Plus+Runner

Entries categorized as ‘Inspiration’

There’s a time and a place for that

July 26, 2010 · 4 Comments

My little sister Liz got married this weekend, and it was wonderful.  As I stood up to give the “toast” to the couple, I found myself completely blubbery.  I laughed, I cried, and I made other people cry.  Throughout, I could hear my mother’s voice in my head (she was in the room, but this one was telepathic) saying “Oh please. There’s a time and a place for that! (the crying).”  She just hates it when people cry when they give wedding toasts.   And she’s right, but really, there are just times when you’re overcome with joy, and pride, and you’ve got to let it all out. 

The Kleenex people know this.  But if they were really smart, they wouldn’t only make those pocket packs for weddings.  They’d make them for Finish Lines.  Becuase if there’s one place that you can rest assured you’ll see some tears, it’s at the tail end of any half marathon, triathlon, and even a few 5ks.

I know, because I’ve been that person. The first time I finished a Sprint triathlon, I cried.  I remember rounding the corner, and thinking “Oh my God that was hard, but there’s the finish, and you just DID this!”  I crossed the finish line, dropped my hands to my knees, tried not to pass out, and cried.  Then I threw up, but that’s another story.

The first time I finished a half marathon (the Indy  Mini), I cried, too.  The whole last mile, I was trying to keep it together.  I’d never done anything like this – never trained, never stuck with it, never been so proud of actually completing something I said I was going to do.  I was a Big Girl with no willpower (at least that’s what I’d been told for years, subtly or otherwise).  And yet, LOOK!  I could do THIS! I could run for 13 miles, and finish smiling???  If that wasn’t worth tears, I don’t know what was.

So the question is, is there a time and a place for getting emotional?  You bet.  And it’s on the course.  But if you do find yourself amazed and proud, and just a little overwhelmed in that last mile, take it from me: you still have to breathe!  Crying can wreck that breathing mojo, so if it happens to you, just take some breaths, smile, and think of something positive.  Regulate your breathing as best you can, until you get it under control…and then put the hammer down.  You’ve worked too hard to hyperventilate at the finish line!

But once that tape is in your site, go ahead and let it go. Cry like a baby.  Smile through the tears, though, because it IS a happy day – and you’ve earned the right to enjoy it.

I’ll be looking forward to the laughs and the tears this Sunday, at the Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon.  I’ll be bike marshalling this year, so if you see a Big Girl on a bike, say hello, and introduce yourself!  I’ll be cheering for you, all the way!

See you on the path!

Categories: Athlete · Inspiration · New Runner · Overweight Runner · Plus Sized Triathlete
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Aim for the Flag

June 21, 2010 · 1 Comment

When I was a kid, there was a great little golf driving range a few miles from our house.  Nestled up to an overflow basin for the Ohio River and some gigantic creek, Green Tee Golf was the location of both the Tastee Freeze (or its equivalent) AND the place where I got to spend time with my dad.  Once I was old enough, he’d take me and my brother (and later, my punky little sister) down to the range.  When we were really young, we’d play mini-golf while he hit golf balls; once we were older, he taught us how to hold the club, and how to swing.

I liked mini-golf a lot to begin with.  It had a clear beginning and end, and a purpose I could relate to – hit the ball in that hole (which was no more than 10 feet away.)  I also enjoyed that, in Cincinnati’s soup-like humidity, I could be outside, but not have to run around and get all pink-faced like I did when I played soccer.

But most of all, I liked the fact that I got to hit things indiscriminately.  Once I actually figured out what I was doing, I wasn’t really any good at golf, but I made contact enough to like it.  I’d pick up a rental club, stand over the ball, and whack at it.  Sometimes I made contact, sometimes I didn’t. 

My dad would stand behind me (mostly, immediately behind me) and offer insruction on how I could improve.  Never shy about my personal space, I’d let him get in a few comments before telling him he could stuff it and leave me alone.  How could I know that he was trying to teach me a sport I’d play for life?  I was a snarky 11 year old who knew better.  Please.

Of course, I never really aimed for anything.  Oh, sure, there were flags out there.  But I just needed to hit.the.ball.  I didn’t care where it went, because it wasn’t a part of anything larger for me.  I wasn’t playing for money, or keeping score of how many times I hit the green.  In fact, I usually wanted to get out of there as fast as I could because I wasn’t nearly as good as those people around me, and who needs to prolong THAT kind of misery?   

Turns out, when I finally did get around to playing on a real course, I wasn’t much good.  All I had really learned to do was make contact.  I didn’t know how to avoid the trees down the right side of the fairway, or to modulate the distsance on a shot.  And I didn’t really care for the fact that it didn’t come easy to me.  I think, before I turned 18, I played only one real round of golf with my dad.  And then I didn’t play again until I was 24.

Only then, when I was getting back into the sport with some seriously fun friends, did I learn the key to practicing:  aim for something.  All the time, I’d go to the driving range at Diversey here in Chicago, and see these guys, winding up like 30-year-old versions of my punky 10-year-old self.  They’d just pound the ball wherever, and never give any thought as to where it was going.  Which is great, if you’re just angry.  But if you’re actually trying to accomplish something, you’ve got to learn how to aim.  An instructor once told me that going to the range to practice was absolutely useless, unless every single time I got over the ball, I aimed for a flag.  With golf, you can concentrate a lot, or a little.  Sometimes, you can get so wrapped up in the grip, or your stance, that you forget to aim.  You forget what you’re trying to accomplish.  And sometimes, you don’t even have the grip or the stance to blame.  Sometimes, you just stand over the ball, and fire. 

But that’s not the way to become a better golfer.  To do that, you have to aim every time.  And then you’ve got to learn finesse.  You’ve got to check your fundamentals.  You’ve got to learn what makes a ball shank to the left or slice right, and what small, simple changes can impact your entire game.  In short, you’ve got to become a student of the sport. 

That’s a lesson I think we can easily apply to training for any event, whether it’s your first 5k, or your fifth triathlon.  You see, when you first start training for triathlons (for example), you think that it’s all about getting in the miles.  You’ve just got to pound out a half mile in the pool.  Who cares if you’re efficient? You don’t want to drown.  Then, there’s the bike.  Most of us are simply concerned with making sure we don’t get a flat…and that we can actually remove a water bottle from our rack and not end up on YouTube while doing it.  Small goals, right?  Even with the run, at first, all you care about is having the legs to wrap up a 10k after a 26 mile bike, and a mile swim.  You don’t care about pacing or strategy.  You can’t focus on technique, because you’re too worried about baseline fitness, and not dying out there.

But after awhile, you realize something important:  when you’re just getting in the pool, day after day – or on your bike, because that’s what the schedule calls for, you’re not really doing yourself any favors.  Yes, you’re learning how to pound the ball (figuratively speaking), but are you learning how to aim for the flag?  Are you paying attention to the feeling in your chest when you push it too hard on your swim?  Are you doing the drills that will make you more efficient, or are you just clocking time?  Do you know whether or not you’re wasting energy as you haul yourself down the lane, day after day?  And on the bike, are you still operating on the same gear you’ve been on since day one, or have you ever figured out how to really climb a hill?  Have you learned how to change that flat so it doesn’t ruin your race?  Or are you still at the range, firing away, hoping that things will come together?  

These journeys we take are important.  They have the opportunity to let us become more aware of our bodies, our capabilities, and yes, sometimes our limits.  But they also give us the chance to expand our body of knowledge – to truly learn something more about the sports we’re trying, and to take those skills into other areas.  When I learned how to change a tire on my bike (which didn’t happen until the Chicago Endurance Sports Triathlon Training in 2003, a full FOUR years after I started doing triathlons), it rocked my world.  I went from having a panic attack every time I saw glass in the road to knowing that I would be able to help myself – and others – whenever I needed it.  It also gave me a whole new world to ride in, because I was no longer limited to taking rides with other people, in the city, where a cab or a friend could come and get me if I flatted out.  Suddenly, I was free to ride wherever I wanted.  And that meant I could ride hills, and practice my cadence, and feel what race day would feel like – and that, that was very, very cool. 

You, too have the ability to build your skills, and learn more about yourself, and your sport.   But you have to consciously think about what you want to accomplish when you go out, every day.  Yes, there will be days when you just want to pound away, with no goal in mind.  But mostly, there will be something you can learn, something you can accomplish, as you’re becoming an expert in your sport.  I call it Aiming for the Flag.  It’s a simple concept, but one that can help you sustain your enthusiasm for the sport long after your first race is done.  Because when you become an expert (and here’s the kick) it gets easier.  You can make those adjustments to stay on course, to save energy, and to hit your targets.  You just need to focus on them to get there.  

So next time you go out for a run, or a swim, or a bike ride, think about what you’re really trying to get out of the day.  Pick one thing – just one – and pay attention to it.  Think about your swimming form, or how you feel on hydration on the bike, or how you can get the most power from your ride.  Pay attention.  And pick a small goal, for every session, to keep you focused.

I promise you, the rewards you see will make that little bit of patience, that little bit of finesse, worth your while.

See you on the path…

Categories: Getting Started · Inspiration · Overweight Runner · Plus Sized Triathlete
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Plus Baby: We Were BORN to Move!

June 17, 2010 · 5 Comments

Today’s post by Guest Blogger Kristin (Bruce) Maguire, a great friend and mom-to-be, who’s shown me that being active doesn’t stop when the double line appears!

This blog is about ‘moving more when there’s more to move.’ I know a little bit more about that now as I complete my ninth month of pregnancy as what I like to call ‘Plus Baby.’

I was initially tempted to use this opportunity as guest-author to dispel all the nonsense I’ve heard throughout pregnancy while trying to maintain my fitness. Despite full consensus in the medical community that exercise and running (yes, running) is safe to sustain (not train!) during low-risk pregnancies, there is still much public misperception about what a pregnant gal can or should do. What’s even more counter to popular wisdom is that pregnancy is a known performance enhancer. That’s why it’s been a controversy in the Olympic community for years as a way (aka ‘abortion doping’) to gain competitive edge.

But as I listed out all the hog-wash and myths that I’d love to debunk as someone who has earned her right to be a little snarky after 34 weeks of tuning out the haters, I had a revelation: a few days ago while reclined with a book, as inactive as ever, my unborn son decided to give me a one-two punch from the gut. After saying a few choice words that will soon retire from my mommy-vocabulary, I have to admit I felt immediate pride—“That’s my boy! Strong. Healthy. Ready to BRING it!” And that’s when I decided to ditch my plan to unload pragmatic information and instead focus on the inspiration of a most obvious insight: we are born to move.

What’s more—our bodies  are designed to do bad-ass things, like skipping, hopscotch, jumping rope, climbing Everest and breaking boundaries. From the time when each of us is kicking in the womb we are physically declaring: ‘I am alive and I’m a force to be reckoned with.’

So, 20, 30, 40 years later, why is it so hard to keep kicking? Now that I’m Plus Baby I can testify that exercise is no joke when there is more to move. Every motion requires more from us than, say, when we were 26 pounds lighter. Yet, running (sometimes wogging) through 8 months of pregnancy has taught me that we can do it. Here are a few thoughts for those who want to help change public perception of what is possible for ANYONE that doesn’t look like Dean Karnazes and/or need a born-again kick in the butt:

  • Act like a BABY. A fierce baby. A baby that says, ‘Heck, yeah, I’ve got legs! Heck, yeah, I’ve got arms!’ Be impressed with all your 2000 body parts. Just think about how far you came in those first 40 weeks of life? What could you accomplish in 40 weeks now? With an Ipod. With awesome gear. Without being tied to your mother.
  • Listen and trust your BODY above all else… This is what really defines an athlete—the ability to be completely in-tune with the body’s performance. I intentionally haven’t checked my heart rate once since I was 7 weeks pregnant—doctor’s orders—but I know faster than any Garmin when I need to let my split time dive. Learn to listen carefully and it will tell you everything you need to know.
  • …but mind your MIND. This is where our limits live, if we let them. The mind loves slippery slopes—rationalizations about why we CAN’T. But if we wield this internal voice as THE greatest means for connecting with our bodies, it will take us further than we thought possible. Learn to negotiate with your mind like you’re a teenager again and it’s Friday night. (One. More. Minute. One. More. Mile.)
  • Get going now to catch the Sustain Train. If you’re planning to have kids anytime in the next 1-2 years, now is the time to get to the place you want to be when you start pregnancy. Because once you’re Plus Baby, the focus is on sustaining fitness, not training. It’s like baking a cake using only the ingredients you already have in the house. Whatever routine you’re in when that second pink line appears, guess what? That’s the cake you’re going to eat a lot of for many months to come. Give yourself a due date to stock your pantry now unless you really like the taste of flour.
  • Embrace the naysayers. Let their skepticism fuel your tank. Revel in the funny looks and quirky smirks that reveal their profound confusion about how you’re defying gravity. Smile. Kick up a little dust behind you. And if you really want to blow their mind, tell them you just did a Kegel. (This last point is even more effective if you’re a dude.)
  • When in doubt, choose sanity over vanity. We all know great shoes and bra are a must. Everything else is just ‘icing’ on the cake: matching and cuteness are overrated. Don’t fall for the ideological Kelly Ripp-off. Sure, who doesn’t appreciate a coordinated outfit? But am I going to let a little spit-up and baby funk on my gear stand in the way of a great run? N-O. I’m actually hoping it will buy me some extra space on the path. So, if the only reasonably clean gear that fits are your hot pink running shorts and puke-green army tank, rock them like Rainbow Brite. (Trust me, you will still look a million times more together than our dear friends in the post-natal group.)

The bottom line: the benefits of getting and staying active now and if you plan to become pregnant are countless, including:

-          Greater self-confidence

-          Increased energy

-          Sanity! Less stress

-          Less weight gain (for those hot mom jeans)

-          Less rapid weight gain (no/less stretch marks!)

-          Better sleep and circulation

-          Easier delivery and recovery after baby or other Major Life Event

Sure, I’ll be giving myself this same ‘made to move’ pep talk when I’m a sleep-deprived zombie talking to my breast pump—but let’s make a pact: on the days when we’d much rather climb back into bed and assume the fetal position, let’s throw back the covers, put a spring in our step and remind ourselves: we were born to do this.

Categories: Athlete · Getting Started · Inspiration · New Runner · Overweight Runner
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The Water is Your Friend. Most Days.

June 13, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The weather in Chicago’s been uncharacteristically warm these past few months, and as a result, Lake Michigan is rolling out a summer welcome – well, in time for summer.  With the solstice quickly approaching, our long days have been filled with 80 degree glories, calm water, and gorgeous sunsets worthy of a Florida night. 

I’ve been watching the temps rise, and trying to plan a day to get back in the lake.  Though it’s merely a mile from my house, I wanted to take advantage of the Ohio Street Beach, from which a nice 1/2 mile stretch of water runs next to Lake Shore Drive and offers a straight shot of swimming in a protected cove (with a 5′ depth the entire way).  It’s also watched over by lifeguards, which means it’s safe, too. 

I haven’t been in the pool yet this spring/summer. For one reason or another, I just haven’t been working in the swim workout, and as this week approached, I was wondering if starting off in the lake was the right way to go.

See, this week officially began my training for the Chicago Triathlon.  Oh, did I not mention that?  Yeah. I got a little ambitious a few weeks back and decided that the only way to stay active this summer was to put the Olympic back on my schedule.  So Monday began the schedule (borrowing heavily from last year’s) to get me ready for the distance.  That included an 800M time trial on Thursday.

I enjoy swimming after work, and Thursday was no exception (except that I needed to jet to Book Club after. Slight overschedule).   As I arrived at the beach, I pulled on the wetsuit with a minimum of fuss (and noted that when you have a suit that fits you, there’s far less walrus-wrestling).  It was the first time I had swam in this new suit, an Xterra that I bought last year at the end of the season.  This one has sleeves (I had also bought a sleeveless, but thought the sleeves might be a good option for 68 degree water).  Turns out, the sleeves were probably overkill – AND they required quite an adjustment for me.

I set my watch and wandered into the lake, surprised at how nice the temp was.  Two guys coming out were smiling like kids who just got out of school early.  “It’s great, right?” the one guy said to me.  I nodded. “I can’t believe it’s this warm – in JUNE!”  We were so excited because, as veterans of Lake Michigan swimming, we knew it was usually mid-July before it was this warm.

Turns out, the water being warm didn’t give me superhuman strength, though.  As I got started swimming, my arms felt like lead, and I couldn’t seem to keep my hair from getting caught in the velcro in the back of my suit (even though I had a swim cap on).  My goggles were leaving bruises on my eye sockets, and I simply couldn’t find my mojo.

After 4 minutes, I stopped and stood up.  I didn’t have the heart rate monitor on, but I knew I was working too hard, and needed to slow it down.  So I channeled a little U2 and began humming on the exhale, my equivalent of the “talk test” in running.  Yes, this was a “time trial”, but I also needed to get through a half a mile.  That meant slowing down.

So slow down I did.  After awhile, the arms got a little better, and I even remembered some of the form lessons I learned last season.  I made it through a quarter mile in a molasses-like 14 minutes, turned around, and headed back. 

It was not an “A” day.  And I’ll admit, I was pretty mad at myself.  For most of those ten minutes heading back in, I was giving myself a drubbing.  “Why haven’t you been in the pool?”  “What’s so important about work that you’re not making time?” “Why not make time for THIS, the best sport for you?’  It’s been awhile since I kicked my own ass that much.  But you know what?  It didn’t help.  As I got closer to the finishing point, I was even more dejected than when I started.  And I had just swum almost a half a mile, having not been in the pool since January.  Nothing hurt, nothing was broken, and I was fine.  Yes, I was slow, but I was getting it done. 

And that’s what I started to tell myself. 

See, we all have different paces to our journeys.  I generally like to give myself credit for doing ANYTHING active, and try to stay away from the self-flaggelation.  But Thursday night, I was really mad at myself, and it was okay, too, to look inside and realize it doesn’t have to be this hard.  I can make better choices, and plan realistically, and work in working out as much as I want.  But what I really ended up telling myself was this:  I had a lot of choices on Thursday.  I could have stayed at work late.  I could have left and went straight to meet the girls at book club.  I could have skipped them both and went home and sat on the couch.  But I took the path I had planned, and I got in the lake, and I swam. 

It’s only one night, but more than ever, I was reminded of John Bingham’s great mantra: the miracle isn’t that I finished, but that I had the courage to start.  On Thursday night, having been away from the pool for awhile, and seriously, seriously wanting to quit so many times, I hung onto that statement.  I kept swimming until the beach touched my feet again, and when I got out, I was smiling.   And it wasn’t about my 30 minute time trial.  It was because against all indications to the contrary, I had prioritized that one night of moving, and felt better for it.

So I guess this week’s lesson is this:  there are days when training and being active may not be as easy, or as convenient, or as rewarding, as we might expect.  It’s the law of averages.  Hard days are part of the game.  But they’re always good for you, in ways you can’t begin to comprehend until you’ve gone through them.

So that’s it from here.  Keep training, keep dropping me lines, and keep your chin up. 

See you on the path!

Categories: Athlete · Getting Started · Inspiration · Plus Sized Triathlete

Cross Training for Life

May 24, 2010 · 5 Comments

A few years ago, there was this great show called “Fit to Live”,  based on a book by the same name, which challenged contestants to escape a simulated burning building from the 30th floor, or rescue themselves from other life and death situations.  It focused on whether, given common obstacles, a person could survive these challenges or would perish.  It was a pretty harsh reminder that if you’re not fit enough to climb stairs, or carry something heavy, or just sprint from something serious, it could mean you lose your life.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot these last few weeks, as I just moved into a new apartment.  It’s a “walk up” which means to get to the third floor, semi-palatial estate (let’s be real, it has air conditioning, which makes it semi-palatial), I have to actually walk up 3 flights of stairs.  Every time I want to go home, that’s the requirement.  Three flights.  Every time I buy something, order something, or simply finish a day with my 15 pounds of work stuff, it’s 3 flights.  Those three flights don’t seem like much, but I couldn’t help but think of that Fit to Live concept again on Friday evening, when I returned home to find my spanking new Adirondack chair from Land’s End – parked just outside the front door and not, to my disappointment, next to my third-floor door.

As I hauled the slightly awkward box up the three flights (I did have to stop once), I found myself really irritated.  I was sweaty from the walk home from the train.  Then I was sweaty again as I hauled the box up the stairs.  The packing weight was a mere 42 pounds.  But it came in a box that was 3′ x 4′ x 1′ (at least) which meant for somewhat tough going.  Alas, I prevailed.  But I couldn’t help think “this should be easier”.

Also this weekend, I took a nice long bike ride along our lakefront path. When I returned, some 16 miles later, I needed to haul the road bike up the back stairs (in my bike cleats, which was hysterical).  The bike weighs in somewhere around 17 pounds, so you can imagine, it was easier.  But my heart was still beating faster, and my legs let me know they had been used quite a bit that day.  And in the end, I couldn’t stop asking myself the question:  “Am I fit to live?” 

The simple answer is: I don’t know.  Over the years, I’ve discovered that I have great reserves when it comes to endurance running, cycling, or swimming.  I can hike for miles, and though it’s challenging, I know I can do it. But, in direct proportion to my weight, I’ve never had any delusions of being speedy at any of these tasks.  I’ve been a long distance girl, to be sure.  And the thing with emergencies – and, with life – is that they’re not all long-distance kind of things.  

Does my failure in the world of anaerobic excellence mean that I’m not strong? Certainly not.  Could I deadlift my own weight out of, say, the Tennessee River?  (Hypothetically, this might have had to happen at one point in my past).  No, I most certainly could not.  (But I could have swam my way out of it, to be sure.) 

And what about wandering around – just simple wandering?   My friend and I were walking around Michigan Avenue a few weeks ago, one night after work.  My right foot (the one with the annoying plantar fasciitis I’ve been working to heal) was bothering me, and as we walked to dinner (me with the 20 pound computer bag on my shoulder), I was wishing I’d worn better shoes.  I was cranky and it was only the steak ahead that kept me moving.  The foot hurt, from something as simple as shopping.  Now THAT’s annoying.  And yet, it was only the pain that was a problem, not any kind of shopping endurance.    It wasn’t an anaerobic weakness that felled me there, just a pain problem.

For many of us, though, something as simple as climbing three flights of stairs instead of one flight is a big deal.  Running across a street to beat a light is tough.  Digging a hole for that new fence makes us sweat.  Shoveling a sidewalk can be annoyingly difficult.  Some of this is to be expected.  Work makes our heart race, and our bodies sweat.  And sometimes we don’t like that feeling.  So we shy away from it, and take a seat, or a ride, or pay someone else to do the hard work for us.  And in doing so, we continue down a path that involves a lot less work, and a lot less of what I call cross-training for life.

Here’s the catch, though.  We all know we have the ability to train our bodies for this kind of demand, too.  Many of you are dedicated runners and triathletes, and you have incredible reserves of strength and character.  But maybe, just maybe, you’re like me – and you take the easy way out when it comes to everyday life sometimes. 

That can change.  You can make a promise to start small – by doing your own yardwork,  or by getting friendly with your stairs.  (After four weeks in the new place, walking up three flights is so much easier than it was when I started, I’m actually kind of amazed).  And you can keep doing it by looking for simple ways to get more activity in.  Can you walk to the store, or bike?  Can you walk up the stairs to the train, instead of the escalator?  Can you, once in awhile during your run, run for a block just a bit faster than you normally would?  Yeah, you probably can.  And if you can’t do it all, today, you will, if you just start focusing on it, a little bit at a time.

So I guess my advice today is this: don’t take the easy way out.  Find the equivalent of your third-floor walkup, and test yourself on it regularly.  Accept that it’s okay to struggle with the anaerobic activities of life, but think about challenging yourself on more of it.   Work to fill in the non-endurance fitness side of your life.  Trust me, you’ll feel stronger, and healthier, and more ready for whatever comes next.

See you on the path -

Categories: Athlete · Inspiration · New Runner · Plus Sized Triathlete · Uncategorized

Spring Haitus

May 10, 2010 · 5 Comments

I’m a fan of a variety of television shows, and lately, I’ve been taking a cue.  After a big run with a showy finale, my favorite Fake People take a haitus.  Presumably, this is so editors everywhere can lie on the beach, sleep in, and pretty much pretend that no one cares about these shows.  When the show comes back in the summer or fall (depending on if it’s Cable or network), watchers feel like life is starting up again, and everything is just jolly.  We find out that the Fake Mistress wasn’t a Mistress at all, but a Sister, and the Fake Explosion was really just a bad dream, and we get sucked right back in, like we never left.

I like to think  I’ve just had my own haitus here the past month or so, disappearing from the blog, and from a regular exercise routine.  Except, here’s the thing:  no showy finale.  No big revelations.  Not much at all.  More like the FCC pulled my license to write (and exercise) and I just whimpered into the sunset. 

So apologies to those who’ve come round the last month looking for inspiration or fun or just plain cheap clothes!  I have lots of reasons why I’ve not been here (I have a “new” full time job, and I’m working more, and I moved homes, and have had some travel….and, well, technically, I’m not really doing a whole lot of exercising other than biking, because I’m doing PT a few times a week)…but wait, you probably don’t care, do you?

Well, that’s fair. You shouldn’t have to care – and you know what, that’s okay. 

If I’ve learned anything from this little break, it’s this:  the excuses don’t matter.  It doesn’t matter what keeps you from doing the things you love – it’s how you get back to it that counts.  Maybe you’re on a haitus, too, right now. Maybe your sneakers are dusty, and your goggles are drying out.  But both of them will work when you get back on the path, or in the pool.  And those lovely, inanimate objects (shoes, goggles, path and pool) could care less that you started taking a class, or got sucked into a new show, or had to work on a project that was so busy you barely had time to sleep.  Those inanimate objects will welcome you back, and not judge where you’ve been, or where you’re headed.   And the people – those people who are your running friends, your rowing friends, or your former “hang out and go for a walk” friends- they won’t care, either.  They’ll just be glad to see you again.

I learned that the easy way – last weekend, as I took off for Door County, to ride my bike in gorgeous Peninsula State Park while my friends ran the Door County Half Marathon.  As the Chicago Endurance Sports crew ran through the most serene, most gorgeous course I’ve seen, I pedaled my way through a park that made me ache for Acadia, and dream of spring rides.  It was pretty, and it was easy.  And I was shocked.  After all, I’ve been “only” walking and doing core strengthening for the past few months.  But it turns out, if you’re easy on yourself when you come back from haitus, you can enjoy the return – with no drama, no fireworks, and certainly no breakdowns. 

This week, the return continues with Episodes 2 and 3 – riding, and riding some more, to prepare for Little Red.  While I’m at it, I’m also doing something else TV-esque:  I’m setting the DVR, exercise style.  Seriously – if I can “prioritize” shows on DirecTV, and record Top Gear over Castle, why can’t I prioritize a morning bike ride over sleeping in?  Or an evening ride over a Cubs game?  Well, I can.  But another valuable TV lesson here:  I do HAVE to choose at some point – and every time I choose a non-workout option when I plan my week, there  is a real cost. 

So I’m planning (always planning) and we’ll see if I can deliver.  I’ll keep you posted on the post-haitus recovery, and in the meantime, thanks for reading, and thanks for coming back.

See you on the path!

Categories: Athlete · Getting Started · Inspiration · New Runner · Overweight Runner · Plus Sized Triathlete · Uncategorized
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Scratching the Triathlon Itch

April 12, 2010 · 9 Comments

I was at the Chicago Cubs home opener today at Wrigley Field when a friend of mine starting giving me shit.  Ed, who is a lovely, funny, and very smart man, told me that I really had quite a different view of “leisurely” activities than he does.  I had mentioned that the upcoming 57 mile ride at Little Red would be pretty easy – all things considered – as there was only one really brutal climb, at Mile 54.  Ed pointed out that “easy” was sitting in a green seat at The Friendly Confines, not pedaling through the mountains of Utah.  And I had to agree.

But, if you’ve been struck by a desire to challenge yourself – or, to simply stay active – setting goals and trying to knock them down becomes a bit addicting.  I know, because I can’t go through a Spring season without signing up for new races, and trying to plan my summer around trying just. one. more. race.

If you’ve been bitten by THAT bug, you may be one of the ten people who’s asked me in the past few weeks how to get started in triathlons.  Perhaps I’m overstating the case, but all of the sudden, it feels like EVERYONE has found out about my favorite, secret sport.

And what’s not to love?  Triathlon is a great starter sport.  Aside from the mastering of three disciplines, and the sometimes overcomplicated lists of gear, if you can swim, bike, and run, this is a sport for you. 

But say, for argument’s sake, that you’re new to triathlon, and want to train.  Where should you get started? Do you need a training group if you’re only doing a sprint? Can you train and work – or even, travel – at the same time?  And what about the gear? 

In the next few posts, we’ll talk about some of the unique issues surrounding triathlon, but for today, I just want to share some online and print resources to help you understand the training approach, and how you might begin to accomplish a goal of completing your first tri.

Training Schedules and Guidance

When I first started doing triathlons in 1999, I pulled down a free, easy schedule from www.trinewbies.com . (at the time, it could fit in a single graph. It’s safe to say things have gotten a bit more detailed since then.)    I think I used an 8 or 10 week schedule, which called for morning and evening workouts of less than 45 minutes each.  I stuck to it, but not too close…and it got me through my first race. 

Today, there are a variety of programs out there, including free guidance at www.beginnertriathlete.com (Sprint programs here).

If you want a more detailed read, combined with a training schedule, and some advice on how to avoid purchasing too much gear, check out Joel Friel’s book, “Your First Triathlon”.  For less than the cost of dinner at your favorite restaurant, you’ll have a good guide to help navigate your new sport.

Do you travel for work?  Find it hard to work in a workout?  Looking for some additional detail about how to cross train (this is you, my running friends).  If so, I’d highly recommend “Triathlon Training in Four Hours a Week”.  Sure, more than four hours will give you a better time, but if you’re working within some constraints (um, children?) this is a good book which will give you a ton of knowledge about core exercises and training, while letting you pick and choose from what you need.

Next up: finding a local training group – what to look for, and how to make the most of your training experience. 

Until then, read up, and take a look at that summer schedule. I’ll just bet there’s a race with your name on it.

Categories: Athlete · Getting Started · Inspiration · Plus Sized Triathlete · Triathlon Training
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Acting As If

April 6, 2010 · 2 Comments

There is a wonderful country song called “As If” about this woman who’s just running around in a relationship, not daring to look ahead or behind.

Sara Evans talks about taking all that standard relationship drama (his bad clothes, her need for talks ) as all good – that she’s going to act as if “this blue sky’s never gonna rain down on me”…and it got me thinking: how many of us hesitate to be more active because we just KNOW there’s something bad round the corner- an injury, a feeling that we aren’t going to make it anyway so why try, etc.

My friend an I used to have a name for this little bug which gets inside our head and keeps us from doing the things we really want to do (find that new job, ask that guy or girl out, move somewhere new). We called it the FOF Bug. It’s like a virus, named for that thing some of us know well: Fear of Failure.

Maybe you’ve met FOF. Maybe you ‘ve overcome his side effects (that voice telling you not to sign up for you first 5k, or to just skip that upcoming triathlon, or to simply forget about trying to ride a bike again at the age of 40!).  Maybe you’ve found that FOF is like any other virus – he can knock you down,  but you get up again, once you’ve gathered your strength and gotten things together.

Buy if you haven’t overcome that bug, I’d encourage you to take Ms. Sara Evans to heart – and act As If. Act As If you will finish that first swim. Act As If you will learn to play tennis when you haven’t ever tried. Act As If you can become a more active person, an athlete, and I promise you, after just a little time, you’ll find that’s exactly what you are.

Categories: Inspiration
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Spring Training (Or: Why You Want to Run a Marathon, Today)

March 13, 2010 · 8 Comments

I often start these posts talking about the weather.  Today is no exception.  This morning, I donned a rain jacket, capris, and a single, lovely, long-sleeved tech shirt for a nordic trek with a friend.  It was a crisp 40 degrees in Chicago, and the clouds never parted.  We got spit on, my shoes got wet, and two hours after the walk, my quads were still cool with the wet cold of a rainy morning. 

And I loved it.

Why? Because spring is here, and there were hundreds of people chugging along the lakefront path here in Chicago this morning, getting ready for their next (or first) big race.  The Chicago Endurance Sports group was out in force, training people for the upcoming 1/2 marathon in Door County.  The Chicago Area Runners Association groups were out, too, rumbling along on the path, prepping for their spring races.  And there were lots of couples out today – channeling the slightly frightened look of people who haven’t run outside all winter, and who just realized that the Shamrock Shuffle (an 8k with a whopping 40,000 registrants) is taking place next weekend, and that they maybe, just maybe, should get outside and try a few laps.

In short, it was exuberant, wet, sloppy fun today on the path, and just like when the pitchers and catchers report for spring training, there was a feeling in the air.   You can see it in the looks on the people you pass on days like today – a short nod, and an acknowledgement, that yes, the weather’s not perfect, but “LOOK AT ME! I’m out here! I”m running like a fool in the rain and AINT IT GRAND???” 

Of course, there’s some misery, too.   There was one poor girl in shorts (wind, honey, it will kill you on days like today), her legs red and raw.  And there were some hot, hot men out there, overdressed in thermal tights with rain jackets, winter hats, and gloves (not over 40 degrees, folks!)  But mostly, everyone looked determined, and excited.  Like they knew what was coming.

So what was I doing today?  Simple. I was catching up with a friend I hadn’t seen in forever.  She joined me for a nice, hour + walk, dodging puddles and catching up.  We talked about the blossoming success of her new small business; the difficulty in getting yourself motivated to get out there when things are tough; and the people we had in common.  Oh, and dating.  The best part about walking or running with a friend is a roundup of your favorite dating activity (at least if you’re a girl) and at the end of our walk, we had some laugh-out-loud moments about what it takes to find a good guy – and how we might tackle that topic next weekend.

I’d imagine that things look somewhat different at the Cubs Spring Training camp in Mesa, but what do I know?  Maybe the pitchers spend all their time talking about hangnails and hammy pulls, and the catchers just talk about what they did with their knees in the offseason.  But I’d bet they also have that little kid excitement that we have when the weather turns – that sense that it’s spring, and anything can happen if we just set our minds to it.

I know that’s how I’ve been feeling lately, and today just confirmed it for me.  So, given that optimism, it’s a good time to share my events calendar for the year with you.  Sometimes, people wonder if I just talk a lot about running and walking and all these other sports – but alas, I’m the real deal – and this spring, I’ve set my sights on some great events to keep me motivated. 

As some of you may know, last year I developed a lovely case of “athletic pubalgia” – aka – sports hernia, among other things – after the Rock n’ Roll 1/2 marathon in Arizona in January.  I ran for awhile afterwards, thinking it would resolve on its own, and it didn’t. Shocking.  I turned to triathlon training late last year, and only in August, when I really couldn’t run without pain, did I finally give in and see the doc.  Since then, I’ve been (gasp) running-free.  I’ve done some PT, I’ve walked, I’ve snowshoed, swam, nordic walked, and done lots of core strengthening, but even now, I’m nursing a nagging injury to my left foot, and am going to take care of that before I start to run again.  In the meantime, I’ve booked a few things to keep me going. 

If you’re looking for an event, or are planning to do any of the events listed below, drop me a line! I’d love to meet up and see you in person!

Pirate’s Cove Trail Run (8k) –  March 20.  Golden Gate National Recreation Area, near San Francisco, CA.  March 20.  I’ll be hiking this 8k with my friend and her husband!  It’s my excuse to get to San Fran to do some exploring, and the course looks beautiful!

Door County Half Marathon & 5k  May 1.  (No, I’m not running the 1/2 marathon, just going to cheer, and to run/walk the 5k).  I’ll also be taking my bike and exploring the park on two wheels.  This will be my first run in 9 months, so I’m looking forward to it!

Little Red Riding Hood Ride – June 5.  Cache Valley, Utah.  One of my favorite readers, and a fine writer and inspirer to boot, Diane (www.downhourtraining.blogspot.com) who’s an avid cyclist, told me about this ride.  She’s an organizer extraoridinaire and sang its praises, and who was I to judge?  The ride is non-competitive, takes place in Cache Valley in Utah, and it’s a women’s only, fully supported ride of a distance of your choosing (18, 35, 57, 80 and 100 mile options).  I’ll be riding with 3,000 other women in a gorgeous area, with “rollers” – no big climbs – to raise money for women’s cancer research.  And I’ll be completing my longest ride in about 4 years, which has me pretty excited.  I’m aiming for the 57 mile ride (I couldn’t do the 85 right now, I just know it) and my good friend Karen has committed to joining me for at least 30 miles.  Considering she last rode long on the hills of Italy, I’m prepared to get my butt kicked, but it should be good times.   I’m also looking forward to being part of such an amazing event in Utah, a state I’ve never spent any time in.  Look out, Utes!

Lifetime Fitness Triathlon - July 10 (TENTATIVE) – Minneapolis, MN.  This is a legacy race for me, and this year I’m considering adding it as my “A” triathlon (Olympic distance).  I’ll be one month removed from great bike shape, so this might be the perfect year for me.  I’m holding off on registration for one more month, but I love this course, so, worst-case scenario, I’ll be here, doing the Sprint. Best case: it will be the Olympic I didn’t get to do last year.  Lifetime’s also offering a Clydesdale/Athena category for the Olympic, so there’s a great chance to be compared against your peers!

The North Face Endurance Challenge, 10k Trail Run - September 18 – Kettle Moraine S.P., Wisconsin.  I watched my friend Jenny Hadfield run the Ultramarathon here last year, (though it was a month later) and I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the day and the cameraderie of the racers.  Sure, she made running over 30 miles look easy, but I was inspired, and I said to myself “next year, you’re doing this.”  “This” is “just” the 10k, which is a distance I think I’ll be pretty good at, come September.  The race last year was a great event, and I’m putting it on my calendar as my first-ever “real” trail run. 

Other than that, I’m not quite sure what’s on deck – but it’s a good start, right?

So, take a look at that schedule – and think about what you might want to do for yourself this spring – and summer.  Pick out a race for yourself, and make some goals.  Don’t be afraid to go all pitcher-catcher, and report for Spring. I  promise it will help keep you focused, and you’ll have a better 2010.

See you on the path!

Categories: Getting Started · Inspiration · New Runner · Overweight Runner · Plus Sized Triathlete · Triathlon Training
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Flying the Solo Flag – With a Few Caveats

February 18, 2010 · Leave a Comment

In the past seven days, I’ve done some solo nordic walking…and some winter hiking with a friend.  I’ve done yoga in my house (solo) and some serious core training (again, solo, in front of my TV).  Normally, I don’t think twice about whether being active is easier alone – or with peeps – but this weekend, I started thinking about it a bit more.

See, I had the awesome opportunity to be on the ChicagoNow Radio show on WGN 720 (AM) here in Chicago.  The show highlights some of the blogs that are operating on Chicago Now and as a new poster there, I had the chance to sit down with host Bill Leff (who is, frankly, AWESOME) and to chat about the unique issues that Plus sized athletes face.  (If you’re dying to hear our conversation, grab a seat and listen in – it was 30 minutes of fun for me, but maybe that’s just me..)

Anyway, Bill was an excellent host, and had prepared a variety of questions, one of which focused on the kinds of sports I tend to play – and what I really enjoy doing as a plus sized athlete.  He noted that a lot of what I do, I do solo – and wondered if there was a reason for that.

It got me thinking: why DO I spend so much of my time in solo pursuits?  And, DO I really focus on the solos? 

My response to him was that maybe, as I’ve gotten older, like many of you, I’ve shied away from rough and tumble team sports (also, because I am a certified Klutz with a capital K, I am avoiding injury that way).  I don’t play Floor Hockey, or Softball, or even much pickup football anymore, in part because I’m not sure I could NOT get injured.  But realistically, it’s about more than that – I also don’t want to hold the team back.  I don’t think, right now, I could run two lengths of a high-school gym floor to play floor hockey at the level I’d like to.  So what does that say about us, the Plus Athletes and Runners out there?  Are we limited to just solo sports?

My answer is no.  I think that there are certain sports you can play or cross-training you can engage in that are not purely solitary pursuits.  God knows we’ve seen enough big men play softball over the years, that I don’t think there’s a weight limit on the average 16″ team in Chicago.  But realistically, if you can’t run quickly are you going to sign up? Probably not.  What about football?  We frequently see the offensive line filled with big guys, but can you go out and play on a Sunday in your average pickup game?  Yeah, I think you probably can – you just need to have enough awareness to know it’s going to hurt a bit the next day, and that long routes may not be for you…

And what about sports like soccer and floor hockey?  Is there a place for bigger athletes? Yes, I think there is.  I played both floor hockey and soccer at 200 pounds and over, and though I wasn’t the fastest member of my team, I DID have great field sense, solid technical skills, and I knew how to play the game – which could not always be said for my thinner compatriots.

The other bit of info that I have to consider here is that even though I take part in a lot of solo sports – kayaking, hiking, running, cycling, triathlon – I do most of those activities with others.  More than many, many, women, I’ve learned to also enjoy my own company over the years, and I don’t wait for someone to tell me that they want me to go out and do any of these things, so yes, I also do them solo.  But I’ve been lucky enough to surround myself with good friends who also like to be active – and when I need a buddy to partake in any of the “solo endeavors” as company, I can usually find one.

So perhaps that’s my real answer to Bill, and to those of you who wonder if you’re destined for a life of solo sporting.  Look around and examine your group of friends, and then look in the mirror.  Do you enjoy your own company enough to jump on a bike and ride for 20 miles?  Or are you always going to be looking for a group?  If so, find a group that works for you, in your community – or better yet, start your own.  Whatever your personality – solo or team – until you really start looking for an answer that fits your life, you’ll probably not move nearly as much as you’d like.

So go on, get moving :)

See you on the path!

Categories: Getting Started · Inspiration · New Runner · Overweight Runner · Plus Sized Triathlete
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