Running Archives | Strength and Sunshine

Dear Slow Runners

March 24, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 114 Comments

Dear Slow Runners,

Let me start this off by letting you know just how awesome I think you are. We (yes, I’m a slow runner too) are part of an exclusive pact which I’m very proud to be a part of. The thing is, we have major badass status.

People think that slow runners are new runners and that new runners are slow runners, but that isn’t always true. You can be a new runner and be super fast. You can be a slow runner and not be a newbie. I fall into that category. I’ve been running since November now, so I don’t think I’m a total newbie anymore. In terms of miles, yea, I’m still newish since I only run once a week. I don’t do speed workouts (unless my HIIT sessions on the bike count), I just have that one long run. Maybe I could be fast, but maybe not.Read More

All You Need Is Momentum

January 27, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 66 Comments

The hardest part is getting started. It’s a cliché, but it is so true. Once you start, that little spark, I like to call momentum, just takes over and makes things a whole lot easier. Once you start, why would you stop? You’re already “in-motion”, moving toward whatever you’ve set out for yourself. As you keep going, with that momentum, it builds up and things don’t seem so bad or hard. And you know, “an object at rest tends to stay at rest, while an object in motion tends to stay in motion.” All you need is that initial GO, that PUSH, and then you can let momentum take over.

I had one of the best yoga practices I’ve had in a while last Saturday. My body simply felt amazing flowing through my practice. My body was so flexible and strong while my balance was spot on. I was nailing poses and holding them forever, I didn’t want it to end. This got me pretty excited for my Sunday run the next morning, thinking I was in a really good physical/mental place. Plus the fact that the weather was supposed to be 50 degrees and sunny helped with the excitement too.Read More

Why You Can Get Fit At Home

January 13, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 97 Comments

It’s no secret that I am a huge proponent of working out at home. I believe 110% that you do not need a gym, studio, boutique fitness class, or box membership to be fit and stay active. A lot of times people feel like they have to belong somewhere in order for them to feel they are living an active lifestyle. They feel like if they can tell someone that they belong to some gym, then they are automatically in-shape. Half the time though, something may come up and you can’t utilize your membership or god-forbid, the gym is closed!

Well, I’m here to tell you that is not the case! You can absolutely be fit and athlete right in your own home! Everything I do is right at home (with the exception of having gym access when I’m, at college). I’ve gotten to my state of fitness all on my own. Just look at what I’ve achieved!

So what are some great no-gym options? The possibilities are endless depending on what you have and invest in, but no matter what, there are options for everyone!Read More

I Understand The “Runner’s High”

January 6, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 92 Comments

It has been 7 weeks since I started running. Meaning I’ve only run 7 times. I say “only” because running just once a week is rather odd, but its been working pretty well for me. Over these last 7 weeks, I’ve gone from just a short .95 mile run to most recently a 6.25 miles on Sunday. Yes. I ran a 10K plus an extra .05 mile. Why? How? What?!

Because I simply could. I channeled my inner strength and courage to make another one of my goals a reality. (Obviously I started 2015 off with a bang!) I knew I wanted to do this with it being my last run in NJ for a while. After my 4 mile run the week before, I ended up feeling like I could have gone more. I WANTED to go more. I knew a 10K was totally possible, that’s why I made it one of my “wishes” for 2015.

Every time I complete another run, my Nike+ app tells me of the “records” I smash. This time I ran my fastest mile in 11:07, my fastest 5K in 35:19, and my first 10K in 1:11:15. Since I ended with 6.25 miles, my overall time was 1:11:42 for my longest run ever…in my life. This time last year, when I said I wanted to start running, I never would have thought I could ever run this distance…ever. The only person I can blame for that negativity was myself. I never even got myself to try.Read More

When You Become More Than Yourself

December 23, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 70 Comments

December 21st, 2014. At 10:17am. The typical cloudy New Jersey morning at a brisk 33ºF. Sunday mornings are always quiet in my town. The streets are empty and everyone seems to just be waking up. With leggings, compression socks + some low socks, Asics, a long sleeve, light cheap zip-up, cozy warm jacket, scarf, Flipbelt, sweater headband, hat, and mitten gloves, phone and Nike+ app turned on, I set out the door.

I just start running, at “Rebecca Pace”. Down the streets of my home town. Smelling the wood burning stoves and fireplaces, taking in the empty streets, and scenery I never notice before. Your town looks different when you see it not while in the car, watching it fly by out the window. I have my head turned to the left, looking at a beautiful yellow castle-like house down a long street I had never seen before, when I smell…cows? I turn my head to the right and am greeted by 2 massive cows staring back at me. That made me smile. Some random people have 2 random cows I had never seen before in their yard. I’m jealous.

I keep pushing on, ever so slowly. During this whole run, I never ever walk. I just continue on with my slow pace, never more than 12 minutes per mile. My first mile was 11:38. No shame, I am totally proud of that. I keep exploring the streets and going down side streets to see things I’ve never seen before. It isn’t even that cold, or at least the cold doesn’t both me. The girl who HATES the cold and winter started her running journey right at the start of the cold season. That is really weird…maybe I’ll have to call winter one of my favorites now? Maybe not…Read More