Aug12

The Biggest Brand You’ve Never Heard Of

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The Biggest Brand You’ve Never Heard Of

(I received free products from Li-Ning, all opinions are my own and not swayed by outside sources.)

After being glued to our screens to watch the Olympics these past couple of weeks I’ll bet this logo looks familiar to you. That’s because by now you have seen it on all of the Chinese Athletes’ Uniforms, and those of several other countries competing in the games. The brand is Li Ning and it is probably the biggest brand you’ve never heard of. Here in America that is, but it is the Nike of China. You may know the name Li Ning from the companies founder, he is the Chinese gymnast who won six metals for China in the 1984 Olympics. That was the first Olympics that the People’s Republic of China took part in, and three of his metals were gold. Li Ning himself lit the 2008 Olympic torch at the Beijing summer Olympics. In 1990 he had set out to create a sportswear company with global reach, and today Li Ning is the biggest name in Chinese Sportswear. The company has global athletic sponsorships past and present, including several American Basketball players such as Shaquil O’Neil and Jose Calderon among others. Li-Ning sportswear had sent me a very soft thin cotton sweat shirt to try out when they first entered the U.S. sportswear market earlier this year. Aside from wearing my sweatshirt that I love, I had not thought too much more about the brand until I noticed the logo on the women’s Chinese Diving team suits that I was admiring. Some of the Chinese uniform designs were my favorite, and they were all made by Li-Ning. I recently have noticed some ads for their athletic shoes along the sidebar of my computer screen as well. I’m not quite ready to switch out of my Nikes, and both brands are made in China, but I’m guessing with their new ad campaigns and great designs for the Olympics that the brand Li-Ning will not go unknown here much longer.

Aug10

What You Need To Do A Sprint Triathlon: Planning & Gear List

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What You Need To Do A Sprint Triathlon: Planning & Gear List

This is what you will need to do a sprint triathlon: Planning & gear List

Step 1: Find a race to sign up for, check  usatriathlon , active.com or trifind.com

Step 2: Set up a training Schedule (see here for an example)

Step 3: Set up any travel plans, (it’s good to stay somewhat local your first time though)

Step 4: Since you may need to ride your bike while carrying everything bring all of the below in a backpack.

What you need race day:

1. a bike  I used my mountain bike for my first race which was fine because I just wanted to finish, but subsequently have rented or borrowed a road bike which is really what you want to use, they are so much lighter and  faster.

2. a tri suit  I got mine through danskin, this is the most efficient way to dress and will save you time on your transitions. Even for the Nantucket Triathlon I did not find that the water temperature called for a wet suit, and personally  I find them constricting when I swim.

3. a number belt (see photo below) available at any sports shop.

4.sneakers

5.socks

6. a small towel

7. a water bottle to rinse your feet with

8. water bottle with spout for your bike

9. bike helmet

9.sunglasses

10. goggles for the swim

11. 1 packet gu or other energy gel I usually eat this when I am half way through the bike. Try it before the race to make sure you like it and are familiar with the texture.

 

 

Aug9

Try A Triathlon!

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Try A Triathlon!

My friend Jo at the starting line

I know my friends I grew up with just fell off their chairs laughing at the thought of me as a triathlete. In a way they are right.  I am not an athlete, never have been, but as the gangly physique of my youth morphed with age, four babies, and a traitorous metabolism, even I have had to turn to exercise for help.  It was just before I turned 40 that my body seemed to turned on me, I could no longer indulge in my hedonistic ways without consequence (I hate that!).   I am a somewhat healthy eater, but with a big appetite.   You know the formula,  I had to ramp up my physical activity .   I needed a goal, and one that I really had to work for.  I had heard about sprint triathlons and had always wanted to give one a try. After all I thought, individually I could handle each leg, swim a ¼ mile, bike 12 miles or run 3 1/2 , maybe I could string them together and complete a triathlon.   My fear of drowning or collapsing had me on a 12-week training schedule and I was amazed at how well it actually prepared me for my first race.  I convinced several girlfriends to do it with me, because I sure as hell wasn’t going to do it alone and, as a first triathlon for all of us, we had a blast.

After finishing our very first sprint triathlon

Since then I have completed four more sprint triathlons, never placing mind you, but each time achieving my goal of completion and beating my own time from the previous race.  The group of girlfriends we race with has snowballed and we have turned our triathlons into fun girls weekends in different destinations.

2011 girls triathlon weekend

I love encouraging other women to give it a try.  The truth is that if I can do it, anyone can, with proper training of course .  My kids always ask me if I won, and I do have to admit that I love that they think I possibly could win. Some of my friends that I do it with actually do.

What you need

 

Check out tri find, usatriathlon  or active.com  to find a race near you.

 

 

 

 

Below is my text exchange with my 11-year-old son just after I finished my last triathlon.

Me: “I finished my race!”

Him: “Great, what Place did you get?’

Me: (Pause) “712”(this was out of 950 & you can read about why I did so poorly, yet it was my favorite triathlon so far in an upcoming post)

Him: “Is that good?”

Me: (This is why I love him so much!) “Yes, it is good for me because I finished the race, didn’t get hurt, had fun and wasn’t last”

 

Aug3

Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster NYC: Ethiopia-Sweden-America

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Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster NYC: Ethiopia-Sweden-America

Marcus Samuelsson’s story is amazing.

He was born in Ethiopia, and when he was only three his mother walked for days with her two children to get medical care to treat their tuberculosis. Sadly, his mother did not make it, but Marcus and his sister received the care they needed to recover. A year later they were adopted into a loving family and brought up in Sweden. It was the love of cooking that his Swedish grandmother instilled in him which he credits for guiding him to where he is today. He has risen to become a world-renowned chef and author of Yes, Chef; A Memoir in which he details his fascinating life.

Me with Chef Marcus Samuelsson at Red Rooster

While in New York City for the Blogher conference I had the pleasure to meet Chef Marcus Samuelsson and check out his acclaimed Red Rooster Restaurant in Harlem. He has created a vibrant atmosphere in which to serve what he describes as American comfort food with hints of his Swedish and African roots. While there, he greeted us with the same easy smile and warm welcoming manner with which he seemed to grace all those he encountered. He graciously took us on a tour downstairs to Ginny’s Supper Club , which is fashioned as a modern speakeasy and opened in 2012 as a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance. The food was amazing and the ambiance electric, so if you are looking for a cool night out, Red Rooster is where you want to go.

A drink called Yes, Chef

Jul27

My Favorite Summer Skirt

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My Favorite Summer Skirt

When I commented on how much I loved my friend Stephanie’s skirt one day she told me where to find them.

I bought two for myself and have worn them almost every day this summer.  I know they will be cute with boots and tights in fall and winter too, but I have to tell you this is the perfect summer skirt!  Made from recycled t-shirts they are each unique, soft, and easily washable.  I love these skirts made by Jupiter Girl so much I just had to share!