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Today I am pleased to introduce you to the health and fitness contributors, Kristin and Josh from Redline Running Company. Not only do they travel all over the western US organizing and seeing through running races, but they both live “being healthy” as well.  They both started Redline Running Company a few years ago, and with a dream and a lot of hard work, have grown it where it is today. Did I also happen to mention that Josh is my brother, and Kristin, my sister-in-law, so I see them living their dream and couldn’t be more proud of them! When I knew I wanted a health and fitness section on my blog, I knew just who to turn to.  With a plethora of ideas on how to be healthy and have fun getting fit,  here are Kristin and Josh:

Hi, everyone!  We are so excited to be part of this awesome site that Kiki is putting together.  As you already know, she is amazing and I hope that our thoughts and ideas about fitness and nutrition will contribute to making your life more balanced and enlightened in addition to all of the other wonderful things that you will learn from this blog.  First and foremost, our names are Josh and Kristin Melver and we live in Denver, Colorado.  We have three beautiful, rambunctious, and sweet little boys that keep us on our toes constantly.  We love to play all kinds of sports, go camping, watch movies, and spend time together as a family. 

About our fitness and nutrition lives, my husband is an avid runner and has been running since he was about 2 years old.  He ran cross country and track in high school and also ran track at BYU.  I graduated from BYU in nutritional science and actually worked as a chemist in the nutrition field for about 4 years before I became a full time stay at home mom.  In our house when it comes to nutrition, I have found that feeding 3 boys takes lots of patience and creativity! 

About three years ago, Josh decided that he wanted to have a job that he was passionate about, and because his biggest passion is running, it was a no brainer that we would have some sort of running company.  And that is when Redline Running Company came to be.  So in our business, we organize and manage running races (i.e. 5k’s, Half Marathons, Triathlons, etc.), create training programs for runners, own an Operation Bootcamp franchise and new this fall we are starting our own running apparel line.  It is a busy, but exciting time for us!

I know all of you followers out there are in very different areas in your fitness.  Some might be ultramarathoners, some might workout here and there, some might have lots of aspirations, but don’t know where to begin, and some might have no interest in fitness at all.  It is our goal to help get you to take a step back and to evaluate where you are and where you want to be at in your life.  Then we’ll get you motivated and keep you motivated no matter what your fitness level.  So what are the first steps?  The fall season is upon us and the pace of life is slowly shifting.  The kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are dropping. Life is maneuvering into a tighter schedule, and now is the perfect time to get your exercise plan back on a tight schedule also. The following steps to meet your fitness goals were written bearing in mind the following things: you are busy, you cherish time with your friends and family, and you value the overall health of your mind, body, and spirit. This season, don’t take no for an answer. Solidify your health goals and don’t let anything stop you!

1.      Meet a Friend: It’s often challenging to stay committed to our personal fitness goals. How many times have you said, “I’m going to the gym tomorrow morning”, but then snoozed through the cacophony of your beloved alarm clock? When we commit to meeting a friend or workout buddy to exercise, we not only commit to ourselves but we commit the other person too. Plan workout dates with people you can rely on. It will definitely keep you (and the other person) in gear.

2.      Wake up Early: The morning is somewhat of a paradox. It’s refreshing and beautiful, yet it’s so hard to get up in time to savor it. But I guarantee: nine times out of ten you won’t regret being an early bird. Exercising in the morning definitely beats drinking a cup of joe.  A.M. exercising wakes you up, boosts your morning metabolism, and keeps you alert throughout the day. It also grants you the freedom to relax and spend time with the family once the evening rolls around. If you aren’t a morning person, commit to waking up at least one day per week to exercise (see #1). If you are already a morning person, invite a friend to join you!

3.      Mix it up: Having a consistent routine is unquestionably effective. But remember that variety is the spice of life. Instead of slipping into a monotonous routine, try new locations, people, and types of exercise. There are a ton of fitness classes to take, many trails to go down, and plenty of great conversations to be had. Need some ideas? Here are a few exercise opportunities: hiking, indoor spinning, elliptical, a jog in the park with the dog, gardening, playing tag with the kids outside, signing up for a local 5k, P90x, yoga, pilates, Zumba, kickboxing, biking, walking, swimming, stairmaster, playing tennis, playing soccer, playing wii, going dancing…you fill in the blank: ___

4.      Don’t Be Afraid to Keep It Short: Many people believe that a good workout equals a long workout. Don’t be fooled. The old adage “less is more” can also apply to exercising. If your schedule is overflowing with tasks, squeeze in 10-15 minutes of hard, quality cardio. It will boost your metabolism, renew your energy, and keep you moving even when deadlines are stockpiling. Don’t ever let “being too busy” ever stop you from exercising. Just think: when the weather gets too hot or too cold we don’t stop going about our daily lives: we adjust. Simply adjust the length and intensity of your workout. Don’t give up.

5.      Keep Your Ipod, Books, and Movies Refreshed: Do you know that “nothing-can-stop-me” feeling after reading an inspirational book or movie? I know I do! As humans, we feed off the energy of the things we watch, read, and listen to. Books, movies, and music are nourishing to the soul; just as food is nourishing to the body. Surround yourself with things that remind you of your truest values and inspire you to be the best “you”. Download music that you love, purchase a book that you’ll learn from, and watch movies and documentaries that inspire you. A little boost from an outside source can make a world of difference.

6.      Tell Someone: No, you don’t have to brag about how motivated you are. But why not tell people about your plans and goals? When you speak about your goals, you bring them to life in the minds of other people. They no longer exist as your expectations, but also the expectations of others. Good friends will ask you how your workout went, or how your goal is coming along. Let people know about your goals and allow them to support you and keep you accountable.

7.      Pencil It In: Schedule workouts like you schedule meetings with co-workers, friends, and family members. You wouldn’t miss a meeting with your boss or a first date, right? Well, don’t miss a meeting with yourself either! Exercising is your meeting with yourself -to meditate, work out the kinks, practice being healthy, and let go of daily stress. Pencil it in your calendar. And don’t be late!

8. Have Good Shoes and Apparel: So you’re dreading slipping on your steaming, ragged shoes and old Richard Simmons 1980’s jumpsuit? Donate or get rid of them! Invest in some shoes you look forward to putting on and clothes that feel comfortable, movable, and stylish. You are more likely to get out the door if you have proper, comfortable gear. It’s not a splurge: it’s an investment in your health!

So there you have it.  Come on over and check out our website, we are at www.redlinerunningcompany.com.  We also have a blog on our website that gives more fitness and nutrition tips, interviews with amazing people, a look inside a race director’s life, lots of cool giveaways, and much more.  We look forward to seeing you at our next post.  Have fun!!