Congratulations Ruth! World Champ!

My sisters and I grew up playing soccer. My sister Susan played with a group of really talented and close-knit players, including a girl named Ruth Brennan who later played for the Badgers (UW-Madison.) I also competed for the Badgers but in rowing. During the years we were both on campus it was fun to catch some games with Ruth playing.


Overall I have so many great soccer-filled memories! With three sisters playing soccer, we were either playing, practicing or watching each other play -- very fun! I loved getting to know the families too.

My Dad can remember scores, game-changing plays and all sorts of fun details. I don't have ALL the details, but I do remember my Dad pointing out our friend Ruth specifically one day. We were in a gym, maybe it was a tryout session, I don't know. But Dad pointed at Ruth who instead of resting or chatting with friends was busy practicing her foot skills and he said, "there's an athlete."

Now, many years later, Ruth's applied her gifts, time management and incredible drive to a new sport -- triathlon! It was so fun to open a USA Triathlon press release and find a quote from Ruth within it.

Ruth (now Brennan Morrey) recently raced with Team USA at the 2011 ITU Long Distance World Championships in Henderson, Nev. Cold water and air temperatures led to the cancellation of the swim, and athletes competed on a 120-kilometer bike and 30-kilometer run course after a time trial start.

Via facebook she describes the bike course as "hilly and windy but fun and beautiful. The run was 2.8 mile steep hill up then 2.8m down x 4."

She finished in 6:00:49 taking first place amateur overall by eight minutes!
Female 35-39
1. Ruth Brennan Morrey (Rochester, Minn.), 6:00:49

"I felt phenomenal on the bike," says Brennan Morrey. "It was so much fun. It's a great sport, it keeps me healthy, and it's just a great experience."

Ruth says her race mantra ("I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.") carried her through. She raced in memory of her mama (Constance Maureen Brennan Nov. 3, 1944 - June 21, 1993.)

Congratulations Ruth!!

Read more about Ruth in this Rochester Post-Bulletin article. We all grew up in Rochester and I worked for the Post-Bulletin in high school.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU
- What sport did you play growing up?
- What sport would you still like to try?

photo: Me with fake blonde hair & my sister Susan in our high school soccer uniforms.

Track Camp - 1980s Meets 2011

In the summer of third grade I ran the 400. Our city held community track meets at one of the high schools. My younger sister and I ran several events. She excelled at short bursts, like the 50 and 100 m dash. And I preferred longer events. At school I also liked the hurdles and high jump and once tied an older boy for best high jump. (Read the rest of my previous post here.)

This summer our oldest son Truitt went to track camp and ran his first 400. It was his favorite event that day.

I loved watching him run. Like me he started slow and let his pace build along the loop and in the final stretch he passed three kids before the finish. His younger brothers and I cheered from the stands.

And before we went home, I took his picture on the track. I had my photo in mind, but hadn't studied the details to try and replicate one with Truitt. Looking at us side-by-side I see:
- His posture is better.
- His shoes are nicer.
- Our stance and hand positioning is similar.
- And by luck, our position along two different tracks is similar (off by a lane).

Questions for You:

- What do you see?

- What do you have in common with your kids?

Dancer Meets Triathlete - Oscar Week!

Dancer Meets Triathlete: Oscar Week!
When Oscar-nominated Natalie Portman was training for her role in Black Swan she studied with the New York City Ballet five hours a day for six months. For cross-training, she also swam.

With the strength and agility required for Black Swan, I bet Portman would make a solid triathlete.

Let's compare:

*(D) Dancer, (T) Triathlete

Training schedule: (D) Obsessive, (T) Obsessive

Clothing: (D) Leotard, (T) Trisuit

Modesty suggests: (D) Black tights, (T) Black tri shorts

Performance enhancer: (D) Leg warmers, (T) Compression socks

Underlayers: (D) Commando, (T) Commando

Quick costume changes required: (D) Offstage, (T) Transition tent or on the fly

Wear and tear: (D) Bloody toes, chafing, blisters, (T) Fin bites, saddle sores, raw heels

Covers the butt: (D) Tutu, (T) Sparkle skirt, running skirt, transition skirt

Crowns: (D) Tiara, headpiece, feathers, (T) Swim cap, bike helmet, world championship crown

Hairstyle: (D) Bun, (T) Two braids

Segments: (D) Intermission, (T) Transition

In charge: (D) Director, (T) Coach

Shoes: (D) Tap, jazz, ballet and pointe, (T) Bike, run or tri

Laces: (D) Satin, elastic, (T) Speed

Bag: (D) Duffel, (T) Tri backpack

TMI: (D) Shaves more than general population, (T) ditto

In peak form: (D) Mesmerizing, (T) Effortless

Venues: (D) Talent show to Broadway stage, (T) Indoor, traditional, off-road and winter

Footwork: (D) Beautiful feet, (T) Born to run

Race preparation: (D) Dress rehearsal, (T) On site walk-through

Begins: (D) Curtain opens, (T) Cannon fires

Audience, spectators appreciate: (D) Gorgeous lines, (T) People watching

Concludes: (D) Nailing the finish, (T) Sprinting across the finish line

Post-finish: (D) Encore, (T) Sign up for another tri!

Questions for You:

- Is Portman a triathlete?

- What elite triathletes have dance backgrounds?

- How has dance helped your skills as a triathlete?

- What did I miss?

And finally, "Who's dancing? Come on, who's dancing? Want me to get it started?"
-- Elaine Benes youtube clip

pictures:

- free media download from Black Swan,

- me in a tutu and

- me in my tri suit & sparkle skirt after a local triathlon.

Have TRX, Will Travel!

We had the good fortune to travel to Naples, Fla., recently for some family time with both sets of grandparents. My husband suggested we fly with one checked bag ... so I had our kids carry on backpacks filled with their clothes, books, bike helmets, etc and it worked out fine. It helps that in Florida you can get away with less clothing when the sun is out!

I did throw in my TRX and was happy to use it at both homes. I love the TRX. It was a fun way to be active outside and workout while on the road.
I also wrote about flying with my TRX on my blog at GOTRIbalnow.com. I posted a picture of me setup outside my parents garage in Naples. That plant was a little close on some of the moves!
Questions for You:

• What's your favorite TRX exercise or series?
  My friends at active.com recently shared their ideas in this tri community discussion. Log in and share your best TRX move.


• I thought it'd be fun to keep a running list of the locations I've used my TRX. Have you done this already? If so, send me the link!

James Peterson – A New Tri-Life

James Peterson woke up in jail with no memory of how he got there. Alone and terrified Peterson experienced the triple sting of his addictions (smoking, drinking and abusing drugs.) To start over, he’d need new, lasting strength, but where to find it?

Help came via a phone call nearly two years later but not until Peterson lost both his father (lung cancer) and his mother (broken heart). Peterson’s cousins Sean Murray and Bob Harazin found Peterson during a time of soul searching and challenged him to train for an Olympic distance triathlon.

Enter tri-therapy. Ask new triathletes and they’ll often confess they’re hooked on this simple sport of swimming, biking and running. And for athletes like Peterson, triathlon training could potentially help him handle present stress and past addictions. But could he finish?

Peterson hesitantly said he would sign up. But hearing his cousins’ and friends’ wager on his chances of sticking with it sealed his decision. Peterson was in and knew he’d later finish the 1-mile swim, 25-mile bike and 6.2-mile run. He booked sessions with a trainer (Tony Designer) at a local gym and began spinning, running, doing core work and circuit training. As his body became lean and strong Peterson felt more confident and found his sobriety easier to manage.

Nine months of hard work later Peterson arrived on race site prepared but also sick with anxiety. It’s common to be intimidated on race morning. Every athlete seems fast, fit and more prepared.

“At first I didn’t feel like I belonged there,” says Peterson. It helped having his cousins with him. “I was intimidated for sure but I met a few nice people. The mental aspect of your first race is unlike anything you can imagine.” As is the finish line!

Once Peterson crossed his first finish he wanted more. He met again with his trainer and decided to train for Ironman Louisville the following year. A new plan combining weight lifting, core, hi-intensity cardio, swimming, biking and running, kept Peterson busy. He also tightened his diet and improved his nutrition.

Peterson calls Ironman Louisville astonishing, and says he learned much about himself on race day. For example, due to his past failures and low self-esteem Peterson says “I never thought for a million years that I would accomplish anything like the Ironman.” But, in the end he found anything is possible with hard work, dedication, passion, a lot of sweat and a few tears. You can make your dreams come true, he says.

Peterson finished the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run in 13:17. Bob Harazin, Peterson’s cousin, was so inspired watching Peterson race in Louisville that he decided to sign up for Ironman Wisconsin 2010.

“Bob is the reason I started triathlon,” says Peterson. “I can’t wait to see him finish his first Ironman with me this September.”

NEW LIFE
Peterson’s life has changed in many ways since becoming a triathlete. Physically he lost over 25 pounds and reduced his body fat to less than nine percent. “I feel amazing,” he says. “Nothing better than taking your suits in to get fitted and having the tailor say “was this your suit?” Peterson kept one old suit to try on when he needs reinforcement and to realize how far he’s come in the past two years.

“It’s so rewarding to know that a person can make a change if you make up your mind,” he says. “The human spirit is an amazing gift that God has given and if we channel it we can do anything.”

Emotionally Peterson feels closer to God and to his parents who passed away. He says he’s now able to manage his sobriety with a constructive outlet that gives him an avenue to deal with the stress of life.

For others currently struggling with depression or addiction Peterson says triathlon training can help people deal with anger, sadness and pain by fighting back with physical activity. He says first you must acknowledge addiction is hurting your life and also ask for help. Finally Peterson realizes triathlon alone won’t cure depression or addiction. And like anything triathlon can become an unhealthy addiction if training and life choices become unbalanced.

“The one thing I want people to know about my story is that you don’t have to be on thin ice in life or have a tragedy to find a reason to get involved with triathlon” says Peterson. “It was and has been and will be a great way for me to meet friends, to live a healthy and meaningful life. I’m no different than anyone else. I’m not a pro-triathlete and will never become one. I love to compete and triathlon is a way I can deal with life on life’s terms.”

Peterson’s friends and family were proud and surprised to learn that Peterson became an Ironman triathlete. “I still get the introduction of ‘hey, this is my friend, cousin, brother, nephew, grandson, or sales manager Jimmy, he’s an Ironman.’ I don’t think that will ever get old for me to hear!”

On Topic:

- Read about Todd Crandell’s program Racing for Recovery. And learn about Crandell's upcoming documentary Running With Demons.
- Learn about other athletes' experiences with addiction and endurance sports in this CNN article "Former Drug Addicts Find New Fixation on Triathlons."

I discovered Mr. Peterson’s story in this article on X8 -- an active lifestyle network in South Florida. Its mission is to motivate people to eXceed their limits and to take their lives to the next level and to provide the #1 local active lifestyle network.

Photos submitted by Mr. Peterson via his friends and family.

Say My Name! @ Ford Ironman World Championships with Jessi Stensland (#3 in Series)

Thanks Jessi Stensland for your updates from the Ford Ironman World Championships! Stensland is a professional endurance athlete, movement specialist and active.com expert. In anticipation of the Dec. 19th airing of the NBC Ford Ironman World Championships broadcast, I'll feature several of Stensland's active.com features with bonus info from Stensland. This is #3 in a series.

The Voice of Ironman Mike Reilly

As a Cinderella Ironman Finisher I (Sara) heard The Voice of Ironman Mike Reilly call out my name welcoming me to "the club." Two years earlier my hubby Ken didn't hear The Voice when Ken crossed at Ironman Wisconsin. Reilly was there, and speaking, but my husband Ken was so focused that he tuned out his surroundings.

Ken's not alone. For many Ironman triathletes Reilly's famous words "YOU are an Ironman," obsessively call out to them during their long months of training. The words echo in and out during race day, waiting. So what happens when Reilly doesn't say "it"?

Find out by watching Active.com reporter Jessi Stensland's detailed interview with Mike Reilly from this year's Ford Ironman World Championships. You'll also learn:

- Something about race day Reilly will never grow tired of.

- Where's the hot corner for Ironspectators?

- What it's like up in the tower in Race Central.

- What's Reilly's biggest fear?

Stensland says Reilly's never called her name and she doesn't hear that happening in the future. "I've never had the desire to do an Ironman," says Stensland. "I like to train and race short, hard, often and now ... off-road."

I admire Stensland's confidence. She knows as an athlete what she's passionate about. Without passion, training and racing at any distance comes up empty. For me the most-moving post-finishline moments have more to do with what I gave to get there than simply the distance covered.
Link here

On Topic:

Find out how Reilly coined his famous phrase in this excellent profile of Reilly from ironman.com.

In this series:
Getting the Story @ Ford Ironman World Championships
On Site @ Ford Ironman World Championships with Jessi Stensland
Rudy! @ Ford Ironman World Championships with Jessi Stensland

Questions for You:
- What distance/sport are you passionate about?
- What makes the finish line magic?

photo credit by me: I saw many sea turtles when I was on the Big Island. But I met this turtle in the Grand Cayman Islands.

Pre-race Melt-down - FELT didn't ship the frame

The Bicycle Dr called my husband this morning at work and asked him if he wanted to hear the good news or the bad news first... that's never good.

FELT didn't ship my husband's new replacement frame. Last week we believed FELT had immediately responded to the Bicycle Dr.'s warranty claim and shipped a new frame. We thought we'd drive to The Bicycle Dr. this week to get Ken fitted on his new ride. While he'd lose riding time, he'd have time to prep before his taper for Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene (June 21).

Unfortunately, while The Bicycle Dr. has been responsive, attentive and helpful, FELT has not.

Again, we're in a high-stress situation. Frames take time to ship and time to assemble. We'd already lost time. Now we're in pre-race melt-down.

HELP!

A Crack in Our Plans-45 Days from Race Morning
The Bicycle Dr.'s Cure

Swim - Bike - Run - Smile

During my nearly 17-hour Ironman triathlon, I remember the athletes who smiled. Seriously.

A smile during an event is powerful:
- If I'm in a foggy zone, a smile helps me wake up.
- If I'm barely moving, a smile helps me move a little faster.
- If I'm tense, a smile helps me relax and bike/run more naturally.
- If I'm annoyed, a smile helps me shake it off.
- If I'm happy, a smile makes it all even better.

Triathlon is known for its camaraderie. Triathletes encourage well. I think it's part of triathlon's massive appeal.

A study recently published by a British medical journal shows happiness is contagious, and that being around other happy people is a major boost! I agree, a smile on the bike or run segment of a race certainly helps carry me to the finish.

Tell me:
- As you swim, bike and run, do you smile? Or are you too serious?
- Do other athletes smile back?
- Are triathletes happy people?

My smile is biggest when I'm reading your comments.

Picture: Me, on a bridge near our village. I'm smiling as I almost bike right into my husband, who is taking my picture. Look out!