Sep 10

Pacing the River Run Half Marathon (Unofficially)

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise 0 comments tags: adaptability, challenge, movement, observable data points, opportunities, pacing, running, support network
Last Sunday, I ran the River Run Half Marathon for the eighth time. Seven years ago when I ran this for the first time, I never would have guessed that I would be (unofficially) pacing the same race for my fellow Fleet Feet Cleveland runners. Then, it was about finishing and not being too sore or too hungry afterwards. Now, it’s about hitting a target pace (and associated finish time) in a doable fashion and, when given the opportunity, being the pacer that I wish I had in some of the many races I’ve run.
Sep 01

Do You Go Through Fitness Phases?

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise, Goals 0 comments tags: fitness approach, fitness phases, movement, ownership, taking action
I go through phases where I’m very much into one activity or another. With a few exceptions, most things capture my interest for at least a little while. From a summer of Zumba classes to five months of boxing lessons to two years of swimming lessons, usually my interest in an activity also wanes when the schedule becomes inconvenient or the friend that I was going to classes with isn’t able to attend consistently.
Aug 25

Tapping into Pure Joy

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise, Featured 0 comments tags: being present, happy running place, joy, meditation in motion, movement, running, running downhill, well-being
Gravity-assisted sprints (e.g., running down hills as fast as possible) are the best. There was a time when I used to fly down hills on Rollerblades, semi-protected by the helmet, wrist guards, and knee/elbow pads. My sister and I would blade through the Metroparks, taking the flat curves easily and being careful to stay upright when navigating down hills.
Aug 18

Life and Fitness. Fitness and Life. Good Luck Separating the Two.

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise, Self-Care 0 comments tags: gratitude, mind-body connection, ownership, patience, stress management, well-being
One’s life and physical fitness are intertwined. Though I believe everything is connected and touch on the theme of the mind-body connection regularly, I keep trying to separate my own fitness from the rest of my life, and two of my trusted coaches have reminded me in the past week that each ties into the other. They aren’t truly separate. Separating the variables isn’t possible.
Oct 16

2016 Marathon Training – Long Run Log

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise 0 comments tags: 2016, running
10/16/16 – The journey that I began with friends in June has come to its conclusion with the 26.2 miles that I ran this morning. Marathon #2 is now in the books. Wow! The morning was dark and cool, and we began shortly after the sunrise. I was told a long while ago that I’d cry at the end of my first marathon, but I get teary-eyed at the beginning of marathons – today, more than last year.
Aug 08

Ownership of the Outcome

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise, Goals, Self-Care 0 comments tags: change, execution, habits, ownership, taking action
Though there are similarities between keeping your body fit and keeping your teeth healthy, there are differences during your regularly scheduled appointments.  Whether it’s a few times a week or once every six months, it may seem like all you have to do is show up…but the truth is you have to work a lot harder when you show up to see your personal trainer than you do at the dentist.   Sounds kind of ominous, doesn’t it?  It makes you wonder why anyone would want to work with a trainer, right?
May 23

Who Are Your Exercise Influencers?

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise 0 comments tags: exercise influencers, movement
As a child, I had adults around me who were active – I don’t recall anyone specifically working out, but my mom walked everywhere, and my step-dad was frequently outside working in the yard.  My older sister would ride her bike with a close friend, and my dad would take me and my brother and sister roller skating.  On weekday evenings in the summer, my mom, brother, and I would walk from our home to church for choir practice or to the library about a mile away.  At the library, we’d pick out books and, sometimes, movies, and then we’d walk the mile back home.  None of this was labeled exercise. 
Apr 29

What Would Encourage You to Change?

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise, Goals, Nutrition, Self-Care 0 comments tags: change, habits, weight loss
What are your non-negotiables?  What are the things you must do for yourself and what are the lines that you just won’t cross?  What would cause you to hit a limit and change your behavior?   I am 5’4″ and a 1/2″ (every half inch counts!) and there was a time in my life when I weighed 165 lbs.  Most people said I carried it well (perhaps they were being kind), but I wasn’t happy and I didn’t have any energy. 
Mar 25

Execution is Key

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise, Goals 0 comments tags: execution, goal setting, taking action
In my last post, I wrote about setting intentions and how powerful this process can be.  I stand by this belief, though there is a second piece required in order to move forward: action.   Intentions without actions are useless.  In fact, intentions without action may not truly be intentions at all.   Let this sink in for a moment.  You can set intentions all day long, but if you recognize an opportunity and fail to act, you haven’t moved, changed, or grown as a result of setting the intention.  Execution is where the true magic happens.
Mar 07

The Power of Intention

by Erica McClurkin in Exercise, Goals 0 comments tags: opportunities, setting intentions, visioning
In my office is a visioning collage.  It’s been hanging on my wall next to my desk since I put it together in June of 2012.  As you may have done at some point if you’ve ever made a collage, I flipped through various magazines as part of the exercise, cutting out images that held meaning for me.  After arranging each piece, I glued everything to a backing sheet…and voila!   An ad depicting a woman sleeping – I thought I needed more sleep, or maybe I was just honoring the fact that sleep has always been important to me. 
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
    Archives
    Categories
    Follow Conduit
    Facebooktwitterinstagram