Category Archives: Race Recaps

AFM FitTest | Reaching Goal in Under Armour’s #WhatsBeautiful 3.0 Challenge

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Call me a glutton for punishment, but for the second year in a row I competed in AFM FitTest. Held out at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas this community-wide show down consists of a series of 12 professionally designed fitness tests that measure strength, endurance, balance, speed, precision, agility, and power. The event was also the conclusion of my main goal in a sponsored campaign for Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful 3.0 challenge.

A little calm before the storm! #underarmourwomen #IWill #whatsbeautiful

A little calm before the storm! #underarmourwomen #IWill #whatsbeautiful

During the #WhatsBeautiful Challenge, I had the honor of connecting with a wide range of women, both online and in person, to work together to redefine stereotypes of the female athlete. My mission, in addition to training for AFM FitTest, was to help others reach their own personal fitness goals, smash them and then set sparkling new goals dripping with newfound badassery. Two of my favorite teams have been “Fit, Fearless & Forty-something” made up of my own home girls and one of my online teams, Team Kelly Oh Yea!

So, back to the morning of battle – Saturday, June 15th.  I headed out at the crack of dawn with my husband competing in the 50-59 age group; apparently the “old guys” get to go first so they can get home early for a nap (just kidding, these guys were very well maintained if you catch my drift, especially my “beefy’ hubby). Of course, he complained the whole way down there about how I “get him into these things,” but in the end, the hubby totally kicked butt, winning first in his heat in the pull-ups, the interval run and one of the mystery tests (which turned out being a balance beam with hurdles).

afm fittest dean and jennifer fisher beef team

My heat came up a little later in the morning and ended around 11am; it was plenty hot, but the cloud cover kept it bearable. First off, let me say the group of ladies competing in the 40-49 division was an inspirational bunch. Our band of buff ole babes included the likes of CrossFitters, roller derby gals, past collegiate athletes, obstacle course enthusiasts, trail runners, soccer players and more. I loved how the group was so encouraging and supportive of one another, high-fiving, cheering and setting the example that “we can do it,” from the first finisher to the last even though we were all rivals in a way.  It was definitely an Under Armour #WhatsBeautiful kind of morning!

So, here’s a run down of the tests. Let me say that I “sort of” made my goal. While I didn’t win the entire decade division, it looks like I may have tied for the win in the 45-49 age group. Make sure you read (or at least skip down to the 12th and final test). Whoot!

Test 1 – Standing Medicine Ball Toss:  Well, despite the fact that I did work on this skill a few times, I didn’t do so well. Okay, move on.

Test 2 – Standing Broad Jump: The exciting news is that I jumped 84” which was a half foot improvement from last year and put me in 3rd.  I have to say, I had to work through some anxiety to do this jump because last year (during training), I hurt my back during landing. So needless to say, I didn’t practice – but I performed when need be. Check.

afm fittest jump thefitfork beef team

Test 3 – 40 Yard Dash: Okay, sprinting is definitely not my forte as a runner. I can never get a fast start and I’m slow to get speedy. I guess I don’t have many of those fast-twitch fibers. And, to top it off, this year I had a photographer squatting right smack on my finish line causing me to slow and swerve at the finish. That’s actually what I’m screaming about in the photo below! So, I was actually a bit surprised to see that I got 4th place.

afm fittest omg I have to pee

Test 4 – Agility Cone Run: This one is even harder than the 40 yard dash because you need get-up-and-go AND the nimbleness to cut around cones — all while remembering which way to turn. But, I surprised myself, didn’t get “lost” and managed a 3rd place finish.

Test 5 – Vertical Jump: This was one of two “mystery tests” that were unveiled on the event day. I’ve seen the tall, slatted contraption that you have to jump up and hit at the football fields, but I never knew what function it served. Now I do. Finished pretty middle of the pack.

2013_06 austinfit vertical jump

Test 6 – Precision Throw: This event has all the giddy anticipation and then subsequent let-down of a midway carnival game to me; throwing 10 balls at a target and praying that one clears the strike zone. I got zero, zilch, nada. My exclamation that I have “no balls” may have had friends laughing, but – dang – I could have used some. The lesson learned here is to have more confidence and DON’T begin with an “I CAN’T do this” attitude. To achieve you have to believe, right?! I have so much respect and awe for the ladies that have the eye-hand coordination to get the job done.

afm fittest choke no balls

Test 7 – Pull-Ups: Bring it on; I’ve been practicing pull-ups all year! I jumped up and grabbed the bar knowing I could do 10 and knocked out 13! This gave me the 1st place win in my division and 6th place across ALL women. Wow!

Found out I can make some really ugly faces doing pull-ups!

Found out I can make some really ugly faces doing pull-ups!

Test 8 – Burpees: After great news, follows bad. I didn’t rack up very many burpees, which is weird because I kind of like the exercise. I thought I was totally getting after it during my 1 minute blitz, but apparently not. Wondering if I was getting “no-repped” because I underperformed by about 10 burpees. Oh well, move on.

2013_06 austinfit fittest burpees

Test 9 – Hand Grip: This test measures forearm strength and is fondlly called the Death Grip, now that’s a title a gal could feel proud to win. Last year, I stunk it up. Realizing my previous mistake, I came in strong this year with a 100lb squeeze and redeemed with a 3rd place finish.

Test 10 – Interval Run: My husband calls the interval run “gassers.” I now know why; I felt like I had run out of gas near the end. Oh so close to making the 6th interval, I should have just hurdled my entire body across the line for a dramatic win. Next time.

Test 11 – Balance Beam Hurdles: This was the second mystery test and it proved that the years of gymnastic team tuition my parents paid didn’t really pay off. But, still it was fun trying to carry a wobbly PVC pipe half-filled with water across a balance beam while stepping over hurdles. Okay, the term fun is relative.

Test 12 – Mile Run: I’m glad you stuck with me until the end because this is where I was able to show off my best athletic talent – running further than a 400m. On your mark, get set, go! I took off in the mile and didn’t look back, winning not only my age group, but “best of test” of women across all age divisions with an official 5:45 (although, hey, my GPS said 5:38).

afm fittest mile jennifer fisher thefitfork beef team

Thanks to all the competitors, sponsors and folks from Austin Fit Magazine for the memorable day! And, also to @UAWomen and @txbeef for their continued support of the female athlete.

And, to answer the Facebook rumor: Yes, fish tacos, beer and too-cold ice tea after 6 hours in the sun didn’t agree with me.

CrossFit + POSE: My Secret Weapon to Running 50 Miles on a Whim

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SAMSUNGA few weeks ago, Valerie Hunt, my good running friend (who, conveniently, happens to be a coach for both POSE Method and CrossFit) dragged me across the country to pace her in the first half of an ultra-marathon. When she first told me of the plan to run the American River Endurance 50 Mile Run in Sacramento, CA, I put my hands up to my ears as in “la-la-la, I can’t hear you.” I thought either she was teasing, dehydrated and in a delusional state, or perhaps a little more masochistic than I realized.  But my initial displeasure didn’t faze her one bit; you see, it’s not the first time I’ve dug in my heels when called to go outside my comfort zone — that scary place on the other side of “what I THINK I know. “

For example, when she first instructed me in POSE Method to improve my running mechanics, I cringed, I bitched, I belly-ached.  All those “falling” and “pulling” and “fore-foot” landing drills felt foreign, awkward and, quite frankly, unnecessary. After all, I KNEW how to run, I had been running for 15 years at that point — and quite well, thank-you-very-much.  Oh yeah, except for those times when I was sidelined because of ongoing foot, ankle and hip injuries. Eventually, I let her coach me through the principles of POSE and we checked in on form at least two times a week; now the movements are as natural to me as “the old way” and I run injury-free with more efficiency and  less impact than ever before.

Valerie and Jennifer practicing POSE Method drills,

Valerie and Jennifer practicing POSE Method drills,

This entire example of KNOWING (make that NOT KNOWING) what is good for me in running mechanics was almost entirely replicated with my debut into CrossFit almost two years ago – only the running drills were replaced with functional WOD exercises and my objections were even more on the defense. I’d tell my friend, “I DO strength train, you know, I sit there in the gym and do bicep curls and leg-extensions – but nothing too hard-core, I don’t want to bulk up.”  After her eye-rolling, Valerie took off her POSE coach hat and put on her CrossFit coach hat (although actually, the two hats can be worn teamed up together!)and patiently began taking baby steps with me, teaching me the basic movements used in CrossFit. On those mornings after, when I awoke too sore, I would conveniently “forget” about CrossFit and focus on my running.

However, the realization that I needed to marry the two together forever came when she took me to CrossFit Endurance Camp a few months later.  Because “endurance” was in the name, I figured I’d be a natural because, after all, I was a hot-shot runner and therefore a stellar athlete (insert sarcastic tone). Who cares that I could only do one pull-up and thought a “Good Morning” was a yoga position. However, after spending a weekend at camp getting one-upped in everything from pull-ups to presses, I was humbled enough to admit that maybe I DIDN’T KNOW what was best for me, my body and my running.

And, that’s when I committed to making it all work together, the CrossFit and the running and the being good to my body. And, today I’m happy to report that I didn’t bulk up (in fact, I am leaner than ever), I have broken all my previous Master’s PRs in every distance from 5k to marathon, and have had virtually NO injuries to speak of. Even when I was much younger, one of my biggest aches and pains after a race would be my lower back; well, no more !  But probably most impressive thing to me is that I feel like I’m prepared to do anything, at any time.

2013_04 america river torin shoes

Yup, you guessed it! After agreeing to pace my friend and coach, Valerie Hunt, and CrossFit Games star, Carey Kepler, for 20 miles during the American River 50 Mile Endurance Run, I decided to make my own go for the finish line. Lets’ do this; why not? I was about 18 miles into the run when I decided it would be no big deal to just complete the whole thing. Who cared that I had never run a step past 26.2 miles and my latest long run in ages had been just 13 miles? With no training, no special preparations, no pre-race worrying, I was free to just run and enjoy. As the three of us picked up the pace on our final miles to the finish, we looked and felt strong. We reveled in the cheers from the spectators and high-fived our awesome friends who jumped in for a few hundred yards after crewing us the entire way along the course. These were uphill miles and very few participants were still running at this point. While my legs were dead tired at the end of the day, I finished the race easily and recovered quickly enough to place high in a 10 mile race the next weekend.

american river run bling

I have no doubt that it was the combination of all-over functional fitness (from CrossFit) and efficient running mechanics (from POSE) that gave me the wherewithal to run 50 miles on a whim. Because CrossFit is all about “constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement” and POSE focuses on moving your body in a series of efficient positions (hello, POSE is not just for running it can be applied to any human movement), the two team up perfectly to keep me prepared to do nearly anything that comes up on the spur of the moment – like running 50 miles – without too much trouble!  I don’t know if I would ever run 50 miles again, but it is a thrill to know that I could at any time!

jennifer fisher_thefitfork_stronger than I thought

 

Race Recap: My Take on Zooma Texas

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Look Mom, I won!

Well, it’s been more than a week and I’ve had lots of time to reflect about my half-marathon experience at the Texas running of Zooma Women’s Race Series.  For the second year, I’ve been honored to be an ambassador for this women-centric race (although men are invited) that empowers women of all ages and abilities to create unforgettable moments with friends and family while celebrating personal running triumphs. Here are my top 10 unforgettable moments and personal running triumphs:”

10.  Hill amnesia is a good thing. Even though I ran the course in 2011, I conveniently blocked out memories of the course, choosing to remember blue bonnets rather than the undulating, up-and-down terrain. Both the 13.1 mile and 5k races are run around the gorgeous yet challenging landscape at the Lost Pines Hyatt Resort near Bastrop, Texas.  But the good news is that my Jell-O legs were only temporary, and hopefully so again is my memory of the hills!

Blubonnets-300x300

9.  Shout out to my canine crew. In 2011, a scary dog chased me about a quarter mile during the race. Needless to say, I wasted a good adrenaline surge that I would have liked to have expended at the finish. However, my apprehensions this year were allayed when I say that a friendlier canine crew of three was awaiting me both going out and coming back. One big dog and two small yipper-yappers trotted along with me for a good while until they gave up and realized I wasn’t going to stop and play!

8. Always bring your mom along. I know she’s biased in her opinion of me (seeing as she’s put up with me known me for the last 45 years), but every time my mom comes to a race, she boosts me up, tells me just to have fun, and is there to tend to my every need. She carries water bottles, snacks and gear with the skill of a Sherpa, screams louder than anyone else out on the course, and listens to my “woulda, coulda, shouldas” at the finish line.

2012_03 Me n Mom

7. Race day weather is fickle. When you think it is going to be cold, it’s hot – and vice versa. So, it comes as no surprise that this year I showed up in a bra top expecting 60s at the start and 80s later in the day. But it was cold and stayed cold! After the race I had to layer up under towels from the pool area – thank goodness for those blue towels!  I think I was totally unrecognizable hiding under them! Note to self, always remember to pack clothing for ever situation, especially if you have a mom willing to hold the bag for you!

6.  Lost Pines Hyatt is a gorgeous and relaxing resort; I’m definitely visiting again! Totally my style of camping (I call it “glamping!”), guests can swim in the lazy river, saddle up and trail ride, and then cook s’mores in the fire pit under the stars.  No tents here; afterward it’s time to hit the proverbial hay in a plush resort room with down pillows, designer shampoos and cable television.

hill country hyatt

5. Bacon makes a better pre-race dinner than I thought.  Usually I like to have a small beef tenderloin and sweet potato for my meal before a longer race. This exact combo wasn’t on the menu at the hotel restaurant, but I decided not to stress. I split a bacon, arugula, goat cheese and tomato Panini (sweet potato fries on the side) with my mom. No problems the next day.

4. Spurge on your soles. Yes, a good pair of shoes will serve you well in a half-marathon. But I took this a step further by getting a foot massage and hot stone treatment at Spa Django. A one-hour foot massage, can you even imagine?! Ah, my hard-working feet were in pure heaven.

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3. Zooma peeps totally rock. This, of course, includes participants, fellow ambassadors, and the dedicated race staff – Brae, Brooke, Tricia. No matter if fast or slow, young or old, half-marathon or 5k, the race was an affirmation of being an athlete or finally owning up to and embracing your inner-athlete. A special shout out to the Texas Muscle Milk Challenge Athletes (including my friend Rhonda). These women stuck to the plan, believed in themselves and accomplished a major goal!

muscle milk

2. Don’t be afraid to sparkle! I’m a little bit of a girly girl but don’t usually show that side of me on “game day.” But, I decided that this run was just going to be about “having fun” and” enjoying the moment” while running as fast as I could  – some might think that an oxymoron. But, not me; my gold Team Sparkle Skirt really made it all come together like a dream!

2013 zooma bike escort 1. It is a real thrill to win a half-marathon and I feel honored and blessed to have done so. Thank you to all the runners who cheered me on, high-fived me, and gave me a “you go girl,” during that part of the course that backtracked on itself (miles 8, 9?). I hadn’t seen any runners up until that point and was drooping both physically and mentally!  Y’all gave me a second wind — so much Zooma spirit, thank you!

What Goes Up Must Come Down, What Goes In Must Come Out

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Also known as “The Trails and Entrails of the 2012 Hood to Coast Relay”

Some of you may have heard that I just got back from running the famous Hood to Coast Relay on a team sponsored by Nuun Hydration. Whoo-hoo!  It was truly the realization of a 16-year dream to take part in this almost 200 mile journey from the snow-capped Mount Hood all the way down to the sandy (and quite chilly) beach of Seaside, Oregon.  And, to represent for an awesome company whose product I firmly believe in and actually do drink made the experience all the more exceptional, as did hanging out with the 35 other like-minded runner-blogger-foodie-fashionistas. Holla!

Amanda, Marjorie, Jennifer, Katie, Elizabeth . . . and Erin is running!

I’m not a very savvy race recapper; I’ve forgotten my race leg times, my mind and my photos are fuzzy, and I’m just staring at the big bag of swag donated by generous sponsors (thank you) that I will eventually need to dig through and provide thoughtful reviews. However, I do clearly recall important details about the trip such as the food and drink. It’s all perspective and priorities, people – and this is The Fit Fork after all!

When I finally rolled into Seattle (Nuun HQ), the pre-running party had been going on for at least a day. Since I missed out on the female bonding at the Seattle Mariners game, the morning run-swim and the insider tour of Oiselle, I hoped that my attempt to sweeten up these girls with Jamba Juice smoothies would bear some fruit. Thanks to the yummy, slushy goodness of flavors like Razzamatazz™, Strawberry Whirl™ and Aloha Pineapple®, I felt as welcomed as the new girl at school whose mom sent in cupcakes to mark the occasion — only healthier!

What Blogger-Runners Do - Tweet About Everything!

Soon, we’d meet up at Nuun HQ for a variety of activities including a taste-testing of not-yet-for-sale secret flavors whipped up by the company president, Mason Reay.

Nuun Hydration Tablet - Top Secret Flavors Coming to you Soon!

The frenzied scavenger hunt across the city of Seattle sent me into a few moments of tourist distress. Alas, we only had time to stop, snap pictures and tweet our location at a number of foodie locations including Pike’s Market, a famous Donut Shop, the Original Starbuck’s Coffee.  I’m definitely will need to revisit these places at my leisure on a future trip!

The pre-race dinner, catered by Bucco de Beppo, was a smorgasbord of healthy Italian dishes to suit the rainbow of food restrictions in the group. I am not at all being snarky here when I point out that Team Afternuun Delight covered quite a slice of the nutritional spectrum from dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free to plant-based and low-carb. Kosher? Raw only? If I missed some, post in the comments. I always like to hear about a new diet lifestyle. I felt tempted to throw in my personal preference which is the Paleo Diet (fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts, with the exclusion of grains, legumes, refined sugar, and processed oils). But, then I remembered I follow the “100-percent Paleo, 80-percent of the time” mindset; meaning vacations, even a running vacation, almost always fall under the other 20-percent of the time. This would be my mistake.

Race day we were up at the crack of dawn, but didn’t have to take off until later in the morning. This meant a quick trip to Specialtys Bakery near the ballpark where the-nicest-ever-employee Colin hooked me up with a Southwestern Egg Sandwich on bread. Yes, bread!  After loading into our respective vans (six ladies to each and some darn nice ones riding with me), we headed out of town and only made it as far as the Panera Bread in Tacoma. Here the whole gang noshed on our favorite menu items (me, Barbeque Chicken Salad) while local lunchers looked on with a combination of bewilderment and, I’m just guessing, awe and admiration at our sparkly skirts and rainbow striped arm-warmers.

Most of our remaining day and a half would be spent inside the 12-passenger van, except when it was time to run our respective legs, visit one of the 529 port-a-lets (they called ‘em “Honey Buckets” and I came to know ‘em well), or hang out for some down time at an exchange. This meant we relied on rations piled up in the back of the van except when our intrepid and highly entertaining driver Tyler, a Nuun employee, would pull over to grab us a snack.

Tyler, Elizabeth and Jennifer cutting loose at a exchange point.

Rations consumed in the van:

  • Nuun Hydration tablets (favorite flavors were Kona Kola and Strawberry Lemonade)
  • 12 Chiboni Yogurts  (the official yogurt of the USA Olympic Team and Team Afternuun Delight)
  • Lots of Kind Snacks – Granola and Bars
  • 14 bananas
  • 8 bagels
  • Peanut butter
  • Homemade brownies (I never got one!)
  • GNC caffeine chewies
  • Saltines
  • Graham Crackers
  • Trail Mix
  • Gummy Bears
  • String Cheese
  • Assorted beers
  • Muscle Milk
  • Assorted energy drinks (consumed by driver and, err, me)
  • Coffee
  • Random ham sandwich and hamburger stops

You know you’re committed to eating right when you bring food along with you on a trip. Wish I had that much stick-to-it-iveness; maybe I wouldn’t have had so many stomach issues. The crazy lady (love ya) in the back seat delighted us with an endless array of healthy options on the go, some actually good!  Kale chips, sprouted raw pumpkin seeds, tuna fish in a can (she courteously went outside to eat that), beans, rice milk, berries, kombucha and more.

After we finished our first round of legs, we had arrived in Portland. Since it was after midnight, we parked the van and walked over to the closest place open and serving food, the Bunk Bar. At this time of night, you can’t be picky. Another Egg Sandwich for me (top bun off but loaded down with bacon ) and split a local brew on tap with a teammate. Was hoping that beer would help me go to sleep during our 2 hour layover in the parking lot. But, alas, it was the indigestion and adrenaline that so wanted me to stay awake.

Hydrating at bunk bark with beer and Nuun.

My second leg at 8am was fueled in quality style with a Monster Absolute Zero followed by a banana and yogurt for recovery. The remainder of down time until my third leg at 5pm included no sleep, a long traffic jam through the countryside of Oregon, overindulging in trail mix until I couldn’t even look at the bag anymore, and a stomach ache that refused to be resolved.  Several days of magnesium, caffeine and fiber supplementation were failing me, there seemed to be no solution to my hormonal-travel-naughty-eating induced problem.  The whole van was pitching in to help, amazing how close you can become with people when “living” in such close quarters.  Rumors from another team van were flying; apparently the Aspaeris Pivot Compression Shorts, a gift in our goodie bag, were literally squeezing the #@$& out of some of the girls. It was worth a try, but I was foiled from the get go. My pair was missing.

Apparently, all types of digestive problems are common during the 28+hour relay, as evidenced by the van for the team Great Bowels of Fire. 

Third leg was run around 5pm after a late afternoon filled with heartbreaking drama including a nasty, sprained ankle by a sweet teammate and picking up lost runners who had run miles out of their way out on the course. It was really touching, and a great lesson for me, to see everyone rallying together to emotionally boost up the injured and upset. It wasn’t about winning the race or how fast or cool a single person was; it was about finishing together regardless of the circumstances.  And we did!

To celebrate, we partied down at the beach as guests of Nike. Local hefeweizen, pulled pork, smoked turkey, salad and such.  It was good, it was all good.

Entrance to the 2012 Hood to Coast Relay Nike Party

After a midnight van ride and another sleepless night in Seattle, I started working my way back to Austin. A Kind Bar and Starbuck’s Chai Latte held me for breakfast and a spinach salad with feta and craisins was a not-too-bad airport layover lunch. And, when I got home at 7pm, everyone was waiting for dinner! Hurray! Fajitas on the fly.  Oh yeah, and I unpacked. Everything. All problems solved.

Thank you Nuun Hydration for such a wonderful experience and all the support from your employees. It was both harder and easier than I thought, does that make any sense?  Loved it!