slacker

i dunno what happened to march but I seriously slacked in the running/strengthening department.

i'm trying to figure out a schedule for my newly busier life and while trying to do that, something had to give so at first it was the strengthening.

then add on 4 running appointments a week, and i dropped my  running plan. martian half-marathon here i dont come!

goal for this week: fit it all back in.

since i'm running with my clients now, i'm still getting my planned distance in, it's just broken up to 3 days instead of two. My plan for now is to just add in my long run. We'll see..this is all new, and I've added in an extra running day and for now, I don't want to get injured!

It's all doable, you just have to be kind and patient to yourself. Some months are going to be busier than others and there is no point in beating yourself up while you try to navigate the changes.

pinch me

It's only been a week since I last wrote and yet even more awesome-ness has ensued.

My running group is going phenomenally well... I love it! I love seeing people running even though they questioned whether they would be able to. I can't wait to see them at the end of their 10 weeks.

I've taken on two private clients as well. Both of them in the mornings before work. I thought I was busy before, hot damn, am I busy now.

I'm less than 3 weeks away till I turn the big 3-0, and as I'm trying to come up with a gift list, I can't think of anything I desperately need or want, because THIS... is exactly what I need and want. I've forged a career out of a passion that no one thought was possible. I'm now a business owner, and let me tell you, that wasn't necessarily ever on my bucket list, and yet, it all feels very natural. Like I was destined for it. It's weird, and strange and amazing all at the same time.

I'm loving and living life right now (which hopefully explains my blogging absence). 8 months ago, I wasn't sure if this was ever was going to happen.

the road less traveled

today is such a huge, huge day for me. i cant even write this without tearing up.

I helped coach my first Girls on the Run adult 5k training group last Spring, and I knew then, this was it. It's hard to explain the happiness that consumed me, except that nothing up to this point had brought me such joy.

So I continued coaching, I coached another group in the Fall, received my RRCA certification and I was ready to branch out on my own.

I didn't speak much of it on my blog, but the Fall was hard. I had pitched my running program to many gyms, community ed departments and nothing, nada, zip, zilch. It was demoralizing to say the least, and even though I may have spent a week or so moping, I forged on. All I wanted to do was get out there and start, but I had no venue, and as Winter was fast approaching, I knew I had to sit patiently and continue planning, pitching and not giving up hope.

In December, I finally caught a break, I was granted an appointment with a Community Ed coordinator, and even though she was skeptical about the class, she was willing to give it a try.

Tonight I coach my very own Train with Purpose runners, 11 of them to be exact.

Source

It's never, ever too late, to do what you love.

If you would have told me 3 years ago I would be doing what I love, I would have laughed at you, because back then, I knew nothing besides anger, disappointment, embarrassment and despair.

Do something today that you don't think you are capable of, because eventually, you'll realize you are capable of anything you put your mind to.

Trader Joe's Juice in a Box

Trader Joe's Juice in a Box is this weeks Juice of the Week. It's a fairly new TJ item and when I picked it up, it was the only flavor they had, since then I've been back and they have 2 more.

I'll admit, I was drawn to it because it a) reminded me of European juices. a lot of them come in these eco-friendly boxes and b) I was hoping in particular it would taste like this juice we get in Germany.

photo from their website

Trader Joe's is part of the Aldi family, which also happens to be Germany, so I always hold out that some of the products are slowly making it's way over here, but needless to say, it wasn't Granini.

Have you tried Trader Joe's Juice in a Box? Granini? Love it? Hate it?

I use a 1/4 cup of it in my spinach smoothie. Since it's liquid, it helps the blend spinach, berries and kefir more easily (since I don't have a vita-mix yet!).

Have you discovered any new finds at TJ's?

yoga strength

i had an amazing practice this morning.

the fact that these words coming out of my mouth is so surprising. i always liked the idea of going to a yoga studio but i think i was so caught up in my own thoughts that i projected a lot of insecurities i had about myself onto the studio as well as the fellow participants, that it really left a negative taste in my mouth.

practicing in the privacy of my own bedroom, listening  to my own music while learning the sun salutations has been amazing, and freeing and life changing.

it's been roughly 4 weeks since I've started doing the Sun Salutations, I'm up to a 7 (I add 1 full set every week) and today I was able to go from Plank down into the floor position (not sure what it's called but I always feel like it's the down portion of push-up) without plopping/falling into the ground. It was graceful. It was beautiful and I felt amazingly strong!

I'm looking to expand my routine, any tips? thoughts?

I signed up for the Yoga Journals 21 Day Challenge and been doing each day in sequence when I have the additional time in the morning. It's nice because they supply videos and I can just turn them on after my Sun Salutations are done, and continue on with them.

I've even been thinking of a yoga retreat... even if it were just for a few days I think that would be fun to learn some of the moves, flows whatever it's called.

Have you ever been on a yoga retreat? Would you recommend it?