Category Archives: Advice

If You Think You Can, Then You Will:
Your mind is your most powerful tool

“Yes is the answer, and you know that for sure.
Yes is surrender, you gotta let it go.”
-John Lennon, “Mind Games”

The only thing holding you back this year is you. Tell yourself you can do anything you want, and do it. Your mind is a powerful tool, it can hold you back—paralyzing yourself with fear or self doubt or it can lead you to achievements you’ve never thought possible. All you have to do is tell yourself to do it, and do it. Seriously, it’s that easy.

As cliché as it sounds, your mind is your most powerful tool in any athletic endevour you try. If you don’t think you’ll be able to climb a mountain/run a marathon/finish a triathlon, then you probably never will. Goal setting is a simple formula:
Goal + Commitment = Achievement

Once you’ve committed to a goal, hold yourself to the highest level of accountability you can and stick with your training plan. Join a running group or a training group like Team in Training to help fuel your motivation, stay focused and keep your eye on the prize.

Your mind is best friend and worst enemy. Even the best of us can lag in self doubt and low confidence during a race or a training run but remember, that happens to everyone so stay strong and tell yourself you can do it.
Remember to set realistic goals for yourself but ultimately you decide what you want and can achieve.

We believe in you and once you know the feeling of accomplishment you’ll wonder what you can’t do. Go get ‘em tiger!

creative commons via mrwi and wild tofu

The New Year: Healthier Eating Habits

A new year can inspire our best hopes, intentions and resolutions. Some of us set lofty resolutions (loose 20 pounds) while others set small, incremental ones (drink more water). While we support any resolution that will help you become a healthier and more whole person, we like to take the middle road by setting realistic, attainable goals. To help kickstart your new year, we’ll be taking a look at some of our goals, starting with simple, customizable diet goals, which we hope will help you (and us!) snap back into healthy eating habits:

1. Eat Healthier: Eat more of this and less of that.
2. Drink Healthier: Drink more of this and less of that.
3. Snack Healthier: Snack on more of this and less of that.
4. Eat More Thoughtfully: Make every meal and snack count. Get as much bang as you can out of your diet by eating more superfoods.
5. Eat When You’re Hungry: Think before you eat, check for signs of hunger and evaluate why you are eating–are you really hungry, bored or looking for comfort?
6. Eat with Intention: Stop to really eat your food. Sit down, relax, take a few deep breaths and to admire, chew and taste your food.

1. Miller Sunglasses, Roxy, $80; 2. Nike V-Neck Tank, Nordstrom, $28;  3. Camelbak Delaney Plus, roadrunnersports.com, $39.99;  4. Outdoor Visor, The North Face, $20;  5. Sport Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, Banana Boat, $6.50;  6. K2 Endurance Sunblock SPF 50, drugstore.com, $11.99

Stay Cool in Summer’s Hot Heat

The Pacific Northwest’s cool and cloudy summers make me yern, beg even for just a glimpse of blue summer sky. While we plead for sunshine, parts of the country are well into their summers, temperatures reaching into the 90s and 100s in the south and the ubiquitous humidity blasting the East Coast. Running in the heat doesn’t have to be torturous. Taking just a few precautionary steps can keep you running through the summers and into a fall race or marathon.

1. Stay Cool: Alter Your Running Schedule
You may need to alter your running schedule to catch the coolest parts of the day – morning or night. Depending on your schedule, if you’re a early bird or a night owl, pick what works best for you. We don’t recommend mid-day runs when the sun is at it’s highest and brightest. Dehydration, sunburn or sun stroke are all common risks for doing any intense activity in the heat.

2. Stay Hydrated: Drink Up
Depending on the temperature, length of your run and how much you sweat, carry a water bottle or a hydration belt during your run. If you’d rather not run with a belt or a bottle, tuck a few dollars into your running shorts and plan a stop at a conveneince store for water or a sports drink.
And don’t forget the rules of hydration before you head out the door – drinking 16 to 20 ounces of liquid should keep you hydrated but not overhydrated.

Continue reading “Training: Summer Running” »

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