Guest Post: Redefining My Motivation

Today on my fitness blog we're talking about redefining my motivation now that I'm back from my tropical bikini-wearing vacation.

Just click my face (or bicep) below to find me!

Then tomorrow is hump day!!

Guest Blogging Today

Hi everyone!

I'm guest blogging today over at my fitness blog for Tough it Out Tuesday. Yes, I can guest post at my own blog and direct you there. Zero shame in my double-blog game.

If you want to hear from me today, click my face (or bicep) below to find me!

TED Tuesday: The Power of Grit

Welcome back to the work week! I hope everyone's weekend was relaxing and re-energizing.

The topic of today's TED Talk is Grit. What is it?

Grit is "passion and perseverance". Grit is continually setting goals for yourself, being self motivated, having stamina through long term goals and sticking to your future.

Talent doesn't make you gritty, wealth doesn't make you gritty, education doesn't make you gritty.

What does?

Hard work, courage, confidence and trust in yourself.

I'm fortunate to have parents who instilled the idea of grit into my mind at a young age. They were entrepreneurs who worked harder than anyone I know to make a future for our family. That mindset has guided me through life and has yet to fail me.

In school I wasn't always the most intelligent of my class but worked hard to get exceptional grades. In my final four years of softball I was challenged mentally more than I've ever been in my life and came out of it with a hard shell and a resilience that can't be taught. In my current job I wasn't ready for the pressure that would come my way, but through focus, stamina and my can't-fail attitude I'm happier than ever.

The man I have fallen in love with has grit. When he was diagnosed with Cancer in 2008 after he'd moved to Portland he found the strength within himself to not give up, to see himself through his treatments and to continue his life as if nothing had happened. I'm proud of him and it proves his ability to face any future adversity that may come our way.

Enough about me, observe the confidence of Angela Lee Duckworth in today's TED talk. She's captivating, motivating and hopefully she can encourage you to find the grit somewhere deep within yourself. 

TED Talks: Ideas worth spreading

Fearless Friday

The most peculiar thing has been happening to me lately and I need to snap out of it quickly.

Case A:

Yesterday after work I found myself trying to make up every excuse I could in order to get out of my run. Too cold, too dark, too tired, too busy, a social invitation for margarita's - But I went for 5 miles.

Case B:

Wednesday I did the same thing to get out of my 3rd training club of the month - too tired, cold coming on, feeling groggy, dinner plans shortly after class. Then I made the decision to go with mere minutes to spare.

Case C:

Tuesday I skipped my run altogether because I didn't feel like having to shower again for Dan and I's date night.

If you see what I see, then you know that I'm going down a slippery path that I don't ever want to go down. I wouldn't say that I'm bored with my workouts or that I'm burnt out - I just feel out of my routine. It could be many reasons, including not feeling comfortable to get my lunch sweat on, that my brain is working harder than I feel like it has in years with my new job or that it's just plain cold (and dark) outside!

This weekend aside from getting some distance mileage in to get to a benchmark of 50 miles, I'm going to do some serious searching to get my mind back in gear for strength, endurance and mental training that will help with the upcoming Tough Mudder 2013 madness in June.

This will be 36 months and counting of my 100 mile running quota and there's no stopping this train!

<3 JE