Crowned a Socialite

I'll admit, amongst my posts about 6am wake up calls for long runs, 1/4 mile intervals after work and the general pain and suffering I put myself through on an almost daily basis, a post like this stands out more than a little bit. But the Lilly Girl inside me is thrilled to have been crowned a socialite by non other than the fabulous Bethany of Maryland Pink and Green and I couldn't resist passing it along. I swear it brightens your day!

Please read the rules and questions and consider yourself tagged because you are all lovely bloggers. Cheers~

I'm crowning you a socialite!
The rules-
Click on the above button and paste onto your blog/website
Answer the below questions
Pass onto 10 bloggers that you Love, go to their blog and let them know they've been tagged

1. Who is your style icon? Lilly Pulitzer - anyone who can get away with going barefoot in public is fabulous.

2. What is your favorite socialite lit book? Confession - Social Climbers is on my to-read list but I have been SO obsessed with work and running lately I haven't been making time to read. (uh-oh)

3. Favorite party theme? Anything that requires dressing up, or cooking something new, ok really I love ANY party theme no matter how crazy. I just like to have a good time!

4. Go to Halloween costume? I am terrible at Halloween costumes. There are always too many choices and I can never decide.

5. Extravagance you cannot live without? Pedicures.

6. Living person you admire? My mother. It may sound cheesy but it's true. She is one of the strongest, genuine, giving, hardworking, loving people I have ever had the privilege to know.

7. Greatest Fear? Losing anyone I care about

8. Trait you deplore in yourself? I tend to gossip more than I know I should

9. Which talent would you most like to have? Carrie Underwood's voice, because let's face it as much as I LOVE to sing it's better for everyone involved that I just keep quiet or it could be painful to your ears.

10. Greatest Achievement? Finishing my first marathon. I know there will be plenty more but the first one will always mean the most to me. My mom was there to watch and I definitely cried when I crossed the finish.

I'm crowning the following socialites:

1. Through Pink Colored Glasses

2. College Prep

3. If I can't wear Heels... I don't want to go

4. Classy and Fabulous

5. Denim & Pearls

6. Preppy Girl Meets World

7. Her Highness of Cute

8. Beantown Prepster: Part Deux

9. Third Coast Preppy

10. Black Labs and Lilly

xx Sara

First day jitters and inspiring new people

Everyone remembers that night-before-your-first-day-of-school feeling of nerves and excitement. As we grow older, although we are no longer in school, that feeling reappears from time to time on the night before other important things. Like the night before your first day at a new job, a big race, or just meeting up with a new group of people. So the night before my first training run with Team Challenge I was of course full into that feeling. I don't know what I had to be nervous about, we were going to run four miles which I knew I would be able to accomplish, so it had to be more than fear of failure. So I started analyzing what was going on in my head

"Would there be a lot of people? Would they all be faster than me? Would they be friendly?" and that's when I realized my lovely social anxiety was rearing it's ugly head. If you know me pretty well you would probably never guess I had a problem being social. I tend to talk, a lot, and not too quietly either I may add. But that's only if you know me well.

Dear Brain

I appreciate all the hard work you do for me, but sometimes I wish you would just take a rest. There are something I just don't need to think about, and if you stop thinking so much I maybe just a little happier and definitely a little bit less stressed. Just consider it ok?

K Thanks

Sara

And like any other night-before something big, all I had were nightmares about the next day to come. Completely ridiculous dreams about not getting to use the bathroom before running, having the wrong map of the route and getting lost, and then it turned utterly bizarre as I was being hunted down by some crazed killer (clearly that is my punishment for watching Criminal Minds before bedtime) and just as I was about to be shot in the face (yikes!) the gentle melody of my cell phone alarm woke me out of my sleep. There are not many times I love my alarm, but when it wakes me from nightmares if it is magical.

I was afraid to be too early. I am usually ALWAYS early if I can help it, but not this morning. That damn social anxiety thing was waking up inside of me and it told me not to be too early. I wish I had more strength to not listen. I stretched, I ate, put on sunscreen, I got all my things together and with a satisfied nod to the mirror by the front door, I was on my way. This was going to be great, because this was the part where I start to get excited. I would run four miles with the group, drive back to the city, and do a six mile out and back to bring my daily total up to ten.

The highway which is my daily commute into work was pleasantly deserted and I am totally jamming out to the radio, enjoying the sunshine. Leave it to me though, the girl who works TWO minutes from Valley Forge National Park to get off the wrong exit, not be able to turn left, have to drive around the ENTIRE King of Prussia Mall (ps by the way the mall is like a small city) before getting on the right road and making it to the park.

The clock on my dash reads 7:58. I keep seeing the words "8am sharp" in my mind, from the coach's email earlier this week. 7:59. As I turn the corner into the parking lot I see a few different large groups gathering and then it occurs to me, which one will be MY group? But I am so mad at myself for being late that I dash out of the car and run up to the one that is standing around in a circle. It would be so like me to run up to the wrong group and hang out with them for about five minutes before I realize I'm not in the right place. Thank goodness I was right, a man is talking to the group and he mention's Crohn's and Colitis and I let out an internal sigh of relief.

I look around the circle and am immediately intimidated by the few older men dressed like pros. It's like Larry, fast forwarded a bit. Oh no. But then I keep looking around and realize there are some people who look just as unsure as I feel, and some in between. I feel better again.

Oh and ps did I mention that I stood out like a sore thumb in my pink leggings? Let's face it though, a Runner's wardrobe is pretty similar to a New Yorker's, black. At least lots of black bottoms and a few colored tops. And there I stood, pink leggings, white long sleeve Nike tech tee, pink iron-man watch, pink Under Armour headband. Hey at least I was repping some pretty legit brands right?

We listen as the woman to my right talks about nutrition (one of my favorite subjects!) and then we go around in and say our names. But not before I realize I didn't take my inhaler and I make a mad dash back to my car, take two quick puffs, and then dash back.

And then we are on our way. Out of the cold shade of the lower parking lot and into the warmth of the sunny trails. My memories of Valley Forge are extremely biased, because for two years at least the only time I was out here was for the Valley Forge Revolutionary Run, a five mile loop of the park. The race is in mid April and my body was never ready for anything more than a brisk walk. Not to mention the race finishes up a majorly painful hill. I was thankful we were walking to the top and would start to run from there. It looked like there were far more people doing a run-walk than a full out run, which made me more nervous because it looked like I would be trying to keep up with the experts. But the pace to start off was right on par with what I could handle, and after all, I reminded myself it was only four miles. I could do four miles, and I should be ale to push myself through four miles. There are six of us running, open fields and bunker houses all around us. It is a gorgeous morning and my legs feel great, great because the first stretch is flat. Before I know it, there are hills but I keep up the pace. I can feel my breathing start to become a tiny bit labored but I do not let my pace stop. It really helps that there is a group to keep up with. I am so thankful for them being there. We chat about our past running experience, and things like that. We hit the turn around point and head back to the parking lot, passing other team members on the way and we cheer and high five each other as we pass. And although the chatter continues, most of the way I am just thinking about the whole experience, and the reasons that brought me here in the first place. The run is over before I even feel like it's been hard, although I know my legs will be reminding me for the rest of the day that I made them wake up early and run. Twice.

Whenever it feels hard I remind myself this is only the beginning and the road is only going to get longer. As we gather by the cars, waiting for everyone to finish one of the coaches mentions running 19 miles after this, and another chimes in saying he is running 20 tomorrow. Suddenly my 6 extra miles don't seem so bad, in fact they seem a little insignificant. I remember why I love running with training programs such as this one. Not only does it feel good to know you are giving back and doing something you love, but it is so inspiring to see the people who volunteer their time to coach. People who run multiple marathons in a year, ultra marathons, and run 70 -80 miles a week. People who make me want to run harder, faster, better.

I think about this the whole time I am on my second run of the day. When I am tired, when my legs hurt, when the sun's mid day heat has sweat dripping off my forehead. I think that I must keep going. Always keep going. Just Don't Quit.

One Team. One Goal.

Don't forget I am running to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America - Please click here to visit my fundraising website and donate today. Crohn's disease affects people I am very close to and it means so much to be able to do such a good thing.

xx Sara

History - where you least expect it

One of the fabulous and yet often overlooked things about the city I live and play in, is it's incredible history. I spend so much time rushing, stressing, and worrying about making 30 hours worth of things fit into 24 hours of day. 16 hours if you consider the fact that I should be sleeping 8 hours a night.

Philadelphia is often thought of as a fascinatingly historical city to tourists. Just ask anyone and they will start rambling off attractions such as The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Center. Names like Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross are common place in Old City, a neighborhood of Center City where many historical Landmarks are often found. I have been to most of them, often when friends or family come to visit they want to know what to do in Philadelphia.

But the history in this city is so much more than the touristy landmarks, and I am fascinated by every single bit of it. I can't say exactly what it is that draws me to the stories and the yellowed photographs. I imagine it has something to do with things being different, but in the same exact place that I spend every day in. The buildings I see every day were something completely different 100 years ago. What also fascinates me is that one day, the very things I do, the places I go, and maybe even the words I write will become part of history. This never ending circle of change and growth and today we leave behind more of a record than ever, albeit a digital record. I have a bad habit of idealizing the past. Imagining it as this perfect, peaceful technology free time when marriage was forever, families ate a home cooked meal together at a kitchen table and kids respected their parents and cursed a whole lot less. I know that this is not how it was, but I can't help but think of it that way anyways. And sometimes when I wish I lived in the magic of the past, I remember how it would have been literally unthinkable for me to be a serious runner, after all it was thought that women's bodies could not handle running marathons.

Ok so what does this have to do with running? Well after yesterday's photo-run I was excited to take my camera out and run a different trail. This time I would be running solo, and with plenty of daylight I was going to make it a point to find some things off the path to not only take some great pictures but to just explore. I start off a little slow, remembering my legs are not used to doing 100% percent of the work. Evening sun is my favorite kind of light, and my eyes are darting every which way looking at my surroundings. I gaze out at the river, the bridges, the hills and the trees. I snap a few shots along the way, a train stopped on a bridge, crew teams practicing in the river. It's not long before I reach my turn around point and boy was I excited to be heading back. I was so caught up in trying to be faster than the ladies I had just passed I was getting a bit winded, so as I turned around I slowed to a trot (I generally try to avoid using the term 'jog'). I ran back past the boat houses, past crew teams loading boats onto trailers, runners just stretching out for their runs, and plenty of picnickers enjoying dinner in the sunset.

I was just running under the Strawberry Mansion Bridge when I noticed a small archway across the street. Small archways I find, are quite common throughout Fairmount Park although I have yet to find out their original purpose but this one looked like it would make good photo op. I wait until a break in traffic and sprint across the street, and to my surprise I find this little archway is an entrance to a long twisty windy stairway. If I needed to find a reason to explore this overgrown pathway. Plus a quick set of stairs is always good for your glutes! Even a huge tree across the path couldn't stop me.

I climbed over and just kept on going. There was something mysterious and forbidden about climbing an overgrown staircase into nowhere, and just as I was reaching the top, a dark green SUV went whizzing by my line of vision. My heart sank as I realized I had just found a new way into the park and not some secret garden like place. That is until I looked across the street and saw yet another staircase and I dashed across and started to climb. What I saw at the top of those stairs was nothing short of amazing, at least to me. It was a large open field, to my right a large white house with black shutters and shrubs in front, and to my left a abandoned brick structure with several archways, boarded up windows and dotted with disintegrated No Trespassing sings.

As much as I am fascinated by history I am also fascinated by abandoned buildings. They stand cold and empty, skeletons, reminders of what used to be. Whenever I come across them I wonder what stories they hold, what happened in and around them in their prime. But the walls they cannot talk to me they can only stand, looking sad and tired as I imagine what they used to be. I was no longer running, not even walking really, just exploring. Walking carefully throughout the structure, snapping picture after picture. Tree branches had started growing out of the brick, trash littered the ground, an ever present reminder that this once wonderful neighborhood was slowly and continually crumbling. I imagined this would be the type of place you would run into the wrong kinds of people after dark. I thanked my lucky stars that it was still very much light out as I took pictures from every angle I could, loving the light, the shadows, every thing about it. I found myself making up stories of what it used to be, and in my mind it was a concession stand of some sort, and the empty field adjacent to it was probably a common place for families to come bring their children to frolic in the summer time. It was getting late though and I knew I didn't want to stick around for long so I started running along the circular sidewalk that would take me to the white house opposite the field. As I approached the building I noticed many signs posted up around it and so of course had to go take a look. Much to my surprise , according to the signs it was the Historic Strawberry Mansion. Now I always knew it was up here somewhere, and I knew it was the namesake for the surrounding neighborhood and the Strawberry Mansion Bridge that I had just run under not too long ago.

Looking down at Strawberry Mansion Bridge from a path behind the mansion

Because I was all too aware of the setting sun I made my way back to Kelly Drive and finished up my run. Straining to finish the last quarter mile I realized my mind was so buzzed with my newfound 'discovery' I hadn't really concentrated on having a quality run. I didn't mind because I was so excited to dash home and read more about Strawberry Mansion and other historic details of this wonderful city that I had yet to uncover.

I came across one fabulous site PhillyHistory which has images of Philadelphia dating back to the early 1900's. I am so sucked in I could browse all night. After much Googling and reading, I discovered that the building I had been looking at was in fact part of the Strawberry Mansion Music Pavilion. How sad that something that was a place for such art is now overgrowing with weeds and littered with garbage. It really makes you stop and think of how well you take care of the place you are supposed to be leaving for your children and generations after that doesn't it? and doesn't it make you wonder what hidden gems are lying undiscovered in YOUR own city??

xx Sara

Yes Ma'am

So often when you are running to train, you have to make choices like running after work on St. Patrick's Day instead of going out for a few pints of Guinness with friends. Never the less, after four years of training on and off I had gotten pretty good at turning down invites and had long ago realized that if I wanted to be ready on race day I had to run, no matter what the holiday.

Since the weather was nothing short of fantastic, I had only shorter runs planned for the week, and Boyfriend is in the middle of training for a 5K in April, I thought it was the perfect chance for us to run outside together. I planned out a short route in which I would park about 2 miles away from his apartment, run from my car to his place, and he would run with me from his place back to my car. It could not be more perfect.

lately though I have been reading so many blogs and noticing that there are so many fabulous photographers out there. Even if it's just a 'how-to' post there are some great images to go along with it. This inspired me to take my camera with me on last night's run and snap photos along the way.

The sun felt so good on my winter white skin as I stepped out of the car and stretched out. Snapped a few pictures, lost my car key, found my car key, called Boyfriend and told him I was starting, and then took off.

Schuylkill River from my parking spot by Falls Bridge. It was at this point that I misplaced my car key for about five minutes only to find it tucked safely in the waistband of my shorts.

Only when I say "take off" you are undoubtedly picturing me sprinting off into the sunset. And it was nothing like that at all. I mean I ran in the general direction of the sunshine, but it was a pretty slow start. Making the transition from treadmill to road is often very difficult, I get used to feeling faster than I really am (thanks a lot treadmill...) so I make it a point for the first few times to run extra slow in order to avoid getting discouraged. IPod and Camera in hand I instantly got a mental picture of Zooey Deschanel's character in Yes Man, leading around her jogging photography group. Although my camera is quite tiny I must have looked awfully silly stopped every now and again to get a good shot. Next time I think I may try taking pictures as I'm moving. I predict it will be nothing short of a disaster!

Route 1 Bridge crossing over the river

So I alternate running, and stopping to snap some shots. I saw a lot of things that would have made great photographs but I knew that Boyfriend was waiting for me at the end of the trail and I didn't want to keep him waiting. For instance I ran by a parking lot with a group of bikers (as in motorcycles) milling around and up to no good. I'll admit I also didn't take their picture because I wasn't sure what they'd think of me. But I did go off route to get this next shot

Access bridge across the river. Had to squeeze through a break in the fence to get this one :)

I continued on down the street, past lots of other runners, walkers, and bikers (as in cyclists), past couples and groups of friends going out to celebrate for the night, and other groups who had been out all day and were calling it quits. Luckily I did not have to run past too many bars before I spotted the all too familiar entrance to the tow path. My feet probably started singing when they hit the soft gravel and dirt surface, as did my legs. It felt fantastic. If you can deal with the occasional smell that comes from running behind all of main streets great bars and restaurants than you would love the tow path. It's always so quiet in comparison to the street and there are always a few other runners or walkers out so you never feel completely isolated. The sun on my face felt great, my pace was slow and relaxing, and I got a couple of great pictures too!

Tow path by the Manayunk Canal (favorite photo of the night)

One of the many disintegrating factory buildings left on Venice Island. Manayunk Bridge in the background

Before I knew it I was almost at the end of the trail and I could see Boyfriend up head of me leaning on the fence, stretching out his legs. When I reached where he was standing, I turned around and we began jogging back towards my car. I was so distracted by our conversation about our work, life, and our plans for going out later in the night that I didn't even take a single picture the whole way back. Sometimes though, I enjoy those moments the most. The times when you are fully engulfed into them, and you forget to take pictures, and think about how you will write about it later. You just enjoy and life and live. And last night, running along the river, that's what Boyfriend and I did.

xx Sara

Will run for pizza

So I had finally done it. The weather had cooperated long enough to let me have a fantastic 8 mile long run along Kelly Drive. I was ecstatic. All the training I had done at the gym all winter had truly paid off and it was looking like I would finish half marathon after all. I was all too excited to plan my next weeks worth of workouts until I saw it. Rain. Rain. and oh yea, a little bit of RAIN. for four days!?

Dear Mother Nature,

I don't understand why you hate me. I like to think I am very good to you. I reuse, I reduce, I recycle (AND I Re-Lilly to some of my favorite younger cousins!). I enjoy nature. I like being outside. Why can't you provide me just a few hours of nice weather every weekend so that I may go on a long run?!

Love and kisses

Sara

Something tells me that letter wasn't exactly going to change the forecast for my weekend so I guess I was going to have to plan around the rain. The week before I had done 17 total miles. Even though my long run was on Sunday, I count it as part of the previous week. So this week I was going to have to run 20. Yikes! 2-0! Well I shortly decided that was not going to work out. Four days of 4+ mile runs was sure to not only burn me out but get me hurt. So I opted instead for another week of 17 total.

Quick pep talk with self.

"Ok Sara you can totally do this. Sure it's four days of running, three with out a rest in between. But the mileage is short and then you have ALL weekend off to relax! Come on, you totally want this race, prove to yourself you can do it."

"Ok Self, you're right, I'll suck it up and do it." So I grabbed my training calendar and planned our four days of running that would bring me up to 17 miles.

Monday: I was a litter nervous of how much I could handle but I did a nice four miles on the treadmill thanks to Ashley there to chat with. I also made time to do some crunches and other ab exercises before my run. I felt great afterwards, although a little bit tired.

Tuesday: was a rest day, and those always feel too short.

Wednesday: Minor setback when I got on the treadmill and found my small IPod was dead. ALMOST a tragedy until I remember his bigger brother was upstairs on my desk so I grabbed that one instead. Was supposed to be a three mile HARD run, but then it occurred to me, why would I run two five milers back to back Thursday and Friday? The three miler should go in the MIDDLE! So I quickly turned it into a five mile tempo run. One mile of warm up and then turned up the speed a little and ran 3 3/4 miles at the faster pace with a 1/2 mile jog to cool down.

Thursday: Quick weight workout with DesignerD, we did a few moves with the resistance band which is probably one of my favorite pieces of equipment. Then a three mile run. Whenever I do a short run I feel compelled to make it really hard. Because of course I know I can't make it longer but I can push myself more. Knowing I can push myself for a short distance makes it easier to push for a longer distance. The best part about pushing through a short run is my fast pace makes it even shorter.

Friday: Let me just say that I love running as much as the next crazy, but after three days of running in four days even super athletes are bound to get tired. It's cold, grey, and raining and all I want to do is go home, put on sweats and lay on the couch with Boyfriend watching out favorite Friday shows and eat Pizza. Because of course Boyfriend promised me a pizza after work today. Hey who knows maybe if I tell him how tired I am he'll go for that plan.

"Don't want to go to the gym. Help" I text him.

"No pizza until you run" He texts back. WHAT? Did Boyfriend really just try to withhold food from me? Does he want to get hurt? Ok well he has a point. I NEED to run, and I really want pizza.

"Jerk" I write back. Although we both know I don't mean it, proven by the fact that his next response is a huge smiley face.

I actually couldn't be happier with his threat. He'll be the first to tell you I am one tough chick. I do things that aren't fun, that sometimes are really hard, but I know they need to get done so I do them. Oh yea, and he says with such pride "She runs marathons"

So at 5pm sharp (I am not wasting any of my weekend time) I grab my bag and head down to the gym. It's empty because of course I am the only weirdo who wants to workout on a Friday night.

So I hop on the treadmill and start at about a 5.5 Speed. As I listen to the music blast into my ears I plan my workout. I know I want to do mile repeats, and I decide that 3 sounds like a good number. One mile warm up, mile fast, 1/2 mile cool down and so on. With that math I will finish my last repeat at 5 miles and be done with my run. The warm up is always good, and the first repeat always feels good, but it's that second repeat that always challenges you. You're nice and relaxed, you have caught your breath, you almost feel good and then before you know it it's time to switch gears. You give a little push and at first your body is in such shock from going slow to fast that the first quarter is nothing. But then you settle into the pace and realize man, this is going to be tough.

But Friday, something weird happened. I have always noticed, especially on the treadmill that I tend to run with my feet and legs.

"But Sara" you're thinking "aren't you supposed to run with your feet and legs??"

"NO!" I woud tell you "You run with your abs, your chest, your arms, you run with your WHOLE body!" It just takes so strength to have good form I don't do it as much as i should. But something about Friday, maybe it was the music I was listening to, or the promise of pizza when I got home, I was on fire!

I ran those repeats with every muscle in my body. I have never felt so amazing after a run. Talk about ending the week on a high note!

The hardest thing about running is you often don't feel great until after the run is over. Or maybe halfway through when you hit a really good stride or rhythm and for a few miles everything just falls into place and you are lost in the motion. But before the run starts, when your lacing your sneakers and your muscle are still cold and tight, it can be really tough to motivate yourself to get going. I am so thankful that I have Boyfriend to push me when I am not able to push myself

And of course, when I got home there was a medium pizza with green peppers and tomatoes with my name all over it!

xx Sara

A Time to Give

I am flat out CRAZY for a good cause!

As many of my friends and family already know, I got my REAL start in running thanks to a fantastic organization, National AIDS Marathon Training Program, while I was living in San Francisco. It was an amazing experience to meet people on my level, there were fantastic coaches and trainers with all sorts of advise, and best of all I was doing something good for my self while helping others. And now after a few years and a handful of races later I am looking to give back again, and in a HUGE way.

I have joined forces with Team Challenge in order to raise money and awareness for the The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America while training to complete a half marathon on June 27th. If you know me, you know I would run a half marathon anyways, so you know that the real important part is doing something that touches others. And what's more there are people close to my heart that have been affected by these diseases and to be able to help them by means the world to me.

If your going to do something, you might as well go all the way right? So instead of just banging everyone over the head begging for dollars I am planning a few fundraisers, including a Pub Crawl through my very own city of Philadelphia!

But just in case you are too far away to attend any of my events, I can't stop you from visiting my fundraising page and making a donation!

xx Sara

If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Some people would say I am extremely dedicated to running to be able to fit in as many miles a week as I do. But when I share my secret to success with friends and co workers they all give me the look as if a light bulb has gone off in their head. Are you ready for it? Do you think you can handle the secrets of a distance runner?

Make. A. Plan. Oh and then the important part. Write. It. Down.

IPods and pretty pink watches are great motivational tools but nothing beats the old fashioned paper and pencil. Plan ahead with your training schedule and hold yourself to it!

Of course it is true that I am dedicated, I couldn't make it work otherwise. But I also look at it like a requirement. If I want to run long distances, I have to put in the work required to get there. It's not an option, it's not extra credit, it's what has to be done so I do it. And in order to do it write I have a training calendar that helps me get there. I put it on the wall right in front of me at work so I have to look at it all day every day. I plan how many miles I need to run each week to be ready for whatever race or challenge I am working on. I write major events, work deadlines, sometimes even the weather. Anything that might interfere with my training has to go onto that calendar. And then you have to learn to plan around it.

Training days have to be treated, for the most part, as non negotiable. There are always days that I don't really WANT to hit the treadmill or head outside. I would much rather settle down on the couch with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a bowl of popcorn to watch trashy reality TV some nights than go through the pain of the workout. But I know I won't get where I want to go unless I put in the work. There are no short cuts to any place worth going my friend.

The best motivator is knowing that if for some reason I don't get to do my planned workouts, I have to erase them from the calendar and write down a lower mileage for the week. It may be only a personal disappointment but for me it's like admitting to myself that I have failed. It never puts me in a good mood and It always makes me work harder the next week. Kind of like a chore chart that you had when you were a kid? Except backwards.

I know what you're thinking, if I am not motivated to work out how can I be motived to plan working out? Well think about it this way, you can make your plan while you are still on the couch. But once you write it all down it will be hard to look at with out feeling guilty for skipping out on things you have committed yourself to. Don't forget to hang it up somewhere that you are constantly looking at. Hopefully it's the extra little extra push that gets you to commit to more workouts and see more results!

It's easy to skip essential moves like abs or slack on your workout towards the end.

Writing it all down helps remind you what you need to do!

xx Sara