Meet Tough Chiks Hazel, Vicktoria and Elisabeth!

Hazel

Name: Hazel

Location: Tucson, AZ

Sport of Choice: Running

2013 Race Plans: Boston Marathon 2013

What makes you a Tough Chik: Challenging my limits and learning to listen to my body in order to optimize performance.

If you had a super power, what would it be? Flash

Fun Fact: Love socializing and enjoying my hubby’s cooking 🙂

 

Vicktoria

Name: Vicktoria

Location: Atlanta, GA

Sport of Choice: MTB/Cycling

2013 Race Plans: Ironman CDA, ID in June

Olympic Distance Tri in Naples, FL- January

Half IM in Columbus, GA- April

What makes you a Tough Chik: EVERYTHING!

Fun Fact: I am a cyclist who has signed up for an Ironman, having never done a triathlon and I can’t swim (but I’m learning).  Hooray!  Here’s to a fun 2013!

 

Elisabeth

Name: Elisabeth

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Sport of Choice: Triathlon, Running

2013 Race Plans: Desert Tri International; Wildflower Long Course AND Olympic (fundraising with TNT for Wildflower Long); Vineman 70.3; Hood to Coast; Marine Corps Marathon and New York City Marathon.

What makes you a Tough Chik: I don’t give up – ever.  I could barely ride my road bike a year ago, and in late July I completed an ironman – Vineman 140.6! Even after I crashed my bike and got a concussion last December, after only about a month and a half of cycling, I got back out there.  I will work through any obstacle and keep going, no matter what.  Life is too short to sit on the side lines or wait for the perfect moment, so I seize every moment.  That’s what makes me a Tough Chik.

If you had a super power, what would it be? Super speed (I wanna be fast!), or super strength (being strong is awesome!), or invisibility (that could be REALLY interesting…), or the ability to breathe underwater (see below – I love OWS). I can’t pick! 😉

Fun Fact: My favorite workout is open water swimming (OWS) – I LOVE ocean swimming, even in the dirty (polluted) Santa Monica Bay.  And, I am secretly starting to love cycling.  Sh! Don’t tell anyone, actually go for it, they’d never believe you! 😉

I’m an L.A. girl through and through, born and raised, laid back, loving the LA lifestyle.

Blog URL: …With an S – http://runningatthespeedofme.blogspot.com

 

Waiting for lemonade

I have a big pile of lemons and I just waiting to figure out how to make them into lemonade.

Yesterday I was tossed into a bunch of lemons and I feel like I am drowning.  Enough of the analogy, here is what happened.

Yesterday was my big brick, 15 mile bike followed by a 2 mile run repeated 4 times. I was prepared. I was physched. 10 miles into my first bike leg, I reached for my water bottle and my garmin watch band (the extra free part that flaps free from the loop) caught on my brake cable (along the top tube) and when I pulled up with my bottle, it pulled the cable and my rear brake closed while I was going about 17mph. My rear wheel fish tailed and I was thrown off (out of my pedals) and I know the initial impact was on right, because that is where my helmet is dented and where I was road rash along my hip.  But I ended up on my left and that is were I am more sore.  Me and my bike ended up on the other side of the bike trail and my bike was headed in the opposite direction.  I (and my bike) am ok, just very sore. A nice gal with a baby jogger stopped and called 911, but I refused help.  I didn’t loose consciousness and I knew that nothing wasn’t broken.  I was a little shook up, but was able to ride back to my truck.   After I got back to the truck, I talked to my husband (who is traveling of course) and I decided to continue on. I ran and rode 2 more legs before I just couldn’t walk without pain. In total I only did 3 bike legs and 2 run legs, instead of the 4 I set out to do.  I also gave a flat changing lesson half-way through my 3rd bike leg to a stranded cyclist, which might have done me in.  My muscles cooled off while I was helping her and after that I was very stiff.  When I got off my bike for my 3rd run leg, I couldn’t walk.  My left leg was so stiff and sore that I couldn’t put any pressure on it.  If walking was challenging, running was out of the question.

At that point I realized that I am doing more harm than good and decided to pack it up and head home.  I was disappointed.  I was angry.  I was sad.  I was mad.  I was up to my eyeballs in lemons.

Today I am very stiff and sore and kind of feel like I was beaten with a baseball bat (or a bag of lemons).  I have whip lash and my neck is very sore and even a little swollen.  Tomorrow I am headed to Palm Spring for a big bike ride and expo.  I am working the expo and I was planning on riding.  I am SO fortunate to have such great friends that helped me load the truck tonight (thanks Laura and Neil) and unload tomorrow in Palm Springs (Thanks Lauren, Helaine, Tina and Mike).  If it weren’t for them, I would have to cancel Tough Chik’s participation in the expo!  That would have been the huge blow.  And there is the lemonade.  I have friends and people around me that will help me.  That is pretty huge and very sweet!

Watch out for these Tough Chiks! Crystal, Heidi and Walisa are TOUGHIES!!!

 

Crystal

Name: Crystal Fun2Race

Location: Dayville, CT

Sport of Choice: Mountain Biking, Cyclocross, Archery, Swimming & sometimes Running

2013 Race Plans: I’m not sure yet how much I can cram into one year, but I would like to do the following: a 6/12 hour mountain bike race, 4-5 xc mountain bike races, 8-10 cyclocross races, a marathon, 2 5ks, at least one 2.4 mile swim race, national outdoor archery championships, and anything else that comes up and looks fun!

What makes you a Tough Chik: I’m a tough chick because I am stubborn and don’t like to give up. I’m not afraid to weight train, get dirty or push through a tough workout. I like to challenge myself to try new things, and I encourage those around me to become more active in their own lives

If you had a super power, what would it be? My ideal super power would be teleportation. We waste so much of our lives traveling between one place and another, so this would free me up to do so much more with my time. Also, I would be able to easily visit all of my out of state family and friends on a regular basis!

Fun Fact: In 2001, I had the opportunity to train as a member of team USA (swimming) in New Zealand and Australia in preparation for competing in the Australian Gold Coast Challenge, where I took silver in both of my events.

Blog URL: http://crystalfun2race.wordpress.com

 

Heidi

Name: Heidi

Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Sport of Choice: Running

2013 Race Plans: So far: Jan 1 – New Year’s Day 5k (Knoxville, TN), Jan 13 – Hot Chocolate 15k (Atlanta, GA), April 27 – Country Music Half Marathon (Nashville, TN), September 1 – Virginia Beach Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon (VA Beach, VA), November 24 – Secret City Half Marathon (Oak Ridge, TN)

What makes you a Tough Chik: In October 2008, someone took a photo of me at a company picnic. When I saw that picture all my denial peeled away…I was morbidly obese. I don’t know how I had really ignored it for so long. I really wasn’t as unhealthy as I could have been, but I knew it was a matter of time. Since then I have had to suck it up and lose 80lbs. On January 1, 2010 a friend talked me into running a New Year’s Day 5k and I was able to run/walk it and cried when I finished. I was hooked. Since then I have finished countless smaller races, 11 half marathons, and one full marathon. All the while I am a wife, Mom, friend, full time graphic designer, etc. I am a tough chik because I took responsibility for my body and my health and have made the change. And because of that many others have started their own journeys to be healthy and some are even runners now!

If you had a super power, what would it be? Being able to eat as much chocolate as I want without gaining weight. LOL!!!

Fun Fact: I have a secret obsession with the paranormal and would love to go on a ghost hunt. 🙂

Blog URL: http://runningawayintn.wordpress.com/

 

Walisa

Name: Walisa

Location: Cleveland, OH

Sport of Choice: Running, Kickboxing, and Spin Cycle

2013 Race Plans: To complete my first Half-Marathon (Cleveland- Rite Aid Half and Marathon). My friends and I will be first-timers in the following races:  Tough Mudder, Foam Fest, and 5K Color Run

What makes you a Tough Chik: I make attainable goals and work hard to achieve. It does not matter how long it takes to achieve, I start what I finish. “Cannot” is not in my vocabulary. I am in no way perfect, but I “try” my best to attain

If you had a super power, what would it be? To clean the house with a snap of a finger.

Fun Fact: “I have an APP for that!”

Anniversary Ride – 4 yrs

Every year on January 29th I finish the ride that I started on January 29, 2009 that I never finished.  My wreck was bad, but not terrible.  In fact, I thought I wrecked 3 yrs ago until I sat down to write this post!  Time flys.  My arm will never be the same and it still bothers me here and there, but I can still ride and that is what I celebrate!

 

Here I am, yesterday afternoon after my ride.  I had a busy day and had to squeeze it in, it would have been a lot easier to let it pass.  But I am glad I did it and got out there!

Do you cherish your runs or rides more after injury?  I know I do!

Interbike/Cross Vegas

Last week I drove 4 hours East to Sin City for North America’s largest bicycle trade event and show, Interbike.  This was my first time to attend the show as an attendee and not an exhibitor and boy was I happy!  Interbike is a lot of work and 3 long days of standing and smiling…exhausting.  This time I got to actually see the show and enjoy the events.

We arrived Wednesday afternoon in time for CrossVegas, the largest cyclocross race in the US that always coincides with Interbike.  There are 3 categories: Wheelers & Dealers (industry folks – men and women together), Elite Women and Elite Men.  In the Elite Women category there were 2 cross country mt. bike olympic racers from London (Cross Country Mt Biking and Cyclocross are very different sports, but heck if you can race at the Olympics, I am thinking you can pretty much handle anything on a bike).  Just to give you an idea how strong these racers were, the Olympians did not crack the top 3 in the Women’s Elite category! Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team), fresh off of her bronze medal at the Olympic games in London finished 11th and Kelli Emmett who also raced in London finished 5th.  If you are not familiar with the sport of cyclocross, please take a look below and see the craziness and pure awesomeness that is Cyclocross.

CrossVegas 2012

Angela and Shannon
CrossVegas

They were going so freaking fast and on GRASS!

You can carry or jump your bike over the obstacles and yes the do JUMP them!

Thursday I hit the show and found some cool stuff that I would like to share! (I did some work too, but it wasn’t fun to photograph 😉

New Colorful Earbuds from Yurbuds Available at Target starting Oct 1.
MSPR $30 (I love the purple)

This helmet is SO cute! The polka-dots match the polka-dots on my chick’s helmet on the Signature Tough Chik Jersey!

Angela’s new bike, she really is “Heck on Wheels”

I know that the paint should NOT impact a decision…but it is SO pretty in PURPLE

That is purple and white, yeah I like purple…

AND

WE MET BOB ROLL!
TOUGH CHIK LOVES BOBKE!

If you aren’t a cycling geek, then you have NO IDEA who this guy is, LOL.  Bob Roll was an US professional cyclist and now he is a commentator for all of the major bike races.  He is quite the cycling icon and a big personality.  I also saw George Hincapie, Miguel Indurain, Brian Lopes and Tom Danielson.  I really wanted to ask Tommy about my Tour crush (and his teammate) Tyler Farrar, but I restrained myself.

After a full day of gawking looking at bikes and components we can’t afford, we headed to the House of Blues for some live music and fun.

House of Blues

Overall it was a great whirlwind of a trip, fast and furious but awesome never the less!  Angela worked her tail feather off securing some amazing new sponsors for Team Tough Chik 2013 and we will all be happy about that!

Speaking off…TEAM TOUGH CHIK Registration will open at the end of the week!  If you would like updates via email, please sign up here!

Olympic Fever

Hey, have you heard?  The Olympics are coming!  (Of course the Tour started first, but I digress)

So in the spirit of Olympic fever that is taking over the nation, and by Nation I mean NBC, I am going to do what I do best…relate it to me.  I live in Mission Viejo, CA which is located in the picturesque Orange County.  No, I am not a house wife, nor do I live like one, and most of us are a smidgen more down to earth.  As you may or may not know, LA was the locale for the 1984 Olympics and our little community of Mission Viejo played a part in the “games”.  So it is only fitting that, yes you guessed it…the CYCLING ROAD RACE in 1984 was right down the street from where I live.  Of, course I did not live here at the time, but that is a small technicality.  Cycling legends raced on the streets that I ride every day.  How cool is that?

Here is an excerpt from missionviejo.org

“When the 1984 Olympic Games came to Los Angeles, the Cycling Road Race event came to Mission Viejo. The start/finish line and grandstands were on Olympiad (formerly O’Neill Rd., renamed to commemorate the Olympic event), just outside the entrance to Lake Mission Viejo. The cyclists raced up through the homes near Crucero Park, down Marguerite to La Paz, and back up Olympiad. The men’s and women’s races took place on Sunday, July 29th, and Mission Viejo residents lined the route and helped staff the event.”

The photograph below shows cyclists nearing the end of a lap in the 1984 men’s road race.

1984 Olympic Road Cycling Race. Courtesy of Mission Viejo City Library – Mission Viejo Heritage Committee Planned Community Collection

This year on July 28th my Tour/Olympic crush, Tyler Farrar, will be representing the USA!  What blows my mind is that these guys (many Olympic cyclist are currently racing in the Tour de France) will race for 3 weeks (with only 2 rest days) and have 6 days to “recover” before they race in London.  Simply amazing.

Welcome 3 of our new Team Tough Chik Members! Here is Martha, Melanie and Taryn!!!

Martha

Name: Martha

Location: Rochester, NY

Sport of Choice: Running

Hobbies: Reading, knitting, baking

2012 Race Plans: 5/13 5k Mother’s day breast cancer race; 9/16 R’n’R Philadelphia half marathon; 9/23 MVP Rochester half marathon; 9/30 Wineglass half marathon

What makes you a Tough Chik: I live in a colder climate and love running in the winter and snow. My favorite runs are in the rain where I get to splash in all the puddles. I also love training for half marathons and seeing how I can push myself through each week of a training plan to get to my goal. I also can’t wait to do three halfs in three weeks this fall. I think that will be pretty “tough” chik worthy. 🙂

Fun Fact: In high school I could not run 1 mile and now I love the half marathon distance!

Melanie

Name: Melanie

Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia   Canada

Sport of Choice: running/cycling

Hobbies: working out, hiking,camping, gardening and reading

2012 Race Plans: I would love to get my 5k time under 30mins…close, but not there yet. I would also like to complete a duathalon and possibly a tri

What makes you a Tough Chik I am a slow runner, but enjoy it and continue even when I feel like giving up. I think being able to juggle a family, job and still work out makes you a tough chik!!!

Taryn

Name: Taryn

Location: Sartell, MN

Sport of Choice: Running, Weight Lifting (Attempting Swimming!)

Hobbies: Reading, Watching Movies, Spending Time with Family and Friends

2012 Race Plans: Right now, I have two 5Ks scheduled – one in May and an obstacle/mud run 5K in September. We also do a mud run at the beginning of  September that is a 6K. There are several other 5Ks I will be signing up for this summer, but I am waiting to see how the weather will hold out!

What make you a Tough Chik: I am a Tough Chik because no matter what, I never give up. I am willing to push myself to the limit and try something at least once. I am currently running 5Ks with the hope of a half marathon by the end of the year!

Blog: taryn-in-crazyland.blogspot.com

Fun Fact: I used to skydive on a regular basis – even though I am terrified of heights! After a car accident, my back was injured and I haven’t been able to jump since (the jerk of the parachute can really do a number on your spine), and I miss it terribly. It is something everyone should try at least once!

OC International Triathalon Recap

This morning did not start out the way I wanted it to.  The plan was to wake up at 5:30, get dressed, eat breakfast and ride to the start (about 2 miles from my house) and be set up by 6:20.  Marc woke me up at 5:57 saying “don’t you want to leave by 6?” SHIT! (excuse my language but I am sure you have heard that word before)  See, I am the gal who is at the airport 2 hours before her flight.  I have spent many hours in my car waiting for interviews or appointments because I am soooo early.  I HATE HATE HATE to be late, rushed, frazzled.  SO….this was NOT the way I wanted to start my day and it may have lead to a few hiccups in my day.

Hiccup 1: I am a little superstitious about my pre-race breakfast.  I eat a piece of PB toast, banana, water and 1 cup of coffee.  All I had time to do was shove a banana down my throat.

Hiccup 2: I forgot my chest strap for my heart rate monitor.  I don’t use it to much during the race, but I love to know how many calories I burned!

Marc drove me to the start and Ali was riding to the entrance at the same time.  I wasn’t late but I was nervous, frazzled and very absent-minded.  This was the first race where I had to set up 2 different transition area.  We set up T2 the night before, which was odd for me, so I only had to set up my T1 gear.  I kept feeling like I was missing something.  I would loose my timing chip, panic, then find it.  This kind of drama kept going on and on all set up.  Marc dropped me off and went home to meet up with Molly and were to walk over to the lake.  The walk was taking longer than expected and I knew they were going to miss my start, which they did.  It was okay though because I had Ali with me.

SWIM – 1.5 KM (appx 1 mile)

After my terrible swim last weekend, I was a bit apprehensive having to swim twice as far.  Good news was this swim was much better!  Whew, I felt pretty calm and relaxed and was actually able to swim the whole time!  Crazy right?  I did have some issues staying on course and a couple times I was lax on my spotting and found myself off by my lonesome.  That wasted time.  I was slow, I really need to work on speed in the water and spotting.  Right now I am unilateral (only breathe on one side) and really need to work on bilateral breathing.  Supposedly it helps you stay straight.  If you were wondering….I did wear my wetsuit along with most of the other competitors (we had a lively pro/con discussion on the Team page).

Time – 40:02 – yikes, not great

Hmmm I guess someone warned the Fire Dept that I was on the course, so I didn’t use my bike mounted flam thrower this race.

BIKE – 40KM (appx 25 miles)

Ahhh, the bike.  Half the swim I chant…”just get on bike, just get on bike…”  This is a challenging course, no 2 ways about it.  There is a lot of climbing during the ride and the run.  Since I am racing in my backyard, I knew the bike course like the back of my hand.  But just because you know where the hills are and how long they are, doesn’t make them any less of a hill.  There was one guy I could not shake.  He was pasty while (now I am pale, but this was blinding) and he was wearing a white speedsuit (one piece tri suit) and it was NOT pretty.  At this point I realized that there is a different caliber of athlete racing a Olympic distance tri vs a sprint.  I missed all my friends who had zero bike experience or riding on a mt. bike or hybrid.  (Read – I missed passing people)  Instead I was being passed by chicks on tri bike with big fancy race gears and for the first time I really thought that I might want a tri bike. They were able to pedal down hill and pass me when I was out of gears.  I needed the bigger gear to catch up and I just didn’t have it.  I did eat a few Honey Stingers during transition and drank some water on the bike, but clearly not enough.

Time: 1:27:53 – decent, I will take it.

RUN – 10KM (appx 6.2 miles)

Off the bike, I grabbed a few more Honey Stingers and gulped down some water.  I started running a felt pretty good.  I have to be honest, I really don’t know how to work my Garmin.  When I started running it said I was running 8:28 min/mile and I knew that was not right.  I don’t know if it need a little while to collect data in order to give me an accurate pace, but all I know it that my pace was way off for at least the first mile.  To say that there was a few hills on this course is an understatement.  I did pre-run it, once and knew what was coming.  I knew around mile 3 there was a huge hill and that was about the same time I stopped sweating and got goosebumps.  I have never walked in a triathlon and I walked during 3 different sections.  I knew I needed to stop, that this could be serious but I just kept pushing forward.  I figured I could suck it up for 30 min and then it would all be over. I made myself take in water at every aide station but kept telling myself “it is too late”.  It was brutal and a total pure test of will to keep moving.

Time: 1:05:03 – I wanted to run it an hour and know I can, it just wasn’t in the cards.

Once I crossed the finish line I saw a swim buddy Amir, he want to give me a hug and I almost fainted.  I sat in the grass and was very light headed.  I got up in search of water and no one had any.  All of the volunteers and spectators were drinking bottled water and none was left for us.  Brilliant.  Thank goodness Marc and Molly found me and they had a water bottle for me.  I sat in the shade, drank ate a few orange slices and felt much better.

What I learned:

• set 2 alarms
• breakfast IS the most important meal
• I MUST work on my nutrition during the race, this is imperative
• I need to run longer distances off the bike
• always spot, even if you think you are swimming straight

RANK 14/24

My 2 goals each race are to 1) finish top 50% and 2) top 10 on the bike.  Goal 1 was not achieved BUT goal 2 was I ended up number 10 on the bike and I was stoked about that!

Running to the finish

Me, Ali, Amir

Introducing Ali, Lisa and Christel – a trainer, a Canadian and a Dutch

Ali

Name: Alisson (Trainer Ali)

Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Sport of Choice: Triathlon

Hobbies: Weight Training & Hiking

2012 Race Plans: OC International Triathlon, Lake Mission Viejo, Ca

What makes you a Tough Chik: I am a wife, mother, grandmother, personal trainer, triathlete….what could be tougher than that?

Blog: TrainerAliSays.wordpress.com

Fun Fact: I love triathlon because I can’t do the same thing over and over again.  I need a constant change! (And she is the original Tough Chik (Shannon’s) coach, I love Trainer Ali!!!)

Lisa

Name: Lisa

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Sport of Choice: Running

Hobbies: Barre class, and this summer I hope to start rowing.

2012 Race Plans: Tinkerbell Half Marathon, Ottawa race weekend, Army Run half marathon, and at least one other half (either NWM or Disney Wine & Dine). I would also love to try a mud run of some form this year.

What makes you a Tough Chik: I think what makes me a Tough Chik is the fact that if I set my mind on something, I will accomplish my goals. I am not afraid to work hard for something I believe in and I am now including time for myself into this equation. Working full-time, teaching part time, working towards my Masters degree in Educational Leadership as well as being a mother and wife does not always allow for a lot of ‘spare’ time. However, I have found such great importance in having fun in what I do, and making each moment count- including running.  I believe a Tough Chik knows how to get a job done, while having fun doing it!

Blog: http://runningtutu.wordpress.com/

Fun Fact: I have a ‘slight’ addiction to running gear, and I can honestly say that I can be motivated to run long distances (which are new to me ) by a cute running skirt, socks, or shirt. Isn’t admitting you have a problem the first step? 😉

Christel

Name: Christel

Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands

Sport of Choice: Running – also love cycling (road bike)

Hobbies: Skiing (I used to ski competitively)

2012 Race Plans: Uhm…I’m one of those nuts that’s afraid to jinx the whole thing when I tell others about it. I have my hopes set on running an ultra I’ve been dreaming about for years. 🙂 Mountains. 🙂

What make you a Tough Chik: Tough? Moi? Neeehhhh… Does running mountain races / ultras in a skirt count?

Blog: http://www.sillygirlrunning.com

Fun Fact: Give me some time to think about that one, okay? 😉

My favorite Mother’s Day story

A few weeks ago I got an email from a woman looking for an I Run t-shirt for herself and an I Ride t-shirt for her mother.  They were racing a Mother’s Day Duathlon and wanted to have the shirts for the race.  I helped her out and made sure they had their tees for the race.  I asked for photos, as I always do, and to my delight I received an email on Tuesday with some of the following pictures.

Kelly and her mom

I asked her if I could share these photos and she sent me the following note…

“I think I mentioned in an earlier email that over the last few years my mom has had some falls, which resulted first in a broken right wrist and most recently in a broken left wrist.  She’s had to have surgery on both wrists and metal plates in both.  She’s 71 (well she will be on Monday) and the recovery and therapy for the left wrist has not been going well.  She’s had virtually no mobility in her wrist since the surgery  in December.  It’s extremely frustrating for her, because she has always been fit and strong.  Her youngest grandchild crowned her “strongest fastest grandma ever.”  Her frustration has been  magnified by the fact that she is the caretaker for her husband who has MS and is in a wheelchair…so she has to be strong and capable.

Training for the relay improved her wrist mobility and strength more in a month and a half than months of physical therapy.  And, best of all…when we were at brunch after the race, she said she was so glad we had done this.  Before she had been feeling old, feeble and incapable…and now she feels strong and competent and tough again!  And, now she’s found our next relay to do…in August, with a 16.5 mile ride.  Momma got her mojo back!!!!

Thanks again for the shirts, they really helped make the day extra special”

NOW THAT IS WHAT TOUGH LOOKS LIKE!