Happy New Year!

I hope eveyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to the New Year!  I have been having a great holiday.  The weekend before Christmas Sunny and I went to Big Sky for the second annual Tony Horton Weekend.  It was a blast.  I loved the workouts and it snowed the entire time we were up there.  If you have been following along, you know I was shocked last year to discover I loved Tony.  He has a great philosophy and is very approachable and inclusive to everyone. 

It was fun to see some of the people from last year and to plan on seeing them again next!  Tony has several "nuggets" and my favorite is "Aging is for idiots."  Having just had a birthday, this one resonates with me.

I had only done one P90X workout with Sunny before we went to this event last year, and I haven't done any since, however I think I am going to invest in P90X3.  This weekends workouts were great.  It incorporated yoga, pilates, martial arts, balance, range of motion, endurance, flexibility, strength, isometrics.  It was fantastic!  We are already looking forward to next year!

We had Christmas at our new house.  It was mellow and quite enjoyable, with Ryan (aka: Sherpa) and the in-laws.  We had brunch, opened presents and then had resties and then had a dinner and played games.  

Tubbs loves meal time... even ours!

The day after christmas is my BIRTHDAY!! :)  We went to Showdown and skied.  It was EXCELLENT!  the snow was amazing and it was sunny and warm.  Then we had a yahtzee tourney!!

Also, the new studio is really coming along.  It is quite exciting!  Hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of '13 and looking forward to '14!

what will 2014 bring?

I am trying to remain low-key on the whole schedule for 2014 races.  The past few years I have been go-go-go and I wanted to get back to the basics, heal (shin still bugs me once in a while) and have the room to try new things and get back at things that were put on the back burner during all the marathon training (Ethyl [name of my mtn bike], i hope you still love me).  I am, however, scheduled to run the Yellowstone Half Marathon in June, and I signed up for the RRCA running coach certification course in May.  I have been wanting to take this course for years but the ones near me filled very quickly. I will also be running Bloomsday again! woohoo!!

My family is supposed to come out for the Missoula half in July, and that would be GREAT! 

What is on your agenda?  Big plans? PR's? 

This year has been a whirlwind of changes with the new house, building new studio (almost done) that I wanted to take a year to slow it down and then get back at it.  

To end off 2013 I am going back to Big Sky for the Tony Horton weekend, with Sunny.  I am very excited for the getaway!  

I MET TONY HORTON worked out and survived!!

This weekend is yet another one for the record books.  I feel like 2012 was so amazing and had such wonderful opportunities I don't know whether I should feel sad/nervous about 2013 or excited for what possibly may be coming down my path?!?!  On Friday Sunny and I set out for Big Sky resort for a weekend of several workouts/lectures with Tony Horton.  

Now for a back story.  I have never done P90x workouts and Sunny owns just about everything issued by Beach Body Fitness but she too has limited experience with the actual workouts.  So, needless to say we were nervous.  I know I am in respectable shape.  I know I am not average when it comes to my own self motivation.  I have been this way since I was a child.  I have always loved to move.  It is a lifestyle for me and I work very hard to keep it this way.  Because of my philosophy I have always scoffed at the P90x theory because what the heck do you do after 90 days??? And so many people were beginning the program, that I think weren't at that level to do as such, and petered out after a week or so.  I planned on attending this event in Big Sky to support Sunny.  She has been to many of my races, taken amazing pics, cheered me on, and driven my sweaty sore ass around so I was happy to do it.

I wasn't expecting to fall in love with Tony.

Really.

His philosophy is exactly like mine.  Variety, challenging, 5-7 days/week, some days are better than others, food is fuel, etc.  "Aging is for idiots" was repeated throughout the weekend--and with how great he looks and amazingly fit he is--I am staying on this bus!!!!

But what I found the most endearing was how he didn't double take or have the bulging eyed look that some have when they hear/see Sunny is about to do some physical feat.  She is overweight but still has a level of fitness and her military background has a lot to do with her gumption.  I was so pleasantly surprised when Tony treated her EXACTLY like everyone else.  The entire group and Tony's team were all so welcoming and encouraging--it really made for a fantastic group setting.  Normally I am sooooo not a fan of groups.  But this was seriously a blast.  The workouts we did were actually quite similar to NTC but without weights.  It was challenging but fun.  Tony is silly and realistic and a bit goofy.  I imagined more of a drill Sargent style--but that was not at all how it was. PHEW!  He made himself and team available for questions, pictures, etc.  It was really a unique experience. 

I feel as though this put a little fire under Sunny's ass.  She is doing the work, now is going to work on her eating.  Tony has a meal plan system ,"Tony's Kitchen" that actually seems decent.  It is real food, no preservatives, etc.  Sunny was able to do these workouts and didn't have swelling that she used to struggle with and residual pain for days that made it impossible to stick to any routine.

We also skied on Sunday.  At first Sunny was done.  She found a chair and I went up the lift to take a solo run.  By the time I hopped off the lift my phone buzzed--she wanted to try again.  This hill wasn't beating her.  See--She has so much gumption--and its infectious!! :)

So we skied a few successful runs and decided to end on a good note and call it a day.

I am so proud of Sunny for going waaaaaay out of her comfort zone in so many aspects this weekend. And I can't thank Tony and his team enough for such fun times!! :)  My calves are yelping a bit but it feels goooooooood!! :)

It was a memorable weekend and a wonderful way to start off the holiday/my birthday week!  36 here I come baby!! :)

Exciting News!

It may not be THAT exciting.  Definitely not as exciting as some of the Nike news, etc.  It is, however, something for me to look forward to.  Sunny (@itsallaboutme) and I are going to Big Sky the weekend before Christmas to meet Tony Horton.  I must admit, i did my first P90x video yesterday.  Kenpo--and I survived.  I didn't really sweat, but I am not much of a sweater (???) and today I feel as though my shoulders are dead.  

And I LOVE it! :)

Sunny is a HUGE fan of Tony (ya, I'm going with the first name basis) and this has put a fire under her butt!!  i am hoping I can keep up--she has turned into a maniac.  I love it though--it is a fun way to stay motivated through this cold dreary time we seem to be having.

I am pumped to meet this amazing athlete for sure.  I am also psyched to go to the fondue restaurant at Big Sky!!! I love Big Sky--it is a phenomenal ski area/resort with so much going on and festivities and it is only 1.5 hours away.  They opened this restaurant two seasons ago and I have been dying to go.  Sunny is a bit nervous about how this food will affect our workouts--I'm willing to risk it! 

I have NO IDEA what I need to bring/wear/etc.  There is a meet and greet friday with some sort of lecture I believe.  Should I bring a notebook? dress up for meet and greet? do I need my own mat?  I wish that when you registered they had a "what to pack" list.  When I become a famous fitness guru I will definitely provide that info. *wink*

Anyone else going to this event?  Or have you been to something similar?

Oh--I almost forgot!  I am a featured runner on Doug's blog!!!!  
check that post out here: http://www.dougcassaro.com/2012/11/runners-spotlight-meet-elizabeth-rehmer.html