Woman of my Word

Woman of your word
If you screw up...own it, learn from it, let it go and move forward
If you see an event and click attend....ATTEND!! OR click maybe
If you cant attend, Dont make excuses, Just click no
If you have a challenge, dont eat it, bring it here. You will be surprised who else had that problem
Say what you are going to do, then do it!
JFDI

 Okay, so there has been a lot of talk in the Perth Crew about being a woman of your word, and the above was posted by Lesley on our Facebook group yesterday. Today was a turning point for me in overcoming obstacles and getting on with it because I said I would (and it's only 8am!)

Nat and I had planned our run for 5:30am this morning and said we were going to run the whole 8km. The most we have run on our route is 6km about 6 weeks ago and it was broken up into intervals. On Friday we ran 2.5km and then I did the NYE run on Saturday (4km), feeling at the time like I just couldn't run 8km.

So last night I decided to get an early night, have some pampering time before bed and get a good nights rest. Well, the best laid plans right? I ended up lying in bed at 1am after being in bed with the light out at 10pm...and I was still awake. I didn't turn the TV on, I just laid there. I turned some music on after awhile to try and relax my mind from going round and round in manic circles but it just wouldn't settle.

5am...my alarm goes off. I just wanted to curl over and go back to sleep but I had put it out there and said I would meet Nat, and a LOT of people knew about it too! So, I got out of bed and got myself organised (and yes, I was late because I was moving so slowly!)

 Off we went to start our run and from the start it was MIND GAMES! I just had to keep telling myself to shut up and get on with it because I wanted to quit after 100m! I knew I could run 4km because I did it only a few days ago. So on and on we went, refusing to stop and walk. I was so proud of us when we got to the 4km mark and turned around. We were both exhausted but I also knew more than ever that we could keep going and we could run the last 4km to get back. So off we went.

Nat and I lost each other fairly early on in the second 4km because Nat naturally runs a little faster than me and she just took off! I think she just wanted it all to be over! So, it was just me and the little voice in my head, trying to tell me that I couldn't do it and that I should quit. The funny thing is, while my head was telling me to quit, my body wasn't. I was feeling in pretty good shape. Yes, my ankle was starting to hurt and I could feel the blister starting in its usual spot on my inner arch, but I was in control of my breathing, which meant that even with my heart rate consistently sitting at 165 I was doing fine.

The last km is a nasty double hill, just when you think you are up and over there is still a bit more around the corner! Well, I was just getting to the top of the first hill and about to turn the corner when two of the cyclists that we see regularly on our run came up from behind me and one of them called out 'you're doing great' and it was just what I needed. I powered up and over the hill to finish the last 500m feeling fantastic.

When we were sitting having a drink afterward and reflecting on the run, Natalie's mum looked over at me and said 'you look so fresh' to which my response was 'I feel fantastic' and I really did. I had achieved something amazing, and my running goals for the year are looking really attainable and I am looking forward to what 2012 is going to bring.

Until next time,

Sarah

 

New Year, New Me and New DRESSES!

Sarah here :)

Well, Bernie and I started our New Year with a workout with Lesley and Toni from the Perth Crew. It was a fantastic morning where we decided that Bernie's new nickname is Rocky (much better than my previous one from earlier in the week!) and she held a plank for 1 minute! Lesley was standing over her not letting her give up and it was FANTASTIC! We did some shuttle runs, kettle bell exercises and push ups (I managed 31 on my toes!!!) so all in all a great start to the year.

Lesley, Toni and I went on a little shopping expedition which saw me buy a RED dress for our Perth Crew dinner in a few weeks (size 14!!!!), a gorgeous maxi dress for our school ball which is at the start of Feb (I think the 11th) and new bathers (again, SIZE 14!!!!!). We all had success in the dress department and it was so nice to go shopping with supportive girls!

For the end of 2011, I completed the WA Marathon Club's NYE Run along the Swan River near Burswood. I did the 4km run in under 31 minutes which was smashing my expectations (hoping for 35!). I didn't stop and it was a battle for the last 2 km but I just refused to let my mind take over. Tania came alongside me and ran the last 1.5km with me and it was GREAT to have some Perth Crew support.

Then it was off to see in the new year with the runners and walkers plus a few extras at Peta's house. What a FANTASTIC night! I had such a fantastic night with the girls (and a few blokes putting up with us!) and I really couldn't have asked for a better end to the year.

So what is next for me in 2012?

It's all about STRENGTH.

Strength is not giving in to the temptations around me
Strength is not giving up when the going gets tough
Strength is saying NO when I need to
Strength is not allowing other people to dictate how I live my life
Strength is putting myself first
Strength is persevering
Strength is taking a risk

This week Bernie and I have some cool workout plans, which we will VLog about next Friday, so keep an eye out (it's sure to be entertaining and probably have lots of giggling again!). Lesley is going to help me buy a new bike and then I start a 6 week triathlon training course on 10 January so BRING IT ON! Tomorrow is a Perth Crew workout at my place in the morning and Tuesday we are tackling the DNA Tower.

That's it from me for now, but stay cool and stay tuned :)

Sarah

Bernie reflects

Oh my goodness. How is it New Years Eve already? It doesn't feel like 5 minutes has passed since I was last thinking that, and anticipating the year ahead (2011 was going to be awesome... I had my wedding ahead of me, my honeymoon - and i'd decided I was finally going to lose all my excess weight and be a slim bride).

Oops.

Well, granted I lost about ten kilos (waved between 4 of them) - am currently 9 kilos down from where I was this time last year. Alas, I was not a slim bride, but I was a happy, happy bride, marrying a man I love. I feel very blessed. But regarding my weight loss... I'm trying to figure out where it went wrong. Why did I not achieve as much as I'd wanted?

Had I set my sights too high? - no.
Had I done the wrong thing? - sometimes.

Let's face it. I did the 12WBT challenge, and at times I did it with gusto. I saw results. But other times? (2011 was an emotional roller coaster) I cut corners. I didn't make time - and I made excuses.

2011 saw me feeling exuberant. Or saw me feeling so so tired.

But oh my goodness. This year I WANT it. This year, I want to be a success story - like our Noala, our Sarahs, our Rebecca, and so many others in PERTH CREW who have done so damn WELL. This coming year I feel a fire in my belly. This year, I want it, I need it. I am GOING to lose those 30 excess kilos. I am going to exercise, do the reading, and eat clean. I am going to participate. I am going to make my health my priority. I HAVE UNRESTRAINED ENTHUSIASM! (hear me roar!).

So, yes. Will leave 2011 with a quote from pg. 7 of my seriously tattered 15 year old copy of "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" (oh yes... 2012 sees me turning 32).

" After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if
    you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own
    soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you
    flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong,
And that you do have worth. "

That section of poem comes from the chapter on relationships. This year, I am focussing on my relationship with myself. I think my metaphorical garden will have lots of sunflowers in it.


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! xx

Oh Yes WE DID!!!!

We made our first ever video blog :)

Watch it...seriously

It will be an epic 6 minutes of awesomeness :)

It's true...really...


Click here to watch :)

Sarah and Bernie

Sarah's Christmas Ramblings

Well Christmas has meant one thing this year...so much food to avoid! The last two weeks of school were the last weeks of Round 3 and I kinda fell off the wagon big time. There was food EVERYWHERE! I wasn't training properly and I was putting absolute crap into my body. So what did I learn? My body does not like that food anymore (if it ever really did!)

So, Christmas day comes around and we have a heap of food in our house. Thankfully I didn't do too badly, even went for a walk in the late arvo before gearing up for the second family do for the day, this time with heaps of extended family. I stayed away from the alcohol in the evening because after 3 glasses at lunch I felt a bit ill.

Boxing Day is TODAY and I decided to make the most of my new Kettle Bell (awesome present from my mum!) and designed a workout for the morning. I did about 25 minutes inside and then headed out for my walk (about 25 minutes around a circular loop my street comes off).

Here is my workout as shared with the 12WBTers on the forums

Warm up (1 minute each exercise)
Ice skaters
Ski jumps
Burpees
Knee ups

Circuit 1(20 reps) - 6 kg KETTLE BELL
Kettle bell swing squats
Squat press
Reverse lunges with kettle bell

Cardio blast (1 minute each exercise)
Ski jumps
Burpees

Circuit 2 (15 reps) - 4kg DUMBBELLS
Dead lifts
Bicep curls
Chest press

Cardio blast (1 minute each exercise)
Knee ups
Butt kickers

Circuit 3 (12 reps) 6kg KETTLE BELL
Stationary lunges with kettle bell
Kettle bell twists
Single arm kettle bell swings

Abs (20 of each)
Medicine ball crunches
Bicycle crunches
Side planks (15 secs approx. each)
Plank (as long as I could hold it but didn’t time)

Cardio - 3km walk

It was a BIG workout but I felt TERRIFIC afterwards! I am looking forward to our Perth Crew workout on Wednesday in Kings Park, my walk with Nat tomorrow and the NYE run and hang out with the Perth Crew to see in the new year - how can you go wrong?!?

Hanging out with Bernie on Wednesday for the Workout so I'm sure we'll be back with new ramblings soon...and on our agenda is finding Bernie a gym! Since I am on holidays I am making it my mission to help her find one - more workouts for me!

2012 is going to be MY YEAR! I am going to eat clean, train hard and have fun! I have a trip to America next December which is a great long term goal to aim for.

Until next time...

Sarah

Mini Milestone Week!

Sunday November 6 2011

Well this morning I competed in my first triathlon! I signed up for the long course in the Pink triathlon and was so nervous about it! The course was a 300m swim, 10km ride and a 3km run. Now, individually I can do all these things well but put it all together and I was stuffed at the run!

The Swim
Well, firstly let me say that people can be RUDE! I was kicked, hit and ploughed into during my six laps. The worst was as I reached the steps to leave the pool someone basically pushed me out of the way (the apologised but didn't let me through first). Anyway, out of the pool and running to transition was I!

The Cycle
I so wish I had a road bike, or at least a hybrid! It was great being cheered on by various Perth Crew members as I kept cycling along - especially Peta Pring yelling at me to JFDI! Three laps of the route and I was headed back to transition.

The Run
Now, I am a decent jogger. I can shuffle it up with the best of them! However, when you have swum and cycled already, running is HARD! The first lap I had to walk part of it, then at the start of the second lap someone passed me telling me not to stop but to keep shuffling! That was all I needed and I just kept going!

So...my final time was 1:14:59 which I was ecstatic with! I have signed up for the training at Arena Joondalup for the Women's Tri in March so I will be attempting at least the short course (same as what i have just done) or the long course which is 750m/21km/5km which will be a CHALLENGE!

Of course, no Perth Crew event would be complete without some awesome planking as seen below. These ladies are AWESOME and it was so great being cheered across the finish line. I love you guys heaps and I wouldn't have been able to do this without your support!

Sarah

The Adventures of Sarah and Natalie!

Okay, so this post is over a week late but here goes.

So, Bernie is off on her honeymoon so I have been finding other people to work out with. This week it was Natalie Campbell, and let me just say - running with someone is so much better than running alone! We pushed each other (partly because we were both thinking 'I can't stop running yet, she's still going!') and got to catch up at the same time. We had planned five workouts - but we were rained out on Thursday (and I piked on Wednesday at Lesley's because I was EXHAUSTED)



Sunday
Met up for a 8km walk/run along the coast. We ran 3km and then did intervals of 500m on the way back. Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Tuesday
Met up for our walk again and ran the whole 4km to Hillarys from Mullaloo! Walked 2km and then ran the final 2km and beat our time with 1 hour 18 minutes!

Friday
KIMAX with the Perth Crew!

So, we are planning on running a couple of times a week together which I am really looking forward to!

Sarah