Yesterday, I spoke about the Epic 5 event that I'm involved in with 2 additional Nike Team members.  What I neglected to mention is that as a team we are going to do everything we can to help finish the event.  This may mean that we won't be strict in our leg assignments i.e. Patty won't always be the only cyclist and Kelly the only runner.  Ok, I'm being strict as I'm going to be the only swimmer.  However, if the team needs help on the running leg…I'll be there…I think. 

I'm not much of a runner.  I ran two 5k races 4 years ago.  And then I promptly hung up my running shoes.  They have taken on a second career as lawn mowing shoes.  My athletic trainer heaved a big sigh of relief.  She was thankful that I was no longer a runner.  Fast forward to a week ago and this conversation:  Continue Reading »

A few months ago I was introduced to a new Nike athlete, Jason Lester.  Now Jason is a pretty amazing guy.  He is an ultraendurance athlete with a never say die attitude.  Naturally I was intrigued when he asked if I would like to participate as a relay in his EPIC 5 event.  Here I go again saying "ABSOLUTELY!"  before I really know what I've gotten myself into. 

Fast foward and we are a week away from the starting line of the EPIC 5 event.  What is EPIC 5 you ask?  Take and Ironman (2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking, and 26.2 miles running).  Do that every day 5 days in a row.  Then to really shake it up…do it on 5 different Hawaiian Islands.  HUH?  Yes, an Ironman, 5 days in a row, on 5 different Hawaiian islands.  Of course the EPIC 5 kicks off on May 5th.  Many might say there are better ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, say a beach and a margarita, but where is the challenge in that.  To learn more about EPIC 5, please visit www.Epic5.com.

Over the last few months, I've been trying to convince some other Nike employees to join me on this crazy adventure.  Surprisingly it wasn't that difficult.  First I reached out to a cycling and triathlete friend, she mentioned that it was crazy and then promptly gave me the name of another runner/triathlete.  And thus Team Nike was formed.  We are the only relay in the event and the only women.  If you are stuck on the only relay component, yes there are 5 other ultraendurance athletes that are doing the event solo.  See we aren't as crazy as those guys.

So team formed we now needed to get our entry fee covered.  We would worry about the flights to Hawaii later.  With much support from Nike and the Athlete's Lounge in Portland our entry fee came together late last week.  Nothing like cutting it close.  Plus we had help reaching out to Hawaiian Airlines and our bag and bike fees are covered as well.  That left flights to Hawaii.  Thus far they are funded by ourselves, but we have hopes some other anonymous donor will come through.  (Note:  If this is you, please reach out and I would love to chat!)

With entry fee paid and team put together…oh wait I haven't introduced my rocking team members.  Patty Smaldone, cyclist, skier, triathlete, all around adventure racer extraordinarie.  And Kelly McKean, runner, triathlete, cross country skier, etc.  As you can see I'm not the utility player on this team. 

Ok with entry fee covered and team put together, we knew we wanted to fundraise as well.  We selected the wonderful organization called The Girl Effect which is supported by the Nike Foundation.  The Girl Effect wants to empower millions of adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world.  One Girl, one Family, one Community and one Nation at a time.  That's the Girl Effect.  Its AMAZING!  See the video below, it knocked my socks off…wait I don't wear socks.  Oh well, watch the video anyways.

The Clock is Ticking – The Girl Effect

To make a donation to the Girl Effect and support Team Nike, please do the following:

Visit: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/girl-effect-fund/.  You will be asked to either create a log in or use your Facebook account.  If Girl Effect doesn't show up, do a simple search for "Girl Effect."  It will come up.  Select your donation amount.  Please add a note in the "In Honor Of" field and put in EPIC 5 – TEAM Nike.  We appreciate your support.

If you are a Nike employee, please go through the Nike WE giving portal to make a donation.  Perform a search for Team Nike – EPIC 5.  Similar instructions to those above.  Again please remember to put in Honor of EPIC 5 – Team Nike.

So want to follow us on this EPIC journey.  Well there are so many ways that you can:

- Via EPIC 5 website: http://www.epic5.com/live  Each athlete will have GPS on them. 

- Via Twitter – MacySwim

- Via blog – www.macyswim.com -  This is probably the least updated as it will be after the event and really late at night and if I can get off the bed from a day of racing to make the update.  Rest assured that I will do my best!

As part of my training, I do cross training.  Not the best part of my day as I try to navigate the whole world of land sports.  There is pilates, which after 2 years I've sort of figured out without launching myself off the reformer, not that I haven't made some very valient attempts at these types of dismounts.  Then there is my functional training class.  My trainer for this class keeps switching things up every 6 months or so, which means that I can't quite ever get my footing.

It was just such a day last Thursday when Lynette pulled out the bosu balls.  I have an extreme distaste for these pieces of exercise equipment and of course the person that invented these torture devices.  Rather than using this as individual torture devices, Lynette had us put these into a fun circle of hell for the whole class.  Ok maybe it was only a circle of hell for me.  Now rather than my own personal discourse with the bosu ball, I would have to contend with one of my classmates chasing me from behind.  AWESOME!  Continue Reading »

I know I said what happens in Vegas, but I need to share this.  Be very cautious as you go back onto your regular diet.  Going to Vegas where there is decadance in every aspect of life even food.  Do not go big or go home is my advice.  I did not feel good at all.  There were headaches, stomach aches, muslce pain, etc.  You name it I was experiencing it.  I'm  blaming it all on the food to.  It didn't help that I also brought in the foods that I was already teseted to be sensative to.    Let's just say I didn't go about it in a smart way and I'm hoping that one person can learn from my mistake.  Let's just say I'm definitely back on the wagon…except the sugar.  Dang it.

So yes, I've completely found that I forgot to finish writing about my detox program. 

I thought that this week would be one of the easiest due to the drinking of salt water.  I've had plenty of practice with gulping salt water on my swims.  Drinking a small shot of salt water would be a cinch. Not so, I ended up doing a really good impression of that crusty cat in the Opus comic strip.  ACcckk  Pffflt!  It was almost like coughing up a hairy ball.  I know I would have lost my stomach contents if there were any in there.  Perhaps this is the real reason that I have to take these shots first thing in the morning.

Once I made it through the first day, I was prepared for the gag reflex that was quickly accommpanied by the salt water hitting my empty stomach.  Nothing else really to report as the detox program came to a close.  I will be definitely be trying to keep up the recommended water intake as I've found I really enjoy how that is making me feel.  I would love to say that I could maintain the low sugar and the minimal/no wheat.  However, I'd totally be lying.  I guess I will see how this all goes when foods start coming back into my diet next week.  I'm will be in Las Vegas next week for work and perhaps this is the perfect place to go off my detox wagon.  As they say "what happens in Vegas."

Overall rating of a detox program:  Well worth the time and effort as I do feel better.  I'd definitely recommend it to a friend.

While my friends are out of town, they’ve let me relax at their house.  I’m currently a little transient in my living situation, which another quick tip…don’t do this.  As my dad likes to say I’m squatting in an apartment.  I have an air mattress and a camping chair.  No real cooking supplies available so eating out or pawning myself off on friends.  This is not easy or fair to friends while going through a detox, unless you managed to con a friend into doing it with you like I have. 

So back to my friend's house, I’m starting to create my sole drink.  Apparently “sole” refers to the Celtics believing that all life originated in the ocean.  Ok I buy that.  And then there are the Germans the word “sole” is derived from the Latin word “sol”, which means sun.  Now I didn’t think German derived from Latin, but I’m not a language specialist.  Apparently these are better thoughts around the sole drink than my line of thinking in which “sole” means the bottom of your foot or shoe.  I hope that this isn’t an indication of what is in store. Continue Reading »

Seriously having trouble getting all the liquid in.  I have failed more than I like to admit.  I’m supposed to consume about 1 gallon of liquid a day including the cranberry drink.  That is a lot of liquid!

Val’s finally moved off of week 1 and the Satan’s brew torture into week two.  I think she likes being behind a week as now I’m the sacrificial cow going to slaughter first.  Here are her thoughts on week 2, as she starts to limit dairy and wheat.   Continue Reading »

I don’t love oatmeal.  Yet here I am 16 days into a detox program getting my oatmeal card punched at the check out line at the cafe at work.  I guess it is a good thing that work has some oatmeal program going on.  I don’t know what the oatmeal program is about, but I’m doing it.  I found that if a put a bottle of cinnamon on my oatmeal I don’t need sugar, as my body seems to attribute cinnamon with sweet items.  I also can pretend I’m eating a cinnamon oatmeal cookie.  I’m hopeless I know. 

Today I happened to be wearing a sparkly pink tank top.  Sometimes you just need a little sparkle in your life, even if it does come from your clothes.  I think it caught some of my coworkers and friends off guard.  One of my friends just started laughing in the elevator as she choked out “I don’t see you as a sequins person.”  I responded that I like to keep people guessing.  Perhaps besides detoxing my body I also need some work on my wardrobe.  Mental note taken.  Continue Reading »

I had to take an unexpected trip back to Minnesota the weekend leading into week 3.  I went back to help my Pops pack up a house.  My recommendation as you go through the detox program.  Do not travel someplace that you have favorite restaurants that you won’t be able to go to!  Continue Reading »

I  find myself really getting the hang of this drinking your body weight in water.  In fact, I think I’m starting to adjust as I don’t have to be less than 30 seconds away from a bathroom.  However, this may also do to the fact that my salt intake may have gone up.  I think I’ve replaced potato chips for bread.  Not a great substitute I know. 

Did you know that potato chips have added sugar as an ingredient?  Ok, I had no clue.  Only the Lay’s Ruffles brand seemed to be just potato, oil and salt.   For the record, I didn’t check every bag of potato chip.  I ran like I was being chased by an angry mob of healthy detox rebels after I found one bag that didn’t include sugar.  I then crammed them in my mouth to hide the evidence.  In my defense, I did choose a small bag of chips. 

I call that progress.