We Fit

I've got to say, my eyes were opened this week in Newport Beach. I was staying with my family at the beach house my mother rents every year -- all 150 of us (okay, not 150). While I was there I saw lots of fitness going on. My mother walks at least four miles every morning. My sister has begun a running regimen. My sister-in-law has been logging miles on her new beach cruiser. And my brother, dum dah dah dum - has lost over 30 pounds using the Wii Fit! Wow! That is crazy talk. Thirty pounds working out on a board the size of a Monopoly game? I was shocked.

Andy's wife, Lisa, gave me the dish. She said he loved to see the graphics point 'downward' during his Wii weigh in each day. It got addictive! He loved to progress, or digress? Anyway, it worked for him! He is seeing results doing something he enjoys.

And that, my friends, is the key to exercise - do something you enjoy.

Margie's personal theme for 2008 was "Do What You Love". She shared it with all her scrapbook addicts. And now I am sharing it with you. Whether you do Bikram yoga, workout with a personal trainer, or shred on a wake board, when you find something you love, Do It! As time goes by, you can challenge yourself to go farther, or faster, or longer. Go ahead, enjoy yourself! And then Wii will all get Fit together.

BTW, it also helps to stay away from burgers and fries. Who is that ordering food in the window, anyway?

Black Flag Day

I officially got my WPR yesterday. WPR: Worst Personal Record. My emotions are running high when I say I was there to do just the opposite. I was ready to walk away with a Boston time and a smile on my face. But the best laid plans....

Saturday's marathon was a sufferfest. Black flags began to fly at the Mile 5 aide station indicating the race conditions: extreme heat, extreme conditions, advisable to abandon the race. Once I saw those flags, everything goes hazy from there -- I heard cheering crowds, cowbells, bands, and a lone harmonica, but the rest I just tried to forget.

The humidity clocked in at 99 percent at five in the morning. Race officials considered abandoning the race, but the dew point changed enough to let the insanity begin. I felt like I was running through a sticky wall of physical exhaustion. I was not ready for the thickness of the air like a heavy blanket draping my body. My legs never tired, but I was a wreck. As I crossed the finish line one hour after my original goal, I sat down in a wheelchair and let the medics take over. They massaged my legs, fed me ice chips and Gatorade, and let me rest my weary bones, all to the symphony of a man screaming in pain about his seized-up calves.

At that point, I started to laugh. I found Janeen, Kimberly and Clayton and all we could do was look at each other and smile. "We PAID to do this?" "Are you kidding me?" Luckily I have friends with perspective. And enough stories and analogies later I realize that this was a small thing compared to the big things in life. We looked at that larger picture and it comes down to this: sometimes we need that reminder that the One controlling the weather is the One in charge. So don't sweat the small stuff, even in, I'm quite sure, the sweatiest place on earth on 6/20/09, Duluth, Minn.

Goodbye Grandmas. Boston, I'm still coming.....

Oh, and on the brighter side, check out the Newton Blog. Scroll down to June 21, 2009. I am famous. http://www.therunningfront.com/

Fresh Produce

Have you ever heard of Bountiful Baskets? My neighbor Misty got me started with them about six months ago. It's a fresh vegetable/fruit co-op that drops off fresh produce to various spots around the valley (it's also in Utah). Our basket drop off is Gene Autry Park, less than one mile from my home. I get a great big laundry-size basket full of fresh mangoes, lettuce, apples, bananas -- it's different every time -- all for less than $20 every two weeks. Because there is so much produce, I split the basket with Misty and everyone wins! The variety is awesome, and sometimes it's stuff I wouldn't ever pick up at the grocery store. Two weeks ago it was spaghetti squash peeking from the rim of my bundle. Misty cooked me up her version of the round yellow squash, it was a tasty.

If you're interested, google Bountiful Baskets and check it out. I am loving it. It's a great way to keep your fridge stocked up with all kinds of healthy choices for your family. And, you get to try new stuff that might just turn out to be your new favorite!

To Thine Own Self Be True

As part of the continuing education of USAT, I am required to listen to triathon and fitness webinars. Today's webinar was by Bobby McGee, not the restauranteur, but the world-class running coach. He talked about the power of visualization. Basically, if you have put in the time and effort and done all that is required to get to the goal you want to achieve, it will happen. In other words: to thine own self be true.

I have thought a lot about being true to myself this week. I have a personal goal. I want to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Saying it out loud scares me. Can I do it? Is it achievable? Mr. McGee believes that if I am grounded in reality, and my thoughts are positive, the answer is yes.

Part of training for any race that I do requires journaling. I track my progress. I record my times. I can see my reality right in front of me, it is in my workout log. If you have a goal you want to achieve-- losing weight, crossing the finish line of your next 10k or century race, put your "truth" to paper. It's not an easy thing to get started, but I will help you if you'd like. I have access to a great program called trainingpeaks.com. You can record your daily fitness routine, your food intake, and your short and long-term goals. It is where you will go when you doubt yourself. It is the facts. It is reality.

For today, my truth is I am ready. I am injury free. I will, as Nike says, "Just Do It." Think positive, Lorie. (He also says to talk to yourself in 2nd person.) See you soon, Boston.

Now, what about you?

Scouts Honor

As a child, I spent my summers at Kino Pool. The Funk kids were a staple at this city facility. We had a "family ticket", which basically meant that our dad was a city employee and we had an all-access pass to the coolest place in Mesa. A typical summer day would find any one of the Funk kids at swim team practice in the morning, then swim lessons between 9 and 11, a quick trip home

for lunch, followed by an afternoon swim with the optional return visit in the evening with Dad. We usually walked home from the pool and inevitably one of us had gone to the pool WITHOUT SHOES, so we would throw our towels in front of us as far as we could, then run to them for relief from the scorching sidewalk. It makes me smile just to think about it.

Today I am a confident swimmer because of all those hours spent at Kino. I am comfortable in the water. I love the smell of chlorine and the rubber scent of a swimming cap. I know how to tread water easily. And I know how to teach and pass off the Swimming and Lifesaving merit badges. (It's the same stuff I learned in the dive tank at Kino 30 years ago.)

Now I am teaching my own Scouts. These are the neighborhood boys in the midst of passing off the "submerged in clothing" requirement. I can happily say 14 boys now know how to survive if they were ever tossed overboard on a cruise ship while wearing long sleeved button up dress shirts, jeans and skater shoes. This was great fun. I'll do it again every year. Send your Scouts my way in 2010. I am ready to make them lifesavers.

p/s If we were lucky enough to get a ride home, it usually involved piling 10 kids in the back of the Sorenson's pick up, saving our feet from the the dreaded heat path/callous builder hop-scotch.

Abbs and Abs

Running can strengthen your abs, depending on your form. Keeping your torso straight and your shoulders back reinforces abdominal stability. Run Proud! Slouching takes your core out of the equation. If you catch yourself starting to slouch, take a deep breath and feel yourself naturally straighten. As you exhale, simply maintain that upright position, like Abby here, is doing.

During some of my long runs, I try and go over in my mind, my body from head to toe. Relax the neck, let the shoulders drop, let go of the fists, stand tall, keep the feet tracking over the toe, keep the strides short and the turnover fast. It may seem like a lot, but the all-over body check on a run can be done every few minutes. It keeps you aware of your form and makes you a better runner.