Kate Curran's Blog: The Klutzy Athlete, page 3

Dairy

For over 70 years, Farmer John has been a cow guy. Not much surprises him any more, except for the day quadruplet calves were born on his dairy. Text with photographs of Farmer John and his Four Quart Girls tell the story of this special event.

News & Reviews

“Exceptional, well-written educational read for a second or third grade comprehension. Informative and engaging photos help the reader to understand how cows live and the changes over the years as to how people obtain their milk. Great introduction without overwhelming children with interesting facts (quad births) and mathematical lessons (ounces / glasses of milk). Vocab list at the end (underlined throughout the text) as well as resources for creating lesson plans to accompany the dairy unit and additional website resources. Looking forward to reading additional titles in this noteworthy informational series.”

“I may not have children but I loved this book! The photos are amazing, the cows and calves look so cute and cuddly! The book follows the birth of four healthy calves to one cow, which is something super rare! The language in the book is geared for children in the 2nd grade and above, but even I learned quite a few things.”

” Looking at the photos, I got a sense of curiosity of how farm life could be, getting up early, caring for animals, working with my hands – that is until the city girl in me kicked in! This is a great educational book that will interest young and old!”

“This true story of a rare occurrence, the birth of quadruplet calves, is woven into a book about the dairy where it happened. Told with charm and accompanied by interesting photos, this is a great book to help kids learn about where their milk comes from.”

“Thank you Kathy Coatney for a children’s book that is delightful and real. The pictures are fun and show children what cows really look like. The story is amazing! Keep the Farmer Guy/Gal books coming!”

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Beef

Rancher Mary is a beef gal. She raises beef cattle for meat and for medical use. Text with photographs of Rancher Mary tells the story of how beef cows are raised.

From the Farm to the Table series are books about agriculture designed for second and third grade readers. The text of each book highlights second grade vocabulary words.

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Almonds

Farmer Dan is an almond guy. He raises almonds and also grows wildflowers to feed the bees that pollinate his almonds. Text with photographs of Farmer Dan tells the story of how almonds are grown.

News & Reviews

“Book 5 in a series of exceptionally well-written educational reads for second or third grade comprehension. Close-up and interesting photos and information help the reader to understand how almonds grow, how they are harvested and processed for the end user. Just enough information not to overwhelm a young reader yet keeping them engaged. Second grade vocabulary list at the end (underlined throughout the text) as well as resources for creating lesson plans, list of almond industry terms and additional website resources.”

“This is a definite “must have” series on agriculture to learn and enjoy not only for the classroom but for home as well.”

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Weight Loss Challenges

If I’m not exercising, I have several challenges to weight management. That is a fact of life for me, and while I was on the mend from my last spill on the bike, I immediately saw my weight start increasing.

The Checklist Diet

When I initially lost this weight three years ago I read The Checklist Diet by Rebecca Clark. As the title implies, there is a checklist of ten items in the book, and some of the items applied to my circumstances, and some didn’t. So when I started gaining weight again, I asked Rebecca for advice. It turns out she’d gaining weight, too.

Rebecca said, she’s an emotional eater. “After my husband’s cancer diagnosis last year, I ate a LOT of my feelings. It seemed for every pound he lost, I gained. But rather than get upset with myself and hate what I saw in the mirror as I gained weight, I was kind to myself. Eating comfort food was how I coped. I knew I’d be ready to get back to a healthy diet eventually.”

But by the time she was ready to get back on track, she found she’d gotten so far out of the habit of healthy eating that she decided to take the advice she gives her clients. “Take two to three of your worst habits and work on those. For me, it’s eating when I’m not hungry, not drinking enough water, and eating too much added sugar,” Rebecca said.

After two weeks of working on those habits, Rebecca dropped five pounds. “I am starting to feel better. I know I’ll have setbacks because my husband’s struggle isn’t over yet (but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!!!). I will continue being kind to myself and taking baby steps back to health,” Rebecca said.

Challenges

Taking Rebecca’s advice, I took a hard look at what my challenges were, and for me it’s eating when I’m hungry, stopping when I’m full, and stop eating after 8 p.m. So, I started focusing on those three steps.

I also had a couple of trigger foods that were fanning the flames of my eating issues, so I decided to stop eating them for the immediate future—tortilla chips and popcorn. I eliminated those two foods until I really wanted them. Within days I felt like my eating was back on track.

In the last ten days I dropped four pounds, but more importantly I started feeling better because I was eating a balanced diet again and not consuming everything in sight.

And now that my injuries are healed, I’m back to running and biking again, which makes my weight management much, much easier.

Do you have eating challenges? How do you manage them?

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Exercise Through Injury

One of several bruises from fall

Exercise, exercise, exercise. I know I sound like a broken record, but in the last 10 days I’ve come to realize just how critical exercise is, especially after an injury.

Ten days ago, I took a tumble off my bike that resulted in several bruises plus some bruised ribs. The first three days I did almost no movement. By the fourth day, I knew I needed to do something, but movement caused pain, and I resisted. The reality was, even though there are definite limitations with bruised ribs, there are forms of movement that can be done. And once I started moving, I felt better and started to heal faster.

Exercise While Injured

Rebecca J. Clark, author of The Checklist Diet, and a trainer, said, “Exercising while injured—that’s my life, LOL.”

Generally injuries are just one small piece of your body. You have many other body parts you can still exercise, Rebecca said, and she used this example.

“A few years ago I was sidelined with tarsal tunnel (like carpal tunnel syndrome, but through the foot and ankle). I had to give up teaching Zumba for 8 weeks, and anything that involved being on my feet or even using my feet (no biking or swimming either). I could still train people, but I had to sit as much as possible. I could still teach yoga and demonstrate positions, but couldn’t do any standing poses. What could I do? Well, I could lift weights with my upper body. I could ride the recumbent bike for 5 minutes at a time (that’s as long as I could go without pain). I could work my core. I could work my legs in all ways that didn’t involve my feet,” Rebecca said.

Get Moving
Walking/Running trail

Rebecca’s suggestions inspired me to think in terms of what can I do, and I could walk with almost no discomfort. I could do water aerobics, but not actual swimming. I could lift light weights. As the week progressed, I was able to do more, like swinging my arms while I walked and using my arms when I swam. There are still things I can’t do, but that is improving every day, and pain has been greatly reduced.

Rebecca had a client recently who had shoulder replacement, and she told her doctor, “Well, I guess that gets me out of working out with Rebecca for a while.” The doctor shook his head and said, “I want you back with her next week. You have the other 90% of your body you can still workout.”

Faster Recovery

The moral of the story, Rebecca said is, there is ALWAYS something you can do. “If you don’t know how to modify, hire a trainer for a session or two or ask your physical therapist. The more blood you get flowing to the rest of your body, the quicker the injury will heal.”

I can attest this is true. Finding ways to be active while injured isn’t fun or easy, but it is definitely worth it for a speedier recovery.

Walking/running trail

Have you been struggling with an injury? What ways have you found to stay active?

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Developing Grit

If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know I’ve been on a grit kick. I first got tuned into grit after listening to the Freakonomics Radio podcast about grit and reading Angela Duckworth’s book, Grit, the Power of Passion and Perseverance. From this podcast I discovered how gritty people become great in anything from spelling bees to athletics. What Duckworth discovered was, years of hard work and practice are more of a factor than natural talent.

Do I Have It

If you asked me if I had grit when it came to writing, I would have immediately said yes. I do have it, but not for the reasons I thought I did.

I’ve written over 35 books in the last 25 years, but I’ve only published three novels and six children’s books. You’d think just completing that many books would show I have grit, but what it shows me is that back in those early days I didn’t have the grit to make them publishable. When I hit a snag, I moved on to a new project. It took me years to develop the grit to stick with a project and work and rework it until it was publishable.

I believe the principles from Duckworth’s book can be applied to any aspect of my life. I’m currently working to develop grit in two areas—running and marketing my books. I know this sounds like a really bizarre combination, but both are areas where I don’t excel, so they have that in common.

I’ve found when I’m running, I think about how to become a better marketer. And when I’m working on marketing, I think about running and I look for ways to improve my form and speed. I continually remind myself that each week my running is improving, and I can do the same with marketing.

Fear

Even as I write this there is a weight lodged in my stomach and a little whiney voice in my head saying no, no, no. I don’t wanna market. I just wanna write my books.

The fact of the matter is, if I don’t market my books no one will read them or even know about them, and why go to all that work if they aren’t read?

And honestly, my efforts to market my books have been more like throwing spaghetti on the wall and see if it sticks. I’m a hit and miss marketer at best, but that is going to change.

I’m digging deep to persevere, to never give up, to put as much time into learning marketing as I have writing.

Talent v Grit

Before I started reading about grit, I thought those people who were successful at marketing were those with an innate, inborn talent that I could never hope to achieve. After I started reading about grit, I am convinced it is less about talent and more about perseverance. People who are successful, whether they start with natural talent or not, have spent years practicing and improving their craft until they are successful. They don’t quit, they don’t give up and I am determined to do exactly that. I won’t give up until I succeed.

I am determined to become more than proficient with marketing. I intend to excel at it, but saying this won’t make it so.

Setting Goals

First, I lack two major things—confidence and knowledge, so these are my first goals. I’m starting with knowledge, and I believe confidence will follow once I start seeing success.

This week I have started allotting 30 minutes a day to reading about marketing and setting up a strategy, which just happens to be a similar strategy to my running.

Five weeks ago I started running, and I had an impressive 15 minute mile! Each week I’ve added a half a mile, and yesterday I ran three miles at 11.68 minutes.

Before you write this off as talent, it’s not. I have no natural talent in athletics, and as my blog says, I am the Klutzy Athlete. But what I lack in talent, I make up for in determination—GRIT—and you have it, too. You just have to dig deep and find it, develop it.

What are you passionate about? Do you have the grit to keep going when the going gets tough?

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Love, Baseball, Happy Endings and Giveaway

I am blogging at Romance Junkies today so be sure and stop by.

Kate Curran: Love, Baseball, and Happy Endings & Giveaway

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Finding Your Grit

Finding Grit

Grit is the drive that makes us continue on with something over and over again until we succeed. That could be an athletic skill, or writing, or weight management.

As I’ve been reading about grit, I realized a lifestyle change takes a lot of grit. To make a permanent change, it must be practiced over, and over, and over again. It’s a skill that won’t come easily, but definitely worth all the hard work.

Developing Grit

I believe we all have grit, we just have to learn how to develop it, but I’m learning that where I thought I had grit wasn’t necessarily correct. For instance, I thought I had grit when it came to writing, and I do, but not for the reasons I thought I did.

I’ve written over 20 books, but I’ve only published 3 of those novels. And you’d think completing that many books would show I have grit, but what it shows me is that back then I didn’t have the grit to make those books publishable. When I hit a snag I moved on to a new project. It took me years to develop the grit to stick with a project and work and rework it until it was publishable.

Grit and Weight Loss

I am convinced I’m finding grit in my weight loss quest. While I have had several stumbling blocks on my journey, grit has me getting back up, brushing myself off and starting again. As much as I don’t want to believe it, the key to maintaining a healthy weight is eating when I’m hungry, stop when I’m full, and exercise regularly.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I am participating in the Pole, Pedal, Paddle next year. I will be doing the five mile run and the half a mile sprint. When I first considered doing this, I had no doubt I would finish, but it never occurred to me that I could do more than just plod across the finish line.

Progress

After hearing Angela Duckworth, author of Grit, the Power of Passion and Perseverance, speak on Freakonomics Radio, I was struck by the idea I could do better than just finishing. I could increase my speed. The idea was shocking since I’ve always envisioned myself as the tortoise versus the hare when I run. I thought you either had speed or you didn’t. Turns out that with grit, that’s not the case.

I reported in my blog that my first run time 3 weeks ago was a 15 minute mile. Now, 3 weeks later after running every other day, I am averaging 11:25 minutes a mile, and I’m up to 2 miles. Next week I will increase that to 2.5 miles.

My current goal is to get reach the 5 mile mark, then work on increasing my speed.

Find Your Grit

I’m convinced we can all exercise no matter what our age or ability. We just have to find the grit to unlock our potential, whether it’s walking, running, biking, kayaking, or hiking, you can do it. You just have to find the activity that fits you and get started!

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Grit—What is it and do I have it?

Definition of Grit

Grit, according to Merriam-Webster means firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.

So, you’re probably wondering why I’m giving you the definition of grit. There is a method to my madness. I just got tuned into Freakonomics Radio, a podcast that I highly recommend. The first show I listened to talked about grit and how gritty people become great in anything from spelling bees to athletics or (my addition here) weight loss. What they’ve discovered is years of hard work and practice are more of a factor than natural talent.

5K PPP Race
Exercise and Grit

The subject fascinated me especially since I am undertaking a huge challenge, a five mile run and a half a mile sprint next year. When I started last week, it never occurred to me that I couldn’t do it because of my age or because of the fact that I’m the Klutzy Athlete. I knew one way or the other I would cross the finish line.

But why did this challenge appeal to me? Because I want to see if I can do more than just finish. I want to know if I can be a runner in the true sense of the word, not just shuffle my feet and move. And after listening to this radio show I am convinced I can do anything I’m willing to put the time and effort into.

Finding the Grit to Succeed

I’m in training for a five mile run. I am committed. I want to do this. I want to succeed, but is that enough? What happens when it’s ten degrees outside? Will I still be as committed? A year is a long time and right now this has the enticement of something new and challenging, but soon it will become hard, sweaty work.

Will I have the grit to reach my goal? My immediate response—yes! Why I can’t tell explain, but deep in my gut I believe I will succeed. I will find ways around the problems. I will get support from friends and experts. I will do research online. I am also reading Angela Duckworth’s Grit, the Power of Passion and Perseverance.

I am convinced that with grit anything is possible, whether it’s exercise, maintaining weight, or becoming a better writer.

Stay turned because I will be reporting back what I find out. And here is some good news, week two and the fifteen minute mile is down to the 11:38 mile. Do you know what this means? It means that if the Klutzy Athlete can run, anyone can!

Do you have a hidden passion, but never had the determination to pursue it? You can find the grit and succeed!

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Pole, Pedal, Paddle

 

This past weekend the 40th annual Pole, Pedal, Paddle (PPP) event was held in Bend, Oregon. This was the first time I had attended.

5K PPP Race
The PPP

The PPP is a race that can be done individually, with teams or pairs. It starts at Mt. Bachelor where you either downhill or snowboard to the Nordic skiing site. At the end of the downhill, you either handoff to a team mate or do an 8K cross country ski, then handoff or bike 22 miles down Mt. Bachelor where you handoff or run 5 miles to the kayak, canoe or paddle board site. You

Kayak 1.5 mile PPP race

handoff or paddle 1.5 miles on the Deschutes river, then handoff or sprint a half a mile to the finish line.

There were some amazing athletes that either worked in teams or individually. There were also families and seniors who participated either competitively or just to say they made it to the finish line. There was a Mini PPP for the kids, too. Adults and children had team names and it was common to see adults and kids in tutus, dressed as Merlin, unicorns or Superman/Supergirl. They were creative, and it was tons of fun!

So much fun in fact, the klutzy athlete will be participating on a team next year, and she will be take on the 5 mile run and the half mile sprint—something she has never done before, but will have a year to prepare.

Training

This morning I ran a mile without falling and logged in an impressive 15 minute mile! I may not be fast, but I will cross the finish line. My goal in the next year is to reduce that time, and I will post my progress here.

I’m looking at some online sites for a training schedule and consulting with some experts. Here are a few links I’ve found online for newbies runners like me:

8K or 5 mile training schedule
Runners World
Sublimely Fit

5K PPP run

Since I have a year to train for the PPP, I’ll be experimenting with my training schedule to find one that works best for me as I still want to get my 2-3 mountain biking days in when the weather permits. Another factor I need to think about is what I should be feeding my body, and I’ll be discussing that in future blogs as well as share links for food and recipes.

New Challenge

I excited about my new exercise challenge, and I really hope to improve on that 15 minute mile before the 2017 PPP.

Kayaks waiting to race

Do you have an exercise challenge you’ve been wanting undertake?

 

 

 

 

 

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