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Today is Friday and do you know that that means?? FITNESS FRIDAY.

As my very first fitness post, I am ready to start my watch to help you with your fitness journey. No matter where you are with it right now, it is always a good idea to have a fresh start. You may be in the middle of training for a half-marathon or maybe you’ve been putting off signing up for that 5K, but regardless of where you are, this post applies to you!

First, I want you to think about what type of workouts you ENJOY doing. Even though I actually run for fun, that doesn’t mean that is the case for you- or most people for that matter. I am not here to tell you that you have to run and you have to like it. What are the first 3 things that pop into your head when you think of cardio that you enjoy?

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2.

3.

Ok, now that you have those in mind, I want you to think of a goal. DO NOT CUT YOURSELF SHORT. If you have already run a 5K, go that extra mile and challenge yourself to an 8K (5 miles) or a 10K (6.2 miles). I promise that with time, training and support, you can do it.

My goal is: ________________________

There is no question that setting a goal for yourself gives you something to focus on and to motivate you on those days that you don’t feel like working out. Now that you have a goal, I want to give you a couple of tips.

• Get proper gear. If your goal involves running, make sure your shoes are a good fit for your feet. One of the most discouraging things that can happen is an injury. If that does happen, I promise it isn’t the end of the world and together we can get you better! Getting good shoes can prevent most injuries from happening. Plantar fasciitis, shin splits, back aches, and many more injuries come from improper shoes. Find a specialty running store to analyze your gait and then pick out a hot new pair of shoes.
• Reaching your goal will take time. That means it will take patience, which most people are a little lacking in that department (esp. me). DO NOT GIVE UP. I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN.
• Getting started might suck. Running, taking spinning classes, swimming, etc. might feel awesome occasionally, but you’ll find that a lot of times it will be hard. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are only working out because you think it will make you a happy ball of energy all the time… you won’t make it very far. I promise you will have good days. And you will have great days. And AMAZING days. But you will also have days that are physically and mentally challenging. DO NOT GIVE UP. You have to know that working out is going to have its ups and downs and you can’t do something just for a good feeling.
• We are all in this together! We all have ups and downs, and the amazing part of a fitness community is the ability to share those challenges and successes with other people. If you are having a rough day, tell someone about it. Heck, tell me. I want to encourage you by telling you I’ve been in that boat with you. If you just PR’ed in a race- tell someone! We want to celebrate with you!

Share with me and other readers what your goal is! Either comment, message or email me. I would be more than happy to help you put together a plan to reach your goal and encourage you along the way. When you meet this goal, I would love to feature you on my blog! 00:00, it’s time to start that watch.