Summer Miles Week #9

 

Wow! I just got back home from HOT Vegas!!! How do people live in that "HEAT". Running in Vegas had me wishing I was back on Utah running up in the COOL temperatures of the Canyons!!  Vegas 108 Canyons 60. Hmm I know what I prefer. Here are a few thoughts that I have been having. 

looking back over the summer, we will probably notice some very good things and recognize some things we could have done better.  It is natural to have those things happen.  Most of the time, we tend to only see the "Not so good" things and get caught up in "what we didn't do" or feel less because of an injury or back off our intensity because we had "life" get in the way of our goals (there will always be obstacles/distractions...almost every day!).   Even though we might get a little behind on our path or get suckered punch by an injury or life, ARE YOU NOTICING THE THINGS YOU HAVE OVERCOME?  Are you amazed by the dedication you have given to make things better than before? 

 Are you working your excitement for the GOOD THINGS you have done?  I am confident that most of us could do a little better at being excited about all the things you have done.

As we continue to improve and work through the daily grind of running, keep working on the little things that will help get you over the obstacles!  We obviously have unfinished business/work to do!  I know that many of you are really trying to go after some big things...but those big things really require some important sacrifices that have been kind of "hit and miss" throughout the summer (as a Team).  But instead of worrying about what we missed...WE STILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO KEEP WORKING ON THEM!  We still can reset the mind and body to keep working towards the Dream (especially if you feel that you are still missing something...from time, from injuries, from obstacles, from distractions, from anything at all!).    

When we talk about being Confident, usually it comes from within and radiates from us!  Some just have that ability, but most of us feel less or not enough and honestly, it is understandable.  But the real question is not whether we are confident as much as others, BUT ARE WE WORKING ON IT? 

Confidence can also be worked on from the Outside in!   When we try to act more confident by simple, little acts that we can do, it can help convince the rest of the body (especially the mind), that you really can do it!  

It does not matter how close we are to the season, or how much time is left, or how many obstacles there seems to be...START TODAY TO KEEP DOING THE LITTLE THINGS JUST A LITTLE BETTER!  

The RUNNING mind!!!!!

Summer Miles Week #8

 

OVERCOME!! PUSH THROUGH!! BELIEVE IN THE WORK! TRUST THE WORK! ENDURE!!!!

Whenever you’re training, you need to have the mental ability to remain focused and in control regardless of the circumstances. But can we train our brains to focus and overcome our deficiencies. 

What is mental toughness?

Mental toughness or strength is the ability to regulate your emotions, manage your thoughts and, despite the hard circumstances, behave in a positive manner. It’s about finding the inner strength and courage to live according to your values and creating your own definition of success.

 Mental toughness involves more than just willpower, requiring hard work and commitment. There are steps you can take and exercises to help you develop skills that increase your mental strength. Here are a few mental hacks for achieving a strong physical and mental performance.

Begin your workout with the right mindset.

Set your mind into goal-mode and remember that you exercise to feel good and not to torture yourself. If you start your workout routine with a negative attitude towards exercising, you will not be able to finish your workout. Remind yourself that exercise can be fun and awesome.

 Take a deep breath

It will help calm the mind and relax the body. Whenever you take shallow breaths, you increase muscle tension and decrease your performance.

 Focus on the steps to victory and not victory itself

When you’re in a competition, trust your training and stop thinking about what other are doing or how ahead of you they are. The competitors don’t exist. The scoreboard doesn’t exist. It’s only you and the things you need to get done. Don’t think about losing, but focus on staying on target.

 Change your weakness into strength

This means you have to do movements you’re not good at or you don’t really like. This way, your weakness can turn into your strength. It takes a lot of perseverance and got giving up, but you can do it.

Don’t fear failure

 There is that fear that your body won’t be able to adapt to running faster. You can push beyond your comfort zone. Don’t be scared to try new things. You’ll probably fail the first time, but you’ll never know if you don’t try. And even if you do, you have to start somewhere, so go for it.

 The limitations seem to get smaller and smaller when you have a perspective. As you slowly build up your resistance, you’ll begin to see an increase in your ability to stay focused throughout the course of training. Training is as much about developing your mental toughness as it is developing a well-rounded physique.

Check out these three VIDOES!!!

Summer Miles Week #7

 

Facing Life's Adversities 

Running can have it's adversities. One such adversity is the BAD weather, the HEAT, Our ATTITUDE, our EFFORT, our COMMITTMENT.  Greatness does not happen without overcoming adversity.

Who are we during our adversities? 

Everyone faces difficult periods at certain points in their lives. Sometimes, however, adversity can come in waves, with one misfortune or hardship closely following another. These experiences can change the way we look at the world and lead to hopelessness or depression. Fortunately, you can find resilience even in the toughest circumstances by focusing on a few proven strategies.

What Is Resilience?

Essentially, resilience is the ability to effectively cope with difficult, life-changing events. It is also the capacity to make realistic plans and execute them, even when you don't want to. This may mean allowing yourself to experience painful emotions, solving difficult problems or taking action when you'd prefer to step back. Fortunately, resilience is not a genetic characteristic of strong people; it is a skill that anyone can learn.

Developing a resilient attitude

Build relationships. Research shows that strong, supportive relationships can be a powerful driving force behind resilience. Whether it is friends, family, or co-workers, reach out for support, encouragement and love during difficult times.

Accept change. It is natural to resist change when it brings pain. That said, once it occurs, you will continue experiencing negative emotions if you keep fighting realities. Acknowledge that change is painful, hard, and unwanted. Then, create a forward-focused mentality and embrace new possibilities, even if you have trouble letting go.

Recognize your strength. Most people can look to other difficult periods in their lives, when they overcame a big disappointment or challenge. Whatever occurred in the past, you were able to push through. By recognizing this, you will feel more empowered, as you strive to cope with your current, temporary difficulty.

Act. To overcome difficult circumstances, we often need to take difficult action. Even if it's a very tiny step, it can be pivotal in allowing you to move forward. Your problems may seem more challenging than those of other people. However, ordinary people rise above difficult circumstances every single day. They dust themselves off and continue moving forward. By recognizing that you are not alone when it comes to dealing with life's problems, you can inspire yourself to get up and continue.

Take care of yourself. Significant emotional pain can lead people to neglect eating, sleeping, or exercising. Your mind and body cannot effectively cope with difficult times if they are deprived. Give yourself the best chance at recovery by prioritizing sleep, eating regular meals, and getting plenty of exercise. No matter how difficult it may be to motivate yourself, you can ease the path toward resilience by empowering your body and mind.

Who are we during our adversities? 

Summer Miles Week #6

HELLO SPARTANS!!! What GREAT Canyon times that we had. Incredible effort and incredible times! Awesome running!! If you were not able to go and run the canyon try and make it next time!  

If you’re like me, watching powerful runners (many of them actually smiling!) mincing through fall leaves and breaking through finish lines can be incredibly inspiring. Whether you  are starting for the very first time or you are a returning runner, these running tips will get you out the door—and to a healthy finish line.

1) Don’t worry about distance
The important thing is that you’re out there, you’re running. It is not important how far you go, how fast you go, or how you look. You can work on those things later if you choose to, but the key is to getting out the door and running. If you can get your shoes on and get moving, you’re a runner. The biggest step has been taken.

2) Be practical
You can overcome so many fears by making some simple steps to avoid those worst-case scenarios. Get a route you know well and know is safe. Find a short cut just in case you struggle or feel pain. Make sure someone knows you’re going if you’re running alone or get a friend to be in the area.

3) Don’t let others judge you
You are running, and anyone judging you for that is probably as envious as judgmental. You might sweat. You’ll come to feel proud of that. You might be flushed. You might not be the fastest. You’ll be being “the best you,” though.

4) Remind yourself how you’ll feel afterwards
Your first run—or your first run in a while— might hurt a bit. But you will feel great for the rest of the day. The equation of pain on the road vs. lasting elation is vastly tipped in your favor, so hold on to that thought that as you’re lacing your up your shoes.

5) Remember it’s not just for your legs or lungs
It’s about knowing for the rest of the day, the month, and your life that you were afraid of something and you didn’t crumble: You stood eye-to-eye with your fear and won. Running can teach you about more than times and distances; it can teach you that what you’re capable of is infinite.

Check out these VIDEOS!!