Try Something New…

 

I am an Orangutan…

After a hiatus in my training I jumped into the pool last night keen to get back into it at full speed.  Much to the amusement of the two swim coaches I swam like an orangutan.  One of them came up to me politely and basically revamped my whole stroke and after that the other one pulled me out of the pool and helped me to finesse it a little more. By the end I looked slightly more graceful and I was told it would take me several more weeks before I get back into the groove.

I have been injured for the last eight months and I am slowly starting back again.  I have the green light to bike and swim and running is just around the corner.  It’s funny that in my head I am as fit as I was eight months ago but in realty – I AM OUT OF SHAPE!

This is great motivation to get fit for Joe’s Team on June 16^th  and Joe’s Team Muskoka on July 7th.  These will be my first two races back and I am excited.  Join me.

Katie McLean

My Finish Line, by Samantha Jones

It’s funny how you can look back at decisions that you have made and  you realize how much they’ve changed your life.  The moment I decided to get involved in Joe’s Team my life got even better!

I remember the night my Mom came home from helping friends at a ‘launch party’, telling me all about this amazing event, a sprint triathlon raising money for cancer research, her excitement was inspiring. Joe Finley had been a family friend for a number of years, she told me about how he had been battling cancer and that he had goals not only for himself, but also for his friends and family. She told me about how she had volunteered at the event the summer before, how she was looking forward to volunteering again, and wouldn’t it be great if I created a relay team to participate.

Waking up the following day I realized that I didn’t have a goal around fitness, I didn’t have the inspiration to go to the gym everyday and my active living schedule was pathetic. This triathlon would be a great goal to kick start a new life. This was the day I decided to tri and tri as an individual as part of a bigger team!

Joe’s Team has become a part of my life. I go to the gym at least five days a week now, all year long, knowing that it is not only good for my health, but because it will make participating in the next triathlon easier.  Joe’s Team has become a community for me. A common goal shared with friends, family and strangers. Joe is an inspiration for me to keep moving forward.

I have been involved with Joe’s Team Muskoka and the creation of Joe’s Team Calgary as part of the Calgary Leadership team.  I will never be the fastest and I will always have butterflies in my tummy as I walk into the water before Joe’s Team events start, but I will never give up. The feeling of crossing the finish line is too good to walk away from.

 

 

On your marks, get set, get started!!!

What next after you have set a goal to do a triathlon or duathlon as a relay or individual.? Decide where you are right now and what your needs are.  If you are starting from scratch here are some first steps.

1. Decide where you want to work out, a gym or at home.
2. Make sure that you have the right equipment – even buy a new outfit!
3. Take a look at your weekly schedule and decide where you will fit in the time and discuss with your spouse and family to gain their support
4. Try to find a group coaching course, program and or a workout buddy for support
5. Get Started!

Family Fitness

As parents we sometimes forget that we have a responsibility to set a great example for our children with regard to fitness. They watch everything that we do from our eating habits to our exercise regime. It is important that they see us taking risks and trying new things.

One of the great ways to bring everyone onto the same page is to set a goal together.  When they see you put yourself out there they will be inclined to do the same thing.  I find that once they are engaged they inspire me right back.

A fun way to do this is to sign up for Joe’s Team on June 16^th and sign your child up for the Kids of Steel event the next day (June 17^th).  They can cheer for you on Saturday and you can cheer for them on Sunday!  If your child is over sixteen they can participate in a relay with you on the 16^th.

Make Joe’s Team your annual family goal.  Celebrate your success together!

Katie McLean

Finding Motivation

It always amazed me that Joe Finley could exercise while he was going through treatment for cancer.  He continued to cycle and play squash for years as he was receiving his chemotherapy. He completed the first Joe’s team in 2006, came in last but he never said anything about the level of effort except that he found the swim to be pretty tough.  His daughter Megan and son Mike as well as his close friends would finish the whole triathlon and when he got off the bike we would run with him. He joked and ran and mostly walked the 5km run but he would always finish.

I asked him one day how he did it and he said that he would schedule a squash game with a friend and then wake up in the morning and he wouldn’t feel that great. He would decide to just get out of bed and put his clothes on. Then he would think to himself “I’ll just go to the club and get on the court” (because his friend was waiting) and then he’d decide.  He would get on the court, racket in hand and he would look at his friend and think that he would just play and if he didn’t feel good he would stop. Then he would start playing and glance over at his friend and think to himself “I could win”! and he would finish the game.  He taught us all how to win.

Katie McLean

Build with Me

"The Michael Phelps" exercise by Llew Edwards, Calgary Trainer

I have always avoided core work like the plague; I think a lot of people do.  Yet, core strength, we hear over and over again is the key to avoiding injury, looking good and achieving great results for sports and our general well being.

Because my body has broken down on me I have had to revert to rebuilding my fitness from the ground up. I can’t do much aerobic stuff so I have focused on strength and core.

It has allowed me to work harder and get stronger.  I now hold my body much differently than I did four months ago. My newest mantra is patience and discipline.

Join me on my on my new well paced journey back to fitness and a healthy body.  Start a routine that begins with strength so that your body can be strong for swimming, cycling and running at Joe’s Team on June 16^th , 2012 in Calgary and/or Joe’s Team Muskoka on July 7, 2012.

Katie McLean