On July 24 the heat wave of the previous week had broken and it was an almost-chilly 68˚F in the pre-dawn of Lake Placid, NY, while Louise Goldsmith waited for the 5 a.m. opening of the transition area. “Transition” is where triathletes get ready for and change between sports, and Louise was ready to top off the air in her bike’s tires and don her wetsuit. Under the surface of Lake Placid there is a cable that defines the course of the Ironman swim. Swimming above this cable can save an athlete valuable time that could otherwise be wasted looking up to “spot” the buoys or, worse, swimming off…
No summer has ever been the same for me. I work on an academic calendar. By mid-June, I can hardly wait for my almost three month summer break. It has come to me, over time, that even though I’m hoping for endless carefree days, trying situations still occur. It seems that the heat of summertime does not extinguish house traumas from cropping up, be it a roof repair brought on by a horrific summer storm, or an invasion of ugly bugs. And accidents still occur despite the sunny bliss: car accidents on the way to a glorious day at the beach, sports induced injuries to various body parts, and …
Louise Goldsmith has some details to iron out: Should she go for a fast time on the bike but risk bonking on the run? Will she carry one, two, or three water bottles on her bike? Should she eat an energy bar or only Gu over the seven-hour bike ride? These are just a few of the strategy questions Louise has been sorting through during her months-long training for the 140.6-mile Ironman™ Lake Placid, NY, on July 24. Ironman races are comprised of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run. I caught up with Louise after her return from a recent weekend of training in Lake Placid. …
Two giants in the community, JCC MetroWest and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, will celebrate a new partnership with an Open House & Health Fair on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at the Leon & Toby Cooperman JCC, at 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange. The JCC and Saint Barnabas are working together to provide a Wellness Institute, which will include rehabilitation and physical therapy, education, health navigation, and a variety of other health-related issues. In addition, the Children’s Wellness Institute will offer classes and programs of interest to parents and …
If you're like me, the beautiful weekend weather inspired you to run a little further and faster than you have in some time. And, if you're like me, you found that there was a little more of yourself to lug around on your run. There are four local races fast approaching this April that can help relieve us of the extra pounds — while helping to raise funds for two good causes. Read on. The 35th Annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival 10K and 1-Mile fun run takes place on Sunday, April 10 in Branch Brook Park in Newark/Belleville. You can download the registration forms from the website. …
Debby Kaminsky is a yoga instructor and a mother of two, but she likes to be known as something else. “I call myself the ‘Peace Igniter,” she said. Kaminsky teaches yoga at workshops around Essex County, including studios in Livingston and Glen Ridge, but she is also proud of teaching yoga at Newark’s public schools and of her participation in the upcoming Newark Peace Education Summit from May 13-15. “I’m incredibly excited,” says Kaminsky. “They asked me to be on the advisory committee and oversee the yoga component.” She said the peace summit will have such honored guests as The Dalai …
I couldn’t wait to escape my house. The never ending snow and school closings, a case of strep (my youngest daughter), a cold (my older daughter), and an injured husband (from soccer), I desperately craved some me time. I had heard that Exhale Yoga had recently moved to South Livingston Avenue and was now called Ignite Yoga. Daniele Jarman, the co-owner of Ignite Yoga is partnering with Agnes Tengerdy. The new studio now offers various classes such as Hot Yoga, Chakra Therapy, and Yin Yoga. I decided to head over on a recent Friday morning to check it out. Jarman was teaching the Vinyasa Flow…
Have you ever thought about running a marathon? How about a 100-mile bike ride? Swimming two miles? Livingston resident, Louise Goldsmith, is planning to do all of that, back-to-back, in one day, at Ironman Lake Placid this coming July 24. Louise wasn’t a track star in high school or on the college swim team, but she is a dedicated and talented athlete who is getting ready to push herself through one of the most arduous endurance tests available to amateur athletes: Ironman. An Ironman™ is: a 2.4 mile swim, then a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a full marathon of 26.2 miles, for a race total…
If your family is anything like mine, your calorie intake has gone up ten-fold this winter. Many of us plan to now reverse that trend and get back to -- or initiate -- a healthy lifestyle. There are plenty of options around Livingston to drop pounds, increase your strength, train for a marathon, or just work on feeling better.Marc Oliver of Progressive Personal Training says that he typically sees a bump in business in January, but New Year's resolutions still don't trump the spring bikini season when the thought of baring one's midriff brings people flocking to local gyms.If you have a beach…
A variety of fitness and exercise classes offered in Livingston can help senior citizens stay healthy and young at heart this winter. The Senior, Youth and Leisure Services (SYLS) recently published a Winter Program of activities for Livingston residents. The brochure details a wide range of activities for all ages, and registration is now open for those who are interested in participating. "It is our aim to help residents stay healthy and active throughout the year, regardless of their age, level of fitness or health status," said Jennifer Hessberger, SYLS Director. "From vigorous heart …
It's back-to-work-and-school time and, for many, it's also a time to think about a fresh beginning in a new year. Patch asked some area fitness and wellness experts for advice on living in the new year with lots of peace, health, and wellness: 1. "Focus on the good things that happen each day, and how you can learn from a challenge. Even if it was one thing. Be thankful for it." — Keith Dent, coach 2. "Women should take good care of themselves first and in the long run their families will benefit tremendously. As my husband always says, 'If momma ain't happy, nobody's happy. If daddy ain't …
It's hard to imagine anything more awe-inspiring than pregnancy. Yet, for many women, the experience of submitting one's body to the incubation of offspring can be wrought with unfamiliar and unpleasant sensations. An oft-subscribed antidote when a pregnant body starts to rebel against the familiar routine of diet and exercise is prenatal yoga. When approved by a doctor or midwife, prenatal yoga is commonly known as one of the best activities for maintaining strength and fitness during what can be a trying and sedentary phase. A prenatal yoga practice typically starts after the first …
