yoderbegley.com

January 26, 2010

The start of a new year and I am now 32.  Andrew gave me Bobby Flay
cookbooks.  I am going to try one of his recipes each week.  Last week it was a
grilled chicken with a spicy glaze.  This week it was scallops with a pea and
cilantro sauce.  Andrew also surprised me with a team dinner.  It was a fun get
together for the team to start the year.  The Oregon Project has had a great start
to the year with Simon winning the Rock and Roll Half Marathon and Shalane
winning the USATF Half Marathon in Houston.  Now everyone will move into
cross country or indoor season.

The Oregon Project is a great group of dedicated athletes.  It is very inspiring to
go to practice and see everyone working so hard.  I have started this year with an
injury but I hope to get back to full training soon.  My team mates have kept me
positive during my injury rehab.  Even though I can’t join them in practice we lift
together.   

If you would like to meet the Oregon Project, there is a chance for you to do that.  
You can go to the Jenny Crain Make it Happen Benefit Page on Facebook.  An
auction for items donated by the running community are listed there.  My parent’s
and I have donated a trip for two to Beaverton to visit the Oregon Project.  You can
meet the runners, watch a workout, tour the Nike campus and shop at the
employee store.  The highest bidder will win that prize.  There are also other
great items to bid on like signed books, marathon entries, etc.  All the money
raised will help Jenny Crain continue with her therapy.

This is the start of my 4th year in Oregon.  My fourth rainy Oregon winter, but the
silver lining is that I have been injured and have been able to avoid the rain.  Yet,
that means I am on the stationary bike watching movies or things I have on the
DVR. My favorite shows are Gray’s Anatomy, Biggest Loser, Desperate
Housewives and the Food Network.  Stationary biking is now a little harder
because I have moved the bike into altitude.  That means I get another hour at
altitude.  

Most athletes will tell you that being injured takes so much more time.  The rehab
exercises and cross training takes longer than just running.  To make sure I
keep up the volume of aerobic exercise, every 10 minutes on the bike equals one
mile.  Even when I am healthy, I add stationary biking to my weekly routine to
continue to stay healthy.    I wish I could bike outside and enjoy the Oregon
scenery but I am too accident prone to risk injury.  I will stick to walking my dogs
outside.  

If you want to keep up with Oregon Project Athletes there are many ways.  Dathan
tweets when he updates his blog on www.dathanritzenhein.competitor.com.  
Chris Solinsky and Simon Bairu also tweet.  I use twitter and facebook.  Yet,
when I am injured I tend to become a hermit until I am back running.   

This is now the start of the third week in January.  They say it takes 21 days or 3
weeks to form a new habit or break one.  Have you continued to follow your New
Year’s Resolutions?  Last year I quit biting my nails.  I am still trying to figure out
which habit to break this year or what new good habit to form.  

Here’s to the start of a new year.  I wish everyone one a happy, healthy,
successful year in whatever you choose to do with your life.  Just follow your heart
and passion and you can’t go wrong.
Amy Yoder Begley
   
USA Olympic Distance Runner
Nike Oregon Project Athlete