Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Meals On Wheels Fundraiser

Elizabeth and I have been involved with fundraising for Meals on Wheels for 4 years now. It started with doing their annual bike ride around the Tri-Valley. It evolved to recruiting others to sign up for the ride, and this year we took it one step further by creating our own fundraising events.

We appreciate the work Meals on Wheels does and their mission of ending senior hunger in the communities they operate in. We felt compelled to support their mission. With aging parents we can see how important it is to check in on these folks and get them a hot meal. It may be the only human contact they have.

A good friend of ours, Amy, is a certified yoga instructor and we asked her if she would be willing to lead a yoga class for our friends to benefit Meals on Wheels. She enthusiastically jumped at the chance. We invited friends from our various circles to join us for the class and make a donation to the site of any amount they see fit. We invited 40 people for a Saturday evening class and 24 were able to participate. (Not all shown below)

It was a wonderful event. Having our friends come together for a good cause and do a physical activity was truly special. We arranged for some light refreshments after so people could hang out and socialize for a while. We raised $1,200, brought friends together and had a lot of fun. With the help of other friends we have three other fundraising events before the October 13th ride. Being able to help out has brought Elizabeth and I a lot of joy and gratification. If you would like to make a donation here is the link DONATE

#mealsonwheels #fundraiser #yoga #bicycle #clubsport

Posted on

Summer Hydration Blender

After a long hot bike ride today I blended up this healthy hydration formula.

5 cups filtered water

3 Teaspoon Matcha powder

1 Tablespoon DFH Paleo Greens

1 Tablespoon pure lemon juice

1 Teaspoon honey

2 Sleeves UCAN Hydration

2 Cups Ice

Put it all in a strong blender and blend it up. Makes about 8 cups. Enjoy.

#hydration #nutrition

Posted on

Run Tour Seattle

I recently had the opportunity to visit Seattle on a work trip which gave me two chances to run and explore the city. I did my usual pre-trip recon so I knew roughly the sites I wanted to hit. I had to hit the icons, Space Needle, Pikes Market , and the water front area. Like all good cities those key points just create the framework for discovery of all the interesting nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered. Here are the two routes I took

I stayed right by the ballparks so that was my jumping off point. The Space Needle was cool to see but it’s looking pretty dated. It now looks campy, retro futuristic rather than futuristic.

I really enjoyed Pikes Market and seeing the OG Starbucks but what I found super cool was all the public art that was around – wall, sculpture, public, you name it.

The city was easy to navigate and felt safe. Drivers and people on the streets were courteous and friendly. I didn’t do a lot by the water from because of the major highway and then some city construction. I found the inner part of the city to be much more interesting. There were some things I didn’t get to see this time around that’s ok though because that leaves something for the next time.

Posted on

Close The Loop

I recently did a run I’ve looked at a few times on the map, but hadn’t had a chance to do before. It made me happy to finally check it off! When I visit our Renaissance ClubSport Club and Hotel in Aliso Viejo, I typically run one of three courses that are all 7 miles long. I alternate to keep things fresh. Two of the runs extend out on different sides of a circular course , but I’ve never closed the loop . I could see on a map that they came together but I never took the time to run the extra distance to connect the two sides. The other day I got an earlier start determined to run the whole loop, and I did it. Map brought to you by Strava.

Here is my challenge for you, what is your loop that needs to be closed? What little fitness challenge can you give yourself to keep things interesting? I’d love to hear your thoughts or accomplishments big or small.

Posted on

Spice Up Your Run in 2018

By Ralph —

Spice up your runs in 2018 by adding some strength stations to a common loop. Here is an example from what I did yesterday.

The loop is 1.1 miles, I had 5, about evenly spaced stations – Push Ups, Step Ups, Sit Ups, Pull Ups, and Squats. I used a flat rock for the Step Ups and a play structure for the Pull Ups. You decide the right number at each station but make it challenging. Run from station to station if you can, walk if you have to. Decide how many rounds to do. I ran to the park, did 3 rounds, and ran home a slightly longer way.

Have fun.

#run #obstacle-course #adventure

Posted on

Exercising with friends is in my DNA

By Elizabeth

I have been exercising consistently my entire adult life. I like the way it makes me feel, it helps me maintain my weight and it keeps me strong. But the real secret to staying engaged all these years has been figuring out how to make exercise fun. For me, that means turning it into a social activity, too.

And a recent DNA test proved that need is actually coded in my genes! Among the findings compiled in my personalized Vitagene Vitality Guide was this: I have “low interest” in exercise routines — it actually said that! The report suggested exercising outdoors, with friends or in competition as ways to spark my interest in physical activity. Check, check and check!

 

I am absolutely blessed with a core group of girlfriends who also enjoy running, biking and lifting weights. Over the years, we have kept each other honest by setting up early morning runs and bike rides, and signing up for weight-lifting classes together. Not showing up is not an option!

It’s not just physical activity that brings us together. We genuinely like each other and have fostered a deep level of trust. We all abide by the absolute rule that our confidential conversations during our workouts stay in “the vault!”

We share our joys, our heartaches, and all the ups and downs that are a natural part of life. When I was going through a tough time at work, my running partners got an earful — and a faster-than-usual pace as I picked it up while recounting my workplace issues. We know when to just listen and when to offer advice.

I was sidelined the first half of this year recovering from a broken ankle, and I really missed my run therapy! Seeing my friends was a real motivator to rehabbing that ankle and getting back out there.

So while the social strategy may not appeal to everyone, it’s my secret to exercise consistency. And I have a 30-year track record that shows it really does work for me!

 

 

 

 

Posted on

Taking the ‘Big City Marathon’ Tour

By Ralph

I like having a major race on the calendar at least once a year. It keeps me interested in getting better and it gives me a major challenge for the year.  This year, that race is the Chicago Marathon on October 8th. Just so happens that is also my birthday, so I will be having a huge party this year — 12,000 people have already RSVP’d.  So nice of all of them to meet me in Chicago to celebrate!

This is my third big city marathon in the last three years. Two years ago, I ran the New York City Marathon and last year I did the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. I like to have a training theme for my races. Right now it’s Big City Marathons. Before that it was Ironman triathlon. That lasted eight years and I completed five full Ironman triathlons during that time frame.

NY marathon
A million spectators for the NY marathon and I spotted Elizabeth on the course!

Elizabeth and I are enjoying the Big City Marathon Tour — a theme we made up– because it also gives us a chance to explore a new city, or enjoy a city we have already been to, beyond just the race.

Touring the capital after the race.
We enjoy sight-seeing during our Big City Marathon tours.

After I finished the Marine Corps Marathon, I got cleaned up, we went out for a great celebratory lunch, and we had a memorable time leisurely strolling around DC looking at the monuments and taking in the sites.  It’s a day I will never forget.  What made the day even more special was the fact that our son Davis was able to join us for the weekend and participate in all the activities.

IMG_0085
Elizabeth and Davis were at the finish line at the Marine Corps Marathon.

I am very thankful that I have such a supportive family who joins me on these journeys.

Here is what I look for when selecting a race:
1. The reputation of the race – is it an iconic race that is well respected with a great history?
2. Is it a city Elizabeth and I will enjoy going to beside the race? What other activities can we plan while we are there?  In New York, for example, we went to a Broadway show two nights before the race.
3. What are the logistics around the race? How close is the venue to an airport?  Are there plenty of hotels close to the start or finish? How spectator friendly is the race?

My challenge for you is to look around at the fall racing schedule and see what appeals to you. Close or far, long or short, that’s up to you. But I do think you will find it motivating to have a fall event on the calendar. I am not sure what I am going to do in 2018 yet, that is yet to be determined. Half the fun is trying to figure that out.

Posted on

An 8-mile Adventure Run in San Diego

By Ralph
One of the things I love about my job is the opportunity it provides to meet with leaders in the fitness industry throughout the country. This month, I had the good fortune of meeting key members of Total Gym and working out with their master trainer on their latest equipment. What these type of business trips also give me is a great opportunity to explore new ground on what I call adventure runs.

The morning before my meeting, I planned a run tour of San Diego. I was staying at the Marriott in the Marina,  which is a great starting point for a run. Because I have been to San Diego many times, I knew about where I wanted to go, but the night before I went onto Google Maps and planned an 8-mile route.

unknown
8-mile course

This route hits many of the major sights in San Diego, and with the emphasis on Balboa Park, I saw a few new places.  And that, by the way, is one of the main things I look for when I plan an exploration routes.

I started out running clockwise along the harbor. The energy is great in this area, with lots of runners and walkers out, and the USS Midway is always amazing to see.

unknown-01
USS Midway

Once you hit the airport, Harbor Drive gets less interesting, so I made a right up Laurel St. This is the connector to the park and a really nice climb, about 1.1 miles and about a 250-foot climb. Laurel runs you right into Balboa Park and that’s when the fun really begins. I just let the sights take me wherever and I ran around exploring. Here are a few of the cool things I found.

unknown-02

 

After the park, I headed south down 6th street toward Petco Park. This ballpark seems to be one of the few I have encountered that has pretty good pedestrian access all the time. I always get a kick out of running around ballparks. There are usually some cool statues, historical monuments and interesting architecture to see.

unknown-05
Petco Park

 

6th street from Balboa Park to Petco is pretty much all downhill, giving you back the elevation gained on Laurel.

After my round there, I hit the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge getting me safely over Harbor Blvd and right by the convention center.  From there it’s a straight shot back to the hotel. Or it could have been. A pretty good flight of steps at the Convention Center caught my attention. Naturally I was compelled to do a couple sets on the steps before finishing up my tour of San Diego.

 

The whole route was 8 miles and I had a great time.