“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
― Eckhart Tolle
Last night I attended a Team in Training event. It was a combination celebration for all the athletes that completed events this past season, and a kick off for all new athletes starting their training for the current season. I was in the unique position of fitting in both groups in different ways. I was celebrating finishing my first season as a Team in Training cycling coach, having coached some amazing athletes to finishes at America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe, and I was also kicking off my training as a participant this season preparing to run the Chicago Marathon in October.
As part of the program, everyone gave a little information into their background and whether or not this was their first time with TnT, or their first endurance event. For the great majority of people, it was not their first event. Many people had multiple endurance finishes, and/or multiple TnT experiences. This led the Campaign Manager, Naomi, to remark how most of us are overachievers. This simple remark started a chain of thoughts through my head. I began to wonder why we are like this? I know I can be. If a little is good, a lot is better. If I can run a 5K, why not a 10K? A half ironman? Why not Ironman Wisconsin? And on, and on.
I wondered why do I need more? Why can't I be happy with what I have accomplished, rather than always wanting more? Every major world religion, and most of the minor ones, have strong beliefs about the importance of gratitude. The belief that the way to have an abundance of good things is to be grateful for what you have. This can be a difficult concept in today's society. Trying to keep up with people we know, wanting the newest and best technology, more money, a better relationship, all the things that we see in others. It's easy to get caught up in that game. But no matter what, that's a game we can't win. Because even when we get what we think we want, there is always something bigger or better. So, what is the answer? I think for me, the answer is understanding that if I'm grateful for what I have instead of envious of what I don't have, my life will be happier and more fulfilling.
This is a concept that is much easier to say than to put into practice. And that is the operative word here... "practice".
prac-tice: (verb) Perform an activity or exercise a skill repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency.
I need to spend a few minutes every day just being thankful for the things I have. My health, my children, my friends, my job. The things that I have and tend to take for granted are the things that so many other people dream of and wish they had.
Do your best to practice an attitude of gratitude.
Please consider a donation...it's easier than chemotherapy!
Ragnar is over. What a cool and amazing experience. Especially when you consider that 8 days ago I didn't even know I'd be doing it. Taking a group of 12 people and running nonstop from Madison to Chicago is a logistical masterpiece when done right! Luckily, I had the opportunity to join Rank Strangers, the only team that has run this relay every year it has been in existence. That makes for some serious experience! For those of you that don't understand how it works, it's about 200 miles from Madison to Chicago, and it is divided into 36 running legs. There are two vans of runners with six runners in each, so each runner runs 3 legs. Van 1 started at 9 am in Madison. Each leg there is a bracelet that is handed off to the next runner. Van 1 took legs one through six, then handed off to Van 2. They ran 7-12, and handed back off to Van 1. This continued all day Friday, overnight Friday night and throughout the day Saturday until reaching Chicago just after 4 pm. Saturday.
I ended up having one of the shortest totals mileage wise. My first leg was only 2.7 miles. It was early on in the day as I was runner 3. I started to find a rhythm about mile two, then it was almost over. I handed off to the next runner and got back in the van. My next turn was leg 15. It started between 10:30 and 11:00 pm and was 5.3 miles. Weather was cool, and it was dark. It was a pretty cool experience looking ahead and just seeing red blinking lights of other runners ahead. After Van 1 finished that round, we headed to the next major transfer point. We got to the YMCA in Racine in the middle of the night, and were able to pay $2 for a shower and a spot on the floor for a little shut eye. A couple of hours later, it was up and back into the van as we got ready for our last legs. My final leg was 5.6 miles that started along Lake Michigan and wound through some nice tree lined neighborhood streets. Teammates were asking me how I felt. I was tired, stiff and a little sore. I was pretty sure one of two things was going to happen. Either, 1. I was going to start slow, loosen up and have a great run, or b. Stay tight and crash and burn spectacularly. It was really a 50/50 chance. I was hoping for the former, but totally prepared for the latter. As I started, the temps were cool and the views of the lake amazing. I started out at what felt comfortable, and after a half mile or so checked my watch and realized I was at about a 9:30 per mile pace. As I continued, I was feeling better and stronger, and noticed my pace was improving. 9:22, 9:13, 8:57. When I hit the one mile to go mark, I was feeling pretty good and "Sweet Home Alabama" came on the iPod. I decided to pick it up and finish as strong as I could, and my last mile I ran the fastest of all miles on the entire relay, about an 8:30 per mile pace! All in all almost 14 miles of running over 3 segments with an average pace of 9:20 - 9:30. Considering it was 5 days after my 100 mile ride around Lake Tahoe, I'm pretty happy with it.
Rank Strangers 2013 Ragnar Team Madison - Chicago
For the first time in a long time (quite possible EVER) I consider myself a runner. I've always considered myself a triathlete, or a cyclist, or even a swimmer. But even though I've done countless 5K and 10K races, and three half marathons, I've never really considered myself a runner until this weekend. It's a pretty good feeling! And, I think I'm well prepared for the second half of my year with events that includes the Dairyland Udder Half Iron Triathlon, a Go Ruck Challenge, The Door County Century Bike Ride, and the Chicago Marathon!
Now, in addition to continuing to train, I need to set my sights on fundraising. I am doing the Chicago Marathon in memory of a friend, Jenny Boyce, and doing it the same way she did it. Fundraising for charity. I have chosen Team in Training, part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I coach cyclists for TNT, and decided to do my first stand alone marathon as a participant. I have agreed to raise a minimum of $1,900.00 for research and patient services for blood cancers.My goal is to raise twice that. I'm asking for your help. You can click on the link below to go to my fundraising page. If you enjoy reading about my adventures, then please take a moment and donate what you can. Even $5 or $10 helps. Please pass the link along to friends, coworkers, family members, anyone you know. It's a great cause and well worth it. Thanks for your help!
It's been a while since my last post, and I hate that. I think most of us start off with the best of intentions, then start to slide back into old habits. Once we do that, it's difficult to get back on track. Now, I've had a lot of things going in my life between work, training and personal stuff, but that's really no excuse. So, while I have written this post in my head numerous times, it's time to get back on track and do it for real.
My first season as a Team in Training Cycling Coach has come to a close, and what an amazing season it was! Being able to coach some dedicated, amazing athletes, to a finish at America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride has been one of the most satisfying and rewarding things I have ever done! At the inspiration dinner we learned that there were 1,200 Team in Training Cyclists participating in the ride that had raised $4.4 million for blood cancer research and patient services. That is AMAZING!
A brief rundown of the weekend, we fly from Milwaukee to Reno and take a bus into South Lake Tahoe. We pick up our bikes and try to relax. Saturday morning the Wisconsin team takes a short 17 mile shakedown ride to make sure the bikes are all working properly and to get acclimated. When you're at 6,500 ft above sea level, you get out of breath much quicker due to the fact that there is less oxygen in the air. Good thing to know and get used to! So while on the ride, about 20 yards in front of me, a bear darts across the road and stops. Yep. A BEAR! I pass by the beast on the side of the road and realize she is about to cross back because her cub is in a tree. I stop because part of my team is behind me. They stopped, and the bear crossed back to her cub and we all proceeded on. Totally cool experience, but kind scary too!
Saturday night we had the inspiration dinner and then a team get together to sign and decorate jerseys. I then had the chance to meet an incredible young man, Connor Cosgrove. Connor is the nephew of one of our team members, Patti.
In 2010, Connor was a Division I athlete playing football at the University of Minnesota, when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. Through Patti, I had the opportunity this season to learn more about him when she would share pictures and links to speeches he made. I was always impressed by his humor, strength, and positive attitude through these videos and pictures. I was hoping to get the opportunity to meet him when Patti said he and his family would be coming to Tahoe, and I'm so glad I did. In person, Connor has ten times the charm and charisma he has digitally. I got the chance to spend some time with him and we talked about a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. What a great, fun guy. Besides being inspirational, he's just so cool and funny. I shared with him that if I ever had a life changing event like that happen to me, I would only hope I could handle it with the strength and grace that he shows. Connor, if you happen to read this, I'm proud to call you a friend. Follow the link below for more on Connor.
On to Sunday morning and America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride! The Wisconsin Team had a 6:20 start time and we headed out for 100 miles of fun, beauty, and hills! As a way to have a little fun, the Team in Training Chapters all have items on their bike helmets to represent their location and be more identifiable. For instance, the Los Angeles chapter had small Oscar Statues, Washington DC had a Capitol, Seattle had Starbucks cups, and Kansas had Flying Monkeys (Wizard of Oz...and the monkeys were sitting on beer cans. Try and figure out why...) And from Wisconsin, we had...what else? Cheese wedges! And since a coach has to have all the answers, I knew I needed help, so I brought a Jedi Master along for the entire 100 miles.
Take a look at the ride profile:
Starting at mile 11 is the climb to Emerald Bay. Steep, technical, and with switchbacks, but once to the top, the view makes it worth it!
After the climb, we get the descent. Fast and fun! Until, I get a flat. And I don't mean, just a flat, a loud, explosive blowout! Luckily, I made emergency repairs to get to the next rest stop, where I was able to buy a new tire, get it on the wheel and carry on! Nothing stops us!
As the day wears on and the miles click by, we pass beautiful views, lots of bikes, and Squaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, all before getting to the lunch stop at King's Beach at mile 70. At King's Beach, you get to look out at the most amazing views of the lake and snow capped mountains. The pictures just don't capture the beauty.
After lunch at mile 70, there's a short climb, then riding along the lake until getting to mile 80. Mile 80 is significant because that's where the real climb of the day starts. 1,000 feet and 8 miles long. Wow. 8 miles can be a long way on a bike. It can be an especially long way when it's all uphill! No problem here, I had the force with me, and my Jedi Master gave me the strength I needed!
The last 12 miles are downhill, with the exception of a few little rolling hills that seem much tougher than they actually are. Finally rolling back into South Lake Tahoe, the team all met a short way from the finish line, and we all rode in together. On Wisconsin! Coach Art provided us with a breakdown of stats and numbers from his GPS. It's well worth a look!
All in all, AMBBR was an amazing, incredible experience. Now, it's on to the next challenge...
While in Tahoe, Coach Art approached me with an "opportunity". The team he's on for the Madison to Chicago Ragnar relay needed a fill in runner. Team "Rank Strangers". If you're not familiar with Ragnar, here's a description from the Ragnar webite:
Ragnar is the overnight running relay race that makes testing your limits a team sport.
You and 11 of your craziest friends (or 5 of your crazier
friends for an ultra team) pile into two vans and tag team running
200(ish) miles, day and night, relay-style. Only one runner hits the
road at a time. Each participant runs three times, with each leg ranging
between 3-8 miles and varying in difficulty. So, from the elite runner
down to the novice jogger, it's the perfect race for anyone.
For those of you that know me, there was only one answer. So, 5 days after riding 100 miles on my bike, I will start running in a 200 mile relay race to Chicago. I couldn't say no. I think I might be crazy. Not crazy fun, or Steve Martin "Wild and Crazy guy" crazy, but completely, totally, clinically crazy, as in suffering from a mental defect. What makes me do these things? Century bike rides, triathlons, Ironman, Tough Mudder, Escape from Alcatraz, etc., etc., etc. Oh well, that's another question for another day. Until then I need to channel my "Inner Ninja". Enjoy!
