So you've found your love...

So when I began this blog, not to long ago I shared with you a bit of what it will be about.  Triathlons and training and how I got into the sport and I think, most important, where I want my life to go in the sport and in the community of triathletes. 
When I was working in design I loved it.  I still love it.  It was never a job for me, especially when I was really busy and immersed in the design, space planning and full creation of a project.  I could 'work' for hours and hours and never wonder what time it was or even worry about stopping for food or drink.  I was lucky enough to be very young and know what I was good at and was able to put effort into pursuing a career in that.  But after almost 20 years working in design and architecture I have learned that as much as I love it, the profession and the powers that be, i.e. the bosses of the companies I have worked for, are not as loyal to their employees as the employees are loyal to the industry, and in my case, a profession and a 'job' that I loved doing.  So I have had to take a long hard look, at my bank account, scary sight sometimes,  and at how I want to move forward in being able to sustain myself.  What do I want to do now that jobs in design are hard to find for people with experience, as I have found, more jobs for the 'interns' than those who don't need hand holding.  I am working trying to find my own clients but have realized that this love of triathlons could be more than how I stay in shape and keep my sanity while working in my chosen profession.  Maybe I can create a sustainable living doing something with the triathlon industry.  This is what I realized about a year ago and when I read a book, applied what I learned and built a website of triathlon specific products for other triathletes like myself, who had a hard time finding tri-gear at your typical sports store.  This idea became Triathleta.com.

It is a website where you can find everything you need to compete in your 1st to your 100th triathlon.  It is a growing site, there are a stack of catalogs on my desk of the companies I have built relationships with that I want to add to the site but it takes having a larger bank account than I currently have so it is a work in progress.  It's a love and passion in progress too.  As much as I am predominately a 'right brain' type person, I am diligently working to increase my 'left brain' side and learn about business, finances, marketing, e-marketing specifically, which is like taking a crash college course.  It's a bit overwhelming at times.  I know enough to know that I don't know much, but know enough to ask for help!  Internet marketing, SEO, email lists etc...is not complicated, you just have to have a few good tips/teachers showing you how and if you're tenacious, as I am, you have to put what you've learned to use and work it.   I have a ton of ideas, most of which I have been told by business professionals are great ideas, now it's just getting them implemented to really get the website more visible, more traffic, more sales and then in the final 'goal' to build a brick and mortar store. 
Triathlon for me when I started in 1993 was so much fun.  It was my social life, it was part of my relationship as the guy who introduced me to it was my boyfriend at the time.  I was new to the city where I lived at the time so it was a way of making new friends, becoming a part of a community, it was pretty much Everything to me.  So even though I worked at becoming a triathlete, it was never work, I loved every minute of the sweat, the muscle aches, the heart pounding rides and runs I did with my friends.  It is, by far, the best thing that ever happened to me.  It changed my life, allowed me to do and see things I would have never seen had I not been introduced to the sport.  Quite honestly, more than anything, I want to rub off all this passion and excitement off on other people and the best way I know how to do that is to make my idea into a reality, build a store that becomes part of the triathlon/running/cycling community where I live and let it resonate with everyone who participates so that they can then pass on that passion to those in their lives.  It is the ultimate, 'Pay it Forward' concept for me.  I swear I get so emotional about it, I want to change the world with my little, silly triathlon community ideas.  But what better way to keep us all moving, keep us healthy and happy than to participate in an activity that we love, we can share with our spouses/significant others, our kids, our grand-kids.  Make it a part of your church.  Do a triathlon with members of your congregation.  Company teams, police/fireman teams, doctor/nurse teams, literally whatever you can think of, it can touch all of us.  Our society has become too sedentary.  I don't want to go into that whole subject on this post, but in a nut shell, we have to get moving again, we have to learn about how to be healthy, how to eat healthy or we are going to be in big trouble.  I love this sport, I love what it does to the people who get involved in it.  People become so proud of themselves to say they are a 'triathlete'.  It's an accomplishment, it's hard work, it's time consuming, it takes dedication, you can't cross the finish line without doing the work, no one but yourself is going to get you there, there is no 'free lunch', you've got to do the work.  But oh how fun the work is! 
So I've found my love...come join me.  Stop by my site, sign up for the email newsletter, send me an email and let me know what you want if it's not there.  If you're a club, a race director, a magazine please contact me about working together.  I want and need to get the word out more about my site and I need your help, your knowledge and your passion about triathlons to help me do that.  I know this is a shameless plug, but I am part of the growing entrepreneurs in America who have passions and ideas about how they want to participate and contribute to the society in which we live.  If our previous jobs have become obsolete or we are just having a heck of a time finding a good job then we are trying to do something outside of our usual box and in turn help ourselves as we help others.  So help me pay it forward, send me your thoughts.  Like I said, I am a work in progress and am open to tips on the work and the progress.
Triathleta

 p.s.  I get Fast Company emails every day and I saw this article today that I want to attach.  It actually gave me my idea for today's post.  I know we all have passions we all have jobs.  But are they congruent? 
http://www.fastcompany.com/3002168/8-signs-youve-found-your-lifes-work 
Maybe this will help you figure out if you are doing what you love.  Enjoy!

Election Day!

The time change that we had on Sat. night was nice, but for the last few days my sleeping patterns have been a bit off.  I am sure I'm not alone.  I know waking up at 3:30 in the morning and not going back to sleep can mess up your workout during the day for many of us.  I had a light workout today, definitely not what I wanted, but sleep for me is critical, so I hope I get some zzzz's tonight.  I definitely hope I get more than the political junkies and reporters working the election.  Colorado, my home, seems to be keeping things up in the air, possibly, but I'll catch up in the morning.  Seems 'POTUS' will remain.  I hope you made the effort to express your choice as it is an important part of what makes our country a great place to live.  We have issues, but being in the good ole' US of A is better than many alternatives.  In my humble opinion anyway.  So here's to another day with opportunity to excel, and a good night's sleep.

Triathleta

Creature of Habit or The Change-up

So when I got into triathlons, one of the things I loved about it was the variety.  Three sports along with some gym time and yoga too meant I wouldn't get bored doing the same thing.  I am a bit of a mix in that I am a creature of habit, I like structure and routine but I don't like when the routine is exactly the same.  I know, it's an oxymoron sort of statement but it's true and those elements of my 'personality' are beginning to reveal themselves in my workouts again. 
Since this is considered my 'off season', more training and getting down to the nitty-gritty of fine tuning my body, form in the pool, cardio work etc... I am mixing up my workouts more than I ever have.  I bought the P90X workouts awhile ago and then stepped it up, (because of course I got bored with the same routines) and up'd the anty and got 'Insanity' and also have all the goods from my tri-coach which of course is much more tri specific.  I have no reason to get bored now, thankfully.  As a result I am sore in places I forgot I used when I worked out.  That is a good thing! 
I did the Insanity workout today and I can say that the first 15 minutes of what is considered the 'warm up' is more than what some full fledged workouts are.  It's insane, really!  The interval training does really get the entire body moving and you feel it in those specific areas before you're even done the workout.  I have never done a triceps exercise while at the exact same time have it be an ab/crunch exercise, it's crazy good.  So if you are like me and you want more than the three workouts that typical triathletes do, then mix it up this 'off season'. 
If you don't want to invest in the workouts I have mentioned then check out http://www.bodyrock.tv/2012/10/18/day-4-train-from-the-heart-workout/.  It's a site I found the other day, and they have some 15 minute interval workouts that are pretty good and they are free.  You can just click  and work out with them.  Make sure you use your discretion when doing the workouts as I honestly don't know if they are certified trainers etc...  It's nice to have the ability to mix things up so it's there if you want to do some. 

What's that saying...'the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results'.   No dig on the Insanity workouts as they are just insanely good at kicking your butt.  But change is good, test yourself and see what you can do to mix it up.  You might be surprised that you like it too!  Enjoy the diversity, it's what makes the world go round.

Oh and don't forget to VOTE!!! 
Triathleta

Yoga and Training

#4 - Eagle Pose

So I think I mentioned somewhere that I got into yoga a few plus years ago.  Bikram yoga to be more specific.  I practiced for years about 6 days a week, loved it, but wasn't really training for triathlons at that time.  So now that I am more in training mode, I feel like yoga actually seems easier.   Even though I sometimes feel sore and tight in many places, it all flows better.  One of the instructors last night made a comment in class that I actually heard.  Sometimes I zone out.  He said when we do sports we break down our bodies, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, in my humble opinion.  As we know in order to build muscle we have to 'work' it, push it to a limit without overdue use to become stronger, build larger muscles, etc... But in yoga, it's more like therapy in motion.  So all of a sudden in class I felt like I was putting myself through my own massage session.  Although a massage is definitely better!   As athletes we beat up our bodies often and then we go about our day, work, kids, demands that require our attention so in yoga, you get to be kind to yourself, let yourself be there for 60/90 minutes of just you.  I know it is probably hard to squeeze that much additional time out of the day when you already spend a fair amount training, but since the cooler temperatures are on the way, for much of the country anyway, maybe now is a good time to taper down and try to incorporate some yoga.  You may find what I do, that it does help.  Body, mind and spirit.  I found someone who is a bit of an expert on the subject, written a few books, has video's with many great tips that I thought I would share.  If you can't go to a class, doing some of the postures in a quite place at home can be the next best thing.  Namaste

http://sagerountree.com/media/books/the-athletes-guide-to-yoga/

26 Bikram Yoga Postures - Done in order, each 2x's

Triathleta

Endurance of a different kind.

Home for me is New England, specifically Massachusetts.  I sent a text to family and friends on Monday asking if everyone was ok.  I said it looked like there was a ton of water from what the TV was showing.  Thankfully my family didn't get too much more than rain and some wind, but nothing like what happened in NY and NJ.  So I have been thinking a lot lately about all the people back East dealing with the aftermath of the Frankenstorm Sandy that was so much less than kind and happy over the Halloween Holiday.

There is going to be, as there is now probably, a lesson, whether needed or not, to be learned about endurance.  Endurance of a different kind.  Not the kind that many athletes are used to but more in the area of just putting your head down, picking up everything and figuring out a way to start over!  I watch the news shows covering all of it, talking with people, showing all the destruction and all I can think to do in the moment is to send out a prayer to all of them, for strength, perseverance, patience, and for the ability to dig deep and find the endurance to push through.  The clean up is going to take a long time, people have absolutely nothing left.  The Holidays are in are midst and it's going to be really hard with so much lost to even think about shopping, cooking Thanksgiving dinner or decorating the tree.  But people on the East coast are tough, they have the tenacity of warriors, they never give up.

When I first moved away from home, I would sometimes here people say of people that lived in the North East that they were mean, rude or bitchy.  Well in defense of my fellow NorEastr's, I beg to differ.  I have lived down South, out West, all the way to Cali and there is a difference in demeanor, yes, but so is the lifestyle and the environment.  You can't be a 'woos' and complain that it's cold, or too hot and humid.  It's not all sunshine and surfing.  No, we don't get earth quakes as often as the West Coast, but life in the east is different and you have to be strong.  There's also that old saying about NY, something about making it there, you can make it anywhere.  I think there is a good reason that song is considered an 'anthem'.  So go easy on folks, if you have friends who are from up/over there.  They may have family, friends and loved ones who are in the middle of the worst event, other than 9/11 that they will probably ever go through.  They need support, they need stuff!  When people say they lost everything, it's really Everything.  Going to the Red Cross, bringing anything you have that you could do without because you know somewhere on the East coast, someone needs it more than you do.  Gift cards to Target to buy underwear, socks, necessities and that's just the small stuff.  They'll need a home.  If there is anything positive about this, I hope there are people who have been out of jobs who are in the construction industry who can go out and help rebuild these communities.  I know its hard to think that anything positive can come from such destruction, but if we don't look for the Light in everything then we miss it, we miss a lesson.

So think of something you can do.  If you don't have anything to give then give positive thoughts, send out your own strength and endurance.  When you think you can't run or ride or swim another mile, push a little more because you know somewhere there is someone walking through match sticks that once was there house and they need a little more strength to get through the day.  They don't have time to train anymore, no money going to any races anytime soon.  It's kids clothes and food and finding an apartment to live in until they can figure out their next move.  So say a prayer, light a candle and send out some love.  We take care of each other, that's what we do when the chips are down.  So help where and how you can, because there is someone who needs it and will most definitely appreciate it.  Be safe!
Triathleta

Love 

(Kabbalah)

p.s.  http://www.rockcenterNBC.com has quite a few links on ways you can help. Check it out.