So, I have been MIA in blogging lately. Last week I sat for my ACE Fitness Certified Personal Trainer Exam. The 2 weeks prior, I studied like a maniac, trying to review everything I had studied since January. Every spare minute was dedicated to studying whilst also having the kids home full-time. (School just started this Monday for 2/3 kids. Preschooler is home with me for another 2 weeks). I was pretty stressed, completely worried that I wouldn't pass the exam. Failing was not an option as far as I was concerned. I had invested enough time and money into this that I didn't want to have to start over again. So, that was my focus. I am fortunate to have a husband who is completely supportive of me, and was able to help out as much as possible during the last couple weeks. That included cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, and keeping the kids out of my hair as much as possible. That, on top of working full-time, was a challenge for him. But I so appreciated it, and I feel that I would not have been successful without all his help and support. I am truly blessed to have a supportive spouse.
So, yes, I did pass!! I drove to Harrisburg to take the exam at a testing center. It took me almost 3 hours to complete the multiple choice exam. It was challenging, and covered much of what I had studied. I was relieved to see several questions that were "easy" and I was able to answer without hesitation. There were a few, though, that it was difficult to distinguish the "best answer". I tried to go with my first instinct, but did backtrack a couple of times. I will never know what the right answer is, since you don't get to see the answers to your test afterwards, and to tell you the truth, all the questions went right out of my head as soon as I clicked on "Submit" on the exam. What a relief to see that I had passed!
Now the question is, what do I do with my certification? I have been pondering that since I left Harrisburg that day. I am also a Registered Nurse, but have not practiced since I was pregnant with my second child (11 years ago). Ideally, I would like to incorporate Nursing and Personal Training together. That could include being a "Wellness Educator", or something along those lines. Currently, I have a couple of opportunities lined up. In September, I will start coaching a "Running 101" program through the local YMCA. I will be a run coach, with beginner runners preparing for a 5K race on Thanksgiving. I am also starting a running group with the local running store. We will meet on Saturday mornings to do long runs together.
Neither of these are permanent jobs, but they are a start. They are two opportunities to give me some experience and will hopefully lead me to another job. I am also going to a Job Fair tomorrow, hoping to find some more opportunities.
I am excited for this new opportunity. I am thrilled to finally find out what I want to do, my "passion". I am looking forward to help and inspire others to live a healthy life.
Are you happy with your chosen profession?
Do you ever think about trying something new? What stops you?
Showing posts with label ACE Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ACE Fitness. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Birthday Plans for this Old Lady
I was recently studying in my ACE Fitness Exercise Science textbook about how during intense exercise, some of the blood flow is diverted from the brain to the active skeletal muscles. So, if the following plan seems to lack some of the common sense that I usually display, I am going to blame it on coming up with the idea during a 5 mile run on Tuesday.
My birthday is coming up next week, number 4-3 to be exact. I always try to mark my birthday in some personal way. Since the birth of my first child, on my 31st birthday back in 2001, my birthday tends to be pushed to the side in order to celebrate his birthday. So, I tend to come up with something quiet, personal and only for me to mark the occasion. Sometimes it is just a little on-line shopping spree, hair appointment, massage, or coffee with a friend that week. This year I would like to mark my birthday with a special running goal. About a month ago, when I started thinking about my birthday, I thought I would run 4.3 miles the day of my birthday and invite some of my running girlfriends to join me, followed by a trip to the local coffee shop for some "girl" time. That is a very nice idea, and I still plan on doing that.
But, on my run on Tuesday, the idea to run 43 miles during my birthday week popped into my head. It seemed like a fantastic idea at the time. I love those moments during a run, when various thoughts pop into your head, in between singing along with Pink and Fun. (my 2 current faves). Sometimes these light bulb moments pass, and I give them no more thought. This one has been sticking there during the last 2 days. I even sat down last night, looked at my training plan from Train Like a Mother 1/2 Marathon Training Plan, and contemplated if I can work the extra miles in. It looks doable, even while taking my requisite 2 rest days. I just need to make sure to make them easy miles and not push the pace, which could cause increased chance of injury. I will be on week 6 of a 13 week plan. The scheduled long run is 14 miles on Saturday. My proposed plan looks as follows:
Monday 10 miles
Tuesday 6.7 miles
Wednesday (birthday) 4.3 miles
Thursday 8 miles
Friday off
Saturday 14 miles
Sunday off
Total: 43 miles
It seems a bit daunting, but if I keep the miles "easy", and with alternating shorter and longer days, with the 2 rests days before and after my long run, I think I can do it. I have been running 30 miles/week (with many of those miles as tempo and interval training) so this isn't totally out of reach.
Important things to remember:
- stretching and foam rolling is necessary post run, not just an optional activity.
- icing my shins with the 110 % compression ice sleeves will be done daily post run to prevent those nasty shin splints that may crop up
- I will listen to my body, and any signs of injury I will back off and rest as needed
- this is a personal goal, and even though I tend to be stubborn when it comes to meeting a goal, the world won't end if it isn't met. Life can get in the way sometimes, with 3 kids, a husband, and all the demands on my time, running could be pushed to the side. Things like illness and weather could also derail my efforts. I will be kind to myself, no matter what.
Why am I setting this goal? I was just asking myself that as I decided to write down my goal in my Believe I Am Journal. I wrote that I wanted to set and meet this goal in order to celebrate my birthday, and to feel "alive and well". The "alive and well" thing is huge for me. As I age, my mortality follows me like a shadow sometimes. I know that sounds dramatic, and 43 is really not "that old". It can feel old when you have a family history of heart disease. My mother suffered a heart attack in her early 40s. She passed away from heart disease at the "young" age of 62. I do need to remember that she was overweight, did not exercise regularly, and did not eat the most optimal diet. Her father also died in his early 60's I need to remember that I am of a healthy weight, I exercise regularly, and eat a mostly vegetarian diet, with some healthy fish thrown in. But, I also have had issues with my heart, including Wolffe-Parkinson-White Syndrome. I'm not going to get into this during this posting, but I will share my story of that in a future post. I had ablation to correct that condition, and came away from it mostly unscathed. I see a cardiologist annually and am cleared to participate in vigorous exercise. No complaints here. Just stating all this to say that 43 does not feel so "young" when you are literally attempting to outrun your genetic makeup and mortality. But I'm going to focus on setting and meeting this goal to "celebrate" my birthday. I will run all these miles with joy in my heart, knowing that even as an "old lady" I am capable of doing it. So, questions: Have you set a birthday running goal? What do you think of my proposed goal?
.JPG)
Wish me luck!
My birthday is coming up next week, number 4-3 to be exact. I always try to mark my birthday in some personal way. Since the birth of my first child, on my 31st birthday back in 2001, my birthday tends to be pushed to the side in order to celebrate his birthday. So, I tend to come up with something quiet, personal and only for me to mark the occasion. Sometimes it is just a little on-line shopping spree, hair appointment, massage, or coffee with a friend that week. This year I would like to mark my birthday with a special running goal. About a month ago, when I started thinking about my birthday, I thought I would run 4.3 miles the day of my birthday and invite some of my running girlfriends to join me, followed by a trip to the local coffee shop for some "girl" time. That is a very nice idea, and I still plan on doing that.
But, on my run on Tuesday, the idea to run 43 miles during my birthday week popped into my head. It seemed like a fantastic idea at the time. I love those moments during a run, when various thoughts pop into your head, in between singing along with Pink and Fun. (my 2 current faves). Sometimes these light bulb moments pass, and I give them no more thought. This one has been sticking there during the last 2 days. I even sat down last night, looked at my training plan from Train Like a Mother 1/2 Marathon Training Plan, and contemplated if I can work the extra miles in. It looks doable, even while taking my requisite 2 rest days. I just need to make sure to make them easy miles and not push the pace, which could cause increased chance of injury. I will be on week 6 of a 13 week plan. The scheduled long run is 14 miles on Saturday. My proposed plan looks as follows:
Monday 10 miles
Tuesday 6.7 miles
Wednesday (birthday) 4.3 miles
Thursday 8 miles
Friday off
Saturday 14 miles
Sunday off
Total: 43 miles
It seems a bit daunting, but if I keep the miles "easy", and with alternating shorter and longer days, with the 2 rests days before and after my long run, I think I can do it. I have been running 30 miles/week (with many of those miles as tempo and interval training) so this isn't totally out of reach.
Important things to remember:
- stretching and foam rolling is necessary post run, not just an optional activity.
- icing my shins with the 110 % compression ice sleeves will be done daily post run to prevent those nasty shin splints that may crop up
- I will listen to my body, and any signs of injury I will back off and rest as needed
- this is a personal goal, and even though I tend to be stubborn when it comes to meeting a goal, the world won't end if it isn't met. Life can get in the way sometimes, with 3 kids, a husband, and all the demands on my time, running could be pushed to the side. Things like illness and weather could also derail my efforts. I will be kind to myself, no matter what.
Why am I setting this goal? I was just asking myself that as I decided to write down my goal in my Believe I Am Journal. I wrote that I wanted to set and meet this goal in order to celebrate my birthday, and to feel "alive and well". The "alive and well" thing is huge for me. As I age, my mortality follows me like a shadow sometimes. I know that sounds dramatic, and 43 is really not "that old". It can feel old when you have a family history of heart disease. My mother suffered a heart attack in her early 40s. She passed away from heart disease at the "young" age of 62. I do need to remember that she was overweight, did not exercise regularly, and did not eat the most optimal diet. Her father also died in his early 60's I need to remember that I am of a healthy weight, I exercise regularly, and eat a mostly vegetarian diet, with some healthy fish thrown in. But, I also have had issues with my heart, including Wolffe-Parkinson-White Syndrome. I'm not going to get into this during this posting, but I will share my story of that in a future post. I had ablation to correct that condition, and came away from it mostly unscathed. I see a cardiologist annually and am cleared to participate in vigorous exercise. No complaints here. Just stating all this to say that 43 does not feel so "young" when you are literally attempting to outrun your genetic makeup and mortality. But I'm going to focus on setting and meeting this goal to "celebrate" my birthday. I will run all these miles with joy in my heart, knowing that even as an "old lady" I am capable of doing it. So, questions: Have you set a birthday running goal? What do you think of my proposed goal?
.JPG)
Wish me luck!
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