Beat the Holiday Rush

 

I know I’ve said it before.

I know it sounds as crazy as a Black Friday shopper charging the door at 3a.m. 

But I love working out during the holiday season. 

Not only does it help keep my energy level up during a stressful time, but the gym: It’s so empty! 

Think about it. The ability to choose from any treadmill, get into any premier fitness class, be able to sit in the sauna without 50 of your not-so-closest friends breathing down your neck. It’s the kind of holiday bliss only Santa could deliver.

Yes, Virginia, I’m taking full advantage of the time now. Because come New Year’s Day, anyone who’s ever been to a gym the first week of January knows: it’s a post-holiday hell.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love fitness, and I love kindred spirits with hopeful souls and newly-pledged goals of fitness and well-being. But must all 300 million of us pledge to begin on precisely the same day?
 

I know, I know, it's so selfish but I’m already thinking of how difficult it’s going to be to get an already-coveted pass to my Body Pump class. And getting into yoga or spin class? Forgeddaboutit.

Sure, I realize by the third week of January the neophytes will have flamed out and we’ll all have the place to ourselves again. But it will seem an eternity until then.

For now, I’ll ask Santa for a little patience. And I'll invite you to give the pre-holiday gym experience a try. I think you'd like it. As for me, I plan to keep pushing hard to get a leg up on that late date in January – just in case my new yoga pants don’t see the inside of a classroom until then!

What Stayed in Vegas...

I took a road trip to Vegas with friends last weekend.

We didn’t play blackjack at the card tables. So, I didn’t lose my shirt. I did, however, lose my favorite pair of running shoes. And I've been sans running shoes ever since.

As a runner, I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t have a “backup” pair of running shoes. In fact, I’d venture to say that my closet is a cross between a Sex & the City/New York-style closet (think: 4-inch heels and peep-toe shoes) and the closet of a California beach bum (all manner of flip-flops present and accounted for). But, no extra sets of running shoes. Thus the predicament.

I survived about three days without running. I cross-trained instead, wearing my flip-flops to weight-training class (I’m pretty sure that’s against club rules). And I avoided the urge to jump on the treadmill Zola Budd-style for fear I might get stange looks (or worse, kicked out of the gym entirely.)

But after three days, I couldn’t take it anymore. I broke down and went to Target and bought a pair of cheapie tennis shoes ($15.99, thank you very much). They are pretty stylish and they’re from a brand I trust (Champion).  But they’re not my shoes, if you know what I mean.

A good pair of running shoes is, well, much like a "woobie" blanket. It makes us feel comfortable when we slip down into it. If you ever lost a woobie blanket as a child and your parents tried to replace it, I bet you weren't fooled. It was scratchy. Not the same as your woobie, right? Well, I’ve been imagining all manner of things happening to my feet in the cheapie shoes (is that my ankle popping? I think I just heard something.) Alright, so I may be a bit paranoid -- and spoiled with my $85 Saucony Italian running shoes. But you'd miss them, too, if you logged these training miles!

I will survive. After all, there are far worse problems to have these days. Hard economic times. High unemployment. Shoot, some people in the world have no shoes at all. (To give soles to those souls, btw, you can visit Tom's Shoes here.) 

Tonight as I go to bed missing my woobie, I’ll say a prayer to count my blessings. I'll also send out a prayer to the Catholic Saint Anthony -- saint of lost and stolen items -- in hopes that my wayward shoes will make their way back to me soon.

Fast Friends... yet Slow to Depart



Exhibit A: The burger, fries, and Guinness beer I consumed post-race.

Five weeks ago I crossed the finish line of a Marathon, then proceeded to redeem my post-race reward: a meal I had been craving during the last several miles of the marathon. A hamburger, fries, and a Guinness beer.

Sure, I deserved it. In fact, after running 26 miles, I felt I deserved a million bucks.

Little did I know this single burger would spark a chain reaction (literally) that would take the next five weeks to break.

You see, after arriving back home, I continued to crave this all-American beauty. There wasn’t a drive-thru window I didn’t visit. I knew the location of every McDonald’s chain within a 50-mile radius. I consumed more hamburgers than Bill Clinton during both of his Presidential terms combined.

It didn’t take me long to realize I had created a monster. One that (what's that saying?) felt so good on the lips but even after several turns on the treadmill was starting to cling to the hips.

So, I went straight to someone who could help: a holistic doctor I've visited over past year who has helped me align my eating habits to a healthier lifestyle. As I sat in the office of Southern California's founding preventative medicine doc -- he, too, seemed puzzled by my meaty addiction. Mostly because I’ve never even been a big meat-eater. In fact, my diet has almost always been vegetarian. Damn near vegan, really.

While he needled me with his tiny acupuncture tools, he began to needle me with questions as well. “Tell me. What was the first meal you ate immediately following the Marathon?” 

“The first thing I ate?,” I replied. What does that have to do with anything, I wondered. Then I thought back to that fateful night. My eyes grew as big as my little stuffed tummy. Sheepishly, I replied: “A hamburger."

Bingo.

He grinned slightly. I could tell he was impressed with himself.  I admit, I was impressed with him, too. Not even pausing to take a victory lap, he went on to explain that when the body goes through a period of physical exertion or exhaustion (such as it does during a Marathon), at some point the body starts to tap into precious protein stores. That can leave a person ravenous for protein once the event is completed. With this craving, I had reached for the lowest common protein denominator: the good ‘ol American hamburger.

As if I was being read a line straight out of “Eat This, Not That!,” he went on to describe how making one simple, smart choice after the race could have helped me avoid all of this. Instead of meat protein, I could have opted for a healthier source of protein in the form of nuts, seeds, or legumes. This one simple choice would have saved me weeks (not to mention countless dollars) at the drive-thru fast food window. It is a tip I feel compelled to pass on to my fellow racers.

Fast forward to today: I’m happy to announce I’m off the hooch. With the help of the holistic healer, I downed my last hamburger several days ago. I’m back to eating healthy. And more importantly, I am equipped with the knowledge to make smarter choices after my next long race. Oh sure, I'll probably still go a little crazy, throw caution to the wind, eat something I wouldn't normally eat. But I'll be much, much more careful to choose a food companion I'll be willing to have around for weeks afterward.

25 Days of Running

There's nothing like the beginning of a fresh, new month to serve as a great motivator to reinvigorate one's running routine.

So, during the month of December as I'm decking the halls, I will also be running throughout the "25 Days of Christmas."

It may sound crazy at first blush. I mean, most people shut things down during the holidays. Take the month off. Throw their fitness routine to the wind, right? Surprisingly, I find that running actually helps keep me centered during harried times. It relieves holiday stress, helps me sleep at night, and oh yes! keeps me firmly in those fun, sparkly, holiday dresses.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I still intend to partake of the holiday festivities. Have a bite of a holiday cookie. Enjoy a hot toddy. Eat so much on Christmas Day I wish I'd never been born. But keeping up my 5KaDay running routine will at least help take the edge off of the holiday stress. And help keep the Santa-sized pants at bay.

So go ahead. Join me. This Christmas season, while you're out doing things for others, get out and do something for yourself. Give the ultimate gift to yourself - one of good health.

'Tis the Season to run!

For Love of the Game

The recent scandal at Penn State has got me thinking.

About our “Love of the Game.” And the unfortunate number of sports figures who've allowed their love of the game to be surpassed by a love for something else.

In the case of former Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky, he let his love of something quite else stand in the way of his love of the game.  And we have watched as it has robbed him of the greatest gift he could have given to an entire generation of fans: a pure, unadulterated contest on the field.

Looking back over the past decade, you needn't look far to witness this flaw toppling great men -- and entire sporting empires.

Golf legend Tiger Woods let his love of women surpass his love of the game. He lost everything as a result. His wife, his children, his career. He hasn’t played as well since.

In the case of track-and-field star Marion Jones, she let her love of winning supercede her love of the game. After testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, she paid the ultimate price by having to give back her Olympic medal.

It happens just as often in the game of life. You see it in the person who allows their love of alcohol to rob them of their God-given relationships. An overeater who allows their love of food rob them of the life they wish they had. A politician who lets their love of power outweigh their love for public service (the love that put them in power in the first place). Let the downfalls begin.

The bottomline is this:  When we let our game on the field become surpassed by a love of something off the field, we rob our fans – and ourselves -- of the very innocence that makes sports so great. True grit. Sweat. Tears. Hard work. Struggle. All of the things that make us human and allow us to connect with other human beings on an authentic level.

When you’re focused on your game, you’ll let nothing deter you. Not even the greatest temptation. Sure, it takes great skill.  But then again, isn’t that what true athletes are made of?

Love the game. Keep it pure.

Where Does All the Fat Go?

We’ve all heard the phrases “fat-burning,” or “burning calories.”

A good workout will do both.

The other night I had the privilege of visiting the newly-renovated State Capitol 24 Hour Fitness in downtown Sacramento, and I was struck by how many people were working out in this spacious new facility. At least a hundred people. Huffing and puffing. Pounding the treadmills. Working the stairmasters.

Maybe I’m weird, but – as I looked out among the crowd from my perch atop the goliath stair-stepping machine – I could almost picture tiny thought bubbles above each of their heads: “320 calories burned” and so forth.

As I thought about it further, a curious yet disgusting question entered my mind: Where does all the fat go?

It has to go somewhere, right? So I wondered, does it propel into the atmosphere around us, in some vapor-like force? Or does it melt inside of our bodies like some sort of liquid, alien-like plasma? Both theories thoroughly disgusted me.

So, I did a little research. And I thought I’d pass on the answer to you, in case your brain is as curious and peculiar as mine.

According to the Mayo Clinic's registered dietician Katherine Zeratasky, body fat breaks down in a series of complex metabolic processes.  When you “burn” fat, resulting waste products of that metabolic fire get expelled through sweat, urine, and carbon dioxide that gets exhaled from your lungs.

So, I was half right. The fat does enter the atmosphere around us at the gym. Your lungs serve as a “chimney” of sorts that expel the fat by-product into the air. And the internal metabolic “burn” is exactly that: a process that occurs inside, among the body’s 10 to 30 billion fat cells. Physical activity stirs up friction like two sticks rubbing together to create a fire, and the result is your fat literally getting burned into oblivion.

This all gives new meaning to the phrase “Let’s get fired up!”  Here's to your next inferno.

'Twas the Week after the Marine Corps Marathon...

‘Twas the week after the Marine Corps Marathon
And all through the house
Not a Runner was stirring
I was sore like a louse

My feet needed a warm kerchief
My poor head, a cap
No, I think I changed my mind:
All I want is a nap!

My feet needed to be nestled
All snug in my bed
But psychotically, visions of the next Marathon
Danced in my head.

When out on the race trail
There arose such a clatter
I tried to spring from my bed
But my bones, they all chattered

So away to the window I hobbled, toes smashed
I threw open the window, threw up the sash

Then what to my sleep-deprived eyes did appear...
A vision of race day my self had once feared.

New crestfallen runners
As if fallen like snow
Had tripped on Gu packets
On the unforgiving course below.

Then, Sleigh-like objects
So shiny and clear.
The rear pace car
And stragglers bus coming near!

Some handsome Marines
Offered a tempting ride
“It’s so nice and cozy,” they said
“Step in, take a ride!”

They looked oh-so-nice
And the bus looked the same
But then they whistled and shouted
And called us by name

On dasher! On dancer!
On prancer and Loser
Come on, speed it up
You regret being out last night – don’t you, you Boozer!

I waved them around
Said no thanks, I shall pass
I may be late in this race
But at least I’m not last!

And laying a finger aside my frozen nose
I waved them around
And up the final hill I rose

To the top of the Iwo Jima
I’ve already conquered the National Mall
Let’s dash away, dash away, dash away, all!

It was then I awoke
Suspected it was all but a dream
‘Til I turned over, and from the medal
Caught that sparkling gleam!

The lesson I’ve learned,
26 miles is no fright.
Happy Marathoning to all,
And to all a good night!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Take, for example, the picture of the “Finisher's Medal” from last weekend's Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. The most stunning medal I have ever seen, this beauty certainly represents a thousand words. A thousand footsteps. And a thousand days of training (yes, Virginia – my training was, in fact, three years in the making.)

I'm not certain where this legendary quote originated – some say a writer coined the phrase in December 1921 to promote the use of photography in ads. He suggested that when it came to beautiful cable cars: "One look is worth a thousand thoughts." Some say it has roots in a Chinese proverb that, when translated, means: "A picture is worth ten thousand words." Other historians say it was French general Napoleon Bonaparte who uttered the phrase: "A good sketch is better than a long speech."  (If only politicians today would heed the suggestion!)

Whatever the case – and whomever the author – it is a statement as true as a Marathon is long.

For me, this picture is worth not only a thousand words. It's worth a thousand thoughts. A thousand hopes. And at one time, it probably represented a thousand fears.

Now, it represents a thousand tiny accomplishments. And a thousand more possibilities that are still to come. And that makes me smile... yes, you guessed it... a thousand times over.

Simmer Down Now

Generally speaking, I have a hard time winding down. It’s a trait that has haunted me my entire life.  Whether it’s relinquishing what's left of the day and getting ready for bed --- or making the transition from the hectic workday in order to enjoy an evening with family and friends --- I have long struggled with the delicate transition from 90mph to the resting position.

I suppose I identify with Newton's Law: “A body in motion stays in motion. A body at rest stays at rest.” I fear that if I stop, I’ll mess up the momentum.

And so goes my philosophy on Marathon training.

I have found it incredibly difficult to “taper down” on my training runs in the last few days and weeks leading up to this weekend's Marathon. The way I see it, as Runners we spend months building up to a Marathon. Spending blood, sweat and sometimes tears seeing just how far we can push ourselves. So, it seems odd to me – almost counter-intuitive – to suddenly start going in the opposite direction. After all, if a body in motion truly stays in motion, isn’t that the kind of forward momentum we want leading into race day?

But the experts know better. They say that tapering down your runs (such as reducing your running distance by 20-25% each week for three weeks leading up to a Marathon, according to RunnersWorld) will give your muscles the time and rest they need to repair and recharge for the big day.

Equipped with this knowledge, I began channeling my inner Nadeen – you know, the quirky, beehived, Southern character played by Cheri O’Teri on Saturday Night Live – who made a living (or at least her Saturday nights) running around telling everyone to “Simmer Down Now.” It was her way of telling people to relax, calm down, and let the expert in charge (usually, Nadeen) handle the situation.

So, I am chill. I am trusting the experts. I’m allowing the process to work. Just the other day, even though I desperately wanted to squeeze in "just one last run" on Friday, I  resisted the temptation.

I have to admit, now that my muscles have had a few days of rest and a few good nights of sleep, I feel wholly prepared to take on the race. Piece of cake.

Maybe Nadeen was onto something.

Run, Don't Blog

 
I’ve been a bad blogger lately.

Thankfully, I’ve been a pretty good runner.

And that’s how life goes sometimes. At thirty-something, I’m finally learning that sometimes you have to make choices. This or that. One or the other. Priorities.

As the training runs have gotten longer, when I've been given the choice between training and firing off a blog off for the evening, I had to come down on the side of training. (Well, I went from blogging almost daily, to weekly. That's not so bad, I suppose.) But that's beside the point.

I ran a marathon once before when I was woefully unprepared, and it wasn’t fun. I won’t go so far as to say it was the worst five hours of my life (because it wasn’t), but it wasn’t particularly fun. And I had no one to blame but myself. Try running with that broken record in your head for five hours!

Also, since this is my first marathon back after a serious accident, it was important to me to train injury-free. Honestly, when I set out on this journey to train for my first marathon back, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew is, I could do it.

Six months later, I am absolutely delighted to be going into the final weekend for the Marine Corps Marathon injury-free (minus a few aches and pains).

So, for the sake of the sport, I hope you’ll forgive me. I know many of you have said you enjoy the posts. Now that race weekend is (finally) here, I look forward to sharing more posts from the road.

And in case I haven’t said it lately, Thanks for reading. xx

Friday Night Lights

Last week, we participated in a great American tradition: a Friday night high school football game.

My boyfriend and I picked up his boys from their football practice and with the goal of giving them a taste of a good old fashioned football rivalry, within minutes we were heading across town to see St. Francis High School take on Harvard Westlake - two of the best college preparatory schools in Los Angeles.

When we arrived, what we found was nothing short of the perfect high school football game. Fall was in the air. It was Homecoming. A pretty blonde was crowned queen. And the home team won the game with only two seconds left on the clock.

Looking around the field, it made me realize: whether you're 17 and you're the star quarterback, or you're 18 and leading cheers on the sidelines, or you're the parents finally taking a seat in the stands after weeks of carpooling that falls just short of an Olympic sport -- everyone plays their part in making the game happen. Just as in life, it requires teamwork to make all the moving parts come together.

This week, I encourage you to find a game in your area. Watch a heated rivalry. Appreciate the effort that goes into the production of a great sporting event. Plus, it'll make you feel like you're in high school again, if only for a night.

Enjoy the Friday night lights.

Ring Around the Rose-y...

 Do you ever get hooked on an incredible run?

And I mean, an incredible run that you can't actually believe you're running.

I had this experience over the weekend while running around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

This 8-mile jog took me to the Rose Bowl and back, and around the perimeter of the Rose Bowl which is a 3-mile loop in and of itself. The run included hill work and enough mileage to log a respectable long run for this Marathon trainee.

Not to mention the scenery.

I am told that more than 10,000 people move to California each year courtesy of a single landmark photograph of the canyon that leads down into the Rose Bowl.

As a little girl, I used to dream of living in California. Today, there are so many moments in this beautiful life - yes, even something as simple as this trip to the Rose Bowl - that have me pinching myself as if to say, Am I really here? After ten years here, it never gets old.

And for this football fanatic, I can't think of a more inspiring run. Passing the stadium on a perfect Southern California day, I can't help but think of the tradition. All of the athletes who have come before me. The pomp and circumstance of the Rose Parade. The cheering crowds. So magical.

Yep. The Rose Bowl has officially been added to my list of worldwide favourite runs. Now I'm curious: What's your favourite run? Landmark? Tourist-y spot to run? I have a few others up my moisture-wicking sleeve that I'll share in the next few weeks. But I'm curious to hear yours first.

Labor of Love

 Runners are passionate about their hobby.

You could even call it a labor of love.

Literally.

Reuters reports that a woman ran yesterday's Chicago Marathon at nearly 39 weeks pregnant. After the race, she went into labor.

I have to admit, I'm tempted to judge. I've always read it's unsafe to run beyond the 5-month mark. Although I understand she was under a doctor's supervision. And generally speaking, I want to support those who love the sport.

But a marathon?

A marathon takes a serious toll on the body. Some studies even suggest that distance running increases the chance of some cancers due to the prolonged strenuous physical activity that affects white blood cell counts. Therefore, I can't even imagine subjecting a fetus to that. As a woman in my 30s who is yearning to have a baby of my own someday, if there were even a slightest chance of endangering my baby I don't think I'd do it. Would you?

What's your opinion? Is this safe? Would you run a marathon with a baby in your belly? I'm curious to know!

One Small Step for Man...

 Just when you think you've heard it all.

A 31-year old man is training to be the first person to run a mile on the moon.

ABC News reports that distance runner Jonathon Prince is scheduled to be the first person to blaze a trail atop the lunar ball.

But although he will fly to the moon Prince doesn't necessarily think he's superhuman. When interviewed, he says nothing is impossible in life; you simply have to put a massive amount of commitment and dedication behind your dream. His dedication includes logging long hours training at a private space facility to learn everything there is to know about the space industry.

But that's not even the most impressive part.

Whereas I thought my measly 5Ks were impressive, Prince is currently logging a whopping 100 to 120 miles per week. When you consider that there are approximately 1,760 steps in every mile that is run, this means Prince is running more than 176,000 steps per week.

That is one giant leap for mankind.

To see the interview with the first man who will run a mile on the surface of the moon, visit here or follow him on Facebook.

Fingers Crossed!

 

This morning I was thinking about an upcoming race, and I was reminded of my infamous “race day rituals.”

Ahh, the race day ritual. Those twitchy little superstitious habits in which we engage in anticipation of the starting line.

Society has its rituals. And the running community is no different. In fact, I’m certain that the best professional athletes have them. I’m sure I’ve heard NFL players share their game day superstitions. And I, for one, have seen runners do all sorts of crazy things on race day.

I know some runners who request specific bib numbers, or demand bib numbers that end in odd or even numbers. I have heard that fights break out over specific numbers. Some runners eat a very specific breakfast on race day. Lay their race outfit out the night before. Wear a lucky bandana or a coin in their shoe (although that sounds awfully painful for 26 miles...) A more common ritual is to create a race day playlist on the iPod. Some people meditate. Pray. I’ve even seen a man doing jumping jacks at the starting line. Says he started doing it 20 years ago and it went so well, he's done it ever since.

Whatever it takes to get in the zone, man.

Mine? In the interest of sharing with the running community that shares it all (and I do mean, all) my worst race day habit has got to be running to the ladies room multiple times before the shotgun start. I'm sure it's the nerves. It is a habit which I became accustomed to during my ballet recitals as a little girl and a habit I have tried to break in the running world, as jetting off to the port-a-pottie every 5 minutes really defeats the purpose of getting that good spot at the starting line.

I also try to wear the same outfit on race day that I have worn to prior races. While it’s no guarantee, I figure that past success is a great indicator of future performance. (If it fits and doesn't chafe, it's a winner.) I also write or apply iron-on lettering the night before to my race day shirts to send a message (especially when running for the Troops). 

I have one other odd little habit – repeatedly tying and untying my shoes. I'm sure this started as a mere safety precaution, but it has now gone to the extreme. To make matters worse, since I double-knot my laces for safety it takes me twice as long to tie and untie them. I have no idea what this habit indicates. Probably that I was an axe murderer in a former life.

But enough about my quirks. I want to hear from you.

I’m curious: What are your race day rituals? What do you absolutely, positively, have to do in order to ensure a good race? Share it here, or Tweet it!

Finish Strong

After a few weeks of travel, there's nothing I crave more than getting back home and getting back into a routine. After weeks of airplanes, taxicabs, political conventions and dinners out, I've got a little catching up to do in my Marathon training.

Okay, a lot of catching up to do.

So, last week I laid down the gauntlet. If I am going to succeed in running the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30th, I have to step it up a notch. Rather than running my already-respectable 5K a day, I have no choice but to up the ante: 5 miles per day, minimum. And this isn't even counting the longer weekend runs. After all, I have a Marathon to run, people! The MCM is just a short (gulp!) five weeks away.

But I'll be ready.

I've succeeded at getting a couple of 5+-mile runs under my belt last week, and tomorrow will run my first 8-miler in nearly four years. Even though this means earlier ups in the mornings, or later evening runs after work, it's worth it. And even though I'm undoubtedly lining the pockets of my future orthopedic surgeon with my occasional knee pain, it feels really, really good just to be back out there. Any runner out there who's ever been sidelined will know what I mean.

I am looking forward to these final weeks of training. I'm excited for the further changes I will see in my body, and my level of personal fitness. Furthermore, I can't wait for the regalia of Marathon Day itself. All great reasons to Finish Strong!

Willpower

It has been said that the friends you have today, and the books you are reading right now, will tell you more about where your life will be in 5 years than any other indicator.

Well, I love my books. And I am proud to know some of the coolest people in the world who allow me to call them "friends."

The newest book I cannot put down is Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by renowned psychologist Roy Baumeister and New York Times writer John Tierney.

Now, I realize that no fewer than a million books have been written on this subject which is as old as time itself. But this new gem explains the science deep inside the brain which drives Willpower. And I love that.

It turns out that “Willpower is like a muscle: it can be strengthened with practice and fatigued with overuse" – which I think is very interesting in this multi-tasking world. For instance, did you know that your brain (and thereby your Willpower) can actually get fatigued by contemplating too many decisions in a single day? But by automating mundane daily decisions and taking the guesswork out of it (i.e., whether or not you’ll actually go to the gym), you can conserve brainpower and build up even stronger willpower for more critical moments (i.e., major life decisions that really count). Once again, I cannot help but think how brilliant Nike was with their “Just Do It” slogan. It's as if they've known this brainy little secret all along.

If you think this is kabuki science that doesn't apply to life and death decisions, check this out. In the areas of eating habits, right down to the consumption of glucose (sugar) they cite a study: "Researchers found that Israeli judges making parole decisions were likely to grant parole roughly 65 percent of the time after a meal break, but approved parole almost never right before one." Kind of makes you re-think when to set appointments to pitch business proposals, doesn't it?

The authors also report that the average human faces up to 4 hours of temptation per day. I haven’t gotten to that chapter yet, but I can only imagine that with the temptations stemming from food and drink, social networking, texting, and the glow of online sex, it stands to reason we are a nation going out of our minds. Literally.

This book will change your way of thinking. Whether you're looking to eat healthy, run a Marathon, or just become a better human being. I know it has changed my perspective already. Check it out on Amazon.com when you can. Just don't overthink it.

9/11 "United We Run" Series: Todd Beamer: Father, Husband, Hero, Athlete

There’s something different about athletes.

Something that sets us apart from the rest of the population.

I don’t know if it’s the discipline it takes to rise at some unearthly hour, or the fact that we push ourselves to break new records – but there’s just a little something extra that makes us stand a bit taller in a crowd.

I believe it’s no different in moments of crisis.

Todd Beamer, the man who uttered the inspirational “Let’s Roll” call to action on 9/11, was a lifelong athlete. Although I couldn’t find specific proof in my research that Todd Beamer was a runner, newspaper accounts suggest he was an avid sports fan and a lifelong team player.

One newspaper reports that throughout his life, Beamer “defined himself by athletics. He excelled at a Christian High School in baseball, basketball and soccer. And when his family moved to California before his senior year, Beamer used sports to make new friends… He attended Fresno State University to play baseball, with an eye toward a professional career, but he soon realized that was not in his future…” Then he met his wife on November 2, 1991. After they got married, Todd decorated their game room in festive Chicago Cubs sports memorabilia. They both joined the softball team at church, where Todd continued to be exceptionally competitive and “did not shy away from bowling over another player if it meant winning.”

All too often in today’s society, being competitive is frowned upon. We want every child to have a trophy, just for showing up. Well, imagine for one moment if the passengers of Flight 93 that day had only  “shown up.” Stayed in their seats, just as the terrorists told them to. The outcome would have been very different.

I believe it was a fiercely competitive spirit that led Todd to act that day and bring together a small team of brave Americans to break into the cockpit, fight hand-to-hand with terrorists, and take down an airliner that was screaming toward our nation's Capitol building – saving hundreds if not thousands of lives, according to aall government counts.
There is a quote from Gene Hackman’s character in the legendary sports film, The Replacements, that happens to be one of my favourite quotes: “Winners always want the ball when the game is on the line.” I think it perfectly represents the heroic actions of our fellow Americans – and fellow athletes – that day. As fierce competitors in the game of good vs. evil and like star players who scored just as the buzzer was running out, Todd Beamer and his fellow passengers saved their nation from further death and heartbreak.

9/11.  Never Forget.

9/11 "United We Run" Series: Ronald Buca: Fire Marshal, Special Forces, Father, Hero, Runner

NYFD Fire Marshal Ronald Buca was cat-like. In his agility. His speed. The ability to always land on his feet. And the fact that he seemed to have lived nine lives.

Firefighters Quarterly describes Buca as a firefighter who once survived after he fell five stories inside a burning building. He made a full recovery after plotting out his own physical therapy routine when he was convinced he could do it better. (This makes me laugh for my own personal reasons.) Prior to his 23 years as a firefighter, Buca served as an elite Special Forces operator, a medical professional and an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Military. As the former, he became so convinced terrorists would strike again after their 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, he became an expert on emergency evacuation plans and even kept a set of blueprints of the World Trade Center in his locker at work.

Like many firefighters that day, Buca did not have to report for duty. But he did anyway.

Buca, an avid Marathon runner, was believed to be just the second person to arrive at the point of impact where the first plane went into the 78th floor. The other was NYFD Battalion Chief Orio Palmer (featured in a previous post). Whereas his colleague Palmer was able to ride the elevator first to the 41st Floor, before taking the stairs the rest of the way to the 78th floor – Buca actually climbed the entire distance, starting from the ground floor and going all the way to the 78th floor. Seventy-eight stories takes some serious endurance. Endurance that, in my opinion, only a Marathoner or Triathlete or professional athlete could marshal.

Once he arrived, Buca joined Palmer in evacuating survivors and battling the fire with equipment they had available to them. Like Palmer and other first responders who were busy battling the blaze when the floor underneath them collapsed with the rest of the Tower, Buca died a hero.

The number of lives that both men touched leaves me stunned. And it makes me take a hard look at my own daily life. Am I helping enough people? Am I making a big enough impact in the world? I could be philosophical and say I don’t yet know the answer to this, but I’m pretty sure when compared to these brave men, the answer is “no.” Their heroics make me want to refine myself further – as both a runner and a human being – so that I can be a greater blessing to those around me. I hope that this small action is tribute enough to my fellow runners and the heroes who did so much, for so little, and to their families, who lost everything that day.

9/11. Never Forget.

9/11 "United We Run" Series: Orio Palmer: Battalion Chief, Father, Hero, Runner





With the exception of track and field relay competitions – such as the 440 relay – running is not exactly considered a team sport.

But maybe it should be.

While most of us run by ourselves (and mostly for ourselves, i.e., our physical strength, our mental health, to build stronger, faster, better bodies), the truth is that Running benefits many people outside of oneself. It allows us to be better mothers, sisters, aunties, spouses, and employees. It allows us to have the stamina to live our passions, to pick up our babies with ease, and most importantly, to come to the aid of our fellow man.

That is the case with New York Fire Department (NYFD) Battalion Chief Orio Palmer.

Ten years ago, on that fateful day of 9/11, Palmer was the first firefighter to arrive at the floor of the World Trade Center where United Flight 175 had entered the building.

Palmer – an avid Marathon runner – climbed to the 78th floor of the World Trade Center at a rapid clip of 12 floors every ten minutes – with full gear strapped to his back. Along the way, he singlehandedly fixed a broken elevator, repaired FDNY’s faltering radio system, and helped usher countless people down the stairs as he continued to climb.

Many other firefighters entered the World Trade Towers before Palmer that morning, but his marathon training is credited with his ability to make it to the top of the tower several minutes before any of his teammates. First on the scene at the so-called “elevator bridge” on that 78th floor, he sent yet more survivors to the ground floor using the elevator he had just fixed. His early condition reports also helped emergency responders direct survivors to the still-functioning South stairwell, which provided the best means of escape. To this day, there is no way of knowing precisely how many lives Palmer saved that day as a result of his speed. But the numbers are probably in the high hundreds.

When radio transmissions were made public after 9/11, Palmer’s brother remarked that he could tell by the cadence of his brother’s voice as he climbed the floors that he was pacing himself and wisely conserving oxygen – no doubt tricks of the trade he learned as a firefighter, and as a Marathoner.

While Palmer and his crew died when the South Tower collapsed just a few minutes after his last radio transmission, there is no question that his athletic agility and sheer speed saved countless lives of his fellow man. It is proof that although we may think we run for ourselves, the benefits of our sport are truly meant to be shared with all of humanity.

9/11. Never Forget.

United We Run

With the kickoff of various 9/11 "10th Anniversary" specials this week, I thought it fitting to dedicate today's blog to those affected by 9/11.

While I'm certain this year's 10th Anniversary commemoration will be no less than spectacular, in my view, no greater tributes have taken place than the ones that occured in the running community immediately following 9/11.

In every race – from the Boston Marathon to the New York City Marathon to the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. that year – one thing stood out. It was a simple, yet powerful, message written on the backs of t-shirts in virtually every race I witnessed.

Three simple words: United We Run.

As Runners, we have a community of our own. One that sometimes requires few words. Whether it's the simplest act during a routine run (such times when a polite nod of the head will do), or after an enormous tragedy like 9/11, we have a language all our own.

I recall that the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. went ahead as planned just weeks after the terrorist attacks, despite serious security concerns. And I am told that 25,000 runners fell silent as they ran the stretch of road past the Pentagon. Still missing much of its Western wall (and in its place, a simple large American flag hanging over the space where the exterior wall used to be), its new devastated form caused the crowd to fall silent. As more and more runners flooded around the corner and into view of the burned out Pentagon, a hush fell over the crowd. All you could hear was the pitter-patter of feet on the pavement.

What I found even more striking was the sea of United We Run t-shirts flowing past the Pentagon. So many white shirts bobbing up and down and drifting past, it was almost ghost-like. There was a photo of it posted on the website after the race. I wish I had saved the picture.

Ten years down the line from 9/11, I'm still convinced that a good run is the best way to honor the fallen of 9/11 because running so intimately symbolizes freedom. Freedom to go where you want, when you want, with whomever you want.

On this 10th Anniversary of 9/11, I will start my run for the victims at exactly 8:46a.m., the moment the first plane hit the World Trade Towers. And I will set my stopwatch and pause at 9:02a.m., the moment the second plane hit the other Tower. I will pause again at 9:37a.m. when the third plane hit the Pentagon. And at 10:03a.m. when the plane full of heroes went down in that Pennsylvania field. I will conclude my run at 10:28a.m., the minute that the final World Trade Tower fell. I will use this hour and forty-five minutes to reflect upon what the victims on those flights and in those Towers were going through during this window of time. I encourage you to do the same, or perhaps run one of the many "United We Run" races in your area that benefit the families (simply Google "United We Run" along with your city and state), or honor the victims and their families in whatever way you feel is best.

Over the next two weeks, I'll be honoring 9/11 rescuers and heroes of that day – who, I'm sure you won't be surprised to find out, just happened to be Runners.

9/11. Never Forget.

Saturday Morning, Out for a Spin...

I've been taking orders lately.

From Nike Fit, that is.

A few weeks ago, I signed up for Nike Fit's "Get Lean" app. on Facebook. It's like having a personal trainer in your Inbox every morning. For the most part, I've been following their orders. And I like it, in a sick sort of way.

This morning, Nike Fit informed me that today was a "ladies' choice" of sorts - meaning, I could take a Spin Class, or run 4 miles. (The truth is, I'll probably do both today - after all, it is my day off from work.)

So I grabbed the girls and headed out for a Spin. One hour later, my early morning workout was accomplished, leaving me with the rest of the day free to do as I wish.

My lesson for today: sometimes you just have to let go and let someone else take the wheel. See where it takes you. Who knows, you might just like it.

The First 5 Minutes are Always the Hardest

I was reading an interesting tip the other day. I believe it was from Bart Yasso, Chief Running Officer of Runners World magazine.

He said that if you can make it through the first five minutes of a run, chances are you can make it through the duration of your run – whether it’s one mile, or ten.

The reason? The first five minutes of running produce a shock to your body. The human body goes from being sedentary, to full-throttle, in the span of just a few seconds. But after the initial shock, your system settles into a rhythm.

This makes sense in the running world. And to me, it makes even more sense in other areas of life.

In life, I'd like to suggest that the first five minutes are always the hardest. Whether it’s starting that project you’ve been procrastinating, doing your homework, writing a presentation, getting over the initial shock of a breakup, sitting down to pen a blog post, or simply getting out of bed at some ungodly hour in the morning – I firmly believe the first five minutes are the hardest. But now we know: If you do it, for just five minutes, you just might get through it.

Maybe that’s why Nike said, “Just Do It.” Perhaps they’ve known all along that the first five minutes are the hardest, but that those five minutes are also the secret to success. Darn those people at Nike, they're so smart. Whatever the case, this revelation has changed my view on training and has encouraged me to take a more positive view of the first five minutes of my runs.

In running, and in life, I now know that if I can make it through the first 300 seconds, I can make it through anything.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Of all the sporting news of the current MLB season and the upcoming football season, one unfortunate trend keeps stealing the headlines: violence at major sporting events.

Last night, at a pre-season NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, two men were shot multiple times after an altercation in the parking lot, and one man was beaten in the men’s restroom at Candlestick Park. All of this, just a few months after San Francisco Giants baseball fan Brian Stow was beaten at Dodgers Stadium on Opening Day. Stow remains in a coma more than four months later.

It's high time for a "time out." This unsportsmanlike conduct is uncalled for, and it is unacceptable in our civilized society.

As athletes, we ought to expect better of the game. As fans, we must behave with more decorum. Sure, we all have emotions. And those emotions ride high during sporting events and other occasions. But we’re not animals. We can keep our emotions in check. We have to check violence at the door.

What’s the solution? Public officials have suggested everything from metal detectors to a widescale ban on alcohol at stadiums. Both solutions have merit, but we can’t just treat the superficial wound. The root of the solution lies in expecting better of ourselves.

If I owned an NFL team, I would bring the League's top players, coaches and owners together immediately to record a stirring Public Service Announcement asking fans to cease the violence. It may sound silly, but fans of professional sporting teams tend to put so much stock in the words and images of professional athletes, you never know, it just might make a difference.

America, we can do better. Let's stop the violence. Let's get our heads back in the game.

If the Shoe Fits...

During my hunt for a new pair of running shoes, I came across a cool tool I feel I must pass on to my fellow runners.

RunnersWorld Magazine invented an interactive "Shoefinder" which makes finding the perfect pair a snap.

There are three ways to search. You can use their "Shoe Advisor" which asks you 10 questions about your arches, footstrikes, and how many miles you log each week.

Or, if you're like me and just love, love, LOVE your current shoe and can't seem to part with it, you can use their "Shoes Like Mine" tool. Simply enter your current make and model, and voila! they'll serve up 10 pairs that have similar fit and function. How cool is that.

Lastly, if you already have a pair in mind and just want to see how they stack up to others, use the "Advanced Search" and see comparisons on something like 13 different dimensions.

Go to http://www.RunnersWorld.com/ShoeFinder and go to town!

As for my search, I've narrowed down my choices. I know, it's been a couple of weeks. But like so many people out there, I'm busy! Plus, you can't blame a girl for taking so long to decide. Important life decisions like fine wine, men, and running shoes all take time.

Run Like a Champion Today

With the broadcast of the first NFL game this week (albeit pre-season), America caught its first whiff of Fall. The official kick-off to Football season is just around the corner.

I don’t know about you, but nothing quite inspires me like College football.  There’s something different about college ball. The players still have an innocence about them. They aren’t afraid of getting hurt, they’re still hungry for it, and they play their hearts out ‘til the final second on the clock.

It inspires me this time of year. And it inspires my running. So much so, I just loaded a compilation of the best college Fight Songs onto my iPod. Believe me, nothing works better for sprint training than pretending you’re running out of the tunnel and onto the field with the team at a home game. But, perhaps I’ve shared too much.

At any rate, my favourite quote during football season is the legendary “Play Like a Champion Today.”  Most fans associate the quote with Notre Dame football, but the fact is the quote originated at my alma mater, The University of Oklahoma, in the late 1940s through coach Bud Wilkinson. According to Wikipedia it was nearly four decades later, in 1986, that coach Lou Holtz requested a sign be made with the saying and hung in the Notre Dame locker room. But no matter, the quote serves its purpose – whether you’re in South Bend, or just South of Oklahoma City.

I love the sign because it’s simple, yet stirring. It conjures up images of champions who have gone before us – and the champion that lies within all of us. It doesn’t say, “Play well today” or “Stay safe out there.” It says, “Play Like a Champion Today.”

The original "Play Like a Champion Today" sign, on display today
at the Barry Switzer Center at The University of Oklahoma.


What’s your favourite sports quote? What gets you motivated?

Whatever it is, post it where you can see it. High-five it. Live it. Love it.

Gone with the Schwinn

 

"It's a good thing frogs can hop, otherwise I'd be gone with the Schwinn!" ~ Kermit the Frog

 
















I went to my first spin class last night.

For the first 45 minutes, I hated it. I fully realize that’s a long time to hate any activity, especially one I voluntarily entered into. But it’s true. Felt as if my feet were strapped into a medieval torture device that kept spinning 'round and 'round and 'round and... well, you get the point.

You see, I’ve never really been a great bicyclist. Not since I was seven years old and cracked my skull during a gnarly bike accident on an old country lane in Puerto Rico. I think the nearest emergency room was about 150 miles away. (That was the first of my nine, cat-like lives.)

When I was ten, I wanted to be like all the teenagers in my neighborhood who cruised down the street without their hands on the handlebars. They made it look so easy. Well, it just so happened, the moment I tried this feat saying, “Look ma, no hands!” the front tire hit an uneven patch of pavement. I was thrown over the front handlebars and skidded on my left cheek for several feet. Me and bicycles, we’ve never really gotten along.

Yet last night, there I was. Looking down the shiny barrel of a Schwinn. Trying to make amends after all these years.

As my muscles burned, I tried desperately to think of something else – anything else – than what I had gotten myself into. I wondered, was it too late to jump off of the bike? Pretend I had mistakenly walked into the wrong class? Mistakenly gone to all of the trouble of dragging the cycle over to my corner of the classroom? My classmates would hardly fall for it. They were sweaty, but they weren't stupid.

So, I kept pedaling. My legs responded to the cues being barked out by the spin instructor. Out of saddle! Hill training! Crank up the tension a notch, another quarter turn! While pedaling, I tried to inspire myself by making a mental list of the thinnest, most fit people I know - all of whom just happen to take spin class. It pleasantly confirmed that this workout must be a caloric barn burner. I thought of Lance Armstrong, Lars Boom, and all of those other waifish cyclists strutting around in their spandex shorts. This would all be worth it in the end, I mused.

Then, my mind drifted to what it means to stick something out. Especially when you’re uncomfortable. Especially when you’re trying something new. Or in my case, something so old it feels like new.

As adults, I think we get so locked into our daily routine (even our workout routine), that we forget to challenge ourselves, to challenge our bodies. To step outside of our comfort zone. Ironically, it was around that point I actually began to feel more comfortable.

Then, something happened. We entered the cooldown phase. A full 45 minutes had passed. Suddenly, my legs relaxed, the pedals started flowing, and I felt like a kid riding downhill on a sweet summer day. Not a pothole in sight.

It was at that moment I realized: I have made peace with the bike.

By no means am I giving up running. No siree. I have no plans to go out and purchase a shiny new toy any time soon. Nor become the next Lana Armstrong. But overcoming my fear of the bike? Well, it will certainly help me add one more tool to my training toolbox – one more cross-training routine for my repertoire – in this long journey of physical fitness. All of which will help me make it to the starting line of the marathon this Fall.

Let's roll!

Hemingway Lied, My Knees Died

There is a classic Hemingway quote that reads, “We’re all a little stronger in the broken places.”

Now, I love Hemingway’s works. A Moveable Feast. Farewell to Arms. The Old Man and the Sea. No one can argue with those strokes of genius. But suggesting that a person is actually stronger in their broken places? Well, that seems a stretch too far, especially for any runner who is working hard to overcome the lifelong skull drudgery of dealing with a serious knee injury.

I don’t want to doubt Hemingway. In fact, I have to hand it to ‘ole salty:  Hemingway knew a thing or two about pain.

In World War I, as an ambulance driver in combat, Hemingway was injured so badly he was sent home from war. Many years later while on safari in Africa, he was severely injured in a plane crash that nearly took his life. Both incidents left him in pain and with a significantly lower quality of life than he had enjoyed before. It's clear he spoke with authority on the topic.

However, Hemingway ended up disproving his own theory in the end.  After presumably attempting to drink away the pain for years with little to no success, Hemingway shot himself. And while many suggest it was the result of mental illness, I suspect it was largely from the chronic pain. Maybe the old guy just couldn’t take it anymore.

The final chapter hasn’t yet been written for the rest of us. I’m three years out from my own injury but still putting up with physical limitation and pain, although the days are long gone since I felt like pulling a Hemingway.

Time will tell. It will tell how many miles we'll log. How many races we’ll run. How many more years we'll be able to forge on these creaky knees that God and our mamas gave us. But just for tonight, I'm perfectly content to pop a cork, settle in, and raise a glass to the Old Man and my Knees…

What's Your Hour?

There’s a humourous scene in the pilot episode of The West Wing, where White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (played by Allison Janney) cherishes the one whole hour she has to herself each day. In this particular instance, she chooses to use it jogging on a treadmill before the workday begins.

“This is my hour,” C.J. says optimistically. “From 5a.m. to 6a.m. every day, this is my hour. I can do anything I want during this hour. I can use it to run, read the paper, even meet a man. Well, alright, it might be a little early to meet a man. But this is my hour.”

Her soliloquy gets interrupted by the manic beeping of her White House pager. She reads the breaking news, her eyes grow big, then she falls off the treadmill. Cue the opening theme music.

I don’t know about you, but being a political Press Secretary myself, this is sometimes how our days go.

The question is, outside of our day jobs, where do we fit in that beloved one hour for a run?

I’m probably not the only one who has this question. I am sure there are busy executives, politicians, World leaders, and stay-at-home moms who are in the same predicament: how can I possibly escape for one hour to get a run in?

I’m curious to know when you fit your run in:  4a.m.? 5a.m.? Immediately after work? Or is it somewhere around the bewitching hour (midnight), which I have also done.

What’s your hour?

Run for Conor

While searching for 5K races the other day, I stumbled across a webpage that stopped me in my tracks.

It is the story of Conor Lynch.

A model student and high school athlete, Conor Lynch was running with his cross country track team in the Los Angeles suburb of Sherman Oaks last October when he was hit and killed by a car. Only 16 years old and a junior in high school, he died at the scene.

A story like this is so unspeakable, as a human being it's difficult to find words to do it justice.

While reading Conor's story, I was reminded of the dire statistic that 9 out of 10 people who get hit by a car as a pedestrian do not survive.

And although our outcomes were different, the story is eerily familar.

I was hit by a car as a pedestrian 3 1/2 years ago around the same time in the afternoon, at a similar time of year, on a similarly idyllic neighborhood street, and likewise, by a similarly distracted driver.  After reading about Conor and, I admit sobbing for some time, I realized something profound. I felt a connection with this young man not only because we both got hit by cars. But because we were both Runners.

There's something about the running community that bonds us all together. If one of us goes down, we all feel the pain. If one gets left behind, we wait for the person at the next corner to catch up. Yes, even if we'd rather be selfishly training for time. It's just what we do. Therefore, it pains me there is nothing that any of us can do now for this young man.

Or is there?

A visit to Conor's public memorial Facebook page shows that he was so loved by his parents, brothers, aunties, teachers, coaches and many friends (more than 7,000 of them!), one gets the sense that his death has left a gaping hole that may never be filled. But by all accounts, I also get the sense he would want us to lace up our shoes and take the first step and at least try.

So, for starters: I'd like to encourage my friends in Southern California to join me in running (or at least supporting) the Conor Lynch 5K this October 16th to honor this young man and the winning spirit he embodied.

Beyond race day, I'd like to make a personal plea on behalf of Conor, myself, and the more than 500,000 people who are killed or seriously injured each year by distracted drivers:

Those of you who still text and drive, or who have friends who still text and drive (or Facebook and drive, Tweet and drive, check your e-mail and drive, or simply cellphone and drive), please share this story. Tell your friends. Post it on your Wall. Tweet it. (When you're not driving, of course). Put a face with the name. Look at this picture. Then ask yourself: could you live with yourself if you took the life of a young person like this with so much promise? Don't think it couldn't happen. It's exactly what could happen. It happens every day in our communities. It could happen tomorrow on your way to work. It could happen tonight on your way home. On your next conference call in the car. Believe me when I say, it can happen in the blink of an eye.

Hang up and drive. Because the truth is that other than participating in this inaugural run, sparing another human life is the best way you can honor the life and memory of this champion, who is no doubt running across the finish line in Heaven. 

Rest in peace, Conor.

To Half or Not to Half, that is the Question...

Running a "5KaDay" has proven to be a challenge. But not an insurmountable one. I am now finding my daily 5K runs to be easier, smoother, and much more enjoyable than they were when I first started this odd experiment just three weeks ago.

Which means it must be time for a new challenge. (I'll have to check my birth certificate, but I'm fairly certain my ancient Gaelic name means crazy woman, because there's no other explanation for this quest for running perfection. But, I digress.)

So, naturally, I have been scouting out more 5Ks, 10Ks, and even Half Marathons in order to up the ante in preparation for this fall's Marine Corps Marathon.

But oddly enough, I keep getting tripped up on the "Half" Marathon.

You see, I don't do anything halfway in life. In career, life, love, or relationships. It's all or nothing. 90mph toward the brick wall, or nothing at all. Where I’m from, doing anything “half-assed,” well, that was thought to bring shame upon the family name. (You think I'm kidding but I seem to recall that being a direct quote.) I admit, it may be simple semantics. A psychological block. But the "Half" marathon is a real conundrum for me.

I'm up for a 10K, to be sure. I’ll be there in a few weeks. But I desperately need the expert opinions (and the not-so-expert opinions) on the training benefits of the "Half."  Are there specific, concrete training benefits to doing a Half? Do I even have time to run one between now and October? Do I need to run a Half in order to prove I can run a whole marathon? Or can I just do as I've always done: go big, or go home?

Tough Mudders

 

Photo credit: www.Murrieta-MudRun.com

 

Being in Politics, I fling mud for a living.

But I've never actually run in the mud.

Until now.

Last night, my girlfriends signed me up for a 5K Mud Run complete with obstacle courses and well, you guessed it... 'lots and 'lots of mud.

Surely this must be every guy's dream. Groups of women pushing and shoving and covered in mud, right? Well, I'm perfectly happy to throw the Women's Lib out the door, because frankly I'll do (almost) anything for a good cause.

Our team will run to benefit the troops at Camp Pendleton, CA when we take on the Murrieta Mud Run in Riverside County, Southern California, on September 10, 2011. The race is one day before the 10-Year Anniversary of 9/11, and I can think of no greater way to honor the victims of that day than to run through any sort of conditions to benefit the brave men and women who have sacrificed themselves in order to deliver justice for the acts of that fateful day.

If you live or run in the Southern California area and would like to join our team, e-mail me.

Now... let's get down and dirty, girls!

Reflections on Running

Over the weekend, there was an exceptionally good trending topic on Twitter: #WhyIRun. 

It was interesting to see what runners from all walks of life listed as their reasons.

Confidence. Strength. Fresh air. To clear the mind. To prove a point. Relieve stress. Blow off steam. Achieve a sense of accomplishment. Get into shape. Lose the baby weight. To fit into that bikini. Look good in those skinny jeans. And one recurring theme that needed only one word: chocolate.

Reading others' reasons for running forced me to reflect upon #WhyIRun. Fitness ranks up there. Same with those size 6 skinny jeans. But upon closer examination, it turns out the mental vibe is just as important – if not more important – to me.

I run mostly to clear my head before or after work. Every time I set out for a run, I think it’s going to be a purely physical release. But it always ends up being a mental release, too. Like a kid at Christmas, I will never cease to be amazed by the things I am allowed to process while running. Whether it’s solving a work problem for a client, or figuring out my own long-range life plan, it just clicks. A true mind-body connection that I’ve not been able to replicate anywhere else.

So, what’s your reason? Why do you run? Join the fun and Tweet it at #WhyIRun.

Run Like Nobody's Watching

I saw a t-shirt the other day that read, “Champions are made during the off-season.”

And you know what, it’s so true.

When an event is weeks or months away, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that how we will ultimately perform that day is largely determined  by how we prepare now. Sure, the day of a big event is (relatively) easy – it’s filled with ‘lots of fanfare and excitement and cheering crowds. But during the days when there is no applause, no one cheering us on, and no audience in the stands, that is when we are forced to reach down deep. I am convinced it is in those days that we really become a champion.

They say Character is what you do when no one is looking.  I believe the same applies to running. You can run a 5K a Day, or not. Show up to the gym or the running trail, or not. Run the full distance, or not.

So go ahead. Run like nobody’s watching. Because during the off-season, chances are, nobody is. But come race day, if you’ve trained like a champion, chances are that’s exactly what you’ll be.