Winning the Mind Game

I recently read an article about mental toughness that, well, blew my mind! Wouldn't it have been awesome if I had remembered to save the link so I could share it here?.....(I'll be searching for it so I can - one of these days I'll figure it all out!!)

But anyway, it suggested that not rescheduling a tough workout because we're tired or aren't fueled properly. An 'off' workout like that, where we push through with the plan on run on legs or with a body that doesn't fully agree with our decision, is actually good for the mind muscle. It allows the brain to accept capabilities of our bodies that go beyond the boundaries previously set. Even though your times on that particular day/workout may not be what you wanted, you are accomplishing something even more important in the mental muscle area - you are teaching your mind to push on - and after all, isn't that how a PR is made??
**Disclaimer** Runners, who tend to NOT listen to the 'hurting' voice in their minds, DO NOT use this as validation to run through serious pain!!! If the pain is causing you to change your form, then it hurts too bad to run on!! This is also NOT a reason to SKIP REST DAYS!!!!

I was finally able to do 9 miles on Saturday and it felt great!! About 3 months ago, I did a few 10 mile 'long runs' and then I didn't let my body rest like it needed to and I got injured. I'm so excited to be back at that distance, but I do also get BORED really easily. It's also hard for me to get up at 4:00am every morning to squeeze in my yoga practice to help with strength and flexibility. But I've been working on some positive reinforcement to help keep me going:
1) Keeping the thoughts positive: 'Get comfortable with being uncomfortable' (thanks Jillian Michaels!) - really encourages me to push harder; "If I don't stop, this will pay off - don't stop now!"; "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
2) Use fuel like a doggy treat! :) That was one way I stayed focused and broke up the mileage a little - rewarding myself every 3 miles with a couple of pieces of shot bloks. "As soon as I finish this set, I'll get 3 more....."

   

My 'treats'! ;)

Now, I just need some 'positive thinking' mantras to help me get through the REST of my day! All of my running related positive thoughts all center around my ABILITY to do something. I need to find something to say to myself when I'm doing something I really DON'T WANT TO DO! I know that if I approach it with the mindset that I don't want to be there, it's only going to make it worse, but my mind is also not going to fall for just repeating a lie - "I want to do this. I want to be here." just isn't going to cut it. My mind will call BS and go back to grumpy-land if I try that! (hmm...I'm not sure why my mind seems to be its own entity....) I think I need a vacation. No. I know I need one, but that's not going to happen until Thanksgiving week.... so until then, I need some positivity (is that a word?) injected into my life!!!

What are your long run tricks? Especially for water!? 

Now that my mileage is back up, I'm back to the water question - tried a belt and HATED it.... don't really want to carry water since that can lead to imbalances and injury + I can't carry enough! I'm thinking about driving ahead and stashing water bottles before I run....

Outside of running, how do you stay positive, focused and motivated??

Goal Post or "What happens when you are too focused on one goal?"

...Like scoring a touchdown - so focused on getting into the end zone - do they every run into those giant goal posts? I probably would....

I've been trying to find a balance between ALL of the aspects of my life - I have goals for my running, goals for my home, goals for my work and goals for my spiritual life. Let's face it, I love goals! But I'm also a little ADD so..... wait, my coffee's ready....no... it wasn't ready, I just walked back to get it and realized I never pressed the button! grrr.... anyway... back to my goals....

I'm still having trouble focusing - I feel like a zoom in on one area and I accidentally let the other areas slide by the wayside... if I were a wide receiver, I'd be soo focused on getting open and catching the ball that I'd run into that GIANT goal post!

But I'm getting better and that's all that matters right?? I'm going to be scouring Pinterest looking for the perfect printable organizing miracle worker, but until then, here is what I've "achieved" so far:
 - I am doing yoga every morning - I HAVE to find a clip of the DVD I'm using - the people are a trip!!!
- I am TRYING really really (does that count??) hard to drink 100 oz of water every day and shooting for at least 80.
 - I am sticking to a running plan that I have made up myself....because I'm an expert.... on myself - I know, better than any pre-made plan, if my body can handle it - I think I'm doing a pretty good job at maintaining the appropriate level of discomfort and pain to be considered helpful - with words like 'discomfort' & 'pain', don't you want ME to make YOUR training plan too! :) ---- I'm supposed to do 9 miles this weekend - yay! my mileage is finally getting back up there!!!!

That is all. For now. :)

How do you feel about goals? or goal posts for that matter? :)
If you played football, what position would you play? or What team would you play for?
Anybody out there have any awesome goal-setting/meeting tips? Especially for those of us who are a little ADD?
Anyone else have trouble focusing??? What do you do for it??

"GOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!" (in my EXTREMELY excited soccer announcer voice)

**WARNING: This post has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with soccer!** :)

ok...almost nothing :)

I have always been a very goal-oriented person, I love encouraging others to set goals and work towards them and I especially love the feeling I get when I reach a goal. Trouble is, I tend to get waaaaay to busy and distracted to remember to even SET a goal to begin with!

Thankfully, I joined an accountability group on FB and we're publicly announcing our goals, and then checking back in daily to update our progress. I love it! It's so much fun to see others working on their goals and it also gives me some good ideas for my own set of goals!

In my 'fitness life' I have been really making progress, thanks in large part to this whole goal setting thing. Unfortunately, I really fell off in a ton of other areas :( One that really bothered me, was the fact that I didn't even know my oldest had a Math test on Thursday, meaning we didn't do ANYTHING to prepare! As a teacher myself, I cringed at the thought of being "that" parent - so wrapped up in other things that I let his academics slide........(thanfully, Cam did a WONDERFUL job on the test and made a 95% - whew! BUT lesson definitely learned!)

So.... in addition to fitness goals, I am also going to work on a set of personal goals, family-related goals, and professional goals. Every school year I help my students set specific, measurable and attainable goals and this year, I am doing it too!

It's not the beginning of the school year or the calendar year, but sometimes, you just need to stop, refocus and set some new goals, so here goes....... (I'll be back with some super cute version of my goals in a few days, after I've set them and created it...)