Inspiration for a life well-lived.

running changed my life

Running has taught me that I’m capable of more things in life than I ever thought possible. Now I’m here to help you learn the same. Have you ever been curious about how physical fitness can bring benefits to all the other areas of your life?

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Apr 6, 2019

Questions about running (and the treadmill)

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Let’s Sweat

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Before you workout, do you think about WHY you're about to? Do you set an intention? I ask this because as instructors, we’re always encouraging members to start each class with an intention.. I'll take a few minutes before class begins to ask everyone to think of why they showed up, who they showed up for, what they hope to get out of class, and how they're going to endure when it gets really tough.
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Truthfully, I don't know if others in class are answering these questions in their minds or if they're just anxious for me to turn the music up and get the workout over with 😅 but my hope is that they are.
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If you're not thinking about a purpose behind your workout, how do you expect to push through when things are tough?
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I equate it to life. If you're not setting objectives and having a motive behind what you do, how can you expect to persevere when things get hard? If you have a mission, you have a tool. It can reroute you when things are out of your control and your mind is telling you to quit.
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Same thing with your workout - setting that intention is like setting your mission. When you're shaking, out of breath, dripping sweat, and wanting to quit, tap into the intention!
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If you're guilty of skipping this step, here are a few ideas for you to think about:
💦Be grateful you have the time, energy and capability to show up
💦How do you want to feel after?
💦Is there anyone you can dedicate the workout to?
💦Is there anything from your day/week you want to let go of?
💦Can you inspire someone else?
💦Is there one thing you can try to do differently? A challenge you can take that you haven't before?
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Do you do this? If not, I challenge you to try this week and watch how it helps you push through those tough times 👊🏻 see you in class ⚡️

To the other hustling couples out there that are doing life a little differently, hang in there. Keep your mind set on the mission. Keep the support strong. Stay grateful. Repeat.
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Our free times rarely overlap. Our mornings are fast-paced and on different agendas. Dinners together are sporadic. Daily conversations don’t happen til late at night when we’ve both called it a day. Some days are more difficult than others. We sometimes question if this is worth it, but then we remember what it was like to wonder what trying harder, serving more and pushing further could lead to.
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The decision to live a little differently makes us more grateful for the moments we do have.. Moments like this ^ where we get an hour on a Sunday for a spontaneous adventure. It makes us think twice about what we commit to. It forces us to be fully present when we’re with each other, and it sure as hell forces us to focus on the future. A future that involves more than just a few hours a week with people we love.
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Whatever you’re working towards, as a couple or not, hang in there. Keep reassessing your decisions. Keep supporting. As long as the love, support and gratitude are always present, you’ll make it through the sacrifices. Stay strong. ✨

In the health and wellness world, everyone's always talking about how important it is to have a routine but not enough people are talking about how healthy it is to break them every once in a while.

Routines are great when you're trying to instill particular habits, but what about when we take this to the point of too much control? Being unable to bend for a one-off event? Feeling bad/guilty when we go off plan? This is the part that needs more attention. This is the part that is not healthy, not sustainable, and not a great way to live.

I used to be that person. The one that felt bad about missing running days as I was training for races. The one that declined events after work because I had a personal routine that I didn’t want to miss. The one that didn't let myself sleep past a certain hour so I could get "more" accomplished. The one that aimed for a perfectly in order home, thinking that it would influence my feelings.

Somewhere along the lines, I gradually tossed this thinking. My A-type personality still gets the best of me at times, but I'm showing up here to spread the word that if you're that person that's chained to a routine, you should rethink it. You're not being efficient with your energy, you're sacrificing long-term health, and you're missing out on life. The parts of life that occur in the moments when you let yourself be open to new things, new feelings, and new ways of living. The accomplishments that happen when you give yourself rest. The people that you meet when you show up differently. The laughter and smiles that transpire when you let yourself GO.

Last night was an example of this. Right after work, CJ and I went downtown to shoot with a new photographer friend - on a rooftop, on scooters, with climbing and smoke bombs...until 9 pm. We ate dinner at 9:30 and we went to bed late. But we created memories, a new friend, a new experience, and a new step towards building the life we want to live EVERY DAY. Breaking the routine and reassessing it got me to that point. How can I help you do the same?

the number of podcasts I’ve consumed in a 7-day time span is a clear indication that it’s time for you to return home @cj.finley