Runner’s eat what?

Are you new to running and wondering what kind of food you should be eating? Here is a great article to get you jump started in the right direction. Enjoy!

P90X And P90X2 “Indoor Training For The Outside World!”

Recently, I’ve been asked, “Does P90X ever get too old?” And my answer is simply, “No!” If there is one thing I’ve learned from P90X and it’s creator Tony Horton is that you will thrive where your passion is when it comes to health and fitness. Let’s face it, the reality is that at some point in time your probably not going to be doing P90X ten years from now although that wouldn’t be a bad thing But hopefully after becoming a graduate from the program you will have learned a thing or two about health and nutrition. Tony himself is a skier and one of the main reason’s why he trains the way he does so when ski season comes around he can go all out and enjoy the slopes and outdoors. Unlike Tony, my passion is not skiing but rather I’m a runner. Nothing get’s me pumped or primed than going out and hitting the pavement and hills preparing for my next marathon. Because of the training that I have received from the P90X and now P90X2 I am a stronger, faster and more flexible runner. I can honestly say that I’m in the best shape of my life. Tony says, “P90X2 is indoor training for the outside world!” I can attest that is so true when it comes to the sport I love. If you are looking to get in the best shape of your life and want to take the sport that’s your passion to the next level then I invite you to give one of these programs a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Also, if you have fallen off your commitment to get in shape this New Year it’s not too late to recommit. Here are some great tips from Tony that have inspired me over the past few years. I hope they inspire you too.

My Top 5 List For Accomplishing My 2012 Fitness Goal!

The New Year is upon us and like many of you I’ve been preparing my mind and body for my new fitness    challenge of 2012. This New Year I will be attempting a 90 day challenge of eating totally clean and healthy with no cheat meals. I will also be starting P90X2. This by far will be my hardest challenge yet. Since 2010 I have run several half marathons, two marathons, and have completed 3 rounds of P90X. During the past three years I have always given my self at least one cheat meal towards the end of my weekly workout. On an occasion I would have a cheat day every once in a while but never have eaten 90 days of totally clean. This week I have been looking at recipes of great healthy food and preparing for this new goal. What are you doing this week to prepare for your fitness challenge of 2012? I hope you are preparing your heart and mind right now rather than later. Don’t be like most people who blow their New Year’s resolution within the first 48 hours but rather take action steps now.

Here are my five things that I’m doing now to make my New Year’s Resolution goal become a reality. I know you can do it. Enjoy!

1. Get my mind right now. Focus!

2. Researching material to make it happen. ( In my case healthy foods/recipes )

3. Drinking a lot of water and detoxing from caffeine.

4. Surrounding myself with positive people with like-minded goals. Accountability baby!

5. Putting up a calendar that I can see every day with  my start date and end date for a visual.

Hope this helps. Let’s make 2012 the year that we get in the best shape of our lives.

Listening To Your Body

Well, in just a few short weeks I’ll be embarking upon my second marathon in two years. Lately, I’ve been dealing with some discouragement. Two weeks ago while I was on one of my long training runs I noticed afterwards that my left foot began to swell. Later that day I began to experience a dull achey pain.

At first I thought it wasn’t nothing serious. At this same time last year I was icing both legs and not in near as good as shape as I am now. Thank you P90X! When the swelling continued after another week of running I decided to go get an X-ray and then reality set in. Come to find out I suffered a stress fracture right above my big toe. A common running injury that happens when training for distance running.

My Doctor told me I probably could still make my race due to the fact that the bone had already began the healing process but making my goal for this year might not be doable.

I am discovering that the older that I get the more I need to learn to listen to body. I have certainly pushed myself this time around. And there have been times when I probably should have backed off instead of revving up. I am discovering that if I am going to make fitness a lifestyle and not just a fad or phase of my life that there maybe days that may need modify or even rest. Remember muscles need rest to grow. In this case, my feet did. Or at least I think?

I’m I discouraged about my injury? Yes. The thought of dropping out has crossed my mind several times. But then my mind went back to a old saying that has become Tony Horton’s mantra of P90X, “Do your best and forget the rest!”

Some times stopping and pressing pause isn’t a bad thing. If you are in the middle of intense training and need a “break” take it. No pun intended. But resting a day or two may just be what you need so next time you can press play and go all the way! Good luck. See you at the finish line.

Improve Your Running Performance: Hydrate

The Texas heat this year is no joke. Where I live in Austin, we have already had twenty-five days of the triple digit blues. And if you are like me and are an avid runner then you already know by now that heat affects performance. One thing that I’ve noticed in my recent runs is that I have not been drinking enough fluids. This probably explains my average pace slipping a bit and not to mention the excessive cramps that I have been getting. Running in the heat is not to be played with. Texas heat will zap the life right out of you if you’re not careful. And by that I mean, deadly!  That’s why it’s so important to remember to Hydrate! Hydration is important for a couple of reasons. First of all it can save your life and prevent you from having a heat stroke. Another reason is that it can improve peak performance while training for an upcoming race event. But for many runners staying hydrated properly is difficult and challenging at times. Why? Maybe it’s because we are always on the go. If you are having trouble this summer staying Hydrated I highly encourage you to check out this article on Sipping points provided by Runner’s World.com. Remember there is no celebration in dehydration!