Welcome 2007!

I hope your year is off to a fantastic start. If you made resolutions, I hope you are making progress toward acheiving each and every one of them. If you're having trouble getting or staying motivated, it might be because resolutions tend to be negative statements: I will quit..., I will lose..., I will not... rather than positive affirmations: I can..., I have..., I do...

This may seem obvious, but our thoughts are powerful little buggers and our subconscious mind doesn't have the good sense to discern between the junk we tell ourselves - "I can't do that", "I'm not smart enough", That's way too hard" and the juicy bits - "I'm completely capable of doing anything I set out to do", "I am happy with who I am", I am getting better every day and in every way".

To be honest, only in the past month have I made a "conscious" effort to practice positive affirmations. I have, however, always tried to keep from giving myself negative messages. I try not to put myself down, even in jest. Just like a small stream that over time erodes a valley through a mountain range, negative self-talk erodes our self-confidence and sense of self-worth.

I encourage you to pause for a few minutes while you're reading this and think about areas in your life where you're struggling. Try to focus on the three areas (there must be some reason why we always pick three...) that are currently giving you the most trouble. It might be your finances, your appearance, your health, your self-confidence or whatever, but take 5 or 10 minutes to think about the areas you most want to improve. An example of a powerful affirmation might sound something like this, "I feel great now that I am at my ideal weight of 120 lbs."

Then, take some sticky notes, index cards, or gum wrappers and write out an affirmation for each area. Just one for each area. You might even want to make two copies, especially if you chew a lot of gum. Keep one in your car and the other on your nightstand or in the bathroom - somewhere where you have a few minutes each day of quiet time to yourself. Read the cards over several times and if you can, say them out loud. Try to do this at least twice a day - preferably more. If you can only manage twice a day, then try to do it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Be consistent and don't worry about whether it's working or not. Even if it doesn't, what've you got to lose?

Looking for a Few Good...

Q: What makes you sweat and moan, keeps you up at night, makes you sigh with exhaustion and cry with relief and typically involves other people? (Uh huh, I thought so. Shame on you!)

A: Adventure racing, of course!

Q: What exactly is an adventure race?

A: It is a multi-sport, outdoor challenge that typically incorporates running/trekking, off-road biking, paddling, orienteering, and ropes work.

Q: Is it the same as an eco-challenge?

A: The “Eco-challenge” race you may have heard about or watched on television is just one example of an adventure race.

While most adventure races incorporate running/trekking, off-road biking, paddling, and orienteering (without the aid of GPS), ropes work and/or climbing, no two adventure races are exactly the same. You never know what to expect and this can be one of the most interesting aspects of the sport. Past races have included everything from horses to hang-gliding, rafts to rollerblades.

Typically and traditionally, they are team events and may require you to remain within a few hundred feet of all your teammates at all times; otherwise, you risk loosing points. The team dynamic can be the most challenging and rewarding aspect of the race – especially for athletes who are used to winning or losing based solely on their own efforts. You may have heard the expression that you're only a strong as your weakest link and this is certainly true for adventure racing. Races can range in length from 2 hours to 11 days although most are somewhere in between; generally, the longer the event the more skills required.

Adventure races are also an opportunity for self- discovery. They take you out of your comfort zone and into a state of physical and mental exhaustion. In unfamiliar surroundings and situations, racers often uncover strengths and weaknesses never before encountered.

If you want to get your feet wet (and probably much more), the West Central Florida Adventure Racing Club (WeCeFAR) is hosting an Adventure Racing Camp February 3 & 4, 2007, in the Withlacoochee State Forest outside of Brooksville, Florida. Not only will you learn about canoeing/kayaking, mountain biking, trail running, map and compass navigation, teamwork and crisis management, race nutrition and equipment, but you’ll also have the opportunity to participate in a “mini” adventure race where the emphasis will be on learning rather than competing. (I'm planning to attend, so if anyone is interested in car-pooling, get in touch and we'll work out the details.)

If you enjoy mountain biking (or off-road riding as it should be called in Florida since we have no mountains), hiking, kayaking and/or canoeing, you would probably enjoy adventure racing. Even if you are not in it to win (and many aren't), the challenge and camaraderie is worth the sweaty brows, the moans of exhaustion, the sleepless nights, the sighs of relief, and the tears of joy.