The Birds! – 7.11.15

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As it wasn’t the greatest of days for a swim or bike yesterday, we went for a 5 mile run. It was raining a little, but nothing serious. And unless it’s thunder or lightning, the race goes on — and so does practice.

So we set off for a run through the connecting piece (over the dam) and into the forest preserve. The wildlife was out in full force because of the rain, and not all of it was friendly. Specifically the orange-winged blackbird. That bird is one extremely fierce thing when it thinks you’re trying to go after it’s young.

While that was physically impossilbe for either of us (as the next was 100 feet+ up in a tree), that didn’t stop the blackbird from trying to divebomb us twice as we were running the out-and-back. It made for some very interesting speed work. Oh, and then it decided to follow us back about half a mile and perch on another pole, waiting to dive bomb again.

The pace was about 6 min slower from the last time I had done a 5 mile run. Learning experience from this run is that I either need to get a fuel belt or find a larger bottle that’s easy to carry. I continually run out at about 2.5-2.75mi and there wasn’t a place to fill up on this route.

And while 5 miles was plenty for me, Ms. Bad Ass went and ran another 3 miles after we parted company. 🙂

Same S***, Different Day….

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In my opinion, all of the flight insurance and similar plans are just a way for said company to take advantage of the consumer. Specifically related to airlines, since I started buying my own tickets in 1998, I’ve always opted out of the $25+ flight insurance. I’ve done this for the simple reason that I know if there’s a legitimate reason to cancel / change, MOST airlines will work with you if you’re patient and respectful. And the one time that they won’t, if you have to eat a $125 change fee, that’s far less than all of the money you’ve wasted for insurance.

IMO, this all is a BAD idea. But since it makes millions for the airlines every year, it must be a good idea, right? WRONG.

Well, while I see it and it is my belief & opinion that it is WRONG, some other industries see it as a great idea. Case in poin — Active.com has started to offer the same service. On the race that I just registered for, it was offered at $6.99. IMO, just like the airline industry, this is another WASTE. The reality is that if you have a legitimate reason, 95%+ of ROs/RDs will either let you transfer your bib or refund it. And for that small percentage that won’t you’ll still be ahead by not having spent your money on this.

I don’t believe the airline industry will EVER remove the flight insurance or checked bag fees. They’ve both gotten legs under them and will stay because they’ve succeeded. I truly hope that Active.com will pull this as part of the registration process before it gets legs.

Remember — just because something ‘works’ doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea.

Unexpected Fun – 7.10.15

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Earlier in the week, I was told that the next practice session would be Saturday afternoon. So when I woke up Friday morning to an e-mail offering a swim/run Friday night, I was extremely happy.

I also got my wet suit back on Friday — Urban Tri did an AMAZING job on patching both of the holes (major on upper right leg and fingernail tear on left thigh). After getting in the wet suit, we headed for the water in the standard ‘golden tether.’ As we were entering the water, a couple of ladies stopped us and asked ‘who’s teaching who to swim’ to which we had to reply – ‘we both know how’.

We ended up doing about 300m in the pool and then going for a 4mi run/walk. I made the mistake of grabbing a cotton shirt and was thus overheating at about 2.25mi. Lesson learned.

We’ll see if Mother Nature wants to cooperate for the weekend or if this will be our only session. I’m starting to wonder if the group that’s usually at the beach shouldn’t start collectively building an ark…

A hard week, but easy in comparison…

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This week has been an extremely stressful one, with so much more being put on my plate due to the smaller staff. The training sessions have been a nice respite from it, and I’m looking forward to Saturday for the next one. In the meantime, it’s a struggle.

As I do during those times, I’ve been walking around my home and looking at the myriad of accomplishments (photos and awards) from the last decade that cover my walls. Throughout the past couple days, I keep coming back to this bib.

Not just because of the accomplishment of that first Triathlon, but moreso memories of the weekend. Yes, this week has been a s***-show. But I know I’ve got little right or reason to complain, as I know several of the friends that I made over the weekend are going through their day with even more struggle.

The bottom line here is to always remember that the glass is always half full. It can always be or get worse, so always be thankful for what you have.

TIJ Blog Post – James Gilliard: The Faceless Mob

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While there will always be struggles on the course, what bothers me even more is this one I have off the course. Because of my vision issues, facial recognition is extremely hard for me. Not just recognizing someone that isn’t family or a close friend that I haven’t seen frequently, but also putting a name to that face. There are a few exceptions to this – but those people have distinctive characteristics that makes them really easy for me to pick out.

What’s even more frustrating is that while I couldn’t pick someone out of a crowd, once I know who they are, I can remember the most esoteric things and have a great conversation with them. No, I’m not Rainman; and no, I don’t have a photographic memory – just a really good one. Here’s an example of what I mean, and one that anyone can verify:

The last time I was on Kanapali Beach (Maui, HI) was 1991. Either the Shearton or the Westin is directly next to Whaler’s Village (and the other is about a ½ mile down the beach). As you entered Whaler’s Village in 1991 from that hotel, the museum was off to the left and a little booth that sold oysters with pearls was to the right. The back corner on the left-hand side was a local muffin/coffee place, their regional drug store chain and a book store.

My point with all of the above is that almost 25 years later, I could probably draw you a map of how Whaler’s Village looked, but if I don’t see you frequently, I can’t pick you out. Why this is so f’ing frustrating is that there are SO many that have and continue to help me through this journey. I don’t see some of these people constantly, and so when I do, I feel bad that I can’t recognize them. Just one example is Art Black of Oswego Cyclery, whose generous lending of the tandem has been HUGE. I honestly couldn’t pick him out the last time we were in the store – so frustrating.

So the bottom line here is this. If you recognize me, but I don’t recognize you, please re-introduce yourself. It’s not that I’ve forgotten who you are – just my eyes have. And while it’s a struggle, it’s something that I’m continually working on.

TIJ Blog Post – James Gilliard: Acceptance

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There are five stages of dealing with loss – in this case the potential loss of freedom because of a disability – Denial & Isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Based on where you’re at in that process, statements from and perceptions by people are going to impact you in different ways. I’ve dealt with that myself, and want to talk about it from both sides.

When I was in college, there were a few professors that didn’t like me being in their classroom because of the ADA requirements that came with it. Even though that was a minority, the issues that did occur were pretty serious. In one case, I had to get the department chair and others involved to get the issues addressed.

Years after graduation, during a random Google search, I came across publicly available documents from a professor which disclosed my disability. To say the least, I hit the roof. Even though I had gotten to the point of being comfortable being out on my own and asking for help when I needed it on a private level, I still wasn’t comfortable with that being public. Five plus years later, you all know that that’s changed. Between these blog posts, a personal blog I started and more, it’s publicly out there. And I’m fine with that – now, and on my terms.

While the timeline for everyone is different, I can’t stress strongly enough the benefits of getting to that final stage. Yes, it’s a hard journey filled with pitfalls; but the payoff is well worth it. Just take a look through some of my previous blog posts if you want to see the benefits of getting to acceptance. Or take a look at the long list of athletes with disabilities (AWDs) that are out there – including those that are getting ready for the 2016 ParaOlympics in Rio.

And as a final point, while not everyone’s going to accept you and what you’re dealing with, you can’t let that derail you. There are always going to be a minority of jerks in the world. Ignore them, keep moving on, and get to where you need to be!

TIJ Blog Post – James Gilliard: Keeping the Bar Raised

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Years ago, I was told by a coach ‘the name on the front is more important than the name on the back’. While that particular program has gone the traditional route of having names on the back, there are still some large programs that don’t. And while not everyone has their last name on their back or butt as part of a Tri kit, the same holds true in participating as an athlete with disabilities (AWD). You’ve got an organization or company on the front of your gear, and you need to keep that in mind.

While there are two separate pieces, I see them as being interconnected. Whether it’s for yourself, or for the organization/company that’s on your gear, you need to keep the bar raised.

The first piece is participating in an honest and ethical way while you’re out there. That organization/company has put their reputation behind you, and thus everything that you do reflects on them. If you want to see what can happen when you don’t participate ethically, just Google “[company] pulls endorsement”, inserting any large company name. Even if you’re not receiving any sponsorship from them, I can guarantee that they’re going to politely ask you to stop wearing their logos on your gear if you don’t participate with strong honor and ethics. The bottom line is it’s not worth potentially damaging your reputation and theirs to try and do things the wrong way.

By doing things the right way, not only do help to further that organization/company’s projects/message, you’ll have opportunities to do more with them. Once they see your good track record, it’s likely that they’ll offer you more. That may mean being offered a sponsorship, being asked to be an ambassador for them, or more. Just be yourself, do things the right way, and whatever’s meant to happen will.

The second piece is being true to yourself as you compete. While all the pieces I mentioned above apply to you as well, there’s more than just that. Everyone’s at a different level, and there are always going to be unexpected obstacles during a race. It might be a flat tire, a minor injury, or part of your body cramping up. Just keep your pace, your focus and finish strong; everything else will work itself out.

Even if you finish last in your age group, or even last overall, if you’ve stayed true to yourself, that shouldn’t matter. Racing is a continual process of improvement, and as long as you stay on your path, you’ll get to where you want to be. It won’t happen overnight, but it certainly will happen a lot quicker than if you try to take shortcuts or do things the wrong way. And in the meantime, people around you are going to take notice of all the hard work that you’re doing.

As a personal example, I have yet to finish in the top 10 for my age group. Not even in the small races that have had less than 500 people. Do I want to finish better than I do? Absolutely. But I realize that I’m less than a year in (first race was 7/26/14), and it’s just going to take time to move up. I do know that even while I’m working on that, others are taking note.

So do things the right way, and you’ll get to where you want. Even if it takes a bit longer than you want, it’s worth doing things the right way rather than running afoul of the Karma Police.

TIJ Blog Post – James Gilliard: The Human Web

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In past blog posts, I’ve talked about the importance of getting out there. While an important first step is getting off the sidelines and taking your first athletic steps, it’s certainly not the last. You also need to connect with other people. While online ones are okay, the physical, personal ones are better.

Most of the time, these personal connections will come through other athletes with disabilities (AWDs), coaches and those you come in contact with as you compete. And these connections may have connections that can help you. I see this as the human web, as everyone’s interconnected.

As an example of what I mean, you might need access to a specific training facility. You don’t directly know anyone that can help, but your coach may know someone who knows someone who does. I know it sounds like ‘my cousin’s brother’s uncle’s friend’ that people sometimes spit out, but that’s just the way the web works. You never know where these connections will come from, so be willing to be social with people. A great post on what can happen when you say yes to people is Rachel’s latest one on her speaking tour [link].

One thing that I’ve found recently is that there are common linkages within the AWD community. For example, someone that’s handling AWD needs for a race could also be involved in other AWD organizations and help to create even more connections for you. I found that to be true when I met Keri Serota at the Shamrock Shuffle. Not only was she the AWD coordinator for the race, but she’s also the co-founder and executive director of Dare2Tri [www.dare2tri.org]. I will be at the ParaTriathlon camp in May because she made me aware of the organization / camp.

I realize that it’s not always easy to make these connections. But they are so well worth it, both in the short and long term. Don’t be over concerned with whatever disability you have and how others may perceive it. Just be yourself, be out there, and everything else will fall into place as it should!

TIJ Blog Post – James Gilliard: Responsible Running

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A short while ago, a thread regarding hurdles with using guides from running clubs was started in a private Facebook group I’m part of. While I’ve shared parts of this blog post in that group, I’m expanding on it and making it public.
As athletes with disabilities (AWDs), we depend on others to help us, and to help us compete. Those guides are people that we trust, and who have given up their time to help us train and participate. One thing they should NEVER have to worry about is ‘if something accidental happens, am I going to be on the hook for it?’ That sort of question can only lead to trouble for both you and your guide.
Since I’ve started participating as an AWD, I’ve always looked at things this way – if something accidental happens, I’m going to take care of my own injuries and leave it at that. And I expect the same of the guides that I’m working with if it happens to them. I know that there’s an inherent risk in participating, and I accept those; and I completely trust those who are guiding me.
I know that everyone is at a different place in their lives. But, if you’re going to participate with guides, this is a hurdle that you need to get over first. In my opinion, being out there with a guide is an implicit agreement that you’ll each handle things on your own if something accidental happens. But understanding the over litigious society we live in, this is sometimes easier said than done.
There are several ways to combat this fear from / for all involved:

1) Education – Talking with groups that might be a good source as guides, but who are concerned about the legal angle. Tell them about your experiences, your expectations, and how well things have worked with other guides you’ve worked with. Also be up front with them about your expectations should something accidental happen.

2) Visualization – Invite them to an event that you’re running with another guide. Let them see how that guide to AWD interaction occurs throughout the race. As well as how other participants interact with you. Both sides of that should help them to see how well everything works.

3) Exposure – In addition to #1 and #2, explain to them the positive visibility it’s going to give to them. The guide will most likely be participating in club gear, and they’ll be seen as doing a great thing by helping an AWD participate.
While you won’t be able to change everyone’s mind, there are always ways to work around hurdles. But you need to be responsible as a runner yourself for things to work out well.

Responsibility should be part of your core if you’re out there as an AWD athlete!

TIJ Blog Post – James Gilliard: Saying Thanks

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As we all grow up, there are many proper etiquette items that we are taught. Two of these relate to “please” and “thank you”. In the context of this blog post, “Can you please help me with [x]?” and “Thank you for your help with [y]!” While those may seem like simple things, they are both truly important as you move forward on your athletic path. And that’s true for everyone, not just athletes with disabilities (AWD).

Asking for help is sometimes just as challenging as deciding that you want to participate. This is because everyone’s at a different stage of dealing with their disabilities, and may not be ready to ask for help. They may not see or believe that they need it. Or it may be an issue of pride for them that they don’t want to ask for help. I dealt with some of that myself when I was a teenager, and originally said no to some of the help because I just wasn’t ready to admit that I needed it. I did a short time later, and have long since gotten comfortable with asking for the help I need. But I realize it may not be easy for some. The best suggestion I have for overcoming that is talk through what you need with family and friends, and have them be your sounding board. They’ll help to get you through the initial concerns / steps, and it’ll all work out well in the long run.

Once you get the help you need, you need to make sure that you thank those that have helped you. It doesn’t need to be huge or spectacular; it just needs to happen. Remember that the people associated with the race/event have helped you to have a great experience, and your guide(s) have given up their time to help you. At a bare minimum, say it verbally to them before you leave the race / part company with your guides.

While it can be as simple as that, you can get creative and as personal as you want. One thing that I do for all the Race Organizers (ROs) that have been kind enough to help me out is to send them at least one group photo from the race in addition to saying thanks. I feel it’s more personal than just a plain ‘thank you’ e-mail, and it shows them that I truly had a great experience. Another thing that I’ve started doing recently is finding the RO’s Twitter accounts and thanking them personally via after I’ve registered if they’re on Twitter. I’ve started doing that so others can see that that RO is receptive to AWDs. Hopefully that will get others to register. J

When it comes to your guides, find a personal way to thank them. Throughout the training process for the event/race, both of you should have gotten to know each other. Not just on a ‘this needs to be said at this point so we don’t stumble’ level, but also on a personal one. As I’ve trained with both of my coaches, we’ve had these, and so I’ve found personal ways to say thank you for their help.

To that point, I know that my current coach Terri is part of the Celebrate Differences 5K (http://www.celebratedifferences.org/5kinfo.html) race committee. As soon as I found out when the race was, I added it to my schedule, even though I had a 10K the day before. Now with a training run on Friday, I’ll have at least 20K of running throughout the weekend. The total distance doesn’t matter; the point here is that I wanted to help support someone who’s supported me. And after learning that Celebrate Differences will be the charity partner for the FraidyCat races (10K/5K/1M – http://www.fraidycat5k.com/) in October, I’ve already added that to my schedule. I will be registering for the Ghost Run 10K once registration officially opens.

So here’s the bottom line – please ask people for help when you need it, and say thank you to them when they do. While I had a long list of people I thanked in the ‘Athlete on the Move’ blog, I need to add one more. Thank you to Rachel Weeks for allowing me to share these blog posts on her site!