Turning Miles into Smiles is growing

I'm so excited that this year my little fundraising program, Turning Miles into Smiles, will be growing to produce The Smile Train Triathlon as well as The Buddy Run 5K.

I got an offer this past week to take The Smile Train Tri on the road to Columbia, SC in 2010. I'm so tempted to do it because this is why I started this race - to spread the word. But with any opportunity, there is risk. What if I don't get enough sponsor money, what if it takes too much time from my kids, what if, what if, what if.... Of course - my husband is a horrible 'what-ifer' so that doesn't help.

I don't have to decide today but this is a big step. So far my premise for Miles into Smiles has been to send 100% of the registration fee directly to a charity that will use the money immediately to change lives. This requires A LOT of sponsor money for each race - about $15,000 for the Columbia race. If you know anyone who has a spare $K, send them my way!

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

Pinki & The Smile Train at the Oscars

I am so excited to tell you that a beautiful little girl named Pinki will be going to the Oscars to represent The Smile Train.

A few months ago I received a preview copy of the "Smile Pinki" DVD from a friend at The Smile Train and when I saw this documentary about The Smile Train it brought me to tears. You can watch a 3 minute trailer of Smile Pinki right now at our web site www.smiletrain.org and you can also register to find out where you can view the movie or get a copy of it.

This beautiful 6-year-old (same as as my daughter Polly) little girl lives in one of the poorest parts of our world. Her family was hesitant to go see The Smile Train because it would mean not working and it would cost the money family in food to eat on the way. They got it worked out and little Pinki (barefoot) and her father began their journey on foot to find The Smile Train.

Well, this little girl is 8 now and in New York on her way to The Oscars to hopefully accept an award for The Smile Train.

Have you been feeling like the economy is getting you down, you don't have an extra penny to spare, maybe you can't take that trip you had planned for this year. Remember how blessed we are that we even have those options and that yes - health is a gift!

Donate to The Smile Train at www.milesintosmiles.com and give a child a second chance at life. I've personally commited to donating $25 a month. It doesn't seem like much but over the course of a year it adds up to $300. Donate what you can!

Ahhhhh warmth!!

So it's February in North Carolina and I'm from Houston, Texas. I don't do cold - ever - don't like it, don't like being cold, not even chilled. I'd rather sweat and fry any day (but yes, when it is summer I'll say it's getting too hot!)

Anyway, on to my news!

I've discovered the greatest thing for a cold long-run since layering! The other morning I was in a hurry to get my Gatorade made. Yes I make my own at home in 1 gallon jugs with the powder because I'm frugal. So I've learned that if you make it with hot water it dissolves faster and you can put it in the fridge and go right to bed without congealed Gatorade at the bottom of your bottle.

Well - I made my gatorade, dissolved the powder then poured it in my backpack/hydration pack that I carry. I must say - I've never enjoyed warm Gatorade as much as I did on that run! I actually WANTED to drink it because with every sip I got all toasty inside.

I'm lovin my new discovery! It's like eating a warm dessert on a frigid cold run! Try it and you'll be amazed. Who'da thunk it - hot Gatorade actually can taste good!! Just don't try this on a 100mile ride in July!

Signing up for spin classes... come on folks!!!

Ok - now a little rant... sorry, it has to be done.

Does the Y really have to have a sign up sheet for Spin classes? Yes they are often full but get real. Many other Y's in much larger cities have finally gotten rid of the sign up sheets.

Here's my pain - feel it!

The spin classes have sign up sheets for them - they are open for sign up 3 days before the class. For me I like the Monday and Thursday classes which means I have to sign up on Friday for the Monday and on Monday for the Thursday - got it?

So I call at 8am on a Friday, remember the sign up sheet was just opened at 5:30am that morning - and it was already full! That's great! I'm so glad that so many people want to come to the classes. Here's the pain - sometimes I get to those classes (on the odd chance I actually get in) and there are empty bikes - but not all the time.

Of course there are going to be people who sign up and don't go - that's reason enough for me to trash the sign in sheet and just let people come on a first-come, first-served basis.

Oh and the Thursday spin class that opens on Monday gets full by 7am because all the people from the Monday spin class sign up for Thursday so if you don't call the Y by 7'ish you'll be left out - once again.

So here's my advice to the Y - squeeze as many bikes in that room as you can. We can easily fit 6 more bikes in the spin room at The Factory Y. Then tell people "no sign up sheet" and reward those folks who actually want to AND WILL get up for a 5:30am spin class.

Ahhh - I feel better - or I will feel better when I can actually get into a spin class!!!!!

Time flies!

Has it really been a month since I posted on my blog? Wow - that went by quickly! Before I knew it Polly was turning 6 and we were off to Texas for some quality famliy time, Tex-Mex food and the Houston Marathon!

The Houston Marathon
The Houston Marathon was great fun! After the IT band issues I've had recently I knew I was going to be unable to run it in its entirety so I had my husband, Richard, on call when I had to stop. Literally - I had my phone in my pocket and we played the "where are you game" from mile 13 to 16.5 so he could pick me up.

I was surprised that I lasted to mile 16.5! I felt pretty good. My knee was a bit achy so I made sure to pick up some ice at the medical tent at mile 16. I probably could have gone to at least mile 18 but my brain made me stop (my heart wanted to go!!!)

This is a race I would love to do every year. Being that it is my home town the whole course is like running in my back yard. The only thing better than doing this run every year would be living in Houston so I could run there every day! I love that city!!

OOPS
My biggest mistake of the day was being in such a hurry to get back to my parents that I didn't stretch. What was I thinking! I haven't been sore after a long run in years - really - years. But the next day I remembered what people were talking about with soreness after a run. I'll NEVER do that again (ok, at least not until I forget again) - always stretch after a long run especially if you've been injured.

YOGA
So in the 2 weeks since I got back from Texas I've been taking it easy. I started slacking on my IT band exercises and can tell a difference so I'm back to 3 times/week doing my exercises and hoping to get a Wii Fit so I can start to incorporate some yoga into my routine on the early mornings when I don't do something else. YES - I don't like or know how to do yoga so I'm dependent on someone telling me what to do and for how long and if I'm doing it right... YOGA IS BORING but oh well.

My 2009 calendar
I've been getting lots of questions on my 2009 training calendar so here is my schtick. I'm not doing many tris this year because honestly, getting on the bike to ride is harder this year. My weekend rides are harder to get in than my runs because I will run when it's dark so I can be done running by 8 or 9 am sometimes!

I do, really, really, do want to do Ironman Louisville again but it likely won't be until 2010 - maybe- because I have to get my husband up on my training again and he's enjoying the break. I will continue to NOT do it for a time and just do it for fun so my goal will be completion until my life is a bit less crazy - likely when I am 50.

Until then, I'm just focusing on running and swimming. I've got to keep building up my distance on my run and drop some of this winter-weight! ;)

Happy trails and Skirt on!

Half Ironman Training - Rebecca's Way

So I seem to get a good number of emails from friends and others who are interested in the sport. I thought I would share my opinions in case it helped anyone else. Beware, this is a rambling stream of consciousness and I'm in no way certified or trained to coach, this is the world according to Rebecca:
- - - - -
Ok - so I've been pondering your question - and I may not have a good answer for you. Everything I am going to say here is just my way of training - and may (or may not) be the same as a coach. I've just learned what I can do that works.

Training - use January/February to start getting your body used to 8-9 workouts per week (3-bike, 3-run, 2-3 swim) where you do at least 3 of these workouts on the weekend have have at least one day each week of total rest - not even a stroll, resting! Preferably after your long day (Monday seems to be good off day).

Distances - not much help on swimming, that's a no-brainer leg of the race for me and I really don't train too much for it b/c no one wins a race because they are a good swimmer. Ask Tracy - she'll have better ideas here.
Biking - start out your long ride on the weekend with about a 15mile ride working up to a 50 mile ride by 3 weeks before your "A" half-IM distance race. Since your goal is completion, just work on putting the miles in and going at a nice pace but remember - no coasting on your bike. Ride it the whole time - even on the down hills. Learn how to use your gears really well so that on the down hill you are going strong and can coast up part of the up hill. Practice eating on the bike - I'm partial to PB&J, the new PowerGel circle block thingies, and Gatorade. Drink Gatorade - NOT water - you need the electrolytes.

Running - start out your long run so that an 8-9 mile run isn't so terrifying ;) Then work up to a good 13-15 mile run. I think it's a good idea to push the run a little longer than your race distance here b/c your legs are going to be BEAT after riding for a few hours so they get used to running tired. Be sure that whenever you do a long bike ride you get off your bike and go run - even if you just run down Marshall Farm to Chalks and back. Just enough to get used to running a few miles slowly on tired legs. Eating - bananas, oranges, power bars, that sort of stuff. I wear my Skirt Sports tri top and Skirt so I have pockets (one on my top, 2 on my shorts) then I take advantage of the rest stops for fluid. During training I use my camel back hydration packs religiously. I never ever drink water while I'm training b/c of the electrolytes - you need them so get used to running and hydrating often. You shouldn't have to pee much during your training b/c as you take it in you are using it.

Diet - yeah... diet... eat when you are hungry. You WON'T lose weight training for an endurance event. Your body will need to consume a good number more calories than you are using now. Just eat when you are hungry, eat smart - no junk - no fast food - just good food whenever. Develop a pre-long ride, long-run nutrition plan for the day before and stick with it. Ex: I always eat the same thing the entire day before my long run so that I can be sure on race morning or long-ride/run morning my tummy will be the same. I didn't do this 1 time and ended up making potty stops 5 times on a run b/c my system was so used to it's routine. Drink lots of fluids - don't ever be thirsty - carry your bike bottle with you every where and keep it full.

Clothing - Be comfortable. Get used to wearing a swim suit or tri shorts during your ride and wear the same ones during your race. If you aren't a visor junkie yet, get a few visors. They are better than hats b/c they let the heat escape your head but not squinting while you run will be helpful on a 13mile hot summer race.

Coaching - there are tons of coaches out there - I don't use them b/c honestly, my life won't change if I'm an hour faster or not. I'd rather just do what works for my body, work it hard, stick to my schedule but also realize that life is busy and if I have an off week. If you ask others they'll say they need a coach to keep them focused.

So this is lots of info - tell me if you have more questions - I love to talk about this (go figure) but remember I'm not a trainer, coach, or specialist in any way.

Focus, focus, focus

Ever been so overwhelmed with something that you don't know where to start? I'm there - or should I say - I was there yesterday. It's Christmas time which for me means time to start planning my 2009 fundraising for The Smile Train, planning my 2009 event calendar, time to start making cookies with the kids and relaxing.

I want to do that - I really do want to relax but how! There is work (real paying-job work - not fun, non-paid Race Director work) to be done and working from home I have the down side of always having work at my fingertips whether I want it there or not.

Finally I hit a breaking point. A few choice words to my poor, sweet husband who tells me "it's my job" when I vent at him (I say at him because he never gets a chance to talk), a few tears, a few "don't cry mommy" from the kids and I'm better now.

So my magic solution to getting over this hump? Reprioritize and realize that work is just work - do the best I can do, work smart, communicate what can (and can't) be done and then just do what you can do. Make time for the fun stuff because that is what keeps you going.

I've been really good, so far, of balancing work - races - fundraising - training - family - church (not in that order of course) and I'm not going to let a few overwhelming weeks stop me. I'm inclined to believe that a lot of my self-imposed stress is me trying to please everyone which we all know never happens and also NOT being able to do my number one stress-reliever - RUN.

My new outlook for the next month while Polly is tracked out of our funky year-round school system - prioritize, work super-smart, do what I can and if something isn't getting done on time, know that I did my absolute best and that is always good enough.

Night night.