Get PHIT #America , The PHIT Act

I usually never discuss politics on my Athletic Forums. Let’s face it,  politics and everyone’s personal view could bring out some strong feelings. There is nothing wrong with owning your opinion but sometimes folks go over board and an ugly side could come out.

But, this time I’m happy to talk about Politics. Why, because of the PHIT Act. What? You haven’t heard about the PHIT Act, The Personal Health Investment Today Act (H.R. 956). Look, I’m not going to get into Health Care wars or who should pay for what.  I am going to discuss Health and Wellness and the fact that we as citizens need to take pro active steps towards a Healthy Life Style for ourselves, our kids and fellow Americans.

First some background Information:

The PHIT Act (H.R. 956), currently pending legislation in Congress, was introduced in 2009 by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and currently has bi-partisan support. The PHIT Act is legislation that would allow for reimbursement of Physical activity expenses using pre-tax dollars.  In essence, the PHIT Act expands the definition of a medical expense to include qualified physical activities as a form of prevention.  Your contributions to existing pre-tax Medical, Flexible Spending, and reimbursement accounts could be used to pay for physical activity expenses.  Contributions would not increase existing caps on pre tax accounts and contributions are limited to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for families annually.

So What does PHIT Cover:

• Youth Camp and Physical activity fees
• Membership and dues in a health club
• Exercise/fitness classes or instruction (personal trainers)
• Sport league fees (Adult and Youth)
• Marathon/Triathlon registration fees
• Sports and Fitness equipment used exclusively for participation in physical exercise/activities

Now, we all hear the excuses Triathlons and Marathon entries are so expensive. Gym Memberships and fitness equipment are expensive. Well guess What..with the PHIT Act YOU now have a chance to stop making excuses and start taking steps towards a healthy life style.

America, Get off the couch, drop the dumb excuses and get PHIT! Reach out to your local leaders and have them help pass the PHIT Act.

To our leaders in Washington, What are you doing to help America get PHIT?

 

Long Weekends are for… #ConfessionsofanAthlete

I just love long weekends. It’s a great time to take a break from the hustle and relax. In my case I relaxed by getting in some good quality time at the gym.  Here’s a quick recap of my long weekend:

Saturday kicked off with a 10 mile bike ride followed up by 6.65 mile run in honor of Meg Cross Menzies. Meg was tragically killed by a drunk driver and runners and non runners from across the country dedicated their run/walk/bike to Meg’s memory and family.

Sunday, was a bit crazy.  My legs were dying from Saturday’s training session but I got back out there for 7.1 miles at a comfy and consistent 7:30ish pace.  I was so tired but some how I kept going. I’m crediting my biking for having more endurance. My legs feel tired but have not had that led feeling yet.  Hmm..I wonder?

I followed up my running with some strength training. Here’s where things get crazy…. My bodybuilding friends are always giving me grief for my skinny legs. So after some upper body stuff I threw down some squats. Shut those guys up by squating 4.5 times my body weight x 10 reps. 7 plates (45lb plate) on each side (initial lift started with 180lbs).

On Monday, my legs were fried.  I hit the treadmill for an easy 3.3 mile recovery run and then I hit the pool.  I swam a mile and took my time.  I have no idea how long it took me….honestly I don’t.  The focus was on form and getting in a full mile.  It was nice to chill and the water helped my body relax.

That was the weekend..hope ya’ll had a great three day weekend as well.

See ya on roads.

Surrender #Confessionsofanathlete

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Moments after crossing the finish line I realized I had failed. You work, and work and work. You put in a 100% and you still can’t get the results you want. To get through that next level..You need to go … Continue reading →

On Any Given Sunday… Confessions of a Runner… The Final Chapter

After crossing the finish line at the Chicago Marathon I’ve been reflecting on my journey and trying to organize a roller coaster of emotions/thoughts.  This post is not a traditional race recap, but more of a glimpse into my thoughts and emotions. I wish I could say it captures everything…but I’m sure I left a lot out. Regardless here’s the post:

I started my running career in 2010 and have been asked a simple question: Why do you run? Until Sunday afternoon I have struggled to find a proper answer.  There are many reasons, health benefits, freedom, time to de stress but none of these truly answered the question..until the final stretch of Chicago Marathon.

The journey to the finish line took 10 months and 13 days and during that time I trained like a beast.  I have pushed myself to go Further, Faster and Forever.  I have dealt with major let downs which impacted my spirit and made me question why the hell I’m doing this.  I have enjoyed the highs and finding out that I have so much potential.  I have learned to relax and enjoy the ride.  This latter point wasn’t something that I easily found, but man when I did…it made things a lot easier.

On Sunday morning I awoke with a sense of urgency.  For a moment I wasn’t myself I felt like I was floating.  When I arrived at Grant Park I was ready for battle.  I quickly dropped off my gear and began my pre-race ritual (wait in line for the bathroom while doing dynamic stretches, scope the crowd and a light warm up run).  I was probably one of the first runners who entered Corral B. When I entered I had the swagger of Apollo Creed, but the hunger of Rocky.  I kept staring down the road in front of me….this race was about me vs me.

All year my goal was to run a 3 hour and 15 minute marathon (The BQ time for my age group). In reality if I really wanted to run Boston in 2015 I needed to run faster than 3:15 to have a realistic shot.  So as I toed the line the plan was set I was going to run at a 3 hour and 10 minute marathon pace.  All year I have flirted with 3:10 the only question that was unanswered did I have the heart and mental strength to do it.  As soon as the horn went off I positioned myself behind the Nike 3:10 pacers.  I felt we were going slow…but this had more to do with the fact that I like to run really fast in the first couple of miles.  Holding it back and running even splits is something I am not good at. LOL.  But as the race unfolded I was right there running a solid 3:10. At the half way mark I had achieved a personal best; I ran a 1:34:35 half.  The crazy thing, I didn’t feel I was running as fast.  But man was I flying.  I felt comfy and I kept telling myself “Wow dude you belong..you can do this.”

Somewhere between mile 16 and 17 there was an aide station.  The aide stations are pretty crowded and my pace group had no intention on stopping or slowing down.  We flew in and out. But with the traffic and slippery road..I tweaked my left ankle.  I felt ok for the next couple of miles but by the time I got to mile 20 I was hurting. My ankle was screaming and my form was breaking.  I started doing the math and knew I would be close to my goal time. But I didn’t think I could hold the 3:10 pace.  So I made the decision to stay as close as possible.  If I was close..I would  chase the pacers and they would help me get to the finish.  By mile 22 the wheels began to fall off. My hip flexors were on fire. My ankle was killing me and I was having difficulty getting power off my left foot as I took a step.  As my form broke and the pain intensified I started to think “Oh No..not again. Dude you have come so far…” Then somewhere around mile 23 I saw Lorna (Lorna is a local Chicago runner who is simply amazing.  She ran Boston this year and has been such a great support during my journey).  As I made a right turn I was ready to quit. I had nothing left and the body was done.  But Lorna somehow found me and when we made eye contact..she simply gave me a smile and a nod.  The gesture is something I’ve seen before during our fun runs.  On this day it said…IT’S OK..GO FOR IT!

Now the race was no longer about 26.2 miles, but a quick 3.2 mile run.  My plan was to make it to Michigan and go for it. It was really balls to the wall…just get to the finish line strategy.  Man was 3.2 miles the longest and most painful thing I’ve done all year.  My arms were pumping, my mind was screaming my mantra’s and I tried with all my will to propel forward.  The pain was overwhelming.  I really wanted to quit…but I knew I had 2.2 miles to go.  Along the way I heard a couple of cheers..people actually screamed my full name.  That was so cool!!! Plus it gave me a huge boost of confidence.  As I got to the final 1.2 miles I could see Roosevelt. I knew I had nothing left.  Yet I wasn’t freaked out. I started to ask myself what would Emz do…she ran 108.88 miles in 24 hours on a treadmill. Dude you are 800 meters away. Emz would tell you get moving. So as I made a right turn onto Roosevelt I let it all go. I used whatever gas, energy, and effort I had left on that damn bridge.  I felt like a turtle and by the time I made my last turn..I knew what I had just accomplished.  I ran as hard as I could towards the finish line.  For the first time in my life I actually threw my hands up and flashed three fingers. I went Further, Faster and I will forever know the answer to my question.

My goal was to qualify for Boston. I finished in 3 hours, 15 minutes and 48 seconds.  I missed my BQ by :48 seconds.  Yes I was disappointed.  But, as I made my last turn and sprinted for the finish line I said I knew what I had just accomplished.  In 3 hours, 15 minutes and 48 seconds I ran to be Extraordinary.

This post is not intended to brag about my time nor to ask for pity. This post is for all you Average Joe Athletes asking yourself a similar question(s).  Whatever your sport and/or dream you have to dedicate yourself to the journey.  For in the journey is where you will find your answers and have the opportunity to learn who you really are.

A special shout out to my family for allowing me to chase my dreams for the last four years.

A humble THANK YOU to my Further Faster Forever teammates who have been so supportive during this journey. You made me feel like an Elite and words can not express how grateful I am for your support.

Emz, Shannon, Shawn, Heather, Daniela, Lorna and David G. Thank You for the wise words, your positive spirit and support during some tough moments.

What’s next?  :48 seconds…………

Health and Wellness: National Run @ Work Day

Via Road Runners Club of America:

On September 20, 2013 the Road Runners Club of America will promote the 8th Annual RUN@WORK Day and the 2nd Annual RUN@School Day, nationwide fitness efforts.

The goal of RUN@WORKDay and RUN@School Day is to encourage adults and children to get 30-minutes of exercise each day, in accordance with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, either before work/school, during lunch, or immediately following work/school. RUN@WORK Day also encourages companies to help employees schedule time for physical activity.

Incorporating exercise into one’s daily routine can markedly improve one’s overall physical health. As a Human Resource professional, athlete and health advocate I encourage you to lace them up. Take care of your body, mind and spirit and your body will reward you tenfold.

What are you doing to improve your health?

Run at Work/School Day Planning Kits

National Run at Work Day Fact Sheet

#f3 #fitness #furtherfasterforever #runemz #iamikuna #themermaidclub #youngtri #runaholics #runchat #runnerds #hr #wellness #health #itsourturn #repost #badassbananas

Road ID takes safety to the next level..Road ID App

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Attention all athletes, Road ID has launched its new Road ID Application which allows your friends and family to track your running, cycling, hiking, walking and basically any outdoor adventures in real time. The Road ID App has some amazing … Continue reading →

Summer Vacation and Some Soul Searching

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Hi everyone…I’m back from my social media vacation… 🙂 Social Media Vacation? Yes, yes I took a break from a few social media platforms. I was burnt out from blogging, vlogging and everyday life. I just needed a break and … Continue reading →

Winning is a Habit

The sun is shining and the temperatures are starting to warm up.  Our moods and focus turn to our athletic seasons and the work that lies ahead.  How bad do you want your goals?

Video Credit: Mr. Michael Kruschhausen via Youtube

Social Media and Extraordinary Athletes

The following post is a follow up to Yesterday’s Runners and Cyclist Unite for a fellow Athlete Fundraiser Challenge.

On Thursday evening fellow Athletes EMZ Eliason and McG_Christopher challenged the Athletic community. The simple challenge, hit the “Like” button on RunEmz’s photo on Instagram between 5pm-9:44pm CDT (See below).

For every “Like” a .44 cent donation would be made to Aaron Edge.  Who’s Aaron Edge?  Aaron Edge is the Co-Founder of the Further Faster Forever Logo and in January 2013 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Not only has Aaron had to come to terms with his diagnosis he is also facing mounting medical bills from his treatment.  The following link is a special interview between the F3 Staff and Aaron Edge.

During Aaron’s darkest moments, when he was consumed by depression and thoughts of suicide, a community of Athletes from all around the globe became one of two bright stars in Aaron’s life.  The second star, and undisputedly the most important star, is Aaron’s wife.  Collectively, this global community of Athletes has not only provided much needed moral support but they are going one step further by fundraising to help the Edge family with their medical bills.

On Thursday night two Extraordinary Athletes put out one simple request and within hours it went viral.The request was simply to hit the “Like” button on RunEmz’s photo on Instagram.  Athletes of all abilities, shapes and sizes are now united to fundraise for Aaron.

In addition to the fundraising, RunEmz and McG_Christopher have also agreed to run (Number of Likes divided by 44) and bike (Final Run mileage x4) in miles the number of “Likes” generated on Instagram.  At 4:44am this morning RunEmz set off to run 35.77 miles in 4 hours and 44 minutes on her Treadmill.  Christopher, biked 144 miles in about 8 hours and 35 minutes on his Trainer in the late hours of Friday night into Saturday morning..

For those that have run on a treadmill or biked on a trainer you know how difficult just a couple of miles can be so just imagine Emz and Christopher as they are going well beyond.  They are twoExtraordinary Athletes, who  with the support of the F3 Community, are raising the bar to help a fellow Athlete in a time of need.

My friends, in this day in age with all the various sports scandals and fallen heroes (Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, etc) RunEmz and McG_Christopher are extraordinary role models. They are simply athletes willing to use their special gifts to give back to strangers, to empower, and show us that all is possible even when it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Do you want to be an Extraordinary Role Model? Then here’s a way to help Aaron Edge. For a limited time Further Faster Forever is selling a Limited Edition “When Life Deals you a Bad Hand” T Shirt. 100% of the profits from the sales will be given to Aaron Edge’s fight against Multiple Sclerosis and the mounting medical bills.  Please consider a donation.

Thank You!

C4 Athletics

Lacking Motivation? Then Challenge yourself…is it in you?

I hear a lot of people complaining about not being motivated. Everywhere you go, you see people trying to get motivated to do something.  Trying to make a change.  Trying to get on the right track.  People will read motivational books and/or attend conferences or tweetups and come away feeling “Motivated.” But motivation is fleeting.  The answer to dealing with  motivational blues is having Discipline.

For me Discipline is Consistent, Habitual and Rare.  Discipline is hard work.  It takes planning and patience to achieve short, medium and long term goals.  It’s something that we have to consistently work at and with this consistent dedication we are able to see the fruit of our labor.

To avoid motivation blues I find fun ways that challenge my competitive spirt. Things that allow me to me to create a plan for short, medium and long term goals. For example, in March I’m joining the Further Faster Forever Badge Challenge sponsored by Road ID. The Further Faster Forever Badge Challenge combines social media with your everyday fitness routines.

This is how it works:  The Challenge runs between March 1-17th. There are a number of badges that can be earned for a single fitness achievement or in combination with another challenge.  For example you can earn the Run EMZ Badge by running 10+ miles on a treadmill. Once you complete the challenge, email, tweet or post your achievement on the various F3 social media platforms.  Then upload your badge onto your face book, Tweet and/or blog and brag about your accomplishment(s). The Challenge is about pushing yourself to the next level, so pick a badge or five and get after it. Plus those who earn the most badges are eligible for some cool prizes.  Be sure to check out the F3 website for all the rules, instructions, and prize info.

So are you feeling motivated? Well show me…stop making excuses and start taking action.  Check out the Further Faster Forever Badge Challenge sponsored by Road ID and make your work out count.

I’m eyeing a few badges..how about you? Drop me a note and let me know which badges your aiming for.