Team Work KEY ingredient for Success

 The more I help with our Biggest Winner teams for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, the more I see that the ones who "get it" and really make changes that will stick are those who pour themselves into being a TEAM.    The ones who encourage each other, help others up a tough hill, or who email someone who is having a rough week.  

  Plus the ones who make the kinda changes that will last, show up even when it's not convenient.   BUT  you don't have to be on "our" team, you can do that in your neighborhood, church, office, book club etc.   But when you make a "group" commitment it tends to make you more accountable.  PLUS its more fun!!!  Here are some shots of our Team run/walk with the KTC/Health Shoppe series which meets every Saturday for 4 months.  Most are training for the half marathon at CHKMarathon, few the full, and some the relay or 5k.  We met at 7:45-8 in 29 degrees but HEY we were supposed to be there.. and after 5 minutes we were happy and glad we came!

Biggest Winner Team meets Joe from Biggest Loser & update on LIve @ Five @ 4

The Biggest Winner team has now lost over 121 pounds and they are looking fit and having fun even despite their long runs and tough workouts at FSHFC with trainers like Chris OHearn and others.

Saturday we met up with KTC runners/walkers at Eddie's Health Shoppe and about 100 folks on had to do 4-15 miles depending on what they needed to do for long run/walk for half marathon, relay or full marathon training.  And Joe Mitchell from season 2011 came along with his wife and kids to say a few words to all and esp our team and then walked some with the crew down on 10 mile greenway out of Jean Ashe park.

Team Support.. Sharing.. Fitness... Food Tips.. & Fun ALL  keys to success
Today was a great example about why TEAM is so important.  It could be a family team, a work place team, a buddy team or a formal team like ours, but it does boost success.  Our team is called the Biggest Winner team ... for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. They are all trying to get fit and loose some weight and willing to "put it out there " for others to see.  They have been featured in the News Sentinel, Halls Shopper, the Mountain Press, the Oak Ridge paper about their wt struggles and life tragedies they are getting over.  They appear on WBIR's Live at Five @ Four, Mornings w/ Fox 43, Missy Kane Fit and Fun (PBS), WIVK mentions & on blogs and on www.covenanthealth.com/biggestwinner  pages.

Has it all been easy? No!  Most work full time and juggle that with families and even for one member a recent car wreck that can be a Big set back.  But they all have managed to loose some wt (6-25pds) and inches over the holidays which is pretty amazing feat in itself. They go to our Saturdays "Health Shoppe" KTC training sessions, Thursday strength night with Chris O'Hearn @ Fort Sanders Health & Fitness Center, Weekly classes at Covenant Health Weight Management Center and fit testing from Cov Therapy Center. While often fun, some are painful both physically and emotionally.

But today after our training with KTC crew (70 plus) @ Runners Market where most did 5-8 miles we went over to Panera Bread for some coffee, water, oatmeal, egg sandwich etc and to TALK.  That is a key for this group. They share what works, what doesn't, what has been hard etc. Tips like tossing out all junk foods from temptation, to fixing meals ahead and freezing them, to keeping healthy snacks around and even in car, these tips all help them achieve their goals. Many are blogging, using pedometer and new tools "fit bit" etc to help them stay on track.

And they are (for the most part ha) listening to my training tips about mixing in many low impact workout sessions on bike, elliptical, swimming, low impact classes to help them avoid injury.  If you are new to long distance and if you are carrying extra weight you have to be very careful to not up the distance and the speed too quickly or YOU will GET injured.  But 4-5 days a week of 30-45 minute workouts some strength work (twice a week) and One day GOING longer (increase weekend long effort by 1/2 mile 3 weeks in row then back off etc) are my suggestions for training. I think taking classes at a gym (FSHFC for them) or community classes (like BODY Works Classes) www.covenanthealth.com/bodyworks are also good for core strength, balance, range of motion and to help avoid boredom. We sometime mix in a hike too which are fun and great way to burn calories.  Enough "preaching" I'll post some fun pictures of the gang now.

Good luck to all and if you want a free guide to training for Half marathon, Full, or 5k the Call Center  541-4500 at Covenant Health can mail you one for free or you can pick up at local running stores.

Hitting stride on third Creek

Its not even Jan 1 but the Biggest Winner team seems already ready to make health and fitness their big priority in 2012.  Good turnout at Runners Market for another Health Shoppe Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Training session.  After going on new sidewalk along KP from Western Plaza we went around past Earth Fare on third Creek Greenway.  Its amazing to think while i was in college it was built (thanks Will Skelton for your hard work) and only 3 miles then.  Now this one trail links up to Bearden Greenway, Sutherland, Neyland, Waterfront to Gov McWherter park for over 10 miles of greenway to enjoy.  The fast folks are great to us slower ones and my team is able to walk/jog longer and are encouraged along the way.  Some are having to scale back their enthusiasm as I don't want them hurt. So I've told them to cross train (bike,aerobics, elliptical etc) during the week and do just one long run/walk each saturday.  I have new training guides (Train with Kane) for half marathon, full, or 5k and they are free if you call 541-4500.   Jan 1 is the Health Shoppe 5k on Neyland Drive and some of the biggest Winner team and hiker buds are planning to head out to House Mountain for a new years eve hike too.

missyfitandfun@gmail.com for more info! www.knoxvillemarathon.com training schedule & to sign up
www.covenanthealth.com/biggestwinner for team info

New Balance Knoxville training on 10 mile greenway

 

 

Even with two races this weekend (Jingle Bell run, Santa 1/2 marathon in Sevierville) there was a good crew out at New Balance Knoxville on a chilly morn.  About 40-50 folks headed out and across bridge to below west side Y and headed west on greenway that leads to newly improved 10 mile greenway.  This now has a connector around a Church of Christ church and then heads towards Sams.  There it goes right and down the hill to a tunnel underpass and continues out to a pretty area along the 10 mile creek and do a side neighborhood and playground or cont out towards Windsong Theatre.  Marathoners did 7-8 miles and most of our group training for first half did 4.5-5 miles. Even with temps in low 30's we warmed up quickly and had a great walk/jog.

Team tackling holidays w/ force

Even with the thanksgiving and now christmas holidays, the CHKM Biggest Winner doing well by eating healthier (thanks Cov Wt management Center) and getting in workouts @ FSHFC and with Me & Health Shoppe Saturday training. They had a good session with Personal trainer chris O'hearn (fSHFC) as well as some "mind" coaching.
Next up meeting at Knoxville New Balance at 8 to jog/walk some then drink coffee at Barnes and Noble.