What's YOUR Dream?

You've all seen "Pretty Woman", right? Remember the guy walking around Hollywood shouting "What's your dream? - Everyone comes to Hollywood with a dream!" Well, what's your dream for the best outcome of training for a triathlon? A healthier body? New friends? Reaching a goal? Demanding time for yourself? A medal like the one hanging around my neck last July 27th? Or maybe a medal like the age-group medals Lesa, Caitlin and I won (and Cathy for being the 2nd-place woman finisher) while running a road race in the fall......in the pouring rain?
You might already be "chomping at the bit" and ready to partake in some group training. Right now, the activity out there is enjoying some winter fun (skating, hiking and skiing), taking some classes here and there and perfecting our swim stroke by joining the Masters Swim team in the North Attleboro pool. Although we're in danger of starting too early for a July triathlon, unbelievably, the momentum from last year is still going strong! So, I'd like to invite you to a couple of scheduled events:

Monday, January 25th, 7:30 p.m. North Attleboro Pool - Lenny will help perfect your stroke! Laura, Jennifer and I plan to be there...Caryn will join next week. If this notice is too short, the next masters swim team takes place Wednesday, January 27th. (Comment to this blog to see who else plans to go on the 25th...I'm shooting for it...)

Saturday, January 30th, All Day Skiing at Mt. Wachusett. Skiers of ALL levels are welcomed and the Beckett's are putting together a "Franklin Group Day" and and with a few more participants, we can get a group rate - and there are "learn to ski packages". Come out for a picnic on the deck or pull your child in a sled in front of the base lodge - even if you don't plan to ski! We all need that Vitamin D this time of year!

Be sure to get in touch with me (Donna) at djacobites@akibia.com if you want to be included in the group, or if you want more pricing information.

YMCA Group Classes YPump on Tuesday mornings at 6 a.m., Core on Friday mornings at 6 a.m., Zumba and Yoga on the weekends....

Unofficial YMCA Meeting times: Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. Lesa meets a group of women, Wednesday and Friday at 5:15 a.m. we've had Jean, Ellen, Laura, Kara and Donna on the treadmills........Jennifer's usually in the pool at 5 a.m........Caryn goes to the Y daily between 9-1 p.m......

Ok, now there really is a need for everyone to email me your picture and I will post it so we can RECOGNIZE each other! Talk a little about what you want to get out of joining this group.... (Best would be to comment and respond to this blog - posting your picture - but no worries if you want me to do it for you!)

Looking forward to virtually meeting everyone,

Donna

YMCA Indoor Micro Tri 2/28/10

Ok Everyone,
The Franklin YMCA is having their 4th Annual MicroTri on Feb 28th. The registrations go to a great cause, our Reach Out For Youth and Families (ROFY: see Link Below). If you register be sure to give my name or write in on the registration form Referred by (we at the desk are having a little "who can sign up the most" thing). So Please, help the Y meet their goal for ROFY and sign up. If you would like to contribute in other ways, there are volunteer opportunities and other ways to give.

So sign up one, sign up all...pass it along :)

Registration for Tri:
http://www.hockymca.org/default.asp

ROFY:
http://www.hockymca.org/volunteer/reachout.asp

See you all soon!
Lesa B

Beaver Pond Skating 1/10/10

The Doherty's pulled together this skating event and after you read the "Mechanics of the Blog" in the post below, we'll all be able to be informed of impromptu events like this....So if anyone on this list has an event to which you'd like to invite others...you can post a comment of a blog for everyone to see! Enjoy the pictures, Donna (Scroll down as there are 3 or 4 new posts...)

Let's Get Motivated!

Hi Everyone!

You're getting this blog because YOU are an ATHLETE! Yes, hard to admit and label yourself that, but get used to it, because if you don't feel like an athlete now - you WILL when you cross the finish line. Stick with it!!! BTW - we get personal here and use real photos and real stories...nothing is sacred in the name of motivation. I love Lesa's recent story: She was at the doctors recently and talking about her health. She cut to the chase with the doctor and described herself as an "athlete" so he would get the big picture!

Regarding pictures and getting personal...Last season Elaine didn't want her picture taken in the pool...we honored her request but guess what?! She's in one of the best pictures taken last year at the finish line ----- and all three triathletes look great!!!

Since we haven't done much training yet, I'm posting some pix from last year that will hopefully serve as inspiration. I also want to throw out the idea of joining the masters swim team at the North Attleboro Y - Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. - keeping Wednesday nights at the Franklin pool and Saturday mornings open.

http://www.hockymca.org/uploads/pdf/HAY_Winter_2010_aquatics.pdf

Please also read the post below and take the challenge in that post!



Later,

Donna

Mechanics of the AIM Blog

Hi Everyone! This is Donna writing....it's really a group effort as it appears at the bottom that Laura has made this post, but she set up the blog and now we're off and running....literally!

So this post is about the mechanics of our blog. It's meant for all of us to be able to create a new post in which you can put links and pictures (to keep us all motivated and informed!). But mostly, the majority of you will probably post replies to the separate posts within each post. (You do that by clicking on the subject title of the post....and if you don't have a google account....I believe it prompts you to set one up - it's free and quick.) That way, we can all see the "comments" or replies to a post or topic, vs. separate emails all over the place. Make sense?

I'm learning, too, and in a previous post, I didn't post a live link - I just typed the URL to the Danskin website. But I've since learned that you have to highlight the URL and hit the link icon to make it live or interactive:

http://www.danskintriathlon.net/Home_Page.html

So, by going to the link above answers the first question: Where and when for the Danskin tri in 2010? They posted tentative dates of July 24/25, 2010 in Webster, MA. (Brock's b-day so I won't forget...)

Here's your first challenge...(there will be many along the way if you choose to "go for" completing a triathlon this summer)....please post a reply to this post. Even if just to say "I got it" or "just testing".....that way we'll know you're out there and listening/watching this post. Or...you can get creative and Lesa can ask Laura a question and Laura can post a reply asking Lynn for input...etc. (I apologize if I'm talking below you guys, but everyone is at different tech-savvy levels.)

Which brings up the next mechanics of this blog...as best as I know...you have 2 choices right now to view the blog...save the link to favorites and check it periodically, or wait until an email is sent to you. If anyone knows of an automated way to "follow" a blog......PLEASE SHARE!

Oh......for now I'm minimizing who has the password to make posts, but just post a comment that you want the password and Laura, Lesa or I will get it out to you. Also, this is a public post, so technically, someone in Minnesota could find it and follow it, but mostly it will just be seen by our group. So, the more active we are on it, the better!

Later,

Donna

Teaching Lily to Ice Skate on 1/1/10

Turns out, Singapore is a tropical island so Lily had an excuse for not knowing how to skate. Sooooooo, when looking for an alternative outside activity to Joyce's "New Year's Day Polar Plunge in Beaver Pond" idea, we quickly honed in on teaching Lily how to skate!


Notice, she's still smiling here....she didn't hit her head....