Great Running & Triathlon Events

Are you looking for some great triathlon and running events in Utah? If so, check out On Hill Events.

Coping With a Bad Race

We all have them, bad races.  This is when the old adage “You can’t win them all” rings loud and clear.  It is frustrating to not meet our own expectations or others but I truly believe the experience is only wasted if we don’t learn something from it.

In my younger (and less wise) years I used to get really upset when I raced badly and in turn would bring everyone down around me.  I didn’t realize that I was doing this at the time, but I have since learned that my actions didn’t help the situation and really just made it worse.  When I was in high school I traveled to Wisconsin to compete in the Cross-County National Championships.  I remember after the race one of the girls from my home state of Colorado had won it, however it was apparent that she was not pleased with her time and was pouting about it.  To all of us that didn’t win it seemed really “selfish” and “silly” that she would make such a big deal about not running the time she wanted. She won it!  And she was missing out on celebrating her win because she was wrapped up in doing even better.  I must admit I have been there before.  It almost seems comical to me now complaining about getting second place and being disappointed that I couldn’t do better to capture first.  Although in the moment it’s hard to look at it that way.  But from an outside perspective it brings others down.

Now when I have a disappointing race I try to remember that there are people out there that would love to just be able to do what I can on a bad day.  I don’t mean that in a “self-righteous” way, but I try to remember that there are people in wheelchairs that will never have the opportunity to experience what it feels like to complete even one race.  I have had the opportunity to compete in hundreds of races over the last 27 years as a competitive runner and triathlete.  When I remember this it helps to put the seemingly “devastating” bad race into perspective.

“Celebrate the ‘win’ of others to sweeten a sour experience.”  ~ Coach Lora Erickson

Now while appreciating the opportunities for being able to compete doesn’t take away the frustration completely, they seem to lighten it for me.  I still tend to mull over the details trying to figure out what has gone wrong in my training or why I wasn’t able to push myself like I would have liked to.  Usually it boils down to the same answer.  MOTIVATION.  The real motivation for me, I have discovered is something I alluded to in my last blog write up, A Runner And Coach is What I Was Designed to Be.  I am motivated to see what I am capable of, to push myself and help others do the same.  This is what drives me, what wakes me up in the early mornings to get my workouts in before the family wakes up.  It’s not the medals, the wins, the glory, the fame, the fortune…Just kidding; I’m not famous, nor do I get big bucks for doing this, but I do it because I love how it makes me feel about myself.  It has helped me become a better wife and mother.  Any triathlete or runner will tell you that running isn’t that “easy”…sure we have our “easier” workouts, but it’s not your average everyday person that does it.

Being average does not appeal to me; but being EXCEPTIONAL does.  I don’t want to be “normal,” I strive to be all that I can be;  I shun mediocrity and work diligently to be successful;  I strive for EXCELLENCE.  Yes, you can hear the perfectionist in me coming out and I know many of you are cursed or blessed (depends  on how you look at it) with the same perspective.  This is what drives me to do better however this is also why it’s so easy to get frustrated with myself.  I don’t believe that anything is wrong with someone striving to doing really well at something and pushing themselves to do it when kept in balance.  However it can also lead to constant disappointment and bring those around you down.  If you find yourself wallowing in self-pity, then you have gone too far.

So when you have a bad race, figure out what you can learn from it, resolve to work on it, brush it off (I know this can be difficult, I am still working on this one), keep things in perspective, ask yourself why you are doing this and bottle up that frustration for your next hard workout or race.  Be careful to not let your disappointment bring others down.  A bad race is only wasted if we don’t learn something from it and use it to help us grow stronger.  Our difficulties are often what give us the strength to accomplish more.  Think about how the newborn baby chick builds strength as it struggles to break out of the shell.  If we were to help the chick get out by doing some of the work it would be less likely to survive.  It needs the “struggle” to gain strength.  So do we.  I love this song lyric from one of my favorite artists, Kelly Clarkson, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”  So true.

It isn’t easy nor should it be easy to win a race or complete a goal, but let’s remember why we are doing it.  If we are doing it for self-improvement then “whining” and “complaining” about a bad race is not helping us or anyone for that matter to become better people.  Even if you have a bad race and one is your goals is self-improvement then you can still accomplish this goal by being happy for those around you.   Be careful not to judge others too harshly by looking up results and making unsupportive comments. I have been a “victim” of harsh criticism from “so called fans” that are disappointed with a race result that they didn’t have full information on.  Sometimes you are not aware of what struggles others are facing or how far they have come to even complete a race.  You may not know they just got over the flu, are injured or had a flat tire.  Race results don’t reflect severe weather conditions, emotional strain from personal hardships, or factor in when you forget your water bottles or drop a gel pack etc…  I believe a “winning attitude” is far more valuable than a “winning” a race.  True character is built from hard experiences.  Race happy, even when it doesn’t go the way you had hoped.  If you focus on others rather than yourself on these days, you will find your experience wasn’t all that bad.  Celebrate the “win” of others to sweeten a sour experience.

Live Well,

Coach Lora Erickson

www.BlondeRunner.com

Win a race number belt

Who wants to win?

I am giving away some race number belts on the

Blonde Runner Health Facebook page.

Check it out

 

Product Review: TYR polarized Special Ops swim goggles available at Aquaholics

As many of you know I recently competed in the Omegawave World Triathlon in San Diego.   I have done many triathlons but this was my first ocean water triathlon.  So, as with any first time experience there is some extra anxiety that goes with it (not to mention travel, flight, putting my bike back together, and stiff competition).  In the past I have had a hard time with goggles fogging up, leaking or just not being able to see clearly in the open water.  This can cause some stress and make it difficult to swim straight.  So, I have been on the hunt to find just the right goggles for openwater swimming.  I have tried many different goggles but finally I feel like I have found some that I really love for open water swimming!  The new TYR Special Ops have a polarized lens so everything is crystal clear and I didn’t have any problem with them fogging up on me.  I absolutely love how they fit from the moment I tried them on in the store (thanks Mike).  Here are the things I look for when I shop for goggles:

Fit – it needs to feel comfortable on my face (no leaking)

Range of view – good broad field of vision so I can see everything around me

Mirrored – these are best for cutting down the glare off the water on a sunny day

Durability – I want something that is going to last and not break on me (I’m not the easiest on my gear, just as my husband).  Plus I need some scratch resistance since I’m in a rush in transition.

Anti-fog – I don’t want to have to stop and rub off the fog while I am swimming.  So anti-fog is a must.

Split headstrap – This helps me customize my fit and ensures they will stay on in a crowded start

Color – okay, so I am a girl, I like my goggle color to match my swim suit and other gear.  (Race tip:  If you feel like you look good you will go faster – wink, wink)

They have red, blue, black and pink (don’t you love this one?! TYR will donate $5 to the BCRF)

So if you are looking for a fool-proof great looking and comfortable goggles you will want to pick a pair of TYR polarized Special Ops.  They rock!

Available at Aquaholics.  Two store locations:

583 East 7200 South, Midvale  & 40 West 500 South, Bountiful

Or shop on-line at http://utahaquaholics.com/

Direct link to purchase goggles (use the code “TBR” and save 20%)

Come join us at a Triathlon Clinic hosted by Aquaholics in Bountiful on Wed. May 22^nd.   Learn more

Just keep swimming!

~ Coach Lora Erickson

Aka Blonde Runner

www.BlondeRunner.com

 

In the News: Running For Relief From Grief Standard-Examiner Article

Excerpts:

“I like to give hope. I have had four kids and they were high-risk pregnancies. But I made it through it.”

“Too often, Erickson said, this kind of grief is suffered alone.”

“She has been trying to help others by using her own experience. ”

“You can’t explain the emotion to someone who has never gone through it. Sharing the grief helps you feel more joyful,” she said.

RACE FOR GRIEF

The 10K race begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the West Bountiful Park, 550 W. Pages Lane, Bountiful. A 2K walk follows after the 10K racers are off.

The course takes runners west before traveling north on the Legacy Parkway trails.

“This is a 10K that is chip-timed. So they can do a flat, fast 10K route,” said Lora Erickson, race founder and running coach.

“There is a two-mile route. If they are not a runner — that’s OK. The idea is also about health promotion, not only physical health but the mental grief.”

Read the entire article

 

Join us for the 3rd annual Race For Grief event June 29, 2013 in West Bountiful

Get Registered

Video Clip: Triathlon Running Tips from Blonde Runner

Smile Center Memorial 5k and 10k race May 25 in Orem

Local 5 & 10K’s are so much fun!  Here is one you don’t want to miss.  The Smile Center Memorial 5 & 10K in Orem on May 25^th, 2013.  This is a fast and flat route so it’s perfect for a first timer or even an advanced athlete.  Join in the festivities with great music and entertainment.  They will have massage therapists at the finish line and fresh breakfast. Bring the kids along to participate in the kids fun run, bounce houses, face-painting and other fun stuff. This is a family friendly event and they have some pretty cool prizes too.  Check it out!

 

Want to win a spot?  Visit the Blonde Runner Health Facebook page

 

Race Event: The HOMM (Herriman Oquirrh Mountain Marathon)

This looks like a great event with something for everyone.  Check out the Herriman Oquirrh Mountain Marathon events offering a kids race, 5K, 10K fun runs and a half trail marathon & full road marathon that is all downhill.  Sounds like a new PR to me.  The events will be held over the weekend of June 14th-15^th, 2013.

If you’re the hard core type you can do both the ½ marathon and full marathon.  This is a one-of-a- kind challenge running the trail half on Friday and taking on the marathon the next morning to earn the coveted “Master of Trail & Road” finisher medal.

Events

June 14th (Friday)
Trail Half Marathon
Oquirrhman Challenge 40.5 Miles

June 15th  (Saturday)
1 Mile Kid Run
5k Fun Run
10K Fun Run
Half Marathon
Full Marathon
Oquirrhman Challenge 40.5 Miles

To learn more visit http://www.thehomm.com/

Win a free entry.  Visit Blonde Runner Health on Facebook.

Join us for the Cache Gran Fondo 2013

Last year I attended the first inaugural Cache Gran Fondo and I must say, I was very impressed with it.  It was a better organized event then most events with an awesome expo after and this was only the first year.  Read my race report from the 2012 event.

I was so impressed I made sure to put it on my race list for 2013.  Join us.  Here are some event details.  It will be held on July 13, 2013.  They will be offering a 50 & 100 mile options and it will begin with a breakfast catered by Logan Regional Hospital (they have promised the popular yogurt bar they had last year – yum).  The course starts by heading north through Smithfield and winds through beautiful northern Utah with many “full-service” aid stations as you go.  Both routes finish up on Center Street in downtown Logan with lots of festivities.  It’s a great event and a party on two wheels.  Invite your friends.

Look for Team Blonde Runner (TBR) – we will be there!

Click to learn more and get registered

 

It’s not all about winning

A Kenyan elite runner passes water to a dehydrated disabled Chinese runner who was suffering. This slowed her time–she came in 2nd in the race–not only costing her the win but also the $10,000 cash prize. It’s not all about winning.

What a great story.  It’s not all about winning!

~ Coach Lora Erickson

www.BlondeRunner.com

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