Keeping Active on Vacation

Public school spring recess was April 14 - April 21.  We used the opportunity to take a family vacation.  Because several other families in Upstate NY had the same idea, we decided that it was too expensive to fly anywhere and took an old-fashioned road trip.  There are benefits to driving to your vacation destination - especially if you travel by mini-van.

Driving for 24 hours is exhausting.  We left on a Thursday night and drove straight through to a small town just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.  Husband and I alternated at the wheel, sleeping when we could.  We kept the kids busy with electronics and got as many miles as we could behind us while they slept.

How did we stay active?  First, traveling by car, we were able to pack our active wear and sneakers.  Second, we looked up local clubs in the area and connected with them as guests.  I'd like to thank the Emerald Coast Triathlon Club and the crew at the Run With It running store for being so gracious.  Not only did we meet new people, but we had people to run, walk, and even swim with as well!

I made it my goal to be active every non-driving day.  This helped me to keep a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying some indulgence on vacation (read:  decadent dessert).  The kids saw this and were also active - swimming in the community pool and frolicking in the Gulf of Mexico - they collapsed at night, weary and sun kissed.  We also did other fun family activities including kayaking and stand up paddle board.  Connecting as a family while being active was good for the soul.

After a week, we loaded up the van and headed home.  Exhausted yet refreshed.

Sometimes you win just by showing up!

This past weekend I traveled to Lowell, MA to participate in the Mill City Triathlon.  I registered in April to take advantage of the "early bird" pricing and decided that this event would be a nice overnight destination race.  The course looked flat and the entry fee was amazingly affordable.  As an added bonus, a friend who lives in Massachusetts decided to join me.  It's always nice to have a buddy at the start line.

Sometime in May, I wrote time goals on a post-it note and kept it at my desk.  They were as follows:
.9 Mile Swim - 40 minutes
22 Mile Bike - 1 hour 15 minutes (17.6 MPH)
6.2 Mile Run - 1 hour 10 minutes (11:15 minutes/mile)

Have to write it down

I didn't account for transitions with my total goal time of 3 hours and 5 minutes as I just wanted to focus on the discipline.  I also knew I wasn't in it to win it - coming back from injury means accepting what you can do now.  I was managing my expectations, yet setting myself up for a nudge out of my comfort zone.   

So what happened?

I. Hit. Each. Goal. 

Even accounting for actual distances being slightly under -- based on my pace, I still would have hit my goals! 

As I was running, every time I wanted to stop and walk I thought to myself "what if this walk break is the one that keeps me from hitting my goal?".  So I pushed on.



Garmin Summary Screen Shot

Here are the actual times and distances:
.9 mile swim - 37:34
21.3 mile bike - 1:10:41 (18.1 MPH)
6.0 mile run - 1:03:50 (10:40 minutes/mile)

Race finish time: 2:56:29!

There were only 67 people who came out and did this race and I certainly finished in the back of the pack.  I also won 3rd place in my age group!  (full disclosure - there were 3 people in my age group)

The bigger win is that I pushed...and crushed my goals!

In 2 weeks I will be participating in the DoubleMussel Challenge.  This is a sprint triathlon (.5 mile swim, 16 mile bike, 3.1 mile run) on Saturday followed by the half ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) on Sunday.  I have completed the MusselMan half ironman distance race several times - my best times have been around the 7 1/2 hour mark.  Maybe ... just maybe I can beat that in 2016.



Part of winning is showing up!
3rd Place Age Group

On the drive home we happened upon and stopped at The Friendly Farm --- 5 acres of interactive farm animals.  This little guy was my favorite. He's a chicken...with a HAIRDO!

Love your hair

Stages of Change - Preparation and Action

According to a survey conducted by Franklin Covey, 23% of New Years Resolutions are kept.  33% of respondents said that they are not committed to the resolutions they made.  This commitment must be there if any lasting change is to be made.  It is seen time and again ($61 Billion weight loss market).  People vow to lose weight, exercise more, and stop smoking.  Others want to get out of debt - and then they see something they want.  It takes a strong resolve to stick to change.  I'm not saying willpower, per se, but more of a decision of the course that one wishes to take. 

Enter the transtheoretical model of change.   I can usually tell you a person's likelihood of reaching a goal or sticking with a behavior change in the course of a 10 minute conversation... sometimes 2 minutes.  It all has to do with which "stage of change" someone is in.  That, and their motivation.  Not the degree of motivation rather, the source.  Most people stay in the Contemplation stage.  They think about making a change.  They know they should make a change.  They think about the steps they may take to make a change.  It takes just a little extra motivation - a level of commitment - to transition to the Preparation stage.  For example, a dieter who starts researching different plans or someone who wants to start exercising who starts to look at fitness center locations and pricing. 


Stages of Change:  Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance

  I found this illustration too (www.engenderhealth.org) - which I think is awesome.

Last week I wrote about my desire to become a better parent.  Specifically, I need to learn how to handle my spirited pre-schooler without losing my cool.  My motivation?  I feel like scum when I lose my temper and scream raise my voice.  I want to be a better mother and feel like a better person for myself.   My children will have enough to grapple with between puberty, high school, early adulthood, that mommy issues do not need to be heaped on top. 

So I am in the Preparation stage right now.  I had been thinking about finding a parenting class for a while.  I decided to look at the schedule of classes at our local YMCA (checking out what is offered during my daughter's dance class) and I discovered that they offer a FREE parenting class.  So, I signed husband and myself up for the first session of the year.  We will meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. 

This means that tomorrow night at 6:30, I will officially be in the ACTION stage!