Ready To Be Ready
This morning I shared a link 30 Things To Stop Doing To Yourself on my Facebook page. Yes, Kimberley had a good point that they would have more impact if they were stated in the positive, but even stated the way they were, they still resonated with me, one in particular:
12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
A couple of years ago I traded being an obsessive planner to become a worrier. I don’t know what was worse; not being able to do something because it didn’t appear on the calendar and having a near panic attack about it or waking up at 3:17am and worrying about something for the next 2 hours. Should I? Shouldn’t I? Can I? No really, Can I? And by 5:17am, I have not only worried about my worry, second and third guessed it, I have also worried about the world’s problems, and will need a serious afternoon power nap to make it through the day.
Somebody slap me, enough already!
Deep breathe. Exhale.
2011 was the year of Wonder Woman, 2012 shall will be the year that I am ‘Ready To Be Ready’. Not just ready for adventure or a run either, I am always ready for that. Ready for change, opportunities, growth, a new home and a new addition to the family…no I am not pregnant, but wouldn’t that be a shocker?! Just plain old ready for anything and to see where the year takes me.
Eager, a 'lil nervous, but ready!
What are you going to do for yourself in 2012?
Can I Help?
2011: The Year Of Wonder Woman
2011 was a year all of its own. To quote Charles Dickens, 2011 “was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. And I chose to pay homage to it by running the Las Vegas Rock ‘N’ Roll ½ Marathon dressed as Wonder Woman!
Yeah!
At first glance the whole costume thing may have looked like just a fun way to run a race, but it was really quite deliberate. Although I am slightly shorter in stature, smaller in build, but maybe not when I am wearing my good bra (as I found out when I took the “Which Superhero Are You Quiz” and it asked if I wore a push-up bra), Wonder Woman is an adventurer, a princess, an ambassador and a warrior, which I can relate to. She believes in truth (me too), justice (yes, also) and can psychically communicate with animals (something which I can’t do, but I do have that doggy/kitty voice that we all talk to our animals in), my jet isn’t invisible, it’s blue, but that’s ok I left it at home, but I did wear my star sapphire ring, which has been the object of much speculation and criticism, hey, I like it! Thanks to my crafty Mum, my boomerang tiara was not only practical, it was sweat-proof and my indestructible gauntlets accommodated my Garmin…which of course didn’t work. I opted not to wear the lasso of truth for my trek, and for those of you that know me, you know full well that I would have ended up tangled up or tripping over it no matter how securely it was fastened to me, all part of my charm.
So after a year of ‘undulation’ for lack of a better word and also turning 40, running 21.1km up and back down the Vegas strip in a pair of booty shorts covered with stars paired with a red and gold lamé top, was to say the least liberating and pretty much my highlight of 2011.
Let’s raise our glasses together one last time this year. Here’s to climbing the mountain and enjoying the view!
my happy place
And to 2012, may it bring peace, good health and happiness. Cheers my friends.
Can You Limit Your Sleep and Sedentary Time To Only 23.5 Hours A Day?
Hey Resolutioners, check out this video. It’s a bit of a longish watch, but very entertaining and informative, and it may even save your life. If you needed another kick in the pants to get yourself moving, consider this your butt kicking.
Now get moving!!!!!!
About Last Night
Spent last night in the big city. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to work off the oysters, Caesar salad, Ahi tuna, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, mushrooms, creme brulee, wonder woman and a lemon drop martini or two, than with an early morning run through Coal Harbor and along the seawall.
Channeling my inner Rae
T’was The Day Before Christmas
T’was the day before Christmas and all through my house,
My running family was stirring and so was my spouse,
Their wet shoes were placed by the backdoor with care,
In hopes that Vanessa’s goodies would soon be there.
The runners were nestled around the table ready to be fed,
While visions of Rae’s mimosas danced in their heads;
And Tony in his Santa hat and I in my cap
Had just settled down to shoot the crap.
When out in the hallway arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my counter to see what was the matter.
Away to the hallway I flew like a flash,
To see D’s birthday wine on the floor, thank goodness it didn’t smash.
The mud and the rain on my somewhat clean floor,
Gave luster, who am I kidding, hey, who’s at the door,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a big box of chocolates, and six more runners spreading Christmas cheer.
“Now, Colin! Now, Soraiya! Now, Murray you vixen!
On, Barry! On, Shelley! Oh Conny, is she still Blitzen?
To the top of the stairs! To the top of the wall!
Now eat away! Eat away! Eat away all!
We spoke many words, but not about work,
And filled all our bellies, without worrying about calories, what a perk.
Before I knew it, coffee was drawing to a close,
And giving a hug, to the door they rose.
They sprang to their cars, to my dog gave a whistle,
And away they all drove like the down of a thistle.
But I heard them exclaim, ere they drove out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Jingle Bell run! I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the morning of my favourite day of the year. Merry Christmas.
The 10 ish k'ers
The 5 k'ers
Vanessa’s recipes:
Sausage and Egg Casserole
- 6 slices bread, cubed
- 1 pound sausage, browned, drained
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 8 each eggs, beaten
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon, salt
- pepper to taste
Cube bread and place evenly in greased 9×13 pan or baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with sausage and cheese. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over ingredients in pan. May cover and chill overnight. (if left overnight, remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking). Bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees or until set. Cut into squares to serve.
Serves 8 to 10.
Mini Cheddar and Bacon Frittatas
- 4 eggs
- 2 T. creamo
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 3 strips finely chopped cooked bacon
- 2 T. salsa
- ½ cup chopped bell peppers
- pepper and chili powder to taste (approx ½ t. each)
Beat eggs and creamo in a medium bowl – add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Grease mini muffin tin. Fill cups with egg mixture almost to the rim. Bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes or until centers are set. Makes 12 mini frittatas.
Strong Core, Strong Body
Article post: 5Ktours.com
Our core muscle group is what supports our entire body. Maintaining a strong core is essential for the proper form and strength it takes to perform movement correctly. Without engaging your core muscles we overwork our other muscles and joints in our body, risking possible injury.
Learn why strengthening our core muscle group is so important and try using a few of these exercises from our expert contributors to keep your training effective.
Strong Core, Strong Body
To have a strong core you need to strengthen surrounding and opposing muscle groups including shoulders, back, abdominal muscles as well as the gluteal area. Exercises that I recommend include: planks (side plank as well as prone), bicycle crunches, Pilates exercises, back extension exercises (alternating arm-and-leg superman and superman) push-ups as well as squats and lunges. Focus on quality of the exercises over quantity done.
Core training can be done 4-5x/week as either a complete workout or added to the end of an cardio or strength training session. I also recommend clients work to work on their posture hourly; standing tall with a neutral spine and practice engaging abdominal muscles (imagine you are zipping up a snug pair of jeans and as you are fastening the button pull your abdominal muscles in and up). Work on core stability while you work and sit on a stability ball instead of a chair.
Keri Cawthorne, Owner, Iron Mountain Movement
Well Hello Winter
Some mornings were just meant for running…
Say it isn't so?!
…and then hot tubbing!
That Doesn’t Look Like A Water Bottle…
I guess I must have been a good girl this year, Santa left this for me on my spin bike last night!
Jerry!
Thank you Santa.
Graduation Night
Due to traffic, the flu and a baby due in just days (not one of the runners, the wife of) the graduation run of the Beginner Running Clinic was small in numbers but HUGE in spirit.
Congratulations everyone on taking that 3 minute run at the end of September and turning it into a 30 minute run last night! I am so proud of you all.
