Where have I been lately?

The picture above was taken in Washington D.C. I am pictured next to Ambassador Jerry Bremer (1st ambassador to Iraq) who was one of the S2SS riders.

June 26th - Seattle Marathon (hilly & last 17 miles were concrete).
4:43 finish time
2306/4080 total runners
928/2019 total females
11th/59 in age group

My time was certainly not stellar, but I had quite a few things on my t0-do-list post marathon. We hiked part of Mt. Ranier, drove the Whistler Village in British Columbia, where we went on a 5-zip line experience. The 4th zip line was 20 stories up in the air, 2000 ft long and 55 mph! Whee! Our stay in Whistler Village also included a couple of runs in the beautiful forested area of Whistler Mountain, sightings of bears, and wonderful food!

July 3rd - Rode from Canton to Pekin with the Sea to Shining Sea riders (disabled veterans riding from San Francisco beginning on May 22nd to Virginia Beach on July 24th). Check out the website S2SSbikeride.org for bios of these amazing veterans/athletes.

July 4th - Park to Park 5 mile race (very hot & humid)
44 minutes
264/576 total runners
72/246 total females
1/7 in age group

July 6th - Rode from Bloomington to Champaign (approx 65 mi) with S2SS riders.

July 11th - Missoula, Montana Marathon - very hilly marathon, hot day (90 in pm)
4:34 finish time
798/1301 total runners
303/582 females
9th in age group

July 18th - Biking with Beanzie Ride in DeKalb (very hot - mid 90's), 50 miles

July 20th - flew to Washington D.C. to join last 5 days of S2SS ride. Rode 20 miles through Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of Unknown Soldier

July 21st - 60 miles from D.C. to Fredricksburg, VA (very hot & hilly ride)

July 22nd - 70 miles from Fredricksburg to Richmond, VA (still hilly & getting hotter)

July 23rd - 70 miles from Richmond to Yorktown, VA (extreme heat/humidity - over 100)

July 24th - final 70-mile leg into Virginia Beach. Air temperature 105, heat index 113+

Engage the Core

My husband gave me a "Bosu ball" (balance trainer) as a belated Valentine's gift. I had mentioned that I would like to have one, and he picked up on the hint.

Today I did my first complete Bosu workout. Not only was it a great workout, but I found a rather fascinating correlation between the Bosu ball and my coaching practice. Both focus on balance.

The instruction booklet includes this description, written by the inventor, David Weck:

"Achieving better physiological balance can act as a catalyst toward transforming your sense of balance into a state of mind as well. The only thing that is certain about life is change. Nothing is static - on the athletic field, in school, at home, or in the office, your ability to improvise and adjust to the ever changing set of given circumstances has an enormous impact on your degree of personal fulfillment."

So, I hopped on the Bosu ball to complete the 10 exercises. There was no option other than to be focused on the present moment.

Much of my work as a Life Coach focuses on compelling purpose - continually bringing my clients back to their core - what is most important, what is it that awakens them and allows them to live life full out? If your core is not engaged, life will not be as fulfilling. Engaging the core and maintaining balance are necessary to obtain your full potential.

So, what happens if you start to lose your balance while on the Bosu ball?

1) If you start to lose your balance, sometimes you can take a moment, focus, readjust, and get yourself centered again, staying on the ball.

2) Sometimes you aren't able to stay on the ball, but you are able to safely step off. This gives you an opportunity to step back on the ball again, with renewed focus and balance. (Or, you could choose not to get back on again, waiting for another day.)

3) The last possibility is that you completely lose your balance and fall off the ball.

Just like in life.

2010 Race Schedule

It's probably time to start thinking about my race schedule for 2010. Here is the tentative schedule:

Sunday, March 21st - Shamrock Shuffle (Chicago) 8-K
Sunday, March 28th - Ocean Drive Marathon (Cape May County, NJ)
Saturday, April 3rd - Lincoln Memorial 1/2 Marathon (Springfield, IL)
Saturday, May 1st - Illinois Marathon (Champaign, IL)
Saturday, May 8th - Indy Mini Half Marathon (Indianapolis, IN)
Saturday, June 12th - Viborg, SD Marathon or, Mattoon Olympic Distance Triathlon
Saturday, June 26th - Seattle Marathon (Seattle, WA)
Sunday, July 4th - Park to Park 5 Mile
Sunday, July 11th - Missoula, MT Marathon ??
Saturday, July 17th - Evergreen Olympic Distance Triathlon
Saturday, July 31st - Steelhead 1/2 Ironman Triathlon
Saturday, August 22nd - Pigman 1/2 Iron Distance Triathlon
Sunday, October 3nd - Portland, Maine Marathon
Sunday, November 14th - Outer Banks Marathon, Outer Banks, NC

2009 Race Reflections

Photo above taken 10/22/09 - Maddox just released from hospital with H1N1, I'm starting to get it when this photo was taken. How can such a sweet little baby boy, get me so sick?

January highlights:

1/10-1/11 Goofy Challenge - 1/2 marathon on Sat. (2:05), full marathon next day on Sun. (4:49)

Returned to pool workouts

Returned to indoor trainer rides

Returned to Yoga Wednesdays

February highlights:

First grandson Maddox arrived on Feb. 10th

Ran in lots of snow

Foot injury (tenosynovitis)

Continued pool workouts and trainer rides

March highlights:

Granddaughter Ella turned 3 on March 2nd

Training hard for Boston Marathon (ran hills in early morning in Downs)

Continued pool workouts, trainer rides, Yoga Wednesdays

April highlights:

4/04 Ran Springfield 1/2 marathon (2:00:42), 2nd place in age group, 128th out of 479 females

Granddaughter Nora arrived on April 6th

4/11 Ran Illinois 1/2 marathon in Champaign (2:01:03), 3rd in age group, 546 out of 2095 females

Granddaughter Madison's 4th birthday on April 15th

4/20 Ran the Boston Marathon (4:36) on 4/20

May highlights:

5/02 Ran Indy 1/2 marathon (1:58), 28th in age group (723), 2121 out of 15,890 total females

Outdoor bike rides resume

Outdoor swims resume

June highlights:

6/06 Tri-Shark Triathlon (Sprint distance), 3rd place in age group

First long outdoor ride (Interplanetary Ride) 60 miles

Hamstring injury while doing yard work

July highlights:

Hamstring injury took me out of the 4th of July Park to Park 5 mile race

70 mile outdoor ride, 105 mile ride (Biking with Beanzie), 80 mile ride (Tour de DeWitt)

Saw lots of corn on long bike rides

August highlights:

70 mile bike ride (Mendota Sweet Corn Festival Ride)

68 mile bike ride (Mahomet C-U Across the Prairie)

Madison (WI) Open Water Swim 1.2 miles, 3rd place in age group

September highlights:

9/11 Patriot's Run (Marathon) in Olathe, Kansas - in memory of 9/11, noon start, 90 degrees, 1st female overall

Ran with lots of aphids most of the month - yuk!

Training for St. George, Utah Marathon - lots of hill training

October highlights:

10/03 St. George, Utah Marathon (4:11), Boston qualifying time, 17th in age group (111)

Hiking in Zion National Park & Bryce Canyon

Trainer rides resume

Maddox in hospital with H1N1 on 10/19

I get H1N1 on 10/21 and spend the next 3 weeks sick

November highlights:

11/01 Ran the Manchester, NH Marathon while still sick, dropped out at the 1/2, walked back to hotel, decided to jump back in, finished 28.2 miles in 5:05. Felt terrible, but finished.

Ran Thanksgiving Day 3 mile Turkey Trot (1st in age group)

Began group indoor trainer rides, return to weight training, P90x, Yoga Wednesday

December highlights:

Lots of focus on weight training, group indoor trainer rides

Enjoying Christmas with grandchildren

Sledding with Ella & Madison

Marathons completed in 35 states. 65 total marathons. Goal date for completing marathons in all 50 states, plus DC - end of 2011.