Goodbye, Summer Break, & No Matter What!

Yesterday was a distance PR for Windy!  We went 3.32 miles without her slowing down.  Granted, it was 59*F out (!!!!!), so I'm sure that once Fall and Winter hit, she'll be running more miles than me (jk).  

NBD -- Just #running with my #direwolf. #werunsocial #runchat #teamstark #GoT

A post shared by Tiffany (@thechiathlete) on Jul 18, 2017 at 8:31am PDT

We got home and I plopped down after grabbing some breaky (a repeat of the day before), and got started on what will be the thing I do for the rest of my summer break:  Watching the snot out of this show.

For real, tho.  Mary Janes.  Mias.  Bangs.  OVEALLS.  Toad the Wet Sprocket.  Flannel.  Doc Martens.  Hemp necklaces (on guys).  Hootie and the Blowfish.  Frosted tips.

*le sigh* I miss the 90s.

THE TONGUE.

Harry had taken the day off from work (he seriously can't remember why, lol), and at one point, we started discussing some future race plans.  Jeff (fellow River Runner) had mentioned that the St. Michael's Oktoberfest 5K was open again this year.  This is my PR 5K race from 2014!  I will not PR this year -- I ran 22:53 on this course, while in peak marathon training.  For me, more miles = PR smiles.

We're going to sign up for it, because it's a great race, a fun course, and a fun time.<3

P.S.  The registration fee is only $30 *UNTIL AUGUST 15TH*

And here's a shot (from their race video) of me, where I look like I'm exactly 11 seconds away from death.

Lunch was SO GOOD.  I had some delicious salmon, salad, and brown rice ++++++ avocado.  Bless.  I want that meal every single day.

More of the Creek throughout the rest of the day, turkey burger + broc for dinner (no camera in the world could make it look nice; so just take my word for it -- it was yummy), and then I received my daily reminder.

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Ohhh man, I don't know about y'all, but I need motivation non-stop at the moment.  All of you provide an immense amount of motivation and inspiration in the bloggie form, on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.  I need more words sometimes, and I came across some really good ones recently.

Can I share just a few with you?

K.:)

One from my personal SHE-ro.

NO MATTER WHAT!  This one is my favorite! 

Get out there and rock this Wednesday, friend.  I'm off to BootCamp class -- wish me luck!<3
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Do you have to be reminded daily to do something fitness/running related?

RUNNERS:  Do you attempt to PR certain courses?

MOTIVATE ME!  GIMME A QUOTE or a STORY!:)

Windy learned something new, and now I've seen everything

My new favorite thing is to chill with Windy out on the rooftop deck while sipping on my morning coffee.  She waits so patiently for me to get ready to take her for a run.

That is, until I grab my running shoes.  She gets SUPER STOKED and HYPER when she knows we're about to go for a run!  I kind of wish I got that excited. 😆

All of that excitement must have made her aware of a couple of things.  For one, she SPRINTS at crosswalks -- does she know that it's dangerous to be in the middle of the road? -- and two -- she learned how to use the water fountain like a human.  I'm seriously more impressed than I can express in words.

I missed a running day last week (I didn't prepare for a thunderstorm + having to go to a work thing), so 16 miles for me, and nine miles for Windy.  She'll get into the double-digits some day.  I don't want her to get hurt, so running with her every other day is our plan for now.

Fact:  Half of an avocado belongs on just one slice of bread.

After finding every excuse to not do school work, I finally buckled down, threw on some Olafur Arnalds (good Lord, if you haven't listened to his music, go listen NOW!  He writes songs for my soul...), and got to work.  I was NOT in the mood to do any of it, but I got most of it done before "Game of Thrones" came on.

Harry and I are very celebratory with movies and TV shows, and pairing beer with them.

Mariano's chicken pot pie -------> YUP YUP YUP YUP YUP YUP.

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How about some Monday motivation?

Also?  I thought joggling was impressive, but now I've seen everything.



Have an awesome Monday, friend!
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Do you watch GoT?  Did you watch last night?



What's your workout for today?



Can you juggle?  Like, at all?
-NOOOPE.  I've tried.  I've learned how.  I cannot.  I'm okay with it.

I've faced tougher times...

True story:  This is the third time I've written this post.  Blogger must be hungry.🙅

The past month has been the busiest I have been in a looooong time.  There was something, or several things, each and every single day (even weekends).  We're talking grades, coordinating track and field and soccer events and teams for my Network, lesson plans, Field Day, fundraising event, Sophia, my own [grad] classes, end of school year stuff, and puppy contracts.

The below picture is a wonderful visual representation of how I've been dealing with all of it.  Stressed, exhausted, confused, ignoring simple things (i.e. plucking my eyebrows or getting my hair taken care of), and barely holding it together.  Bottom line:  I haven't been taking care of myself.  My WHOLE self.

But whatever.  There's a cute Husky sleeping in the background.

P.S.  Don't worry:  I did put on makeup when I had to be around other humans.  I trust that you won't take offense that I didn't gussy up for this.

The self-care part is the trickiest, but it's also the most meaningful:  I haven't been taking care of myself in several ways, including training consistently.   I have always been an athlete.  Not always a runner, but always someone who enjoyed the snot out of happy endorphins.  Somehow, fitness and all things health-related went straight to the back burner when times got really tough.

 I have been inconsistent in training since...well...last year.  I miss taking care of my FIT self.  Skipping a workout before this injury was 95% out of the question; if I missed a training sesh, it was because I was sick or needed more rest.  I made time to train before exams, finals, work, meetings...everything!  I needed it, and nothing kept me from my joy.

Unfortunately for me, I have fallen out of the habit of attaining my joy.

Can I still run?  Yes (still thankful for every stride!).  Can I still ride?  Yes.  Lift?  Yoga?  Yes and yes. But do I lately?  No.  My motivation button seems to have been jammed.  I'm facing tough times in terms of my health and not maintaining it like I always have.

What I need to do at this very moment is to remember that I've faced tougher times...like running being taken from me...

I know what I need to do, and I'll go into that in another post.  What I have actively done is sign up for my first half marathon for 2017!  No worries -- I'm not out to PR, especially in the shape I'm currently in, going into training for that distance.  I'm all signed up for the Haunted Hustle in Madison, Wisconsin, set to go off October 21st.  Wanna come run with?!:)

Again, I'm not going to go HAM on this race.  I'll set a goal once I'm closer to race day, but for now, I'm going to ease back into a regular training plan.  Really, the race itself is just an end result to getting my joy back.

After all's said and done, I'm just like anyone else, and if I've had it once before, I can get it back.

So here we go.  Tiffany's finally ready to take care of her whole (fit) self.  The fit life is where it's at, man.  And I'm ready for it to be one of my biggest priorities again.

Are you pumped with me, friend?  This one's for you, ya' effin' rock star!  Go kick ass this week!

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Tell me about something that motivates you!  

NYD2016 Funsies, and IMPROVE YOUR RUNNING THIS YEAR!

Hey!  Happy page 2 of 366!  Here's how we spent our day 1:)

My husband signed us up for the 2016 NYD5K in Lincoln Park.  This is the third year that I have run this race; I love that it's a tradition race for us.  My parents came along with us, but dropped us off at the race start  They're both from Texas and not used to the cold....like at all.  I wasn't about to ask them to watch us/wait for us in the ("feels like") 10*F.  Dad, against my wishes, ended up filling up my gas tank, and Mom got herself something from Starbucks while we were running.  I guess everyone won.

Harry and I before the race, and I'm not entirely sure why we're all thumbs-up here.  I'm really not.

Our runner friend Jenn found us at packet pick-up.  What are the odds of seeing someone you know at a race that hosts 1000 people?!

Actually, I know the answer to that question.  Never mind.:)

Much like my first NYD5K in 2014, the course was covered in snow and ice.  I don't know how the lead runner won in 17:__.  Seriously.

Harry had run ahead of Jenn and I, and appropriately got into photo-snapping position after finishing.  He got a few good ones of me finishing.  Thanks, Kid!

 The obligatory "Stopping my Garmin" shot.

VERY SLOW -- VERY SAFE -- 5K to start off 2016.  I was so happy to run with Jenn, as she is coming off injury as well, and was in no rush.

Afterward, Harry and I took my parents to our traditional NYD5K spot for a brew and some awesome food = Revolution Brewpub.

My chicken-fried steak ------------OHMYGOSH.

We had to drop my parents off at the airport:( soon after getting home.  Once Harry and I got back, I threw some edible luck into the crock pot.

It was the right thing to do.  Here's to a year of luck!

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Runner's World recently posted this article, Six Ways to Change Your Running for the Better in 2016, and I am sooooooooo posting this near my bathroom mirror (I still sometimes need daily reminders like that).

Six simple ways!  Two things that are actually built in to my 2016 goals are becoming strong all over (helloooooooooo, strength training!), and trying to find my jolly self once again.

After being inconsistent (also discussed in this article) and injured this year, taking time off has made me appreciate the cold mornings when you don't want to get out of bed.  If anything, this article has helped me embrace the very things that I, and maaaaaany other runners, need to work on for their best running.  Go check it out.:)

And speaking of joyful things...

Before I leave you today, CHECK HERE FOR SUZ'S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES FOR THE NEW YEAR!

My fave.:)

Good 'ole Suz.  When you're down, she'll pick you up.  When you need a giggle, she is there in a flash.  If you need a hug, guess what?  --------> her arms are open to you.  <3 YOU, FRIEND!

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Did you run on the first day of the year?  Is that an important event for you?

How often do you see your family/loved ones?

MAJOR GOALS for the new year?  Work?  Family?  Fitness?  Where's your focus this year?

Some positive words for your Tuesday!

Just a couple of positive things for today -- because we all need short things in our lives sometimes!  Also?  This might be a tough week for you.  The next several weeks might be tough of you.  Let this post be your *BRAIN HUG*, and if that's not good enough, I'm always here for a real hug.

Always.:)

I keep THIS bookmarked on my phone!  Sometimes I need to stop myself from reacting, and check myself.  Reading some positive words helps remind me that the world will seriously NOT come crashing down on me if something isn't perfect, or just the way I thought it'd be, etc.

Some of my faves!

This one is going on a wall in my P.E. gym at some point.  I've been busy...doing...things...?

For something more specific, I found this article that gives me some different tools to use, no matter how big or small your suffering may seem.

If you need a giggle today, this might work...?

Is your hubby/guy/significant other fluent in Hungry Girl-ese?  Harry is.  Thanks to our immersion tactics.

From my Instagram... :)

I don't think it's too much to ask of the universe. #MondayMotivation #sweatpink #fitfluential #ggs #runchi #getoutthere

A photo posted by Tiffany (@thechiathlete) on Nov 23, 2015 at 6:13pm PST

HAVE A FANTASTIC TUESDAY, FRIEND!  

SMILE AT WILL!:)

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Are you making something NEW this year for Thanksgiving?!  SHARE!


TRAVEL PLANS?  Leaving today?  Tomorrow?  Thanksgiving Day?
-Harry and I are leaving for Texas THIS AFTERNOON!  WOOOO!

TURKEY TROTTERS -- Distance of your race/event?  Do you have a goal?

TOLT: Things that make me smile so big!

Hey y'all!  It's THURSDAY.  I can't believe it.  We have a huge Halloween event at school tomorrow, and I have had some pretty hefty responsibilities around the place.  I've been trying to focus on things that are more positive, and though I've been (girl time) cranky, I've been making the best out of stinky situations and when facing challenges.  With that spirit in mind, here's our #TOLT list!

1.  Art therapy: It's for big kids, too!  Read all about it!  I don't know the last time I sat down and did something crafty, but this is the perfect scientifically proven gateway to some stress-relieving goodness.

2.  Don't just find the silver lining, find the end of the rainbow!  My Mom and Aunt recently drove from Dallas to various parts of Arizona to visit my cousin.  My Mom told me that just when she was thinking that there wasn't anything to see during a long stretch of road, God showed her this.:)

Also, she's still learning how to use her new iPhone.  I'm super proud of her for her first phone upgrade in close to six years.

3.  Um, yeah.  About that...

4.  Mine and my work husband's Halloween costumes have arrived.  We're pretty stoked.

5.  Running.  Duh.

6.  Good food.  Good beer.

7.  Running and good food and good beer.

8.  Being a volleyball Coach.  Our season is almost over, and there are girls' kneepads everywhere in my car.  I don't even mind.:)

9.  UM.  FINDING AMAZING PICTURES OF AMAZING PEOPLE THAT I NEED TO SEE SOON.

10.  This guy.<3  I don't feel like I give him enough cred here.  So there ya' go, Kid.

MEHR MEHR!

<3 Have a splendid day, friends.  A fun weekend is almost here!
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Tell me THREE THINGS that made you smile this week!


Have you tried coloring lately?  It's all the rage!  Thoughts?


QUICK:  What's the farthest you've ever run?