Dirty Inspirations

Dirt, does in fact, Inspire

2009-08-31T17:12:00.000-07:00

For the Dirt Inspires Women’s Trail Half Marathon participants Over 10 months ago I was diagnosed with a partially torn Achilles tendon and had to back out of a race/trip to Antarctica. For someone who thrives in physical discomfort and challenge, I was deeply taken back and required to reevaluate my life for the next year. After the initial shock and disappointment and staring at many months ahead without my beloved trails, I decided to live vicariously though you. If I couldn’t run on trails...

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My 10 Month Anniversary

2009-08-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

In acknowledgment of my 10-months-of-not-running-anniversary this week I’ll be seeing my sports med. doc for a re-evaluation of the Achilles tendon injury that took me out of a race in Antarctica last year, and, hauling 60 lb loads of water up a remote trail. Since I’m not someone who connects with gratuitous optimism, and I downright cringe when I hear intelligent folks say things like, “Everything will be just fine,” or, “It could be much worse,” I’m certain I’ll swallow what will be at the...

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A Fly on the Wall of Ambiguity

2009-07-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Upon returning from crewing at Western States 100 this past weekend I revisited - again - the "why's" of 100 milers. So I dug up some old thoughts on this topic that happen to still ring true... and most likely will for you...(from July '05)For an experienced ultra-runner, pacing another runner in a 100 mile trail race is like being a fly on the wall of one’s own chosen abyss of suffering. I had yet another opportunity to experience that genre of voyeurism in the Vermont 100 two weeks ago. My...

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No Turd Left Behind

2009-06-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

gorgeous summit day in '05! In light of my climb on Mt Shasta this coming weekend, I wanted to revisit a post from my last Shasta climb a few years back. Enjoy! August '05In their quest to eliminate human waste on the otherwise picturesque and pristine Mt. Shasta, the rangers who manage that 14+k high mountain in Northern California are right on target…literally. Along with a $20 summit permit a climber is required to acquire a “poop kit” (my name for it) at any ranger kiosk on the mountain...

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Going Longer – In a Different Dimension

2009-05-21T16:15:00.000-07:00

The past few months I’ve been posting perspectives on Going Longer (than you’ve gone before) in endurance sport. I’ve touched on the central concepts of adaptation and patience, revering the chosen new distance, shifting views of success and solidifying your mental game, for your new endeavor. These are all aspects of ultra endurance sport I’ve worked to harness over the years, recently highlighting them in my book, Triathlon Revolution: Training, Technique and Inspiration. And in current...

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Going Longer Part 8: Patience is a Virtue

2009-04-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Runners do not hit the wall in a marathon because of the distance; they hit the wall at mile 18, 20, or 22 because they either had an inadequate fuel plan, their training was insufficient for the distance, or they were not patient in their pacing of the distance. Just as going longer requires your fuel plan to be dialed in, it also obliges you to be prudent in your early race pace. “My pace felt too easy the first 10 miles, so I went a bit faster than I had planned” is a common comment from...

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Going Longer Part 7: Refine Your Fuel Plan

2009-04-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

The human body can, amazingly, move forward for a few hours with little to no fuel. But if you go longer than a few hours without adequate calories, electrolytes, and water, you’ll be forced to walk, or stop. I’ve seen athletes complete international distance events on a couple hundred calories or less. I’ve seen people complete half-Ironmans on a bit more than that, but in both of these cases, they didn’t have their best race, and there is a high probability they felt very poorly post-race,...

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Going Longer Part's 5/6: Revel in the Experience_Success is Relative

2009-03-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

(our continued discussion of Going Longer than we have prior in endurance sports)Revel in the Experience. A client who recently did his first Ironman in Hawaii had a very poignant goal for the race: “I’m so excited to go to this race, I really just want to race smart and take in the whole experience.” His main objective was to finish the race. It being his first Ironman, he didn’t know how that would play out. So he came up with a plan for pace and fuel, adapted it as needed along the way, and...

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Going Longer Part 4: Embrace the Mental Game

2009-03-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

The longer you go, the more critical your need to embrace your mental game. Having your goals laid out and your self-talk dialed in will not just help you have a faster time, they may make or break your ability to finish a race of novel distance. When you train or race for several hours or more, you have no choice but to keep yourself company in your mind. You can be the negative, energy-sucking training partner, or you can be the helpful, rational training partner. The time you spend, or not,...

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Going Longer Part 3: Revere the Distance

2009-03-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

When going longer than you have gone before in your sport, do not fear the distance, admire it. And in that, respect yourself for taking on that distance. Celebrate your choice to step up to the line of a difficult event. You are selecting an endeavor most people would never entertain. Congratulations, you’re opting to move away from your comfort zone and learn a great deal. Any athlete who has chosen to go longer can attest to their getting seriously humbled. If I ever find that I’m a bit too...

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Going Longer Part 2: Adapt or Fail

2009-02-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

In considering going longer, adapting--to training, lifestyle changes, cold water, and more--isn’t just a perk that can help you get faster and be on top of your mental game, it’s a requirement. In going longer, you either adapt or you fail. If you’ve done an endurance sport, you know that it’s common to have difficult issues pop up--crashing on your bike, getting kicked in the face during the swim, getting blisters on the run, and so on. The longer the event, the longer the list can become. ...

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Going Longer Part 1: Embracing the Unknown

2009-02-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

Many people do endurance sport because it tests their resolve. They get value from those tests--information about strengths and clarity on weaknesses. Taking on an event that is longer than anything you’ve done before places you on the stage of the unknown. This can be a scary place, but if you are methodical and intelligent, you can manage that fear and move into your test with some sense of belief you can achieve. You may ponder, “Am I good enough?” When going long, the answers are loud and...

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Take the Pressure Off while Building Your Base

2009-02-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

Unless you live in an area where training outside may be unsafe due to snow, ice, or extreme weather, there is no reason to not get outside. A bit chilly? Wear the proper clothing to accommodate for cold or wind chill. Raining? You get wet anyway when you are swimming, so what’s the issue? The plethora of high-tech clothing and shoes leaves you with no excuse to stay indoors on winter weekends, and chances are, you may have the roads or trails to yourself! If you are consistent, steady, and...

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Training Tip: Jump-starting Training

2009-01-28T16:01:00.000-08:00

To jump into off-season base building, keep the focus on being kind to your body with easy, relaxed training sessions. Take your time getting back up to speed by using the following rules as a guide: * Refrain from starting training where you left off. Start with a third of the training time you were doing midseason.* For the first couple weeks, train three to five days per week.* Build your program by 10{en}15 percent of the total time training per week in each sport.* Every fourth week, do...

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Wishing you introspection and growth in this new year:

2009-01-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

For over 25 years I've coached hundreds of athletes to help them reach life changing goals and there is one thing that has stood out the most. That enduring in our training to attain fitness not only gives us those rewarding finish line experiences, it is the most valuable action we can take to attain a healthy life in total. If all of our material "stuff" is ultimately stripped away and we still have our heath and mental well being - our families will remain rich indeed. Now more than ever...

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My Internal War Zone

2008-12-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

I so envied my friends braving storms, sea sickness and running in several feet of fresh snow that to ease my mind for not being able to partake in my Antarctic adventure I re-read the detailed radiologists’ report of my Achilles tendon MRI. This was a sure way to once and for all rid myself of ridiculous self pity and rejoin the road to reality. Having a fair amount of schooling in anatomy I deciphered enough info to feel some significant anatomical shock and awe. In short, the whole...

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National Day of Listening

2008-11-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

Friday, November 28 is National Day of Listening initiated this year by the founder of StoryCorps which is aired each week on NPR (National Public Radio). StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit that has helped more than 40,000 Americans record their stories. It is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and is their mission to help people honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. Here's their goal for this first annual: This holiday season, ask the people...

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It's Out!

2008-11-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

My new book, Triathlon Revolution: Training, Technique and Inspiration, has hit the stores and I kicked off a slew of upcoming book signings right here in Santa Cruz at Capitola Book Café. A fun night indeed. Check my website for a signing in your area. I’d love to meet you and get your feedback! To entice you to check out the book, here’s a piece taken from the Intro: Triathletes as Heroes I have been asked many times who my heroes are in sport. In our society we often associate “hero” as...

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The Conservation Alliance fundraiser

2008-10-30T10:45:00.001-07:00

Clarification on fundraiser: The money I have collected will go to The Conservation Alliance. If folks wish to still contribute they are more than welcome. I am not doing my Movie Night fundraiser as I'd like to save the films for my next fundraiser. So, Movie Night is the fundraiser that has been cancelled.... Thanks for the inquiry, Terri

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Damaged Goods

2008-10-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

This past week I’ve pined to join the ranks of those I have little tolerance for, and whine for just a minute… Whining, like worrying is generally a waste of breath. We play the victim blah...blah...blah... then we feel like we emotionally got hit by a truck. Yet here I am doing the injured athletes version of Russian Roulette—whining and fretting and hating myself for it all the while. Go ahead—pull the trigger. This past May I had to pull out of a race for which I had trained well due to...

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Racing Antarctica, Movie Night, Book Launch Party!

2008-10-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

Whew! So much exciting stuff happening. I must first admit that fundraising has been hugely rewarding – I’m pleasantly surprised. Having passion for what the people at The Conservation Alliance are accomplishing keeps me motivated. I am astonished at the generosity of so many friends and acquaintances. And it has been excellent touching base with some folks I haven’t corresponded with for quite a while. But this job is unceasing! Pass the word, send people my blog site, or better yet a direct...

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Racing Antarctica - for The Conservation Alliance

2008-09-12T15:53:00.001-07:00

As some of you may know for most of my life I’ve sought adventure, physical duress and travel to far off wild places and the virtue that comes with these types of life choices. I’ve also witnessed the fragile relationship of human interaction with our planet. While the adventures I seek today seem to hold a much greater purpose, my time to give back is way, way, overdue. But the thought of running in 120 degree heat across the Sahara Desert is much more appealing to me than facing the terror of...

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Books - Terri's Picks

2008-08-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

My name is Terri and I am a book junkie! When I’m not actually moving on a climbing or racing adventure I seek out quiet spots to devour a few good books. I prefer a real live book over anything digital and gravitate predominantly toward non-fiction. In a spare moment back home you’ll find me at my local book shop in the travel or biography sections, though I have been known to shop prolifically online. Book stores make me happy! I dream of having my own library where I can sit among great...

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Life in the Amazon Jungle - Kusutkau Village

2008-08-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Note: My apology that this is "late" but in any case, I think you'll enjoy this amazing experience. I will have more photos up soon. We had the privilege of spending one evening and one morning in one of the Achuar villages, a 30 minute boat ride up the river from our lodge. Since we would be engaging in a couple of Achuar ceremonies, we were briefed by our guide on the social nuances in which we’d engage. We couldn’t just cruise in and start chatting, there was a manner in which these people...

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To the Amazon Rain Forest

2008-07-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Note: I´m heading home tomorrow (sunday) but wanted to get started on piecing together this portion of my trip for you all. More to come upon my return state-side... (please excuse typos) Monday, July 14 As we drove to Shell from Quito (Plan B), we noticed that we could see the beautiful snow capped volcanoes. Looks like the weather has cleared - go figure. The really cool part of this drive was through the deep wet river valley and the start of the Cloud Forest near a village called Banos...

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