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May 4, 2012
My daily fitness inspiration
I see this man nearly every morning, when I’m riding my bike from swim practice at Rollingwood Pool to the Austin American-Statesman office downtown.
I don’t know who he is, but he inspires me.
He chugs along, pushing his walker along the sidewalk on Barton Springs Road between Zilker Park and MoPac (Loop 1). He keeps a steady pace, and nods politely at me as I roll past.
Some people might let the fact that they use a walker stop him. Not this man.
He knows how important it is to stay fit at any age.
Who’s your fitness inspiration?
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April 13, 2012
Camp Gladiator opens indoor fitness center
I remember that cavernous building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 183 and MoPac (Loop 1) as the Glastron boat factory. This weekend, it reopens as CG Arena, the new indoor workout headquarters of Austin-based Camp Gladiator.
Ally Davidson, who won the “American Gladiator” reality TV competition in 2008, started Camp Gladiator in Dallas shortly after her victory. The outdoor fitness program branched out to Austin a year later, and now the fitness program has taken hold in 15 cities around the country.
Each hour-long outdoor session includes cardio and strength training elements, plus games like freeze tag or capture the flag.
“The biggest thing that sets us apart is we are a community, a fitness movement,” Davidson says. “We’re not just about the workout, it’s a social group. We go to happy hours, workouts and races together.”
Now, though, Camp Gladiator is moving indoors, too.
At the new 20,000-square-foot AG Arena, Camp Gladiator will offer a lineup of indoor group fitness classes, from cycling and boxing to yoga, hip hop, strength and core. The facility includes an indoor turf football field, dedicated boxing room, spin room and multi-purpose room.
“Our feeling is the community and fun and positive nature of our workout group is really missing in the indoor world,” Davidson said.
A free grand opening party and open house will start at 9 a.m. Saturday. Guests can sample group fitness classes, tour the new facility and enjoy refreshments. The party will end at 1 p.m. and the open house will continue until 6 p.m.
For more information about Saturday’s events go here www.cgarenagroupfitness.com/grand-opening-party.
CG Arena is located at 9185 Research Blvd. For more information, go here.
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April 9, 2012
Putting Austin Fit Magazine's FITtest to the test
Round one (with an asterick) goes to the Austin American-Statesman!
This morning, I squared off against the editor and assistant editor of Austin Fit Magazine in a preview of a test the magazine will use to select the 10 fittest people in Austin.
The asterisk? Austin Fit Magazine editor Melanie Moore tweaked a leg muscle during warmups and couldn’t fully participate. So while I recorded the best scores today, who knows who would win if we did it again in a couple of weeks? (Which we may do, for the record.)
We convened at Camp Mabry to run through the tests, which started with a medicine ball toss and included a standing broad jump, 40-yard dash, burpees, agility cone run, interval run and precision throw. We skipped the pull-ups, hand grip and 1-mile run due to lack of time and equipment.
Personal trainer and fitness expert Diane Vives designed the test to measure strength, endurance, agility, speed, power, precision and conditioning. It purposely doesn’t give an advantage to one particular type of athlete.
The real test, open to the public, is scheduled for June 9-10 at Camp Mabry. Male and female winners of 10-year age groups will be crowned “Austin’s 10 Fittest” and featured in Austin Fit Magazine’s August edition. There’s also a team category.
Today, though, Nyfeler, Moore and I are looking at our run-through as a sort of junior high field day. It makes us feel less intimidated.
“I’m actually kind of excited. I think it’s a great barometer for overal fitness. All I do is run,” Nyfeler says as we began.
She makes me nervous. She’s an Ironman Triathlon finisher, after all. She also did a 25K trail race two days ago. And Moore is a former collegiate tennis player. Me? I’m just a regular person who happens to like swimming, biking and running.
Moore and I are both 47 years old; Nyfeler is a few years older than us.
Vives leads us through a 10-minute warmup, which is when we lose Moore to a muscle pull. I’m pretty sure she didn’t stage it just to get out of the contest, either.
Nyfeler and I forge on, lining up for the first contest, the medicine ball toss. She goes first, launching the 6-pound ball 13.5 feet. Somehow, I’m able to heave the ball just over 17 feet.
Next is the standing broad jump. On my first attempt, I lose my balance and tip backwards, catching myself with my hand. That’s bad. The distance is measured to the hand, and it’s a pitiful 2 feet. But I come back strong, lurching 5 feet and 4 inches on my second try. That’s enough to beat Nyfeler.
I squeak her out on the 40-yard dash and agility run, which involves running around a series of cones set up in a cloverleaf pattern, too.
The burpees get my award as the most awful section of the test, but I push through, chalking up 21 in 1 minute. That puts me ahead of Nyfeler, but I think she may be sandbagging.
It’s on to the interval run, which you’ll remember from junior high if your coach ever made you run suicides. I’m ready to flop on the ground at the end, but I edge out the competition.
We wrap up by trying to throw a softball through a tire suspended 5 feet off the ground. I suck. But so does pretty much everyone else, so I’m off the hook.
Still, it’s enough to reign supreme in our little showdown. I’m happy, and a little surprised. It’s not that I care about winning the contest; I care that I’m fit for my age. I want to continue my active lifestyle for the rest of my life. It’s always been the biggest motivator for staying in shape. When I’m 60 or 70, I want to be able to backpack and hike. This test is a great way to make sure we’re not cheating ourselves out of proper fitness.
“When do we test ourselves like this? We don’t,” Nyfeler says. She’s right.
Looking to brush up on your skills before competition day? Pure Austin Fitness is offering a training group geared toward the AFM FITtest every Saturday morning through June 2 at their Quarry Lake location. For more information or to register for the contest, go here.
(Top photo shoes Moore attempting the precision throw. She came a lot closer than I did!)
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April 5, 2012
Duking it out in Austin Fit Mag's FITtest
Come Monday morning, I’ll be duking it out with Melanie Moore, editor of Austin Fit Magazine, in a medicine ball-flinging, burpee-executing, broad-jumping showdown.
Moore and I are running through the 10 fitness tests that will be part of Austin Fit Magazine’s upcoming fitness challenge.
Unfortunately for me, the test doesn’t include water skiing, bike commuting, swimming or scuba diving, areas in which I excel (compared to the general public, that is.)
Instead, it’s a grueling lineup that covers throwing a medicine ball, broad jumping, dashing 40 yards, running in a zigzag pattern, tossing a softball through a tire (egad!), chin-ups, burpees, squeezing a hand grip, running intervals and running a mile.
In the past, the magazine has selected the winners of its 10 fittest people in Austin contest based on a reader vote. This year, they’re going scientific.
Diane Vives, an Austin fitness expert who serves on the Under Armour national advisory board, came up with the tests. They focus on speed, endurance, strength and power, and are designed specifically so one type of athlete won’t excel at the whole thing. Scoring is based on a complex formula that rates each person against others of the same age and sex.
“We wanted to make it objective, so it’s not a popularity contest,” Moore says.
Contestants will be divided into age groups of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-plus. There’s a team division, too. The top 10 in each age group on Saturday will advance to the second day of the competition. The top male and female finisher in each group will be featured in the magazine’s August issue.
The official competition takes place June 9 and 10 at Camp Mabry. Registration is $45 until April 30, when it increases to $55. Register here.
Some local gyms have even created special training classes to prepare athletes for the competition.
“Some people will do really well at one some things and terribly at others,” Moore says. “We may have a really fit triathlete who can’t throw a ball through a tire.”
Or a swimmer who can’t throw a ball through a tire, for example.
Hopefully someone with a stretcher will scoop me up at the finish …
(That’s me, above, training hard in Barton Springs Pool, and Melanie, below.)
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January 20, 2012
Free boot camps scheduled
For the next month, you can help out a great Austin non-profit at the same time you whip your muscles into shape.
Empowered Fitness and The Settlement Home for Children are teaming up to offer free boot camps. The workouts are at 10 a.m. Saturday mornings between Jan. 21 and Feb. 25, in the soccer fields by the lake and playground at Mueller Park in Austin.
Andrea Mendoza, owner and head trainer at Empowered Fitness, will lead the 30-minute boot camps. Pilates instructor and stretching specialist Colleen McCoy will lead the cool-down.
Participants don’t have to pay a fee, but are encouraged to make a donation to The Settlement Home, which helps abused and neglected children and their families.
The non-profit organization needs donations of scrapbook supplies, stuffed animals, blank journals, headphones, batteries, disposable cameras, art supplies, crayons, coloring books, jewelry making kits, cookbooks for children, board games, exercise DVDs, sports balls, nail polish and beauty and haircare products. Monetary donations are also needed.
For more information, email empowered.fitness@yahoo.com. For more information about Settlement Home for Children, go here.
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I'm headed to the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver
I’ve polished my cowboy boots, washed my best jeans and uncrumpled my straw hat.
Today I’m heading to Denver, where I’ll be attending the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show.
Yeehaw!
Organizers call it the Super Bowl of livestock shows. A quick glance at the schedule shows I’m in for a bison sale, stock dog trials, a miniature heifer sale, a yak halter show and a top hog performance.
“I personally am interested in hog performance,” my sister wrote when I forwarded her a copy of the schedule. “What do hogs do?”
Good question. And I’m going to find out.
“Also the draft horse and yaks … Don’t let me go to the ewe lamb sale, or we’ll be selling our lawn mower in the spring.”
Then there’s the rodeo itself, which features everything from bareback riding and steer wrestling to bull riding and barrel racing.
It’s a great excuse to pull out my cowboy duds and sport some Texas ‘tude. I want to find out how Colorado rodeos compare to Texas ones.
The Denver event has been running since 1906. On its 100th anniversary in 2006, attendance reached 726,972 over the 16-day show. The grand champion steer sold for $75,000.
Look for an article in the travel section of the Statesman in coming weeks. Anyone ever experienced this?
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January 5, 2012
Austin makes Men's Health list of best cities
Austin has made Men’s Health Magazine’s list of the 10 best cities for men.
The magazine evaluated 100 cities in 35 categories, including exercise, employment, air quality, heart disease, diabetes and depression, using data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FBI.
Austin came in at number six, behind Burlington; Madison, Wisc.; Plano, Texas; San Jose, Calif.; and Boise, Idaho.
Really, Men’s Health? Men are better off in Plano than Austin?
Along with Memphis, the magazine’s worst cities included Burlington, Ala.; Philadelphia; Detroit: St. Louis; and Jackson, Miss.
For the full list, go here.
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December 22, 2011
Get motivated with "Chicken Fat"!
And now, some motivation to get you through the holidays without skipping a beat…
In 1961 Robert Preston recorded “Chicken Fat,” designed to get school kids running in place, doing jumping jacks, situps, pogo springs and more.
Anybody remember this?
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October 24, 2011
Share your fitness success story with Fit City
The best email ever landed in my inbox last week, compliments of reader Eric Aiello:
“I moved here to Austin last October (almost exactly one year ago). When I moved down I was fresh out of college and really eager to get out of NY. I was pretty unhealthy - not necessarily fat, but definitely not fit. I discovered your blog in the Statesman and I was totally hooked. I read everything you write! (Even have an RSS feed go straight to my phone!) This city, my family here, and you have all inspired me a great deal. I’ve lost 35 pounds since being here - I’ve done two triathlons, bike rides, the Cap 10K, and am now training for a half marathon in December and the 25K in January at Big Bend. I’m SO pumped. I have every intention of doing a marathon next year. When I moved here I couldn’t run a straight mile - now my training has me up to 10! I feel great and I love life more than ever. And as silly as it sounds - your blog plays a part in that!”
Wow. Congrats, Eric, on losing 35 pounds. More importantly, congrats on making health a priority and shifting to a lifestyle that includes muscle building, heart strengthening activities like swimming, biking and running.
Austin seems to have that effect on people. How can you NOT want to paddle, hike or do yoga after seeing what a big part of the culture it is in Austin?
It’s so inspiring to hear from readers how they’ve bucked the obesity trend by taking simple steps. Eating more fruits and vegetables and less junk, and getting outdoors and moving more really does work.
Do you have a success story to share with readers?
Post it here!
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October 15, 2011
Looking for outdoorsy folks
Hey, campers, hikers, backpackers, bird watchers, kayakers and nature lovers. We need your help.
We’ve started a short new feature that runs on Sundays called The Outsiders. We’re looking for people who like to be outside, doing cool things.
Does that sound like you?
Write, in 200 words or less, where you like to go and what you like to do there. It could be a park, your grandfather’s ranch, the greenbelt down the street or anything in between, just as long as it’s outdoors.
Attach a photo of the place, with or without you in it, and send it to Features Editor Kathy Blackwell at kblackwell@statesman.com.
While we’re at it, I could also use a few more Fit Folks. If you’d like to be featured as one, write, in 200 words or less, what you do to stay fit and why you love it. Send it to me at pleblanc@statesman.com.
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October 14, 2011
Woman loses 120 pounds, starts fitness blog
I’ve discovered another Austin fitness blogger to follow.
I love Tricia Minnick’s “Endurance Isn’t Only Physical” blog because shares the same fears about running that I do, she lost more than 120 pounds in a little over a year, and she’s got the cutest little tow-headed boy you’ve ever seen.
Minnick went from obese to fit because she wanted to set a good example for her son Dash, now 4.
On Jan. 5, 2009, she weighed 278 pounds. She had a hard time keeping up with Dash, who was a year and a half old. “He was walking and I was huffing and puffing behind him,” she said.
She made small changes and lost 120 pounds in a little over a year
When she started, she didn’t think about having to lose 100 pounds. Instead, she told herself that for 21 days she’d eat fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, cut out junk food and walk every day. If she didn’t notice a difference, she’d quit.
“In those 21 days, I amazingly lost 20 pounds and was feeling better and able to walk more and had more energy,” she says. “I just got on fire about it and realized the value of taking care of myself.”
Since then, she’s taken up running, participated in the Hood to Coast Relay and appeared with her husband in Austin Fit Magazine’s fittest couples issue.
“I went from having a hard time keeping up with my 1-year-old to now training for my second full marathon,” she says.
She started the blog about two years ago to show others they could do the same thing. “I’m very passionate about showing people it’s possible to lose weight by eating right and moving more rather than pills and surgery,” she says.
Among her recent blog topics? Why it’s scarier to run a 5K than a marathon, how she choked at a 5K race, and the agony of leaving Dash behind for several days when she ran the Hood to Coast Relay with Team NUUN.
Minnick’s blog is a finalist in Shape Magazine’s fitness junkie blogging contest, which runs through the end of October.
“I’m super honored to be included,” she says.
To vote in the online contest, go here.
(The photos above show Minnick before and after losing the weight.)
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October 13, 2011
A friendly little reminder (heh heh)
It’s breast cancer awareness month, so I’m doing you a favor.
Watch this video …
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October 10, 2011
Austin blogger finalist in Shape contest
Austin blogger MizFit, a sassy 42-year-old mom whose recent blog posts include the gems “I Cried in Yoga,” “Unfurling the Freak Flag,” “I Sleep Like a Toddler” and “Ahhh the Guilt,” is among 20 finalists in Shape Magazine’s fitness blogger contest.
MizFit, aka Carla Birnberg, posts her blog five days a week at www.mizfitonline.com. It’s hilarious, and often features bits about her spunky 5-year-old daughter Emma Louise, better known as The Tornado.
Shape Magazine picked the 20 finalists. Birnberg thinks it’s funny the magazine chose her.
“I’m not 20, I’m not blonde, and I’m muscles over makeup,” she says. “But I look better now than did in 20s, and I think so many woman are at that point.”
Now it’s up to the public to pick the winner. To vote, go here.
Birnberg has been blogging as MizFit for more than five years. Her tagline? “Fitness isn’t about fitting in.”
A former personal trainer with a master’s degree in counseling, the blog is as much about personal development as it is exercise tips. It’s all about finding the motivation to stay fit and healthy.
“I just realized I loved the marriage of mind and muscle,” Birnberg says.
Her best advice to her readers? “Move every day.”
The MizFit blog gets about 1,500 hits a day, and a high percentage of them leave (entertaining to read) comments. About 11,000 people follow her on Twitter at @mizfitonline.
“I really think it’s my voice and my unconditional positive regard,” she says of the blog’s popularity. “It’s my authentic self. What you see on the blog, I’m the exact same way off the blog.”
The competition goes through Oct. 28.
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October 6, 2011
ESPN Body Issue is out, nude athletes and all
ESPN’s 2011 Body Issue is out, and this year’s honed physiques include muscles honed by running, snowboarding, bowling and boxing.
A co-worker forwarded a link to a photo gallery of featured photos and asked me the question, “Inspiration for average athletes or tawdry attempt to attract eyes?”
For me, it’s inspiration. Or, more accurately, appreciation.
The athletes are shown nude (except for sprinter Natasha Hastings, who keeps on her track shoes), but the photos are artfully done. Each athlete is posed so no key parts are exposed — a hand held just so, a body twisted just right.
The result? A gorgeous collection of some of the strongest, most physically fit bodies on the planet.
Some are thick and muscular, others are sleek and lean. One has a prosthetic leg. The lineup includes a surfer, a football player, a race car driver, a roller derby jammer, a gymnast and more. (My only complaint? No swimmer!)
My favorites are marathoner Ryan Hall, shown running through a forest of towering trees, and short track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, because his quads look like pistons. The shot of gymnast Alicia Sacramone on a balance beam is amazing, and I love how Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves is photographed hanging on a tire swing.
Think of the Body Worlds exhibit, which features real human bodies, preserved and displayed in a way that imparted knowledge rather than invited lewd comments.
Check out the complete gallery here.
The site includes videotaped interviews with some of the athletes featured in the gallery.
This year’s featured athletes are:
- Gretchen Bleiler, snowboarder
- Blake Griffin, basketball forward
- Jeremy Campbell, paralympian in pentathlon and discus
- Ryan Hall, marathoner
- Ryan Kesler, hockey player
- Vera Zvonareva, tennis player
- Kelly Kulick, bowler
- Sergio Martinez, middleweight fighter
- Natasha Hastings, sprinter
- Helio Castroneves, race car driver
- Steven Jackson, football running back
- Hope Solo, soccer goalkeeper
- Alicia Sacramone, gymnast
- Jose Reyes, baseball shortstop
- Apolo Anton Ohno, short track skater
- Julie Chu, hockey forward
- Belen Mozo, golfer
- Louie Vito, snowboarder
- Sylvia Fowles, basketball player
- Stephanie Gilmore, surfer
- Jon Bones Jones, light heavyweight fighter
- Suzy Hotrod, roller derby jammer
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September 26, 2011
New Austin Fit editor to focus on science behind the story
Look for a stronger focus on the science behind the story at Austin Fit Magazine in coming months.
Melanie P. Moore, who took over as editor at the monthly magazine in August, replaces Drex Earle, who left to pursue other interests.
“I’m focused on our content being a trusted source of reliable, unbiased health and fitness information, local and otherwise,” Moore told me when we sat down for a quick cup of coffee last week.
She wants the magazine to become a resource for people at all stages of fitness, from those lining up for their first 5K run to those who used to exercise regularly but let their fitness trickle away, to those who are pushing the limits daily and want the latest data on what works.
“Basically, we want to be a leader in fostering the fitness community in Austin, helping people find information, workouts, experts and friends on their paths to fit and healthy lifestyles,” she says.
The October issue, out this week, takes a closer look at the medical benefits of exercise and fitness. It includes articles on a local gynecologist who balances a hectic work life with rowing on Lady Bird Lake and another on exercising during pregnancy.
The moral? Exercise can help you prevent disease, manage existing conditions and tolerate treatment.
“Fitness is something that spans a lifetime,” she says. “We’re trying to change peoples’ way of living. A fit and active lifestyle should reach everyone.”
Moore is an ovarian cancer survivor who played college tennis in Georgia, ran the Peachtree Road Race every July and competed in Masters swim team meets. When she moved to Austin in 1999, she added a new sport — triathlon — to her list of ways to wear herself out. She’s an avid sailor and golfer, too. (And when the subject of the Austin Fit Magazine Distance Challenge came up, we both vowed to compete in as many of the races as we could.)
She brings plenty of writing and editing experience to her new role. A graduate of Young Harris College and the University of Georgia, she earned a graduate degree in creative writing from Georgia State University.
She founded Badgerdog Literary Publishing in 2003. The non-profit publishes the literary quarterly book “American Short Fiction” and teaches creative writing to people of all ages. It also puts on an excellent summer writing camp for kids that I wrote about a couple of years ago.
Moore lives in Westlake and runs on the trail around Lady Bird Lake every weekend. Follow her on Twitter at @Moore_Fit.
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September 15, 2011
Outdoorsy folks - we need your help!
Do you love to sling a backpack over your shoulders and set out for a walk in the woods? Does a tent pitched in the wilderness meet your definition of luxury accommodations? Does your idea of a perfect afternoon involve jumping into a river or lake?
We’re looking for people who love getting out of the house to contribute to a new feature called The Outsiders.
If you spend a lot of time exploring the great outdoors, tell us — in 100 words or fewer — about your favorite place and what you like to do there. If you like, attach a photo of yourself in that ideal outdoorsy spot.
It’s part of a new page we’re launching called Venture Out, which will focus on all things outdoors, from hiking and camping to running, bicycling, bird watching and leaping in lakes. The new page will appear inside the Life & Arts section on Sundays, starting Sept. 25.
If you’d like to be featured as one of The Outsiders, email your submission to Kathy Blackwell at kblackwell@statesman.com, or mail it to her at Kathy Blackwell, executive features editor, Austin American-Statesman, 305 S. Congress Ave., Austin, Texas 78704.
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September 9, 2011
Post your stuff on new Fit City FaceBook page
The new Fit City fan page on FaceBook is your page.
Got photos of a recent training run or race? Post them!
Got an event that you want to publicize? Write about it there!
Set a personal record? Let us know!
I’ll be posting my own blogs and columns on the page, plus favorite blogs I come across in cyberspace. I’ll also be asking periodic fitness-related questions and posting photos from my own athletic experiences.
It’s a great place to find out what other runners, swimmers, cyclists, triathletes, paddlers, dancers — anyone in our city’s lively fitness community — have been up to. To make it work, we need you to chime in.
Go here and “like” the page. Then post whatever you want.
I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got to say!
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August 5, 2011
New Fit City FaceBook page is up!
I’ve launched a new Fit City page on FaceBook.
It’s your page, really.
Please post information about upcoming events, start fitness-related discussions or share fit-minded thoughts and photos there. To make this work, you need to get involved!
I’ll also be posting my Monday Fit City columns, blog entries and travel adventure stories from the Austin American-Statesman’s print edition on the page. I’ll spout off about what I see when I’m out and about, and share photos of things I notice.
I’ll also be periodically giving away cool fitness stuff that comes across my desk — everything from books and videos to the occasional pair of socks or T-shirt.
Click here. When you get to the page, click “like.”
Welcome!
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July 21, 2011
Looking for Austin's best trainers
Think you’ve got the best personal trainer in town? Tell me about it.
Next month, I’ll be compiling a story featuring some of the top trainers — and their clients — in Austin.
You don’t have to be super fit to make the cut. You just have to tell me why your trainer is among our city’s best.
I’ll pick four trainer-client pairs based on their stories. I’m looking for a mixture of people of varying ages and specialties.
We’ll take portraits of each pair, then have each trainer share his or her best tips and favorite exercises.
To be considered, post here first, telling me in a nutshell why you think your trainer deserves to be featured.
(Photo by Ricardo Brazzeill)
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July 19, 2011
Biggest Loser auditions coming to Austin
Need to drop a few pounds and don’t mind letting all of America watch as you try to do it?
Casting producers for The Biggest Loser” are stopping in Austin on July 30 as part of a 13-city search to find contestants for the 13th season of the NBC reality series.
(We may be fit, but we’re not THAT fit!)
Individuals and teams of two who have at least 85 pounds to lose can apply for the show, which will air beginning in January 2012.
Producers are looking for teams of two and individuals. According to a press release, it helps if you’re outgoing, charismatic, want to lose weight and have a competitive edge. The winner gets $250,000.
Even our mayor has something to say about the auditions.
“Although we are sometimes hailed as a fit city, obesity is a problem in our community, just like in so many others across the country,” Mayor Lee Leffingwell said in the press release. “This is an excellent opportunity for Austinites to step up and challenge themselves to lose weight and get healthy. I encourage folks who’d like some extra inspiration to try out for the show.”
Auditions will take place from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, July 30 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside Drive.
If you want to try out, bring a non-returnable photo of yourself (and your partner, if you’re applying as a team). Don’t line up any earlier than 3 hours before the start of the casting call. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and legal residents of the United States. Applications will be provided on site.
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May 19, 2011
New sign on trail around Lady Bird Lake
I love this artsy new sign on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge. It’s a good reminder of what happens when people push to make what seems like an impossible vision a reality.
Members of The Trail Foundation unveiled the new “The History of Lady Bird Lake and the Trail” piece Tuesday evening.
The sign, a steel tangle of branches and leaves designed by Austin’s Lars Stanley Metalworks, explains a bit about the evolution of the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
Fifty years ago, the banks of the Colorado River through downtown looked nothing like they do today. Repeated flooding had stripped them of vegetation, leaving them stark and uninviting. Dams were built to control the flooding, but there were no trails or benches or trees or flowers so the public could enjoy the area.
In 1971, the Town Lake Beautification Committee was formed. Lady Bird Johnson, Les Gage, Ann Butler, Carolyn Curtis, Emma Long, Jim Pfluger and others, along with Mayor Roy Butler, set out to create a corridor of hiking trails and landscaping that would showcase the river front.
Walk on the trail on a sunny day and you’ll know how successful they were.
The downtown phase of signage was made possible by donations from the MFI Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
What do you think of the sign?
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April 27, 2011
Any fit folks in the house?
Are you fabulously fit? Tell me about it!
Each week we run a short feature in the Austin American-Statesman called Fit Folks. It’s all about the swimming, running, cycling, yoga practicing, rollerblading, paddle boarding, rock climbing, hiking, hang gliding, gymnastics doing masses who inhabit our city.
I’m looking for submissions, in particular from young folks (defined by me as anyone under age 50).
To get your story considered for publication, send me a quick blurb explaining what you do to stay fit and why you love it. Keep it at 200 words or less. Include a photo of yourself, tell me your age, and email it all to me at pleblanc@statesman.com. You can also snail mail submissions to Pam LeBlanc, c/o Austin American-Statesman, 305 S. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78704.
Thanks!
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January 25, 2011
Show me your muscles!
Got muscles? Show them off!
Each week, a short item called Fit Folks runs inside the Life & Arts section of the Austin American Statesman’s print edition. In it, a fit person explains what he or she does to stay fit, and why he loves it.
Want to be featured? I need a new batch of people to highlight.
In particular, I’m looking for young folks. If you’ve got a kid who likes to stay active, ask him or her to write me. (Submissions must be in first person. No sending in a blurb for someone else, sorry.)
You can enter, too!
I’ve had a rash of seniors lately, and I know there are some buff 20, 30, 40 and 50-something folks out there.
Keep it to 200 words or less and include age and a photo.
All submissions should be sent to pleblanc@statesman.com.
Thanks!
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
January 18, 2011
Austin Children in Nature Collaborative presents "Play Again"
Ever wonder what happens when the average American child, one who spends five to 15 hours a day propped up in front of a television or computer screen, is plopped into the Great Outdoors?
No electricity, no cell phone coverage, no virtual reality — oh my!
Some might find such an unplugged experience old-fashioned and boring. I find it irresistible.
I can’t stand the idea of kids parked in front of electronics hour after hour, missing out on all the fun I had as a kid pitching tents, hiking through the woods, flying kites and exploring the neighborhood creek.
And these days, my most memorable moments are those spent backpacking through the wilderness, riding my mountain bike through the desert or watching schooling sharks under the sea.
I’m 46 years old and still spend time every day playing — swimming with my swim team, riding my bike to work, digging in my garden or water skiing. Sitting in front of a computer screen is something reserved mainly for work.
On Wednesday, the Austin Children in Nature Collaborative, which is working to get kids outside and active, will present the Austin premiere of the award-winning documentary “Play Again,” a film showing the experiences of six teen-agers reintroduced to outdoor fun during a nine-day wilderness experience.
The 5:30 p.m. showing is at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St., is free and open to the public.
The documentary is told, according to a press release, through the voices of children and leading experts including journalist Richard Louv, sociologist Juliet Schor, environmental writer Bill McKibben, educators Diane Levin and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, neuroscientist Gary Small, parks advocate Charles Jordan, and geneticist David Suzuki.
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
January 12, 2011
Fitness streaks: Healthy or obsessive?
When does a fitness routine become an unhealthy obsession?
That’s what readers asked me after this week’s Fit City column, which featured three Austin athletes who have been exercising daily for anywhere from a few months to several decades.
In particular, readers were offended that I highlighted a young woman who has been practicing Bikram yoga every day for a year and who, to them, appeared to be too thin.
Read the entire article here.
First, I certainly don’t want to imply that it’s healthy to starve your body or exercise when you are injured. I do want to encourage people to lead an active lifestyle and eat nutritious foods.
My article was meant to inspire Austin residents to exercise regularly. I wanted to encourage folks who have made a commitment to fitness in the new year to stick to their plan.
Second, when I met Sara Culler, the young yoga practitioner, she didn’t strike me as unnaturally skinny.
Yes, Sara was thin. But she also seemed physically strong, and she seemed to have good reasons for doing yoga — it strengthens her body, she says, and helps clear her mind. Nothing wrong with that.
The photos we ran of Culler do emphasize her thinness. But sometimes pictures, by their perspective or the position of the subject, make things look a little different than reality.
Here’s a sampling of some of the comments I received:
“I am extremely disappointed at your choice to feature an obsessive, anorexic-looking exerciser on the cover of Life & Arts today. It does a disservice to the yoga community to feature the hollow-eyed, skin and bones person in your article as some sort of example of health.”
And, from the same reader, this: “I look forward to seeing a more well-rounded approach to fitness in your articles, so that I can actually show the paper to my daughters without having to explain why the healthy lady on the front looks like an emaciated skeleton.”
A registered nurse was concerned, too.
“It is obvious that this person has become too obsessed with exercising,” she wrote. “She appears anorexic and unhealthy. She should not be used as a role model for fitness.”
An Austin physician made another good point — that balance is a critical piece of good health.
“I think it is just as heroic to train six days a week, and reserve a day for rest and family,” she emailed. “It isn’t a sign of weakness to miss a day, and I think these athletes would be much more admirable if they were more balanced in their approach to exercise.”
I appreciate the feedback from readers. I always learn from the people who read this column, and I’m glad that they email and call to let me know what they think.
And while I accept the points that they made, I’m also keenly aware of the obesity epidemic in our country.
One of my main missions through the Fit City column is to encourage people to move more.
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: general fitness
December 30, 2010
Obama quits smoking
Looks like the president has quit smoking, at least for now.
According to a story from CNN, it’s been about nine months since he last smoked a cigarette.
Read the whole article here.
I’m glad to hear it.
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
December 28, 2010
Where would you rather live: Plano or Austin?
Really, Men’s Health Magazine? Plano, Texas is a better place to live than Austin? (So is Fargo, North Dakota, for that matter.)
Men’s Health and Women’s Health magazines name their “Best Cities for Men” and “Best Cities for Women” in their January/February issues, and the flat, strip-mall heavy Dallas suburb scores higher than Austin, with its trees, trails and hills and exercise ethic.
I lived in Plano once. Now I live in Austin. I’ll never go back.
Plano is the home of the Cockroach Hall of Fame, seen in the Associated Press photo above. I rest my case.
Austin has Lady Bird Lake, a ton of hiking trails, vibrant running and cycling communties, and the Whole Foods flagship store.
The magazines rated 100 cities in 41 categories, from cancer rates to cost of living, life expectancy, eating and exercise habits. They also factored in death and obesity rates and considered quality of life factors such as the ratio of single women to single men.
Madison, Wisc., was picked as America’s “Best City for Men;” Plano topped the list for women.
The magazines also pick the worst places to live. St. Louis, Mo., was named the “Worst City for Men;” Philadelphia was the worst for women.
Thoughts, anyone?
- The 10 Best Cities for Men
- 1) Madison, WI
- 2) Fargo, ND
- 3.) Plano, TX
- 4) Burlington, VT
- 5) San Jose, CA
- 6) Lincoln, NE
- 7) Austin, TX
- 8) Aurora, CO
- 9) Virginia Beach, VA
- 10) Seattle, WA
-
The 10 Worst Cities for Men
- 91) Toledo, OH
- 92) New Orleans, LA
- 93) Charleston, WV
- 94) Baltimore, MD
- 95) St. Petersburg, FL
- 96) Memphis, TN
- 97) Detroit, MI
- 98) Birmingham, AL
- 99) Philadelphia, PA
- 100) St. Louis, MO
-
The 10 Best Cities for Women
- 1) Plano, TX
- 2) Fargo, ND
- 3) San Jose, CA
- 4) Raleigh, NC
- 5) Austin, TX
- 6) Minneapolis, MN
- 7) Boise, ID
- 8) Santa Ana, CA
- 9) Virginia Beach, VA
- 10) San Francisco, CA
-
The 10 Worst Cities for Women
- 91) Tulsa, OK
- 92) Memphis, TN
- 93) St. Petersburg, FL
- 94) Charleston, WV
- 95) Birmingham, AL
- 96) Baltimore, MD
- 97) St. Louis, MO
- 98) Toledo, OH
- 99) Detroit, MI
- 100) Philadelphia, PA
For an interactive map and the full list, go to www.menshealth.com/metrogrades and www.womenshealthmag.com/bestcitites.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: general fitness
November 13, 2010
Paul Carrozza wins Rostow Leadership Award
Check out this cool video of Paul Carrozza, owner of the RunTex stores, made by Jordan Haro.
Carrozza recently was named the 2010 winner of the Rostow Leadership Award.
The Rostow Awards honor community leaders who have made a significant difference in the lives of children and families, and whose work is aligned with The Austin Project’s mission of strengthening families, improving education and promoting early literacy.
Congrats Paul!
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
September 29, 2010
Children in Nature award winners announced
One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was a love of the outdoors.
My family camped at Inks Lake State Park, picnicked at Bastrop State Park and swam at Emma Long Metropolitan Park. We rode horses, hiked in the woods and walked along Texas beaches.
I loved playing outside. I didn’t want to stay inside if I could be dipping my toe in a creek or skipping rocks across a lake. Who would?
Apparently, lots of kids. Which is why I appreciate the work that Austin Children in Nature Collaborative is doing.
The collaborative, made up of local, state and national organizations aimed at getting kids outside, will recognize people and organizations that share their goal at Thursday’s Celebration of Children in Nature 2010 Awards Dinner, hosted by Westcave Preserve.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith will give the keynote and Evan Smith of the Texas Tribune will serve as master of ceremonies.
This year’s honorees are:
For more information go here.
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
September 12, 2010
Are you on a fitness streak?
I’m looking for folks who are keeping a fitness streak alive.
Do you know anyone?
John Conley, race director of the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, mentioned recently that he is in the midst of a running streak. He’s run 3 miles every day since July 19, all in the afternoon heat.
I know my swim coach, Keith Bell, hasn’t missed a day of swimming in several decades (yes, decades.)
I bet there are folks out there who are on yoga, weight lifting, walking or aerobics streaks. Do you know one of them?
Please post here. I’m hoping to do a story about it.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: general fitness
August 18, 2010
Trainer launches fitness website
Want to keep up with the local fitness scene?
An Austin trainer has launched a new website at www.activeatx.com.
Jesse O’Brien, a 24-year-old fitness trainer at Westlake Crossfit, started the website in July.
Besides a calendar of events, it includes a directory of local gyms and yoga studios and a list of parks. There’s even a blog that touches on topics of interest to folks like me, who are obsessed with the outdoors.
The site is updated with new event listings daily.
If the website is a success, O’Brien hopes to start similar sites in 10 more U.S. cities.
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
July 6, 2010
Long-time Davis Mountains camp participant dies
Folks who’ve attended the Davis Mountain Fitness and Training Camp in West Texas over the years will remember Charlie Olgilvie, who held the record for oldest camp participant.
Word came from fitness camp president AnnMarie Olson that Olgilvie died July 3, at age 93.
This from her email:
“Charlie’s son and daughter, Brian and Marsha were with him at the end. Charlie had remained active until the past month, and both the Deckers and Peggy Fink had visited with him in recent months.
A service is being planned in Fort Worth. Charlie’s ashes will be scattered at a service at his Ranch in east Texas, as well as in Missouri where his wife Reva is buried.
.
Charlie attended Camp from the 1980s to 2009 and shared his love of Native American life with all of us. His “Running with a Bone” lecture at camp remains a favorite.”“
I got to meet Olgilvie six years ago when I went to Fort Davis to attend camp. For years, he stayed in a tent, even when others bunked in air-conditioned cabins. He loved to cycle.
He was well loved by campers and will be missed.
Here’s a link to an article I wrote about the fitness camp. Olgilvie is quoted in the article.
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
June 30, 2010
Should obese be a bad word?
Now that Texas ranks as the 13th most obese state in the country (egad!), we need to get serious about how we describe our body size.
In case you hadn’t heard, the adult obesity rate in Texas is 29 percent, according to the seventh annual “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010” report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (See the full report here.)
The Texas obesity rate among youth ages 10 to 17 is even worse — at 20.4 percent, we’re seventh out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. And among Latinos, we’ve got the third highest rate at 34 percent.
That means we get to use the word “obese” a lot in these parts. Or should we?
All this horrifying news coincides with a report that the city council in Liverpool, England, wants to ban the words “obese” and “obesity” from all public health strategies aimed at improving child’s diets and health in fear the words might harm the self-esteem of obese kids. (Read the article here.)
Seriously.
According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the council “believes the expression could stigmatize youngsters and wants to replace it with the phrase ‘unhealthy weight.’”
This is beyond stupid. Now is no time to sugar-coat (in more ways than one!) bad news. It’s time to face reality.
This doesn’t mean teasing a child, of course. It just means telling it like it is. Using a precise word like obese, which according to my Webster’s means “very fat, stout, corpulent,” just might instill enough alarm to inspire the kids — or their parents — to take needed action.
Isn’t our health worth it?
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
May 29, 2010
Free DVDs
Help me clean my desk!
If you want any of the following items, post on this blog letting me know what you want and why you deserve it. Best answers win.
- ”Running: The Essential Guide”: A locally made DVD starring Steve Sisson, head coach and founder of Rogue Training Systems, Ruth England, co-founder and curriculum director of Rogue Training Systems, and Carmen Ayala-Troncoso, World Masters Champion and four-time U.S. National Team member.
- ”Do It Yourself Natural Face Lift with Debbie Dawson”: OK, I don’t pick this stuff, it just lands in my mailbox. Debbie will teach you how to strengthen your face muscles without undergoing surgery. Really.
- ”Pilates! A Gentle Formula to a Strong Body”: A 30-minute mat workout to improve flexibility, strength and movement.
- ”Humble Fitness: Forever Young”: 60-year-old John Humble shares his four-step formula for staying young. (Hopefully your interpretation of young doesn’t involve hair, because Humble is bald.)
- ”Belly Beautiful Workout”: A fusion of Pilates, sculpting, gentle stretches and relaxation adapted for prenatal moms.
- ”The Glycemic Index Diet”: A book about an eating plan that divides foods into color-coded categories according to their glycemic index rating.
- 1) Seattle, WA
- 2) Madison, WI
- 3.) San Jose, CA
- 4) Fargo, ND
- 5) Burlington, VT
- 6) Manchester, NH
- 7) Minneapolis, MN
- 8) Salt Lake City, UT
- 9) Lincoln, NE
- 10) Austin, TX
- 91) Toledo, OH
- 92) St. Petersburg, FL
- 93) Louisville, KY
- 94) Charleston, WV
- 95) Memphis, TN
- 96) St. Louis, MO
- 97) Detroit, MI
- 98) Jacksonville, FL
- 99) Philadelphia, PA
- 100) Birmingham, AL
- 1) San Jose, CA
- 2) Madison, WI
- 3) Seattle, WA
- 4) Aurora, CO
- 5) Minneapolis, MN
- 6) Fargo, ND
- 7) San Francisco, CA
- 8) Lincoln, NE
- 9) Salt Lake City, UT
- 10) Colorado Springs, CO
- 91) New Orleans, LA
- 92) Baltimore, MD
- 93) Jacksonville, FL
- 94) Oklahoma City, OK
- 95) Toledo, OH
- 96) St. Louis, MO
- 97) Detroit, MI
- 98) Memphis, TN
- 99) Birmingham, AL
- 100) Philadelphia, PA
- Austin - Sport, 10616 Research Blvd.
- Hancock Center - Sport, 1000 E. 41st St.
- Parmer - Sport, 12400 N. Interstate 35
- Lake Creek - Sport, 13802 N. Highway 183
- William Cannon - Sport, 4625 W. William Cannon Dr.
- Denise Austin “Body Makeover Mix.”
- Denise Austin’s “3-Week Boot Camp.”
- Susan Hyatt’s Rockstar Workout.”
- Vern’s No Frills 5k: It’s race number seven in the Vern’s No Frills 5K series, hosted by the Georgetown Running Club. Start time is 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at Berry Springs Park and Preserve in Georgetown. Cost is $1. For more information email nofrills5K@yahoo.com.
- 2009 Austin Start! Heart Walk: This 5K non-competitive walking event starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at the south grounds of the Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave. Free to participate, but awards for raising funds for the American Heart Association. For more information go here.
- Tour de Fat: New Belgium Brewing’s celebration of all things biking gears up with a costumed bike parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Bicycle performances, a funeral procession for a car, and other bike-centric activities to follow. Admission free, but beer and merchandise proceeds benefit Yellow Bike Project, Austin Cycling Association and Austin Ridge Riders. For more information go here.
- The Tex Robertson Highland Lakes Challenge: Swim five lakes in five days, from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25, in the third annual open water swimming stage race held in the Upper Highland Lakes. For more information go here.
- Breast Cancer Resource Centers Golf Classic: The inaugural BCRC Golf Classic starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Twin Creeks Country Club, 3201 Twin Creeks Club Dr. in Cedar Park. Registration is $250 per person. Proceeds support free services to help women diagnosed with breast cancer. For more information go here.
- Marathon Kids Fund-Raiser: The Marathon Kids Fund-Raiser, “Heroes for Health,” featuring Senator Kirk Watson, starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at Whole Foods Market, 525 N. Lamar. Includes live music and silent auction. Proceeds benefit the 70,000 Austin area Marathon Kids who run or walk 26.2 miles over six months. Tickets are $75. For more information go here.
- LiveStrong Challenge: The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s signature fundraising event, the LiveStrong Challenge, takes place Oct. 24-25. Events include a 5K walk/run and a 10, 20, 45, 65 or 90-mile bike ride. Registration is $50 per person. Cyclists also must raise a minimum of $250 for the foundation. For more information, go here.
- Tree Wheelin’: Tree Folks hosts a bicycle tour of the city’s notable trees from 9 until noon Saturday, Oct. 24. Tour begins at Pease Park. Cost is $25 per person or $40 per family. To register go here.
- NatureFest: Enjoy kayaking, hiking, scavenger hunts, rock wall climbing, archery, food, music and more at NatureFest, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 on the banks of the Colorado River at Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop. With a $3 donation, adults receive a reusable bag; children 12 and under free. For more information go here or call 512-303-0904.
- J-Mazing Race: The Dell Jewish Community Campus, 7300 Hart Lane, will host the J-Mazing Race from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Teams of four will compete in a decathlon of physical and mental challenges including disc golf, geocaching, relays, football, trivia and basketball. Registration is $125 per team here or by calling 735-8206.
- Climbing: Central Texas Mountaineers will host a climbing competition at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 on the Barton Creek Greenbelt to raise money and collect canned food for the Capital Area Food Bank. Includes speed-climbing events for beginner and advanced climbers at New Wall, accessible from the Spyglass entrance to the Greenbelt. New climbers welcome; harnesses available for those who want to try climbing. For more information, go here.
- Colin’s Hope Kid’s Triathlon: A triathlon to benefit Colin’s Hope, a non-profit agency whose mission is to prevent childhood drowning, begins at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at Willow Bend Pool, 2801 Sauls Drive in Austin. Registration is closed. For more information, go here.
- “Race Across the Sky”: Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and other cyclists will participate in a panel discussion about the Leadville Trail 100 bike race that will be aired at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at area movie theaters. “Race Across the Sky - Leadville Trail 100,” recorded Oct. 20 in Durango, Colo., will feature panelists discussing training, conditioning tips and personal challenges, including Armstrong’s flat tire in the final 10 miles of the race. Airs at Tinseltown USA Pflugerville, 15436 Fm 1825; Cinemark Hill Country Galleria, 12800 W Highway 71, Bee Cave; Cinemark Southpark Meadows, 9900 S. Interstate 35; Cinemark Cedar Park, 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park; and Metropolitan 14, 901 Little Texas Lane. Tickets are $12.50.
- Boo Run: Wear a costume and raise money to help cognitively and developmentally disable children and young adults in Georgetown at the Boo Run on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Rivery Park in Georgetown. A 1K Family Fun Run starts at 5 p.m.; the 5K starts at 6 p.m. Trick or treating, movies and games will follow. Entry is $25 for adults; $8 for children. To register online, go here.
- ”My Run”: “My Run,” a documentary about Terry Hitchcock, who ran 75 marathons in 75 days to bring attention to the struggle of single parent families after his wife died of breast cancer, will be screened at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 and 9:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 at the Rollins Theater in the Long Center of Performing Arts as part of the 16th annual Austin Film Festival. Tickets available at the venue 30 minutes prior to show time.
- Flu shots —1-5 p.m. daily.
- Rehab demonstrations using Wii Fit — 1-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
- Blood pressure screenings — 8 a.m.-noon daily.
- Cardiac risk assessments — 8 a.m.-noon daily.
- Glucose testing — 8 a.m.-noon daily.
- Balance screenings and hand therapy — 8 a.m.-noon daily.
- Body fat testing — 8 a.m.-noon daily.
- One-fourth of Texas adults have high blood pressure.
- Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in Texas, accounting for more than one-fourth of the state’s deaths.
- Nearly 30 percent of Texas adults are obese.
- Diabetes affects about 1.3 million adult Texans who have been diagnosed and more than others who are undiagnosed.
- Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in Texas.
- Surveys show nearly half of American adults don’t get flu shots, yet it’s recommended that about 85 percent of the U.S. population get them.
- The flu kills about 36,000 Americans each year and leads to about 200,000 hospital stays.
- “Sex Machine,” James Brown and the JBs “Crosseyed and Painless”: Talking Heads, from Remain In Light
- “Juanita Morel,” Francisco Ulloa, from Ultramerengue
- “Tutti Fruitti,” Little Richard, from The Georgia Peach
- “Le Freak,” Chic from C’est Chic
- “Jeu No Revolte,” Boukman Ekysperyans, from Kalfou Danjere
- “Hey Baby,” No Doubt, from Rock Steady
- “Three Little Birds,” Bob Marley and the Wailers, from Exodus
- “Gonna Be A Beautiful Night,” Prince, from Sign o’ The Times
- “Blue Light Boogie,” Louis Jordan, from The Best of Louis Jordan
- “Hound Dog,” Jerry Lee Lewis: from Live at the Star Club, Hamburg
- “Ti Na Na,” Clifton Chenier, from Bogaloosa Boogie
- “Baba Ngbo Ti Wa,” I.K.Dairo from Definitive Dairo
- “Bernadette,” The Four Tops from Anthology
- “Nena,” Bloque, from Bloque
- “El Menu,” El Gran Combo de Puero Rico: 30 Aniversario
- “Highway Star,” Deep Purple, from Machine Head
- “Runnin’,” Earth Wind and Fire, from All In All
- 15. The color of your urine is a popular topic of conversation.
- 14. You get up at 3 a.m. to get a good spot in the transition zone at the triathlon.
- 13. Your laundry consists mostly of Lycra, wicking fabrics and socks.
- 12. You schedule your vacations around races.
- 11. You have clothing layering down to a science for all weather conditions.
- 10. You habitually go to bed before the sun sets. (Or set the alarm for 5 a.m. or earlier to make practice.)
- 9. You bring your own pre-run breakfast with you when you travel. (“We often will hit the store, usually a Whole Foods, when we first get off the plane to stock up on energy bars, oatmeal and soy,” one running friend writes. “Always ask the hotel for a microwave and mini fridge.”)
- 8. You miss company parties (holidays, anniversaries, etc.) because of a long run the next morning.
- 7. Your car is a rolling gym bag. And smells like one.
- 6. You schedule the Friday before and the Monday after the marathon off from work.
- 5. Ice baths are your favorite Saturday afternoon past time.
- 4. You ask for Clif Blocks and energy gels as stocking stuffers.
- 3. You get up at 5 a.m. on Saturday to run 20 miles before half the city even wakes up.
- 2. You plan a vacation around the equipment offered at the hotel’s fitness facility or the distance to a running trail and/or gym. (“We have also driven 1 hour each way to find a gym with good treadmills when the temps were way below freezing,” says one runner.)
- 1. You pee on yourself during a run so that you make your PR.
- 1. Don’t walk more than two abreast. (And definitely not FIVE abreast, like the group I just dodged.)
- 2. Stay to the right.
- 3. Wheels yield to heels. In other words, bicyclists yield to runners and walkers.
- 4. Keep pets under control. I nearly got tripped by an exuberant pup near Auditorium Shores once.
- 5. If your pet poops, pick it up. Come on, people!
- 6. If you wear a headset, don’t turn it up so loud you can’t hear other trail users.
- 7. Don’t litter.
- 8. No speeding bikes. The hike-and-bike trail is not the place to train for the Tour de France.
- 9. Cyclists, call out or ring a bell to alert people in front of you that you are approaching.
- 1. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
- 2. Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909)
- 3. George W. Bush (2001-present)
- 4. Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
- 5. Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
- 6. John Q. Adams (1825-1829)
- 7. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
- 8. John Adams (1797-1801)
- 9. Harry Truman (1945-1953)
- 10. George Washington (1789-1797)
- 1. William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
- 2. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 and 1893-1897)
- 3. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
- 4. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
- 5. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
- 6. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
- 7. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
- 8. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
- 9. Chester Arthur (1881-1885)
- 10. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: general fitness
May 25, 2010
Austin 10th on fitness index
Another day, another list to argue about.
The American College of Sports Medicine’s “American Fitness Index ” ranks cities on a 100-point scale, based on 30 factors including death rate from cardiovascular disease, obesity rate, percentage of residents who bicycle or walk to work, amount of parkland, smoking rate and consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Austin comes in 10th, with an overall score of 63.9. Our obesity rate is 22.5 percent and our exercise rate, defined as the percentage of people who have exercised in the past 30 days, is 78.4 percent.
The index also had this to say about our city: “Austin has a high number of parks and pools per capita — and low rates of asthma and heart disease.”
The three most fit cities are Washington, D.C., Boston and Minneapolis. The three least fit cities are Memphis, Detroit and Louisville.
I never know exactly what to make of these lists.
How do we really know how many carrots and apples people are eating? Do people accurately report how much exercise they do? And is exercising once in the last 30 days really enough? (The answer to that last one is a resounding NO!)
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: general fitness
April 15, 2010
Ladies, train with Maddog at UT
OK, ladies. Who’s a glutton for punishment?
Coach Jeff “Maddog” Madden (that nickname should serve as a warning) is hosting a women’s strength and conditioning clinic at the University of Texas on Saturday.
As a friend pointed out, look closely at the pictures on the attached flyer. I think the participants might be crying in some of the shots.
In real life, Maddog works with members of the University of Texas football team. So he’s not going to take it easy on you.
The clinic runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17. Cost is $50. (IV fluids and medical treatment are at your own expense. Ha!)
Seriously, this looks like a great opportunity.
But dang it, I’ll still be at Caddo Lake and won’t be able to make it. And no, I can’t come back early.
If you go, let me know how much fun it was!
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
April 6, 2010
Start walking on Wednesday
You’re more than twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease if you’re inactive.
That’s why the American Heart Association has dubbed Wednesday, April 7, National Start! Walking Day.
People everywhere are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and incorporate 30 minutes of walking into their day.
Why walking? It’s got the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.
Walking vigorously for 30 minutes each day can help reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, according to the Heart Association.
Need some company? Join Austin City Council Member Laura Morrison, who will lead a group walk along the hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. Meet her at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall Plaza, near Cesar Chavez and Lavaca streets.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: general fitness
Terry Todd inducted into National Fitness Hall of Fame
Austin fitness guru Terry Todd has been inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame.
I wrote about Todd and his wife Jan, both instructors in the kinesiology department at the University of Texas, a few years ago. (That’s Jan on the left and Terry on the right in the photo above.)
Besides their amazing personal stories about weight lifting, they’ve gathered an amazing collection of old-time fitness memorabilia, now housed at the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports at UT. The center opens later this month.
Read my 2005 article about the couplehere.
Terry Todd started his weightlifting career at The University of Texas at Austin, while he was still on the varsity tennis team. He went on to win national championships in weightlifting and powerlifting, setting a slew of records along the way.
He also spent time as managing editor of Strength & Health magazine before going into teaching. He joined UT in 1983. He’s written seven books about fitness and lectures around the nation on drugs in sports, conditioning and fitness history.
Congrats Terry!
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March 29, 2010
Winona Writer hits the Roller Derby
I’ve got a new byline: Winona Writer.
Last night, as Winona, I blew the first whistle at the Texas Rollergirls’ match at Playland Skate Center.
The Rollergirls, thoughtful broads that they are, gave me my own official Rollergirls T-shirt, with my official Rollergirl name on the back, for the occasion. I walked to the center of the rink, blasted away on a shiny whistle, then got the heck out of Dodge lest I get mowed over by a seriously tough chick in a plaid skirt and fishnets.
This is tough stuff, no kidding. One woman broke her thumb during last night’s play. She didn’t seem to mind, either.
Roller derby is cool. Those girls flaunt their stuff. It’s all about embracing your inner trashiness.
If you want to see women screaming up and down a rink on tiny wheels and bashing into each other, go check out the Texas Rollergirls.
It’s all rock’n’roll music and Lonestar beer and strong, inspiring women in outrageous outfits.
All home games take place at Playland Skate Center, 8822 McCann Drive. The next match is April 25. For more information go here.
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February 2, 2010
Can fitness, cruise ships mix?
I’ve always wondered what would happen if you put a super-active outdoorsy person on a cruise ship. Would her head explode?
I got my answer this week, when I hopped about the Carnival Ecstasy for the shortest, least expensive cruise available out of Galveston. (Find out more about Carnival’s Galveston cruises here).
Inexpensive cruises, it turns out, are a lot like Las Vegas. Most folks are there to party, gamble and eat. A lot.
Me? I have a hard time staying indoors very long, and I like nature. I go to bed early and I don’t like pouring my money down a drain.
I stayed in a cheap room (about $450 for a four-night excursion with a stop in Cozumel) in the belly of the ship. I took the stairs everywhere I went. I sniffed out the exercise room and ran on the treadmill. I found a jogging track on the top deck. Eleven laps equaled one mile.
But treadmill work and running on a tiny circuit aren’t like running outdoors. The swimming pool was tiny; far too small to swim laps. And the palm trees on the lido deck were fake.
Egad!
My head didn’t technically explode, and I didn’t completely hate it. I had a blast in Cozumel, where I rented a car, drove to the less developed side of the island and swam in the surf. I spent some time reading and relaxing and contemplating the ocean.
Onboard the ship, I did enjoy some of the entertainment, including a pretty good comedian and a music and dance show in the theater. But I could definitely do without the hairy chest contest.
Cruising is just not my thing. At least not yet. And not in the Caribbean, where many of the passengers are there to drink tequila, play Black Jack and scream really loudly.
Give me 20 years and I’ll be lining up for the buffet … Maybe.
What are your thoughts on cruising?
You can read more about my trip in a few weeks, in an article I’m planning for the travel section of the Austin American-Statesman.
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January 4, 2010
What's your resolution?
Happy New Year, everyone!
I just returned from Big Bend National Park, where, per tradition, my husband and I (and pals Mike and Marcy) hiked the 13-mile South Rim on New Year’s Day. What a great way to kick off a brand new year!
I resolve, in 2010, to have (even more) fun.
I will try new things. High on my list is trail running. I might even enter an off-road foot race, just to see what it’s like. (I hear the aid stations are stocked with food like baked potatoes and Fig Newtons!)
I will never call swimming a “workout,” because it’s the most fun part of my day.
I will aim to ride my bike to work at least once a week.I will eat a wide variety of foods (not much meat or processed stuff), but not obsess about every calorie.
I will do more camping and backpacking.
I will “run with scissors” now and then, doing things outside my comfort zone.
I will let my friends and family know how much I love them.
Voila. Those are my resolutions.
What are yours?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: general fitness
December 30, 2009
Is Austin a better place to live for men than women?
Apparently, Austin’s a better place to live if you’re a man than a woman.
That, according to Men’s Health and Women’s Health magazines, which just released its annual ranking of America’s Best & Worst Cities for men and women in the January/February issues of both magazines.
Austin came in 10th place on the men’s list. It didn’t even break the top 10 for women.
The editors factored in 35 criteria when making their lists. Among them? Air quality, employment, life expectancy and commute times. They also looked at death rates from more than a half dozen causes, obesity rates and the ratio of single women to single men (and vice versa).
The best part about these lists is arguing about why they’re wrong.
I think Austin should rank higher. And I’d like to know what brought it down, especially on the women’s list.
Has the economic crash meant an exodus of men employed by the tech industry, making that guy to girl ratio suffer? And what about our fitness scene? The article mentions that Minneapolis, Minn., has the fourth highest number of female joggers. What? That frozen tundra has a better running scene than Austin, with it’s weekend races, crowded downtown running trails and wildly popular marathon? No way!
According to the magazines, Seattle is America’s top city for men and San Jose, Calif. is best for women. Birmingham, Ala. is the worst place to live if you’re a guy, and Philadelphia is worst for women.
I have to laugh at some of the cities that rank above Austin on the women’s list. Particularly Fargo, N.D., which came in at sixth. Really? Would you rather live there than Austin? Even in mid-February, when we’re out running a marathon in shorts?
What do you think?
Here are the lists:
The 10 Best Cities for Men
The 10 Worst Cities for Men
The 10 Best Cities for Women
The 10 Worst Cities for Women
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December 23, 2009
Free holiday workouts at 24 Hour Fitness
One more excuse, gone.
Twenty-four Hour Fitness is offering free workouts Dec. 24 through 31 at all of its 400 clubs around the country.
This from a press release:
“Back by popular demand, we want to be part of the solution for keeping people motivated to work out during the holidays,” said Chris Gurtcheff, vice president of personal training at 24 Hour Fitness. “Our trainers and group exercise instructors are available to support guests who are looking to continue their fitness routines and work hard towards their goals when temptation is calling and time is limited.”
There are five 24 Hour Fitness clubs in the Austin area:
Go here or call 1-800-224-0240 for more information.
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December 15, 2009
See me Friday in The Nutcracker!
Friday’s my big day!
The Austin Ballet has picked me as one of their guest Mother Gingers in their annual production of “The Nutcracker.” I get to climb into a gigantic costume, get wheeled out on stage at the Long Center and have a passel of candy-striped kiddos come running out from beneath my skirts.
Heck, that’s better than a glass of spiked eggnog or a drive through the neighborhood to look at holiday lights. It’s like both those things, plus a twirl under the Zilker tree and a visit from Santa Claus, all at once, only a hundred times better.
Both of my sisters are coming to Austin for this exciting event. They can’t believe I’m going to be on the big stage, and neither can I!
Come watch me, and say hello after the show. You can get a 20 percent discount on tickets by buying tickets here.
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December 10, 2009
National Geographic Adventure ceases print publication
The death knell sounded for another magazine this week, as National Geographic Adventure announced through its website that it’s ceasing print publication.
The December 2009/January 2010 issue will be the last. Read the announcement here.
I’ve long slobbered over the mag, always packed with tales of hair raising adventure and exotic travel from around the world. Where else could you snuggle up to a story of dodging rampaging elephants, climbing Mt. Everest or encountering a whaling ship? I hate to see it go.
The magazine launched 10 years ago, and will continue to maintain a website.
The news follows last month’s announcement that Gourmet Magazine was stopping publication.
Ack! When does it end?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: general fitness
December 8, 2009
Obesity snuffs out gains of declining smoking rates
Obesity is about to cancel out smoking in the grand scheme of things.
A new study shows that negative effects of obesity could soon overtake the health benefits the United States has seen from declining smoking rates.
The study, by University of Michigan and Harvard researchers, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine this month. Read more about it here.
“Obesity plays a large role in life expectancy,” said co-author Allison B. Rosen, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan. “Despite the fact that we are smoking less, body-mass indexes are going up. These increases in obesity are overtaking these changes in smoking behaviors.”
Researchers say the remaining life expectancy of a typical 18-year-old would be held back by 0.71 years by the year 2020 because of the increased body-mass index of the general population.
In the past 15 years, smoking rates have dropped 20 percent, while obesity rates increased by 48 percent, says the study’s lead author, Susan T. Stewart.
Nearly half of the U.S. population is projected to be obese by 2020.
Public health efforts to discourage smoking have worked, and a similar effort could help turn around obesity rates, Rosen said.
The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging, the Harvard Interfaculty Program for Health Systems Improvement and the Lasker Foundation.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: general fitness
December 2, 2009
Austin bodybuilder in Ironman Magazine
Look for Austin bodybuilder Dave Goodin on the cover of the January 2010 issue of Ironman Magazine.
Goodin, 50, former owner of Hyde Park Gym, capped the year by winning the Over 50 age group at the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness’s Masters World Championship in Bialystok, Poland last month.
He looks pretty buff and bronzed in the photo above, taken at the end of the competition, doesn’t he?
I know, I know. Most folks don’t look like that. But you have to admire someone so dedicated to his sport that he can stand on a stage in a tiny swimsuit, skin glistening, muscles rippling.
Add Goodin’s latest victory to a slew of other awards this year, including first in the Over 50 division and second in the Open Middleweight class at the NPC Europa Championships in Dallas; first in the Over 50 Middleweights and first overall at the IFBB North American Championships in Cleveland in August; and first in the Welterweight division at the NPC Team Universe in New York City in September. The Team Universe victory qualified Goodin to compete with the U.S. team at the IFBB Men’s World Championships in Doha, Qatar earlier this month, where he placed eighth in the world.
Goodin, a personal trainer in Austin, has competed in bodybuilding for 27 years and has won nine international titles. He also promotes the NPC Texas Shredder Classic in Austin, a drug-free body building competition.
Congrats Dave.
Thoughts, readers?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: general fitness
November 22, 2009
Getting fit at home
Reader Lisa Weston sent over this photo to show how she stays fit at home.
She organizes her weight training sessions by making notes and posting photos on a dry erase board.
“I can change things around when I get bored and attach pictures of new routines or whatever I’m working on,” she says.
Thanks for the tip, Lisa!
What do you do to stay fit at home?
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November 18, 2009
Running stadium stairs
If you’ve ever tried running up stadium stairs, you know what a great, heart-pumping, quad-burning workout it is. The problem is finding a place where you can do it.
A reader has been using the 11 flights of indoor stairs at Bellmont Hall on the west side of Darrell K. Royal -Texas Memorial Stadium, but is looking for someplace outdoors to run stairs. (The public isn’t allowed to run the stairs at Memorial Stadium.)
A central location would be best.
One option is shown in the photo above — the stairs leading from the parking area by Auditorium Shores up to the pedestrian crossing at First Street. (That’s Scott Cary leading a group of Austin police officers in a workout.)
Here’s an article about why running stairs is a good cross-training workout.
Anyone know of other good places to run stairs in Austin? What’s a good alternative?
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November 14, 2009
Fitness freebies
I’ve got some freebies for you!
Post here, telling me which DVD you want and why you should win it. I’ll pick winners next week.
Here’s what I’ve got this time:
Good luck!
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: general fitness
November 9, 2009
Take the piano, er, stairs
Given the choice, most folks take the escalator over the stairs.
That got the folks at Volkswagen thinking that the easiest way to change behavior is to make the new way more fun.
Voila! Check out this video.
After putting in a “piano” on this subway staircase, 66 percent more people took the stairs.
Of course, pianos aren’t an option on every staircase. But there’s a lesson here.
Do you take the stairs?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: general fitness
November 3, 2009
Radio jock JB's on a mission to get ripped
You know those infomercials for a series of workout videos called P90X?
Disc jockey JB Hager got sucked in by them, and he’s now two weeks into what’s call the “90 day transformation.”
Hager, 42, half of the JB & Sandy Show on radio station Mix 94.7, competes around the state as a Category 3 amateur bike racer. But it’s off-season now, and he needed motivation to stay fit.
The collection of DVDs, led by buff trainer Tony Horton, promises that you can “get absolutely ripped in just 90 days.” All you need is a pair of dumbbells and a pull-up bar. The rest you can do in your living room.
“I was looking for something inexpensive that I could do on my schedule, so I bought this stupid thing,” Hager says. “Even my 7-year-old harassed me. She said, ‘You’re never going to look like those people.’”
That’s probably a good thing, JB.
“They talk about muscle confusion — I need muscle confusion,” Hager says.
Hager spends an hour a day working out to the videos, a series of 12 different workouts.
Day 1, chest and arms. Day 2, plyometrics. Then abdominal muscles, back and shoulder, etc.
And yoga. Woe the yoga.
“I thought, ‘Oh I have yoga today, how nice. That’ll be nothing,’” Hager says. “It had me reeling in pain.”
In fact, the whole experience has been humbling. “I get on a bike and I have strong legs and heart and lungs. Who’d have thought doing yoga I’d be winded and panting for air?”
“It’s so cheesy and silly and the guy that does the workouts, he’s that guy you hate, he’s the rah-rah gym guy talking about his guns and doing shout outs to his peeps, and he’s shiny and I hate the guy …” Hager say.
We’ll check back after the 90-day period.
That’s JB, in the photo above, getting after it. Think he’ll wind up looking like the happy P90X customer below?
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October 19, 2009
Out of Control Fat Roll bikini shots posted!
They’re up! And the photos of Kristine Gloria, the “loser” of the recent Out of Control FatRoll challenge, are gorgeous. (Photos by Shadee of www.joyfulportraits.com.)
Gloria lost the smallest percentage of body weight in the 18-week weight-loss challenge between four friends.
She wasn’t happy when she found out she’d lost — by a fraction of a percentage point. She’d worked so hard to get back into her jeans!
Truth is, Kristine doesn’t need to lose any more weight. She’s at a weight that’s appropriate for her height. She looks fantastic in a bikini — strong, fit and healthy!
You can check out the Out of Control FatRoll blog (and another gorgeous bikini photo) here.
The four women now begin the maintenance phase of their challenge. Whoever loses more than 2 percent of their body weight between now and Jan. 14 has to pose for bikini photos.
Good luck ladies!
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: general fitness
October 16, 2009
Your weekend fitness lineup...
On tap this weekend…
And from the looks of things, next weekend is one of the biggest fitness weekends of the entire year. Check it out:
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October 7, 2009
What's your toughest workout?
Robert says my postings have been lame lately, that it’s time to pump ‘em up.
In Robert’s honor (I’m pretty sure he’s CO2 Creator who posts here sometimes, but he refuses to ‘fess up), I’d like everyone to tell me what they do when they want a really tough workout.
What class, what routine, what run, what bootcamp do you turn to when you feel the need to push your body to the limits? What’s the hardest workout around?
I’ve already gotten in my daily swim practice (thanks TeamTexas!), so I’m gonna just sit here at my computer and relax while y’all duke it out. And maybe go for an easy run later…
Robert, what’s your toughest workout? Eating enchiladas?
Permalink | Comments (15) | Categories: general fitness
September 10, 2009
What's your favorite spot on The Trail?
Mention “the trail” in Austin, and you probably mean the hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake — 11 miles of crushed granite pathway in the middle of downtown.
It’s our backyard, our gym, our park.
It’s where we train for marathons, walk to lose weight, catch up with friends and family, exercise the dog, people watch.
Cruise the entire loop and you might hear live music, see a blue heron fishing for lunch, or see a kid learning to ride a bike.
I’ve seen the current president and the former president walking there (separately, of course), and the governor and former mayor running there.
Sometimes a musician serenades you as you stroll it; a friend is plotting a 40-mile run around it.
A lot of us know it so well we could walk it in our sleep.
What’s your favorite spot on the trail? Why?
I’m gathering ideas for a possible future story …
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: general fitness
August 20, 2009
Finally, Desperate Housewives camp
As a kid I dreamed of summer camp and all it meant — hanging out in a cabin with buddies, toasting marshmallows over a campfire, swimming in a lake and riding horses.
I didn’t even care if it meant mosquitoes or lack of air conditioning!
As it turns out, camp isn’t just for kids. This October, Balcones Springs Fitness Retreat and Spa near Marble Falls is hosting a three-day retreat for women dubbed Desperate Housewives.
Only this camp is even better than the summer camp of your childhood. It includes margaritas, for one. And salsa dancing. The cabins are much nicer than you probably remember, and so is the food.
You can have a massage, take a t’ai chi class, ride a zipline across a spring-fed lake, or take in a movie outdoors, under the stars. There are Adirondack chairs to warm, guest speakers to listen to and bonfires to enjoy.
And yes, horses to ride.
Sign me up!
The weekend starts at 1 p.m. Friday and winds up after lunch Sunday. Organizers even thought of packing a healthy to-go dinner for participants to take home to their families the last day. No worries about cooking once you get home!
Three-day fitness packages start at $400; spa/fitness combo packages start at $550. Meals are included. To sign up, call 830-693-6639.
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August 11, 2009
Austin's 10 Fittest
Yep, that’s me next to all those brawny, muscle-bound buffsters inside Austin Fit Magazine this month.
I’m one of the editor’s choice selections in the annual “Austin’s 10 Fittest” article.
Perhaps there’s been some kind of mistake, you ask? Because that was my reaction. But it’s true. And I’m really honored the magazine picked me.
I think I represent the voice of reason. My message? You don’t have to have abs so honed you can bounce quarters off them to be fit. You just have to have an adventurous spirit and a desire to stay healthy as you grow older. That means exercise often, avoid junk food and try new activities. That’s why I mix it up with water skiing, hiking, swimming, biking and running.
Check out the rest of the lineup here.
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July 30, 2009
Outside: Austin 4th best place to live
Austin came in a solid fourth on Outside magazine’s annual list of best places to live in the United States. All I can figure is they wrote the article before the never-ending inferno that is July began.
The magazine used public data to rank the country’s most populous cities, ranking them on cost of living, unemployment, nightlife, commute time and access to green spaces. The top finishers were then scrutinized based on percentage of population with college degrees, income level in relation to home prices, and weather. Finally, they factored in quality and proximity to biking, running, paddling, hiking and skiing.
Colorado Springs topped the list, followed by Seattle and Atlanta. Austin was the only Texas city on the main top 10 list, although the West Texas town of Alpine made the list of top 10 suburbs. (Alpine a suburb? Of what?)
To see the entire list, go here.
Here’s what editors said about us: “This young, remarkably active city is affordable and sustainable — why wouldn’t you want to call Austin home? Wilderness in the heart of downtown, an astounding 900 miles of bike lanes and paths by 2020, a music scene that lives up to the hype … The accolades keep pouring in.”
We even came in above Portland, which ranked seventh.
Not to knock Austin (we’ve got lots of amenities, not the least of which is our access to the Highland Lakes) but I’m surprised they noted our bike lanes. That’s an area we need lots of improvement, in my mind. And the weather? We can train outdoors in the winter, but the summer is brutal.
What do you think? Is the ranking legit?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: general fitness
July 3, 2009
Fitness freebies!
Happy fitness freebie day!
Today I’m giving away some exercise videos. One is “Dance Your Body Thin!” and it comes with an adjustable weighted dance belt. The second is “Knock Out Body!” and it comes with weighted gloves. The third is “Hip Hop Dance Mix.” (I’ve got one copy of each.)
All three star coach and fitness expert Jessica Smith.
Post your name and tell me why you need the DVD on this blog and email your snail mail address to me at pleblanc@statesman.com. Let me know which of the prizes you’d prefer, in order. I’m heading off to do a few days of camping, so I’ll alert the winners early next week.
Remember: Two things - post your name and email your snail address to pleblanc@statesman.com. You’d be amazed how many folks forget to do one or the other!
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: general fitness
June 29, 2009
Fit City singlet on the podium
Check out these pictures. California reader Ed Hudson won a Fit City singlet in a giveaway a few weeks ago. It’s a little tough to tell, considering he’s covered in mud in these pictures, but Hudson wore the shirt when he did the Mudskipper Race in Chico, California on Saturday.
Teams of two race a 2-mile bike loop and 1.25-mile running loop four times each, tackling wacky obstacles along the way and finally leaping into a mudpit before crossing the finish line.
Hudson and his partner got second place. Nice work, Hudson!
Got any pictures of a Fit City shirt in action? Send ‘em to me!
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June 27, 2009
Getting CrossFit
Every month or so, CrossFit holds a free “under the bridge” bootcamp under the pedestrian bridge beneath MoPac at Lady Bird Lake.
My marathon buddy Claudia Henry has become a CrossFit addict, and she invited me to join her for the hour-long class today.
I shouldn’t have worn a white shirt! I’m filthy. That’s OK, though. Getting dirty is always fun, especially if you’re getting a workout in the process.
We warmed up with some high-knee running, twisting and contorting with sections of PVC pipe. We also practiced doing snatches with the PVC.
I’ve done CrossFit once before, and I suddenly remembered how uncoordinated it made me feel. Luckily everyone is supportive, and even Claudia managed not to laugh when I tried to execute a snatch.
After that, we did some hopscotch moves on a ladder on the grass.
Then it was time for a short competition: four-person pushups, where you clap hands with the person across from you after each repetition, medicine ball passing, and squats with a medicine ball. After that we ran, as a team, about a block up a hill, lugging a couple of medicine balls.
The nice thing about CrossFit is different people excel at different activities. I happen to suck at squats and snatches, but I’m better at cardio stuff. So while I flailed around a bit for part of the competition, I did better at the run part.
CrossFit routines are different every time you go, too. Claudia is hooked, and part of the reason is that she never knows what to expect. She does know she’ll leave feeling like she’s pushed her body. She’s getting strong!
CrossFit has multiple locations around Austin. The free “under the bridge” workouts are a great way to try it out.
Let me know if you’ve got a class you think I should sample.
(That’s me and Claudia in the top photo; a trainer leading some stretches in the bottom one.)
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: general fitness
June 20, 2009
Fitness freebies
Freebie alert!
I’ve got some books and shirts to give away.
If you want to win, you must do TWO things — post your name here and email your name and snail mail address (and prize preference) to pleblanc@statesman.com.
Here’s what’s up for grabs: A copy of “The Gene Smart Diet” by Floyd H. Chilton; a copy of “Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During & After Pregnancy,” and one more copy of “Triathlon for Women” by Lisa Lynam.
I’ve also got two size large Fit City running singlets.
Let me know which prize you want. And remember — post your name AND email me your snail address.
Ready, set, go!
Permalink | Comments (14) | Categories: general fitness
May 29, 2009
Ranking Austin's fitness
Guess where Austin falls on the latest fitness poll, this one by the American College of Sports Medicine’s American Fitness Index?
Ninth place.
That makes it the highest ranking Texas city on the list. Dallas is next closest, at 35th place. San Antonio comes in 39th and Houston is 41st.
The Washington, DC area topped the list. Minneapolis-St. Paul and Denver came in second and third. To see the whole list, go here.
Austin ranked 19th on community/environmental indicators related to the built environment, recreational facilities, park-related expenditures, physical education requirements and primary health care providers. It ranked fourth on personal health indicators related to health behaviors, chronic health problems and health care.
Huh?
All these lists are so subjective! How can you rank a city’s fitness, anyway?
Austin could definitely use more parks, but have you ever checked the trail around Lady Bird Lake? Packed with walkers and runners, especially on the weekend. We should get bonus points for that.
Then again, our bike infrastructure could use some improvement and we’ve got lots of Tex-Mex food and beer joints. Slash a few points there!
Thoughts, people?
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: general fitness
May 3, 2009
Gladiator starts Austin bootcamps
I had coffee with Ally Davidson, an Austin native and winner of last season’s “American Gladiators” reality show.
You may remember her as the woman who tried out for the show on her wedding day. Even her parents and future husband didn’t know until after the fact. They forgave her, though, when she nabbed the $100,000 prize by topping the women’s field.
Since the show, Davidson has turned her 15 minutes of fame into a new career, launching a fitness bootcamp in Dallas. Now she and husband Jeff are moving back to Austin and expanding their Camp Gladiator business here.
Davidson, 25, who played basketball, volleyball and softball and ran cross country at Westwood High School, then went on to play basketball at Old Miss and Texas State universities, managed not to toss sandbags, pump iron or wrestle once during our meeting at Jo’s on South Congress Avenue.
We did, however, talk about what it was like to throw down with a cage fighter named Crush. (In a word? Scary!)
She credits her win on the show to agility and speed, something she worked hard on in the weeks leading up to the competition. Now she’s teaching others the same skills through her camp. It’s all about high-intensity training for short periods of time. It includes lots of timed drills, and plenty of variety.
“No more slow jog on a treadmill,” is how she puts it. Davidson promises she’s not a drill sergeant, and says everybody in the program pushes themselves to their own limit. It’s a challenging atmosphere with lots of group competition.
“It plays on people’s pride,” she says. “Adults get competitive and want to do well.”
The camps are held outdoors, in a park or parking lot. It’s a full-body workout for all ages and fitness levels. Multiple hour-long sessions are offered at six locations around Austin. The program costs $150 per month for unlimited classes. Those who return for a consecutive camp get half off.
Camps start May 18 at Austin High School, Westenfield Park, The Quarries lake, Steiner Ranch, Hill Country Bible Church and the Arboretum. A kids summer camp will also be offered this year.
Register online at www.campgladiator.com.
Permalink | | Categories: general fitness
April 29, 2009
Win Kristin Armstrong's new book
I wrote in the paper a few days ago about Kristin Armstrong and her newest book, “Work in Progress, An Unfinished Woman’s Guide to Grace.”
Armstrong, who divorced cyclist Lance Armstrong in 2003 and has gone on to be a succesful writer, told me she’s working on becoming one of those confident, honest, spiritual women who brightens any room she enters — what she calls a graceful woman. (I think Kristin’s already there, but that’s beside the point.)
Each chapter of the 12-chapter book covers a different attribute of the graceful woman, from authenticity to wisdom. At the end are a list of study questions best discussed with your best girlfriends.
I’ve got a copy of the book here.
Want it? Do TWO things — post here why I should give it to you, then send your snail mail address to me at pleblanc@statesman.com.
Good luck!
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April 8, 2009
Follow me on Twitter
I’m learning to Tweet. As in Twitter.
I registered and got my Twitter name (@fitcityleblanc) nearly a month ago. I had great visions of Tweeting about water-skiing conditions on Lake Austin and deadlines to register for upcoming races.
But the account sat silent for several weeks. I had Twitter stage fright, and technology, frankly, sometimes overwhelms me.
This week, I pestered a couple of co-workers about it, and they’ve helped me get started. I’m now live on Twitter!
Follow me and I’ll keep you informed about local fitness events, conditions at our parks and on our trails, and interesting news articles. (Today I Tweeted about a study that shows that one in five American 4-year-olds is obese. Shocking!)
Soon, I hope to go mobile, taking pictures with my cell phone and posting those on Twitter. That way when I tell you the lake is like glass and perfect for a slalom run, you’ll know I’m not making it up.
Be patient. And help me out — I need all your Twitter tips! Post ‘em here…
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March 29, 2009
Free fitness books!
I’ve got a slew of books to give away this week.
You know the routine. To win one, you’ve got to do TWO things — post your name here and email your snail mail address to me at pleblanc@statesman.com.
Here’s what’s in the mix: “Young Runners,” by Marc Bloom; “Anatomy of Exercise, A Trainer’s Inside Guide to Your Workout,” by Pat Manocchia; “The Last of His Kind, The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America’s Boldest Mountaineer,” by David Roberts; “The Stubborn Fat Fix,” by Keith and Valerie Berkowitz; and “The Everything Flat Belly Cookbook,” by Fitz Koehler.
Be sure and let me know what book you want.
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March 14, 2009
Fitness freebies!
Time to give away some more freebies.
You must do TWO things to win: First, post your name here. Second, email your name and snail mail address to me at pleblanc@statesman.com. (Lots of folks forget to do the second step, and miss out on prizes!)
Up for grabs: A Colorado Ski Country baseball cap, a women’s size extra large Colorado Ski Country T-shirt (thanks Colorado Ski Country!), a microfiber lens cloth to clean your ski goggles from Big Sky Montana, a book called “The Skinny on Losing Weight Without Being Hungry,” and some Fit City running singlets (medium, large and extra large only.) Let me know what you prefer.
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January 31, 2009
Health Expo at the Capitol
Still need a flu shot? Brave enough for a body fat test? Want to know your blood pressure?
St. David’s HealthCare is offering a whole array of free health screenings during this week’s St. David’s Capitol Health Expo in the Capitol Rotunda.
The expo will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Feb. 2-6. Nurses, cardiovascular nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, fitness experts and rehab therapists all will be on hand.
Here’s a complete schedule:
In case you need a good reason to attend the expo, consider these:
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January 29, 2009
Lance Armstrong rallies for smoking ban
Stopped at an intersection while driving back from Dripping Springs with Lance Armstrong a few months ago, he pointed to the car next to us. And the one in front of it. The drivers of both cars were smoking.
“Can you believe that?” the Tour de France champion said.
No, I can’t. Not when science shows how bad smoking is for your body.
Totally stupid.
At 1 p.m. today, Armstrong and members of the Smoke-Free Texas Coalition will gather on the south steps of the Capitol to share results of a statewide poll they say shows Texans overwhelmingly support comprehensive, statewide protections from secondhand smoke. The Lance Armstrong Foundation has been working with the coalition to pass a statewide smoke-free workplace law in Texas. House Bill 5 and Senate Bill 544 would make all public and indoor workplaces in Texas, including restaurants and bars, smoke-free.
Nationwide, 24 states have comprehensive smoke-free laws.
The public is invited to attend the gathering. Everyone is encouraged to wear yellow.
To learn more, visit www.smokefreetexas.org.
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January 26, 2009
RunTex program Monday
RunTex is hosting a parenting seminar on Monday.
Dr. Phil Landrigan will speak on “Raising a Child Toxic Free.”
The session starts at 6 p.m. at the RunTex Annex, 422 W. Riverside Dr.
Healthy snacks will be provided. A Blackberry Curve will be given away in a raffle.
Landrigan has been a leader in developing the National Children’s Study, a study of children’s health and the environment in the United States. He has also researched lead toxicity at low levels.
Click here for details:
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January 23, 2009
Austin's best trainers
A good personal trainer can make a huge difference in how well you stick to an exercise program and how much progress you make on the road to fitness. If your trainer doesn’t believe in you, how will you believe in yourself?
Now and then, readers email me looking for advice on which personal trainer to hire. Austin’s got a ton of good ones, and I always tell readers it’s a personal decision. The trainer that works for one person won’t necessarily work for the next.
The best way to find a good match is to meet with several and see who meshes best with your personality.
But it helps to have some good recommendations to start with. That’s where you come in!
Who do you think is the best trainer in Austin?
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January 16, 2009
Free stuff for you!
It’s that time, folks. I’ve got free stuff to give away.
Pay close attention. To win, you must do TWO things — post a comment here so I know who is first, then email your snail mail address to me at pleblanc@statesman.com.
I’ve got a couple of books on fat-burning workouts, an exercise DVD featuring one of the Cheetah girls, a triathlon book and an ab exercise book. Let me know which one you want.
First come, first served.
Have a good weekend!
Permalink | Comments (16) | Categories: general fitness
January 15, 2009
Exercise to this music
Looking for music to get you through your long run?
Tom Moon, an NPR contributor and author of the New York Times bestseller “1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die,” is here to help. This is his list of “Rhythm Music From All Over the World to Elevate Your Heart Rate.”:
Me? I listen to music while I’m running that makes me cringe at other times. Like 2 Unlimited’s “No Limit,” Technotronic’s “Pump up the Jam,” Erasure’s “Take a Chance on Me,” and MARRS’ “Pump Up the Volume.”
There, I said it. That was embarrassing.
‘Fess up. What’s your favorite music to run to?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: general fitness
January 7, 2009
Annoying habits of fitness freaks
I polled several of my super fit friends to find out their most annoying fitness habits.
These people are sick, I tell you. (And yes, people I know really do these things.)
You know you are a fitness freak if any of the following describe you:
So, what kind of annoying habits do you (or your friends) have?
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January 6, 2009
What's your resolution? (and hiking the South Rim)
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
This year, I’m going to run my first marathon. I’m also going to eat more healthy foods. And waste less stuff. That means using canvas grocery bags not only at the grocery store, but anywhere I shop. And no more wrapping paper! I’ve already told all my family and friends they’re getting nude gifts from now on.
I’ve just returned from Big Bend National Park, where my husband and I traditionally ring in the New Year. There’s no better way to celebrate New Year’s Day (and jump start your New Year’s goal, if it involves staying fit) than to hike the South Rim.
It’s a 13-mile jaunt with more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain, and the best view in Texas. We spent about three and a half hours waltzing up switchbacks to get to the top, then plopped down on our bellies at the edge of a sheer cliff to soak in miles and miles of desert landscape far below. I think it looks like wrinkled elephant skin. Then we hiked another three or four hours back to the Chisos Mountain Lodge, where we celebrated by kicking off our hiking boots and downing a nice cold beer.
Put me out in the woods with my favorite people any day and I’m happy as a javelina with a snoutful of grass. (And we saw several of those, trotting behind our lodge room.) This year was especially nice, because my sister and her husband came from Dallas to join us. The last time we met up at Big Bend, a winter storm dropped 3 or 4 inches of snow on the basin, and we saw the South Rim covered in a layer of white.
The picture above shows me at the Starlight Theater in nearby Terlingua.
How well are you sticking to your resolutions so far?
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January 3, 2009
Trail Etiquette, Round 2
Apparently, it’s time for a reminder about proper etiquette on hike-and-bike trails. I know we’ve been over this before, but I nearly got squeezed off the trail around Lady Bird Lake this week.
Here are the basics:
What are your pet peeves on the trail? What have you seen that bugs you?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: general fitness
December 28, 2008
Free fitness books
I’ve got more free stuff to give away. But pay close attention! Last time I did this, some readers didn’t get their prizes because they forgot to email me at pleblanc@statesman.com with their street address. Impossible to send you your stuff without a mailing address. (And if you entered that last contest but didn’t win anything, shoot me an email. I’ve still got that copy of “Shape Up with the Slow Fat Triathlete.”)
This time I’ve got a copy of “Triathlon Revolution: Training, Technique and Inspiration.” I’ve also got a book titled “15 Minute Dance Workout” that comes with a DVD. Want them? First one to sign in and get me their contact information gets them. I’ve also got another Denise Austin workout DVD.
Good luck!
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: general fitness
December 7, 2008
Free stuff to give away
I’ve got some brand-new, free books and exercise DVDs to give away — but you have to work to get them. (Don’t worry, not very much.)
The first book is “Shape Up with the Slow Fat Triathlete,” by Jayne Williams. It’s billed as “a fitness guide for the rest of us.” I’ll mail it to the whoever has the best reason for needing the book. Post it here on the blog and keep it short.
The second book is “The New Rules of Lifting for Women,” by Lou Schuler. Whoever posts the funniest (true) gym story here gets it. Again, short and sweet.
Finally, I’ve got a pair of Denise Austin exercise DVDs. Tell me why you need one and the best answer wins a DVD.
Ready, set, go!
Be sure and include which item you want. I’ll post the winners later this week.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: general fitness
November 18, 2008
Core training ... do I have to?
I’m working on a story about core training for runners, which will be in the paper in a couple of weeks.
The research is, um, tiring. And, frankly, I’m having trouble fitting it into my schedule.
But I’m training for a marathon (although I’m nursing an injury at the moment) and Ron Perry, fitness director at the YMCA of Austin’s Northwest Family Branch, has convinced me that strong abdominal and glute muscles are critical to a successful marathon. If my trunk and butt muscles are strong, they’ll get me through the 26.2 miles with less fatigue and pain, he says.
I know he’s right.
It sounded easy at first. I’d do the core exercises when I’d normally be plopped in front of the TV, vegetating. Planks while watching “The Office.” Crunches during “30 Rock.” I’d be so caught up in the shows, I wouldn’t realize I was knocking out a exercise routine.
Ha! Between the swimming and aqua jogging and physical therapy and biking, who has time for it all? Sometimes all I want to do is flop on the couch without so much as hoisting a hamstring.
Vegetating, my friends, can be good for the soul.
But I’m in it. I’m going to embrace core training. Because I’m going to need help from my core muscles to get me through the marathon.
Ron says, “We bleed in practice so we can laugh in battle.” He also says “It’s all about the bootie.”
Yep. Strong booty, strong marathon.
Bring it on.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: general fitness
November 9, 2008
Stretching isn't always good
Stretching is good, right? It enhances athletic performance, doesn’t it?
Maybe not in all cases. (Like the hurdler stretch above, which puts too much pressure on your knee.) A new study by kinesiology researchers at the University of Nevada presents evidence that certain stretches involving the hamstrings and quadriceps might actually reduce performance by decreasing leg power.
The study appears in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
Go here to read what Rehab Management had to say about the study: http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2008-10-01_04.asp.
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November 1, 2008
Study: Exercise cuts breast cancer risk
Here’s some good news for folks doing Sunday’s Race for the Cure: More evidence this week that exercise can cut your risk of breast cancer.
A study of 30,000 post-menopausal women, led by a researcher at the National Cancer Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, showed that strenuous activity (and that includes everything from scrubbing floors to running) reduced the risk of breast cancer by 30 percent.
Sadly, less vigorous activity, like walking and light housework, didn’t seem to offer any protection, according to the report in BioMed Central’s Breast Cancer Research journal.
Interestingly, the effect was clearest among lean women.
“We know that being overweight puts women at increased risk of breast cancer,” said Michael Leitzmann, who led the study. “What our study shows is that even among women without this increased risk, if they exercise they can get some benefit.”
Add this to the growing arsenal of information that exercise is — yes folks — good for you. And it’s not just cancer-proofing. Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, too.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, according to the American Cancer Society. The group estimates about 465,000 women died of breast cancer globally in 2007, and 1.3 million new cases were diagnosed.
To read more, go here: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE49U04X20081031
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October 23, 2008
Overcrowding on the Lady Bird Lake trail
I visited an Akins High School class Tuesday to listen to students’ suggestions on how to ease crowding on the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
Teacher Mary Ann Baker gave them the assignment after reading a blog I wrote several weeks ago about how cyclists, runners and walkers need to look out for each other on the trail.
The students put their physics skills to the test, determining what pace each user group moves along the trail and coming up with ways to keep them from interfering with each other’s enjoyment of it.
Some newspaper readers have suggested that it’s time to ban bikes from the trail. I think it’s too soon to do that. But I do agree we’ve got a growing problem and we need to think about ways to make every experience on the trail a good one.
Mostly, we need to practice good trail etiquette. That means stay to the right, don’t walk more than two abreast, ring your bike bell if you’re approaching someone from behind, and pay attention to what’s going on around you. People with baby strollers or dogs especially need to stay alert.
The students worked in groups, coming up with proposed routes for each of the different user groups.
Some of the students liked the idea of a short designated walking loop near the center of the trail. Many of the routes pushed runners and cyclists to the far less crowded portion of the trail east of Interstate 35. Some had different starting points, depending on whether you were walking, running or cycling.
One group suggested alternating days for different types of activity - letting cyclists ride the trail on Mondays and Wednesdays, for example, and runners on Tuesday and Thursday.
I don’t think we’re to the point that we have to restrict people to certain parts of the trail based on their activity yet, but I’m happy to see students looking at real-world problems.
What do you think? How can we ease crowding on the trail?
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October 16, 2008
Most fit and least fit presidents
Now that we’re all thinking about presidents, it’s a good time to consider who our most fit — and least fit — presidents have been through the ages.
A couple of different lists are out there, but I like the one published by Scripps Howard News Service.
Thomas Jefferson comes in first on this list. He stayed in shape by walking and riding horses. Just call him Mr. Buff.
George W. Bush shows up near the top of the fittest list.
An avid — and speedy — runner when he served as governor (I saw him on the trail around Lady Bird Lake once or twice), he’s more into mountain bike riding these days. Paul Carrozza, owner of the RunTex running stores, talked about running with The Prez on radio station FM 94.7 earlier this week. Carrozza says he once ran a 3-miler with Bush. The first mile Bush set a 6:20 pace. He slowed a bit on mile two, and slacked off to a mere 7:20 for the last mile.
That’s pretty blistering fast.
Not much controversy on the least fit president in our country’s history. That honor goes to William Howard Taft, who tipped the scales at 370 pounds and reportedly got stuck in the White House bathtub a couple of times.
For details on what each president did to stay in shape — or fall out of it — go to these two lists: http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/35970 and http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/35971.
Here’s the lists:
- The 10 fittest presidents:
- The 10 least fit presidents:
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October 5, 2008
Things every man - and woman? - should know how to do
OK, this isn’t strictly fitness, but I love Popular Mechanic’s list of 100 things every man should know how to do.
Might I suggest that every woman should be able to do the same things? I think so!
Go here: http://www.popularmechanics.com/homejournal/howto/4281414.html
The list is broken into 10 subcategories, everything from surviving extremes to military know-how and handling an emergency. A good man, apparently, knows how to treat a snakebite, make a drum-tight bed, carve a turkey and run rapids in a canoe.
I’ve actually made a dent in the list myself, most recently by learning to do No. 52: Hang food in the wild. (You have to, while backpacking in grizzly country.)
What skills do you think every man and woman should perfect?
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