More Enjoyable With Friends

The run race I have participated few days ago has taught me things which I thought was less likely important to me. I've just learned from it that even if I enjoy running alone, I still find it more enjoyable if it is with friends or with someone whom you just meet along in the road running.

On my half way run, I noticed that other runner appeared on my side. I thought she would just passed by me but then she synchronized her pace with mine, giving us the chance to talk.  Our conversation has diverted part of my mind being conscious of the time curfew required to consider a finisher, and while we enjoyed each others' company we just both surprised that in few minutes we're on the finishing line!

The Lighter You Wear The Easier

My run race number

I was on a run race this week. The event was part of Bohol Olympics Celebration which is happening every year in my place. I ran 10k and my official time was 1:13:13, which I think is not bad at all.

Before the race, I decided to get an arm band where I can put my phone for my music. I used to place it inside my running shorts' pocket, but since I was wearing the without pocket one, I had to buy this arm band. 

During the run, it felt good (as always) to synchronize my pace with the kind of music I am tuning to. However, when I was in my 7k run I felt this heaviness on my left arm where I fastened around this arm band that had affected my pace. I then checked it if I had belted it so tight but it wasn't. Only then I remember from one of my runner friends who once told me that he doesn't even wear wrist watch if he run long distances because the weight of a wrist watch could become heavier due to the energy consumed in the long run. So what I did was, I removed my arm band and just held it in my hand while approaching finishing point. My official time could have been less than an hour if I had not worn it. But it was another accomplishment I made though.

The Basic Breathing Meditation

How we breathe on a particular state of being is very important. Normally, our breathing is automatic which we don't mind thinking of how we should breathe on certain circumstances. Like any other activity that require techniques to be able to achieve, breathing has it too. And this has been what I do whenever I caught myself under a stressful situation.

Deep breathing is known to us. This is infact what we always tell to someone who come to us in a panic state, to take a deep breathe, and is actually helpful. But aside from this, I have learned to apply the breathing meditation which has given me a more relaxing feeling even if I am in the middle of a busy day. It's just the basic and the easiest breathing meditation that I used to do during times of uncertainties. What I do is to listen to my breathing coming in and out. And while doing this I will think of  the unpleasant things happened in my life and visualized it as black ashes inside my body taking them out upon exhalation, and inhaling, visualizing white and clear ashes in. The clear ashes signifies clean air in exchange to the black. Then repeating this process until I feel relaxed and ease. Takes only 5 minutes or more, depending on how quick your body will respond to it and how your mind can be able to concentrate in your visualization. Just try it.

The Secrets Of Tarahumara Running

Running is proven to be one of the most outdoor exercises that increases life span of the people. This is because the effect of fresh air you breathe and the green trees you see while you run can make you feel good. And feeling good makes you healthy. There are those who run not because they wanted to lose extra weight but because running has became part of their lives. There is also something mystery in running because once you are able to run long distances, the more you look forward to run over and over again. However, before you decide to start running, and have not ran before, start with walking first until your body will tell you that you are ready to run. Find your pace to prolong endurance. And apply the light/heavy running method. Meaning, you run for short distance today and long distance the following day. This way, you're not putting so much pressure in your body. How often should we run in a week will depend on how quick your body will recover from the intensity that you've made in running.  Personally, I run 4 times a week on a light/heavy method.

Running shoes is the most important thing to consider in running. Because every person's feet has different structure which will determine the kind of shoe you should wear. There are those whose feet that have the tendency to overly pronate and supinate, that if you don't have the right shoe on will cause more injury to your body, particularly to your feet. Aside from the right pace and right shoes, running with correct posture and breathing should also be applied, so there's no reason for you not to gain that long endurance. But speaking of endurance, you will wonder why are there people whose energy is unbelievable that even elite runners are unable to beat them when it comes to running more than a hundred miles. And this is the tarahumara running...

Building Self Esteem

Building self-esteem should start from thinking positive. How to do this is not easy, especially because at times we can't control our thoughts. The mind has something to do with how far we think over a certain situation. And worst, this create delusions which may lead to something not healthy.

It takes a lot of practice to have positive outlook in all aspects of life. That is, if you like to live happy and get less stress. It's actually normal to feel negative over an ordeal, but you can be able to deal with it through changing your mindset to a positive approach. This way, you will realized that you are detaching yourself from your problem itself. It's called problem solving. When you do this, you will feel good and you start to re-build your self-esteem.

It is being noted that for one to have self-esteem, all his/her needs should be met. This is very true. And in general, it is. But not all times since there are a lot of self-actualized people whose esteem is lost. It may be due to some internal factors in their family or relationships, that has made them low. Physical and verbal abuse are both factors which may addressed the involved person to seek professional help. Life is not perfect. For on the other side you are at the top, on the other one you're at the bottom. It's a fair share actually if you don't see it anyway. If life should have been perfect, there's no chance at all of growing into a better and stronger person, and there's no lesson to be learned at all!

Back To Yoga

I really like yoga. As a matter of fact, it's my area of choice when it comes to staying healthy both in mind and body. But as much as I wanted to do it, I've been more inclined with running than yoga.  This is because I lose more calories than the latter. However, these past few days, when I rested for like a week from running, I tend to eat more food in replacement of what I lost from my run, and I didn't realize that I have eaten more than my body requirements. As a result, I gained a bit of weight.

I just started to be mindful again, of what I eat. Seems like running has created something on my mind saying that it's okay to eat because you're still burning calories when at rest, but it's not. Actually, it is. I just didn't watch what I have eaten. I am compensating. And I am doing yoga today!

Value Health Before It's Too Late

Image source: ladiestreat.com

Working as a mother or housewife is quite a stressful job, that no amount of money can compensate, nor allows you to file for a leave of absence or reasons just to give yourself a break for long vacation. It's tough. And it is tougher though when we have regrets at the end, of taking our health for granted.

Image source: healthmeup.com

The same is true if you are working either as professional or not. The workload is at times visible thereby making you stressed and sometimes burnt you out. For most of the reasons they have is to earn more money that places their health at stake. This can usually happen to people who are workaholics and/or those who work abroad and have left their family in their homeland.