HUGE Savings at Enduramoms Cyber Monday Sale

Join the Enduramoms revolution today!

Fix That Flat! Handy tips on how to fix your bike tire in mere minutes (sans the screaming, cursing part)

Whenever I need to get some simple, but sound advice on any outdoorsy topic, I seem to always turn to REI first (while waiting on friends to weigh in with some good advice). They just know their stuff... so ... since the snow has melted and the temps are up... many of you will be taking the indoor cycling outdoors. You should know how to fix a flat... just in case...and just in case you don't want to ask "that" biker dude or know it all in your cycling club for assistance. You'll look oh so knowledgeable and be the super Enduramom I know that you are.



Of course, this guy is unbelievably calm...unlike most of us who might have to kick the tire a few and yell at it before applying said fix. Way to go REI-Man for staying calm under pressure.

Join the Enduramoms revolution on Facebook or Google+ today!

Pillow talk ... for all you late night Olympics viewers

 Question of the Night

 
Which Olympic event/sport/moment this week fired you up to either begin training or train a whole lot harder?

Me? I have two answers ... I know.. you're shocked right?  Although I've never been much of a gymnast myself, I must hand it to the US Women's (seems weird calling them women when they look so young!), Gymnastics Team for their amazing floor routines last night.  One can't fake maturity beyond their age, genuinely amazing high flying talent, and the inner strength that seemed to just beam from their souls with each amazing routine! They were taking names and kicking... oh wait this is a family blog!...mats :) 
Answer #2 -- Pretty much every swim event I've watched... the fire, determination, and more... wow... it's always amazing. My swim program has been recharged!

Answer #3 -- Ryan Lochte  ... need I say more? He had me at Call Me Maybe

And YOU? Reply here or on our Facebook page

PS: Love your feedback!  Keep it coming through our recently updated contact form via the blog... :).  Even if it's just to say hello or to nominate someone for our next Saturday Spotlight story feature...

Join the Enduramoms revolution on Facebook or Google+ today!

Refresh that Playlist Mom

Sometimes you just don't have the time to build new playlists for your weekly workouts, you're sick of the main playlist you have programmed on your ipod, or you're in need of a total music refresh. 

Mama, we got this...Pandora Radio has FREE FREE FREE workout channels ready for you.  Just pick your fave musical theme (see below), plug-in to your smartphone or tablet, hit play, and you're good to go. Insert common sense safety 101 rules here...not a great idea for cycling/running on the road, etc..

Tell a fitness friend about Enduramoms today!  Our website is the hub of all activity, but we post often on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and this Blog about all kinds of interesting topics relevant to moms who love to participate in endurance sports.

Talk about variety... here's the channel lineup (oh yeah, they're linked up...click + go!)

Pop and Hip Hop Power Workout * Rap Strength Training * Dance Cardio

Hard Rock Strength Training * Pop Fitness * 80s Cardio

                      Country Fitness * Alternative Endurance Training * Yoga

 Classic Rock Power Workout * Electronic Cardio * Latin Workout

 

  Be sure you're following the Enduramoms Blog today so you don't miss out on the latest endurance related scoop for moms like you.

Go here to view all of the available workout radio options on Pandora.com. Sing along loudly.

2012 Theme -- It's About the Journey

Doing More in 24...it's how enduramoms function.  In 2012, our overall theme will focus on the journey we take in reaching our goals and dreams through the practice of triathlon training and racing.  The cherry on the proverbial sundae might be crossing the finish line and receiving a shiny medal, but I challenge your train of thought if you think that's what our sport is all about.  When you look back, you begin to realize you've had several mini finish lines to cross in order to reach the big one on your "A" race day.  Maybe your mini-finish line involved fitting into a smaller size, the day your little one said "my mommy is really fast", being able to tackle that hill that winded you in week one, or achieving a PR during a training run when you didn't even realize it until you checked your watch or runkeeper stats at the end.  The little steps and small victories made are bricks which build your personal empire.  Make them count, recognize them when you achieve them, and do a little something special for yourself or with your family to celebrate each achievement.  Without the journey, we are simply showing up. 

It's all about the journey...

I found a story online today about an athlete names Marianna.  She knows it's about the journey.

"Mariana feels "the struggle to fit everything in that needs to be done in 24 hours is challenging but well worth it in the end."

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Introducing #enduramomschat on Twitter.  Put the kids in bed by 9 eastern time and log on to twitter.  Starting this Tuesday, Jan. 17th, 2012, from 9:00 - 9:30PM EST, once weekly. "Topic of the day" will be announced each Tuesday morning via our Facebook page.  Discussion will be fun and light...juggling mommyhood with multisport, funny stories, training updates, goal races, lessons learned, questions, struggles, achievements, journey comments, and sometimes I will do my best to feature an expert to answer expert related questions for future chats.  SO... if you aren't already following @Enduramoms on twitter...get on it today.  If you are ... tell a friend.

INTRODUCING DAILY THEMES
Super Sunday Long Runs & Rides: Let's talk insights and skills gained on the long roads & trails.  I bet you picked up more than dirt and sweat. Of course, tales are welcome too!
MMMonday - Mommy Moments: discussing how mommy life enhanced your training, made you laugh, or rail-roaded your training plans for the week. It happens!
2 for Tuesday - Brick it up:  Featuring weekly ideas for brick sessions and crosstraining 
Spincycle Wednesday:  Weekly focus on the swim and all things aquatic!
Technique Thursday - Tempo Runs to cycling posture...tips to focus on our technique
Fun-Socks-Friday - Share a pic of your crazy running/cycling/everyday socks.  Post it on FB and twitter including the hashtag #FunSocksFriday to be eligible to win a prize each week!  Those sparkly skirt folks don't get to have all the fun.
Saturday Spotlight -- reserved for amazing Enduramom athletes, hardworking coaches that don't get enough praise, and/or non-profit charities inspiring us to TRI and Run.  Nominate and let me know who needs that spotlight!

WE'RE ALL ONE BIG FAMILY
If you're documenting your triathlon, multisport, or running journey through a blog, site, facebook page, pinterest, forum, google+, or wordpress...I'd really like to know.  Please give me a shout through the comments below or on the contact page.  I'll add you to the blogs being followed, provide a mention on the facebook fanpage, and maybe write a blog post about you! 

Go Carolyn!

Your Sunday running inspiration...

Run on Moms!

Dress Up That Blog

Hey blogger mom - athletes! 

     Isn't it time you let everyone know that you're an Enduramom? Now you can. We've added a dynamic blog button with a grab box containing the basic code you need to add an Enduramoms badge to your blog.  If you're a mom with a blog that chronicles your running, triathlon, cycling, racing, training or adventures...let's connect.



<a href=”http://enduramoms.blogspot.com/” style=”border: none;”><img alt=”Enduramoms” src=”http://PHOTOBUCKETIMAGELINK” style=”width: 129px; height: 129px;”/></a> What's an EnduraMom? Moms who swim-bike-run triathlons, love their long runs, and put hrs into training while being super moms! Doing more in 24! Enduramoms.com: Our online community-- coming soon!

Did Someone Say Spring? It's Bike Shopping Time!

     Our clocks have now "sprung" forward and the official first day of spring is only one week away. There’s something about SPRING being in the air that gives me BIKE FEVER every year...especially after this wicked winter! Every year it's the same for me. I don't know about you, but when the fresh spring air starts to kick-in along with blissfully sunny, cloud free, 60 degree days, I start thinking back to playing outdoors for hours during my childhood in the Midwest. The first memory that surfaces is the childlike realization that spring had officially arrived because I was finally allowed to wear a windbreaker to school instead of a winter coat. I then recall how each spring, my lips became constantly chapped due to the playing outside so much in the spring winds (oh -- and how cool it was to have a stick of Cherry Chapstick in my jacket pocket!) and swinging on the playground until the teachers had to force us back inside the school building. Ultimately, I end up thinking about how much fun I had simply biking around the neighborhood as a child. I started out with one of the coolest modes of transportation ever... a red, gold, and black Big Wheel. If you're too young to know what a Big Wheel is or you DO know and want to reminisce... check out this original commercial for the Big Wheel: (author update -- 3/16/11  hmmm...the use of the word WINNING in this commercial seems oh so  familiar... could Charlie Sheen have borrowed his now famous phrase from the classic 70's Big Wheel commercial?  I'm just sayin' ...)



     I loved my Big Wheel so much that I actually wore the tires out and had to get yes, a 2nd Big Wheel -- no joking... my parents can back this up! Once I outgrew the 2nd Big Wheel, I moved on to a faster set of wheels...a beautiful little cinnamon red bike with training wheels, an electric blue sparkle seat with white trim, glittery vinyl accents, and the ultimate red, white, & blue streamers flowing from the handlebars. I loved that bicycle, and yes, in case you're wondering I wore the tread on it’s tires out too... twice. We lived in a somewhat small town of a rather rural community, so, those bicycle tires got a lot of wear on the sidewalk cement by my going around the block, literally, hundreds of times. It's safe to say I started my personal career in endurance sports at a young age, long before I even knew what a triathlon event was. Whether it’s been cycling for fun, racing the neighborhood kids, or the ultimate of biking to the local park with my Dad (when he wasn’t replacing tires), I've always loved the immediate feeling of freedom that bicycling provides. If you feel a need to truly "get away from it all"... this IS it. You can't buy this feeling. Each year when I get on my bike for the first springtime ride, all the fun memories and the rush of excitement of biking through the years comes flooding back. The next time you go out for a triathlon training ride, a group ride, or even just a fun family ride with the kids, don't forget to take a few minutes to think back to those carefree childhood days. Embrace the sun shining down on your face and the feeling of the wind blowing through your hair. You’re not alone if those memories includes a K-tel AM/FM radio mounted on the handlebars of your 10-speed back in the day or the all important custom name plate from the Honey Comb cereal box, hee hee.

     And so with seasonal related memories like this... it seems that spring prompts us to start poking around the local bike shop, the REI store, or various cycling websites for THE super fast TRI bike to get you through our next couple of triathlon seasons. Whether you're a veteran Enduramom, intermediate triathlete, or a TRI "newbie", it can be an overwhelming decision to select a triathlon bike. In order to remove some of your shopping anxiety, I've provided some basic tips and helpful article references that will hopefully ease your buying decisions if you're in the market for a new bike this season. While some of us relish bike shopping time, it is a big purchase -- financially and mentally. As spring rolls around each year…so do some excellent retail programs that allow you to trade-up or in for a better ride.

Don't forget to follow some common sense advice when making a selection:

• Set a budget ... abide by the budget. Yes... some bikes actually cost more than a mid-size car. If it’s totally out of your budget to get a new model, look into a used bike, a loaner from a friend, or even a rental.

• Research various bicycle models from multiple manufacturer websites and/or manuals before you go shopping. Knowing all the ins and outs before you go to the store will prevent an impulse buy and keep you from overpaying for features you may not even need or want.

• Soak up the knowledge of the cycling shop gear-head .

Every store has at least one… okay 3…and you will almost always learn something new from him/her every time you go. If you don't understand a particular bike feature-- ASK...it's their job to know their wares. If a rep doesn't know their bike lines and how to do proper bike fitting... move on.

• Shop LOCAL if you can...local businesses can really use your business during these tough times. BONUS --> they are usually the local hub of all things cycling in your community.

• Ask the old pros in your local TRI club or training buddies for their favorite bike models and store picks ... chances are they will gleefully go along with you to the store, as well as, throw in a proper bike fitting for free! We triathletes have been known to talk about our bikes for … um ... hours.

• TAKE ADVANTAGE of bike fit services. You don't want to find out that your bike fit is wrong once you reach longer training rides, weeks or days before your race day. Some bike parts are adjustable, but some features are fixed. Don’t let your body pay the price for cutting corners here.

• If you're buying a used bike, insist on a test ride, measure the frame yourself, and inspect the bike closely for damage--especially the expensive parts like the shifters & aero bars. Test all the gears. Don't buy sight-unseen unless you're buying a through a business that insures the transaction 100%. Watch out for fraudsters! Never go alone to purchase a bike listed on a forum or in a classified ad.

• Don't buy a bike on impulse! This is all about function and the long run baby.

• Safety first --don't forget about picking up a sound helmet.

Helpful Articles

A Guide To Women’s Triathlon Bikes -- from Triathlete Women

Buying Used Triathlon Bikes

How to Tri It on a Budget - from AZCentral.com

Want to know more about what makes an Enduramom...? check out our site here... http://www.enduramoms.com/ or the facebook page here... www.facebook.com/enduramoms
Happy Cycling!
 - Dana

The Spirit of Iron Girl: Meet Judy Molnar

Check this out from Athleta ...

The Spirit of Iron Girl: Meet Judy Molnar

Got medals?

Hello Enduramoms!

     It's been a few weeks since a quality post has been ... well... um posted here on blogger.com. I've been a bit absent from literal blogging lately, opting instead to do the majority of group updates through the Enduramoms Facebook Fan Page and via our Twitter feed.  In the meantime, a new virtual brag book has been setup up on the Enduramoms Facebook Fan Page.  If you've got medals, trophies, plaques, bowls (yep! it happens), and ribbons to brag about... and I KNOW you do... please upload your pix to our new photo album:  Hardware Boulevard.  It's great fun to see the variety of  medals, trophies, and ribbons being awarded out there.  I'm ESPECIALLY excited to see what is being given out around the world as a race prize!  We've got Enduramoms checking in from over 13 countries (woohoo!) on the Facebook page, so consider this your official call to action.  If you're already on facebook, it's pretty easy to share from an existing album or you can upload right from a folder on your system. Thanks for checking in! 

First time here?  This is what we're all about:

Enduramoms, LLC™ is a company created by a triathlete mom - for MOMS who love triathlon and other endurance related sports. Doing more in 24 takes discipline and dedication; at Enduramoms™ we "get it".

In 2011 Enduramoms.com™ will provide a global community for us to share the experience. Enduramoms™ gear will also be available through the site later this year. We are here for ALL moms who love endurance sports like running, triathlon, Ironman racing, marathons, DUs, adventure racing, swimming...etc. 
 
Our Mission
The Enduramoms™ mission is to unify and inspire a global population of moms who participate in endurance sports, promote triathlon participation, and ignite the positive spirit derived from being an endurance athlete. We will accomplish our mission by providing a web community to collectively share our experiences, tips, inspiration, and goals.  

 So ... that's it in a nutshell.  Will you be joining the revolution of moms that go by the endearing label of Enduramom? Are you already juggling triathlon training, family life, carpool duty... and rocking it?


Enduramoms™ are unique and deserve recognition!

Youtube Channel

Are you on YouTube? Enduramoms now has a YouTube channel and we'd love to connect if you have a triathlon or multisport channel on YouTube. 

Please let us know if you do.

New Enduramom Blog to follow --- Jessica Jacobs, Ironman Champion

In case you haven't noticed...we're following a few great blogs...All are written by Enduramoms we know of that may either be amateur, elite, or pro athletes.  Now that I think about it... some of them may be what we like to call Enduramoms of the furry - 4 paw variety...those are kids too :)
Anyways... since we have your attention... be sure to link to our latest and favorite addition to the list... Jessica Jacobs at  http://ironjacobs.blogspot.com/.   Jessica is the mother of a 4 yr old daughter... and um... she just WON Ironman Florida!!! WOOOOOOO! Now that is ENDURAMOM style.

The Enduramoms Mission

    Our mission is to provide an online lifestyle community for moms who love participating in endurance sports like running, triathlon, full and half distance Ironman races, cross country, marathons, half marathons, 5K's, 10K's, duathlons, adventure racing, and distance swimming...etc.

The goal of our community is to promote the sport of triathlon and endurance sports by collectively sharing our experiences, tips, and goals.


The sky is the limit for what we can do together.

Enduramoms are unique and deserve recognition!
 
*COMING SOON* The Enduramoms.com website full of informative forums, personal pages, and a store full of useful & whimsical apparel + gear.

Mother Daughter Ironman story of interest

Enduramom + Ironman World Championship finisher Marsha Soucheray, will be cheering on her daughter Diane this wknd in Kona! http://tiny.cc/d2948
this message was sent by carrier pigeon

Quote of the day

It's Tuesday, don't we all need a some motivation? Here's a little (okay, major) positive quote to keep you on course this week.

"Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, or an hour, or a day or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take it's place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."
- Lance Armstrong
May you train strong and stay focused,
Dana
this message was sent by carrier pigeon

A little inspiration to start your week

    Monday's are usually a tough one for Moms that do Endurance sport...and we're all hitting that back to school time frame where we will have less and less time to train.  On the other hand, some of you are gearing up for your 'A' triathlon or Ironman race of the year.  Put your race or training goals in focus and then read these great song lyrics.  I think (and I know I'm not alone here) the lyrics from the Rascal Flatts song "Unstoppable" are amazing.  Have a read then a view of Lisa Smith  Batchen's finishing video from Running Hope Through America.  I think the pairing will give you enough inspiration for not only a week, but perhaps years. 

Impossible

by Rascal Flatts

Yeah yeah yeah..

Hey

So, so you made a lot of mistakes

Walked down the road a little sideways
Cracked a brick when you hit the wall

Yeah, you've had a pocket full of regrets

Pull you down faster than a sunset

Hey, it happens to us all

When the cold hard rain just won't quit

And you can't see your way out of it

CHORUS

You find your faith has been lost and shaken

You take back what's been taken

Get on your knees and dig down deep

You can do what you think is impossible

Keep on believing, don't give in

It'll come and make you whole again

It always will, it always does

Love is unstoppable
Love, it can weather any storm

Bring you back to being born again

oh, it's a helping hand when you need it most

A lighthouse shinning on the coast

That never goes dim

When your heart is full of doubt

And you think that there's no way out

CHORUS

You find your faith has been lost and shaken

You take back what's been taken

Get on your knees and dig down deep

You can do what you think is impossible

Keep on believing, don't give in

It'll come and make you whole again

It always will, it always does

Love is unstoppable

Like a river keeps on rolling

Like the north wind blowing

Don't it feel good knowing

Yeah

CHORUS

You find your faith has been lost and shaken

You take back what's been taken

Get on your knees and dig down deep

You can do what you think is impossible

Keep on believing, don't give in

It'll come and make you whole again

It always will, it always does

Love is unstoppable

Love is unstoppable

So you made a lot of mistakes

Walked down the road a little sideways

Love, love is unstoppable

Do what you love today.
- Dana

We're hard at work here...

Enduramoms is currently in transition.
The Enduramoms.com website ... the Enduramoms blog ... quality yet stylish custom gear you've been looking for, and much, more is on the way.

Stay tuned.
     - Dana