Monday Motivation - Kim

Morning peeps!  It's been a while since we have had a Monday Motivation Blogger.  We're switching things up today with a :sound the trumpets:  Bike Rider!  Woohoo!  We've had lots of runners-  but so far this is the first bike rider motivational story.  I met Kim two years ago.  She is friends with my friend Elizabeth (of the Shamrock Shuffle Motivation Monday- Elizabeth).  Since meeting her two years ago for Elizabeths first Shamrock Shuffle she has been a source of inspiration and motivation for me.  After meeting me briefly for all of two hours, she became a huge cheerleader of mine, training and then competing in my Triathlon and has been my go-go-go you can do it girl, ever since.  So, as soon as I heard she was doing the Tour de Cure, I knew it was my time to cheer for her! (well, in spirit anyway-  since she lives in New York and all)

Anyhow-  you don't need anymore of my wordiness gumming up her story- so without further ado, Kim!

Kim pictured on far right 

Up until two weekends ago, I had not been on a bike in about 14 years. So when a co-worker asked everyone in my office if they’d like to do a 30 mile bike race around Manhattan for the American Diabetes Association’s “Tour de Cure”, I had my reservations. Thankfully, the idea of cruising around the city on a nice summer day with friends and getting in a great workout, all the while raising money for a wonderful cause, trumped any hesitation I had in signing up. After all, riding a bike must be, well “just like riding a bike”. Right?

I’ll admit that I did not train as I probably should have for this event. I had every intention of renting a bike a weekend or two before the race, at the very least to just test my comfort level.  But, life got in the way and before I knew it, race day was here without once going for a test drive. Thankfully, I had been keeping up with other workouts in my day to day life that allowed me to survive race day.   

Roughly two and a half years ago, on my 30^th birthday, I made the decision that enough was enough. It was time to get in shape, lose weight, and starting living an active and healthier lifestyle. Despite some ups and downs and though not yet near my goal, I’ve stayed (for the most part) on track with my workouts and have made great strides in getting healthy. I run fairly often, have completed some road races (including a half marathon) and thanks to the help of an ex-Army Airborne Ranger who I’m lucky to call my trainer, I feel stronger and more fit than I have since high school.

Three years ago, I could never have kept up with my group on race day. Some of the people on my team had done these bikes races in the past. I mean, they even had the outfits and gear that just screamed “I’m a bike rider!”. The others who made up the group were almost ten years younger than me. But, turns out that did not matter. Ten miles into the race and halfway up a steep hill near the George Washington Bridge, my quads started to burn, I was gasping for air and sweat was pouring down my face. But then I thought to myself that these feelings – the pain, the desire to keep on pushing to just get this part over with - was the same feeling I’ve had a million times in the past two and a half years. It was the same feeling I have with my trainer when he makes me do what feels like a million squat jumps. It’s the same feeling I have when running, on my last mile and can see the finish line off in the distance. You have to just keep repeating “you’re almost there…!” and soon enough, I would be, the burn would go away, the hill turned to flat land and all I had to do was keep pedalling.

Race day turned out to be wonderful. We raised nearly $3800 as a group for a very important cause, had beautiful weather, and I saw parts of New York City that I otherwise never would have seen from that perspective. But most importantly, from a personal standpoint, we were able to cross the finish line as a team. I was right there with my group, no worse for wear than anyone else, as we cruised across the finish line and celebrated a job well done. 

Congrats to Kim and her whole Tour De Cure team!  Kim's fund raising website is still active.  If you would like to donate to her Tour DeCure fundraising site, raising funds for Diabetes, please click here  

Have you recently completed a race and would like to be a Monday Motivation featured writer?  Email me at millie at seemillietri.com and let me know!

Don't Be Intimidated!

The Show Me Your Guns challenge has reached its halfway point. From the responses I have gotten back, were a few that discussed still being intimidated at the gym.  And not necessarily intimidated to use the equipment, but intimidated by the gym rats that work out there.

Ok-  If you walk into the gym and see Mr Muscle Men working out, spitting on the floor, flexing their pecs or just in general acting like muscle men-  just remember.  YOU pay dues to that gym too!

HE is NO BETTER than you are.  Just because he's all buff and toned and tan doesn't mean he is any better of a person than you are.  Everyone, INCLUDING YOU has a right to that equipment.  So don;'t let their impatience, huffing and puffing, or in general holier than thou attitudes scare you off.

If you still feel leery about using the equipment when they are around, then perhaps until you get used to your routine, try going at an off hour.  I know what you're going to say, because I use the same excuse "But the gym is on my way to/from work-  and THAT is when I work out... once I'm home I don't WANT to go back to the gym"  trust me.  I know.  Either immediately before work, or immediately after work are the only two times I can work out either.  Because if I get home and plop myself on that couch I will find every excuse in the book to not get back up and out the door again.

However, until you feel comfortable in your surroundings and have done these workouts enough times that you could change the weights on the machines in your sleep-  it may help you be less intimidated if you try going at an off hour (like 8:00pm)

If you are still a bit intimidated-  go to the front desk and ask if someone can walk you through how to use the machines (most gyms offer a familiarization to the equipment for free)-  and if you are still unsure, it might be a good idea to hire a trainer.  Even if its only for one time... it might be worth it to have someone holding your hand and cheering you along as you do it.

No matter what though-  that muscle man who is giving you the stink eye, does not hold your happiness in his attitude.  YOU are there for YOU.  And if Mr Macho man can't handle it.... TOUGH.

Wow! Long Time No Talk

Holy moly. Its been a while!

So, I guess I should probably fill you in a bit on what's been going on. Brutus found greener pastures with a new gym. So, I havent seen him for a while. We're trying to get our schedules figured out and see where we can meet so he can start kicking my butt again.

The summer term started um, two(?) weeks ago.. and it took off running. So I've been more than overwhelmed trying to balance work and school. Why do I always do this to myself? Thankfully, the term is almost over already- only three and a half weeks left- yay.

I have a book to review written by Chris MacCormack. It should be up later this week.

Ive been getting some questions about the Water Proof IPod Nano I'm testing, and why I havent blogged about it. The Water Proof Nano is in the testing stages still. So there will be some bugs and such to work out while, well, working out.

The one that I had took on water and had to be sent back to the manufacturer. I just received my replacement, and hopefully it will go along swimmingly from here on out (pun intended).

If you are a SHOW ME YOUR GUNS participant. We are ALMOST at the 6 week mark. I will be sending out an email in the new few days with the midpoint check in information ( I cant believe its been six weeks! Holy moly time flies)

My Dad, Sister and I have signed up for the Naperville Triathlon at the end of the summer. We are currently planning on doing it as a relay, however, Im tinkering with the idea of seeing if I can do the full monty. I'm not quite sure how that would work tracking wise, or, if they would allow me to compete in the whole thing without tracking me (though that would kind of stink considering I wouldn't know my times then)but considering it will be my only Tri this season, I kind of feel like I should really be doing the whole thing.

This weekend is the Naperville Women's Tri. I'm so sad I'm not going to be competing in it. But lack of time, and some unexpected travel has prevented me from competing.

So, sorry for the frenetic whirlwind post :)

I'll update more later!

A Special Memorial Day Version of Motivation Monday

When we were growing up, my younger sister and I have a large enough age difference between us, that when I was in Junior High I was old enough to babysit my eight year old sisters friends.  One of them, was Riky.  I used to love babysitting Riky because A. Her parents paid *really* well.  B.  Her parents were young (actually doing the math I'm quite sure they were about the age I am now)  and hip  and  her Dad, Mark would always let me listen to "my" radio station when he would pick me up and drop me off (the whole like four minute drive from their house to mine- but when you're thirteen that is just THE coolest)

Riky's Dad died of cancer earlier this year.  And, she recently did Relay For Life in honor of her dad, so they could raise money to Kick Cancer's Ass.

In Riky's own words,  here is her experience with Relay for Life

Riky Pictured on Far Left 

I'm lazy when it comes to working out. It's just my nature, can't help it. In high school I could eat whatever I wanted and be a twig. 10 years later I'm 30 pounds heavier, and yet somehow it doesn't kick in that I actually need to work for that body...so I let it go. I have random spurts of motivation. A month on Weight Watchers, seven days of 90 minute workouts on the elliptical machine. Then once I get distracted it's a lost cause. 

I read the health magazines, I like knowing that my food has the words "Low Fat," but in my mind, that just means I can eat more of it, right? I'm the girl that watches The Biggest Loser and feels better watching other people work out. 

I think to get the motivation you need to make changes, the source has to hit you close to home. That's what happened when my dad called and said he had stage 4 lung cancer.
While my dad smoked a pack of day for forty years, he actually tried to stay healthy in other ways. He loved his daily walks. While he was sick, that was the one thing he missed. He just wanted to go for a walk. It inspired me. If he couldn't walk, I would. 

My boyfriend and I moved to Seattle 4 months before my dad was diagnosed in Chicago. Since I couldn't be with him everyday I wanted to do everything I could from where I was. I found a Relay For Life event in Seattle and from the minute I signed up, I was on a mission. For those who don't know, Relay For Life is an overnight walk put on by The American Cancer Society to eliminate cancer. 

When I started to train I started small. I would jog for 5 minutes, then walk for 30, five days in a row The next week I would run a mile, then walk 2 miles more. Anything I could do to build endurance. I heard the stair machine was the best for cardio, so I'd make myself step for 45 minutes straight. I would walk around my house moaning from being so sore. My body wasn't used to  this. But after awhile the pain started to feel good and no matter what I did, it wasn't enough to quit or slowdown. All the old excuses didn't matter anymore. There was no more getting bored with working out because this wasn't about me. 

Finished!  Riky Pictured in Green

My dad passed away two months ago. My relay was two days ago. I walked 13 hours and 26.25 miles in the footsteps of someone who wanted nothing more than to do just that. I have felt real pain, emotional and physical, and I now have enough motivation to last a lifetime. I want to work hard and stay healthy so no matter where he is, my dad is proud. I will walk in Relay For Life for years to come, and each year, I will walk harder and be stronger for my dad. It takes one moment to change your life, and that's all the motivation I need.

Riky's dad dying I think has affected me more than any other friend or acquaintances parent passing.  He was young-  younger than both of my parents, and Riky's blog chronicled the stages of letting go. It demonstrated in such a bittersweet way, that our parents, no matter how invincible we believe them to be, are also people with hopes and dreams, with successes and short comings, having the same anxieties and fears that we all do.  

So, on this Memorial Day, lets remember Mark and all the parents who have gone sooner than they should due to a bully called Cancer.  Riky's Relay For Life team is still accepting donations to Kick Some Cancer Ass.  If you feel moved to do so, you can follow the link below to donate to Relay For Life.

Rikys Relay for Life Page

Fixing An Oversight

A few weeks back,  I did a post about all of the people who helped me complete my Triathlon.  I had posted a picture, showing all of the awesome people that came and cheered me along and spoke about how each one had helped me.

In that post, and the frenetic excitement of trying to fit everyone in, I overlooked one very important friend. So, in pennance for the guilt I feel for totally overlooking her (and it was an accident, I would never intentionally leave her out)... here is my slobbering love affair post dedicated to my friend:

Megan.

Megan and I work together and have for five years, and over that time she has become like a little sister to me  ( I can't say the sister I never had because I have two sisters lol -  but she would be my Little Sister Part Two) .

The day after I saw Meredith compete in her triathlon, I went to work all jazzed up and I told Megan "I'm going to do a Triathlon"  ---  well actually it was more like "Holy Crap You should have seen Meredith, she freaking ROCKED.  I'm SO doing that next year"  but you get the point.

Megan said "You're gonna rock too"  no hesitation. No laughing, chortling, or anything else that would otherwise discourage this crazy notion that I had set about in my head.  Nope. She looked me straight in the face and from that day forward was my therapist, my cheerleader, my ear (and lord knows she listened to about a million neuroses over the next year )  like : being afraid of having to walk the bike route, to hurting my knees, the weather, my bathing suit, my  goggles, my shoes, and anything and everything else I could panic about-  she heard it.  And every time I had something I was afraid of, she would calmly listen to what I was saying, and then talk me down off whatever ledge I was standing at (in the metaphoric sense of course).  

When I started my blog-  she was the only one I told (for a while).  She was my sole follower.  And she would always comment, email, or in general give me a rah rah.  So really,  she has been my cheerleader from day ONE. 

 Before I told anyone else, I told her.  

Before anyone else knew I had a blog-  even before I went "soft public" (as in telling the first 11 people who read my blog in the begining)  she was reading it-  daily.

She designed my very first "See Millie Tri" logo  (which sadly I lost when my computer crashed :( )

And of course, she was there on the day of the race cheering me on :-D

So-  to Megan - The forgotten (albeit unintentionally) :

Thank you for being a friend (suddenly the Golden Girls Theme Song is in my head)

Thank for you being an ear

Thank you for talking me down off a million ledges

Thank you for your unwavering support and belief I was capable of something

I occasionally thought I couldn't do

Thank you still for being you :)

Five Fabulous Bloggers

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

My life is always moving at a frenetic pace.  One of the things I like to do to unwind, or provide myself with some down time after training or while in the middle of writing papers or doing research for classes, is to catch up with some of my favorite bloggers.  There are so many that I follow, that narrowing down the field is difficult-  however I do have my tried and true “must read” list

Logo from www.SkinnyEmmie.com

The first lady that I regulary visit is my friend Emily over at Skinny Emmie .  Our friendship is actually quite a funny story.  One day, I was googling something for a post of my own, when a post of Emmie’s came up.  I clicked on her webpage, and as I read I thought “oh my goodness, we are so similar”…and “God, her website rocks!”  So, I emailed her, and asked her how she got such a rocking website (and made mention of some of our similarities)  and boom!  Newfound friends.  But in all honesty, if you haven’t checked her out, you really should.  She is an inspiration.  Having already lost over a hundred pounds and moving steadily along,  her most recent achievenent was training and competing in a ½ marathon and raising money for Parkiinsons research.  You guys know that I heart Emmie, as I say it all the time. But really, if you aren’t following her already, why the heck not?

www.bradgansberg.com

My second must read is my friend Brad Gansberg at Brad Gansberg & 7 Day Chip .  I stumbled upon him one day when another of my fave follows on Twitter referenced something called a #7daychip.  Of course I had to ask what the heck a hash tagged 7day chip meant.  She explained that Brad facilitates an online support group for people who are either part of Over Eaters Anonymus, are Binge Eaters or have other food related issues.  A seven day chip is granted when you have made it to seven days where food has not controlled you.  Much like in AA or NA they receive chips for staying sober, we receive chips for staying on point and not allowing food to control our lives.  His blog covers many topics, but everything he says is worth reading and reflecting. 

My friend Natasha at The Healthy Hedonista  is also another must read.  She used to be the Unlikely Triathlete, but has decided instead of focus more on a healthy lifestyle and not so much on checking in with her weightloss successes and missteps.  I loved her when she was the Unlikely Triathlete, because I understood her struggles.  Having competed in two triathletes of my own and not losing more than a few pounds doing it, I could completely empathize with her frustrations.  Her new website though, with her new focus is just as awesome!  She is funny, smart, witty and just a fun read.

My final two favorite MUST READ bloggers have to do with Vegetarianism, Food, and Cooking.

www.plantfoodfabulous.com

The first, is so Fabulous- she included it in her name! 

Angelika over at Plant Food Fabulous  shows everyone that being a vegetarian doesn’t mean you need to skimp on taste (or decadence).  If you are doing weight watchers- or really, watching your waistline at all-  the posts really should be more about seeing and not so much doing or eating, because the caloric content of her tasty creations sometimes can reach epic porportions – as it is all food that is incredibly rich and tasty. (In her defense though, she does have some great lighter fare too- but those are usually the posts that I say “oh that’s nice… now, where’s that six layer German Chocolate Cake recipe”  J  If you’re a vegetarian, or perhaps a non-vegetarian looking for some new kitchen inspiration check her out.  You won’t be sorry.

And last but not least:  

Tri Marni

Vegetarian or Vegan Uber-Athletes are not particularly common.  In fact, I can count on my hand, the really well known Vegetarian and Vegan distance racers.  Sad, isn’t it.  Anyhow,  Marni over at TriMarni is a FOUR TIME Ironman  an amazingly wise, and creative vegetarian.  She posts some of the most interesting and healthy vegetarian recipes – both for when you are training and also when you are just bored with what you are eating.  Plus, who wouldn’t love to vicariously live through a 4x Ironman?  Reading about the things she does and experiences every day is just mind boggling to me.  If I ever make it to the Ironman stage- it will because of all of the inspriration Marni has provided me from the very first day I announced I was going to attempt a Tri.

So, those are my  Fabulous Five.  Who are your favorite bloggers?  I would love to hear about your “lists”  as I’m always looking for new people to follow!  Let me know in the comments section who you love and why!  And…

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post. 

Brutus the Brutal

OUUUUUUUUCHHHHHHHH.

I've been whining on and off to my husband since coming home from training with the Brute yesterday.  My husband, clearly not getting that I want *sympathy*  simply looks at me and says "good, you are getting what you paid for then".  That isn't the point though.  Yes, Brutus rocks.  We've already established that he is the worlds best trainer.  But Dude-  I HURT.

Since my bum knee is still in the end stages of it's temper tantrum, we are still working on arms and core.  And when I say arms and core, I mean less arms, more core. just to give you an idea about the pain I am in today.. I actually contemplate whether or not I want to sneeze because I know that it's gonna make me groan.

The Brute worked me good- fo rizzle.

So-  Congrats to KELTY  our 10k Hit Contest Winner.  :)  Random Dot Org chose position numero 3 as it's designated winner, and of course that was Kelty's post telling me she sent me some twitter love!

YAY for winning!

I had so much more to say, but lovely disorganized moi, who thought I had until AFTER Memorial Day for classes to begin again, was sorely mistaken.  My Classes start THE WEEK of Memorial Day-  with my first assignments due- you guessed it- TOMORROW.

I know you know what Ive been doing all day today!

I have gazillions of posts here waiting to get polished and post worthy- but fear not- they will be coming; albeit in a slower manner than planned!