Friday, September 4, 2015

Fort 4 Fitness Packet Pick UP

Hi all -
Doing the Fort 4 Fitness on 9/26/15?  If so, consider joining us as we caravan to Parkview field.  We will meet near the gas station at the WalMart Parking Lot at 4:00 on Friday 9/25/15 and  promptly depart.  We will drive to the Catholic church immediately south of 469 and rendez-vous with some others (about 4:35).  You can meet us in either location - please just let me know which one so we can plan the carpool and caravan appropriately.

We will proceed to the stadium where we will pick up our packets, shop the vendors, enjoy the free goodies at the health fair/race expo, and watch some of the seniors and kids marathoners finish the race.  Additionally, if you are new to the race, I'll happily show you where you can park, meet up with friends/family, go to the restroom, and point out the start and finish lines, etc.

After the expo, we will travel to Zianos on Convington and carb up as we fellowship together and enjoy the pre-race party!

We should arrive back in town by about 9:00 p.m. If you plan to join us, I HIGHLY recommend that you set out ALL of your gear and EVERYTHING you will want (socks, shoes, shirt, shorts, long sleeve shirt, hat, sweat band, body glide, gum, water bottle, kleenexes, chapstick, change of clothes, money, etc!) for the race on Thursday night so that all you have to do when you get home on Friday night is pin on your bib number and hit the hay. 

If you are planning to join us, please email no later than TUESDAY THE 22ND (so that I can make reservations for the exact number) me letting me know:
1.  where you will meet us (Walmart or Catholic church)
2.  are you coming for just the packet pick up or just the dinner or both
3.  are you driving separately or riding with me or willing to drive if we need an extra car

Hope you'll join us for this very fun celebration!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

See you tonight!!!!

Just a reminder that we'll be meeting at the middle school (by the dumpsters....as y'all agreed to last week....sounds like an absolutely LOVELY place to meet).  See you there at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Meet at School tomorrow

Should I change the name of our group to Summer Paddling or Summer Swimming....it's certainly been a challenging summer weather wise.

Because the greenway was flooded a bit yesterday afternoon and I can only guess it's even more so now after last night and this morning's rains, let's plan to meet in between the middle school and high school (by the main football stadium gate) for tomorrow's session. 

Depending on the conditions, you can vote to walk a big loop (stogdill to the elementary school over to the armory and back to the high school) plus 1 time around the middle school OR if there are too many flooded side walks, you can elect to take big laps around the schools parking lots.  The goal will be to walk for 35 minutes.  I know you can do it! 

I'm sorry I won't be there, but I'm very confident you'll be amazing!  Remember to have good posture:
1,  puppet on the string
2.  zip up your abs
3.  shoulders down, back, and relaxed

Have fun (I'll see you in a week) -
Lia

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Summer Striders Session 2 starts tomorrow!

Want to start a walking and/or running program?  Want to walk/run faster?  Want to go further?  Like meeting new people?  Want the accountability a group provides?  Summer Striders is for you!

Join us as we spend 8 weeks helping you to reach whatever your goals are! 

Session 2 starts tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8th at 5:30 p.m.  We'll meet at the Shelter Pavilion immediately east of Hardees.  The cost is only $10/person (max for a family is only $20) for the entire 8-week session. 

Join us for summer striding fun - see you on Wednesday!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Striders Session 2 begins July 8th

Just a reminder that we don't have striders this week, but that we will begin our 2nd session next Wednesday, July 8th at 5:30 p.m. at the Pavilion behind Hardees.  I'll have the registration papers there and you can pay your $10 cash fee at that time as well. 

Encourage your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to join us - the more the merrier!

Enjoy the rest of your week.  Happy 4th of July!  See you on the 8th!

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Let's meet at the middle school...one last time

Rather be safe than sorry - let's go ahead and meet at the middle school for tomorrow's striders session.  See you at 5:30 tomorrow, 6/24!  Join us afterward for Mariachi Loco to celebrate our Striding Success!

Don't forget about water aerobics at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the community pool. 

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Join us for water aerobics!

Looking to supplement your physical activity with a low impact and fun workout - join us (Stephanie and I) for water aerobics on Tuesdays/Thursdays at noon at the Wells Community Pool.  It's a lot of fun and it's a great workout that is packed with social time :)   The cost is $3/session with drop-ins welcome OR you can pay for the full session for only $30.  Additionally bonus - the pool is heated - so so nice!!!

Here is the schedule of the class dates and which person is leading the class:
Tuesday 6/23     Lisa
Thursday 6/25    Steph
Tuesday 6/30     Lisa
Thursday 7/2     Steph
Tuesday 7/7      Steph
Thursday 7/9     Steph
Tuesday 7/14     Lisa
Thursday 7/16    Lisa
Tuesday 7/21     Lisa
Thursday 7/23    Lisa
Tuesday 7/ 28    Lisa
Thursday 7/30    Lisa

Next week is our final session....

Wednesday, 6/24 is our last training date for our first session of summer striders.  Here are a few things you need to know:

1.)  If River Road is NOT flooded, we will meet at Hardees.  If it is flooded, we'll meet at the middle school again.

2.)  As has become tradition, after our final group walk, we'll go out to celebrate our successes together at a local Mexican restaurant.  Please join us - we've overcome a lot of crazy weather this session and accomplished amazing things ...come celebrate with your fellow striders!

3.)  If you are interested in participating in a 2nd session of Summer Striders, please email me by 7/1.  The session, if there is enough interest, would continue to be on Wednesdays at 5:30 and would run 7/8 - 8/26 (8 weeks).  The cost would be $10 (max for a family is $20; kids under 10 are free). If you know anyone who would be interested, please have them email before July 1st.  A final decision, based on interest, will be made by 7/2 as to whether or not a 2nd session will take place.  Either way, definitely mark your calendars for Summer Striders 2016 - (May 11-June 29)

Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.  Until then, stay safe and keep striding to better health!

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Change of meeting location for 6/17

Due to flooding, we will be meeting on the west side of the middle school once again tomorrow (6/17).  See you tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. Remember, we will walk if it's just raining, but if it's pouring like it has been and/or stroming - we will not meet.
Hoping for sunshine!  See you tomorrow at the middle school!

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Let's Meet at the White Bridge

For the last two sessions of Striders 2015, let's meet at the white bridge.  I'm uncertain about the upcoming Greenway construction plans, but I'm hoping that meeting down there gives us 2 directions we could go. 
See you next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the White Bridge parking lot!!!

Don't forget about the Chicks Run TONIGHT.  Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. tonight in the City Gym and it's only $5. Bring your friends and come have fun!!!  See you there!!!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Striders tomorrow 6/3 :)

Just a reminder that tomorrow we will be meeting on the west side of the middle school at 5:30.  See you there!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Cheap fixes

I saw these presented by regular everyday people on the Dr. Oz show and since they pertain to issues we may experience in our striding and summer season, I thought I should share them with you.

Blisters - 
The guest on the show said to rub deodorant (like a solid deodorant stick) on the part of the shoe that is rubbing.  WHAT?!?  She said it can work on heels, toes, arches, doesn't matter where the blister forms - just rub the deodorant on that part of the shoe.  She also said that it can help running shoes as well as dress shoes including heels.

Now from my experience....if you get a blister there is a really healthy and effective way to get rid of it.  Do  NOT pop it because the bubble of skin is protecting the damaged under skin.  A nurse practitioner shared this strategy with me and you absolutely have to believe me that it works - let the blister get as much air as possible.  Don't wear socks or shoes for as much of a day, evening, or night as you can - the air will dry out the blister and promote healing of the damaged skin.

If you get blisters from walking/running, I suggest that you first try changing the kind of socks you wear.  Talk with a running specialist at running store (i.e. 3 Rivers Running Store) about the vast array of socks that are available.  Just when you think socks are socks - nope, there's hundreds of kinds of socks.  Take it from me -it's essential that you find the sock that WORKS FOR YOU.  I personally ran in toe socks, but my running partner swore by smartwool socks while my other running buddy only wore the 2 layer socks.  Try a variety of socks and don't lose hope - you'll find the right one for  you.

After a great training session, you may want to celebrate with a cook out - here's some cool tips...
Mosquitoes -
Again, from a guest on the Dr. Oz show, cut a lime in half and put about a dozen cloves in each side.   Place these around your table and patio to ward off mosquitoes.  This natural solution is safe for pets and children and also smells nice.

Out for a training session in the woods - I suggest rubbing down with a Bounce dryer sheet.  You can even tuck a sheet into the back of your shirt, shorts, or hat for added protection.  This prevents the chemicals found in common repellants from being sprayed on your body and into the environment.

Cleaning the grill - 
I saw this demonstration on the Dr. Oz show and it was amazing - cut an onion in half  and then scrub the grill using the cut surfaces of the onion.  Really scrub it to see the juices of the onion froth into action removing burned on residue.  

Just a few tips to make your summer less stressful!




Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Need to carry things?

Check out the "gadgets & stuff" page to see information about the 2 gadgets I discussed at tonight's training - the Roo Pouch and the SPI belt.  The SPI belt can be purchased online or in most specialty running stores.  The Roo Pouch is a small company started by one woman and their product can be purchased online or at the select race expo.  The website information for each company is located on the "gadgets & stuff" page.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Road ID

As a result of the interest generated from tonight's 'educational' topic, identification, I have updated the "gadgets & stuff' tab at the top of the blog to provide detailed information about the Road ID. Check it out to learn more!

See you next week at the corner of Elm & Bennett at 5:30.  It's still not too late to join - just show up and we'll get you registered. 

Striders tonight!

See you at the white bridge parking lot at 5:30 p.m. TONIGHT.  Still want to join?  Come tonight.  You can print off the registration forms by clicking the "registration" tab at the top of this blog and you can get a copy of the schedule by clicking "schedule".  The other tabs have helpful information about program weather policies, safety suggestions, as well as training information.  Looking forward to a MUCH COOLER training session tonight.  See you then!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Summer Striders has started - but it's not too late to join us!

Yesterday evening featured beautiful weather and a group of wonderful women for our introductory session of Summer Striders 2015.  If you didn't make it last night but still want to join us - it's not too late.  Simply join us next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. - at the white bridge parking lot!  You can print the registration forms off (click on this blog's Registration tab) and bring them to the session along with your $10 cash registration fee.  We would love to have you, your friends, your family, your neighbors, and your co-workers join us.  The more the merrier!!!  See you Wednesday at 5:30!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Summer Striders 2015 Starts 5/6/15!!!

Ready to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather? 

Now's the time to contact the Bluffton Parks Department to register for the upcoming Summer Striders Session 1 (5/6/15-6/24/15) at 5:30 p.m.

Registration is required before Monday 5/4.

First session, Wednesday May 6 @ 5:30 p.m. will be held in the 2nd floor of the City Hall building. 

Full session schedule and weekly information posts can be found on this website (updates coming soon).

Looking forward to striding to better health with you!!