My Running Journey Part 3 {Finding Your Second Wind}

Can you believe it's the last week of January?  That means I'm wrapping up my Running Journey Series.  Each Monday of the month I've been sharing a bit of what I've come to love and learn about running.  Not that I'm an expert by any means, but I always enjoy hearing others ideas, and finding a bit of motivation to get going.

Finding my second wind has been one of the biggest "ahas" I've had as a runner.  

I LOVE Shelley from House of Smiths (who doesn't?)!  I remember reading one of her weight loss journey posts quite awhile ago, but a quote I read in her post has stuck with me ever since then.  It said:

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second wind."

-William James

By the time I read this quote, I'd actually already found it to be true, but hadn't really ever thought about it in the way to quote states it.  Here are a few tips that I've found helpful in finding my second wind.

SET A CHALLENGING GOAL

This was my week two post of My Running Journey Series.  I have to say that setting my challenging goal (doing Ragnar) pushed me enough to find my second wind.  If I'd never given myself that challenge, I would have just been content to run like I'd always run, and not pushing myself any further.  I was running on my first wind, getting tired, then stopping.  Unless you have something challenging you to go further, you probably won't.  Set a goal to get you past that first wind.

SLOWLY INCREASE YOUR RUNNING TIME

It's just about impossible to make yourself take one more step when you're dead tired and exhausted.  Just start with something small.  Even just one or two minutes more past your exhausted stage can make a difference.  After time, you'll get used to the extra two minutes, and then you can increase another minute or two, then another, and another.  For me, the first three miles of my run are always the hardest.  I used to never go past three miles because it was hard, and I thought I'd feel that way for my entire run.  As I've slowly increased my time, I've come to find that it actually gets easier for me the longer I go.  My body seems to settle in, and I honestly do feel that second wind kick in.  It's really cool, actually!

SAVE YOUR FAVORITE SONG FOR THE LAST

I've been amazed with how my body responds to music when I run.  I have a lot of great songs on my playlist, and they help me throughout my run, but I have a few songs that I always save for the last stretch just before my second wind, because they bring a burst of energy when I don't have much to pull from myself.  Right now my song is Katy Perry's Roar.  I tell you every time that songs comes on, I feel completely energized!  I usually have to switch up my last stretch songs because I do get a bit bored with them after awhile.  Keep your ears open whenever you're listening to music for your next last stretch song, or you can search running playlists online and find songs that way.

PRAY

(This actually doesn't relate exactly to finding my second wind, but it's helped me keep going even when I've wanted to quite, so I'm putting it in here.)

I pray for just about about everything in my life.  Well, okay, I don't pray about what bread to buy at the grocery store, or what to wear for the day, but the big, important things I do.  The reason I do is because I realize I'm human and I can't do a lot of what I want to do on my own.  I believe I need some divine help in my life to accomplish my goals and purpose.  I'm not saying I pray to go more miles and it happens right then and there, but I do have a habit of praying for a desire to get up and stick with my goals.  It's made a big difference for me.  I LOVE this quote from Spencer W. Kimball:

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.  He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunity, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace."

Did you see that line about strengthening our muscles?  I honestly believe it!  There are many days I get up, I run, and at the end of it all I wonder how I did it.  For me, this quote explains why. 

Hopefully you've found a thing of two that's either kept you motivated, or got you motivated to stick with your running/exercising goals.  I know they've helped me along the way, and I couldn't be more grateful.  Running has been such a blessing for me.  That may sound funny, but it's true.  My days are much more productive and pleasant when I start them with a run.  I have more energy, I'm more patient, I feel good about myself, my pants fit, and my overall health and well-being are simply better.  I read another quote on Shelley's blog that I loved.  This one comes straight from her:

"It's never gotten easier, but eventually the results started outweighing the pain and struggle.. and that's why I keep going."

-Shelley Smith

I couldn't have said it better myself.  There will come a point where the results outweigh the struggle, and that's why you get up and do it!

Here are weeks one, two, and three's posts if you missed them.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

My Running Journey Part 3 {Treadmill or The Open Road?}

Today begins week three of my Running Journey Series.  If you missed the first two posts earlier this month, don't worry you can find links to them at the end of this post.

So, let's tackle the age-old debate of treadmill verses the open road.  I'm sure you have a strong preference when it comes to running inside on a treadmill, or hitting the great outdoors.  I used to, but I'm honestly split down the middle when it comes to choosing my favorite.

THE TREADMILL

I have three reasons for actually loving the treadmill.  I know some people despise them, but I'd be lost without one.  Here's my argument in behalf of treadmills everywhere.

1.  I CAN RUN YEAR-ROUND

I live in a very wintry place, and as much as I love the beauty of winter, I don't love the often-single-digit (sometimes below zero) temperatures at 6:30 in the morning.  My husband leaves for work at 7:15, so I have to be done running by then.  If I don't get my running done first thing in the morning, then it just doesn't happen, and in the winter it's just too dark and cold to be out running at that hour.  The days I'm a bit frustrated on the treadmill feeling like I'm a rat running on wheel, I just look out the window at the pitch darkness and frost and I'm not so harsh on the old treadmill.

2.  I CAN CHALLENGE MYSELF

Right now I'm lucky to live down the road from the perfect running hill, but that hasn't always been the case.  Ever since I did Ragnar and had an entire uphill leg, I've loved having a hill somewhere in my run.  When you're running outside you can't just make a hill appear out of nowhere.  Sometimes your only option is a nice flat road.  I love the treadmill because I can instantly increase the incline and have a hill whenever I want.  I can do a small hill for a long time, or a big hill for a short amount of time.  I also love the fact that I can challenge my pace on the treadmill.  I find myself getting a bit lazy when I run outside, and letting my pace lag a bit.  On the treadmill I set my pace at a good, challenging speed and try to stick with it my entire run.

3.  I GET TO WATCH MY SHOWS  

I have three shows that I have a hard time living without.  I used to watch my shows at night when they were on TV, but because I'm a bit of a busy body, I honestly had a hard time justifying sitting for an hour three times a week, and just watching something.  I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that!  But for me, it wasn't working out.  As I was running one morning I was hit with a brilliant idea.  I realized I can't really do much while on the treadmill, so why not use that for my TV time?  Not only does that free up an hour of my time at night, but it's totally motivating to get out of bed and hit the treadmill when I know I can see if Joel is going to get his act together and be the nice, kind, loving husband he's always been to Julia, or not.  Any Parenthood fans out there?

In case you're wondering, here are my three shows.  I know there are many other great shows out there, but I don't even let myself get started on them.  Three keeps me plenty busy.  You can click on each image to learn more about each show.

THE OPEN ROAD

I feel like I don't even have to argue the case of running outside like I do running on the treadmill.  I'm pretty sure most people would rather hit the open road than be stuck inside on a treadmill.  So, for me it all comes down to one reason (and that one is all I need) for hitting the open road.

1.  THE BENEFITS OF BEING OUT IN NATURE

There is nothing more calming, rejuvenating, refreshing, inspiring, thought-provoking, and enjoyable as being outdoors.  I love the combination of nature and exercise. There's nothing quite like it, especially when your views look like the one below.  I know I'm spoiled to be able to be call this my running route!

View Atop My Running Hill (Memorial Hill, Midway, Utah)

So, I really do have to say I love having the best of both worlds.  I wouldn't be the runner I am today without my treadmill because it's allowed me to challenge myself, and be consistent with my running year-round.  But I can't replace the experiences I've had while running outside.  There are so many life lessons you can tie to running and being outdoors.  It seems like every time I run outside I have another major "ah-ha!" moment.

Maybe you don't have the option of a treadmill, and outside is your only choice, or maybe you live in a big city and a treadmill at the gym is the only way you'll get your running done.  It really doesn't matter, how you do it.  Find what works best of you, your schedule, your surroundings and do it!

  Here are the links from weeks one and two in case you missed them.

My Running Journey Part 2

My Running Journey Part 1

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

My Running Journey Part 2 {Set a Challenging Goal And Be Consistent}

If you stopped by last Monday, then you know I'm devoting each Monday in January to a little series about my running journey.  Last week I shared my current running playlist.  Today, I'd like to share with you then one thing that has turned me into a consistent runner of four years now.

I have my best friend, Katie (rock star runner who feels good after marathons) to thank for getting me going on my running habit.  A few years ago, she asked me to be a part of her and her sister's Ragnar team.  Up until that point I had been a very occasional runner, if I could even call myself that.

Wasatch Back Ragnar 2011

She gave me a year's notice, and I'd been wanting to get rid of a few extra pregnancy pounds from my third little boy, so I was brave and said yes.  I have to say I didn't sleep much the night after she asked me.  I'm not sure why, (it was over a year away for crying out loud!) but my mind wouldn't stop.  I know people who jump onto a Ragnar team a few weeks before the race as a replacement, and don't even think twice about it.  Also, let me just say here that everyone and their dog seems to have done a Ragnar race.  It's not like I was embarking on some outlandish quest, but it was a stretch for sure!  And looking back, I realize that's what got me going.  I'd set a challenging goal for myself that required a lot of hard work, effort, and dedication.  That, and I'm not really competitive by nature, but in this case I couldn't help but have a bit of competitive spirit about the whole thing.  I didn't want to be passed by every runner along the way.  I also had some healthy motivation from my teammates.  All the girls in my van, except one, had done Ragnar and marathons before.  Me, I'd done our local 5K 24th of July race once.  I knew I had my work cut out for me, and I wanted to do my best.

So, the morning after Katie asked me to do the race, I got up and ran.  And I can honestly say I haven't missed more than two days in a row since then (except for our Disneyland trip when I counted our walking from sunup to sundown every day as being an adequate workout).  I was half terrified and half driven to not miss a day (when I say not miss a day, I mean running 5 days a week).  It wasn't easy, but I was consistent.  Oh, there is a tremendous amount of power in consistency!  Even if I didn't run far or long every day, I made sure I did at least something.  That way I didn't break my habit of getting up and doing it.

A few months before the race, we met as a team and choose legs.  I ended up with leg 12 (the finishing leg).  Once again, I was given a challenging goal.  My first (of three) leg was pretty much uphill the entire way.  Stress!  But, what did I do?  I began running hills.  I had always been quite proud for running at all, so I never challenged myself with a hill.  But, once again, consistency began to pay off.  I actually started not minding hills.  In fact, I can honestly say I LOVE to run hills now.  I wouldn't want to do it forever, but I enjoy the intensity they provide   I'm a bit of a get-it-done-quickly kind of girl, so running a shorter hill beats a long, slow flat run for me any day.

All in all, the race was an awesome experience.  Like my friend said, when else do six moms get to rid around in a van for two days eating snacks and chattering away like teenagers?  That part was the best!  The actual running wasn't too bad either (minus my no-energy-left-in-any-ounce-of-my-body last leg that had 2 extra miles added to it just a week before the race!).

I haven't done a Ragnar since 2011, but it was the motivation I needed to get going.  I set a challenging goal, I was consistent in my training, and now it's simply become a habit.  And while I can't say I love every minute of my runs, I really do hate when I have to miss a day.  My body is used to it, and I actually crave it!

I feel like I've rambled on and on.  In summary, I just want to say if you need some motivation to get going on exercising, set a good, challenging goal, and be consistent.  I wish I could say I was self-motivated enough to begin my running habit on my own, but I wasn't.  I think most of us are like that.  We need a second party, an external factor, pushing us along in the beginning.  Then, like I said it becomes a habit and it's easier to stick with it.  

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

My Running Journey Part 1 {Running Playlist}

Whether you're a New Year's resolution person or not, you probably have made some kind of fitness goal in your life at one point or another.  For me, it came just about four years ago (more on that next Monday).  In the spirit of goals, and bettering ourselves, I thought I'd share a couple of posts over the next few Mondays on my running experience, (very novice!) goals, progress, and today- music!

If you've ever exercised in your life, I'm sure you have your go-to songs that get your heart pumping.  I have a list, actually several lists, and they change often.  But for today's post, I'm going to share my current running playlist.  My song selections are quite varied, and yes I am aware that I have a Britney Spears song on my list, but these songs work for me.  Some songs have been on my list forever, and others are new this month.  I usually choose my songs based on four criteria.

THE WORDS
I realize that Britney Spear's 'Stronger' is talking about recovering from a relationship gone bad, but when I hear the chorus, as cheesy as it sounds, I can't help but feel a bit stronger as I'm running.

THE BEAT
The beat of those recognizable strings at the beginning of Cold Play's 'Viva La Vida' never fails to get my feet hitting the pavement at a good pace.

THE MEMORY
If a song can take my mind to somewhere other than my tired legs and labored breathing, then it makes my list.  Katy Perry's 'Firework' actually fits every one of my criteria, but it will always be the song that got me up the hills to Snow Basin on my first (and favorite) leg of Ragnar.

THE POPULARITY
Four out of my five radio stations are set to county music.  I love country music, but as much as I love it I can't run to it.  There are a few country songs that meet my memory criteria and I can listen to them, but overall I need something more pop/rockish.  Lucky for me, I have family members who are more well-rounded and up-to-date in their music selection and can give me some suggestions of the latest up-beat melody.  Just over the Christmas break my sister told me her latest favorite song on her running playlist is 'Let It Go' from Frozen.  It's now on my list as well.



So, there you have it.  My current running playlist.  I hope there's a song or two you like, and could add to you list.   I always love hearing what others listen to, so leave me a comment if I've missed your favorite calorie-burning song. 

If you've been here before for my other playlists, then you know the drill.  Head on over to Spotify (it's free) and you can hear all the songs on my list.  

Happy exercising!  Come back again next Monday for part two of my running journey (the one thing that turned me into a consistent runner of four years now). 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties, Savvy Southern Style,&