The Healthy Side of Things

Ever notice that your health takes a dip when you take a break, a vacation, or a recovery week? That's prefectly natural. Perfectly normal. And it is happening to me.

I am sick with pneumonia at the beginning of my recovery week, and it is all right. Normally I get Pneumonia 3-4 times a year. This year.... just once and the timing could not be better.

My husband and I have a common interest in natural health. He finds the article or the "new thing" and I research it. I love research, I love to read studies about nutrition, training, everything.

For example, did you know that Ritalin is more addictive than cocaine? Did you know that the company that makes Ritalin funds many of the studies that promote medication to treat ADHD?

For every study that promotes the use of medication for this, I can find three that condemn it. That are not funded by any medication company.

Same with nutrition, and I am one heck of a skeptic about things. Curt's recent "find" is Pomegranate, and grape juice. And he is actually right. I have found several studies showing that in the short term (there are not many long term just yet) pomegranite, grape juice and the acai berry are three of the best antioxidant fruits you can eat. They contain more antioxidants than blueberries and even red wine.

Speaking of antioxidants there are a lot of studies proving and condeming their benefits on overall health. Again there is not a lot of long term research here, so while we wait for that, I have decided antioxidants are good to include in the diet.

Did you know that in the United States nutritional supplements are not regulated by the FDA? I could grind up the grass in my backyard, put it into a pill and tell you it will help enhance your health. In the United States nutritional supplements need to only prove they are safe. It's why I have aligned myself with nutritional supplements that are held to European standards, per the reccommendation of Cyndi Weis at Breathe. Cyndi is one hell of a Dietician so if she suggests a product, you know it is quality.

So as we make the turn into April I have decided to launch part II of my nutriton plan. Part I was about making good choices, losing body fat, and gaining lean muscle. Part II brings me to the elimination of sugar.

Gulp.

So I have given up the white fluff, and I don't mean in candy. That's the easy part. I mean the hidden refined sugar in our daily foods. And I have given up ice cream.

Both of these are GONE until July 23rd.

I want to know that on July 22nd, I have done everything possible in training, in my emotional world and nutritionally to have the best chances for the greatest day of my life.

Want to feel absolutley amazing? Give it a try as well. Week one is hard. But by week 3 you feel balanced in every way. You will notice a difference in training. You will notice a difference in yur energy level, you mood, you actions towards others.

Putting the proper things into the body, nutrients, minerals, etc will give you the chance to have the best possible health, the best possible BMI and the best day of YOUR life!

:-) Mary Eggers

Dropping My Bag of Stuff

It's come that time of the season where I need to do some house cleaning. Where I need to take a look around me and what is in my life and begin to simplify. Specifically, what is surrounding me that is positive and fills me with good energy? What is surrounding me that is an energy drainer, an energy sucker?

Every time I head towards an Ironman I find the need to do this. This means distancing myself from people and things who radiate negativity.

We all have our bag of "stuff" that we carry around with each day. I tend to carry a lot in my little bag of stuff, and I do that by choice. In my bag of stuff are all the various roles I play in life..... Mom, Wife, Athlete, Entreprenuer / Coach , Yoga Teacher,Nurse. So in a sense, I have enough in my bag of stuff. Enough that a little annoyance or negativity just weighs it all down. When you are traveling 140.6 miles there is just no room for anything but good stuff in the bag.

Traveling towards 140.6 requires me to be in the best emoitonal place that I can be. I think that is the reason why my Montana trip will be the most important week of training for Ironman Lake Placid.

Finding that clear and positive mind gives me invincible strength. When I can nail it, and tap it, nothing can rock me off my base as I call it. No one can walk by me with a sneer or a remark and make any impact. It washes off of me. I am close to that place, and I am excited.

I can't say it is a cocky arrogance that I feel when I can tap it. It is a quiet, calm confidence. Confidence within myself, for myself. It is a place where I never worry about my competitors. Why worry about them? I wish them all amazing races and I wish us all to drive one another to our best days. If that's first or last it is our best that matters. Victory doesn't always mean winning.

Worry about someone else's race, worry about someone else's training, and you pull yourself away from your own true potential. Learn to fly. Learn to let go of inhibitions. Learn to let go of attempting to intimidate other people, let go of all of that which you hold in your bag of stuff.

Allow only good positive things to fill that bag of stuff and you will soon relaize that your bag of stuff is more like a balloon that guides you and allows you to fly.

:-) Mary Eggers

Rabbit Ramble!

Two days before Easter we traveled to Schoharie NY to spend Easter with Curt's Mom, and I signed myself up to run in the 4 mile Rabbit ramble! The Rabbit Ramble was a road race held in New Guilderland New York and about 150 runners showed up to run in the chilly spring. I was one of the very few that ran bare legged in the 25 degree weather. But the sun was shining and I felt excited.

I am at the end of a 3 week build which has seen me average between 16-20 hours per week. We've placed a massive focus on running, averaging just about 40 miles a week. So I came into this race a bit without proper rest. On purpose. Races like this however I like to call "indicator races." I use them as a speed workout, and to see that while tired, where am I at?

It was a late race start of 10 am, so upon arrival I completed a 2.5 mile warm up. It was definitely cold but I was not going to run in tights. It is spring darn it!

The runner crowd is much different form the triathlete crowd, which I always find amusing. I identified the girl who'd likely be in the top three, as she was boasting to some friends about her previous wins. She had long braids so I nicknamed her braids. The other girl whom seemed to be quite good was named "criss cross applesauce" by me in recognition of her cross crossed top.

At the start of the race Braids' friends came up to her laughing… "Who is the girl in the SKIRT?" and I realized they were talking about ME! You see a few years ago I received a sponsorship from Skirt Sports, and I have about 10 awesome running skirts. I tried one out and I have never worn shorts since. You would not believe how comfortable these things are. Now I am not one to frequently wear a skirt, or even wear pink so they must be comfy if they are on me. Apparently they have not yet made their splash in the Albany area, as I was greeted with a sneer from the girls.

It made me smile.

The race begins and I settle into a sub seven minute pace,. I knew there were some sloping down hills and equally sloping up hills. My goal for this race was to stay under 7:30 and to finish sub thirty minutes.

Even with all of my three week build on top of me, I felt good, I felt smooth. Best yet I was running within sight of Braids and Criss Cross Applesauce! Hooray!

You know you are deep in Ironman training when 4 miles seems short!

We hit the turn around and my pace was varying as the terrain was varying, but I concentrated on feeling good, because I did!

During mile three a man whom I named "The Wolf" ran alongside me and pulled ahead. He had good broad shoulders and hair that would make the hippie generation very proud. Rather than fight for position, I decided on a little strategery, and I tucked in behind him. I have never drafted in a run before but I decided to give it a shot. Sure enough at mile 3 when things began to get faster I was able to pass him back and for good. Later I would learn this guy runs 40 road races a year!

I finished within sight of Braids and Criss Cross Applesauce, 29 minutes flat, which is a 7:15 average mile pace. I was ecstatic! I could have gone faster, I felt no pain, and in fact I felt as if I was flying. It has been two years since I have felt this happy about running.

I finished up the day with 2 miles nice and easy and a spin on the computrainer at Curt's Mom's house.

One of the things I love about coming out to Schoharie, is the lack of technology out here. This town is so remote that there is not any internet or wireless phone. 2 days away from the hub always allows me to reconnect, recollect, reassess and then return to society refreshed.

With the winter weather we are getting again this week I am relieved it is a recovery week. Rest week… test week as we like to say around here. Then I will prepare for a final 3 week build into Gulf Coast, which is another indicator race. The taper for this 1/2 Ironman will only be about 8 days.

So the Rabbit Ramble, a success. Another block of training completed….. And here is to a week on Spring Break with Luc. Looks like we will be kicking our feet up a bit and drinking good hot cocoa.

 Mary Eggers

One Door Closes......

Those of you who know me, knwo Kelly Bergkessel. She's my training partener, my travel buddy, and we talk triathlon like regular people talk football. Conversations revolve around Lisa Bentley, Norman Stadler, what we think of Gordo's latest entry..... we are the biggest Gordo Fans there ever were. If we could, we would be President and Vice President of the Gordo Fan Club.

We've trained thousands of miles together in various states. Kelly used to live here in Rochester you see, and she's been in Connecticut the past few years. Growing tired of being in the same place, she has longed for soemthing new and different.

And that time has come. She's moving to Colorado, Boulder to be exact at the end of the month. She's got a better job and she will be joining the gym where Dave Scott teaches Spinning. She'll likely get into the Masters team where Simon Lessing swims. And I am sure she will be in heaven. I am trying to convince her of coaching, and she's emailed with Gordo about going to work for him someday. Now that he is based in Boulder, that becomes more of a reality.

I am really sad. really sad. We've shared a lot and we still will, it will just have to be a little further. Both of my Ironmans I ahve done with her. She's seen me thorugh some great races and she's seen me through some bad races.

So for me the door closes in a way, as a new one opens for her. This is where she wants to be, and this is where she needs to be.

So best of luck my dearest friend Kelly B! And I smell a week long training camp at altitude in 2008

:-) Mary Eggers

The Warrior Poet....

If you have been following the remarkable John Blais, then you are familiar with his war against ALS. This inspirational and magnificent man completed the Hawaii Ironman in 2005, and I had the privilege of seeing him on stage at the Clearwater 70.3 race. The 70.3 World Championships. John's fight and his legacy have brought many people log rolling across finish lines all over the world.

One of our athletes, Philip Clark (who sang the National Anthem at 70.3 world champs) is raising money for the Blazeman, as he is known as. Philip shared some sad news this morning. The Blazeman has slipped into the final stages of ALS and it is expected he will pass away within the month.

If you have ever stopped by his website, then you have been inspired by his words. This man could have crumbled up and died. But he did the opposite. He did the Ironman which was for many of us, living life to the fullest. He not only brought attention to the win less war on ALS but he has inspired the entire world.

So this morning when I am out on my 18 mile run I will pray. And I will pray for his safe passage to the world beyond. I will pray for his pain to end peacefully, I will pray that he will leave this world knowing how much he touched out hearts.

This was written by him and I think this says it all. We love you John. I am honored to have been touched by your life.

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams or for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your motion. I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow. If you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and close from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fit it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with the wildness and let the "Meatheadedness" fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not there everyday, and if you can source your life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still shout stand on the edges of a lake, river or mountain and shout to the silver of the full moon.

Yes! I'm a Meathead...


It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for someone you love.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and truly like the company you keep in the empty moments of your life and still remember me...

Your friend, Blazeman

You Know You Are Training for the Ironman When...

There are things that happen to me when I begin to dip into my long Ironman training weeks. First and foremost I get really, really stupid. I forget things mid sentence and I search for my keys about 12 times per day. Here are just a few of the idiot things I have done this month....

I showed up for dinner at Jill's a week early and then on the date I was supposed to show up, I completely forgot.

I forgot to combination to the safe where I put my passport and my airline tickets to Montana. Not only did I create the combination but I use it a few times a month.

I have forgotten most of my user names and passwords.

I could not comprehend how June comes after May.

And how April only has 30 days. Or is it 31?

I have locked myself out of my house 2 times.

I have trouble counting in general. Which sucks when you have a kindergartner who depends on your expertise.

I have begun my laundry 3 times and forgotten I began it, necessitating a second wash to each batch to rid my clothing of "washer stink".

I begin a conversation with Bill after the race on Sunday that I continue with Glenn later, with Bill next to me and both looking at me like I am nuts. (Good thing they know I am.)

When I got pulled over for speeding and the cop asked me how old I was, I told him "30-34 sir." (he let me go...)

The institution of an organizational system has been mandated by my husband. I have been told that if I lose my way home he is not helping me. On the other hand he thinks this is hilarious. It's happened before and friends..... it is going to last until November. So be warned. Be prepared.

I am on a permanent 7 second delay. If you tell me something important past running mile 11 please email it to me later. And don't worry, I find it funny too.

That's the road we travel as we head towards the land of Iron. And I am so excited to be on this path. Come rain shine, or one last blast of snow as we are expecting tomorrow..... I don't' care bring all of it. I am so lucky to be able to say I am healthy. I am so lucky to state that I am happy.

And Carl Johntson, I am so lucky to be able to tell you that I am having immense, immense fun.

:-) Mary Eggers

Spring Forward Race Report

This morning we had beautiful weather for the Spring Forward 9.5 Distance Run, and I am pleased to announce I had a terrific workout! The day began at 0430 with a 90 minute ride, and then continued at 7am with a 6 mile run with some of my athletes. We got to the starting line just in time for the start, and the next 9.5 miles were wonderful. Nutrition was working well, and I was feeling great, even with all those miles already on!

This is a very hilly course, not one section is flat, so finding an average pace is never an option! After we finished we ran another 3 to tally 18 miles of running for the day. No soreness, no bonking, a complete success.

Many kind people welcomed me back to the racing scene, and it made me realize it has been a bit since I raced locally. We have an amazing community here.

So build week 2 complete with 40 miles of running, 200 miles of cycling and 8000 yards of swimming. 19 hours total, and we have one more build week in the block!

Hooray! SOrry so short, much more to come!

:-) Mary Eggers