opened yet.  I have also created 10 resolutions that I hope will help me write my book for 2014.  I am hoping that my book becomes an inspirational adventure.  I am planning to make 2014 the best year yet ... the Year of Mo!!  A year to take care of me, to create joy and happiness that will result in me deleting some of these resolutions off my list for ever!!

The following are my resolutions for 2014 or you can call the following the chapter titles of my 2014 book...

2014 New Year’s Resolutions

I will commit to make this a great year!!

The Year of Mo

1. Lose the weight (see previous blog entry) ... I don't want this on my resolutions list next year!!!
2. In bed by 10:30 PM and to do a plank everyday
3. Train hard as I can every day
4. Get in control of my finances and save money (I don't want to see this next year)
5. Get rid of clutter, get organized and simplify (there are three main areas in my home that I have to work on)
6. Read at least 12 books
7. knit/finish at least 4 projects
8. Run at least 520 miles in 2014
9. Go someplace new in the Ithaca area at least once a month
10. Put my PhD/Doctorate goal on a timeline ... make a plan

It is my goal in 2014 to accomplish all 10 resolutions and by doing so hope to find peace and happiness in 2014

I would like to wish each and every one of you Peace and Joy in 2014!!  I hope you enjoy writing your book too!  Now let's turn the page...