It's a PASSION, not a paycheck

Some years ago (not that many in the grand scheme of life), when I qualified for the Boston Marathon the first time, a few friends of mine asked me if I would help them along the same journey:  to qualify for Boston.  I didn't think anything about it at the time, but those were my first "coaching" jobs.  We had the best time when we ran together.  I never asked any of them for a penny.  Gatorade, and Gu, but never any monetary compensation. Along the way I have learned new techniques, new methods, and have attended coaching/certification clinics to better hone the skills in order to better serve an athlete.  I have listened and questioned, and researched nutrition "tweaking" and the multitude of available products and who might benefit most from those products.

Since then I have coached first time marathoners, first time half marathoners, first time triathletes, Boston Qualifiers, Ironman finishers, experienced athletes with finish time goals, runners who wished to branch out into triathlon, and people simply looking to add something new and healthy into their lives.  I have collaborated with other coaches on training camps geared towards athletes with a 70.3 or 140.6 event on their calendars.  I have discovered that I LOVE the mentoring/coaching/guiding/teaching side of endurance sports.  I would much rather spend 30 minutes talking a wary athlete through a beach entry swim start, or hang off the back of the ride than push myself in the faster group just to get in my own workout.

Broadening one's horizons means sometimes stepping out on a limb.  In the past, I have kept my coaching in the shadows, so to speak, as I do not view myself as qualified as others in my area.  With the advent of on-line coaching, tracking software, and (Gasp...) maybe the use of Skype, the opportunities seem wide open.  If I ignored the potential of social media with regard to my being able to assist an athlete, I would be sliding backwards and not progressing with the times.

I hope you will share this information with people you know, and follow along on this new path that I envision leading to the same destination: an athlete's success.

"I Get To..." by Jon Gordon

Chris McDonald shared this with the Big Sexy Racing team this morning.  For many years, I have tried to instill this mind set and approach into my Boys' lives.  Even when they were younger, I tried - with some difficulty - to use the phrase "I get to..." or "we get to..." instead of the "... have to ..."  Sometimes we just need reminding.  Thank you, Chris.

I Get To instead of Have To

by Jon Gordon-author/speaker

Who knew that two simple words could change one's mindset, perspective and approach to work and life? Just two words have the potential to enhance joy, productivity, performance and change a complaining voice to an appreciative heart.

So often we say things like, "I have to take the kids to practice." "I have to go to this meeting." "I have to finish this project." "I have to go to work today." "I have to take care of this customer." "I have to share this new information with my team." "I have to see my family this weekend."

We act as if we don't have a choice. As if we are imprisoned by a paycheck and the expectations of a world that forces us to do things we don’t want to do.  But in reality we do have a choice. We can choose our attitude and our actions. We can choose how we view our life and work. We can realize that every day is a gift. It’s not about what we have to do. It's about what we get to do.

We get to live this life while so many like my Mom, who passed away at 59, left this world far too early. We get to drive in traffic while so many are too sick to drive a car. We get to go to a job while so many are unemployed. We get to raise our children even if they drive us nuts at times. ;-)  We get to interact with our employees and customers and make a difference in their life. We get to use our gifts and talents to make a product or provide a service. We get to eat three meals a day while millions of people are starving. We get to work on projects, answer phone calls, serve customers, participate in meetings, design, create, share, sell, lead and suit up every day for the game of life.

When I’m mentoring leaders I encourage them to focus on “get to” each day. I encourage them to focus on feeling grateful instead of stressed. The research shows we can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time so when you are feeling thankful and focusing on “get to” you fuel up with the positive emotions that uplift you rather than the stress hormones that slowly drain you. People who do this, report feeling more energized, productive and engaged at work and home.

Sure there will be challenges and life isn't easy but if we approach each day as an opportunity to learn, grow and be thankful we will live a more meaningful and powerful life.

So today join me in saying that my life is a gift not an obligation and I Get To make the most of it.
- Jon Gordon.

It's Not the Gear - It's the Machine

I must have said it a "hundred bajillion" times to athletes and friends, "It's not the fancy gear you own or wear.  It's the way you train and the engine inside you."  Yep.  I've said it.  I've believed it - as the owner of a 1998 Quintana Roo Kilo (aluminum and steel frame) - I have pretty much lived the saying.  But, until today I didn't ever feel that I had fallen prey to the saying.

Yes.  I was given/gifted/permanently loaned a tri bike in 2008ish (maybe 2010ish) that I have loved and cherished and ridden in ever triathlon since then.  For Christmas this past year, my ever supportive and #SuperSherpaSpouse gave me a BRAND NEW CARBON FRAME Quintana Roo Dulce.  I LOVE her!  She is my #PinkPanther and I truly enjoy riding her.  Flash forward from Christmas, through three what-I-thought-were-good-productive training months to the season opener:  Red Hills Sprint Triathlon.

Top:  1998 Kilo - Bottom:  2014 Dulce

Unlike last year, I actually swam in the off season (like about 20 times in the month of December), but only 5 times and two open water swims in the last few weeks leading up to race day.  This year I swam in a sleeveless wet suit and I am pleased with my decision.  The water was just a tad warmer than last year, and I really did feel better prepared.  I should, however, maybe have started a bit further up in the pack so as to not swim over/around so many people.  Net time difference:  18 seconds slower over the 1/3 mile swim course.  I'm okay with that.  T1 - 19 seconds FASTER this year.  Yippee!  Now for the bike...

We added a CycleOps PowerBeam Pro to our training pain cave in January and I have used it for every trainer ride since.  I have previously trained based on perceived effort, heart rate, and cadence with solid results.  So, being honest, I have used the PowerBeam with the power meter engaged about 1/3 of the time.  The ride FELT GREAT!  I felt strong, and fast, and ready to throw down when I got to T2.  Hold on there, Skippy!  Reality check:  for all that great feeling and perceived fastness:  I was 2:29 slower this year.  What!  Whaaaaat?  Brand new carbon bike?  Kit that fits like a lambskin glove, and I'm SLOWER?  Dang it... 

Into T2... and out the gate in 12 seconds less than 2014.  Okay.  Things are looking up again.  I might be able to pull off a run time that I can be pleased with.

Run:  UP hill out of T2 (and T1 by the way).  I'm feeling pretty good, not great, but good.  When I am huffing and puffing in that darn asthmatic manner that only I can produce.  Yay!  Stop and walk and use the inhaler.  Suck it all in and move on.  The run is hilly and just over one half is trails - which for those of us with weak and cranky ankles is NO FUN!  But, methodical picking of one's path can lead to an injury free run.  This year's run was 2:35 slower (again with the slow) and I have no explanation except that breathing is a good thing to do when running.  That's it.  My training runs had been super, and even my "shake up" brick the day before with my son was faster but felt relaxed and smooth.

Now for the take-away:  I am in my late forties (not looking for pity), and I came to this sport truly only 7ish years ago, and only approached it seriously in the last 3 years. I am an asthmatic with allergies that are not always predictable.  I work full time, have two part-time jobs, in addition to being married for nearly 25 years and the mother of two high energy, top competitors in their own age groups.  I am BLESSED to be able to get up each morning and CHOOSE to train and have a family to love and an employment situation with all the benefits.  I have friends and colleagues with whom to share experiences and ideas, and athletes to assist and guide through their own journey to success.  It is apparent that there is work to be done, and be done it will.  I am nothing if not determined once I see what is required to meet the chosen goal(s).

For all of my negative "self speak" and down-playing of what I may or may not have accomplished, today was a wonderful day on Easter Weekend to be outside doing one, okay three, of the things I truly love best with friends, family, and people from my home town.  I can't be any happier than to pack my things up out of Transition and put my #PinkPanther in the car and go home to the family who loves me.

Happy Easter!  HE is Risen!