Happy Friday,
I had the opportunity to take a hiatus this week and what a welcome relief it was. It gave me an opportunity to re-group and re-think the blog. I am sure my family feels I spend too much time thinking/obsessing about it but they love me anyway (I hope!)
I spent some time looking at other triathlon blogs, websites and online coaching sites and I must say there are a ton of them. I don't want to re-invent the wheel but I do want to be of service and relevant so in order to move forward and to elicit some response, I would like to field some questions.......
One of my lane mates gave me the idea that I should answer some of the burning questions that, those of you that are new to the sport, may have:
What do I wear?
What about nutrition during training and racing? Is it different?
How do I pick a coach? Do I need a coach?
How do I pick a bike? How much should I spend?
Wow, that was only 20 seconds of brainstorming! I am sure you have lots of questions and I would love to share my experience with you. After 15+ years in the sport, I have picked up a few tips. So let me know! I will choose one or two days a week to answer the questions. Also, if you are not new to triathlon, let me know what you would have liked to ask when you first started.
Let's support each other through the labyrinth of multi-sport.
Have a great weekend!
Friday 30 September 2011
Thursday 22 September 2011
Let's Get Started!
Hello Thursday!
We have spent a bit of time together and I think it is time to discuss the cornerstone to any project: goals. After all, I have described this blog as a place where women can get support for their goals. So what are your goals?
I have always been very goal-orientated. . . . almost to a fault. If I didn't have a goal, I felt I wasn't moving forward. In some ways that is true but I would also beat myself up for not achieving a goal. I recently read an article about struggle and the benefits of failure. It was called "Forged by Adversity" by Guy Edson (ASCA). Most of us resist setting goals for fear of failing. Anyone I know that I would consider "successful", tells me that they learned more from their failures than their successes. It was when they fell short of their goals that they were propelled further in pursuit of excellence.
A few rules: Goals need to be
1. stated in the present tense and positive
2. attainable
3. measurable
4. celebrated when achieved!
Number 4 is critical to the process. I am notorious for doing 1, 2 and 3 but not 4. I just move forward on to the next goal. One goal I am working on right now is completing a dry land program that I found in a swimming magazine. It is bloody hard and has 55 different exercises. I am up to 48 and slowly adding a few each week. After 4 weeks, I finally feel a little less beat up today!! I will let you know when I get to #55 and I commit to some sort of celebration :)
Whatever you choose, big or small, if doesn't matter. Just pick something!
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did."
-Mark Twain
We have spent a bit of time together and I think it is time to discuss the cornerstone to any project: goals. After all, I have described this blog as a place where women can get support for their goals. So what are your goals?
I have always been very goal-orientated. . . . almost to a fault. If I didn't have a goal, I felt I wasn't moving forward. In some ways that is true but I would also beat myself up for not achieving a goal. I recently read an article about struggle and the benefits of failure. It was called "Forged by Adversity" by Guy Edson (ASCA). Most of us resist setting goals for fear of failing. Anyone I know that I would consider "successful", tells me that they learned more from their failures than their successes. It was when they fell short of their goals that they were propelled further in pursuit of excellence.
A few rules: Goals need to be
1. stated in the present tense and positive
2. attainable
3. measurable
4. celebrated when achieved!
Number 4 is critical to the process. I am notorious for doing 1, 2 and 3 but not 4. I just move forward on to the next goal. One goal I am working on right now is completing a dry land program that I found in a swimming magazine. It is bloody hard and has 55 different exercises. I am up to 48 and slowly adding a few each week. After 4 weeks, I finally feel a little less beat up today!! I will let you know when I get to #55 and I commit to some sort of celebration :)
Whatever you choose, big or small, if doesn't matter. Just pick something!
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did."
-Mark Twain
Tuesday 20 September 2011
It is all relative
Tuesday Already!
Several years ago, I was racing at Oliver, BC in a half ironman. I had done all the preparation necessary. I had my race plan and my splits calculated. As this race is early season (June in Canada is early season!), women (and maybe men too, not sure) spend most of their time in transition checking out the other competitors. Conversations in our head go something like this:
"Wow, she really let herself go over the winter, I will definitely be way ahead of her"
"She is so much more lean than I am, she is going to kick my butt"
Don't kid yourself, the happy-go-lucky banter that you hear as the athletes are preparing is simply masking the real conversation going on. Are we that competitive? Sometimes, we are. . . .but I think most of the time we are just that insecure. For most women, the only way to feel better about themselves is to put someone else down. Is that the ugly truth? Unfortunately, I think it is. More on this later. . .
I was doing my pre-race prep and I had even brought along a buddy to cheer me on. The gun goes off and so do we. If you have never seen a mass start to a triathlon, you really should make the effort as it is both exciting and scary (depends on whether you are racing or spectating!). It was a two loop course so we got a big boost as we exiting, ran around a random tree and jumped back in the water. As I finished the swim, I looked at my watch to see if I was on track for the splits I had so anally calculated. I was on PR pace. It was my best swim time ever! I was so buoyed (no pun intended) by that time, I took off like a shot on the bike.
For those of you that are new to triathlon, one thing you need to realize is that the three sports are not created equal. The goal for any triathlete is to try to place about the same in the three disciplines. Most of the time, we come to the sport with a strength in only one sport. The fact that I had a great swim was big for me because, at the time, I was stronger at riding and running. After 75 km on the bike, I felt fantastic! Out of the blue, I started losing speed for no apparent reason. A flat tire!!!! Flat tires during a race are a lot like heart attacks. We usually try to ride as far as we can because we are in denial. I can't have a flat, I am having the ride of my life! I eventually had to stop to change the tube.
I know what you are thinking. . . .a girl . . . .changing a tire. . . . no way! I have done it many times and generally it is no big deal. I tried to stay calm as all these people kept passing me and my competitive head was screaming at me. I got the wheel off and changed the tire and started refilling the air with the CO2 cartridge. I was just about done when testosterone took over and I thought "I will just put a bit more air so that I can go really fast" BIG MISTAKE! Whatever air I had in the tire, I lost. OUCH. . . .no more tubes and no more air.
At this point, I had to surrender to the idea that this race was not going as planned. It is funny that when you let go of expectations, how you notice things that weren't there before. Like the carload of spectators that were playing awesome tunes while I was changing my tire. One girl ran across the road to help me but when she realized she didn't know what to do, she just cheered me on. After about thirty minutes, the support truck showed up. Five minutes later I was back on my bike. I highly recommend a 40 minute rest in the middle of a half. I felt great! I finished the last 15 km in record time and started running. I had given up on making my time for the race so instead, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I talked to everyone around me. Being at the back of the pack is where the real fun is. Every third person was doing their first triathlon. I can't think of anything more inspiring that running along side someone who is simply thankful for being in the race. I no longer cared about my precious splits or whether I "looked" fitter than those women in transition. I finished with a huge smile on my face and a new respect for everyone in the race.
Triathlon is a sport that demands flexibility (in your race plan), strength (of character) and endurance.
Success can be measured in many ways and it is all relative to your mindset. Be kind to yourself today!
Several years ago, I was racing at Oliver, BC in a half ironman. I had done all the preparation necessary. I had my race plan and my splits calculated. As this race is early season (June in Canada is early season!), women (and maybe men too, not sure) spend most of their time in transition checking out the other competitors. Conversations in our head go something like this:
"Wow, she really let herself go over the winter, I will definitely be way ahead of her"
"She is so much more lean than I am, she is going to kick my butt"
Don't kid yourself, the happy-go-lucky banter that you hear as the athletes are preparing is simply masking the real conversation going on. Are we that competitive? Sometimes, we are. . . .but I think most of the time we are just that insecure. For most women, the only way to feel better about themselves is to put someone else down. Is that the ugly truth? Unfortunately, I think it is. More on this later. . .
I was doing my pre-race prep and I had even brought along a buddy to cheer me on. The gun goes off and so do we. If you have never seen a mass start to a triathlon, you really should make the effort as it is both exciting and scary (depends on whether you are racing or spectating!). It was a two loop course so we got a big boost as we exiting, ran around a random tree and jumped back in the water. As I finished the swim, I looked at my watch to see if I was on track for the splits I had so anally calculated. I was on PR pace. It was my best swim time ever! I was so buoyed (no pun intended) by that time, I took off like a shot on the bike.
For those of you that are new to triathlon, one thing you need to realize is that the three sports are not created equal. The goal for any triathlete is to try to place about the same in the three disciplines. Most of the time, we come to the sport with a strength in only one sport. The fact that I had a great swim was big for me because, at the time, I was stronger at riding and running. After 75 km on the bike, I felt fantastic! Out of the blue, I started losing speed for no apparent reason. A flat tire!!!! Flat tires during a race are a lot like heart attacks. We usually try to ride as far as we can because we are in denial. I can't have a flat, I am having the ride of my life! I eventually had to stop to change the tube.
I know what you are thinking. . . .a girl . . . .changing a tire. . . . no way! I have done it many times and generally it is no big deal. I tried to stay calm as all these people kept passing me and my competitive head was screaming at me. I got the wheel off and changed the tire and started refilling the air with the CO2 cartridge. I was just about done when testosterone took over and I thought "I will just put a bit more air so that I can go really fast" BIG MISTAKE! Whatever air I had in the tire, I lost. OUCH. . . .no more tubes and no more air.
At this point, I had to surrender to the idea that this race was not going as planned. It is funny that when you let go of expectations, how you notice things that weren't there before. Like the carload of spectators that were playing awesome tunes while I was changing my tire. One girl ran across the road to help me but when she realized she didn't know what to do, she just cheered me on. After about thirty minutes, the support truck showed up. Five minutes later I was back on my bike. I highly recommend a 40 minute rest in the middle of a half. I felt great! I finished the last 15 km in record time and started running. I had given up on making my time for the race so instead, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I talked to everyone around me. Being at the back of the pack is where the real fun is. Every third person was doing their first triathlon. I can't think of anything more inspiring that running along side someone who is simply thankful for being in the race. I no longer cared about my precious splits or whether I "looked" fitter than those women in transition. I finished with a huge smile on my face and a new respect for everyone in the race.
Triathlon is a sport that demands flexibility (in your race plan), strength (of character) and endurance.
Success can be measured in many ways and it is all relative to your mindset. Be kind to yourself today!
Monday 19 September 2011
Getting the most out of your workout
Happy Monday,
I love the beginning of the week because it is an opportunity to renew and recharge my training. I had this great swim/run coach many years ago that always said "Have a theme to every workout." Whether it be tempo, race prep, easy, choice, speed or endurance. It doesn't matter but pick something! There has been tons of research about purposeful practice (also called the 10,000 hour rule).
Check out:
Outliers by Martin Gladwell
Bounce: The myth of talent and the power of practice by Mathew Syed
It is the idea that you get the most out of your training by being purposeful. In other words, have a purpose!!
I am the worst for too much chat when I do any kind of group training. I suppose that it helps to make the time pass faster but it is also important to be focused. I used to think that some athletes were to serious then I realized, they are focused and completely engrossed in their activity (of course, there are athletes that are too serious!).
This morning in the lanes we did 6 X 75 pull with a specific breathing pattern. It was great to focus on counting the breathing and being present in the action of swimming. In an earlier blog, I mentioned that most of my own development (be it personal or professional) has been manifested through sport. How can I apply purposeful practice to my daily activities? What would it be like to really focus on an activity? Can I take the sensation of counting my breaths into the rest of my day? I am willing to find out. . . .If you see me in the grocery store, I will be focused on choosing the best produce for my family (ok maybe a bit overboard)! I know I can do better than constantly checking my email in the latte line.
Enjoy the day!
I love the beginning of the week because it is an opportunity to renew and recharge my training. I had this great swim/run coach many years ago that always said "Have a theme to every workout." Whether it be tempo, race prep, easy, choice, speed or endurance. It doesn't matter but pick something! There has been tons of research about purposeful practice (also called the 10,000 hour rule).
Check out:
Outliers by Martin Gladwell
Bounce: The myth of talent and the power of practice by Mathew Syed
It is the idea that you get the most out of your training by being purposeful. In other words, have a purpose!!
I am the worst for too much chat when I do any kind of group training. I suppose that it helps to make the time pass faster but it is also important to be focused. I used to think that some athletes were to serious then I realized, they are focused and completely engrossed in their activity (of course, there are athletes that are too serious!).
This morning in the lanes we did 6 X 75 pull with a specific breathing pattern. It was great to focus on counting the breathing and being present in the action of swimming. In an earlier blog, I mentioned that most of my own development (be it personal or professional) has been manifested through sport. How can I apply purposeful practice to my daily activities? What would it be like to really focus on an activity? Can I take the sensation of counting my breaths into the rest of my day? I am willing to find out. . . .If you see me in the grocery store, I will be focused on choosing the best produce for my family (ok maybe a bit overboard)! I know I can do better than constantly checking my email in the latte line.
Enjoy the day!
Sunday 18 September 2011
Quick Update
As a follow up to my blog on Friday, I have added a place for you to register your email so that you can be notified when new posts are added. Check out the side column and find "Follow by Email".
That's it! I hope I have done everything I can to reach you and make it easy for you to stay connected. . .
More Later!
That's it! I hope I have done everything I can to reach you and make it easy for you to stay connected. . .
More Later!
Friday 16 September 2011
A Bit of Housekeeping . . .
Hello all,
I have been researching "how to blog". I guess I won't ever stop being the consummate student and the person trying to get it right!
Today, I wanted to remind everyone to sign up for this blog (if you like it, of course. . . .remember my fragile ego!). This can be done on the right side by clicking on the 'follow' button. Hopefully, if the site is working properly, you should receive notification that a blog has been posted. I am also going to post to my twitter account (@mathdva) so you can get notification that way as well.
I have also added a section with my favourite links. Hopefully, you will send me some of your favs. . .
I have named the blog TriDiva Network because I have been involved in triathlon for over 15 years and have done most of my personal and professional growth through sport so my first link to share with you is a great swimming blog from the US. It is written by Sara Mclarty with 9 workouts each week. So much variety and challenge that I couldn't begin to describe it! Fantastic! Now, I have to come clean and tell you that nothing replaces having a coach on deck critiquing your form but when that is not available, try some of these workouts. Look over to the side bar for the link.
Have a great weekend and don't forget that tomorrow is Sport Day in Canada so we need to be active!
Cheers
I have been researching "how to blog". I guess I won't ever stop being the consummate student and the person trying to get it right!
Today, I wanted to remind everyone to sign up for this blog (if you like it, of course. . . .remember my fragile ego!). This can be done on the right side by clicking on the 'follow' button. Hopefully, if the site is working properly, you should receive notification that a blog has been posted. I am also going to post to my twitter account (@mathdva) so you can get notification that way as well.
I have also added a section with my favourite links. Hopefully, you will send me some of your favs. . .
I have named the blog TriDiva Network because I have been involved in triathlon for over 15 years and have done most of my personal and professional growth through sport so my first link to share with you is a great swimming blog from the US. It is written by Sara Mclarty with 9 workouts each week. So much variety and challenge that I couldn't begin to describe it! Fantastic! Now, I have to come clean and tell you that nothing replaces having a coach on deck critiquing your form but when that is not available, try some of these workouts. Look over to the side bar for the link.
Have a great weekend and don't forget that tomorrow is Sport Day in Canada so we need to be active!
Cheers
Thursday 15 September 2011
Amazing Accomplishments. . . .Amazing Women
As I hauled myself up for a run this morning, I checked all my social media outlets (ok maybe I only have 2) and I was struck by a tweet I received from Swim Canada. As many of you know, I have been quite involved in swimming since my son started swimming in 1999 and my daughter started the year after. Throughout the years, I questioned myself as to how "involved" I should be. How much of a helicopter Mom am I? If you asked my kids and my husband, they would roll their eyes and reply, "It should be an Olympic sport, then maybe Mom would make the team!!"
Fortunately, the sport of swimming has had a long history and there have many people that have gone before me to lead the way. One of these leaders that actually help me register my kids in the stands beside the pool as they took their first strokes was Ollie Currie. She explained to me what a huge commitment it is to get up early, drive them to the pool, time at swim meets, work bingos, and on and on and on. . . . I asked her which one of the swimmers in the water was hers...."Oh, my kids finished swimming 15 years ago" she replied. Hold the Phone!!! Here is this woman giving her time to register new families and she doesn't even have a kid in the water. Right then and there I knew I had to get to know this person better.
Over the 10+ years as a swim volunteer, I had the privilege to work with Ollie on many projects. We organized meets, procured sponsors, timed on deck and had a great time doing it. Tomorrow, Ollie will be receiving the Order of Canada at a special ceremony in Ottawa (check out http://gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14227). Since 1967, more than 5000 people have been inducted into this special club. A tear still comes to my eye, even as I write this, to think what a huge difference she has made to this sport and to her community.
Clearly, Ollie is a great inspiration to us all and very diva - like but what can us mortals take from this? Whenever I am touched by greatness, be it athletic or otherwise, I try to find the piece in it that I can apply to my everyday. What can I do today that will inspire me and those around me?
I know what Ollie would say, "Just get out there and get it done!" Pretty simple really. . . .
Fortunately, the sport of swimming has had a long history and there have many people that have gone before me to lead the way. One of these leaders that actually help me register my kids in the stands beside the pool as they took their first strokes was Ollie Currie. She explained to me what a huge commitment it is to get up early, drive them to the pool, time at swim meets, work bingos, and on and on and on. . . . I asked her which one of the swimmers in the water was hers...."Oh, my kids finished swimming 15 years ago" she replied. Hold the Phone!!! Here is this woman giving her time to register new families and she doesn't even have a kid in the water. Right then and there I knew I had to get to know this person better.
Over the 10+ years as a swim volunteer, I had the privilege to work with Ollie on many projects. We organized meets, procured sponsors, timed on deck and had a great time doing it. Tomorrow, Ollie will be receiving the Order of Canada at a special ceremony in Ottawa (check out http://gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14227). Since 1967, more than 5000 people have been inducted into this special club. A tear still comes to my eye, even as I write this, to think what a huge difference she has made to this sport and to her community.
Clearly, Ollie is a great inspiration to us all and very diva - like but what can us mortals take from this? Whenever I am touched by greatness, be it athletic or otherwise, I try to find the piece in it that I can apply to my everyday. What can I do today that will inspire me and those around me?
I know what Ollie would say, "Just get out there and get it done!" Pretty simple really. . . .
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Welcome All
Good Morning All,
This is the first post on my new blog: TriDiva Network. My hope is that this will be an inspiring place for women to connect on a variety of topics. I will be sharing my insights on training, living, mothering and generally being diva-like. I believe that women have an amazing capacity to create, achieve and support one another. There will be links, ideas and requests for feedback placed on the blog. The guys are welcome to chime in if they think they can stand the heat!
A word about DIVA. I do get hassled about this term as not being very empowering to women. It is one word I would like to see transform. Historically, I think DIVA meant "high-maintenance". When I use the term DIVA, I am referring to the amazingness (I know, not a word) in women. DIVAs do not apologize for who they are; we are moms, entrepreneurs, wives, partners, volunteers, CEOs, etc. They are in every part of society, quietly (or not) living their lives with integrity, grit, courage, dignity and elan. If you heard about this blog, I would consider you a DIVA.
I am interested in your thoughts about DIVA. Let's reframe the word and take ownership of it. We can define it however we want. What is your experience of the term DIVA?
I look forward to this journey and I invite you to join me. I will be sharing more about my athletic, personal and professional pursuits in the coming months so stay tuned!
This is the first post on my new blog: TriDiva Network. My hope is that this will be an inspiring place for women to connect on a variety of topics. I will be sharing my insights on training, living, mothering and generally being diva-like. I believe that women have an amazing capacity to create, achieve and support one another. There will be links, ideas and requests for feedback placed on the blog. The guys are welcome to chime in if they think they can stand the heat!
A word about DIVA. I do get hassled about this term as not being very empowering to women. It is one word I would like to see transform. Historically, I think DIVA meant "high-maintenance". When I use the term DIVA, I am referring to the amazingness (I know, not a word) in women. DIVAs do not apologize for who they are; we are moms, entrepreneurs, wives, partners, volunteers, CEOs, etc. They are in every part of society, quietly (or not) living their lives with integrity, grit, courage, dignity and elan. If you heard about this blog, I would consider you a DIVA.
I am interested in your thoughts about DIVA. Let's reframe the word and take ownership of it. We can define it however we want. What is your experience of the term DIVA?
I look forward to this journey and I invite you to join me. I will be sharing more about my athletic, personal and professional pursuits in the coming months so stay tuned!
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