Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Nuptuals
We wanted to take a quick moment to congratulate one of our own - K has tied the knot! She will also be moving 200 miles away, but still plans to join us for these events when she can. We're very happy for you, K - enjoy this newest life adventure!!!
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Triathlon - 7/31/15
Here's another scary one! Although when some people think "triathlon", they think "Ironman" (I was one). The Olympics triathlon is actually not quite as crazy. It consists of a 1.5km (0.93mi) swim, followed by a 40km (25mi) bike, followed by a 10km (6.2mi) run. It has only been an Olympic sport since 2000! Although the distances did sound remotely doable to us, we again agreed that it would take too much build-up. So we copied the format of a local gym who runs an "indoor tri".
On a Friday morning, we met at a local YMCA. We first hit the pool and swam as many laps as we could for 10 minutes, then quickly rinsed off and changed, then rode a stationary bike for 30 minutes and then ran on the indoor track for 20 minutes. We roughly averaged about 0.25 miles in the pool, 8 miles cycling, and 1.5-2 miles running.
This was a great alternative to a full triathlon, though I don't think we ruled out actually attempting to finish a real one at some point or another in the future!
On a Friday morning, we met at a local YMCA. We first hit the pool and swam as many laps as we could for 10 minutes, then quickly rinsed off and changed, then rode a stationary bike for 30 minutes and then ran on the indoor track for 20 minutes. We roughly averaged about 0.25 miles in the pool, 8 miles cycling, and 1.5-2 miles running.
This was a great alternative to a full triathlon, though I don't think we ruled out actually attempting to finish a real one at some point or another in the future!
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| (Mini) Triathlon complete! |
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Team Table Tennis - 7/25/15
We started this adventure almost a year and a half ago and now have around 80 events complete! Not too much farther to go!!!
That first event back in February 2014 was Table Tennis. We did a round robin style singles tournament. So for the team event, we thought we'd see if we could get some actual coaching. We were glad we did!
On a Saturday morning, we met with Donna Chen, founder of DFW Table Tennis. There are a LOT of members and they meet a couple of times a week to play pick up games or do lessons. Ages range from young children to elderly adults. Donna had a couple of coaches work with us to learn the ropes of team play. First, what does "team" table tennis mean? Isn't it just doubles?
Well, in 1992, the Olympics actually awarded two bronze medals because of one country's dominance. China had made a habit out of regularly sweeping the gold-silver-bronze in the singles AND doubles, both men and women. In 2008, doubles was replaced by the team event. In this format, three to five athletes would be on one team and during competition, could rotate into and out of play. This was in an attempt to combine doubles pairings into a larger team. This didn't completely work. Finally, in 2012, it was decided countries could only enter two teams, thus completely eliminating the possibility of a sweep.
All of that said, we were glad to get some help with the nuances of four people being at the table. We got pointers on the proper way to serve (ball must be tossed straight up, at least 6 inches, from the flat palm of your hand) and the proper arm position and technique for hitting forearm and backhand shots.
That first event back in February 2014 was Table Tennis. We did a round robin style singles tournament. So for the team event, we thought we'd see if we could get some actual coaching. We were glad we did!
On a Saturday morning, we met with Donna Chen, founder of DFW Table Tennis. There are a LOT of members and they meet a couple of times a week to play pick up games or do lessons. Ages range from young children to elderly adults. Donna had a couple of coaches work with us to learn the ropes of team play. First, what does "team" table tennis mean? Isn't it just doubles?
Well, in 1992, the Olympics actually awarded two bronze medals because of one country's dominance. China had made a habit out of regularly sweeping the gold-silver-bronze in the singles AND doubles, both men and women. In 2008, doubles was replaced by the team event. In this format, three to five athletes would be on one team and during competition, could rotate into and out of play. This was in an attempt to combine doubles pairings into a larger team. This didn't completely work. Finally, in 2012, it was decided countries could only enter two teams, thus completely eliminating the possibility of a sweep.
All of that said, we were glad to get some help with the nuances of four people being at the table. We got pointers on the proper way to serve (ball must be tossed straight up, at least 6 inches, from the flat palm of your hand) and the proper arm position and technique for hitting forearm and backhand shots.
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| J gives R room to properly serve. |
As quickly as the game moves, it is important to stay relaxed and not be in a hurry. Coach Chen kept correcting my swing because I was hitting it too soon, and thus sending it directly into the net instead of over.
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| L2 hits a backhand shot over the net |
Eventually, we all kind of got into enough of a rhythm that we had a couple of good rallies, hitting the ball at least a few times each before a point was scored.
We all agreed that there is so much more than meets the eye with this sport. We're glad we took the time to work with DFWTT to learn just a little bit more!
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| With Coach Chen - Team Table Tennis complete! |
Marathon - 5/16/15
26.22 miles.
It is intimidating. And we all agreed (even the runners in our group) that we weren't ready to have to really, REALLY train for an event like this. So we took a little creative latitude.
We met at a local middle school track on a cloudy morning to embark on a team marathon. We set up a chart with check boxes for each lap we'd have to complete (works out to 105.5 laps), then started our run. Everyone had music going in their ears and ran/jogged/walked, checking a box each time we passed the starting line. Some did more than others, but we all agreed, it was a great way to accomplish this event as a group!
It is intimidating. And we all agreed (even the runners in our group) that we weren't ready to have to really, REALLY train for an event like this. So we took a little creative latitude.
We met at a local middle school track on a cloudy morning to embark on a team marathon. We set up a chart with check boxes for each lap we'd have to complete (works out to 105.5 laps), then started our run. Everyone had music going in their ears and ran/jogged/walked, checking a box each time we passed the starting line. Some did more than others, but we all agreed, it was a great way to accomplish this event as a group!
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| (Team) Marathon complete! |
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
20km Race Walk - 5/8/15
The race walk. It's an interesting thing. It's one of the oldest sports in the Olympics and used to be wildly popular to watch and bet on. It sounds simple enough - walking as fast as possible, but such that one foot is always in contact with the ground. It is crazy hard to actually put into practice. The human body just isn't made to move that way! We all gathered with a couple of extra folks who thought it sounded like a fun way to spend a morning (no, really!). We had plotted out an out-and-back course along a local trail way to equal the 20km (12.43 miles) and then parked our cars at strategic places along the course, as emergency and bail-out options. No one really knew what to expect from this event. We had comfortable walking shoes, snacks, sunscreen and first aid kits for the trek.
When we started off, we all made some attempt to try the actual motion. The body actually begs to just jog. Admittedly, most of us gave up very quickly and decided we'd just walk it as quick as we could instead. At different intervals, some of us did try to throw in the motion, but it was futile.
We made it to our turnaround point in pretty good time. A few people broke out the first aid kit to tend to blisters and change socks and/or shoes. We took a few minutes to use the restroom and refill our water bottles, then headed back. It was at about the 10 mile mark when our bodies started to ask what the heck we were doing. J had to drop out but she encouraged us to go on - luckily her husband was able to come pick her up at one of our predetermined bail-out points.
We made it back in just under 4 1/2 hours (the Olympic record is just under 2 hours!) and were already feeling like we needed help just getting to our cars. A few of us took a couple of days to recover, but we were all proud of actually completing this distance!
When we started off, we all made some attempt to try the actual motion. The body actually begs to just jog. Admittedly, most of us gave up very quickly and decided we'd just walk it as quick as we could instead. At different intervals, some of us did try to throw in the motion, but it was futile.
We made it to our turnaround point in pretty good time. A few people broke out the first aid kit to tend to blisters and change socks and/or shoes. We took a few minutes to use the restroom and refill our water bottles, then headed back. It was at about the 10 mile mark when our bodies started to ask what the heck we were doing. J had to drop out but she encouraged us to go on - luckily her husband was able to come pick her up at one of our predetermined bail-out points.
We made it back in just under 4 1/2 hours (the Olympic record is just under 2 hours!) and were already feeling like we needed help just getting to our cars. A few of us took a couple of days to recover, but we were all proud of actually completing this distance!
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| At the start/finish line after a long morning - 20km race walk complete! |
5000m - 4/4/15
On a lovely spring morning, a few of us decided to run the 5000m in a charity 5k that is near and dear to my heart - The Blast. So this post will be a little more personal! I've been walking in this event the last few years on behalf of a good friend's son who is a survivor of Neuroblastoma. It raises a lot of money for a local hospital that researches this horrible childhood cancer. Many of the survivors and their families, as well as the "angels'" families participate every year. I had never had any interest in actually running it, but figured this would be a good time to complete my Olympic 5000m. J and L1 decided to be my support system and run it with me, although they've both done of number of 5k events over the years.
I'm not a runner. Never have been. Playing sports? Sure. But running just to run? No thanks. In fact, I not only dislike it, it kind of terrifies me. Of all the events we have to complete during this adventure, the ones that still create the biggest stomach upset are any of our runs. I am so very grateful that my friends know this and support me in trying my best. I managed to finish the event, half jogging, half walking, but so happy to have done it. Will I run it again? Nope.
I'm not a runner. Never have been. Playing sports? Sure. But running just to run? No thanks. In fact, I not only dislike it, it kind of terrifies me. Of all the events we have to complete during this adventure, the ones that still create the biggest stomach upset are any of our runs. I am so very grateful that my friends know this and support me in trying my best. I managed to finish the event, half jogging, half walking, but so happy to have done it. Will I run it again? Nope.
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| L1, J and L2 at the finish line |
Discus & Shot Put - 3/16/15
After taking some time off for J to welcome baby L into the world, we got back to business this spring. A local high school coach agreed to work with us on the discus and shot put events. None of us had ever done either of these before, so we started off just learning the basic moves so as to not hurt ourselves.
Both the discus and the shot have varying weights - we stuck with the high school girls versions. First, we practiced "putting the shot". Just holding it correctly was a bit awkward - you only use your fingers and thumb, down to the first knuckle. The hand should never touch the shot. Then you tuck it just behind your ear. The footwork for both of these events is the hard part and the coach had us practice in just the beginner's form - either no steps, or very minimal. For the shot, we took one big lunging step and "punched the giant" - his way of saying that our hands should punch outward and upward for the right trajectory - jumping and swiveling our hips to land with the opposite foot forward.
After some practice shots, we did start from the actual circle. It's truly amazing how far the "real" athletes can put these heavy things!!!
After our introduction to the shot, we moved over to the discus ring. At first, we practicing bowling the discs into a fence - to get the motion right of them coming off of our pointer finger last. Then we tossed them straight up in the air - again, to get the spinning in the right direction. A couple of us had issues with wanting to release them with the spin in the opposite direction. A couple of the coach's throwers were there to demonstrate the full motion, including the spin. We simply took one large step again, for fear of damaging the nearby school or cars if a disc when spinning wildly outside of the safety cage.
Again, knowing the distances these things can fly was amazing. These are definitely simple looking events that can take years and years to perfect. The slightest off-motion can make the difference!
Both the discus and the shot have varying weights - we stuck with the high school girls versions. First, we practiced "putting the shot". Just holding it correctly was a bit awkward - you only use your fingers and thumb, down to the first knuckle. The hand should never touch the shot. Then you tuck it just behind your ear. The footwork for both of these events is the hard part and the coach had us practice in just the beginner's form - either no steps, or very minimal. For the shot, we took one big lunging step and "punched the giant" - his way of saying that our hands should punch outward and upward for the right trajectory - jumping and swiveling our hips to land with the opposite foot forward.
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| K and R practicing the shot put |
After our introduction to the shot, we moved over to the discus ring. At first, we practicing bowling the discs into a fence - to get the motion right of them coming off of our pointer finger last. Then we tossed them straight up in the air - again, to get the spinning in the right direction. A couple of us had issues with wanting to release them with the spin in the opposite direction. A couple of the coach's throwers were there to demonstrate the full motion, including the spin. We simply took one large step again, for fear of damaging the nearby school or cars if a disc when spinning wildly outside of the safety cage.
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| L2 releasing the discus |
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| Shot put and discus complete! |
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