Fit Milwaukee » team challenge

Strides for Crohn’s

Amy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Here at FitMilwaukee we love to highlight local fitness events. Frequently, we share news of 5ks and other local races. Today we have something a little different.

Strides for Crohn’s is a 2(ish) mile fun run/walk on November 13, 2011. The event, which benefits the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, is not a race. It’s a fun run with some cool people for a great cause.

What’s a fun run? It’s NOT an organized race. It’s just a group of people getting together to run or walk. No one’s timing you, so there isn’t pressure to go fast. The point is to have fun and help out a local charity.

WHAT: 2(ish) fun run/walk, raffles, food, beer, etc
WHEN: Sunday, November 13. Packet pickup begins at 11 a.m., fun run to start around noon.
WHERE: Horny Goat Hideaway (2011 South 1st Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207)
HOW MUCH: $25 before 11:59 p.m. November 6th, $30 thereafter.

Space is very limited for the fun run/walk. Visit www.stridesforcrohns.com to register.

(Disclaimer: I am one of the event organizers.)

Pick up the pace: A challenge for BRISK walking

Anne — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

As a coach with Team Challenge, I help people of all different levels and abilities complete the 16 week training to the half-marathon distance. This is no walk in the park — it’s 13.1 miles — a long, long way to walk! So we explore techniques to help us walk faster.

I’d like to issue the following challenge to all you walkers out there. These techniques will quicken your pace and have you covering ground faster and more efficiently. You’ll get in that ‘sweatzone’ where your workout really counts.

Go ahead, take my challenge!

Using MapMyRun or Gmaps Pedometer, plot out a one-mile route in a direction away from your starting point. Wear a stopwatch and time yourself on the way out. When you hit one mile, note your time and then turn around and time yourself on the way back.

On the way out, time the your regular walking pace (a casual conversational walk with arms down) and on the way back, employ the techniques below to keep a BRISK pace — and I bet you your pace will quicken by at least a minute per mile.

When you’re out there walking, think ‘BRISK‘.

Bent arms
Rapid feet
Inhale deeply
Stand tall
Keep your legs behind you.

Ready? Challenge yourself to walk as fast as you can. Cover that ground quickly, get yourself sweating and breathing hard! Use shorter, faster steps, actively using the feet, and keeping the elbows bent at 90-degrees and driving vigorously toward the rear. Keep a tall posture but lean forward from the ankles and allow gravity to help you.

For further reading, check out this article by our Team Challenge national walk coach, Dave McGovern.

Here are some examples of speedwork you can to to get faster and stronger:

How about six minutes brisk, one-minute normal pace, six minutes brisk, one-minute normal pace, six minutes brisk.
Hills are also an excellent way to start speedwork. Find a steep hill (like LaFayette hill), work your way up, come back down and do it again six times. Gradually add extra reps until you can complete 10.
Try just a 25-minute run or walk with BRISK bursts of speed. Look for the next light post or mailbox or city block and move as fast as you can to it. Take a moment to recover and go all-out again!

What are some ways YOU pick up the pace?

Team Challenge Race Recap!

Tracey — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:06:14 +0000

I am a little overwhelmed. How do I begin to put into words the events of this past weekend? I had the honor of traveling with Team Challenge Wisconsin to run in the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon on Sunday. Not only was it a race with over 30,000 participants. but there were 1700 members of Team Challenge present from chapters all across the country who had collectively raised over 3.3 million dollars for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. It was kind of a big deal.

I joined Team Challenge this cycle for a number of reasons. As I wrote in a previous post, I was inspired by the group I saw run the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon in July. I had never fundraised on this scale before and thought that I certainly do enough racing and it was about time that made that leap. Last, and quite honestly, I thought it would be a really fun trip to take with my friends. My running buddies who had been a part of Team Challenge during the previous cycle all told me that it wouldn’t hit me the magnitude of what I was a part of until I was actually there.

I don’t have a personal story involving IBD. But every time I would read about other participants experiences in our weekly team emails I would realize think to myself, “Whoa. This is the right cause to be involved with.” I can’t imagine having to endure what some of my fellow team members have had to endure and the fact that they were training to run a half marathon in spite of it made be proud to be a part of such an amazing group of people. I’ve run half marathons and marathons before but because everyone around me was pushing themselves to new limits I felt that it was important to do the same. I set a very aggressive time goal for myself because I wanted to prove to everyone who had donated their hard earned money that this was not something I was doing “just for fun”. As it said on my fundraising page: “I AM COMMITTED! I WILL DO IT!” My previous half marathon record was 1:51:07 so I told everyone I was shooting for not only a new PR but also to get under an hour and fifty minutes. Even if it was 1:49:59.

I have to say I have never been in a race quite like this one. Just wrapping my brain around the fact that I was running with thirty thousand other people was the first step. But when a Cher impersonator began to sing the national anthem and the Blues Brothers starting playing after the starting gun went off I knew this was not going to be your typical race. Plus with 1700 other Team Challenge members out on the course if felt like you had an instant friend whenever you came across another runner in a bright orange singlet. And all those running Elvises! Elvi?

This photo is being purchased. I'm only stealing temporarily.

I’m not gonna lie. I had a tough time out there. I paced myself poorly and had to work with every inch of my being to eek out those last few miles. I could sense my PR slipping away and it made me sad. But then I remembered a part of one of the speeches form the pasta dinner the night before that had really stuck in my head. He said something like “They don’t’ get to quit Crohn’s. And you are not going to quit this race.”

So I sucked it up. Put all I had into those last miles and dove for the finish line.

1:49:59!!

Needless to say I was beyond elated but I couldn’t rest yet because I now had the job of cheering my other team members to the finish line. A few of us parked ourselves about a quarter mile from the finish and proceeded not only to cheer on our Team Wisconsin-ers, but every. single. person we could find sporting that orange tank top. As each runner or walker completed the race they joined our Team Wisconin pack and we brought home every last participant. And if you think that running for nearly two hours is difficult, try following that up with two hours of nonstop screeching and yelling. I confess I even got lightheaded at one point and needed to sit down and take a breather. Race cheerleading is hard!

Aaaaannd then we partied to Bret Michaels at the post-race concert. Hello 1987!

I would encourage anyone who’s considering joining Team Challenge for the next cycle (in Napa!) to stop hesitating and throw their hat in the ring. You won’t regret it. Even if you don’t have a connection to Crohn’s or colitis now, you’ll soon realize what an important cause it is and how many awesome, inspiring people there are out there living with IBD every day. For me, Team Challenge was worth giving up sleeping in on Sunday mornings for a few months. It was worth all the worrying over meeting my fundraising goal. (I did.) And it was worth almost puking at the finish line. Because they don’t get to quit Crohn’s. And I was not going to quit either.

If Team Challenge sounds like it’s right up your alley, check out their website here or email Becky Burris for more information.

Team Challenge for the Big Win

Tracey — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:15:02 +0000

Photo by Becky Burris

Looking for some great motivation to help you follow through with your training? Why not commit to raise money for a charity? Taking the fundraising leap can give you that extra push you need to stick with a tough running schedule. You can choose an event and fundraise on your own, but there are also many great programs out there where you can train with a team and complete a race together.

For the past few months I’ve been a member of Team Challenge, a program that helps you prepare to run or walk 13.1 miles while raising funds for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. I’ve run in half and full marathons before but this time I wanted to be a part of something bigger- something that would not only allow me to give back, but also give me that extra push to do well. In the past I’d raised money on my own for breast cancer research when I ran the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, but I had never committed to program where I’d be responsible for raising a specific sum of money. Plus, the events that Team Challenge participates in are “destination” races like the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon or (the one I’m going to next month) the Rock & Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon. You mean I can raise money for a great cause and spend the weekend in Vegas? Sold.

Over the course of our training I teamed up with some fabulous friends who had experience working with Team Challenge during the last cycle, and together we planned fundraising events like a yard sale, movie night and a bowling event. I also rummaged through my basement in order to sell items on eBay and of course, received many generous donations from family members and friends for which I am eternally grateful. Our team has not seasoned runners, but also walkers, run/walkers and beginning runners who are participating in their first race. What we all are though is a TEAM that together has raised nearly $130,000 for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation!

As I am approaching my own undraising goal now, I feel very proud of the work that I’ve done and READY to represent at the race next month. Because so many people have supported me and supported CCFA, I feel a need to perform at my absolute best and I’m *hoping* to PR at the race. Hearing stories from people who deal with Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis every day has made me realize even more how lucky I am to have my health and I look forward to cranking out 13.1 for CCFA. (Plus, Bret Michael’s is playing at the after party. Woot!)

Does a program like Team Challenge sound like something for you? Check out their website for more info!

Lessons I learned from my first endurance race

Amy — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:38:34 +0000

Last weekend, I completed my first half marathon. I wasn’t first, and I wasn’t last. My time was, well, twice that of some of my friends, but in the end it didn’t matter. I checked the ol’ half marathon off my bucket list. I also learned some valuable lessons throughout training and the race itself. Oh, and I got a kick-arse medal. Let’s not forget about the medal.

Before the race:

Pee. Trust me on this.
Drink lots of water all week long, especially the day before and morning of the race. This is why #1 is important.
Don’t drink four margaritas 18 hours pre-race, even if you tell yourself it’s okay because you’re getting top-shelf margaritas on the rocks with extra lime and salt on the rim. Margarita salt is not an acceptable substitute for an electrolyte sports drink.
Go to the race expo. Pick up your packet. Make some impulse purchases you will later regret because everyone else is buying that balance bracelet. Stare at your race bib. Smack yourself in the head for thinking you could actually do a half marathon.
Follow a training plan. There are so many plans out there – find one that works for you and your schedule. Mine included 3 days/week of walking and/or running, 1-2 cross training or strength training days and 1 active recovery/yoga/pilates/easy walk day.
Don’t be afraid to modify the plan. I suffered many setbacks due to knee problems and a sprained foot/ankle. I made adjustments (like biking or doing the elliptical instead of walking or running because they were low-impact). I had to cut one long “run” short because my foot hurt so bad.
Train with others. I joined Team Challenge, an endurance/half marathon training program that raises money for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research. You have a team of coaches (like Anne of FitMke) who make sure you cross that finish line at the race. We trained for 16 weeks, meeting every Sunday morning for the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon. Sure, I had to raise a bunch of money, but the support and encouragement from the Team Challenge staff along with the coaches and my teammates were invaluable. Plus, I traveled to California to do a race that took me through vineyards. As in, where they make wine. There was a free wine tasting for participants at the finish. ’nuff said.
Stock your medicine cabinet with ibuprofen. And ace bandages. And keep some ice packs or frozen peas in the freezer. You will thank me later.
Make an appointment with a massage therapist halfway through training. I recommend Stacy Snook if you’re in the Milwaukee or Madison areas. She’s fabulous and will help work out the tight muscles in your legs and lower back.
Test out your gear. Everything that you plan to wear/drink/eat on race day, you should be wearing/drinking/eating prior to race day. I found that one particular pair of capris was more comfortable than the others on long run/walks. I also found that I liked wearing a visor rather than a baseball hat and sunglasses because of the sweat that dripped down my face. I found that I preferred the Nathan Quick Draw Water Bottle to a water belt. It was a good fit for my inhaler, too. I also found that I preferred my Garmin on my left arm and my iPod shuffle clipped onto my sports bra, right between my breasts. I liked using my SPI Belt to hold my cell phone and I preferred Honey Stingers and Power Bar Chews to Gu.

During the race:

Start out slow. Let’s face it. Chances are you’re not going to win the race, so don’t bother burning all your energy the first couple of miles. Save your energy and wait for the pack to thin out a bit as everyone finds their comfortable pace.
Drink water, even if you don’t think you need it. Keep yourself hydrated so you don’t feel faint. I drank a sip from my bottle every half mile or so. I also drank at every water stop and took both water and HEED (sports drink) when the sports drink was offered. You may not think you will need the sports drink, but suck it down anyways. The electrolytes will save you later on.
Don’t fall behind on your nutrition. I found I was able to keep my energy at a good level by eating one chew every mile (and two a mile for the last 4 miles). During training, you should have figured out what works for you. I found that on race day itself, this ratio worked wonders. Neither of the chews I had were particularly high in sodium, so I didn’t drown myself or overdo it (in my opinion. And I am not a professional by any means. This is just what worked for me. Please don’t sue).
Soak it all in. If you get too focused on your pace or that pebble in your shoe, you’ll lose sight of the amazing thing you’re doing – you’re running or walking a half marathon. Seriously, enjoy the scenery, enjoy laughing at the weird form other runners use. Giggle when you see guys peeing in the bushes so they don’t have to wait for a port-a-potty.
Say thanks. Don’t be a jerk. Thank the volunteers handing you water at mile 3. Thank the sentry keeping cars from running you over. Smile and wave at the spectators cheering for you. Don’t be an ungrateful prick.
Pass on the left. As much fun as it is to bob and weave through runners, you are bound to piss some people off. Be courteous and pass on the left. You will freak people out if you try passing on the right. Also, if you’re running the race with a partner (or more), don’t hog the whole width of the course.
Don’t stop. I am one of those people who, once I start a long run/walk, I try not to stop for anything. I have never had to stop to use the bathroom (knock on wood). I didn’t stop to get the pebbles out of my shoe at mile 8. I knew that if I stopped, I would not keep going. But, be smart about it if you follow this philosophy. Please don’t be one of those people who craps their pants. If your shoes are untied, for goodness’ sake, stop and tie them. If you get a cramp, stop and stretch. But if you’re feeling good, don’t stop. Keep on truckin’.
Don’t be afraid to walk. This should fall under both before and during the race. Here’s the dealio. I’m overweight. This whole training for a half marathon is totally new to me. I’ve never run a mile in my life. So, I started training with the intent to run/walk the race… with most of the race falling in the walking category. All in all, I probably ran the equivalent of 3ish miles during the race, never for more than a half mile at a time. Your goal for your first race should be to just simply finish. I had a time goal of 4 hours, with a super-secret time goal of 3:30. I finished the race in 3:49. I walked most of the race. And no one judged me.
Save a little burst of energy for that last tenth of a mile. You’re pretty much a rockstar for getting to this point, but if you sprint that last leg, you are officially a badass.

After the race:

Wear your medal with pride. I didn’t take mine off for 3 days.
Have some chocolate milk. It does a body good.
Eat whatever the heck you want. Please note: this excuse is only valid the day of the race. Don’t follow the Amy Kant school of thought and drag this out for a week.
Visit the med tent (if needed). They’ll wrap you up like Sunday leftovers.
Smile. You did it. You’re officially an endurance athlete. No one can take that away from you.

Read my novel-length race report at Losing It Without Losing Me.

Beer Runner in Wine Country

Guest Author — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:43:27 +0000

Guest post by Tim Cigelski – Originally posted on beerrunner.draftmag.com

Seems like you’re doing something wrong if you run 19 miles on a 13.1 mile course. But I just did that, and it was one of my favorite races ever.

It actually had nothing to do with the wine at the end.

Since March I’ve been coaching the Wisconsin chapter of Team Challenge, a half marathon training group raising money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. This morning about 1,000 Team Challenge members from around the country met in a vineyard to run the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon.

Many of these runners are racing because a loved one or they themselves have Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, an irritable bowel disease beset by random and severely painful flare-ups of the digestive tract. There currently is no cure.

In one case, one of my runner’s training was disrupted when his son accidently destroyed his medication, and he fell behind on treatment. Another runner — who has one of the most positive attitudes of anyone I’ve ever met — was told by her doctor last year that she needed her colon removed. Thankfully, her condition has improved and she hasn’t needed surgery.

Many join the team because they’re raising money to find a cure, not because they necessarily like to run. Several are first-time racers, and some have never really run before.

At the first practice I told everyone we were going to run easy for 30 minutes. We would have to go slow to build up to 13.1 miles.

One runner later confessed to me that his mouth dropped open when I told him we were running for 30 minutes. I need to train before running that long, he thought. The first few practices were tough. Some runners later told me they couldn’t move the rest of the day after our progressively longer Sunday runs.

But as any runner knows, something happens when you faithfully put in your miles, bit by bit. One day you go out to run and realize you feel better than you ever thought possible. You may even wake up some morning to find you actually enjoy running.

Finally race day was here, and my job was to run back and forth on the course to run with as many teammates as possible. It was a unique challenge that required me not to run for time, but to cover as much distance as possible.

In reality, we coaches were incredibly lucky. I got to keep crossing the finish line over and over again, the best part of the race. And I got to see the look on people’s faces as they realized what they accomplished.

As a nationwide group, Team Challenge raised $2.2 million in this one event alone. I won’t soon forget the sea of orange Team Challenge members rallying around the finish line to bring home the final finishers. This is one of the most inspiring events I can recall.

Then the party began. They gave each finisher a wine glass, and you took that around from table to table for wine tastings. Yes, I had some finish line wine.

But then I found the lonely keg of local Lagunitas IPA, and immediately changed course. It’s one more reason to come back next year with Team Challenge.

*Or, join Team Challenge in Las Vegas on December 5th!

Weds, August 11, 7:00 pm Wauwatosa WAC	Join over 900 Team Challenge participants for the ultimate Vegas experience. Whether you walk or run, this event is guaranteed to rock your socks off! Expect 13.1 miles of a high-energy, action-packed course that screams the excitement of Vegas. With bands along every mile and more live music at the post-race concert, you are in for a one-of-a-kind event. Grab a friend and get ready to rock the strip on December 5th 2010!
Sat, August 14th, 9:00 am Westwood Health & Fitness
Tues, August 17th, 6:00 pm JCC Milwaukee
Thurs, August 19th, 6:30pm Oak Creek Library
Weds, August 25th, 5:30pm Koss Corporation