Research has shown that people who volunteer often live longer. -- Allen Klein
As a spectator, you get to watch everything, but I'd much rather be playing than watching. I'll have time to watch later in my career. -- Landon Donovan
This past weekend was super busy...and pretty amazing. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but it shocks me how incredibly tiring it was - because I didn't race. I did everything but...
Sunday was the East Coast Triathlon Festival, an all day affair featuring junior & youth elite, CAMTRI elite, and then regular folks - adults and kids. So much great triathlon in one place in one day.
Because it's local (and my daughter trains with the group that sponsors the races), I volunteered to help with set-up...which meant a really early wake-up call on Sunday morning, followed by over 2 hours of unloading hay bales from a semi to set up corner barriers of hay walls. I didn't feel it at the time, but since then, my arms/back/shoulders have reminded me that is a lot of work of the type I'm not used to.
When the course was set up, I went home to rest (and get the hay out of my hair/clothes/shoes...and not terribly successfully, I will say). Then some breakfast, a quick 6-mile run, and back to the race site with my daughter to watch her training mates doing the youth elite races. Next year she ages up and is eligible for these races, so we wanted to really watch them.
After the youth racers, we saw the adult elite - future Olympic-level athletes from around the world - so interesting!
Finally it was time to watch my little athlete. I mom-spectate at races (and soccer games and track meets) all the time, but I will say, triathlon spectating is the hardest, since I race from the swim start to transition to somewhere on the bike course to transition to a corner of the run course...and yeah, well, you get the picture. On top of that 6 mile run, I walked/jogged/jumped/skipped about 6 more miles over the course of the day.
No wonder I felt exhausted...and I hadn't even raced! My first tri of the season...this weekend!
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Thursday, May 4, 2017
What Moves Me?
The changing of the goals helps keep the motivation fresh. -- Bradley Wiggins
Other people's success spurs me on to do well and gives me motivation. -- Nicholas Hoult
I read somewhere that, in order to push through the hard times in training and races, you need to know your motivation. What is it that is pushing you? Why do you want this so bad?
I've found for me, however, that there is no one thing. There are many things and they push me in different ways and for different reasons. I don't know if that ultimately is a problem - maybe if I had ONE THING it would be more effective and getting me through the tough times. But sometimes I feel like the one thing gets stale and becomes less powerful.
So what moves me?
Being a good role model to this kid. And her sister. Sometimes people ask me how I motivate my daughters to do sporting events with the intensity and passion that they have. Honestly, I don't think it has much to do with me, but I know if I give up, if I don't try, if I sit on the couch...then that's what they may think is the best use of their time. I am motivated to be a role model for an active life.
Gold stars. Yeah. I'm so totally motivated by gold stars. And praise. Kind of like a toddler or a dog. I will work hard so you will be happy with my efforts. Honestly, that is one of the top reasons I need (and love) my coach. Having her look over my workouts and be happy (because I totally worked hard and earned it - I don't pay her just to be happy at me, although I could get into that too...paying someone to just walk around and praise you...that would be neat) has been a big motivator for me.
There are other things too...but no one thing gets me through any workout or race. All these things and more push me to work hard and finish strong. Maybe it's not the best approach, but it's working for me.
Other people's success spurs me on to do well and gives me motivation. -- Nicholas Hoult
I read somewhere that, in order to push through the hard times in training and races, you need to know your motivation. What is it that is pushing you? Why do you want this so bad?
I've found for me, however, that there is no one thing. There are many things and they push me in different ways and for different reasons. I don't know if that ultimately is a problem - maybe if I had ONE THING it would be more effective and getting me through the tough times. But sometimes I feel like the one thing gets stale and becomes less powerful.
So what moves me?
Being inspired by people like this. Terry Fox attempted to run across Canada with one leg, only quitting because his cancer came back. Knowing that other people out there are doing things that are truly hard. My workouts may seem hard for me, but how can I not give it my all when there are so many harder things out there and people doing amazing things that are really, truly hard.
There are other things too...but no one thing gets me through any workout or race. All these things and more push me to work hard and finish strong. Maybe it's not the best approach, but it's working for me.
Monday, May 1, 2017
MAY DAY! MAY DAY!
When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised change, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness? Whatever it is, it's welcome. -- Kristin Armstrong
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Apparently there is a season for not blogging...and that season is spring. :)
I listen to a lot of productivity podcasts and instead of work-life balance, a lot of these podcasts talk about seasons. Not spring, winter, etc. - although sometimes those correspond - but ther is a busy season for work, followed by a season to regroup with your family, followed by a season to rebuild your business, etc. I think this is a much more realistic way to live...achieving balance on a daily or even weekly basis is just not feasible for me.
Spring was a very busy work season for me. I worked. A lot. And my kids were (and still are) super busy this spring...so that added to the busyness. I still trained, but I didn't really embody my training. I followed my coach's plan, but I wasn't living triathlon. As this busy season wound down, I found myself kind of suffering. And this is where the distress call comes in - MAY DAY!
This morning is, for me, a new season - appropriately coinciding with May 1, or May Day. May Day always struck me as kind of funny - depending on context, it's either a distress call or a sweet day of baskets, flowers, and May poles. (There's also that socialist/communist workers' day context...but let's just leave that alone.) My work schedule has changed - from now until August it is a lot more flexible - much work to be done, but a different, more creative type of work. And triathlon season is near - my first race is May 13 - so it's time to embody the triathlete life...and eat better and sleep properly and focus on the plan and finish everything strong.
As I start this new season of the year, I'm coming in on a high note. I ran a 10K yesterday in hot, humid weather. It wasn't a PR, but it was a good strong race for me - I was consistent, I had a nice negative split, and I finished hard. Consistency. Execution, Finish Strong. That's what I want for this coming season. I'm hopeful. I'm grateful. I'm open. And it's time.
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Apparently there is a season for not blogging...and that season is spring. :)
I listen to a lot of productivity podcasts and instead of work-life balance, a lot of these podcasts talk about seasons. Not spring, winter, etc. - although sometimes those correspond - but ther is a busy season for work, followed by a season to regroup with your family, followed by a season to rebuild your business, etc. I think this is a much more realistic way to live...achieving balance on a daily or even weekly basis is just not feasible for me.
Spring was a very busy work season for me. I worked. A lot. And my kids were (and still are) super busy this spring...so that added to the busyness. I still trained, but I didn't really embody my training. I followed my coach's plan, but I wasn't living triathlon. As this busy season wound down, I found myself kind of suffering. And this is where the distress call comes in - MAY DAY!
This morning is, for me, a new season - appropriately coinciding with May 1, or May Day. May Day always struck me as kind of funny - depending on context, it's either a distress call or a sweet day of baskets, flowers, and May poles. (There's also that socialist/communist workers' day context...but let's just leave that alone.) My work schedule has changed - from now until August it is a lot more flexible - much work to be done, but a different, more creative type of work. And triathlon season is near - my first race is May 13 - so it's time to embody the triathlete life...and eat better and sleep properly and focus on the plan and finish everything strong.
As I start this new season of the year, I'm coming in on a high note. I ran a 10K yesterday in hot, humid weather. It wasn't a PR, but it was a good strong race for me - I was consistent, I had a nice negative split, and I finished hard. Consistency. Execution, Finish Strong. That's what I want for this coming season. I'm hopeful. I'm grateful. I'm open. And it's time.
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