THE Jog Blog – 22

April 7, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Tina’s Daily News Article

Shoes are important! Check out Ladysport to know how to get a good fit!

Favorite Coach and Friend:

Jody Kennett – Check out her new Youtube videos and website!

Want Some Good Stuff To Read?

Check out all the categories to the side. Some of my previous blogs are HERE

Favorite Facebook Status:

“Gratitude is such a lovely feeling. Saying, ‘thank you’ is such a simple thing to say.”

THANK YOU for your amazing comments and support regarding the previous BLOG. I really appreciate hearing from you and feel very honored that you are sharing my website with others. THANK YOU.

March 31, 2011 – SPEED WALK (1/2 hour), CROSS TRAIN

This morning I went for a brisk speed walk with a friend of mine. Nice way to start the day.

April 1, 2011 – REST

I am concerned about my right shin aching from yesterday so I am resting today. I’ve had lots of stress lately, more than usual and to not be able to run is difficult for me.

April 2, 2011 – REST

April 3, 2011 – 18K JOG (9 minute jog / 1 minute walk)

I actually jogged 19.3K today but I’ll get into that in a minute.

I ate organic oatmeal and then a piece of organic multigrain toast for breakfast. I was anxious to get out the door because I wanted to beat the rain.

I was so blessed to have two friends join me, one on a bike and the other on roller blades. We decided to go around Stanley Park, which is 10K then go to Yaletown to add the extra 8K.

The jog was lovely (see photo). It didn’t rain and the temperature was initially chilly but then it was fine. My friend asked five minutes into the jog how I was feeling and I said,

“Happy.”

As soon as my feet hit that pavement I could feel all the stress leave my body replaced by a smile on my face. My shin and calves were fine!

Jogging with friends was fantastic, but it was a TEST FOR MY EGO. You see, the body naturally wants to speed up to keep to their pace, and the ego will try as well. Here’s the thing: YOU WON’T KEEP UP TO PEOPLE ON WHEELS! They go faster than you and if you try to keep up, you are going to burn out and risk injury. This was an excellent test for me to keep to MY pace…good practice for when I do my marathon…

Because I was slower, I’d lose track of where they were…then I’d round a corner and I would see them waiting for me, waving their arms and cheering me on,

“Go Tina! You can do it!”

It was awesome. I felt totally energized with a big smile on my face and absolute JOY in my heart.

I felt pretty good the entire run with the exception of about the last kilometer. Luckily my friend and I began talking about the awesome omelet and mimosas we were going to have, so we began making up songs about it. I laughed so hard the last kilometer, it went by in a flash.

Laughing, singing and jogging – life is sweet!

We actually went 19.3K instead of the 18K. Oops. My one friend has an Iphone so she was going to keep track of our distance with an application she’d downloaded.

The application shut itself off half way through the run so we guessed the distance. Probably not the smartest thing to do, (not have your route completely mapped out) but it turned out fine in the end.

I was pleased I ate properly this time. The night before I had pasta with chicken. The next morning I ate oatmeal and toast, which sustained me right to the end. I didn’t need the gels. I had purchased something new to try but I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous about them. I use coconut water instead of Gatorade for a natural source of electrolytes.

Today was a fantastic day. I stretched and never felt my shin or calves once. I felt great!

April 4, 2011 – REST

Today I am resting out of respect for my shin and calves. Although I feel good I don’t want to push it.

April 5, 2011 – CROSS TRAIN

I cross-trained for about a half hour today. I planned on doing more work on my arms but I pulled something in my left shoulder. Geez what a mess! I think I’m just clumsy or maybe, in truth, I was rushing. At any rate, it’s a little tender. Maybe I’m just getting old..er…

I did the plank, push ups, balancing exercises, LOTS of stretches and core exercises.

April 6, 2011 – JOG 8K (10 minute jog / 1 minute walk)

I did some light stretching of my calves and hip flexors today then hopped on the treadmill to jog. If I’d planned my day better I would have jogged along the ocean but I was running out of time so I decided on the treadmill.

I had to stop after only 20 minutes of walking and a light jog. My right shin was shouting at me. I listened. I stopped, sat down and cried.

The tears are out of fear not pain – What if I have an injury and I have to stop running? How will I cope with my stress? My anxiety? Will my depression come back?

When did this happen? When did jogging become such an important part of my life where I mourn even the possibility of losing it?

It was a bit of an a-ha moment. Jogging is so important to me now. If you would have asked me two years ago if I’d have thought this way, I would have laughed and thought you were crazy. How could jogging be this important to someone?

For me, it is the one thing I can rely on to MANAGE STRESS and ANXIETY. It keeps DEPRESSION at bay. It keeps me AUTHENTIC because I PROCESS my EMOTIONS and HEAR my INSTINCT clearly. It’s my place to find Tina if I get a little lost and to NURTURE and LOVE her back to herself.

It’s a prayer. A direct connection to that energy and guidance we long to feel.

I cried out my fear and rested my shin. I went to Benita at Ocean Wellness and gave her a card and some flowers. I wanted her to know how much she means to me – her kindness, generosity and understanding. She’s a strong but compassionate woman. I really value her expertise and friendship in my life.

If you are feeling pain in an area that is consistent, please listen to your body. REST. STRETCH and don’t try to do too much too soon. AVOID INJURY BY LISTENING TO YOUR BODY.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND SEE YOU ON TUESDAY FOR MORE STORIES AND INSIGHT!

THE Jog Blog – 21

March 31, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Tina’s Words Of Wisdom:

Please eat ½ hour or 45 minutes before you jog! I spoke to a new jogger this week and she wasn’t eating before she ran in the mornings. I made this mistake when I first began jogging and couldn’t figure out why I was so tired! Your body is talking, are you listening?

Beauty, Grace and Strength:

A little bit of God – A beautiful bald eagle swooped down in front of me as I jogged along the ocean. He was maybe 15 feet away. Stunning.

Tina’s Pep Talk:

I had to jog alone this week so I thought to myself, “Come on Tina, you jogged 30k by yourself, you can do 17k.” It’s hard to argue that point.

March 24, 2011 – 9K JOG (10 minute jog / 1 minute walk)

In actuality, I ran for 12-13 minutes and walked for 2. It wasn’t about training for me today, it was about dealing with anxiety, stress and negativity.

BEFORE Jogging:

Bluetooth (in my car): Say a command

Tina: Call Mom.

Bluetooth: Did you say, call Marissa?

Tina: No.

Bluetooth: Did you say, call Maya?

Tina: No!

Bluetooth: Did you say, call Norm?

Tina: NOOO!!

Bluetooth: Sorry, no match found.

Tina: ARRRRRRRRG!!

This happened three times. Normally it would be mildly annoying; I would laugh it off and try again. Today every little thing irritated me.

The man with rubber clogs, shuffling his feet on the cement as he walked his dogs or the woman with a high-pitched voice yelling just in front of me. I felt myself getting cranky and impatient as my anxiety and stress level climbed. It was horrible and I knew I just had to jog.

AFTER Jogging:

Serenity. I figured out exactly what I wanted to say regarding a couple stressful situations. I processed my anger, understanding why I was angry in the first place (I wasn’t told the truth). Jogging allows me to feel my emotions in a safe way – a way that’s not hurtful to myself or others. I just run.

March 26, 2011 – REST / HIKE 3K

I went hiking with a friend through Lynn Valley today. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a leisurely walk in the mountains.

March 27, 2011 – 17K JOG (10 minute run / 1 minute walk)

I started strong, jogging 10/1’s until around 11K then I took a gel.

This is what I learned: Gels are like tequila. Once you have a bad experience with them, your body never seems to forget.

At least that’s what it was like for me with this particular gel. My stomach did not like it, even though I had plenty of water. So, my 10/1’s got out of whack but at that point, all I wanted to do was get the distance. I didn’t plan this run well; there is another lesson…

Last night I was out for dinner at a lovely restaurant that had a very limited FOOD menu (huge wine menu!). I ate mostly protein and vegetables; no carbs. In the morning, before a long run, I would normally eat a bowl of organic oatmeal AND a multi-grain bagel with organic chocolate hazelnut butter…today I only had the bagel because I ran out of oatmeal. So I didn’t have the fuel I needed to sustain me. I know better. Anyway, I got through it and I’m proud I persevered.

Although jogging can be hard, it’s always worth it.

March 28, 2011 – REST

I had a meeting with Jody Kennett from Leapfit today. She is a wonderful, AUTHENTIC, and truly INSPIRING person. She helped me enormously with her INSIGHT and HONESTY. Today she acted as a friend and as a life coach. If you need someone to help you put things into proper perspective, show you the path you need to take to reach your goals and get your priorities straight; Jody is the person to contact.

I am blessed to have Jody in my life. Thank you Coach Jody!!

March 29, 2011 – SPEED TRAINING (5 laps at 85% x5 reps)

Right now I have a lot of stress in my life and some of that stress comes with anger and frustration. Today I needed to run fast and hard. When you are stressed, running really fast and pushing yourself is great but sometimes I grunt, yell or make some sort of vocal sound to let out more negativity.

Today, I cried.

I cry due to the intensity of the jogging. I cry because I have stress or anxiety. I cry because it’s hard and I’m tired! I cry because it lets out whatever else is bottled up inside. I jog, I cry, I jog and then I feel normal again…in fact, I feel HAPPY. It’s fantastic.

I will continue to repeat this message: JOGGING HELPS YOUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. It is the greatest stress reliever. Try it and don’t give up; it will take time for you to feel the happy endorphins…but they are there, and it’s worth it!

From a physical perspective my right shin bothered me at the end so I iced it immediately afterwards and of course did some stretches for my calves, back, glutes, hamstrings and hip flexors.

March 30, 2011 – REST

My right shin is aching today so I decided to rest. For me the goal is to enjoy running, challenge myself, and complete the races…none of that includes jogging through pain or injury. Discomfort perhaps, intense pain, no. I took today off. My body is talking and I am listening.

I was suppose to see Benita at Ocean Wellness today but I had to cancel due to work. It’s been three weeks since I’ve seen her and my body is letting me know. I sit at a desk writing all day and then sit at a piano teaching voice all night. Proper posture is imperative and it’s very important to get up and stretch because I’m in the same position for approximately 10-12 hours. Benita (Chiropractor) and Kathryn (Registered Massage Therapist) both help me with the challenge of little movement in my work and the tightness that can create.

CHECK OUT MY ARTICLE IN THE DAILY NEWS THIS WEEK. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! SEE YOU ON TUESDAY!

THE Jog Blog – 20

March 24, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Tina’s Favorite Meal:

Any meal with people I love: friends, family or students…it makes the experience of eating a thousand times better!

An Odd Moment:

Walking past a woman who was gardening in black nylons and black high heels. It was odd but it made me giggle.

Check Out Tina’s Article In The Daily News!

They call me a ‘full-fledged runner”. It makes me smile because for so long I was a slug, a very unhappy, uninspired slug…

Tina’s Breakfast Made With Love:

Steel-Cut Oats – basically the best oatmeal with butter (just a dab) and brown sugar (just a sprinkle) with a splash of milk. YUM! It sustains me in the long runs if I eat it aproximately 45 minutes to an hour before I jog.

March 17, 2011 – 9K JOG (10 minute jog / 1 minute walk)

I had a fantastic jog today. It took me forever to get out the door because I procrastinated due to the weather. It was threatening to rain and it’s been so cold and miserable I didn’t feel like taking the risk. I’m really glad I did. The sun eventually came out and it was a lovely jog. I saw robins, a heron sitting in a tall tree, and so many beautiful spring flowers: red, pink, purple, yellow and white. I was grateful to see their cheerful blooms. I also saw a man who had a bushy moustache that was on an angle. It cracked me up. I love observing and just enjoying the fresh air and beauty around me. I felt blessed and when I was done, I felt HAPPY.

March 18 and 19, 2011 – REST

Ok, this seriously happened. I had a full basket of laundry and I twisted my ankle as I was going to the washing machine. It was absolutely random and ridiculous. Anyway, it was quite tender so I iced it, and completely rested for two days (I was suppose to train on one of the days). As a result I was able to jog the distance on Sunday.

March 20, 2011 – 14.5K JOG (8.5 min run / 1.5 minute walk)

I have been jogging 10 minutes and walking one minute but when I’m with the RunClub, I have no problem running with their program. For me, it’s such a treat to jog with friends, and other friendly and happy people. I was the featured speaker this week, and I hope my message of “just put on your runners, and get out the door” resonated with people…it’s often the most difficult part. I also spoke of how running has helped me process emotions: sadness, anger, past relationships and stress. I’m ALWAYS HAPPIER afterwards. It’s a method that works for me.

The jog itself was fun. I did find the uneven ground of the trails a little harder on my ankle, but it wasn’t enough for me to stop, I was just aware and mindful of keeping my balance. The route was lovely along the river with the rolling hills, ravens, hawks, horses and cows. It’s such a blessing to have beautiful scenery, excellent company, fresh air and then meet afterwards for a chat and a chai. Sunday was a very good day!

I spoke to many Mom’s. A mother who is currently nursing an infant said, “Jogging keeps me sane.” I spoke to other Mom’s who are going through difficult times, and again they said, “Jogging keeps me sane”. It’s difficult for these women to get out the door when they have children who need them, partners who work, or they are single mothers juggling babysitters or playdates. And yet, there they are Sunday morning, running. I truly admire them.

March 21, 2011 – REST

March 22, 2011 – REST

March 23, 2011 – TRAVEL

The last three days I focused on my heart-health, meaning I visited dear friends / family and caught up with my former students. I embraced each moment. Although I didn’t work out these days, I took care of the other side of life – the love, nurturing, and building relationships side. It is also of great importance. Perhaps it is called: BALANCE.

Towards the end of the day though, I feel stressed. I have a lot going on but the lack of sleep, combined with being out of my routine regarding how I eat and exercise has finally caught up to me. I know I will jog and figure things out. It’s a good feeling to know you have a method that connects you to your inner core. Although I’m anxious now, tomorrow will be better…

…I have to ride it out today…so I can run it out tomorrow…

I hope you put on your walking shoes or runners this weekend and get some fresh air and exercise. It really is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life, for my life…

UPCOMING RUNS I’M PARTICIPATING IN:

The Daily News Boogie - May 2011

Scotiabank Half Marathon - June 2011

GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon - October 2011

THE Jog Blog – 19

March 17, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Photograph taken by Carmen How

Tina’s In The Paper!

It’s true; I was chosen as one of the featured runners in Kamloops The Daily News. They are following my training for The Daily News Boogie the Bridge half marathon in May. What cracks me up is that I am considered the “Veteran” runner. If you asked me two years ago if I thought I’d be featured in a newspaper as a Veteran Runner, I would have laughed, picked up my wine glass, taken a sip, changed the channel to “Survivor” and said,

“Don’t be ridiculous”.

Jogging has changed my life!

Tina’s Favorite Quote Of The Week (I LOVE it!):

LIVE without pretending, LOVE without depending, LISTEN without defending, SPEAK without offending.

Best Quote Heard While Running:

Jogging not only is good for my health, but it’s also a social outlet, so I can kill two birds with one stone.

Favorite Day Of The Week?

RUNday (Or FUNday)

March 10, 2011 – STRETCHES WITH JODY

Today was great. Jody, from Leapfit, went through some fantastic stretches that really got to my core problems: tight calves, irritated shins and tight hip flexors and quads. Yup, I am a bit of a mess but I think these stretches are going to help. We also decided to slow down my schedule a bit. No hill training for a couple weeks because the motion of my ankle (affected by my tight calves) is limited and therefore affecting the front of my leg. I am also lowering my mileage a bit for this month then will increase towards the end of the month and begin to taper for the half marathon in May.

I also got my jogging magazine in the mail. To me, it’s like an old friend stopping by. I read it before I go to bed, which inspires me to get up the next morning.

March 11, 2011 – 9K JOG (10 minute run/1 minute walk)

I feel like going to bed. I just feel very sad today. I haven’t felt like this in a while so it feels foreign to me, which is a nice change from it feeling so familiar like before. Having sadness today feels wrong on some level because I feel like I’m dishonoring all my current blessings. I will jog it out and know I’ll feel better.

I ran 9k and definitely feel better. I passed the time by thinking about my life before I jogged and how much better it is now. When that sadness grabs hold, jogging seems to be the only thing that shakes it up and helps release it. I’m so grateful to jogging for that.

March 12, 2011 – REST

March 13, 2011 – 12K JOG (8 minute run / 2 minute walk)

I ran with the RunClub today in Kamloops, BC and it was a blast. I have been doing 10/1’s but since the group was starting at 8/2’s I did as well. I am completely comfortable with that decision because I am easing off on my training a bit due to some soreness in my right side (calf, shin and hip flexor). I don’t want the pain to turn into something worse, something that will need complete rest. I want to keep training so I’m listening to my body, doing more stretches, coldwater therapy or icing my shin and easing off on the intensity.

Running with friends and meeting up for a visit afterwards was such a treat for me. Jogging is more than just running, it’s a way to be social too. I love it.

March 14, 2011 – REST

March 15, 2011 – SPEED TRAINING (5 minute w/up, 2 laps fast, 1 lap recover x 5, cool down)

I felt better after 35 minutes of running than I did in the first 10 minutes. It’s important to give yourself the stretching and slow jog to warm up. The body needs time before it feels loose yet strong. I was a little stiff to start; my calves are holding onto tension. This time I focused my energy on relaxing my calves into the step. It helped a lot. I was able to take the tightness out of them and as a result I had a really strong run today. I was amazed that 2 laps (1/2 mile) went by as quickly as it did just focusing and listening to my body, and sending my calves the message that they don’t have to tighten to move forward. They can relax.

This was a great workout. I felt strong, relaxed, and confident that even though I’m easing off on the intensity of the training, I am not losing anything. Listening to what your body is telling you is so important.

March 16, 2011 – CROSS TRAINING / STRETCHES

I’m struggling with managing my time to make sure I get my work done and train. It’s a challenge and I know it’s a challenge for most people. Juggling work, home, kids, relationships, family obligations, cleaning, laundry, cooking dinner, getting groceries and all the other things that occupy our day. Not to mention, getting enough sleep! I don’t have children but I am self-employed and the only way I’ll pay my bills is if I AM WORKING. So I’ve had a lot of deadlines, meetings, and details to deal with this week.

Bottom line: Training has to be a priority, if it isn’t, it will be the first to get bumped off your to-do list, and added to your “I’ll do it tomorrow” list…and you and I both know that the tomorrow list rarely gets done.

Listen to your body!

Stretch!

Prioritize!

Don’t do too much too soon!

Have FUN!

THE Jog Blog – 18

March 10, 2011 By Tina Moore Leave a Comment

Tina’s Favorite Quote Said To Her While On Holidays:

“You must lead an empty life if you are excited to go jogging”

Tina’s Definition of Dumb:

Eating an entire watermelon right before bedtime. That was a long night…

Tina’s Next Half Marathon In May:

The Daily News Boogie the Bridge in Kamloops, BC

Want To Be INSPIRED? Watch This:

This is an amazing video of strength, courage and a father’s incredible love for his son. Make sure you read the entire description as he completed an ironman competition. Truly incredible.

I had no expectations with my jogging when I left for Mexico. I took my runners and workout gear but decided if I wanted to run, I’d run, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t. My friend and trainer, Jody Kennett from Leapfit, totally agreed that resting is as important in training as challenging yourself, eating well and listening to your body.

Well, my body made the decision for me as I ended up with a couple minor injuries. I don’t know if it was due to dehydration or altitude but I had a severe Charlie horse in my right calf on the plane. It was excruciating and held on for a long time. Sitting on the beach, it happened again. My calf was sore to touch for days following. I decided to jog midweek and was excited to go. That’s when someone jokingly said to me,

“You must lead an empty life if you are excited to go jogging!”

That comment kept me giggling for the rest of the trip.

Midweek my friend and I ran along the ocean. It was gorgeous. Endless. Beautiful. It was also very difficult. The sand is a tough jogging surface and the slant of the beach increased so I crept closer to the water to try and get flatter, more stable ground. I dodged a few waves but eventually I was soaked. I laughed and then jogged in heavy, squishy, sandy runners. The water was warm, the view was spectacular and the company was great. It was a tough jog stabilizing myself in the sand but absolutely worth it.

Unfortunately that jog irritated my right hip flexor and I was literally limping for a couple days probably due to my body constantly having to adjust to the uneven and shifting sand underneath and a sore and tender calf the day prior. From that point onward, I took it easy.

Here’s what I’ve been doing since I got back:

March 4, 2011 – SPEED TRAINING / CROSS TRAINING

It’s been a struggle since my holiday and the funeral. Today I was suppose to run four minutes fast, two minutes slow. I was able to do that for two reps, then the third time I stopped at three minutes…then I tried again and stopped at two minutes, so then I got mad and ran as hard as I could to make up for the lost minutes prior.

March 5, 2011 – REST

March 6, 2011 – JOG 18K (Jog 10 min/walk 1 min)

I went to a free running group today. It was good because I wasn’t running alone but disappointing because I didn’t feel they did a very good job of welcoming people. The woman I ran with was also new to the group so we just ran together. I didn’t really hear instructions nor did they wait for you so people got separated. It was a very hilly route, which was a challenge for me being out of the running routine but I managed to get through it. Towards the end my right hip flexor was irritated but I walked it out with a good 3k walk with my dog afterwards. In total I jogged 14K and walked 3K today. I’m satisfied with that considering the last two weeks.

March 7, 2011 – CROSS TRAIN

I am using my cross training/core training as a meditation. I like it.

March 8, 2011 – EASY 5K JOG (Run 10 minutes / walk 1 minute)

This was the perfect distance for me today because I had to do some processing. I have a little stress and anxiety building over a situation I have to deal with and this jog gave me perspective and completion. I ran at a pace that I could talk to myself, which I did. Yes, I’ve come to the point in my running career that I am now talking to myself.

March 9, 2011 – HILL TRAINING (5-8 minute warm up, 2 blocks of hills, repeat 5x)

I did lots of stretching this morning and warmed up as mentioned with an easy walk and jog but I did not do 5 repeats of hills. I started to feel pain and I stopped because this pain is not going away after I quit jogging, so I know it’s not just my brain trying to convince me to stop. I am monitoring what I am doing because I want to KEEP jogging, not injure myself and have to stop. That would be devastating to me, so I stopped after 3 repeats. I will talk to Jody tomorrow when we go through some new cross training exercises.

I’m only two years into this running thing so maybe this is normal for runners to have aches and pains but I don’t want to ignore those aches and pains and then they turn into a full blown injury. Stopping was hard for me, but the reality is I want to run forever…as long as I can…I also want to push myself…so it’s a fine balance. Today, stopping, I stood there and wept. Maybe I was scared, frustrated, a little angry I couldn’t continue or a combination of all three. Whatever it was, it felt good to cry.

I met with my chiropractor Benita, at Ocean Wellness and she confirmed that I was definitely out of alignment. I’m so grateful to her because I can feel the difference once I leave her office.

If you are training, make sure you are listening to your body. Happy training and have a great weekend. I’ll see you on Tuesday!

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