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mrskater — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:42:22 +0000

Never give up on your ADD child!!! (Helping struggling youth with ADD)

mrskater — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:56:10 +0000

See the beneath posting…I tangented from training to helping struggling youth with ADD.

When the going gets tough…

mrskater — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:54:24 +0000

the tough get a routine.

It’s back to boot camp for me. Apparently, my inner coach wants more structure and organization in my day so I don’t fall off the bandwagon again.

So here I am, just after sunrise, I’ve done my meditation, Pilates, and a serious stretching routine, and I’m about to hit the trails. It’s another fun day in paradise, and I’m hoping to continue putting humpty-dumpty back together again.

Today’s training shouldn’t be anything spectactular…likely the same as yesterday with a little running on the stairstepper and swimming to boot. I’ll go easier on the ride too. I let myself open it up just a bit yesterday (chasing a few cars down a hill at over 40 ) today I’ll take it a little saner…I have to be disciplined (a big ADD challenge) and go slow now to go fast later.

I must say…I have a feeling others won’t like the movie Stick It…but from where I’m coming from, this movie is PERFECT!!!

Oh…perhaps I should address a call I had with a mother about her ADD son recently…11 year old boy struggling with big discipline problems and a bad attitude. Everyone wants to give up on him, thinking it’s him, not ADD. You know what kills me…

First, no one should ever give up on a child…ever, ever, ever. Forget about the grades…focus on his/her self esteem. Help them to feel good about themselves, no matter what. Grades don’t matter in the greater scheme of things…and the kid’s only 11!!! If he/she is happy about him/herself he’ll do great in life…if he feels crappy (even with good grades) it won’t matter.

Secondly, it sounds like the people around him (doc’s, counselors, and teachers) don’t have a clue about ADD. They come from a fairly rural area, and I’ve seen this a bunch before. Help from people who don’t understand ADD is worse than no help at all. It makes you (or the child, AND the parent) feel stupid, incompetent and helpless, when that’s far from the case…a child who’s incorrigible is often not a discipline problem at all, and certainly NOT a moral failing…they’re just trying to survive…it’s their coping mechanism you’re seeing in gear.

Realize these children are likely brilliant, it’s just their focus hasn’t caught up with their minds…Picture trying to drive a Ferrari in NYC traffic…with the heavy clutch and trigger-happy throttle, you’d quickly go insane, and likely overheat the motor.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ADD

Find experts who understand.

Protect your child’s self-esteem.

Help them find a sport or activity they excel at (and can feel good about).

Don’t sweat the grades.

Surround them with positive people who empower them. (This may mean switching teachers, schools, school-systems, or whatever it takes).

As a parent, realize, you’ll need to push through a 504 or IDEA or any other kind of plan…don’t expect others to follow-through or even call you back. You’ll have ride this horse, but gently so you can create a “team” atmosphere with the teachers, rather than build a wall of resistance.

Is it fair?

No.

Is it right?

No.

Is it necessary?

Yes.

Fight for your child.

Never give up.

Never stop believing in him.

And watch him succeed.

Well, I’m out of here. Yes, me, Michael, the student my mom was told at her first parent/teacher conference was “the worst student we’ve ever had in our (32 years) of teaching experience.”

I couldn’t focus. I didn’t have the glasses for my brain to slow down the Ferrari mind and see the world around me.

Once I did, I had the on-ramp to the autobahn, and then that Ferrari could fly.

Believe in your kids and never, ever give up. NO MATTER WHAT!!!

I’m back.

mrskater — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:08:30 +0000

I’m watching “STICK IT” a movie about a tough girl and a comeback in gymnastics…They’re talking about how hard they’re training, and I realize it’s 9 at night and I’m just finishing my training for the day.

I’ve had a hard time writing this blog lately, or writing in general. I’ve been in a quiet, hard place, trying to squeeze through and get all gears firing again.

Today I finally had one of the rides I imagined I’d be having. It wasn’t anything spectactular…but if I survive (we’ll see in two days) it was an amazing feat.

I’ve been gradually building again. I’m up to 90 minutes of hiking a day (steep rocky up and downhills). I”m doing 60 minutes of riding a day (today had a 2 mile climb up Boulder Canyon). I’m doing 30 to 40 minutes of swimming 4 days a week, 30 minutes of pilates 7 days a week, balance work daily, weight-lifting twice a week, and 2-3 hours of stretching daily.

It’s really only a start for where I need to be, but I can feel it coming. The biggest challenge now is to GO SLOW, build even more slowly, and to keep working on my mental game. It’s been slipping. For the last 3 days I’ve been at a 4 month low…I’ve had a big backslide; but I think it’s turning around now.

On that note, I’m going to meditate now, then head to bed. I’m working on getting my morning wake-up call back to 4 in the morning so I can have a full day’s training in by 9, and then REALLY get the day going.

To anyone who’s following this blog, thanks for reading, and sorry I’ve been MIA…this has been a MUCH tougher road than expected. There are two ways to go about it. One is to shred my body to pieces and comeback halfway, followed by a series of overuse injuries from an out-of-whack, out-of-balance body…the other is to treat this comeback as a full-time job, and take my body (and it’s challenges) seriously, go slowly, and do it the right way.

So that’s where I am.

Oh, if any of my recent training partners (professional runners) are out there reading this (10,000 miles away). Hello!!!!!!!

I must admit, I miss all of you. It’s much easier to train when you have others with you, and are in a more formal routine.

But challenges are good, right????

Enough talk, time to play.

Have a great day everyone!!!!!!!!

And in case I haven’t mentioned in, I send love to each and every one of you. Everyone is always in my heart. Remember, we are NEVER alone.

~Michael

Tally Ho! VMO!!!

mrskater — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:47:39 +0000

Hi Everyone!

Well, we’re quite a ways into September, and skates still aren’t in sight. That’s okay. I’m making good progress on the healing…it’s just working out (so far) differently than expected.

Confused, but happy!

mrskater — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 22:44:26 +0000

I know I keep saying it’s been a trying few weeks, but it’s been very productive…incredibly so from a learning perspective…I wouldn’t even know where to begin to share what I’ve learned about myself.

1. I go crazy without daily walks, hikes, or runs in nature…I need nature to restore my body, soul and mind.

2. I’m not good at going days without aerobic workouts.

3. Saying the above shows I have a ways to go in my spiritual growth, while the above should be helpful, with meditation I should be able to overcome any challenges and exist or “be” in the moment without needing anything else…or so I believe…perhaps I’m mistaken?

4. I love the connection between spirituality and healing. It’s been incredibly fascinating!

5. I’m learning about Ayurvedic body-types, about diets for healing, and about breathing techniques for healing and restoring mental health and well-being (not to mention stress-relief!!!).

6. I’m learning more about the benefits of acupuncture.

7. I’m learning about Cold Laser techniques and resetting muscles that aren’t communicating properly with the brain.

8. I’m learning this (recovery process) is far more complex than I ever imagined!

9. I’m learning a lot more about nature’s pharmacy…natural foods and vegetables.

10. I’m learning how important it is to believe things will get better…because no one (myself included) has the answers for myself, but the answers come by focusing on the solution, NOT how I’m going to get there…because it’s the mind, or perhaps the universe that drives the body…once I truly understand that I’ll realize all of the rest is just dressing on the cake.

FIFTY AND COUNTING - BY BRAD MAX

mrskater — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:53:24 +0000

FIFTY AND COUNTING

by Brad Max

Part One

Why would a grown man, with at least the normal share of responsibilities, decide that upon turning the big 5-0 he would participate in 50 inline speed skating races in one year? As a way to handle the fact that he is grown and has those responsibilities? A love of skating? For the exercise? To celebrate his health? To prove something?
All of these reasons, plus others I would discover during the year, entered into the endeavor I took on in November of 2004. Over nine previous years of skating, my racing experience—though enjoyable—was intermittent and undistinguished. I had spent more time writing about skating (articles, poetry, a screenplay) than racing. But even at 50, I continued to hold very dear my ability to put wheels on my feet, join up with others in a pace line, and partake of the heart-stirring, soul-freeing sport of inline speed skating. So that is what I decided to do, 50 times in one year.
I chose the San Diego Silver Strand Half Marathon as the first race for reasons of efficiency—it immediately followed my birthday 50^th birthday, Thursday, November 11, 2004. I left a Saturday morning birthday party, drove directly to the airport, and arrived in San Diego just after midnight. This would be the first of many race events I would travel to, arriving just in time to catch a little sleep, head to the race, and then practically roll from the finish line to the departure gate and onto the plane. I also chose this race because it seemed a doable distance for my training level. But it would also be the first of many races for which I would find I had not sufficiently trained.

The Silver Strand starts on the old and orderly Coronado Island, then travels almost straight south by the Del Coronado Hotel and along the Silver Strand, in sight of

Paceline on the Silver Strand.

both San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, to the town of Imperial Beach. Around 170 skaters at a variety of levels turned out, and I had a pack, or at least a person, to skate with most of the way. I finished with a blistering time of 52:18, good enough for fifth in my age group and a commitment to start training. This event has the best post-race celebration I

Brad Max (left) with Masters skater boys after the 2004 Silver Strand.

experienced in all my races—ample free food, drink, and excellent live music, reasonably priced massage, a moderately sized expo and nice awards ceremony, all held in a grassy park beside the beach and wrapped in that perfect So-Cal weather. After the race (and a massage) I renewed

Pausing for a picture post-race at the Cherokee Lodge B&B – 49 races ahead of me.

the acquaintance of some masters skaters and shuttled back to the charming little Cherokee Lodge B&B on Coronado for a quick shower and trip to the airport. One race down, only 49 to go. Now, you may be thinking, “if he spends a long paragraph on each race…” Don’t worry. My next 17 races were at three indoor meets—in Wichita, KS; Tallahassee, FL; and Springfield, MO. The Wichita and Springfield events were part of the Mid America Speed League, put on by Joe Cotter. If you know Joe and Debbie Cotter, you know that they are a totally class act, pillars of patinage, who put on only well-organized race events. Joe, in his coat and tie, provides informed, running commentary during every race. Since 20 of my races were at the Cotters’ co-productions, I doff my helmet to them both. The most memorable of the early Wichita and Springfield races was the Veteran Mens’ 700-meter Final in Springfield. (Okay, there were no heats, only a Final!) In lap four, I was in fourth (okay, out of four). Mike Pickle was just ahead of me, and going into turn two Mike went down and stayed down…and stayed down. The race was stopped, and Mike was attended to. Though he’d hit his head hard, he finally came around and was helped to the center of the rink. After a few minutes Joe announced that the race would be rerun. Mike picked up his helmet and headed for the starting line. “Whoa, there, Iron Mike,” the officials stopped him, “the rules don’t allow crash victims who stop a race to skate in the rerun.” Mike skated the later races and was okay, though a little dizzy. But some say all skaters are a little bit that way.

See the blur of skaters blasting off the start?

The Tallahassee event, in February, was particularly dear to me because I got to see my older daughter, Megan, who goes to school there, at Florida State.

Daughter Megan in Tallahassee, team poster in the background.

That’s why I chose it, of course. By this time I was getting pretty skilled, if not at skating in races, at least finding them. I was constantly searching the internet for events to get me to 50, and for back-up events, and back-ups to the back-ups. Tallahassee fit in well, allowing for some business, visit with a friend, and some long talks with Megan. The promoters of the race showed plenty of Southern hospitality—they had included the one-man “Team Kansas City Brad” in their team posters around the rink. The race event was exhausting, as the Masters skaters kept insisting that we Veterans “skate up” in their races, too. I hardly sat down—seven races in one morning. Mid-March and I had 18 races in the books.By this time, I was beginning to face the races a little differently than I had initially. Stepping up to the starting line, not knowing if I was going to finish smoothly or crash, place well or lose badly—was a real issue in the early starts. But putting myself out there, over and over (especially in Tallahassee, seven times in four hours, sometimes with no more notice than, “You comin’?”), I was beginning to have somewhat less fear. And, this was spilling over to other parts of my life, as well.

Without a doubt, my favorite event occurred in early April. The rest of my family was either on spring break, doing college visits, or away at college, and I was facing a weekend home alone. I had searched in vein for races in the U.S. (honest, I did!). But the only event I could find was in a town called Rouen…in France (I swear!). During the week before the event, the race director, Sandrine Candelibes-Torchy, had been very helpful with information over the internet: Three races? Oui! Rain or shine? Oui! Places to stay? Oui! Stay with us! So…on Tuesday I cashed in beacoup mileage points, and on Thursday I left work in the afternoon and flew to France. Landing in Paris, I found a hotel near Gare Montparnnase, the start of the grande ‘dame of night skates, the Paris Friday Night Skate. Before the 10pm start, I skated across the city to the house of some friends for dinner. I was back just in time for the Night Skate (my fifth, yes, fifth), and by the end of the night I had done about 40 kilometers (25 miles) on the day before a race. That’s training!! The next morning I took time to stroll through a glorious two-block-long market outside the door of my hotel and then headed to the train station.

Checking the departure board and my ticket, I discovered that the day before, in my pathetic French, I had purchased a ticket to Royan (4 hours southwest) rather than Rouen (an hour north). How do you say “Oops” in French? Fortunately, that was easily fixed, and before long I was on my way to Rouen.

In Rouen—the town where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake—I was warmly welcomed. But in terms of skate racing, they do some things differently than I was used to. First, I was given a tattered race number (no pins), and told politely that I must return the number. Since I was collecting all my race bibs, I had to…how you say…take a picture, for digital history. Second, whereas we serve up hot dogs and burgers at the concession tent, they served crepes—choice of fillings…but of course. And, before the races on Sunday, the second day, the huge throng of skaters was assembled for a Parade of Teams. They cheered just as loudly for Team Kansas

“Team Crepe” at the Internationale du Grand Rouen.

City’s team of one. Then, skaters from foreign countries were brought up to the stage for a public exchange of gifts. Oh, yes, the racing in Rouen. It was spectacular. There were enough skaters in my division (for once!) that I had real competition, at my level. Three of us traded the lead a dozen times in each of three races. The hairpin turns around narrow medians, the touch-and-go pavement, and the breezy straight-aways made for the best close-quarters

With the French, our arch-enemies.

racing I had during the entire year.

Love those road race hairpins! Rouen Cathedral in the background.

I am sure that, as Napoleon Bonaparte—that famous Frenchman and would-be skater—said in his heart of his beloved France, “I shall return.”

I will admit unabashedly that one of my strategies in selecting race events was to find a series to which I could show up every time, and thereby have a chance at accumulating enough points to reach the podium. If this makes me the Tortoise, the bad penny, the tar baby, of the circuit, so be it. Everyone should have a strategy. And, I inflicted mine on the debut season of the Eastern Seaboard Series, in Trexlertown, PA. I chose wisely. Bob Albanese produced these events which took place once-a-month from May through September. The venue was the Bob Rodale Park which has a one-mile, 20-foot-wide, smooth asphalt path, winding through placid woods and one punishing hill. Each event during the season was a little different, but most had a long race, a short race, and a relay. It’s very well run, Ross Creavling does a great job announcing, and the weather—let’s face it, we lucked out. After the first event in May, I was in 8^th place, and very encouraged. I heartily recommend this series to skaters in the area. And, to the Advanced Veterans, I promise not to show up every time in ‘06.

By the end of May, after returning to Wichita for an indoor meet and going to Orlando for the rain-out of the Disney Half-Marathon (no, it didn’t count), I had 26 races under my belt. I was just over halfway to 50 and just over halfway through the year.

Everything seemed on track. But during the summer, my racing card was a little sparse. Through all of June and July I only went to three events for a total of five races. In Topeka, Kansas, at the closest event to my home, I added a two-mile run to the 8k skate at the Lions Club Journey for Sight, and I sorely regretted the run for three days.

My early morning view from “Hotel Hertz” in Mays Landing.

At another event, in Mays Landing, New Jersey, I arrived at the race site at 2:30 in the morning, and ended up sleeping in my car. Finally, at the second installment of the Eastern Seaboard Series rounded out my early summer schedule. A 10K and a mixed relay, and I left PA with 34 races done, and in sixth place in the Series. Movin’ up!

Brother-in-law Brendan in fifth–not the order of finish at Trexlertown!

At the end of July, I took a break from all the exertion of skate racing, to hike 70 miles with my son and a full pack at Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico. I hoped that on my next race back, all the hiking and altitude would give me an edge. Who was I kidding! That race was the 21K Debbie Kohl Memorial which was the third event in the Eastern Seaboard Series. I had convinced my hockey-playing, marathon-running brother-in-law to participate in the race with me (not much convincing required). After the race, we were both going to have to rush to the Newark airport in hopes of making it to Kansas City in time for a huge family party my wife was having (much convincing required here). The race was brutally hot, and it was the only race I actually thought about quitting…until a very kind girl handed me an ice cold water bottle with two laps left. Despite my abysmal performance (brother-in-law did well), the series points kept piling up. After three installments of the Series, I was in 4^th, just inches from a place on the podium. (And, we made it back to the party with five minutes to spare.)

Although I was two-thirds of the way to my goal, I had relied heavily on multiple races at indoor events (22 of 35). But the indoor season was basically over until late fall. I would have to step up the pace of searching out and traveling to races. But in another way I was slowing up the pace. My daughter and I, knowing we both have a penchant for being hard on ourselves, had talked in Tallahassee about having more fun. We even committed to doing this. Skating is fun, and through my travels to skate, as well as the more mundane, everyday things like working, I began practicing having more fun and taking things easier.

The State of My Union

mrskater — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:40:24 +0000

Here’s an update of my current condition I sent to my coach this morning…

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone….

It’s gonna be a bright, Bright, BRIGHT, sun-shiny day!”

—–

I went out for a sunset .75 mile hike last night. It felt great to be outside. It’s where I recharge and heal.

I spent a full hour icing after I returned, then did ultrasound on my shoulder before bed.

This morning I felt great.

I went hiking again, first doing the activation exercises (calves, hamstrings, quads, glutes, core). I went for just under 1 mile. Again felt great.

I took a close look at what’s going on with my right foot this morning. It’s wanting to rotate out and when I pull it back in, it feels tight over the top of the foot (above the ball of the foot). I kept it in this position for thirty seconds this morning and it loosened up. I’ll be stretching again soon…and I’ll stretch that area, and ice it. Under both feet are a little tender from either the hike, the orthotics, or not being used to any of the above. The right side wants to twist a bit (which explains the foot) I’ll work on the IT band a bunch today and try to rotate it inward to stretch it out.

Shoulder’s also a little sore (just running down the side of the arm, rather than in the shoulder itself.

I’ll do ultrasound this morning, and an easy 30 minute swim just before noon. I’ll also do my daily pilates routine and some balance work…which should keep me busy for a little while.

This evening I’ll likely do a short sunset hike…these two hikes reset my clock and keep me spiritually happy. I can write again this morning (this email not-withstanding) and that’s from either my exercise, getting up early again, a good sense of hope this morning, or plugging back into nature…or perhaps ALL OF THE ABOVE.

I’ll hunt down some natural anti-inflams today, see the biomechanics specialist in the morning, and see how the body responds to a few days of this. One thing I’m noticing, I might want the PT to dig into my right foot (as he’s done the left)… It’ll likely loosen things up and prevent future problems, but we’ll give it a few days and see.

Next goal, get back to my normal wake-up time. This morning I got up (very slowly) at 5:30. I’m usually up by 4:30 at the latest…though I’m not complaining, I slept well last night….if I’m working out or plugged into nature, I RARELY have any sleep problems.

“It’s gonna be a bright, Bright, BRIGHT, sun-shiny day!”

~Michael

Daily Routine for the Stressed and the ADHD

mrskater — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:32:32 +0000

I must admit, these last few weeks have been incredibly tough (and a great learning lesson). It all started with a really minor boo-boo last month. I slipped and twisted over my stronger foot…turning it all sorts of fun shades of blues and purples, greens, and even grays!

Since then I’ve struggled. I had to stop my workout routine to recover, and with that routine out of the way, all others soon followed. Without routine and my daily recharges in nature, I struggled to stay on top of my game.

First my creativity waned.

Then my productivity.

And next, perhaps, my sanity?

ADD gone out-of-control means anxieties blown out of proportion. It leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy…you begin worrying about things more (after-all, your brain needs SOMETHING to keep itself pre-occupied) and then you start causing these worries to become reality.

The key to my success is my routine, exercise, diet, and nature…simple enough? I need to be plugged into nature to remind me of who I am and clear my mind. I need a routine to feel productive and know what I’m doing when…and both the exercise and diet help keep my mind focused, relaxed, and keep my body-clock on track…without them I struggle in the day, and have big challenges sleeping at night!

Wow! What an inspiring story!

mrskater — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:09:40 +0000

I just read the most amazing story “Fifty and Counting” by Brad Max. I’m hoping I can post it here shortly. It’s inspiring me to try something with this blog, and hopefully it’ll work. I’m going to try and start a new page here, of inspiring stories similar to Brad’s (though I doubt anyone else has done 50 inline races at 50 in one season!).

If you’d like to submit your stories, I’d be happy to post them. Please put “50 at 50″ or something similar in the title so I’ll can pull it out of the inevitable junk and spam that hits this blog.

I’ll set up a special page on the blog now to see these stories, hopefully shortly beginning with Brad’s. Feel free to send photo’s too. I’m not the most blog savvy, but I’ll wrestle to get one or two of them up per story.

Thanks, enjoy the day, and keep on chasing your dreams.

Way to go Brad!!!!!

~Michael