• You’ll be amazed at what your body can do when you push it beyond what you call limits.
• It’ll make you want to swear and punch something.
• You’ll want to cry tears of joy when you burst a PR, and you’ll probably be in disbelief.
• You’ll learn how to push yourself in ways you’d never imagine.
• You’ll probably want to cry, or just sit on your couch and not do it.
• But it’s the best thing in the world.
• It’s something that you have complete and utter control over.
• You control how fast and far you run, and that’s a beautiful thing.
• It’s YOU that is pushing those limits, and doing things that you thought could never be done.
• It’s all you.
• You are your own motivator.

So stop making excuses and saying “I don’t have time” or “it’s too cold out!”.  Suck it up, because dedicated & determined runners don’t let anything come in the way of success.

(via thehealthproject)

healthyisfabulous:

1. Focus on unprocessed foods. 

Try to keep your fridge and pantry stocked with foods that make up a nutritious, heart-healthy diet, such as whole grains, fish, lean meats, vegetables and fruits. They’ll provide essential nutrients, help fuel your workouts properly and aid in your post-run recovery. Try to minimize the amount of processed foods you eat.

2. Eat small meals throughout the day. 

Throw the notion of three large meals a day out the window — it doesn’t work for runners. You need more calories during the day than sedentary people, so it’s better to spread them out with a small meal every three to four hours. You’ll find that eating mini meals will help maintain your energy levels throughout the day and keep you from feeling hungry all the time.

3. Don’t deny yourself the foods you love. 

We all know what happens if you don’t give in to your favorite foods: One day you’ll have a monster craving and end up overindulging. It’s better if you allow yourself small portions of the foods you love and not force yourself to eat foods you really don’t like. In the long run, it will save you calories, because you’ll feel more satisfied and you’ll be less likely to binge and eat mindlessly. Eating in moderation is the key.

4. Mix things up. 

Try to not get into the habit of eating the same foods day after day. Pasta often becomes a staple of a runner’s diet, but there are lots of other healthful and interesting carb choices for runners, such as couscous, rice or quinoa. Different fruits and vegetables supply different nutrients, so it’s important that you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables too.

5. Don’t forget about protein. 

Runners focus so much on consuming their carbs that their protein needs sometimes get forgotten. Protein is used for some energy and to repair tissue damaged during training. Protein should make up about 15% of your daily intake. Runners, especially those training for long distances such as marathons, should consume .5 to .75 grams of protein per pound of body weight. Good sources of protein

(Source: running.about.com, via healthysexyhappy)