Archive for the 'Conversations' Category
Sign up for a free tele-workshop! Details below:
Running 101: Why and How Running is Awesome for You
When: Monday, April 29 at 11:00am Pacific Standard Time
Cost: FREE!!
Tele-Workshop Description: Are you a runner who would like to improve your workouts and feel better during and after your runs? Or maybe you’re someone who has been thinking about taking up running but you don’t feel you know what you’re doing.
In this interview-style workshop, running coach Carol Frazey of The Fit School will talk about good running form and offer suggestions on running workouts that will take you to the next level no matter where you’re starting.
How to sign up: Send an e-mail to [email protected] Write Running 101 in the subject line. Please include in the body of your e-mail:1. Your full name, 2. Your e-mail address. In response to your e-mail, you will receive confirmation of your registration and the telephone number for the call.
About Carol Frazey: Carol Frazey is the author of The Fit School Newsletter and The Fit School Diet Plan: 1 Year to a Nutritionally and Physically Fit Life e-book and co-author of 26.2 Life Lessons: Helping You Keep Pace with the Marathon of Life. She earned an M.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado while working with athletes who would go on to become Olympians. As an undergraduate at the Pennsylvania State University, Carol was a member of both the cross country and track and field teams. Carol has worked as a teacher, coach, and healthcare professional. Currently, she is president of Fit School, Inc. (www.TheFitSchool.com) where she provides newsletters, consultation, and workshops for schools, families, and businesses on exercise and nutrition and balancing life, family, and health. Her mission is to educate and motivate individuals to make small changes each day to live healthier lives….and to have fun while doing it! She lives in Bellingham, WA with her husband, two children, and a few furry and scaly creatures.
Happy Friday! A big thanks to those of you who have commented regularly on my training updates. I’ve never really blogged about my training process before and it’s fun to hear about your workouts as I’m going along with mine.
This week I’m moving my long run to Sunday because we’ve got company (more on that in a moment). So, quickly, here’s the training for this week:
Sunday: 3 slow miles
Monday: Speed work. After a warm up, Carol’s group did 25 minutes of “ins and outs” (running hard on the straight part of the track and slowing down to bring the heart rate back to normal on the curved part of the track). Carol ran with me and really pushed me on the straights. I was sore on Tuesday.
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Pace work. This week I did two-mile repeats (two of them) with two minutes rest between. My goal was to run each of the 4 miles at my 9:30 pace, but I started out too fast. My first mile was about 9:20. I say “about” because my Garmin funked out on me and stopped measuring my pace for the first mile, but I’m starting to get the feel of the different paces. The second mile I definitely ran at a 9:31 pace. Miles 3 and 4 were slower: 9:54 and 9:47, respectively. Carol had encouraged me to slow down a bit from my one-mile repeats, even at the beginning of this workout. She was wanting to make sure I don’t go out too fast (which I did) and that I finish strong (which I didn’t). This is my last pace run before the 10K Smelt Run in La Conner next Saturday, so we’ll see how it goes! Even the pace I did on Wednesday would get me in under an hour (my goal) for my 10K next weekend.
Thursday: 3 slow miles.
Friday: 4 slow miles.
Saturday: I’ll be walking the “Two For the Road” with my pal, Sharon.
Sunday (I know it’s the start of next week, technically): Long run at Birch Bay–maybe 10 to 12 miles.
Marathon Man Comes to Visit:
So, aside from my training this week, the other exciting thing we’ve had going on is that Bill and I have been hosting an international visitor. Trent Morrow, otherwise known as Marathon Man, is here in the States working on his goal to break/shatter/smash/take down the world record to run the most marathons in one year. To complete this quest, he’ll have to run at least 160 marathons in 2013 (that’s right, if you do the math it comes out to 3.08 marathons per week). We are home base for him these last few days as he gets ready for the Woolley Runs (Saturday), the Birch Bay Marathon (Sunday), and the President’s Day Footrace (Monday).
Trent is working hard to find sponsors and welcomes conversation with folks who can share local knowledge with him in the cities he’ll be visiting. See his site for his tentative itinerary. As you can see (below), he spent his Valentine’s Day with two lovely Bellingham ladies and a container of chocolate ice cream. What could be better?
If you’d like to follow Trent on his journey (or contribute to his cause, offer him lodging, tweet him with encouragements, or suggest a sponsor), you can find him on Facebook and Twitter. And stay tuned right here for an interview with him in the coming weeks. We’ve been delighted to have the chance to get to know him.
Don’t Forget
And one more thing, since you’re here. This is the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) you can download our 26.2 Life Lessons: Helping You Keep Pace with the Marathon of Life on your Kindle or Kindle app. Spread the word. The more the merrier!
Every once in a while I have the fun of getting tagged in one of these blogger memes. I love them. It’s an online ponzi scheme wherein one author tags five other writers who each completes a self-interview and names five more bloggers/authors. This meme is called The Next Big Thing, where I get to share a little more about my next big thing. It’s perfect because I was just going to write about my next book and let y’all know when it’s coming out and what it’s about.
For this interview, I was tagged by Rebecca A. Saxton, writing teacher and blogger at Binding Wor(l)ds Together. Keep your eye on her because you’ll want to read her book when it comes out!
Here are my answers to the interview questions:
What is the working title and genre of your book?
My first book, Second Wind, was such an incredible delight to live and to write. Once the hubbub of marketing died down a little, I had the chance to think about what I might like to write next (I mean, besides this cool running blog, which I LOVE doing). I’d been discussing a project with a friend of mine for a couple of years that picked up on one of the sub-themes in Second Wind: Religion and faith. After a great deal of work this past year, I’m pleased to say that our new anthology, Beyond Belief: The Secret Lives of Women in Extreme Religion, will be coming out in April of 2013!!!
This is obviously not a book about running, it’s an anthology with 25 authors writing about their own spiritual journeys getting into and out of religious communities that, in some way, apply restrictions the secular world wouldn’t choose to adhere to.
Where did the idea for the book come from?
Spirituality has always been an interest of mine. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to try and understand the numinous, the Mystery just beyond my reach. My co-editor, Susan Tive, and I met in a memoir writing class and discovered that although we came from different religious traditions, we understood one another’s struggles to distance ourselves from the harshest aspects of religion while still trying to remain grounded. We decided that we’d invite other women to join in on the conversation and it became a book.
Which actors would you choose to play the characters in a movie version of the book?
Well, I’ve always fancied the idea of Kate Winslett playing me in the film version of Second Wind. I wouldn’t mind if she’d like to play me in the screen version of any book I write, I suppose. We’d need a “binder full” of powerful actress to play the characters in Beyond Belief. I’ll have to think about this one.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Women write about their experiences getting into, staying inside of, and leaving restrictive religious communities.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency or publisher?
Seal Press will be publishing Beyond Belief. They are the same publisher whom I worked with on Second Wind. I love them.
How long did it take to write the first draft?
This book took a year. We had to find our writers and then work with them in the editing process. It was exciting to meet so many interesting women!
What other works compare to your book?
Drinking Diaries: Women Serve their Stories Straight Up (editors Caren Osten Gerszberg and Leah Odze Eptsein) and Love InshAlla: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women (editors Nura Maznavi and Ayesha Mattu) are both collections of women’s writings that let us see inside private spaces often not talked about.
What or who inspired you to write this book?
I’m genuinely inspired by my therapy and coaching clients, to tell you the truth. Over the past 12 years I’ve had the privilege of sitting with individuals as they sort through the complex questions of life and try to move forward out of difficult situations into meaningful and productive existence. Faith/spirituality/religion is one area of deep, deep grappling for many people, and I’m inspired by how brave many of my clients have been as they ask hard questions and make tough decisions–especially when they decide they must walk away from something their community still values.
What else about your book might pique interest?
Susan and I were privileged to work with some pretty awesome authors who contributed fresh pieces to the anthology, including but not limited to:
Julia Sheeres (bestselling author of A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Jonestown)
Lucia Greenhouse (fathermothergod: My Journey Out of Christian Science)
Donna Johnson (Holy Ghost Girl: A Memoir)
Mary Johnson (Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life)
Carolyn Briggs (Higher Ground: A Memoir of Salvation Found and Lost)
* * *
Tagged Authors:
Wendy Welch: The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap
Jennifer Wilke: THEN now
Jolene Hanson: Jolene’s Life in Focus
Kari Neumeyer: Rhymes with Safari
The Fit School by Carol Frazey
Janet Oakley: The History Weaver
I’d like you to meet my pal, Bruce. He’s in his mid-sixties, an adventurer bar none, and a determined runner after my own heart. Recently he completed his seventh continental marathon, and I asked if I could interview him about his experience. Check it out! And scroll below for a smattering of Bruce’s photos (in no particular order). Thanks Bruce!
Bruce and Gerry in Australia
What made you want to run a marathon on every continent?
My quest for the 7 started in of all places Havana, Cuba after the Habana Marathon, which was the only marathon I started and failed to complete (five hour time limit, and after doing the first half in 2:30–it was hot, humid, and I was apparently not in as good of shape as I needed to be–I chose to stop at the half and call it an experience). After the race, I was having dinner with Lee, a friend I met on the run. We had good wine, wonderful Cuban cigars and a view of La Catedral de La Habana Church and Plaza with Havana Harbor as a background. Lee told me I should consider the Antarctica marathon. He sent me a DVD of his trip he had made the year before, and after watching it, I signed up for Antarctica with Marathon Tours, making the trip in March 2009. I had completed several Marathons in the USA and had finished Prague, CK in 2005, so after completing Antarctica I had three continents completed, including the hardest to get to: Antarctica. I was still doing these trips as adventures and really hadn’t heard of the 7 continents club \until Antarctica, where people were doing running to complete their seventh continent. Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia were left for me, one per year and I could be done before I turned 65 years old. I finished my 7th at the Outback Marathon, Ayres Rock Australia on July 28th, 2012 my 65th birthday exactly!!
What were the 7 marathons you chose and which countries were they in?
I had run several in North America: Tuscon AZ, Reggae Jamaica, Brookings, SD, Phoenix AZ, but I chose Portland, OR to use as the official one since it was documented well.
So here they are:
2002 – Portland OR 5:09
2005 – Prague CK 5:43
2009 – Antarctica 6:29
2010 – Kenya, Africa 6:17
2011 – Tateyama, Japan 5:47
2011 – Buenos Aires, Argentina 6:08
2012 – Ayres Rock, Australia 6:04
Which continental race was your favorite and why?
Each one has a special meaning and experience, but the Tateyama Waskahio Marathon in Japan was our (mine and my companion, Gerry’s) favorite. The race was relatively level, cool temps, with wonderful views along the bay and lots of people enjoying the runners. It was my favorite. Thanks to you (Cami) the experience of being in a small race with friends of yours and now ours was something Gerry and I will remember for a lifetime. As you indicated we got “the full treatment.” And it was wonderful!!
In Japan with the Kawasakis
What was your favorite place you visited during your quest?
I enjoyed Havana very much. I went there alone, and was concerned about that but upon arrival found the people extremely friendly, and the city architecturally amazing, with no western influence–and unspoiled beaches. The people have very little to spare but would share what they had with you. Conversations were wonderful, be it about politics or whatever. And they loved to discuss political views with those of us from the States.
What was your most disastrous travel story?
Really we have not had any major problems. We had our luggage stolen in Costa Rica from our little cabana on the beach. Had nothing to wear but the clothes we had on! Gerry lost her purse and billfold, but I had mine, so back in San Jose we bought enough items to return home.
In Brussels, we arrived by train about midnight with no hotel room reserved. Our taxi driver drove all over the city central trying to find us a room and only one could be found for like $400 per night. Finally we agreed to that one, blowing our budget in one night. Gerry gets tired of me saying this, but I always say: “If you have enough money to buy your way out of a problem, you don’t have a problem.”
Then in Buenos Aries we got 500 pesos from a bank ATM machine and no one would accept the money. We couldn’t figure out why they would take Gerry’s money and not mine. Finally someone explained that the money I got was all counterfeit. That was on a Saturday, and Monday was a holiday. Our flight left that same evening so we still have the bills as souvenirs.
What advice would you give others who are trying to do 7 on 7?
What was that old Nike commercial? “Just do it!” I do think that anyone should try and get Antarctica off the list ASAP. It is so environmentally fragile that anything that would happen to harm it in any way could cause these recreational trips to be curtailed in the future. That is only my point of view, but I can see it happening.
Anywhere you travel, if you are a walker, jogger, runner, get up early some morning, put on your running shorts, lace up those shoes, head out the door, and no matter where you are in the world, you won’t go far before you meet someone on the streets running. You may not speak the language but you will receive a smile and a wave.
Don’t be afraid to travel out of the States, Homeland Security is the worst thing you will probably have to face.
Whats next on your bucket list?
The Des Moines Register Newspaper sponsors a bike ride across Iowa the last week in July called RAGBRAI. Which stands for Registers Annul Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. It is a big event, (10,000 plus riders) and takes five days. Riders stay in small towns each night and ride 40 to 100 miles per day, starting with your back wheel in the Missouri River on our western side, finishing with your front wheel in the Mississippi River on the east. I want to attempt it this coming summer.
I also really want to go to Iran. Everyone I have spoken with (outside of the US) says it is a wonderful county to visit. The people are friendly, well educated, and really like Americans, contrary to what our State Department says. Guess I just want to go see for myself.
Running on Snow
Antarctica!
Ice berg
Africa!
With an Australian Joey
Buenos Aires 2011
A couple of years ago, I received an email from a stranger who lives in Iowa. Bruce Sheriff wanted to know about my “7 marathons on 7 continents” journey. He was on the journey himself and had found my blog post about my race in Tateyama, Japan (here’s the race report if you’re inclined). He wanted to run the Tateyama race but the only information on it he could find at the time was in Japanese. How did I manage to register? He wanted to know.
Well, I told him, Tateyama is the sister city of the city I live in, so I registered through my mayor’s office… sort of. He asked if I could hook him up. Sure I could, I said. But it would cost him a phone call so I could check him out first. I wasn’t going to connect just anyone with the wonderful, hospitable people of Tateyama because I knew what Bruce didn’t know but would soon find out: There’s no “hey we’re just dropping in to run a marathon, so if you could point me to the registration line that would be great” culture in Japan. I suspected that even though Bruce only wanted help with the registration forms, once my friends in Japan knew someone was coming, he’d get the full treatment.
So Bruce called me, and I liked him. He is a kindred spirit.
After his trip to Japan, Bruce has kept me posted on his comings and goings, and this week I received a note with an article about his journey to complete 7 marathons on 7 continents. Join me in congratulating Bruce Sheriff for following through on his dream!
Great job, Bruce!!!