#8 The Weekly Pep Talk - January 14 - 20, 2008

The Weekly Pep Talk
A Running Commentary
Volume 2, 8th Issue, Number 3/2008
This week is dedicated to Sharon W. (first Canadian woman to summit Mt. Everest and former climbing student of mine!)
Monday, January 14 – Sunday, January 20, 2008
Week 3 in 2008
Send comments to: Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com


Dear Ladies,

Periodically, I reflect on my guiding days with Outward Bound. Sharon Wood, first North American Woman (Canadian) to climb Mt. Everest, was a student of mine years before she summited the world’s highest peak. More on Sharon a bit later…

CLIMBING MT. EVEREST & OUTWARD BOUND
As you may know, Outward Bound began in Britain as a military program to help British sailors survive the stress of war, especially the aftermath of evacuating ship. The statistics showed that the older, more mature members lived longer while waiting to be rescued. To make a long story short, it was discovered that the “will to live” through inner strength and courage seemed to be a factor in survival. Outward Bound was developed to give sailors a tangible sense of their inner strength and emotional fortitude before they really needed it. In other words, the program pushed young men beyond their supposed limits by putting them in high stress, physically challenging situations as a training method. These sailors were forced to climb up and rappel down vertical peaks, run long distances without a break, find their way through uncharted terrain – all of this with the need to trust and cooperate with team members. The teams, of course, were not of their choosing. They were groups of recruits, from all over Britain, who had to band together to survive. And the amazing result, when these men were actually tested, was that their survival rate increased dramatically. Why?

We, human beings can do amazing things with our minds. When we have the inner strength and confidence to believe that we can do something, it raises our physical ability to succeed. This is where you, Sharon Wood, and I fit in. IF YOU SET YOUR MIND TO A GOAL, AND ARE WILLING TO PERSEVERE THROUGH FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND EVEN THE POTENTIAL OF FAILURE, YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS ARE GREATLY ENHANCED. You can literally conquer your own Mt. Everest!

At 18, I had the privilege of participating in a 26 day Outward Bound Course, as a student. Before that, I had never overcome any noteworthy physical challenge or struggled through days of physical and mental stress including conquering my fear of unknown challenges like rock climbing and rappelling. When I was forced to face these challenges head on, I succeeded! It was life altering.

Running and/or walking may be a challenge for you that feels impossible - especially going a distance farther than you’ve ever gone before. But I have seen how this changes women, time after time. The team support and pushing one’s own limits adds a level of self-worth and respect that is priceless. Overcoming your theoretical limits by addressing your fear of failing and realizing your true potential can make a regular life a great one. GO FOR IT!! I’d love to be there to support you in your goal.

I am proud to think that I might have made a difference for Sharon Wood. She had all it took to succeed within her but, maybe the course that I taught added to her confidence and skill level. I am very proud of her accomplishments. If you want to learn more about her, follow the link to www.sharonwood.net.

OUR FEET
I hope you enjoyed reading the first in a series of articles about various parts of our anatomy and how to keep them all healthy during exercise. Your comments are very welcome. I will be writing more on this subject in future issues.

A SUNNY DAY FOR OUR SECOND RUN OF 2008.
The weather on Sunday, January 13 was truly gorgeous. Our run in Alameda was spectacular, overlooking the Bay with the sun shining on it. And the beach in San Francisco was daunting, in its frothy waves and perpetual strength, enhanced by that wonderful, warm sun. Spirits were high though I would have liked to have seen more of you out there, pounding the pavement.

How can I help address what you want from our running club? It occurred to me that a chat line with the opportunity to run other distances with a partner might be a good thing. You and another club member can arrange, during the week, to run a different distance than the scheduled 3 or 6 miles. You can check in with us and start at the same time but have a custom distance and a comrade to share the run with. This is an idea that would be easy to work through the AskStephanieAboutSports@yahoogroups.com. So, give it a try if it has potential. I can work with you on coordinating things, to a certain extent so let me know your thoughts.

JOIN OUR RUNNING GROUP ANY TIME. IT IS ONGOING
I want this club to reflect the needs and wants of the membership so let’s keep tweaking away at the details until we make it the best darn women’s running (and walking club) in all of North America. Contact Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com if you have further questions, or need an application. You can also sign-up on the spot for daily, weekly, monthly, 6 months, or a year so, what’s keeping you from doing it?

Next Sunday we will run at Lake Merritt in Oakland for our East Bay location and at Lake Merced in San Francisco. Remember East Bay runs meet at 9:00 and San Francisco runs will start at 1:00. You may do either or both.

SIGN UP NOW!!
The time is now! I look forward to starting the new year with you as a member. Just fill in the details on this form and E-mail it back. Full information will follow.

1 Person/1 Month Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$20 ____$30 Begins first Sunday of each month. Automatic recurring billing only. Must pay by credit card.
1 Person/6 Months Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$110 ____$165 6 months from date of sign-up
1 Person/12 Months Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$200 ____$300 12 months Best price!
Your name
Your buddy’s name
Copy this section, or attach and Email to Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com and you will be billed through PayPal or send a check to ALTB International, Inc., 525 Crestlake Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132. (800) 457-4574

P.S. Drop ins are always welcome any Sunday. The fee is $6.


UPCOMING RACES – Let me know if you are training for any of these
The Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon & 5K February 3, 2008
xnet.kp.org/sanfrancisco/index.html
Only 3 weeks to go. Go Ladies Go!
Members who are running the half marathon or 5K
Barbara B 13.1 miles
Destiny L 13.1 miles
Sandy O 13.1 miles
Any others?

The London Marathon April 13, 2008
www.london-marathon.co.uk
16 week training begins December 24
The Boston Marathon April 21, 2008 http://www.bostonmarathon.org
16 week training begins December 31
The Bay to Breakers/San Francisco May 18, 2008
http://www.ingbaytobreakers.com/main.html
Who has signed up for this one?
See Jane Run Women’s Half Marathon & 5K May 31, 2008
http://www.seejanerun.com/t-See-Jane-Run-Half-Marathon-and-5K.aspx
Who has signed up for this one?
The San Francisco Half & Full Marathon & 5K August 3, 2008 http://www.runsfm.com/home.html
The Disneyland Half Marathon and 5K August 30/31, 2008 www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com
The Chicago Marathon October 12, 2008 http://www.chicagomarathon.com
The Nike Women’s Half and Full Marathon October 19, 2008
www.nike.com
The New York City Marathon November 2008?
www.ingnycmarathon.org
The Honolulu Marathon December 14, 2008
www.honolulumarathon.org
Members who are running the marathon or fun run
Stephanie Atwood Fun run


Send me your stories, comments, and questions about life and running. My E-mail is Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com.

If you haven’t already joined the group website, please go to AskStephanieAboutSports@yahoogroups.com and join! I would love to have you as a part of this group of active, interesting women, who live a life style that includes giving themselves time for activity. The site offers articles, tools, and encouragement to keep up the good work!

The Sunday walking/running program meets on Sunday, January 20, 2008 in the East Bay and San Francisco. Meeting sites for this week are:
Oakland
Lake Merritt
Meet at 9:00 in front of Children’s Fairyland at 699 Bellevue Ave. Oakland

From San Francisco
Take I-80 E. across Bay Bridge. Merge onto I-580 E toward CA-24/Downtown Oakland/Haward-Stockton. Take the exit toward Grand Ave. Turn right onto Grand Ave. to Bellevue at Children’s Fairyland. Left on Bellevue. Park in front of Fairyland.

From Oakland/Berkeley
Get to Grand Avenue and head toward Fairyland at Grand and Bellevue. Turn into Bellevue at Children’s Fairyland. Park in front of Fairyland.
Toilets
Parking Entry fee $5.00 (free parking is available on Grand Ave. before entrance to Lake Merrit
No water


San Francisco
Lake Merced – Hiway 32/Skyline Drive, San Francisco
Meet at 1:00 in the first parking area after you enter Harding Drive

From San Francisco or East Bay
Turn onto Sloat Blvd, from 19th Avenue (Hiway 1) in San Francisco and go west, toward the ocean 1.2 miles. Turn slight left onto Skyline Blvd/CA-35 S. After approximately ½ mile turn left into Harding Park (Harding Road) at Lake Merced. Park at the old boathouse.

Toilets
No Parking Fee
Water (in bathrooms and some drinking fountains)
Picnic tables and golf course

Have a good one!
Stephanie Atwood

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