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…Fitness for a Cause…

Photo Credit: @run2heal

For just a moment I would like for you to take  a run in someone else’s shoes…

Tonight when you lay comfortably in bed, in the morning when you get to hit the snooze button and snuggle close to your loved ones and furry family members, and during the day when you are enjoying your comfy work chair and Starbucks Latte you should take a moment to embrace those simple comforts that you are getting to enjoy because not everyone is able to do so.  Christian Griffith is a person that is not able to enjoy life’s simple comforts right now because he is running… and running… and running.   He has gotten up out of his bed (which is in a RV), refueled with some food, tied up his sneakers and hit the pavement (or gravel road) each and every day.  He breaks up his days by running 15-20 miles twice a day.

This journey started in March of 2018.  He plans to keep running until he has run across America to help raise awareness and to encourage, inspire, and motivate individuals who have been affected by child abuse. He started his journey in New York City and in August he will conclude his run in California.  You can read more about his journey by CLICKING HERE.

I did have the pleasure of getting to join Christian on a portion of his journey in Iowa.

I am not sure if you or anyone can understand the magnitude of what kind of event this is and how tedious and difficult it may be.  Every day, Christian wakes up (away from his girlfriend Lindsay and his new baby girl Kai) and has to mentally get motivated to run.

He has to run no matter how hot or cold the temperature out side may be.  He has to run regardless if it is raining, snowing, windy, or just plain hot.  He has to run even if his feet and legs hurt.  He has to run even if he is tired.  He made a pledge to run across America.  So each day he wakes up and runs! A lot of the miles he has done alone and on back roads, gravel roads, and sometimes even grass lands.

I realized exactly how mentally and physically tough this kind of event was when I found myself in the middle of Iowa’s rolling hills.  I was semi lost on a small winding county road (because Christian was running in front of me and I was not 100% sure if I knew where he was) that was turning into gravel with the sun beaming down on me, and I was all alone. I did not have any music or people to preoccupy me. I had the chance to get lost in my thoughts (and in the Iowa rolling hills) for 15 miles. That is when it really hit home for me.  It was at that moment that I was able to truly understand the sacrifice and dedication that this kind of event takes to endure.  It was at that moment I grew a stronger appreciation for what Christian was doing and why he was doing it.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because I want to give people a different perspective on what Christian is doing.  I want people to understand how difficult it is to be completely selfless and to dedicate months of his life to fight for a cause that is close to his heart. So yes, if you have any extra spare money I urge you to donate it to Christians cause and his efforts to help people all across our country who need help with the inner mental demons that were created when they were abused.

You can donate to Christian via clicking HERE 

Also, feel free to follow his journey on social media via CLICKING HERE and CLICKING HERE

I also write this to encourage people to find a cause that they can fight for! I try my best to find local and national charities to do work for each year.  My current favorite charity is The Pink Fund.

I am a huge fan and advocate of giving back to the community. I love to find organizations and people that are needing help and doing what I can to help (no matter how big or small that help may be).

So again, while you sit comfortably reading this there are people out there pushing their bodies to the limit and making sacrifices to help being awareness and raise money for causes they believe in.  What to do you believe in and are you willing to put yourself (your time, money, and resources) to help that cause?

Keep running Christian! So close to the finish line! So proud and lucky to know someone like you (and Lindsey and baby Kai!). See you guys SOON!

…Holiday 5K!…

 

How did you and your family kick off this past 4th of July weekend?

Are you looking for more fun and HEALTHY things for you and your family (& friends) to participate in during the upcoming holidays?

A great suggestion…

RUN A 5K!

 

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This past weekend I managed to roll out of bed early and run the annual Firecracker 5K that my local food bank hosted

All of the proceeds went towards purchasing food and other good for our local food bank.

These types of events go on ALL THE TIME! And they are more frequent during the summer because of the great weather and more people can usually participate in them.

If you are looking for a reason to get you and your loved one more active find a 5k in your area and sign up to run it!

NO you do not have to run the whole time.  You can run at your own pace and if you need to stop and walk you can do so.  There should be staff members along the route just in case you have any medical issues.

You can train with your friends/family and participate in the event together.

Some of these races do offer prizes for top finishers of the race.  Some of these races give out free gifts at the end of the race (such as shirts, medals, drinks, food, or other items other local companies have donated).

Like I said, this is a GREAT way to kick off any holiday weekend.  AND you can do these kind of events with your whole family!  If you have a child you can push them in the stroller.  If you have a pet, you can have them walk (or run) with you during the race!

This is the perfect way to work towards your health and fitness goals AND support a local charity that is in your area.

I hope that you guys had a safe and HEALTHY holiday weekend!

…Start Your Running Regimen…

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Running is the perfect way to start getting active! In today’s post I will go over several tips to help your running experience more enjoyable as well as suggest a running routine to help those who are just now getting back into exercising.  And don’t worry, I will also suggest something for those who have been jogging/running for a while and need something to spice up you workout. (Click on the image above for running safety tips.)

There are other important factors that you have to take into account before you start this running routine.

1. Shoes

You will need to find or buy a decent pair of shoes to run in.  One of my biggest pet peeves is to see someone running down the street in shoes that they should not be running in! You can go to any shoe store and the sales associate can help you find a perfect shoe that fits you perfectly for running.  The Shape Up type of shoes are not ideal (because of the shape of the sole of the shoe).  You will want to have a running/jogging shoe.  Trust me there are TONS to choose from.  And with the holiday season right around the corner you can score some decent shows for a pleasantly low price.  If not, look in your closet and try to find a shoe that have laces (so you can tie them up snug) and that do not have high awkward shaped soles.

2. Location

There are a lot of parks with paved or gravel routes designated for joggers and runners.  Some schools will even allow you to use their tracks when their students are out of athletic practice.  You can also map your own route through your neighborhood or for those who want to invest in a gym membership most gyms have nice treadmill equipment or inside tracks to run on.  Wherever the location make sure you feel comfortable there and that you are able to use it during the best times that work for you.  I know my workouts vary from week to week so I try to make sure that my running route is available morning and night to ensure a safe and comfortable workout for me.

3. Running Partner

Having a running buddy is a great idea! They can be your motivation and also someone to help past the time while you are working out.  Now, I will be honest and say that if you can carry on a full conversation while you are working out maybe you are not pushing yourself hard enough.  I’m not saying you have to be running at 100% speed the whole time, but the focus is the workout…not gossiping or discussing the latest episode of your favorite TV show.

4. Music

For those of you who do not have work out buddies music is a great motivational tool.  I know that I have a personalized workout playlist on my iPod that I listen to during my workouts.  It also helps me to keep track of how long I have been running or working out. Here are some great suggestions to add to your workout playlist:

www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/01/29/songs-to-add-to-your-work-out-playlist/

www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/02/08/more-work-out-songs-volume-ii/

http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/02/24/work-out-songs-volume-iii/

http://www.infinitelifefitness.com/2013/03/08/work-out-songs-volume-iiii/

If you do work out in a gym, some facilities have docks you can hook up to so you can listen to a variety of music or even watch TV (or a DVD) while you are using their machines.  This is also a great option because it helps you to not focus on how long you are working out.

 5. Ready…Set…RUN!

For those who are looking for where to start when it comes to getting physically active the best way to start is slow.  Try not to jump into any exercise routine.  You have to start out slow and gradually build up to the desired routines that you would like to do.

First you want to find discipline, commitment, and belief that you can accomplish your fitness goals. The rewards of running are not instant, but they become
evident overtime.  You should set your first running goal by setting a workout/running schedule for the first two weeks of your new program.  Schedule  consistent runs by shooting for running at least 2 days in a row. Try not to take more than two days off in a row, because doing that makes running each day like it’s the first day all over again.

For starting out, 20 minutes is the magic number because that is when the body starts to produce physiological benefits; increased heart size, stoke volume, and capillarization to name a few.  You should start out by pushing yourself to run for at least 20 minutes per workout session. If you need to stop during this time it is OK! But keep moving! Either briskly walk or significantly decrease the speed at which you are running so you can catch your breath and get a small rest. If a running break is needed while on a run make it brisk!  Maintain this pattern for 14 days. At the end of those 2 weeks you can monitor the progress you have made since the start of your program.  Once you have been able to run no stop over your 20 minute run, then slowly add time to your runs ( I usually suggest adding times in increments of 10 minutes).

For those veteran runners out there I suggest incorporating sprint intervals into your run. Lets say that you have a 40 min run planned for this evening.  Start your run (after stretching of course!!) and do your usually run for 15-20 minutes.  It is then at that point that you sprint (yes as hard as you can!!) for 15-30 seconds (I suggest to start off with 15 seconds and then gradually build up).  After the 15 second sprint , go back to your regular jog for 30 seconds.  You can continue this sprint interval for the next 10 minutes (which is suggested), but for those who are in better shape you can do this for the remainder of your jog.

Now that I have suggested a workout for you to do…go Make a run for it!

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