FORWARD #2

I have been contemplating for some time now the contrast between being in the here and now and looking ahead to the next moment. Over the past few years I have worked diligently on practicing presence, being in the moment, accepting what is as it is, and allowing things to unfold before me. This practice has created considerable peace for me in many respects. Though, as of late, the word FORWARD keeps resonating in my mind.

At a race earlier this year, I caught myself being consumed by the present moment. In some respects I was pleased to have been so present, as at times in the past I have finished races and been like, “I don’t know what happened!”… almost like a moment of detachment or dissociation had occurred. This time though was different, I was there, fully there as I felt my legs begin to slow down despite my head yelling at them to, “Go! Go! Go!”  The next thing I knew, I was off the back. The pack had crested the hill and I was now chasing. At the time I felt I had given it all I had, but in retrospect I wonder,  “Did I really?” Not to be self critical, but in later examination of the course, I realized I was but a stones throw from the crest of the hill when this, what I like to call, “molasses moment” occurred. What would have happened if I had looked up?

This thought still crosses my mind today as I catch myself on my bike and in other situations in my life with my head down or consumed with the moment at hand. What would happen if I look up? I ask myself this often and when I do, I generally feel a physical shift in my body, a shifting of energy and a shifting of perspective. By lifting my head up I am giving myself the subtle reminder to take the next step FORWARD and move into the next moment.

Often times this little shift in perspective can make a volume of difference.  By picking our heads up, refocusing on our goal or target and taking the next step, we remind our bodies on a neurological level that there is more than the narrow focus of the moment at hand.

For now, personally, I have made it my practice to keep my eyes up and remember the word FORWARD both on and off the bike and, thus far, I am liking the results. So when my mind wanders to the things in life that I don’t like, the things that I would like to be different, the things I would like to change, I do my best to remember the word FORWARD, pick my head up and ask myself,  “If I don’t want this, what do I want? And what is one step I can take right now that will move me in that direction?”... then.. I DO IT!

As silly as it may seem, as one moment ends a new moment begins. This little truth has proved a priceless reminder to me and no doubt it may for you as well.

FORWARD my friends..

Until next time..

 

H

Why the Sponges...?

Ok so, today I received my first ever request for a blog post and tho it was totally tongue in cheek and probably better suited for my Living Life on Octane blog that has yet to be created, I will honor the request and write it here.

So the request was, ' I want you to write a blog post on why you have sponges in your AO top!' ('LMAO!' Deleted) Ok so, if any of you have seen my Google+ picture, you will know what my reader is talking about. I will include it here for those of you that have not seen it.

This picture was taken at the top of Curry hill during Ironman Arizona 2012. For those of you that don't know what an Ironman is, it's a triathlon that covers 140.6 miles broken down into a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. 

Ironman Arizona takes place in November every year here in Tempe. It's a glorious time of year and a beautiful course if you ask me. 

Anyways, back to the question.. Why do I have sponges in my AO top?.. Well some of you may be wondering, 'Why is he calling it an 'AO' top?Looks like she's wearing a sports top or bathing suit top if you ask me..'

Well, if that's what you are thinking you'd be right, it is a bathing suit top.. But the AO stands for Athlete Octane, and What is Athlete Octane?.. you might ask..  And I would say, Athlete Octane  is what got me through that 140.6 miles last year =] 

More specifically tho, Athlete Octane is a liquid endurance supplement that helps to reduce soreness, improve time to recovery and keep you going stronger, longer and harder than ever before. It's packed with antioxidants that help boost immunity and improve cellular functioning. I could go on and on about it but I won't. If you want to check it out for yourself visit the website at:

http://athleteoctane.com/

Or check out the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/AthleteOctane

What I know about Athlete Octane personally is that it works.. It's just that simple. 

Now I still haven't gotten to the real question.. Why the sponges... Well, the simple answer for the sponges is that it's HOT in Arizona.. Even in November.. Yep.. Still hot and when the sponges are soaked in water they are cool.. And cool water is a soothing thing when you have just swam 2.4 miles and ridden your bike 112 and are now working on completing a marathon. 

But quite frankly, I have no idea why I left the sponges in my AO top that day... I kno I left them there on purpose.. I know I actually thought about taking them out.. To be totally honest tho, I don't really know what prompted me to leave them there.. A symbol of my sweat and tears? An added comfort to remind me of all my amazing friends that were out on the course to support me that day? A momento for all the miles that were finally behind me? I'm truly not sure..  it was probably more of a  superstitious  OCD tendency to not change what had already been established for fear of jinxing my race =]  Lame I kno.. But more than likely that was the case.

In any regard, with sponges in my top, and AO as my supplement.. I made it through another IRONMAN and am still around today to tell the tale. 

Thanks Athlete Octane for carrying me through and as for the sponges.. If you ever do an Ironman.. They are certainly the way to go.. Even if you don't know why you leave em attached to your top. =]

What's Your Commitment?

So I took the plunge… Yep, day 1 back in the water post IMAZ 2012. The water, supremely chilly, seemed to slowly freeze the outer layers of my flesh with each progressive lap and yet, as it did it seemed almost soothing. Cooling, refreshing, healing in many ways.

Over the past 2 and a half weeks I have climbed to the towers, ridden around the mountain, done my fair share of running, taken a yoga class and even pressed a little weight (with the help of a near and trusted friend =) ) . But as of yet I am still goalless in many regards.

I have ideas of what I would like to see with regard to my health, fitness and training in the year to come but the goals have not been penned and the decisions have not been made. Guess you could say I have not committed.

With LTFs big Commitment day ahead of us in the coming month the word Commitment has been resonating with me lately. What am I ready to commit to in 2013? What will the new year bring? What do I want to accomplish? What really matters to me in terms of health wellness and fitness?

These questions swirl in my mind… I know I have so much potential… how to I tap into it? How do I know that what I choose will be a success? And as I write this the answers seem to unfold as easy as the questions… I don’t know.. I won’t know.. and that is ok. Success isn’t the goal. The goal is in the application, choosing to do something and seeing it through. Choosing to do something and listening to the subtle cues that arise within me as the process unfolds. Those subtle cues will lead the way.

In all the busy-ness of setting goals and accomplishing tasks and finding success lies the gently quietness within each of us that I would call our truth. Listen to that truth, covet that truth.. it is from that truth that we find peace, find love, find wholeness, and connection… after all, isn’t that why we are here in the first place?

So in the end, I guess it doesn’t really matter end goal I commit to in the new year. What matters is that I pick one and then further commit to staying alive and awake to my own personal process as the moments of each day unfold before me.

I encourage you to do the same. =)

Words of Gratitude IMAZ2012

Man.. there's so many of you I need to thank.. here's to all my favorite stores, peeps, and service providers that carried me through this race as well: Sole Sports Running Zone and Karen Pitre Seymour and Lance Muzslay for having the most knowledgeable staff, Landis Cyclery andRyan Padgitt for being the best mechanic in town, Destination Kona and Brooke Schohl for being an inspiration, Tribe Mul

tisport and Glenn Allen for having the most through stock of all your tri race apparel and equipment, Trisports Tempe for having a killer friendly and inviting staff, Inner Vision Yoga, Jeff Martens and Josh Rothman for providing a space for me to recenter and find balance of body, mind and spirit, Cori Frayer for the best massages in town, Crystal Bartos stretch therapy for keeping me limber and ready to run, Dr. Brendan McCarthyfor helping me to learn that there really isn't anything wrong with me, Coach Dean Hebert for his dear friendship and great running tips, Mr. Steve Elwell for giving me the space to do it on my own, Hoss Rogers... well for being YOU!!, Lori Haas, Amy Leiferman and Kathleen Todd for believing in me and my practice, and being 3 of the best colleagues I've ever worked with, Lanny Lang, Paul Bucich, Tom Wiggins and Paul Lavin for being my training partners in crime =), Adrienne Aspezita for being my inspiration 'cause lord knows you wanted it more than I did this year!, Tim Bolen and Brian McHenry for all those track workouts that kept me honest, Arland Maccasieb and the FilAM Triclub for making me an honorary Filapino!, Red Rock Co and Crew: Andy Bellino, Casey Brown, Stephanie Webber, John Sellinger, Kimo Seymour, Justin Kern, Sean McManus, Ted Villa, Bryce Werre, Sadat Khan, Hessam Salim, Andy Felton, Tricia Grossman, and Beth Murphy for making me part of the family and being the best race crew EVER, and Lifetime Fitness and Lifetime Fitness Cycle Club for providing the go to spot from which all these relationship I now have emerged. You are all amazing thank you so much for being a part of my life..

Thoughts and reflections on IMAZ2012

Another IM in the books! Wow what an experience. You know.. this year I set 99% of training myself, took care of most of my body strength and restoration needs with yoga and fueled exclusively with my nutrition (perform and clif shots mostly) and Athlete Octane. And today, after all is said and done, despite a little dehydration and some stiffness in my shoulder and feet I feel pretty damn good! M

uscles aren't really sore my body moves and as long as my feet are up to the challenge I will be out at the Turkey Day 5k =) You know, part of this training experience for me was about tackling the challenge of IM on my own. I feel that I did that in many ways but while I was out there yesterday I realized something truly priceless. Doing an IM alone is not only impossible it is a lonely journey. I did set my own training and go minimalistic on body care but that is about all I did on my own. While I was out there racing yesterday I realized how many people I know and how many friends I have in this community of ours. You will never know how much your friendship means to me. I didn't find my family despite a smile from my mom after the swim until the 3rd lap on the run. All the hugs from all of you on the run course kept me going even more so than my fuel yesterday. Each and every one of you... thank you for your time, friendship and commitment to the sport of triathlon. And even more, I have to give a great shout out to all those spectators and volunteers that I don't know. You are amazing. being out there all day in the same spot.. man.. they have endurance too =)