Friday 24 January 2014

Two BIG announcements! EXCITED!

100 Days of Change…

As part of my goals/resolutions for 2014, I wanted to get my diet and health in prime condition.  The year has started out ok with more up’s than down, but it is time to really challenge myself and turn things around for my long term health, wellbeing and to enrich my life to the greatest extent that I can.

I am a firm believer that what you eat and drink can play a profound effect on your long-term wellness.  This includes disease and cancer prevention, long term weight management, and mental clarity, achieving ultimate running fitness, looking young (I need help in this department! Ha!) and general life satisfaction on a day to day basis.

Those who know me know that when it comes to health, food, research and study on all things wellness, well, I am a bit of a nerd.  Through my investigations, I have been constantly brought back to what is known as the Esselston, Forks Over Knives, or Engine 2 way of eating as the pinnacle of lifestyles.  The medical research alone behind this lifestyle (conducted by some of the leading cardiologists and doctors across the world) is MORE than compelling to make me want to strive for this way of life.  And that is not even taking the way it makes you feel, perform, think, react and live into consideration.

SO, what is this way of eating and why 100days?  Well some of you might remember that at the end of 2012 I did the 28day Engine 2 Challenge.  It is the same plan I had results on then.  For those who missed it, here it is.  Of course it is a wholefoods, plant based diet (vegan…as if I am going to change from this!).  You can consume as much food as you like as long as everything is wholegrain (nothing processed, ie. White bread, pasta etc), has NO added oil (apart from whole foods like  avocado, nuts etc) and you take on NO stimulants (coffee, tea etc).  Easy right?!  All this along with the obvious fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, legumes and grains.  And why the 100days?  One of my inspirations in life is Rich Roll and he believes (which I agree with) that it takes 100days to change/break a habit.  So, 100 it is!

Now….I am not making this decision lightly.  I believe that I need to do something remarkable, challenging, scary, tough and life changing to make a difference in my world and to my health.  I try to do this on a daily basis, but this is going to take things to a new level.  To be perfectly honest…I am PETRIFIED!!!  I know that the first week or two of this is going to be very hard (not that it is that much different to how I eat now accept for cutting out sugar and not having caffeine…help me Rhonda!)  BUT…I look forward to sharing the journey and experience it all with you. 

So, my plan of action is to start on Australia Day (26/1) and keep a daily journal online through my blog.  I will post it, along with my training and weekly weight, and any other things I think up each week.  I ask that, if you don’t mind, you keep me accountable.  I fully expect to have the occasional slip up (which I hope I don’t) but plan to stay the journey and see it through for the full 100days.  Public accountability can sometimes be the best form of keeping one in check!  Bring it!

There it is.  Simple, yet extremely life changing.  This journey will literally change  my long-term health prospectus.  Whilst I hope to drop some kg’s and see my running performances continue to improve, my ultimate goal is eating/drinking habits for a lifetime, not a quick fix! 

If any of you might be at all interested in joining me on your own journey, that would be AMAZING!  You can commit to what you like, but the same plan would be ideal so we can do it together.  You can Google The Engine 2 Diet and see what beautiful stuff you CAN eat, and if any of you are keen, I suggest you buy the book and do your own research online…the rabbit hole is deep and the answers you will find (especially about disease prevention) is eye opening!  Also, I STRONGLY suggest you ALL watch Forks Over Knives, even if you are not ready to commit to this big change straight away!  As a collective start date for anyone wanting to play along at home, might I suggest the 1st of February, to give you a couple of days to get your head around the idea and start preparing for what I promise will be a life changing journey we can share together!

Thank you all for your support.  In anything I have done in the past you have all been amazing and I have no reason to believe you won’t be during this next venture!  Bring on Auzzie Day….lets get this party started!

PS - EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!

A SECOND piece of big news for this blog….I have been trying and trying for a fair while now but due to my lack of computer skills been unable to get it sorted….but….I FINALLY have my own You Tube channel set up!  I have posted two videos so far, an intro one and my video from Coast 2 Kosci.  The quality might not be incredible but I have done my best and I am sure I will improve with time!  I hope that you might go over, subscribe to the channel and share the love!  Below are the links for the Channel, and the two videos.  ENJOY and let me know what you think!  Thanks again!




Sunday 19 January 2014

Exciting news and some rad running!

Bliss!
What up yall?!  Hope you have had a super week and brought the New Year in with a bang!  We have a super buzy January ahead but it is going to be one filled with fun that is for sure!  Some exciting things have been happening in the last couple of weeks and I wanted to kick off the first post of the year announcing them!

I have recently struck up a relationship with Soleus Watches Australia.  They deal in fitness, everyday and GPS watches.  They are extremely affordable and create a super product for everyone!  I don't have any way of personal referral to the company at this time, however if any of you want to purchase one, I ask that you make a note when ordering that I let you know about them.  I am currently using the Cross Country GPS watch and it is super!  I am looking forward to an ongoing relationship with them and hoping it expands to something even more exciting!  Check out http://soleusrunning.com.au/

As a small side note, I have also started using Strava.  I have an account there now, so if you want to follow my training along with yours, get on board ( http://www.strava.com/athletes/1479959 ).  I am also going to include at the end of my blogs my training this year....itll be at the end so those not interested can skip over it!

This week - first week of the year...

30/12 - 12km easy run
31/12 - 20km hummock route with 10 hill repeats
01/1 - 7.1km family run.  43:14min.  Pria did her first ever k!
02/1 - 20.4km hummock route with 13 hill repeats.  1hr 57min.
03/1 - 10km easy run.  53:28min.  1k with Pria.
04/1 - 25km long trail run with group.  2hr 23min.
05/1 - 15.1km tempo run.  1hr 18min.
This week - 109.6km

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My beautiful wife killin it
in her first ultra

This week (and the one before!) has been one of adventure!  After seeing Tegan and a heap of friends run Hares and Hounds, Monday the 13th we were off to New Zealand!  As part of Tegans 30th Birthday month, she ran her first ultra marathon (52km) and would be celebrating her special day (20/1) in Auckland!  And might I say, she did an incredible job!  I was so proud to see her persevere and complete something truly remarkable!  Good times!

In amongst all the chaos of packing and getting sorted, I was hoping to post the above earlier however didn’t get around to it!  It has been a little busy!  Sorry it is a little dated now!  I realised when posting that I missed two weeks!  Sorry!



The Redwoods Forest...speachless!
 

So far, our time across the ditch has been super fun and I have got plenty of good running in!  As most of you would have seen on Facebook or Instagram, the Redwood Forest in Rotorua stole my heart!  Holy smokes!  Incredible!  After spending three days there, we then trekked north to Corromandal and stayed in an AMAZING tree house, way up in the hills!  The running was ordinary with as much hiking as actual running but it has still been enjoyable.  On Sunday we will head to Auckland and spend our last four days.  Bliss.

I have been doing a fair bit of pondering and ‘start of year reflecting’ and have some exciting, challenging things up ahead.  Can not wait to get into it and share the journey with you all!

I pray the first couple of weeks of 2014 have been fun and exciting for you all and that you have set yourself some challenging, larger than life goals for this year.  Stay positive, smile and Ill see y’all when I return to Auz!
The view from our place in Corromandal

6/1 - 13km run in the sandies - 1hr 10min
7/1 - 20.3km hummock route w 15 hill repeats (4 run, 11 hiked) - 1hr 57min
8/1 - 10km easy - 57:54min
9/1 - 20.1km in a strong head wind on the way back - 1hr 45min
10/1 - 12.1km at Marcus Beach - 1hr 7min
11/1 - 25.1km from Peridigan to Mt Coolum and return - 2hr 21min
12/1 - 7.1km after crewing for Tegs at Hares and Hounds - 36:30min
This week - 107.6km
YTD - 185.2km

13/1 - Rest day travelling to NZ
14/1 - 20.4km to the Redwood Forest and through it (Rotorua) - 1hr 50min
15/1 - 15.3km back to the Redwoods - 1hr 23min
16/1 - 20.6km on the 'Purple Loop) in the Redwoods.  Amazing - 1hr 58min
17/1 - 10.1km in the estate we stayed in in the Corromandal.  Freekin hilly - 1hr 15min
18/1 - 15.1km on the 309 toward Corromandal - 1hr 35min
19/1 - 22.5km on the 309 away from the Corromandal...stoked with my time and average pace (745m elevation - 2hr 14min
This week - 104.1km
YTD - 289.3km