Action phase

I've been in the action phase of my goal for years. I didn't just realize this but I've never put a label on it. Over the years I've researched tips for beginning runners and I've kept the ones that I've used and found useful. In collecting these tips, strength exercises and stretches to reduce risk of injuries I now have a large blue binder. All of the information I need form diets to 9 week training plans is one spot. I still collect information about reducing joint stress and how to heal from an injury without giving up fitness. Its been a life saver. I'm thinking I'll add my research and travel plans to it.I think if I see what I'm working for in addition to the different exercises I'll keep up my motivation.

Hassles

Living on the other side of the country without family and old friends is a hassle. Meeting new people and finding common interests isn't as much fun as it use to be. In high school it was easy of course, we could talk about preparations for college or lack there of, boyfriends/girlfriends, sport or complain about parents and rules (or lack there of). Now I have to worry about offending people, politics, and other peoples children (and the judgement of lacking any of my own). I think that's why running is starting to become such a big deal for me. I can run and focus on my form and me. When someone else that is interested in running at fitness we talk about health and goals, nothing personal. Just the way I like it.

the other side

The other side to my goal is saving up the  money to get to Ireland. I'm going to apply for a job on-campus. In my search I found the writing center is looking for a tech and have decided to apply. All I need are letters of recommendation from past teachers (preferably English teachers) and my transcripts. So with enough luck I'll have an interview by the end of the week if not then Monday. It's 20 hours a week and as I go to school four days a week anyway it works great with my schedule. Here's hoping....

A snag

I might need to find more people to help up my level of commitment. If I know my success or failure will affect more people than just myself then I'm more likely to succeed. Which means I need to find some travel companions. The problem with setting a goal so far away is that we don't know what our schedules will be like. But if we don't set it at a ways a away we wont have time to save up and plan accordingly. Blah. Why do people have to grow apart for?

Feed back

Finding motivation for everyday can be hard. There are consistent demands that are sometimes emotionally draining as well as mentally and physically. People are competent to figure out what they want  and need. People are also competent as to the best way to go about getting it. Thinking through what's best for you and developing your own working plan helps to further your confidence. But achieving a goal requires active participation and understanding.

I know I'm not likely to work out if I don't do it first thing in the morning. I understand some days I'm just going to be running late or have other commitments that will affect my routine from time to time. I also understand missing one running session wont bring an end to my goal. Regression is part of the process. Missing one day once in a while isn't regression. Taking a whole weekend is regression. But so long as you learn from it don't let it stop you from making more progress.

Any progress is success and past successes are important to motivation and empowerment. The more I focus on what I've accomplished the more positive I see myself and my goal.

First Miss

I want to become a runner because I feel it can take me places. I want to run marathons even if I'm not going to place in the winners circle. I feel running is going to put me in a healthy place. It has always been difficult for me. I start a lot of things and lose track a long the way that I have a habit of not finishing what I started. I'd like to do something that proves I have some degree of dedication.

Since I first started this blog I've done something every day. Either yoga or weight lifting, some times I go for a bike ride or play tennis with my husband. I wanted to do a run at least three times a week until I got the one mile down to 8 minutes. Once I could really one mile I'd add on another and repeat the process till I could run both miles in 15 minutes and so on. I didn't train yesterday. I missed the morning window I reserved for training and as I predicted I did nothing in the evening. I know there are some days I'm going to be to busy especially starting out. I was so sore I didn't really motivate or push myself. I know myself well enough to know I could plan to run all seven days of the week and still only run three. At this point I don't have confidence or dedication. I spend a lot of time researching. I research positive change. Researching running form and pacing strategies. Researching stretches for runners. I know going to hard to soon is a bad idea but I want to find a faster way rather than the walking/jogging they suggest for beginners.

My first Mile

There are a lot of people that want to start getting fit through running or yoga. The second most popular excuse next to time is the costs.  Giving the daily grind wares enough of us down to make motivation a challenge, money is still a genuine concern. To start on my goal it only cost $36.This is the price of my shoes and a yoga mat. I'm not saying its going to be this cheap for everyone but it will be a lot less expensive if you know your resources.

Living in New Mexico makes running a lot easier. I am not as concerned with rain and snow like my friends and family back home in Michigan. You could spend money on rain gear and compression gear. Maybe you want to invest in some gators to keep the snow out or maybe you want to buy a reflective vest for running at night? On the days that it rains or when the snow is particularly vicious you could do a different type of workout. I do yoga and strength building exercises as well as Fascial stretches to help reduce risk of injuries. But when you live where it snow and rains a lot I can understand wanting to invest a little more money. Its your strategy and goal what every helps to reach it go for it.

It can also be argued that the more money you spend the more likely you are to fallow through with it. Gym memberships can be expensive and maybe even getting there could be a problem. What about fitness classes? Yoga is an easy choice. Other than the mat I don't pay for anything else. I have Netflix which I feel the yoga and fitness videos live a lot to be desired. But you know what else works? Yup, Youtube. There are a number of videos that target specific goals and audiences.

Another way I'm able to get away with such cheapness is that I'm a student. Eastern New Mexico University campus here in Roswell is free to students. Although there is only a weight room and cardio room it will give me the oportunity to run in all weathers and still build muscle and tone. Knowing what is available in your community and what is best for you cuts cost and will still help you start out.

I've done a bit of reading and every article and book I've laid eyes on say to start it out slow. Try and go to fast and you  risk injury and discouragement. So I chose to walk/jog just one mile. It took me 16:02 minutes but I did it. I stretched 5 minutes and warmed up for 5 minutes both before and after. I did learn that I need to rethink my workout schedule. Doing it in the morning makes me feel rushed because I'm concerned I'll be late for class. Although I'm more likely to work out in the morning I have other obligations that come first. I will try out the rest of the week with morning work outs but I might have to change my strategy.

Stages of change

The process and means to achieve a goal through change: pre-contemplation, contemplation, action, maintenance and occasionally regression. Pre-contemplation is thinking everything is fine, contentment or denial. Contemplation the thinking that maybe I would like something different in my life or something is starting to sound like a good idea. Action phase, the writing of sticky notes, researching motivation strategies, recruiting social support and other small steps towards my goal and desire. Maintenence is the not only the achievement of my goal but long term. I'll be healthy and if I can continue my running life style and money saving it will be considered maintenance. I could always set my next goal for France ;). Regression is a raod block not an end. It just means the strategies I use weren't right for me or my life style and to try some thing different.

Although the arrow above only move forward the stages still occur in a circle. Its continuous. It means that if my current strategy of running and yoga don't work out or cause me to discourage I then need to adapt. Going to the gym for weight lifting and strength training. Maybe I need to change the time of day I work out or the frequency and intensity. Maybe I need to detail my training goals. Regression isn't failure it's feed back. If I give up on motivating myself and stop the process all together then it's failure. But that's what accountability i.e this blog is for.

Clarification

The purpose of this blog is to document the process of change and achievement of my goals. Through my own process I hope to help others with their goals and motivation. I am going to develop my own strategies and share my successes and promise to also share my failures. I'm going to share my research not only for my fitness and training but what I find motivating and inspiring.

My current strategy is to combine running with yoga and weight lifting to build strength and endurance. I'm a healthy weight but I don't know how my diet will be affected by this goal as of yet or vise versa. My support consist of the accountability this blog will hold me to. I also with be training with a friend...sort of. I'm originally from Michigan so we will be training on our own but our goal is the same. Rachael my best friend from high school will be doing this with me. We both are going to school and trying to get our careers and lives started so we set our deadline for two years from now. That gives us time to train, experiment with marathons closer to home and save up for our trip.

Starting

Starting any thing is easy its keeping it up that I personally have difficulty with. I try a lot of different strategies. Post its around the house and even in my car. Alarms on my phone and even my husbands phone. I recruit friends and family to make sure I keep what I've started.

So this is going to my journal of how to keep on keeping on. For my experience I going to use running and writing. I have always wanted to visit Ireland. Its photogenic country side is something I have always dreamed about. As I am already a hiker and outdoorsy girl, running a marathon through such a scenic route with be something to brag about whether I win or not.

Writing is something I do a lot of. Whether I'm good at it or not this blog is going to hopeful be more than just a once every other week commitment. In fact I plan to write every day. And I'm recruiting any and all readers to harass me if I don't.