Happy Friday and a good workout!

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope this week has been kind to you because it’s been a pretty good week for me.  I’m feeling a little off my game because there has been no running and definitely no running in my weekend plans.  It’s just kind of odd for me since it’s something I’ve been doing a lot of for the past 8 months.  I’m taking the self-imposed zero week because I really just think I needed it.  I’ve run 5 marathons and several half marathons this year already.  My medal rack is overloaded, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  It’s what I love to do.  So what have I been doing in the in between time?

Giving the stink face while tackling 220 flights of stairs on the stair machine. Sadly, #thegreatwallofchina will have more steps than that. #training for the Great Wall of china marathon is rough! #fitfluential #runchat #travel #tripofalifetime
On Wednesday I decided to tackle the stair machine while giving the stink face. I climbed 220 flights of stairs but I know there will be more to tackle on The Great Wall of China! This is one big reason I have backed off the running this week because I wanted to focus on upper body strength and stairs.

Endurance isn’t a problem for me. I’m an endurance athlete. I push myself to keep going. But these stairs killed me. Within 5 minutes I was sweating so bad. When Willie saw me, he kind of thought something was wrong with me. We parted ways with me telling him, “I hope I’m dead when you’re done with cycle class.” It was that serious but I know this is something we will face at The Great Wall of China Marathon! It’s coming soon and I’ve been working hard on getting over my stair anxiety!

Yes, I kind of panic when I see stairs. I think it’s a lingering issue from being overweight. Stairs make you winded and I did my fair share of falling down stairs during my 20s! I’m really hoping to be able to run up some of those ancient stairs. That’s what I’ve been training for this entire time!

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Thursday is usually veggie burger night in our house but I wanted to skip it. It use to be my favorite meal of the week, but not so much anymore. I find myself wanting to skip it a lot lately. I was satisfied with my grilled chicken breast and veggies. It was delicious especially with some of that sauce Willie made for the salmon the other day! I slammed it!

Rolling this morning in @dmac2102's class! It was a great way to start the day! #fitness #workout #fitfluential
This morning I strayed from my usual routine to attend a cycle class. It’s kind of weird sitting in the back, but I didn’t feel bad about taking a picture if I was in the back. My 5AM workout is usually Group Power when I’m not teaching but I’m still feeling sore from the week. Between the Group Kick on Tuesday and the Group Power on Wednesday, I couldn’t lift my arms. I’m just trying to make sure I’m not injured because sometimes it’s easy to think the good sore is a bad sore. The fact it was still sore this morning tells me there might be a little bit more to the problem.

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It was a great class though! It was a good way to start off the day!

This weekend I will be spending the time with family and friends. I have to make some food so check out my instagram over the next couple of days. I’m not sure what tomorrow’s workout will bring though. Might be time to work in some hill repeats. I know that I am excited to be at home for the first weekend in a long time though. What I really want to do is an Easter egg hunt. But I don’t think that’s acceptable as an adult! 🙂

What are your plans for the holiday weekend? Have you already done an Easter egg hunt?

Yo Angela! Why don’t you post about …

Yo Angela! Why don’t you post about food anymore?

I’ve had people ask me this in person and through e-mail.  I’m here to settle the subject.  I don’t post about my food anymore because I eat the same things all the time.  It’s not interesting.  It’s really about convenience with me.  Eating the same thing might be a little boring but I know how long it takes to make it and exactly what is in it. That being said, when I eat something different I’ll be sure to let you know. Willie made some salmon on Tuesday. That’s another reason I don’t post pictures anymore. I don’t really cook.…

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Race Recap: Austin 10/20

Race Recap: Austin 10/20

Sunday I ran the Austin 10/20 with my running friends.  I didn’t realize so many of us were running! There was a huge group which always makes for a great picture. I won’t lie, this race isn’t my most favorite race in the world. But I like the atmosphere and the people which essentially end up making it a great race. The course is uber boring. The Austin 10/20 is 10 miles with 20 bands. There are a lot of people who run this race and the bands are pretty good. I stopped to take pictures of my favorite bands.…

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You can’t win them all

You can’t win them all

I started thinking about my running and the entire journey to this point. There are many battles along the way and the truth is I didn’t win them all. It’s hard to set out on a path and have everything mapped out and things don’t go the way we planned. It’s hard to come to terms with it. Sometimes things come out better than the plan but sometimes it just completely tanks. That battle is lost but you’re still a winner. I’ve been searching my soul on something to blog about for today besides my race recaps. I don’t want…

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What I studied, how I worked out and …

What I studied, how I worked out and what I ate

All this traveling has gotten me off my routine. We’re getting so close to China and I realize we’re prepared but not prepared. I’ve been training for the The Great Wall of China Marathon but the weather is getting a little hotter and it’s starting to affect my running. It’s that time again. So when I need a break from the running, I practice my Mandarin Chinese. Let me tell you folks, it’s not easy learning this stuff. It’s hard work! I just need to know enough to get by and to make some notecards. This week has been really…

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Seven Habits That Need To Be Broken

Seven Habits That Need To Be Broken

This week I’ve been focused on being positive because I’ve had a little dark cloud following me around for a couple of weeks.  Positiveness really works because this week has been so much better than the weeks that have passed.  I’m smiling, I’m happy and I’m looking forward to what the future brings…and I’ve just started to look at things differently. And then I saw this floating around Facebook the other day from Chris Freytag! I know that if I work on these areas my life with head in a positive direction everyday. All of these things are things I…

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My Workout Watches

My Workout Watches

If you didn’t know, I’m obsessed with watches so it’s only natural that it translates into my workouts too. I do pick out my watches before I get dressed in the morning, but for my workout it, it’s a little different.  I’m a huge numbers gal.  I want to know what’s going every minute of my workout.  If I don’t have it I feel lost.  I wish I was more zen, but I’m not. When I’m not running I use the Polar FT40!  This is probably the best heart rate monitor I’ve had.  I used many but this one satisfied…

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Keeping it positive

Keeping it positive

A positive attitude can take you many different places. A positive attitude will take from the darkest day to the brightest star in the sky. It’s sometimes hard to get to that positive point when things are down in the dump. But everything is achievable, including a great attitude on the worst day. I love this quote. You can download the wallpaper at byrdbaggett.com I’ve been dealing with some stressful things lately, but I haven’t really let it keep me down. I’ve been a little absent from the blog because of these issues but I was trying to keep myself…

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Playing catch up during a stressful week

Playing catch up during a stressful week

Been wondering where I disappeared to this week? I could tell you a lot of different things, but I’ll tell you the truth. I’ve just been tired and stressed about some life things going on. I’ve literally have just been working out, teaching my cycle classes and working my butt off. I wish blogging was my full time job and paid all the bills, but it doesn’t. Sometimes the blog gets put on the back burner when life gets in the way. So here are just a few things I’ve been up to this week: This week everyone seemed to…

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Happy Friday! I’m relaying this weekend.

Happy Friday! I’m relaying this weekend.

It’s Friday!  I’m excited for the weekend and have a new experience.  This year I was invited to join a Texas Independence Relay team and I’m really excited for the experience. It’s 200 miles with my friends. We’re either going to love or hate each other by the time it’s all done! We have 11 people on our team and two drivers. Willie volunteered to drive on this little adventure and I’m so grateful for his support on this one! We start tomorrow morning at 9:28 am and will run from Gonzales, TX to the San Jacinto Monument! 200 freakin’…

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I’m battling the insecurity

I’m battling the insecurity

I like to think I’m ok with it, but I know I’m not.  I haven’t been bashing my body image but I’ve been more conscious of it lately.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been out of town lately and really settled into my usual pattern, but I’ve been noticing. I talk about my legs way too much.  I even mentioned it last week in a blog post. I am self conscious about my thighs.  Funny thing is, it used to be my arms but now it’s my thighs. You will see the evolution of the shorts in this post.  Maybe I…

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