How in the world is Steve Jobs related to a blog about triathlon? Easy, without the invention of his Ipod I would probably have not been able to accomplish all that I have as a triathlete. Last winter, when I was training for my first half ironman, I never would have gotten through those rotten workouts on my bike trainer. Talk about boring; spinning indoors, looking at the television occasionally and spending literally hours on a trainer is not my idea of fun, but with the help of a little device called an Ipod, indoor spinning has become something I look forward to. I even recently took a course to certify myself as an indoor cycling instructor. With the use of upbeat music, I can pretend I am riding hills and flats in the great outdoors, even when the weather is crummy! Thanks to the Black Eyed Peas and Eminem, I was able to train on my bike during a very brutal Pennsylvania winter.
But biking is one component of triathlon. Running is also a very important part of the three sports. I can't tell you how many times I've reached for my Ipod before donning my running shoes. I love running with other people, but for me it doesn't happen frequently. Finding someone that is at your pace, schedules and convenience are all factors that play in. Sometimes I fit in a quick run during my kids soccer and lacrosse practices, sometimes it is early in the morning, sometimes I run at lunchtime. Mostly it is around my families busy schedule so ... Lady Gaga, Madonna, Maroon Five, Christina Aguilera, Usher, to name a few artists, become my running buddies with the simple push of a play button. There are no phone calls, emails, or texts to make just a simple device that I strap around my arm and off I go with music that has a great beat and gives me energy to get my run done.That little device has been a buddy from day one.
I remember when I first started running; too many years to calculate and too embarrassing, but to give you an idea of how far devices have come, I remember days gone by when I was sporting a Sony Walkman about the size of a small book. Later, I was seen running with a huge set of earphones on my head. I hated carrying such a heavy thing as the Sony Walkman and I could never quite get those huge headphones right. I would start out my run in the old days with those devices, only to loop back home to drop them off because they were so cumbersome and drove me crazy during an activity that I was so fond of.
One of the challenges I face as a triathlete is the fact that USAT santioned races do not allow any devices such as an Ipod. So while I can get my groove on during training runs and cycles, during race time I cannot don my Ipod. I wish that USAT would change this rule because by the time the run happens in triathlon you've already swum and biked. You can imagine the mental anguish of having to run after all of that and without music.
I was able to sneak my Ipod at a smaller event in Pennsylvania called the Anthracite Triathlon. The officials were not looking as closely as they might at other events. Thanks to the smallness of my Ipod ,I was able to conceal my Ipod in places I'll leave to the imagination. This was my first Olympic Distance triathlon, sporting many hills in the mountains of Jim Thorpe. I knew I was going to need a boost for the run. I risked disqualification by using my Ipod, but in the end I did not get caught and was able to place 3rd in my division.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine swears that there is a device that she uses so she can use her underwater Ipod to get through her swims. I admit I haven't tried that yet because even with all the new technology I'm still from the old school that you just don't get electronics wet ,but hey I didn't believe that you could touch a screen and get it to work.
More importantly than the Ipod, I am thankful for such a visionary as Steve Jobs. He lived his life by what he believed and I love his mantra that you shouldn't listen to the negative talk out there." Find what you love to do and stick with it. Keep looking and don't settle," is a quote from his now famous speech to the 2005 Stanford graduating class. He faced many hard times in his life and yet he never gave up. In his work and even with his health issues he was a fighter.
One of the reasons for writing this blog is because of my love of triathlon. I too have faced adversity in my life and have had people who did not believe in my efforts in work and in triathlon, so the fact that a man like Steve Jobs who never even graduated college can succeed because of hard work and determination, gives me hope and inspiration.
"Stay hungry and stay foolish," was how Jobs ended his speech to the Stanford grads. Don't give up on your dreams because they are a possibility.
Tri- On,
Kelly
Showing posts with label Triathlon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Triathlon. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wilmington YMCA Sprint Triathlon and Living in the Moment
This past weekend I had the pleasure of racing in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Wilmington Sprint is a Set-Up Event that is one the last triathlons in the North Carolina Series. This is a fun event because it is a little longer than a normal sprint as the swim is 1500 meters. The swim seems less than 1500 meters because it's done in the channel and there are usually currents to help swimmers have faster swim times. The bike is a fast twelve miles out and back and the run is fast 5k that's done in a loop around the park and into a local neighborhood.
Not only do you have a 1500 meter swim in what feels like the,"ocean," but there were 1400 participants which makes this event seem like one of the bigger triathlons. Spectators lined the streets as we came out of the swim and again on the run, and anyone doing one of these events will understand the importance of a "stranger," cheering you on; it really does help.
More meaningful than good spectators was the fact that I was going down not only to compete myself, but also to cheer on some college kids from NC State University whom I have the privilege of helping coach. A long term goal of mine has been to somehow give back to a sport that has given me so much over the years. When I named this blog it really rings true that my life is intertwined with triathlon. I have been able to help coach the NC State Triathlon Team for just a few short weeks, but I can't express how grateful I am to be associated with such a great group of people. I mainly help them with the swimming aspect of triathlon but they have helped me in more ways than they know.
The club officers were thrilled with my offer to help with the swimming. They didn't really have a set practice or a structured practice so that was something that I could help with right off the bat. The appreciation and thankfulness they have shown me for showing up once a week to help out has been a dream come true. Teaching and helping other triathletes attain their goals couldn't be more satisfying. They are a very organized group of young men and women, most working on graduate studies. Most of these students have a full school and work load, and yet they are also incorporating training and racing into their busy schedules. These kids are living proof that you can stick to a regular exercise program. I love the dedication this club has.
The other great part of the day was the fact that when we finished we were at the beach. Wilmington is a great beach town and Wrightsville Beach has lots of great restaurants and shopping as well as a beautiful beach. After the race my friends and I were able to relax and have some great food at a restaurant called Tower 7 that offers fresh,"baja," style Mexican cuisine. A stroll on the beach ended our afternoon and even though the weather was a bit cool and overcast, life was still good.
A very powerful thought entered my head during the swim this past weekend... the channel was a bit rough which caused me to ingest salt water, my eyes were burning from a goggle malfunction, but I was reminded of how thankful I was to be there in the moment swimming and feeling more alive than ever.
Tri- On Friends,
Kelly
Not only do you have a 1500 meter swim in what feels like the,"ocean," but there were 1400 participants which makes this event seem like one of the bigger triathlons. Spectators lined the streets as we came out of the swim and again on the run, and anyone doing one of these events will understand the importance of a "stranger," cheering you on; it really does help.
More meaningful than good spectators was the fact that I was going down not only to compete myself, but also to cheer on some college kids from NC State University whom I have the privilege of helping coach. A long term goal of mine has been to somehow give back to a sport that has given me so much over the years. When I named this blog it really rings true that my life is intertwined with triathlon. I have been able to help coach the NC State Triathlon Team for just a few short weeks, but I can't express how grateful I am to be associated with such a great group of people. I mainly help them with the swimming aspect of triathlon but they have helped me in more ways than they know.
The club officers were thrilled with my offer to help with the swimming. They didn't really have a set practice or a structured practice so that was something that I could help with right off the bat. The appreciation and thankfulness they have shown me for showing up once a week to help out has been a dream come true. Teaching and helping other triathletes attain their goals couldn't be more satisfying. They are a very organized group of young men and women, most working on graduate studies. Most of these students have a full school and work load, and yet they are also incorporating training and racing into their busy schedules. These kids are living proof that you can stick to a regular exercise program. I love the dedication this club has.
The other great part of the day was the fact that when we finished we were at the beach. Wilmington is a great beach town and Wrightsville Beach has lots of great restaurants and shopping as well as a beautiful beach. After the race my friends and I were able to relax and have some great food at a restaurant called Tower 7 that offers fresh,"baja," style Mexican cuisine. A stroll on the beach ended our afternoon and even though the weather was a bit cool and overcast, life was still good.
A very powerful thought entered my head during the swim this past weekend... the channel was a bit rough which caused me to ingest salt water, my eyes were burning from a goggle malfunction, but I was reminded of how thankful I was to be there in the moment swimming and feeling more alive than ever.
Tri- On Friends,
Kelly
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tri- Happiness
Happiness: as defined by Wikipedia; a mental state of well being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.
Gratitude: as defined by Wikipedia; the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful, appreciation is a positive emotion in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received.
Admittedly, I have not felt either of those emotions in the last week or so. After losing my aunt to cancer and then two days later finding that an old employer and friend passed away from a health complication, my happiness level has been challenged, along with a feeling of what do I possibly have any gratitude towards right now? My husband has taken a new job, which will lead us out of Pennsylvania, and he is gone now most weeks leaving me the challenging task of caring for two boys and selling our home. I'm not complaining, just simply stating what's going on.
But life is full of peaks and valleys, highs and lows. As usual, I have turned to running, swimming, and biking these past few days to figure out a way to feel these emotions of gratitude and happiness. Ironically, my book club is reading, The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin this month, and for me the book couldn't have come at a better time.
I feel a strong connection with the book. Gretchen Rubin has a family, she is writer and an avid reader. I feel as though I could go out and have a cup of coffee with her, as we have similar likes and dislikes and a commonality in the fact that, I too write, love to read, have two children and a husband. In her book she spends a year trying to make her life more meaningful. She tries to figure out what makes her life happier. In the process, she realizes that is isn't necessarily big things or big changes that make her happy but mostly being true to herself; tuning into what she likes to do and accepting what she can and cannot do. She calls it, "Being Gretchen," and I have found that to ring true for myself.
I can relate to The Happiness Project because like Gretchen searching for happiness, I too am searching for meaning in life each day. Rubin found happiness through organizing, writing a blog (sound familiar?), having more free time, taking life less seriously, trying to live more in the "moment," and by pursuing a passion. I know triathlon makes me happy because I can do good for others by earning money for causes. I can also feel a sense of accomplishment for the distances I've travelled, and the work that went into training before an event. Through triathlon, I can get a sense of the meaning of life, or at least the meaning of my life. In a sense, we all have our own happiness project.
Yet still, a sense of sadness had come over me the last few days. Grieving is a strange process. According to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross there are five stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance. I think I've gone through all of those stages and was comforted to know that I was normal in feeling these emotions. Death is just as much a part of life as trying to figure out what our own personal meaning is.
Rubin also wrote about gratitude in her book. I've definitely been looking for more of that, and as I read on, I learned that she too had gone through some difficult times. She decided that it was important to write each day about what she was grateful for, even during "down" times. I've blogged about gratitude before and the importance, but will admit that I might not practice in this ritual each day. I decided to pull myself out of my "slump" and practice what Rubin describes in her book as a gratitude list.
So here goes: I am thankful for being able to do triathlons (come on you knew that), I am thankful for the opportunity for a great company called HydroWorx to sponsor my efforts as a triathlete, I am glad that my aunt passed away at home with her family near, I am thankful for two great boys and a great husband. I have great friends, family, and colleagues. I have my health. I have everything I need. I am thankful to be able to write as an outlet and also as a way to communicate my gratitude.
Looking at my list, I felt a sense of happiness. Acceptance had set in, the last phase of my grieving process. It's time to focus on my upcoming event at the end of May. While my training has been consistent, I could probably use some ramping up with a little more than a month away from my first tri. So, like Gretchen Rubin made a list of her goals, I too decided to write down more of my training goals, and in doing so felt happy.
This blog is about what I'm going through in triathlon, but it is also about what is happening in life.Triathlon happens to be my Happiness Project, but I hope to have at least made you think about what your own happiness project is or could be.
Happy Training,
Kelly
Gratitude: as defined by Wikipedia; the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful, appreciation is a positive emotion in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received.
Admittedly, I have not felt either of those emotions in the last week or so. After losing my aunt to cancer and then two days later finding that an old employer and friend passed away from a health complication, my happiness level has been challenged, along with a feeling of what do I possibly have any gratitude towards right now? My husband has taken a new job, which will lead us out of Pennsylvania, and he is gone now most weeks leaving me the challenging task of caring for two boys and selling our home. I'm not complaining, just simply stating what's going on.
But life is full of peaks and valleys, highs and lows. As usual, I have turned to running, swimming, and biking these past few days to figure out a way to feel these emotions of gratitude and happiness. Ironically, my book club is reading, The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin this month, and for me the book couldn't have come at a better time.
I feel a strong connection with the book. Gretchen Rubin has a family, she is writer and an avid reader. I feel as though I could go out and have a cup of coffee with her, as we have similar likes and dislikes and a commonality in the fact that, I too write, love to read, have two children and a husband. In her book she spends a year trying to make her life more meaningful. She tries to figure out what makes her life happier. In the process, she realizes that is isn't necessarily big things or big changes that make her happy but mostly being true to herself; tuning into what she likes to do and accepting what she can and cannot do. She calls it, "Being Gretchen," and I have found that to ring true for myself.
I can relate to The Happiness Project because like Gretchen searching for happiness, I too am searching for meaning in life each day. Rubin found happiness through organizing, writing a blog (sound familiar?), having more free time, taking life less seriously, trying to live more in the "moment," and by pursuing a passion. I know triathlon makes me happy because I can do good for others by earning money for causes. I can also feel a sense of accomplishment for the distances I've travelled, and the work that went into training before an event. Through triathlon, I can get a sense of the meaning of life, or at least the meaning of my life. In a sense, we all have our own happiness project.
Yet still, a sense of sadness had come over me the last few days. Grieving is a strange process. According to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross there are five stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance. I think I've gone through all of those stages and was comforted to know that I was normal in feeling these emotions. Death is just as much a part of life as trying to figure out what our own personal meaning is.
Rubin also wrote about gratitude in her book. I've definitely been looking for more of that, and as I read on, I learned that she too had gone through some difficult times. She decided that it was important to write each day about what she was grateful for, even during "down" times. I've blogged about gratitude before and the importance, but will admit that I might not practice in this ritual each day. I decided to pull myself out of my "slump" and practice what Rubin describes in her book as a gratitude list.
So here goes: I am thankful for being able to do triathlons (come on you knew that), I am thankful for the opportunity for a great company called HydroWorx to sponsor my efforts as a triathlete, I am glad that my aunt passed away at home with her family near, I am thankful for two great boys and a great husband. I have great friends, family, and colleagues. I have my health. I have everything I need. I am thankful to be able to write as an outlet and also as a way to communicate my gratitude.
Looking at my list, I felt a sense of happiness. Acceptance had set in, the last phase of my grieving process. It's time to focus on my upcoming event at the end of May. While my training has been consistent, I could probably use some ramping up with a little more than a month away from my first tri. So, like Gretchen Rubin made a list of her goals, I too decided to write down more of my training goals, and in doing so felt happy.
This blog is about what I'm going through in triathlon, but it is also about what is happening in life.Triathlon happens to be my Happiness Project, but I hope to have at least made you think about what your own happiness project is or could be.
Happy Training,
Kelly
Monday, February 14, 2011
To Group Or Not To Group
I decided to ask some of my audience to write in and ask questions about what interested them about fitness or triathlon. The question of the week is this: Is is better to exercise with a club or alone? I can certainly give my opinion on the subject but I thought it would be interesting to see what some other fitness enthusiasts thought as well.
This entry is about the pros and cons of group exercise. We are lucky because there are more options available for exercise than ever. My friend, Karen Francis Jones, who I've known for over twenty years (that's scary) wanted to know my opinion on exercise clubs and the pros and cons. She is an exercise enthusiast herself who shared some of her opinions on a class she does.
Karen participates in "Boot Camp" in the fall and spring months in her hometown of Rivervale, NJ. Boot Camp consists of showing up at 5:30 am (in the dark) at a local high school track. They use the field made of turf as well. The class is different each day which she likes because it keeps it "fresh." They do things like push-ups, sit-ups, weights, squats, sprints etc. The class has a very young and funny coach who gets them pumped and ready to start their day; sounds like a lot of positives so far. The coach also does an assessment on all of the participants at the beginning and then at the end of the session to see how each person has progressed. Each person gets timed in the mile and doing sit ups and push ups. Karen loves it because she has seen her own improvement. Instant feedback is such a good thing when it comes to fitness; can you say a positive?
The negatives of "Boot Camp"( although you know I'm going to say none) are that she doesn't always want to get up so early in the morning and that sometimes some of the exercises hurt her knees. Okay so suck up the early morning thing, no one likes that, but my advice on the things that hurt; don't do it. Listen to your body and do the things that you can do, it still counts.
Karen said that sometimes she gets frustrated with the exercises that she is unable to do and that frustration makes her want to quit. I say again , focus on the exercise you can do and forget the rest. You want to do things that you enjoy; that is the only way you will stick with it. If you are miserable and your knees hurt, you aren't going to go back. Do some extra push-ups or sit-ups if the squats hurt.Your coach will not mind, especially if you let her/him know.
I take a spin class every once in a while at the YMCA. I love the class, the camaraderie from the other participants and the music really rocks. The instructor is funny and I love to hear about her kids and what is going on with her. The one thing that I hate about her class is the,"climbs." These are done standing up on the spin bike for long segments. These hurt my knees so I opt to sit in the saddle and crank it up a notch(increase my cadence) instead of standing. I've told the entire class that I'm not going to do that part. I'm still in class and doing something, just not the thing that hurts my knees. The instructor, named Angie, always says,"Kelly you know what you are doing." There are no worries and I don't feel the least bit funny doing it that way now.
Karen is interested in joining a running group but has some hesitations. She is worried that she may not be able to find someone who is at her pace ; a totally common fear. Karen said that a lot of runners she has come in contact with have already formed their running "cliche" and she worries that she might not fit in. Again, I think a common worry but also a misconception. Of course there are always crummy people out there no matter what you are doing. But there are always people in the same boat that would be willing to welcome in newcomers. My advice here is to give it try. It may take more than one club until you meet the right people, with the right pace, and the right attitude. When you think about it, everything in life is like that.
My experience with running clubs has been positive. I don't usually work out with groups because of time constraints but a few years ago, when I was training for my first half marathon, I worked out with a running group at the YMCA on Saturday mornings. I thought the exact same thing as Mrs. Jones. I didn't want to get stuck with some die hard runner that I couldn't keep up with. The Saturday group provided me with some of the best runners that were paced just like me. It took me a few times going to figure out who I liked running with but after that it was great. The group also had smaller groups within the large group who did different distances. I loved this because usually on Saturday I needed to do a long run for my training, and I could always find someone to run with. I prefer to run with someone for the longs runs over six miles because, lets face it, after an hour of running it can get really boring.
My good friend, Shellie Sierra-Gruber, shared some interesting thoughts about her first triathlon group. Shellie is an age group triathlete( I like to take a little credit for the fact that she is a triathlete because I recruited her ten years ago). She wanted group exercise to help her with her triathlon training. Initially she did not find people that she could regularly swim,bike, and run with. But what she did find was a,"community of support, healthy competition, and friendships. " She feels those ingredients helped her grow as an athlete and a person. Humm, sounds like a positive to me.
Eventually, Shellie did find people in her group to train with and those people are able to "push" her further and "pull" her back if she is overdoing it or facing an injury. The triathlon group she is with now organizes group runs, swims and bikes. They communicate via email and she is always able to find someone to work out with now. Shellie has developed many meaningful relationships from working out with a group. "When you're out in the woods for long periods of time, things come out." The tri group also gets together for social gatherings where they'll go out to dinner or do non-exercise things which also helps to promote cohesion in the group. The club also provides nutrition information, bike maintenance, and training programs. Sounds like another positive to me!
Anson Flake, a friend and CEO of HydroWorx in Middletown, PA also likes to group spin. His real love however, is running on the underwater treadmill, solo, around three or four days per week. His knees won't take the pounding of the pavement and while he is alone he can listen to music or watch videos and get a great workout. In regards to exercise Anson said,"It's all good, but I do prefer a workout in the HydroWorx pool."
One more comment I have about group working out is that I think it is safer. I like to cycle on some remote, country roads, and have had some wild and scary experiences out there alone. While it takes some coordinating, I would recommend going cycling with at least another person in case you break down or get chased by dogs. The world is such a wonderful place, but there are some weirdos out there too, so riding with a buddy is always a good idea. I feel the same way about running. Sometimes I like to go on trails in the woods, so it is always better to bring a friend if not an entire group.
I think the bottom line here is that there are many benefits of group exercise. There are pros and cons to everything we do in life. Finding your group or maybe just a work-out buddy might take a little time but slowly and surely you'll find your niche and who knows what new goals you'll reach!
Tri-On, Boot Camp on, Walk-On, or Zumba on Friends!
Bottom Line; find something you love and get moving.
Kelly
This entry is about the pros and cons of group exercise. We are lucky because there are more options available for exercise than ever. My friend, Karen Francis Jones, who I've known for over twenty years (that's scary) wanted to know my opinion on exercise clubs and the pros and cons. She is an exercise enthusiast herself who shared some of her opinions on a class she does.
Karen participates in "Boot Camp" in the fall and spring months in her hometown of Rivervale, NJ. Boot Camp consists of showing up at 5:30 am (in the dark) at a local high school track. They use the field made of turf as well. The class is different each day which she likes because it keeps it "fresh." They do things like push-ups, sit-ups, weights, squats, sprints etc. The class has a very young and funny coach who gets them pumped and ready to start their day; sounds like a lot of positives so far. The coach also does an assessment on all of the participants at the beginning and then at the end of the session to see how each person has progressed. Each person gets timed in the mile and doing sit ups and push ups. Karen loves it because she has seen her own improvement. Instant feedback is such a good thing when it comes to fitness; can you say a positive?
The negatives of "Boot Camp"( although you know I'm going to say none) are that she doesn't always want to get up so early in the morning and that sometimes some of the exercises hurt her knees. Okay so suck up the early morning thing, no one likes that, but my advice on the things that hurt; don't do it. Listen to your body and do the things that you can do, it still counts.
Karen said that sometimes she gets frustrated with the exercises that she is unable to do and that frustration makes her want to quit. I say again , focus on the exercise you can do and forget the rest. You want to do things that you enjoy; that is the only way you will stick with it. If you are miserable and your knees hurt, you aren't going to go back. Do some extra push-ups or sit-ups if the squats hurt.Your coach will not mind, especially if you let her/him know.
I take a spin class every once in a while at the YMCA. I love the class, the camaraderie from the other participants and the music really rocks. The instructor is funny and I love to hear about her kids and what is going on with her. The one thing that I hate about her class is the,"climbs." These are done standing up on the spin bike for long segments. These hurt my knees so I opt to sit in the saddle and crank it up a notch(increase my cadence) instead of standing. I've told the entire class that I'm not going to do that part. I'm still in class and doing something, just not the thing that hurts my knees. The instructor, named Angie, always says,"Kelly you know what you are doing." There are no worries and I don't feel the least bit funny doing it that way now.
Karen is interested in joining a running group but has some hesitations. She is worried that she may not be able to find someone who is at her pace ; a totally common fear. Karen said that a lot of runners she has come in contact with have already formed their running "cliche" and she worries that she might not fit in. Again, I think a common worry but also a misconception. Of course there are always crummy people out there no matter what you are doing. But there are always people in the same boat that would be willing to welcome in newcomers. My advice here is to give it try. It may take more than one club until you meet the right people, with the right pace, and the right attitude. When you think about it, everything in life is like that.
My experience with running clubs has been positive. I don't usually work out with groups because of time constraints but a few years ago, when I was training for my first half marathon, I worked out with a running group at the YMCA on Saturday mornings. I thought the exact same thing as Mrs. Jones. I didn't want to get stuck with some die hard runner that I couldn't keep up with. The Saturday group provided me with some of the best runners that were paced just like me. It took me a few times going to figure out who I liked running with but after that it was great. The group also had smaller groups within the large group who did different distances. I loved this because usually on Saturday I needed to do a long run for my training, and I could always find someone to run with. I prefer to run with someone for the longs runs over six miles because, lets face it, after an hour of running it can get really boring.
My good friend, Shellie Sierra-Gruber, shared some interesting thoughts about her first triathlon group. Shellie is an age group triathlete( I like to take a little credit for the fact that she is a triathlete because I recruited her ten years ago). She wanted group exercise to help her with her triathlon training. Initially she did not find people that she could regularly swim,bike, and run with. But what she did find was a,"community of support, healthy competition, and friendships. " She feels those ingredients helped her grow as an athlete and a person. Humm, sounds like a positive to me.
Eventually, Shellie did find people in her group to train with and those people are able to "push" her further and "pull" her back if she is overdoing it or facing an injury. The triathlon group she is with now organizes group runs, swims and bikes. They communicate via email and she is always able to find someone to work out with now. Shellie has developed many meaningful relationships from working out with a group. "When you're out in the woods for long periods of time, things come out." The tri group also gets together for social gatherings where they'll go out to dinner or do non-exercise things which also helps to promote cohesion in the group. The club also provides nutrition information, bike maintenance, and training programs. Sounds like another positive to me!
Anson Flake, a friend and CEO of HydroWorx in Middletown, PA also likes to group spin. His real love however, is running on the underwater treadmill, solo, around three or four days per week. His knees won't take the pounding of the pavement and while he is alone he can listen to music or watch videos and get a great workout. In regards to exercise Anson said,"It's all good, but I do prefer a workout in the HydroWorx pool."
One more comment I have about group working out is that I think it is safer. I like to cycle on some remote, country roads, and have had some wild and scary experiences out there alone. While it takes some coordinating, I would recommend going cycling with at least another person in case you break down or get chased by dogs. The world is such a wonderful place, but there are some weirdos out there too, so riding with a buddy is always a good idea. I feel the same way about running. Sometimes I like to go on trails in the woods, so it is always better to bring a friend if not an entire group.
I think the bottom line here is that there are many benefits of group exercise. There are pros and cons to everything we do in life. Finding your group or maybe just a work-out buddy might take a little time but slowly and surely you'll find your niche and who knows what new goals you'll reach!
Tri-On, Boot Camp on, Walk-On, or Zumba on Friends!
Bottom Line; find something you love and get moving.
Kelly
Thursday, November 18, 2010
My 70.3 mile Journey From Beach2Battleship
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| Iron Woman |
Only a few days have passed since my first Half Ironman and, although my muscle soreness is diminishing, my thoughts of the day are far from leaving; that beautiful memory will be with me a lifetime. Each time I race I learn something about myself and others and this past Saturday was no exception.
What I am most proud of is not really the distance I was able to cover in 6 hours and 7 minutes( a time I was also proud of), but the fact that I made a goal and was able to achieve it. I don't have a personal trainer or a fancy tri-coach to formulate my workouts and training plans. Mostly I train alone, in between my kids' soccer practices, my husband's busy work schedule and my own part time job. This last six months was no different except that my training program was much more rigorous in order to finish the 70.3.
After crossing the finish line Saturday I realized that I learned how truly grateful I am to be competing in triathlon. As a forty something mother of two boys, I am grateful to be breaking some stereotypes. I can be something other than someone's mom or someone's wife. Christine H.B. Grant, University of Iowa's Director of Athletics said it best, "One of the reasons some people don't support women in sport is that through sport we shatter into a million pieces the stereotypes portraying women as weak, helpless, dependent and passive. Through sport we produce exactly the opposite type of woman: strong, independent, assertive, competent and confident, with strong self- esteem." I continue to break barriers through triathlon.My boys will grow up to be men and I want them to see that women can be strong too. I want them to realize that all I put myself through to get to the finish line isn't that different from what we go through in everyday life. Life, like triathlon, is challenging ,but if we face our fears we can solve anything.
As I was on part of the bike course last Saturday I heard one of the volunteers say, " Hey get ready, there is a man with his blind son coming towards our aid station, we need to be ready for them." I got to see this inspiring man and his son out on the bike course. They were a special team sponsored by PPD who also sponsored the race. The young man, named Garrett Miller, had lost his sight as a result of a brain tumor, and he and his dad Eric, were competing in the Half Iron man together. I heard this father giving his son directions and letting him know where there were bumps and debris in the road. The father was his son's eyes. Witnessing this dynamic duo, I realized that I too would do anything to help my own sons. The two of them were also breaking barriers.
The venue for B2B was amazing and as I made my way through the swim, bike and run, I learned how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful world. Wilmington, North Carolina is truly a beautiful place. The swim in the ocean channel was cold, but friends caught pictures of the dolphins in for a swim with the folks doing the Iron Man before we started. On the bike course, I was surrounded by clear blue skies and the tall pines and a flat course that I was thankful for. The November air was perfect for a long ride. The run through Greenfield Lake Park was shaded and well equipped with aid stations and many spectators cheering. I have never witnessed such a wonderful group of volunteers; they were always right there asking you what you needed.
I always meet exceptional people at triathlon events and at B2B there were two people that I wanted to mention. First,a guy named Doug Turner, who rode the shuttle with me to the first transition area where we started the race. He was doing his first half and we shared many commonalities. He was there with his wife and kids and was feeling just as nervous as I was on race morning. He shared a heartwarming story about his friend who had recently tried to make the iron distance just a few short weeks ago in Kentucky and got overheated and had to come in. This was probably not what I needed to hear on race morning, but the moral of the story was that Doug had stayed with his friend and supported his friend's effort. While he was telling the story it was obvious that this stranger was a good person. That's another reason that brings me back for more; the decency people show towards one another and the sport.
Another exceptional girl I met, named Laura, was my biggest cheerleader during the run. We started out running together but she soon passed me. She asked," Have you been out here all day?" Yes, I told her as we started out for the 13.1 mile run. "That's amazing," she said. I learned that she was a part of a relay team and I shared with her that my friends and I had done a relay last year. She continued to tell me how I was going to make it and how much she respected me for what I was doing. A total stranger encouraging me to make it to the end, another example of human kindness in a world where sometimes we forget those things still exist.
Many times, during the six hours on the course, I got choked up. I fought back tears and emotion for the people I love who are not able to do the things they love. I thought of a teacher I am substituting for who is fighting cancer, my step mom who is unable to swim anymore because of her disease, and my aunt battling cancer. I fought back tears of pride that I was outside feeling the elements and the pain of the day. I was tearful at the finish line and so happy to see my friends and family, who I am truly thankful for.
Hug your kids, kiss your significant other, tell everyone who is important to you how much they mean to you. Appreciate the earth and all that it has to offer and remember that human beings are capable of kindness and strength. These are the things that I was reminded of during my 70.3 mile journey, last Saturday, from Wrightsville Beach to the US. North Carolina Battleship.
Tri-on!
Kelly, Your Iron Woman :)
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