Failure is not an option

It's simple to say failure is not an option but the more practical way to approach this is to have a realistic view of your progress and take pride in the small steps. On day three of the new year and running strong. By strong I mean that I went to Kickboxing and Yoga class and immediately felt the negative effects of the holiday season. The biggest thing that I noticed was that I was a bit dehydrated and I didn't have my full balance. Ok, so not the best inversions today but I can live with that.

Pushing Your Boundaries: Why I Run Tough Mudder.

A FaceBook friends post last night reminded me why I run Tough Mudder. It was a simple post and right to the point. All that it said was, "Going to bed early. Hope I can sleep. Tomorrow is Tough Mudder New England 2013!!!!".  It's that excitement that makes it all worth it.

People wonder why someone would get so excited about running a long distance with the only breaks being a bunch of horrendous obstacles deigned to destroy you and your spirit. I spent a good portion of the morning going over that question and the only answer that I could come up with was, "Because I can".

Describing itself as "Ironman meets Burning Man," Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces that tests participants' "strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie." - Sarah Flanagan Huffington Post

Last year I had to opportunity to run Tough Mudder SC and Tough Mudder UK Midlands. This year I have added a Ninja Warrior Conditioning class (strength training), Kickboxing and Yoga to my already existing running and martial arts training. I can't wait to see the results in this years Tough Mudder North Carolina and Tough Mudder Berlin!

Although this post my seem like glorified self-promotion, it's true message is this. I never thought that an event like Tough Mudder  would be something that I would enjoy. Honestly, I never thought that I could do it but with hard work and setting small achievable goals I successfully ran my first event. Now I am running Tough Mudder and I think you can to!

Setting (and breaking) Long-Run goals!

I have a personal goal of running my first marathon this December. To accomplish this I needed to set up smaller goals. I tend to do a lot better with lots of little accomplishments then one big one. My guess is that quite a few of bus are that way.

This weekend I was up in New Hampshire for a wedding and I figured that it would be the perfect opportunity to break my long-run record and set a new PB. I also would have the opportunity to run by the beach which is a big plus. So on a rainy Saturday morning I started out on what would be my best run yet! I broke my previous long-run record of 13.2 miles with a 15.1 mile finish.  I also shaved a good amount if time off my half marathon time. Needless to say I was pleased.

Working Out Can Make You Smarter.

One of my core beliefs is that you need to find balance in everything you do in life. Basically you need to address all aspects of the holistic triangle (physical, mental and spiritual). When you successfully combine these three points you have a balanced human. Simply put, exercising your brain is as important as exercising your body and spiritual side.