by Heather McNamara

I love the Olympics.  In fact, I think I’m a total dork about them.  Winter or summer there is nothing that gets me more excited about sport, athleticism and the fun of competition than the Olympics.  Since the opening ceremonies of the winter games in Vancouver our house has had each TV tuned in almost constantly so as not to miss a single event.  Here in Southeastern Michigan we are lucky to be able to watch both American and Canadian network broadcasts, allowing us to experience the different coverage each country provides.  

One thing I find so much fun about the Olympic games is watching sports I never see except on the Olympics.  In addition to favorites like short track speed skating or alpine ski events, there are obscure sports like Nordic combined skiing or biathlon.  How crazy is it to fly off a ramp on skis to see how far you can go, so you get a time advantage in a subsequent cross country ski race?   Or a sprint race skate ski event where you stop to do a little target shooting, then sprint off on skis again!  Seeing these athletes compete brings about a sense of appreciation and respect for the athletic talent and determination it takes to get to such a high level of competition.  Where does one even go to train for some of these events?  Michigan has wonderful trails for cross country skiers, and there are certainly plenty of hunters here, but they are two groups whose sport I would never imagine combining until discovering the event by watching the Olympics! 

There are always surprises to be found in Olypmic events.  Athletes are there to live out dreams and are competing with everything they have.  This creates an atmosphere for exciting and unexpected results.  Amazing upsets, overcoming adversity, unparalled sportsmanship, the Olympics has it all.  There are countless examples of  athletes with heartwarming stories, surprise winners-or losers, the unexpected.  It is human effort elevating sport and the human spirit along with it.

So that is why I’m hooked.  Maybe a bit of a dork about it, but that’s ok.  The Olympic games continue to deliver.  And I will be there to witness as much of it as possible along the way.

By Heather McNamara

One word triathletes know all too well is discipline.  To be a competitor in tris requires hours of dedication, training and focus.  It means getting out of bed when you want to sleep in, it means going for a ride or run when you’d rather be lazy, and it means being smart about nutrition when you’d rather not have to think about it and just eat chips and salsa instead!  So for many of us that can mean the hardest time of year to be a disciplined triathlete is not during peak race season, when schedule’s are tight and everything runs like a well-oiled machine. No, the hardest time to maintain the discipline of triathlon is the down time of year, after most of the big races have come and gone.  The time of year that comes as warm weather begins to cool, when summer gives way to fall, and days full of swimming, biking, running and obsessively recording all sorts of mind-numbing data in training journals start to get replaced by days full of comments like “Hey, what time is The Family Guy on?”  It’s a time generically known in popular American culture as “the holidays”.  Or as I may start referring to them, “the horror-days”. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the extremely commercial yet poignant and religious time of year between October 31 and December 26th as much as the next guy.  But is it me, or is it becoming increasingly harder to not blow 9 months of solid nutrition and training in the last 3 months of the year?  Why is it that the focus of the holiday season seems to be consumption, whether it be fiscal or food?  From the end of October right through December we are bombarded by temptation from media, friends, family, and co-workers to eat drink and be merry.  Initially, with the latest competitive accomplishments still fresh in mind, succumbing to this constant barrage can easily be averted.  But no normal person can expect to fend off these attacks forever.  Sooner or later, especially when the past season becomes a fading memory,  even the most disciplined can fall prey.  We find ourselves suddenly less lean, less fit, and moving at a pace that feels very close to that of a sloth.  

So what is one to do when the realization of January hits?  When it is cold and dark outside, when our bike shorts or swimsuit fit a little less comfortably?  When the disconcerting jiggle of our own body parts as we run is enough to bring us to tears?!  Get right back into it!  Grab a tissue, dry your eyes and suck it in…er I mean up, and look back on the past couple of months with fondness and appreciation.  Be thankful for the opportunity to take life a little slower and to have extra time.  Make a vow to do better in the future, then forge ahead. Put on those bike shorts (ignore any unsightly bulges, most of us are training  in our basements this time of year anyway), and ride away (or in place as the case may be) with the same determination and discipline that was there before.  Focus on what can be done in the future, not what can’t be changed in the past. 

See, even if the discipline waned a bit in the final months of the year, that is ok.  It is still there, waiting to be resurrected along with the smelly running shoes in the closet, waiting to be called upon once again.  And when that happens discipline will get you back to where you want to be.  Fit and ready.  Ready to start the whole crazy process all over again.  Ready to focus, with discipline, on the road ahead.  The road that leads to the life we love and wouldn’t trade for anything, even if it does get put on hold for a few months out of the year.

 Christmas List 2009 by Heather McNamara

Dear Santa,

Unlike my friend and fellow team mate Becky, I have not been very good this year.  I have been terrible about household chores, putting off things like grocery shopping and laundry so I could train.  I didn’t work much, and what little earnings I had I spent on frivolous items, mostly workout clothes and tri-gear.  I wasn’t around much for friends or family, and when I was I was either exhausted or busy planning for my next race or training session.  I also missed a lot of church, and didn’t visit my mom nearly as much as I should have.  

But I wasn’t all bad in 2009.  If one of my kids, my husband or a family member or friend needed something I was there for them.  And, what little work I did do involved serving others, whether it was for the non-profit soccer club I work for, or my pilates students that faithfully attend my weekly classes.  And, even if my house isn’t the cleanest it is warm, stocked with food (even if I didn’t prepare it!), and full of laughter.  I’m also here every morning to see my daughter off to school and home every afternoon to welcome her with a hug and snack.  So maybe I was a teensy bit good after all. 

That being said, here is my Christmas list for 2009:

Discipline.  Whether it’s about food choice or training, please give me the discipline to do the right thing.

Limitless energy.  I’d love to be able to log in a 20 hour training week and not think twice about doing it again.

Better technical skills on the bike.  I want to fly over obstacles and lean into tight switchbacks and make it look easy.

Better swim technique during races.  Why is it in the pool I glide with effortless ease, but in a race my stroke deteriorates into what could be described as ”painful thrashing”?  

Faster legs.  I figure since Becky asked for these you might as well bring a set for me, too.

Patience.  I seem to have less of this as I get older.  Must be a “as we age we have less time on earth to get it all done” sort of thing.

And of course, health and happiness for my loved ones.  This is a given since without it all the gifts in the world are meaningless.

Thanks Santa!  And have a very Merry Christmas!

Your friend Heather

by Heather McNamara

As I sit here at home on the eve of Xterra World’s, I think about a season that ended one race too short, and my team mates who are at this moment in Maui fine-tuning brakes and packing transition bags in prepartion for their final race of the season.  It is hard to be upset for long, about not being there.  Things change, life happens, schedules are re-arranged, and Greg and I are welcoming fall in the midwest instead of swimming in the ocean blue.  But as I reflect I begin to think things are as they should be.  The early end to a season allows extra time for healing.  Mental healing, as we deal with the loss of my mother-in-law, but physical healing as well.  A year of stepped-up training takes it’s toll, and I have spent almost a full year of managing low-back and hip pain.  I am looking forward to seeing what benefits rest will yield.  As I wish everyone in Maui a good race, I also think back on the things I’ve learned in 2009.  Here they are, in no particular order:

10.  I know nothing.  About serious training that is.   This year I found out  there is more to being successful than just logging in laps and miles.  There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to go about it.  Hopefully in 2010, with a little help, I will be able to figure it out.

9.  Full-suspension moutain bikes are awesome!  What the heck was I waiting for?  My Specialized Era made me a better rider.  Specialized has really figured out how to “go-dual” in a big way.  The benefits of full-suspension include improved balance, control and comfort among others.   And the bikes are lighter than ever.  So if you consider yourself a purist and are still rockin’ the hard-tail, stop being ridiculous and invest in a dual-suspension ride.  You won’t be sorry.

8.  It’s ok to rest.  Why is this one so hard?  Even now, as I’m attempting to let my body heal, it is hard to grasp this concept.  I have learned the hard way that rest is as important to a training plan as hill repeats and bricks.  Embrace the rest day.

7. Commitment to being your best is a 24/7 deal.  It requires planning, organization and follow-through.  It also requires a very supportive and patient family!

6.  Cross train.  Seems obivious.  After all, cross-training is automatic with the sport of triahtlon, right?  Maybe so, but it goes beyond just swimming, biking and running.  Mountain biking improves with logging miles on a road bike, and vice-versa.  Strength training increases muscle mass protecting bones and joints.  Yoga and pilates enhance flexibility and strengthen the core, thus allowing for better transmition of force through the body, while also improving posture and reducing injuries.   One or two of these alternate workouts each week will yield many benefits so fitting them into a training plan is key.

5.  Have confidence in yourself.  Another no-brainer, right?  Strong competitors have confidence, but for some this can be a difficult concept.  For 2010 I have vowed to stay focused on MY training plan, MY events, MY gear, and MY-self!  (Let’s face it, a certain amount of narcissism is required for triathletes!)  Seriously, though, nothing de-rails the train ride of confidence faster than comparing one’s own workouts and times with someone elses.  In some cases, a nice set of blinders can be a good thing.

4.  Personal grooming is over-rated.  Who has time for such trivial activities with multiple daily training sessions?  I have found  the relationship between amount of time spent training and standards for personal appearance are inversly proportional.  This becomes obvious when showering, doing one’s hair, and putting on “real clothes” feels like getting dressed-up.

3.  Competition brings out the best, and worst, in people.  For karmic reasons I intend to focus on the former over the latter.   People can get silly when driven to win, but I’ve witnessed great selflessness too.  And besides, embracing the positive in thoughts, words and actions is a great balance to all the narcisism (see #5!).

2.   Poor nutrition comprimises training and recovery.  Fueling during races maximizes performance.  When it comes to nutrition there are no shortcuts.  Putting energy into training without putting thought into nutrition is a waste of time.  Take the time to think things through and be prepared.  A nice stash of Pro Bars doesn’t hurt either!

1.    Joining a great group of people to train and race with adds a huge positive element to one’s season. For me, Melrad 2009  created a whole new dimension of the sport for me.  Being part of such a great group was huge motivation and an extra treat when we got together for races.  It provided an outlet for feedback and support, and created lasting friendships with people who have a common interest.  So get your essay started and stay tuned to Mel’s website, www.racergirl.com for details on Melrad 2010! 

That’s it-my top 10 lessons of 2009.  I will keep this list handy as I prepare for next season and what lies ahead in 2010.  Happy training!

Xterra Nationals; Ogden, Utah; 2009

I knew there would be lots of hills.  I knew there would be lots of climbing.  So why then, is it that I wasn’t prepared for all the hills and climbing?  The 2009 course for Xterra Nationals at Snowbasin Ski Resort in Ogden, Utah had me wondering “Why am I doing this?”  I didn’t come in unaware, as mentioned I had heard and read plenty about the course.   But once I was out there pedaling away, mile upon mile, I knew my personal goal for time was going to be tough to meet.  There is something about hearing “on your left….on your left……on your left…..”  (as riders prepare to pass) literally a hundred times, that can really mess with one’s race mojo!  (“*Bleeeeep*in’ pass already!” was my silent reply.) 

Altitude is a funny thing.  This race was at altitude, climbing to a max of over 7500’ on the bike alone. But I was never gasping for air.  I never felt that lung burning “freeze” I’ve experienced in other altitude events.  Instead, my legs just felt useless.  At Xterra University the day before the race, where pro athletes talk about the course and give advice to us mere mortals, uh-err I mean amatuers, I made note of the confirmatory head-nods around me in response to Melanie’s casual remark that the course is “totally ridable, mostly middle chain ring stuff”.  Middle chain ring? Ha!  I made good use of my small chain ring for sure.  There were a few downhill sections, brief as they were, with some loose rock, switchbacks, and larger stone.  I felt great on those, easily manuevering through tight turns on my super tricked-out and WAY sweet Specialized Era, even catching back up with some of the “on your left-ers”, but my gains were short lived as the path quickly went back uphill and there I was again, spinning away.

Eventually the bike ended up back at transition, only to continue it’s uphill course for a few more miles, traversing ski hills before giving way to the run.  I even got to see the top two pro men racing in to the finish as I biked past (Nico Lebrun narrowly outran Conrad Stoltz for the win).  But if riding up the mountains had been hard, then the run up ski hills was excruciating!  My legs were unable to function efficiently up many of the hills so I was forced to walk a good portion of the run.  Believe me, this is NOT something any Xterra competitor does if they don’t have to!  Again, I was fine on the downhills, but unfortunately  there weren’t enough of those for my liking!

During the final downhill portion of the run leading into the finish I passed a  young woman who had been running near me most of the run.  She would pass me on the ups, I would pass her on the downs, and we traded back and forth that way for probably 4 miles at least.  “Where you from?” she had asked.  “Michigan, you?” I replied.  “Louisianna” was her response.  Ah, a fellow flatlander!  We bonded in our pain.  As we finished the race within seconds of each other I looked back and her boyfriend had swept in to greet her.  My own husband was waiting for me.  He told me “Oh that guy just proposed, and she said yes!”   The young couple embraced each other dirt, sweat and all.  Now that’s true love!

Every race is a memorable experience, and Xterra Nationals 2009 was no exception.  While some memories may be about pain and discomfort, most are of challenges that were met, accomplishments that were earned and about a day of adventure that leaves one asking, not “Why am I doing this?”, but instead “When can I do it again?”  J