A Look Back at 2012, Part 1

The Year In Review

A look back at the moments and milestones in fitness, and with family, that defined the year! 

January

We were still on a total high, reveling in and recovering from the thrill and exhaustion of our first IRONMAN and subsequent mini-vacation in Cozumel. What a feeling to hear those words: You Are An IRONMAN! 

February

Time to relax and have some fun with the fam, so we headed to Seven Springs, PA and shredded some snow (what little there was of it) with our three daughters. 

Headed to the Polar Bear Express Lift

View of the slopes from our balcony

The youngest one catches some air at the terrain park

March

Time to get moving again with the start of triathlon training season. Throw in a last minute "learn to snowboard" adventure, my 16th wedding anniversary, the Rock N Roll Half Marathon, the Frederick Mission 10-Miler and a new yoga session, and let the craziness begin! And, Congrats to my mom on her Retirement! 

                                 

                                                Snowboarding at Liberty Mountain Resort with  my friend Gretchen

Yoga time! Namaste.  

Anniversary dinner at Volt in Frederick

Happy 16th Anniversary!

 And a road trip to celebration the occasion . . . 

Harrisburg, PA waterfront

Lunch at the Appalachian Brewing Company

Hiking the AT

Dinner in the Poconos

Nature Trail in the Poconos

Next it was the Rock N Roll Half Marathon in Washington, DC on St. Patty's Day . . . 

Race Expo with Cheryl

Potential Race Day Attire? 

Flowers from Triathlon Dad on Race Morning :)

All smiles after a super fun & rockin' race on a beautiful day!

And the next weekend it was the ill-fated Mission 10-Miler in Frederick. I'd aggravated my left hamstring at the Rock N Roll race, which led to a gimpy stride at the 10-Miler and a vert angry right IT Band that forced me to walk for bits of the race.  

With Jen after the Mission 10-Miler Race

And, after 33 years on the job, my Mom was honored for her years of service. Congratulations, Mom, and Happy Retirement!

Congrats on your Retirement, Mom!

April 

Tri Daughter #2 got braces and turned 9, lacrosse season began, my trail running efforts came crashing down, literally, and our family enjoyed a spring break trip to Hershey Park, Colonial Williamsburg and Great Wolf Lodge . . . 

Got Braces? 

Trail Rash--swollen/bruised palm/thumb.

Ready for action! 

TriDaughter #3

TriDaughter #2

Scoop!

Happy 9th Birthday! 

Presents!

Meeting adrenaline quotient on Griffin at Hershey Park

Strolling the streets in the 18th Century at Colonial Williamsburg

Tri Dad and Tri Daughters at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg

May

The Cascade Lake Sprint Triathlon was the official start of our season--and a great start it was, as I finished 2nd in my division and had the honor of being with my SIL, Kate, and my friend, Cheryl, as they both successfully completed their first-ever Duathlons! To add to the fun, there was the Frederick Kids Triathlon, Triathlon Daughter #1's 11th birthday, piano recital and meeting CHRISSIE WELLINGTON! 

Tri Family at the piano recital

A good start to the season!

Post-race with Triathlon Dad

With Cheryl who completed her FIRST Duathlon!

SIL gutting it out at her FIRST Duathlon! 

CHRISSIE!!

Tri Daughter #1 turns 11!

   

Tri Daughters #2 & #3 wait to start the swim

Tri Daughter #1 in T1

Triathlon is Fun!

At the Frederick Kids Triathlon

June

The South Carroll Sprint Triathlon, always a fun day in support of a good cause, was another great race for us as I finished 2nd in division and 6th overall female out of 134, while Tri Dad and his father both scored a 1st place finish in their divisions. Swim season began for all three Tri Daughters, Tri daughter #3 celebrated her 7th birthday, and I broke in a new pair of shoes. 

New Kicks

Happy 7th Birthday!

FIL, Me & Triathlon Dad before the South Carroll Sprint

Finishing the bike leg

Uphill dash to the finish

Triathlon Dad crosses the finish line

Accepting 2nd place award!

Tri Dad accepting 1st place award

Post-race Happy!

His & Hers Hardware

Tri Daughter #2 Takes Her Mark!

Tri Daughter #1 waits for her Heat to start

Tri Daughter #3 at the block & ready to rock!

Instant gratification not on the path to fitness

Instant gratification not found on the path to fitness

You know that person. Maybe you’ve even been that person. The one who, come spring, laments the size of her thighs and engages in drastic, crash diets to get her body “bathing suit ready,” only to be struggling to zip her jeans again by fall and dreading the upcoming holiday season with its onslaught of baked goods that will cause this scenario to repeat itself yet again, like a bizarre dieting version of the movie Groundhog Day.  

Or maybe you’re the guy who hasn’t run a mile since high school and, suddenly inspired, dusts off his old pair of Converse high tops and attempts to run sub-seven minute miles at a local 5K race, pulls a hamstring or injures a knee, and, as a result, retreats to the couch, swearing off exercise again as a foolish, even dangerous, pursuit. 

                   

While these sudden bursts of motivation are clearly born of good intentions, a key factor is being overlooked. As Hunter S. Thompson said, “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.”

Change takes planning, patience and perseverance. Even new mothers who are anxious to drop the weight gained during pregnancy are reminded that “nine months up, means nine months down.”

Achieving weight loss and fitness is not easy; if it were, everyone would do it. In this age of instant gratification, the idea of not immediately getting what we want exactly when we want it, has little appeal. But instant gratification is overrated, lacking the true satisfaction that comes from achieving results through hard work and determination. Rather, it’s a fleeting fulfillment that leaves us feeling empty and, similar to the way in which certain foods are engineered to keep us wanting more, never truly sated.

Resorting to liquid or highly restricted diets that lack calories and nutrients for the satisfaction of losing weight quickly for a specific event or time of year, is not sustainable. The minute something besides lemon water and carrots enters your mouth, your body will cling to it like a lifeboat and store it away in an effort to protect you from the next time you attempt to starve yourself.  Ultimately, the weight will pile on quicker than it was lost and a sense of failure and disappointment will set in, robbing you of your motivation and will to reach your goals.

A friend of mine, after many fad diets and failed attempts to lose weight, has finally found her way. It has taken a year, possibly more, but she has been safely and steadily losing weight, shedding 50 pounds through better nutrition and regular exercise. Last spring she ran her first 10K, her first mud run and her first duathlon. This year she will tackle a half marathon and a triathlon. Her parents’ Christmas gift to her was a gym membership. She has the support of her family but, first and foremost, she has herself.   

The path to lifelong fitness requires commitment and dedication. Until you are willing to forego the instant gratification of temporary weight loss and make the permanent, sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to long-term fitness and health, you will never be truly satisfied. 

It's the engine that counts

Q: “I was thinking of purchasing a bike for my wife to use for her first triathlon. Can you give me any advice on a decent starter model and let me know how much I should expect to spend on it and where to purchase it?”

A: It seems you are already giving your wife one of the most important things she will need to achieve her goals—your support! That said, the best starter model for her is the bike she already has, or one she can borrow. 

My first three triathlons were successfully undertaken on a mountain bike. I wouldn't recommend making an investment in a road bike until your wife is certain that triathlon will be an enduring passion rather than a fleeting interest.

Also, surprising her with a new bike may not be the best idea considering that the most important factor in choosing a bike is getting the correct size and fit.

After my initial foray into triathlons, I took a long break to raise my family. When I returned to the sport seven years later, it was with a new mindset; I was not only interested in having fun, but in challenging myself, testing my limits, and seeing how competitive I could be. To become a more serious triathlete, I knew I needed a more serious bike. While a mountain bike will get the job done and can actually be advantageous when climbing hills, it won’t be particularly fast when compared with the lighter, sleeker models on the road. But, I still wasn't ready to make a sizeable investment, so I borrowed a road bike. It was too big for me, but I used it for a full season until I was ready to purchase a bike of my own.

Once your wife knows she’s in it for the long haul, it’s time to visit a reputable bike shop for a fitting and to test ride a few bikes. Bikes are sized by the top tube length in centimeters and also come in women’s specific designs for more petite riders.

After getting properly sized for a bike, there are many options for finding one at a discount. I found a great deal on eBay and bought my first road bike, an older model Cannondale, for less than $500, including shipping. I loved that bike and rode it for several seasons before upgrading to a tri bike, also known as a time trial or TT bike, with aerobars, which is not recommended until after gaining some cycling experience.  

At approximately $2000, this was still considered and entry level performance bike, according to masterbikefitters.com. A high performance bike can easily exceed $4000, but it’s important to remember that it’s ultimately not about the bike—it’s the engine that counts.

To purchase a road bike before your wife determines if triathlon will be a long-term pursuit would likely not be the best use of your resources as a more versatile bike, such as a hybrid or comfort bike, would be better suited for both road riding and trail riding, as well as leisure riding around the neighborhood.

Ultimately, as long as your wife has a bike that is safe, comfortable and reliable, she’ll be well-equipped to tackle her first triathlon.