Spring is finally here and with the change in weather I've seen many people out enjoying the warmer temperatures. I have about a month now before my first triathlon of the season, and I'm "gearing up," for my event. Training is part of my "gearing," but I need some new gear,( namely running shoes), in the literal sense. This blog covers the importance of good running shoes, but also how to figure out what type you need. The market is flooded with different brands that offer a variety of promises, so where do you start?
I've never been a gadget person. I don't believe in over-spending on gear or anything else for that matter. I am a " bargain shopper," by nature. My thought is why spend more when you don't have to? Also, my philosophy is gear will only get you so far. Training is more important to get you to the finish line. You can have fancy heart rate monitors, fancy bike equipment, expensive tri-suits etc., but it won't guarantee that you finish a race. Believe me, as a triathlete, you do need gear, but you don't have to take out another mortgage to have what's needed. I have been wearing the same bike shoes for about nine years now, but that is a another story.
I do believe in the importance of good running shoes for triathlon or running races. There is an exception to this; when I'm running on the HydroWorx treadmill, their treadmill is under water, so shoes are an option. Most of the employees there use a basic water shoe or AQX water shoes, I like bare feet.
There are so many brands, where do you begin? I call this the footprint test. Find a brown paper bag or butcher paper and spread it out. Next, wet the bottoms of your feet and make a print of your foot on the paper bag. This also works well if you have access to a pool because you could do it on the pavement after you swim. Look at your imprint carefully; if you have a high arch you need a Neutral shoe, if your arch is medium- go for a Stability shoe, if you have a low arch you'll need a Motion Control shoe. Sounds complicated, but it isn't.
Once you figure out what type of arch you have you need to know your body frame. If you are a larger man or woman( over180lb man, over 150lb woman) look for a plus shoe as well as whether or not you need a Neutral ,Stability, or Motion Control . If you are a lighter runner that races or runs fast (man under 180lb., under 150lb. woman) you would need to add performance to your shoe as well as what type of arch you have. For example, I am a 130 lb. woman who likes to race and I have a high arch; I would need a Neutral performance shoe or a Neutral p shoe. Basically if you are a heavier runner you need added cushion, and if you are a fast runner and on the light side, you'll need a more flexible, lighter shoe.
Once you know your arch and your body type it's a breeze. I would recommend going to a running store that specializes in fitting you. A great store is, Inside Out Sports in Cary, NC. They are a triathlon store, but they know about running shoes and how to fit you. If you tell them your arch type as well as your body type, they will be able to set you up. They also have online shopping once you get your first pair. Some stores for my PA friends include, Appalachian Running Co. in Carlisle, and Inside Track in Harrisburg.
Brands are another story. There are so many brands what should you choose? I really feel that this part is personal preference because all brands make shoes that fit different arches. I asked some of my friends who run and got a variety of answers; Jen C. said," definitely Asics,Nike's gave me no support," Jen Mc. said," Dolce Vita Heals as I run late to the office," Shellie G. said," Mizuno for trails," my husband ( non-runner) said,"Adidas Adi- Zero, in fresh lemon," okay so not all the comments were exactly what I was looking for, but you get the picture. The brands are all different and just like your footprint, it's very personal.
A word to the wise; don't change once you find something that works for you. Once I changed running shoe brands. I've always been an Asics girl. I go for the cushioned, neutral shoe as I have a med-high arch and am average in size. The Asics always gave me the cushioning I needed. Then one day, I decided to try a new pair of running shoes, called Super Nova Cushion made by Adidas. The shoes were supposed to be a cushioned shoe, but for my particular foot they did not work because I ended up with a stress fracture-if it ain't broke don't fix it! I learned my lesson, and now only wear Asics(either Gel Cumulus or Gel Platinum).
One more tip; you don't have to break the bank to get a decent pair of running shoes. I had an orthopedic tell me( during my visit when I had a stress fracture)," anything over $80.00 is fluff." He's right, after that price point, it is all about marketing. Also realize that it only costs the manufacturers about $3.50 to make a pair of running shoes( I learned this from my husband the Marine, who toured a Nike factory in Japan).Running shoes are not a commodity.
I highly believe in adding inserts to your running shoes as well. Again, this is a personal preference but it works for me. Remove the cheap inserts in your shoes and add an insert. The original inserts offer no cushioning. I recommend the Sof Sol brand inserts. This brand offers different inserts for different arches; here's that concept again. Sof Sol also makes an insert that you can custom mold to your foot with a little tweaking and an oven. I love the Sof Sol for a medium arch. My shoes tend to last a little longer with the inserts and I get extra cushion which I love. You can find these at Dick's or other sporting goods stores for around $20.00.
Running shoes typically last around six months. "Typically," is the key word here. I change out my running shoes around every four or five months depending on my training/racing schedule. I also know when my knees start to get twingy it is time to change out my shoes. High mileage runners will need to change out their running shoes more frequently than the weekend warrior. Again, it is all about personal preference and how your body is feeling. Listen to your body and if you are experiencing more than usual pain check out your shoes.
Whether you are a new or seasoned runner, a good pair of shoes will carry you where you want to go.
Tri- On Friends,
Kelly
Check out http://www.roadrunnersports.com/
Their site has a lot of great information which I used for this article. They also have a great assortment of gear.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
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
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A New Angel Got Her Wings
Sometimes I question myself each week about what I am going to write. After all, how much triathlon talk can one take? But that is what makes this blog unique, it is about the interlinking of life and why I triathlon. I've hit this point many times, but I'll hammer it again. The way I work through my life is by staying active. By swimming, running, biking, I am able to work out my inner demons, my inner struggles. Some people use religion, some use therapy, some drugs and alcohol. While I am spiritual, and believe in the importance of faith, I also believe that without some healthy outlet I could chose to do something not so productive.
This week I had planned on writing about running shoes. I had it all worked out in my mind, which is usually the way it works for me. I think about different ideas and I self-talk about what could work. Then I visualize, and then I write. But this week something happened. After a long fight with cancer my Aunt Didi ( my mom's sister) finally said goodbye to this earth. Writing about running shoes just seemed a little insignificant. Don't get me wrong, that blog will be there, and there is some important information to share, but in order to work out my aunt's death I needed to do the exercise of writing.
I always admired my aunt. She had four boys that she stayed home with to raise. When the fourth child graduated from high school, she decided to go back to school and get her nursing degree. She worked at University Hospital, in Cleveland Ohio, as a nurse, helping young couples who had fertility issues. Aunt Didi loved her work and traveled an hour and a half each way to work everyday. She dedicated her life to others.
I got the news of her passing on Tuesday morning, and immediately turned to my blog, but before I could finish writing I went for a run to clear my head. While running, I could think of what I wanted to write, and once again my life and triathlon intersected. Through my run, I could organize my emotions and try to remember the important things in life.
My Aunt Didi recently had surgery to remove tumors that had metastasized to her brain, and she was moved from hospital to hospital. Finally, when nothing else could be done, she was moved home. She spent her last days at home with her kids and family. She wanted to rest peacefully and she did. The fight was over and she was able to say goodbye to her immediate family. I have peace knowing that her requests were fulfilled, and after a long fight with a horrible disease she was no longer suffering.
Aunt Didi was a spunky woman. She never had a problem telling you what was on her mind. In fact, one of the last times I talked to her she told me that the nurses didn't know what they were doing. I had to smile because she was outspoken and never held back.
Deloris Gray kept her fight going for three years. One of the most important lessons that I learned from her was to enjoy every day. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she never complained, and she made a point of seeing her children and grandchildren as often as she could.
Tell the people you love and tell them often. Hug those that you love often. Speak your truth. Love what you do and do what you love. Life is short, live each day. Don't take anything for granted. All the material things in the world cannot replace love, family, and friends. Time is precious. Smile often. Love often. These are the concepts that I have taken from a tragedy.
As I end this entry I leave feeling lifted, and that is what my aunt would want. I'm off for a trail run now to enjoy the sunshine, and to remember Aunt Didi whose light will forever live in my heart.
Tri-on Friends,
Kelly
This week I had planned on writing about running shoes. I had it all worked out in my mind, which is usually the way it works for me. I think about different ideas and I self-talk about what could work. Then I visualize, and then I write. But this week something happened. After a long fight with cancer my Aunt Didi ( my mom's sister) finally said goodbye to this earth. Writing about running shoes just seemed a little insignificant. Don't get me wrong, that blog will be there, and there is some important information to share, but in order to work out my aunt's death I needed to do the exercise of writing.
I always admired my aunt. She had four boys that she stayed home with to raise. When the fourth child graduated from high school, she decided to go back to school and get her nursing degree. She worked at University Hospital, in Cleveland Ohio, as a nurse, helping young couples who had fertility issues. Aunt Didi loved her work and traveled an hour and a half each way to work everyday. She dedicated her life to others.
I got the news of her passing on Tuesday morning, and immediately turned to my blog, but before I could finish writing I went for a run to clear my head. While running, I could think of what I wanted to write, and once again my life and triathlon intersected. Through my run, I could organize my emotions and try to remember the important things in life.
My Aunt Didi recently had surgery to remove tumors that had metastasized to her brain, and she was moved from hospital to hospital. Finally, when nothing else could be done, she was moved home. She spent her last days at home with her kids and family. She wanted to rest peacefully and she did. The fight was over and she was able to say goodbye to her immediate family. I have peace knowing that her requests were fulfilled, and after a long fight with a horrible disease she was no longer suffering.
Aunt Didi was a spunky woman. She never had a problem telling you what was on her mind. In fact, one of the last times I talked to her she told me that the nurses didn't know what they were doing. I had to smile because she was outspoken and never held back.
Deloris Gray kept her fight going for three years. One of the most important lessons that I learned from her was to enjoy every day. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she never complained, and she made a point of seeing her children and grandchildren as often as she could.
Tell the people you love and tell them often. Hug those that you love often. Speak your truth. Love what you do and do what you love. Life is short, live each day. Don't take anything for granted. All the material things in the world cannot replace love, family, and friends. Time is precious. Smile often. Love often. These are the concepts that I have taken from a tragedy.
As I end this entry I leave feeling lifted, and that is what my aunt would want. I'm off for a trail run now to enjoy the sunshine, and to remember Aunt Didi whose light will forever live in my heart.
Tri-on Friends,
Kelly
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tri-Tips
After training and racing for nine plus years, I have been asked a dozen times or so, how do I keep going during a triathlon, do I ever walk, and when do I think I might stop racing? All really good questions that I would like to address in this post.
I try really hard not to walk during my races, but if I need to I will. During my half ironman, this past November, I did walk for a minute or two towards the end of the half marathon. I needed a physical break as my hamstrings were starting to tighten, but I also needed a mental break; after all I had traveled 67 miles at that point. I came to a bridge at around mile eleven of the run and I got over that incline okay; it was the second incline that I wasn't mentally prepared for. I didn't really want to walk, but as I said above, I needed a mental break and in the scope of 70.3 miles what's a few minutes anyway?
How do I keep going during a triathlon? Mostly, I think about all the training time I have put in and I tell myself I am so much more prepared than half the people on the field. I truly believe that, because I have witnessed so many participants out on the course who have not prepared. I've seen people sitting on curbs, bikes that have crashed, people who have dropped out. I had a conversation with a guy during the half ironman in November (run portion) and he told me flat out that he should have done more long runs for his training. I stayed with him for a while, and later he had to stop and walk a while, he could not go any farther.
I have become great at mind games during endurance events. I never think of the whole race; ever. I take it one sport at a time. I first concentrate on the swim. I make sure my form is its absolute best during the swim. This means to follow through on my arm stroke, stretch out, and breath on both my left and right sides. Most people do not follow through with their arms when they swim, and this leads to fatigue because you will have to have to work harder to get your body through the water. Swimming technique is key for success.
Once I get through the swim portion, I am immediately thinking of transition into the bike area. This means as I am exiting the water, I have already forgotten the swim, and my mind is on getting into the transition area as quickly as possible and getting my socks and cycling shoes on, along with my helmet. The next step is to get my bike and head out of the transition area. You must wait to mount your bike upon leaving the transition area. I concentrate on exiting the bike area without crashing into other cyclists, as there is always a bit of congestion getting out of transition. There are many things to think about at this point of the race, or T1 as it is called. Easy, right? At this point there are many details to keep my mind off the fact that I may be a little fatigued after the swim.
Depending on the race distance I start to feel fatigued toward the last miles of the bike ride. So how do I distract myself? I try to concentrate on cadence or the number of revolutions of the crank per minute, or the speed at which I am turning the pedals on my bike. I literally count the number of revolutions per minute while I'm racing. During a race, I strive for 90-100 rpms. I concentrate on counting and the action of my legs. The counting takes my mind off what I'm actually doing, and it takes my mind off the distance I have to go on the ride.
The real test of a triathlon comes during the run. You've already swum and biked and now depending on the distance, you must force your muscles to do something they don't want to do. Your legs are like rubber for the first part of the run because during the cycling portion of the race your blood is flowing in a different direction(up towards your quads). So how do I get through the run? Again, I play mind games with myself. I know from experience that the first mile is going to be miserable, but after that when my muscle groups re-adjust to running, I know that the run will be less painful.
Another tip to distract yourself during the run, is to set your watch timer every four minutes or so. I know that in about four minutes, I'll run a half mile. Four minute increments is a small amount of time. When I am starting to get tired during the run, I reset my timer to zero and go for four minutes. I can do anything for four minutes. This method works great during training as well. Using smaller blocks of time, versus say eight minute increments, is mentally easier for me to digest.
Aside from doing four minute increments during the run, I also like to talk to people. It sounds crazy and how in the world would you have the energy to muster up conversation? Trust me it works. I usually start by asking a person how they are feeling. I have rarely had anyone respond that they felt great. The old expression rings true, misery loves company. I know that whomever I am talking to is hurting too, and somehow that is a comfort ; sick as that sounds.
Talking to other people during an event is also a great way to meet people. I know it sounds weird, but everyone has a story, and I've learned a lot about the human spirit by talking with people during a race. I've met people with cancer and people who were participating because someone they loved had cancer. I've met old and young, men and women, first timers and seasoned athletes. Let me tell you, they all have stories and it is quite a distraction if you just start a conversation. Each time I race, I like to meet one new person.
I am no expert by any means on the wonderful world of triathlon. I share with you what I know, in hopes that it may help you if you are a triathlete or maybe an aspiring one. I have such a passion for this sport, but more importantly I have a passion for people and compassion. Triathlon has been more for me than just sport, it has been a love affair. Through triathlon I can figure out who I am and who others are. Through pain and perserverance I can strive to be a better person. Triathlon helps me find the meaning of life.
Oh, to answer the last question of when might I stop triathloning? When I can't possibly do it any longer; hopefully never. Watch the video below to see total inspiration and why I tri.
Tri- on Friends,
I try really hard not to walk during my races, but if I need to I will. During my half ironman, this past November, I did walk for a minute or two towards the end of the half marathon. I needed a physical break as my hamstrings were starting to tighten, but I also needed a mental break; after all I had traveled 67 miles at that point. I came to a bridge at around mile eleven of the run and I got over that incline okay; it was the second incline that I wasn't mentally prepared for. I didn't really want to walk, but as I said above, I needed a mental break and in the scope of 70.3 miles what's a few minutes anyway?
How do I keep going during a triathlon? Mostly, I think about all the training time I have put in and I tell myself I am so much more prepared than half the people on the field. I truly believe that, because I have witnessed so many participants out on the course who have not prepared. I've seen people sitting on curbs, bikes that have crashed, people who have dropped out. I had a conversation with a guy during the half ironman in November (run portion) and he told me flat out that he should have done more long runs for his training. I stayed with him for a while, and later he had to stop and walk a while, he could not go any farther.
I have become great at mind games during endurance events. I never think of the whole race; ever. I take it one sport at a time. I first concentrate on the swim. I make sure my form is its absolute best during the swim. This means to follow through on my arm stroke, stretch out, and breath on both my left and right sides. Most people do not follow through with their arms when they swim, and this leads to fatigue because you will have to have to work harder to get your body through the water. Swimming technique is key for success.
Once I get through the swim portion, I am immediately thinking of transition into the bike area. This means as I am exiting the water, I have already forgotten the swim, and my mind is on getting into the transition area as quickly as possible and getting my socks and cycling shoes on, along with my helmet. The next step is to get my bike and head out of the transition area. You must wait to mount your bike upon leaving the transition area. I concentrate on exiting the bike area without crashing into other cyclists, as there is always a bit of congestion getting out of transition. There are many things to think about at this point of the race, or T1 as it is called. Easy, right? At this point there are many details to keep my mind off the fact that I may be a little fatigued after the swim.
Depending on the race distance I start to feel fatigued toward the last miles of the bike ride. So how do I distract myself? I try to concentrate on cadence or the number of revolutions of the crank per minute, or the speed at which I am turning the pedals on my bike. I literally count the number of revolutions per minute while I'm racing. During a race, I strive for 90-100 rpms. I concentrate on counting and the action of my legs. The counting takes my mind off what I'm actually doing, and it takes my mind off the distance I have to go on the ride.
The real test of a triathlon comes during the run. You've already swum and biked and now depending on the distance, you must force your muscles to do something they don't want to do. Your legs are like rubber for the first part of the run because during the cycling portion of the race your blood is flowing in a different direction(up towards your quads). So how do I get through the run? Again, I play mind games with myself. I know from experience that the first mile is going to be miserable, but after that when my muscle groups re-adjust to running, I know that the run will be less painful.
Another tip to distract yourself during the run, is to set your watch timer every four minutes or so. I know that in about four minutes, I'll run a half mile. Four minute increments is a small amount of time. When I am starting to get tired during the run, I reset my timer to zero and go for four minutes. I can do anything for four minutes. This method works great during training as well. Using smaller blocks of time, versus say eight minute increments, is mentally easier for me to digest.
Aside from doing four minute increments during the run, I also like to talk to people. It sounds crazy and how in the world would you have the energy to muster up conversation? Trust me it works. I usually start by asking a person how they are feeling. I have rarely had anyone respond that they felt great. The old expression rings true, misery loves company. I know that whomever I am talking to is hurting too, and somehow that is a comfort ; sick as that sounds.
Talking to other people during an event is also a great way to meet people. I know it sounds weird, but everyone has a story, and I've learned a lot about the human spirit by talking with people during a race. I've met people with cancer and people who were participating because someone they loved had cancer. I've met old and young, men and women, first timers and seasoned athletes. Let me tell you, they all have stories and it is quite a distraction if you just start a conversation. Each time I race, I like to meet one new person.
I am no expert by any means on the wonderful world of triathlon. I share with you what I know, in hopes that it may help you if you are a triathlete or maybe an aspiring one. I have such a passion for this sport, but more importantly I have a passion for people and compassion. Triathlon has been more for me than just sport, it has been a love affair. Through triathlon I can figure out who I am and who others are. Through pain and perserverance I can strive to be a better person. Triathlon helps me find the meaning of life.
Oh, to answer the last question of when might I stop triathloning? When I can't possibly do it any longer; hopefully never. Watch the video below to see total inspiration and why I tri.
Tri- on Friends,
Video from You Tube, Dick and Rick Hoyt
Kelly
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tri- Carbs
So, it is the end of March and when I look back at my January post about staying fit over the winter I am a little disappointed. Why? With less than eight weeks to go before my first race I'm feeling unprepared and out of shape. While I maintained some workouts over the winter they were nothing like what I had accomplished in the months prior. I told myself I was enjoying a much needed rest. True, but slacking on the training will cost me a little, add some unwanted pounds and I'm back to the drawing board. So now what?
Have no fear there is a game plan in place. First, I decided to ditch the carbs from my diet. Whoa, hold on a triathlete that does not eat carbs? Absolutely not. I am ditching the bad carbohydrates. Items like white rice, white potatoes, white pasta, and heavy breads. Those comfort foods were all I wanted over the winter, the only problem now is the 7 pounds I need to rid.
Carbohydrates are in just about everything we eat, but if you are knowledgeable on what the good carbs are, and ditch the junk, you can lose some weight and still have energy to train. What I mean by bad carbs are those items made with white flour. Check labels carefully because many of the products that you might think are healthy are made with something called,"enriched," flour. Enriched flour means that the original flour which was good and contained some type of whole grain in it, has been stripped of that and to meet some requirements there are minimal minerals added back into the product, but not the minerals that you really need like Vitamin B or Vitamin E. After adding back in these non- essential vitamins the flour is baked at a high temperature taking away even more of the good stuff out. After this process is done you are basically left with a very low quality flour that will turn into sugar in your body. The sugar turns to fat. The sugar is fed into your cells. The cells like this and then your body craves more of the sugar and you gain weight because you are feeding the craving. Have you ever eaten a bagel and been hungry an hour later? Your body has crashed after the bad carb and then you crave the very same thing that made you feel pretty good, but the good is only temporary.
Read food labels and avoid the enriched flour products and things with high fructose corn syrup in the ingredient label. You will be shocked how many food items that claim to be whole grain that are not whole grain, and contain high fructose corn syrup in them. Whole grain means it will sprout if water comes into contact with it. The corn syrup is a filler and acts the same way that sugar does. Your cells say,"yummy," I like this and it feeds a vicious cycle that leads to eating and craving more of these food items. The other problem with high fructose corn syrup is that it is completely manufactured and your body cannot break it down or process it, so it is never completely eliminated from your body; just what you don't want.
One other food tip is to shop the perimeter of your grocery store. Around the edges of your local grocer you'll find produce, meats, usually some type of bakery( be careful here) and dairy. Stay out of the middle of the store because that's where you'll find all the snack items and foods that are processed- meaning they have a long shelf life and are laden with preservatives; meaning you don't want that in your body.
So how many grams of carbs can you eat per day? This is tricky and depends on your physical activity level and if you are trying to lose weight. For someone who is trying to lose weight the recommended amount of carbs is very low, only about 20- 50 grams per day and doing only moderate exercise a few days per week.
Carbohydrate levels for athletes or people who are exercising each day are much higher than listed above. According to a recent study done at the University of Cape Town for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, if you are working out an hour or more a day chances are you are not getting enough carbs to boost your glycogen deposits which improve your performance. So if you are a daily grinder you need about 70% of your caloric intake to come from carbs( good carbs) which equals four grams of carbs times your body weight per day. So a 130 pound person x 4grams =520 grams per day. But you can't eat all those carbs at once. Glycogen storage best takes place 30 minutes after intense exercise. A good rule is to build on those carbs and make sure you get some immediately after your workout.
What if you only work out on the weekends? You still need around 70% of your caloric intake from carbs, but instead of calculating 4 grams x your weight it should be scaled down to 2 grams x's your weight. You will want to stock up on your carbs towards the end of the week( around Thurs. and Fri.) if you are going hard on Sat. and Sunday by consuming 4 grams X's your body weight and then scale back down again if you are decreasing your workouts during the week. For more information you can visit the USDA site to help with calculations.
The bottom line is to fill your refrigerator with healthy foods like lean proteins, leafy vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. It is also important to add protein into your post workout meal as protein aids in muscle recovery. Water, water, water- need I say more?
We all get off track from time to time. The key to getting back on track is to formulate a plan and execute it. Sound familiar? I'm back to my training regimen, and I've ditched the bad carbs. The weather is finally breaking so no more excuses! See you out there.
Tri- On Friends,
Kelly
For more info on the above check out these websites http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_carbs_per_day_for_weight_loss
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/fitness-training/carbohydrates-0806.html
http://video.answers.com/how-carbs-make-you-fat-weight-loss-68736443
Have no fear there is a game plan in place. First, I decided to ditch the carbs from my diet. Whoa, hold on a triathlete that does not eat carbs? Absolutely not. I am ditching the bad carbohydrates. Items like white rice, white potatoes, white pasta, and heavy breads. Those comfort foods were all I wanted over the winter, the only problem now is the 7 pounds I need to rid.
Carbohydrates are in just about everything we eat, but if you are knowledgeable on what the good carbs are, and ditch the junk, you can lose some weight and still have energy to train. What I mean by bad carbs are those items made with white flour. Check labels carefully because many of the products that you might think are healthy are made with something called,"enriched," flour. Enriched flour means that the original flour which was good and contained some type of whole grain in it, has been stripped of that and to meet some requirements there are minimal minerals added back into the product, but not the minerals that you really need like Vitamin B or Vitamin E. After adding back in these non- essential vitamins the flour is baked at a high temperature taking away even more of the good stuff out. After this process is done you are basically left with a very low quality flour that will turn into sugar in your body. The sugar turns to fat. The sugar is fed into your cells. The cells like this and then your body craves more of the sugar and you gain weight because you are feeding the craving. Have you ever eaten a bagel and been hungry an hour later? Your body has crashed after the bad carb and then you crave the very same thing that made you feel pretty good, but the good is only temporary.
Read food labels and avoid the enriched flour products and things with high fructose corn syrup in the ingredient label. You will be shocked how many food items that claim to be whole grain that are not whole grain, and contain high fructose corn syrup in them. Whole grain means it will sprout if water comes into contact with it. The corn syrup is a filler and acts the same way that sugar does. Your cells say,"yummy," I like this and it feeds a vicious cycle that leads to eating and craving more of these food items. The other problem with high fructose corn syrup is that it is completely manufactured and your body cannot break it down or process it, so it is never completely eliminated from your body; just what you don't want.
One other food tip is to shop the perimeter of your grocery store. Around the edges of your local grocer you'll find produce, meats, usually some type of bakery( be careful here) and dairy. Stay out of the middle of the store because that's where you'll find all the snack items and foods that are processed- meaning they have a long shelf life and are laden with preservatives; meaning you don't want that in your body.
So how many grams of carbs can you eat per day? This is tricky and depends on your physical activity level and if you are trying to lose weight. For someone who is trying to lose weight the recommended amount of carbs is very low, only about 20- 50 grams per day and doing only moderate exercise a few days per week.
Carbohydrate levels for athletes or people who are exercising each day are much higher than listed above. According to a recent study done at the University of Cape Town for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, if you are working out an hour or more a day chances are you are not getting enough carbs to boost your glycogen deposits which improve your performance. So if you are a daily grinder you need about 70% of your caloric intake to come from carbs( good carbs) which equals four grams of carbs times your body weight per day. So a 130 pound person x 4grams =520 grams per day. But you can't eat all those carbs at once. Glycogen storage best takes place 30 minutes after intense exercise. A good rule is to build on those carbs and make sure you get some immediately after your workout.
What if you only work out on the weekends? You still need around 70% of your caloric intake from carbs, but instead of calculating 4 grams x your weight it should be scaled down to 2 grams x's your weight. You will want to stock up on your carbs towards the end of the week( around Thurs. and Fri.) if you are going hard on Sat. and Sunday by consuming 4 grams X's your body weight and then scale back down again if you are decreasing your workouts during the week. For more information you can visit the USDA site to help with calculations.
The bottom line is to fill your refrigerator with healthy foods like lean proteins, leafy vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. It is also important to add protein into your post workout meal as protein aids in muscle recovery. Water, water, water- need I say more?
We all get off track from time to time. The key to getting back on track is to formulate a plan and execute it. Sound familiar? I'm back to my training regimen, and I've ditched the bad carbs. The weather is finally breaking so no more excuses! See you out there.
Tri- On Friends,
Kelly
For more info on the above check out these websites http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_carbs_per_day_for_weight_loss
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/fitness-training/carbohydrates-0806.html
http://video.answers.com/how-carbs-make-you-fat-weight-loss-68736443
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Teacher Rehabs Using Land and HydroWorx Pool
Lisa G.is a third grade teacher and soccer coach in the Mechanicsburg/Dillsburg area of Pennsylvania (she wanted to remain somewhat anonymous because she is a teacher, so I left out her last name). She is an active runner and sports enthusiast. Last summer, Lisa was playing two on two basketball and injured her knee running after the ball. After the basketball injury she wasn't able to put any pressure on her knee. She waited a week or so and went to the doctor insisting on an MRI because she didn't want to wait another month before something could be done. The MRI showed a grade two MCL Sprain (Medical Collateral Ligament Sprain). The MCL is one of the four ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. She was able to start physical therapy right away. After a few weeks of that Lisa made the decision to have surgery because she didn't want to risk,"blowing out," her knee and having,"more complications."
She is a very active person who also enjoys going to Gold's Gym 4-5 days per week where she participates in classes called Body Attack and Body Pump. Her job as a teacher demands that she is on her feet and she is also currently taking graduate classes in education. "I did the surgery because I wanted to get back to my active lifestyle."
Lisa had ACL Reconstruction using the patellar tendon this past October at Grandview Surgery Center in Camp Hill, PA. There was also a procedure done to clean up her fragmented meniscus.When I asked her if she was happy with her results her response was," I was satisfied with the results, but I experienced more pain than expected. I'll be happy when my knee is back to normal. I was never really given a definite time line and I was told I would need to wear a brace for three weeks but it ended up being five. I've been told every knee is different."
I asked her what she is doing for rehab and how it is going. "I have a two hour program I do at OIP(Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania) and home exercises. I have been doing the bike, heel slides, wall slides, treadmill backwards, balancing on one leg, hurdles, and shuttles. I also use some weights and do manual stretching. I also did some therapy using the HydroWorx pool in Lemoyne, PA. I used the pool for about a month and a half. The pool was something I looked forward to, I enjoyed the exercises and really liked walking on the treadmill both forward and backwards. I found some of the exercises were easier in the water such as squats, butt kicks, lunges, stairs, and holding lunges. I was also able to do plyo jumps in the pool. I did notice a difference within the first few visits; simple things like walking backwards in the pool and step ups were less painful."
Lisa still has another few months to go with her Physical Therapy. Her Physical Therapist has pushed for her to continue with land work. Her goal is to be at zero degrees for extension and 145 degrees of flexion with her knee and to return to "normal" exercise. Lisa has done a half marathon and doesn't have any specific races in mind yet, but she wants to get back to running 5-6 miles with her friends on a regular basis."I think I'll be in PT for about another two months. I need to work on my quad, hip and glute strength as my knee still internally rotates."
I asked her if she would do the surgery again or if she would hesitate and she responded by saying,"This has been the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. It has been an up and down roller coaster but I am thankful to have supportive people in my life. I couldn't drive for two months and friends and colleagues helped me. My knee is always on my mind; mainly because I have to go to PT and do my exercises all the time. I am happy to get back to the gym, but I can't do the elliptical yet. Still, I would do it all over again. I just never realized how it would affect my life."
Lisa is still working with her doctor and doing her PT. Things are getting better each day but she still feels she has a little way to go. Her doctors are helping her set new goals and she is seeing results each week. She even mentioned doing a sprint triathlon as one of her goals! She is a girl after my own heart. I say go girl and I'll be there to cheer you to the finish.
Tri-on Friends,
Kelly
She is a very active person who also enjoys going to Gold's Gym 4-5 days per week where she participates in classes called Body Attack and Body Pump. Her job as a teacher demands that she is on her feet and she is also currently taking graduate classes in education. "I did the surgery because I wanted to get back to my active lifestyle."
Lisa had ACL Reconstruction using the patellar tendon this past October at Grandview Surgery Center in Camp Hill, PA. There was also a procedure done to clean up her fragmented meniscus.When I asked her if she was happy with her results her response was," I was satisfied with the results, but I experienced more pain than expected. I'll be happy when my knee is back to normal. I was never really given a definite time line and I was told I would need to wear a brace for three weeks but it ended up being five. I've been told every knee is different."
I asked her what she is doing for rehab and how it is going. "I have a two hour program I do at OIP(Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania) and home exercises. I have been doing the bike, heel slides, wall slides, treadmill backwards, balancing on one leg, hurdles, and shuttles. I also use some weights and do manual stretching. I also did some therapy using the HydroWorx pool in Lemoyne, PA. I used the pool for about a month and a half. The pool was something I looked forward to, I enjoyed the exercises and really liked walking on the treadmill both forward and backwards. I found some of the exercises were easier in the water such as squats, butt kicks, lunges, stairs, and holding lunges. I was also able to do plyo jumps in the pool. I did notice a difference within the first few visits; simple things like walking backwards in the pool and step ups were less painful."
Lisa still has another few months to go with her Physical Therapy. Her Physical Therapist has pushed for her to continue with land work. Her goal is to be at zero degrees for extension and 145 degrees of flexion with her knee and to return to "normal" exercise. Lisa has done a half marathon and doesn't have any specific races in mind yet, but she wants to get back to running 5-6 miles with her friends on a regular basis."I think I'll be in PT for about another two months. I need to work on my quad, hip and glute strength as my knee still internally rotates."
I asked her if she would do the surgery again or if she would hesitate and she responded by saying,"This has been the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. It has been an up and down roller coaster but I am thankful to have supportive people in my life. I couldn't drive for two months and friends and colleagues helped me. My knee is always on my mind; mainly because I have to go to PT and do my exercises all the time. I am happy to get back to the gym, but I can't do the elliptical yet. Still, I would do it all over again. I just never realized how it would affect my life."
Lisa is still working with her doctor and doing her PT. Things are getting better each day but she still feels she has a little way to go. Her doctors are helping her set new goals and she is seeing results each week. She even mentioned doing a sprint triathlon as one of her goals! She is a girl after my own heart. I say go girl and I'll be there to cheer you to the finish.
Tri-on Friends,
Kelly
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Tri-Transitions
Transition: passage:the act of passing from one state or place to the next; a change from one place or state or subject or stage to another; an event that results in transformation.
One of the reasons that I love writing this blog is because of the relationship that triathlon has with everyday life. The two always seem to intermingle and this weeks blog is no exception. I have been quietly contemplating this next blog and more time has lapsed as a result. I needed time for personal reflection since my last entry. I wasn't happy with my last entry for a number of reasons, mainly because I rushed to post it, but more importantly because it wasn't my best effort. I've had races like that where I knew when I crossed the finish line there was something I could have done better, and my last entry was exactly like that. I knew when I hit send it wasn't right.
This entry is about transitions. Transition in triathlon is the time in between each sport. There is a transition area in triathlon where you rack your bike. Upon exiting the swim you run into,"transition," and get your bike for the ride, you may also change into bike clothes (in a tent if you are getting naked) and put on bike shoes. Then you re-enter the transition area to rack your bike before you venture out to run (again you may change shoes and clothes). The time in transition is added onto your total race time. If you are anything like me you can sometimes add unnecessary time onto the total. A few minutes added in transition can cost you placement in your event.
Transitions in life can be difficult just like transitions in triathlon. You can "add" stress to your life un-necessarily.Transition in life could be that you have a new job or maybe you've just had a baby. Perhaps you've ended a marriage or you've experienced the death of a loved one, whatever the case transitions aren't easy. I have come to another transition in my life recently so it seems fitting to intermingle these two things in my blog.
In November, I completed my first half- ironman event and while I was completely overjoyed in participating, and even somewhat happy with my time, I knew in my heart there was room for improvement. Triathlon keeps me coming back for that reason. When I went back to analyze my time I realized that I would have been so much closer to my goal time if I would have been better in my transitions.
Part of my tranisition problem with my last event was that there were two transition areas instead of one. Usually there is only one transition area to deal with and this is a good thing because you can familiarize yourself with where your bike will be before the race begins. I knew exactly which rack and which row( I counted) my bike was placed on so that when I came in after the swim to do the bike portion, I knew exactly where I was going.
In transition two (bike to run) in my last event I could not see where I would place my bike(because the transition area was in a different location) and I depended on the volunteers to help me find my bike rack; not a good idea because the volunteer who helped me didn't know where my rack was. I'm not blaming her, it was confusing as I was at the beginning of a row and on the inside of a row. I added three minutes onto my time just because I couldn't find where to rack my bike. Lesson learned, study the map of the areas beforehand if you can't actually see the transition area ahead of time. I also added more time in transition in this race because I changed clothes for each event in order to have some comfort. I normally wear one tri-suit for an entire event. I would still have changed for each sport during this event; just faster.
Another tip to help during triathlon transitions is to have all of your clothes out in the transition area( if it is allowed, some races do not allow this) so that when you come into change sports you can easily change your shoes or whatever clothing you need to. Need is a key word here because for Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons you should not have to change anything except shoes; bike shoes for your cycle and then run shoes for the run portion. Unless it is cold outside, you should be able to wear a tri-suit for the whole race. The bottom line is prepare. Check the weather too so you know if you'll need extra layers, especially for the bike portion- it can be cold and windy even in May in some states.
I would highly recommend doing some practice transitions at home before race day. A great way to incorporate race day is to do a "brick" workout where you also practice transitioning. A brick workout is when you cycle and then immediately run. This workout simulates what you'll be doing on race day less the swim portion. I did many of these before my half ironman event, but I like to do these before all distances. I have my running shoes ready to go in my driveway or in my car, I practice racking my bike( on my car bike rack or in my garage) and then off I go for the run.
Even with practice things happen, so another tip is to try to remain calm. I've had my chain fall off of my bike before I ventured out, and once a whole rack of bikes had toppled to the ground and I had to dig to the bottom to get my bike out. Situations like those you just go with and do your best. Life is like that too; sometimes situations arise, and you have no other choice, but to do the best you can.
Transitions happen in life as well, and that is why I haven't blogged in a few days. Life is crazy sometimes and my husband and I are going through a transition as we speak. My husband decided to leave his company after being employed there for ten years. With the struggling economy his company did a reorganization about a year ago. After sticking it out and reassessing the situation he decided it was time to move on. He took a severance package to walk away from a company that he was very loyal to.
Change and transition are important parts of life, but what's more important is how you handle it. Like transitions in triathlon, you prepare, plan and execute. We have done the same things with my husband's job change. We have planned on living on his severance for a while, he has prepared to look for another job and he has executed those things by interviewing and networking. We have planned a household budget and we have followed through. I am happy to report the planning has paid off and he will be employed within the month.
Change is hard. Transitions are hard. Life is full of twists and turns and sometimes roadblocks. Triathlon is full of challenges too, and by participating in the game of triathlon like the game of life, I am better equipped at handling what is to come.
Tri -on Friends,
Kelly
One of the reasons that I love writing this blog is because of the relationship that triathlon has with everyday life. The two always seem to intermingle and this weeks blog is no exception. I have been quietly contemplating this next blog and more time has lapsed as a result. I needed time for personal reflection since my last entry. I wasn't happy with my last entry for a number of reasons, mainly because I rushed to post it, but more importantly because it wasn't my best effort. I've had races like that where I knew when I crossed the finish line there was something I could have done better, and my last entry was exactly like that. I knew when I hit send it wasn't right.
This entry is about transitions. Transition in triathlon is the time in between each sport. There is a transition area in triathlon where you rack your bike. Upon exiting the swim you run into,"transition," and get your bike for the ride, you may also change into bike clothes (in a tent if you are getting naked) and put on bike shoes. Then you re-enter the transition area to rack your bike before you venture out to run (again you may change shoes and clothes). The time in transition is added onto your total race time. If you are anything like me you can sometimes add unnecessary time onto the total. A few minutes added in transition can cost you placement in your event.
Transitions in life can be difficult just like transitions in triathlon. You can "add" stress to your life un-necessarily.Transition in life could be that you have a new job or maybe you've just had a baby. Perhaps you've ended a marriage or you've experienced the death of a loved one, whatever the case transitions aren't easy. I have come to another transition in my life recently so it seems fitting to intermingle these two things in my blog.
In November, I completed my first half- ironman event and while I was completely overjoyed in participating, and even somewhat happy with my time, I knew in my heart there was room for improvement. Triathlon keeps me coming back for that reason. When I went back to analyze my time I realized that I would have been so much closer to my goal time if I would have been better in my transitions.
Part of my tranisition problem with my last event was that there were two transition areas instead of one. Usually there is only one transition area to deal with and this is a good thing because you can familiarize yourself with where your bike will be before the race begins. I knew exactly which rack and which row( I counted) my bike was placed on so that when I came in after the swim to do the bike portion, I knew exactly where I was going.
In transition two (bike to run) in my last event I could not see where I would place my bike(because the transition area was in a different location) and I depended on the volunteers to help me find my bike rack; not a good idea because the volunteer who helped me didn't know where my rack was. I'm not blaming her, it was confusing as I was at the beginning of a row and on the inside of a row. I added three minutes onto my time just because I couldn't find where to rack my bike. Lesson learned, study the map of the areas beforehand if you can't actually see the transition area ahead of time. I also added more time in transition in this race because I changed clothes for each event in order to have some comfort. I normally wear one tri-suit for an entire event. I would still have changed for each sport during this event; just faster.
Another tip to help during triathlon transitions is to have all of your clothes out in the transition area( if it is allowed, some races do not allow this) so that when you come into change sports you can easily change your shoes or whatever clothing you need to. Need is a key word here because for Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons you should not have to change anything except shoes; bike shoes for your cycle and then run shoes for the run portion. Unless it is cold outside, you should be able to wear a tri-suit for the whole race. The bottom line is prepare. Check the weather too so you know if you'll need extra layers, especially for the bike portion- it can be cold and windy even in May in some states.
I would highly recommend doing some practice transitions at home before race day. A great way to incorporate race day is to do a "brick" workout where you also practice transitioning. A brick workout is when you cycle and then immediately run. This workout simulates what you'll be doing on race day less the swim portion. I did many of these before my half ironman event, but I like to do these before all distances. I have my running shoes ready to go in my driveway or in my car, I practice racking my bike( on my car bike rack or in my garage) and then off I go for the run.
Even with practice things happen, so another tip is to try to remain calm. I've had my chain fall off of my bike before I ventured out, and once a whole rack of bikes had toppled to the ground and I had to dig to the bottom to get my bike out. Situations like those you just go with and do your best. Life is like that too; sometimes situations arise, and you have no other choice, but to do the best you can.
Transitions happen in life as well, and that is why I haven't blogged in a few days. Life is crazy sometimes and my husband and I are going through a transition as we speak. My husband decided to leave his company after being employed there for ten years. With the struggling economy his company did a reorganization about a year ago. After sticking it out and reassessing the situation he decided it was time to move on. He took a severance package to walk away from a company that he was very loyal to.
Change and transition are important parts of life, but what's more important is how you handle it. Like transitions in triathlon, you prepare, plan and execute. We have done the same things with my husband's job change. We have planned on living on his severance for a while, he has prepared to look for another job and he has executed those things by interviewing and networking. We have planned a household budget and we have followed through. I am happy to report the planning has paid off and he will be employed within the month.
Change is hard. Transitions are hard. Life is full of twists and turns and sometimes roadblocks. Triathlon is full of challenges too, and by participating in the game of triathlon like the game of life, I am better equipped at handling what is to come.
Tri -on Friends,
Kelly
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