Tag: training

running and getting started

It’s a new year, a new you- right? We’ve all said it. Now it’s time to act! Some may have made a resolution to eat healthier, or go to the gym, or a fitness class – well, in my opinion, the easiest fitness resolution is to lace up your shoes, put one foot in front of the other, and head out your front door.It’s hard to start from the beginning- I know. I did it once in the beginning and then after each of my babies (where I had c-sections), so, I know what it is like to start from scratch. It’s hard. You find no joy in those first few runs where you are huffing and puffing and can’t imagine ever liking that feeling. Stick with it, and I promise you will. Here are some of my tips and thoughts to get started:

  • Start with a time goal. Say I am going to step out my front door and jog when I can and walk when I must for 30 minutes. This is easier and more rewarding than a distance goal.
  • Get outside! Distract yourself with the beauty of nature. Of the air. Of the birds. Get some Vitamin D! Plus, there’s no excuse of, “I couldn’t get to the gym today to use the treadmill.”
  • Sign up for a fun-run/race. Don’t let this intimidate you! Sign up for a local 5 or 10k with a friend and set it as your goal. You don’t need to shoot for a time, just to have fun and finish. This is one of the greatest motivators for me- something to work towards. My husband is one who can not keep motivated on working out without a race in his future.
  • Don’t quit. Be consistent. Tell yourself that every M/W/F/S you are going for a run or walk- and don’t come up with an excuse. Any run is better than no run at all. Make it a routine that you will be upset about missing.
  • No comparing! The only person you should compare yourself to was the person you were yesterday.

It will be hard at first- I won’t sugar coat it; but, it is rewarding to see yourself transform physically, emotionally, and spiritually! So, lace up those shoes, put one foot in front of the other- and get running!

 

xox

aj

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love in action + 25% code

When it comes to the holidays we are all thinking about the people on our Christmas list and what to give them; however, are we thinking about all of those people who are not able to check off their list of even basic needs? I have something you can do to help with your list and the lists of others.

Evolve.

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I have raved about this new company many times before [here] and I’m going to do it again! For every evolve- love in action purchase you make, it includes a social giveback to one of their Love In Action Partners. These are non-profit organizations committed to social justice and the quest to end poverty. They are located in Thailand, South Africa and the United States. Each organization demonstrates core values that evolve, as well as Ash and I, stand behind: compassion, empowerment, wholeness, courage and creativity.

So, let’s say you have that running/workout pal who loves herself a good pair of leggings! Grab the Rupa or VaVa leggings or a great capri like the Dawn. If you purchased these you would not only be giving your friend an amazing Christmas gift, but also giving 2 days of school, 3 warm meals, and personal hygiene kits to someone in need! Complete the outfit with the Deb halter or Mryna tank and you’ll be giving a child 1 week to 1 month of school supplies! Let’s not forget a sports bra and give the gift of education to a child!

Then, let’s not forget about the men in our life! Evolve has just launched their new men’s line and I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek before they launched it, when they were here in Dallas. Let’s just say, my super picky husband love the line. Their shirts were so soft I wanted a set of sheets made out of them- and the shorts were finally a length, fit, and style I could get on board with for men’s work out shorts. There will be a couple packages under the tree for my man from this line.

The Mike tee is the incredibly soft, and amazing work out tee. Five minutes after a work out your man won’t even know he was sweating. It’s amazing. Plus, just by purchasing it, it provides 10 years of clean water to someone in need in an under-developed country! Then complete the outfit with the Eric short and you will be giving your man a complete outfit and also providing one hour of job skills training for a homeless youth in the US!

I love the founders behind this company and their passion for their vision. It shows every time I get to talk to and see them.  “Evolve – love in action seeks to empower and inspire those who wear its clothes… to be their best selves and to be a part of something much bigger. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to make you feel beautiful from the inside out.”

So…. you’re sold, right!? Me too. I have been for awhile. Just when you think it can’t get better- they are giving all of our lovely friends 25% off the ENTIRE STORE through December to get your Christmas list checked off and to help better our world!

Use code: JUNIPERLEMONS 

and please tag us, @juniperlemons,  and evolve, @evolve_loveinaction, in your new gear so we can see the amazing faces behind helping our community!

happy shopping!

xox

aj

Read more about why I love evolve and my passion in helping build our future on their blog, here.

 

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running shoes

Let’s talk shoes. I find a shoe- and I stick with it. That is until they decide to ‘redesign’ said shoe and then we break up and I find a new love. This is a frustrating process that usually leads to lots of trips to Luke’s Locker.IMG_4438.jpgShoes are everything. They take the beating as you’re hitting the pavement. If your knee starts to hurt, or your toes are going numb the first place you should turn is to your shoes. Go to your local running store and have them help you out. Tell them what you love in a  shoe- I love a wide toe box. I want lots of space for my toes to breathe and lets be honest, swell. I also prefer a light weight more minimalist shoe. Try different brands- and for goodness sake WHO CARES WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE! They are there to serve a purpose while you work hard. You can wear the cute ones while you run your errands but get the ones that feel the best on your feet, no matter what they look like, while you are putting the miles on them.

Remember to keep up with the mileage on your shoes. You need to keep them fresh. The more mileage on the shoe, the more broken down they will be which leads to a greater chance of injury. The general rule is 500 miles for a ‘normal’ shoe and 300 for a ‘minimalist’. You will get to the point when you just know it’s time to retire them to the running errands pile instead of the running miles pile.

The more you run, the more you will learn what you love and don’t love about a shoe. I started running years ago in Nike Frees. Now, as much as I love this shoe, I found myself getting a few stress fractures in my foot as my mileage increased. Some people swear by them, I am not one of them for anything over the half marathon distance.  I switched over the the Brooks Pure Flow. Now, Brook’s Pure line is amazing and I swore by them for several years. Had the trail shoe from the Pure Line as well. I had more of the same shoe, same color, than anyone. I LOVED that shoe. I ran my first marathon in it with no issues. They then did a major overhaul on the shoe last year and we had to break up. It became too tight in the forefoot and too supportive in the arch. I spent months trying to find the perfect shoe. Lots of trips to Luke’s during this time.

I found the Nike LunarTempo and ran in it for several months- had a couple pairs of them. No issues, (still love it for shorter distances and sprints) but when it was time to get a new shoe the Nike LunarEpic had just come out- I was hesitant because of the high top sock look that they had- but then remembered WHO CARES- and you know what, I LOVE THIS SHOE. They have since come out with a low cut version, but they are not the same. The high top of the shoe allows it to be looser around the main part of your foot- which is what I love. I just slip them on- no tying and worrying about them being too tight halfway through my run. I haven’t had a blister, lost a toe nail, nothing. I’m sold.img_4436If you prefer a non-minimalist shoe – or one with a little more oomph- Ashley loves the Nike Pegasus. She swears by them as the only shoe that she has never been injured in. So does our Mom, who is a 60-ish year old marathon runner! They, personally, are just a little too heavy for my damaged ankles.

So, don’t give up on finding a shoe! It may take some trial and error but there is a running shoe out there for everyone! Let me know if you have any questions- I’ve tried many other shoes and would be happy to chat with you about them.Screen Shot 2016-11-02 at 4.24.15 PM.png

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**had no intention of the purple blue color scheme- these are not the exact ones I have. As always, leave a comment with any questions!

 

happy running,

xox

aj

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training essentials.

As I sit here cuddled in my blanket, hair several days un-washed, sucking on a throat lozenge, popping antibiotics and massaging my hip where they stuck me with a shot yesterday – I’m looking at my next 6 weeks of training-plan for California International Marathon and getting discouraged when I see all the ‘0 miles’ filling up the days. I’m trying to stay positive and keep repeating to myself that missing this many runs is OK and as soon as this sickness passes I can hop right back on the plan and conquer CIM! So, what do I do when I’m down and can’t run- I think about all the fun things about running and get pumped for when I can again! On that note, here are my training essentials- whether it be training for a 1 mile, 5k, 10k, half, or marathon:

  • A training plan- with a goal in mind. Whether that goal is to just finish strong or race fast- write it down! Then, make a spreadsheet or just write on a calendar your training plan. There are so many plans out there- pick one that feels right for you! If you read my post here, you know which one I now love and have now adapted for the next 6 weeks until CIM.
  • Have a good pair of shoes. {more on this to come!} Go to your local running store and get fitted. Have someone help you find the perfect shoe for you. My current favorite’s are these. You do not want a worn out pair of shoes or one that is wrong for your foot.
  • Go out and buy yourself a new outfit! This will FOR SURE get you motivated to put one foot in front of the other and head out for a run. Who doesn’t love a good new outfit. I’m loving this brand right now. You can see my review of them here. Also, check out my running favorites for a few more of my go-to’s outfit wise!
  • Gels. Gu’s. Energy beans. Waffles. Whatever works for your stomach- find it, and train with it. That way nothing is new on race day. I use these. Also, if you are signed up for a race, and have a super sensitive stomach like me, see what sports drink they will have during the race and train with it as well. They usually will post this on their website or in an email a few months prior.
  • Don’t get discouraged. {eh-hem, I need to go back and read that sentence I typed!} You are going to have bad days. You will get sick. Your kids will get sick. Things will come up. Whatever it is, you can’t do anything about it and you just have to find your mental toughness {which you will need race day} to get over it, and pick up wherever you left off. If you keep a running journal, go back and look at your entries and see all the hard work you’ve put in thus far, to help keep you in a positive space.
  • Find a mantra. Strong legs and big lungs will only get you so far and then you will need mental strength. Your negative brain will start to seep in and try to derail your plans. A strong, powerful mantra can keep you focused. It will help remove the negative vibe and restore you to a positive space – or at least distract you from the pain 😉  Pick something short, powerful and easy to remember, that you can repeat to yourself when you need a little extra ‘umph’.
  • A good playlist or some audio books. I used to think people were crazy when they said they would listen to books as they ran- but then I tried it. GAME CHANGER. I use music for races now that way it’s new and fun- and books for training. I will get so excited about going out for a run because I want to see what happens in my book. A few I have finished recently are- The Maze Runner Series & The Girl on the Train.
  • A watch or an app. Something to help you figure out your distance. There are several good apps you can download to your phone- my favorite, and has been for forever is the Nike Running Club. I have a Garmin Forerunner 220

So, on that note- I’m going to get off my poor-pitiful me train and go book my hotel for CIM to get me excited! I’ll be back at it in no time.

Happy training!

 

xox

aj

*Comment below if there’s anything specific you’d like me to cover in our energy section! As always- ask questions if you have any!

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