Skin Strong

Ask Slik the Tri Guy

Slik, My Mom isn't like a lot of other Mom's - she's a runner and triathlete.  I am having a hard time finding the right gift for her for Mother's Day.  She has all the equipment and gadgets.  I hope you have some ideas - I've given her flowers for too many years in a row! Sincerely,                                               Frustrated shopper I've got some great ideas for you, Frustrated! Anyone who knows me, knows I love my Mom!  Let me share some great ideas for your Mom this mother's day that will show her how special she is to you! 1) The gift of Comfort! Of course, you can't go wrong with a Skin Strong gift set &/or cool kit and they are both on special right now here! I'm kind of partial to this one! 2) Make her breakfast in bed or dinner!  Most important thing to remember about that is that she will probably want something healthy - my favorite is anything from The Feed Zone Cookbook.  The guys who wrote this cookbook have cooked for famous athletes like Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer and have helped me keep me slim and trim! Why not buy her the cookbook and cook for her from one of the recipes! Who doesn't like good food??? Want to make your Mom happy and help a junior elite triathlon team at the same time? Use code TTRacing when purchasing the cookbook and the Triple Threat Racing team will receive a donation! 3) Dream race - Register her for a race she's always wanted to do! Why not race it with her! Don't tell my Mom - I am going to surprise her with that this year - shhh! 4) Sweet Spot Skirt - My mom often fits her training in around running errands and running people where they need to be.  Sweet Spots Skirts are a great way to cover her "assets" and look great! There is a pattern and color for every Mom!  If you aren't good with shopping, I am sure Stephanie or Samara can help you out - they have saved me a time or two! (If you want to know the truth, I happen to think their model/mannequin, Sophia is pretty cute!) 5) Cool Jewelry- Check out this line of jewelry that inspires from Endorphin Warrior.  I saw a few things on there I wouldn't mind having for myself as well.... I hope I have helped you out, Frustrated!

Have any gift ideas for Moms to share?

Have a question for Slik the tri guy?

   

If you are a runner, triathlete, cyclists - if you are an athlete, the odds are good that at some point, you will have an injury! The most important thing you can do is to make a plan to come back stronger!I was off running for over 8 weeks due to knee pain which turned out to be Patellofemoral syndrome. The first few weeks were miserable (not sure if it was me or my family who was more miserable). With 5 kids, running had become my only quiet time and provided much needed sanity.  I tried a lot of different things, talked to many athletes and doctors,  and learned a lot during that time.  These tips proved to be helpful!   1) Sign up! Sign up for a class to increase your strength and flexibility like yoga.  You may think you can buy a video and do it on your own - be realistic!

• The odds are pretty good that it will be harder to stay committed if it is just you and the video!
• You will be more likely to push yourself if you are in a class.
• A certified instructor will be able to give you good modifications to avoid aggravating your injury.
• There are many different styles of yoga, find the right one for you!

Yoga is also perfect for preventing further injuries which is why I will continue to do yoga! 2) Find a group Swimming and cycling are non impact activities and can help keep you cardiovascularly  strong during recovery times. There are always groups doing swim workouts and rides - ask your local bike &/or run shop.  Check to see if there is a masters swim club near you - chances are good they know of good swim groups you could join. Again, the benefits of having a group rather than doing it on your own are many! 3) Talk to people! You would be surprised how many athletes there are who have had the same injury!  You can learn a lot from someone who has gone through the same injury.  If you have trouble finding someone locally, there are triathlon (for beginners and advanced triathletes) and running forums online! 4) Gurus & Gadgets! There are great gadgets to help speed up recovery time!

• A.R.T. (Active Release Technique) can be a great non invasive place to start for treatment. I found A.R.T to be the most beneficial treatment for my knee issues!
• Ultrasound bone machines speed up bone healing after a fracture. This was a great aid for our daughters stress fractured shin.
• Ultrasound machines for soft tissue injuries
• Foam rollers - Check out this article from Running Times Magazine
• Get a video run or bike analysis from a trained coach. Correct running and cycling form can prevent re-injury

5) Journal Keeping a journal will help in a lot of ways.  Writing your feelings down helps not only our emotional well being, but also helpful to see physical progress. It can also help figure out problems with recovery and pinpoint the cause. Another benefit to journaling, you will be able to look back and see ways that you can help an injured friend! Do you have any tips to share?