How Far Would You Go To Make It Happen?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by tootallfritz

I always give props to EVERYONE who makes it a priority to come out and run with the F’N Running Club on a Wednesday night. I mean, it’s a “school” night, it’s not easy. I know that it doesn’t fit into everyone’s schedule and am just pleased that people show up. However, I really have to give it to my friend Kristina who drove all the way from St. John, IN to Frankfort (45 minutes in good traffic) to run with us F’N Runners tonight . I would like to give Kristina the ~~non-existent~~ “Traveler” award for traveling the farthest, so far, to come run with us. Thank you, Kristina! Are you planning to take Kristina’s award from her? We meet on WEDs at 5pm and usually early SAT and/or SUN morn! Join us!

We had a great group tonight. Some of our main players are injured or out-of-town but we had some new faces to replace them for today. Dark Photo alert….sorry! Top: Maggie, Kristina, Michelle, Susan, Kathy, Jeni, Laura. Bottom: Kate & Diane

Before these lovely ladies arrived, I was able to squeak in a few miles in the DAYLIGHT. That’s right, the Winter Solstice passed and Mother Nature is taking us back to Spring, one day at a time!

Many of us like Old Plank Trail because it is ~~close to home~~ pretty flat. Here is our only hill, which is an overpass for Rt 45. It may not be much but still seems daunting when the legs are tired.

I know everything is dead and boring right now but it still looks beautiful to me! Didn’t make it far before the sun was setting and I had to head back to meet up with those F’N Runners!

The goal for me tonight was to put in some easy, slow miles. I have had a rough summer/fall and start to winter. Some fitness has been lost but I am actually pain-free. I am sore this week, which is unusual but good, right? I have been busy this week focusing on both running and cross training. Tomorrow is going to be a rest day ~~cuz my legs feel like bricks~~, then FRI cross training/weights. I know I will get stronger and really want to focus on that. I am so ~~tentatively~~ happy to not be hurting that I’m just really ~~scared the pain will return if I am not careful~~ enjoying being out and on the run again. So one day at a time, if the pain returns then I will have to pull back again. I am just enjoying the soreness now and hoping it’s a sign of strength to come!

3 miles ~~taking pics~~ solo, 4 miles with the club & Kristina, 1 extra mile with my girlz Susan & Maggie, multiple stops, no watch pauses – Total = 8.03 miles -1:22:48.

Thanks to you F’N Runners for another great Wednesday Night Run. Thanks again, Kristina for making the drive!

Happy Running, Amanda -TooTallFritz

I Don’t Have Time……

Posted on January 3, 2012 by tootallfritz

Time…..that is the issue. Each of us struggles with the time management issue on a daily basis. What do you have time for in your life? Or more importantly, let’s just be honest, what do you MAKE time for in your life?

No time for workouts? No time for reading? No time to take care of yourself? No time to cook healthy for your family? No time to blog? No time to keep up on Facebook? No time to clean your house? No time to play with your kids? No time to sit and smell the roses? Well, what DID you have time to do today?

I think moderation is key but I must admit that I try to fit in as much as I can each and every day. I don’t have time for everything, and I screw mess things up a lot, but I do what I can. I feel as if each day I am living on borrowed time. The clock is ticking. Time is running out.

Please forgive me if I sometimes seem distracted. Please forgive me if I appear to be rushing. Please forgive me if I am tired because I was working, or cuddling my baby, while you were sleeping. Some days there are things I must do, things which may not be important to you but matter to me. I strongly urge you to think for a minute and figure out what you must to do today? What needs to be done tomorrow? Please figure out what is really important. I guarantee that if it is REALLY important, then you will make the time. No more excuses. No more “next year”. Make It Happen. For you. For your family. For your life. There is always someone willing to help you get where you are going. It’s okay to be unsure, or not fully understand the where/why/how, just know that somebody will be there to carry you when you need it. Now make some time for yourself. Get your shit together. Get healthy, or stick to your current routine to stay healthy, so that you can be there to carry somebody else when they need you. If you are bored and tired of what you are doing, ~~stop bitching~~ change it and make time to make a difference.

Amanda – TooTallFritz

Back to Reality…..

Posted on January 3, 2012 by tootallfritz

Although today I am confronted by ~~going back to work~~ reality, yesterday was a busy and productive day on the home front as we tried to squeeze in as much as possible on our last day off. I was fortunate that Hubby ~~took one for the team~~ watched the kiddos so I was able to meet up early, but not too early, with the F’N Running Club for a Monday morning run. This was a total luxury for me because I am usually sitting ~~on my ass~~ at my desk early each Monday. The Monday morning New Year Crew: Julie, Joe, Jeni, Susan & Jennifer E.I want to give a huge shout out to all of these runners, as well as sending them a great big THANK YOU for getting up and out of their cozy beds to come for a run. I laid in bed all night listening to the 50 mph winds and rain/sleet pelting the windows. When I got up it was snowing, we had freezing temps and MORE wind, so I was surprised that anyone ~~besides Susan~~ show up. Thanks, you crazy F’N Runners! I would have never been able to do it without you yesterday ~~and had already copped out of my Jan 1 run due to wind/cold so I really needed this~~!

The temps were around 20 degrees in the early morn but felt much colder due to the wind. However, being on the trail, the trees provided us with a lot of wind cover and it really wasn’t bad after that first mile. It was snowing pretty good at times too but there wasn’t any accumulation, the trail was in good condition with good footing. Not too slippery.

Julie & Susan looking strong as they are approaching the turnaround:

Joe, Julie & Me at the turnaround.

The group ran between 3 and 7 miles at a leisurely pace. A few stops for road crossings and turnaround/meet-ups. I never stop my watch ~~cuz I will forget to restart it~~ so I had 7.01 miles in 1:10:48. Great run!

After my car defrosted from the snow and ice which had accumulated during our run, I returned home and hubby and I set up my ~~dining~~ workout room again. The workout equipment had been evicted to the basement while trying to ~~fruitlessly~~ sell the house, then to make room for Tacky Christmas. I am back in business now!

I even managed to squeeze in some bike miles and a short weight workout during Michael’s nap!

So the NEW year is going strong for me ~~so far~~. I am trying to refocus on fresh foods and veggies ~~to lose those extra 5 lbs~~, core/weight work, and more cross training. I am sore today so something must be working.

Are you off to a good start this year? Are you doing anything different or just refocusing on some good habits which may have fallen to the way side over the holidays?

Think and BE Healthy this year!

Amanda – TooTallFritz

2012….The Mystery of What Will Be…..

Posted on January 1, 2012 by tootallfritz

This is the first day of 2012 and we are looking at a fresh start with a whole new year in front of us. What will you bring to Ms. TooTall and the family, 2012? This is the time in which many are making New Year’s Resolutions; however, I am not really a fan of a “resolution” per say . I think that many treat resolutions like rules with the “they are made to be broken” type attitude. So in absence of a New Year’s Resolution, each year I attempt to develop some sort of challenge for myself ~~and as many people as I can suck into the insane plan~~. As with all good plans/challenges, it needs to most importantly bring about a good story in the process! I really believe that over half of the endeavors in which I have ~~sucked my sister into~~ completed were for the sole sake of having a good story.

Thru the years, we have developed some REALLY good stories. Still one of my favorites was the 2005 Rim to Rim hike thru the Grand Canyon with (Me), Sara (my sis), Lisa E., Lisa’s Cousin Cindy & Lisa’s mom:

That adventure was my foray back to fitness. It was a long road ~~cuz I had 10+ years of excess eating/drinking to redirect~~ but I not only hauled my ~~ass~~ person from the North Rim, to Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River but then up the South Kaibab Trail for a finish on the South Rim. Good times. Good memories. And it was a heck of a workout! This adventure was a catalyst to my current state of fitness. More importantly, it gave me the confidence to also try other things that prior to that point, I would have NEVER though possible.

LOTS OF RUNNING

Me & Abby S. during the Inaugural 2008 Fort 4 Fitness Half Marathon:LOTS OF FAST RACINGLOTS OF TRIATHLON

I’m unzipping the black wetsuit in the middle.

MUD & OBSTACLES

CROSS TRAINING & SWEAT

LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS

So after so much fun ~~and sweat~~ it is hard to create a budget friendly challenge for the new year. Last year I challenged myself to run 1000 miles. I made it despite fighting injuries from March thru year-end. This year I wanted something new and fresh and along came….So the big adventure for Ms. TooTall for 2012 will be participating in a chicks only, 6 person, ultra relay team for the Madison to Chicago Ragnar Relay Series. 33 miles over the course of 2 days/nights in early June. This is gonna be ~~insane~~ fun and should provide us with a GREAT story!

I will also be running the 2012 Chicago Marathon and delving back into Triathlon after a long bike hiatus from Mr. Michael’s birth/toddler years. The goal is a 1000 running miles and 1000 bike miles. This will be TOUGH for me but I joined Team Tough Chik for 2012 so hopefully that will provide extra support that I need to make this happen! If you are interested in being on Team Tough Chik for 2012, click HERE. The deadline for joining the team has been extended until Jan 7. See a few of my fellow Tough Chiks below.