Kenyan Training

What is the secret to running fast? Why are the Kenyans so fast? There are books written about Kenyan runners and so many people are trying to figure out why they are so superior. The fact is, they work hard, they eat well and they want to be the best. They are placed in an environment where running is there life. When they start primary school at the age of 6 years old they run two plus miles to school everyday. Then they run home for lunch and then back to school and home again. Some of these kids are running at least 8 miles a day from the start of age 6, in altitude! These people are in phenomenal shape. They are extremely lean because they run so much and they eat very healthy. They do not have the processed food and the ample amounts of sugar that we have in the states. I have been here over a week and have not had dessert once. It is not available unless you go out of your way to find it. When the kids begin to focus on training, once they get a bit older, their cardiorespiratory system are already pretty developed. They have such a strong aerobic base that once they start training and focusing they are destined to suceed. The terrain here in Iten is perfect for running. Soft, rolling red dirt roads that go on for miles and miles and in nearly 8000 feet of elevation. These people are strong and fit! I look around and I see many runners with poor form and running with a slow cadence but they are still smoking fast. Most do not have the recourses or the knowledge to fix imbalances or injuries that arise. They just run and they run hard all the time. The only knowledge they have about running or injury prevention is gained from other athletes or from what they have been told. If anything, Kenyans should not be as fast as they are because they do not have the recourses and advantages that we Americans have at home. There are no physical therapists to fix them when they get injured. They don’t have exercise physiologist and psychologist to help optimize their training.  Like I said before, they just run and they run hard all the time. Here is a typical Kenyan training week which is actually not too different from many runners I know: Monday: am- longish hard run- progressive and finishing hard. pm- easy shake out run Tuesday: am- Speed on the track. pm- easy shake out run Wedneday: am- mid distance run easyish. pm- easy shake out run Thurdsday: am- fartlek. pm- easy shake out run Friday: Mid distance run or hill repeats. pm- easy shake out run Saturday: am- Long run. pm- easy shake out run. Sunday: OFF- Rest The shake out runs are done very slowly. Like a shuffle almost. Anywhere from 8:30-10 min pace but the morning runs are all relatively hard especailly Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday runs.  The others are ran according to how their bodies are holding up. Many do core strength on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will do unstructured weights inbetween. I would definitely structure the core training differently if I were the trainer here. I would focus more on injury prevention and optimizing their fitness. Their philosophy is “no pain, no gain.” There are no modifications and form as not the priority.  Quantity over quality around here.  I have lot’s of advice in this area. Kenyans are fast not because they know something that we don’t. Quite the oppostite. We definitely know a whole lot more about the body and training but maybe that is our crux. We think to much. Once again, the Kenyans are extremely fit, healthy people who just want to be the best and they train hard! They have hundreds of people to train with who are all trying to be the best. If one person gets lazy or injured then there is someone else right there, trying to get in and be better than the other. They have very few distractions. They focus on running, sleeping and eating and that is it. It is there life. Running is what they do and they do it well. Train hard or go home! Blessings

Kenya week 1

Where do I begin? I have only been here a week and Kenya has touched my heart emensily. It is a wonderfully beautiful place! I couldn’t be more content and feel more at home. The people here are so friendly and community based. Everyone works together as a family and most of them run. It just doesn’t get much better than that for me. I have been very busy training and doing all sorts of fun things. I will recap my week and try to not bore you with too many details. I do have so much I could say.

The camp: I am very spoiled living at the High Altitude Training Center. We have hot water, wonderfully cooked meals, a pool, weight room and even a TV that we never watch unless a Kenyan track meet is on. Most Kenyan’s do not have the luxury of hot water or even flushing toilets. They lack many of the conveniences that we often take for granted.

The Muzungu (Kenyan word for white people): There are just 6 of us in my group staying at the camp. Two from Azerbaijan, two cousins from Australia, one American from Arizona and two from the UK. They are wonderful people and we are having a great time. All the runners are recreational except for Matt the Brit and I. Matt runs a 70 min half and is looking to improve and I have a good feeling he will. We all get along great and I feel so blessed to have met them all.  There are many Kenyan athletes at the camp that use the facilities so we are always surrounded by amazing runners everywhere we go. We have had the opportunity to meet and talk with many world class athletes.  It is so inspiring to be among so many hard working athletes.

Primary school championship track meet: AMAZING!! Attending this meet was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. These kids are so fast, running barefoot on a dirt track. The stadium was packed with spectators, cheering so loudly you couldn’t hear your own voice. Running is their livelihood. For many, it could be their way out of poverty so the kids give it everything they have.  I have never seen so many fast kids ever. They are all so lean and built to run.

Primary School: I was able to spend sometime at the local primary school (age 6-12 ish). Ever since then I can not stop thinking about how I could possibly help these kids so that they can live healthy lives. They do not have running water, toilets or electricity and they lack efficient school supplies yet they are filled with joy and are the most well behaved and respectful kids. They were so thrilled to have us visit their school. Each class room we entered, the students would stand up to welcome us. The younger kids even sang us a welcome song that melted my heart. Though they were filthy, barefoot and snotty nosed they had so much love and spirit. Thanks to RoughFit clients and many others, we were able to donate a bunch of school supplies which was wonderful but I can’t help but think of what more I could do for them, like providing a proper toilet. It just can’t be that hard, right? I had the “honor” of using the schools squat toilet. A hole in the ground, surrounded by mud from the previous rain- which made it quite slippery and pitch black so you could barely see the whole to aim in. There was no toilet paper or anyway to clean yourself. The stench was so rancid I had to focus so hard to not gag. Now, imagine 500 students as young as 6 years old, mostly barefoot using these squat toilets. It absolutely brakes my heart. There must be something we can do!

My heart definitely beats for Kenya and the people here.  I hope that one day I will be able to give back what they have given me in this short time of being here.  I would love to be able help them get out of the poverty that many of them are in.  I have already learned so much from their life style and it is obvious why these people are some of the best athletes in the world even though they do not even have much knowledge of running at all but that is another blog.

Have a blessed day

Run with the Kenyans- Day 5

The trip started out rough in Nairobi.  Everything just seemed to go wrong.  Luckily I met a wonderful missionary group who was there working for the organization called “Connect with a Child.”  I don’t know what I would have done without their help and love.  They were so generous, helpful and loving.  Praise God for them!

I finally made it to the High Altitude Training Camp yesterday and I couldn’t have been more thrilled.   It is beautiful here!  So green and lush with red roads that go for miles and miles.  The camp is perfect.  There is literally nothing to do but run and workout with the best athletes in the world.  I ran twice yesterday, trying to acclimate myself to the altitude as quickly as possible.   We also had a core workout with some very high profile athletes and I couldn’t help but notice their terrible form. I actually think I have a lot to offer them to help improve their form.  Our tour guide and helper at the camp who is a 1:45, 800 meter runner, hoping to make the Olympic team this time around, has already asked me to watch him run so I can help him improve his form.  So fun! The only expertise they have on core strength and technique is from what they have been told. I really want to help them in this area. RoughFit is coming to Kenya!

Today has been such a great day!  This morning I had my first experience with the famous Kenyan fartlek run. Our group started before the Kenyans so that we can get a big head start.  We did 10 x 2min with 1 min rest.  The Kenyans do this same workout every week on the same trail.  It was glorious!  I am still struggling with the altitude since it is only day 2 here but it felt great to get out and run hard. The trail is a 9 mile loop through the forest.  It is beautiful.  The goats would yell at you as you ran by.  I think they were telling me to run faster.  We finished our workout and waited next to a photographer who was there to take pictures of the Elite Kenyan athletes as they ran by.  Me and my new British friend Matt decided to circle back and when we saw the Kenyans cresting the hill we would turn back, run like hell and try to not get passed.  It was brilliant.  Seeing the Kenyans crest the hill was more impressive than I could have imagined! There were at least 150 of them at a full sprint coming right at us.  I turned around, yelling as I ran to get away.  We made it in time to watch as they sprinted past us, effortlessly.  I loved every moment.

I still can’t believe I am here.  It is the best place ever.  Besides being white and slow, I feel like I belong here.  The people are wonderful, the food is healthy and delicious and you just run everywhere. The kids crack me up.  They learn how to say “how are you?” in English at a very young age.  They love to throw up there hands and yell at the top of there lungs “how are you?” as we go by and laugh when we answer them.  It is the best.  Also, Kenyans think that it is cold here.  I am so hot and it is 80 plus degrees and they are all wearing down jackets. I bought a mango off a lady today who was wearing a down jacket while I was getting super sun burnt and I asked her “aren’t you hot in that jacket, I am melting?!” And she answered, “no, I feel a bit cold.”  I told her she was crazy.

Well, I can go on and on so I will end here. More stories to come.

Run like a Kenyan.

RoughFit’s 28 Day Challenge

 

I decided I should probably practice what I preach and join our 28 Day Challenge of not eating processed foods and added sugars for 28 days.  I have to say that I was hesitant to join, why? Because, I think I already eat healthy, love eating healthy and all the “junk food” I eat is actually relatively healthy.  So why did I join?  Well, I am lazy and I think I actually eat more junk than I am aware of. The absolute only reason I eat foods that are not optimal for my body is out of pure laziness. I don’t really crave fake food. I only really crave nutritious foods.  Yes, I crave sugar but I desire natural sugar or treats that are made with natural sugars.  Does that mean I never eat processed sugars or processed foods? Absolutely not. Though I wish that was the case but I eat out a lot and I don’t like to cook.  It is not as easy to find non-processed and sugar free foods when you go out.  If I am not paying attention, I may eat a lot more treats and processed foods than I even realize. My goal for this challenge is to bring awareness and start keeping track of when I might go for the easy way out.  

Possible challenges:  

1) Rutabegorez oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (man, I wished they used natural sugar in their cookies!) 

2) Free Soul Caffe Waffles- I love waffle Thursdays!!  Most Thursday mornings I sleep in and walk to Free Soul with Murphy (my dog) and eat a classic waffle with fruit.  

 

3) Rice chips:  I love eating rice chips. They are so good!  I don’t really want to give them up but I know there are chemicals in them that maybe wreaking havoc on my digestive system. I should just learn how to make them myself so I can make them beneficial for me but I did already say that I am lazy so I might not do that. 

Try participating in RoughFit”s 28 Day challenge and see how you feel or if you can make it through. 

Boston 2014

 

2014’s Boston Marathon was the year to take back the finish line, be strong, “Boston strong,” and get all the racers to cross that finish line. Before the race started, it never crossed my mind that getting to the finish line would possibly not be an option.  I was trained and ready to race.  I didn’t know what obstacles would come my way.

Let’s step back a day.  It is Easter, I went to a lovely service at Reality Boston Church with great friends and it was a wonderful day of reflection and remembering the way Christ suffered on the cross for our sins so that we may live eternally with Him.  He paid the price out of LOVE for us.  Suffering is a key word here and it goes along with the lesson I learned in my race.

Fast forward back to race day, I felt great!  I felt ready and I was ready to take back the finish line for Boston!  Little did I know what was in store for me.  My first 9 miles felt great. I went out comfortably and settled into a sustainable pace. As according to my plan, I decided to take my nutrition (this time a Clif Shot) as I usually do, but on this special day my body decided to no cooperate.  I immediately felt ill and was trying my hardest to not spew.  Boston is not a particularly easy race to be sick in. There is wall to wall people both on the course and spectating. Usually this is a wonderful thing but today, for me, was not so convenient.  I really tried hard to keep my Clif Shot in, as a frantically looked for an open area that I could run to, if matters got worse.  Well, they got worse.  Next thing I knew I was dry heaving next to a poor race helper on the side of the road. He of course asked me if I was OK but it is tough to answer while your body is involuntary trying to puke up a gel.  I finally, moved on and began to run again.  I did feel a little better which gave me a glimmer of hope that maybe I was over the sickness.  I would have only lost a couple of minutes off my time, due to my dry heaving session. This was wishful thinking.  I ended up dry heaving a few more times along the way until finally I spewed out a bit of my gel. How could such a small amount of gel do so much damage?  By this point of the race, my back began to cause me much grief, due to the violent contracting of my diaphragm.  I felt a shooting pain with every step I took. This began around mile 18 and Lord knows, I still had many steps left.  This pain caused me to walk quite a bit.  I tried so hard to run so I could finish faster!!  I needed to get across that finish line and do it for Boston even if it killed me- besides, no one had offered me a ride back to the finish line yet so I had to get there somehow:)  I ran into a slew of RoughFit spectators around mile 20 and was so thrilled to see them.  My first thought was, maybe they will take me back to the finish line, but I didn’t ask.  I kept trudging along.  In spite of every part of me wanting to quit, deep down I really wanted to finish.  It felt like it was my duty as a runner to finish for all those who couldn’t last year.  I didn’t travel across county to quit.  At mile 25 I decided to try to drink some Gatorade the course offered.  I drank a cup and to my surprise, it went down great so I thought, sure, have another glass.  As soon as the last drop hit my stomach, I immediately spewed every last drop out right next to a wonderful group of spectators.  As I was on my hands an knees with tears in my eyes, apologizing to the wonderful fans I spewed next to, a man, also running the race, picked me up and said “you are going to finish this race!”  I wiped my tears and started to run again.  I was so thankful for this man, who got me to my feet and encouraged me to keep going. He was my angel and then suddenly my angel pulled a hammy and he was down.  I felt like I was in a daze or a really bad dream but it was real. I turned the corner and saw the finish line.  I couldn’t believe I had made it!

Getting to the finish line in Boston had more meaning than any marathon I had ever run. I felt more joy and feeling of accomplishment then ever before.  I wanted to quit but I didn’t. As I lay 400 meters from the finish line, in a fetal position, I couldn’t help but think about how this suffering fit the theme of the weekend.  It was Easter, a day to remember Christ’s love and how He suffered for us so that we could live a full life.  It was also an important year for the city of Boston.  As suffering came into the city in 2013, love rushed in to help those in need.  This year was to demonstrate that love always wins.  A year to show strength and be strong, “Boston is Strong!” “Without love we are nothing” (1 cor. 13:2).   Love conquers all.

If I had run this race without all the suffering, I might have missed the the lesson.  There will be many times in life when we want to give up and call it quits but we need to remember that even though we can’t see the finish line, it is there.  We just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and encourage those around us to keep going. We can learn so much through our suffering if we are willing.

“We find glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

Thanks Boston for kicking my Ass!

Guilt Free Snack?

I was in Costco the other day and was, of course, sampling when I came across a rice cake snack.  I thought to myself, “that sounds great and my body does well on rice so yes, I will try it!” As I approached the rice cake, the girl working the sample table says to me, “these are a guilt free snack!”  Said this with much enthusiasm.  My first thought was, “shouldn’t all snacks be guilt free?”  What a funny thing to say, but then I thought more and realized that many people live there lives feeling guilt when they eat.  This phenomenon discouraged me and brought me back to the years when I had an unhealthy relationship with food and when certain foods that I ate made me feel a sense of guilt.  I do not miss those days and if you are in a time of your life where you do feel guilt behind your food then there is hope for you yet.  It is hard to remember the last time food made me feel guilty  This realization brings me much joy.  I am very intentional about what goes in my body.  My natural instinct are at a place where most things that go in find a purpose. There was a time in my life where food controlled my instincts and when food controls your instinct then poor choices and guilt begin to settle in.  When you eat unhealthy foods, your taste buds get hijacked and you continue to crave those foods.  Once you can take the time to detox your body and get rid of all those hijacked taste buds then you begin to crave what your body needs versus what it wants.  This doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy what I eat, quite the opposite.  I enjoy it much more now and I don’t have to feel guilty about eating.  I crave healthy foods and I want to fill my body with the proper nutrients that it needs.  I hate the idea of eating empty calories and eating foods that lack nutritional value.  I have no desire to eat them therefore, it is not a challenge for me to not eat them.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have a sweet tooth and I do enjoy dessert but I get more excited about eating desserts that have nutritional value my body can use for good.

If you are someone that struggles with guilty eating then I have a few personal suggestions:

1) Detox your body and cleanse it from all the processed crap and sugar you have built up. I enjoy cleansing using a company such as Earthly Juices just because it is easy and I am lazy.  If you are at all concerned or take any medications then be sure to consult your Doctor first.

2) Set your intention for food.  Why do you eat?  Just for enjoyment and pleasure? I eat to survive and I want to put as many awesome things as I can into my body and make them taste as good as possible.  You are what you eat.

3) Work on your head and positive thinking.  Staying positive and reminding yourself of your intention and the purpose for food will set you on a path to success.

4) Stop being stubborn!!  Try new foods, even ones you don’t like.  Remember, you need to retrain your brain.  Your taste buds have been hijacked therefore healthy food are going to taste bad until you can regain control and get rid of the toxins that are keeping you from making healthy choices.  There are many foods that I LOVE now that I hated before.  Just keep trying healthy foods you don’t like.  At least you are getting good nutrients as you choke your way through it and maybe one day you will LOVE it:).  And in case you didn’t know, you get new cells on your tongue every 7 days so there is a good chance you will like foods you once hated if you just keep trying!

Don’t let your food make you feel guilt!

Peace, joy and guilt free eating.

Love Life

Religious or not, Ash Wednesday (first day of Lent) is the perfect excuse to reflect on your life to see what changes can be made to improve the quality of your body, mind or soul. Change is essential to life.  Without change we will die.  Being that I grew up in a Christian home, I knew a bit about Ash Wednesday but did not practice it.  Many non-denominational churches do not participate Lent (some might).  Though, I think they should as it is a great reminder of our faith and teaches discipline and self-control.  Lent is 46 days until Easter (counting Sundays). The idea is to give up something of sacrifice and endure the temptation just as Christ Jesus did in the dessert for 40 days and 40 nights.  If only we were all more like Jesus, right?

This year I have decided to give up processed bread.  It seems as though I only eat it out of convenience.  At home I only eat sprouted bread.  The problem is when I go out. Restaurants don’t have sprouted bread so I order the best choice they have.  I am still praying for sprouted bread to appear in the restaurants I am most likely to be at such as: The Lost Bean, Rutabegorez, and Panera.  It all comes down to me being lazy.  I like convenience but it is convenience that has lead our nation into obesity and numerous other chronic diseases.  Our nation is always looking for a quick fix or an easier way to do things. Once they have made it easy they try to make it easier. This has lead us into a world of processed and genetically modified foods.  It has also lead us into a world of too much plastic waist and waist in general!  This goes back to my last post (greening myself) on the effects of plastic and the garbage patch.  I have been really trying hard to limit my amount of waist and it is not easy!…  Getting back on track here and going back to Lent, I am going to focus these next 46 days on not allowing myself to fall victim of convenience.  I know that I need to make small changes and these small changes will hopefully lead to big changes.  All we need to do is break one habit at a time.  Easy, right?

Let’s make change happen!

Greening Myself

Recently I learned about the “Pacific Garbage Patch” which basically is a bunch of debris that ends up in the ocean creating many detrimental effects to our health and the environment.  Do you realize that every bit of plastic that has ever been made is still here on the earth??!! I never really thought about it before but plastic can not decompose therefore whatever man makes will always be here.  I think this is crazy when you really stop to think about it.  Think about all the billions of water bottles alone that man goes through daily! Even when we recycle the plastic, it can not always be reused.  A lot of this plastic ends up in the “Garbage Patch.” The plastic begins to degrade into small particles that can only be seen with a microscope.  These particles don’t just disappear.  They are now being ingested by the fish we eat and thus begins the vicious cycle. Learning these facts inspired me to change some of my habits so that I can limit my contribution to the problem.

I have decided to make some lifestyle changes in hope to reduce this plastic problem and create a healthier environment for the future.  Not using plastics is very difficult for me.   I have a love hate relationship with plastic.  I know it is not good for me or the environment but it is so convenient and everywhere!! But, I really am trying to be mindful and limit my use.

Here are a couple of the changes I am making to reduce the amount of plastic in my life:

1) I am looking for ways to not use baggies anymore… NO!!! I love baggies….I went and purchased several glass containers and anything I would use a baggy for I am now using the glass container.

2) I am using cloth bags I bought online to place my produce in when I go to the grocery store. This is tough.  I have already gone to the grocery store several times with cloth bags in hand and still managed to grab a plastic bag and fill it!  I will get better.

3) I carry reusable bags for my groceries and I keep a very small cloth bag that rolls up tiny in my purse at all times and use that whenever necessary.

4) I am trying to remember to bring my own travel mug to coffee shops. I recently learned that you can ingest several chemicals including BPA’s from the lid on a typical coffee cup! We just can’t win!  I often forget my cup so I get a “needs improvement” in this category.  I  sometimes opt out on a lid or wait until my tea has cooled enough to make me think I might ingest fewer chemicals when I do put the lid on.  Still the lid is plastic and I am trying to avoid that so I will try harder at this challenge.

5) Lastly, I just made my own toothpaste.  This may or may not stick but I had fun making it. I store it in a glass container.  To be honest, I didn’t even think about the plastic part of the toothpaste. I was wanting to create a healthier option and eliminate the chemicals found in toothpaste.  Then I realized by not buying toothpaste then I am eliminated that source of plastic too!  Yeah, good job for me.

What ideas do you have to reduce the amount of plastic we use?  I need all the help I can get!

Stay healthy my friends

The Cleanse

I am on day 2 of my Weekend Warrior Cleanse.  I have to say it has not been too bad and I have learn a lot from the experience and would recommend anyone who is physically able to participate in one should.  I wanted to do this cleanse because I felt like I needed to restart my system and start fresh.  Also, I have been struggling with some knee pain and have not been feeling myself so I thought it would be a great time to cleanse my body and see what might be causing my pain.  Often our aches and pains are caused through our nutritional choices.  Even foods that we may think are healthy and beneficial may be causing us some grief.  Starting the year off with some sort of cleanse or fast, is a great way to mentally refocus and start the year off feeling renewed.

I chose the Weekend Warrior Cleanse because it is supposed to be great for athletes who are still physically active.  I decided to pick this weekend for the cleanse because I had a “lighter” workout schedule.  I “only” had to run 8 miles with 6 x 800 meter repeats on Saturday and only 11 miles with 10 x 60 sec hard and 60 sec easy today.  Well, this cleanse and no cleanse will provide the proper replenishment for this type of activity.  I have been hungry the entire time and don’t see this hunger going away until I eat tomorrow. The juice just doesn’t fill me up!  I figured this would be the case going into it but now that I am hungry it is much more difficult to get through.  Don’t get me wrong.  I feel great?!?!  I just don’t feel great running 11 miles and it is not easy feeling hungry all the time but it is good for me.  It is what I expected and I am doing my best with as little cheating as possible (so, I ate a couple spoon fulls of almond butter, I am sorry!!) 🙂

This cleanse has reminded me of the importance of practicing a cleanse or a fast.  Many people would benefit from cleanses (Dr. approved of course!). There is a reason why it is Biblical and that God encourages fasting. The original intent for my cleanse was not at all spiritual but it has become more spiritual through my two day journey (come on! two days is a lot for me!). While cleansing, there is something very renewing of the mind, the body, and spirit.  If I where a stronger person (which I am not) I may try to go longer (so I wont).

I often take for granted my basic needs being met, such as hunger.  I can not help but think of all the people in the world who always feel hunger and are never satisfied.  The last couple of days, I have felt so much gratitude for having the means to take care of my body and fill it with foods that are edifying and nutritious.  We are so lucky to live in a place where Whole Foods Market is real!  What a blessing!  During this cleanse, I have been reminded that not eating is very difficult!!  I love to eat.  I have been practicing self-discipline and strength.  I have had to remind myself over and over as to why I want to do this and why it is important for me to finish what I have started.

I have tried doing cleanses in the past but I often fall short.  I have loved using Earthly Juices because they did all the brain work for me.  I have two days worth of juice and I just have to follow the instructions and I only have a few hours left!

Yes, I really want to eat and yes it has not been easy for me but would I do it again?  Absolutely.  Cleansing is great for the soul- I feel accomplished, I feel gratitude and feel compassion for others who have few.  I feel blessed, I feel strong, I feel renewed.

So who is with me?  Cleanse your body, mind and soul and feel renewed.

Off to drink some more juice. I am hungry!

Peace, love and renewal

**Please excuse all grammatical and spelling errors and read my disclaimer in post 1.

Inspiration is all around!

Everywhere I looked this morning I found inspiration that brought joy to my heart.  I started my morning with a cup of Joe from Kean coffee and was inspired by the taste and its ability to put a bounce in my stride.  I then had the privileged of teaching RoughFit’s Saturday Function Fitness Class.  I was inspired by those that came to class on a Saturday, with a joyful spirit, ready to workout and set a great intention for their day. They know and understand the importance of valuing and honoring their bodies. They know that fitness brings healing and joy to the soul.

After FFT, I joined in the RoughFit Yoga class that is taught by Jessica. She is a newer Yogi that has so much passion for yoga that it is such a joy and honor to have her as part of your RoughFit team.  The class was just what I needed.  I was inspired by Jessica’s passion and teaching gift and I was also inspired by those that attended the class.  I few of the clients where there for their very first yoga experience and it was inspiring to see them get out of their comfort zone and try something new.  Others showed up that are currently injured and unable to participate in their usual activities.  I was inspired to see that they do not let their injury keep them down.  They get up and do what they CAN do.  They do the best with what they have that day.

My inspiring day did not end here.  I then set out on a run in Peter’s Canyon and was overwhelmed with inspiring people.  The canyon was packed with all shapes, sizes and abilities.  I observed one man who had a brace on his leg and he was in the middle of the canyon. I thought to myself, “wow, how on earth did he get there?!”  He walked of course!! One stride at a time.  He did the best he could with what he had and he was doing it!  I then saw a couple riding up the hill side by side.  One person placed their hand on the others back and helped push her up the hill knowing she was struggling and needed a little support.  It is a beautiful and inspiring thing to see someone use their gifts to help someone else achieve their goals. I can go on and on with stories that inspired me this morning but I will stop here.

It is not the God given talented athlete that inspires me. It is the person that just tries. They may not be the fastest, strongest or even most coordinated but they are out there trying their best with what they have and this always brings me so much joy.  It is easy to do the things that we love. It is hard to do the things we know we NEED to do but we don’t feel like it or don’t want to.  It is inspiring for me to see those that struggle with physical activity yet they are trying their best and doing what they can because they know it is important for their health and vitality.  There are many things we don’t necessarily like to do or want to do but we do it because we know we should.  I loath brushing my teeth and taking showers but I do it because I know I should and I know it will improve the quality of my life and those around me.

What can you do to improve the quality of your life?  Look about and be inspired by those around you.

Blessings