Getting My Secret Out

Hope everyone had a fabulous Memorial Weekend, no matter what you did! Even though part of me hopes your weekend included getting outdoors and enjoying nature.

HIKING

I did get out, went on a few hikes this week. Didn't take my camera on one of them (I know shocker) I felt nearly naked without it. Bummer too because it was sunset and fabulously beautiful. But my friend had her GoPro and I may have to borrow a few shots from her later on.

Got eaten alive by bugs this week. The biting horseflies are out, got me nearly every day out running LOL always came back with trickles of blood down my legs.
Then Sunday the mosquito's took a liking to me, I am seriously going crazy with bites all over my arms and face (lovely I know, LOL)

A friend and I did a little let's just call it a little rock climbing, we had a rope some of the way left by another but forgot to bring our own to get us up one obstacle. So we took a detour up a dried waterfall area, oh my gosh the views up on top were stunning. (All the outdoor pics on today's post are from this climb.)

But leave it to me to not wear my hiking pants, and if you saw my legs you'd cringe. I got pretty scraped up and even got stabbed by something sharp in my calf filling my shoe up with blood. Nasty, and the funny thing is I don't even remember it happening LOL
So now my legs just look like someone kicked the heck out of me, oh well, LOL (I'll spare you the images, LOL)

RUNNING

Saturday morning I went out to just see how close to 10 miles I could get. After all, I've been training to hike long distances not run them, LOL. I'd only run up to 5 miles before this. But my legs despite all their cuts, scrapes and major bruises wanted to run. I stopped myself at 12.5 miles because I've got something coming up that I need fresh legs for and felt I had pushed it enough.
I was even more surprised I wasn't even sore from it, just my lungs a little tired. Guess this means, I can pull off that half marathon in less than 2 weeks now!

Weightloss - I'm at officially 32.5 pounds lost! Not easy, but I'm doing it!
On a side note, I rarely post pictures of me, (or so everyone says, LOL) but I had to do a few Maybelline selfies for a campaign on Instagram.

But on the plus side, the weight loss is definitely showing up on my face, even if not much elsewhere! (Ignore my hair, I literally woke up, put the makeup on and didn't realize until after I hadn't even combed my hair that morning, LOL LOL. I have long straight hair, it doesn't tangle much LOL)

Now for the details on my secret, I am getting out.

I was going to write a whole post about this, but I've decided to just condense it down. In short, I am working on my thesis project to go with the paper for my degree.

I selected a project that brings my Digital Design, Recreation Management and my research study on Influencers together into one idea.

(The catch, I can only use influencers to promote this race as part of my research study.)

I'm hosting a virtual race this September, I'm in the beginning planning phases. The name:

Run Sea to Shining Sea Virtual Races - Half Marathon, 10k and 5k

Although I do have the website up, even though it's not fully finished.
You're more than welcome to check it out and give me your honest opinion!

www.Runseatoshiningsea.com

Actually, I'd welcome some opinions!!
(But don't share the info of the race yet, I need another two weeks to finish the website and details)

If you want to register and you are an influencer, wait! Because I'm going to have some fun opportunities for discounts or free entries for those who would like to help me out and earn them.
I'll be rolling those out in a few weeks. But if you are interested, let me know and I'll make sure to reach out to you when the time comes!

T-shirt design, I am working on that now and designing it entirely myself. I've got a cute idea I am playing with, as well as a few others so I'll share the design with you in a few weeks when it's ready.

Medallion design, this is one I am having fun with. I am using a medal creator vendor who does a very nice higher quality job. I came up with the medal design before I even knew the exact name of the event, LOL
But I may tweak it a little after I get it done, after all right now the idea is only in my head, LOL

Logo, Still working on this!. It's not done, but this is the image I've put up so far on the social media pages I created quickly for them. But the official design will be similar but hopefully much better. I only had a few minutes in Illustrator with this one.

So I do have one more question for you:
I'm trying to set my Virtual Race apart from others and I'm kinda tempted to go after a more fun or unique t-shirt color(s).
What are your thoughts on that? If you could pick a race t-shirt color what would it be?

Motivation, Weightloss & Continuing Goals

-Just a note, I am not a Dr. and any information in this post, should not be used as advise.  You should always contact your own physician before beginning/changing your exercise regimen.-

     I love to run, and love my goal to run 26.2 in every state.  But even I struggle with keeping the motivation, especially right now while I have been cutting back my mileage to let some lingering injuries heal up.  (14 marathon’s and 2500+ miles logged in 1 year oddly takes its toll on the body, LOL)

Plus, traveling around so much from state to state and race to race, regardless off all the miles I run, eating out so often pretty much made losing any weight kind of impossible!

So there I was with some extra pounds and reduction in miles and finding it hard to get/keep motivated.  Not to mention the fact that we’ve had a month straight of temps never getting above freezing, which has pretty much kept me from being able to get outside and run. 

But then one morning I was watching the Today show and saw Online Diet Betting and realized what better motivation then a little competition with myself and my money that I want/need for 2013 racing.

So that was the beginning, I entered the game.  Using myself as my BEST competition!  How it works, I am guaranteed to get my money back as long as I can lose 4% of my body weight.  So for me that was step 1.

Next I needed to get creative with the treadmill and workouts.  So I changed out my running tunes and added a bunch of new fun songs that make me just want to sing and dance to while I runJ

To assist in the weight loss, I read that running on an empty stomach helps put you into the fat burning zone sooner (sounds good at least.).  So wake, run, then try to eat within 20 minutes of the run.  I also started taking Pre-Natal Vitamins and extra iron and Vitamin B supplements for energy.  (A Dr. recommended them to me.  They are a great multi-vitamin for even non-pregnant women.)  I also added a lot more water to my diet (sorry Pepsi).

For me running on a “dreadmill” is just that dreaded, boring and let’s face it I have been far more likely to cut a workout short just from sheer boredom.  So before I step on the treadmill I tell myself exactly how far I am going to go.  Then after I warm up and I am feeling good and actually glad I got up to run, I allow that little inner voice that says “Hmmm you’re feeling great, why don’t you add a mile or two more to the run today.” 

Now I won’t lie, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.  But since I pre-set my mind a certain set of miles before I stepped on the machine I at least go the pre-determined amount and consider any additional just a lucky bonusJ

Now, a couple of weeks into my “diet betting” and using myself as my own motivation, I am happy to say I have already dropped 8 pounds and have already hit my 4% weight loss goal to get my money back and get a cut of the pot that everyone who doesn’t hit their weight goal must forfeit.  My final weigh-in isn’t for a couple more weeks, so my idea is enter another competition bet to keep myself on track so the weight loss and motivation continues.  

Just FYI I did lose this weight still drinking a few Pepsi’s a week and an occasional burger and fries…  (Hey you cut out all the good stuff it just makes you want it more.  I just decided to cut back significantly and if I want say a Pepsi, I just drink one and I don’t feel bad about it even a bit, LOL.  For me this works and helps motivate me to cut back on them!)

As for goals, they have changed just a bit.  Originally I was planning to run the remaining 19 marathons I need this year between March-November.  However, since this year I decided to go with the “wait to book” method or “no planning”, I already got hit with the You Snooze You Loose…  A couple of races I wanted already sold outL So, I have been forced to re-think and re-work how I want to finish up my goal.  Right now I am going to go with 15 states this year, and finish up the remaining in spring 2014…  Not exactly how 

I planned for everything to go, but then maybe it’s all for the best because this goal is insanely expensive and since I am already over my original goal budget with 19 still to go this will give me time to earn more of what I need to continue it all on. (In theory, LOL)

So that is where I am at, finding motivation in strange places.  But it’s all about finding something that works for me, not necessarily something that works for someone else.  I’m also excited about my weight loss and have pretty high hopes that my new method might just get me down to my goal weight (finally, YAY).  I’m also looking forward to racing again (next marathon’s in March), a little drop in weight, might just knock off a little time on the race clockJ  I have one more injury to heal, this one kind of snuck up on me a few weeks ago and I don’t think it’s running related, but it’s annoying regardless, so here is hoping this injury kicks the bucket ASAP!

What are some of the motivational tips you have or use that help you?