Concert Reviews

The following concerts are due for reviews: Marina and Diamonds Dec 2012 -------------------- Paloma Faith Nov 2012 ------------------- Ellie Goulding Oct 2012 ---------------------- Paloma Faith Sept 2012 --------------------- Madonna Sept 2012 --------------------- Alanis Moriessette Aug 2012 --------------------------- Marina and Diamonds Aug 2012 ---------------------------- Linkin Park August 2012 ----------------------- Marina and Diamonds July 2012 --------------------------- Scissor Sisters July 2012 ------------------------ Florence and the Machine May 2012 ----------------------------- Charli XCX March 2012 --------------------- Zola Jesus Feb 2012 -------------------- Evanescence Nov 2011 ------------------------ Ellie Goulding July 2011 -------------------------- Florence Central Park June 2011 --------------------------- Marina and Diamonds Asbury/NY June 2011 --------------------------------------- Adele Phili May 2011 --------------------------------- Bruno Mars May 2011 ------------------------- Kylie May 2011 -------------------- Ellie Goulding March 2011 -------------------------- Scissor Sisters Montclair Feb 2011 ---------------------------------- Robyn Phili Feb 2011 ---------------------- Linkin Park Phili Feb 2011 --------------------------- Robyn Nov 2011 ------------------ Florence Dec 2010 --------------------- Florence Nov 2010

HIKING!!

Going to share some of my fav hiking moments of 2012>>> Sam's Point Preserve, NY Nov 2012

Black Star Canyon, CA Oct 2012

Niagara Falls, OCT

In VT in August

Yosemite National Park CA, July

NH June

Old Rag Mountain Virgina MAY

Big Sur, CA APRIL

This is for Baby Sol and Paloma Faith: Words of Motivation

I decided to write this up as it has a lot to do with sports psychology (what I plan to get my masters in) and the transformations of those I have coached who disliked running and exercise. As much of a runner, coach, and trainer that I am now, I didn't always like running either. The secret I have found to actually love "Exercise" isn't to think of it as exercise. Everything in life is all about the mind set, if you can trick your mind to think you aren't exercising but in fact, "training" then it will become automatic and believe it or not, you will actually start loving it. I think when you have an event/s on your calendar to look forward to, you can constantly be motivated because you know you have to be in peak condition at all time for those events or for your career.

In Paloma's example, I read an article that she runs to keep up her cardio when she performs on stage; but she dislikes it. I think that is a great way to look at it because you are doing it for who you ARE and what you love best: performing and singing. I think when you look at things differently and change your perspective, it changes the way you think and feel about certain things esp in your attitudes. I don't think Paloma has found the "runners high" because she hasn't "trained" for a race. I am telling you, it is possible!!!

Running is often looked at in sports as punishment which is why I never fell for "team" sports, I always liked the individually of running, cycling, swimming, and even dancing. I was my own entity and the competition became not just with others, but against myself and my own abilities and how far I could push them. That is when I ran track; track gave me this release that when that gun went off it was like this adrenaline rush; and similar to singing, when you practice and you get to the event, you execute a successful outcome. I started racing triathlons 8 years ago as well and fell in love; to me its one big obstacle; one big ride of swimming, biking, and running training and then all on one race. I have raced over 10 half ironmans and one Ironman. For those of you who have never heard of an Ironman a half is a 1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike, and 13 mi run and a full is a 2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, and a 26 mi run. I do it because I love to see the world from different perspectives, test myself and my own limits on how much I can push myself to endure and to get faster to become a pro. I have qualified for national and world championship races and I hope to go watch the next Olympics :)

Something that is a fun idea that has helped motivate every single person I've ever coached is using exercise as "training" and sign up for some kind of "Race." You HAVE to check out the "Electric run" guys (could be a GREAT idea for you to merge with and maybe do some outdoor shows tied to this event as a draws LARGE crowds) and even participate in the race yourselves. www.electricrun.com All my life I have been SUPER passionate about MUSIC, SINGERS and SONGWRITERS, and LIVE CONCERTS. I have been to SO many and have several reviews up on this blog. (which I have to update but am starting a separate blog for reference of a potential career in the biz with all my concert reviews. Music has motivated me SO much and when I see the artists that motivate me through there lyrics that they write and their voice live, it is a motivational reinforcement that pushes me in my training to get faster and to ultimate win my events to rank to race in world champ events as I work out to music. (See one voice can carry someone far)On a side note, I really would LOVE to somehow "get my foot" in the door in the music industry and have been wanting to for years; but I guess from having a track background I was interested in motivating others through fitness. I still intend to coach on the side but I am ready to get my masters but also join forces with the music industry. My goal is to share my talents and merge them with my passions.

Regarding the smoking, anyone that is born w that gifted of a voice is purely amazing. What I was going to say was if you find a nitch or something that will wean you off smoking you won't feel the full affects later in life. I want to hear your voice shine for years, but you don't want smoking to mess with it either! I want you to try to see if this works>>> I trained a women not long ago who drank and smoke a lot and she couldn't find a way to quit, she never experienced the feeling of "pushing" herself before, she never felt any physical challenge till she met me. I worked with her for 3 months on end and she RLY disliked running, but when she saw herself right before her eyes actually "become" a runner and internally and externally mentally and physically feel better and reach her goals, she fell in love with it.

Just like dancing, long ago I was too shy to dance, then all my frinds brought me clubbing in college and one day I saw how much fun it was and I realized that if I could use all my energy I had bottled up inside than I would FEEL better if I used dancing as an outlet or release. To that day, I LOVE dancing and I am full of energy when I go to events. The last thing I wanted to say is never take for granted what you have esp your voice, take care of your voice, I hope you take this message with you because I think people who can really sing have so much talent but cigs in the long end will impede on that! Don't let that happen, because regardless of how much you love it, you love your voice more and running! ;) btw HIKING is the greatest thing ever too... on my spare time I google areas in which I've never explored and that brings wonderment and adventure. My life is a CONSTANT adventure and I am just living it! :) Thanks for reading!!!

Next 6 Months

I dont know the breakdown in the wkds yet-- BUT I will list the plans I know already-- Dec 2012 NYE Celebrations--- Dec 28 DAVID GUETTA DEC 30 KASKADE DEC 31 AFROJACK Jan 25th Ellie Goulding Phili Jan 26th Thomas Gold Roseland Jan 27th Feb 1 Feb 2 Feb 3 Panama 70.3 Feb 4 Feb 28 Swedish House Mafia Roseland March 1 SHM MSG March 2 March 7 Brooke tent track race March 8 Swedish House Mafia LA March 9 San diego half marathon March 15 UMF March 16 UMF March 17 UMF March 18 UMF April 19 San Diego April 20 San Diego ITU Sprint/Brook track meet pm April 21 San Diego May 3 ST C May 4 ST C May 5 ST C May 6 ST C June 8-June 17 Brazil, Bolivia, Equador

Now and 2013

Its been a VERY long time since I've updated mostly because of timing and the fact that I always seem to make my password too difficult to remember. Its funny looking back at past entries between my goals in my travels for this year, but also my athletic goals which is really what this blog is all about.I have reached many but there are unfort some I didn't reach at all such as getting my half marathon time as low as I wanted to (I did break it though!) and most of all not finishing this yr off w a 5:15 or better in a half ironman. Of course what really made up for the mishaps that I didn't accomplish is the fact that I surpased my goal of 35 mins in swim and ended season in a 30! Its funny as far as plan wise how much I actually did do this yr>> starting out w Niagara falls w the Pittsburgh trip; something I've been wanting to do for YRS to see that lockport cave which was SUPER cheezy but I knew it was gonna be more theatrical then an actual in your face haunt although the scariest part for me was navagating my way through an actual cave in the pitch black without falling into the mote lol... Then a totally unplanned surprise to fly out to socal and FINALLY reestablish my ties w Brooke and Denise. I was SO happy about how that weekend went words couldn't explain. I made every wish on every star that Brooke would come back into my life and I back in hers. I have learned so much from the unfortunate distance we grew into in the last or past 3 yrs I should say. I am kind of doing a year in review now and might have to save the "now" for a separate post of my weekly tent plans and actually look back on this and see that I accomplished everything I had set out on doing... Spent wkd out in Poconos w Amanda and Rudy; that was fun but I didnt break my time-- I think I put way too much pressure on myself on non pr races and courses to break my time... I tied my exact time that I raced in Vineman 2 months later.. which isnt bad considering the poconos run was the worst I've EVER done. If the mooseman had the worst bike by far, def poconos takes the award for worst run... FYI not doing that one again. Funny cause out of the 11 half ironmans I've done, only 4 are worth of doing twice--- 1. TImberman in NH bc I pred and course was pefect 2. vineman for same reasons 3. St C bc... and 4. Oceanside once I fin make that move to socal... So to name my top athletic goals of 2013: 1. PR in Half Ironman which means 5:15 or better!! break down SUB 30 in Swim! 245 or better on bike (2 mins away and will def blow this out in panama w flat c) 145 or better in run which in panama w flat course and not extreme temp should work 2. PR in Half Marathon think the SD half should be a good goal of doing as such flat course etc... 1:35!! 3. Place top 5 AG in age group nationals 4. Hawaii 5. Win every local race 1st f overall! and break some tapes!

In review Mooseman 70.3

I had initially gone into this race with extremely high hopes of PRing; I heard a lot about this race; harder than Timberman where I PRed in August if last yr, but not the hardest half Ironman EVER... and as a matter of fact, it just was the hardest as far as the climbs in the bike... It rained the ENTIRE wkd which I also didnt expect at all and the way I packed wasn't for a monsoon rainforest, it was for the tropics. ummm yea what was I seriously thinking?? So I went from pumped to nervous about this race esp for the bike course... only at this point my biggest fear was losing control in the pouring anticipated rain (which ult held up) The swim, regarding some positive news was FLAWLESS. It brings tears to my eyes even while writing this that it took me 8 yrs, to really shave a substantial amount of time off my swim... I will now break each down in detail of how I felt, what I did, (or didnt do) and what I liked/disliked about this race-- The Swim: I went out with a hard effort; this time instead of having that fear of starting close to the boeys where I always start wide (which ult leaves me drifting off course and away from the pack which makes me even slower) I decided to be brave this time around just because I felt SO much stronger than ever. What I did was def the right decision; although I was faced with more narrow turns etc; the entire swim was so spread out, it really didn't make a difference. I then proceeded to recall how hard i was 'pulling' the entire time to swim my 1:10 in cozumel... I didn't let up once, even when the fatigue set in, because at the end of the day, there is no greater feeling to know that I FINALLY reached my goal... The last aspect I think that majorly impacted my swim time to be quick is the fact that I changed up my breathing...It takes more energy breathing constantly on one side then changing it up with both sides and adding strokes in btw. It also allows me to gain more of a distance in a quicker amt of time by using this stratgey :) The bike- Not too much about this as I am running out the door from work but it was the worst bike course in my triathlon career; total disaster my back spasmed nough said, The run- I was SO burned both mentally and physically from the bike I kinda said screw it for the first loop of the run; however, I had way too much in me for the last loop of the run; it was kinda redic how much i was flying the last couple miles of the run.. :) Although overall my time was crap, nothing can replace how happy I felt from finally reaching my 8 yr goal of surpassing 40 mins in the swim... and finishing strong in the run... NXT Vineman!! TBC.....

Big Sur Big Update

Hey all, 1st and for-most, its been a while since I've last updated; and thats because there's been a lot going on... Trying to balance work, bio classes for grad school, coaching, and my own training has been HUGE. Plus going to PT for my shoulder for 2 months all through out march/april has also taken up a great deal of my time. However, I am thankful for every second of it as its helped my shoulder tremendously. I 1st heard about the Big Sur race through a friend who has raced the full marathon a few yrs back. I raced on the PCH with a triathlon last yr and had an amazing exp so I decided way back last yr to do the race. Only that the marathon was already sold-out so I signed up for the 21 miler. Due to the fact that I didnt antisipate to be racing 3 wkds in a row, I didnt 'race' it and took the 1st half of the 21 miles easy, and decided to practice 'negative splitting' my time and ran the last half close to race pace and felt pretty good. I passed a lot of people who passed me in the beginning which is amazing how much I can pick up the pace. I decided to use a camera the entire course to capture each moment of running on the PCH for 21 miles; I faced all different types of terrians and parts to run in with heat, wind, and utter perfection; I really enjoyed this race and plan to eventually come back and run the full marathon one yr. It wasn't as hilly as I expected; just in 1 part which was referred to as 'hurricane point' which I got through as I was trained well ;) The fact the I didnt do any 3 hr runs obvi didnt affect me at all as coaching several clients and running 3x a day certainly helped my endurance lol... The race prior was the Asbury Half that I went out way to fast bc I was too antsy to break 140 and drop my time by ten mins... just wasnt happening; need mile markers and a pace group... I ran 140.... I WILL do it this wkd, I KNOW I can as Amanda Messinger of whom I beat in Cancun 70.3 is equal in strength and speed as I am and we are built the same. If she can do it, so can I and I will never have that thought leave my head as painful as it may be, this is it, its my last chance to hit my goal before my 1st 70.3 in just 4 weeks in NH! The nxt 4 weeks rly 5 if you count this was are gonna be insane... looking fwd to a break in June post 70.3.... and some GRE time as I just want to friggin take this damn test and get it over w... they pushed it back on me time... but its for a reason, so not rdy to take it at the end of may.... Finished Bio classes just in time last week and have my 2 finals on Monday which I intend on studying for this wkd... I usually dont like to race this much consecutively as that is how I hurt my knees in 08'.... But I am not to worried as this is the last 'long distance' open running event for a while... The following wkd I am running the rumson 5k complete w a track finish which I'm uber pumped for, then its the 2 double header sprint tris... then I am off to visit rachel in VT (which I've never been to before that I'm def lookin fwd to) and then driving to NH w my mom tent.... as she hasnt been to a big race w me since RI in 10' ? I hope this will be the wkd when I finish a race and smile satisfied as its been a rlyyy long time since that happened... prob TM 70.3... We shall see how it goes; I am gonna be making $$ nxt few weeks as I have the 2 tri clinics I am 'teaching' too... that hopefully will have an ok turnout as 'marketing' ahem isnt backing me as I would like... After I take the GRES I am going to start contacting the schools I want to apply to and see if I can set up an interview for late this yr or early next yr... would be cool to race in the area and then do an interview so I fly to socal for a variety of reasons... I didnt workout today as I am still jet legged and caught a slight cold that I hope to get rid of by race day sunday... I am feeling better and less tired already; we shall see how it goes... to be continued...