I was thinking in my living room about many things the other morning while scrolling through FB, and ran across this challenge from a photographer, MeRa Koh: “Make today all about capture images that speak to you about ‘cozy.’” I looked up and this is what I saw:
Heather’s UGG’s ready to go for a nice fall day of coziness. All day I was thinking about cozy. I will spare you the photos of dinner and what I wore to work that evening, although both qualify.
I know this is one of the reason I enjoy fall so much. I love cozy. I especially love cozy after wet. And we are getting some wet now aren’t we? I keep saying to myself, “You can get all warm and dry and cozy after you brave the weather for that walk or run or drive to the gym” (in my case pool).
And yes, I have a pair of UGGs my size I wear after swimming in the mornings. A true cozy reward.
Where do you find cozy?
Posted by Linda on Oct 11, 2012 in
community,
Linda's posts,
Training I had a small town experience the other day, within this big city. Heather and I were going to buy me a new pair of running shoes at my favorite running store, Super Jock ‘n Jill’s at Greenlake. We parked up the hill and as we came around the corner the window display was so simply gorgeous, BAM! It stopped me in my tracks, and we just looked at it for a minute. And now since Heather is a greeter at the Zoo it has even more meaning. We were surprised and happy to see such a strong display. It’s so simple! It made me want to do the race too.
A close up of the words on the sign below…
As we were viewing, Ty, one of the owners popped his head out the door, and we started our conversation with my rave about the window display. He told me to be sure to tell the person responsible, next time I see him. Ty is a good natured friend that I got to know back in the days when I was coaching for Team Danskin. He would run my running clinics for me. I always enjoy seeing him.
Then I went inside to buy shoes. I bought what I came in for and more. As we were wrapping up Ty cleared his throat and looked over at his partner who was now standing close by. I caught the clue and told his partner how much I enjoyed the window display, and he answered back how hard they are to put up sometimes. This time the Zoo gave him a beautiful piece to work with, often times he just gets small posters. And I thought: “Who knew displays are hard for someone?” ”And who knew they need to be appreciated?”
I learned a lot that day about my favorite store and the window displays of all the races they do every year. It felt small town because I was in on the behind the scenes of my favorite store as they were promoting an innaugural race of a place where Heather volunteers. I know these two men have give a lot to make this shoe store viable over the years. I am so glad they are there.
In closing, I always hope the brick and mortar independent merchant makes it. I plan to shop there and send everyone I know there for as long as I know I will need running shoes, and great running gear, delivered with excellent service. I figure until I’m 80.
This seems to be a week of benchmarks for me.
I’m getting ready for my first 5k run next week, so I’m testing myself around the track to see if I can run the whole distance.
Linda and I met for strategic planning about our manuscript for One Brave Thing a Day. We assessed where we are with the writing, with building our audience, and with our agent.
I tutored a student I’m helping in test preparation for the first time in a few weeks. I gave him tasks to check his knowledge and his focus.
I have been very satisfied with all the benchmarks. Knowing where I stand gives me a sense of calm but also helps motivate me for the next challenges.
Do you use benchmarks in your goal setting? Are you happy with where you stand?
Posted by Tegan on Aug 23, 2012 in
motivation,
Tegan's posts,
Training The first time I overheard runners on their way to a race talking eagerly about their “PR,” I wondered why they might be getting media attention. But they weren’t talking about public relations, they were talking about personal records.
Today as I was training for running my first 5k, I had a revelation: as long as I finish the race, I will achieve my PR! Because I’m sure that no matter how slow my running, it should be faster than the 5ks I’ve done walking.
That put a little bounce in my step as I jogged along the track.
You know what they say about your peers rubbing off on you? I guess it’s true, because after hearing about/watching all the training Linda and my husband do, I’ve actually started training for my own running event. I’ve signed up to run my first 5k, the Seattle Athleta Iron Girl in Seattle! So I’m going to earn one of these sparklers:
I credit my friend Beverly with actually making me sign up for the run. (Thank you, Beverly!) She decided she wanted to train to do it, and I decided a few hours around the neighborhood with her a week would be a delightful thing to add to my schedule. Last session, we alternated walking and running around the track for just about 5k (with the walk to and from the track, we covered more than 5k total). It was so exciting to know we can run already halfway! Now we have the rest of the summer to make sure we can run the whole thing.
What are you training for? Any tips for the newbie?
Posted by Tegan on Apr 20, 2012 in
brave things,
Tegan's posts,
Training 
Monday was the 116th Boston Marathon, and my husband’s second. It was also the hottest on record.
Friends and family joined me to cheer Jordan (and thousands of other runners) at a relatively shady spot less than a mile from the finish line. When the marathon started, temperatures were already in the 70s. By the time runners were finishing, it was in the upper 80s or even the 90s. The heat was so brutal, the Boston Athletic Association encouraged runners to postpone until the following year. Despite the warnings and the deferment offer, over 21,000 people finished the race. However 2,000 required medical attention, and over 100 were hospitalized.
I am very, very glad that Jordan finished the race healthy! And look how happy he was for dinner that night! Last year, he had a near-perfect race, and this year, I think he had the perfect race for the crazy conditions. Jordan ran it just right! His qualifying time determined his bib number (5196), but he was number 4130 across the finish line– faster than his qualifying time would have predicted. I am so proud– and relieved. You can read his post about the marathon experience here.
As a spectator, the marathon was difficult. The discomfort of the heat was one thing, but watching runners collapse was a horror I hadn’t prepared for. We saw many runners cramp up and two collapse right in front of us. Thankfully, we also saw alert and attentive medical personnel at work and a tremendous supportive crowd. My favorite moment of the race (besides seeing Jordan wave as he ran by and finding him healthy at the finish line) was when I saw a runner pass a man stopped with a cramp, then jog back against the flow of runners to offer the stopped man a drink. We all cheered wildly, and I don’t think I was the only one with tears in my eyes.
Congratulations to all the people who ran the Boston Marathon and to all who trained for it but deferred to next year. You’re all winners in my mind!
Posted by Linda on Apr 18, 2012 in
friendship,
Linda's posts,
Training I struggled within myself most of the week. My internal mind kept saying; “ I really don’t have time for this. I don’t think it will go as well as last year. And not as many people from our Team will be there. Last year was my first time and it was a blast. And this year I haven’t trained as well.” Now it’s a year later… and the loop starts again…”I don’t have time for this…”
I somehow made it to the pool that Saturday morning because I was entered in 4 events and a relay. The same 4 events as last year, wondering if I could improve my time. That’s what it’s all about: seeing if you improve. Or it might be about just showing up.
I met some seriously friendly young women in the locker room. This was their first Masters Swim Meet and we said we would keep an eye out for each other during the day. Quckly they got lost in the sea of 382 swimmers, and I never saw them again.
Our team settled in on the bleachers where we were last year and Coach Robin gave some last minute directions. I went in for a long warm-up. The meet got underway. The next thing I knew the pool was quiet except for lane 1, the lane of Evelyn, the star of the day. She is 93 and still swimming. As she finished her race, the 50 freestyle, many people applauded. It was genuine and warm. I was standing next to Robin and we were commenting on how wonderful that was, and she just won her team a ton of points. She rocked the 90+ category–she was there by herself.
I happened to be closer to Evelyn’s next race the 100 IM (Individual Medley) because I was in the next heat. Evelyn did one length Butterfly, one length back stroke, one length breaststroke, and one length freestyle. As she fininshed the crowd went W-I-L-D!! And I heard some young kids (hovering around their 20’s) say, “I want to still be swimming when I’m 93.” The cheers were so respectful and happy; I knew then… This is why I came today.
I have a fear of aging. I think most of us do. I also believe all the bad news delivered everyday about how the world is getting worse and so disrespectful. But on Saturday I witnessed something very different. The elder tribe member was given honor, and it felt electric great to be in the Aquatic Center when Evelyn finished her race. We were applauding a person who had kept moving for all of her life.
I don’t know if I will make it to 93 but these next photos were taken last Saturday by a new friend who shares a lane with me at practice. Thanks Mary.
On the Starting Block for my 50 yard Butterfly. Foot behind to be sure I don’t false start.
Linda doing butterfly
Final stroke into the wall, btw, it was a better time than last year.
I figure all we can do is keep moving and do the best we can with everyday. If finish lines help you like you like they do me, then find some races to sign up for this summer. A 5K is where I started 15 years ago. Then a sprint distance triathlon, changed my life forever.
My goal used to be to do a half marathon every year until I was 80. Now since I have met Evelyn I might need to adjust that goal.
Yes, we are desperate here in the northwest. It is the beginning of March, and winter has gone on long enough. We expect to be bored, restless, and lack energy. That’s how I usually come out of winter. This year we decided to try something different. We registered for the Rainman Triathlon, an indoor triathlon scheduled for April 1st.
To meet this goal Jackie offered up her basement for Saturday morning biking workouts, our once a week gathering for chatting and biking. It is very fun and worth the energy to haul equipment to her house every week, to build riding muscles I haven’t seen in a while. There are five of us involved in our Saturday morning workouts to date.
It’s more than a work-out; it’s a check in time. My friends can tell in a heartbeat if I’m having a rough time and will ask. And I’d better just tell the truth and get on with it, because I’m not good at lying. I love this little Jackie’s basement human gym. It makes my week softer.
What makes your week softer?
One thing you need to know about me is that I am lazy, desperately lazy. Or to put it kindly, I suffer from motivation deprivation. Left to simple choice I would chose bed or sofa, every time. Yet, over the years I’ve learned ways to work with me, to get me to exercise, because in the end I really do feel better. It’s just the zone between the bed and the point of actually being engaged in the activity where I have several points to talk myself in or out of it.
I went investigating and asked people when is their point of no return? For one person she said she doesn’t even allow herself the luxury of thinking. When the alarm clock goes off, her feet hit the floor and with her bag packed the night before she puts it in autopilot and suddenly she arrives at her gym destination through the winter cold and dark and puts in the workout that her being loves for the rest of the day. Another person said she is home free when she puts on her tennis shoes and jog bra, something about that combination signals her body and she won’t turn back from that point. One gentleman said he can get up and 10 minutes later be in the pool. WOW.
It takes me one hour and 5 minutes to get to the pool, from when my alarm goes off. And I try to talk myself out of it at least three times. The things that work for me are that I have a goal, and a reward system and I tune into how much better I feel when I have worked out. My point of true no return is in the car driving to the destination, I have yet to change my mind at that point.
When is your point of no return?
Posted by Linda on Jan 25, 2012 in
Linda's posts,
motivation,
Training Swimsuit shopping is brutal any time of year… but January??? That’s what three new Triathletes and I did Saturday morning at my favorite swimsuit store, Silvia’s Swimwear. Their website is much more intimidating than the store. We walked in and the friendly sales professionals went to work in a gentle way. They have everything from vacation swimwear to the heavy lifting polyester; never-die swimsuits for many hours of training in chlorine. We wanted the latter. Below is a picture of a polyester one, yes, the model is extra.
They carry all sizes, meaning their larger sizes are plentiful, not an afterthought. It was fun to introduce beginning Triathletes to my world through a store that had everything they needed at competitive prices.
We went to the goggle wall and found the perfect goggles for one of the athletes. They make goggles in prescription now, you just need to know what your nearsighted prescription is, and this thrilled all of us. I will be back when I find out what my prescription is–they were only, $20.00! I paid $80.00 for my pair last year at my optometrist.
We walked out proud owners of everything we needed to get our swimming part going for the triathlon we all registered for this winter. Next goal: our once-a-week swim time, set for Sunday evenings. Look out Rainman Triathlon, here we come.
Last week-end’s bravery came in a group effort. When do you need group support?
