Posts Tagged ‘running programs’

I challenge you to…
Beat me at my own game!

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

I’ve been doing the weight managment thing a pretty long time. Four years to lose what I needed to lose (YEP, FOUR years – it’s a process), almost two years maintaining, and NOW, I’m starting to let it creep up! EEEK! NO, this WILL NOT HAPPEN!

I stepped on the scale yesterday morning and saw I had passed the NO PASS zone… those of you who have lost weight know what I mean – the number you never wanted to see again. I was doing great through Christmas. I even did pretty well on my vacation. But, last week was the pits. A combination of hormonally and emotionally induced eating, travel to Houston (lots of good restaurants here!) and the creeping bad habits which has been going on the last few months combined to push me over the top….

So, I’m officially putting out a challenge – I’m gonna lose a minimum of EIGHT pounds in the next month. 31 days. (I’m not going to lose more than 13 pounds, since that would reflect to fast a weight loss.) I know how to do this. I know how to bring myself under control without going crazy. And I’ll be doing this!

So, what’s the challenge part? I’m challenging you, wherever and whoever you are (you don’t have to be a current client), to beat me at my own game! Lose more than 7 pounds or more than I do (if I fail to lose 8), and win. It’s that simple….

Johnny, tell ‘em what they’ve won!!! Well, if you win, not only have you won better health and better fitting clothing (or in some cases, the right to a shopping spree for clothing that fits!), but you’ve won your choice of the following:

  • A one hour personal training session, either in the gym or at your home (you must live within 30 miles of Wetumpka – sorry, Karen!)
  • One month of online training programs with feedback.
  • One month personalized running coaching

Even better, just for doing well at this, I’ll give you a $10 discount on any service from Ignite! (that’s right, running, climbing, biking, training, whatever you like!) If you lose at least 4 pounds, just one pound a week, I’ll give you a $10 discount to use however you like with Ignite! (excepting products in the store – sorry!)

So, here are the rules:

  1. You have to accept this challenge within one week (by January 21, 2010). You then have 31 days from the day you start to complete your challenge.
  2. You must accept the challenge here, as a comment to this post. You can either post your weight or send it to me in an email, but you need to publicly accept the challenge!
  3. Post back weekly to tell me how you are doing. I will post my progress weekly so you’ll have something to post to.
  4. Lose between 8 and 13 pounds and you win! (If you lose more than 13 pounds, you may have been going about it in an unhealthy way. I don’t want you doing that, so if you lose more than 13 pounds, I won’t be awarding a prize, UNLESS you can justify it. If you do, we’ll talk and decide!)
  5. Select your prize!

Remember, if “I” don’t stick to my plan and lose 8, you may win by losing a lot less! I’m starting yesterday – January 13th – at 151 pounds (UCK!). Come on! Beat me at my own game.

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Posted in Adventures in Living, Support, Weight Management | 1 Comment »

Learning to run…

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

I was talking about running with my friend, Thad, the other day. And I thought about why I teach running to women who are thinking about running. You see, Thad is a typical runner… “Just Do It.” Grab a pair of shoes, hit the road and run a triathlon. Easy, right? Fun? Of course! Go ahead, get out there…

Well, for lots of us, not so much…

When I started running at age 48, it was a deliberate decision on my part that I would MAKE it work. I had a lot of weight to lose and not a lot of time for exercise and walking wasn’t going to do it. I needed something with a higher calorie burn, and I figured I’d try one more time to become a runner.

You see, I’d tried many times before, always with the same results – try it 2 or 3 times and fail. This time it was different. I was in Wetumpka for the weekend to buy a house (the one I live in now), and it was the day to try. The odd thing was, it was also the day to figure out the secret. I did it. Stayed the course. Kept running.

Five years later, I’m still running. Running 5k’s, 10k’s, half marathons, and now I’m signed up for a marathon. What’s more, I’ve become a running coach, sharing what I learned the hard way with Wetumpka (and Montgomery, Prattville, Millbrook and Elmore) women who want to run.

Lots of women talk to me about running. And a lot of them say “I can’t run.” And then add:

“I don’t enjoy it.” Usually from women who’ve tried keeping up with a spouse or running friend who thinks it’s “just do it.” Try running with a group of NON-runners and succeeding together. And laughing together. And talking your way through till you CAN run a 5k.

“It hurts my (pick one) feet, knees, hips, low back.” Uh huh – it can, if you don’t know the secrets to running pain- and injury-free. Most of you just need someone to show you how (yes, there are real problems. Most people don’t have one that prevents them from learning to run).

“I can’t even run a mile.” Yep. And you’re not a teenage boy who can just pick up any old sport and do it. There’s a right way and a wrong way to start. And to try and run a mile on the first day is definitely a wrong way!

“I can’t breathe when I run.” I know what you’re doing. Been there, done that. Now, I know a better way to start running and keep breathing.

“I (bike, do the elliptical machine, swim), but I just can’t run.” Did you try and swim ¼ mile the first day you jumped in the water? Of course not! Lance Armstrong called his first marathon “the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done.” He learned that you can’t just transfer from one sport to another and expect to perform at the same level.

“I don’t know how.” Well, yes, and that’s why I’m teaching running. Most of us don’t know how to start.

I’m starting another class next week. Monday, 6:30 PM. Rumbling Waters Health Club. Downtown Wetumpka. Come LEARN to run with me! You won’t regret it.
Jeanne
Ignite! LLC
..Life Adventures for Women

* More details can be found on my website.

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Get out and play with your kid!

Monday, July 20th, 2009

It’s summertime! Kids are off from school and the days are long and the weather warm and sunny. It’s a perfect time to add some activity to your life by going out and playing with your children!

Your kids make perfect exercise buddies for the summer. They have boundless energy and love adventure. You can find new activities in the park, in the water, with bikes, at the Y, any number of places. Imagine discovering a new hobby to share with your child – something that could bind you together even when the typical mother-child disagreements happen.

You can rediscover a old favorite – tag, hide and seek or Red Rover. Be the mom where everyone comes to “see what’s happening!” Gather the whole neighborhood together for silly games on a summer evening. Bring out the lemonade and spend an evening away from the TV and video games.

How ’bout practicing for fall sports? Or even getting a jump on next spring. You can learn how to help with batting or fielding practice. Or throwing passes. Or volleyball, tennis, or golf! Even if it’s just increasing overall fitness by running together in the early mornings.

I got a chance to experience this this summer. My son, too, has the summers off from school. Just because he’s a high school English teacher, doesn’t mean that we couldn’t find some time to “go out and play!” Our choice was kayaking – take a look at our trip down the Nantahala River in North Carolina.
Jamie and Jeanne play the Nantahala

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National Running Day – Get out and Run

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

I just found out that next Wednesday is National Running Day. It’s a day to celebrate our ability to run. Just run, no races, no pressure, just run!

Friday is my 5th anniversary of being a runner (and my son’s 29th birthday, coincidentally). 6 years ago, I couldn’t run. Five years ago, I decided to run. My first “run” was a grand total of 3 minutes. Each minute was separated by a 5 minute walk. BUT, I became a runner that day. I began running and never stopped.

Now, I’m passing it forward, by training new runners and runners who want to run better. I’m a running coach and I race for fun. So, Wednesday, June 3rd, I’ll be getting out and running. Who’s joining me?

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Power of Purple 5k coming!

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

On April 25th, the First Annual Power of Purple 5k will be run in Wetumpka to benefit the American Cancer Society. It will be run at 10 AM, just before Relay for Life – Wetumpka kicks off at noon. You can still register for this race at www. active.com through April 24th.

Here’s the route…

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Run forever!

Friday, April 10th, 2009

I teach new runners to run. I know people think “What’s the big deal about that?” Well, when you’ve never been able to make a running program work for you, and you have walker’s envy of the runners or you can’t figure out how to start, running programs are great! The groups are highly motivating, and there’s a lot of knowledge that I had to learn on my own that I can pass on.

It works. In 4 weeks, these women increase their running distance 500%. In 4 more weeks, another 500%. Twelve weeks in, women who never believed they could do it are running a 5k race and doing well!  Part of it is that we run in a group twice a week. There’s a lot of time for talking in these runs.Often, one of the group will ask me questions like “When does it get really easy?” or “This isn’t very tough for you, is it?”

Well, no, it isn’t very tough. When I go out for a run with my groups, it’s rare that I struggle. After almost 5 years as a runner, a two or two and a half mile run with people who are just starting aren’t likely to be that tough for me. And there are lots of days that running is a pure joy for me. In fact, most runs have wonderful periods in them, whether with the group or by myself.

Not all runs are perfect. Not all of every run is great. The runner’s high doesn’t happen every time or for all of a long run (often)… But, OH, when it does! When it all comes together, the sweat doesn’t matter, the road doesn’t matter, the cars going by don’t even come into your consciousness. Your beat is strong, the songs in your head are in tune with your stride. Aches and pains go away and the world is a good place. Your body is healthy and alive and it does anything you ask of it. It’s magic!

So, when does it happen? When you least expect it! When everything looks like it’s not working. Keep running, you’ll find it!

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Ignite! runners smoke the course!

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Saturday, December 13th was the scheduled date for the first race for the first ever session of A Season to Run. On September 22nd, 3 women joined with me to spend 13 weeks learning to become runners. For Gisele and Sarah, it was a leap of faith. Neither believed they’d be runners, able to complete a 5k in just 12 weeks. Maggie was more confident, but still not convinced.

We started slow, running one minute and walking 5. Each time they ran, the runs got longer and the walks got shorter. Each time they ran, their confidence grew and, although they didn’t believe they were ready 2 weeks before the race, they were pretty sure they’d make it through the race. I was pretty sure their time was going to impress me!

We were scheduled to run in a local 5k, part of the Christmas on the Coosa celebration. (It’s a 12k and a 5k – the 12k’s of Christmas.) The race was supposed to be at 8, but some of the publicity went out with 9 as the start time. SOOOO, Thursday, I got a call saying the race had been moved to 9. Great – I had a new group of runners who were supposed to meet me after the race for their run. So, I sent out emails and made phone calls and everyone was set for the correct times – beginners at 8, racers meet me at the start line at 8:30. It would be tight, but manageable, since the race started 2 blocks from the gym where the beginners were meeting.

Saturday morning was COLD! for Alabama. There was a hard frost covering the ground and my bushes

Rose bushes covered in frost

Rose bushes covered in frost

when I took Harry out and I was somewhat worried about clothing for the race, especially since I would be going out with the beginners before the race. I threw extra clothes on the pile, and ate an omelet and headed out for the gym. One girl was a little late, but I got everyone else warmed up, had her stretch just a little easier than the rest of us and we were off… this group is currently running a max of 2:45 (that’s 2 minutes, 45 seconds). We did our runs and made it back to the gym in good order.

I switched gear and hurried over to the start line. The cool thing about running in a small-town, home-town race is knowing so many people around you. I found my “runner girls,” got my number, was grabbed by a couple other friends, including a couple of the women from a fitness class I have attended sporadically and the father of one of my runners. Then, the person running registration asked if I would help get the line down by working registration (I do it for other events for this organization), so I did that for a few minutes. Leaving the desk, though, I turned into the heater and JUST BARELY touched it with the side of my hip – OOPS! My tights now had a gigantic hole in them (well not gigantic, but 2 parallel “rips” about 4 inches long). Fortunately, the heat also “sealed” the tights, so they wouldn’t rip or run further. But, DANG!, that’s my favorite pair!

We got pictures of the 4 of us in our t-shirts, got some basic instructions on the course (lots of turns, but do-able), and lined up, towards the back of the group. I had the GPS set for a max pace of 10:30 and a minimum pace of 13:00.

(l-r)Jeanne, Gisele, Sarah and Maggie

(l-r)Jeanne, Gisele, Sarah and Maggie

Of course we started it off a bit fast. I slowed us down, but everyone was handling it fine. We stayed close to the 10:30 pace until we got to bridge, where we slowed for the uphill. We beat the pace on the downhills and slowed slightly for the uphills. Gisele and Maggie stayed right with me and Sarah took her customary place about 30-40 feet behind us. (She seems to like running that little bit behind the group).

Maggie took the water stop like a pro and Gisele and I decided we didn’t need any. Sarah was fine behind us. We were over halfway there and everyone was running easily. As we came up to the next turn, I realized that we were going to pass the house my parents bought and lived in when they moved here over 30 years ago. Since I was out of running stories and had promised to talk most of the way, I started telling Gisele about it. Maggie and Sarah had their tunes on and weren’t bothering listening to me.

We were still running sub-11 minute miles. We came down to the main street and crossed to run behind my church (I LOVE racing here in town, feels so familiar!). Sarah was still behind us and I was checking everyone’s breathing every couple of minutes. We hit the bridge, running on the very narrow sidewalk. I picked up my pace a bit and we turned the corner. Gisele and Maggie had decided to sprint the last and Maggie’s sprint was great! At the end, I let Gisele pass me, encouraging her to the line. Sarah wasn’t far behind!

Our times were between 32:10 and 32:30. Maggie was third in her age division (with Sarah being fourth) and Gisele was second in hers (which is the same as mine, so I had third!) Yep, small race, but YES! Great performances by first time racers. I didn’t think that they’d win prizes so I didn’t worry when they left. I happened to hang out till the end and was amazingly surprised when I started collecting trophies! I was able to give Gisele hers when I saw her later walking around the Christmas “fair.”

Gisele shows off her trophy.

Gisele shows off her trophy.

Maggie will get hers Monday night.

Gisele was still floating last night, when we (Jesse and me) went to the Christmas party for our (mutual) Sunday School class, and again this morning at church!

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