MOVE MORE MONDAY- Lessons on the road

Move More short edit for twitter

 It's February First. For me, nowadays that always means the start of American Heart Month. Each year I try to share some facts and tips about heart health and the warning signs of an impending heart incident. This year, I decided to dedicate my activities to the pursuit of moving more, and sharing my experiences of moving more. I used to regularly produce videos for the television stations I worked for, and briefly as part of social media campaigns. It's been a while. Some things are different, others have stayed the same.

I planned to do a quick walk this afternoon, and film it as part of my first Move More Monday. I planned out what I wanted to say, and I practiced it, but not during a full speed walk. I also didn't account for my breathlessness as a result of the temperature. I used to go live on air a pretty good amount, so I am comfortable knowing I only have the one chance to get something correct. However, when given the opportunity, I will always try to do three takes, and just keep the best one. On this afternoon, my first take was not my best, and I had completed almost all of my second take when my camera cut off completely. I went with my not so polished version, because to me it was more important to share my message early, than to spend more time trying to make it better. It's worth a try to put your best foot, or face, forward, as it were, but this time, I'm more concerned with trying to move more. Get up, get out and get at it!

42 Days of Gratitude: Day One- The 10 Year Challenge

Queen City E

Hanging out in DC

L: 2009 inside Zola's in DC

R: 2019 In the family Cul De Sac in NC

As another year comes to a close, I want to take some time to reflect on the the days that have passed, and the things in my life that I am grateful for. With my 42nd year on this Earth starting to wrap up (well, I still have a full four months) I am sharing my thoughts for the last 42 days of the year. It has been quite the interesting year, full of transition, possibility, and vigor! It reminds me, in many ways of 2009.

There has been a 10 year challenge on social media; an opportunity to look at pictures of yourself from 10 years ago, and see how well you fared. The pictures above are much like all of my pictures through the years. The hair is often different, as are the glasses, and the cheeks are sometimes chubbier, but the face and the smile are ultimately the same. I basically look the same as I did 10 years ago, which is nice. And while I am appreciative of the good genes that have kept me looking somewhat youthful, if not young, I am most grateful for the actual truth behind each smile. 

In 2009, I completed my first triathlon. It was my way of getting back into sports, and starting to take care of my body again. It was also the beginning of a journey through new paths and unexpected changes. I met new mentors, professional and social. I found a new team with like minded individuals all working towards the same goal, that had nothing to do with winning a game or even a race. It was about finding your joy, and believing in yourself. I made new friends, that 10 years later, are still right there when I start running (or walking, more often than not) a new route.

In 2019, I completed my first distance challenge; 4 races, 30.4 miles in two days. Though this time I trained more alone, I still found myself out on those roads wearing new paths, and finding new strength amid these older bones. Surprisingly enough I had personal bests on two of the four races. 

Not surprising your body will do anything to be done with something it isn't enjoying, even find speed where there is none! I was steady if not fast, and stayed the course even when things didn't go quite as planned. 2009 Erica didn't really change her eating habits until very late in the training, and never slept the way she should've, for various reasons. 2019 Erica employed a trainer to help her, not only improve nutrition and strength, but to lose weight in order to gain speed. My body was heavier, my joints were swollen, my gait was uneven but 10 years later I went further, faster, with more confidence than I had with that first Sprint Triathlon finish.

These knees may have osteoarthritis, but I am so grateful that they can still keep my legs moving; some days, faster than others.  I am grateful that through life changes and health scares this body is still running 42 years later, and with all the original parts. I am grateful that 10 years later, despite all that has passed in these years, my body is still meeting the challenges I throw at it, and I still have the majority of my teeth to have a full genuine smile.

10 years of more adventure than challenges. Looking forward to the next 10.

Worth A Tri Tuesdays-Safari Sun edition

So, my favorite Triathlon Group, Tri It For Life, does this great thing called, "Tri It Thursdays" on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Tri It For Life provides mentor help and training for women preparing to complete their first triathlon; one of the various Ramblin Rose races. Essentially, with Tri It Thursdays, Tri It For Life, takes the idea that you are trying a new experience by training for a Triathlon and offers up different types of products and services that the athletes might also be open too! I've kind of modified their idea, and am just listing some of my favorite training products, clothing, and services, to give readers an idea of some things I think are "Worth a Tri!" Enjoy.

For my First entry I am going with my new favorite training swimsuit. I found it on Amazon and for the leopard lover it is a perfect fit! Literally, I love the overall cut, and I feel like the pieces run fairly true to size. Made by Kristy J and sold on Amazon by SunGrubbies, I absolutely love the Safari Sun Protective Brief and rash Guard. (I purchased the XL brief and L short sleeve rash guard; it's also offered in long sleeve). They can't dry fast enough before I'm in them again. If you are looking for a comfortable suit to train in, this one is "Worth a Tri!" ;D

Silver Sneakers/ Fluorescent Feet

My mother joined a silver sneakers water aerobics class recently. Not being the outgoing, social butterflies that her daughters are, this was a BIG step for moms. In support, I've been going to the class with her. I already get in the water to teach twice on that day, so I just couldn't see myself getting in a third time to swim train while she "worked the water!"
Conveniently, my bike was in the shop, so I was unable to ride, so instead,  I decided to get out there and put some miles on my shoes.
It turned out to be only three miles, but a rough three miles it was. If you know the Skybrook neighborhood then you know the word CHALLENGING is appropriate. (Thanks Runtastic for clocking my miles, and calories.) I walked 3.07 miles in 57:49 and gained 164ft in elevation- whatever that means!
The second triathlon I ever did, the Take Flight Triathlon, finished through this neighborhood. However, I just don't remember it being that rough back then. (Oh, how the mind forgets.) Anyway, I got back out there. So while those spry seniors rocked their silver sneakers, I tried to be light on my fluorescent feet. Tried. But hey, it's worth a tri : D!

Strength and Support

I've always thought of running and swimming as solitary sports. Sure, you run on a team, and often times you swim on a team, but even when you swim a relay, it's just you in the water racing for the wall, or the finish line for your team. I never really thought about biking unless I had to go somewhere. In my elementary years I may have biked for fun at some point, but by the time I was in college, without a car, when I biked it was because I had somewhere to go. Once I got a car, I stopped thinking about biking altogether!

In 2009, when I started training for my first triathlon with Tri it For Life I discovered how much of a "team" sport triathlon could be. I was still in the water, but my lane was filled with other people struggling for the same goal. Many of us were not really runners, so we pushed each other for faster walks, and to shuffle just a little longer as we started to walk/run. And on the bike, we'd remind each other about changing gears, alert each other to debris in the road and "cars back!" I found there was strength in numbers and support in a group, and it helped me meet my goals.

Then I looked towards new goals, and though our training group got smaller, we still managed to impel each other up the hills, literally! The Race Whisperer, my Bestie Roomie (see also the Gear Gal), The Blur, EJ, Chocolate Lori, Crystal Sunshine, and DSTehia all helped me prepare and finish an international triathlon, a half marathon, and a 30 mile bike ride. (I'm still giving those bike rides the side eye people!) But through it all there was strength and support.

And then schedules changed, new commitments were made, and that group, unfortunately for me, became a team of one again. For myself, I would still go out and run or swim sometimes, but it became very easy to leave that bike in the garage. And then it was too cold for one, or I was too tired for the other. Before you know it, you wake up one day and realize you've stopped moving completely; alone or otherwise.

In walks my Amelia Island Angel! I once had aspirations to do the AmeliaMan, and I bonded with a woman who had done it before, and was planning to do it again. (Alas, the race is no more) Since then, she and I have kept in touch, through the triathlon group mostly, but she's provided support whenever I needed it, for whatever reason; training related or no. So when she stepped out in a new direction in her career, I saw an opportunity to support a friend, and get myself moving again. Which is what got me thinking about all of this again today. This morning, after STRUGGLING through a 6 am open water swim, and dragging my arms through the water trying to effectively utilize my hand paddles....

...I found myself on my bike again for the first time in a year, with my tailbone and crotch burning, a leg going numb, and a new support team encouraging me through it all!
I DO know what possessed me to join the group swim, AND add a 7:30 Computrainer bike class afterwards; realizing I'm not a team of one! While I found my motivation again, I needed both strength and support to really get going. I'm no where near the "triathlete" I was in 2010 and parts of 2012, but thanks to the open water crew, the Upgrade Lifestyle Wednesday Wriders!, my Sunday Sweat Sisters, and the ORIGINAL Northside Group- I'm at least back in the game.
Once you find your strength and support, keep it, chances are, you'll continue to need it!

I'M BACK BABY! (new motivation)

In the past few years, it's been easy for me to find the drive and wherewithal to go out and help other athletes. Some days I leave my regular job at 8pm, and have no problems driving 45 mins to get back in the water and work with new swimmers/triathletes, because, well there is nothing like seeing the look on their faces when they put 10 laps together for the first time (or even two laps). However, that same get up and go for my own  swim, bike, or run training has been elusive, to say the least. Enter my favorite "Salty Wench" (sweaty ladies unite!) and my training partner (see also everyone's favorite "Gear Gal").

Isn't it just great when people know you? The Gear Gal and my Salty Savior, lead me to the US Road Runnings' Virtual race programs, and more importantly to the five pirate medals I can get from them.

I know what some of you are saying," You can't just buy a medal." Well, what do you think you are paying for at other races? Oh sure, you pay for the venue or view when you register for a destination race; and you pay for the opportunity for camaraderie when you sign up for local races with friends. Some people even tell themselves they are paying for the challenge; pitting themselves against other athletes. But how does that truly differ from your training days? When you achieve a PR time during a training day prior to a race, but not on the race day, that medal is just as much for the sweat equity you put in training, as for how you performed on the event day. And if your friends and family can't join you at a race, couldn't you still enjoy the moments when you are together training? And honestly, when you do the same race over and over again because they change the bling, aren't you still paying for the medal? Truthfully, I didn't need any other reason that these two words: PIRATE MEDAL! And it doesn't bother me what other people think about the idea of virtual races; I have a reason to get out and run, and I haven't had that in a LONG TIME!!! Blue, Orange, Ghost, and Talk Like a Pirate; I'm registering for all of them. I've even started my running already, in preparation for all the race days I will be awarding myself my medals! (Race days=dates listed by medals)

My first day back out, it was just me and the open road! I walked (not quite running full out yet) 3.87 miles with an avg speed about 4 mph. I'm happy with my return to the road. But more than that, I'm motivated! 

“Plans make dreams reality.” 
― Susan Pace-Koch, Get Out Of My Head, I Should Go To Bed

And so I have my plan! Gangway! This landlubber has booty to smartly plunder! ARRGGH!

(Updated 7/30/2014! Ahoy Mateys, me booty hath arrived:D. So excited about this!)

Still worth it- or other things still worth trying

My Target from the Point Blank Shooting Range! (checked #34 off)

In 2012 I made a list of 35 things I wanted to do in the year of my 35th birthday (see the My 35 Things! post if you're not familiar with the list). I was very happy with my selections but I knew time and money constraints would mean I might not be able to get it all done! While I did get to go to a shooting range (more than one, actually, and even wrote a story about it http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/20/3112891/gun-shy.html ); I did not end up joining a roller derby team. That particular activity remains on my list of to do's; though every year as my bones ache a little more I become more and more frightened of actually checking that one off my list. Still, I have taken one step, you could say, toward my goal. Below is a list of the derby names I've selected for myself. I thought long and hard about this, but I haven't been able to whittle them down to just "the one." Maybe this is what's holding me back! (Yeah right) Help me select a name, and then I can get onto my next adventure. I'm sure it will be worth trying!

My roller derby names:
Pushy Galore
Octo-Pushy
Fright Ryder
Hunny Ryder (for Winnie the Pooh)
Black Dynomight!
The Poohnisher