New Blog

Hey all, 

I'm trying out a new blog for awhile. I have a feeling like I may stick with it (changing interests) but you never know. Don't worry, running is still a HUGE part of my blogging. I just want to focus more on the outdoors (like trail running, camping, summer camp, etc). 

Come follow my new adventures!

@ Running 'Round the Campfire

:)

Happy Running!

Official RNRAZ Photos!

These are way overdue! 

I ran RNRAZ back in January and I never found a chance to post them until now!

I loved running in my new green Sparkle Skirt! :)

Isn't it cute?

                              

                              

                               

                               

     

I had a blast running my first marathon! 

My overall time was 5:13.

I was shooting for 5 hours and I was trying so hard to stay in front of the 5 hour pace group (you can see me in front of them in the 2nd photo. They are holding the balloons.)

I lost them around mile 14. I was so defeated! 

I would love to run this race again just to beat my time (and beat the 5 hour pace group!!!). 

But the course is nothing spectacular. 

Very flat. No scenic views. And it got a little hot near the end (they used hoses to spray us down at mile 23). 

At least it's not freezing! ;) That's a plus!

Sorry this wasn't the most extensive recap. Sometimes I just run and and don't think to take photos. Glad they got a lot of photos of me. It helps if you are wearing a skirt. ;)

Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Training Schedule

This is the training plan I used for RNRAZ this last January.

Please note that it is a beginner training plan; it's for those who are new to the marathon (which I was). 

I made Sundays my long run days so that I could run with TTR, so Mondays ended up being my rest day. 

Always try to make a training plan fit your schedule. If a plan doesn't work with your schedule, then change it. Otherwise, you won't stick to it. 

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	Rest	3 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	3 mi	4 mi
2	Rest	3 mi	Rest	3 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	5 mi
3	Rest	3 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	6 mi
4	Rest	3 mi	Rest	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	4 mi
5	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	6 mi
6	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	8 mi
7	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	10 mi
8	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	8 mi
9	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT	Rest	12 mi
10	Rest	4 mi	Rest	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	10 mi
11	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	14 mi
12	Rest	5 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	10 mi
13	Rest	4 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	16 mi
14	Rest	4 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	12 mi
15	Rest	4 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	Rest	18 mi
16	Rest	5 mi	Rest	6 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	12 mi
17	Rest	4 mi	CT	6 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	20 mi
18	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	12 mi
19	Rest	3 mi	20 minutes	3 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	8 mi
20	Rest	2 mi	20 minutes	Rest	20 minutes	Rest	Race Day!

CT stands for Cross Training. On these days, I tried different activities like swimming, biking, weights, hiking, ultimate frisbee, etc. Try to switch it up a bit. Make it fun. :)

Training Tip: Once you pick your final training schedule, write it down in your planner (if you have one) or calendar. Write every single workout down! That way, you'll see it daily and be more likely to do it. 

My Top 10 Tips to Get Motivated to Run Again

I have been struggling with starting to run again. Ever since I ran my first marathon in January and got sick (I also got sick after past long runs as well), I had to take a hiatus from running. I was becoming frustrated from missing work and missing races I'd had been waiting years to run. 

Honestly, I gave up. I kept telling myself that one day running will magically come back to me. 

Thankfully, I knew that was a big fat lie. 

I am realizing now that I need to get back to it. 

It keeps me fit, alert and most importantly, it keeps me happy. :)

So, I have been researching some ways to get motivated again. 

I found my top ten based on what has helped me in the past and what is helping me today. 

1. Find a new trail. This one doesn't only apply to trail runners. If you usually run on paved roads and need some motivation, try trail running. For us trail runners, go check out a map of your area and see what you'd like to try out. Or go run that trail that you've been dying to run. There's this one run that I have had my eye on for awhile now. It's a trail that starts in Sabino Canyon and makes its way up to the top of Mt. Bigelow (about a 20 mile run! about 40 if it's round trip). It's on the schedule for TTR (the Tucson Trail Runners) in April so I know I need to train for it.
2. Read a book about running. My most recent running reads were Ultramarathon Man and Born To Run (absolute favorite). I only had to read a few paragraphs and I was ready to go. Reading about someone else's adventures makes you want to have your own. You can even read blogs! Those are awesome motivators. Find a local runners blog, those always motivate me the most especially when I know the trails and races they run. It helps me make a connection. And it's always cool if you run into them!
                                                  
   
3. Start a blog. That's what got me started in the first place back in 2010. I was browsing some blogs and I came across this woman's blog from California. She wrote about running and I thought that was really strange. But then I started to really get into it. She seemed like she was having a lot of fun! I started my blog the very same day, even before I got a run in. I wrote on Heat Runner for a few years until I realized my interests changed. I have evolved from a 5k road runner who wanted to be fast into a trail runner, wannabe ultramarathon runner who wants to go farther. :) But I still blog.
4. Get a new playlist. Sometimes, it may be boredom that's stopping you. When I lived elsewhere in Tucson (near the University of Arizona) and I had no easy access to trails or interesting roads, I would refuse to go outside and run when I got home. It was too boring! The only thing that would push me out the door would be my music. I would buy new music every so often and it really pumped up my runs. Lately, I've been running with my phone which has Pandora Radio on it. I love the fact that I don't know what song will come on next. Keeps me guessing. However, it doesn't really work on the trails (no signal) so I have to revert back to my ancient iPod. I have a feeling I will need to update soon.
5. Sign up for a race. If you have a race looming in your future, you will be more likely to train for it. But make sure it's a big race. I have missed a few 5k's that I've signed up for. They obviously were not important enough to me. Now a marathon...that is something I would NOT miss.
6. Try a new workout. You can try a fartlek (Swedish for "speed play") workout or a cross fit workout. I get a WOD (Workout of the Day) email in my inbox every day. I may not do all of them, but it's nice to have a back-up plan for those days that you need to shake it up.
7. Join a running group. Or even a running buddy. I usually like to run alone for various reasons. Sometimes, I need time to think and sometimes, it's because I want to run slow and I don't like slowing others down. But once in awhile, it's nice to run with others. Even if you're not running next to them. TTR is focused on trail running and ultras. I joined the group to meet other runners and motivate myself to run some new trails. It worked! I found some new friends who don't think I'm crazy when I want to run a marathon. I found some new favorite trails that I would never have run had it not been for this group. I have their entire schedule in my planner. There's a run coming up this Sunday in the Rincon Mountains that I'm hoping to attend.
            You can even try to encourage a friend to start running. Hopefully, it's not like pulling teeth, because that's no fun. Start out slow with them and get them interested in some races. That's what Warrior Dash and those color runs are for.
8. Run with your dog. My German Shepard/Chow-chow mix LOVES to run. My time is always faster when I have to keep up with her. And when we run on trails, I let her off her leash so she can run free. She reminds me that running is so natural and we should do it often.
   
9.  Try cross training. Swimming, hiking, biking...snowshoeing. Anything else that's exercise that isn't running. It makes me feel like a well rounded athlete and it makes me feel a little guilty for not running instead. :)
                                
10. Walk more. You don't need to run the whole time. Don't be pressured to think that you have to. Enjoy the scenery. Stretch out your sore muscles. Take time to refuel. 

I hope these gave you some motivation!
They definitely got me motivated! I think I'll go for a run. :)

Trail Running: It's About the Experience

It is not about your time.

I run to have an adventure.

That's the main reason I got into trail running.

I know I'm not fast.

But that doesn't mean I'm giving up.

And I'm not just dismissing myself from ever running fast just because I don't run a 7 minute mile.

Sometimes I don't like running.

We've all been there.

If you know an avid runner that told you they love running and they always have...

They.

are.

lying.  

We have all had those moments in our life when we hate the idea of running.

I get tired.

And I'm also a wee bit lazy. :/
And I don't like the dreadmill.

And I will do some road running from time to time (usually the only option, like when I'm traveling).

So,

I am limited to the trails.

Which is just fine by me. :D

No complaint here.

I love the trails.

They give me the chance to let go and be outside.  

It's kind of like meditation for me.

I can think if I want. Sometimes it helps me clear my head.

But I can also let go. And think about absolutely. nothing.  

How blissful. :) :) :)

Here is a taste of some of the beauty I've experienced while running:

For me, trail running is such an amazing adventure.

If you ever want to try it out,

I have a few requests:

Be respectful to nature and the trail itself.

Take your trash with you.  

Forget about your time.

Enjoy the views.

:)

 HAPPY TRAIL RUNNING! 

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.” ~ Edward Abbey

Update: Why I Lost My Running Mojo

I wanted to give everyone a quick update on what's going on in my life. 

As you know from the last post, I have a busy schedule and my interests may be changing. 

I changed my blog name and I felt better. 

For a little while. 

Then, my sister texted me to tell me she couldn't find my blog. It didn't exist!!

I freaked out and got really worried that I wouldn't be able to have my original blog URL back. 

Thankfully, everything worked out and I'm back. 

I think I lost my running mojo for two reasons:

+ I'm always getting sick after my long runs.

+ A few of my favorite bloggers/runners stopped writing on their blogs. 

I am trying to figure out what is making me sick
and I'm moving past the fact I lost a few main motivators. 

Two things to work through.

Oh, and I'm a full time teacher and part time student. 

It's definitely taking up some of my precious running/outdoor time. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other than that, I have some fun things to update you on!

1. I am running Ragnar Relay Del Sol this weekend! I finally decided to run it again. Remember that last time I dropped out? I wasn't feeling Ragnar Las Vegas for some reason. It may have been the group of people, may have been the steep price, may have been the 7 hour drive to get there, whatever. But I'm definitely doing this one!  And I'm super excited. I packed my stuff up early (strange for me) and I plan to do a full recap on it. The last time I did Ragnar, my recap was basically a bunch of photos. I was so overwhelmed by the race itself that I had no idea how to recap it. This time, I'm bringing a notebook along to jot down memories and things I don't want to forget!
   
   
2. I joined Tough Chik and I am also a Sweat Pink Ambassador! I want to talk about it more later, and do a bio on each awesome community. Coming soon!
   
3. My friend Kathryn and I are planning on running R2R2R next April. I am so excited about this. I am obsessed with the Grand Canyon (history, hiking, geology, etc) and so I'm glad I found someone to run across the canyon with...and back! All in one day. It's going to be epic. More on the preparation for that later.
   
     
   
4. I have an interview for the Girl Scouts of San Diego summer camp! It's next week and I'm a little nervous. It's a phone interview, which should be easier than a Skype interview. I hope it goes well. I really want to work there! Wish me tons of luck!!! 

That's it for now! I'll keep you updated. :)

Motivate Me! (please) Monday

 

Today, this motivation is deticated to other things in my life:

 

I've been thinking about my blog lately.
I'm not super impressed by it. It's just not what I want it to be...yet.

I've had this vision of a blog that I update at least twice a week, discuss hot topics and offer great advice. I was trying to do that for running, but my motivation has been low for it.

 It's really hard to write about something twice a week when you don't want to think about it everyday.

 

I love running but I'm not sure if I want to think about it all of the time.

I'd rather have fun with it and enjoy it.

Right now, I'm not enjoying it like I should.

I feel as if it's a chore that I have to keep doing every week.

And I know this happens to everyone.
Some fellow blogger friends have told me they stopped writing on their blogs (one of them had over 2,000 readers!) because it felt like it was becoming a chore rather than a hobby.

 

I have been considering creating another blog, solely for camp. If you don't know, I have been obsessed about being a camp professional for years. Ever since I went to summer camp about 17 years ago, I have wanted to become a camp counselor. Since becoming a camp counselor in 2005, that's all I have ever wanted to do. I even feared of getting a real job after college because I wouldn't be able to work at camp during the summers (thank goodness for the teaching profession!!).

After a few years working as a counselor, I wanted bigger and better things: aka the camp director position. So, I'm on a quest to become one!

 

If you have never been to camp or you hated it, what I'm saying would bore you to pieces.
Being a director is almost a full time job. It requires long hours of brainstorming, planning, paperwork, hiring, more paperwork, and keeping everything together.
I  have been working with two of the most amazing directors for the past seven years. They have inspired me to stay in the camp world, even if they didn't know that's what they were doing.

 

Camp has truely changed my life.

I always feel as if I have another family that I can return to every summer.

Everyone cares about each other (except for a few bad seeds that come in every few years) and it can be a real hippie-dippie kind of place.
We sing songs around the campfire, we give hugs at least 10 times a day (it's good for mental growth), and we stay up late in the bungalow, talking until midnight and listening to the owls in the trees (super hippie-dippie...am I right?).

But I love

every

single

second

of

it.

 

I wasn't sure about having two blogs. I know that if I go completely over to the camp topic, I will lose a lot of running readers (why would you want to read about camp??) and in turn a lot of friends (maybe not?).  

 

So, I'm considering merging the two into one new blog.

Running, hiking, backpacking, and of course, camp.

Basically, it would be a journal for my outdoor adventures and my journey to becoming a camp professional. I hope that it will be mostly outdoor focused but I want it to be helpful for others interested in camp as well.

 

Camp is something that I think about on a daily basis.
Running is something that I might think about every few days.

Why not talk about what I really want to talk about?

 

I would still participate in races, I would keep running with my trail running group and generally keep writing about staying fit and healthy. But, it wouldn't be the main focus. I could write about everything else too! With camp mixed in of course.

 

I won't end my journey on HEATRUNNER just yet.

I will need some time to create another blog.

A weekend won't do it for me.

It may happen during Rodeo Break or Spring Break.

And I still need time to think about it. :)