I Love My Sweats (aka: My Fat Pants)

By: Susan Farago

Fat pants - old and new.

Like many SweatyShes, I have spent a lot of money over the years on workout clothes. Fabrics that promise to be high tech, anti-chafing, super warm, fashionable, moisture wicking, slightly compressing, color coordinated, etc. etc. But at the end of a hard workout or just a long day, I always reach for my good old fashioned, soft, reliable, somewhat threadbare, sweat pants. I also refer to them as my "fat pants" because a) I don't have to suck anything in and b) they are nice and baggy. I didn't think much about the fashion statement (or lack thereof) that my choice in apparel was emitting at home until I had this conversation with my husband Leary:

 

Me: I'm going to hop in the shower and then put on my comfy fat pants.

Leary: (without even hesitating) Oh you mean your pink sweats?

Me: How did you know that's what I was talking about.

Leary: (Sensing a trap comparable to, "Does this make my butt look big?, he paused.) Um...I was just guessing.

Me: That was close. You almost got into trouble.

Leary: (huge internal sigh of relief)

 

Truth be told I'm OK with my sweats being known as my fat pants. After all, they aren't exactly slimming. I only wear them around the house, with the exception of one time involving a late night Christmas cookie exchange in a Walgreen's parking lot with my friend Kelly H. And while I'm sure my husband would prefer me to lounge around like a Victoria's Secret model,  it's just not going to happen. The last time I visited a VS store I got into an argument with the sales lady because I asked her to show me a bra that I could wear while playing volleyball AND have my boobs actually remain in the bra. I am all about function and compression when it comes to bras, and my logic was that if a VS bra could do that, then it could withstand the rigors of my day. The argument arose because clearly this woman has never played volleyball, or her version of volleyball is to stand perfectly still, arms down, and not move...ever.

 

I recently realized that my pink fat pants were looking a bit old and tired and might need to be replaced. A couple of weeks ago while we were on vacation in New Mexico, right there in CB Fox's department store, I found a whole rack of Russell Athletic sweat tops and bottoms. SCORE! I told my husband I was going to get some new bottoms and he said, "Please don't." I said, "Oh come on. You can even pick out the color!" and I proceeded to hold up luxuriously thick, fuzzy pants in beautiful shades of heather gray, hunter green, navy, and basic black. He shook his head and walked to the other side of the men's department. "Fine!" I yelled across several racks, "You had your chance!" I opted for the heather gray, thinking the color would match many other things I wear around the house, like Leary's v-neck white Hanes t-shirts for instance.

 

I walked up to the register to pay for my sweats and Leary said, "Don't you want to look in the women's department for sweats?" "Women don't wear sweats", I responded. It's moments like this when I wonder if he questions his choice in marital life partner.

 

Later that day we went for a long trail run in the Jemez Mountains. That evening as I stepped out of the shower, I reached for my new sweats. They felt HEAVENLY! I walked into the kitchen and modeled them for Leary. My #2 fat pants. Leary just smiled and handed me a glass of wine and I said, "Just like home."
 

 

Lance Used Spin Classes

By: Susan Farago

Lance a-la spin class style!

I recently purchased the World Cycling 1999-2006 Tour de France DVD Collection. Over 30 hours of awesome cycling complete with all that Lance brought to the tours during his 7 year reign. Love him or hate him, you have to admit he added a certain level of excitement to the tour.

I just finished watching the 2001 Alpe d'Huez stage where Lance "opened up his suitcase of courage" and "stomped his authority all over this race" (gotta love Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett - the ONLY commentators who have the right to cover this race). And while I watched Lance pull away from his closest competitors on the epic mountain stages, I had an epiphany. Doping aside, I realized what must have been the key to his success. Spin classes.

Out of the saddle!

I'm not talking about spin classes taught by cyclists. I'm talking about the crazy, jumping in and out of your seat, riding no hands, singing to the music (I'm not kidding), aerobics instructors who teach "aerobics on a bike". Up until now I always poo-pooed these classes. Call me a conventional cyclist, but I don't ride completely vertical out of the saddle, with my fingertips barely touching the bars, while stretching my neck. But after watching Lance zip up these mountain passages, out of the saddle with his super high cadence, I got to thinking there might just be something to all that "out of the saddle" riding.

So I went to a spin class taught by an instructor (let's call him Doug) who absolutely drove me crazy, and I vowed never to return. Keeping an open mind, I sat...or rather stood...through Doug's 50 minutes of ubber enthusiastic instruction and I channeled Lance. I envisioned Marco Pantani or Jan Ullrich behind me in a massive mountain chase as I tried to make the "elastic snap". I stomped on those pedals with a super high cadence and I felt my heart rate soar through the roof and my calves burn. At the end of the class when we finally got to sit down, I felt a different sort of success. While I'm pretty sure I didn't use my quad or glute muscles at all (thanks to the help of my body weight mashing down on the pedals) I did feel one step closer to Lance...minus the doping.

*Photos courtesy Google images search (2013).

Let a Girl Eat!

By: Susan Farago



Bowls of Chili: Mine versus His.
And yes the glass of red wine is mine too.

I have always been a "fan of food" and eating has never been much of an issue other than I like to do it...a lot! As a child I snacked all the time, whether it was Mom's fresh baked brownies after school or something straight from the garden - dirt particles and all. Boys who asked me on dates quickly found out that I was not the typical, "I'll have a salad and a glass of water" type of gal. And when my husband and I were first dating in college, he introduced me to the concept of having dessert after each meal. I knew at that moment we were meant to be! (That plus he knew how to fix cars.)

Thankfully a combination of being exemely active and somewhat decent genes has kept me from weighing a bazillion pounds. At 43 years old, I still weigh less than when I was in college (I'm 5'9" and 140 lbs). However, recently I've had a few food encounters that have reminded me of what a healthy eater I am. But I've held my own against sideways looks, judgement, and comments:

Female Server Person at La Madeline Bakery:
Me: I'd like some scrambled eggs, a bowl of soup, and a baguette.
Her: OK.
My Husband: I'd also like some scrambled eggs but no baguette.
Me (to Her): I'll have his baguette.
Her: You want TWO baguettes? (Voice and eyebrows raised simultaneously to emphasize "two".)
Me: Don't judge me!
Her: Um..I didn't mean to...um...OK. Two baguettes.

Bagel Maker Dude at Einsteins:
Me: I'd like two honey bagels with honey walnut creme cheese.
Him: You want TWO bagels? For just you? (Same tone and eyebrows as La Madeline server.)
Me: Yes. Two bagels. I am hungry. Is there an issue?
Him: (clears throat) No ma'am. No issue.

Waiter at Maudie's TexMex Restaurant:
Him: OK, who ordered the fish taco platter.
Me: I did.
Him: Wow. Are you going to eat all of that yourself?
Me: Um, YEAH (as in, "Uh...DUH!).
Him: That's a lot of food.
Me: What are you saying?
Him: Um, nothing. Enjoy!

Dad and I
Official "Consumers" of Mom's cooking.

My husband has made his fair share of comments that would have likely gotten him killed had he been married to any other female. Comments have ranged from food-specific, "Wow, are you going to eat ALL of that?" to clothing specific, "These spandex shorts were in my drawer and they are tight on me so they must be yours." Yes. He is still alive. But then again, this is the same man who, on our second date, looked longingly into my eyes and while holding my hand said, "You know, you're the biggest girl I've ever dated." I think he meant tallest.

I have a feeling that age and metabolism will tell me when I have to start shifting the volume and content of what I eat. I can already tell that a week of Mom's wonderfully delicious cooking "sticks" a little longer than it used to and requires a few extra workouts to burn off. But as long as I am healthy, my weight is consistent, and my cholesterol is in check, then look out world -- LET A GIRL EAT!

SweatyShe Monday: Glory Days

By: Susan Farago

While I was standing in my chiropractor's office this morning waiting to check out, I was looking at his "wall of fame" - all the people he has treated over the years. There are some very accomplished athletes including pro cyclists, Olympic champions, football players, weight lifters...you get the idea. As my eyes were scanning the wall, I saw a photo of a cheerleader in a shiny sparkly outfit with a big smile on her face. Written on the photo in black pen, it said:

Thank you so much for all your help. You're the best! Christa (In my glory days)

In my glory days?!?

I stood there thinking about this statement over and over. And it made me sad. How does she know those were her glory days? Maybe the best is yet to come? But it seems she's already thrown in the towel and just knows that from here on out, things are going to get progressively worse.

Ye gads how depressing!

I will never utter the words, "In my glory days" because I live too much in the future - planning the next great adventure or anticipating the next whirlwind event. In fact my biggest challenge is being in the moment and enjoying what is happening NOW. I even bought a book to help me with this called "The Presence Process" which turned out to be 180 pages of telling me to breathe. My desire to live in the now appreciated this approach - my patience did not.

Sometimes my future thinking is merely hours ahead. I have caught myself wondering what to eat for dinner as I'm walking down to the swim start of an Ironman - as if I've mentally breezed through the gruelling hours that lay ahead. Even as I type this post, I've already done today's swim workout, put mulch in all my gardens, and I've showered and am now sitting on the couch. And this future self is probably imagining my future-future self already in Minnesota visiting family over Christmas. Now I know why my husband says it's hard to keep up with me. I can't even keep up with myself!

My mom once told me that people are generally lumped into three categories: people who live in the past, people who are firmly grounded in the present, and those of us who dream of the future.

Maybe Christa lives in the past. If so, I hope she has more glory days.

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Need a way to jump start your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

SweatyShe Monday: Good Books and Train Wrecks

By: Susan Farago

Combining my love of reading with epic tales of adventure and sport is like Saturday morning coffee and scones – the two just go together! Below are some of my recent reads – some good, some not so much.

“Ultra Marathon Man – Confessions of an All-Night Runner” by Dean Karnazes
I just finished reading this book and quite frankly, I wish Dean would have kept his confessions to himself. The book was about how Dean got into ultra running and some of his epic runs including Badwater, the South Pole Marathon, and a 199 mile relay run he did solo. I have met Dean on two occasions and he is an extremely nice and humble guy so I really thought this book would have the same vibe as the man. Not so much. Actually, not at all. With comments like, “I really slowed down and could only hold a 7:30 minute mile pace”, or “My resting heart rate hovered in the 30’s, about the same as Lance Armstrong”, or “I don’t know Sports Illustrated Women’s ‘Sexiest Men in Sports’ issue got my name”, I felt myself rolling my eyes more and more as the stories unfolded. I’ve been told his other two books are better. I hope so!

"The Immortal Class - Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power" by Travis Hugh Culley
Ever wonder what it would be like to have the bike skills to zip through traffic, bunny hop over curbs and stairs, and survive seeing your life flash before your eyes on a daily basis? This book is a great account of the crazy, scary, back alley world of bike messengers in downtown Chicago and takes a philosophical look at power, wealth, and the value of human life. Truth be told, I wanted to become a bike messenger after reading this!

"The Extra Mile" by Pam Reed
This book had the potential to tell a great story but either the author is just a bad writer and/or seems to be pretty angry in general (or at least at the time when she wrote the book). Between her train wreck relationships, her kids ”getting in the way” of her training, and her battle with eating disorders, the entire book is just exhausting. If you can wade through the quagmire that is her life, it's worth reading to find out about ultra events such as  the Badwater Ultra Marathon. I gave a copy of this book to two friends before I read it. I have now been banned from giving them any more books. (Sorry Richelle and Michelle!)

"Swimming to Antarctica" by Lynne Cox
Hands down by far my favorite sports-related book because it's inspirational without trying to be. Lynne Cox got her first taste of cold water swimming when she was in the local swimming pool and it started to snow on her. She grew into an amazing ultra distance swimmer and she recounts all her swims including her first swim from Catalina Island to California, English Channel, Baring Straights, and finally Antarctica. Two images from her stories stick in my mind: her hand punching through a rotting dog carcass while she swam the Nile, and her chopping pan ice with her forearm during her near freezing swims. Whether or not you are a swimmer, these extremely crazy and jaw-dropping stories will make you want to go out into the world and do something amazing! She is a straight forward writer and provides enough detail to make the stories interesting. I am probably responsible for the spike in her book sales at one point because I have purchased at least 10 copies of this book for friends. However I have no desire to swim the English Channel - it's too cold!

Go.Do.Be.

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Need a way to jump start your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

 

SweatyShe Monday: The Vitamix Cult

By: Susan Farago

Papa Bernard - the original Vitamix salesman

I was recently in the Whole Foods produce department when my eye spied a big display of fruits, veggies, cookbooks on juicing, and boxes and boxes of THE WORLDS GREATEST juicer/blender/mixer/slicer/dicer -- The Vitamix. As my brain was reeling from the possibilities of a juice-based existence, I made eye contact with a guy who was standing in and on this display. His name was Jason and he was the pitch man. So I marched right up to him and said, "OK, convince me." He smiled and said, "With pleasure."

For the next 5 minutes my husband Leary and I got a steady stream of information about what the Vitamix does, how juicing benefits everyone's life, that children are overweight because of how much processed juice they drink because all the fiber has been stripped out, how people don't get enough fiber to begin with, and then he whipped up a chocolate almond frappa-something for us to sample (which also had cabbage, avocado, and carrot - but who would know?!)

Then I  asked the magic question, "How much?"
$450 for the plain version and $499 for stainless. This was quite the departure from my little $90 Black and Decker blender from Target which would have completely blown up by this point in the demo. Then as if to read my mind, Jason launched into something that sounded similar to the recent presidential debates on foreign policy. "The Vitamix is all American made in Cleveland, Ohio and has been since 1921. It comes with an eight year warranty and if you need anything fixed, they will pay for shipping and it will be sent to a facility here in the United States. No Chinese parts or labor here!" Sir you have my vote. Then I said, "OK, now convince him" and I pointed to my husband who missed the good old "Made in America" speech because his brain was still trying to register $450.

The newest addition to our family!

At this point people were starting to gather around us and Jason sensed his moment. A customer had just walked by and told the group, as if on cue, "I have a Vitamix and I LOVE IT!" With that, Jason and the Vitamix machine went into overdrive. Before we knew it, we were being treated to tortilla soup, mocha chocolate frappachino, berry smoothie, and chocolate ice cream (again, with cabbage and avocado - and the first time I've ever seen Leary voluntarily eat anything with avocado). Jason looked over to an older woman standing to his left. He said, "You're a Vitamix owner aren't you." She said, "Yes! How did you know?" He said, "I could tell. There's a certain arrogance and pride that owners have when they stand and watch my demos. You have that." Wow. He's good.

By now two people had a Vitamix blender box in hand. They were sold! I looked at Leary and he knew what was coming. I said, "OK, if I cash in Christmas, my birthday, and a few anniversaries, can we get one?" I think I saw a tiny tear form in his eye as the thought of parting with $450 was more painful than a root canal. Then I said, "Wait. I have to test something first." So I turned to Jason and said, "Will it make almond butter?" "Yes it will", he said. "OK, prove it." I ran to the bulk foods section and bought about a pound of raw, unsalted almonds. I returned a few minutes later and handed him the bag. "Go for it."

He poured the almonds into the machine and flipped it on high. The almonds went from crumbs, to meal, to flour, and then slowly...slowly...to almond butter. He was jamming the spatula into the machine to push down the almonds and at one point Leary and I looked at each other - we smelled the heat from the motor! But the Vitamix and Jason kept at it. After about 4 minutes, voila - almond butter. Without consulting Leary on his final decision, I walked over to the display, picked up a red Vitamix blender, and plopped it into the cart.

I spent the next 15 minutes running around the produce department like a woman posessed - looking for anything and everything I could juice! I ran back over to Jason with more questions: Could I juice beets? What happens if a pit gets stuck? Can I grind dried beans or seeds? Always the same answer, "No problem. No problem."

My Vitamix machine is in its new home and ready to juice away. I am very hard on kitchen equipment but something tells me the Vitamix is up to the challenge. I look forward to a very long, happy, American made relationship.

Go.Do.Be.

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Need a way to jump start your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

SweatyShe Monday: Ode to Wandering Nipple Tape

Wandering Nipple Tape

By: Susan Farago

There once was a man named Leary
Who was a runner quite cheery
His nipples he did tape
To prevent the almighty chafe
But finding tape everywhere was quite a query

_______________________________________
I dedicate this ode to my husband, Leary. He is a very precautious athlete, carefully applying body glide so he won't rub in the wrong places, wearing toe socks for extra comfort, and he also tapes his nipples to prevent chafing from his shirt when he runs. I can understand this last measure of protection as there is NOTHING worse than seeing a guy running with two wet red spots soaked through his shirt. OUCH!

But what I CANNOT figure out for the life of me is how Leary's nipple tape ends up everywhere else after he's used it. I'm not exaggerating here. I've found pieces of tape on the inside edge of my sock drawer, stuck to the center console in the car, on our bedspread, on the entryway floor, in a milk glass in the kitchen sink, and adhered to my swim goggles hanging in the bathroom shower. But the latest place took the cake. I opened the pantry door to get a gel flask before a run and lo and behold, there it was. That little white fuzzy piece of tape staring back at me while stuck to the flask itself.

I finally confronted Leary about his crazy, wandering nipple tape and he instantly blushed red. (Those of you who know Leary can imagine his embarrassment despite the fact that we've been married for over 20 years.) I'm not mad. I'm just amazed! It's like an ongoing game of "Where's Waldo" and I never know where or when a piece of nipple tape is going to appear out of nowhere and say SURPRISE! I can only imagine how many rogue pieces are hiding in the house as we speak. Maybe I should go check the cat just to be sure.

I would much rather deal with rogue nipple tape than have Leary suffer the consequence of bloody nipples. But if this continues, maybe I can persuade him to wear a bra instead? Yeah, probably not.

Go.Do.Be.


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Need a way to jump start your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

SweatyShe Monday: Plant Power for Endurance Athletes

By: Susan Farago

Being a card carrying member of the Austin Herb Society for many years, I have always believed in the power of plants. Sore throat? Add some monarda leaves to tea -- the thymol agent in the leaves has very good anti-bacteria properties. Flying somewhere? Take along a little tea tree oil and put a few drops under your nostrils to help capture those nasty "who knows what" germs flying around in the cabin. So why not use plants in our sports?

Here are my top five favorite medicinals that help keep me going workout after workout:

1. Oil of Oregano

My number one "go to" is Oil of Oregano. Taken in caplet form, these little babies pack one heck of a whalloping boost to the immune system -- like little mini anti-bacteria bombs. Why is this important? The immune system is one of the areas most impacted by long and/or intense workouts and when the immune system is compromised, an otherwise benign bug can turn into a full blown cold or flu. I only take half the recommended dose (1 capsule) and that's enough on a daily basis. The capsules should smell like an Italian restaurant when you open the lid. No smell? The oils have lost their volatility. Return it for your money back or opt for another brand (I have good luck with Gaia Herbs).

2. Floradix Iron Supplement

While iron is not a plant, the elemental iron in Floradix is supplemented with plants such as nettle wort, quitch roots, spinach, angelica roots, fennel, and african mallow blossom which aid in the body's absorption of iron. Iron is a mineral found in the body that transports oxygen to blood cells (2/3 of iron in the body is found in the blood). Low iron can cause severe fatigue and body weakness. This is NOT helpful when you are trying to do hill repeats or a track workout! Additionally, women are more likely to suffer from anemia and low blood iron due to menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. If you're not sure where your iron levels are at, a lab or your doctor can run an iron test.

3. Peppermint
When I go on a long run, my stomach usually gets to the point where it does NOT want another *^@#% gel. It only wants one thing - peppermint. My not-exactly-from-mother-nature source comes in the form of Clif brand Luna Bar, Chocolate Peppermint Stick flavor. Peppermint is known to soothe the stomach and aid in digestion. If you don't want to carry around springs of peppermint to chew on, other portable sources of peppermint include: Altoid Curiously Strong Peppermints and even the old fashioned red and white striped peppermints. A side benefit: eating a peppermint after a salt water swim helps clear out the mouth and gets rid of any salt burns on the tongue.  

4. Eleuthero Root

Eleuthero Root (ER) is known as Siberian Ginseng - even though it is not a true ginseng according to the U.S. Ginseng Labeling Act of 2002. Cited benefits include the prevention of adrenal burnout cause by ongoing physical/mental stress, boosts concentration and focus, boosts immunity. There are also many documents citing enhanced athletic performance and it was used extensively by Olympic athletes in the former Soviet Union. This alone would make me NOT want to use it but I was reassured by a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic master herbalist that for my overactive lifestyle, ER would definitely help my immune system. I ordered a one pound bag of this stuff from mountainroseherbs.com and when it came, I was staring at what looked like a plastic bag of straw. I make a tea out of it and now drink it fairly regularly. It tastes like it looks (like straw) but it's a nice alternative to tea or water and helps me stay hydrated throughout the day.

5. Holy Basil

Holy basil (HB) has become my husband's best friend. One of the key benefits of HB is to calm the nerves and provide balance, harmony, and to even out the high and low swings in mood and energy levels (think anti-depressant on a mental and physical level). I started taking HB capsules a few years ago and after about three months, I felt more physically balanced and mentally steady and focused. So when I stopped taking it, my husband got nervous. And every now and then the bottle of HB mysteriously reappears on our kitchen counter top - a hint that maybe I should start taking it again. HB also comes in tea form (called Tulsi) and my favorite brand is Organic India. It is not a true "tea", which only comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant, so it doesn't have caffeine. And on a related note, historical texts indicate it is used to treat snakebites and scorpion stings so maybe I should start carrying HB when I trail run!   

Plants provide unlimited resources for us when it comes to our health and are frequently a better alternative to laboratory-made pills and concoctions. Do I feel overly energized and ready to conquer the world when I take these supplements? No. But I can certainly tell when I DON'T take them.  

As with many plants and herbals, they do not magically work overnight and must be taken in steady doses over time to receive the full benefit. If you are taking any medication, check with your doctor first before embarking on any herbal/plant supplementation (for example, the Eleuthero Root may cause problems for people with high blood pressure). We already use the Earth as our playground for our sports, why not use the plants as well?    

 Go.Do.Be.

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Need a way to jump start your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

SweatyShe Monday: Bikram Yoga and Beer

Danny and I in Corpus Christi

By: Susan Farago

I blame my friend Danny for this and he knows it. When I curse him for it he just smiles and says that it’s good for me. I’m referring to having a nice cold beer after a really, really hard workout.

It started a few years ago when Danny and I, along with a group of eight other people, ran the Capital to Coast relay -- 223 miles of running starting in Austin and finishing on the beach in Corpus Christi. It took us two days of non-stop running relay-style and by the time we got to Corpus, we were very tired but very excited to have finished the race. They offered free beer at the finish line and Danny handed me a glass before I could even refuse . I have never been a beer drinker and on the rare occasion I would indulge, I would order a beer based on color, not on name (“I’ll have a medium colored beer, please.”) But Capital to Coast was cause for celebration and after the team toasted our achievement, I have to say that medium colored beer tasted AWESOME!

Bikram beer of choice



After that something clicked in my system: hard sweaty workout = beer craving. I am able to resist the urge most of the time. And then I started taking Bikram yoga last week.

If you are not familiar with Bikram, it goes like this: Walk into a yoga studio where the thermostat is cranked up to 108 and the room smells like a combination of hay, melted yoga mat rubber, and sweaty feet. Then take off as much clothing as possible and get ready to sweat like never before. Proceed to stay in this room for 90 minutes as you are verbally guided through a series of 26 postures, each one done twice. I sweated through two beach towels and five bandanas during my first class. And as we laid there “cooling down”, my mind drifted to one thing. Ice cold fizzy medium colored beer.

I got home and cracked a Victoria - what has since become my beer of choice - and it tasted fantastic! Then I realized I was probably defeating the benefits of Bikram detoxification with Victoria intoxication. But my liver was just going to have to get over it.

I have taken two more Bikram classes since then and each one is followed by a beer chaser (and a small cursing at Danny for even starting this whole habit). The beer chaser cravings are coming earlier and earlier in the workout and I now find myself thinking about the beer reward even before class begins. I have two more Bikram sessions scheduled for this week. They would probably frown if I rolled a cooler into the yoga studio and cracked a cold one before the workout. So I’ll just have to get through the 90 minutes and look forward to my post-workout rehydration fix.
Go.Do.Be.

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Need a way to jumpstart your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

SweatyShe Monday: Swollen Leg and Eternal Optimist - The 2013 Race List

Susan is very excited (and a little scared)
about her 2013 racing schedule!

By: Susan Farago

Sunday was a rainy day and I was having a hard time getting motivated to finish some work-related projects. I glanced over at my "race pile" - an ongoing, never ending stack of papers, postcards, brochures, and magazine tear-outs that contain various bits of information about events that I think would be fun to do. There are trail running races, standup paddleboard events, mountain bike adventures, long distance bike races...some event you can do with your dog (I don't have a dog but I have a very accomodating cat). So I decide that now's the perfect time to draft up my 2013 race calendar.

I haven't been training much lately since the hematoma on my calf is still swollen and very visible thanks to a mountain bike race crash over three weeks ago! Not to mention that the rest of me is also feeling very swollen (more like bloated) since "that time of the month" just hit and I feel about as fit and in shape as an Umpa-loompa from Willie Wonka. My body may be bloated and hematoma'ed but my mind is ready to train!

I start out with my ultimate wish list - which means I am independently super wealthy and I have all the time in the world to do nothing but train and race. Oh, and I also enter into a somewhat delusional state and imagine myself being in a super fit, super "lean and mean" shape (which means I'm about 8-10 pounds lighter than my current weight and I could keep up with Lance Armstrong on my bike or Dean Karnazes trail running on Austin's greenbelt). So taking all this into consideration, this is what 2013 looks like:

January - Big Bend 50K Trail Run
February - Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Run
March - RAAM Challenge 200 Mile Bike Race (solo)
May - Jemes Mountains 50 Mile Trail Run
July - California Death Ride Bike Ride
August - TransRockies 6 Day Trail Run
October - Furnace Creek 508 Bike Race (2 day)
December - Coyote Moon 100 Mile Trail Run

My philosophy with choosing races is that they should always give me an excited feeling in the pit of my stomach. The excitement can come from the venue itself or, more frequently, because the event scares me a little bit. I think it's good to get pushed out of my comfort zone when I start getting too "comfortable" (or lazy) with what I'm doing. Fortunately for me (or unfortunately for those around me), this usually means doing longer and longer events or going to some crazy part of the world. So as I sit back and look at my 2013 ultmate wish list, I get butterflies in my stomach. And those aren't the menstral cramps talking either.

If I proceed with even part of this list, 2013 will have several firsts - my first 100 mile trail race and my first solo 200 mile bike race. There come the butterflies again!

I'll sit on this list for a few days and then make my final selection, which will probably mean cutting the list down by half. If I'm serious about 2013 then there's no time to wait - training officially starts back up again on Monday (that's today)! Someone better tell that to my hematoma.

Go.Do.Be.

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Need a way to jumpstart your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

SweatyShe Monday: The Power of the Catalog

By: Susan Farago

Stylish Yoga!



If you're like many of my active female friends, you look forward to getting the latest fitness apparel catalogs in the mail like Title Nine, Athleta, and Terry Bicycle. My ritual goes like this: I make a cup of French pressed coffee and go sit outside on the back deck and turn each page with complete rapture and interest. I look with longing desire at what the women are doing, I wonder where they are going, or what crazy exciting adventures they are about to have. Then I visualize my friends and I taking the day off to go paddle boarding like the two women on page 3, or heading to the local farmer's market after a yoga class - our yoga mats fashionably in tow while we are wearing yoga-approved long dresses and flowing scarves...our hair just slightly tousled but still looking good.

Ahhh.



Then I go through the catalog again and actually look at the clothes - that cute flaired skirt or that fantastic pair of boots or the dress that can go from the bottom of the gym bag to dinner at a five star restaurant. After mentally spending $2700, I close the catalog and relish my happy place for just a few more minutes as I finish the last of  my coffee.



Fashionable Trail Running

Then I return to reality.

Truth is, I have never gone trail running wearing a fur hat with coordinated skirt and leggings. Or walked out into the middle of the woods and sat on top of a rock on the Hill of Life in Sukhasana (Easy Pose). I have never commuted via my road bike while wearing a dress, or walked down to Townlake carrying my standup paddle board while sporting a crocheted hoodie dress. But the catalogs give me hope that somehow, some day I can combine fashion AND function.

Sometimes the wardrobe/activity combination is so rediculous that I tear out the page and drop it in the mail to my friend Richelle with a note that says, "Why don't we look like this when we trail run?" But the last time I did that she went out and actually bought one of the entire outfits and wore it to our next trail run. Oh the power of the catalog!



Reality - mismatched, muddy gear...
 just the way we like it! (Bunny ears optional.)



As summer turns to fall and the weather finally gets cooler, I look forward to the next catalog and seeing what I "should" be wearing for my next outdoor adventure. Hey, a girl can dream!

Go.Do.Be.



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Need a way to jumpstart your week? SweatyShe Mondays are thoughts and humorous musings from the world of active Shes.

We Call Them "Visitors"

It's January and the health clubs are crazy full of people fulfilling (or attempting to fulfill) their New Years resolutions of "get healthy, lose weight". I was swimming this morning and the two women in the lane next to me were talking about how busy the pool was at 6:30am and that they actually had to wait to get a lane. One of the women said, "You know, I just can't wait until all these club visitors stop coming."

It seems to be true. The number of "club visitors" spikes every January and then by mid February, like a rollercoaster crashing down on it's last descent, the number of club patrons drops and "club regulars" no longer have to fight for pool space, equipment, or class passes. Faces once again become familiar and available lockers abound.

I'll admit I don't particularly like to wait for a pool lane and I think it's crazy to have to get to the club a full hour early so I can reserve a bike in a spin class. But at the same time, it's great to see people getting (or trying to get) in shape. And even if 99% of the visitors are gone by mid-February, it's still worth it if even 1% can acquire that healthy lifestyle many of us Shes take for granted. Remember we were all "visitors" at one time or another. Go.Do.Be. (SVF)

SweatyShe Monday (06/28/10): Five Things about RAAM

SweatyShe Monday (06/28/10): Five Things about RAAM
By Susan Farago
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We She's are game for just about anything. I recently returned from a work trip across the United States. When I say “across”, I mean Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland. And when I say “work trip”, I mean FUN! I was part of this year’s Race Across America media crew which means I was one of about 15 media folks who got to follow and cover cyclists who were racing their bikes across America.

I was partnered with two other media people – Rafiel the photographer and Ryan the video journalist. My job? I was “the writer”, responsible for posting headline updates to the RAAM website. We were supposed to have a driver but there were some last minute issues which left the three of us to fend for ourselves on the driving front. Make that two of us – Ryan doesn’t drive. So Rafiel and I tag teamed it.

There were solo riders and relay teams of two, four, and eight people plus their crews in RVs, vans, and cars. We left Oceanside on a Saturday afternoon immediately after the teams went across the start line. As the teams made their way across the first set of mountains in California and down into the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, were there taking photos, video, and writing -- all of our content then uploaded to the RAAM website to keep people who were following the race informed and up to date. This continued for eight days across 14 states and through 55 timing stations.

Five things struck me about this amazing adventure:

1. The United States is big.
I’m used to driving for 10 hours and still being in the state of Texas. But driving for eight days and never seeing the same roads twice? Yeah, that’s big. Each state was very distinct and sometimes the distinction was immediately evident at soon as we crossed the state border. Shout out to the people of Ohio – learn to use street signs to mark your roads, will ya?! Another shout out to West Virginia – in my eyes, you are no longer the “hill billy” mecca I thought you were. That honor goes to, yes that’s right, Ohio.

2. People are amazing.
As with any physical endurance event of epic proportions, we saw the FULL range of human emotion. From German crew members doing push ups and laughing while waiting for their rider to come through some small town in Indiana (they didn’t want to get fat from eating an “American diet”), to the former LAPD female officer who was paralyzed from the chest down being helped into her van by her husband after her 20 min ride segment was over. And special shout out to Team Summit who took every opportunity to invite us into their team RV and feed us lasagna, chocolate covered blueberries, and Hershey’s chocolates.

3. Van camping is a great ice breaker.
I didn’t know Ryan (from Boulder) and Rafiel (from Los Angeles) at the start of this trip. But let me tell you, sleeping with two perfect strangers in a van, in the middle of a hay field, in the middle of NOWHERE in Arizona makes for a great ice breaker. The second night we slept somewhere in Monument Valley and listened to the whizzing and whirring of cyclists passing us throughout the night. We woke up to fantastic views of towering orange, red rocks reaching up to the blue morning sky.

4. Don’t over think. Just do.
I’m all for planning and preparation, but sometimes it’s better to get out of my own way and just DO. In talking to some of the teams, I learned that some teams didn’t really train (nor were the riders really cyclists) but their goal was not to win, it was to come out and raise awareness for a certain disease (Friedrich’s Ataxia) or mission (Amy Xu and Team Strong Heart), or just to have a heck of a good time (Team Enjoy the Ride). They came, they saw, they pedaled, they raised awareness, they had a blast!

5. A picture is worth more than a thousand words.
I took a lot of pictures and video and with all the amazing things I saw and experienced, I don’t think anything quite sums up the feeling and attitude of RAAM as this does (see photo).

I plan to do RAAM in 2011 as part of a four-woman relay team. We are in the throes of planning and preparation and we plan to officially announce our beneficiary and start raising money soon. I plan to keep my list of five things (above) in mind throughout this journey. As for any type of tattoo? I don’t think so. But then again, never say never!

Details about my experience, including van camping and photos can be found on my blog at: http://susanstarstink.blogspot.com/


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Thoughts or comments? Share them here! Become a fan on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/sweatyshe.

SweatyShe Monday: Five Things about RAAM

By Susan Farago

We She's are game for just about anything. I recently returned from a work trip across the United States. When I say “across”, I mean Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland. And when I say “work trip”, I mean FUN! I was part of this year’s Race Across America media crew which means I was one of about 15 media folks who got to follow and cover cyclists who were racing their bikes across America.

I was partnered with two other media people – Rafiel the photographer and Ryan the video journalist. My job? I was “the writer”, responsible for posting headline updates to the RAAM website. We were supposed to have a driver but there were some last minute issues which left the three of us to fend for ourselves on the driving front. Make that two of us – Ryan doesn’t drive. So Rafiel and I tag teamed it.
There were solo riders and relay teams of two, four, and eight people plus their crews in RVs, vans, and cars. We left Oceanside on a Saturday afternoon immediately after the teams went across the start line. As the teams made their way across the first set of mountains in California and down into the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, were there taking photos, video, and writing -- all of our content then uploaded to the RAAM website to keep people who were following the race informed and up to date. This continued for eight days across 14 states and through 55 timing stations.
Five things struck me about this amazing adventure:

1. The United States is big.
I’m used to driving for 10 hours and still being in the state of Texas. But driving for eight days and never seeing the same roads twice? Yeah, that’s big. Each state was very distinct and sometimes the distinction was immediately evident at soon as we crossed the state border. Shout out to the people of Ohio – learn to use street signs to mark your roads, will ya?! Another shout out to West Virginia – in my eyes, you are no longer the “hill billy” mecca I thought you were. That honor goes to, yes that’s right, Ohio.

2. People are amazing.
As with any physical endurance event of epic proportions, we saw the FULL range of human emotion. From German crew members doing push ups and laughing while waiting for their rider to come through some small town in Indiana (they didn’t want to get fat from eating an “American diet”), to the former LAPD female officer who was paralyzed from the chest down being helped into her van by her husband after her 20 min ride segment was over. And special shout out to Team Summit who took every opportunity to invite us into their team RV and feed us lasagna, chocolate covered blueberries, and Hershey’s chocolates.

3. Van camping is a great ice breaker.
I didn’t know Ryan (from Boulder) and Rafiel (from Los Angeles) at the start of this trip. But let me tell you, sleeping with two perfect strangers in a van, in the middle of a hay field, in the middle of NOWHERE in Arizona makes for a great ice breaker. The second night we slept somewhere in Monument Valley and listened to the whizzing and whirring of cyclists passing us throughout the night. We woke up to fantastic views of towering orange, red rocks reaching up to the blue morning sky.
4. Don’t over think. Just do.
I’m all for planning and preparation, but sometimes it’s better to get out of my own way and just DO. In talking to some of the teams, I learned that some teams didn’t really train (nor were the riders really cyclists) but their goal was not to win, it was to come out and raise awareness for a certain disease (Friedrich’s Ataxia) or mission (Amy Xu and Team Strong Heart), or just to have a heck of a good time (Team Enjoy the Ride). They came, they saw, they pedaled, they raised awareness, they had a blast!

5. A picture is worth more than a thousand words.
I took a lot of pictures and video and with all the amazing things I saw and experienced, I don’t think anything quite sums up the feeling and attitude of RAAM as this does (see photo).

I plan to do RAAM in 2011 as part of a four-woman relay team. We are in the throes of planning and preparation and we plan to officially announce our beneficiary and start raising money soon. I plan to keep my list of five things (above) in mind throughout this journey. As for any type of tattoo? I don’t think so. But then again, never say never!

Details about my experience, including van camping and photos can be found on my blog at: http://susanstarstink.blogspot.com/

SweatyShe Monday (reprint from 8/17/09): I Had Forgotten Why …

Susan is traveling these two weeks so she has posted reprints from prior SweatyShe Mondays. Enjoy!!
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SweatyShe Monday (reprint from 8/17/09): I Had Forgotten Why …
By Susan Farago
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These past couple of years have brought a lot of changes: Leary and I moved into a condo and completely downsized our lifestyle, I left IBM exactly 12 months ago after a 10 year “corporate career” to pursue a “non-corporate” career, and friends I used to see on a regular basis I now see much more infrequently.

But since 1998 when I ran my first half-marathon, no matter the amount of chaos or change in my life, I could rely on my training schedule to keep me anchored. The schedule provided some semblance of daily direction. It gave me an excuse to figure out new and creative ways to prioritize the rest of my life around “the workout”. Then last year something changed. After countless triathlons and running races, for the first time since 1998 I was no longer enjoying my training. Fun had been replaced with competition. Inner challenges had been replaced with outward pressures to “do better”. Quite frankly, I was no longer in the mood to continuously push, push, push based on what I “should” be doing or because of someone else’s performance expectations. The schedule had literally been relegated to the bottom of my pile of “things to do”. What happened to the fun? Where did my “self” go? What was I doing? I had forgotten why.

I had forgotten why I started running in the first place.
It was my senior year of college and I was studying abroad in France. I didn’t want to go to a health club to exercise (and deal with the French men) so I started walking, then walk running, then running.

I had forgotten why I did my first triathlon.
It was a combination of turning 30 and my pants no longer fitting AND receiving a jury duty form in the mail and under “hobbies” I had to leave it blank because I was too focused on climbing the corporate ladder and had no life (which is why my pants no longer fit).

I had forgotten why it was so fun to plan my first long run.
I had my husband drop me off at the Arboretum and I ran all the way home to Lakeway – 22 miles in total. I knew I needed protein and carbs but it had to be small enough for me to carry – so I fueled with almonds and candy conversation hearts (I know…I know…what was I thinking). What amazing memories of that long run and Leary driving along RR620 to make sure I wasn’t laying in the ditch somewhere (thankfully he also brought REAL food!)

I had forgotten why long runs and bike rides were so fun with friends.
It was because they were “chat” based, not “performance” based. And how wonderful were the honest, funny, deep (and not so deep) conversations where any topic was open for discussion.

I had forgotten why self-discovery was so important to me.
That there were so many new, exciting, and different activities to try. Activities that would make me uncomfortable (but in a good way) and that would push me (but on my own terms – me versus me, or me versus the clock). And that I didn’t have to rely on others for self-discovery. I could make up things I wanted to try or do and then just go do them!

This past weekend I was reunited with my “why”. I raced the Sweet and Twisted sprint distance triathlon at Pace Bend Park – the same place I raced when I did my first ever triathlon in 2000 - The Danskin. The familiar roads, terrain, and water - it all came flooding back to me – the fun, the laughter, the feeling of how great it was just to be out there in an all women’s race again, just doing my own thing. My goal for the race was to enjoy myself. And as two other women from my age group passed me on the run, for the first time in a long time, it didn’t matter. I just let them go rather than chase them down. On this day, I wasn’t racing…I was enjoying.

Surprisingly enough, I ended up coming in 3rd in my age group at that race. And as I received my trophy, I started scheming how I could do better next time. There’s always a next time. But it wasn’t so I could beat those ahead of me, it was because I knew I wanted to push myself harder – me versus me, me versus the clock, me on my own terms and no one else’s.

Everyone has different motivators for what they do and why they do it. For some it’s personal challenge and for other’s, like my Mom, their response to the “why” is, “Because it’s there!” And yet for others, competition is what fuels their why.*

We all have reasons for what we do whether they are externally imposed or internally driven. So Go.Do.Be. - but don’t forget the why.

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*For an interesting look at the nature of competition and the negative effects check out, “No Contest: The Case Against Competition by Alfie Kohn (1986).

SweatyShe Monday (reprint from 8/31/09): Stressed Out? Drop the F-Bomb!

Susan is traveling these two weeks so she has posted reprints from prior SweatyShe Mondays. Enjoy!!
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SweatyShe Monday (reprint from 8/31/09): Stressed Out? Drop the F-Bomb!
By Susan Farago
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I have never been a big curse word user until I started doing triathlons and running. Growing up, my Dad would curse every now and then but it was the “minor” curse words like the “D” or “H” or “S” word. And only ONE TIME did my brother and I EVER hear my Mom curse. She said the “D” word. Hey, we deserved it. We were acting like royal pains! But what an impact it had on us! Even now we still remember, “The day Mom said the ‘D’ word.”

But somewhere in my 30’s, when I rediscovered sports and being active, I also discovered the power of cursing. I don’t curse at people (unless it’s some guy I don’t know drafting me on the bike) but I curse at situations. For example, it is customary that before I jump into Barton Springs’ 68 degree water, even though I’m wearing a wetsuit, I still can’t help but blurt out the “F-bomb”. I try to disguise it but it still slips out as I dive in and I feel the cold water seeping through the zipper of my wetsuit and giving me the willies up my back. This is why it is good to have to go to the bathroom when you dive into any cold body of water while wearing a wetsuit. Hot and cold help counteract one another – if you know what I mean – and it’s known as “turning on your heater”.

A more recent incident caused a series of rapid fire “F-bombs” to fly from my mouth. I felt justified - it involved a snake. My friend Laura and I were trail running and we were on a fairly remote section of trail - a narrow single track that was grown over with brushy, tall weeds and it had a steep rocky ledge to the left and a dirt/rock wall to the right. Laura was ahead of me and we were chit chatting when all of a sudden she let out a blood curdling scream, shot about 5 feet straight up, and literally flew over the 2 big rocks that were in the middle of the trail. I stopped short (because you never know what the person in front of you sees on the trail so better to stop and find out what the heck it is than take your chances). There we were – her on one side and me on the other…and a big, fat snake between us.

I looked at her, then the snake, and then her again. “Oh crap” I said, “You’re going to make me run past that dang thing aren’t you!” At this point she was already digging around for a big branch so she could poke it to see if it was a “John Snake”. Our friend John came across a hognose snake and after doing some research, he came to find out that if you poke it, the snake will literally play dead. He actually had an opportunity to test this theory on a live hognose snake and it did indeed work – good thing he correctly identified the snake!

As Laura emerged from the bush carrying the equivalent of a tree limb, I said, “Hold on! Don’t poke it until I run past!” Nothing like getting a snake good and riled up before deciding to hurdle over it. This is when I started dropping all the F-bombs. I was trying to psych myself up to get past this dang thing. I literally would have to jump over it since the trail was so narrow and we were sandwiched between a drop off and a rock wall. My imagination went wild. Would the snake lunge at me and grab hold of my leg as I ran past? Would it sink its fangs deep into my flesh, causing me a slow, venomous death? What if it shot up my shorts leg when I straddled over it? Maybe it would wait until I was just past it and then it would spring up and get me into a boa constrictor-like death grip!!!

I just stood there saying over and over again…F-bomb, F-bomb, F-bomb, F-bomb, F-bomb…

I finally said to myself, “OK, don’t think about it, just RUN!” and with that I let out one more F-bomb and flew past the snake. As I landed on the other side of Laura, I spun around just in time to see the snake...do absolutely nothing. Really? Nothing? Maybe it was dead? Laura came swooping in with the big branch and scooped the snake up under its belly and plopped it back down on the ground again. Standing on our tippie toes, we peered over the end of the tree limb. Still nothing. Hmmm. Then just as we started to relax, it moved its head. We both let out a shriek and took off running. F-BOMB!!!!

From that point on everything looked like a snake. And as we ran away, still giggling and completely freaked out, Laura said, “Wow - that was messed up!”

For a more scientific approach to studying the effects of cursing and stress relief which DOESN’T require a snake or cold water, check out this article recently published in Time Magazine:
“Why Swearing Helps Ease Pain: Benefits of Curse Words”
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1910691,00.html?artId=1910691?contType=article?chn=sciHealth

SweatyShe Monday: Happy Memorial Day!

In honor of Memorial Day, please take a few moments to remember those who have served our country and protected our borders and our freedom, in the past, present, and future. We thank you!

SweatyShe Monday (05/24/10): Chivalry on the Trail (or, I hate wet feet)

SweatyShe Monday (05/24/10): Chivalry on the Trail (or, I hate wet feet)
By Susan Farago

My tough-girl, hard-core image has come into question but I am here to defend myself. Sort of. The thing is, I hate having wet feet while running. HATE it! The rest of me can be absolutely drenched or dripping with sweat and it doesn’t bother me. But that awful squishy, enclosed, soggy toed feeling step after step knowing full well that gynormous blisters are forming and getting infected with god only knows what bacteria only to be one step away from contracting gangrene? I will go to great lengths to avoid the whole mess.

Which brings me to our trail run on Sunday. Jim and I were discussing routes earlier in the week and we weren’t sure if it was possible to start at the 360 trail access and end up at the Hill of Life without getting wet from the creek crossings. Jim offered to scout out a few routes on Friday and he thought he found a way. Great! So five of us headed out for our usual Sunday morning trail run and before I knew it, I found myself standing on a mini island in the middle of the creek bed, water flowing on both sides, and Jim announcing, “Yeah, you’re going to have to get your feet wet.” I looked down at my watch and it read 6:15. Six minutes into a three hour run and I’m already being threatened with gangrene? Yeah, I don’t think so! I was not alone in this sentiment. Laura was standing next to me and not enjoying the prospect of wet feet either.

I managed to hop-skip-and-jump my way across half of the creek and my feet were still dry. There had to be a way to stay dry and get to the other side. My eyes were scanning the rocks and branches in the water, tree limbs overhead, something…ANYTHING! By now the guys were already across, succumbing to the prospect that their dry feet days were over. I did the only thing I could do at this point. I chewed Jim out. “Jim! I thought you said this would be dry?!?” He laughed and said, “Yeah well I guess not.”

Laura and I were not amused. As the water rushed around us, I was pondering several options:
1. Stand here for another few weeks until the water receded and we could cross.
2. Turn around and run the alternate (dry feet) route I knew about.
3. Throw something at Jim.
4. Consider the possibility of doing a handstand and “hand walk” across the creek.
5. Do the unthinkable…

Before I could even finish coming up with option #5, Leary (my husband) knew what I was about to think. So he stomped through the water, turned around with his back facing me, and said, “OK, climb on.” My hero! So I hopped on and he carried me piggy-back style across the rest of the creek and set me down safely and dryly on other side. This is only one of the many reasons why I love this man. John was not too far behind us toting Laura on his back as well. A thousand “thank yous” ensued and we were off!

As we ran towards the Hill of Life, there was a lot of sloshing and squishing sounds going on. But it wasn’t coming from Laura or me. We were very happy girls. I turned to John and Leary and said, “We’re not going to live this down are we?” John quickly responded, “Nope you’re not.” In the name of dry feet, I’m ok with that.

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Photo: Warda 50K trail race in Nov 2009. Proof that I will get my feet wet if I have to :-)

SweatyShe Monday (05/17/10): GuppyMax -- Ode to the Jim Swim

SweatyShe Monday (05/17/10): GuppyMax -- Ode to the Jim Swim
By Susan Farago
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Austin is a great place to train for just about any sport (as long as you don’t need snow) and we are lucky enough to have hills, hot weather, and a lot of open water.

Lake Travis is by far my favorite place to swim and I especially like Hippie Hollow because its “big open water”. One drawback, or at least point of interesting amusement, is that Hippie Hollow is a nudist beach. Yep. Nothing but naked people just letting it all hang out. The water is usually a little choppy which makes for a more honest swim and there is a well marked swim area where you can easily swim a mile along the shoreline without stopping. So if you don’t mind the occasional flapping body part or someone getting arrested, it’s fantastic!

So when this time of year rolls around, thoughts turn to GuppyMax – the very informal Monday night open water swim group. GuppyMax wasn’t always GuppyMax. Unofficially starting sometime around 2004, it was originally the “Jim Swim”, named after Jim Pacey and it all started at Barton Springs. Jim is an amazing athlete but swimming isn’t exactly his favorite part of the swim-bike-run triathlon combo. So his version of a swim workout would be to swim for 5 minutes, then stand around and chat for 10 minutes. Then swim another 5 minutes, then chat for 15 minutes. Then do a 5 minute swim cooldown, chat for another 5 minutes and go get breakfast. That was his idea of a 45 minute swim.

After that first year we decided to move the swim to Lake Travis. Jim coined the name “GuppyMax” and we’ve been swimming at the lake from March to October ever since. We alternate between Hippie Hollow and the cove at Mansfield Dam depending on water levels and our mood.

Part hard core swim, part screwing around and laughing our heads off, GuppyMax is whatever people want it to be. Some people come and swim hard for an hour while others are just getting used to the idea of swimming in open water. There is never a dull moment and I am not sure if it’s the fresh air, open water, or eclectic mix of personalities that make for unforgettable memories. Some hilights include:

-- When we set the record of the most people ever crammed into Leary’s truck – 18! The look on the face of the park guard was priceless!

-- The time Danny tried to sneak up on a couple of ducks. When he got close, he dove underwater and all we could see were a few ripples and then the two ducks completely freak out! Nice try Danny!!

-- The “Hoochie Fish” – those little fish that cautiously swim up and then when you’re not looking, ZAP! The give you the old nip and run. Robbie seems to attract them so don’t swim near her.

-- Synchronized swimming performances as a post swim cooldown. We look pretty good with our circle swimming, leg extensions, and the grand finale of kick, spin, submerge!

-- The post swim “Foodie Challenge” where we compare Hey Cupcake to Sugar Shack’s chocolate cupcakes and Rudy’s ‘nanner pudding to Thundercloud’s brownies.

-- The time Mike called Rudys to find out if they had brownies for dessert (because Thundercloud did and we wanted to do another Foodie Challenge). He got on the phone and all we heard was, “This is Mike P. with GuppyMax.” … pause… “Mike P.…with GuppyMax.”

-- Swimming out to Fraggle Rock at Mansfield Dam cove when the water was really low and then just hanging out and chatting. Jim would be proud!

-- The guy swimming in the cove with his dog floating alongside in a cooler.

-- Going for dinner at “ThunderRudys” – vegetarians would swing through Thundercloud Subs and get veggie subs to go and then sneak the vegetable contraband in to Rudys where the meat eaters were already seated at the outside picnic tables. Who says we all can’t get along!

-- Instead of swimming the buoy line, I convinced everyone to swim to the boat dock, which was a nice change of scenery - except for seeing the underwater stumps which always freak me out. In the words of Ed, they look like heads!

-- It seems to take forever when getting into our wetsuits – and we now have some new terminology:
“Bohonkus” (from Cynthia): referring to hip and rear end sizing when trying to pull the wetsuit UP over this area. Oh the irony of putting ON clothes at a nudist beach!

-- Jake gyrating around in the water and when I asked him what was going on, he gasped and responded, “I’m dying of heat stroke!!” as he was attempting to flood his wetsuit with fresh lake water.

-- Several encounters with “John and his John” - a very nice guy who introduced himself (ALL of HIMSELF) to us. Notes from my initial encounter with John is posted at: www.susanfarago.com/writing/SW-SH_Mon_05-11-09.pdf

-- The monsoon that hit Hippie Hollow a few minutes before we got in the water. We all looked at each other and decided that while the trees were bending nearly horizontal there was no lightening so it must be safe to swim. We swam through the storm and 20 minutes later everything was calm and we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

There are so many funny stories and did I mention that we actually do get in a swim workout? This is our 6th year of GuppyMax swimming and I look forward to seeing the same friends every Monday and meeting new ones as well. GuppyMax meets every Monday night so come join us! We promise not to make you synchronize swim – at least not right away. More information is at: www.susanfarago.com/athleteresources.html#guppymax .



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