Post Run Yoga Routine

I spent years of my life running and not stretching afterwards. I was always too tired, too crunched for time, or too lazy. I knew it was bad for me, but I never really cared much until I injured my back. If I had paid more attention to my body I might not have ended up seriously hurting myself. Now, I make sure to stretch after every run. I even put together my own 15 minute yoga sequence for post-run stretching. Here are some of the yoga poses that help me the most after a run.

This always feels aMAZing on my tight hamstrings

Five Favorites

I'm always excited about a new discovery or something I have coming up. This Friday, here are the five things that I am loving/looking forward to!

The view of the Delaware River we had during our work retreat this Thursday.

I'll be running the Rescue Run 5k with a friend on Sunday to benefit the Monster Milers, a program we volunteer for which takes shelter dogs on runs. (I got to take that beautiful girl out a couple weeks ago).

This amazing warm lobster roll I got from the Surf and Turf food truck today. Mango butter, kale, cabbage, and jalapeno (with lots of juicy lobster meat???) yes, please!

(Text conversation between my sister and me)

The job I have now is only a 1-year contracted position that is over at the end of November, but I found out that my organization will be keeping me on as a manager! (pay raise!) I'm so happy to be able to continue working with all of the amazing people in my office! 

(My Sweat on the Mat class I created in the Yoga Studio app)

While this week was an amazing one for me, I've felt run down and off-track. I'm looking forward to going home, doing some intense yoga, and maybe watching a chick flick or reading.

Fall Must Haves

I have a definite shopping problem. I NEED way too many things that I quickly realize I didn't need, I just wanted. But, this is my definitive list of things that I am loving this fall and definitely want one variation of or another. 

The Stages of Running

Running and I have a love/hate relationship. I've been running for 9 years now with few breaks until last year. Last year, while training for the Philadelphia Marathon (and doing a crappy job of it) I injured my back. I was unable to run the marathon, and I took a hiatus from running. Honestly though, I was relieved when I got injured because somewhere among the pressures of training mixed with looming long runs, and a deeply seeded feeling of just being too slow, running had stopped being fun. It had stopped being the thing I depended on, the thing that got me through the day, and the thing that made me feel good about myself. When I took my break I vowed that I wouldn't return to running until I enjoyed it again. Two months ago, I started running again.

But for me, loving running has never come easily. Instead I found that there are stages along the way:

Hate
Running feels terrible. You know it should feel great, and you should glide easily along, but it's just not that simple. Instead it hurts your shins, it makes walking up stairs impossible (I've walked sideways and backwards up many a staircase), and it makes your face so red people think you're going to pass out. Running sucks.

Respect
You begin to respect the sport. You respect the camaraderie, the tenacity, and the mindfulness it has given you. You realize you can run farther than before, longer than before and it makes you feel stronger.

Like
You start to look forward to a run after a frustrating day, or maybe you long for the alone time it gives you in the stillness of the morning. You start to feel like you're a part of something. You begin to realize that you're a runner.

Love
Running has taken you to places you've never been before, and it makes you look at things differently. You're more connected to your body and nature. Running is second nature to you. You imagine yourself growing old with running. You'll be one of those 80 year olds running their 100th marathon. Running gets you.


Right now, I'm somewhere between respecting running and liking running. It's still hard to get out the door and run some-most days. I'm trying to only do it when I want to do it. Have you experienced these phases? Where are you?

My October Challenge

Like any changing of the season, fall makes me feel like I have the ability to change everything in my life. It feels like I can turn over a new leaf (pun intended) and start the projects that I've wanted to start and stop doing the things that I know are bringing me down. I've been on a self-improvement kick for a while now, but I feel like I've been doing it all half-heartedly. I'm ready to re-commit myself to my goals and start this season with a renewed sense of self-commitment. Here are some of the personal goals I will be working on this October:

• Successfully complete the Coursera course "Organizational Analysis"- I have yet to successfully complete a Coursera course and this one is 10 weeks long (on week 1/10 now, gulp)

• Do yoga every day- even if it's for 10 minutes! This app has re-sparked my love of yoga.

• Make healthier choices- You know, like maybe not choose the most deep-fried thing on the menu??? That's all I'm really asking of myself.

• Drink 2 cups of green tea a day- Massive health benefits!

• Cook 3 crock pot meals- Um dinner cooking all day so it's deliciously tender when I get home, why do I need to remind myself to do this?

• Read 2 books- I always read one chick-lit/ trashy book and one socially acceptable book. This month I will be reading Bossy Pants and The Undomestic Goddess.

• Stop buying (so many) unnecessary things- Aside from stressing out my finance-savvy boyfriend, I really do need to get a better grasp on my spending or it's going to become a problem. 

• Start loving my body more- Right now I'm a handful of pounds heavier than I'd like to be (not so much focused on a number, more so on how my body actually looks) and getting in better shape is really important to me, but I also need to stop with so much of the scrutiny and self-hate that has been bouncing around in my head lately.

Does anyone have the same goals as me? What are your goals?

The Beginning

This is where it all started...