Less Running BUT More PRs

A big CONGRATS to all my Relentless athletes who broke records and went out and ran the 3M half-marathon yesterday. I was smiling from ear to ear as I received emails, texts, and Facebook messages from everyone sharing their success.

Michelle's text- "1:53 3M half. Thank you CrossFit, little run training, bum foot but felt strong."

Becky's Facebook message- "Thanks to you Matt & I ran the 1/2 in under 1:40. Woohooo!"

Tina's email- "Hope you had a good weekend. Just wanted to let you know that I beat my 1/2 marathon goal -- my time was: 1:57 and 43 seconds -- woo hoo."

If you are still on the fence of how Relentless Athletic Training can prepare you for races with less distance training, then come to a class for FREE and see what it is all about. Send me an email at meganparsons@crossfitcentral.com to get on the list.

Time

 Last night I was reading before I went to bed. I committed to fully reading The Purpose Driven Life this year. I have started it multiple times but never read it all the way to completion, similar to what I do with most books.

The title of Day 16 is What Matters Most. The opening sentence read, "Life is all about love." I continue reading the next 6 pages and am completely convicted by the scripture and statements. What stuck out the most to me and caused me to stop reading immediately and pray was the following passage...

Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We become preoccupied with making a living, doing our work, paying bills, and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. They are not. The point of life is learning to love-- God and people. Life minus love equals zero.

WOW. WOW. and WOW. I am convinced that paragraph was written specifically for me. I  admit one of my biggest struggles is balancing time. Time is a precious gift because there is only a set amount of it. When I give someone my time, I am giving them a portion of my life that I will never get back. My time is my life--- which is the greatest gift I can give to someone.

I leave with this--- I commit to being present and scheduling out time for the people I love most. My family and a few people I work with come to mind first. I am very aware that the individuals in my life who love me the most actually get the least of me, because I expect them to understand my career and personal goals are of "utmost importance." The battle in my head is ambition vs. contentment. I feel if I am not do, do, do & go, go, go then I will get left behind. I may battle this forever, but I believe awareness is key.

I pray each day, "God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people-- because that's what life is all about I don't want to waste this day."

College Students are Relentless

I have the privilege of coaching Emily during the summer months and over her holiday school breaks. She brings a young, vibrant energy to the 8:30am class at Lake Pointe. The best part is her mom has been attending Relentless Athletic Training for over 3 years, and her older sister also joins the group during the summer and holiday school breaks. Watching a mom/daughter duo work out together is inspiring and something I hope for when I have kids some day.

I saw Emily improve her strength by going from a 15lb to a 25lb kettlebell. Each class Emily and her mom would be neck and neck on the runs, which says a lot since Mary (her mom) is a phenomenal runner. I knew when she reported back to UT, she would be ready to perform in tip-top condition since our classes are programmed with a combination of CrossFit, HIIT, kettlebell, and traditional sports conditioning. Emily is RELENTLESS on and off the field. Obviously, my favorite part of the statement above is the last sentence.

Emily writes....

I have been doing outdoor athletic training in the summer and over my school breaks for about a year now. Its been a great fitness activity to do with my sister and my Mom. As a member of The University of Texas Pom Squad, I strive to stay in the best shape that I can. Athletic Training has supplemented my Pom training and improved my overall endurance levels. Above all, Relentless Athletic Training makes me feel like a SHOWOUT, who doesn't want that!?

Take advantage of our student discount and get 25% off Athletic Training classes. The next sessions begins January 30th and is the perfect kick start to get ready for Spring Break.

 2x/week- $100

3x/week- $150

Be Relentless HERE.

 

Congrats, Emily!

I  had the privilege of coaching Emily when she first joined our Athletic Training class at Little Stacy Park. She kicked off a new chapter in her life with attending class 2x/week and signing up for one of our 6-week challenges.

Fast forward over a year later and she has transformed from the inside, out. Emily has lost 14 pounds and gone from a size 14 to an 8! And to top it all off, she quit a smoking habit she had been battling for years. Read Emily's entire story HERE.

I am looking for the next Success Story for 2012. Will it be you?

Synergy

This week I am big on definitions....

Synergy is defined in two ways:
1. working together.
2. two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable

Synergy is critical when growing a business and creating new products to reshape the face of outdoor fitness in Austin. Last month Jeremy and I discussed him coming back to coach with Relentless Training Systems for our new 6-week Boot Camps. I was thrilled with the request. Jeremy is the one who taught me everything I know with how to run our Athletic Training classes, grow a class, and gave me the opportunity to run the entire outdoor branch of his business.

Fast forward a month later and the synergy between him, our marketing branch, and myself has clicked. His energy, hustle, and excitement is a new spark for our coaching staff. Without synergy, my efforts are in vain. I am fired up to work in sync with Jeremy Thiel and Jess Clark this year as we take Relentless Training Systems to brand new heights with the best coaching staff around!

Misunderstood...

Misunderstood is defined as...
1. To fail to understand
2. To interpret incorrectly

Do you have moments where you feel completely misunderstood? Whether it be friendships, career, relationships... misunderstandings can lead to a lot of anxiousness, frustration, and anger.

For example, in relationships it could be asking the other person to be more assertive and take initiative in the relationship, when it retrospect all you are simply wanting is time, attention, and to be picked up for a date. However, it is viewed in a completely different light and you come off as a bitch. Misunderstood...

Or in a career setting, everyone sees the big picture and has the end goal in sight, but the message delivered is automatically heard with the other person's past experiences and preconceived notions. Immediate walls go up if the message is not expressed in an open, non-judgmental space preventing greatness and collaboration to occur. Misunderstood...

Then in friendships, friends sharing with friends the ups and downs of life can come off as being draining and needy, when in return all the friend wants is to be heard and appreciated. Misunderstood...

How do you find balance? How do you best express yourself to avoid being misunderstood and truly reach the end goal?

Small steps make a big difference

One of my 2012 goals is to write for a column in a fitness magazine--- Shape, Oxygen, and/or Fitness Rx for Women. This month I was featured in the "Fresh Start for a Fit 2012" article in Austin Woman thanks to our friends at My Fit List. Each article submission is one step closer to writing on a national scale.

I was proud to be the voice of Relentless Training Systems amongst other fitness experts in Austin. Check out the online version HERE.

I wrote...

TOP TIP: Balance, balance, balance. I approach everything with the outlook of work hard, play hard. I view my career, social life, family, and friends as my lifestyle, and it provides a completely different approach to life. Instead of compartmentalizing my health and wellness, I live it daily.

MOTIVATION: I started something new the day after Thanksgiving: 21 days of daily writing and exercising my dreaming muscles. This is not goal setting: it is dreaming, dreaming up new possibilities.

INSPIRATION: "Never forget that each new day is bringing you closer to your dreams."

Go, Michelle!

I have the honor of coaching Michelle for over 2 years. She is a joy in and out of class. Her story inspires me because she has always been an athlete but has seen results mentally and physically with Relentless Athletic Training. Just like she states, I never thought anything would rate higher in my life than saying I am a marathon runner and an Ironman Triathlete until now.

If you are looking for someone to challenge you, encourage you, and encompass balance, then this girl is your person. A big congrats to Michelle and all her success and her future. Endless possibilities.

Check out Michelle's story HERE. 

Who will be the next Success Story in 2012?

2012 Theme Song

New Year's Eve was quite different for me this year. My cousin got married in East TX so my sisters and I ventured back to celebrate their marriage. Typically I spend NYE with all my friends and we celebrate well past midnight.

After the wedding I spent the remainder of the evening with my 2 sisters. Thank God we love each other and just laughed and enjoyed each other's company while watching Carson Daly ring in the New Year in NYC.

Kara (aka: Baby Showout) and I fell in love with Beyonce's song, I Was Here, last night when we heard it performed. I now have a 2012 theme song to go along with my 2012 motto. The words hit a cord with both of us.

How will you leave a mark in 2012? 

I WAS HERE- Beyonce 

I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time.
Know there was something that, and something that I left behind.
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets.
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget.

I was here. I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done, everything that I wanted, and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know. I was here.
 
I want to say I lived each day, until I die. 
And know that I meant something in, somebody's life.
The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave.
That I made a difference, and this world will see.

I was here. I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done, everything that I wanted, and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know. I was here. 

I just want them to know That I gave my all, did my best Brought someone to happiness. Left this world a little better just because I was here.