Getting Ready for September...Fruit and Veggies - More Matters Month

So far today I have eaten one half of a nectarine and a granny smith apple.  Being that I do, in fact, strive for 5 fruit and vegetable servings each day, I have some catching up to do as lunch time is fast approaching.  I'll have a tomato for sure and I have another nectarine in my lunch bag so my fruit quota for the day will certainly be met.  To add vegetables to my day, I will have to either be a bit more creative or otherwise add broccoli or green beans to dinner as a side dish.  Based on my fruit consumption so far today, it's quite obvious that I much prefer fruit over vegetables.  The reason is simple...taste.  The natural sweetness of most fruits make them such a lovely snack.  Then there are the sneaky fruits such as tomatoes and avocados - often thought to be vegetables but alas, they are not.  Admittedly, I do enjoy most vegetables, including the much maligned and completely misunderstood Brussels sprout.  The fact remains that I don't normally crave them so including colorful nutrient rich vegetables into my daily diet is sometimes a challenge.  There are days when my body knows that I need a salad, probably to balance out a less nutritionally sound meal that I had consumed during the previous 24 hours.

I visited the http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/ website for some inspiration and was thrilled to see corn, lima beans, and yukon gold potatoes on the list.  As a rule of thumb, I don't usually count corn, potatoes, or even peas toward my daily intake goal but seeing that they all made the list, I think I will start counting them from now on.   As matter of fact, potatoes are a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper and manganese. "The potato nutrition facts are so amazing that you will be surprised when you would come to know that potatoes enhance the functions of the brain."

So yesterday's lunchtime baked potato was good for me (and yes, I did add a tablespoon of sour cream).  Maybe tonight I'll add corn to my broccoli for a double dose of veggie goodness.

Fronhofer Tool Triathlon: a long satisfying day at the races

On Saturday, August 6th, our family embarked on a day-long adventure to Cambridge NY.  The reason:  Fronhofer Tool Triathlon.  For a family who tries to stay fit together, this was a perfect opportunity!  The Olympic distance triathlon (.9 mile swim, 24 mile bike, 6.2 mile run) was scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM and there was also a sprint distance triathlon (.5 mile swim, 14.5 mile bike, 3.1 mile run) scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM.  The advantage being that we didn't have to find childcare for our daughter to both participate during the day.  I was the caretaker while my husband competed in the morning and he was the caretaker while I competed in the afternoon. 

The day started really early, especially for those who enjoy sleeping in on the weekend.  We were in the car at 6:15 AM.  We arrived at Lake Lauderdale Park without incident, parked, and headed over to packet pickup.  Husband set up his gear in the transition area and before long it was time for the first event to start.  Daughter and I watched 250 athletes take off into the water.  Then we watched 250 athletes take off on their bikes.  Finally, we watched 250 athletes hit the pavement for the run.  The winner had a blazing fast time.  My husband actually finished with his best time ever and finished right around 11:00 AM.  The temperature was near perfect so it was very comfortable to spend the day outside.

During the 3 hour break between the end of his race and beginning of mine we enjoyed lunch, swam together in the lake, and played at the playground.  With 30 minutes to the start of the second race, I swam a bit to warm up and then waited to corral for the start.  There were about 100 athletes in the sprint distance race. We took off at 2:00 PM; the ladies began 3 minutes after the men to ease congestion on the course.  I swam comfortably and managed not to veer off course as I often do.  The bike was hillier than I expected during the first half, but I was making great time on the second half and was a mile to the finish when I hit a sharp object in the road and got a flat tire.  With triathlon, no outside assistance is permitted as it is an individual test of endurance.  So I had to change my own flat.  It took a while but I got it done, gave myself a pat on the back, and continued on the course.  Going into the day I wasn't sure whether or not I'd tackle the run course.  The weather has been really hot and humid in the afternoons and I'm expecting our second child this winter.  This means that my body is working harder and my heart rate is higher than normal, and while my body can cool itself, the baby can not.  Care must be taken and I have to monitor my effort closely.  The temps remained comfortable thanks to cloud cover, and I had a nice rest during the tire change so I decided to run the 3.1 mile final leg.  I took my time, sure never to get out of breath.  I talked to a few other racers and ran along side them as either they passed me or I passed them.  Before long I was back in the park with a half mile to go.  Needless to say, my time was not a personal best but it was a personal victory.  I enjoyed the experience.  

I've never raced to win, rather I race to finish.  I've earned medals and I've finished last but every time I get out there I make sure I have fun, thank the volunteers, and cheer on the other athletes.  Someday I want my children to carry the same tradition - the most important part of any race is getting to the start.

10 hours after we left the house, we were getting back in the car to head home.  It was a full and tiring day for everyone but we made memories for the whole family.