2:2:2

So a few running updates.. sorry for the delay, my blogging suffers when I'm living my life not attached to my phone and laptop ;)

Friday, April 1st: My friend Wendy joined me for a 2 mile run at my new favorite trail. They stopped at our place on their way to Chi-town. It was great to see a familiar face and the 2 miles flew by because we had so much to chat about! We felt great and she really enjoyed stretching her legs after being in the car all day and I enjoyed finally being able to run after work! We headed home to some homemade delicious pizza.

Sunday, I was able to talk Steve into 2 miles..I was really trying for more but he is one person I can't talk into extra mileage..especially because he hasn't run in over a year or even longer. But, he did great and we had a nice pace. I snapped a picture for proof :) 

Stretching afterwards is a must..with lots of water!

Last night, I met my Dad and Steve for a quick after work 2 miles. I really want to break the 2 miles and do more but hey I am proud to be getting mid week runs in. I'll take it. Here is a quick picture after we made it back to the house. The run felt great but my lower back is killing me this am. better get over the aches and pains.. I have some serious miles to put in!

Running in Ohio is so flat and I love it! 

GYRO,

Sarah

I'm proud to announce GYRO Ohio

To my faithful blog readers..I'M SORRY! Not posting since December is unacceptable! Although I have a great excuse, we aren't going to go there.. Let's just say. We are all settled in to our new home in Columbus, our jobs and a church family. Now it's time to get back into a running routine.

Enter GYRO Ohio. This will be the 4th state that I've started a group and all except  Kentucky are still running smoothly without me :) One thing about myself that is very clear..I'm a social runner and do not like to run alone so I'm always scouting out friends who could be gently persuaded into starting to run or get back into running or like to run! In my small group at church I found all of these..Praise God..because it's almost tank top and short season and without running and drinking lots of coffee..woah let's not even go there..


Yesterday was the first official meeting. I had found a nice trail, very similar to The Huckleberry in Virginia. Paved, Wide, Close to my house and at least 6 miles. It's called Blacklick Creek Greenways Trail. There are multiple trails there which after some exploration, I'll post more about. But we jogged/walked a total of 3 miles. The running was probably just shy of a mile but it was cold and great to just be outside setting my routine again and with some new friends :) Here is a picture of the girls afterwards:

Marie(who is expecting in JULY!!), Charissa and Stephanie 

I'm excited about this next chapter and really ready for some warm running! So, leave a comment about how you've got your run on lately... Encouragement is oxygen for the soul (a snipit from yesterday's church service but so applicable to the foundation of GYRO)

GYRO,

Sarah

Change

See the thing about change is there always has to be a day 1 and today was day 1 of my changed behavior. I actually did it. I got up early. Ran in the cold. No excuses. Now the thing is this was really day 2 but to be sure day 1 was really day 1 of change I had to have a day 2. Day 1 consisted of some P90X yoga and today I could only manage (due to time and temperature) 12 minutes of running but hey..let's be real honest. SOMETHING is always better than NOTHING (unless we are talking about fat). I was joined by Steve who actually admitted that after 10 minutes and a mile he wasn't that cold anymore. I was. I'd warmed up so my sweat was starting to freeze but I'm just so glad I did it. I was hoping for more like 3 miles but whew..that weather is brutal. I'm planning on some ab work tonight and hopefully a day 3 with more mileage.. we are taking it one day at a time. However, day 1 and day 2 were so refreshing and I already feel healthier.

GYRO,

Sarah

A White Christmas Confession

Merry Christmas! It was a white one here in Ohio but nothing compared to our friends and family in Kentucky and Virginia. But, let me get right to the point..

I have been an absolute lazy lazy lazy lady. I've done NO running or exercising. Unless you count the reps as I pick up cookies and they enter my mouth. I feel very very large. Some of my pants are getting a little too snug. I'm ashamed to say it but I actually feel very unhealthy and a little out of control. I've had ENOUGH! This is NOT me.

The past few weeks, I've made a lot excuses including:

I'll start once we move (to our new house not at parents)
It's too dark when I get home from work
I can't get up early because I didn't get to bed early enough
My job takes a lot out of me
It's too cold
I don't have anyone to run with
I just want to relax
I'll do it tomorrow
I don't have anywhere to run
I just ate.. I'll wait 30 minutes then go
and a few others I'm sure I'm missing.

But, enough is enough. Seriously. This is NOT me. I have just got to stop with all the excuses and just get moving. I've got to dig deep and snap out of this phase. It's going to be hard but IT'S A MUST. This is a slippery slope I don't want to go down.

For every excuse above, I have an answer. I know how to do this. I just have to do it.

I've spent most of today reflecting on the year. We have had many changes. We have had many ups and downs. This happens every winter, I'm no doctor but I'll call it seasonal depression and laziness. During the winter I always get down on myself. I eat a lot and exercise little that causes some negativity that needs to be kicked to the curb. While opening my gifts which included some great additions to my running gear. I decided that today was the day. I don't need to wait until Jan. 1st to make a change. I can change right now.

I gave my Dad a Hal Higdon personal training schedule for the April 30th Derby City Mini Marathon. In getting it all together I came across a few articles, training schedules and races but you'll have to stay tuned to see everything. Change doesn't happen over night so slowly but surely I WILL SNAP OUT OF THIS. However, Mom and I walked for 45 minutes through the snow yesterday..but there is much work to do.

I hope you stay tuned for my journey... and maybe a few others will join us. Merry Christmas. I am thankful and celebrating the birth of the one who provided hope that allows use to renew our strength..(Isaiah 40:31)


GYRO,

Sarah

69 degress Thanksgiving week

My new job has a variety of perks which include working 11-8pm one day a week. My day is Monday. That gives me a little extra time to start my day and some time for daylight running (since I work 9-6 the rest of the week). This morning it was a nice warm temperature and I headed out for a quick 1.5. I did it in 9:30 pace. I was just glad to be out there. I wish I could have run for longer but I had grocery shopping, etc to do and since it's been a few days since my last run..I'm not trying to push it.

I felt great and can't wait to get abck on track with exercise (including P90X) and running (training for the Derby Mini Marathon in April with my Dad!) Now that it's my 2nd week of work, I feel more confident about my new work-life balance.

Can we just give a quick shout out to Leah for her 'training'. Best GYRO post ever.. Get your run on for any reason you want..so long as your run :) Love it.

GYRO,

Sarah

Bikes

Yesterday, November 14th, the sun was shining so we decided to take the opportunity to go for a bike ride. It was a little cool but loved being outdoors in the middle of November.

I can't take full credit for deciding to ride bikes that was Mom's choice. I told her she could pick any activity and that's what she chose. We biked 5 miles on a trail that was part gravel and part paved. Mom did great at keeping the pace up with Steve and I and our heart rates were up the whole time for about 40 or so minutes.

I skipped on the P90X last night because I was tired and wanted to make sure I wasn't too sore or tired for my first day of work..which is going excellent by the way :)

GYRO,

Sarah

My New Project (But shh...she doesn't like that)

My Mom is FABULOUS. She's been an inspiration in so many ways. First of all, her faith and her love for the Lord. She's a big career women who always made sure I knew that I can be anything I wanted to be as long as I put my mind to it and rely on God's guidance.  She's very good at her job but she typically has to travel 2 weeks out of the month. However, she will be in Ohio with me TRAVEL free (except to some holiday family gatherings but that doesn't count) for the next 9 WEEKS! If that doesn't scream, GYRO project, I don't know what would :)

My Mom is trying to lose some weight and just regain control of her health. She's tried running, dieting, a personal trainer, you name it, she's done it. But, she's never done the Sarah method ;) She's going to be hard because, hello: she's my Mom and doesn't like to be told what to do. But, I don't fall from the tree so this should be a fun battle for you to keep up with.

Today we headed out for our walk (so she thought) and warmed up. Stretched. Then the moment of truth it went something like this:
Sarah: Mom, let's try and try. Your pace and only as far as you can go.
Mom: Sarah, I've told you I don't want to be a runner but, ok.
Then she was off. We ran for 2 minutes, took a 2 minute walk break to catch her breath and ran for 2 more minutes. She did it. We walked back to the house, stretch and had some protein shakes. She fought me a little but, hey, I've heard it all before. I have 9 weeks to make a runner and establish a new healthy lifestyle. I'm excited for this new challenge and secretly, I think she is too.  We took an after run picture but she made me promise not to post it, so we will post it as the before shot and in 9 weeks post the after.. and you can judge for yourselves if running makes a difference

Today, was day 2 of P90X training for me and it was cardio. It was pretty hard but I really liked the variety of exercises especially starting with yoga. I'm always amazed at how hard yoga is..I really get to breathing heavy. After that we headed out for our evening walk and then to some delicious Greek food.

All in all,  a great day full of a few workouts.

GYRO,

Sarah