Crossfit, New Tunes and Running!

It's been a while since my last post. This week has been so busy, I apologize for the delay! The basketball team that I coach had three games this week, of which we won two, so it was a pretty good week for them. With work, coaching and keeping up with my own fitness time just seems to fly by.

This week I tried my first Crossfit class on Wednesday and my second on Saturday. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was excited. The workouts were tough and I did so many squats! The Workout of the Day (WOD) changes each time, but it is always challenging. It's kind of like intense circuit training. We did a short 800 meter sprint followed by 21 squats, 12 pull-ups, a 400 meter sprint, 50 burpees, 75 push presses and 100 squats with weight. We repeated this sequence twice and ended with a 1000 meter sprint. My quads have been so sore all week. Running on Friday and Sunday I could really feel my legs. I do think this is a great workout and the instructors at this gym really challenged me to push my limits. If you have a chance to give it a try, do it! Often there are great deals on Groupon!

Also this week, I found an interesting article about workout mixes. Did you know that you can get workouts on iTunes that are guided by athletes such as Kara Goucher and Serena Williams? Read the review here and then head over to iTunes to check them out. They were made in 2009 so the songs are older, but having Kara and Serena talk me through a workout is pretty exciting!

During my running this week I was very happy to be able to do a few runs in sub-8 minute miles. I'm focusing on speed this year so this is positive news. I'm hoping to push the pace this next week and see what happens! Any tips for speed work? Leave me a comment with your advice or encouragement!

Running the Edge - Book Review and Giveaway!

I have been engrossed in the book "Running the Edge" by Olympian Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano. As someone who is relatively new to distance running, I ran my first marathon last October and have my second coming up in six weeks, this has been the perfect book for me. It has changed the way I look at running and has helped me put in perspective what running has taught me and still can teach me. It is a book that every runner, no matter how new or immersed in the sport you are, can learn something from. This is my go to running book right now and I know that you will love it too. Continue reading to see my review of this great book and to enter my giveaway to receive a signed copy!

I have been fascinated with elite runners lately. Maybe it was the Olympic year that helped to fuel my love of the sport, but whatever it was I can't get enough. When I saw the tag line "discover the secrets to better running and a better life" I knew that I had to read this book. From page one I was hooked. Transformative Experiences is the first part of learning how to "run the edge." Every runner has had a transformative experience at some point or another. A moment in time when they understand what it means to run, to push the limit, to reach for a goal and earn a PR. That is why we run.

But these transformative experiences can only go so far. We must take these experiences and use them to make our running and every aspect of our lives better. We can use running to increase our success in our education, career, family, friendships and passions. Becoming exceptional in running requires discipline, commitment, determination, accountability and authenticity - just to name a few. As a runner you know what it means to push yourself and to strive to be better. This book points out how great our lives could be if we strived to be better in all aspects of our life, not just running. Running teaches us to reach for the edge, to be the best that we can be, in all aspects of our lives.

With candid stories from both the running career of Olympian Adam Goucher and the coaching experiences of Tim Catalano, "Running the Edge" shows how success and failures are what makes running so great. This book puts the power to change and better your running into your own hands. It doesn't make promises it can't keep and walks you through the steps to "Run the Edge!" One thing I learned is that you will need to be active when reading this book, keep a note pad next to you while you read so you can write down lists of your goals, challenges, and successes. Adam and Tim will walk you through the psychology of running and help you key in on what you need to do to reach your edge and push through it.

The term Distance Maven is coined in this book and used to express what runners can become when they truly embrace the challenges in this book. Runners are not normal, they are not average, and they should not want to be. According to the guys, the curse of normal and the chains of average are meant to be broken by distance mavens. Distance mavens may make mistakes, but they are mistakes that lead to greatness and to finding your edge. 

In the final chapters you will discover the importance of closing in on your goals and how important a supportive group of like minded individuals can be to your success. I have experienced this first hand in my most recent marathon training experience. I know I would not have made it this far in my training or ran 7 minute miles without their support and guidance. Adam and Tim know what they are doing and are sharing from their heart and their experiences. If you truly want to improve your running and your life then read this book. I can't even begin to cover how much this book can enhance your running. You won't regret reading it. For a chance to win a signed copy (which I don't even have) just follow the instructions below.

Today just might be your lucky day because I have a signed copy to give away to one of my lucky blog readers! All you have to do is like Run the Edge and Reason to Play on Facebook and post a comment on this blog. I'll randomly select a lucky reader this Sunday! It's that simple. Good luck and happy running!

2012-Year of Inspiration

The summer Olympics are coming up in a few short months and I am so excited. The top athletes in the world will come together and battle to be given the ultimate prize, a gold medal and bragging rights for the next 4 years.

This past weekend my favorite runner, Kara Goucher battled for a chance to compete for the USA in the Olympic marathon. She ran an amazing race and is now a member of the 2012 Olympic team. I know that I will be following her training and road to the Olympics from here on out. Not only is she an incredible athlete, but she is a very inspiring person. She spoke at my first marathon - the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco - this past year and inspired me to perform at my very best in everything I do.

All the athletes at the games have the ability to inspire and amaze me every time that they compete. Their passion, drive and determination are unmatched. I only hope that I can apply a similar amount of determination into everything I take on in my life, whether it be fitness, work or my relationships. In 2012 I am going to put all my energy into making every moment count.