Mixing it Up & Working it Out

Remember to check out my review & giveaway of the Perfect Portion Scale.  No more guessing the exact nutrition info (including calories, carbs, sugars, sodium, etc.) for the food you eat.....this little scale does all the work.  Also, enter to win a free one for yourself.  How cool is that.

As discussed in this and this post, I was asked to participate in a “New Year New You” campaign with BlogHer and Best Buy.  I have been asked to test out a few items to help me with my new goals for this year and have also been provided with (you too!) the advice of a personal trainer/dietician, found here.  I will be blogging all about it on ‘Make It and Love It’ for the next several weeks.  (All related posts can be found here.) Join with me and healthy up that body of yours too!  -Ashley

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Remember how I get bored easily with doing the same workout over and over?  I need a goal or a class or a workout buddy.  Something that keeps me motivated.  So, I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to start running again.  And sign up for a race to keep me on track.

Oh wait, wait, wait, don't click away. I'm not a natural born runner who's going to say that running is the most invigorating way to clear my brain and firm up my body while I forget that my thighs are burning and my calves are like hot cakes on the griddle.  Yeah right.  I don't actually fit into the runner mold either.  My body is not long and lean.  Oh wait, it's long but far from lean.  But I look like I belong in the goalie box.......or something.  In fact, I have always HATED running.  And despised those dang mile runs in P.E. in grade/high school.  Uggh.  How embarrassing.

My husband and I met a marathon runner while living in Idaho about 3 years ago.  He was the real deal.  Super long and lean, endurance like an animal, and all the fancy watches/trackers to help him shave seconds off his time.  He told my husband one day that he used to be an overweight football coach.  He hated running and was pretty unhealthy.  But one day, he changed all that.  And then he began telling us what helped him and that if we would just work on a few tips, then we could run too.

I didn't believe him.

But after a few times talking to him (serious runners are passionate about their sport and will talk to you about it every chance they can get), we kinda decided to give it a try.  And once I got the hang of it, I started running longer and longer without stopping.  I couldn't believe that I was actually running.  I was hooked.  And at my peak (about 2 1/2 years ago), I went from barely running around the block to running a full 11 miles straight.  Yes, eleven.  My clunky high school self would have NEVER believed me had I told her that while she struggled to run that dumb mile test.  But let me tell you a secret.  I'm a clunky runner and pretty pokey.  And yeah, many of you could walk faster than I run but I still put-put right along.  Because it's running.  And dang it, it's good enough.

So thank you Mr. Albaugh, for teaching me everything I know about running.  (If you by some slight chance are reading this, your enthusiasm about running changed me.  You taught me how to NOT hate running.  And told me that even I could do it.  And you waiting at the finish line while my husband and I finished races, was so encouraging.  You're an angel.  Thank you.)

However, since that time, I have gotten out of the habit of running and then had another baby and then moved across the country twice, blah, blah, blah.  But just a few weeks ago I decided to start all over again.  I figured I'd have to start by running for a minute, walk for 5 minutes, run for a minute, walk for 5, etc.  Just like I did when I started.  However, my body remembered and those old running muscles must have kicked in because I ran for a good 20 minutes.  And it felt so good.