Congrats to all 2012 Carlsbad Half Marathon Finishers!

Way to rock the red everyone!  You did PEAKFINDERS proud.

On to La Jolla!!

Mantra of the Month: "Run to Your Own Rhythm"

Submitted by Carla Brown-Fuentes

Whether you are a beginner or seasoned runner you may find you often compare your athletic abilities to others and in turn, lose sight of your own abilities or rather, capabilities. You know you are doing this when you have negative mind chatter. For example, “I don’t run as fast as he does”  and “I can never run as far as they run” or “I’m not good at this, look at all these people passing me”. Sound familiar?The next time you catch yourself comparing your running performance to someone else, step back from that mind set and refocus with the words,“Run to Your Own Rhythm” andshiftyour attention from negative thoughts to positive ones. When we negative-self talk and our attention is focused on other people youdeplete and expend the energy needed to perform strong. In order tokeep energy steady and strong, focus and attention must be centered and directed at the self.This is a time to literally be “self-centered”but in a good way!  Once youconnect to the center of yourself, yourelaxand allow your natural ability to flow andyourun to our own rhythm. Essentially, when you run to your own rhythm you acknowledge your potential and focus on what you can do instead of what you think you cannot do.

So, keep your thoughts positive and remember to “Run to your own rhythm!

Rhythm = harmony, flow, natural, steady

PEAKFINDERS Give Back on Christmas Eve

(Written and submitted by Cyndi Kalbaugh)

On Christmas Eve several Peakfinders delivered lots of toys and goodies to a juvenile group home "New Alternatives" due to the overwhelming caring and giving spirit of many of our members.  When a note went up on the Peakfinders message board (just a week and half before Christmas) indicating that several teenaged children would not have a holiday season, to speak of, if we didn't do something everyone's caring and giving personalities really shined through.  Immediately our Peakfinders family began donating clothing, gifts, money, and goodies for the teenaged boys and girls to have for the holidays.  As we delivered our gifts to the children at the home a few memorable quotes from the teenagers will remain in our hearts forever...

One boy said, "From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for making this the best Christmas EVER!" 

And yet another boy was observed saying while looking at his three gifts..."I'm going to save this flashlight and give it to my baby brother."

The expressions on their faces said it all as we watched each of them reacted to why some random strangers would care enough to make their holidays better!  It wouldn't have been possible without each of you who participated so again, THANK YOU Peakfinders for demonstrating how much we care!

Long Training Run for Carlsbad Half on 12/31/11

Great job to everyone last Saturday!  The red is in full effect--look out Carlsbad!

PEAKFINDERS and Friends Hike Mt. Woodson in Memory of a Legend

On Sunday, 12/18/11, a group of us hiked to the top of Mt. Woodson to honor the life of a true canine legend, Sage.  Sage was more of a human than anything else.  Her ability to connect with all people, all dogs, all cats--virtually every living thing, was one of the many traits that made her so amazingly special.  Mt. Woodson is a wonderful place where Sage and I would go and spend countless hours, just the two of us.  I would rock climb, while she explored around--at times gone for over an hour, but always periodically checking on her clumsy dad.  There's one specific spot that she especially loved (see pic below), and I always knew that when the unthinkable, yet inevitable day came, I would lay her to rest there. Now her ashes have been returned to the Earth, and anytime we look to the east and see Mt. Woodson peaking above the other surrounding hills (complete with cell-phone towers and all), we can rest assured that we are being watched by Sage--a dog that was wise beyond her years, loved by all, and left an impact on everyone and anything she came in contact with that will never be forgotten.  Love and miss you Sagers!          

           

Sage's loved ones...                                                              In her prime--taking in the view..

For more pics of the hike (compliments of Alex Gillet), please see the link below:
https://plus.google.com/photos/110206090926343413165/albums/5688069237956030481?authkey=CNrw58eMgo38Qg

Mantra of the Month: "Be Thankful"

We often spend time complaining about our day to day situations.  We complain about having to go to work on Mondays, while thousands of unemployed individuals without a paycheck would kill to go for us.  We complain that we need to exercise to stay at a healthy weight, while there are people out there with various handicaps that will never get the chance to do an early Saturday run with a a fun loving group.  We complain at times that in order to stay healthy we have to choose healthy foods over "comfort" foods, when there are many people who don't have the luxury of knowing when their next meal is, let alone choose what it is.  When we become too comfortable with our situations, it becomes very easy to lose sight of reality and begin having our own personal "pity parties".   So next time you start falling into this cycle of thought, rise above it and remember all that you are fortunate to have.  Then practice gratitude and BE THANKFUL.

In Loving Memory:  Sage "The Queen" Heslin
5/20/1997 - 12/10/2011

BURN IT TO EARN IT!! Turkey Day Training Recap

Thanks to those that came out and participated in the 2nd annual "Burn it to Earn it" training on Thanksgiving morning.  It was a brisk 49 degrees at 7:45 am, but that didn't stop a few of us from swimming 1000m in the cold bay.  We then had several more people show up for the 15 mile bike portion at 8:30 am, followed by a solid group to run the 5 mile loop around western Mission Bay.  This is the beginning of a great tradition.  Next year we will try to go bigger and better!