THE Jog Blog – 31

June 9, 2011 By Tina Moore 1 Comment

Jogging Blessings:

I love the smiles and friendly “good morning” that happens regularly when I jog the seawall…happy people getting fresh air. I love it!

Tina’s Favourite After-Jog Snack:

I have a deep affection for ham and cheese croissants. I LOVE a freshly baked croissant with fresh orange juice after a jog. My body always says, “Yum”.

Tina’s Happy Place:

Running across the Lion’s Gate Bridge, around Stanley Park (getting a little lost in the trails) and then back over the bridge on a beautiful sunny day.

HILL Training Tips Based On My Experience:

  1. When I jog big hills, I always look down. I make sure the brim of my hat hides enough of my view so I don’t know how far I have to go. This allows me to just put one foot in front of the other and focus on my steps instead of how steep the hill is or how long it seems.
  2. There are a few methods on how to do hills but generally speaking I like to power up hills. I see them as a challenge and like to grunt and swear and push my way to the top. It’s very empowering and rewarding.
  3. Think of something else. I like to process my emotions or stress when I do hills. It gets me up the hills with strength and by the time I’m done, I’ve processed all my ‘stuff’. It’s AWESOME!
  4. Let your arms do the work. I pump my arms and focus on the big muscles in my thighs and butt. I am still aware of keeping my hands and calves relaxed as I don’t want tension in my body but rather strength and energy.

RUNNING GEAR:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the running skort! It’s like a little skirt but with shorts underneath. It’s super comfortable and looks great. I find jogging pants or shorts can ride or look awkward in the front so these skorts eliminate that problem. You can find beautiful skorts at LadySport. They have lots of cute colors and will help you find the best fit.

HALF MARATHON!

Less than three weeks to go until the Scotia Bank Half Marathon in Vancouver! Click on the link if you are interested in participating. There are still spots open for the half marathon and 5K walk. It is such a great feeling to come together with other like-minded people who are enjoying the fresh air, energy and appreciation of the time and effort you’ve all put into your training. If you can’t run, come down and cheer! We need that ENCOURAGEMENT and ENERGY and APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!

I had a really strong jog on Sunday and that was the first time I thought, “Yes, I can do the distance.” I didn’t know if my shins would let me but I think by keeping to a pace of running 8 minutes and walking 2 minutes I’m able to sustain the pace and distance. If my shins act up at any time I will lengthen my walk time and shorten my jog time. It’s about running for LIFE, LISTENING to my body and LOVING what I’m doing.

Have a JOYFUL, PEACEFUL and INSPIRING weekend. See you on Tuesday!

With a smile,

Tina

PS. I’m getting some FANTASTIC comments about my Ebook, so I’m super excited to share it with you…just a few more details…soon!!

THE Jog Blog – 30

June 2, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Laugh At Yourself – It’s Good For The Soul:

I was walking along and thinking, “I’m cool like that” only to realize I have a dryer sheet sticking out of my pocket…all doubt was removed, I am clearly not “Cool like that”!

Tina’s Deep Thoughts:

The seabus lets you look forward towards where you are going or backwards to where you’ve been. Which way do you look?

What Makes You Happy?

The sunshine reflecting off the ocean is a simple pleasure, one that brings me absolute JOY.

Training Tips Based On My Experience:

  1. Relax. When you are jogging it’s important to be aware of your body. I am very conscious of my hands . Am I holding them in a tight fist? If so, that tension crawls up your arm and into your shoulders causing them to ache. Relax your hands.
  2. What’s your stride? Are you landing heavy on your heel? Are you slumped over? Are your calves doing all the work? By listening to your body and being very AWARE of your stride, how you land, what your posture is like etc, you will be able to decrease the risk of injury and run more efficiently. I’ve been focusing on relaxing my calves and making my thighs and butt do the work. My calves are happy, my butt? Not so much…
  3. Avoid blisters by making sure your shoes fit properly, you have decent socks and if needed a good insole. I’ve avoided a blister in my new shoes by adding a small lift in the heel. When the shoes broke in, the insole compressed and I needed the lift so it didn’t irritate a small bone on the side of my foot.

CONGRATULATIONS!

There is an exceptional group of women in Fort Saskatchewan, AB who are joining me when I run the GoodLife Fitness Marathon in Victoria, BC this coming October. For that run they have called their group, “Are We There Yet?” Initially they were going to run 8K but quickly realized they are more fierce than they realized and they are now running the half marathon! I’m so PROUD of them and very excited to watch these women kick some butt! They are also walking the “End Women’s Cancer” walk in July. For that walk, they are called, “Fight Like A Girl”. They needed to raise money and through their community they have raised over $4000! WAY TO GO LADIES! Click HERE to read more about their great story.

SELF CARE:

I saw Benita, from Ocean Wellness this past week and my body was so grateful! I don’t like getting adjustments, especially in my neck. Trust is crucial when it comes to a good chiropractor and Benita is knowledgeable, gentle and considerate of my fears. I am very blessed to have her expertise, wisdom and incredible nurturing. I highly recommend her. Thank you Benita!

Less than a month to go until the Scotiabank Half Marathon here in Vancouver, BC. I am super excited because my friends from Kamloops are joining me and we are going to have a GREAT TIME! I am still very cautious about my shins but I’m confident with the continued rest and respect I am giving my body that although I will be slower than last year, I will be running with friends and LOVING it! For me, that’s what counts!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend and the sun shines in your part of the world. Sending you much love, joy, gratitude and appreciation.

With a smile,

Tina

THE Jog Blog – 29

May 26, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Tina’s FUN Friday Facebook Status:

“It is SO BEAUTIFUL outside and I’m SO EXCITED to JOG! Yipee for my brain! I’m already happy and I’m not even out there yet! Jogging-Ocean-Sunshine-Endorphins…I love you!”

A Lovely Jewel – Thank you Sonia Choquette:

“Your soul’s purpose right now is to be AUTHENTIC in your communication by first reconciling conflicts between your head and your heart.”

TRAINING QUESTIONS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE:

Why do I need sports drinks when I am jogging?

Wikipedia states: A sports drink is a beverage designed to help athletes rehydrate when fluids are depleted after training or competition. Electrolyte replacement promotes proper rehydration, which is important in delaying the onset of fatigue during exercise.

What types of sports drinks are there?

Some choices are Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water, and Propel.

HERE’S WHAT I DRINK INSTEAD OF THOSE CHOICES:

Coconut water

Why?

I choose coconut water because it’s natural and doesn’t upset my stomach like the others however here are some other reasons:

  • No artificial colors or dyes
  • I can read and understand the list of ingredients: coconut water
  • Less calories
  • 15x more potassium
  • Natural sugars (nothing artificial)
  • More calcium, phosphorous and magnesium
  • No dental erosion from citric acid
  • It tastes really good!

I’ve tried all three brands in the photo and my favorite is the green bottle. It tastes YUMMY, although it’s probably the most expensive out of the three. It has some pulp so if you want crystal clear, don’t purchase that one.

The other two are also good, although they are little less sweet. I tend to mix them with water because they don’t have quite as yummy of a flavor. They are still all natural though and they also come blended with fruit juice if you prefer. I will carry one container of water, and the other container of coconut water for long jogs. I’ll also carry my gels or gummies.

I like to eat as healthy as I can without being too rigid. I prefer fresh foods. If I can’t pronounce the ingredient then I consider it a small poison that I don’t want in my body. Fresh is best if at all possible. Organic is more expensive but worth it when it comes to meat, dairy and certain fruits and vegetables.

Does this mean I never eat chips, cupcakes or chocolate? Absolutely not. I love the crunch and salty taste of chips, but I limit my intake and when I don’t, my body reminds me. My scale tips on fresh and healthy not packaged and processed.

If you find the other sports drinks hard on your stomach or you would prefer to go with something that is less chemical and more natural, try the coconut water. I LOVE IT!

Thanks for reading “What Is YOUR nOrMaL?” and passing it along. I hope you have an awesome weekend and I’ll see you again on Tuesday! I’m looking forward to it!

With a smile,

Tina

THE Jog Blog – 28

May 19, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Facebook Status:

Lost. Hidden among the drenched trees, soggy ground and rain swelled ocean and rivers lies my happiness…must jog to go find it…

Tina’s Truth:

A JOGGING Tina, is a HAPPY Tina.

ORGANIZED RUNS I AM JOGGING THIS YEAR. CHECK THEM OUT AND JOIN ME!

Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon / 5K – June 26, 2011 – (If all goes well with my shin)

The Underwear Affair 5K walk / 10K jog – July 9, 2011

Diva On The Run 5K / 10K – July 24, 2011

GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon / Half Marathon / 8K – October 9, 2011

TRAINING TIPS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE:

  1. Use “Body Glide” to eliminate chaffing. I use it under the outside of each arm because if I don’t, I will chafe when I start to sweat. It can also be used to avoid blisters. You can find it at LadySport or your local running store.
  2. Have good support! A decent bra is crucial. I’ve talked to women who refuse to jog because of a lack of support in their bra. This is an avoidable problem! LadySport has a great checklist on what to look for when shopping for bras. Check it out HERE.
  3. Carry fuel. When I started jogging I made sure my route had water fountains. Once I started incorporating longer runs I had to carry my water and fuel with me. There are all sorts of things you can use such as gels, gummies, or honey sticks. Check your local running store and experiment BEFORE race day to see what works best for you.

WHAT I’VE TRIED THAT DOESN’T WORK:

  1. Eating peanut based products before I jog. It doesn’t matter if it was three hours prior, the peanuts do not sit well in my stomach. I won’t go into details…
  2. Wearing old running shoes. You must have good, supportive runners that fit well. This is something that is non negotiable. A poor fitting or old running shoe can cause a lot of aches and pains leading to injury. LadySport has a great guide to help you choose the best shoes. Click HERE.
  3. Drinking a carbonated drink before jogging. I thought I could have orange juice and club soda in the morning with my breakfast. Nope. That stayed with me the entire run…

I am completely off my normal training schedule due to my injury. I am able to do small, easy jogs with a few days off in between. I tried incorporating certain time intervals but found I would push myself in order to meet the run time instead of really listening to my body. Now I am not looking at a watch or tracking my time. I am focusing on increasing my distance. My last jog was 8K and this is how I did it:

I ran till I felt I should walk.

I walked till I felt I should run.

Listening to my body that way has really worked for me. I am not hung up on the time and I am strictly listening to my shin. So far, you know what it’s been saying?

THANK YOU.

Have a glorious long weekend. Hopefully the sun will shine and the barbeque will bring you together with family and friends.

See you on Tuesday!

With a smile,

Tina

THE Jog Blog – 27

May 12, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Tina’s Jogging Journal Snippet From October 2008:

I hate this. I really do. I feel like jogging as much as I feel like having a cold shower. At least with a cold shower I can still just stand there.

Tina’s Jogging Journal Snippet From May 2011:

After 4 ½ weeks of not being able to jog, I am SO EXCITED TO BE BACK ON THE ROAD! How I’ve missed it! I LOVE jogging, it is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life, for my life.

Tina’s Word For The Day:

GRATITUDE – there is so much to be grateful for, even in the middle of difficult situations. GRATITUDE keeps your mind POSITIVE when things around you may be negative or stressful.

TRAINING TIPS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE:

  1. If you have a scheduled workout, but your day is getting busier and busier don’t skip your workout! Try to fit in even a half hour or a 20 minute quickie. That’s better than skipping it all together.
  2. If you have a short period of time for a workout but you need maximum results try jogging up hills or incorporate speed intervals. This will increase the workout but still keep it within your limited time frame. Don’t forget to warm up first.
  3. Schedule your workouts just like you would a doctor’s appointment or parent/teacher interview. It’s important and needs to be honored.

WHAT I’VE TRIED THAT DOESN’T WORK:

  1. Skipping workouts without being accountable. Those skipped workouts turned into a few days, which was then a week or two. Once I incorporated even a quick workout that helped me HONOR MY COMMITMENT TO mySELF.
  2. Jogging at night. It doesn’t work for me. I haven’t been able to find the balance between eating food all day and when to run at night. It upsets my stomach. I must make time in the morning or it doesn’t get done.
  3. Not keeping track of when I work out. If I don’t write it down on a calendar or in my journal I lose track of the last time I jogged. Life gets busy and next thing you know, days or weeks have gone by.

Due to LISTENING to my body and RESTING for over 4 weeks, I am very slowly and gently getting back into jogging. YAY! To ease back into it, I am walking for five minutes and jogging for anywhere between one and three minutes. I am paying careful attention to how my shin is reacting to the increased activity. So far, so good. I’m filled with GRATITUDE that my body is responding well to the rest.

Have a fantastic weekend. Get some fresh air, give someone a hug and ask for help if you need it. Remember: SELF care is not selfish!

See you on Tuesday!

With a smile,

Tina

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »