Weekly Workout Wind Up (9/19-25/13)

Tough week. I was feeling great until I hit 10.53 miles into my 15-mile run on Sunday. Something was going on in the ball of my foot out to my second toe. Not a happy camper to have to stop my run early. Tried to run Monday and only got 1 mile in before pain started. So I had to take rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tough. I was going to try to Stairmaster or Elliptical, but was advised to try to rest it as much as possible. I DID PASS 850 miles run for the year!! At the end of this week I was at 862 miles. Woo! Bring on my goal of 1,000 miles run in 2013!

Thursday, September 19: 3-Mile Run

Friday, September 20: 2-Mile Run

Saturday, September 21: VERT Race Series Big Bad Wolf 5-Mile Trail Run

Sunday, September 22: 11-Mile Run

Monday, September 23: 1-Mile Run and 53-Min Spin Class

Tuesday, September 24: REST DAY

Wednesday, September 25: REST DAY

I am praying it is okay this weekend with back to back half marathons. Here's hoping rest and foam rolling was the trick!

Why Do I Discredit Myself?

Pride.

Something I truly feel on a daily basis for the accomplishments and changes I have made over the past few years.

Soooo why do I continuously discredit those same accomplishments?

Easy.

I don't want people to think I am full of myself. I don't want to be considered vain.

Yes, I still think entirely too much about what people think of me.

Having low self-esteem most of my life has gotten me really good at wanting to be a people pleaser.

I always thought if they liked me then I would be able to somehow use that to start liking myself.

I like the core person I was - good friend, loyal, caring, kind, etc - but I focused too much on the outside and letting the weight dictate how I really felt about myself.

So now that I have this little slice of the internet and I share my story - good, bad, ugly - some of the self doubt and worry creep back to the forefront.

I share my accomplishments to show others they CAN do things they didn't think possible.

I open up about the struggles to show I am human and not perfect.

BUT, after receiving a few comments saying I had gotten too vain I was crushed.

I turned to my wife and friends seeking their opinion.

Had I changed? Why couldn't I be happy and share the wonderful things that were happening?

At no point do I try to say I am better than anyone else, we are all on different journeys - which should be celebrated.

I posted this thought on the blog's Facebook page yesterday and wanted to thank Hungry Healthy Happy for commenting:

I think it is an issue for a lot of people that run pages like ours. Maybe because of comments we might have got about being vain when we share a proud moment. But we should be proud and for every 1 person that thinks you are vain, you are inspiring hundreds more.

I have been putting myself and my accomplishments down for too long.

No longer will I share something and immediately follow it up with an apology for it.

As someone noted yesterday, there is a difference between vanity and pride.

I choose to focus on Pride.

And maybe someday I will be able to stop caring SOO much about what others think and more about what I think!

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Anyone else struggle with this?

Dani Dishes 9-23-13

On this episode of Dani Dishes, it has simply been a week of excuses and it has to stop!!

The Dani Ryan Holmes-Kirk 2nd Annual 30th Birthday (Virtual) 5k Run-Walk Ramble

It's here!!!!! That's right folks. My 31st birthday is on Monday, September 16 - which means only one thing!

It's time for:

The Dani Ryan Holmes-Kirk 2nd Annual 30th Birthday (Virtual) 5k Run-Walk Ramble

Yup, folks had so much fun participating in the event last year that I had to bring it back again! Plus, it was my most successful fundraising tool as well.

So let's break it on down here for anyone that wasn't around for it last year or needs a refresher.

Last year I wanted to ring in my 30th year of life in a new and different way since I was entering a new decade with a healthy weight, an obsession with running and a free Sunday morning.

As a result the Birthday 5k was born. You can catch up on all the fun here.

I will pause again as you read the lovely recap from last year's event that took place both in person at my house and virtually around the world.

What is taking place this year you ask?

Well, the entire 5k will be done virtually since I will be out of town during my actual birthday weekend. Again this means anywhere on the Globe. Last year we had participants in the US, Canada and England.

Here are the details.

A virtual run-walk means you do the 5k (3.1 mile) "race" at your leisure during September 16 and September 22. Map out your own route, get your own friends together or jump on the old trusty treadmill. Your call.

I will provide race bibs for you to print out and fix to your shirt (if you want) by the end of the week.

EVERYONE that completes the "race" will receive a Finisher's Medal in the mail from me. YAY! How cool is that? I know one of my favorite parts.

Also, everyone will be entered to receive some pretty sweet raffle prizes that I have available as well. More on that later.

But you may be asking: "Dani How much will this fun cost me?" or "What is my entry fee going to?"

Well, each participant will be making a $25 donation. The proceeds raised will be going towards my $5,000 fundraising goal to represent Tedy's Team in the 2014 Boston Marathon. That's right folks! I'm going back for more.

For those that don't know, I ran the Boston Marathon last year with Tedy's Team.

Tedy asked the American Stroke Association to work with him to create “Tedy’s Team,” a group of runners raising money for the American Stroke Association and training to complete the Boston Marathon® and the Falmouth Road Race.  Their participation supports Tedy Bruschi’s fight against stroke and honors both the survivors and the loved ones lost to America’s No. 4 leading cause of death.

In addition to the dollars being raised, an equally important issue for Tedy’s Team is the increase in awareness of stroke and recognition of its warning signs. Tedy’s Team is striving to reach as many people as possible in its message of recognizing the warning signs and acting appropriate when seeing them — calling 9-1-1 immediately.

I ran in honor of my Stroke Heroes, my grandparents, and will be doing so again this year. Unfortunately last year, my grampa passed away during the training. But, I feel as if he was looking down on me on April 15, 2013 and he helped me cross that Finish line at the right time.

***

If you would like to take part in the run or walk:

1) Please register here. (Thank you Racemenu for help with the site) --- Make sure you are providing an accurate mailing address because that is where I will send the medal.

2) You can complete the 3.1 mile-run walk whenever you like from September 16-September 22.

3) Once you complete the race please send me a photo of yourself and your time - dani@weightoffmyshoulders.com

4) HAVE FUN!!

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Finisher's Medal

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Download Your Race Bib Here!

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If you would like to make a donation to my fundraising goal and do NOT wish to participate in the run-walk (which is absolutely okay), please visit my fundraising page here.

Dani Dishes 9-16-13

On this episode of Dani Dishes, it is time for a little birthday recap, a little RnR Philadelphia celebration and letting you know there is still time to take part in my virtual birthday 5k for Tedy's Team!! :) Blog About Event

Registration Page

Weekly Workout Wind Up (9/12-18/13)

Well with a race and weekend away this was pretty much an all running week, which I expected. I didn't expect to be so wiped when I got back from Philly that I would REALLY take advantage of the rest day on Tuesday. But I made up for it on Wednesday. I am really hoping that with a lower key weekend coming up I can plan a more well rounded week of workouts for next week. I miss running stairs. I miss my Jillian Michaels DVDs. I miss swimming. I miss Spinning. I miss all those after 1 week. ;)

Thursday, September 12: 5k Run

Friday, September 13: TRAVEL DAY to RnR race in Philly

Saturday, September 14: 3-Mile Run

Sunday, September 15: RnR Philly Half Marathon (PR 1:44:12)

Monday, September 16: Virtual Birthday 5k

Tuesday, September 17: REST DAY

Wednesday, September 18: 4-Mile Run, 35-Min Stairmaster, 30-Min Elliptical & 2.6-Mile Run

5-mile Trail Race on Saturday - let's hope I come out of it injury free! 

Want to run Rock 'n' Roll Providence?

Annddddd the winner IS:

a Rafflecopter giveaway CONGRATS!!!! Thank you to everyone that participated and big thanks to our Sponsor!!!

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I think we can all agree I enjoy the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series races.

Thanks to Team Refuel I had the opportunity last week to give away a free entry to RnR Philly (Half), which I will be running on September 15.

But, now the lovely folks at the RnR Marathon Group have given me a free entry to RnR Providence (Half) to give away!

YAY!

I love being able to give people free entries to races that I love ... and will be running as well. :)

The RnR Providence race will take place on Sunday, September 29 at 7am ET.

Now, I was lucky enough to do this race last year after prodding from my friends. Yup they got me with "well it is $13 off if you sign up today!"

Here's my full recap from last year.

I'll wait while you check it out.

All done?

Okay.

You can see that I had been going for a PR, but did NOT expect so many darn hills. Apparently I forgot that Providence was a hilly city especially by Brown University (aka the Mile 4 region).

But despite lots of hills and some bands missing from the course it was a fun race last year.

My friend Colleen was trying to pace me to a PR, but it was nice to have someone to run with. I so often race/train by myself that I forget how fun it is to have someone with you every step of the way.

I may not have PRed but had a great time overall. Plus the finish (is on a hill), but you run towards the Capital building, which is definitely a scene.

Afterwards they even have a booth set up where you can pay $20 to have your medal engraved on the spot...

... which I do at every RnR race where it is available.

So you are so amped to possibly run this race you just want me to get to the giveaway part? Okay here goes:

The giveaway will run from Monday September 9 (9:30am ET) through Friday September 13 (9:30am ET)!

The winner will be selected and announced on Friday!

Dani Dishes 9-9-13

On this episode of Dani Dishes, I share about an "off" week, the Women's Triathlon and my upcoming virtual Birthday 5k!! Blog About Event

Registration Page

Weekly Workout Wind Up (9/5-11/13)

In a rare (and much needed ) turn of events, I had two rest days this week. I think my body was appreciative of the extra downtime. There are many people that say you can overtrain and I am really trying to avoid that. So I think this week happens to be a lower mileage week in the #DopeyChallenge training and it is coming at the right time. I am really hoping that after this week, I can start adding the variety back in to my workouts that I had earlier in the summer. But between work, blogging and life I haven't had time to add the variety recently.

Hi Excuses! My name is Dani.

But as my schedule changes at work, I need to get creative to add in the runs I need plus some other fun stuff.

I will make it work!!

Plus, I think I am going to get a bike trainer for the fall/winter since we all know the bike is my weakest part of the triathlon so I need to work extra hard at it this offseason.

Thursday, September 5: REST DAY

Friday, September 6: 8-Mile Run

Saturday, September 7: 6.3-Mile Run

Sunday, September 8: Women's Sprint Triathlon (1/2 Mile Swim, 12 Mile Bike, 5k Run)

Monday, September 9: 4-Mile Run and 50-Min Spin

Tuesday, September 10: REST DAY

Wednesday, September 11: 4-Mile Run

Bring on the Rock 'n' Roll Philly Half on Sunday! :)

I need to ask myself: "How Are You Doing?"

For some reason today was a tough day. I really don't know why. I woke up and felt like a truck ran me over. My wife thinks it was a "second day hangover" from an exceptionally long day on Sunday, which included over 4 hours in the car.

Maybe that was it.

Or maybe it was something else.

I just felt off all day.

I made a comment how I wish I could just hide in my bed all day snuggling with the pups. How could I not - look at those faces!

Okay old pic, but still.

They can brighten any day.

But I didn't have time. I had three Weight Watchers meetings today and if I don't show up 1) members are upset and 2) I don't get paid.

I truly think at the heart of the matter is that I am tired.

I am trying to make the best of my life, but wearing myself out at the same time.

It is very very hard to take a day off from Weight Watchers since 1) I lead so many meetings finding coverage is usually impossible, 2) I feel bad if I have to reschedule a meeting and 2) I lose out on money if I take a day off.

So taking a day off during the week is nearly impossible.

Now I am not complaining - even though it sounds like I am. I like my job and am lucky with the flexibility, but sometimes I miss being in an office and having sick days/reasonable number of vacation days that were easy to use.

Which leaves the weekends for me to relax.

Wellll not so much if I am always on the go for races and training runs.

Again, not complaining. Most of the time I am signing myself up for these things, but I love doing them. I love lacing up the sneakers, meeting new people and pushing my body to a level it doesn't thin it can go to.

But either way it is taxing.

I honestly can't remember the last time I had an entire day off from work or training.

I need to learn how to build those in, but for now I need to make the most of the little downtime I do have.

I must force myself to go to bed earlier - even though I have blogging/emails/tweets/etc to respond back to.

Those can wait.

I need to start putting myself first.

I am the best at asking how others are doing. My members. My readers. My friends. My family.

But I forget to check in with me.

It isn't until I get pushed past the point of exhaustion that I realize "Wow I need a break."

Before my blog I wouldn't have allowed myself to own these feelings.

I mean I do not work long hours anymore. I do not work 100 days straight anymore. I left that lifestyle behind.

But it's like I am making up for it now. I am trying to jam as much fun as possible into my schedule.

I may be paying the price now.

It may not happen until November, but I promise that as soon as I can I will take 1 day completely to myself.

In the meantime, I will keep pushing to figure out where I need to make a change...