It's a New Year so what does that mean....

1/18/2017

For some it's a lot of new years resolutions or for others like me it's a continuation on working on our goals. We either start new challenges, refresh our workout plans, adjust yearly goals and just trying to look after our well being so we can continue this journey.

My Christmas days off I tried to make the best of them, relax more and I was able to workout everyday I was off. I also heard about this new Challenge that the OCR Guy Challenge put out for the new year. The Challenge is to run 5km a day for 10 days to complete a total of 50km. Doesn't seem so bad does it? As it turned out it wasn't and I was able to complete 50km for the year so far. I learnt so much about myself, was proud for sticking with it for 10 days and learning more about my asthma. I documented everything so I can show my lung specialist. I have to have a test next month that I am nervous for having to do but also excited to learn more about what's going on in those lungs too. We are digging deeper and finding out what makes them tick.

Whatever your goals are for the year, write them down and hold yourself accountable to them. If you don't you will fail. You should be choosing them based on what you want and not to compete with others but only yourself. If you do it for the wrong reasons your not always going to succeed. Lessons I have since learned. After my depression bought I am having a hard time getting back on track but am trying harder to do it thanks to my goals and races I have signed up for. This year for me it's all about race performance and not about quantity. I got it out of my system and I proved to myself I can do a ton of races back to back. But I don't need to do that anymore. I want to perform better at the races I do and have faster times and be less fatigued going into them. I want to be more rested and let my body recover better. I want my training to be better and start overcoming some challenges with that. I am also going to continue to make better eating choices to and continue to eliminate some of the bad food I eat. It's hard work and it takes time, Its going to be a bumpy road full of ups and downs but I will get there. I have the knowledge I just need to stop being lazy and go for it. I used to use my fitness pal religiously and it was getting to the point where I was getting anxiety that I had to log in everyday to keep my streak going... was not the anxiety I needed. I got up to 614 days and I just stopped. I feel so much better. I am going to use it to track my workouts and when I am trying new foods to see how my nutrition goes for the day but I can't be tied to it like so many others are tied to the weigh scale. These tools are great to get started. But I can't let it control my life anymore.

I am am starting to dig deep and find out what is causing me stress and anxiety and work to eliminate it or reduce it. Also this year is about trying new things and finding things I can do to help my body recover from training and races and also help my well being. Will be getting massages once a month, will see my chiropractor once a month to stay in aliment, I already use my roller but will be doing more. I want to find things that help calm my mind and allow it to relax. All about reducing stress, recovery and over all well being. I'm not getting any younger and I want my body to still be able to carry me without crippling it. I love racing but people can't keep doing so many races in a year without effecting their body in a negative way. I know I have tortured my body and needed so many medical people to out my body back together. Hard lessons I had to learn and part of me doesn't regret it but I finally get why my coach Lisa wanted me to take it easy. Happy today that I get it! But also I had my best racing year last year doing so many but at the same time was lucky I didn't end up with a major injury from using my body so much for all those races.

I want to spend more time with friends and being in the mountains. Hard to do that when every weekend your racing. I wish I had better work life balance and I am still working on finding it. I am always open to new opportunities and changes.

One of those new opportunities was before Christmas I was chosen to be an Ambassador for X Warrior Challenge. It's a huge honor to be chosen as one of the first and for an amazing race. They have big dreams and goals and it was homegrown in Calgary AB. Looking forward to seeing where this goes and also to race it in May 13th. The first race was last year and running one lap wasn't enough so this year my son and I are going after the Titan multi lap version. The also put on other runs and one was New Year's Day and we did a 5k. Was fun and a great way to start the new year. Afterwards went out to a bar with friends and had some awesome laughs. They have so many different heats, some for the kids too and if you want get a team together you can get some added perks for your group if you get enough to join it. What are you waiting for lets do this May 13th!! Click HERE to register!! Join the movement and try new things!! #noexcuses

On the topic of trying new things my son and I did that too. We finally went to a yoga class that was warm and geared towards Hips and Hamstrings. After running 5k for 10 days my legs were unbelievably tight. No matter what I tried to loosen them I just couldn't. So off to yoga we went and wow what a great time I had. On a side note afterwards I felt my lungs being able to open up more and get deeper breaths plus my body is moving much better. So I will be going back and making it a regular thing in my life. My son Ty not sure if he will come back but he might.

Until next time...

Love being an Ambassador... ask me how to create a team! If you have enough you get team perks! May 13th 2017 A heat for all abilities... lets try something new! Click the picture to register now!