Category Archives: Philanthropy

How I (Swim, Bike &) Run: Living the Sweet Life with Ruth Rickey

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When I initially set out to do this interview series, I thought it’d be interesting to see what kind of gear people prefer, what their training routines were like and that it’d be fun to hear about racing from all different kinds of perspectives. What I didn’t expect was to get absolutely blown away by the incredible back stories in these athletes’ lives.

Case in point: Ruth Rickey, a former attorney and administrative law judge who, put simply, fell in love with cakes. Ruth worked her way up as Bakery Manager for IGA’s 3200 stores in 31 countries before opening her own shop, Ruth’s Sweete Justice Bakery, and operating it for more than a decade.

Since then, she’s been teaching all over the world as a ICES Certified Master Sugar Artist. Ruth has also been seen on WE TV’s Wedding Cake Wars (her team won), twice on TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off (assistant to Pat Jacoby on two wins) and on three specials on The Food Network about The Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show.

In the midst of all this success, however, Ruth was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, which was incurable and untreatable at the time, and she was given 2-5 years to live. Miraculously, six weeks after her diagnosis the FDA approved Gleevec, a drug that revolutionized cancer treatment and saved Ruth’s life.

After switching medicines a few times, Ruth is happy to report that she’s now back in genetic remission. And to pay her miracle forward, she spends her free time doing marathons, half marathons, century rides, triathlons and various charity events to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Go Mitch Go Foundation.

I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for Ruth as she wages a fight for her life all while balancing a successful career, endurance events and philanthropy. But I can imagine that every one of her victories — whether in the kitchen, at her doctor’s office or out on the race course — probably tastes pretty sweet.

1. What’s your favorite route or workout? I love riding our new River Trails route. It starts in downtown Oklahoma City in our Boathouse District. It is a cool new area where the Olympic rowers train. The route winds past the boathouses on both sides of the river. There are some gentle inclines/descents and turns to keep the ride interesting. It then connects into the West River Trails, which take me by two different lakes. The route doesn’t have a lot of pedestrian traffic and is closed to vehicles. It is newly paved and simply makes me happy to ride! Besides the normal geese, ducks and other birds, I can even see a buffalo on this route. Only in Oklahoma!

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2. What shoes do you wear — both on the bike and on the roads? I run in Brooks Ravenna and I cycle in Pearl Izumi tri shoes.

3. What other training gear can’t you live without? I love my Garmin 920! I like being able to use the bluetooth to get the data onto my phone immediately. I love the live tracking part of it for my hubby…due to my medical issues, he worries if I’m out training without him. Now he can see where I am whether I’m training or racing!

My Coeur tri shorts turned out to be a game changer! After my 70.3 in September, I was in so much pain from chafing. I never realized how much the seams could rub. Since changing to Coeur, I’ve been so much more comfortable! I’m not sure why all chamois aren’t done this way. My hubby wants guys’ shorts to be made like them.

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I also love my Bontrager Windshell Pants. Oklahoma has crazy wind. It is normal to ride in 15-25 mph winds with 40 mph gusts. These shell pants keep me warm through everything and because they don’t have the chamois in them, I wear them when I run in the cold, too. They were pricey, but I think they were worth every penny!

I know it isn’t really gear, but I cannot live without Base Salt. I’ve always needed salt, but once I started using Base, I found that my active recovery during races and training improved dramatically. It seems like such a minor thing, but a hit of Base salt every hour or so keeps me going.

My other recent find is Infinit Nutrition. When I did Redman 70.3, I struggled on the bike, which was supposed to be my strongest area. I had no energy and could not make myself eat enough while riding in the heat. I knew I needed to make a change. Once of my coaches highly recommended Infinit, so I went to their site and created my own custom formula. So far, I’ve used it on several three-hour rides and have maintained my energy the entire time and have not been hungry at all. I know that the nutrition issue is going to be big for my upcoming races, so I’m truly happy that it looks like I have a workable solution now!

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4. What’s your best time-saver or “workout-hack?” I used to lose so much time every day packing the bag for the next workout. I finally went and bought three Nike bags in three colors: Red for run; Black for bike; and Blue for swim. The bags are ready for me to grab at a moment’s notice and have everything I need in each one of them.

5. What part of each discipline (swim/bike/run) are you better at than anyone else? Actually, I came into triathlon without excelling in any of the disciplines. I had done more than 20 endurance events with Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, but I was a walker, a slow biker and a non-swimmer.

I actually think my strength is my mental game and my heart. I figure that if I’m out there training or racing while taking chemo twice a day, there isn’t much I’m going to encounter that will stop me. I’m not athletically gifted, but I enjoy doing what I can and seeing my body get stronger. I am the girl who can finish a race 10 hours later and still be smiling.

6. What do you listen to while training? My water iPod has classic rock on it. I’ve changed the music I use while swimming. Originally, I had very relaxing music as I was getting past my panic attacks. Now, it is time to work on speed, so I need my 70’s rock to get me going! On my bike trainer or while running, I have a playlist of all of the “Now That’s What I Call Music” cds. They are generally high-cadence, fun pop hits that keep me going.

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7. What are you currently training for? I may have overshot this year, but I’m registered to do Galveston 70.3 in April, the Legends 100 Tri in June, The World Championship Long Course Triathlon at Redman in September (97 miles) and Arizona 70.3 in October. I really want to do a full Ironman, but know that I’m not physically ready for it. I figure if I can do Legends and World’s, it will show me if I’m ready for IMAZ 2017. If so, I will be volunteering at IMAZ this November to grab an early spot.

8. What are your recovery and sleep routines like? On top of my leukemia issues, I also have Addison’s disease. My adrenal glands don’t function properly, so I can end up nearly bed ridden when my levels get low. I hurt to the bone when this happens. I have to take steroids twice a day to make my body function like normal.

I’ve learned a lot over the last year or so to look for the signs of when I need to increase my dose. My coach schedules a day off weekly for me, and I try to honor it and respect his plan. I used to be an insomniac, but I sleep really well these days! I think all the activity is good for me in that respect.

9. What’s the best athletic advice you’ve ever received? Stop saying “I can’t.” I at least make myself try everything. Even if I know that I don’t have the physical capability, I have to try. Because most of the time, I discover that I CAN.

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10. What’s your favorite racing-related memory? I attempted New Orleans 70.3 and ended up with an asthma attack in the water and a DNF. It haunted me…I was so disappointed. So a few weeks later, I stepped up for a local sprint tri. It was the first time my husband wasn’t racing at my side as my “protector.”

The day before the race, I did a practice swim at the site and felt like I was ready…the water was calm and the weather was perfect. But that is never how races go! On race day, a front blew in. Temperatures plummeted, and the winds picked up. The race director later said it was the roughest he had seen it at that lake and that he nearly called the swim.

I was a nervous wreck, but got into the water and started in the last wave. I was still mostly using side stroke to swim. I got to the first buoy and was about to call for a kayak to go in, but I looked around and saw numerous people hanging onto all the kayaks. I realized I was actually ahead of all those people. It kicked something into gear for me, and I was determined to finish that swim.

I did the entire 750-meter swim using side kick drills…I didn’t even use my arms. I got out of the water and was actually not the last person. I headed out on the bike, almost in disbelief that I had survived that cold, choppy swim. And my bike time actually matched my normal speed when I was just doing a bike training.

I started the run just happy to be out on the course. I set a 5k PR that day. It wouldn’t be fast to anyone else, but it was EVERYTHING to me! When I ran across the finish line and they put that medal around my neck, I knew that it would only be a matter of time until I became an Ironman. I found a strength that day that I never realized I had. I found a joy in the experience.

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11. Fill in the blank: I’d love to grab a workout with _________. I’m sure everyone picks someone famous for this, but I just want to work out with my husband and my brothers, Verne and Robb. The four of us have started racing together and it makes my heart smile. How lucky am I to get to share the love of this sport with my family?!!

12. Anything else you’d like to add? A lot of my friends think you have to be super fit to do triathlons. They think only elite folks attempt this. I think I’m proof that there is a place for the person at the “back of the pack.”

Since I started on this journey, so many of my cake decorator friends have become more active. My industry is full of overweight people…it can be really hard not to taste the amazing things we create. I love that so many of them have messaged me that they are starting to move, to walk, to run, to do ANYTHING because of my posts.

I share the ups and downs of my training. I share my fears. I share my victories. If you’ve ever thought about trying triathlons, I can genuinely say that this is the best group of people. They have never made me feel bad for being slow. They celebrate the “final finisher” with as much joy as the winner. What a great group to be a part of!

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Thanks, Ruth! I’m honored to be able to share your story, and I’m excited to watch you crush your goals this year as you prepare for all the adventures ahead. 

Friends, if you’re interested in being featured here (all levels & abilities welcome!), please drop me a line at info(at)kineticfix(dot)com.

February Goal Check-In

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And, just like that, my last month before baby is a distant memory…

Despite the desire to squeeze as much as I possibly could into the past four weeks, my body (thankfully) kept me in check. Waking up at two-hour intervals to pee pretty much every night and getting contractions when you exert yourself with more than a gentle stroll will tend to do that to a person.

So, yet again, we are adjusting goals, resetting expectations and wading into what appears to be the “new normal” — at least for the foreseeable future. And this is all pre-baby, so I can’t imagine what March’s recap will be like!

Read more about the five goals toward which I’m working in 2016.

Here’s where things stand currently:

1. Health & Fitness

February was all about listening to my body. And, boy, did it have a lot to say. 

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This extra 30 pounds I’ve gained earned over the past 10 months really started to take their toll (in the form of back pain, hip pain, foot pain…see a theme here?), and I could tell my body was getting prepped for the main event (contractions!). So while workouts remained consistent, I’ve definitely tapered things off in the past two weeks.

I credit regular movement, however, for helping me stave off a host of other pregnancy-related conditions (swelling, and other random maladies, etc.), so I’m thrilled to have been able to be active well into the home stretch. Especially since it’ll be a while before I can resume my usual activity levels…

2. Training

Nada at the moment, but I am making tentative plans for a half-marathon relay with a mama runner friend, Tiffany, later this summer. We may not be the fittest or fastest out there, but we’re determined to put one foot in front of the other and just keep moving.

Getting my 2016 Coeur Sports team kit in the mail was another major highlight this month. It got me super excited for when I can ease back into some kind of training schedule. Eventually.

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In the meantime, I’m so thankful to be working with a company who supports women of all levels, abilities and stages of life! This really is the year of the #coeurbaby, and I love how we can show that healthy mamas = healthy babes.

3. Community

While our Team LUNA Chix Portland Run season hasn’t officially kicked off (stay tuned — April!), our planning sure has. The team’s 10 leaders gathered on February 20 for a retreat, which included some movement and food in addition to the business at hand.

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We’re really excited about going bigger and bolder this year, so keep an eye out for all kinds of great sweat sessions, events and activities. We’ll be resuming our FREE Monday night workouts (6:30 – 7:30 pm) in April, so follow our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts for details.

4. Career

After a bustling January at Pulse Creative, February was all about wrapping up open projects and getting everything set for maternity leave (always a double-edged sword when you work for yourself!). My tentative plan is to step back for two months (March and April), which makes me nervous in the short-term, but I know it’s what’s best for our family in the long run.

As a girlfriend put it, there’s no use in half-assing work, baby, family and self-care during such a tumultuous time. No one will win in the end. And sometimes a step back helps you take a leap forward, so I know a little time off will further inspire me when I resume my work with clients later this spring.

5. Life

My grand plans for Kondo-izing our apartment before baby were a big, fat fail this month. While nesting instincts were in overdrive, I simply didn’t have the energy to tear everything apart and do a big purge.

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So instead of following the guidelines in “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” to the letter, I settled for a weekend closet clean-out. I ended up with one bag for Goodwill and another for eBay, and I’m happy with that for the time being.

After all, we’ve got the rest of our lives to clean — and our last month as non-parents had to take precedence, right?!

How are your 2016 goals coming along? 

January Goal Check-In

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Ok, 2016 — ready or not, here you are. Although it feels like we’ve just begun the year, we’re already a month in.

I’ll admit, pregnancy has given me a more leisurely attitude to this year’s goals…well, at least at this point in the game. And purposefully so.

Not only do I want to be kind to my body right now, but I’m also trying to stay present, cut down on unnecessary stress and enjoy the final weeks of Ben and I being responsible for no one but ourselves. All that’s about to change, and I know we’ll get back on track and into our competitive pursuits again eventually…but until then I’m making a concerted effort to keep things casual.

Read more about the five goals toward which I’m working in 2016.

Here’s where things stand at the moment:

1. Health & Fitness

Until Baby H’s arrival, I’ve been hoping to be able to stay active. That means continuing regular workouts with a mix of cardio, strength and flexiblity work throughout the week with one day off to allow my body to rest.

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Fortunately, my doctor’s fully in support of this plan. Despite some minor aches, pains and first-time-mom freak-outs (Me: “There’s a bruise around my belly button; what did I do wrong, and should I stop working out?!” My doctor: “Nope, that’s just pregnancy.”), she’s great with the fact that I keep moving so the baby will keep moving…ideally into the correct head-down birth position.

2. Training

As I mentioned in my initial post on 2016’s goals, I’m signed up for the Portland Marathon and am considering a few smaller races leading up to that (recovery permitting, of course). Since then, I’ve further revised this goal so it’s more about completion than competition; meaning, I’m going to train to be able to finish events without any expectations of times, PR’s or age-group placements.

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While that’s the stuff that typically gets my juices flowing when it comes to training, it’s been a relief to let it go and give myself permission to not feel like I have to push so hard to prove something. And in the meantime, I’m working on maintaining a solid foundation on which I can build post-baby with an ultimate goal of remaining injury-free.

3. Community

Earlier this month, we officially announced the new roster for 2016’s Team LUNA Chix Portland Run. It’s a fantastic group of women of all ages, abilities and interests…but the one thing they all have in common is that they’re stoked to be able to once again connect with the community, promote the sport of running among women and raise money for our charity partner, the Breast Cancer Fund.

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Next up is our team leader retreat next month where we’re setting some goals and doing a little bonding before the season officially starts in April. Mark your calendar! We’ll be resuming our FREE Monday night workouts (6:30 – 7:30 pm), and you can find up-to-the-minute details via our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

4. Career

Now that the holidays are over, things have been ramping up again work-wise at Pulse Creative. I’ve got several projects in-progress with clients, including website audits, messaging workshops and content creation, along with ghostwriting articles for Forbes and other outlets on behalf of C-level execs — flexing my old journalism muscles has been especially fun!

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But as I attempt to wind things down for my maternity leave, I’m already contemplating the direction I want to take my business when I return. In other words, what really lights my fire, work-wise, and how can I do more of that? 

It’s been something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately — not only in terms of where I can make the most impact for clients, but also how I can continue to create a sustainable career that allows me to find fulfillment yet maintain a healthy work/life balance. I want to continue to do this same type of project work, but I’m also exploring how to package up my favorite services for clients so I can serve them even better in the long run.

5. Life

Despite being proudly Type-A-organized, I will admit to having what I jokingly call a “Monica’s closet.” Look closely and you’ll see a bike helmet hung next to blazers and a hydration pack mingling among my purses. Yep, #fitpeopleprobs + #cityliving = interesting storage solutions.

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While my original goal was to finish  Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by mid-month so I’d have an update on it being in action for two weeks now, I’m behind schedule. I finished the book, but I know that one month isn’t realistic to be able to follow all the instructions laid out in it.

So I’m revising my timeline — this is about year-long goals, after all — and am aiming to tackle step no. 1 (my clothing) by the end of February. So if you don’t see me for the next few weeks, you know where I am…or what I might quite possibly be buried under!

How are your 2016 goals coming along? 

Celebrating a Successful First Season of Team LUNA Chix Portland Run

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This past week marked a major milestone: We held our last official practice of the season for Team LUNA Chix Portland Run. Our season runs April through October, and having run track workouts in the dark for the past month or so, we’re ready to switch things up for the next few months of our ‘off-season’ (more on that below).

But first…we had a lot to celebrate. Not only was it is successful year of fitness and fundraising, but we’ve also forged some pretty terrific friendships over the past few months.

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Our friends over at Title Nine Portland generously invited us into their space for the evening, so we scrapped the regular track workout in favor of an out-and-back run/walk from the store before enjoying some treats together. By the way, if you haven’t been by the store yet it’s definitely worth a visit; they’re known for being the sports bra experts, so do your gals a favor and get them fitted properly! 

I had planned out the routes in advance and printed out directions for both the two-milers (walkers) and four-milers (runners), plus we had plenty of safety gear on hand (reflective vests, headlamps, glow-in-the-dark bracelets) to ensure everyone stayed super-visible while hitting the streets. After splitting everyone into groups by pace, we set out…and I hung near the back of the four-miler pack to act as sweeper and make sure no one got lost.

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Of course, then Syreeta (who kindly kept me company) and I were so busy chatting and catching up while running that we were the only ones to end up over-shooting the turnaround point by about a quarter mile! We were close to the Forest Park trail head when we finally realized that we’d blown past it, so we quickly doubled back and caught up to the tail end of the group.

Once everyone was safely back to the store, we nibbled on snacks, drank wine (well, those of us who weren’t knocked up!) and savored the moment together. Then it was time to get down to business, so we raffled off a bunch of LUNA gear and gift certificates, plus Title Nine ran a special discount for hose of us who wanted to shop (just in time, too; I’ve outgrown all my current sports bras and got fitted for a new one).

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Because everyone wanted to continue to momentum and camaraderie of the season, we also talked about meeting up regularly in the ‘not-so-off-season’ for workouts, trail runs and possibly even some non-running social activities. So stay tuned to the team’s Facebook page for details if you’d like to join us!

And, of course, we’re already starting to plan for season number two, which means we’ll be accepting applications for any open spots for the 10 team leader positions. Again, keep an eye out for details via our Facebook page.

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In the meantime, you can keep tabs on our adventures via the official Team LUNA Chix Portland Run Instagram account where we’ll be posting pictures from workouts, runs and other happenings. Yep, we’re all over Twitter, too, if you want to reach us there instead.

Cheers to a first season for the record books, and here’s to an even more inspiring, exciting and sweaty second season starting next spring!

Out With the Old: What to Do With Used Fitness Gear

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Yes, there are a bunch of perks to living in an apartment in the city (i.e. being walking distance to Portland’s delicacies). But there’s one major drawback that makes me dread the change of seasons: the closet turnover.

We have all of three (no, that’s not a typo) small closets in our apartment, so now that the weather’s turning I know I’ll be making the trek down to our storage unit to swap sundresses and shorts for sweaters and boots. It’s also a time when I re-evaluate the massive amounts of fitness gear I’ve accumulated over the previous months.

I make it a rule to try to get rid of any items that are worn out, ill-fitting or simply not bringing me joy. But rather than just toss ’em in the trash, there are some great alternatives that allow me to do some good while lightening my load.

Here are some of my favorite ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and put some of that neglected stuff to good use once and for all.

Running Shoes

Reduce: There are a number of organizations that will take used running shoes and distribute them to deserving groups throughout the world. Runner’s World has compiled a fantastic list here, so you can choose who you’d like to support when you donate your shoes to the less fortunate.

Reuse: Just because you’ve retired your kicks from running doesn’t mean they’re destined for the landfill. I cycle old sneakers from running to walking, which doesn’t require as much support, and when they’ve hit their limit on the roads I’ll keep them on hand for yard work.

Recycle: Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program grinds your old running shoes into material that makes athletics and playground surfaces (existing surfaces made with Nike Grind cover about 632,000,000 square feet!). Check the site for store locations that accept donations.

Workout Clothing

Reduce: Meet up with friends and do a clothing swap instead of buying a new fitness wardrobe every season. Any remaining new or gently used items can be donated to your local Goodwill or Clothes 4 Souls to provide functional clothing to people in need and create jobs in disadvantaged communities.

Reuse: A quick Google search will reveal hundreds of ways to upcycle old workout clothing. All you need is a little time, creativity and direction (check Pinterest or articles like this for inspiration), and you’ll be able to breathe new life into pieces that aren’t worthy of the donation bin.

Recycle: Some major retailers, such as Patagonia (Nike and H&M, as well), offer recycling programs for their entire product line when items finally reach the end of their useful lives and can no longer be repaired. There are also helpful websites that will help point you to your nearest recycling center.

Fitness Equipment

Reduce: Do some good through Sports Gift, a nonprofit that redistributes gear to more than 40,000 underprivileged children worldwide each year. Or go local by donating equipment to a recreation center or community program, such as the YMCA or Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Wanna score some cash instead? Try selling your gear to a secondhand fitness equipment company, such as Play it Again Sports or via Craigslist.

Reuse: If you have a long-forgotten treadmill or elliptical taking up space in your home, contact Fitness 4 Charity, which will connect you with groups who will make good use of it but can’t afford to buy it. You may also want to check in with friends and neighbors to if anyone’s building a home gym and is on the lookout for a particular piece.

Recycle: Past the point of no return? A professional salvager will be take apart your machine, retrieve all the useful metals and sell it to a metal recycler. Google “metal salvage” for a local spot or call 1-800-Got-Junk, a national junk hauling chain which does charge a fee for pickup but also promises to recycle as much as possible

What do you do with your old workout gear? 

April Goal Check-In

Source: Fast Company

Source: Fast Company

First things first: Yes, it’s mid-May. And we’re talking about April.

Better late than never!

Plus quite a bit has changed since I last touched base with my goals, so I wanted to be able to address it in this month’s recap.

Wondering what this is all about? Read more on the five goals toward which I’m working this year.

So here’s my update on how things have been going:

1. Seeking Balance

Quality over quantity. Quality over quantity. If I keep repeating that to myself, it will (hopefully) one day become second nature.

Unable to contain my excitement over living in what still feels like a “new” city, I got over-excited and over-committed myself this summer. Whoops.

Between work, travel, training, LUNA coaching, family events and other obligations pretty much every.single.weekend…the pressure’s started to build.

I’ve been feeling it in my gut with each additional ‘yes,’ but only recently did this start to register in my head. So in an attempt to stay true to this goal, I made some hard decisions this past month and had some even harder ‘no’ conversations…both with myself and others.

Like, revealing to Ben that I don’t think I’m up for both the century ride and a 50K within two weeks of each other this month. Or telling my Ragnar Utah team that I won’t be joining them for next month’s event.

And examining my other summer races in the process. Not just the whats, but also the hows and, most importantly, the whys.

I can’t help but feel some sense of failure — like I’m letting others down, as well as myself. But the fact that there’s a small victory to be found in reclaiming ownership of my schedule — and the relief that comes with that — is also not lost on me.

Balance, I’m realizing, requires bigger-picture focus. And as I get clearer on the vision I have for myself — outside of just training and racing — I feel like I’m getting closer to that sweet spot of being able to keep moving forward and challenging myself without throwing the rest of my life out of whack.

2. Training Smarter

Another motivating factor has been my SI joint, which has been extremely vocal as of late about me needing to reassess my activities in the short-term. Although I’m cleared to run, per my doctor, I’m not able to race or do speedwork without pain, so being more deliberate in my approach to workouts and events will no doubt serve me well.

In the meantime, I’ve been religiously going to the chiropractor, getting monthly massages and hitting plenty of yoga classes. And, thanks to ClassPass and this guy, I’m still focused on all that good strength and mobility cross-training to build a strong core and activate those glutes.

3. Facing Fears

Ben and I we so proud when we mustered up the motivation to hit the pool one Saturday for an early morning workout. Everything was awesome — until we got to the gym and realized it wouldn’t open for two more hours.

Needless to say, with everything else that’s been going on, swimming’s been on the back burner. Although I hope that it’ll be different this month; I do think some time following that black line would be a welcome change for both my body and mind.

4. Pushing Myself

The 50K is fast-approaching on May 25, so that’s exciting! I’m half pumped and half nervous to tackle this event with Ben, however, as it’s our first ultra-distance together…and more than double his longest race distance to-date (13.1 miles).

Most of April has been spent pushing myself on the non-physical front, though. Through the HUSH Meditation community, I met a wonderful friend/coach/mentor, and we’ve been helping each other — me, helping support the amazing work she does; her, helping me better define my ‘why,’ as well as my career vision.

I’ve been feeling scattered as of late; don’t get me wrong — there’s no shortage of great stuff going on, but I’m in the process of wrapping my head around how it all ties together. As a result, it’s made for a more contemplative, less hard-charging month, which is pretty much a theme across the board for late April and early May.

5. Giving Back

Finally, we’re a little more than a month in to Team LUNA Chix Portland Run’s 2015 season, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this group of women. We’ve been doing weekly workouts, and we also just hosted our first clinic of the season — a yoga and nutrition workshop to raise money for our charity, the Breast Cancer Fund (more on that in an upcoming post).

The team is gelling, we’re working on getting the word out so we can grow in size and make more of an impact, and we’ve been getting a consistent group of ladies each week who rally through a few miles together. See for yourself via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts — and come join us Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the Duniway Park Track in Portland!

How are your 2015 goals coming along? 

An exciting announcement for 2015!

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With the Detroit Marathon behind me, it’s time to take a short (and much-needed) break from running. But resting up my legs for the next few weeks doesn’t mean we can’t start planning ahead for next year’s adventures!

Case in point: If you remember, I was invited to the LUNA Chix Summit last spring by friend, LUNA Sponsored Athlete and Detroit Tough endurance coach Terra Castro. What started as a mission to profile the group, though, ended up being so much more; I didn’t just want to write about them, I wanted to get involved.

Fast-forward through this past year, where I had set my sights on accomplishing a few personal goals: First Olympic triathlon? Check. First ultramarathon? Check. 10k PR? Check. First overnight relay? Check. Sub-four marathon? Nope, but still on the list. Yeah, it’s been a busy race season.

But as I look toward 2015, instead of going faster and further (although there may be some of that), I want to change focus a bit and help others achieve their goals. Inspiring each other is a huge part of why I got into this “blogging thing,” and facilitating that feeling of pride in accomplishing something new, tacking a tough obstacle or achieving something someone never thought possible, is rewarding for everyone involved.

So when LUNA put out a call for team leader applications, it was a no-brainer. Not only would launching the LUNA Chix Portland Run Team allow me to get to know people in a new community even better, but we’d also have a chance to give back through the organization’s work with the Breast Cancer Fund (ok, and the yummy bars are a bonus).

What, exactly, is Team Luna Chix? The company has a few tiers of athletes — from professional to sponsored to local — and here’s a little background on this program at the local level:

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Our season runs from April to October 2015, and we’re actively recruiting for the 10-person team. If you know anyone who might be interested, please let me know; we’re not necessarily looking for the fastest or most accomplished runners, but you’ve gotta have heart — a desire to inspire, support and motivate others, as well as set an example in the community.

And stay tuned for updates, including the official roster, our weekly workouts (open to everyone and all levels; come join us), plus other activities, such as clinics and support at local events, as the season progresses. I hope you’ll join us as we encourage each other to stay active and inspire others to do the same!

Calling all female runners in the Portland area: I’m currently taking applications for our 2015 run team. We have just a few spots left, so if you love getting sweaty, making new friends and working for a good cause, give me a shout at info(at)kineticfix(dot)com for an application. Thanks!

Win an entry into the 2014 Nike Women’s Half Marathon

Hey, runner friends! How would you like to race to support lifesaving blood cancer research this fall at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco?

Team in Training (TNT) has partnered with our friends at Fit Approach to offer one FREE entry to the 2014 Nike Women’s Half Marathon. Opportunities as unique & powerful as this only come around once in a while!

Team in Training is a race training program that also serves as the main fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer.

Over the past 25 years, TNT has raised more than $1.4 billion to support LLS’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the lives of patients and their families.

Each mile you run will impact the lives of loved ones across the country.

In exchange for raising funds, TNT provides four months of marathon training with world-class trainers as well as clinics on nutrition and injury prevention.

Not to mention, you’ll get to run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon with 25,000 new friends through the iconic streets of San Francisco…

Enter today…and good luck!

Learn more about Team in Training

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway20140627-192823-70103145.jpg

Scenes from a Sunday ride of firsts

Source: Jess Smith

Source: Jess Smith

“Coeur” is French for “heart,” so it was only fitting that those of us in the Bay Area met up during Valentine’s weekend for our first of (hopefully!) many ladies’ bike ‘n’ brunch rides with Coeur Sports and Osmo Nutrition.

Interestingly enough, “coeur” is also the root of the word “courage,” and I ended up needing a good dose of it in order to get myself out the door this morning. To say I was nervous pulling up to our meeting spot would be putting it mildly…I mean, this group touts some serious racing resumes (we’re talking pro triathletes, Ironman finishers and all-around endurance sport superstars), and I’m still very much a noob when it comes to the swim and bike stuff.

Our hosts Hailey and Jess not only welcomed everyone with open arms, though, but they also offered encouraging words as I admitted to them that I was feeling super intimated and in waaay over my head. But before I knew it, we were off…and it was sink or swim (or more like punk out or pedal), so I rode along with my friend Amy, a fellow runner and November Project member, and we joined up with Doris, a local triathlete with whom we both hit it off immediately.

It turned out to be a ride of many firsts as we hit the road for our adventure:

First time meeting the Coeur crew in-person and cycling in a group…

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First time riding in bike shoes and cleats…

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First time helping to change a flat tire (successfully, I might add!)…

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Source: Doris Steere

Source: Doris Steere

First time taking in the beautiful scenery in Woodside, Calif. (although we did get a bit lost)…

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First time realizing how good brunch tastes after a ride, especially when you’re surrounded by incredibly inspiring women…

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And, finally, first time in a long time realizing you’re never too old to still have “firsts” — whether it’s making new friends, conquering fears, tackling challenges or simply believing in yourself…

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We ended up riding about 18.5 miles total, which included almost 2,500 feet of elevation gain for what I dubbed the “thigh-thrasher” workout. While it ended up being a more, er, “creative” route (read: we got lost and took a totally different path), it was a good metaphor for the day: It’s not always about sticking to the planned journey; sometimes it’s when we veer off track that the magic truly happens.

Fit Fix: Dane Rauschenberg on telling the tale of his 202-mile solo relay

Source: SeeDaneRun

Source: SeeDaneRun

Dane Rauschenberg is already known for running 52 marathons in 52 weekends, but when he announced in 2010 that he would be taking on a solo running of the American Odyssey Relay, it seemed out of the realm of possibility. Normally reserved for teams of 6-12 runners, the 202-mile relay race can take groups of well-rested people up to 36 hours to complete.

Well, Dane not only nailed the task of running from Gettysburg, Pa., to Washington, D.C., but he did it in the astonishing time of a little more than 50 hours. And now he’s taking to Kickstarter to tell the story through a documentary that will take viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotion, physicality and humor.

I sat down with the extreme runner, author and motivational speaker to pick his brain about tackling that monstrous number of miles, as well as how he’s hoping his film will show others that they, too, can chase their own seemingly-impossible dreams.

KineticFix: You started running in law school to keep your weight in check. How’d you make the leap to extreme events/distances?

Dane Rauschenberg: It happened very suddenly. I went from barely running at all to all of a sudden planning on running 52 marathons in a year. Back in 2006 there was hardly anyone doing multiple marathons at max effort in one year, so it seemed outlandish for me to every try it. But to PR in my 42nd week of the year showed I wasn’t just out there to collect medals.

KF: Where’d you get the idea to do the American Odyssey Relay solo?

DR: It was a confluence of multiple events. I worked for a running company that put on races similar to the AOR, and that planted the seed. Then I wanted to see what was possible. I had no real idea how long it would take or how to go about doing it, but I figured out a way.

Source: SeeDaneRun

Source: SeeDaneRun

KF: Do you have a favorite moment or memory from the experience?

DR: It sounds cliché, but the finish was my favorite memory. Or more accurately, the last few hours. I was running completely alone (my crew had to return vehicles and get to the finish), and it gave me time to reflect on what I was going to achieve.

KF: What’s been tougher during your extreme running feats – the physical strain or the logistics?

DR: Logistics, without a doubt. When I ran 350 miles in one week up the Oregon Coast, it was the running that was the easy (well, easier) part. Stopping virtually every day to speak to people at events or children at schools took a great deal of time, energy and simple coordination of schedules. Throwing such a rigid timeline into running 50 miles a day made it harder than actually running the distance each day.

KF: How do you find the pure motivation to keep moving for 50+ hours?

DR: I don’t see what I do as all that special. I am not being falsely modest; I just think that if I can do something, other people probably can, too. It is just plain and simple: If you set out to do something, barring unforeseen events that can actually harm you long-term, there is no reason not to keep moving forward.

KF: What are your favorite foods to fuel up on during long runs?

DR: I have learned a great deal about fueling over time. I used to swear by pasta and “carb-loading;” now I know that carbs are important, but so are proteins, fats, etc. In fact, in my longest runs I have learned that eating real meals is very important to me. By that I mean, while I supplement with PowerBar products, I know that I need to get real food into my body. I have found that, for me, eating lean beef products has allowed me to get moving again when I thought my runs were over — even in 100-milers where I stop and eat a cheeseburger in the middle of the event.

Source: SeeDaneRun

Source: SeeDaneRun

KF: Do you have any recovery tips for being able to bounce back quickly after long runs?

DR: Massage, rest and eating right. There are no tricks. People know what to do, but they don’t want to do it. Plus, apparently, pick the right parents!

KF: How do you prevent and/or manage injury along the way?

DR: We can usually tell what happens when an injury occurs. But when injuries do not occur, it is hard to pinpoint what exactly made them not happen. I bristle at all the running books where experts tell you the “proper” way to eat, train, run, etc. Everyone is so different and how people feel able to give a generalized message in such a specific way is beyond me.

KF: What’s your weekly mileage look like when you’re not training for an extreme endurance event?

DR: I wish I could give a straight answer here. I know I have never once topped 3,000 miles in a year. I have done all of my long-distance running on a diet of high-quality, low(ish) mileage. So, if I had to ballpark it, I would say 50 miles a week is a solid average for me.

Source: SeeDaneRun

Source: SeeDaneRun

KF: What do you hope people will take from the film?

DR: I hope people realize that they can do amazing things. I never say, “You can do whatever you want to do if you just put your mind to it,” as that sets up those who fall short as not “wanting” it enough.  However, we can only find out what we can do by attempting to go beyond what we think is impossible.

KF: Got any tips for people who would like to do a half or a full marathon but don’t think they can handle it?

DR: Absolutely! Look at me. I was a 215-pound rugby player who boxed amateur. My first marathon was a 4:12. I have now run in the 2:40s for a full, and know I can get faster. I hated running. I thought it was punishment, and I wasn’t an out-of-shape guy who hated running; I was an athlete. I have failed constantly. I will continue to fail. But I will get back up and try again. So can anyone.

KF: Finally, what’s up next/what’s left on your ‘extreme bucket list?’

DR: I despise the term “bucket list.” If money were no object, there are few things in this world I wouldn’t want to do. I want to learn how to play an instrument. I would enjoy learning another language (or two) fluently. I hope to learn how to tango someday. That is how I wish to experience life.

With regards to running itself, I have learned that one must know to say “no” to the “what’s next” nagging question. We live in a world of instant gratification and instant accolades. Everyone is “awesome” or “wonderful,” and Facebook and social media allow us to have life envy of others whose lives are probably no better than our own.

We have to set our own agenda. After the past few years of sacrificing my own personal running goals with regards to getting faster in order to try and make a small difference with the little bit of publicity I have garnered, I would simply like to set a new marathon PR. I know I can go faster, and it would be wonderful to show — at age 37 — that I can find some speed again.

So in other words, everything is left on my list. I just hope I don’t run out of time.

Want to help Dean make his film a reality? Click here to make a pledge via Kickstarter! 

Source: SeeDaneRun

Source: SeeDaneRun