If you haven't read any other post on this blog let me update you on my athletic endeavors. Over the past year I've been training and competing in multiple endurance events, with most of these being triathlons. I love the long hours of training and competing, the hard work they require, and pushing myself to physical and mental exhaustion. I'm pleased to say I have not yet found my limits, so that is why I'm taking my training to the next step. On April 5 of 2009 I will race in the Half Ironman in the Lonestar Triathlon Festival in Galveston, Texas. For those of you unfamiliar with this event it includes a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run.
But for this next race I've taken on an additional challenge beyond the physical demands of training and competing. I've joined the North Texas Team in Training Program on behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Team in Training (TNT) exists to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma and to provide financial support to the patients and their families during treatment. TNT is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s largest fund-raising program, bringing in over 73 million dollars in the past year alone. Each team member in the program pledges to raise a certain amount of money during the 4-5 months they train for their event and 75% of every dollar spent at the Society goes to research, patient services, and education. My goal is to raise $2,900 for TNT.
As a member of TNT I am part of an actual team of triathletes training for the same event. We have three workouts a week together, which include long brick days on Saturdays and open water swims. TNT also provides us with experienced coaches, multiple informational clinics (such as nutrition, bike sizing, energy gel taste testings, and open water swim tactics), gear to train in and compete in, travel to and from the event, the race entry, pre and post race parties, and best of all cheers and support while you race. I felt the need to do this because I've trained for over a year for my own personal enjoyment; I feel now is the time to sacrifice and take part in a greater purpose and join a cause that helps save lives. I've been blessed with health, physical fitness, and spare time to train so I feel I can really make use of these blessings to help others by taking part in this cause.
I now need to tell everyone I know and people I don't know about my new commitment and cause and humbly ask for their support. I have the attitude that I'm am simply providing others a means to make donations that they can have assurance will make a difference in the lives of those suffering from blood cancer. I know from personal experience, that people want to help but often just don't know how and want to know what they do matters.
All donations are tax-deductible and no donation is too small. If you'd like to support my participation in TNT and help advance the cause of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is to visit my TNT website and make an online donation.
If you have already contributed I thank you from the bottom of my heart and encourage you to keep visiting this blog for updates on my training. I'll post pictures, workouts, and stories of what exactly one thinks about during a 5 hour workout. I also plan on posting any funny stories or useful training and triathlon tips I come across over the next 5 months.
P.S. Don't keep me a secret. Tell your friends and family about my participation in TNT and send them the link to my TNT website (http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/lstri09/kstoddard) or this blog (www.todayiwillbeme.blogspot.com).
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
More than Just a Metal
This last Sunday I had the privilege to compete in one of my favorite races of the year; the U.S. Toyota Open in Dallas. I trained smart this year for this race, and for that matter, all my other races as well. Last year I was blinded by an odd desire to exceed my training schedule and obsessed with piling the miles on. I hurt myself, several times, using this strategy of training. I ended up with a stress fracture in my foot and a inflamed psoas which put me out of the game for about 6 months.
But that wasn't the case this year. I learned from my mistakes and found that I could train harder, if I trained smarter. Odd. I wasn't expecting that to be the case. And though I don't think I logged as many running miles this year I still took 5 minutes off my time from last year. By focusing my training and not pushing through injury-indicating pain signals, I was able to gain speed and technique in all of the elements of the triathlon: swimming, cycling, running, and transitions.
All of this has caused me to reflect and ponder my motivation for racing. I've listened to the fellow endurance addicts that make up my close knit training group and have realized that we all subject ourselves to pain, exhaustion, sacrifice, and a host of other inflictions willingly for very different reasons. For me it's about the entire process of training. Having healed remarkably several times from debilitating injuries, I have a growing respect and appreciation for my body's physical capabilities to endure and heal itself. I love endurance events because they show me I'm capable of more than I ever imagined. I can push my body to the limits, and only then do I begin to learn something new about myself. I also continue on in these endurance events and trainings because I simply love the feeling of covering miles powered by what God gave me. I live for the feeling of sheer exhaustion and accomplishment that comes when I cross the finish line of a race. So while it's great that I've been able to continually improve my times, that's just icing on the cake. I race and train because it makes me feel alive. If I did not challenge myself continually, I could not expect to grow as an athlete and as an individual. And without continually advancement life would just be boring.
"To achieve all that is possible, we must attempt the impossible - to be as much as we can, we must dream of being more."
But that wasn't the case this year. I learned from my mistakes and found that I could train harder, if I trained smarter. Odd. I wasn't expecting that to be the case. And though I don't think I logged as many running miles this year I still took 5 minutes off my time from last year. By focusing my training and not pushing through injury-indicating pain signals, I was able to gain speed and technique in all of the elements of the triathlon: swimming, cycling, running, and transitions.
All of this has caused me to reflect and ponder my motivation for racing. I've listened to the fellow endurance addicts that make up my close knit training group and have realized that we all subject ourselves to pain, exhaustion, sacrifice, and a host of other inflictions willingly for very different reasons. For me it's about the entire process of training. Having healed remarkably several times from debilitating injuries, I have a growing respect and appreciation for my body's physical capabilities to endure and heal itself. I love endurance events because they show me I'm capable of more than I ever imagined. I can push my body to the limits, and only then do I begin to learn something new about myself. I also continue on in these endurance events and trainings because I simply love the feeling of covering miles powered by what God gave me. I live for the feeling of sheer exhaustion and accomplishment that comes when I cross the finish line of a race. So while it's great that I've been able to continually improve my times, that's just icing on the cake. I race and train because it makes me feel alive. If I did not challenge myself continually, I could not expect to grow as an athlete and as an individual. And without continually advancement life would just be boring.
"To achieve all that is possible, we must attempt the impossible - to be as much as we can, we must dream of being more."
Motivational Quotes
"The only way to be who you want to be is by being what you haven't yet been."
- Sally Edwards
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."
- T.S. Eliot
- Sally Edwards
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."
- T.S. Eliot
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Quotes and Mantras for Endurance Events
Having aspired to take my multi-sport athletic endeavors to the next level and train and complete a half Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run) in April, I feel the need now to search and collect mantras and quotes to call upon during hard hours of training and racing. I will need to stay continually motivated and will have to sacrifice a great deal. This list is just one of the ways I plan to keep my self on track. I plan to continually add to the list but here is what I've got so far:
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours." -Henry David Thoreau
"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it's too low and we reach it"
-Michelangelo-
And my never fail mantra: "It's only a process"
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours." -Henry David Thoreau
"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it's too low and we reach it"
-Michelangelo-
And my never fail mantra: "It's only a process"
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Billboards Battle Trees
The scenic rights along a stretch of Highway in Osceola Florida, just outside Disney World, are in the midst of a tug of war between billboard owners and local citizens. In the 1980's this stretch of highway apparently was such an eyesore that the citizens opted to tax themselves $29 million dollars to fund a highway beautification project. Now they have bike trails and 10 foot sidewalks on either side, lush landscaping that includes hundreds of trees, and well-lit bus stops, and information kiosks.
It would seem that such a project would have unanimous support, however Clear Channel and other billboard companies began complaining to the city that the new trees block the view of their billboards and threatened their business, which they argue, threatens the tourist industry, which is a major component of the local economy. Based on these claims, and the fact that their billboards were their first, they lobbied the state Legislature. The state sided with the billboard companies and in 2006 passed a law that guaranteed a 500 foot unobstructed view of the billboards.
Obviously citizens were enraged by this legislation because in their eyes it placed corporate interests over the public interest. But the real issue isn't about the trees; it's about who gets to control what the public views on a public highway. In the end the billboard companies and the citizen compromised and settled on an agreement that the trees be trimmed back to not obstruct the view instead of cutting them down entirely.
So who is right in this situation? The billboards were there first and they say they are essential for the tourist industry; but is it right to allow private industry to dictate what the public view on a public road? As much as it pains me to say, I think since the billboards were there first they should be allowed to remain and to be seen, but not at the cost of chopping down all the trees. Pruning ordinances are a good alternative as well as adequate pre-planning on the part of the city's beautification project. Granted billboards are important to tourism; however I would argue that I wouldn't want to see an ugly stretch of highway devoid of trees and littered with billboards. A compromise is best for both the citizens and the tourism industry in my opinion. I'm curious what anyone else thinks about this.
For the entire story, visit NPR
It would seem that such a project would have unanimous support, however Clear Channel and other billboard companies began complaining to the city that the new trees block the view of their billboards and threatened their business, which they argue, threatens the tourist industry, which is a major component of the local economy. Based on these claims, and the fact that their billboards were their first, they lobbied the state Legislature. The state sided with the billboard companies and in 2006 passed a law that guaranteed a 500 foot unobstructed view of the billboards.
Obviously citizens were enraged by this legislation because in their eyes it placed corporate interests over the public interest. But the real issue isn't about the trees; it's about who gets to control what the public views on a public highway. In the end the billboard companies and the citizen compromised and settled on an agreement that the trees be trimmed back to not obstruct the view instead of cutting them down entirely.
So who is right in this situation? The billboards were there first and they say they are essential for the tourist industry; but is it right to allow private industry to dictate what the public view on a public road? As much as it pains me to say, I think since the billboards were there first they should be allowed to remain and to be seen, but not at the cost of chopping down all the trees. Pruning ordinances are a good alternative as well as adequate pre-planning on the part of the city's beautification project. Granted billboards are important to tourism; however I would argue that I wouldn't want to see an ugly stretch of highway devoid of trees and littered with billboards. A compromise is best for both the citizens and the tourism industry in my opinion. I'm curious what anyone else thinks about this.
For the entire story, visit NPR
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Women in Politics
Right now there is a heated debate in our nation about the place of women in the political world sparked by the vice president selection for the Republican ticket. Like Mr. Tuesday Pants (), I don't think women are incapable of serving in politics or that they should not serve because of some antiquated gender related issue. What I do strongly believe is that women should be held to equal standing as men in politics, but this is where I see problems emerging in two ways.
The general public response to Sarah Palin's vice president bid, at least from the female population that even remotely follows politics, is either "You go girl" or "How could she?" The "You go girl" camp are women who feel empowered that a woman is in the running for vice president and probably believe, as they should, that a women can do any job a man can. I'm not contesting this fact at all. I'm certain women have just as much intelligence and skills to run a nation as a man, I'm just not sure I want that. Again I'm aligned with Mr. Tuesday Pants, so refer to his post on Women in Politics for details on this. The "how could she?" camp pipes up this question because Sarah Palin has a 4 month old child with down syndrome and a 17 year old expecting a child of her own, and, I'm speculating here, this camp believes Sarah Palin should be more concerned with her own family right now than with running a country. "You go girl"s would say that no one has the right to tell a women how the manage her family. I pose this question though: would they feel any different about this issue if it were Obama with and a mental disabled infant? I certain hope not, but we can never know.
So do we hold Palin to a different standard because she is a woman and we criticize her decision to run despite her family situation because we think a mother should care for her family first or do we make this judgment of her simply because the we believe the needs of her family take precedent over national affairs for her as an individual? The Republican party would ask you to not consider her gender when assessing her motives and priorities. But here's the kicker as I see it.
Why did McCain choose Sarah Palin? Was it because of her political record, her experience, or other a combination of other factors related to professional career as a politician. Well these factors may have influenced McCain, but I firmly believe that he chose Palin because she is a woman, he needs to win over Clinton supporters and he thinks people will vote based on the chromosomes of his running mate and not her political history. But voting for McCain simply because there is a woman on his ticket would mean you are giving special consideration to Palin because she is a woman, but yet when considering other elements of her political career and personal situation we are expected to look the other way and not treat her any differently than we would a male candidate. You can't have it both ways. There seems to be a double standard emerging but I'm not sure many people see it. This is my take on the matter. I'm open to hear what yours is.
The general public response to Sarah Palin's vice president bid, at least from the female population that even remotely follows politics, is either "You go girl" or "How could she?" The "You go girl" camp are women who feel empowered that a woman is in the running for vice president and probably believe, as they should, that a women can do any job a man can. I'm not contesting this fact at all. I'm certain women have just as much intelligence and skills to run a nation as a man, I'm just not sure I want that. Again I'm aligned with Mr. Tuesday Pants, so refer to his post on Women in Politics for details on this. The "how could she?" camp pipes up this question because Sarah Palin has a 4 month old child with down syndrome and a 17 year old expecting a child of her own, and, I'm speculating here, this camp believes Sarah Palin should be more concerned with her own family right now than with running a country. "You go girl"s would say that no one has the right to tell a women how the manage her family. I pose this question though: would they feel any different about this issue if it were Obama with and a mental disabled infant? I certain hope not, but we can never know.
So do we hold Palin to a different standard because she is a woman and we criticize her decision to run despite her family situation because we think a mother should care for her family first or do we make this judgment of her simply because the we believe the needs of her family take precedent over national affairs for her as an individual? The Republican party would ask you to not consider her gender when assessing her motives and priorities. But here's the kicker as I see it.
Why did McCain choose Sarah Palin? Was it because of her political record, her experience, or other a combination of other factors related to professional career as a politician. Well these factors may have influenced McCain, but I firmly believe that he chose Palin because she is a woman, he needs to win over Clinton supporters and he thinks people will vote based on the chromosomes of his running mate and not her political history. But voting for McCain simply because there is a woman on his ticket would mean you are giving special consideration to Palin because she is a woman, but yet when considering other elements of her political career and personal situation we are expected to look the other way and not treat her any differently than we would a male candidate. You can't have it both ways. There seems to be a double standard emerging but I'm not sure many people see it. This is my take on the matter. I'm open to hear what yours is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)