Category Archives: Cycling

Venus de Miles Ambassador…..

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Last year, I had an amazing time at the Venus de Miles event despite some pretty major bike issues.  Feel free to read about the entire debacle day HERE, where had it not been for SAG support and on course support/riders who helped me, I wouldn’t have finished.  I have nothing but thanks and praise for all the people who provided assistance during the 2012 ride!  Therefore, when I was invited to be an ambassador for the 2013 ride, I accepted without hesitation. 

The 2013 Venus de Miles event for Illinois will take place on July 28, 2013.  It will cruise thru Lake Forest and surrounding burbs, forest preserves and local bike paths.  The ride offers two options, a 25 mile and 61 mile route.  The participants will range from hard core “biker babes” to casual riders.  I can attest to this because I was toward the front when we left Lake Forest until mile 30 when I was out, roadside with tire puncture issues.  After lengthy repairs I returned to the course and was all the way  at the very back with the sweepers.  Riding with the sweepers was a great experience, they were strong riders and would hold up at every rest stop for a lengthy amount time to allow the ladies bringing up the rear to enjoy a leisurely ride as long as they were capable.

Me riding into the finish area after a LONG ass day ride.  I was thrilled to be done!

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Venus de Miles was a great ride but I think the after party took the event to a level like no other offered in the biking community.  The ride was for women, designed by women and the after party definitely focused providing a top of the line experience with gourmet food and feminine fun!  This is the info from the website since it would be impossible to do it justice otherwise:

Post Ride Festival
The fun doesn’t stop when you cross the finish line. Invite your family and friends who couldn’t join in the ride and put your post-ride endorphin high to good use at our celebration at Lake Forest College.

The ride also has a charity component supporting Greenhouse Scholars, “an organization dedicated to helping high-performing, under-resourced students reach their full potential by providing scholarships to attend college and other resources to help them become community leaders.”

So save the date, July 28th, Lake Forest, IL and plan to join me and the other ambassadors to make the 2013 ride the best one yet!  

This is a photo of a few friends from the 2012 ride.  Several of these ladies are also 2013 ambassadors:  Lauren, Erin, Kelly, MacKenna & Me

Venus 2012_Lauren Erin Kelly MacKenna Me

Free race entry “may” follow, so keep an eye out! 

** Ride like a Venus  ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** 

Be a Badass NOT a Victim …..

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You know me, or maybe people like me who walk around in shirts proclaiming “toughness”.  We may not verbally tell you that we are tough or that we are a badass but our shirts, tights, or maybe even our socks will give you a clue. 

badass tights_Kari     Team Tough Chik _TRI back  image

Photos above:  Kari – Running Ricig in the Relax Reflect Badass Tights, me in the 2012 Team Tough Chik TRI kit, & the Sock It to Me Badass socks.

I’ll let you in on a little secret.  We don’t really consider ourselves to be “that” tough.  We are projecting.  We want you to believe that we are tough, even if we don’t necessarily feel it inside.  Fake it til you make it, right? 

Perception is everything.  How others see us has a lot to do with how we carry ourselves.  What we say.  When we say it.  And what we DON’T say will speak volumes.  In today’s society, there is no place for weak women.  The weak become prey.  There are assholes predators lurking in the bushes, on our local trails, in our supermarket parking lots, everywhere really.  Don’t be scared but think for a minute about what you want to NON-VERBALLY convey to them?  What do you want them to think when they see you? 

Be confident.  Be a badass. 

Bad things happen to good people.  It’s not fair.  It sucks.  Some things are really beyond our control but how we react to a situation can possibly change the outcome. 

Be smart.  Be tough. Be confident.  Be a badass …. even when you don’t feel like one.  

I hope that when you see me in my “This is What Tough Looks Like” shirt, you think to  yourself, “Hmmm, she’s not so tough; I just saw her crying on the trail during her 20 miler last week!  I’m tougher than her!”  I hope that makes YOU feel stronger.  I hope that makes YOU feel like a badass.  I hope that gives YOU a confidence boost.  You are definitely tougher than me.   You are definitely a badass.  Live it.  Own it.  Project it.

Be confident.  Be a badass. 

So as your walking around today, I want you to focus on being confident.  I want you to look people in the eyes when you pass them.  I want you to say hello to perfect strangers.  I want you to look tough and feel like a badass walking thru your everyday life.  This is important, you need to project a confident air, even when you don’t feel it.  So pay attention to yourself because you never know when someone else is watching you and trying to decide 1) if you are paying attention to your surroundings and 2) if you are badass or a victim.  If can’t do it for yourself, do it for your daughters because those little eyes are watching EVERYTHING you do, learning your mannerisms, your strengths, your weaknesses, they are learning how to BE from watching you. 

Be confident.  Be a badass.

Me_BAMR shirt 

Badass Mother Runner shirt

In light of the recent attack of one of my run club members on Old Plank Trail in New Lenox, I want to revisit some previously written safety posts.  Please take a moment to open the links below and go over the runner safety tips.  If you have written a safety post in the past, please link it up in the comments below.  Thank you and please be safe.

Six Degrees of Separation …… Virtual Run For Sherry Arnold – February 12, 2012

Safety 1st, 2nd & 3rd – April 19, 2012 

** Be a Badass NOT a Victim ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Take a Breath…..

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I notice that a lot of people are in a down cycle right now and many of them are feeling a bit guilty about it.  If this is you, don’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself!  I’m a firm believer that training cycles are healthy, good for your body as well as your mind.   Most people need a down cycle to allow full recovery from a hard training/racing season.  Of course, there are exceptions to every rule but MOST of us need to rest.  Sleep.  Veg.  Take care of ourselves.  This isn’t something that will happen over the course of a day, or a weekend, or even a week.  A down cycle is a prescribed period of time where you specifically focus on different things in order to facilitate recovery. 

Possibly train different muscles, hit a zumba or spin class at the gym, talk to a trainer to set up a strength workout specifically for you, swim a few laps in the pool, or maybe get up the courage to attend that yoga class that you have always wanted to try.  Or maybe, just run for fun, at a relaxed pace.

Rest.  Relax.  Rejuvenate.  Recover.

You’ll know when your recovery is complete.  You’ll know when it’s time to return to a training plan.   Or maybe, you’ll just get bored and need to return to a regular routine.  No worries, the down cycle will not become permanent.  You will not become lazy after a little time off.  So enjoy it, without worries.  That’s right, just take a breath and enjoy it.

Rest.  Relax.  Rejuvenate.  Recover.

** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Barely Hanging On…..

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I don’t know if I ever formally mentioned that I’m using the Run Less Run Faster book as a guideline for my training for the Lansing Marathon.

This book has a chart which gives you a target finish time of what THEY believe you should be able to run, with proper training, of course.   It takes the “I wanna run X:XX:XX” out the equation when its right there in black and white that you can or cannot probably do it based on your current run times.   After you figure out your goal pace/marathon finish time, then there are multiple training tables which plan your training.  They also include a training plan for each of the Boston Marathon Qualifying standards.  Although, I’m not necessarily looking for a BQ because it seems impossible, I did select one of those plans because unlike the more generalized plans, it spells out each and every workout down to the pace you are “supposed to” run without any additional calculations necessary.

I won’t lie, this book is intimidating as all get out.  The premise is to run 3 key runs each week:  Speed, Tempo & Long Run, then add in two cross training days.  I chose biking for my cross training since I’m on deck for a 70.3 triathlon in July.  This 5 day plan works out well for my schedule because I can juggle the days, live my life, work, be a parent, be the “soccer mom”, and still not miss anything too important training wise.  In fact, I have never ran all the miles on a normal plan so I was willing to change my focus a bit this time around from “just run the miles” to “let’s sharpen the focus”.  I’m also not a person who wants a coach to whom I need to answer to but that doesn’t mean that I don’t like the idea of having a structured plan. 

As intimidating as the plan is in regards to hitting the numbers, I was a bit surprised as to how easy the workouts were to understand.  It is all spelled out for me and I just look at it on a day to day basis.  If I can’t do my speed work on Monday, I just move it to Tuesday and look at the day on my chart for the workout details.  I program my treadmill to the desired intervals and honestly, just try to hang on for as long as possible.  The paces are NOT easy for me.  Marathon training is not easy for me which is why I do it.  The paces, the plan, the training is a constant challenge.  I have not yet nailed a speed or tempo session and I don’t know why but that doesn’t seem to bother me.  I just keep on moving to the next workout as if I DID nail it and things are progressing.  In fact, they are progressing in a positive manner.  I “almost” nailed last night’s speed session.  In fact, I nailed a good 75% of it.  Progress in week 11 with a late start and a couple “rough” weeks.  I can’t wait to see where I am on April 21st when I fight it out mentally & physically at the Lansing Marathon.  I honestly do not believe that I will hit my predicted finish time for this marathon but I will be interested to see how close I come to their prediction.  I have considered sliding back to the next slower BQ training plan but what fun is that?  I don’t want to nail every workout but rather reach for it and keep trying to improve.  So  yes, I’m “in training” but I’m barely hanging on…… good thing I don’t go to the gym cuz I might scare someone.

fall off treadmill

Do you like to train within your comfort zone or do you try to push the limits?  I’m sure if I had a coach instead of a book, they would back me down so that I could nail it and grow my level of confidence but I kinda like it this way because this is what I do for fun.

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Feeling Sluggish….

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Anyone feeling sluggish as of late?  I feel sluggish, slow, and unmotivated.  I’m going thru the motions of training but am lacking the fire that usually pushes me to do my best.  I don’t want to do my best.  I don’t want to do anything.  Oh yeah, I want to do ONE thing ……. EAT!  While I normally eat a lot of this:

Right now, I only want to eat this:

Please add frosting to those brownies too!  Hmmm…. I wonder why I feel sluggish and slow?  No clue.  Oh yeah, and its cold out so when I have my lunchtime salad, I sometimes add this (Cream of Chicken Florentine is my current fav):

With all this extra food, I can’t afford to miss a damn workout.  In fact, I’m pretty sure I should be hitting it 2x a day!  So yesterday when I went home and felt like crap I wanted to skip my bike session, I dug deep, told myself that even Wonder Woman has an off month day. So while I’ll probably never have a cool blue tint to my hair like Wonder Woman, I did manage to suck it up and kick myself in the ass to pull out a cross training workout.  The stupid marathon plan called for a bike workout.  And really, who doesn’t want to put in a few miles while watching Bob The Builder?

me_bike_1-29-13     me_bike2_1-29-13

Then the Dr. Alexis plan called for wall sits, and toe/heel walks.  Michael wanted to redeem himself over last week’s photo so I let him give it a shot.  He actually did pretty well and got most of me in the photo.  Once I did a little “sharpening” to clear some of the blur, it came out pretty good! 

Ball-Wall Sits

Bottom line, if you are feeling a little sluggish and unmotivated, look at what your putting in your mouth.  If you eat crap, you’ll feel like crap and that perpetuates a cycle of laziness due to lack of energy.  So I’m once again, sucking it up on the food front and plan to drop a “few of those extra calories”.  Then hopefully I’ll start feeling a little more dedicated to my marathon plan.  Hopefully.  I know what to eat and I do well most of the time but once I fall off that wagon, its a long drop back to reality.

Is the cold putting you in a funk too?  While I like running when its cooler, I have a harder time saying no to the comfort foods which totally stick to my ass me.  I will do better.

** Saying NO to the Comfort Foods ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

2013 …. What Lies Ahead

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Since it’s been all Ragnar for quite some time, I thought I would take a break just for now and instead pin down a few 2013 goals.  Better late than never, right?

set and reach goal concept

I have a few general goals  that I will focus on for the entire year.  And remember, I roll with the K.I.S.S. principle.  Nothing too complicated, just simple but challenging goals.

  1. Run 1000 miles –  Although this seems like a no brainer, things happen, life happens and I don’t want to neglect my life in order to rack up run miles.  1000 miles is challenging, coming in at just under 20 miles a week, but also reasonable if I remain uninjured on the fitness wagon.
  2. Bike 2000 miles – Now this one may seem a little “Coo-Coo” but I biked almost 1000 miles this year and let’s just say that I didn’t give it a full effort.  I want to log miles every week of the year from here on out regardless of if TRI season is in session.
  3. Swim – Okay, I’m not ready to step in the pool yet…..still in denial here.
  4. Strength Train & Stretch – 2x per week.  This will be the first to be dropped.  I’m already worried about my schedule.  But this is the “goal”.  It won’t happen if it doesn’t even make the list, right?
  5. Drink 2 liters of water daily.
  6. Consume 5-7 servings of fruits & veggies daily.
  7. Be happy and have a positive attitude!

After the “general” goals, I then broke my training and race schedule into three parts:  Spring, Summer, Fall.  Each session having one goal race.  One focus.  Everything else will be for fun or quite possibly just not exist.  I’ve come to realize that with Aby in 3 sports per year, plus a toddler at home, our time is no longer our own.  I want Aby to be successful.  I want to support her in every way, which includes being at every race/game.  I’m not willing to sacrifice being her biggest supporter in order to once again, “log miles”.  For me, that means less racing, fewer “fun” miles, more focus oriented training.  

focus

Between each session, I will rest and recover.  For example, this week, I’m doing nothing resting and focusing on non-impact activities to freshen up from Ragnar.  The bottom line is that “most” of us can’t just keep going without some downtime or we will get hurt or burnt out.  I know that there is an exception to every rule, Susan M, but most of us mere mortals need to rest.  I also find that as I get “older”, I have to be smarter about recovery.  Maybe because I’ve been doing this for most of my life?  Yes, that’s a “reality bites” admission.  Maybe because I’m not a sprinter youngin’ anymore?  I now focus on training smarter, not harder and utilize tools like Post Workout Recovery, ice baths and massage sticks to just be able to walk recover for the next workout.

Spring Session – Goal Race – Lansing Marathon – April 21, 2013

If you haven’t heard that I’m running the Lansing Marathon, then this is the first time you’ve stumbled on this blog cuz I’ve talked about it, given away a prize pack and basically tried to recruit everyone, and anyone, who runs to join me.   Don’t feel bad if I haven’t hit you up YET cuz I’ll get you eventually.  🙂  If you would like to join me in Lansing for the full, half, marathon relay or 5K, please feel free to use the $10 off discount code CHICAGO10 and click HERE to register.  You know a girl doesn’t like to run alone and I certainly hope to see YOU there!

Summer Session – Goal Race – Ironman 70.3 Racine – July 21, 2013

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My TRI season last year didn’t go well. Ironman 70.3 Muncie was shorted due to the ridiculous heat (my report HERE) plus a tendon in my foot was torn so I couldn’t run, or finish.  I went with the intention to DNF.  I succeeded in acquiring my first DNF but it was not my favorite venue.  My second, and final, 70.3 of the year was going to be the Great Illini Challenge (my report HERE) but that race was called off due to the possibility probability of severe weather.  Completed triathlons in 2012 = Zero.  This year will be better.

Fall Session – Goal Race – TBD

I know many have their entire year planned but I’m keeping the fall schedule open.  This tends to be my fastest time of year.   I love the weather, I love the speed that my base mileage brings, I love to race.  However, the prior two sessions will dictate what Fall of 2013 will bring.  I’ve tossed around adding in another marathon but I need to see how my health is and how I am sitting mentally.  I may just sit on the couch and snuggle my baby run a half and some shorter races to take advantage of the speed.  Plus, if I’ve nailed some of my previous goal races, I’ll be cycling down rather than up.  Only time will tell.  I love a good mystery!!

Have you solidified a couple goals for 2013?  Do you have the entire year planned or are you okay with a couple question marks?

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

My Thanks to 2012

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Although, we never know what a new year will bring, it is easy to look back at the stats of the year gone by and give appreciation for what we were able to conquer.

1018 Miles Ran:

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907 Miles Cycled:

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  • 12 – 5Ks
  • 1 – 4 miler
  • 1 – 8K
  • 1 – 6 miler (part of a 10 mile event)
  • 2 – Half Marathons
  • 1 – Duathlon (relay team – Aby ran for me)
  • 1 – Half Iron event downgraded to an Olympic (due to weather) (bike/swim only due to injury)
  • 1 – 60 mile bike event
  • 2 – 5K DNS (due to injury)
  • 1 – Half Marathon DNS (due to injury)
  • 1 – Marathon DNS (due to injury)
  • 1 – Ultra Relay DNS (due to injury)
  • 1 Half Iron cancelled (due to weather)

I must say this has been the strangest year I’ve had in a long time.  I  have never had a DNS prior to 2012.  I have never had an event downgraded to a lesser distance.  I have never had an event cancelled.  I have never had to deal with such a lengthy injury.   I have never had an injury (as an adult) which totally took me out. But I handled it all.  Learned a lot.  And it has made me even more ready to tackle 2013.

Some people are constantly looking & searching for the next best thing.  They want each year to be bigger and better.  I, however, just strive for a good year, with good health, and good friends.  I feel lucky to be out there just slugging out the miles with everyone else, regardless of pace or distance.  I am thankful for the time.  I am thankful for the ability.  I am thankful for the experience which just allows me to appreciate my desire to keep running after all this time.  I’m not settling.  I’m just thankful.

** Give Thanks For Your Blessings ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Run YOUR Way….

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I leave for Ragnar FL Keys in 7 days!!!  One of our sponsors, Family Fan Club has created way more than 7 things for me in the last year. 

Family Fan Club

I first became familiar with them thru their sponsorship of our Ragnar Chicago ultra team, You Just Got Chicked.  My teammate & friend, Run with Jess designed a kickaxx shirt and Family Fan Club did everything else. 

Shirts:

               Chick 3

Headbands

 You Just Got Chicked_headband

Decals for our van.  Shirts for a friend’s Ragnar Chicago Team.  The experience was so good, I decided to let them do a quote for our running club.  We wanted something that would “pop”, make us recognizable since we were new but growing at an alarming fast rate.  We wanted to create a brand that everyone would identify as our running club.  So we stuck with the gold because you can see it a mile away it pops.  The FNRC brand was born with the help of Jeni H’s awesome designs skills and Family Fan Club chasing down anything and everything GOLD, which is really not an easy task.

Shirts (long sleeve, sleeveless, short sleeve, gender specific, hoodies):

FNRC_shirts

Hats & Visors:

FNRC_shirt hat visor

Christmas Ornaments:

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    iPhone Case:

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I can only hope that the FNRC did Family Fan Club proud this year.  We wore our colors and FNRC gear everywhere and collected a “few” awards too.

        

I also utilized them for shirts a few friends wanted made with the “Go Live” theme.  It reminds me of the “go big or go home” slogan.  Go Live …. if you are going to show up, then be ready to play, run or do WHATEVER at your best.

QuadCities_2012 girls

And last but not least, Family Fan Club is hooking up my newest Ragnar team with shirts, designed by the fabulous Jeni H and decals for our Ragnar vans.

2 Bros 10 Does_shirts

2 Bros 10 Does_me_outfit

If you want to run YOUR way, whatever way that is, in whatever design you can create, then call Family Fan Club and they can hook you up.  This is definitely a “you dream it” …… they can make it type company.  Prices are good too.  Reasonable and they will work with large groups to get you the best price available.  I’m a big “fan” of Family Fan Club!

Thanks for all the support this year, Family Fan Club!

** Run YOUR Way**  Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Lighting the Fire of Motivation….

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It’s no secret that I love motivation quotes, pictures, sayings and people.  In fact, I enjoy sharing things on my Facebook page that I come across via various web pages.  For some, the “motivational” pics and quotes are tired, old and redundant.  For me, they make me smile, nod my head and frequently say, YES, I LOVE THAT!

I stumbled on this one today.  I’ve had a rough week, too much work, too much stress, not enough holiday focus, and very little running.  I was looking for a “pick me up” and found this……

I don't run because

I know, you’ve seen it before, right?  Probably.  But it reminded me that I need to get my ass out of the office the door for a run, ASAP.

Running makes me appreciate things more.  It gives me energy and motivates me to DO things that I would NOT do if I hadn’t ran.  I find this particularly true on the weekends.  If I start my Saturday or Sunday (preferably both!) with a run, then it automatically makes me more productive throughout the rest of the day.  It lights a fire within me to MOVE.  To do things.  To NOT be lazy.  To live.  To not just snuggle into the couch with a cup of coffee but to actually handle the things in my life that need my attention.  Things that I would otherwise be content to put off for another day, or week, or month….. for as long as I could avoid it. 

That’s the secret.  Running/Working out GIVES energy, it doesn’t take it away.  Everyone always says, “Oh, you ran 10 miles this morning; you must be exhausted!?!?”  No, I’m not exhausted.  I’m energized and ready to tackle life.   Whatever that means for today.

Move your body, in any way you can.  Walk, run, hit the gym and you too will wake up and not just go thru the motions of your day but you will FEEL alive, FEEL motivated,  FEEL ready to take on whatever comes your way. 

** Light the Fire of Motivation ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

ShowerPill Giveaway Winner!!!

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The winner of the box of ShowerPill athletic wipes is #18 – BetyBliss!

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According to Betty’s comment, she is a fellow Ragnarian so hopefully she will #StayFresh for her teammates!

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Betty, please contact me at:  amanda@tootallfritz.com and send your mailing address for the ShowerPill wipes!

For the rest of us, there is a 20% off discount code:  STAYFRSH  which we can use to purchase ShowerPill wipes at Amazon HERE ($9.99 each).  I really love these things and encourage you to try them.  I buy them for my gym bag, my running bag and use them at least once per week after my lunchtime runs.  I really love these things!

** Stay Fresh ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com