Xavierism

Hump Day / June 26th

Bon dia! Up early and ready for a 5:30am Boxing Class led by Taylor Wright-Johnson at AmenZone's South Scottsdale location. Bring it on!

Never Alone

                       

Randy Crawford & band performing Purple Rain

***Random Play

*Randy Crawford: Naked and True

*Nichole Nordeman: Woven & Spun

*The Yeah You's: Looking Through You

*Gary Go: Self Titled CD

*Cheyenne Jackson: I'm Blue, Skies

*Bernhoft: Solidarity Breaks

It's only Thursday but it's been a rough week. Thanks to Joy, she reminded me to breathe and give my worries to God and do the best that I can. Ahhhh...amazing how a few words of Kindness and Love from a dear friend can remind you that Hope is alive through our Faith. My Faith serves as a Messenger of God -- I'm never alone.

Tommy Cassano led a great 5:30am Primal Class at AmenZone's South Scottsdale Fitness. Love that the new gym is a straight shot heading east into Scottsdale and no longer need to take the freeway - PRAISE! Let's get a move on Thursday.

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Randy Crawford's Purple Rain

Current Mood: Blessed & Hungry!

 

The Crack House Nearby...

Morning Coffee While Chillin' In The Pool

***Random Play

*Sia: Favorite Remixes of Sia's Hits

*Gary Go: Self Titled CD

*Kerrie Roberts: Time For The Show

*The Yeah You's: Looking Through You

*Toni Collette: Beautiful Awkward Pictures

*Colton Dixon: A Messenger

Marathon training is in full swing! I'm quite excited about this whole process. Thanks to good friend and personal trainer, Gil, we've worked out a training program. I need to get on track with a nutritional program to help boost energy. After a conversation with personal trainer and nutritionist, Jason Sani, after a Primal workout at AmenZone's South Scottsdale location, I am ready to focus on a nutritional plan that will help boost energy and be much better for my body.

For the past two weeks, I've given in and headed for the Crack House nearby...Quik Trip. As many times as I've step foot in the store to pay for gas or purchase a few snacks, I never really paid attention to the donut section. That was Crack I didn't need to discover. I'm happy to report that I have resisted donuts for the past two weeks. For a while, I thought I would never get back on the wagon. Without a plan or goals, it's so easy to drift and get lost. I've started something and now it's time to just do it and complete this goal all the way to the Finish Line.

Things are slowly coming together. Last week I felt a bit lost in the fog and today I am eager to recommit to my goals. Fears and doubts can wreck havoc in one's mind but I'm thankful to have Friends & an Army of Faith Soldiers on my side. Let's move foward!

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Kerrie Roberts' Finally Home

Current Mood: Cool, Collected & Spiritually Connected

Chill The F*ck Out!

          

***Random Play

*Christopher Jak: Applause Of The Rain

*Mutya Buena: Real Girl

*The Script: Self Titled CD

*Francessca Battistelli: Hundred More Years

*Matchbox Twenty: North

*Britt Nicole: Gold

It's been a week. I believe it's my time of the month because I've turn into a snowball of emotions. Little things that usually are no big deal have become bigger than Life. Ugh...I hate when I get like this because my mind races, my tongue and brain reacts, and verbally I just lash out. So for most of this week, I've allowed myself to keep to myself, think, mediatate & pray. It's been the best self therapy. If not, I would have gone off on a few friends and that's the last thing I'd ever want.

I believe it all started with emotional binging. Lack of running, tennis, and working out slowly turns into shame and guilt. The anger sets in and I feel defeated. I know that there will be days like this. I have many days like this and I'm able to get up and move on. This time around, it just bogged me down so far that I lashed out on the What ifs. I know it's useless to even go there but I did.

Anyway, today I woke up with self Love and appreciation. It felt great to get on the scale this morning and be back to exactly where I should be. Whew. So I'm ready to try all this again.

This was my first week of marathon training. I am behind the required miles for this week but I know I'll make up for it. One of my biggest fears is the possibility that I am not cut out to run a full marathon. I guess I won't know if I refuse to try. Training during the hottest months here in Phoenix maybe wasn't the smartest thing to do. Luckly I have Tamra and Brandon, two speedsters, training right along with me for this same race. I know that they'll do they can to ensure I cross that Finish Line. So I just need to calm the F*ck out and Just Enjoy the Journey. Whew. Enough!

Let's get back to the basics and reality. So much to accomplish today I can't afford another day of self pity. Awakenings of the Mind & Heart aren't always welcomed but are much needed at certain times. Thank you for allowing me to vent and get back on solid ground. So let's do it. I'm ready to get back on and jam jam!

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Mutya Buena's Just a Little Bit

Current Mood: Widely Awake

D-Day

D-Day / June 6th, 1944

I love watching movies, listening to music, and reading about World War II. I loved how the American public did everything they could to support this country and the troops. We'll always remember D-Day. Thank you to all those that countinue to serve in the US military and those that are true Alllies of our Country.

It's been a great week. Running and workouts at AmenZone are going well. I forgot exacly how  challenging the Primal classes are that I've had to adjust my nutrition and daily calorie count. There were a few days where I tried to run miles and attend a class on the same day. It's too much! Once I begin Marathon Training I'll have to cut down the boot camp classes to two or three a week. Until then, I plan to get in as many workouts as I can.

The Message of This Week has been all about Patience. I've always been a friend of Change and Patience but the older I get, the more anxious I get about certain matters in my Life. I must remember that I am not always in control of The Big Picture. During this morning's 7 mile run, I had an incredible Conversation with God and am back to a good place. I am ready to take on Today and do all I can to inch closer to my goals. Let's all move forward!

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Ginny Owens' Get In, I'm Driving

Current Mood: Thankful for This Moment...

Goals, Faith, & Blessings

        
                                    Sade's By Your Side (Live) /Oakland, CA -- August 26th, 2011
                                                *Sade clip courtesy of YouTube's ConcertKid2

***Random Play

*Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes: Baby Caught The Bus

*The Script: Science & Faith

*Amanda Marshall: Tuesday's Child

*Jennifer Knapp: Letting Go

*Sade: Bring Me Home - Live 2011 CD

*Will Young: Echoes

 After an early morning run and a Primal Class at AmenZone, I feel pretty good this afternoon. I'm ready to enjoy a quiet weekend at home in and around the pool. I plan to work on marathon training plan, work on my personal journal about the new goals I'm ready to tackle, and catch up on my reading.

My goals aren't just about marathon training and a healthier lifestyle. I'm shifting. There's so much more I want out of my career. I want to really focus and listen to my inner self about this portion of my Life. I'm no Spring Chicken so now's the time to address and make necessary changes.

I'm blessed to have such a strong Faith in God. Through him, I'm thankful to have Faith and confidence in myself. While giving presentations this morning, I felt an ease about the directions I plan to consider for the future. Nothing seems scary right now.

During these past few years, and most recently, I've surrounded myself with people that have become my Mentors of sorts. I'm blessed. I've learned so much about each of the personal relationships I've devoloped. I'd like to believe that all of this has made me a better Son, Partner, and friend.

I can't believe it's going on two years since Rodan and I attended Sade's last concert. It seems like yesterday we were sitting in the audience enjoying her songs of the past 30 years. How can that be? Sade's By Your Side still makes me emotional after all these years. I'm certain Sade's Bring It Home DVD will be playing often this weekend.

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Sade's By Your Side

Current Mood: Happy with a twist of Excitement for this evening's Happy Hour with Friends

AmenZone!

                                                   Just Another Typical Workout at AmenZone!

*Picture courtesy of AmenZone's Primal Fitnes Facebook page

I've recently started back up at AmenZone. Prior to this, I was attending another Boot Camp Style gym. I had been with this other gym since about November of 2012. Thanks to my running and Core training at the previous gym, I really believed that I would be able to return to AmenZone and continue to groove in style. WRONG! I feel as though I'm starting over again for the very first time. After my first training class, I felt great but my body was craving a nap after my work day. Turns out that five hour nap was probably one of my best deep sleeps in a long long time.

I believe I'm training with the best trainers, best fellow training mates and overall best attitudes that I need to help me reach my goals. I wrote in a previous post about my goals as far as running and training but now that I'm back at where I should be, I'll have to reevaluate that list. I'm doing less of running now since I'll be back at full gear once I start training for my first marathon. So far I'm happy with where I'm at right now. The best is yet to come...

*****CHEERS!*****

Weekend Affair

It felt good to take part in the Arizona Road Racers' Summer Series Race #1. This race took place at Papago Park. I didn't sleep well last night and comtemplated about skipping this event but decided I would run and then I could return home for a sweet nap!

Proud to say, I set an official race 5K PR: 30:21. According to my Nike+ Sportwatch GPS, the race was more like 3.2 rather than a3.1 race.  I was 8 seconds faster this morning than last Sunday's Hope 5K race. I know I'll never win a race or my age division but this is more about competing with the demons and doubts within myself. My goal is to break the 30 minute mark at one of the Summer Series events. I have 3 more chances to do that...I know I can do it!

Ready for a delicious nap and then a quiet Weekend Affair here at Home and by the Pool. Yeah, Baby!

*****CHEERS!*****

North Mountain/Shaw Butte Trail Run

Enjoyed an early morning Trail run at North Mountain/Shaw Butte

A Little Somethin' Somethin' to Get Me Going...

 

Friday Happy Hour with Joy & Glory. Friday evening 11 mile run with Will & Yvonne. Saturday evening at home with Tamra enjoying Espresso martinis, good food, and a bit of TV. Sunday morning 5K race. Mid Sunday morning Mass. Sunday afternoon with Tamra & Brandon chatting over coffee & a movie at Tamra's. Weekend was all about friends & goals.

After a great weekend, I actually am happy to get this week started. My marathon training and healthy eating seems to be back on track. Tamra and I will be working on our training programs next weekend so that I know exactly what to expect once I begin my program in mid June.

I find myself to be in a good place. I feel as though I'm well connected and ready to conquer a journey with friends along the way. Open yourself to Life & I do believe Life will reward you with good things. Let's move forward!

*****CHEERS!*****