Fit, Fabulous, 40's, Friday

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!

Hope you are having a 

FABULOUS week!

I'm feeling so blessed this morning!

I wanted to share what I did this last Sunday!

I ran my 3rd -1/2 Marathon 

to earn the 

Beach Cities Medal!!!

I received the medal on the left for running the OC 1/2, 

then received the medal on the right after completing the 

three Beach Cities 1/2 Marathons in consecutive order, 

the Long Beach,

Huntington Beach

and finally 

the Newport Beach 1/2.

It was beyond great and I'm all about getting a deal!

3 runs and 4 medals,

extra BLING!

My friend Lisa has run with me in all three 1/2 Marathons

and it has been special since neither one of us had ever run a 1/2 Marathon before.

Saturday I went to the Costa Mesa Fair grounds to pick up my bib and t-shirt.

My daughter Kiana has come with me the other two times to pick up my 

bib and it has been tradition.

It was really windy when we got there-

and I ran into my friend Anna, a man who I met years ago at the gym,

got cancer but actually put the very first seed in my mind to run

and that I could possibly do it,

and also ran into a gal that I went to High School with that runs the

full marathons for fun.

Here is a picture of my bib #..

I have to tell you that I was a little unsure of how I would do this time.

I hadn't trained very much and wasn't mentally prepared or focused on it as I had been with the other two, but I did decrease my time in the Surf City (Huntington Beach)

by 10 minutes!

But, I had a goal to do ALL 3 1/2 Marathons and no matter what,

I was going to at least finish!

Lisa drove over on Saturday night and slept over.

We got up around 4:30 so we could leave by 5 to get to the Fair Grounds by 5:30.

We ran a little late, but weren't worried.

Here is a pic of us when we got there.

 There was a long line to the buses that were shuttling everyone down to the starting line 
which was right by Fashion Island.

 As we waited, we walked by the finish line- 

I thought it was great to see people remembering those who ran the Boston Marathon- 

see the thin orange line at the bottom of the banner?

It says, "Run for Boston", and there were many people showing their support through t-shirts, etc.

When we finally got on  then off the bus,

we all walked to the start line.

I must say it was somewhat anti-climactic.

For the first two 1/2 marathons we ran, we were at the starting gate with ALL of the runners,

and they put you in "gates" depending on your finish time.

It's pretty exciting to be with all the runners.

Well, we were so behind everyone else, that when we got there, it was pretty empty.

No announcer,

no crowds, 

no runners waiting.

In fact, it looked like they all had a party and stripped and we got there after everyone had disappeared!

There was trash all over the streets and it was hilarious to see all the sweatshirts, sweaters and shirts that were thrown off and left on the sidewalks!!!

Someone was collecting them in a trash bag- 

I hope they wash them and donate them to the homeless.

So, we got there and saw the start line, looked at each other, smiled and just started jogging.

There were probably about 4 or 5 other buses loaded with runners behind us, so we weren't completely alone, but it was just weird.

As we got into our groove, we began passing more and more runners.

One thing I love is the sheer number of people you are running with, the energy that comes with that, and also a sharing of this special experience.

The run was fabulous.

We ran through streets with beautiful homes,

by the water,

a trail

and finished at the Fair Grounds.

One of the really amazing things about participating in something with so many people involved is you get perspective,

I am a part of something bigger.

You also get inspired!

There are people older, younger, heavier, lighter, more fit, less fit,

faster, slower, walkers, runners.

ANYONE can do this!

I must admit, in my head, I believed anyone who ran 1/2 marathons+ had to look like the runners I've seen in the Olympics.

I don't look like them so I never really saw myself as a runner.

I know this is really an immature and superficial way of thinking, but I'm being honest.

I never SAW myself THAT way-

I still don't but I won't let that stop me!

I'm inspired!

So Lisa and I ran, and ran and ran.

We had a potty break, actually 2 and slowed down at almost every water stop, and I was praying all the way!

And we finished!!

Here we are with my friend Sophia.

She ran it under 2 hours! What a Rock Star!

All said and done, 

Bib: 6088 Name: Janet Hertogh Gender: F Age: 48 Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA	Overall: 4656 out of 10050 Women: 2232 out of 6034 F 45-49: 218 out of 645 Age/Grade: 53.44% Place: 2830 Finish: 2:16:16 Pace: 10:24 Tag Time: 2:16:16 Gun Time: 2:48:42

So I had a 10.2 minute mile and was just a tiny bit over my first 1/2.

Seriously,

I'm just happy I finished it!

Thank you, God, for my Mizunos!

I can't tell you what an amazing feeling of accomplishment I have!

I want to challenge you to step out of your comfort zone TODAY!

Make a decision to do something new.

Yesterday after my bible study, a woman came over to me to me and had some questions about starting a weight training plan.

I wanted to know what HER goals were, what SHE WANTED to do.

She said that she wanted to strengthen her muscles and get into the gym.

After talking a bit,

she confessed that she kind of knew what to do once she was there and then asked,

"how do you get there?"

THIS IS THE BIG QUESTION,

because let's face it, most people KNOW what to do, or at least that they should be exercising- 

the difficult part is the DOing.

I told her that I go for two reasons:

1) because I AM VAIN and I like to see definition on my body,

I like the way my body looks when I'm fit.

(that's just ME)

and

2) I'm over 40 and I want to live a healthy, strong, life and be able to keep up with my children.

I love when one of my sons grabs my hand and tries to take me down and he can't.....yet.

I know that day will arrive soon enough, but right now, I love grabbing them and being strong enough to give them a little challenge!

(again, just ME being honest)

YOU have to find your "WHY".

It will be the reason for almost EVERYTHING you do, 

if you think about it.

The things we DO are a result of our "WHY"s.

I am cooking cleaner- why? So my family will be healthier.

My children are in sports- why? So they can learn discipline, sportsmanship, being part of a team.

We go to church- why? So we can have a strong faith and spiritual connection to GOD.

Yes, it would be easier to not get involved in sports, church and give a hoot about what I cook- 

EVERY single thing I am doing takes some effort,

but each one is worth the effort -

in fact the results are multiplied.

MOVE -forward!

Do something new,

read this and give up something so you can have and do that something new.

Maybe for YOU it isn't something physical,

it could be relational

or spiritual.

I'll admit, I struggle with #3 and #5.

What do you struggle with?

Deciding, Doing, Denial?

Fear?

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

I would love to hear from you!!

Have a stupendous weekend!

Fit, Fabulous, 40's

Yes, I will admit it, I am in my 40's!

Actually, I'm well into my 40's, fit and feeling fabulous!

 Just finished the Long Beach 1/2 Marathon, 

my first one!

Once a week I'll be posting some fitness information, inspiration or nutrition education to help anyone who is still on the fitness journey to become just a little stronger, leaner or trying to eat a little cleaner.

I have tried to make this blog more about motherhood and my faith, 

but fitness is a large part of my life, too.

I want to thank Lynn, who has encouraged me to put this part of me "out here"
and another friend I recently spoke to at the gym who was basically
the straw that broke the camel's back.

Not that this is a negative thing,
I just haven't really had a lot of confidence in this area
even though I have made major transformations in
my mind
&
my body
through fitness and nutrition.

 I do have my other blog but it is difficult to keep more than one blog current
so this is an experiment.

I'm no super-model, model, or anything close,

but I have come a heck of a long way, 

from a chubby (remember that was the PC word for "Fattie"in the 70's) scared little girl, 

to a
Samurai.

What happened as I changed my mentality from hating my body to loving my body,

I changed my BODY IMAGE and in the process, 

the IMAGE of my body changed! 

Funny how they actually happened at the same time!

 No coincidence, for sure.

I hate taking pics of myself but I want you to see that I do work hard!

Anyhow, I will put in a workout or a video of something I have found helpful or educational, 

or just add my 2 little cents to whatever you are doing, fitness and health-wise.

Hope you get something out of it!

There are also a ton of great fitness/health blogs out there that inspire me!

Here are a few I follow and read regularly:

 Chocolate Covered Katie: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/

Kristin @ Stuft Mama: http://stuftmama.com/

Jess @ The blonde ponytail: http://blondeponytail.com/

Lindsay's list: http://lindsayslist.com

Fit Fluential: http://fitfluential.com/

Brad Gouthro Fitness: http://www.bradgouthrofitness.com/

As Dori said in "Nemo",

"just keep swimming, just keep swimming",

and 

it's my mantra:

"Just keep moving, just keep moving!"

Have a FUNtastic Friday and weekend!

What are some FUN things you do for exercise?
DO SHARE!

Motivational Monday!

What if we did things differently this week, starting with today,
-what would that look like?

In my life, it is doing what I need to do,

EVEN THOUGH,

I would rather do something 

FUN, ENTERTAINING, or SELF SATISFYING.

Who wants to clean?

Not me!

Who wants to wash?

Not me!

Who wants to get 5 schedules in order?

Not me!

When I was in school, if I didn't want to answer the teacher, I would simply avoid eye contact.

But I'm not in school anymore and if I don't answer to my tasks at hand, guess what,

it won't get done.

In life, there are so many things we have to do to keep our home, family and friends in order, and we do by our priorities.

Where is Jesus?

Is HE a priority?

We live most of our days doing what WE need to do, 

for OUR success, 

OUR achievements, 

OUR goals and dreams. 

But, WHAT IF we started living for GOD? 

What if you and I really focused on living FOR HIM?

Living for HIS view of success, living for what is important to HIM, and lived out of obedience for what HE is calling us to do, 

even if it is contrary to what the world says?

Dropping off my daughter this morning to our Car Pool, I heard this song by the Sidewalk Prophets, called "Live Like This".

The lyrics are so real, and really spoke to my heart this morning.

Hopefully it will speak to yours.

Turn it up!

Sometimes I think 
What will people say of me 

When I'm only just a memory 

When I'm home where my soul belongs 

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of those
Was my worship more than just a song

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

People pass
And even if they don't know my name
Is there evidence that I've been changed
When they see me, do they see You

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that


I want to show the world the love You gave for me
I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that


                                                   Recklessly abandoned,