Tai Chi is a moving meditation of simple movements that are easy to learn. The movements are slow, gentle and can be easily done by anyone, regardless of age or physical condition. The emphasis of Tai Chi is self-awareness, well-being and energy flow. It provides excellent preparation for spiritual work, meditation, yoga, massage, running or any sport.
This class is open to all ability levels. If you’ve never tried Tai Chi before this is a great introduction to a lifetime spiritual journey. The class will be held in the warming room beginning June 2 on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 8-8:45am. A great way to begin the day and Springtime in the Rockies!
The month of June on Monday and Wednesday mornings (7-7:45am, Yawn!) Joyce will be leading a class emphasizing swim stroke improvement, technique and speed. You must be able to swim to participate and space is limited. You can sign up at the front desk or by calling Joyce at 274-3303. This is a great way to prepare for the next Aspen Club Triathlon and get in shape for summer. The class is offered free to all members.
High Country Triathlon
2:44
Approximate times for each event
Swim - 18
Ride - 1:25
Run - 50
Transitions - about 5 minutes each
Aspen Life. The name says it all! Healthy lifestyles are a priority here like no other place on earth (except maybe Maui). The participants of the high country triathlon here in Aspen are a representation of the most healthy, happy & fit people around. Everywhere I looked I saw confident smiles, determination and the most positive general outlook on life you could find anywhere. People being friendly and helping each other be their best. I believe this is a direct correlation or reflection of how people feel about themselves here.
I showed up with a flat tire on my bike. Knowing I could change a bike tire wasn’t comforting with less than 30 minutes and nerves that made my hands less than nimble. No sooner did I realize I was in real trouble than a guy from Nova Scotia tried to help; and even though he couldn’t do much - the fact that he was there inspired me to figure it out. I looked up and there was Mark Alderdice, the Aspen Club cycling coach and master instructor ready to save the day! After he teased me (thank you), he urged me to get ready for the race and he’d take care of the bike. WOW! I couldn’t believe my relief & good fortune.
I Arrived at the pool to find my tri-posse waiting and cheering for me. I had resigned myself to being on my own that day and was touched and honored to be greeted by my ‘mountain girl power team’.
I made instant buddies with the girls in my swim heat, which made the fact that I had that panic - heart racing, - gasping for breath meltdown again a little more bearable. My nerves are really an issue that I am being called to attend to. Jumped out of the pool (last) and immediately recovered to make my ride up the Bells a tribute to my home and a prep for the run I dreaded. I even got to motivate a fellow racer who was struggling at the top of the ride. Going into the run I was amazed and relieved that I felt strong and light. Surprised that we weren’t going to have to run the high school track before finishing allowed me to sprint to the finish. I felt like I could have run forever!
I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face as I saw my posse and my friend and wellness coach Dirk Shultz there with his camera, stylish look and a hug for my sweaty body. His presence was the finishing touch to an amazing goal I never imagined for myself.
Later, I couldn’t resist helping a fellow racer by brining her to the local bike shop to fix her broken chain and help her negotiate Independence Pass for her drive home to Denver (and another triathlon the next morning!). She said to me “You know how you described what that guy Mark did for you? I feel like you’re doing that same thing for me!”
Being Fearless and Unstoppable is truly a team effort. Thank you to the Aspen Club and Spa for inspiring and supporting me to be Fabulous at 40.
Follow my countdown to minus 8 more lbs. before my 40th birthday on September 22!
I’ve always competed in sports where everything leads up to the competition; competing being the thing that really matters. In gymnastics you were fairly non-existent in practice; locked in a dark gym while the rest of the world exists in the sun; or at least it feels that way. It was the ‘meets’ where the gymnast shined; in the cute leotard with the spunky routine and unique self-expression. In tennis, for me, the matches were always the true test of ability. Practice was fun with little pressure; training was unfocused and random. Your competitive drive won you matches that you shouldn’t win and your mental madness lost you matches you should have won.
For me, my first triathlon was upside down in the respect that the training was the most fun, inspiring and empowering and the actual competition was anti-climactic. I’m not saying the event wasn’t amazing, there were over 3000 women competing and the energy was frenetic. I learned invaluable lessons for my next event and the camaraderie with my friends was a blast.
But what I felt from the time I arrived to the time I finished was a sense of power at what I created in my mind, body and spirit way before I ever arrived! Your ‘competitive drive’ doesn’t help you in triathlon if you didn’t train properly (unlike tennis) and your mental toughness can’t make you run much faster than you’ve prepared your body to run. In triathlon, you get what you train for, plain and simple.
Here’s proof…
My times in all events were exactly what I trained at - no matter what the circumstances on competition day!
The swim:
In training I was strong in the swim. So, being cocky in this area, I started at the front of the pack. I noticed my heart rate was very high with nerves, but I blew that off since as a public speaker, I feel like that all the time before I speak and I ‘knew’ from experience it would dissipate as soon as I ‘got on the stage’. No sooner did I jump in the water than my goggles were kicked off and when I reached back to get them, I got punched in the face by an oncoming swim stroke. I was then hyperventilating and thought I was going to drown. I had visions of having to tell my sister (the ex-pro surfer) that I couldn’t even pull of the swim! So, I ended up back-stroking the entire swim just to get enough oxygen not to drown. Even with all that drama, I still finished in 18 minutes; around the exact time it took me in training!
The Bike:
All I ever do is uphill rides and interval training at the Aspen Club (amazing) so I was thrilled to find the ride unbelievably easy and I finished in the top 400 out of over 3000 people. I was passing people left and right. I attribute this to the interval training class at the Aspen Club, NO doubt in my mind!! Thank you Mark Alderdice.
The Run:
What can I say, the pain of running is overwhelming for me. This is where I need the most work and the biggest attitude adjustment. Help Dirk Shultz, my wellness coach! My plan is to dramatically improve on the run for the high country tri in Aspen in 2 weeks!
Late August until September 22 will be about the remainder of my weight loss; just in case you think I forgot about that part of my goal. I haven’t and won’t feel complete until both goals are accomplished.
Goal - 20/20/2=40. Lose 20 pounds in 20 weeks and compete 2 triathlon sprints by my 40th b-day on September 22!
Program - Fabulous and 40
Date - 7/30/07
Weeks left=7
weeks until triathlon #1 - 1!! This weekend is triathlon #1
Pounds lost= 12 (left to lose - Body Fat Goal - 25%
Clothing sizes lost= 2+
Training= weight training,cycling/jogging/swimming
Biggest training challenge - still running! work/life balance
CONTINUE TO LEARN - THE WELLNESS JOURNEY
Remember in college, right before a test? You’d hear things like “I’m not ready for this test”; “I didn’t study until last night” and someone else would respond “Me either, in fact, I never even read the material”. Finally, someone would shut everyone else down by saying “I never even bought the book!” It’s easy to get caught up in these kinds of conversations around wellness and training, too. You don’t hear people bragging about the salad they had at lunch, or how diligently they trained before the race.
I wonder, are we covering our ‘you know what’s’ by pretending like we don’t really want our goals, just in case we don’t achieve them?
With the support of my wellness coach, Dirk Shultz, I made and continue to make a commitment to my wellness and training without getting too caught up in the game of excuses. I even admitted how proud I was to see the muscles in my shoulders from swim training. Yep, I said it out loud. And the craziest thing happened; the people I was talking too joined in with positives of their own! One woman said she felt like she could conquer the world when she was done with her run; another said she’d finally grown to love her dancer’s feet.
They say the woman that signs up for the triathlon is not the same one that finishes. I am really beginning to understand this statement. I haven’t finished yet though, ONE WEEK until triathlon #1 and I can’t wait!
Training:
I’ve been consistently training on the bike in intervals, running sprints and pushing myself and swimming often, even doing strength training. I’ve run 2 local races and improved each time. Learning how to breathe properly has been challenging.
I’ve lost a total of 12 pounds and have re-distributed body weight considerably. People are beginning to notice and someone even asked me what I ‘do’ knowing I must ‘do something’ because I looked strong. I continue to worry about leaving a considerable amount of my weight loss goal for the last 7 weeks, but I am as determined as ever to meet both goals.
Have you ever thought of having someone there to help you reach your goals? Aspen Life Coaching is focused on taking you from where you are to where you want to be by providing a partner to help you develop your vision, set goals, and make a plan while finding strategies to deal with your unique challenges.
The relationship between a coach and client offers a profound level of support, guidance, and encouragement to making changes that improve lives. Kim has been working with Dirk here at the Aspen Club and Spa to reach her goal of losing 20 pounds in 20 weeks by her 40th birthday. This is a video of a recent coaching session between Dirk and Kim.
Angela is a personal trainer here at the Aspen Club and Spa.
Angela has been working with Kim of 40 and Fabulous doing personal training sessions.
Angela Rooding- Personal Trainer
Education:Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at KansasStateUniversityCertifications:National Strength and Conditioning Association – Certified Strength and
Conditioning Specialist
National Strength and Conditioning Association – Certified Personal
Trainer
KansasStateUniversity Coaching Endorsement,
United States Water Fitness Association – Water Fitness Instructor
American Red Cross CPR and First Aid
Specialty:Sport specific training, post re-hab, weight loss
Personal
Interests:Tennis, track, power lifting, rowing, skiing, hiking, traveling, sewing,
I reported last week that I was stalled at -10 lbs.(towards my 20 lb goal) but was hopeful my body fat and measurements went down with my triathlon training.
I am happy to report that in less than 1 month I lost 4.25 inches and a 1% drop in body fat. It is interesting to note that I haven’t lost even 1lb. on the dreaded scale.
My personal trainer, Angela Rooding and wellness coach, Dirk Schultz along with Mark Alderdyce, the cycling master have inspired and held me accountable. It’s their integrity and consistency in their own lives that keep me asking more from myself. I can’t say enough about surrounding yourself with people who inspire you.
My mission is to help other women lose their obsession with the # on the scale and replace it with focus on strength and fitness and feeding ourselves for optimal health.
The number on the scale has been a predator for me since age 11 as a gymnast; 16 as a tennis player and ever since as an adult who has even avoided the yearly Dr. visit for fear of weighing in too high. I have found my power and bliss in my body by training it for performance and learning to listen to and love it on a whole new dimension.
40 and fabulous is about a nutritious ‘life’. Feeding yourself with everything from good food, to supportive company to intellectual and spiritual growth. I see people all around me flirting with; or in their 40’s who are ’seeking’ a nutritious life in all ways. Suddenly the status quo isn’t good enough and life has gotten bigger with infinite possibilities. We are questioning our impact-our contribution to each other and the world. This is the time to take the leap and ask for the life that we want instead of the life we think we think we could or should have.
Stepping into my personal greatness and power has already inspired others or increased my company with like-minded people:
My boyfriend is running with me, skipping the garlic bread and wants to do a triathlon in as soon as 5 weeks. One of my favorite “Live Juicy” clients is competing with me in both triathlons. My brother, a former Olympic class sailor, has reclaimed his athlete identity. My business partner, who has lost over 30 lbs has started a wellness group, inspiring women who had literally put their dreams on the shelf; who are now so inspired that they’re grabbing their dreams like someone stole them away!
There’s something about health and fitness as the entrance to personal power that is truly significant. Maybe we CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!!
Goal - 20/20/2=40. Lose 20 pounds in 20 weeks and compete 2 triathlon sprints by my 40th b-day on September 22!
Program - Fabulous and 40
Date - 6/29/07
Weeks left=10
Status as of week 10:
Pounds lost= 10 (left to lose-10)
Body Fat Goal - 25%
Clothing sizes lost= 2
Training= weight training,cycling/jogging/swimming
Biggest training challenge - still running! work/life balance
You may have noticed my weight loss has stalled. I certainly have! If my fat loss has stalled also (I’ll find out Tuesday) I’m really going to re-assess.
I realized today that there is no such thing as Stuck in a Rut. As I gaze out my window the fact is, the world outside is still moving along on it’s merry way. Animals are continuing their cycle of life, other people are moving through their day, the clock is still ticking forward. It’s me, continuing to do things the same way and looking at them with the same perspective!
To get out of a rut, look no further than TODAY(ok, and tomorrow).
So, to get out of this supposed rut, I decided with the expert guidance of my coach Dirk Shultz, to change my focus from: 10 weeks until my 20 pound deadline - or 4 weeks until triathlon #1 - or 6 weeks until triathlon #2. We’ve all heard the AA mantra of ‘one day at a time’. Just focus on today and tomorrow will find you in a new place out of your rut.
To illustrate from the weight loss and fitness perspective - here’s my example (notice it’s only focused on the next 2 days):
Saturday (today) - Check in with my body ( see prior entry ) to see what I really want in terms of working out and food.
Sunday (tomorrow) - Train with a new intention. Time to step it up as it’s gotten a bit too easy.
Dry run (swim, bike, run) and get a much needs massage.
I will report back, but I am confident my weight loss ‘rut’ will be gone as I change my actions and look at it from another angle. Stay tuned….
Body Fat Goal - 25%