Run with a Purpose - Wear Blue:Run to Remember

I am currently in the process of writing a blog all about motivation.  I will talk about what motivation is, the different types of motivation, and how I keep myself motivated.  Contrary to popular belief, no one is motivated to do things all the time.  I don't always want to go out for a run...but that doesn't mean I won't go for a run.

One of the things that is keeping me motivated right now is the reason why I run and the group of people I run with.  When we found out we were going to be stationed at Fort Lewis I was excited about the adventures it would bring.  One year ago I read an article in Runner's World magazine about Wear Blue: Run to Remember located near JBLM (Joint Base Lewis-McChord).  I searched for the group on the internet, but searching for Run to Remember brought me back many search results.  Luckily, I keep all my Runner's World magazines and went looking for the article.  I quickly found the article and their website.

I wasn't too fond of the move because I love the beach and warm weather, but knowing I would have an opportunity to run with WB:R2R (Wear Blue: Run to Remember) was very exciting for me.  Not only was I going to be able to participate in a running group, but I would be surrounded by people who were running for a cause...and a cause I am passionate about...to run for the Fallen, for the Fighting, and for the Families.

Wear Blue: Run to Remember Mission:  Create a living memorial for the service and sacrifice of the American military.

The the very first day I ran with this group, I felt a part of something.  I was embraced, accepted, and included.  To be honest, WB:R2R helped me get through my husband's first deployment.  Not just because of running, but because of the friendships I formed and the sense of community you feel in the group.

WB:R2R Goals are to act as a support network, create a living memorial, and bridge the gap between the military and the community.

It didn't take me long to see that they are meeting all of their goals.  Being a part of Wear Blue gives me such a sense of pride.  Not only because of the message we carry with us when we run, but because they are truly an all-inclusive group.  Everyone is accepted.  No matter who you are, you are welcome to join.  Whether you are related to the military, a friend of a service member, a gold star parent or wife, or just live in the area, you are welcome.  In reality, you don't even need to live in the JBLM area to be a part of Wear Blue and be a part of the community.

WB:R2R is branching out to other areas in the US, but if there is not a group in your area, that doesn't mean you can be a part of the group.  All you need to do to be a member is Wear Blue during your races.  It's that simple.  If you are interested in getting your very own Wear Blue: Run to Remember shirt, click here.

Every Saturday, before we push out for our runs, we make a Circle of Remembrance.  In that circle, we take a moment of silence for the fallen, call out the names of the service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice that weekend over the past 10 years in the Global War on Terror, and call out the names of the service members we all run for.

When my husband arrived to his unit, he met the father of SPC Thomas F Duncan III.  My husband was moved by the conversation and SPC Duncan became his Ranger in the Sky.  I run in his memory every Saturday and every race.  He made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the safety of me and my fellow residents of the United States of America.  You can learn a little about Ranger Duncan here.

I ran the AMICA Seattle Half Marathon this past November with WB:R2R for Ranger Duncan and for all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Running past the Mile of Remembrance was very emotional.  The video below demonstrates what I'm talking about.



If you would like to learn more about what WB:R2R is all about, click here.

To become a member, simply click here and fill out the form. (Remember, you don't have to be a part of the military or affiliated with them in any way.)

If you are not a runner or walker, but would still like to support WB:R2R, you can help by purchasing merchandise or making a donation.

I will be wearing blue during my first ultra marathon in July and am honored to serve as a living memorial for Ranger Duncan.  If you would like to know more, please visit wearblueruntoremember.org or comment below.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about WB:R2R and your support.
Andi

A Plan to Cross the Finish Line

Now that I have a goal, to complete my first ultra marathon (52.4 miles) on July 29, 2012 in San Francisco, I have to start planning.  Yes, I have to plan how I'm going to travel there, where I will stay, who will watch my girls, and how I will pay for this whole venture.  But I'm not talking about planning the logistics of the actual race.  I'm talking about planning how I will train myself to get to a point where I can be confident that I can get myself to the finish line.  Official training for the ultra is suggested to begin in March, but I prefer to gear myself up so it's not such a burden on my body when I begin the formal training.

Planning isn't just about figure out what days I will go out for a run.  I took the time to do research online to find suggested training plans.  Training plans usually include the number of days you should train in a week, as well as the number of miles for each training day.  Ultra training is a bit different from half marathons or marathons because the focus is primarily on the number of miles or time spent running.  Usually in a training plan you have a day where you have speed training or an occasional hill training.  Not with ultra training.  It's about getting your body ready for the endurance and getting those miles in.

I found a few plans and they were all pretty similar so I chose one that would work best for me.  Now, I'm not a fan of cookie cutter anything, so I took that plan and made it my own.  I work full time and have a family, which includes 2 daughters in daycare.  I studied the plan and tried to determine what, if anything, I needed to change in the plan to make it work for me.  If there is one piece of advice I would give you is YOUR PLAN SHOULD BE REALISTIC.  One that you know you will be able to follow.  Life happens and you may miss a day of training here or there, but for the most part you should be able to follow the plan.  If the plan has 5 days a week and you know that it will be extremely difficult to commit to that every week, then adjust the plan to 3 days a week and adjust the miles.  If you find there is a week you can get an extra run in, great! 

I love running, but I don't want running to be the only type of fitness I do.  Most ultra plans seemed to fill your days will running.  So what I did was change the plan to work for me.  I simply took a low mileage day and turned it into a cross training day...for me that means Spin.  I may not be getting those miles in, but I'm still getting the aerobic training in.  Those days may be scheduled for Spin, but there is nothing prohibiting me from getting a run in if I have the energy or the time to do so.

No matter what you end goal is or what finish line you dream of crossing, make a plan.  Take the time to do research to find suggested approaches, determine what you are looking for in your "training", figure out the amount of time you can realistically commit to, and write it down.  Preparation is just as important as the actual event.  Take the time...it's worth the investment.  I promise.

 This is my preferred method of documenting my training plan.  Once complete, I print it out and hang it somewhere I will see it numerous times through out the day.  For me, it's a way to keep myself accountable.  Find a way that works for you. 

How to Fit Fitness in Your Life

• Wife
• Mother (of 2)
• Full time employee

The list above doesn't seem that long, but in reality there are so many unspoken words in that list.  I know I don't even need to explain the work that goes into being a wife and mother, let alone one that has a full time job.  I cook, clean, wash & fold clothes, go shopping (and not always the pleasant kind), etc.  You all get the point.  So how is it that I have the time to workout and study for a certification?  I could say it's sheer determination, but I'd be lying.  Don't get me wrong.  Determination has a lot to do with it, but it's not the only factor.  I would bucket my success (and future success) into 2 categories.

1.   Priority
2.   Support

 Priority
The truth is that being a homemaker, especially one that works full time doesn't leave much (extra) time to do anything else.  I am the first to admit that.  However, we must all admit that there are parts of our day that are idle.  By idle I mean, sitting/laying around watching tv, surfing the web, reading a magazine, talking on the phone, or on facebook. Of course, there are times where some of these things aren't wasted time, but I'm sure you know what I'm getting at.  The truth is that you make time for things that are truly important to you.  

Have you ever had a day where you were extremely strapped for time, but had somewhere to be or someone to see that was just so important, you "MADE" the time for it.  You may have had to put a task on hold for it or you may have had no time in your day for a breather, but you made time for it.  Why?  Because that appointment was important to you.  That is what you need to do with with your health and fitness.  Make it a priority.  Sometimes, a load of laundry may not get done or a trip to the salon may have to wait.  Sometimes, we are just too busy to do it all and something must wait.

Take some time and make a plan.  Set SMART goals.  SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, REALISTIC, and TIMELY.  If time is your biggest issue then focus on REALISTIC goals.  Ideally, I think we would all love it if we could work out 6 days a week, but for some of us that is never going to happen.  Working out 3 days a week, if done properly, is enough.  If you can manage to squeeze in additional workouts, then great!  You are a step ahead.  If you miss a day - it's ok!  Life happens.  Just make it up another day or pick up where you left off.

Being a mom and being away from the home may be tough, especially if you are a single parent (or a military wife, lol).  Going to the gym or out for a run may not always be that simple.  Hiring a babysitter every time you need to get a workout in may not always be in the budget.  So, that calls for creative thinking.  If you are a runner, you can invest in a jogging stroller and take the kid(s) with you.  Or, you can manage to fit a workout in at lunch time.  Maybe, you can purchase a workout dvd?  If on a budget, there are numerous internet sites that provide you great workouts.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  I know that for some of us, getting fitness time outside the house is ideal...and preferred.  But, the truth is we can't always make that happen.  We need to get creative and find ways to fit fitness into our lives.

Support

I have been extremely blessed to be surrounded by such supportive people.  Between my family and friends I have so much support to help me achieve my goals.  Obviously, the biggest support comes from my husband and girls.  I know my girls are too young to have a say at the moment, but I know that as they grow they will support me because they already see the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.  When I lived back home and my parents were around, they were a huge support system.  My husband is in the military and has been away for about half of our marriage so when I lived near my parents, it was very important to have their support in my running ventures as well.

I am blessed enough to have a husband who is super supportive.  Don't get me wrong, it's not always a bed of roses for him.  There are times that things he needs from me suffer and are put on the back burner for my running, but in the end he understands.  The reason that I was ready to take on my ultra marathon challenge this year is because I know my husband will be home for most of the time I will be in training (well, I think I know.  With the military change is always a possibility.)  I will have to put in lots of miles, which equals time away from the home.  If he wasn't supportive or home, there is no way I would be able to manage this type of training.  The biggest reason is because my husband is an in-home babysitter =)  Yep, I said it and all the wives out there understand me when I say it.  If I need to get out there and log some miles, early in the morning or late at night, he is home.

If you lack the support, whether it's physical, emotional, or even psychological it is your responsibility to make a plan and recruit your family and friends.  You MUST communicate not only your goals to them, but what they can do to support you.  How can they help you reach those goals?  Express to them how important it is to you...to them.  I would even go as far as mentioning the things you do not want them to do.  If there is something that you feel will sabotage your success, then tell them.

If health is truly something you want, you must take control.  You must speak up.  You must make it happen.  It's up to you.

Obviously, there are many other factors that can lead to success, but at a high level these are the 2 most important to get started.

You CAN do it!  You ARE strong!!  You WILL succeed!!!

With lots of love,
Andi

2012 Grand Re-Opening

Welcome to

Andi's Running Adventures Blog

2011 brought me and my family many exciting adventures...and they sure did keep up busy.  Now that 2012 is here and I have a goal to run an ultra marathon this Summer, I think it's time I start blogging again.

Exactly 1 year ago I was in the process of moving to North Carolina.  The first time I had moved away, not just from my home state of New Jersey, but also from my childhood home.  It was a new state, a new home, new furniture, and the best of all great new friends.  NC also brought me a great new running club called Fayetteville Running Club.  The first running community I was actively involved with. I did love it in NC, but the one thing that is always constant is change.

September rolled around and it was time to head to our first duty station, Fort Lewis, WA.  Yes, I was heading to the opposite side of the country, where the weather is wetter and no one I knew was around.  Moving to Washington was scary, yet exciting.  The best part of WA was all the outdoor activities and the cooler weather for my running endeavors.  Washington brought me an awesome running community called Wear Blue:Run to Remember. (www.wearblueruntoremember.org)  As I went through my first deployment, Wear Blue helped me in so many ways.  They are not just a running club...they are a community.  Washington will be our home for about the next 2 years so it was time to start planning my next great adventure.

Lisa Hallet, co-founder & CEO of Wear Blue:Run to Remember, ran the first CPT John L Hallett III Ultra in 2011 (which included the San Francisco Marathon) and is planning the 2012 ultra.  I was contemplating taking on the challenge, but was not sure if it was something I was going to commit to.  One day when going through my Seattle Half Marathon goodie bag, I came across an advertisement for the San Francisco marathon and the date just jumped out at me...July 29, 2012.  Realizing that the ultra was the same date as my birthday was confirmation that 2012 would be the year I would conquer an ultra marathon.

Here we are.  2012 is here and I am so excited & nervous; not just about the race itself, but the training.  This will require lots of time, energy, perseverance, & determination.  It will not be easy, but "I don't need easy, I just need possible" - Soul Surfer.  

There are many miles spent alone on the road, but it doesn't mean I can't share it with you.  I'm not sure how often I will update the blog because I do have a full time job, a husband, and 2 daughters to take care of - oh - and let's not forget all the time I will spend running, but I will update as often as I can.

This is not meant to inspire you to run marathons or even to become a runner.  But it's to inspire you to dream big and know that there is nothing impossible when you give it all you got and believe that God will do what you can't.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.  If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section or visit my facebook and send me a message. My Facebook Page

Happy runnings.

Andi D.

"I don't need easy, I just need possible"