And the Journey Continues...

"If you run, you are a runner.  It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run."

Today, I did my first organized 5K since October 2011. It was the first annual Running of the Elk in Elk Grove.  It was nice. More than 2300 people completed a 5K, Relay, or 13.1 mile half marathon.  Amazing.

While walk/jogging (I did more walking than jogging) and listening to my Soul Sanctuary Mike Mix (All Michael Jackson for 45 minutes), I wonder what goes through people mind when running or walking these events.  Is it to keep in shape? Is it to prove someone wrong? Is it personal sacrifice? Or physical torture? Does is make them happy?  Does is make them mad? Is is just about the feeling of accomplishment?  I wonder?

After thinking about it this afternoon, I had to ask myself the same questions. As I think about it more and more, I really don't have an answer except that doing this gives me a feeling like no other.  I feel free!  Free to go as far as my body will take me and then stop.  Free to enjoy everything around me including the flowers, the feeling of the sun on my face, the smell of the grass or ocean, the smiles I give and get as you past fellow participants and volunteers and they past you, the feeling I feel when I feel every inch of my body as I move towards an end.  It is a sense of freedom for me.  I don't have to talk to anyone, I don't have to work with anyone, I don't have to negotiate my time or my pace or my willingness to jog fast or slow.  I just feel free to do what I need and want to do to get to the proposed end, only negotiating with one person... me.

Today was a little hard at the end and my negotiation with my self went a little bit like this.  "Ow! My ankle hurts.  Stop jogging (slowing down).  Do I stop or just keep going?  I am almost 3 miles in.  DANG IT!  Michael Jackson went off.  Oh well, new song.  Wait, now my knee hurts.  Awe, suck it up.  You will be OK. Just keep going.  It is just around the corner! You can do it! Besides, you still need to get to your car.  OH BOY!  That man is fast!  I wish I could run almost that fast.  Wait, I can, I would just have to keep trying.  Awe whatever.  I he can't be anymore than 23 years old. Why didn't I start running when I was in my 20's? Good question.  Keep going... There is the chute!"  As you can see, there were many things going through my head but the remaining theme for me despite the pain and the bouncy little boy running past me to finish the 13.1 miles,  I kept my mind on finishing.  Despite how slow or fast, how long or short, how many people past me, I kept going.

Now 3 miles is not really that much but for some reason, my mind was ready but my body felt different. But despite the difference, I kept going.  I believe I am a runner.  Not a fast runner, a mostly walking runner, but I will keep going despite the challenge! I will get there soon.

I am excited about the triathlon in June and still have a lot of training to go.  I even got some personal training to help strengthen the areas I am the most weak (knees and ankles).  Last week was an interesting week of training as I kicked it up a lot and even got in two (ok... 1 and a half) brick workouts.   This week is going to be interesting as I will be kicking it up again and doing my walk/jog training outside now that the rain is gone. We are going to rock this TRI and I hope that you are here with me!

I want to also give a shot out to the Black Girls Run! Sacramento group.  I felt like everyone was at an event this Sunday representing.  Keep running girls!  Maybe it is time for me to start a group called Phat Girls Run? What you think?

Peace, Blessings, and happy MOVEMENT!

PhatAthlete

I'm BACK! And I promise regularly!

"That which matters most, should never give way to that which matters least!" (From a poster in my house)

Hey Phat Athletes all around the world! I am back, the PhatAthlete herself.  And ready to get this going.  It has been an interesting three months for 2012.  Some great things, I lost 31 pounds (woo hoo Paleo!), I have learn to reduce stress, I purchase my new bike (photo below!!!) and I have started on the next 31 pounds.  Some not so great things, I could not sign up for the Maui Triathlon (Boo!!!), I got a slight injury yesterday (same ankle... yeah I know, wear my brace), and it is going to rain ALL WEEK!  WAAAHHHH!  I want to ride my bike.  Now all this time with no rain and we get rain as soon as I get a new bike (I have not named it yet).  Oh well, maybe I will pick up a trainer this week!!!

So, despite not being able to do Maui, I did sign up for the Mermaid Series Triathlon in Alameda (yes, cold bay water... burrrr) (http://www.mermaidseries.com/alameda#!__alameda).  Join me if you can.  I am determined to complete 3 triathlons this year; maybe four!  I have been swimming, treadmill walking, stationary bike, and yoga!  I think the yoga is what is making me stronger.  I hope I do well.  I am doing it the same weekend I should be in Maui so I am definitely gonna have some mixed feeling on the swim. I miss my Team in Training folks in the Bay Area but the drive at $4.20 a gallon is CRAZY!

I have also joined a great group of women in Sacramento with the Black Girls Run! Sacramento Chapter.  (http://www.blackgirlsrun.com/)  What a great group of women!  I had the opportunity to go to the Shamrock 1/2 Marathon and see these ladies run.  WOW!  I must say they were AWESOME!  I am so proud of all of them and many I met just the night before.  I will have to keep up with this group as I need to keep moving (walking/running) and I need motivation (I hate the running/walking part).


Well, look forward to hearing from me frequently as I blog my next Triathlon experience.  This should be great!  Only 3 months away... Time to kick it in GEAR!


Until next time....


Be the best you you can be!


PhatAthlete!

The Last Day of the Last Days!

So I signed up to do the South Maui Triathlon with Team In Training. Wow what was I thinking? I committed to getting my butt up twice a day to workout, giving up BACON, no more junk food, and no more soda. Boooooo! Such a boring diet. I have committed to eating blue, green, yellow, and red foods and also eating whole foods for most of my diet (90%). And blogging... Oh will you get tired of me!

I am going to the Gym on Sunday to bring in the new year. Will you join me?

Oh what a year... and what a year to come!

WHAT'S UP MY PHAT ATHLETES?

I am back.  After a long time off, really getting these knees back together after the spill last year in Arizona, I am ready to get back in gear and move from a Sprint Triathlon to a Olympic!  Yes... I said it... I just signed up for the South Maui Triathlon with TEAM IN TRAINING!  OMG!  I am so nervous.  Because I am not the "normal" size athlete, I have a lot of work to get my body in the shape and to the level of endurance I need it to be to complete the South Maui Tri!  But at the same time, I am EXCITED about trying... NO DOING... the Tri! 

So, most of you probably know, it is time to gear up (yes new gear)!  I need a new bike to take me to the levels I want to go.  I also just need new gear.  I lost a few pounds so need new shorts, pants, swim wear, and a new helmet!  Wooo... training can be expensive!  But as I find new and exciting things on sale (got new cycle shoes at pearl izumi for $32 on Black Friday) I will share with the group.  As well as sharing my nutrition, weight loss, progress, times, and love and frustration with training.  I am back ya'll... I am back!

I will begin my pre-training training on Monday, December 5 and will continue through to June 7, 2012!  The Tri is on June 10 and I hope you can join my in person or in spirit!

So in the meantime, Let's get it started! 

P.S.  I didn't post my mud run photos... Here is one for you to giggle with me at!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Phat Athlete

Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still - Chinese Proverb

STANDING STILL!  Isn't it amazing what happens when you stand still? 

Positive: 
You can reflect and learn from what was just accomplished. 
You can replenish, recharge and take in what is needed for the next journey.
You can take in what God has put on this Earth for us to enjoy.
You can take a deep breath.
You can clear your mind. (hahaha... Ocean Wave (inside joke))

Negative:
You become stiff, unable to move and hit with pain.
You don't know how to get started again.
You can be frozen with doubt.
You can forget why you are going in the direction you are going.
You become distracted by stopping and are not satisfied with where you thought you should be.

WOW!!! Standing still is amazing.  If you stand still long enough to get what you need to keep going, no matter the pace, forward movement is constant progress.  Standing still too long unproductive and stifling.

I have stood still too long.

This week has been an amazing transformation back into my focus on my health, my spirit, and my mind.  Oh how scared I was that my blood pressure had gone up.  I had not slept well in about 4 weeks, my eating habits, though not back, were not perfect, my leg hurt for two weeks almost to the point of being unable to move, and my mind kept racing though my body was standing still.  It was time to transform and I took the time to do just that. 

This week, I tried something new and did it slowly.  I went for an outdoor walk and it was wonderful.  I also tried a spin class.  A level 1 class to begin to develop some strength for next cycle season.  Honestly, I had tried spin classes in the past and HATED THEM!  But this was different.  It was 30 to 45 mins and it was pretty much a GO HARD or GO HOME class.  It was a test of my willingness to sweat it out and darn it, I did.  I liked it so much I have gone three times this week.  My butt hurts of course (I need to wear my padded pants and learn how to get out of the saddle) but my body feels wonderful. 

I also joined a wonderful group called "Black Girls Run- Sacramento" on Facebook (there is probably one near you).  What a great group of women interested in their health (not their hair) and encouraging others to do the same in a group setting.  I missed the run on Thursday because I wanted to get in a swim before it got cold.  But bet, you will see me out there next week doing what I can and what my body tells me I am capable of.

Well, I promised I would try to post once a week.  I hope someone gets something from this!  Have a GREAT week all!

PhatAthlete!

Getting Back On Track can be WACK! (Yes... I said it!)

"The world is changing at such a rapid rate that waiting to implement changes will leave you 2 steps behind.  DO IT NOW! DO IT NOW! DO IT NOW!" - From a poster that was given to me

It has been a while since I have been on my site.  Well, it is time to get back on track.  My body, though feeling healed, does not feel like the me of last year after the Pacific Grove Triathlon (I still can't believe I finished).  I feel stressed, yucky, tired, sluggish, and just BLAH!  My eating habits have improved (Weight Watchers is my friend) I am even 10 pounds lighter than I was during the Triathlon (though I went up 15 pound over when I moved to Sacramento.. BLECH!), I have been swimming and walking/jogging but I still feel like crap!  I need not only a routine, but I need a partner to work out with.  Working out with a group or with a partner makes you accountable and since I do not have many (any) friends in Sacramento, I have no one to hold me accountable and weekends are often spent in the Bay eating and catching up on sleep I am not getting in Sac. 

Well, all that is changing.  I have no patience for laziness and sluggishness; stress and sleeplessness.  BACK TO MY ROUTINE I GO!  I have to!  No way around it.  My skin and my body are mad at me and are ready to get it started. 

I have a goal.  Next year, I am going to sign up for Nike Women's Marathon 2012 and I will be running/jogging/intervals the 13.1 miles instead of walking like I have done in the past.  That means hitting the streets, walking until I can jog again; jogging until I can run!  I am going to do it and NO ONE IS GOING TO STOP ME!  Now I don't have a finish time in mind, but my iPOD will hold me accountable towards progress. 

So, the journey begins.  I promise to update the blog at least once a week, but will strive to do it on a regular basis.  I hope you will cheer me on.  I am excited just thinking about it.  But I know there are going to be times when I want to quit.  Will you call me and tell me to keep moving?

Well, the PHAT ATHLETE is back and will be discussing issues that affect our mind, body, and soul.  I look forward to sharing with you!

---Phat Athlete

"If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again!" -Aaliyah Haughton

HAPPY NEW YEAR ATHLETES!  I hope you started the new year off right!  Well, I have.  BACK TO DA GYM!  Oh how hard it is when you take some time off.  Well, don't wait, get it started today!  You know you don't have to have a gym membership to get in shape.  Walk, run, ride, swim, dance, climb, garden, roll... whatever gets you active.  I hope to have a lot of PLAAYY (Physically Loving Activity All Year, Ya'll!) in 2011 (or the Oh-Eleven as my friend Cha Cha would say). 

So, I am sure you want to know what I did.  Well, Friday (New Year's Eve) I did some weight lifting with my BFF!  He worked me OUT in the gym.  I think I pulled a little muscle but it has healed.  We did every muscle group on Friday.  So Saturday, I rested.  I was so tired and felt sick.  But I got right back up on Sunday and did 45 mins of Precore and 15 mins of the Spin Bike.  I used to hate the spin bike.  But know, I kinda like it.  I am going to build up to 30 minutes on the Spin Bike over the next few weeks and then... I will probably attempt to take a class.  Humph!  Can you say crazy?

So, we (my BFF and now distant trainer) will be working out on the following pattern. 

Monday:  15 to 30 mins Cardio; Lifting (I think Upper Body)
Tuesday: 45 to 90 mins Cardio (swimming included)
Wednesday: 15 to 30 mins Cardio: Lifting (I think Lower Body)
Thursday: 45 to 90 mins Cardio
Friday: 15 to 30 mins Cardio:  Lifting (Total Body)
Saturday: PLAAYY!
Sunday: 45 to 90 mins Cardio

I am determined.  I have a 100 pound goal this year. Can I do it?  Yes!  Will it take a lot of work and dedication? YES!

So, have you made your health commitment this year?  I have my first one right here.  I have been debating my goals this year and have not buckled down on them just yet.  But you now have my first goal!  Keep me accountable!

I will be signing up for LiveStrong Davis, AMBBR, and Pacific Grove Triathlon for 2011.  I am not sure if I am strong enough for Wildflower Triathlon yet, but you never know what may happen.  I may also look at signing up for Luna Bar Triathlon some others this year too.  Oh, what the heck!  Like the Goddess Nike... JUST DO IT for VICTORY!  Who is gonna join me?

Well have a Happy New Year Athletes!  I look forward to sharing my story and hope that you will share yours too! 

In Happiness and Health!

Phat Athlete

P.S.  Check out the new Solano Fit Magazine for this month.  VERY NICE!  Shots out to Jessica!     Solano Fit Magazine