Sweat (part I)

I won't lie, I've been putting off this fitness post for... roughly two months now?  Funny too, since this blog originally started out as a running/health blog back in the day.

I've been putting it off because my general emotions towards fitness - running, crossfit, swimming, sometimes yoga, etc - have been super bumpy as of late.  And I think that's somewhat normal right? We all get really into certain things at certain times of life, get turned off by certain things, decide to try new things etc.  We get hurt, we get burnt out, whatever it is; relationships with fitness can fluctuate a ton (as all relationships can).

I love taking care of my body, and challenging it - this has always remained a constant.  But the months throughout this past summer had me in a weird spot.  A slump, if you will. A conversation I had right before the move actually had me saying, "Actually to be honest, I'm in the worst shape I've been in a LONG time right now."

Now let's pause and define: "Being in shape" means something different for every single person. Everyone has different expectations and visions for the words "I'm in shape" - and for me, it's not just about being able to fit into my pants.  I'm kind of strict with the standards I hold myself to (sometimes it's too much, I'll admit) and so what I mean by saying this is, my running mileage was VERY low, and super slow.  Normal activities were just a *little* harder than they should have been, and when we found ourselves running the stairs outside our new gym week two of arriving out here, it was WAY harder than how I ever remember running stairs in the past.

How equally convenient and awful that these stairs are next to our gym

I love fitness, I believe I always will.  I so enjoy pushing my lungs and my muscles and my mental willpower to its limits; I love the challenge of hard things. One of my favorite motivational quotes has always been, "Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing" and therefore, I hate the fact that this summer I found myself half-assing it through workouts and runs.

There are plenty of excuses I could rattle off - sure.  Injuries, dealing with a new puppy, preparing for an international move.  But the fact of the matter is, people do incredible things, every day, with much bigger things on their plates.

So there's no excuse.

Anyways - the point of this post - there should always be a point, right?  The point is, I'm finally re-grasping once again what's important to me in the health & fitness realm, and slowly crafting some goals.

Last year on Halloween, I was able to run a 10 mile race at a 7 min. pace. This year, current state, I'm really not sure I could hold that for 5 miles.  However, we have a 10k night run coming up here in a few weeks, so I guess that will be a good chance to see where I stand.  And then base running training off of that - as the Mr. and I both recently signed up for the Tel Aviv Half Marathon in February.

except we are doing 13.1

Eek.

Time to start upping that mileage.

Yet I would be remiss if I didn't talk crossfit; it's what allows me to run the distances I want to. If I've learned nothing the past two years when it comes to working out and my body, it's that healthy running doesn't happen with this 5'11'' frame unless I've got the muscles to keep it going strong. And man, am I believer in the importance of strength training (specifically crossfit style) - and how well it pairs with endurance races.

So of course, we became members of Crossfit Tel Aviv day 2 out here, and as motivation and comfort-levels increase (and I go more consistently) I am slowly seeing progress. Even if a workout of snatches and burpees over the bar knocked me on my butt last night - quite literally.

Wrapping up; back to those goals.  They're not quite 'Hang on the fridge' worthy yet, but they're in the making, and I'm excited about it.  I identify as a lot of things, but as far back as I can remember an athlete has always been one of them.  I lost that a little bit recently, but am pumped to feel it starting to come back.

So there you have it, way too long of a post babbling about things you might not necessarily care about.  But if you do, keep your eyes open, I'm hoping to starting talking sweat a little more consistently on here.  I'm huge on tackling new things, setting lofty goals, and talking about stuff that inspires us all to be a little bit more badass.

Cheers -

Kait

Let's Chat

Let's have a little chat, shall we?

Let's talk about what I just whipped up to take to our small group tonight for a snackity snack:

That's right. Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispy Treats. THE PUMPKIN RECIPES NEVER STOP!!!

PS- I found the recipe here if you're interested.

PPS- Did you see what they now have at Starbucks? I want it so badly, but it was already sold out at the store I was at! Sad day.

Next, let's talk about how it's Wednesday, and how I've been a Weird Wednesday failure lately. And how failure the streak is going to continue into this week due to my current mental unstable-ness.

BUT, I do have one weird pic to offer you all:

no cameras allowed in locker rooms? my bad. 

Who needs a waterproof Ipod case for pool running when you've got enough hair to just clip your Ipod in it? I clipped it in, and wrapped the cord around my bun a few times, and voila! I'm pretty confident the elderly folk in the 90 degree therapy pool I was running in thought I was insane. But who am I kidding?  I am insane.

Anyways, remember last post when I told you about the current state of my knee, and that walk I went on to sit and write? Well here's some of what I wrote about:

If you haven't picked up on it by now, I'm a huge goals person. I typically make monthly goals, seasonal goals, even goals for the year. I have had most of my goals for New York in line now for a couple months, and I already know what some of my spring goals for 2013 are going to be.

I literally just you that I'm insane about two paragraphs up. You're preaching to the choir.

October. A fantastic month. Leaves are changing and falling. Temps continue to drop. Girls and boys alike dress up in skanky fun costumes.

Not me. I was just a cute little helpless blind mouse. 

I decided to keep October simple, for my own sanity that I don't have. 

1. Be healthy. Obviously a lifetime goal that I have, but I plan to refocus on this hard the month leading up to New York. This goes for the food (and drink) that I'm putting into my body, the way that I'm training, preventative actions that I'm taking to prevent (ha) injury and nurse the injuries I (may) already have. Pretty broad, but solid in my eyes.

2. Focus on strength. I've never been a big lifting girl, not my most favorite thing to do. But I plan to be much more consistent with strength training through October. This will also involve DAILY push-ups and planks, because both of those are easy to do no matter where I may be.

3. Be happy. This goes hand in hand with #1, but I sometimes end up separating my mental and emotional health from my physical health, which isn't good. It's a simply idea but lately I've found it hasn't been easy for me. And it's effecting me, and my relationships with people I love. And to be honest, current state I'm not completely sure what it will take to move towards a more consistent happy Kait. But I know I have to make some changes.

Because apparently I haven't been fighting hard enough. Lucky for me, I know how to fight pretty damn hard.

Minutes after finishing The Boston Marathon, April 2012. 

Enough of the sap/goo/emotional throw-up. There you have me, current state. Three simple goals, plugging away on the road to New York. Even if the road is currently in a pool.

Cheers!