February 2009

In the Bitterroot Athlete Valley

It was spring-like weather almost all of February - not a month to book vacations to get away! It was also a great time to train outdoors for the Snow Joke Half Marathon. At least eight Bitterrooters that I know of made the trek to Seeley Lake to participate in the event. It was a beautiful blue-sky sunny day and the snowy landscape was very scenic for the Snow Jokers. (Local pic to the right is just south of the Como Lake turnoff, Feb. 27.)

February Events

Antara Sports was one of 16 businesses hosting the annual Soroptimist Winter Golf fund raiser.  (Two holes at the Eagles Lodge.)  It was a very fun event for me and the participants. Groups of 4-6 people, some in themed outfits, went to designated businesses and played a hole set-up by the business. The Antara Sports hole had a number of holes-in-one, which was fun for the participants to be entered into a raffle.  The Jerry Wessel's Les Schwab hole was more challenging and a favorite too.  Last
year, I remember seeing people walking
around with golf clubs (sunny day last year and this year) wondering what was going on?  My store was very quiet last year and this year it was hopping with over 100 people coming through, many who had never been in the store before.

Saturday Runs @ 8:00

The Saturday runs have been on schedule with long 10.5-mile runs most repeated via the West Side Loop and returning along Angler's Roost and Hwy 93.   Other runners such as Matt Guzik and Josh Alexander continued marathon training distances in the 20-mile range.  Matt is currently in Chile and will be participating in the marathon in Antarctica.  Just checked out the website...click here...See the picture above...it does not look as fun as Seeley Lake!  But, it completes Matt's goal of doing a marathon on every continent. (Interesting...never knew about this site:
Marathon Tours & Travel...Is there one for triathlons?)

Saturday run mileage should begin to taper down as now triathlon season is coming up.  As for me, I am now focusing on swimming and biking/spinning as well as running-at least 3xs each per week.  Four times for my weakest sports...swimming, biking and running! 

Swimmers Update

There is a Masters' Swim Meet coming up in Missoula, March 21 & 22. (Antara Sports will have a swimsuit booth there.)

Last year, it was in Bozeman so it is nice that it is so close.  Volunteers are needed for lap counting and other duties.  Therefore, if you would like to be inspired to swim more, please contact Donn Livoni or Ellen Parchen at the Griz Pool: 243-2763 to be a volunteer this year...next year compete!  Lots of good swimming info on the Masters website.  (Cannot locate link for March 21-22)

The Snow Joke Half Marathon - Feb. 28, 2009

This was the highlight of the month...besides Valentines....It was a great day  and dogs were allowed to run too.  We had some good times with only a few temporary injuries! The times I know of before official results are posted: Seth Garbet (of Aussie Jingle-Australia bound) 1:25:07, Steve Gideon 1:31:15, Greg Bremer 1:45:44, Howard Recht 1:51:00, Kirk Crews 1:52:38, Jim Wood 1:54:43, Antara Croft 2:07:37, Dustin Pauley 2:17:14... Lots of fun pics.  And yes, I did carry my camera. I was really pushing my last 2 miles--talking my way in.  Maybe it was the higher elevation (4,019--not as high as I thought) or the fact that i didn't train enough miles per week?  But, I did it.  I did not get good individual photos of Bitterrooters as I was one of the last ones

in of the group. Most had packed up and gone home!   After the race, some of us headed for Fuddruckers' hamburgers and fries in Missoula.

Side Note: Many of you have Garmins, but for those of you that don't, I will let you know how many calories this 13-miler burned after I download the info on my Mac.  And, if you are interested, with the newer-smaller version out, these once $350 gadgets are now $166 on Amazon...It was $173 when I got it.  Burned 1,388 Calories.   Hamburger and fries calories...?? See a few more Seeley Lake pics at the bottom...

The Store Update

I have received some new Brooks clothing, ALO women's bamboo tops, Tyoga club and yoga wear (Martha Stewart's trainer wore these on tv), Sugoi and BLACK TRIATHLON shorts expected in the first of March--men's and women's. Have ordered Speedo caps-the good ones-polyester inside/silicone outside hybrid.  Speedo goggles also including ONLY 6 of the same goggles that Michael Phelps wore and there were only 8 left in the company if I do receive them--$30 goggles! (Speedo sold out now.) New 6ixty-8ight lingerie should be coming too -I am working on a special order.  I still have clearance items on sale from 30% to 60% off.  If you have X-small and small teenagers these items will fit as well as some X-tra larges.  Jackets are now in this mix and I still have a few XC ski pants available.

The Darby Varsity Tennis team picked up a few Sugoi

tops from Antara Sports and I had the Darby logo put on them. They will look pretty sharp out there on the tennis courts!  Cowie likes them...despite the slight scowl!

Displays - Friday, March 6th is a special Women's Night Out at the Roxy Theatre in Hamilton. For $10 theatre fund raiser, watch the movie "The Devil Wears Prada," refreshments and hors d'oeuvres, and girlfriends to talk to.  There will be displays by Bella, Serendipity, and Antara Sports.  363-0782 for Roxy Theatre.

Satellite sales displays can be found at Lisa Bryzichi's Peak Fitness in Stevi, Heidi Graham's Right-to-Bear-Arms in Darby, and Mara Phipps' Florence Physical Therapy and Workout Center in Florence.

Above, pictures of Seeley Lake run, a Garmin, Dogs ready to run, Greg & Dustin checking out the course before we started, and Seth Garbett, Emma & Natalie Bremer, & Jim Wood hanging out in the gym before they line up to start (Emma & Natalie cheering us on...and "Dante" sitting).

One last picture of Annie Creighton and Tony Neaves...they took me on a 14-mile skate ski adventure to the end of Como Lake and all the way behind the Como Peaks-Up hill for half of it.  They didn't forewarn me...my second time out...it was just another outing for these skate ski and XC racers!

Example of what you see downloading your Garmin run info...My info

is -0- to gloat about!  Just showing you what it records...

Garmin died for this AM w/o recharging...only reason I got out to

run to see what it would say!?!