Ride, Row, Run : A New Racing Adventure in Maupin Oregon!

By Tanya

As you learned from my last year of posting, I have developed a passion for exercise in the water. Whether it is swimming in the pool for fitness, or in the open water for my first triathlon, riding the waves on a surf board, or rowing the rapids in my kayak, I love the water!

This has also become a family affair as all of my family has taken to the water this past year. In fact for the Fourth of July (which also happens to be my little brother's birthday) we brought a bunch of kayaks, rafts and inner tubes out to Lacamas Lake for a BBQ and a day on the water. It has become a great bonding activity we all enjoy. In fact my mom, who struggles with chronic pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, found that kayaking was a form of exercise she could really enjoy.

Family 4th of July on the water

A couple of years ago I went on a river rafting trip on the Deschutes river in Maupin Oregon, with some women from my church and it was AMAZING! Not only did we ride some sweet rapids but I also got to go body surfing through them, as well as jump from a twenty foot cliff into the river!

Thank God Almighty, I Ran From Hood to Coast!

By Tanya

One week ago I ran the mother of all relay races. Our team of twelve known as "Robin From the Hood and Her Coastal Van of Misfits" climbed in two vans and ran 196 miles from the top of Mt. Hood to Seaside at the Oregon coast! It all happened so fast that it still doesn't seem real.

Hood to Coast is a big deal around these parts. Relay races seem to be popping up all over the place, but H2C was the first around here. Growing up in Portland which falls exactly in the middle of the course, and spending many childhood vacations at either Mt Hood or Seaside, I knew that if I was ever able to run a relay race, it would have to be the H2C.

2014: A Summer of Adventure

By Tanya

The summer of 2014 has certainly shaped up to be one of new experiences and adventures. As evidenced by the lack of new blog posts, we Sole Sisters have been hitting the road this summer.

Carissa and Jodi have both traveled across the U.S. on family vacations, and in true Sole Sister fashion, running, swimming and hiking along the way. I have remained closer to home gearing up for my first triathlon, the Mid-Simmer Olympic Tri on August 3rd at Blue Lake Park in Portland, Oregon. I somehow convinced Carissa to do the Mid Summer Tri with me and it has been fantastic to have a training partner. Jodi wanted to join us but she had some friends who offered her a spot in the Cascade Lakes Relay on the same day. She has always wanted to run that race and couldn't pass it up so she has been training amongst her travels.

Training for this triathlon has been a fantastic experience! I have followed though on my initial plan to split my training week up into one long ride, one long run, one ride/run brick workout, and two swim/core workout days and my body has felt really good!

Back on Track and Riding Big Waves!

By Tanya

Now that my toolbox is filled with some new and improved strategies for keeping my body in a happy place of balance, I am excited to say that I am finally back on track! Quite literally in fact.
One of the ways that I have found balance is by varying my workouts throughout the week. My typical week now includes: Zumba, swim, cycle, core work and of course running!

I started the year by running slow, short distances and through the example of my Sole Sisters who have been loving the Run Less Run Faster method, I also incorporated one track running workout per week. Normally both of these things would drive me nuts because I do not like to take it easy. But obviously my fast and furious running style of years past was not working for me and I did not want to get sidelined again. I'd rather run slow and smart than not at all. I actually look forward to my track workout days because I knew that I could get at least a few fast miles in, even if I had to walk in between them!

With the help of a new Physical Therapist I have been able to strengthen my core and upper back to have better posture all throughout the day.  I have noticed a tremendous reduction of my hip pain and my back has not locked up at all this year! Once my core became stronger I found that I could incorporate my new posture into my running technique which has left me feeling less sore after each run.