Let's be honest.  I meant to post sooner.  (Because I know you are all DYING to hear about what could possibly occupy my time!)  <----------  Now, in case my tone was not clear, the following statement was dripping with sarcasm.  

But, yeah.  I was too busy to post during the day.  Why?  Because I was too busy laughing. Seriously, laughing.  No business meetings, deadlines or important matters.  Laughing.   Frankly, there are worse ways to waste away a day.  I'll take it.

ANYHOO...today I had a terrific run.  Cough.  Insert sarcasm.  Cough.  But, it's fine to have off days.  I mean, rumor has it, I am human.  

Besdies, there are more much exciting things in store for this Florida girl.  What you ask?  Well tomorrow I am hopping on a jet plane and heading up North.  Destination?  Oh, Salem.  Oh, and Boston.  Oh, and the Quincy Quarries.  In fall.  Insert squeals of delight.  

Insert more.  And more.

As a Floridian who does not grasp the concept of fall leaves, apple picking and autumn weather, I am giddy with glee.  So, I might check out of Blog land for a few days.  That's what vacations are for, right?  

Have a great weekend and get a hearty laugh and full dose of life.  

Life is meant to be lived and I intend to live every last moment of it.  I encourage you to do the same.

And SALEM IN THE FALL?!?!?!  COME ON!?!?!?!
 
What are your plans for the weekend?  Give me something good here.  

So, I've been dragging some major..........rumpus lately.  Sleeping in, skipping runs and hating life.  Since I'm only 2 weeks into my Half Marathon Training, I'd say this is a great sign. (LIES!)

When I started training with my group and reading about Marathon runners, I slowly became hopelessly insecure.  Negative Nancy took a seat on my couch and wouldn't leave.  (Jerk)  Everytime I went running, super positive thoughts danced in my head:
   
     -You aren't fast enough
     -You'll never be able to run 13.1 miles
     -People have started later than you and are already better
     -You're not an athlete

With uplifting Negative Nancy on my side, surely I'd be able to self motivate, right?  Not so much.  

The Dr.'s orders?  A run for one. 

Since I missed my morning run and my partners were busy, I went on a mini run by myself yesterday. While running, it finally hit me why I lost my mojo.  (Hello 90's)  I completely lost track of why I ran in the first place.  

I never ran to be a crazy athlete or to compete.  Initially, I ran for the escape.  The way it felt to run away the day's stress, to get in touch with nature (WARNING: Hippie Alert) and escape the walls of an office, even if it only was for an hour.  

The next Dr.'s orders?  Apply a meditation technique to my run to get back to my nature, running loving roots.

This meditation technique has you take in your current surroundings by going through all of the 5 senses.  It helps one to relax and teaches you to be in the moment.  (WARNING: Hippie Alert)  When I applied it to yesterday's journey, I rediscovered my joy of running.  Here's what I noticed in my experiment:

                                             5 Senses Run

1. Sight- Seeing the beautiful trees, sunset and glistening water in the lake
2. Touch- Feeling my feet hit the ground and breeze cooling my face
3. Hearing- Hearing birds chirp and the wind whizzing past the trees
4. Smell- Smelling the crisp, cooler air and freshly cut grass (Not really COOL but cooler for Florida)
5. Taste- Tasting the sweet, melon gum I was noshing on (Hard to find taste when running.....unless you eat bugs.  Yum.)

Insert Sigh of relief.


Yes, I had the best run ever.  Nature sedated me and I managed to kick Negative Nancy out and get back to my roots. 

And this morning's run?  Well, let's just say my partner and I killed 4 miles with a modest 9.57 pace.  

Thoughts of running now?  Sweaty and satisfying. :)

If you also are feeling a little drag and need a push, I urge you to add the 5 Senses technique to your run.  And if you're not feeling a run, it's a great way to decompress after a long day.  Interested in learning more, read about it here. (You know you want to)

My little exercise added the fire to my feet and I can't wait till the next one.  My run tomorrow? Well, I won't be snoozing through it.  Food for thought:

How do you add the fun back to your run?

Once, again, I was feeling a little "Man, my bed is SOOOO cozy," and opted to sleep in INSTEAD of running this morning.  What can I say, I am a Teeny, tiny human who gets lazy from time to time.  (Don't tell my secret)

As I was about to give up for today and sink into my lazy coma of joy, it hit me: The Highander.  In just 2 weeks, I get to run around, dress up and get covered in mud.

This morning, I went to the Rock On Adventures website and reviewed the race. Afterwards, I MAY have been tempted to find the nearest mud to roll around in.  What am I most excited about?  Well, brace yourself and have a seat.  This race is ridiculous.

                                     The Highlander II

1. There will be a Zipline.  Yes, a Zipline.  (SQUEALS!!!!!!!!!!!)
2. 150-Foot water slide INTO mud.  (The kid in me is soooo ready)
3. Costume Contest (Do you think I'd look good in a beard?)
4. There will be camping for $15 with music, bonfire and food!  Roll out of bed and run?  Done. 
5. Over 25 Obstacles.  No, I did NOT stutter.  25.
   
6. 6 rows of ropes so there will be no waiting at obstacles!  (Faster times for me?)
   
7. A Bagpipe Player for ambiance!  Really?  Really.  

Well....it's official.  I'm stoked.  Is it October 15th yet?  The thoughts of smores, mud and getting to dress up 2 times in October is overwhelming?!?!?!

Oh man, I might need to have facial hair for my costume....just saying.  

Don't judge.  I do need to get into the Highlander spirit. Besides, you know I look good with facial hair!  Maybe not, but whatever.

What active adventure/race are you looking forward to?

After a busy and fun weekend, completing my 1st week of Half Marathon Training (13 miles total!) AND signing up for The Highlander, you'd think I'd be super motivated to run.

Not even a little.  What was I motivated to do?  Snooze my alarm this morning, postpone my run to the evening and get discouraged.

Perfect way to start the day, right?  Now, if I'm feeling this motivated AFTER a killer week, I figured others might need a little push to get through Monday.  My gift to you:

                           Motivational Musings for Monday

1. Action-The commitment to achieving a single goal.  David Mamet
2. Don't be just another member of society, be a living example of your dreams and goals.  Unknown
3. Be proud to come up short again and again.  While it may not be as sweet as victory, it's far better than whatever is in the middle.  Susan Locke
4. Everything you imagine is real.  Pablo Picasso
5. Energy and persistence conquers all things.  Benjamin Franklin

Ahhhhh.  Now don't we feel better.  Well, I do.  I will be replaying these guys in my head all day and you should too.

After work, I'll forge forward, complete my miles for the day and be EXTREME!


What are your favorite quotes to push you through??!?!?!

Are you feeling, gross, fat, out of shape and ugh.  Well, welcome to the club.  Now, what club would this be?  The, small, insignificant group of people called humans who attend The Self Loathing Club.

Yup, no matter what our size, 2 or 22, most people go through period of self loathing.  In our heads, evil, mean and dirty thoughts swirl about our noggin,

"I'm too fat.  I can never look like THAT.  My ass is huge.  Look at this gut.  Cottage cheese central. " 

How does one feel after we fill our brain to the brim with such ego boosting thoughts?  Like a pile of fat, lazy and gross.  Now, are you motivated to go to gym, workout and spend life indulging in greens and grilled protein?  Absolutely NOT!

All yesterday, I attended my annual meeting of The Self Loathing Club. Every time I took a step or passed a mirror, I looked in disgust.  I even jokingly tweeted about it,

"My thighs aren't rubbing together, they're just saying hello."  Really Teeny?  Really?!?!?!

As the sun set, all I wanted to do was give up, roll around in junk food and fall into a river of chocolate, Augustus Gloop style, circa Willy Wonka.  (And add some tears into the river)

Then, it hit me. WAIT!  You are being ridiculous! 

You aren't fat, you're healthy and active. And even if you were, HOW WOULD THAT MOTIVATE YOU?!?!   How would anyone be motivated to workout and be healthy if they fed themselves SUCH encouraging material all day long. 

And then, I had ANOTHER thought.  ( I know, 2 in one day.  SHOCKING!)

If I'm feeling this way, so are others in the club of humans.  Crazy!

At that moment, I aimed to STOP, in the name of self esteem.  Being healthy is not only about what you put in your mouth, it's what you put in your mind. 

Exercise, fitness and healthy lifestyle should not be driven by body self loathing.  We should partake because of how it makes us feel, the strength it gives us and the energy that pulses through our veins.

After my roller coaster of a day, I aim to not allow myself to gorge on such garbage.  And, I encourage you to do the same.  Focus all your healthy choices (exercise, healthy diets, proper sleep) on the benefits and positive effects it has on your body.  It will be easier to stay on the right track AND when you love* yourself (instead of attending The Self Loathing Club) you'll want to do LOVELY things for yourself.  (Like exercising and eating better)

Don't we feel better?  Let's let out a sign of relief, shall we?  "AHHHHHH!"  

Now, enjoy this lovely quote to fuel you through the day:

"My experience in what I agree to attend to."  William James

What are you going to START telling yourself?


*I apologize for that self help, hippie word.  But sometimes, it is necessary.  Forgive me.

WOOOO!  It's Fun Friday, just like in elementary school.  That's right, we can have just as much fun as we did as kids if not MORE!  Well, that's my goal.  

To quote my awesome brother, "I refuse to buy into the school of thought that "growing up" means "giving up" and that being adult means "boring." Responsibility and happiness are NOT mutually exclusive and joy isn't just for children!"

Preach it Papa Perez!  That being said, take a peak at the fun I had on Park Avenue last night!

 There were delicious sips and AMAZING SNACKS!

I may have dined on some divine treats from the Bohemian Baker.  

Soooo good!  Can we say Lemon Pound Cake AND Chocolate Pecan Pie?!?!?!?

Life is about living and every once in a while, it's ok to indulge, right Mr. Bear?!?!

And after visiting The Spice & Tea Exchange, I was inspired with the desire to cook healthy things!  

There were even great quotes. -------------------->

All in all, an amazing night with awesome people.

As I'm sure you can see, my blog is titled "Tracking Teeny."  This name is inspired by my need to run around like a crazy person and adventure.  Thus, it's hard to "track me down."  (Clever, I know)  That being said...

My next impromptu trip: Quincy Quarry's in Boston, MA.   I'm packin up my bags and gear for next weekend, October 1st!!!!!!

Yes, I will be rock climbing sooner than expected!  Can you tell how excited I am?!?!?!?

Take a peak at the rocks I'll be rolling with AND my sexy rope!

   I'll be doing some climbing here.  Good thing there's some nice water to plop in!

And here.  AFTER a good frolic in the green grass, of course.  

And BEHOLD!  The ravishing rope I'll be rocking on some rocks with!  (Take THAT alliteration)

So, I'm taking my advice, and living like a child: playing outdoors, running around and having a grand ole' time!

Don't worry.  There will be some work this weekend. I have a 3 mile run tomorrow BUT then, it's onto some fun!

How do you plan to tap into you inner child this weekend?  

This bright, lazy morning, we kept 4 on the floor.  By this, I mean 4 EXTREME runners ran 4 miles this morning.  (Don't confuse with the kindergarten motto of keeping all 4 legs of the chair on the floor.  That's BORING!)

Now, I'm going to talk some complete craziness....can you handle it?  Sit down.  I'm not climbing tonight.  Take a moment.

I don't really believe it either BUT, I know taking a break is good for your muscles.  I stole this to rationalize my needed break. (My triceps are ultra sore)  

Why I am taking the night off:

     -Injuries are often caused by overexertion
     -Getting rest allows muscles to prepare and repair for EVEN MORE!
     -Sleeping 6-8 hours a night is a great way for our body to recouperate 

Read more about it here.  She was an Olympic medalist!  I THINK Natasha Hastings knows what's up.

Since I'm not climbing tonight, I can, at the very LEAST share my favorite post climbing dessert:

Peanut Butter Plop!
     -I Tablespoon of Peanut Butter
     -8 mini dark chocolate chips
     -1/8-1/4 cup of rolled oats  (enough to form a ball)

Directions
-Combine all ingredients and roll into ball
-Place in freezer for 5 minutes to firm
-Eat!

I know...I'm crazy intense when I "cook"  BUT it satiates my sweet tooth and has lotsa protein!

Now I MAY have forgotten to mention one of the MAIN reasons I'm not climbing is to enjoy Sip and Stroll, an event where you walk around, eat appetizers and get dressy.  Last time, we made it into the paper!  SEE -------------->

Enjoy your Thursday, whether it be running, walking, relaxing or strolling on Park Avenue with me. 

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. Lily Tomlin.

Alright Lily, if I must.  There will be pictures to follow.  :)

Oh yes...I will never be in the dumps on the day of the hump!  Every Wednesday, I strive to hurdle over this less than coveted day of the week.

Everyday above ground in a good day, (Thanks Dad) SO...I aim to make it so.

Today, I started it by stopping that alarming and kicking it with my Half Marathon Running Crew.  Oh yes, we were up by 6:30 AM to run 3 miles.  Mind you, this was AFTER my climbing cohorts destroyed some walls at the gym last night.  You might be asking, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"  Well....why I "torture," myself:

Benefits of getting up early to run
    -Seeing the sunrise (you know you loved that first photo)
    -Sneaking in some Vitamins (15 minutes of sun help you get your daily intake)
    -Jump starting that Metabolism with an AM run (just one letter from fun)
    -Releasign some feel good Chemicals (seratonin..HI!)
    -Catching up with friends (Believe or not, we get lonely during the week because of LACK of human interaction)
 
Best News of the day?
I have officially scheduled my next outdoor rock climbing trip!  For some weird reason...there's not a lot of Rock Climbing Mountains in Orlando.  Hmmmm.

October 21st-24th, I will be rock climbing in the mountains, dancing with the dirt (hopefully no wolves) and putting my body where my mouth is.  (I strive to do active things for fun NOT for body self loathing)  Location and details to follow!  Any ideas?

Allow me this squeal of excitement "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  Take that hump day.

How do you plan to Hurdle Over Hump Day?!?!?

"You know you want to run.  I mean run is just one letter away from fun!  Too bad that letter is an f....."

Yes, my brother coined that little phrase while I was dragging......rumpus. <------- Attempt to NOT curse :)

Now yesterday, I was unenthused.  You coudn't bribe me with the biggest piece of chocolate cake (and I'm a fattie for cake) to complete my 3 mile run.

But, guess what happened?  My stupid (awesome) running partner and stupid brother (awesome) pushed me to run with them.  AND since I did sign up for that STUPID Half Marathon, I HAD to stay on track.

So begrudginly, I ran.  The entire time, I yelled, "Oh, I love to run."  Obviously, VERY sarcastically.  

About 2/3 of the way through, I was having fun, dancing and fist pumping like I was listening to a Journey song.
DAMMIT!  I was having a blast as the day's stressors melted away while I took in the beautiful surrounding nature of Baldwin Park.

As the sun set, I realized what I overcame: MYSELF.  Sometimes, the biggest obstacle to anything is you and your stinky, cranky thoughts!  My built in reinforcements:
      -Partners
      -A race to keep me accountable
      -A set schedule to follow

All these things kept the Tantrums of Teeny at bay.  Even with my crank, we were able to keep a 10:11 pace.  Not bad for a Negative Nelly.

If I missed the run, I would have missed the breathtaking view and gotten off track.  (And "fun" coined by my brother)

How do you overcome you?

PS  My friend and brother aren't stupid.  I was using some literary magic to depict my mood.  

PPS  Can you tell why my friends call me Teeny?  My running partner is a little taller.  :)

Ah....it's Monday and it's marvelous.  No Manic Monday over here, even though I'm still waddling my way around work.  (Thanks Crossfit!)

I was so sore that I had to push my Half Marathon Training run to after work. 

The best thing about Monday isn't laughing at my walking waddle.  Oh no, I just found out I have a fun race to prep me for my big run  That's right, I'm getting in touch with my Scottish/Irish roots and rocking out The Highlander in Bartow, FL. on October 15th.

Can I tell you how much fun this race was in July? (This is the 2nd of the series)  But seriously!  Some of the BEST obstacles I have EVER experienced were in the first one and I'm told it's going to EVEN BETTER this time. And believe me, I'm a Mud Race Extraordinaire!  

The Highlander had THE BEST slide, rope walks and I even passed a huge cow! (Unintended obstable but GREAT nonetheless!) Talk about obstacles! 

If you're in Florida....you'd best be there. 

Do you like getting dirty and staying active?  Want to start?  Tada!  Here it is.  Everyone is at different levels but they're all there for the same thing: FUN!

Now, I'm off to be extreme (and eat di.  It's hot...that's what makes it EXTREME!)  Take this little nugget of knowledge for the road:

"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play." -Arnold Toynbee