What fitness means to you

Have you ever thought about what fitness means to you? 

This has been on my mind a lot since I've started recovering from long term illness. What does fitness really mean to me? Where does it fall in my life? These are questions that are important to me, and if you're someone who exercises regularly, I encourage you to think about this too.

As I start feeling healthier, I'm finding that my perspective on lots of different things are changing. Things that I thought never would change are indeed looking different to me. It's an odd side effect! 

So many wonderful people I've met through
OnTrack Fitness!

I'll start from the beginning, bear with me it'll all come together in the end. I started becoming interested in fitness at the age of nine. I don't know why, I was just intrigued by this new idea I heard of somewhere that by doing pushups I could do MORE pushups. What - wow, that was such a cool idea to a little girl! 

So I got my uncle to teach me how to do pushups, I got my mom to buy me one pound dumb bells (ha! Ok, I was nine) & I would carry them as I ran laps around our house. I got my dad to build a pullup bar in the garage, from my play batton, by the way. So funny! This was my intro into fitness & I loved it!

Then I went through a phase I thought exercise was stupid. Like all kids as they grow, likes & dislikes change. I was more about climbing trees & swimming which is funny considering that too is physical.

*Disclaimer, the following may trigger people who struggle with eating disorders.*
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At thirteen I developed an eating disorder, and along with that I exercised. A lot. I became obsessed with both food and exercise. It was unhealthy, obviously, and it really took front and center of my life. Fitness wasn't fitness. It was my life, my obsession.  

Unless you've known me since my teens you probably don't know I had an eating disorder. I was lucky because my family was on top of it & I got help quickly and was able to recover for the most part within a year and started eating again. However, I went from this to being obsessed with being healthy. "Perfect" eating (which doesn't exist but nonetheless) and over exercising was my life. 

I wouldn't go out to eat because I didn't know what they were putting into my food. I put exercise as the most important thing in my day. I skipped events, skipped family gatherings, skipped school to exercise. Fitness, again (or still), had become the only thing in my life. 

Guys, let me be clear: this isn't fitness. By any standards. If you find yourself in this place, I urge you to get help. You can overcome this. Keep reading...

I look back on all of that now & it doesn't seem like it was me. It feels like I'm remembering a movie of someone else's story.

In my early 20's I hit a point where things changed. It started with a bible study that was focused on having a healthy relationship with food. It hit home & I can honestly say through this study plus lots & lots of prayers and lots & lots of work I was truly and wholly healed from my unhealthy relationship with food and exercise. It just all made sense, and the obsession no longer was of interest to me.

I still ate healthy, but I relaxed. I enjoyed food. I went out to eat, I allowed others to cook for me. And wonder of wonders I actually ate junk food every now and then! I didn't think about food all the time. I still exercised but now instead of over exercising, I started doing running races which helped me learn how to exercise for a goal, take time off & feel good about doing it correctly instead of constantly. I learned & practiced doing it, having fun, then letting it go. And this did take practice but I was ready to be free.

Then I learned about triathlon and it took me to a different level. I really learned to train and rest. I did my workouts then went on with life. This is hard to explain but by doing these races I wasn't focused on continuous exercise, instead on doing a specific workout. I got it done and moved on with life. It freed me to relax! I loved the shift from fitness being life to it being part of my life.

And then it hit. Chronic illness. Everything changed. There were times I thought I'd brought this on myself by the years of obsession. But my docs assured me that it was not my doing and in fact, since I was an exerciser it helped me stay healthier than if I'd not. Thank God I'd gotten a better handle on things years before this. They told me to keep exercising. And so I did, but boy it was different. It was hard, so hard. I still loved it but on the other hand it was joyless in a way. I knew it helped me regulate my energy, it gave me energy but it was me literally willing myself to move. 

These were dark years. But there was good too. Even though it took a lot of mental will, triathlon was a symbol of freedom for me. It was a way to draw a line in the sand and tell this stupid illness "you won't take everything from me!" 

Fitness started looking like a way to connect. Connect to myself, to gain energy, to listen to my body, to learn how to eek out every little bit out of what little energy I had. It became less about getting better & more about...I guess just being. Being me, being free. Being someone who still did, still could even if it wasn't what I wanted it to look like. I guess it became more about acceptance.

Little by little it became less about me & more about a way to praise and worship God. I would spend my runs praying & being thankful that I could run. Yes it was kinda like a shuffle. It was slow, it was hard. But it was. It was a gift, and that's beautiful. 

This took practice too, and I often failed miserably to see fitness as a gift. Because that is what it was.

My first marathon, during illness but prior
to mono. An accomplishment I never
thought would happen.

Now that I'm starting to heal (my docs finally found the cause & I'm being treated) I'm unexpectedly finding my definition of fitness changing again. I didn't expect any of these feelings that I can't even describe, yet here they are! 

Fitness. Wow, it's been quite a ride and I'm still on it. Fitness now seems to me still a beautiful gift. But this gift we're given, what if it's about being fit enough to do what we are called to do in this life? What if it's someone who physically can't exercise yet they can be fit enough to make it through their day? What if a person can't do a triathlon, and reap those benefits? But they can eat well, and sleep well, and pray well enough to get up and go to work and be sunshine to someone who needs it? What if this is fitness?

What if we use it to not focus on ourselves, but on others? What if my whole entire life was leading me to become the coach I am now, the person I am now? That I attract the athletes we have at OnTrack Fitness because of who I became due to all of my life experiences - and that we are there to love and support and encourage and pray and treat others with respect? 

What if fitness is just the means by which we're doing that?

What if we don't use fitness as our identity? After all, there will come a day when our workout days come to an end. Then what? I want more. I want to be what I was called to be, don't you? This podcast made me think. So did this post.

What if that's what my fitness looks like?

I think so. I'm still learning but maybe this is my fitness now. Yes I still train & exercise & set goals & love exercise. But maybe...there's more to this. I'm excited for this new phase in my life! 

So let me ask you, what is your fitness? 

Running on empty

My last blog post I talked about taking time off from races. It's been a tough year for this coach.

I'd like to elaborate a bit on what that means, then I'll give an update.

As a triathlete my general training schedule, depending on what phase I'm in, usually has three running sessions per week; one endurance run, one intensity & one fun run with my dog. I have two bike rides (endurance & intensity) & two to four swim sessions (one endurance & lots of technique. A few short swims). I take two days off every week, which means some days I do two disciplines in one day, & I take one week off per month. 

This is not an overly taxing schedule. This is also the general plan for me, as I

Me on far left with my triathletes I trained for
Honolulu Tri in May.
I wasn't able to do this race, my first year not
participating. What a great team!

always have to listen to my body. Sometimes those intensity sessions are quite short, and those endurance sessions end up being short too. Depends on my health that day and again, what phase of training.

But this year - meaning all of 2017 up through August, I had two run sessions that felt good. Like a normal person. Two. Two run sessions from January to August that I didn't feel encased in cement, lugging my body through each step. Two runs that I didn't have to mentally force my body to move. This is why I tell my clients if I can do it they can do it. 

This is not over training syndrome. This is chronic illness folks. It tries to suck every bit of joy in life from you, and it will if you let it. It tries to take what you love away, and it will if you let it. Which is why I willed my body to go & refuse to give up on the joy life brings. I always say God gave me an extra dose of zest for life because He knew I'd need it. I love my zest. I love my zest & I love triathlons.

My last race was the Ironman 70.3
Hawaii. I did the swim in the relay.
It. Was. Awesome. Don't set limits!

Please, before you say I should quit, understand that my doctors have told me the only reason I am not disabled is due to me taking supreme care of myself. Everyone else they've come across with the test numbers similar to mine HAVE BEEN DISABLED. Disabled, people. And here I am doing my thing. Praise God for giving me a love of health & fitness at an early age so it was already my lifestyle before I got sick!

So the remaining 2017 race season is for shorter, less intense workouts and no races. I'm keeping it under Z4 & no longer than 30 minutes. So far I've been quickly recovering from each session. I've got the rest of 2017 to go. We'll see what 2018 brings for this zesty coach and triathlete! One thing's for sure, I am not giving up on myself.

Chronic illness & life

Ok, let me tell you that this (see picture) is true. If you have chronic illness too you know that. But I also want to finish the story.

I've dealt with chronic illness for about 13 years. It's always there, it changes your normal. Sure. But you can still have a wonderful life filled with goodness, love, adventure, dreams. You can live with the "monster" always right there, threatening you, or you can choose to live each moment to its fullest, whatever that means each moment. Your illness doesn't have to be your identity! You may need to reassess a few things, make a few adjustments but that's ok!

You may have days that you mourn your old life or what you thought life would be like now, and that's ok too! Take those days. But *enjoy* the good days. Don't allow the illness to ruin your good days by looking at it in your peripheral vision. Try not to allow people who don't understand you get you down. They won't understand unless they have illness too, know that & remember just because they don't get it, it doesn't mean you should feel bad about yourself. They may act or think you're crazy. You're not.

Look straight at God. Give him your pain, your fears. Tell it to him, scream it if you need to. On really tough days, cry. Be angry. It's ok! And then let go. Allow peace that can only come from God to enter your heart. Keep hope knowing this is only reality for here, not for eternity. Never give up on yourself. Keep striving for better health because if you give up, it's over & it'll get worse. It's worth it. You are worth it!

This comes from someone who Dr's say should be disabled, but who instead is blessed because she didnt give up on herself, to run marathons, triathlons & her own business helping others reach their potential. - coach Emily

Never give up on yourself

"On the other side of fear lies freedom." Don't know who said this but I've found it to be true.

Waikiki

That's my head in the green cap right in the middle of the picture. In the middle of some fairly big swells I swam just fine. But that wasn't always the case. Before we moved to Hawaii I always said once we got here my triathlon days will be over. Ocean swimming, no way. No. Way. But once I got here I found, to my surprise, I wasn't quite ready to quit.

So I took ONE FULL YEAR to get myself comfortable with ocean swimming. Many, many times I panicked & made a bee line to shore. I often questioned if I'd ever be able to personally get past this fear, let alone train others.

Now, almost four years later I can't imagine ever going back to lap or lake swimming. I L-O-V-E it. I LOVE working with people,getting them comfortable in the water, helping them get past those same fears I had, helping them reach goals and take things to the next level. I think back and am soooo thankful I kept trying. I would have missed out on some of the best times of my life, the best clients, the most fun training with people and countless blessings.

Bottom line: If you don't want to do something, don't. But if you want to, never, and I mean never give up on ypurself. No matter how long it takes or what odds you face. You can do it and it WILL be worth the effort!

Nutrition & fitness: a days worth of food

Nutrition & fitness go hand in hand, everyone knows that right? But I see so many of us confused about nutrition. I see so many of us being a slave to food. That's not how it should be. 

I thought I'd share a typical days worth of food so you can see how this coach & athlete eats. It's my hope that if you've been a slave to food, something in this post will ignite something in you so you will no longer have to be enslaved to food. Food should be enjoyed, without guilt, no matter what size shape or fitness level you are.

Before I share today's meals, I'd like to discuss some habits I have:

• I rarely think about deleting food. Instead, I enjoy looking for ways to add in foods that will make my meals healthier. That's a mindset shift from 'can't have' into a more positive thought of how can I include something to bring balance.
• I eat chocolate, donuts, cookies etc without guilt. If I'm going to eat it, I'm going to fully enjoy it.
• That being said, I strive to eat 80% wholesome, nutritious foods & 20% discretionary. A healthy diet can - and should - include 100-400 calories of discretionary foods a day (depending on how many calories one can have per day). I say should because having those treats is real & it's unreasonable to try and cut out treats altogether. Unless you want to feel deprived, overindulge, have guilt, over restrict & repeat. No fun, no thank you!
• While I strive to eat nutritiously, I do not want to be a slave to food. This isn't how God intended. I spent several years in my teens enslaved to food & I can tell you that I'm much happier, well rounded and optimally fit than I was when I had harsh restrictions.  And honestly, restrictions are very seldom about health are they? Oftentimes we do it to punish ourselves because we think we're fat. Right?
   
• I very rarely measure things out. I do, however, keep track of general serving sizes of each food group. I go for a balanced diet.
• I try to eat at least 3 food groups per meal and 2 per snack. Again with going for a balanced diet.

When you see the food below, you may see ways I could have made better choices. I agree. I'm not going for perfection & I hope you don't either. On the other hand, you may think this is not enough food for you, not enough chips or chocolate. I'd like to remind you of two things 1) When I see these pics I agree it doesn't look like much. But I was full & satisfied & couldn't have eaten more. 2) There are certainly - certainly days that I have more chocolate or potato chips. I sometimes eat a donut for breakfast. Yep! Just not every day & I try to space things out...so not chips and donuts all in one day. Please remember that. 80/20 folks. 

Breakfast: whole wheat bagel with cream cheese, babybel light & berries, was thoroughly enjoyed. I've been on a cream cheese kick lately, but I'll also have peanut butter or cottage cheese on my bagels. This gave me plenty of energy for my morning sessions & my own swim workout. 

Whole wheat bagel had 8g of fiber. I always look for
a minimum of 2g per serving.
The Babybel gives some calcium & protein plus it's fun to play
with the red wax :) Berries are loaded with goodness.

Lunch: Single serve hummus with baby carrots & crackers plus a veggie salad topped with an egg, low fat cheese, tomatoes, avocado, cauliflower, low fat dressing and a few more crackers. Might not look like much but I was quite satisfied. Great refuel after my workouts.

Single serve hummus is convenient & delicious.
I like to have at least some veggies with it because it's
an yummy way to get more veggies.
Egg atop the salad gives me another food group, and I have to really work
to get enough protein so always keeping this in mind.

Mid day snack: Easy. Small smoothie I made with a bit of soft tofu, strawberries & half a banana plus soy milk & stevia. Just enough to get me to dinner so I don't crash. 

Yet another way to get more produce, calcium
& protein which are things I have to work at. Sweet enough I don't
want cookies anymore! Holds me over so I don't crash & eat the world.

Dinner: Whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce (I added fresh tomatoes) & 95% lean ground beef. Side salad. We had a coconut fruit bar for dessert. 

We really need to eat more meat. I know that's unusual but
in our household, we need to. The pasta gives me energy & nutrients that fruits & veggies
don't have in them. Carbs are important as long as they're not over eaten..just like
anything else. Always looking for ways to add in more produce, hence the salad (& tomatoes in the sauce). If not for the salad I'd probably had seconds of pasta. Instead I kept it more balanced. The fruit bar was delightful.

Night time snack: Half a Clif Builder Bar. Chocolate! These few calories will help me not to wake up and overeat. 

I ate half because I wasn't terribly hungry. The chocolate was satisfying. 

There you have it: full disclosure! I pray that this gives you an idea of what an imperfectly healthy day looks like. 

If you want to learn more about balanced nutrition, there are some resources I recommend. Eatright.org, read Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Mindless Eating & Eating Mindfully. These are great starts to learning more on your own. If you need more guidance get in touch with a professional & make sure they're a Registered Dietitian. Contact me if you have questions. - Coach Emily

OnTrackFitness.Net

No athletic talent, no problem

I saw this picture on Facebook and it got me thinking. This statement is "I wasn't born a runner, I became a runner" is true for me. I'm not a natural athlete. In fact it took me years to call myself a triathlete because it seemed ridiculous saying those words.

This rings true for me. Does it for you?

Now you may not believe me but let me share a couple of stories. In high school I tried out for tennis. I made the team but only because there were just enough people that tried out to make a team. I often wished there was just one more person so I'd been cut because not once - not one time - did I EVER hit that wretched tennis ball! Not in practice and certainly not in matches. Yeah...

Here's another story. I tried out for volleyball six years in a row and never made the team. Think about that. Six. Years. In. A. Row. and that includes after the two years I spent at volleyball camp. Hahaha!

One more, I'll keep it brief. Never having been able to do a cartwheel, handstand or anything other than a somersault in my life = not the best of ideas trying out for cheer leading team. 

Ah, the memories! I actually get a good chuckle now.

What I didn't realize at the time was my 'thing' wasn't team sports (and certainly nothing that had a ball, oh my goodness). That whole time I was trying out for these teams I was also running on my own just for fun. I didn't think of being in track or cross country because I didn't think I was fast enough. 

But I kept trying, put myself out there and finally figured things out. If I'd let those failures define me life would be very different now. If I'd never done my first 5k (nervous & feeling like I would be last) I'd never had known I loved it. If I hadn't decided to try my first triathlon...I can't even imagine what life would be like.

Me with team OnTrack Fitness at last week's GOTR Spring 5k

Still, running doesn't come easy to me. Triathlon isn't easy. I'm not fast, my body takes a long time to adapt. I'm not a natural. But I've found what I love, my sport. I'm not a tennis or volleyball player, I'm not a cheer leader. I am a triathlete. And it doesn't matter how fast, slow or non talented I am because there's no try outs. Nothing depends on how well I do in a race. It's all for fun!

If you've tried and failed at something it's ok. It happens, it's part of life. Keep trying, do something new, find what you have passion about and go after it. You don't have to be great at it, you just have to enjoy it.

Chronic pain, fitness & triathlons

I have chronic pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, thyroid disease, a mysterious "floating virus" (whatever that means!), scoliosis among other things. Docs tell me 60% of my energy goes toward dealing with health issues. I gain weight easily, I don't gain muscle & I can get sick if I spend too much time standing, sitting or walking around (weird..) No one quite knows what's going on even after 10 plus years. I've come to accept that no one is going to truly know. 

But that doesn't define the whole me. I'm also a triathlon coach, personal trainer, yoga instructor, triathlete, marathon runner. 

You're looking at a VERY happy me
coming out of my 1st ocean swim triathlon

By the way, no I don't have health issues because I do these sports. I do these sports to STAY as healthy & strong as possible to fight illness. 

Yes, sometimes I ask why me. Sometimes I get discouraged. Sometimes I can't sleep because of pain. Some days I pray that this will all go away, even for a day so I can feel what it's like to be "normal." But my reality right now is this. Yours might be too.

If I could choose I would take optimal health in a heart beat of course. But I've come to realize blessings can come out of pain. 

Let me explain. Because I have pain I have empathy for others in pain. Because I have fatigue I understand how it feels when just getting out of bed is enough for the day. Because I swim bike & run while I have these issues I understand the frustrations others have when they feel like they'll never be able to become a runner, or the bike doesn't seem like a friend. Or when they want to quit because they're not seeing results they think they should be seeing. I get it! I've been there, which means I'm further along my journey & I can say "Stay hopeful because you're going to be ok!" 

This is me at my first marathon, something I never thought would happen.
Don't set limits!

If you're reading this & suffering, you are going to be ok! Here's a few things I've learned along the way that I'd like to share with you.

• No matter where you're at now you can always have better health. Forget comparing yourself to others or to what you think you should or could've been. Strive for a little bit better health, whether that's regular doctor visits, massages, eating better, exercising etc etc (or all of those). 
• Learn to love your body. After all, it's trying SO hard for you. Your body is not fighting against you even when it feels like it is. Your body is fighting for you so give it a break, love it as it is & take this time to take exceptional care of it.
• Along those same lines, learn what your body needs. Exercise regularly. Keep it gentle at first until Dr's ok it (I spent several months doing close to nothing then eased back into light exercise then slowly went back to swim bike run). Sleep as much as you need PLEASE, learn to say no, learn your body's cues & heed them, eat as healthy as possible, drink lots of water, be around positive friends that don't make you feel bad about being sick (yeah it happens & it sucks big time).
• Find doctors that are positive & encouraging. Don't settle for meanies, negative nellies or docs that act like you're crazy (yeah that happens too & it super sucks)! Do. Not. Settle.
• Never give up on your health. That may mean redefining a few things you thought your life would be like - but that's ok!
• But don't set limits. Just be smart about things & give yourself time. I didn't go from a diagnosis to running marathons. I spent a lot of time sleeping & gaining a very long drawn out process of building myself up. Then for me, I simply say I'll do this until my body says no. You may not be interested in triathlon or marathons & that's fine. But find something active that you love, that gives you energy back & brings you a little further toward better health. 
• Don't lose joy. Pray. Praise. Worship & be grateful for what you have. Stop thinking about what you don't have. Celebrate God's involvement in your life & know He has good things planned for you.
• Never ever ever give up on yourself. It's going to be ok! (did I mention that already?)  -- Emily Collins

It's ok to quit

You might be surprised to hear me say this but it's ok to quit.  Quitting doesn't mean you're a quitter.  

Surprised to hear a fitness & triathlon coach say that?  Let me share a short story.  

When I was five I joined a kids softball group, but I joined late.  The coach was one of those people that didn't believe in review so I was thrown into something that I'd never done before (hello, five years old.  I'd never played organized softball) and I had absolutely no idea what was going on.  I hated everything about it, and not just because I was confused.  It just wasn't my thing.  So my parents let me quit after a few days, no big deal really.  Except to a relative that got wind of this.  She called me up to tell me I "was a quitter."

I was devastated.  This was my beloved relative.  It broke my heart & for decades I had a complex about being a quitter.    

Me at my first marathon

I know better now.  I'm not a "quitter."  But I do quit.  I quit things that I find don't fit into the lifestyle I want to lead.  I quit things if it affects my health or spirituality, and I quit my fitness regimen if it's not working...and I feel great about it.  

Last year I was supposed to run a marathon.  My training from the start wasn't right.  My body wasn't responding, I was tired all the time & I could feel things just weren't right.  So I quit!  I could have pushed through.  I could have forced my body to do the distance.  But at what cost?  Sure it's nice to cross the finish line of a big race but is it worth it if you do that at the expense of future races?  I knew if I kept going it would prolong the body's ability to adapt to training, causing my upcoming triathlon to suffer, and who knows when the snowball would stop rolling.  Not worth the cost.  

So I quit, took some time to do light exercise so my body felt healthy again and now I'm right back on schedule for a great 2016 race year.  I'm feeling good & looking forward to my triathlon in May.

I urge you to quit!  Not always, of course.  Quit when your body asks you to rest. Quit if you don't enjoy something.  Listen to your body - always - not the voice in your head & not to the person who doesn't know what your body needs.  Remeber: quitting something is very different than being a quitter.  - Emily Collins, Ironman Certified Coach, ITCA certified triathlon coach, ACE personal trainer & NESTA certified sports yoga instructor

Compassion makes a big impact

Well over 20 years ago I found this little biz card advertised at a video store. I took it home and called the lady to ask her advice for an aspiring at home trainer. 

I vividly remember every detail.  She was so gracious, so kind and completely open to discussing everything & answering questions. It made an enormous impact on me. I took the advice she gave me and even more than that, the encouragement she gave me kept my fire going. I had no one that believed in myour dream. Most people told me to drop it and 'get a real job.' They pushed hard and in some cases were pretty mean, at the least they were discouraging. But this gal was not only telling me I could do this, she was living proof that it can be done. Living proof that being compassionate and sharing with others makes a difference and also can be a profession. 

I never spoke to this trainer again but I have never forgotten her. Her openness and compassion laid the foundation for OnTrack Fitness. 

To this day I believe in an open callaberation among trainers instead of the normal competitive crap you usually see.

She'll never know the impact she made but I bet I'm not the only life she touched! God wants use each one of us to shine through and love each other, and He will if we allow it. I'm thankful she allowed God to use her that day! - Emily Collins, owner of OnTrack Fitness

Living with chronic illness

My yoga mat & foam roller are life savers for me. As you may know, I have suffered from scoliosis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, a mysterious "floating virus" & a number of other chronic health issues. It took SIX long, miserable years just to get a diagnosis, and even now some Dr's don't recognize them as 'real.' 

Some days I have so much pain I have to cancel everything. It takes an emotional toll & it affects day to day living.

But the good news is that even though it does affect me, by making some adjustments I still lead a rich full life.

I still sometimes mourn over what has been taken & it's important to allow those feelings. But I also rejoice because I look over the many blessings God has poured on me through this. He has given me a natural love for fitness & healthy eating that I started at age 9 and have kept all this time. What a wonderful gift because if I had given up on my health I would be so much worse.

My docs tell me that with the level my issues are I should be disabled, very very ill and obese (these usually cause weight gain). Wow. Yet I can healthily run marathons, triathlons & everything in between. They tell me to KEEP DOING IT because whatever I've been doing has been my saving grace from really bad times.

I have to be extremely careful with my training because I have limited energy (they say 60% of my energy goes towards fighting these illnesses) & my body doesn't adapt as a normal body does. But I've learned to maximize every little bit I have & enjoy what I do all the more. It's made me a better trainer because I can do the same for others & have a perspective I otherwise wouldn't.
Yoga & foam rolling is many times the only thing that helps with pain. I also get chiropractic adjustments & massage which is wonderful.

I'm thankful I became a trainer so I can encourage others toward bettering their health. It's important to me and I hope that by sharing my story it inspires you to strive for better health, wherever you are. You CAN be at a better place even if you have had injury or illness. Never give up on yourself. You are worth the effort! - Emily Collins, owner of OnTrack Fitness www.ontrackfitness.net

Triathlon coaches are people too

Last month while I was in the packet pickup line for the Honolulu Triathlon the man standing behind me started up a really interesting conversation.  We talked about how this was his second triathlon, how he & his wife had lost over 100lbs (wow!) & all about his many upcoming races.  It was quite a schedule, with just about every half marathon & triathlon from now until the Honolulu Marathon in December - which is on his calendar too!

My husband & I after the Hon Tri

As we talked about these races he expressed his nerves about the swim mostly & we discussed strategy, etc.  I mentioned I'm a triathlon coach and that if he needed some formal guidance I could help.  

I wasn't surprised when he asked me why I was "just" doing the sprint triathlon at this race instead of the Olympic.  These kinds of questions come up often when people find out I'm a coach.  I don't take offense because I believe it's a matter of education.

I think most folks assume all coaches are professional Ironman triathletes too.  While some are Ironman triathletes, others aren't.  We're all different people!  

Some coaches are Ironman triathletes, some are not.  

Some run marathons, others don't.  Just like all of the other endurance athletes out there training for all kinds of different races, we're out there too training for our own races.  

Some of us are really fast, others are slow.

Some love the shorter distances, others prefer long distance events.  Here's food for thought that many people forget: the sprint distance means you're supposed to sprint through it.  Sound easy?

Some struggle with keeping a consistent schedule, others have no problem with it.

Some coaches have physical restrictions and some coaches have been healthy their entire lives.

Coaches are educated to know how to maximize everyone's potential to enjoy whatever distance that person prefers - including themselves.  One distance isn't better than the other for you, nor for us.  

It doesn't make you superior to another triathlete because you do a longer race, faster race or more races in a year and it doesn't make us superior either.  We're ALL out there having fun, reaching goals, training smart & crossing finish lines. If we're not enjoying ourselves we're not doing it right.  

You get my point, right?  

I LOVE triathlons, so much so that I made working with others to become triathletes my profession.  That's passion, baby!  I do sprints, Olympics, 5k's, half marathons, full marathons and everything in between.  I do them because I LOVE them.  

I train others because I know the benefits they give if we put the work in.  I don't expect you to do my preferred race distance anymore than you should expect me to do what you're doing.

So if you're someone that has gotten into doing events - whatever event that is, please don't allow another person to take away your efforts.  There's no such thing as "Just."  They're all getting you to your personal goals & that's something to be proud of! - Emily Collins, owner of OnTrack Fitness, triathlon coach, triathlete

If you're ready to reach your goals, whatever they may be contact me.  I'd love to help.

Adjust circumstances for your fitness needs

Take a look at the picture.  That's me in the front on the bike leg of a triathlon.   Notice how upright I'm sitting compared to the person behind me?  My position is different than what you normally see on a road bike in a triathlon.  My handlebars are higher than most people would adjust them.

There's a reason why I have them high.  It's the only way I can manage the pain from scoliosis as I ride my bike.  Getting lower, just thinking about it, causes tremendous pain through my spine and neck due to the curvature.  So I adjust and continue to ride.

My chiropractor told me he doesn't know how I ride.  There has to be so much pain.  Well it's no secret. This is how.  There's still some pain but it's manageable.  This is how I'm able to reach my goals.  I adjust as needed & move on.  

When the bike shop fitted me they tried to get me to lower them.  I said no.  I know it's not as aerodynamic & to other triathletes it might seem weird but I don't care.  It's the way I have to do it. 

I've been in a lot of triathlons.  I think around 30, and I've done them all like this.  The last two I won first in my age group, even sitting upright!

Here's my point because I do have one.  Find what works.  Make adjustments to your circumstances.  Get fit.  Have fun with it.  Don't let anything stand in your way to reach your goals! -- written by Emily Collins, Owner OnTrack Fitness, triathlete & marathon runner

You can change

Years ago a friend, who's dad was a psychiatrist, told me people don't change and don't expect them to.  She told me that her father gave her that little tidbit.

That made an impact on me.  I still think about that conversation.  It made me sad to think her father, who had dedicated his life to helping people work through problems and make changes in their life, believed so little in them.  He certainly didn't mind taking their money.  Even sadder, he passed that along to his daughter.

I didn't believe it at the time and I don't believe it now. 

I couldn't find a picture to go with the subject.
So this is one of my husband in a triathlon.
Enjoy!

Of course people can change!  It happens all the time.  I witness it all the time in my fitness training. It's not always easy but it's doable and it's done every day by regular people just like you. 

If you want to make a healthy lifestyle change, believe you can do it because you can!  

Act like the person who is already fit, already healthy, already someone who eats well and cares about healthy nutrition.  

Believe it, act like you're there, work toward it with specific goals and don't let set backs stop you.  You will get there, I believe in you! - written by Emily Collins, owner of OnTrack Fitness

Finding inspiration from others

Sometimes I start feeling bad about things, like we all probably do from time to time.  

When I get a bout of fatigue or have pain through my spine & neck (I have scoliosis) or, like now when I'm on an 'upswing' with my weight (I have well, they're not quite sure but thyroid disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and some other issues that all make it difficult to keep weight off), it can take a toll both physically and emotionally if I'm not careful.

I've found that simply by being aware of my surroundings and the people around me makes an impact.  

A few weeks ago I was running

the Ala Wai canal and feeling bad.  I was having pain in my spine and neck (like always) and thinking "why do I even bother?"  I guess I was kinda feeling sorry for myself.  Just then a lady with a deformed leg ran past me.  Her left leg was misshaped and with each step her foot pointed in and on it's side a little. She was booking though.  I know she has to have pain from that.  Didn't stop her.

It reminded me of a man I passed in last year's marathon.  He had one leg that he had to swing out to the side on every step.  Repeat: He was running a marathon, 26.2 miles, on a leg that he had to swing out to the side.  Wow!  That's impressive.  I'll never forget him.  You know he had to sacrifice to get there. 

These are only two examples of people I see every day that have some kind of physical issue.  Yet it doesn't stop them does it? I respect that.  They'll never know how much inspiration I got from them just doing what they do.  - Written by Emily Collins, Owner & trainer of OnTrack Fitness  

Honolulu Triathlon results

My last entry I discussed my upcoming triathlon, the first one in Hawaii and how I wasn't feeling ready because of some illness.  You can read about my nerves and fears here but come back because the race is

finished.

Yes, the race is done & I forgot something.  I forgot how much fun triathlons are!  Even when you're not feeling 100% they are fun.  They're all about fun, because frankly, why do them if they aren't fun.  Right? 

I forgot how much I love triathlons.  I've always raced triathlons with my health issues, and I forgot about that too.  I let the newness of the ocean combined with the newness of actually feeling healthier, then suddenly not feel well, get to me. 

But I quickly remembered the joy they bring.  All it took was me hitting the water.  That old feeling came back & the rest is history.  I smiled the entire race, loved every single minute of it (not an ounce of nerves about sharks, lol) and I got first in my age group.  A first for me!  My triathlon days are not over & I couldn't be happier about it.  In fact, my next one is already planned for September.

The morale of this story: If you have a goal or dream, work for it & do it even if you think you're not ready. You may surprise yourself & you'll certainly be glad you did it! - Written by Emily Collins, owner & trainer Honolulu, HI

Honolulu Triathlon training

The Honolulu Triathlon is Sunday. This is the race I've anticipated for 1 1/2yrs.

At paket pickup

Even though I've done dozens of triathlons this one is a big deal for me. A really big deal. I always said once we move to Hawaii my triathlon days are over, but I found I wasn't ready to let go just yet. I've spent so much time acclimating to the ocean & prepping for this event...  

But for several weeks now I've had a flare up of my chronic illness, causing my training to be quite difficult. Fatigue, breathing issues, etc (the list is long) & I've been struggling in training. Recovery from simple sessions isn't like it should be.  

I've been very upset because this much anticipated, much trained for triathlon is going to be extremely difficult, and I'm most likely going to suffer through, very slowly coming through the finish.  That scares me. 

It's hard to explain the disappointment that comes, not from being slow, but what illness takes from you. You do everything right, but it gets taken. Some of you know what I mean, and I'm sorry that you do.

I went to packet pickup today for the race, feeling doom & dread. Then I saw

My visor

that I got not only a little bag & cool t shirt but also a Headsweat visor. A visor!? I love those!

Now I'm feeling better about participating.  Things haven't changed, but I'm feeling better about it.  

The tank top

I even bought a tank top with the logo, which is a HUGE deal because the only time I've ever bought something at a race is for the 1st marathon I did.  I'm going to wear it plus my visor to train for the upcoming marathon & that makes me feel excited. 

I'm such an easy sell. The shirt usually is enough, but a VISOR too. Yeehaw!!!  

It's the little things in life that can make a difference.  My circumstances haven't changed, but I know I will have earned these little pieces of swag and for me, it makes me happy.

For this event my motto is this "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have" by Teddy Roosevelt.  I think that's a great quote to keep in mind, don't you? 

If you're ready to train for a triathlon, or any event let me know.  Remember, if I can do this, you can do this! - Written by Emily Collins, Owner & trainer Honolulu HI