Living out your athletic dreams

Last weekend I had the privilege to attend a USA Track and Field level one coaching certification. Participants included track coaches at every level, trainers, sports performance coaches, and many others of all ages. The level of passion and enthusiasm for excellence in coaching was evident from the detailed discussions of what it takes to achieve athletic excellence.

Something that struck me as ironic, however was the contrast between the coaches attention totheir athletes’ health versus their inattention to their own health status. Several running jokes and self -deprecating remarks centered around the coaches own lack of physical fitness and activity in recent years. For example, several track coaches laughed about the last time they themselves had jumped, squat, or ran any significant distance. Keep in mind this is a group of former high school, and college athletes, many of who probably competed at or close to a national level. While I am sure some of the comments were in jest, I was reminded of a larger pervasive attitude towards health and fitness in society.

Specifically, I am talking about the belief that the pursuit of athletic goals is for the young. You only have to think about the last time you were with a group of friends wistfully remembering their “glory days” of high school football, or pee wee soccer to know what I mean. Groups of adults reminiscing about the good old days when they were at their athletic peak, the possibilities seemed limitless, and that they could conquer the world.

What is it that when we become adults we drop our pursuit of physical goals? Sure adults have responsibilities that children do not: a job or lack of a job, bills, and family. They may see time spent exercising or training too much of a strain on the budget, or simply as a waste of time. They may think they are too far away their goal to ever get there. But surely that does not mean that your only option is to sit on the coach, eating cheetos, while recalling your performance on field day.
Whatever your buried goal is, you can still work on achieving it!

As 2010 approaches, people will make all kinds of new goals, many of them related to health. In fact, two of the five most popular New Years resolutions are getting in shape and eating more healthfully. Those goals are fine, but they aren’t the stuff of childhood dreams, and they probably aren’t exciting enough to help make 2010 the year you can zip up your skinny jeans. Why not make a goal this year to rediscover and live out your own personal athletic dream?

Your dream may only be exciting to you but it should be exciting and it should be a challenge! What was your dream as a child and how can you live it out now? Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn ballroom dancing, or run a 5k? Maybe you finally want to be able to do “real” pushups! I firmly believe that you are never too old to pursue your athletic dreams. Just remember it all starts with an idea!

Give the best Christmas Gift Ever!

What is something you can give someone that is guaranteed to be useful, enjoyable, and relevant? Well you can probably guess what my best gift idea is! Personal training or wellness coaching!!







For a limited time, add $50 to the value of any gift certificate given!**

Here are some ideas on who could benefit from an AWS gift certificate....

1. New Moms- Give her what she wants: time to herself and a jump-start to getting back in shape after baby!

2. New Exerciser- If your loved one has expressed an interest in getting in shape, get them started on the right foot with a trainer that will show them how to get results safely and effectively

3. Sports Aficionado- For someone who wants to get better at their favorite sport, sports specific strength training is an essential building block


4. Children - For children, exercise should be like play. Get them a head start and a love for fitness with a fitness program that will develop skills, coordination, and body control

5. Teens- Whether their sport of choice is cheerleading, volleyball, dancing, or baseball, core strength, agility, flexibility and strength is essential. Additionally, their program should keep them engaged and motivated.

6. Older Adults- We lose muscle mass and bone density as we age, but resistance exercise can help! Whether you are getting back into shape or trying exercise for the first time, we can help.

As always, Atlanta Wellness Solutions utilizes only degreed, certified and experienced professionals. For more information call (770) 605-3700. And remember, for a limited time, add $50 to the value of any gift certificate given!

Acting "As If"

(Sadie as a kangaroo and Bailey as a giraffe)

I was talking to a group of people at my coaching seminar this weekend and, being a track and field coaching seminar, it came up that I was a pole vaulter in high school and for a bit in college.

Now generally, I try to avoid telling people this because I feel like it conveys the idea that I was a "good" pole vaulter. In reality, I was a poor vaulter, and when people get excited and start asking me questions and acting impressed it makes me a little uncomfortable and I find myself backpedaling. I usually try to tell them how it really was by explaining that every day my friend Chandra and I would leave track practice, pick up six doughnuts and a coffee coolata, then return and watch practice while eating our doughnuts. This, I explain, is how I became a "great" pole vaulter!

I started thinking about how this situation actually happens frequently. What I mean specifically is entering into a situation where you either have to act "as if" in order to be successful. In the pole vaulting example, no part of my self esteem is riding on anyone thinking I am proficient, and I am not trying to convince anyone I should jump for their organization.

But in other situations, such as an interview, a presentation, or when networking sometimes you have to act "as if" in order to be successful in what you're trying to accomplish. In fact, William James, the father of American psychology advises, "If you want a quality, act 'as if' you already had it."

If, right now, you are thinking of the areas of your own life in which you need to "fake it before you make it" here are some tips from Dr. Linda Sapadin from SelfHelp Magazine to help you on your way.

Acting 'as if' will provide you with the experience you need to hone your skills. With experience, persistence, and time, you'll be surprised by how much knowledge you can acquire and how much confidence you can develop. If you're like most people, you're probably your own toughest critic. So cut yourself some slack. The odds are that you look better and sound better than you imagine.

Mild anxiety can actually be an asset. Athletes, musicians, public speakers, and others who must perform under pressure are all boosted by low-level stress. Severe anxiety is often debilitating to performance, but having a few butterflies in your stomach works in your favor. So if you're feeling on edge about what you need to do, don't let that stop you. Take a deep breath, relax and let your nervousness work to your advantage.

Anticipatory anxiety is often worse than the actual experience you'll face. After an experience is over, it's not unusual to hear people say, "It wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be." Once immersed in the task at hand, you'll likely discover your fears fading into the background as your competence brightens the day.

One more tip. If you do decide to improve yourself by acting "as if" make sure that your new role is believable! (See below)

(Bailey acting as if she is a giraffe)

Making the Most of the Off-Season

After a long season of racing most people feel the need to dial back a bit and enjoy an official “off-season.” The word “off- season” can mean different things to different people. Some cut intensity and volume and use the extra time to reconnect with friends and family, while others mainly eat, drink, and gain weight. Unfortunately, the latter approach can mean losing all the fitness they worked for during the year .

On the other end of the scale are those athletes who try to keep up the same intensity and volume logged during the season, which can lead to burnout and injury. According to coach Sergio Borges of Ironguides, a leading lifestyle facilitation company, the idea is not to be a ”January National Champion,” loosely defined as someone that logs crazy epic workouts in the winter, only to burn themselves out physically and mentally by summer.

Certainly there are ways to utilize an off season more effectively that either approach, namely by emphasizing a single-sport focus, strength training, or cross-training Think of it as gaining an advantage over sedentary competitors and setting yourself up for an even better season next year.

Single Sport Focus- The obvious candidate for a single sport winter focus would be running. With a plethora of races every weekend in Atlanta, you only have to bundle up or hit the treadmill to keep up your running throughout the year. A goal of a winter marathon or half-marathon is a good way to stay focused on running consistency.

A cycling focus is slightly more challenging, but an indoor trainers or organized cycling classes are good way to focus on a cycling weakness. An alternative is to invest in some cold weather gear and brave the roads. As for swimming, Georgia lakes remain a possibility throughout much of the season for those willing to brave colder temps and don special gear such as booties and gloves. An option for the less brazen would be to invest in some swim lessons to improve technique.

Strength training- It can be hard to incorporate consistent strength training into the racing season. The off season is a great time to improve power, agility and functional strength , which will set you up for a great 2010 season. A trainer or coach can help you put together a comprehensive program which can help with injury prevention and power in 2010.
Cross training- For those who are burned out or longing for another sport that took a backseat during race season, now is the time to get your cross training fix. Time spent pursuing other hobbies can help the competitive fire to train and improve return when spring arrives.