What’s New Wednesday #20 – Virtual Races All Around!

Just wanted to stop in with a quick update to my blues of running. I am not really able to run right now due to being pregnant. I was told to take it easy on the running (like don’t push it – lots of alternating) as I am not a great runner by any means. I still struggle and have since this move up to the frozen tundra of Alaska. I just can’t get it together up here! I am resorting to treadmill walking and switching it up a bit to keep me attentive and actually working something.

To keep my boredom at bay – I am utilizing all the virtual races that are going on to keep me at this! I have already completed the virtual The Great Cupcake Race that was put on by Find Your Happy Place and Running In Sanity to help benefit TNT.  It was both 5K and 10K, but I of course opted to walk the 5K. I am now signed up for their Pumpkin themed race and have my kids also joining me on the  1 Mile portion. They will as well get a medal for doing it!!

Run With Jess has her cupcake race up and going and there is one more I am taking part in. My husband did tell me to find a hobby – so I did!

I hope you all will join me in these races (which I will post links to later), and let me know if you find some more!!

If I were to host one for a charity – who is in???

How About A Vlog????

So. Much. To. Do.

I have an 8-10 page paper to start and finish before Monday night. That is about 3 pages a day. That means I have to start Saturday. Dang.

I have to get my fitness plan for the week set in writing tomorrow. That way I can plan everything else around it.

I am going to attempt my first half marathon this coming weekend. $65 – Lord help me. I may end up walking some – but I will complete it with a smile 🙂

I have a 5K and a 10K to complete this week. Am I crazy?

I am woman and I make the rules – I will rock this week regardless of anything else.

I got my first products to review – GNC protein powders – more of this coming in full force next week.  You just wait as I am totally excited.

My iPhone should be here with Saturday’s mail run. I. Cannot. Wait.

Instagram will be slammed with photos from me tomorrow. Be prepared.

I have requested some blog buttons from a friend (Ahem Martha and Petra you are on my list too) for some fun segments I have running around in my head.

I have read a lot of blog posts about making dreams come true. I will make mine come true. This weekend I will figure out how to start.

Sunday is Father’s Day and Nick and my Dad tie for the best ever.  Nick is soo good to our girls and my Daddy is the best. Period. Blank. Underline. The End.

What are you up to this weekend and coming week?

 

5 Things I’m Loving

Oh, Martha….you knowI love a challenge and being called out and such…*sigh* 🙂

So since I was tagged in her 5 Things I am Loving Post that she actually got from Shut Up and Run – Here I Go!

 #1 – Virtual Races – I am just loving the idea of running without the anxiety of the crowds and the tendency to push harder than one should causing burnout.  I do miss the cheering of a sidelong crowd – but I feel so much more comfortable with the timer and myself.  Plus I think this is my way to protest not being able to run with my girls….Stay tuned as I think that I am going to host a virtual race series!!!

#2 – Running Blogs – I think it is so awesome to connect with someone based on a mutual interest. I have been able to find these blogs and share them and gain so much information, friendship, and funnies along the way. I couldn’t tell you how many I read over the course of a week – but I know that it takes a lot of time!! Another fun part is that Martha and I share them a lot so we can chuckle over them together!

#3 – Hours of Sunlight – Up here in Alaska we have so much light right now! I couldn’t tell you how much – I just know when I go to bed it is light and when I wake up it is light. I am not talking the brightness of early morning or late evening. I am talking middle of the day light. I didn’t know how I would do with all of this and at first it made me really tired because I kept forgetting to go to bed! Now it is kind of nice. When I get up – I usually am up and ready to go! Every couple of days I am tired, but all in all – I am feeling so much better!

#4 – Dallas Seavey – the 2012 Iditarod Champion . He was a guest at the Alaska Pacific University Gala and a dog sled ride was auctioned off.  We raised a great bit of money – but the highlight of volunteering was seeing this man dressed super nice with a smile and a great attitude.

I mean really…need I say more??

#5 – The Idea of My New iPhone – I say the idea as it is on its way so I can’t say I actually have it yet. The reason I am so excited is that it will be my first one. I can now use Instagram, I can now use MyFitnessPal, I can do FaceTime, I can now have Google Maps to navigate this place as my GPS in my car apparently doesn’t have the “Alaska package”…I mean really??  I am just excited to be able to use the fun fitness things all the FitFluential people talk about and I can now join in!!!!!

Here are my 5 People I am Tagging!

Jess – Blonde Ponytail

Carlyn – Just Keep Sweating

Michelle – Michelle Philippi

Jess – Run With Jess

Danielle – Kitten A Go-Go

I will also leave you with my new most favorite song to sing to in the car with my girls Happy Friday!

What’s New Wednesday #9

Oh yeah – here it is.  What is new you say??? It can’t be…I love virtual races! I think I am enjoying them because I don’t have to get up early on a weekend, arrange for a babysitter, or drive anywhere to fight for parking!  The only down-side is that we don’t get the awesome cheering from the sidelines, the goody bags, or the fresh fruit and snacks afterwards. I think I can get over it though.

I also think giving directly to causes instead of through events that have costs is much more beneficial!  I love those that provide free race entries of course, but I think that local charities benefit from these as well!  What are some of your favorite charities/causes that you religiously donate to?

I am thinking about hosting a summer racing series to help with my fundraising for Team In Training and to get people to gear up for some fun!  I should have technically started one this month – but I may just start it in July and have the final race on Labor Day…what do you think??  I want to have those who participate in all will get a special prize, and those that enter here and there have other prizes they can earn. I have seen so many fun things through many different races. I think I just need to get my butt in gear and make it happen.  What things do you love about virtual races? What added contests do you enjoy?

I am signed up for both a 5K and 10K race coming up – and if you check back through the previous posts you will find it along with the iBodyFit giveaway….lots of good stuff people!!

So – besides the virtual camaraderie of my blogging buddies – I don’t have a ton going on with running friends up here in the cold, frozen tundra they call Anchorage, Alaska.  You guys are all that I have! (That is not completely true, but I had a schedule that worked with my NC people…it will just take time to get there again!)

Princeton University scientists say they’ve determined exercising in groups, rather than alone, produces better results and is better for the brain.  Many people struggle to maintain a regular exercise schedule on their own, but they do better when they exercise with friends. I completely agree with this information coming from running with friends to just getting new friends to run with.  It is so nice to have that motivation and accountability. Team In Training is getting me back there, but it just isn’t the same so I am struggling with it a bit.  (This is from a study from Princeton University found here: http://phys.org/news11756.html)

I hope if you find any virtual races you will send the info my way! You can email me at mollyritterbeck@gmail.com – shout at me in the comments section, on Twitter @MissMollyDR….really people – I want the info! 🙂

I hope you have found something that you really enjoy and can share with others! Get out there and get moving folks!

I Love Virtual Races!

So as always – I have found a virtual race and got my friend Martha to join with me! Won’t you join us? I signed up for both!! I hope you will take a look and sign up too!!! Don’t forget to check back tomorrow – Friday is going to offer a Giveaway!

I Will…

I Will:

Run a 10K this summer

Get a FitFluential Campaign

Run a Half Marathon

Crossfit

Find my place in this world

Read magazines, books, blogs and get savvy about nutrition

Find my confidence

Learn to motivate myself and not just others

Throw caution to the wind

Stop worrying about the outcome before I even start

Step outside my comfort zone

Be a better me

Be happier

Love my kids more

Sing in the morning

Support something I believe in

I Will

Today Feels Like…

Today feels like Thursday – but it is only Tuesday. Crap.

I pushed my tail off to get a good time on my 5K – now I hurt to walk.

I really need to watch Eat Pray Love tonight as it is due back tomorrow and I have renewed it at least 3 times – maybe 4.

My husband got my Footloose on DVD – I fell asleep the first time watching it even though I have been begging for it since it came out on DVD March 6th.

I am going to a Ducks Unlimited banquet in a couple of weeks. Lord help us all.

I signed Abby up for summer camp this year – should be exciting.

It is lighter a lot longer than it should be. I keep forgetting to go to bed at 9 – I just keep reading expecting the darkness to come and let me know it is bedtime. Um – it’s not coming. I finally went to bed at 10 last night and it was still pretty light out.

I am still trying to figure out a way to make money without actually doing anything more for it.  My kids daycare is just too dang much!

I went to Easter Sunrise Service – it was not a very good one. Made me miss my church in NC – badly.

I hate Easter leftovers.

I am back on Facebook – and I am not sure that I really care about it except to see pictures.  And that is the only way I can see what Petra is up to. 🙂

What does today feel like to you?

My First Virtual Run

Okay – so I signed up for my first virtual run ever with my dear friend Martha. I originally thought I had until today to finish it – but turns out I was lucky – I was to finish on Easter but got extended to today 🙂

So let me just tell you how I excited I was to do this – it was motivation that I needed!

Here is the final time and my red face from afterwards:

 

The nasty shower at work I got to use:

 

And just so you know – my face is still red about an hour after and my legs are throbbing!

 

Fitness Friday #6

So I have decided that these will be no more “re-starts”.  I will just do what I can and when I can. This will help me overcome the failure feeling I get when I talk about doing something and never do.  I have been researching running and exercise  a little more in-depth these days and as long as I move that is a plus.

I have also found help in friends blogs and those who are “FitFluential” Ambassadors.  I am making a pledge to become one a year from now.  I want to put that as a goal of mine.  You will notice a change in my tweets as well for this!

I will be running my first ever virtual run tomorrow for a blog I follow called “Run with Jess” (check her out on my blogroll to the right). I am going to make the best of what might end up being painful and awful, as I have not run in a while now.  Kind of funny I think….why go for a 5K so fast? That is how I get my butt in gear – make myself mad for not doing as well as I would like to and then I work it girl! 😉

I also am hoping that with this goal I can get one step closer to really seeing if personal training is a route I want to go. I think working towards, researching, and moving towards a goal that is attainable will really help. No more unrealistic goals – just real ones. 

On a side exciting note – I have been selected to come up with 5-10 questions I would ask Bethenny Frankel if I was given the chance.  If they like my questions I will possibly be in a magazine!!!!!!!  I guess we will see what the future holds! (Fingers Crossed is appropriate here)