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As we continue to evolve the notion of a healthy and fit lifestyle via Health is Wealth road cycling team, we partner with companies and individuals that support or otherwise contribute to improving health and fitness while supporting our Value Proposition of Sustainability with Mean Purpose & Intention. Health is Wealth continues to aggregate companies that offer products and services that provide
nutritional value, exercise options, and other nuggets that add value to
one's lifestyle.
That being understood, everyone has the opportunity to take charge of their health. It is easier than one thinks. It begins with being Aware of all that one does, stands for and intends. As well, Think Good Thoughts. Thoughts Become Things.
NEWS NEWS NEWS
This just in: Our very own, Max Mack was on Sacramento & Company, KXTV-TV 10 to highlight the importance of American River Parkway etiquette and safety. Click on
You will see that Arbonne International provides quality, organic, pure, natural products for skin and nutrition. Ron Kehoe of Twenty-Twenty Eyes is expert at crafting eye glass solutions that are customized to your way of life. We too are grateful to further the message of Exercise Is Medicine, an organization that "Calls on physicians to assess and review every patient's physical activity program at every visit."
Many of you already participate in an exercise or athletic regime that is keen to you, that's the outside. And that is great. This is only half the formula. Total health and fitness comes from the inside as well. Nutrition is key. However, if one is to experience marked improvement one must clean the internal slate of toxins that have built up in and surrounding our organs, and the like. We have discovered Arbonne's HealthyLIVING--a four week detox & cleanse program to take you to the next level of your respective efforts. BID FOR A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Well,it has taken me a bit to report on my efforts at Nationals. I felt I needed to process the experience to detach from the events. So, when I arrived in Louisville, Kentucky, Wednesday, two days prior to the road race on Friday, it was about 115 degrees with the heat index; I knew the days ahead would be a challenge. Indeed they were. Having reassembled my bike from its storage, and subsequent inspection from TSA, I rolled around the area to get a feel for the streets and environmental conditions. I felt comfortable and confident that all would be well. To say the least, I was in for a tough day's work for the road race with my competition and the humidity.
Pinned up and ready to race on Friday, I arrived with a plan to stay with the lead group to the end, and this I did, albeit with cramped legs from lap six of eleven to the bitter end. I mean I cramped where I have not cramped before! Nonetheless, I managed to stay with the lead riders as we lapped a group that we dropped earlier, only to pay the price of not being able to match the acceleration of the lead riders as they hit it on the last lap of the 55 mile, rolling hill contest. I settled to roll in to finish some 4 minutes off the lead group. For only doing one road race prior, districts at that, I was satisfied with this finish. However, in retrospect, a few more road races during the season would have netted me better results, perhaps top five. Next year for sure.
Limping back to the hotel some six miles away, with legs still cramping with every moderate acceleration, I kept positive thoughts as to how I would recover and contest the next day's criterium, my specialty. Showered, shampooed and shined, I sought out good food and plenty of rest. Gratefully, I woke up with a feeling of confidence and eagerness to win/race. This was a good indicator for my psyche and body. I rode the three or so miles across the Ohio River into Indiana (otherwise known as Kentuckiana) to the flat 1KM race course, feeling ready and eager to compete.
I lined up with the sixty-odd competitors and was calm and ready to manage the four-corner course covering 40KM. I managed the race confidently, not stretching beyond my threshold at any time as breakaways and attacks came and went. I had no idea how fast we were going until I started to see guys who lined up with me, off the side of the course with their day being done! I felt just fine. By midway through the contest, I was thinking of how I would sprint for the win! Yeah, I felt that good.
With six or seven laps to go, a rider took turn one too fast, unecessisarily, and crashed, taking out about four riders. I was just behind this and avoided the carnage and managed to chase to the lead group of eight who were ahead of the crash. We soon were caught by the main group and things began to get hectic with three laps to go. Guys were taking risks to stay near the front and I maintained a top ten position throughout it all. With one lap to go, we somewhat stalled at the start/finish line, looking around to see who would be leading the eventual winner and other podium winners to the line.
An attack came up the right side just before turn one and I jumped into sixth wheel. Entering into turn two we were at speed, some 30mph. A rider slid up past me on the left as we, all in line, leaned into the turn. As the rider who slid up past me hit the apex of the turn, he slid out and was perpendicular to me. Being committed to the lean through the turn, I had three choices: lean deeper and potentially slide out as well; over-correct and possibly high-side and crash; or use him as a ramp and roll over him to land on the other side of him to continue on. I chose to roll over him like a ramp. The result was not as expected. I was launched into the air, pitching sideways onto my left and landed with a thud and slid face first toward the street curb. At the last second I put chin to chest and hit the curb with the front of my helmet! End of race for me.
All that notwithstanding, I had a great time and was merely inspired to podium in both events in 2011. Thank you to all of you that supported my efforts: Vellum Cycles (Frank); Photosource (Michael); Arbonne (Barbara); Twenty-Twenty Eyes (Ron); NuuN Active Hydration (Renee); Sarah; La Trattoria Bohemia (Mark); City Bicycle Works (Bowen and Rick).
P.S. Louisville, Kentucky is a keen place to visit. There are some very cool people who are making it a more cultural place to be. Some very nice restaurants, pubs (Andrea, thanks for your service and advice on the other amenities), cafes. We will see y'all again. Thanks for your hospitality.
Race Results - LodiFEST Criterium 10th
- 4th of July Criterium 3rd
- Nevada City Classic 11th
- Tour de Nez--Northstar at Tahoe Circuit Race 5th
- Tour de Nez--Reno Cirterium 6th
- ICCC Dash for Cash 1st
- Memorial Day Criterium 4th
- Folsom Criterium 1st
- Golden State Race Series: (4th place Circuit Race; 6th place Criterium) overall 3rd
- Scotts Valley Grand Prix 6th
- Masters State Criterium Championship 2nd
- Cat's Hill Classic 3rd
- Sea Otter Classic-Circuit Race 12th
- Sea Otter Classic-Criterium 3rd
JUNE 2010 The weekend of June 18-20 was filled with high altitude competition in Reno, NV; Northstar at Tahoe, CA; and a leveling off at the 50th Anniversary of the Nevada City Classic! Max placed 6th in the Reno Criterium on Friday, 5th in the Northstar Circuit Race, and a 11th at the extremely difficult Nevada City Classic! As well as Max has been doing at sea level, he was put to task all three days. Altitude notwithstanding, Max faced off with the State's best and was grateful to have a "good showing."
Health is Wealth will be taking a week off to recover from a intensive weekend and month. Health is Wealth will be ramping up for key races in July: Davis 4th of July Criterium, Oakland Gran Prix, Lodi Cycle Fest, Watsonville Criterium, Berkeley Criterium, Carson/Minden Criteirum. All this in preparation for Nationals in Kentucky. Whoo! Hoo!
Coming off the previous weekend with a WIN at the Folsom Criterium and an extremely close bid for 2nd or 3rd (which he took 4th by half a wheel to 3rd place, Larry Nolan of Team Specialized and half a bike length to 2nd place, Steve Gile of VOS) at the Memorial Day Criterium in Morgan Hill, Max was more than ready to take on the competitors at the 19th Annual ICCC Dash for
Cash in Pleasanton, CA on Saturday, June 5th.
Realizing that this was a strategic event with guys going for the win each lap (first across the line on each lap wins $10.), Max kept a tight grip on the front of the field as individuals went for lap wins throughout the contest. To test his end game, Max rolled off for a lap win and felt confident he would podium; Max wanted the win. As the race wound down, a couple of riders got off the front with five or so laps to go and Max bid his time to let other team's riders close the gap, bringing back the escapees. Once brought back by big time work from Rich Juarez of VOS, Max was set up nicely in fourth wheel with one lap to go.
Coming out of turn three, Max got to third wheel on the left side of the course and then jumped to the break happening on the right side behind strong men Steve Gregorios of Edge and Steve Gile of VOS. Hitting the final corner of this four corner course, Max kept a tight line on the two and as they drifted to the right as they were sprinting, Max paused and launched his sprint on their left side and came across the line with another solid WIN.
Look forward to seeing you all out there!
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CORPORALITA
Corporalita comes from one of the many aspects of Leonardo da
Vinci. In the chapter, "Corporalita: The cultivation of grace,
ambidexterity, fitness, and poise", of his book, "How to Think Like
Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day," Michael Gelb
describes da Vinci's practices and attitudes about wellness and physical
fitness. He invites us to explore and apply many principles.
Self-Care "DaVinci believed that we should accept personal
responsibility for our health and well-being" (page 194).
I was pretty thrilled to read
this, considering my own passion for self-care and my belief in our
personal role in our own health and wellness. Years after quitting
smoking and adopting daily rituals of self-care, I can now truly say
that self-care is a way of life for me. A way of life that keeps me
healthier and happier than I've ever been before!
Self-care requires two basic
beliefs. If you don't believe them yet, pretend until you do. The first
belief is that it doesn't matter what other people might be thinking
about us — that's their problem. When pleasing other people becomes more
important than our own health, we'll always be out of sync with our
self-care goals.
The second, and possibly the most challenging, is the belief
that we deserve to be healthy and well. Until we do, we'll always find
ways to sabotage our efforts.
Adopting these beliefs can feel very foreign after years of
being controlled by people-pleasing tendencies and by feelings of low
self-worth.
A
great place to start is recognizing when you're reacting to those old
beliefs. Make an effort to shift things, in the moment, and try on more
healing beliefs and healthier habits.
In Gelb's self-assessment, he asks us whether we're "aware of
the ways in which my physical state affects my attitudes", and,
consequently, whether we're "aware of the ways in which my attitudes
affect my physical state" (page 196), bringing us to da Vinci's next
principle.
“DaVinci
believed that we should accept personal responsibility for our health
and well-being.”
Mind/body connection. da Vinci obviously believed strongly in
the mind-body connection. We know from the Law of Attraction that, "what
you focus on, grows". A positive attitude and beliefs (including the
two I mention above), healthy and supportive relationships and a sense
of personal empowerment can all do wonders for your physical health.
Be aware of the language that
you use for health issues. Are you fighting an illness (conjures images
of combat, anger, struggle, winning versus losing) or are you
encouraging health (conjures images of nourishment, blooming, healing,
radiating, glowing)?
If you're tempted to focus on something that hurts (maybe your
neck is sore after a long day on the computer), you can focus instead
on being grateful that the rest of your body is healthy and well enough
to carry you around through the day.
When you're sick, talk and act as if you're getting healthier
by the moment. Because you are! Focusing on what you're growing into
(health) and not what you're growing out of (illness) keeps you more
positive and keeps things moving in the right direction.
Mindful
Eating — "Don't eat, dine." da Vinci's
approach to physical health was simple and full of common sense —
balanced physical activity that included aerobic, strength and
flexibility exercises, emotional wellness, balance and moderation.
He also touted mindful eating
(making dining a pleasurable and sensual experience, one to enjoy and
savour), and suggested the best time to stop eating is JUST BEFORE you
feel full. That's a lot easier to do if you're paying attention while
you're eating!
Think back to the last time you ate a meal among purposefully
chosen surroundings — soothing music or positive conversation to listen
to, delectable aromas to smell hours before your meal, pleasant colours
and textures surrounding your eating area and delicious, fresh,
wholesome and natural foods to taste and savour.
Quite different from how many
of us eat — on the run or standing up, listening to chatter or the
depressing television news, and surrounded by stacks of unopened mail,
business folders, laundry or whatever else happens to have landed in our
dining space.
Body awareness. We spend much of our time in our brains, rarely
tuning into what's carting them around and keeping them safe. Breathing
exercises and other mind-body practices are simple pathways to body
awareness. Tuning in to your breath can be grounding in moments of
stress and anxiety, or as a way of enjoying positive moments on an even
deeper level.
The Body Remembers. When we perform actions repeatedly, the
body remembers them. I notice this when my fingers dance over the keys
when I type the URL to my website, or when I get through playing a song
on the guitar while I was so focused on my client I didn't even realize
I'd changed chords. I see this also in my elderly music therapy clients;
I once a spent a joyful few minutes observing a woman knit
effortlessly, when just a few minutes earlier she was sitting
motionless, staring blankly and not responding to my greeting. Her hands
just knew what to do when the knitting needles were placed there. Her
body remembered.
Ambidexterity. da Vinci also stressed the importance of
developing ambidexterity — the ability to perform tasks equally well
using both hands. As a piano student, my two hands had to do a lot of
similar things — the left hand didn't get a break just because I'm right
handed!
And
I believe that as a result of those early piano experiences (I've
played from the age of 5), I do have limited ambidexterity. I notice
that when I perform some tasks (kitchen jobs, throwing and catching a
baseball, bowling, etc.), it's sometimes difficult to determine which
hand is stronger. And sometimes it's the opposite of the one it's
"supposed" to be.
The drum kit was another instrument that I studied that allowed
me to explore ambidexterity. It was always much easier to do if I just
"forgot" that my right hand was supposed to be stronger, and just
relaxed and let the music and rhythm come through me.
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2010 Race Schedule February 7th Cherry
Pie Criterium Napa 21st Ronde
Van Brisbeen Crit Brisbane
March 6th Merco
Downtown Grand Prix Merced 7th Merco
Foothills Road Race 20th Bariani
Road Race Zamora 21st Land Park Criterium Sacramento
April 3rd Copperopolis
Road Race Milton 10th Napa
River Velo Gran Prix Napa 15-16 Sea
Otter Classic Monterey 18th Santa
Cruz Classic Criterium Santa
Cruz 25th Wente
Vineyards Crit Livermore May 1st Mike's
Bikes Cat's Hill Classic Los
Gatos 2nd Mstrs District Crit Champ Pleasanton 8th 1st
Annual PG&E Criterium Livermore 15th Modesto
Downtown Crit Modesto 16th Sacramento
Grand Prix Sacramento 22nd Golden
State Criterium Rancho
Cordova 23rd Golden
State Circuit Race Rancho
Cordova 29th Bikes
Plus/Sierra Nevada Crit Folsom 30th Auburn
Downtown Criterium Auburn 31st Memorial
Day Criterium San
Jose June 5th Dash
for Cash Pleasanton 6th Butterfly
Criterium Pacific
Grove 13th Cytomax
Benicia Criterium Benicia 16-19 Tour
de Nez Reno,
NV 20th Nevada
City Bicycle Classic Nevada
City 26th Corporate
Center Criterium Santa
Rosa 27th Burlingame
Criterium Burlingame
July 4th Davis
Fourth of July Crit Davis 5th Oakland
Grand Prix Oakland 11th Downtown
Lodi Cycle Lodi 17th Watsonville
Criterium Watsonville 18th Berkeley
Bike Club Criterium Albany 24th Diamond Valley Road Race Woodfords 25th Carson
Minden Criterium Minden
August 1st Timpani
Criterium Santa
Clara 6th Masters National Criterium Indiana 7th Masters National Road Race Kentucky 8th Patterson
Pass Road Race Tracy 14th Dunnigan
Hills RR Yolo 15th Suisun
Harbor Criterium Suisun 21st 2-Wheel
Racing Criterium Rohnert
Park 22nd University
Road Race Santa
Cruz 28th Winters
Road Race Winters 29th Vacaville
Gran Prix Vacaville
September 6th Giro
di San Francisco S.F. 11th Folsom
Cyclebration Crit Folsom 12th Folsom
Cyclebration Circuit Race Folsom
Flexibility.
Speaking of relaxing —
flexibility
training, such as stretching and some types of yoga, can be a wonderful
mind-body workout. Tuning into the muscles and body parts that you're
strengthening and stretching is a wonderful way to also tune in to the
body.
There's
strength inherent in flexibility. A strength that is pliable and
resilient in it's very nature; not at all rigid.
And I think this flexibility,
this resilience, is at the very heart of a life of self-care, health and
wellness. It's being strong enough to say, "No" when "No" is what needs
to be said. It's being strong enough to stop and change your behaviour
when you see you're stuck in an old unhealthy way of living. It's being
resilient enough to start again after a slip, and it's being flexible
enough to let go of controlling diets and strict regimens.
da Vinci taught us that to
take care of our bodies, we can adopt a series of common-sense
practices. I invite you to join me in a life of simple self-care, just
carrying on and making one healthy choice after another. •
© Linda Dessau, 2006
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