Run Like A Girl? Yes I Run Like A Girl everyday....
But for me going out on a road run is not my favorite workout-for me it is always a challenge...and today as I Ran Like A Girl, it occurred to me that going for a challenging run is just like the challenges of achieving success in your everyday life and staying on track with YOUR goals!
Taking off on my run today, I challenged myself to go fast, faster than my body would like, faster than my legs wanted to take me...fast! And so, I took off on my run really fast and was huffing and puffing right away; however it did not take long for me to get into a faster than normal cadence that sent me on my 3 mile challenge. Starting off fast is always easy - you are ready, you motivated, you are fresh...but so many times, as with our goals we lose our mojo after the initial excitement is over and we slow down!!
Don't lose your mojo early-keep a steady pace that will keep YOU moving forward!
As I ran down a stretch of straightaway road I was being pushed back hard by the wind...my thoughts "ugh, this sucks but no way in hell am I gonna let it slow me down". Just like in our lives, we need to be strong enough to stay on our path despite the people and situations that want to hold us back from our own goals and achievements.
Don't let the wind hold you back-keep on pushing ahead and moving YOURSELF forward!
Continuing on my trek, I passed a few others along my route who were taking a nice leisurely stroll, one with their dog, one with their cup of coffee, another working at a nice pace listening to their ipod. Meanwhile, I, was internally struggling with keeping my faster than normal pace on target and I realized that, today was MY day to work hard, and it didn't matter what anyone else was doing around me; just like with our own life goals we cannot get caught up in what everyone else is doing!
Don't lose your stride by focusing on others - stay true to YOU and always push yourself forward!
Moving onward into my run, I began to breath a bit louder, which for me kept me on my faster than I wanted to be going pace! Every now and then a person was out on their porch or in their yard, and a few times I caught myself lowering my loud breathing because, for a moment I did not want them to think I was a bit crazy for making so much noise!!! However, after the second person I passed, I realized it didn't matter what others were thinking, and as with my life...this was my journey, my adventure and I was getting it done!
Don't worry about what others may think of your style - get it done the way it works for YOU to keep you moving forward!
As I approached the end of my run I began to pick up speed with all the energy I could muster in my exhausted body and noticed my shoelace became loose and partially untied! I had to make a decision-do I stop my pace, stop my stride, stop my mojo to deal with this situation that could possibly lead to a slight injury or do I keep going?? Well, I decided that my partially untied shoelace was not going to cause me an injury and that I was going to run hard to the finish! Our lives are full of decisions; we must always access the situation and choose wisely to which we can maintain the pathway to our success.
Don't let a set back get the best of you - make the proper adjustments that will propel YOU forward!
Throughout my entire run, I ran right by many STOP signs! Boy, did I want to listen to that large red sign urging me to STOP, subconsciously telling me - "you can't do this, just STOP, you did good enough." But... I did not listen... I overcame those STOP signs; I instead mentally saw big green GO signs, telling me to "keep going, you got this, you are stronger than you think, YOU CAN DO THIS!" During our everyday lives while trying to stay attentive to our goals, we encounter so many STOP signs and many times it may be hard to ignore them, and sometimes we even succumb to them! Don't let the STOP signs slow you down - get YOURSELF in the passing lane and keep moving forward!
Finally finishing my 3 mile challenging trek, I realized I pushed myself hard - not for a race, not for someone else, but for me...for me to see just how hard I could push myself past my conscious limits. My run, my life, is about my choices, my decisions and what I choose to let slow me down. Is everyday a challenging run? Hopefully not- hopefully there are days you just take a jog and stroll down the road of happiness, hopefully there are days when you have a friend to stroll with you, to take a challenge with you. But ultimately, the road to your success is always up to you, challenges and all!
Don't let challenge scare you from your goals - enjoy the path to YOUR happiness, achievements and success and of course...keep moving forward.
To sum it up...I believe Robert Frost was right in saying that you should take the road less traveled...but perhaps there is more to it than that - perhaps it is also about you looking straightaway to the end of that road moving with courage, trepidation, and your own internal drive moving YOU forward. And then when you get to the end of that road, deciding what your next turn is and not looking back, pushing harder ahead no matter how much wind, passerbys, stop signs or untied shoelaces want to slow you down or stop you!!!
RUN LIKE A GIRL ON THE ROAD AND IN LIFE
and
YOU WILL KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!!!!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Climb Like A Girl
Today was a day, for me, that does not occur very often. I find myself at Sweat Like A Girl, daily, helping other girls reach their goals and pushing them farther past their comfort zones into a whole new level of fitness they did not know they could achieve. As the instructor, I certainly do not take it easy on myself, but for the most part, I am not too far out of my own comfort zone when leading my classes.
Today, was Sweat Camp, a class that typically follows no format, except to expect the unexpected! It is designed to prepare us gals for adventure/obstacle course events, such as the Spartan Sprint, Tough Mudder and Dirty Girl Mud Run. In Sweat Camp we do our fair share of Burpees (aka Bitchies), Bear Crawls, Planks, Pull-ups, obstacle course intervals and of course ROPE CLIMBING. Up until today, only one of the few and the proud Sweat Like A Girl members has made it to the top-Melissa! Melissa is a kick-ass Mommy of 2 who has been working out with me in my classes since we met about 2 years ago in one of my SuperMommy Bootcamp classes! Melissa is a hard worker and I am proud to have her as a Sweat Like A Girl member! Check her out successfully climbing the rope in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foQsCbfK8fY&list=UUViplu56xiRbIM2USrHBvkg&index=4
So, each week at Sweat Camp, all of us girls try the rope climb (no knots in this rope!). A few girls, may pass on trying the rope climb the first few weeks, but sooner or later, each girl decides - "Yeah, I am going to try this!" At our gym, we have a rope that is at least 2 stories high that is over top of a gymnastics pit! It is pretty darn high, especially if you are not one who loves high places! The Rope Climb is certainly not the favorite part of our class for most, but I do think, if I would skip it, the girls would definitely miss it...I think!
Today, I got on the rope and was pretty sure I would do what I usually do; go about 3/4 of the way up and then decide - "yep this is good enough" and come back down. Well, Miss Melissa was up and down the rope quick like a bunny as usual!! :) And I started up the rope telling the girls that next week I was going to bring gloves because my hands feel like they slip when climbing. I got to my spot on the rope climb and was ready to start my decent down, and then I heard one of the girls yell up to ME..."C'mon Heather - You Got This" and then another girl "Let's Go Heather, Do IT, You CAN do this!!" Feeling a bit surprised by their enthusiasm to see me conquer my fear of the height of the top of the rope coupled with a feeling of "oh Shit-I guess I gotta do this now!", I continued up the rope! Putting all my fears aside, I let the enthusiasm and support of the girls, who I so readily push beyond their limits, push me beyond my own comfort zone. It felt great!! I was doing something, that I would not have done all by myself today if it was up to me! However, with the support and belief from the girls that I could do it, that I could get to the top of that rope, I was able to achieve success! What an amazing feeling to be pushed farther than you really think you want to go and prove to yourself that yeah, I just kicked some ass!!!!
So now, there I am at the TOP of the rope, the girls in class wooting and hollering at my victory, but I still had to get down!! Climbing down the rope was not fun: forearms were burning and I could feel the rope a bit too tight in between my thighs but didn't want to let up the slack because of the fierce burning in my arms! Finally I made it back to the bottom of the rope still on a natural high feeling no pain of rope burns!! However, as I led the group to the next station, one of my girls alerted me of the massive rope burn on the inside of my thigh, that is still burning as I sit and type this!! And whoa, did that shower after class BURN BABY BURN-Yaaaaouch! Okay enough complaining-as I tell my girls, the WAAAAAHHHHMBULANCE is off duty!!
Today, I am thankful for the girls who love to Sweat Like A Girl, who love to come and give it all they got, and when they think they have given it all they got, they give a little more because of the support and belief of those other girls surrounding them! Yes, for some, you may be thinking, it was just a rope climb, whoopdy-do...but it was more than that! It was a life experience that showed me that we all put limits on ourselves because of our fears, not only in the fitness arena, but in all aspects of our lives. I was able to conquer my fear and push beyond the limits I put upon myself with the help of those amazing girls in my class! Thank you to all the girls in class today-YOU ALL ROCK!!!
Today I learned how to Climb Like A Girl!
Don't place limits on yourself Girls!
Keep on CLIMBING and reach those goals that you thought were out of reach, and never underestimate the impact your support and enthusiasm has on someone else's life!
Peace, Love, and SWEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Oh and as the girls were cheering me on to the top, I did take a moment to say "Hey if I am gonna do this, someone has to get a camera!!" Melissa our fearless President of the Top of the Rope Club jumped into action!! You can hear the cheering of all the girls in the background!! Love it!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN7Ym3_nDdk
Today, was Sweat Camp, a class that typically follows no format, except to expect the unexpected! It is designed to prepare us gals for adventure/obstacle course events, such as the Spartan Sprint, Tough Mudder and Dirty Girl Mud Run. In Sweat Camp we do our fair share of Burpees (aka Bitchies), Bear Crawls, Planks, Pull-ups, obstacle course intervals and of course ROPE CLIMBING. Up until today, only one of the few and the proud Sweat Like A Girl members has made it to the top-Melissa! Melissa is a kick-ass Mommy of 2 who has been working out with me in my classes since we met about 2 years ago in one of my SuperMommy Bootcamp classes! Melissa is a hard worker and I am proud to have her as a Sweat Like A Girl member! Check her out successfully climbing the rope in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foQsCbfK8fY&list=UUViplu56xiRbIM2USrHBvkg&index=4
So, each week at Sweat Camp, all of us girls try the rope climb (no knots in this rope!). A few girls, may pass on trying the rope climb the first few weeks, but sooner or later, each girl decides - "Yeah, I am going to try this!" At our gym, we have a rope that is at least 2 stories high that is over top of a gymnastics pit! It is pretty darn high, especially if you are not one who loves high places! The Rope Climb is certainly not the favorite part of our class for most, but I do think, if I would skip it, the girls would definitely miss it...I think!
Today, I got on the rope and was pretty sure I would do what I usually do; go about 3/4 of the way up and then decide - "yep this is good enough" and come back down. Well, Miss Melissa was up and down the rope quick like a bunny as usual!! :) And I started up the rope telling the girls that next week I was going to bring gloves because my hands feel like they slip when climbing. I got to my spot on the rope climb and was ready to start my decent down, and then I heard one of the girls yell up to ME..."C'mon Heather - You Got This" and then another girl "Let's Go Heather, Do IT, You CAN do this!!" Feeling a bit surprised by their enthusiasm to see me conquer my fear of the height of the top of the rope coupled with a feeling of "oh Shit-I guess I gotta do this now!", I continued up the rope! Putting all my fears aside, I let the enthusiasm and support of the girls, who I so readily push beyond their limits, push me beyond my own comfort zone. It felt great!! I was doing something, that I would not have done all by myself today if it was up to me! However, with the support and belief from the girls that I could do it, that I could get to the top of that rope, I was able to achieve success! What an amazing feeling to be pushed farther than you really think you want to go and prove to yourself that yeah, I just kicked some ass!!!!
So now, there I am at the TOP of the rope, the girls in class wooting and hollering at my victory, but I still had to get down!! Climbing down the rope was not fun: forearms were burning and I could feel the rope a bit too tight in between my thighs but didn't want to let up the slack because of the fierce burning in my arms! Finally I made it back to the bottom of the rope still on a natural high feeling no pain of rope burns!! However, as I led the group to the next station, one of my girls alerted me of the massive rope burn on the inside of my thigh, that is still burning as I sit and type this!! And whoa, did that shower after class BURN BABY BURN-Yaaaaouch! Okay enough complaining-as I tell my girls, the WAAAAAHHHHMBULANCE is off duty!!
Today, I am thankful for the girls who love to Sweat Like A Girl, who love to come and give it all they got, and when they think they have given it all they got, they give a little more because of the support and belief of those other girls surrounding them! Yes, for some, you may be thinking, it was just a rope climb, whoopdy-do...but it was more than that! It was a life experience that showed me that we all put limits on ourselves because of our fears, not only in the fitness arena, but in all aspects of our lives. I was able to conquer my fear and push beyond the limits I put upon myself with the help of those amazing girls in my class! Thank you to all the girls in class today-YOU ALL ROCK!!!
Today I learned how to Climb Like A Girl!
Don't place limits on yourself Girls!
Keep on CLIMBING and reach those goals that you thought were out of reach, and never underestimate the impact your support and enthusiasm has on someone else's life!
Peace, Love, and SWEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Oh and as the girls were cheering me on to the top, I did take a moment to say "Hey if I am gonna do this, someone has to get a camera!!" Melissa our fearless President of the Top of the Rope Club jumped into action!! You can hear the cheering of all the girls in the background!! Love it!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN7Ym3_nDdk
Friday, January 18, 2013
SWEAT Like A Girl
Sweat Like A Girl....? Hmmm? Yes, I am a girl, yes I do, and have many times Sweat! Why Sweat Like A Girl? Well Why Not!!??
My name is Heather and I am 37 years old, gosh, I had to think about that! I am a Mommy of 3, and the wife to an amazing husband, Jason for almost 15 years! I am what you would call a "girlie girl athlete!" I was the captain of my field hockey team and dabbled in softball and track in highschool, but I also was a cheerleader for the basketball team too! I was a dancer in college who found a love for teaching group fitness (back then we called it Aerobics!!). I also cheered 2 seasons for the NFL before having my 3 babies!!
I have been teaching forms of physical movement to people of all ages for as long as I can remember! I attended WCU (where I met my amazing husband) and received a degree in Kinesiology. Yes, I graduated with a teacher cert in Physical Education K-12. Yes I did teach for a few years; however, in my <3, I knew this was not my life's work! After having my children, I became a Stay at Home Mommy, who also taught and directed Group Fitness in between doing wash and cleaning the house! After spending many years as a Group Fitness Instructor/Director for various gyms, I felt, well, unsatisfied! (I have always felt there is something great waiting to happen to me! But perhaps that is what we all feel in life!). In any case, various things in my life (which we will visit at a later date!!) led me, with the help of my husband, to open up a small studio called SWEAT LIKE A GIRL!
Wow-what a super great name! Yes, well, before I actually opened my doors, I had thought long and hard about what to call a studio that would sum up for me what I wanted to offer. And low and behold, one night, in the wee hours of the night, it came to me! Thankfully, I wrote it down on paper so I would remember it in the morning!
So what is Sweat Like A Girl? Well currently it is my studio. We offer over 25 classes a week, including POLE FITNESS, and don't scrunch up your face! A pole is just another piece of fitness equipment! We offer all types of fitness classes, private instruction, private parties and healthy eating programs! It has simply become a place for women to make new friendships, feel good about themselves, and change their lives!
Yes, I have indeed been a girl all my life! Sweat Like A Girl encompasses, for me, what it is to "Sweat" like a girl! Girls: we can be elegant and strong, we can be graceful and agile, we can be sexy and powerful; all of which should be celebrated and encouraged! To "Sweat Like A Girl" is to be active in all the ways that define a girl (woman) and to be confident in all the ways a girl's (woman's)body can move! I am blessed to have the opportunity to change so many women's lives and I look forward to many more woman I have yet to help!
Today we Sweat Like A Girl, who knows what tomorrow will hold!
Go and be Super..Girls!
My name is Heather and I am 37 years old, gosh, I had to think about that! I am a Mommy of 3, and the wife to an amazing husband, Jason for almost 15 years! I am what you would call a "girlie girl athlete!" I was the captain of my field hockey team and dabbled in softball and track in highschool, but I also was a cheerleader for the basketball team too! I was a dancer in college who found a love for teaching group fitness (back then we called it Aerobics!!). I also cheered 2 seasons for the NFL before having my 3 babies!!
I have been teaching forms of physical movement to people of all ages for as long as I can remember! I attended WCU (where I met my amazing husband) and received a degree in Kinesiology. Yes, I graduated with a teacher cert in Physical Education K-12. Yes I did teach for a few years; however, in my <3, I knew this was not my life's work! After having my children, I became a Stay at Home Mommy, who also taught and directed Group Fitness in between doing wash and cleaning the house! After spending many years as a Group Fitness Instructor/Director for various gyms, I felt, well, unsatisfied! (I have always felt there is something great waiting to happen to me! But perhaps that is what we all feel in life!). In any case, various things in my life (which we will visit at a later date!!) led me, with the help of my husband, to open up a small studio called SWEAT LIKE A GIRL!
Wow-what a super great name! Yes, well, before I actually opened my doors, I had thought long and hard about what to call a studio that would sum up for me what I wanted to offer. And low and behold, one night, in the wee hours of the night, it came to me! Thankfully, I wrote it down on paper so I would remember it in the morning!
So what is Sweat Like A Girl? Well currently it is my studio. We offer over 25 classes a week, including POLE FITNESS, and don't scrunch up your face! A pole is just another piece of fitness equipment! We offer all types of fitness classes, private instruction, private parties and healthy eating programs! It has simply become a place for women to make new friendships, feel good about themselves, and change their lives!
Yes, I have indeed been a girl all my life! Sweat Like A Girl encompasses, for me, what it is to "Sweat" like a girl! Girls: we can be elegant and strong, we can be graceful and agile, we can be sexy and powerful; all of which should be celebrated and encouraged! To "Sweat Like A Girl" is to be active in all the ways that define a girl (woman) and to be confident in all the ways a girl's (woman's)body can move! I am blessed to have the opportunity to change so many women's lives and I look forward to many more woman I have yet to help!
Today we Sweat Like A Girl, who knows what tomorrow will hold!
Go and be Super..Girls!
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