Tag Archives: inspiration

The Small Stuff: The beauty of my Saturday morning route

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I am admittedly spoiled. I live in South Florida where people from other parts of the country come to vacation and aspire to retire. What could be better motivation to wake up at 5:30am every Saturday than a view of the ocean as the sun is rising? Believe me, it makes it worth every minute out of bed. Actually, early morning runs have not only privileged me to gorgeous sunrises but to some wildlife spottings that could rival a National Geographic film reel.

At one point, I was having so many cool sightings that my updates became an eagerly awaited topic of morning conversation between myself, my boyfriend and his daughters. Between red foxes and giant snapping turtles crossing the street, hawks chasing squirrels and dinosaur-sized iguanas sunbathing, it was getting pretty kooky! But, even the things that aren’t so kooky get me excited to be on my ocean-side Saturday morning route or even my weeknight route. A bright red cardinal sitting on a telephone wire, circular Sea Grape leaves rolling like wheels on short golf grass, boats tied up in their docks bobbing in the water and a handsome (and very fast) man waiting for me by the car with a cold bottle of water… that’s the good stuff.

I wonder, however, how many people actually take the time to notice these small things or even get pleasure from witnessing them.

I once had a co-worker at the hospital I previously worked at who would teach his patients about “mindfulness.” “Mindfulness” is the ability to be truly present and to find pleasure in the HERE AND NOW. It was a difficult concept for many of his patients to master, and I’ll admit that I wasn’t able to be truly mindful at that time in my life either. I mean, it’s not easy to get out of the madness in your own head! With some time, growth and self-reflection, however, I’ve come to realize that although getting giddy about seeing a red cardinal on a telephone wire is pretty nuts, it’s just me being mindful of the awesomeness in the details of life. And those details bring me joy.

* Where are your favorite routes?
* When is your favorite time to run?
* What amazing things have you been witness to on your runs?
* Are you mastering being “mindful”?
* What small details in life give you joy?
Please share your stories and pictures!

To Run or Not to Run: Fitting Workouts into Work Schedules

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It’s my first week back to school, which means I‘ve had to fit in my workout schedule back into my work schedule. And to be honest, it hasn’t been easy. How often do we skip out on our runs because we’re just “too tired” after work? I’ll admit I’ve done it plenty of times in the past. I’ve come to realize, however, that this only makes me feel worse. I get antsy and frustrated ON TOP of being tired and stressed out.

On my “About Me” page I share about my fascination with the mind-body connection. The mind can truly decide what the body can and cannot, will and will not do… which can either be a great thing or a horrible thing. In turn, the mind responds positively to chemicals naturally produced in the body when it is in motion. Ever hear of the “runner’s high”? It’s a real thing, and it’s pretty amazing. What’s more, that “high” sustains itself far longer than the short term gratification you get from sitting on the couch an extra half hour in your sweat pants eating chips before dinner. (Not that any of us have ever done that before or anything.)

To be honest, all unhealthy decisions are based on impulsivity and the desire for short term gratification. In fact, understanding this IS THE KEY to creating a paradigm-shift in your health and appearance. Think about it, those individuals who are least healthy are those who can’t seem to get past their need for “short term” gratification. That desire to gratify oneself by eating that crunchy fried food or sleep-in outweighs the desire to build the endurance to run faster or have your body look better in that bathing suite. Why? Because it’s easier… and because they just haven’t found the needed inspiration to do what their bodies and minds deserve instead of what their bodies and minds “want right now.”

As I’ve attended conferences and meetings this past week, I have been bombarded by inspirational quotes and ideas from motivational speakers, principals and co-workers. Their intention was to light a fire in us so that we begin the new school year positively as educators. As I reflect on some of the things that have been said, I realize that I don’t want this positivity to wear-off as though it were two weeks into January and I fell of the “New Year’s Resolution wagon”. I want my positivity for the new school year and my positivity about my personal, health and fitness goals to sustain like a runner’s high that keeps me wanting more. I’m not going into this for the short term gratification of it. I know better and I’m going to make the choices I need to find long- term spiritual happiness. My future is my inspiration.

Here are my tips for getting out there for your runs even if you are exhausted after working a full day:

1. If your schedule permits, wake up early and do your workouts BEFORE you even go to work: Once you leave the office and realize that you still have kids to pick up, dinner to cook, laundry to fold and phone calls to make, you wont have the energy or desire to do anything but shower and get comfy.

2. Prepare the night before: I pack my lunch, prepare my vitamins, get my clothes ready and pack my gym bag (if I’m going to yoga) before I go to bed the night before. You won’t make as many excuses if you’re already prepared and ready to go…

3. Buddy up: If you have someone waiting for you to exercise, it makes it that much harder to skip out. Avoiding humiliation has helped me follow through with a many workouts I would have preferred to skip out on.

4. Do what feels right: So, your training schedule calls for 5 miles at race pace today but you feel beat up from that zumba class you tried out yesterday. Don’t skip out completely! Do what feels right. Run the 5 miles slower (walk if you have to) but do SOMETHING. Being kind yourself will make it easier to get out there and make the effort.

5. Have fun: Don’t commit to a goal or exercise routine you don’t like (or flat-out makes you miserable.) Do what makes you happy and feels fun to you!

Are you ready to make that paradigm shift in your life? Are you willing to let go of short-term gratification and be willing to EARN the rewards of long-term happiness and satisfaction? How will you do it? What will be your inspiration?

I need to fuel my fire within! Please give me your feedback!!

“This is for me”… Finding Inspiration from Within

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Driving on the expressway on my way to Miami Beach almost 6 years ago, I saw a billboard advertising the Tropical 5K. It was the kick off event traditionally held the day before Miami’s enormously popular ING Marathon and Half Marathon race. It occurred to me that, although I’ve never been very athletic and until that point I had never run more than the mandatory 10 minute mile in middle school gym class, this might be something I’d like to try. Maybe it was the fact that I subconsciously felt stifled in an unhealthy relationship or maybe it was just that I was entering my mid twenties and had never really stretched myself to do anything outside of my obligations to school and work but, regardless the motivator behind what I believed to be a crazy decision, I signed myself (and a few girlfriends) up for the race.

Running a race, for those of you who have never done so before, is both exhilarating and addictive, even if you are the last to finish. The crowds, the cheering, the seemingly imperative task of finishing strong, it all goes to your head… and believe me, it went to mine. I needed to race again and I needed to be better! My sister and I entered and ran in a race about every 2 weeks that season. After that, I found a local running store that was hosting a training group and joined.

Who knew that a billboard could have led me to run dozens of 5 and 10Ks, 9 half marathons and one full?

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My sister, Georgette, and I after having run our first half marathon together in 2009. (ING Miami)

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My friends Cara, Kris and I along with another running group member after having finished our first full marathon in 2010! (ING Miami)

I quickly came to realize, however, that although the feeling you get when achieving a new goal or crossing that finish line is priceless, not every part of the race is fun and almost no part of the race or the training season is easy. I began to repeat mantras to myself to keep focused and motivated. They’ve changed with every stage of my life since I started running… sometimes a phrase, sometimes a prayer. My first mantra, “I may not want to but, I can, and I will,” was something that my sister and I would giggle about but repeated loudly together as we would really start feeling that lactic acid build up towards the end of our races that first year. My mantra last year, however, has been “This is for me.”

On a personal level, last year was one of the most difficult yet formative of my life. I had suffered a miscarriage and, soon thereafter, ended the 8 year relationship I had with my now-ex-husband. Suffice it to say, however, that the sequence of events that transpired  had hit a SERIOUS restart button on my life.

I was no longer someone’s wife and I was no longer going to be someone’s mother. I had moved to Boca Raton to be close to my parents for their support but, this meant that I was no longer near my friends. I was overweight from the pregnancy, so I no longer felt attractive. I felt confused, betrayed and deceived. Everything I had attempted to create had been taken from me.

I still believed on a very fundamental level, however, that the life that I wanted for myself was a possibility for me. It just wasn’t going to happen the way I had planned. I guess that’s what faith is, though. It’s belief beyond reason and peace beyond understanding. And from MY understanding, the only one that rebuild and recreate my life was ME.

The first step would be to redefine, or maybe just more correctly define, who I was. I needed to feel liberated and open myself up to the possibilities of whatever this new life had in store for me. I needed to realize that, although recent life events had left me feeling betrayed by them, my mind and body WERE capable of achieving great things, things that most could not achieve. I needed to run, and I needed to run for me.

I joined a local running group near my new home in hopes that I would make friendships and get a jump start back into being healthy and happy. Every bit of endurance I rebuilt to run one mile further was for ME. Every friendly conversation or kind connection I encountered while on a run was for ME. Every step closer I got to the new definition of who I wanted to become was for ME.

That’s why running is beyond sport. Just like any life altering event, it is the opportunity to prove to yourself that you can achieve or overcome anything. No matter how slow a pace or short of a distance, it’s all about that inner monologue that either strengthens or weakens your mind-body connection. I found inspiration in my faith that life has something better for me than I can imagine. I believe that I have to be the best possible version of myself in order to own my own happiness. That is why “This is for me.” What inspires you?