Pitfalls of cross training

I love the way cross training helps me take some of the stress of certain parts of my body! But I was a little unprepared for the way it can bring on new stresses to other parts ( head ). I am so used to what kind of a runner I am that it was hard to try something new and not be at the same level. It takes a while to be just as good at swimming or biking as I already was at running, and I'm not used to being a beginner at anything for very long. Just learning how to swim or bike doesn't make you good at it right away, and the fitness level does take time to build up.

Also, getting chased up a hill by a dog when you are at the end of your ride is a little off putting to say the least. I know exactly how to handle those situations when I'm running, but I'm not sure what to do yet while I'm biking. Falling is a major fear for me....

Change Up Consequences

After throwing my body a change up in my workout routine, I have both reaped the benefits and paid the consequences! It felt really good to work hard in a different way than I have been doing for a while. My body responded well, and I think I have found a new activity to enjoy. However, it is not ALL good. In addition to certain muscles being more sore than they have been for quite some time, I learned the hard way that all my ample natural padding in critical areas does not necessarily provide all the protection I need! Back to the store for a few important pieces of clothing for comfort and function.

My world of workouts has been expanded, and I can enjoy the company of family and friends who can't keep up in other workouts. Nice.

Throwing a change up

Took a long hike in the back country today instead of my normal Sunday run. It was great to try out a new trail, and spend some time with my husband ( who does not really like to run ). We went for about 2 hours, and had lots of conversation. While this may not have been my usual routine, I feel like I got a good workout physically and was refreshed emotionally by the change. Throw yourself a change up from time to time and see what happens!

How Hard is too Hard?

After another grueling session at the personal trainer I once again had to "toss my cookies" afterwards. Since I train with my teenage son I have to ask if the workouts are too hard for me or my son. Apparently age and current level of fitness play a large part because my son NEVER has to throw up after a workout, and he does work as hard or harder than I work.

I also "recover" from these episodes much faster than I did when I first started a few months ago, so possibly the end is in sight for them.

Make sure you stay hydrated, and get some energy ( food ) in your body BEFORE your workout. Then make sure you get some recovery protein within about 30 to 45 minutes after the workout.

Maybe working out with someone my age would help.....nahhhh! Grab life by the horns and go for it! Keeps you young.....

Safe 4th of July

Get out and enjoy friends and family on the Fourth! just be sure to be safe. Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Sparklers and poppers can be safe and fun for younger kids. If you need to see the big stuff go to a planned show.

Thank you to all the veterans who make this holiday so special!

Another Summer Risk

Being able to get out and walk, run, bike, skate, etc. is one of my favorite parts of Summer. On my walk yesterday I had the misfortune of disturbing a 3 ft. long Rattle Snake! Although both my dog and I came out of the encounter just fine ( as did the snake ) it could have been a different outcome. It was at that point that I realized I did not even have my cell phone with me. I was on a rather isolated part of the pathway, and help would have been a long way off.

Lesson learned: take a phone, or make sure you are close enough to civilization to get immediate help if you need it!

Get out there and be active: just remember to be safe.....

summer fun

Summer fun brings new risks for kids. Pools and beaches are very dangerous places for anyone who does not know how to swim. It is important that kids are taught to swim, and well supervised anytime they are around water. No one should ever swim alone!

Beaches also bring added dangers like sharks, sting rays, and strong currents. Life jackets are a must on any boat!

Remember sunscreen for everyone!

Get outside and enjoy summer safely....

Betting on Sports

With all the March Madness going on in the basketball world and all the brackets that get filled out and entered into pools in schools and offices: where is the line of acceptability? We tell our kids that gambling is wrong, and then we gamble on sports.

My Dad always told me that betting was stupid unless you were 100 percent sure you were going to win, and then it was wrong.

Betting on sports is very dangerous because even if you think you know a lot about the teams involved, there are so many factors beyond your control. There are injuries, eligibilities, contract disputes, suspensions, team discord; the list goes on. Why would you take a chance on losing money when you have no control over the action?

How about all the money in the pool being donated to a charity? Then folks could get the excitement of the betting, but the money is going to a good use. The main thing is to teach kids that any money bet should be money that would not mind throwing away.....

Change Is Good!!!!

A change in your routine is a good thing! Your body will get used to a regular stress, and soon it will require either more of something to get the same benefit or a different stress. If you are a runner and you seem to be getting stagnate in your training you can add in hills, speed work and fartleks to jazz up your workouts and jolt your body.

Cross training is also a great way to spice up your routine. Add in swimming, biking, stairs, weights, aerobics classes: whatever you want. This will switch up the stress you are putting on your body. It will also give your mind a new challenge!

Try something new!

Tough lessons for parents too

I have talked about how sports presents many opportunities to teach kids some tough life lessons. They have to learn how to win, how to lose, how to be a part of a team and fulfill a role that they may not be happy with, how to get along with coaches and team mates that they may not like, and how to deal with poor officiating. They learn how to handle pressure, and poor sportsmanship on the part of opponents. They learn about hard work and commitment.

What about their parents? It can be very hard for a parent to sit back and let a child experience something negative. Learning to let a child get hurt and work through that is extremely difficult for parents. But in my opinion it is beneficial to both parent and child.

A positive and logical discussion can help to ease the pain for parents and children who are going through tough times. This lesson applies to life in general, not just sports. Using the relatively small and fleeting troubles in sports can indeed help a child mature. It can also help a parent grow........

Just as the physical stress of exercise makes bones and muscles stronger, so too does mental and emotional stress make our spirit stronger.

Pure Joy

There is nothing better for the soul than getting to be a part of the pure joy a child experiences when they finally master a skill that they have been struggling to get. If you can let yourself go back to that time in your life when learning something new was all it took to give you joy and happiness, then you can keep some of the child in you that we lose as adults.

Try a new sport, or go back and try something you haven't done in a long time. It will bring back memories, and hopefully some joy! Remember to laugh at yourself if you need to.......

Dance like nobody is watching you.

Handling Failure

What can your child learn about themselves when they "fail" at something? Kids are going to try lots of things in life. They will not be successful at everything. Sports can teach kids a lot about how to handle not being good at something.

How to practice, persevere and be happy for others who are successful are just a few of the things kids learn when they participate in sports. These are lessons that will apply to life in general as well.

It is O.K. for kids to "fail" and sometimes can teach powerful lessons.

Pro Sportsmanship

Congrats to the Saints! They are Super Bowl 44 Champs. They played a great game and deserve the win. I am most impressed by the comments made to the media after the game by Peyton Manning, the losing quarterback. He congratulated the Saints and their quarterback Drew Brees. He gave them all the credit for playing a good game. He was complimentary of their organization, and was a very gracious loser. What an example he is to all the young athletes out there!

Jump Rope For Heart

February is heart month. Our school is doing a school wide jump rope day. We had a demo team come in today and show some really cool tricks. The kids got very excited to try the new things they had seen, and wanted to start practicing right away. Even some of the kids who had not shown any interest at all before the demonstration were impressed after they saw the difficulty of the tricks. Set it all to music and you have a great cardio workout that is a blast!!!!!

Who is responsible????

When is it appropriate to hold a child responsible for being on time and having everything they need for a class, and when is it the responsibility of the parent?

Kids teach me too

Even though I have been teaching for years, and playing sports forever ( seems like ) the kids in my classes remind me that I don't know everything. Remember to stop and listen sometimes, kids have great ideas!!!!!

Like most teachers I can get into a set routine for how I teach something. It is both humbling and refreshing to see things anew from the point of view of a child. I thank God every day that I get to work ( play ) with kids!

Never grow old in your mind..........

Using Technology in P.E.

There are so many amazing technological advances out there right now, but how do we use them in a typical P.E. class? Most schools can't afford to have the very latest stuff in the numbers required for an average class: what now?

There are low cost options like pedometers, but with options like Wii Fit and Dance Revolution, who is going to be happy with a pedometer? Kids live in a world of Ipods and computers; how can we make this work for us in P.E. class?

There are some cool apps for Ipods that will help track your workouts, but good luck getting 25 of those! Any ideas?????

Who needs teaching?????

As a Physical Education teacher I have actually had parents tell me my class is just "another recess". Yet every day I see students who display a stunning lack of basic coordination and balance. Not to mention the lack of endurance and strength and flexibility that is the norm rather than the exception.

Kids don't know what they need to know about keeping their bodies healthy unless someone teaches them! And not all kids are "natural" athletes. If you think kids can "figure it out" for themselves, just try teaching a cartwheel or a backwards roll to 2nd graders. The need for step by step instructions and demonstrations becomes immediately apparent.

Why limit a student's ability to use their body to its fullest potential by not helping them to completely understand its capacity?