Those of us who tend to participate in what some people would call “extreme” sports often hear, “You have to be crazy to do that!” By “extreme” I mean marathons, 1/2 Ironman triathlons, ziplining, ultramarathons, to name a few. To us, those activities don’t seem that extreme. We’re just doing what we love to do.

My friend Lori is training for her first 1/2 Ironman, which is a grueling event: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. The smart athlete trains a minimum of 6 months specifically for this event, but the foundation-building starts long before that. (more…)

Everywhere you look, someone is talking about the “Law of Attraction.” Although the principles are ancient ideas, lots of people are discovering it for the first time. It’s actually exciting to observe the paradigm shift of such large numbers of people.

Last spring, I joined a local running group. When I first moved here, I was training for a marathon and following a pretty strict schedule. I wasn’t sure that my training would lend itself to group runs since I had to hit specific times in all my runs, including my long run – which is usually the run that groups run together. So, I waited to join a group, but I thought about it and planned to find the right fit. (more…)

My friend Bruce Bair of GettheSkinney.com is going to be presenting a free teleseminar series entitled “Recipe to Look Better Naked” starting on July 14. There are still some spots available for you to register.

Bruce has some thought-provoking blog posts and articles, and I encourage you to explore his site. He also offers a special report on “How to Lose Weight Without a Special Diet.”

His blog post of July 4 was particularly interesting and raises some timely issues. Visit his site and register for his upcoming free teleseminar series.

You’re probably aware that the Olympic trials in swimming have been going on. Dara Torres, 41-year-old mother of a toddler, has qualified for 5 events for this year’s Olympic Games. She is the oldest American swimmer to ever qualify for the Olympics.

I heard her in an interview this morning. When asked about her age and being the oldest American swimmer to ever qualify, her reply was, “The water does not know how old you are when you jump in.”

It is true that some people are just genetically gifted, and Dara is probably one of them. However, even the genetically gifted have to put in the training and the really hard work to achieve their goals.

Although the rest of us may not be AS genetically gifted as Dara, we are all gifted. We are never too old to learn new things, take up a sport long neglected, embark on new challenges. We cannot use “age” as an excuse to keep us from pursuing a dream we once had (and may still have).

I think it was Jack Canfield who tells the story of the man who wanted to pursue a career in medicine, but felt he was too old. He argued that by the time he finished with 10 years of pre-med course work, medical school, and internships, he would be 40 years old. Jack’s response was, “How old would you be in 10 years if you didn’t do it?”

There’s no time like the present – start today pursuing your goal!

For Roz and Irving…

Although I am too proud to beg and may appear to be a very independent creature, I ask for your loving care and attention. I rely on you for my well being much more than you may realize. This I promise you, my benefactor, that I will not be a burden on you nor will I demand more of you than you care to give. I will be a quiet peaceful island of serenity for you to gaze upon, a soft soothing body to caress, and I shall purr with pleasure to rest your weary ears. Since I am a gourmet who appreciates different taste sensations, I pray you will give me a variety of nutritious foods and fresh water daily. You know, dear friend, how I love to go. Allow me, I pray, a warm sheltered place where I can rest peacefully and feel secure. If I am wounded in battle or suffering from disease, please tend me gently, and see that I am treated by loving and competent hands. Please protect me from the inhuman humans who would hurt and torture me for their own amusement. I am accustomed to your gentle touch and am not always suspicious nor swift enough to avoid such malicious acts. In my later years when my senses fail me and my infirmities become too great to bear, allow me the comfort and dignity that I desire for my closing days and help me gently in my pain or passing.

Hear this prayer, my dear friend, my fate depends on you.

Can you remember a time when you accomplished something you had never done before? Have you ever said, “Wow! I really did it!”

Many of the athletes on our run walk team are going to be reaching a goal they’ve been working toward for about 10 weeks – some will be doing their first 10K (6.2 miles); some will be doing their first 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). This is a big deal. Some of these folks had never gone more than a mile before, and now they are going to be running or walking 6.2 miles…or 13.1 miles! (more…)

I heard it again last weekend at practice: “I am running a lot, but I’m not losing weight.” I’ve said it myself. One consolation is that I’m not gaining weight.

There is a reason that people who exercise regularly stay at about the same weight all the time: that is, your body adapts to the level of exercise it is accustomed to, and you train your metabolism to work within that level. Not fair, you say. You’re exercising way more than the average person, and you’re still not losing weight.

There are several options that can help kickstart your metabolism and help you lose some weight:

• Kick up your training pace just a little bit by running faster one day a week. You can do this in intervals – you don’t have to run your entire workout faster.
• Add hills to your training if you don’t already have them in your schedule. The tougher workout will burn more calories. Even walking up some of the hills will burn more calories than running (or walking) on flat ground.
• Add a strength training day (or two) at a different time of the day than right after your run. This way you are getting in 2 workouts and your body is continuing to burn calories after you workout – twice in one day!

In the meantime, I’ll be on the hunt for a good guide to help the “already active” exerciser shed a few pounds to be leaner and faster. It will definitely help me, too!