The Journey

This is the first triathlon I’ve participated in since 2017.   I have been practicing my swim and participating in other events including relay, fun runs and Duathlons this year.   I trained for the Chicago Tri but the swim was canceled so I decided to sign up for the Baltimore Tri on October 5. I’m anxious about swimming so I needed to see if I actually break through my mental block of having to do my weakest sport first. Swim  This event took place at Hammerman Beach where the Gunpowder river meets the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore County, Maryland. The Bay consists underwater grasses surprisingly with shallow water in sections. Why is this important to know?    Keep reading.   It’s 7:30 am on race day. The water is choppy with sea needles and vegetation everywhere. The water temps were reported as 64.4 degrees then 68.4. The truth lies somewhere in between. Images of a cold sea monsters went through my head. My mind was ...

Ooooooooohhhhh Chicago, Chicago.... I signed up for the Chicago Triathlon on a whim so I could hang out with friends and get at least one OWS tri completed before the end tri season.  Well,  the triathlon did not happen.  The Chicago Triathlon became a Duathlon.  I had to laugh at myself.   I actually completed two duathlons earlier this year.  But here I am on number 3.  They say, three times is a charm right?   Perhaps, the "Tri spirits" were cutting me some slack.  I chuckled to myself when the swim was cancelled.  I was both relieved and bummed.  I seriously wanted to swim in Lake Michigan since I did NOT complete the swim portion of the 2017 Chicago Tri.  (You can read about that triathlon from my 2017 post.)  But I am grateful.  My team mates who live in Chicago were wonderful hosts.  I was surrounded by new and old friends, athletes and volunteers. I count that a win for sure. In triat...

The Hagerstown Duathlon is a fun local race in Maryland. It was one of the first multi-sport races I participated in back in 2013 before I could swim.  This small town family friendly duathlon brings out the local multi-sport athletes from Western Maryland and alike.  It is well organized and great fun to kick off the season.  So I signed up.  This was my first solo multi-sport race since 2017.  For the past 2 years, I have participated in individual sports i.e. running only, swimming only or relay but just didn't have the time to participate in anything more than that.  So I figured " Hey look Stacy, you have nothing to lose just show up."  With my under-trained happy attitude, I decided to participate in this Duathlon.  The course consisted of a 1.8 mile run, 10 mile bike and 5k run.  It was relatively flat and safe.   Yadda Yadda.  As you know, my blogs are really never about the race.  It is all the BSS (Behind the ...

Spark Joy in Fitness.  Today we live in a data driven world. We track everything from our food intake to how many steps we take daily to how many miles we swam, rode or ran on our watches then download all the data to analyze our personal improvement. Is this you?  If so, you are probably nodding your head, “ Yup, that is me, “ but we know that quantitative data is only one method to assess fitness. In all honesty,  how much time do you spend reflecting on how you felt about your workouts?  Quantity does not equal quality.  As Marie Kondo would ask, “Did your workout spark joy?”  According to Kondo’s KonMari method if something does not spark joy, it should be discarded. No, this doesn’t mean you get to sit in front of the TV and eat cake all day, but one can use Kondo’s concept in their fitness journey.   Are you tied to a number in the scale, race time or training schedule?  How do you feel if you do not get to a goal weight, ge...

Exercise from the Inside Out: The Psycho-physiological Benefits of Exercise by Stacy Winters, ME.d MSN CRNP,  Certified Health Coach             Have you experienced low energy, poor quality sleep, or low self-esteem?   Have you considered exercise as a part of your personal wellness treatment plan?   Most people are aware of the physical health benefits of regular exercise.    Exercise promotes artery health, helps to lower blood pressure, improves blood lipid profiles, reduces one’s risk for obesity, improves insulin sensitivity and reduces cognitive decline, but it can also improve sleep, self-esteem, self-efficacy and cognition (Brehm-Curtis &  Ebooks Corporation, 2014; Kovacevic, Mavos, Heisz;  Singh, 2018; Mandolesi et al., 2018).     There are clear benefits of daily exercise on psychological health. Research shows that individuals who exercise have more e...

As I reflect over the events of this year, one word comes to mind.  The word is unravel.  To unravel means to undo, disentangle and investigate. It means to clarify and solve.   Every once in a while, I have a year where all heck breaks out and this was one of those years.  You may have had one year like this as well. This year I struggled with depression.  This was abnormal for me, but nevertheless it was a real mental state I could not shake.  I struggled with depression and anxiety for months as I watched my 12 year relationship dissolve before my eyes. I felt powerless.  Depression is turning anger inward.  Instead of focusing my anger accordingly, I became angry at myself.  I am a fixer. I can make all things "right," so I thought but I could NOT fix my own marriage.   This was hard for a type A personality.  This is the most personal entry I have written and I debated whether I would publish it or not.  Af...

On September 16, 2018,  I had the pleasure of running in the Rick's Run Ultra Challenge. This trail run course include a 5.22 mile trail loop in Greenbrier State Park in Maryland. The course was challenging with steep climbs, rocks, mud and stream crossings.  Here are a few photos. This trail run was named after a wonderful gentlemen who was apart of our local running club. He had a great passion for running and life. His infectious smile welcomed all. Although his earthly presence is no longer here, his spirit lives on in this race. You can read a little about Rick in a note written by his dear friend below. Why  did I choose to run such a difficult course some have asked me? Now that I'm showered and had dinner, I believe I can answer this question. My racing season has been derailed all year by health and personal setbacks, school and work commitments, and sporadic training due to the lack of time. No excuses just reality. I chose this ra...