A Running Mom

I noticed something when my daughter was being bullied by one of her best friends. It was simply this: a lot of the parents I know were kinda bullying each other.

Think I’m crazy? It’s not that these parents were knocking into each other or making obvious attempts to make others feel left out, alone or insulted (although I know a few parents who behave that way, too! Jeesh!) No, these parents were all about talking about other families, kids or individuals in a really unkind manner. The thing that struck me, was that my daughter brought it to my attention.

“Why doesn’t Mrs. So-N-So like Mrs. So-N-So,” she asked me.

“Why don’t you think she likes her,” I asked.

“Because, she’s always talking about her,” said my daughter.

That’s when it hit me. Mrs. So-N-So was a bully! She had a way of talking about any person who walked away from a conversation that made everyone feel just a tad uncomfortable. We, the group of friends who share a friendship with the bully, just listen and put up with it. To me, it highlights how that person probably talks about me when I walk away from a conversation. Fine. I couldn’t care less. Talk away.

But what I hadn’t realized, and the part that startled me, was that my daughter, at age 12, noticed it and it bugged her. So by chatting with this woman; by being “friends” with this woman; I wondered, was I teaching my daughter that bullying was ok?

How do we, as adults, deal with bullies? Was I acting like a bully, too, then?

So I started to think about it. We are all modeling behavior as parents. Whether we are trying to or not, whatever we’re doing on a daily basis, we’re showing our kids an example. It’s a stresser, isn’t it?

I used that situation to talk to my daughter about how people are all different, and that the skills she learned to deal with her friend who was bullying her, are skills that will enhance her ability to have great friendships throughout her life.

She understood this point immediately.

“You have some really great friends, Mom,” she said.

And so this is how I could tell that my daughter was growing up. Her experience with bullying, in a way, helped her distinguish between those great friends that we all have and the other friends we socialize with. She could see the difference between my true friends vs. the variety of people that come in and out of our life, who we enjoy on an entirely different level.

But it made me think, too. Am I helping to encourage that bullying behavior by not addressing it as an adult? In a way, am I empowering bullying?

So, think about it. Do you do the same thing? Without meaning it, are you a bully?

That’s enough to send me on a 6-mile run! Off I go!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: http://iTwixie.com

This year has brought many incredible people into my life! This girl is a great example these kinds of people, and what they mean to me, my business and what the greater message should be to us all.

I met this girl at the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon One Mile Fun Run this year. iTwixie.com was a sponsor, so a team of us attended the event and offered all kids the chance to make friendship bracelets, compete for iTwixie t-shirts and Maddie Georgi cds (Maddie Georgi is the singer/songwriter of iTwixie’s theme song, “Go!”). After the kids finished the race, many stopped by to see what was going on at our booth.

This girl stopped by, hoola-hooped to win an iTwixie t-shirt, smiled for a few pictures and asked about iTwixie. I told her how iTwixie.com was the only site on the web that really is all about real tween girls like her, who are smart, savvy, athletic and curious about all kinds of stuff.

She and I had a great chat, because it turns out, she just started running last year and quickly learned that she was pretty fast. In fact, she kept running and now is one of the top ten fastest runners in her age group in the USA.

Pretty incredible, yes?

Isn’t she beautiful?

We’re celebrating our 1st birthday right now on iTwixie. We’ve met girls like this incredible runner all year long, who continue to amaze us with their incredible strength, positive attitude and real interest in reaching out to other girls like them. Companies around the globe are trying to teach these beautiful girls that they need make-up, sexy clothing and boys to know that they are beautiful.

At  iTwixie.com, we recognize the true beauty in each and every tween girl right now!  Whether she climbs trees, plays a sport, loves science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), literature, fashion, design, singing, acting, dressing up or dressing down, she is beautiful! Won’t you applaud your tween girl for being the real girl that she is today? Tell her she is smart, savvy, funny, cool, kooky, crazy, fun or courageous! And tell her all of those things make her beautiful!

Let’s stop pushing our girls away from embracing these incredible tween years! Let’s STOP encouraging them to wear make-up, pluck their eyebrows, wear skimpy clothing, worry about boys or what they look like! Let’s stop criticizing their “shape” at a time when their bodies are changing more rapidly than any other time in their lives! Let’s embrace them as the morphing beings they are! Won’t you simply embrace her as she is?

Let’s celebrate our tween girls and spark a revolution in this world to join us and cheer them on! Won’t you and your family join the iTwixie.com revolution?

One of the families that stopped by to talk to us at the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon One Mile Fun Run, shared their fun routine of running 1 mile, 3 times a week, together as a family. How fun! The kids were 5, 7 and 9. These kids, 2 girls and a little boy, looked at me, proud, steadfast as true champions, with medals hanging from their necks, a goody bag full of fun stuff, and an iTwixie t-shirt in their hands from winning one of the iTwixie challenges. Priceless, right? Better than taking them to a movie perhaps? Certainly better than hanging out at the mall all day or hitting a fast food joint, wouldn’t you agree?

It was a wonderful day!

The Pittsburgh Kids Marathon One Mile Fun Run is like many races throughout the world that bring families and kids together to celebrate family, fun and fitness. Won’t you find a race like it and run with your family soon? We’d love to hear about it!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: iTwixie.com

Character: Character is a set of behavior traits that define what sort of person an individual is. It determines whether a person will effectively achieve goals, be forthright in dealing with others and will obey the laws and rules of the group. Although character is related to personality, it is not the same thing. Personality is primarily inborn traits, while character consists of learned behavior. Both may vary with the situation or circumstances.

Aren’t these girls fabulous? They are full of joy, happiness and are showing off their unique character. Sure they’re dressed up for Halloween — but they aren’t dressed in skimpy outfits, as divas or in the new wave of costume that tries to make our girls look like adults. They’re dressed up as football players! Very cool! Full of character!

To me, character is in crisis today. As a society we do not focus enough on helping to develop character in our budding leaders for tomorrow. This development has to begin early and continue through the pre-adolescent years, because by high school, much of this development must be in place to help our high schoolers make quality choices.

Instead of character development, it seems that our world is much more into complaining about stuff and focussing on appearances. In fact, as a society, we focus so much on appearances, that is it any wonder that our impressionable, young girls are finding themselves in crisis over how they look? Today we have a record number of a few, startling achievements: a record number of tween girls suffering from depression, eating disorders and contemplation of suicide.

Trouble is, there are numerous organizations out there who believe the problem is that our girls have low self esteem.

Maybe that is part of the problem. And, indeed, part of the solution.

But what if, maybe, the trouble starts with each adult today who has dropped the ball in aiding in the character development of our girls?

Regardless of whether or not you agree with me on that one, you will find this next thought challenging at the least and worth trying — TODAY — at the most!

Make TODAY the day that you DO something that empowers YOU and your daughter!

Start these TODAY:
- Stop gossiping at all, but especially in front of your daughter.
- Compliment your daughter on something she has done today, instead of how she looks.
- Do not mention one flaw of yours in front of your daughter.
- Start a meaningful project that your daughter can do as well, such as writing letters to the troops, collecting food for the hungry or designing a new way to collect paperboard for recycling in your home.
- Take 20 minutes and use them to make you and your daughter STRONGER: Lift some weights, or go for a walk or run, or take the Lunge Challenge on iTwixie.com with your daughter — this just might be the start to a whole new and stronger you and stronger daughter.

Well?

I’m no longer accepting comments on this blog, as I began to receive thousands everyday by some new friends representing a broad array of nonsense products. So, alas, until I install better filtering, please send your comments to my up and coming facebook page: A Running Mom!

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

Tip Two: Finish strong. When you finish a run, do you sometimes feel so exhausted that by the end you’re just happy to be done running? Does your pace become an afterthought because you feel so exhausted? Then this tip is definately for you. Try visualizing a finish line, like this one, and quicken your stride. It doesn’t matter if you finish at any certain pace. What matters more is that you feel like you’re giving an extra effort for that last quarter of a mile to the finish. Why? This is where you can build your endurance, gain greater speed and psychologically overcome the feeling of exhaustion. By finishing strong, you actually push through the toughest part of the run with intensity, thereby allowing yourself to bring more intensity to your next run. Best part of this trick is that once you’ve finished the run, you can feel certain that the next time you run you won’t feel that tired. You’ll have made yourself just a little stronger, confident and fit.

Yesterday, my friend and I ran together and as we approached our finish we picked up the pace to finish strong, like we always do. Today I can feel a little soreness from that stride in. And I love it. The strength I gained from just that stride, that extra effort, is something I’ll actually bring to that same run when I go back to it this week, and I’ll finish even stronger and with more speed. It’s not just a perceived benefit. It’s a tangible benefit. Try it and you’ll see what I mean. I bet you’ll love it, too.

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

Photo Credit: pillotgirl

Check out the runners in this picture. It’s a great shot of the Freihofer’s Run for Women. Aren’t they inspiring? Let them get you psyched for a week of running! Get off your couch and plan to join me for these 5 days of running this week.

It’s easy! Just plan to go out for these 5 great runs with me. Check in and let me know how you did!

(Remember, before you ever start a new fitness routine, it’s always good to check in with your physician to make sure it’s right for you.)

5. An easy 30 minutes. For this run, just go out and run for about 30 minutes without worrying about your pace. The idea for this run is to loosen up after the weekend and get your breathing in check.

4. Intervals! Break up your course in 4 sections. For me, I’m going to for 40 minutes for this run. You should plan to run a distance you know you can cover, but that you can really deliver some speed, too, and that you can easily break up into 4 intervals.

Interval 1: easy
Interval 2: slightly faster
Interval 3: race pace
Interval 4: easy

This run will challenge your muscles, your breathing, and of course, your endurance. Make sure your “easy” intervals do not become a walk and that your form does not break down. If you feel like you need to walk, then you probably are running too fast during the quicker intervals, so make sure you don’t overdo it.

And make sure that your “slightly faster” interval doesn’t become your race pace. This is a nice drill on controlling your pace and identifying “faster” vs. “race.” So if you realize you’re not nailing the right pace, know that we all do this. It’s part of what this run is designed to teach you!

3. An easy 20 minutes. For this run, just go out and run for about 20 minutes without worrying about your pace. The idea for this run is to loosen up after the interval run.

2. Hills! Find a course near you with 3 nice hills. If you live in a flat area of the country, then consider a treadmill that allows you can alter the incline. Hill running is an incredible help for fitness, endurance and strength. I’m going to plan on a nice 5-mile run with about 7 hills. They are rolling hills, so I won’t have to worry about training for them. Remember to always use your arms on the uphill, and to be sure not to land on your forefoot on the downhill. Form on the downhill is important so you don’t get hurt.

1. An easy 20 minutes. For this run, just go out and run for about 20 minutes, but this time, give yourself a nice “stride” in the middle of it. You will feel able to run faster, so enjoy a nice 4 minutes or so with an increased pace. But make yourself stay loose and at an easy pace for the majority of it. The idea for this run is to loosen up after the week of running.

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: Jacob Enos

My core strength is depleted. Even a simple run has my abs feeling fatigued. So I’m taking these girls as my inspiration to Just Add Yoga to my routine and get back that core strength that has kept my lower back in check for the past year!

What’s your most challenging pose? Favorite routine? Is there a best time of day for yoga?

I’m looking for some wise words from my peeps. I’m going to try the yoga thing at home… this is new to me!

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

This might look really easy, but guess what? It’s super hard! And you might need to start doing it.

Photo Credit: pilates4runners.com

If you are a runner, you may want to consider pilates to incorporate better breathing techniques for your runs, better flexibility, and a stronger “core.” I found this site that speaks specifically about the benefits pilates offers runners like me.

Last year, as I trained for a 1/2 marathon, I developed acute back pain and became increasingly uncomfortable. I couldn’t even to touch my toes! I thought my back was going into spasms. A few visits to my favorite local Pilates Studio took care of the problem. They taught me the importance of stretching the muscles I was strengthening for better support and comfort throughout my “core” — the area throughout your body’s lower back and around the upper and lower stomach.  I also learned that my breathing and overall training might have been contributing to my holding tension in my shoulders and back. Within 12 weeks, I developed better posture, better breathing, a stronger core and felt terrific again.  Now I incorporate pilates in my weekly routine, as it will, I believe, be the cornerstone for my longer-term strength and cardio-vascular training and health. See what you think!  

I’m off to run a nice 3 miles.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

If you are anything like me, you are getting tired of all of the hype around the various workouts out there. From “boot camps” to “high intensity mega tapes” to a multitude of dvds recently offered, men and women can be tempted to spend mega bucks on ways to make working out more effective and interesting. Well, here’s my few thoughts for free. Here’s my top 5 Speed Workouts that will make YOU stronger, focussed and challenged. Try this:

5. INTERVALS During your next run, identify a target about 100 yards away.  This target could be a tree, lampost, bench or if you’re really abmitious, another runner. Run as fast as your legs can carry you to this target and then resume your comfortable pace. Do this once per mile of a “comfortable pace” run. WHY? It builds strength, endurance and challenges how you regard your pace. Plus, it’s fun, especially if you dust another runner.

4. BUILD THAT MUSCLE After three runs each week, do 3 sets of 8 of each of these: push-ups, dips, lunges. Try to incorporate them into the setting of your run, immediately upon finishing your run. WHY? Challenging muscles when their fatigued can quickly build strength. That’s why we do sets until muscle failure. Plus you’ll feel like Rocky.

3. CUT DISTANCE/ADD SPEED For one run each week, lessen your distance by half and run that distance in a :30-:45 less per mile than your comfortable pace. If you usually run four miles at 9:30, run two miles at 8:30-9:00. Don’t fret if you don’t successfully achieve this goal your first time. But keep trying. WHY? Each time you try will make you faster the next time you go out.

2. RUN WITH SOMEONE FASTER THAN YOU Not every run, but once in a while, find someone to run with whose pace is faster than yours. It can be annoying, yes, but as you guessed, it can make you stronger and faster. You may even make a new friend, or an old friendship stronger.

1. FINISH EVERY RUN LIKE AN EIGHT YEAR OLD No matter how far you’re running, select a point at the end of your run when you will just let it fly like you did when you were a kid and run as fast as you can, even if your form begins to break down. WHY? It’ll make you stronger and faster. And you know what? It’s fun.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

I used to think it was impossible for me to drop time. I’m just not a fast runner. I’m not even a pace runner. I’m one of those dopes who thinks she’s flying while still plodding along at the same pace she was going 3 miles before.

But, I was wrong. I owe this epiphany to my friend, Patrice, who challenged me to run a little faster during a “better than nothing” workout in my home with our little babies crawling around our feet. She used weights while I ran on my treadmill. In-between sets she looked up at me, tilted her head to the side with a surprised look on her face, and she said, “You know, I think you can go faster.”  

I couldn’t believe my ears.  I already felt like I was pushing myself. But as pride dictated, I pushed harder. I ran faster. But not faster enough for Patrice.

She commented again, same surprised look on her face, “I think you can go faster. You look like you’re jogging.” Jogging?  C’mon!

So you know I tried to run faster yet again. And this fun continued until I reached a dizzying — for me — 6:30 pace.  I thought my feet were going to fly back behind me.  Finally, Patrice said, “Now you look like you’re running.”

I’ll never forget that day nor that moment.  

I couldn’t keep that pace for long.  I felt breathless. But it taught me something. I could run really fast. At least for a little while. I could!

And that’s how I started running intervals as part of my regular workouts. And then, I started achieving personal best times. I loved it. And I still do. Thank you Patrice!

Why don’t you take a chance and run a little faster next time you go out. Don’t pass out. But challenge yourself. Perhaps you’ll get stronger. You will feel better. And maybe you’ll finish your next run just a little… faster!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

the right shoes

I love these shoes.  These are the shoes that my friends at Elite Runners found for me to help me fix my knee.  I apparently have high arches and I roll my feet too much inward.  I feel like they’re working already.  I love them.  Thank you smart running shoe people!  

What shoes do you wear?  Do you love ‘em?

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca