Training through a Fitness Challenge!

While I am taking this very interesting journey of owning my own business, selling product and meeting some amazing women along the way, I wanted to do something within my community to make all this work worthwhile. As many of you know, I became involved with the Stand UP For Kids organization here in San Diego. I couldn't believe that there were so many kids on the street that not only ran away from home but ran away from really bad situations.

Having said all that, a friend and I decided over lunch one day to do a Fitness Challenge and raise money for every mile that we run (like being a wife, mother and business owner was not enough). Great idea but with everything else, not fully thought out! But, looking back I am still very happy with my choice!

Yet, while doing this challenge, everyday I am doing SOMETHING athletic and not only to stay in shape but to help someone else who can not "do" for themselves. Training through a fitness challenge can be grueling but the reward of completing another race and raising awareness keeps me moving!

Another thing that I have noticed while doing this challenge . . . age is NOTHING but a NUMBER! I have met more women over the age of 35 years of age who are changing their lives through running! Whether it is an illness, weight gain, low self-esteem or just wanting to become more active are the four areas that make women start running and change their lives! It just takes one step and let me tell you working out has made 35 the new 20 and 40 the new 30! Running can change your life that drastically!

I am 38 years of age and will be coming up on my 39th birthday when I run my marathon this year. Running beats the alternative and I am more than happy to be addicted to running than to be addicted to any thing else! Of course, chocolate has crept up right behind the running but I can run that off!

Many of you have asked and I am here to tell!

The following is my general workout for this summer!

Sundays: SPIN CLASS (I am an instructor so that makes it easy but I workout with my class!)

Monday: evening SPIN CLASS and REST DAY because Monday's are meetings, kids and a lot of paperwork!

Tuesday: 5:30am morning run is now a 7:00am morning run until school starts

Wednesday: SPIN CLASS or CYCLING

Thursday: Morning run (same as Tuesday but at a faster pace)

Friday: Light run or bike with the kids

Saturday: MILAGE with TEAM DIRTY RED San Diego

As you can see, I do not run every day because for one, I love running but I do not want to get burned out so I make sure that the days I do run are quality runs. Tuesday and Thursday morning runs are from 3 to 4 miles and my Thursday runs are typically more intense because we just seem to run faster on Thursdays. That is good for me because I do not have the time right now to get on the track for speed work!

Last year a good friend told me . . . "if you workout make sure you do "SOMETHING" every single day". This coming from a woman with two teenage kids, a full time job, spin instructor but has a ROCK HARD BODY! "You have to make working out a part of your life, like drinking coffee or tea every morning". She makes sure each day she incorporates a workout into her life and if that means riding her bike to work, then she will ride her bike to work!

I am not sure what my Fitness Challenge for 2010 will be but you will read each step that I take to accomplish my goals and how I feel when I am "going through the motions"! Remember, do something everyday to make a healthier you and you will be surprised what will come out of that first step!

For more information on my Fitness Challenge, check out our donation site at www.active.com/donate/dirtyred!

As always, Let's Go! Get Out There!

Nicol