Roller skating still rocks

As a kid growing up in the seventies, if I wasn’t in school, I was outside. I lived in a neighborhood where you could always find other kids who were up for a game of tag, kickball, dodge ball, baseball or football. And, on the rare occasion when a group couldn’t be amassed, there was always bike riding, jump rope, hopscotch, tree climbing and roller skating. 

I loved to roller skate. My first pair of skates had metal wheels. I’d lace them up and glide up and down my street for hours. One of my earliest memories is of challenging a boy on a Big Wheel to race and I was winning; that is, until I tripped on a rock and skidded down the road on my face, a stunt that would have me starting first grade with a scab running from my temple to my upper lip. But even that didn’t diminish my affinity for roller skating.

By the time I was eleven, I had a new pair of skates with red wheels and big pom-poms with bells that I would proudly don every weekend at the local roller skating rink, which was ten minutes from my house. My parents would drop me off for the three hour matinee session and pick me up afterward—a common occurrence in the seventies, but something I find hard to imagine doing with my own young daughters today. I even had a birthday party at the roller skating rink.

But, as high school approached, my friends and I had moved on to ice skating and, before long, both pairs of skates were collecting dust in my closet.

Roller skating, which is both a form of recreation and a sport, as well as a mode of transportation, has been around for nearly 200 years, but was most popular in America in the 1970s and the 1990s. It’s resurgence in the nineties is credited to the introduction of inline skates, which became known as “roller blading,” and I was just one of many college students who zipped around campus on a pair of Rollerblades.

By the time my children were born, skating had again become a distant memory. Until, one day, on our way to Pennsylvania, we drove by the Sportsman’s Hall Roller Skating Rink in Upperco, Md.—the very place where my parents had met more than forty-five years ago, and where my own children would soon learn to skate and have their own birthday parties.

Recognized by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and recommended by the American Heart Association as an aerobic fitness sport, roller skating, which is relatively safe and easy to learn, develops motor skills and uses all the body’s muscles, and, surprisingly, burns as many calories as running, is one of the best fitness activities for children.

So, instead of sitting on the couch, watching television and playing video games during the cold and blustery days of winter, roll on over to Sportsman’s Hall where the whole family is guaranteed to have hours of fun while getting fit. 

Everyone has to start somewhere

I was asked the following question by a reader of one of my newspaper columns: 

Q: “How did you get into triathlons? Were you and your husband both into triathlons when you met?”  

A: My husband, a competitive swimmer since high school, and I met in college, about five years before we did our first triathlon.  

4.4-mile Great Chesapeake Bay Swim

A year after we were married, my husband joined a masters swim team and trained for the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim, finishing second on his first attempt. So, when he decided to swim the bay again the following year I figured I’d give it a try too. The sum total of my swimming experience to that point, however, included basic lessons when I was five-year-old, during which I managed to keep the top of my head dry the entire time, and a little freestyle and sidestroke as required to pass a lifeguard training course. But I managed to make it across the bay and my husband won that year, so it was an awesome day for both of us!

Dewey Beach played host to my first-ever triatlon,
which has indeed become a way of life!

Ultimately, it was our involvement with the masters swim team that led us to the sport of triathlon.

Some of our friends on the masters team were headed to Delaware to participate in the Dewey Beach Sprint Triathlon and they invited us to join them. Thinking it would be a fun weekend at the beach, we agreed to go. Little did I know how much the experience I gained training for the bay swim would pay off as I battled the rolling surf and the ebb and flow of the tide during the half-mile open water swim in the ocean.  After the swim, it was on to fifteen miles of windswept coastal roads, which we tackled on our mountain bikes, followed by a 5K run. I wouldn’t say we were hooked, but it was so much fun we made the trek back to Dewey two more times after that.

My first of three daughters.
A whole new kind of triathlon was about to begin!

And then our first daughter was born. Within four years we had three children under the age of five and every day was a triathlon. The revolving door of eat, sleep, wake, and bottles, bibs, diapers, left no room for swim, bike, run.

One of my favorite & most-valued baby necessities

By the time the youngest turned two I was running again, my daughter and her jogging stroller my constant companions. We hired a babysitter once a week so we could ride our bikes and, on weekends, took turns swimming laps at the community pool. That was six years ago and we’ve been competing in triathlons ever since. 

At the Hagerstown Youth Triathlon

What started out nearly fifteen years ago as a fun weekend at the beach has become a passion that the whole family enjoys as all three of our daughters now regularly participate in youth triathlons. My husband and I continue to challenge ourselves and explore our limits within the sport, always striving to see how fast and how far we can go, our races ranging from local sprint-distance events to Ironman triathlons in far-flung locations. 

For anyone looking to get into multi-sport, a duathlon or sprint-distance triathlon, particularly one with a pool swim, is the best way to start. But, be warned, it's addictive! 

The feeling is addictive! 

The price we pay to play

A few months ago I sat in front of my computer, poised to register for my second Ironman triathlon, my cursor hovering over the “Register Now” button. I was just one click away from paying a sizeable chunk of change for the privilege of sweating and suffering alongside two thousand fellow triathletes over the course of 140.6 miles.   

This is insane, I thought. Why am I doing this? There is plenty of fodder on the internet poking fun at those of us who pay to do this crazy thing called Ironman. But the reasons I do it are many and varied—for the thrill and adventure; for the challenge and sense of accomplishment; to see how far I can push myself; and, simply, to pursue my passion. And, no matter what your hobby or passion is—be it motocross, scrapbooking, boating or snow skiing—you are sure to feel it in your pocketbook. So I swallowed my guilt, clicked register, and forked over the money.

Fast forward to January and a man who has won tickets to see the Ravens play San Francisco in the Superbowl is front-page news. Upon reading further, I learned that the man had not won the tickets but, rather, won a lottery for the opportunity to purchase tickets—for the astronomical price of $850 each! A single ticket to spectate at the Superbowl is nearly $200 more than the cost to participate in an Ironman, an event that can last up to seventeen hours as opposed to a three-hour football game. People interviewed on television by a local news reporter joked that if it came down to paying the mortgage or going to the Superbowl they’d go to the Superbowl—a sentiment I couldn’t quite relate to, though I suddenly felt far less guilt over the money I’d plunked down for the Ironman.

Although I realize the Superbowl is the crown jewel of the season and that the ritual tailgating and the halftime show are part of the experience, I can’t fathom paying that much to see a game, despite being practically raised on the sport. My dad coached, my brother played and I, possessing a pretty decent spiral, wanted to play too, though, lacking girls’ teams at the time, I was relegated to the sidelines. Nonetheless, Sunday football was a cornerstone of my childhood, with my entire extended family, hailing from Anne Arundel County and the DC suburbs, convening every weekend to watch the Redskins.  

But somewhere along the way I became disenchanted with fandom. I enjoyed watching my fellow high school and college classmates play the game, but felt indifferent toward the strangers on television earning big paychecks. And I no longer wanted to stand on the sidelines; I wanted to be in on the action, with blood, sweat and tears to call my own. 

But no matter what path you travel to pursue your passions, be it training for an Ironman or traveling to New Orleans to be part of the roaring crowd at the Superdome, there is a price to pay to play. The important part is to make sure that, whatever the cost, it is worth every penny.   

Lance let us down

Lance Armstrong. The name once synonymous with cycling superstar, cancer survivor, LIVESTRONG founder and seven-time Tour de France champion will now, for many, simply mean liar, cheater, doper and disappointment.

Prior to Lance’s confession, Ironman Triathlon World Champion Craig ‘Crowie’ Alexander commented on cycling’s long history of doping and paints the picture of a young, promising athlete who gave up college to pursue professional cycling only to be faced with the dilemma of doping to remain competitive and retain sponsors, or not doping and surrendering his dreams. But Lance had a choice and he chose to hitch his future to the “if you can’t beat them, join them,” wagon and, as a result, has paid the ultimate price in terms of  his reputation, his Tour de France titles, and a lifetime ban on professional racing. Perhaps what Crowie means to suggest is that you shouldn’t judge someone until you have walked in his shoes?

But consider the message Lance’s choice sends to young athletes: that winning is the most important thing, that you should win at all costs, and that it’s impossible to win without doping. To beg absolution on the grounds that “everyone else is doing it” is no excuse. In fact, in response to that same adolescent lament, don’t we ask our kids, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you?” Given the so-called heroes we put on a pedestal today, should we be surprised when our kids answer yes? Shouldn’t we be teaching our children that honesty and integrity are more important than winning, and that while physical prowess is subject to the ills of age and injuries, virtues such as intelligence and education are forever? Shouldn’t we all be idolizing and celebrating the likes of Steve Jobs and Bill and Melinda Gates over the Ray Lewises and Michael Vicks of the world?

The unraveling of Lance’s career comes at a time when Lance was on the cusp of branching out into the world of triathlon. His anticipated participation in the 2012 Ironman World Championships drew athletes like Crowie back from the brink of retirement just for the chance to compete against him. Lance Armstrong could have been the best thing to happen to triathlon, his celebrity and fame certain to shine the limelight on a sport that is still largely relegated to the sidelines, and usher it into the mainstream.

Lance’s involvement in triathlon also could have been the worst thing to happen to the sport if it meant he was bringing his lying, cheating, doping ways with him. That’s not to say I’m naïve enough to believe that doping is non-existent in triathlon but, at least for now, I can still hope and believe it is limited to the few, the shameless, and the desperate.  

Lance made a mistake and he was caught. Had he come clean and fessed up, he may have been more readily forgiven, for to err is human. But lying about it only served to further soil and tarnish a name that had once shined so brightly. 

Happy Mail

Yes, you read that right--Happy Mail! (Not to be confused with Happy Meal.)

In this technical age of email and Evites, it's more rare than ever to find something good in the mailbox. So today, on yet another cold, rainy, dreary, overcast day, I went to the mailbox and found this:

I had no idea what it was. It felt a bit squishy, like clothes, but a little to heavy to be clothes. Was it a late Christmas gift? Maybe it was delivered to the wrong address? Nope, I checked the mailing label; definitely mine.

And then I smelled it. And that simple whiff was like sunshine! It made me want to do a happy dance right outside on the driveway. I'd forgotten all about it. These are the best things to get in the mail . . . the things you order, forget about and then are so happy and pleasantly surprised to receive! 

Here's what it was:

Move over Starbucks! This is THE BEST COFFEE EVER! Coconut Crunch from Duck's Cottage in Duck, NC on the outer banks.

It has become an annual tradition. The day we arrive on the beloved narrow strip of barrier islands where we've been vacationing since 1997, we make a stop in duck for lunch and then head over to Duck's Cottage for an afternoon cuppa and to purchase a few bags of this stuff, which I am a huge fan of because I DO NOT ADD SUGAR, CREAMER, OR ANY TYPE OF FLAVOR TO MY CUPPA. Problem is, I'm not man enough to drink it black. This is my solution--the perfect hint of flavor in the beans means I don't need to add a thing, save for a small splash of almond milk. PERFECTION! 

This year, when we depleted our supply, I had DC ship me a few bags--a first! And then, about a week ago--Oh Happy Day!--I received a promotional email (yes, I am on their mailing list even though I live 6 hours away) to BUY 3 POUNDS OF COCONUT CRUNCH AND GET FREE SHIPPING. I paid less per bag than it would have for a pound of Starbucks at the local Safeway. 

So, after a fun morning outing with a good friend, coming home to find this in my mailbox was the icing on the cake of my day! 

Can't wait to brew up a pot of this goodness tomorrow! 

If you'd like to try Coconut Crunch, here's the website: 

http://www.duckscottage.com/

Top of the morning to ya! 

Go for the goals

Resolve to set goals this year

It’s that time of year again; the gym is packed, there’s a line for the treadmill, and every swim lane is taken. But, come February, the crowds will have lessened and, by March, you’ll be able to hear a pin drop in the weight room as the lure of warm weather and happy hours trumps the stuffy fitness center and protein shakes.  

If you are one of the 45 percent of Americans who set New Year’s Resolutions, you should know that, on average, only eight percent of people who make resolutions successfully achieve them. But don’t let that statistic discourage you; a few simple changes can put you on the path to success.    

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and that’s exactly what a resolution is: a good intention. A resolution is a course of action that has been decided on, but deciding to do something is not the same thing as actually doing it.

To increase your chances of success, resolve to set goals instead. Goals are the measurable results within a fixed time frame toward which effort is directed. In other words, goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

For example, among the top ten New Year’s Resolutions for 2012, according to statisticbrain.com, are losing weight, getting organized, and learning something exciting. The vagueness of such a resolution is sure to be a contributing factor in its failure. Instead, the goal should be specific and measurable such as, “I will lose five pounds by June,” “I will sign up for a snowboarding lesson this month,” or “This week, I will buy a shoe rack for my closet.”

Another way to ensure success is to focus on one goal at a time. Create a specific list of goals for the year and choose the one that is most important to you. Once you've achieved this goal, it’s time to tackle the next one.

Writing down your goals will boost your chances of success, as will enlisting a partner or a support group. If you want to run a 5K this spring, write your goal on a sticky note and post it on your bathroom mirror, schedule time for training, and highlight the race date on the family calendar. By running with a partner or joining a running group, you’ll not only have someone to hold you accountable, but someone to share the journey with, which will likely make the process more rewarding and enjoyable.

Another helpful tip is to focus on the positive by structuring your goals around what you will do instead of what you won’t do. For instance, instead of saying “I won’t eat junk food,” try phrasing it as “I will eat more vegetables,” and then strategically post reminders in the places where temptation lurks. A note on the freezer door that reads “choose carrots” may be just the thing to keep you from reaching for that pint of Ben & Jerry’s. 

                                                                                         

Avoid Common Fitness Mistakes

Resolve to avoid these four common fitness mistakes

While fitness advice typically focuses on positive, pro-active steps for achieving your goals, it’s also important to be aware of the things that can undermine your efforts.

According to an article in the December issue of USA Weekend, there are four common fitness mistakes that can sabotage your goals: 

1. Viewing your regimen as temporary

2. Focusing on the negative

3. Dwelling on failure 

4. Discounting walking

Viewing your regimen as temporary

Establishing a healthy fitness regimen should not be viewed as a means to an end; it’s a lifestyle to be adopted and practiced for the rest of your life. There is no finish line, no infinite certificate of accomplishment. Once your goal is met, it must be maintained, so the habits you form must be ones you can sustain indefinitely. No one can eliminate carbs forever or survive on carrots and lemon water alone. No one can resist an occasional dessert, nor should they have to; and no one can change everything all at once. 

If you've always eaten meat, start by eliminating only read meat or experimenting with meatless Mondays. If you aren't a fan of Brussels sprouts or kale, be sure to eat a variety of vegetables that you do enjoy and occasionally try new ones. The key is to make changes that you can live with for the long haul.

Focusing on the negative

Negative thinking is a detrimental and sometimes self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s important to use positive statements such as “I am strong and determined” instead of “I am overweight and unmotivated.” 

When I discuss our family’s physical and nutritional values with my daughters, I never use the words “fat” or “weight;” instead, I teach them the importance of exercising and eating well to stay healthy. 

Focus on what you’re doing right rather than what you’re doing wrong, and avoid thinking of exercise as a way to lose weight or to look better, but rather as a way to live longer and feel better.

Dwelling on failure 

Shervin Pishevar, a managing partner at Menlo Ventures, a leading venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California, says “If you don’t fail, you haven’t tried hard enough.” 

                             

Many successful people, from Steve Jobs to Stephen King, have failed while attempting to achieve their goals. Failure is a part of life and we humans are intended to learn from our mistakes. If you gain a few pounds, skip a few workouts, or eat too much cake, forgive yourself, learn from it, and move on. Identify what derails you from your goals and make a plan to avoid similar pitfalls in the future.

Discounting walking

Mayoclinic.com notes that walking is a gentle, low-impact exercise that is safe, simple, and accessible to almost everybody, and can ease you into a higher level of fitness and health. 

Walking lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes, helps you manage your weight, and improves your mood.  According to the site, “regular, brisk walking can reduce the risk of heart attack by the same amount as more vigorous exercise, such as jogging.” 

So don’t underestimate the value of a brisk walk around your neighborhood.

As you work toward your achieving your new fitness goals this year, resolve to avoid these mistakes and remember that we must all learn to walk before we can run.