Uncategorized Archive -

In memoriam

This is not my usual blog post. If you’re looking for something to inspire your running, you won’t get it from me this time. It’s not the smoothest, most beautiful piece of writing, but it’s something I had to write.

My grandfather moved on from this life early Sunday morning.

As I lay in bed, beginning to process the news, I did what most people would do in this situation – I went to the memories. What I began to realize as I searched my memory is that he taught me much more than I ever realized or appreciated while he was alive.

Among the many accomplishments in his life, Kenneth Potter opened and ran a successful produce market in downtown Holland for nearly 30 years. That entrepreneurial spirit was enstilled in his children and grandchildren, many of whom have gone on to start their own businesses. That spirit is alive in me, though I haven’t found the best way to express it.

He and my grandmother had 5 children, 24 grandchildren, and 35 great-grandchildren with many more on the way. They have attended everything from piano recitals to choir concerts to band concerts, football games to soccer matches to track meets. Track and Cross Country are not the most glamorous sports, but they always made sure to make it to a couple meets per season. I didn’t realize it at the time, but between all the grandchildren (and we were a busy bunch) they must have spent every single night during the school year at some kind of event, and never begrudgingly. They loved to see their family be successful.

Beyond all that, the greatest gift he ever gave me was the one lesson I don’t think he meant to teach. Over the years I have seen my grandpa grow as a man. I always assumed that once you hit a certain age, you just stayed the same; and maybe some people do. But Grandpa Potter was open to continuous growth. As we grandchildren grew up in a new and very different era than he was familiar with, we often challenged his worldview and flew in the face of what he perceived to be the norm. By no means was he a perfect person; he was most certainly a product of the era during which he grew up. As an example, he was none too pleased one year at Christmas when I showed him a picture of my new girlfriend (now my wife). It was impossible for him to conceive of one of his grandchildren being with someone of a different race, and it elicited a (highly inappropriate) viceral response. It wasn’t his fault (at least not totally), it was something he’d never had to think about before. The great thing about my grandpa was that I could say right to his face that I did not appreciate his comments, and it never changed the way he felt about me. It took time, and the first time they met was very awkward, but by our wedding day he had accepted Mindy as a member of his family, and loved her as his own. I respect him so much for that. It would have been easy to hold a grudge and reluctantly accept what he could not change. But that is not the path he chose. He chose to examine himself (with Grandma’s help, I’m sure) and adapt to a new time in order to love better.

There are many more examples that I could go in to, but there is one in particular that strikes my passions. At what most would consider late in life to do so, Grandpa decided to quit smoking. Most New Year’s resolutions fail fairly quickly, but this one lasted nearly 30 years, never waivering. It’s never too late to change.

I think sometimes people take my lack of transparency as a lack of caring. I don’t post every thought and emotion on facebook or make grand entrances to family events – it’s not my style. It wasn’t Grandpa’s style, either. He didn’t want to burden anyone with his problems. If he was having a bad day, no one but Grandma knew about it. That’s what made it so hard to see him at the end. He didn’t want us to see him like that; he didn’t want us to hurt.

If you’re still reading, you’re probably related to me. I could not stop shaking while I typed this. I left and came back to the computer numerous times, just so I could try to compose myself. We all loved Grandpa, and he will be missed. I don’t want this to become a 1500 word essay, so I will end with this: let the lessons you’ve learned be his legacy. Thank you, Gramps, for everything.

17th January 2012

Uncategorized

Frustration: It’s a frustrating thing

Lately I’ve been frustrated. It doesn’t make me love my job or my family less, it’s simply a part of being human. The key, of course, is finding a healthy way to deal with frustration. Usually, I run. But what happens when running is one of the things that is frustrating?

I’ve been dealing with a nagging issue. I don’t want to call it an injury, because I’m not sure that’s what it is. Of course, I am not a doctor, nor a physical therapist, and I recognize that self-diagnosis has extended the frustration for me before, but I am stubborn and will not make the time to get things checked out. With that said, and with what I do know, it seems to be more of a muscular imbalance than a true injury. Sure, that might be the same to you, but for me, the label “injury” means something that I don’t want to deal with (mentally or physically).

When the thing that is your best medicine for frustration is a major source of frustration where do you turn? If I had a definitive answer, I would not still be frustrated. I have been working on balancing my perceived muscular imbalance, and that has helped. However the benefits are short-lived. Whereas a good run can keep me feeling good for a couple of days, the mental benefits of what I have been doing this week seem to wane in a couple of hours. Yes, it’s keeping me from boiling over, but it hasn’t been the cure. Life ebbs and flows like a babbling brook that rushes like a river, and maybe this is just a season in which the water level is high. Or maybe the key lies in the quote below:

“To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles.” -T.F. Hodge

5th January 2012

Uncategorized

2011: Year In Review

I know, it’s old and played to do a year in review. It’s a cop-out for any real journalist. Well, I’ve got news for you – I’m no journalist. I’m just a hack writer, so you get a hack blog post.When I look back at the year 2011, it doesn’t seem all that remarkable. That’s why I’ve decided to do a year in review. I’m using this as a way to force myself to look back and remember more specifically the things that happened, the things I accomplished, and, ultimately, the things I learned in the last calendar year. I hope that when you finish reading mine, you will make time to do this for yourself. Without further ado, here is what I learned in 2011:

Jury duty isn’t nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be
I’m not very good at indoor soccer
In fact, I suck at indoor soccer
If properly motivated (and medicated) it is possible to run a half-marathon on a severely sprained ankle – though you will pay for it for many months following
I have many responsibilities in my life, most of which do not appreciate when I give 100% of my focus to the track season
I like Tulip Time
Turning 30 isn’t so bad, but being 30 is a whole new beast
Kaila is the most beautiful princess in the world

and she’s a pretty fast barefoot runner, too!
I need to “let loose” and leave my routine once in a while to explore the world around me and discover new experiences
I love West Michigan and everything it has to offer
Sleeping in a car in a field the night before a race may not be the worst idea ever, but it’s not a great one
If you drive straight home from that race because of a family gathering and decide that, for the sake of time, you will only “freshen up” instead of full-fledged showering, there will be family pictures taken as soon as you get there
Injuries are just a part of running…at least for me
Chicago is a great city for a runner
I love my job, the company I work for, and the people I work with
But most importantly, I learned that I am nothing without the friends and family that surround me and love me on a daily basis

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog over the past number of months. 2012 should be a great year, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you all as it moves along. Happy New Year!

30th December 2011

Uncategorized

Commitment to Community

“At Gazelle Sports we actively pursue, encourage and celebrate a healthy lifestyle. We strive for retail excellence by providing the world’s best customer care, focusing on a never ending commitment to unmatched product knowledge and creating friendly, positive relationships with customers, vendors and our communities.” -Gazelle Sports’ Mission Statement

So, it’s been a while since my last post – over a month, in fact. That’s not due to a lack of trying; rather, a lack of inspiration. I’ve tried many times to sit down and write something meaningful; something I would enjoy writing and something you would enjoy reading. Nothing.

Last week I had the privilege of attending The Running Event in Austin, Texas as a representative of Gazelle Sports. It is a convention/expo combination for running specialty retailers held annually. It’s a good opportunity to get away, get some tips, and get a good look at some new product. In conjunction with the event, Competitor puts on a dinner for the “50 Best Running Stores in America” in which they recognize, you guessed it, the 50 best running stores in America and Store of the Year. In addition, a few of the vendors have awards to give out; Balega presents the Ubuntu award, Nike presents the Just Do It award, and The North Face presents the Never Stop Exploring award.

As I sat with my co-workers around the table, none of us knowing what was coming, it hit me. Inspiration.

I’ve worked in a lot of different companies over a short period of time; everything from retail to sales to childcare and back to retail. Never have I been more proud to be associated with the people I work with and for. Never have I been so proud to wear a company’s logo on my shirt. I WANT people to know I work at Gazelle Sports because of what it stands for; in my community, in West Michigan, and in running specialty. We don’t do what we do for awards, but it feels nice to be recognized for doing the things we think are important. Thank you to everyone who keeps Gazelle Sports in business, and thank you to all my co-workers who make this such an amazing place to work.

16th December 2011

News, Uncategorized

Holiday Recipe Series – Part 1

Your healthy lifestyle doesn’t need to take a break for the holidays. During this season, we have compiled a few of our very own Gazelle Girl favorite Healthy Holiday Recipes. Dazzle your family and friends with tasty food while helping to spread the Healthy Holiday Spirit!

1 2 3 4

The following recipe is low in fat and full of flavor… perfect for a holiday brunch.

Asparagus and Zucchini Frittata

12 oz. fresh or one 10-oz. pkg. frozen asparagus
1 small yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
1/2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped bottled roasted red bell peppers, drained
1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
2 cups refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed, or 8 eggs
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 T fresh dill or 1 t dry
3/4 t salt
1 t ground black pepper
2 T all-purpose flower
3 or 4 T finely shredded parmesan

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 2 quart rectangular baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
2. If using fresh asparagus, trim woody bases. Cut into 1-inch pieces.
3. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. Add asparagus, yellow pepper, zucchini and onion. Cover and simmer until just tender. Drain well. Stir in roasted peppers. Spread asparagus-pepper mixture evenly in baking dish and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella.
4.Whisk together egg product, milk, dill, salt and black pepper. Whisk in flour, making sure it is completely combined. Pour over vegetables in baking dish. Bake, uncovered, about 35 minutes or until slightly puffed. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and the Parmesan. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

MAKES 8 SERVINGS.

Per serving using egg product: 84 calories, 2 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 414 mg sodium, 7 g carbs, 7 mg chol, 10 g protein, 1 g fiber.

15th December 2011

Gazelle Girl, How-to, Uncategorized, Women's Interest

Christmas Wish List

It’s that time of year. Everyone is out looking for that perfect gift. Everone is asking what’s on your list.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved going through the Sears catalogue when I was a kid. I’m sure I had a hefty wish list. But this season, I’m having a hard time thinking of things to ask for.

We’re so blessed that we have not one Christmas tree at our house but two full evergreens lit up and decorated. I truly have much more than I need.

Instead of material things, I came up with an alternative list.

Experiences: I’d love to do things with my loved ones more often. Ideally, they would all train for race we could do together. Sleigh rides and explorations in the woods would be fun, too.
Good Health: I’ve been blessed with good health and injury-free running lately. I’d love to find a couple more healthy seasons wrapped up under the tree.
Hard Track Workouts: Does everyone love the feeling of depleted muscles after a rocking interval sesson? I do. Let’s come up with some new ones together.
Ice and Snow: Please don’t put these under the tree, but I’d like a lot of them outside. I love to freeze my eye lashes and goatee.
Inspiration: Sure, this could be found in a new training log or a new running book, but it could also come from a new running buddy or a new trail to run.
Fun Races: They could be trail races, obstacle courses, beer runs, relays, whatever. I’d love to explore a new place via a new race.

So, here’s my Christmas wish list. It’s short on products, but long on fun. If you really want to buy me something boxable, I do like this Saucony hoodie.

9th December 2011

Uncategorized

From The Other Side

Who ever knew that nurturing the growth of other runners could be so immensely rewarding?

It all started with “yes.” Would I be interested in co-coaching the Gazelle Sports Safari Half Marathon and Marathon Training Program group? Absolutely! The journey began at the East Grand Rapids High School track on the first of a series of beautiful summer evenings. Molly, Bill, Sarah, Tim, Kim, Kurt, Erin, Katie… 30 eager faces and fit bodies. These people were not new runners. They were runners with new and bigger goals; they wanted to complete their first half or full marathon.

Our coaching challenge was to properly prepare, both physically and mentally, these exceptionally nice folks to do something extraordinary by running a distance that they, heretofore, thought impossible. Over the course of 16 weeks, we evolved – as a group – into long-distance athletes, PLUS good friends. We sweated, strained, pushed, laughed, learned, cajoled, groaned and even cried occasionally with the pain or frustration of injuries. We were a team of people joined by a common passion and goal… and it was a marvelous adventure.

1 2 3

But nothing in the coaching experience could compare to the grand finale… cheering for our new friends along the course of the Grand Rapids Marathon. For the first time, I was on the other side of the fence; this wasn’t my race to run, but to support. It was akin to watching my children at sporting events; this (parent) coach was bursting with pride as I screamed and yelled as our Safari members ran by me. I thought about each of those uncomfortably fast workouts on the track and those beastly hot long runs when things didn’t always go right for all of our runners. But now, there they were… runners who dedicated themselves all summer to the pursuit of this longer distance. They were now reaping the rewards of perseverance. The smiles on their faces, not pain, spotlighted the enormity of their accomplishment on that special day.

We all stay in touch. There is a bond, an intimacy, that develops when you tackle a half or full marathon together. Taking turns, someone from the group arranges a long run every weekend. Running friends forever. No, friends forever. I am honored to know them, and I am thankful for the positive impact they made on my life.

7th December 2011

Gazelle Girl, How-to, Training, Uncategorized

What do you think about…

If you run at all, you’ve been asked what you think about when you run. Some people ask because they’ve convinced themselves that running is boring. Others ask out of genuine curiosity. I’ve probably been asked this question hundreds of times. Usually, I’m at a loss to explain it because it varies so much.

There is one situation where the answer is easy, though. I didn’t realize how easy it was to explain what I think about during racing until last weekend.

I ran a 10k race where at least half of the course was on a service drive running parallel to 696 near Detroit. Scenic would not be a great adjective to describe the course. When I finished, RunnerGirl asked if the course was as bad as I had anticipated.

I couldn’t really answer her.

No. I didn’t black out during the race. No, I didn’t take any shortcuts, either.

I’ve read that elite athletes practice association while sub-elites generally use disassociation. Association means focusing on internal muscular cues to gauge effort, strain, fatigue, etc. Disassociation is interested in distracting the body from the pain it is experiencing.

Now, I’m not claiming to be elite at all. However, I do try to develop my association skills and focus on my kinesthetic signals.

During the 10k, I didn’t notice the course because I was extremely focused on my pace, my legs, my lungs, my posture, etc. I was constantly searching for that red-line to push my body as hard as it could go for 10,000 meters and no harder.

I didn’t run the perfect race, but I am confident I ran a much better race than if I had been thinking about my Ipod or my plans for the afternoon or anything else.

So when I am asked what I think about when I’m racing, at least I can answer that question.

What do you think about when you run?

19th November 2011

Events, Training, Uncategorized

Gazelle Girl Gear – Berry Tones

1 - 2 – 3- 4

Keep toasty with beautiful warm shades of berry and brown for this upcoming winter season!

15th November 2011

Uncategorized

Battle of the Gloves

Cold hands = Painful run

Thankfully, Gazelle can help. We have a great glove selection. Here’s a run down of the main options (I didn’t do all of our gloves because it would take too long).

Saucony Ulti-Mitt

The Saucony Ulti-Mitt is available in black, ViziPro Pink, and ViziPro Green. The mitten part stores in the back of the glove when it is not needed. These hatchback gloves run a little large. I’m a medium in all the other gloves, but I had to go down to a small in the Saucony line. I thought the pink would be a different size, but they fit the same as the other colors. The Ulti-Mitt (besides using ViziPro and reflective logo) comes equipped with Saucony’s rechargeable LED. These little lights are super bright and recharge in your USB port in only 20 minutes. They also have a “convertible” thumb, so you MP3 junkies can use the bevel on your Ipod. Most of the gloves have added a plush “clothe wipe” for your nose. It sounds kind of gross, but that’s what it’s for. This glove is $45.

The Saucony Protectioin Glove also has the rechargeable LED, the ViziPro colors,

Saucony Protection Glove

and the reflective logo. Don’t worry. They threw in the nose wiping accessory, too. It feels a little thicker than the Ulti-Mitt, but it’s not a hatchback. Saucony did include small magnets in the collar of the gloves. This makes it easier to keep them together as a pair. They go for $50.

Pearl Izumi Shine Wind Mitt

The Pearl Izumi Shine Wind Mitt definitely fits snugger than the Saucony gloves do. It also comes up much higher on the wrist. This higher wrist comes with a small key pocket that seems relatively secure even though it doesn’t have snap, zipper, or velcro. The great thing about these hatchbacks (and really all hatchbacks) is that the shell that covers the fingers is wind resistant. This keeps your fingers warmer because they are protected from the wind and also because they are huddled together. These gloves are $30.

Pearl Izumi Select Softshell Lite Glove

The Pearl Izumi Select Softshell Lite Glove fits similarly to the Shine Wind Mitt, just without the finger covering. This didn’t seem like it would block the wind quite as well. It was very comfortable, though. It also features grippy accents on the palm and fingers and a plush fleece on the back of the thumb. The cost is $30.

Brooks Adapt Glove

The Brooks Adapt Glove fits a little loose (the picture to the left is a size medium). It features a “convertible” thumb as well as the hatchback covering. Brooks advertises the hatchback shell as water resistant, but I’m not sure if it blocks water any better than the other hatchbacks. They do make it highly visible with the Nightlife color and reflective logo. Brooks sews small magnets into the color of their gloves to make it easier to keep them together between uses. These gloves are $30.

Brooks Vapor Dry2 Gloves

The Brooks Vapor Dry2 Glove also has the Nightlife coloring. Like the Adapt glove, it also has a “convertible” thumb for MP3 control. They have a fleece nose wiping accessory and magnets in the collar. They cost $28.

Mizuno Breath Thermo Glove

The Mizuno Breath Thermo Glove fits a little loose, but I think it would work well as a liner or alone. It’s quite thin and has the feel of one of those cheap, cotton stretch gloves. It’s no simple cotton glove, though. It has Mizuno’s Breath Thermo thread woven into the fabric. If you’re not familiar with Breath Thermo, it reacts to moisture to create a small amount of heat. I really like it for $20.

The last glove in my review is the Mizuno Breath Thermo Fleece. This glove is thicker than the regulary Breath

Mizuno Breath Thermo Fleece

Thermo glove. It also fits much smaller. I found the palm and fingers to be too short. It would probably be a good option for someone with small hands. It also has the Breath Thermo thread woven into it. It costs $28.

12th November 2011

Product, Uncategorized