YES, okay, it is about that time again. I’ve joined a league in NYC..had to tryout and everything..they are serious here, and that is good news after spending several years in a state (NC) where VB is no more than a recreational hobby. I tried out and made a division 3 team, WHOOOOHOOO, and my games start this week for the summer season. Wish me luck!
Archive for the ‘Health and Fitness’ Category
Volleyball is Back!!!
Saturday, July 19th, 2008Biking NYC
Saturday, July 19th, 2008Now that I officially live here, I have taken up biking the city with my boyfriend, and it sure is fun!
We have biked Governor’s Island (you must get there on the ferry, bikes are allowed!), we have biked Manhattan and Central Park, we have biked the Hudson Valley River area (which is absolutely gorgeous), and we have biked the East Side and Midtown.
It has been a wonderful experience and a great way to see the city. You should try it where ever you live! We pack up a lunch and plenty of water in the morning, attach our helmets and back packs securely and leave for the day! I highly recommend it! It is a great form of exercise too. 
Mind Maintenance
Sunday, October 21st, 2007The other night, I finally had a minute to sit down and do something creative! Here is what came of that limited time I had:
Mind Maintenance
I couldn’t wait to get my running shoes on and head out for my Sunday run. This week was particularly hectic, with a million things going on at work, and other things pulling me in five different directions. You know that feeling you get when you are just ready to dig in and log some miles? Well, that was the state I was in today.
I headed out on my bike, then chained it up, and I hit the trail. The muggy Carolina weather is beginning to finally cool off, and the multi-colored leaves are now floating from the trees. As I ran, I could hear the crunch, crackle beneath my new running shoes, and I felt like I was on top of the world. I set my watch, settled in, and enjoyed the scenery as I ran through the trees, seeking that calmness I find when it’s just me and the trail.
I found myself wondering why there were not so many people out today. I wasn’t out at an odd time: it was around noon. It was not overly hot or humid, nor was the trail muddy from too much rain. To be quite honest, I didn’t care if I saw another soul on my journey. I was enjoying the beautiful day and that rush that all runners get when they are “in the mode”.
As I ran, I thought of nothing. I thought of everything. I thought of the snake that crossed in front of me, and what would have happened had I not seen it! I thought of sorrow and loss as I passed a bird that had become “trail kill”. I thought of chipper thoughts every time I saw a squirrel gathering acorns and rushing them up the trees. As the water moved so very slowly over the rocks in the creek, I thought of peace, and how much this world is in need of it. I was alone with my thoughts as I crested the hill, stopped my watch, and sat down to stretch.
After the brief break, I began running again. At last I came upon someone along my silent trail! And, you know me, I’ll talk to anyone! We introduced ourselves, and continued our run together. We ended up talking about the beautiful day and the possibility of training for an upcoming race. We dissected and debated world events in the news, and we discussed the true meaning of life. We conversed about all the awesome aspects of my life and about how happy I truly am, for the first time in a long, long time. We even found serenity in just running alongside each other and not saying anything at all.
I’ve found a new friend. Silence is her name. She is hard to meet up with, especially because of our busy schedules, but when we do, I always leave as a renewed and invigorated person. After spending time with Silence, I feel like there is no task I can’t handle. She gives me strength and perspective. She leads me from the world outside myself to a place within myself where I’m reflective and positive and cleansed and imaginative. Silence and I have made a standing date, out on the trail, at least once a week. Silence is maintenance for my mind.
Learning to slow it down!
Thursday, May 17th, 2007Those of you who know me well know that my mind and my body go 100 miles per hour, non-stop, every day until I finally hit the bed. I am so full of life and energy, but I have decided that I am going to take a new approach to life from here on out. I am going to see what the slower side of life looks like.
For years, ever since I can remember, I have always felt like if I wasn’t up and moving around, I was being lazy. I would feel guilty when I read. I would feel guilty when I watched TV. I would feel guilty when I sat around on a Saturday morning in my PJs until 9:00 a.m. I would feel guilty if I didn’t go run, and I would feel guilty for feeling guilty.
I’m not sure why this was the case, but with this new year of 2007, I have decided to do some things differently this time around. Why now, well….
Maybe it had something to do with all the life changes I’ve faced in the past year. Or maybe it has something to do with me turning 30 and kinda looking back and reflecting on my life so far. Maybe it has to do with me just wanting to be selfish for a while, or to feel a sense of entitlement. Whatever the reason is, I’m more at peace now than I was 120, or 60, or even 30 days ago.
Perhaps you are asking yourself what I have changed in my daily life to slow it down a little? Well, here is what I have done in the past week, in accordance with my plan, and man! has it felt good:
1. Last week after work, I went to the park and sat in the sun for one hour. I dozed off a few times, woke up and read a few more pages, and then dozed again. It was so great.
2. I put my stopwatch away and went for a run not concerned with distance or time. I turned my iPod on while running, as ususal, but this time, instead of picking my “Running” playlist filled with uptempo music, I selected the Eco/Nature playlist and strolled along. It’s amazing what I saw when I wasn’t full speed ahead: I saw a deer in the woods! It was looking right at me as I ran by. And I saw a dead turtle on the other side of the road. I noticed the smell of honeysuckle in the air. It smelled so heavenly. I stopped to take in huge gulps of air and to fill my senses with the fresh scent.
I RAN A HALF-MARATHON
Wednesday, April 18th, 2007Well, one of my dreams finally came true. Exactly one week after turning 30, I ran 13.1 miles. It was so much fun. The race I ran was in Charlotte. It was called the Southpark Race Fest. Miles 10-13 proved to be the hardest of them all because of the rolling hills. This was totally unexpected, but I made it. My goal was to run this race in less than 2 hours and 20 minutes, and I finished it in 2 hours and 12 minutes. So I was very, very happy.
I dedicated each mile to a person, or group of people, who have made a significant impact in my life. I read about this practice in a Runner’s World magazine earlier this year. It was great to pull out the list and refer to it while running.
A big thank you Mike for believing in me so much!
John’s Journey Through Ireland, via bicycle
Sunday, September 10th, 2006When John Phillips decided to travel to Ireland, he went all out. Not only did John decide to bike across much of Ireland’s countryside, he had his favorite bike shipped to Pennsylvania prior to leaving for Ireland. While in Penn., the bike was retrofitted with couplers to allow him to pack it in a suitcase and check it as luggage! Now, that is a novel idea!
I sat down with John on day 9 of our Ireland trip and interviewed him about his biking in Ireland experience.
What “favorite place” have you discovered on your bike? I enjoyed the loop from Killarney to Killarney National Park. I took the Moll’s Gap to Kenmore and an unexpected turn on a road led me to the highest pub in Ireland.
What is the most unexpected aspect you have discovered? The roads are wide and have a large shoulder.
What types of supplies do you carry for your rides? rainjacket, water, small repair tools, 2 extra innertubes, hand pump, conventional shorts and tshirt, maps, snacks, camera
Is it hard to acclimate to the reverse traffic flow? No, it’s easy. I feel like it’s safer here because the drivers are more used to cyclists.
As of today, how many miles have you biked? 260 miles
A final comment from John: On the first day out of Galway, I rode part way with a local cyclist, and I asked him if there were any sort of normal courtesy rules I should follow while in Ireland? He responded, “Hey, you’re a vehicle, take the road, and feck ‘em.” What great advice!
The Ultra Marathon Man by Dean Karnazes
Monday, September 4th, 2006Well, this book was so great and inspirational! Basically, Dean runs and runs and runs. This book tracks his trials and tribulations of training for 100+ mile races–thus the term ultramarathon! He has ran for 3 days straight–a relay, in which he was suppossed to find 11 other teammates, but he couldn’t find a single one–so he ran it alone!
He ran in Death Valley, where he had to wear a protective suit to reflect the sunlight. And he learned to run on the white line, because the soles of his shoes would melt within 2 hours if he didn’t! Now, that is hot!
He was the first man to run a marathon in and to the South Pole, and he refused to use snowshoes for this race. He had to wear a mask that would heat the -128 degree air, or his lungs and esophagus would freeze immediately upon contact with the frigid atmosphere.
Great book! I’m going to read it again…it made me train harder and laugh at myself along the way. (What I thought was hard and tiring is nothing compared to this guy!) 
50 marathons in 50 days (in a row) in ALL 50 states!!
Wednesday, August 16th, 2006Well, if you haven’t heard about Dean Karnazes by now, you will very shortly. He is known to us in the running community as “The Ultramarathon Man”, a name he has given to his autobiography.
Beginning Sept. 17th, Dean will run 50 marathons in all 50 states, all in a row. You can check out his schedule to see when he will be appearing in your state. You may be wondering why he is doing this, or what I find so fascinating about this man, but I can sum it all up in a few words: You’d have to be a runner to get it!
Oh yeah…October 31st, I will be running the Triple Lakes Trail Marathon in Greensburo, NC, right along with Dean. I am so inspired and excited!
U.S. National Whitewater Olympic Training Center (Charlotte)
Monday, August 7th, 2006I could not be any more excited about this center that is opening in a few weeks!! I am so psyched about this. Not only does it offer running trails, bike trails, and rock climbing, but the aquatic engineers have recreated a whitewater kayaking course—it will be the site for Olympic training, world-class competitions–AND, the general public to take lessons! Several shops and cafes will overlook the water, and I can’t wait to go visit.
Take a look at the official link and see what this place has to offer! It’s amazing and the first of its kind in the United States!
I headed for the hills!
Friday, July 21st, 2006Wow. This morning I got up early and headed for the hills of Killarney for a morning run. It was absolutely gorgeous. The weather here has been so great…I was in shorts and a tshirt this morning and it was so nice and cool.
I ran and ran and ran, on a trail, that I think was meant for horses…haha…but I ended up coming upon Killarney National Park. I can see why they say that Ireland is 40 shades of green. This park had rolling hills, forested areas, and the backdrop was a patchwork of green land and scenery. This was an awesome start to my day.