Nikewomen NFR Blog

Play Date

DjellaGray — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:30:28 GMT

Remember back in the day when running around playing with your friends was all you had to do to be healthy and stay in shape? The days when swinging on the monkey bars and playing hide an go seek were all it took to get your heart rate up and burn calories. Seems like the days of fun and fit are long gone, unless you make a play date!

My typical Thursday workout routine got a much needed jolt of energy when I found myself in a parallel fitness universe where having fun and socializing outweighed working out and agonizing over how to maximize calories burned. The place was filled with tumbling tracks, people hanging out on still rings and flipping out on spring floors .I was amazed at how much fun they all seemed to be having. Instantly I was intrigued and ready to have some fun.

The first thing I wanted to try was the pommel horse. In my mind I was already a master of this exercise. I’d seen it performed countless times and even rationalized that it was much like break dancing. Boy was I wrong! It took less than 60 seconds for reality to set in and my arms to give in. The pommel horse requires extreme upper body strength and core balance. I clearly was not the master that I envisioned myself to be, so it was time to move on. It was easy to see why people were hanging out on the spring floor. It was a no holds bar fun zone! I looked around at all the people chatting, flipping, swinging, jumping and tumbling and thought. Who am I to tell them to grow up and do a real workout? I figured I might as well join in and that’s exactly what I did! I stopped worrying about the logistics of what a workout is “suppose” to look and feel like and became a part of something way cooler.

The cheerleader in me was being challenged, by a fellow cheerleader for life, to a jump off. So I gave my best smile, sprinkled a little spirit, spiced it up and started jumping. The spring floor was really elevating my pikes, double toe touches and side herkys. It was also working my core and forcing me to use my lower body for resistance. My jumps were gorgeous and so was my fellow lifetime cheerleader’s. This friendly competition left me winded and confused. I had to take a time out. I look around and thought, how was it possible to have so much fun and get in a good workout at the same time? At any rate, I was having a blast and knew my body was getting a great workout so I decided to stop trying so hard to solve the mystery and just enjoy myself! I spent a little while longer hanging out and taking advantage of the all that this wonderful facility had to offer. I felt amazing and knew all my muscles got a great workout. This type of exercise was something I could get use to.

In just one visit I realized that getting a good workout doesn’t always have to be so serious. Hanging out with people that have similar fitness goals can be motivating and therapeutic. Staying fit isn’t always about stern workouts and choreographed routines. Sometimes the best workout is no workout at all. It’s refreshing to exercises in a place that doesn’t judge you for having fun while getting fit. I know when my next play date is. Do you?

-D'Jella Gray

Baby It's Cold Outside

SarinaMorales — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:05:03 GMT

Sad to say, but summer is over. It’s getting cold. You brave ones can venture out for your runs. Make sure you are all bundled up. As for the rest of us, I’m not suggesting skipping out on your run, but as the sun rises later and falls earlier, there is a lot less time in our day to be outside for our workouts. There will be days that getting that extra 15 minutes at the gym will get cut to just five minutes.

I’ve just wrapped up my second program for the Nike Women’s Training Club, and I must say, thank goodness for this! This summer was a disaster here in New York. It practically rained everyday and there were days where I just had nowhere to go but to the refrigerator and the television. As someone who needs to stay active and who also works from home, taking time in my day to be out and moving is vital.

Ladies who are at school and then coming straight home to do homework, it’s best to take 40 minutes to an hour for yourself to workout. Since I finished my last program, I honestly feel results and it’s real results because they are lasting. I’m anxious to start my next core program. The core-training program compliments my daily run because you need a strong core to run longer distances. My runs have gotten easier. My body feels stronger. I’m ready to take on my next challenge.

The best advice for getting through the workouts is getting your friends to come over and do them with you. If it’s for just those 30-40 minutes that you get to spend time with them, it’s worth it. I’ve found working out with the girls helps keep me motivated. My personal favorite is the Training Widget you can download. I downloaded it onto my desktop and it’s made my life a lot easier. When I’m away from my computer, I always have some great jams to rock out to while I get through my training session. The widget has five tabs: a Delicious calendar, your own personal training information, information on new gear on Nikewomen.com, videos and specialized information for new products, and a tunes tab with some great music to keep you pumped whether you are just sitting at a desk or watching which workout you need to do next.

Enjoy your last days of warmth, but fear not the cold! This year, your beach body doesn’t have to disappear with the warm weather. You’ve got the Nike Women’s Training Club to take with you anywhere you go and to keep you strong throughout the winter!

-Sarina

Go herehere to sign up for Nike Women's Training Club

Rock The Mustache

AllisonObrien — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:06 GMT

As the temperature gets chilly outside, we begin to see many dudes rocking their winter coat...more facial hair! I clearly remember a group of guys in my early college days that embraced the winter coat and made a pledge to not shave for the full month of November – it was quickly coined ‘No Shave November’. The changing leaves and crisp fall air brought this memory to mind. For that reason I think it’s only appropriate to discuss Mustaches...yes, you too can rock the stache. Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to make a statement, instead embrace a milk mustache this fall!

After a few tips from a top nutritionist and a little reading, I started to become very fond of chugging a big – ice cold glass of chocolate milk after a hard workout. A good friend, who happened to be a standout collegiate runner, first put this idea into my head. In conversation she mentioned that her coaches started having the team drink lots and lots of milk following long training runs. This got the wheels turning, so I decided to do my homework.

Come to find out, it has been suggested that chocolate milk is one of the top recovery drinks. Nutritionist and fitness experts suggest that it essentially puts sports drinks to shame and offers extended benefits during the post workout recovery time. Several studies have proven this theory and support the facts that drinking a tall glass of H2O after a workout is not enough. Water simply replaces the sweat lost during a workout, and will by no means replenish fatigued muscle. The H2O alternative … chocolate milk! You might question why chocolate milk? Compare the nutritional facts on a gallon of plain milk to chocolate milk. Chocolate milk offers nearly double the carbohydrates and protein. Additionally, the tasty beverage is high in water, thus preventing dehydration. The benefits go on and the numerous studies support this idea that chocolate milk competes as the top recovery drink. So go ahead, rock the milk mustache this fall as you refuel after a long workout.

-Allison O'Brien

How Delicious Is Your Training?

GevrinaSeferaj — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:30:03 GMT

Timing.

Balance.

Focus.

Speed.

All are elements that attribute to the success of an athlete. The thirst for competition, and the desire for improvement can at times make training very difficult. Despite the long hours at a pool or at a court, a workout/practice can be tough to push through. So, how do you turn your training regiment around and make it “Delicious?”

The answer lies within you! Seeing the Nike slogan “Delicious Training” made me think about what it meant. It also provoked not only a fascination out of me but it also made me want to change my workout to something that I could in fact refer to it as “Delicious.”

Everyone’s training routine is of course unique, so I decided to interview four girls that are involved in different sports. I interviewed a tennis player, dancer, basketball player and a swimmer. Each girl found her training to be both delicious and satisfying.

Alex, 22, plays tennis and is an overall athlete. Having played tennis since the age of five, Alex also picked up an interest in competing for a volleyball high school team as well as rowing for a Division I university. I asked what her interpretation of Delicious Training and she responded, “delicious training is the idea of training without knowing your training. When your addiction kicks in and all you want to do is be playing that sport. When nothing else matters besides the next point and everything else in your life drifts away except for that moment.”

The key phrase, “training without knowing that you’re actually training,” is so true. When I’m at the yoga studio or at lyrical jazz class, I give myself that one hour out of my busy schedule to relax and do something I love. When I’m dancing, regardless of how sore I might feel from the previous dance class, I become so enthralled in what I’m doing that the pain seems to go away.

I was able to relate to Kaylee, 20, who has danced for 17 years and at such an early age has earned the title of head coach for her alma mater this year. Her passion and love for her dance, has fueled her career to an early success. Kaylee describes dancing as her “get away from the real world even if it is for an hour. It keeps me in shape, happy and positive, and I couldn’t ask for more in something I love to do.”

The moment something you do becomes a routine is the moment that the passion and fire terminates. All four of these young ladies are zealous about their training, and all consider themselves to be passionate about their sport. It is important to realize however, that there is a distinction between playing a sport and the training that follows it.

Regardless, I still found myself asking, how can we break through, or manage the hard parts of a workout?

I asked Lara a swimmer, 21, if she thought her training was delicious? And all I got was, “Duh Gevvy, not only am I in a bathing suit, but I’m swimming under the sunny California weather.”

Her response was rather comical; of course she thinks her training is delicious. Why you might ask? Well, anyone can design their training to be delicious as long as they love what they do. Lara is proof of this theory as she not only loves swimming and the training that goes with it, but she loves to represent her sport. So much so, that she is training to reach her goal of getting a sectional time in the 100m and 200m backstroke.

Each one of these active women is passionate about what they do and are willingly to put in the time and discipline to train. Many times, and I’m definitely guilty of this, we forget how important training really is in our daily life. Whether you’re training for performance, or training to stay in shape, training should always be fun. This correlates with Beverly’s thoughts on her definition of Delicious Training. Beverly a 19-year-old basketball player said “the term, I think is mainly relevant to true athletes who have a passion for their sports; the delicious part of their training spuds from their passion, making their sport fun!”

Although Beverly is swamped with school work and playing both basketball and volleyball, she still keeps her training fun. Fun is the main component of her workout as she continues to excel in her performance among her teammates. Beverly attributes her eight years of basketball success to her training—“the reward comes from the endurance and agility.”

Alex, Kaylee, Lara and Beverly all understand that some days training can be tiring, but they all strive to make the hard spots of workouts fun—resulting in a more effective workout that benefits them in all aspects. Training is rewarding and gratifying.

After reading these experiences, how delicious is your training? Are you passionate about your training? All are valid questions to jump start the success of your workout regiment. I know I’m going to start to make my Delicious Training my own and truly make those cardio workouts yummy!

Start now! Making YOUR training delicious and make it your own! Be passionate about what you’re doing because in the long run, success will immediately follow after the time and effort is put forth.

-Gevrina Seferaj

Mix It Up

MaryCatherineHolcomb — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:45:04 GMT

After the long and painful five minutes it took me to actually sit down, I realized that mixing up my normal workout with a program called CrossFit can leave some pretty sore effects on the body. The strength and conditioning program of CrossFIt utilizes all parts of the body in various ways is exploding across the world and making its participants hurt in places they never thought possible.

Four times a week of weightlifting and cardiovascular activities unfortunately can turn quite boring quite fast. A friend of mine mentioned she got her push into CrossFit from a friend of hers and she decided to give it a try – and she hasn't looked back.

“The best part about CrossFit is that it's a great way to amp up your workouts by maximizing your efforts,” said Amanda Rhodes of Morgan City, La., “And a lot of the moves require you to only use your body weight as resistance--which is actually harder than you'd think.” Believe me, I know. As hard as it is to take in, five sets of 30 glute-ham sit-ups and 25 back extensions aren't as fun, or easy, as they may seem.

And before you think, “Oh, well. I can't do that program because I have no clue what those exercises are anyway.” Hold up. You didn't think CrossFit trainers would let you get off that easily, right? On its Web site, www.crossfit.com, a workout of the day is posted with the type of exercise and sets required, along with video demonstrations of the exercises. And don't be discouraged if you can't lift the amount listed or complete the full set. Modification is allowed. (Whew. You can now breathe.) Oh, but what's that? You have no one to push you through the exercises and make sure you do them correctly? Think again. Check out the site under “Start Here” for locations in your area that have facilities equipped with trainers ready to teach and people ready to learn. “I love it because it's very challenging, and when you finish it, you feel like you've accomplished something,” Rhodes noted. “Anyone who stays committed to it and maintains their diet will start to notice endurance and strength gains within the first few weeks--not to mention loss of inches.” Besides the plus of strength gains and loss of inches, isn't it always rewarding to try something new? Even though the handstand pushups and pull-ups that I will have to endure in the next workout won't feel rewarding at the time, the feeling I get when I proudly drop to the ground will be worth it all. So, what about you? You in?

-Mary Catherine Holcomb

Follow The Bocce Ball

AshleyCeaser — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:45:35 GMT

Bocce ball is a sport that does not receive enough recognition. It’s true that it doesn’t get your body sweating or your heart pounding, but to play it well requires skill, precision and concentration. And a little bit of pizza. Overall, it’s an inexpensive, easy to understand activity that is a great way to bond with friends and family. And any age can play.

I realized my new-found love for this sport a few days ago when I discovered a bocce ball center near where I lived. At first, I wasn’t that excited to try it, but a friend who had just played said she had a lot of fun, so I decided to give it a try.

I have to say bocce ball is a little harder than I thought. Like bowling, anyone can roll a ball. But the winning comes in the technique of throwing and rolling the weighted ball with precision. For those of you who may not be too familiar with the sport, the object of the game is to get your ball as close as possible to the small white one (the pallino), about 15 feet away. Each person has five tries and the closest to the pallino wins that round. The game can be played with 2, 4, or 8 players. I found that every little extra bit of force or movement of your throw ever so slightly to the left or right can have a big impact on where the ball goes. The game can get pretty competitive because a player can knock another ball away in order to gain a better position.

So roll up your sleeves, and go roll a ball or two. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I recommend you check out Campo di Bocce of Los Gatos (they also have a location in Livermore), California on their website.

-Ashley Ceaser

Women…Out from Under the Rug-by

AshleyAsquino — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:15:00 GMT

While pondering what I should write about this time around, it suddenly came to me…rugby! It’s not the sport in general that I want to write about; I want to look at the women’s side of it. I was trying to think of the people I know who have played rugby and I could only come up with male friends of mine. Although there are schools that have women’s rugby, I wasn’t quite sure about how popular the program is on Long Island. I decided to do some searching on the Internet and I came across the Suffolk Rugby website. Suffolk Rugby, better known as, “The Bull Moose Rugby Football Club,” plays rugby in and around Long Island, New York. The club is based in the town of Stony Brook and competes in the Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union. They have both women’s and men’s teams.

Suffolk Bull Moose started the women’s squad in the summer of 2004. With the help of local college players, and the support of women in the community, they competed well their first season. During the next two summers, the team grew and so did its credibility. In 2005, they officially joined the Metropolitan New York RFU and the club elected its first female president. Although they had minor setbacks with the coaching staff, resulting in many captain led practices, the team still grew closer together. They competed in one of the largest state-wide competition and although they may have lost, it was still a major accomplishment for the team to participate.

In my next blog, I hope to speak with some coaches who have been helping to make positive changes in women’s rugby. Rugby should no longer be considered a man’s sport because many of its fiercest competitors are women.

-Ashley Asquino

“Swinging” In The Zone

Delia.Glover — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:45:18 GMT

There are many major sporting events in Boston but two of the biggest are the Boston Marathon, which is not until May, and the Head of the Charles Regatta. I’ve always been fascinated by rowing. I’ve never done it, but I have friends who row.

I was talking to my friends a bit about the sport itself, then of course, the talk turned to the type of training we do, the many miles we run, and the types of workouts that augment our niche of athletics. We talked about the thrill of competition, and then they talked about swinging. Wait a minute. When did we go from competing in heated bouts of athleticism to playground games? They explained the “swing” of a boat is when things are going well and everyone pulls together.

The idea of swing connected with me as being “in the zone.” Every athlete knows that feeling. When you are running and “n the zone, you feel like you’re flying with your feet not touching the ground. When I am playing volleyball and in the zone, nobody can put a ball down on me. When I play lacrosse and am “n the zone, the goalie doesn’t stand a chance. There is no doubt about it. Being in the zone whether you’re swinging or flying, you feel that rare untouchable feeling.

But it is not just a state of mind. When any athlete is “in the zone,” all those hours of training, drill, and fundamentals come into focus. Physically, every muscle, every nerve and every brain wave come together giving you peak performance. But no matter how far “in the zone” I am, if I had not practiced my defensive fundamentals a million times, I wouldn’t be able to dig huge hitters. If you don’t spend the time training, you come out of the zone as quickly as you entered it. The many hours of hard work represent the difference between getting lucky and performing at a high level consistently whenever you enter the arena of play. Are you ready to be in the zone?

-Delia Glover

Keep the Game Alive

SarinaMorales — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:12 GMT

It’s the fastest growing sport in the United States and it’s women like Andrea Duran, who are keeping the sport alive. In 2012, softball will no longer be a part of the summer games. A hard hit for the game of softball, but not something that should keep women from participating in the sport all together.

“There’s still the national team!” Andrea says. “There’s more to be said for the sport outside college and we should keep high expectations for women who play softball.”

Andrea, in addition to her hard work and dedication to the game, is balancing her third base position for the National Team as well as her job as Director of Operations for her university softball team out in California.

Whether or not softball ever gets reinstated into the summer games, it’s a good sport to play in addition to whatever other athletics you are into. Throwing and catching a ball is great work for hand-eye coordination. Sprinting to the bases is a great workout for your hamstrings and core. Hitting a softball is awesome for working on your concentration, and is probably one of the best ways to get out some aggression. Go to a batting cage if you are stressed out. All I need is a good 30 minutes and I’m in good spirits.

It’s the different parts of the game that when brought together, can make you an overall better athlete. Andrea ran track and swam before choosing softball as her main sport. I played volleyball and basketball in the off-season. If nothing else, after watching this video, you will realize that softball is amazing simply because no other athlete can pull off the lawn mower better than Andrea Duran. I’ve been working on my moves in my free time.

-Sarina

FRIENDLY COMPETITION REAPS MAJOR BENEFITS

LisaLane — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:15:03 GMT

Will competition make you push yourself harder, train longer, and raise money? A campus organization found that the best way to raise money for their philanthropic organization that helps disabled children is to set up a week long event of exciting, intense competition!

Just about everyone loves to compete, and when at the end of the day winning means you helped someone else out, then there will be no sweeter victory. Victory in each game was not just about putting another “W” under your belt; it was about competing hard to make a difference in the life of a child.

Various student organizations signed up and paid an entry fee in hopes to bring awareness to an amazing cause. Not to mention, the competition is a huge mess of fun, intensity, spirit, and heart. Each event of the week brings out a different quality or trait that one must have when competing.

The week kicks off with a decorative "raid" in order to determine who has the spirit, creativity, and energy. These three elements are needed if the individual competitor will be able to last for the entire week! The second day is skit day! Every athlete must have a good personality and want to have fun. If you are playing and not having fun then you are not competing right!

The next day is when the athletic side of the competition kicks into high gear.

On day one of sports each team has to endure a blow up obstacle course, tug-a-war game, wheel-barrel race, sumo wrestling, and a blowup jousting competition. This is where you get to see which athlete has the required stamina, along with the inner drive to compete. Each game is of high intensity, but the athlete with the drive, heart, and right fitness level will come out on top of this day’s event.

The second to last day is the thrilling flag football tournament! Many teams hold practices before that, because if there is one day every team wants to win, it is this day. Single-game elimination really puts the pressure on to succeed, something every athlete has to be used to. Every game has to be your best game. The last athletic event is a single-elimination kickball tournament.

The final day is dedicated to actual fundraising. Here, the competitive edge of the athletic events is transferred to raising money for a very worthy cause. You can earn your most points on this day, because fundraising is the biggest factor in the game.

The best part about this highly spirited week is the fact that at the end of the day everyone wins. What matters most is you are making a difference and impacting another individual. This competition just goes to show that having love for the game and competition really has its benefits. There will never be a day when not one person is going to want to get out there and compete. So why not make it fun and compete for a good cause? Over the course of one week, thousands of dollars were raised for children with disabilities. The smile on the childrens'faces was the greatest victory of them all. We were all champions!

-Lisa Lane

What's Your Deal?

AshleyKoehn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:22:30 GMT

I’d like to think of myself as a savvy shopper. Whether is scouring the sale section for that perfect dress, ordering the “full portion” of pasta so I can have some left over for lunch (who am I kidding – for two hours later!) or running home from work to save train money...this recession has kicked my lust for deals in full gear!

Likewise, the state of the economy has also flourished TONS of FREE work-outs and classes! No gym membership? No problem!

You’ve probably been to or seen pictures of Chicago’s Bean – the silver bean shaped sculpture that attracts thousands of visitors a day – taking photos with the windy city skyline in the backdrop. Well, if you walk 50 paces east to Millennium Park on Saturday mornings, you’ll find FREE Yoga, Pilates and Martial Arts/Dance classes. Each week this summer, instructors from Lakeshore Athletic Club lead classes from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This past month, I finally traded my Saturday morning Triathlon practices and took the train downtown for FREE Pilates and Zumba (Latin Dance).

FREE workout.
FREE sunshine alarm clock.
FREE peace of mind to begin the weekend.
And although I went to the Farmer’s Market after class, and haaaad to pay for a local honey crisp apple and croissant, my stomach and bank account were both quite satisfied.

So what’s YOUR deal?! Search FREE workouts and classes in your area today!

Ashley Koehn

Nikewomen.com Featured Artist: AC Newman

SarinaMorales — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:55 GMT

He’s what the doctor prescribed. He paints a picture, he tells a story. AC Newman puts you in a place where you are “Just out of the woods and yelling down the mountains...” It’s carefree, it’s not going to weigh you down and puts you in healthy thought and contemplation.

AC Newman is such a delicious taste of pop music, that once you have one bite you’re going to want the whole plate. His music is pure substance. You’re getting your veggies, carbohydrates and proteins all on the same track. If you dare listen to the whole album, I’d say you’re much healthier than you were yesterday.

My favorite song on his solo album is Like a Hitman, Like a Dancer. I listen to it when I go on my long runs in the morning.

Like a hit man,
Oh, Like a dancer
All muscle.

In his cozy Brooklyn apartment, books wrap the walls, paintings bring color to the not so sunny days and his guitars are ready to be picked up to drown out the sound of busy traffic. I sat with him, sipping coffee realizing; I’d never had to leave his apartment to find inspiration. The shelves all have small pieces of art that shined from the light of the big windows. I felt at home. This calm and peaceful life comes through his music.

His latest album Get Guilty involves the sounds you want to hear when you ride your bike down by the river on a sunny day. He sets the tone for that time when you indulge in ice cream after a good softball game in the summer. He whistles, sings and plays with fun upbeat tunes that just get you in that perfect mood. Do yourself a favor and Get Guilty with the fun and lighthearted sounds of AC Newman.

-Sarina

For a limited time only download "Prophets" by A.C. Newman for free right here on Nikewomen.com

The Perfect Pair

SarinaMorales — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:00:11 GMT

Without yeast, your bread won’t rise. Without milk, you can’t eat your cereal. Why would you just have jelly without some good ol’ peanut butter? Did you ever see a runner, run without a good pair of sneakers? No! So it’s no surprise that figure skaters Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker make the perfect match.

They complement each other just like any other match made in heaven would. They fit so well together because they both train about six hours a day to capitalize on each other’s strengths. It’s an especially exciting time for the duo, because they are preparing for their first winter games competition!

Because Rockne is the foundation to Keauna’s tricks and twirls, his training includes tons of workouts specific to building muscle and staying flexible. Keauna’s off-ice training is drastically different from her counterpart, working on staying lean and light while also staying strong. Despite their very different off-ice training routines, when they take the ice together, it’s as if they were never separate.

Physically they are a perfect match as well as mentally. They put complete trust in one another. Keauna says Rockne is “like an older brother to me and I have complete trust in him to catch me whenever I get thrown.”

I know your probably thinking; why don’t these two just compete solo? It’s because they prefer to compete in pairs. There’s no question they are good alone, but why would you just have milk when you could add chocolate to it?

I see how much fun Keauna has getting tossed around on the ice, performing with someone else seems so much better than performing alone. Keauna noted it can get pretty lonely out there performing on your own, and who better than to have her “rock” skate with her to compete.

This year when your watching the 2010 winter games, look for the new peanut butter and jelly on the ice. They are one great pair that brings out the best in each other. A routine so tight, this couple is just right!

-Sarina

You Hit Like A Girl

MaryCatherineHolcomb — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:25:11 GMT

Six a.m. run? Check. One hour of Jiu-Jitsu? Check. One hour of wrestling? Check. One hour of kickboxing followed by fight session? Check. Time to relax? Not so much. “It takes a lot physically and mentally,” said 27-year-old mixed martial arts fighter Cynthia Breaux of Morgan City, LA. “We do a lot of training, and when you’re ready to stop, you can’t stop because you have to push yourself to keep going. You’ve got to come in here when you don’t feel like it and still have to come anyway even if you don’t feel good because the other person could be training and not taking any time off.” Spoken like a true fighter.

At first glance, Breaux doesn’t seem like she could knock around that many people due to her petite stature but that sure hasn’t stopped her from already capturing three MMA victories. In the beginning, all she was interested in was learning self-defense but soon the thrill of fighting became a passion of hers. But before she could jump into the ring, one person was slow to believe that she was ready for the grueling challenges that MMA fighting had in store for her Steve Miller, her trainer. Now her biggest supporter, Breaux’s trainer of the Morgan City FightHouse knew she was in it to win it after one convincing sparring session he had with her. And fighting with the boys is nothing new to Breaux. In fact, she said training with the guys is what makes her the winning fighter she is today because taking it easy on her is out of the question. Of course, everyone has their ups and downs, and Breaux is no different. Aside from the fact that she sometimes leaves her workout sessions with tear-streaked cheeks from physical and mental exhaustion, at times, food is one of her worst enemies.

“That’s the hard part, dieting,” laughed Breaux. “Before I started training, I was always in the gym and dieting, but when you start fighting you have to cut weight. Then after you cut weight, you want to eat like a pig. So, you eat like a pig and you gain some weight...It gets hard, but when I have a fight, I’m on a strict diet.”

Motivation. Discipline. Commitment. Desire. Four things that not many people have but four things you need to have in this line of work. And from the looks of it, once you taste the thrill of victory and realize all your hard work has paid off, nothing can stop you from wanting it again. The only person stopping you is yourself and obviously, Breaux isn’t backing down anytime soon.

“It’s like a big adrenaline rush and you keep a natural high for days and then you come down from it and you want that feeling again,” exclaimed Breaux. “So, it pushes you to train because you want that moment. This is my time to shine. My moment I worked hard for.” With an attitude like that, it looks like she’s going to have several more “moments” in the future. For more information about Breaux, contact Miller at the MC FightHouse by visiting its Website.

-Mary Catherine Holcomb

No Excuses

AllieLaForce — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:00:15 GMT

Every athlete knows there is no such thing as an “off season.” Competition is so fierce that there is no time for breaks. It is almost guaranteed that another athlete is working longer and harder, but what is all of the work for? The answer is simple: victory. The work is for that one moment, even the briefest of moments, when all of the pain, sweat, and tears are washed away by a feeling of achievement and pride. Victory can be emotional, physical or spiritual. It can be measure by a material object, like a gold medal, or it can be an internal sense of pride that helps you wake up every morning feeling like a million bucks. Either way, there is nothing like the feeling of victory and it wouldn’t feel nearly as good if it wasn’t the result of hard work, persistence, and dedication. The reason the feeling of victory is better than anything else in the world is because of the climb. Why do I think of the song “The Climb?” Probably because it has been on repeat on my iPod for weeks...yea so what! There will be challenges along the way and the road to victory will not always be easy, hence her lyrics “sometimes I’m gonna have to lose,” but victory tastes so sweet because of what you endure on the climb. It is so easy to say you will work harder and so challenging to actually follow through. Work, school, soreness, fatigue, a favorite TV show, can’t find a ride to the gym, too cold out...sound familiar? We have all used at least one of these excuses at some point in time and the question is how do we suck it up and JUST DO IT? Well I met with one special athlete who gave me some great advice.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet and interview Shelly Ann Fraser, Gold medalist and World Champion in the 100m dash. Shelly is the first Jamaican woman to win an gold medal in the 100m dash and the ONLY woman in history to have gold medals in the Games and the World Championships simultaneously. I know...I am lucky to even say hello to her let alone eat dinner and do an interview for Nike!

But anyways, aside from her accomplishments on the track, Shelly has overcome numerous challenges and shared with me how she manages to push herself in workouts as hard as she can every day. Shelly gets one month off during the entire year. During the other 11 months, she wakes up every morning, while still in school and heads to the track. The Jamaican heat can be intense. There is no guarantee that all of her hard work will pay off. Growing up, a precedent had never been set in her community to be the best. Many women Shelly grew up with became pregnant early and became fully consumed with raising a family and joining the work force without opportunities to further their education. What keeps her going? Along with her mother, who is the hardest worker she has ever met, Shelly uses inspirational quotes as a main source of motivation. Her bedroom walls, ceilings and furniture are entirely covered with markings of inspirational quotes and sayings that shoot straight to her heart. She frequently wakes up and wants to go back to sleep, but a glance at the wall or the ceiling is enough to get her going!

I am not encouraging you to write all over your bedroom because I don’t want you to get in trouble (I know I would!) but try hanging up your favorite phrases like Shelly does! My favorite saying is, “Your attitude determines your altitude.” Since meeting Shelly, I now have this quote on my phone, in my bedroom and on my computer so I am constantly reminded to look at the glass half full. It works for Shelly and it is working out for me pretty well. Give it a shot! I got to watch the video of Shelly winning gold at the World Championships and we have all seen or been a part of a similar experience. I can promise you there is nothing greater in the world than the feeling of victory. Hard work is worth it. Plus, the harder you work the luckier you get...so get to the gym and JUST DO IT!

-Allie LaForce