I'm a Mormon

Now I realize that I originally wanted to start this blog to share my fitness knowledge and experience, but the other reasons were to share the other important aspects in my life.  I have touched on the music side in one post, but I haven't yet shared an even bigger part of who I am.  My Mormon side.

There are millions of Mormons in the world.  Many of us have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as adults because they were introduced to the Church later on in life.  (Now when I refer to "the Church," I am referring to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon Church).  My parents were both raised Mormons as were their parents.  In fact, my Mormon lineage goes back quite a few generations.  My parents are both very active and devout members and therefore taught me the principles and doctrines of the Gospel from the time I was very young, just as I do with my young children.

Later on, when I was almost twenty-one years old, I decided to serve a full-time mission.  Many of the world's views of Mormon missionaries consist of two young men in white shirts and ties, not young women.  Currently however, there is a growing number of young women who decide to dedicate eighteen months to full-time service and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was a difficult decision for me to leave, especially because I only had a semester of school left before I was to graduate with my Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University. In fact, I was too hesitant to pray and ask Heavenly Father if serving a full-time mission was the right thing for me to do, so I asked if I should at least prepare to go.

This experience was one of the first times in my life when I was faced with a life-changing decision truly seeking the Lord's guidance.  One Sunday afternoon, I found a quiet place in a beautiful park where I could really meditate and ponder my question.  As I mentioned, I was hesitant to ask if I should leave my family and friends for a year and a half to go to an unknown place and serve, so I asked my Father in Heaven if I should at least begin the process and prepare to go. As I sat outside on that sunny, summer day, a peaceful feeling came over me.  I felt happy and knew that preparing to serve a full-time mission was part of the Lord's plan for me.

As I tell this experience, I can't help but think that I had been influenced by the prophet Joseph Smith as he prayed to know an answer to a question he had as well.  He had read in the Bible that "if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God...and it shall be given him." James 1:5  The answer he received was much more miraculous and world-changing than my "peaceful feeling," but still sent from the same loving Heavenly Father to His questioning child.

Months later, I was called to serve in the France Toulouse Mission.  Since I had been studying French for years and had just returned from a 6-week study abroad to Senegal in West Africa with the BYU French Department, I was thrilled.  I had even stopped in Paris on my way home for four days and fell in love with the French culture.  However, leaving home is never easy. I still faced many challenges as I prepared to leave for my mission.  I knew I would miss my family and friends.  I loved my college life.  I also started seriously dating someone I had been previously dating before my decision to leave.  We even talked about possibly getting married which would have obviously changed my plans to serve in Southern France.

In the end, I knew that the Lord wanted me to share my testimony of Jesus Christ with the people in France, so I went.  It was, by far, the most humbling and hardest, yet rewarding experience I had ever had.  Those eighteen months changed me and the way that I would continue to live my life.

I had many people question my beliefs, especially since I had been raised as a Mormon from birth.  They figured I had been "brainwashed" by my parents and hadn't really been converted on my own.  Something very important that I learned in these encounters, is how crucial it is for every person to know for themselves what they believe to be true.  Yes, I had been taught by my parents (very different from "brainwashing.") They taught me that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth today, but I discovered that it was the true church through my own efforts in prayer and reading the Book of Mormon, I know that it is true.  In fact, the real reason I decided to serve as a full-time missionary was because I wanted other people to feel the joy that I feel as a result of living the Gospel.

I love the peace and strength I receive through my relationship with my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.  My life is truly blessed and I credit everything in my life to a loving God who loves His daughter, and I can't deny that.

Marathon Training Tips Part 2: Training

Part one of my marathon training tips covered "choosing the training program." Click here to review that first!  Believe me, it's really tough to train without a program.  I would NEVER get up and decide that it would be a good day to run 15 miles, or 17 miles, or 20 miles.  No matter how many times I've run mileage like that, it's always a mind-game to both start and finish.  Without a checklist to tell me how many miles I need to run and when, it would rarely happen.

So now that you have your program, get ready to run!

I have trained for two different marathons, about 4 years apart.  I learned a lot of things after my first one, but believe me, my second training was a COMPLETELY different challenge for two very big reasons:

Lucy: a three-year-old sweet and silly Princess
Liam: a one-year-old curious and busy little Buddy

I have trained with a Bob jogging stroller since Lucy was a teeny baby.  I then graduated to a Double Bob when Liam was born.  I was able to do a lot more running than I would have been able to do otherwise, but I had a goal to get a sub-4 hour time for my second marathon.  (The fact that I was 9-weeks pregnant with Lucy when I ran the first one is beside the point).  Running with a stroller is a great way to work on power and endurance, ESPECIALLY up hills.  I kick butt on hills. But speed with a stroller is definitely a weakness.

If you have to train with a stroller to get in your miles then do it, but I was able to do almost my entire 4-month training without it and it really helped me achieve my sub-4 goal.  With a combination of treadmill runs at the gym, early morning runs at 6:00am, and Saturday morning splits with the Hubby.  (Thirteen miles on the treadmill is NOT my idea of an ideal running situation, but when you gotta do it, you gotta do it).

Here are some general tips that will help you in your training:

2-Hour Workouts: I did a lot of cross-training in my workouts, but a big part of that is because of my job.  I was teaching 4-6 group fitness classes at the gym every week during my training.  That was in ADDITION to my training runs.

I took advantage of this though "challenge" though.  After my 60-minute cardio class on Mondays, I would do my interval speed training on the treadmill.  Treadmill training really helps me run faster speed intervals than I would be able to do on the road.  However, I also had a babysitter for my kids which was also a plus.

Another positive aspect of this type of training is the length of cardio training.  Although I was not running for the entire two hours, I was training my cardiovascular (heart) and  pulmonary (lungs) systems as well as my muscular endurance, all of which are crucial when running a marathon.

Carbohydrate Loading: Fueling your body is a major part of training.  Many people don't think about what they eat before they run during their training as much as they might before the actual race.  If you run your long runs on Saturdays, Friday Night Fueling is a must!  It's funny how a night at Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill is a tradition before racing in a 10K (6 miles), but a lot of runners don't think about it every week when running 15 or more miles for the last 6-8 weeks of a marathon training program.

I first recognized how important fueling is quite a few years ago.  Every month on the first Sunday of the month, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to fast for two meals or 24 hours.  We do it to strengthen our relationship with the Savior and to come closer to God, but then we are also encouraged to donate the money we save from not eating to a charitable fund to help those in need.

Every once in a while I would feel really sluggish on a morning run and couldn't figure out why.  Finally after a few months I realized that I would never have the same energy on my first Monday of the month runs due to the fact that my body had been depleted of any stored energy from my monthly fast.  Although I had eaten dinner Sunday night, my stored energy in my muscles were much lower than normal.  I learned to accept the fact that those days would not be a great running day, but I learned the true connection between fueling and energy during my runs.

Fueling While You Run: As I talk to various runners about what they do to refuel during a long workout, everyone has their preferences.  There are a TON of choices out there now too: Jelly Beans, Chews, Gu's, Gatorade, Powerade and I have a couple of friends who make their own natural refueling snacks.  Whatever you do, make sure you do something.  Your body is not equipped to go much longer than an hour at its peak performance without replenishing carbohydrates and electrolytes.

My personal favorite is Gu, fudge flavored to be exact.  I feel like I'm eating dessert while I run.  Yum!  The directions on the Gu say to eat one 15 minutes before you begin, then every 45 minutes after that.  I used to go closer to an hour before eating another pack, but then I realized that by then, my body is not at its peak and it then takes a few minutes for the energy and electrolytes to get into my body and get to work.  I began using them more often and rarely felt the sluggish feeling I used to feel between refueling while I was running.

Another important thing to remember is that you need to practice what you will do on race day.  I would recommend getting into a routine with the amount and types of carbs you eat the night before, the morning of, and during your run.  If you are not consistent you may not figure out what works best for you.  You also need to stick to that routine as much as you can on race day.

Challenges come when you need to wake up at 3:00 in the morning to get to the shuttle that you take you to the starting line.  When and how much should you eat?  Do what you can to stay as close to your routine.  Don't eat too much or it may interfere with your digestion.  But we'll talk about that more later in Part 3.  ;)

Racing Gear: A big mistake runners make doing new or different things for the race day, that especially includes what you are wearing.  Although it's exciting, don't go out and buy a outfit for the race without wearing it at least a couple of times during a long run.  I've had bad experience with chaffing on my arm from a new tank top I got for a race.  It's also important to think about the weather.  Run in layers if you will be doing it for the race.  Don't try out any new jackets, sunglasses, hats, pants or socks on the big day.

And above all, please get new shoes without wearing them for at least a few weeks.  You never know how different shoes may fit you and work for you.  I was once soooo excited for a new pair of Mizunos, because they were so light and comfortable.  The problem was my feet did not have the support they needed and my foot would end up hurting after about an hour.  No matter how much money you spent, or how much your best friend loves that brand or model of shoes, be sure you wear them in for a few weeks and especially on some long runs during your training.

Your Playlist: Last, but not least, your music can really help you reach your running goals. Now I mentioned this briefly in my post about running for beginners.  This was huge for me.  I went years without listening to music while I ran.  (Let's face it, carrying a discman was not ideal 15 years ago).  But when I started training for longer races, I realized I needed something to keep me from going crazy with boredom. However, since I teach group fitness, I originally thought that I needed to listen to upbeat, techno-type music since that's what a lot of instructors were using.  WRONG!  Sure, a few of those thrown into the mix can be okay, but my recommendation is to listen to what you love, especially songs that you sing along to.

As we were training, I listen to music, but my Hubby doesn't.  He could always tell when I got a good song on because I would immediately pick up my tempo.  (Not mention I may have started singing as well).  I will later share some of my race stories with some songs, but here are a few of my favorites:

Kelly Clarkson (almost any of her songs, but a definite favorite is My Life Would Suck Without You and Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)).

The Phoenix and My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark by Fall Out Boy (a lot of my favorites come from my Les Mills music for their BodyCombat format I teach at the gym. They have awesome songs).

A Warrior's Call by Volbeat

Happy by Pharrell Williams

Let it Rock by Artcore

Raise the Flag by Airbourne

Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus (guilty pleasure, I love that song)

Our Song by Taylor Swift

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri

Tik Tok by Keysha

Roar by Katy Perry

I could keep going, but hopefully I have given you a few ideas.  It's often a nice change when a slower, but good song comes on.  I relax a little bit and enjoy it, then pick up the pace again when the music does.

Please feel free to share your ideas and things that have helped you in your training.  I may not be doing another full marathon again for a few more years, (especially now that I have Bun #3 in the oven!) But I'm sure I will get the bug again.  I could always use more tips too!

How your kids will succeed in music lessons

Most of my day is consumed with being a homemaker momma.  Part of it is spent at the gym teaching group fitness or training for a race, but another big part is teaching private piano lessons out of my home.

I started teaching piano students when I was still in high school, while I, myself, was still a piano student.  Over the years, I have taught dozens of students: young and old, beginners to more advanced pianists.  If I knew what I know now, I would have been such a better student!!! (I also apologize to my former teacher whenever I get a chance!)

As a teacher now, I have learned a lot.  Every single student is soooo different.  Obviously there will be various things to focus on with beginners or depending on age, but I think there are certain things that always apply when progressing in a musical talent.

If you are a parent of a musical student, you are the key to your child's success.  Here are some tips:

PARENTS

Attend an Occasional Lesson if Possible- In my piano contract I request that my parents attend at least one lesson a month.  There are situations that make it difficult for parents to stay, but making that effort when you can will aid your child in their progress.  You see firsthand what the teacher is telling the student to work on and you see how your child responds in a teaching environment.  There are some parents that stay for every lesson and I see drastic improvements in their children's success.

Communicate with the Teacher- One of the most important reasons I love when parents stay for the lesson is that I can communicate with them easily.   Scheduling students every half hour leaves very little room for parent/ teacher interaction.  If you cannot attend the lesson, I would recommend calling the teacher or finding another time when you can communicate at least once a month about your child's progress.  If at least resort, send a note in the child's notebook (my Faber assignment books I use have a specific spot each week for the parent and the teacher to communicate through notes).

Schedule Practice Time- Many students (and parents) often give me the excuse that there is no time to practice.  I'm sure there are occasional weeks out of town or crazy schedules, but 99% of students can find 10-15 minutes most days of the week to practice some if not all of their assignments.  I found have that many of my successful students find time in the mornings, before school, before playtime.  It's done and out of the way.  As long as it is part of a daily routine, it won't be forgotten.

Be Available During Practice Time- The age of your student will often determine the amount of help they may need during their practice sessions.  Younger students may need more help, but see if you can take those 10 or 15 minutes to be available, especially at the beginning of the week to make sure they know what and how to practice.

Frequency Over Duration- As I mentioned previously, many students (especially beginners) will only need 10-15 minutes a day on their assignments.  For them, practicing is more about becoming familiar with the instrument and techniques needed to play well.  I ALWAYS  say that it is more beneficial for students to practice 15 minutes 5 days a week, than 30 minutes 2 or 3 days a week.

Positive Reinforcement- Be sure to give your student positive reinforcement, ESPECIALLY when it is not a positive experience.  Many students may want to quit lessons when they have a poor performance, or a difficult piece they are working on.  Be sure to consistently let them know how much they have improved and how well they are doing.  Think about ways to reward your child.  (Prizes for passing off certain difficult pieces, performing in a recital, etc.)

Do Not Use Practice as a Punishment- This should be obvious, but most kids will see practicing as a chore or a punishment.  I have very few students (but there are SOME) who actually enjoy practicing and do it on their own.  You need to enforce regular practice in order for your child to improve, but try to make it a positive experience.

I have many more ideas on this topic.  Maybe I will publish a Part 2 in the future. ;)  However, as a teacher I am also always looking for more ideas and tips.  So share what has helped you or your child succeed.  Thanks!

"What if I don't run?" 5 ways to help you start

Okay, so I had a lot of feedback from my last post.  Although I hesitate breaking up my marathon training posts, I wanted to focus on some of the basics whether you are training for a marathon or training to run a mile.

One day I was driving down the street and I saw a sticker on the back of someone's car that had a big

0.0
then in small letters underneath it said "I don't run."

I was laughing so hard.  One of the reasons I wanted to train for my first marathon was so that I could earn that 26.2 sticker for my car.  I loved that someone was okay with the fact that they don't run.  However, I have talked with quite a few people that don't run, but really want to.

As a personal trainer, many of my clients did not run and wanted to achieve a higher level of fitness so they could run.  Every person starts at a different level, has different preferences, and progresses at their own pace.  I will give some of my ideas to help you get started.  I would also love to hear about any ideas that have helped you too.

Shoes make all the difference
For those of you who do not run much, investing in a good pair of shoes is a tough step.  However, being a penny-pincher myself, running shoes is one purchase I don't skimp on.  It is a "you get what you pay for" type of investment. The $100 shoes really are that much better then the $50 shoes.

One of the best ways to start is to go to a running store to have them fit you for your perfect shoe or type of shoe.  Chances are local running stores will be quite expensive.  You don't HAVE to buy them there!  Find out what works best and see if you can find the same shoe for less money.  I have found some great deals on Zulily for my Asics that I love.  (And remember even Asics, Nike, and New Balance have a wide range of shoes.  Just because they are Asics, if they are $50, they won't be as nice as the $100 models).

And to finish up with shoes, if you have had the same shoes for five years, no matter how expensive they were (and you have used them often), it is probably time to buy some new shoes.  Sorry.

Start where you are
Whether you can run for 10 minutes, 10 seconds, or 10 steps, you gotta start somewhere.  And you know what?  The process is really not that different for any of these levels.  I have found a very effective way for most people is interval training.

If you can only run 10 steps, run 10 steps, then walk 10 steps.  However, run 10 more, then walk, then run.  The key is to run longer and walk less.  Eventually, you will be able to run 2 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 20 minutes.  The hardest plateau to conquer is the one-mile stretch.  Believe me.  If you can push yourself doing this interval training until you can run a mile without stopping, then you will be able to conquer the others.

Warning: Most people I talk to that don't enjoy running cannot run 1-2 miles without slowing down to walk.  When you get past those first couple of miles, it will most likely become easier and you will begin to enjoy it more and more.

Good News: Regardless of how far you can run, by doing anything more than what you are doing now, your cardiovascular fitness will improve.  Pushing yourself to run intervals and increase your running distance will be an AWESOME workout, regardless of how far you can go.

Be in a place you love 
I loooooove early morning runs outside.  Very few people I know actually enjoy running on a treadmill.  However, I prefer to do sprints on a treadmill because I can push myself faster than if I were on the road.

Cold winter weather (or Arizona heat) is often the reason I hear for people avoiding the outdoors.  We are currently in some of the best weather you will get all year, take advantage of it!

If you love the beach, run at the beach.

If you enjoy trail running, find some good trails.

When I moved to the San Diego area 4 years ago, I was 5 months pregnant (I'm not into pregnant running, but that's just me).  I drove around my new area and I had already scouted out about 5 different awesome routes that I couldn't wait to run after I had my baby.  

Train for Something
Specific goals are the best way to help someone succeed.  As a runner, the best way to help you set a great goal is to register for a race.  Find a nearby 5k and give yourself a couple of months to prepare.  A 5k is 3.1 miles, a perfect beginning distance.  If you are worried about running that far, remember that walking is allowed in a race!  If you have never run in a race before, I think you would be surprised how much adrenaline will do to you when you are there with all the other runners.

Having a specific date and distance is a great motivator, so don't wait to register until you think you are ready to run it, register first and then start training.  Grab a buddy and train together.  Even if you are not the same level as your buddy, running in a race is always more fun when you carpool together and countdown to the raceday together.

Find ways to love it
There are a million ways to help you enjoy your workouts.  Here are just a few that might help:

Music- As a group fitness instructor I thought you could only workout to high intensity, up-tempo techno music.  One day I had a terrible run and I switched my ipod to my country music.  It was AWESOME! I don't usually listen to country while I run, but I learned that it is important to listen to music that you love.  What are the songs you belt out loud in the car?  Those are the songs that will push you to run and have a good time.

Buddies- Sometimes all you need is the motivation knowing that someone else is getting up at 6:00am to meet you.  I also increased my speed when I started running with my husband.  I love talking to my buddy sometimes though, so if you don't, be sure you set your rules up first.  Nobody wants an annoyed buddy. :)

Entertainment- If you absolutely have to run on a treadmill, I would look for ways to make it go by faster (aka: TV).  Seriously, I had to run 13 miles on a treadmill for my last training and there was no possible way I could have gotten through it without my earbuds and HGTV.  I even heard about a Gold's Gym that had a Cardio Cinema room where they would project high-intensity movies like Mission Impossible on a giant screen.  I imagine that I would be able to run a little bit faster and longer as I watch Tom Cruise sprint through the streets of Europe.



I hope these ideas help you get motivated to start. Good luck!  Feel free to ask for more guidance as well.  I would LOVE to help!

Marathon Training Tips Part 1: The Training Program

Disclaimer: So I'm not going to pretend that I have run a dozen marathons, qualified for Boston, or am an expert when it comes to marathon training.  But sometimes I believe that if you are training for your first or second marathon, getting tips from a fellow recreational runner can possibly be even more helpful than advice from Joe Schmo who runs a sub 3-hour marathon.

So with that disclaimer, here is my background are a few of the things I have learned.

Master Mel 
I run recreationally, but I am a fitness professional.  I received a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Exercise Science fields and I have almost 10 years of experience.

My first marathon was in April 2010 and I was 9 -weeks pregnant.  I finished at 4:43:00 although I had trained with a 3-hour 20-mile run.

My second marathon was in March 2014 and I finished at 3:59:21.  I had trained at about the same speed with a 3-hour 20-mile run, but I was not pregnant and I had the advantage of everything I had learned running my first 26.2.

Finding a Training Program

There are a lot of training programs out there.  It can be quite overwhelming to figure out which works best for you.  

Should I be focusing on total weekly miles or longer daily runs?  

How many days should I be running, should I be running every day?  

Does it matter if I change up my rest day?

What if I miss a day, will it mess up my training?

The answer to those questions is yes.  And no.  Obviously everyone looking to train for a marathon is starting at a different point. Some of you are already able to run 10 miles without a problem, others can still barely trudge through a 5k.  

Here is the training program that I have used for my training.  I originally got this from my friend Sarah, and I honestly have no idea where she got it since it's just a Word doc she sent me.  

16- week Marathon Training

As part of the program, you need to do two additional days of cross-training for at least 40-45 minutes.  Many days, I did two hours of cross training which I believe helped with my endurance. 

Week              Tuesday                     Thursday                   Saturday

                        Speed                          Tempo                         Long

1                      8x400 meters            3 miles                        10 miles

2                      4x1200 meters          5 miles                        12 miles

3                      6x800 meters            7 miles                        13 miles

4                      3x1600 meters          3 miles                        10 miles

5                      10x400 meters          5 miles                        14 miles

6                      5x1200 meters          5 miles                        15 miles

7                      7x800 meters            8 miles                        17 miles

8                      3x1600 meters          10 miles                      13 miles

9                      12x400 meters          3 miles                        18 miles

10                    8x800 meters            5 miles                        15 miles

11                    4x1600 meters          8 miles                        20 miles

12                    12x400 meters          5 miles                        15 miles

13                    6x1200 meters          5 miles                        20 miles

14                    7x800 meters            4 miles                        15 miles

15                    3x1600 meters          8 miles                        10 miles

16                    30 min easy with       20 min easy with       Marathon

                           5x60s                          3 or 4 pickups          

The training paces recommended by the FIRST program are somewhat faster than those recommended by other training plans.  Of course, with just three running days a week, you should be will rested for each workout.  Here are the paces you’ll need to run, each expressed relative to your current 10-K race pace.

Long Run                   10-K pace + 60 to 75 seconds/mile

Long Tempo              10-K pace + 30 to 35 seconds

Mid Tempo                10-K pace + 15 to 20 seconds

Short Tempo             10-K pace

1600 m repeats         10-K pace – 35 to 40 seconds

1200 m repeats         10-K pace – 40 to 45 seconds

800 m repeats           10-K pace – 45to 50 seconds

400 m repeats           10-K pace – 55 to 60 seconds

I have tweaked it a little bit each time, but these are the reasons I like it.  

- You only run 3 days a week.  In my schooling and work experience I have found that many people get injured due to overuse and chronic running.  Anyone that goes from occasional running to running 5-6 days a week will likely injure something: knee, muscle, back, take your pick.

-Change in tempos.  Training with the sprint workouts significantly increased my speed.  I loved changing up my focus.  It was also an easy thing to do on the treadmill.  I LOATHE running on treadmills, so I usually don't. However, as a mom, I sometimes don't have the option.  Running sprints keeps my focus and doesn't allow me to get bored.  I actually prefer doing the sprints on a treadmill because then I believe I push myself to go faster than I would on the road.

-Length of the program.  Although 16 weeks can seem like a long time, you start off with 10 miles right off the bat.  Training a full 4 months running at least a 10-mile run every week allows your body (and your mind) to believe that it's not as long as you think.  It also allowed for some weeks when I had to adjust for illness, injury, busy schedules, etc.  If I missed a week or two, I didn't really feel like I was completely out of the training.

-Two 20-milers. The first time I trained, I only did one 20-mile run.  I hit the wall right around mile 21 during the race.  I immediately decided then and there that I would either do more miles next time, or do at least two.  So, the second training, I did both.  I did a 20 and then a 21.5 a couple weeks later.  I think it really paid off.

Choosing the Training Program is only the first step.  Remember you should adjust what you need to in order to make it work for you, but also know that programs like this are created for many purposes including rest days, peak performance, and progress.  

My Fitness Journey Part 3: Marathon Momma

Training for my first full marathon was great, but tough in the Arizona valleys.  There are very few hills which produces a consistent pace as long as you can keep it up.  I trained, increasing my mileage every week.  Four weeks before the race and one week before my ominous 20-mile run, I found out that I was pregnant.  Now, it's pretty sad to think that after a year of disappointments, I was not as excited as I should have been to find out I had gotten pregnant.  I had wanted to be a mom for as long as I could remember.  However, I was so close to accomplishing a goal that I had worked so hard to achieve and all at once, I wasn't sure if I would be able to.

First piece of advice: if you have a question like, "Should I run a marathon if I am pregnant?"  Do not google it.  It will only make you more confused not to mention make you feel like an awful person for even considering such a thing.  "How dare you put your child's life in danger for a selfish thing like running in a race."  Well, good thing for me I had a close friend who was an experienced OBGYN.  He reassured me that  as long as I had been training well, I kept my heart rate in check, and I stayed hydrated, I should be safe.

My detailed marathon training and race is a story for another day.  However, long story short, I came in around 4:43:00.  Very disappointing after doing a 3:00:00 20-mile training run 3 weeks earlier.  I was 9-weeks pregnant on race day and I didn't run again after that day for over a year.

Staying active while pregnant was important thing to me, but I did not run. I had learned in school and while working in my field, that exercise during pregnancy is a very positive thing.  I had a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby girl, and a quick recovery.  I jumped right back into exercising as soon as I could (although I probably should have jumped a little less than I did since I experienced my first full-on peed pants while doing jumping jacks in a class 6 weeks after little Lucy was born).

Exercising with a baby can be tricky. I ran a lot while Lucy was little because I couldn't take her to the gym while she was less than 6-months old.  I talked my husband into buying a BOB jogging stroller, which is the best investment we've ever made, (next to our double BOB that we got after baby #2).  I started teaching group fitness again and slowly gained my body back.

I was pregnant with my second child a couple of months after Lucy turned one year old.  It was an initial shock, but I was so happy.  I continued to teach my group fitness classes until I was 35 weeks and my doctor told me I had to slow down or he was going to come too early.  Of course I stopped teaching for the next 5 weeks and he came on his due date.  Figures.

I made a goal to run a race between every pregnancy. Although the only race I ran between my first two was a 10K Turkey Trot, I decided that I wanted to set a new goal to run at least one half marathon between every pregnancy.  Races are such a good target to aim for.  There's a specific date and distance to work towards and a specific time if you are feeling extra ambitious.

I ran my first post-baby half-marathon in March 2013 when little Liam about 5 months old.  It was the Diamond Valley half-marathon in Hemet, CA. I came in right around 2 hours which I was pleased with considering it was a very disappointing rocky dirt path for 12 of the 13 miles.  I had reached my goal of running a half, but decided later that year that I was going to try for another 26.2 miles.

Ever since I had tried to run my first marathon, I always knew that I wanted to do another one.  I didn't want an excuse when people asked me how I did.  "Yeah, I came in over 4 and a half hours, but I was pregnant so..."  No more.  Ryan signed up for the 2014 Phoenix Marathon, so I did too.  Whatever made me think that it would be possible for both of us to train for the same marathon is beyond me.  But we made it happen.

My training and race-day stories are for another day.  My goal for this marathon was to run the whole way without walking except through the aid stations while I re-hydrated.  My underlying goal was a sub-4-hour race.  If it didn't happen I was okay with it.  Let's just say that this Marathon Momma came in at 3:59:21 to be exact.  I could not have been more happy and pleased with my efforts and results.

I'm not sure if or when this momma will run in another full marathon, but if I do, it will not be anytime soon.  One thing I can say is that believing you can continue to grow and thrive in doing something you love is priceless.  Always aiming for something a little better than where I am now is a goal in all facets of my life: as a mom, as a wife, as a friend, daughter, and sister.  I love having fitness goals that I can measure and check off.  The feeling of success in achieving something that you once thought impossible is unreal.  So thankful for this journey and for the road ahead.

My Fitness Journey Part 2: My First Half Marathon

After I accepted my 5-mile knee flare-up, time passed, and I graduated from BYU and went on to attend Arizona State University to pursue a master's degree in Exercise and Wellness.  I wasn't married and I didn't want a grown up person's job, so I decided more school was the best option.  In graduate school, I realized that I had a much more flexible schedule and could really focus on my fitness.  I began working out every day.  I recognized a HUGE change in my fitness level as well as my body shape when I went from working out 3-4 days a week to 5-6 days a week.  I would often go the the gym, do about 45 minutes of cardio like an elliptical or a group fitness class, then another half hour of strength training.

I met my running mate in the midst of adjusting to that Arizona sunshine. His name was Ryan and he enjoyed running.  I still remember the first time we went running together.  We went around the block for a 4-mile run (which in the East Valley is easy to track thanks to our early Mormon settlers).  I couldn't believe how fast he ran!  I thought I was going to die.  I hadn't ever really tried to push myself into running faster.  Up until then, I had been okay with my natural mediocre running pace.

However, as things got more serious with Ryan, we ran together more often.  I enjoyed running with him, not only because I was falling in love with him, but he was making me a faster runner.  After we were married in December 2007, he talked me into training for a half marathon.  I told him it was impossible because my knee wouldn't allow me to run much more than an hour.  However, as convincing as young love is, I trained for the 2008 Bryce Canyon Half Marathon.  I ran a couple of 8-mile runs with a 10-miler just before the race.  

In training for my first half-marathon, however, there were a few things I had failed to think about.  First off, I had been training on really flat terrain in Arizona.  When I say flat, I mean not a single hill in sight.  The first half of the Bryce Canyon Half is is steep downhill.  To illustrate how steep it was, I passed a sign on the road warning drivers of the 6% decline.  I had not trained running downhill at all.  I had never considered that it was necessary since running downhill should be easier, right?  Well, about mile 7, my quads were done.  It was pure mental toughness that kept me going.  I tried to use my quads less, but then due to that unnatural gait, I began to feel it in my hips.  

Despite the fact that the downhill section crippled me, I approached the finish line and saw Ryan running back to me.  I didn't wear a watch and had no idea how long I had been running.  He quickly informed me that I was only about a few hundred feet away from the end and at about 1:48:00.  I booked it and finished right around 1:49:00.  I couldn't believe it!  My knee survived and I had kept a pretty good pace.  Of course I walked like a 90-year-old lady for about five days, but I concluded that as long as I only ran a couple of times a week and supplemented with cross-training, I could make this work.

Working in the Fitness Industry after I graduated from ASU was busy.  I was a health coach in corporate wellness, I had dozens of clients at a personal training studio, I taught various group fitness classes, and even taught a couple of classes at the county's community colleges.  I loved getting paid to work out and help people catch the fire for healthy living.  

In 2010 I decided to run another half.  I had been training with occasional sprints on the treadmill and increased my speed significantly.  My brother decided to come down and run it with me and Ryan.  The course was completely dirt... well, since it had recently rained, it was partially mud as well.  It was a smaller, completely flat race, but was a lot of fun.  

I actually learned a couple of really great lessons while running this race.  Both of them having to do with your attitude and mental connection to the physical outcome of your race.  I had started running with an ipod and an emotionally touching song came on right around mile 10 as the race started to wear on me.  Okay, since you are curious and must know what song it was, please don't judge. It was the Backstreet Boys song "Perfect Fan." I love my Momma. I may have cried, but it helped me keep up my pace. The music you listen to can really make or break your race, choose wisely. 

My other lesson came in spontaneous positive reinforcement to my fellow racers.  The course had a couple of spots where we had to turn around and run back.  Obviously this meant that we were running opposite some of the other runners in the race.  As I watched them, I noticed that not very many people looked like they were enjoying themselves.  I started high-fiving some of them and giving them encouragement.  As I did, I felt a surge of energy shoot through my body and speed up my pace.  I came in right around 1:44:00, five minutes faster than my first race and on a much flatter course.  I contribute much of that to my encouragement to the other runners. 

My brother did really well too.  He trained in Provo, Utah at about 4,500 foot elevation, so coming down to Arizona took off a ton of time for him.  We headed home after the race.  Later as we looked up our official times, I checked and in shock realized that I won 3rd place in my age category!  We had left before they awarded the winners their medals.  Not only that, my brother finished first in his category.  I felt kind of silly asking them to mail us our medals, but so happy we won! 

Since I had done so well in this race, I realized I wanted to keep going. I soon afterward looked for an upcoming marathon.  I figured that if I kept up that pace the whole way, I could get a 3:30:00 time on a full! If only that was how it worked...

My Fitness Journey Part 1: Chubby Little Legs to My First 10K

My fitness journey started on a little canal road in the Salt Lake Valley.  My chubby little 7-year-old legs pedaled my pink banana seated bike while I followed my brother on his bike and my dad as he ran along the shoulder of the narrow paved path.  My dad was a diligent daily exerciser and has been for about as long as I can remember.  He would run in occasional 10K races, but often stuck to his 4-mile route.

I am blessed with good genes: good teeth, strong fingernails, and an amazing heart.  Not just to love with, because that's important, but physically, my heart is about as strong as they come.  I remember in junior high (after I grew out of my chubby legs), being one of the first runners to finish the mile in my all-girls PE class.  In high school I remember running an 8-minute mile without ever really trying.  I didn't play sports because my parents decided that dance classes were sufficient, but I wasn't a dancer either.  I'm not sure why I didn't run for the cross-country team or try out for track, but I didn't. I probably thought it was nerdy, so I didn't.  But I was nerdy.... moving on.

The first time I ran more than a couple of miles was in high school with my dad.  One evening, he needed to check off his routine 4-mile run and I tagged along.  I know I slowed him down.  And to be honest, about halfway through I thought I was going to die, but I finished and he supported me the whole way.

Upon graduating high school, my parents got me a gym membership and some personal training sessions.  I was intrigued with my trainer's exercises and programs that she prescribed for me.  Why should I do this lift?  Why should I do it so many times?  I could not believe that she really wanted me to come to the gym at least three times a week and do cardio for a half hour or more.  That was a lot to ask!  I had never worked out regularly before.  How was I supposed to make time for all this now?

Having a personal trainer was actually how I decided to look into studying Exercise Science. Although I jumped around a few different majors, I finally settled into Fitness and Wellness Management. I LOVED my classes.  I learned about weight lifting and cardio training as well as nutrition and other health-related topics.

My first official race was a few years into college when  I ran BYU's Rex Lee Run 5K.  I think I came in around 27 minutes.  Although I was now immersed in learning about the fitness world, if I worked out four times a week I was doing pretty well.  I fell in love with the group fitness cardio kick boxing classes they would have in the indoor track.  Hundreds of girls at 9:00 pm gathered for therapeutic punching and kicking while the enormous speakers blared above us.  With the stresses of college studies and dating, I made these "therapy sessions" top priority.

I eventually got the courage to run in my first 10K.  I trained for the Provo Freedom Run on the 4th of July (which is now a family tradition).  As I increased my mileage and frequency, I began to feel pretty good.  That summer I focused on running nearly every day, at least four or five miles.  However, that proved to be a bad idea.  After the race my knee flared up any time I tried to run more than 45 minutes or so.  I would hit the 5-mile mark and the pain would surge.  I tried a brace, but it did not help much.  I accepted the fact that I wasn't meant to be a distance runner.  And I was okay with that.