Love Isn’t the Right Word

August 22, 2010

I rarely do hodgepodge posts, but for some reason this weekend I have several things to share which all seem to be in completely different topic categories. So in case you’ve stopped by for something specific this weekend, here’s the order: training, review, links and big news.

After my race recap last Sunday I really enjoyed everyone’s comments and I was thrilled that for some it gave you a sense of motivation. One comment however has stuck with me all week. The reason being that it elicited a response in me that I’m not sure I’ve made clear when talking about my running.

One of my favorite health bloggers and inspirational entrepreneurs, Michelle, commented – run because you love to run. The second I read her comment which I know was meant to be positive and support (thank you!), I thought –

But I don’t love it. There are days I barely even like it.

My love for running hasn’t changed I’ve never been a person who can’t live without it, but what has changed is my attitude. My relationship with running over the past year and my decision to run half marathons has been as much an experiment with myself as anything else.

Simply put, I am exercising the power of a positive attitude.

The days my legs hurt, I’m so tired in the evening I know I’ll barely be able to wake up on an otherwise lazy weekend morning, and when I curse the next mileage increase to come, I go straight to my social media outlets. I talk about how great the weather is, how exciting it was that I reached my goal and some of the cool things I saw along my route. Guess what? It has kept me running.

So my decision to do weekly posts during my training this time isn’t about convincing everyone to be a runner. It is to convince people to step out of their comfort zone, do something that is uncomfortable and that you don’t like. Then change your attitude about it. Be positive and watch things change around you including the accomplishment of goals you never thought possible.

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All that being said, I could never be a daily runner. I would burn out quickly. Therefore, I run 3 days a week. That’s it. I’ve tried more and I begin to dread it. Three days has been enough to allow me to run a half marathon and I’m happy with that.

My challenge has been to keep up with my cross-training on the days I’m not running. I say challenge because it is so hard! My runs wear me out, even the short ones and I want every non-running day to be a rest day. This isn’t good for a lot of reasons, so I make my main motivation that cross-training helps me to avoid injury.

Yoga helps with my shin splits and focus, and strength training helps my core and decreases the back pain I used to have when running.

A few weeks ago, America’s Nutrition contacted me about trying some products. I’m not a supplement girl any longer so I knew that many of the items wouldn’t be for me. However, when I saw that they also provide fitness equipment I offered to review some, knowing I could use some new things for my cross training. I was sent a Zenzation Athletics yoga block and a Valeo 10 lb. medicine ball.

If you are new to yoga, which I still consider myself to be, get a yoga block. Wow, it makes me feel much less inferior during my practice. By sitting on it during poses and using it for forward bends and similar moves, I find I’m straining myself less and able to focus on the practice itself. One day I’ll be able to reach that far and get my legs into that challenging position, but for now I love the yoga block!

When I was working out in gyms before our move, I loved using a medicine ball so I’m thrilled to have one at home now. New gadgets are cool like fancy bands and kettle balls, but I tend to like old school equipment. I use the medicine ball for abs exercises and have incorporated it into strength training videos I do at home.

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Okay, so now you are holding out for this week’s links, I can tell. I came across some great stuff!

Waffleizer is a blog I can’t believe I’ve missed! It’s basically about how to make everything with a waffle iron. Incredibly creative!

Baking Without a Box featured the coolest food truck in LA, Austin and NYC in a post this week. Coolhaus is a design your own ice cream cookie sandwich dessert truck. You pick from six cookie varieties and then from eight ice cream fillings. Such a great idea!

Old Fashioned Lemon Bars from Culinary Travels has me so hungry for this dessert. I used to never crave lemon bars, but now I find I miss them when I don’t have them for a while.

Math Lessons for Locavores was an opinion piece on NYTimes.com. I am so glad that it was written by someone who grows his own food and understands the value in it. It brings up great points that not all transport is bad and reminds me why I embrace both local and global. I buy local because I like to support the farmers, I grow my own food for the flavor, but if I’d never be able to have sticky rice, coconut, and good coffee if there was no food transport.

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Finally for the news…
We’ve been back in the US now for about 10 months and I’ve decided it is time for me to go back to my work in community health education. I’ve accepted a job and begin September 1st! The great news is that I get to work with a huge variety of programming and not only nutrition and fitness as I have before. I’ll even be teaching a little cooking and canning!
No worries, the blog will still be going strong because I’ll never leave my passion for real food and travel. However, you will likely find me catching up on your blogs with multiple comments over the weekends!
Have a wonderful week!

 

 
 
Disclaimer: The products mentioned were sent to me free of charge from America’s Nutrition. I was under no obligation to write about them and received no compenstation for doing so.

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  • Zibi August 22, 2010 at 9:57 am

    Congratulations on your new job 🙂
    It sounds like it will be a great fit for you.

  • Kim August 22, 2010 at 10:23 am

    Congrats to you, Lori!! Sounds like a perfect fit for you!

  • Marianne (frenchfriestoflaxseeds) August 22, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Congrats on the new job 🙂

  • Fresh Local and Best August 22, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Lori, this is such an inspiring post! I’m inspired by your philosophy on running. There are some errands that I run that really push me to the edge sometimes, such as carrying 40 pounds of groceries 10 blocks through town three times a week. It’s not fun, but I know that it is good for me, and it makes me feel stronger and good about going out my way to ensure that my family is fed good quality food.

    Congratulations on the new job! It sounds like an incredible opportunity!

  • Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) August 22, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    Congrats on the new job, Lori!

    I feel similarly about running and can’t wait until I’m healed enough to get back out there.

  • 5 Star Foodie August 22, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    Lori, congratulations on your new job, sounds exciting!

  • strivingbean.com August 22, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    Congratulations Lori! Sounds very exciting! And I know what you mean about running – I call it a love/hate relationship.

  • Sagan August 22, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    I’m not a runner, either. If I run once every few months, I enjoy it. Much more than that and I start to go crazy 🙂

    Congratulations on the job!

  • Debinhawaii August 22, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    Congrats on the new job–sounds like it has a lot of fun aspects to it. 😉

  • Marisa August 23, 2010 at 5:00 am

    All the best for the new job! So exciting. 🙂

  • MelindaRD August 23, 2010 at 8:06 am

    I agree that sometimes it is a good thing to step out of your comfort zone. If not, you never really know your limits and what you are truly capable of. Congrats on the job. I am sure you will really enjoy it. I work at home now, but when we do make it back to the States or a bigger overseas base, I have a feeling I will have to go back to working in a “real” job. Right now I teach with 2 universities doing online courses.

  • Tangled Noodle August 23, 2010 at 9:08 am

    Oh, Lori! Congratulations!! That is indeed wonderful news and I wish you all the best in your new professional endeavor.

    I feel much the same about some of my activities as you do about running. It’s a love/hate relationship but the important thing is that as long as it fulfills something, then it’s all good. I step back when continuing an activity makes me more miserable than happy, then pick up again when I regain my equilibrium.

    Thanks for the links!

  • Joanne August 23, 2010 at 10:32 am

    I love your honesty Lori! I think we all have to understand that not everyone will LOVE working out or going to the gym, but I think just about everyone will love the feeling of knowing they are doing something good for themselves!

  • Juliana August 23, 2010 at 10:58 am

    Lori, congratulations on your new job…sounds really good and a great opportunity!

  • Maria August 23, 2010 at 11:08 am

    Congrats on the new job! I would love to hear more:) I have a degree in health promotion/education and currently do worksite wellness. We can swap notes:)

  • emily (a nutritionist eats) August 23, 2010 at 11:45 am

    Congratulations Lori! That is wonderful news!
    PS. Your running post motivated me to start running- Just wanted you to know that!

  • OysterCulture August 24, 2010 at 7:38 am

    Woohoow! Congratulations on the new job, how perfect for you. I can see its going to be a match made in heaven.

    Even though I practically run every day, I know what you mean, I also agree its really important to mix up the running with yoga, or in my case pilates, its just critical.

    Can’t wait to hear more about your 1/2s,

  • Blake August 24, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    I’m not a run-every-day person either. I gotta change it up… that’s why I love triathlons! 🙂

  • Lori August 25, 2010 at 1:06 pm

    Thanks so much for the congrats everyone! I really appreciate it!

    FLB – I know what you mean with carrying groceries! I had to do it in Brazil, but only 7 blocks! 🙂

    emily – Thanks so much! Congrats to you. I’m so glad I had a tiny part in it. 😉

    Blake – My hubs and I are oftened tempted by tris, but haven’t taken the plunge yet. 🙂

  • Reeni August 26, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    Congratulations on your new job Lori! I wish you the best with it. I read the post that you referred to and I think I would of cried my eyes out…what you’ve written of the experience is very thought-provoking.

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