December 2008

In the Bitterroot Athlete Valley

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  I had a professional Santa in my store on a Saturday.  There were lots of cute pictures taken of kids and adults.  One four-year-old had never seen Santa before.  She was hiding from him behind my clothes racks, and he was a REALLY nice and authentic-looking Santa!  No matter how much her parents coaxed her she would not sit on his lap nor get near him.  Mom finally held the little girl and Santa waved behind them while Dad took the picture.  Santa was patient too!  He said he didn’t take offense that he was used to it, since he is a professional.

Happy New Year 2009!

The Realtors are being positive… 2009 is going to be a GREAT year!  I was talking to a customer one day and he was being so positive about the economy…. I asked him, “Are you a Realtor?”  He smiled and said, “Why, yes!?”  What kind of year will you make of it?  Do you have a New Year’s resolution?  Do you do goals?  If one of your goals is to reduce stress, lose weight, eliminate eating disorders, or quit smoking…doing it in conjunction with a running program really helps. 

In the past, getting into running, once again, helped me to quit smoking and to beat an eating disorder.  When you run and experience feeling more healthy, you are less likely to pollute your body or sabotage your calorie burn if you are trying to lose weight.  Plus, getting out in the fresh air and sometimes having alone time to think is very empowering.  Log your running (log books at store) and think of how good you feel when you are done…especially when it is time to get out and do it again.  And to keep coming back, don’t over do it. 

(Wow...I was just looking for "positive, happy pictures" on the Net...there are so many. Here is a cute poem I found..."Shiny happy people laughing. Meet me in the crowd, people people.  Throw your love around, love me love me. Take it into town, happy happy. Put it in the ground, where the flowers grow. Gold and silver shine." -R.E.M.  It goes with this website: http://www.pbase.com/mistermattias/people. I could do a whole section on happy...happy for the New Year! Would like to link the Bobby McFerrin song here, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." I just bought it on iTunes while I keep adding to this newsletter! I am supposed to be done!  It is much more fun to write in html with pictures than Word!)

Saturday Runs @ 8:00

We had a few Saturday runs in December, but let the weather get the best of us a few times.  We opted for breakfast instead.  January we will be better!  Picture Note: these runners were not awake yet, wanted coffee, and camera shy prior to the run…but after, we were ALL happy and talking.  We always feel good after we are done.  Should have gotten the after shot!

I have had numerous inquiries if we have slow runners?  Not everyone is fast and every week we have a new mix. So keep coming out and you will find someone your speed.  If it isn’t this week it may be the next.  Last year, at the height of our runs, we had 25 people.  There were all levels and distances…and yes, this was in the snow.  Antara Sports has the warm, yet breathable and wicking clothes you need.  If I don't, we'll order them.

Runs for Thought

Darby Coach, Steve Gideon will be doing track workouts in Corvallis on Tuesdays at 4:30.  All are welcome to try Corvallis' new rubberized track.

I have heard that a few people are venturing off to Phoenix in January to run in the PF Chang Rock-n-Roll Half/Full Marathon. Sunday, Jan. 18th, Jim Wood, Bill & Hanna Halden and John Croft will be running by palm trees as they count their miles.  (The average start temperature is 40 degrees and finish is 65.)  Listen to the "Screamin' Javelinas" for the official PF Chang's Marathon song.

Jan. 24th, Darby High School runners, Heather DeMorest and Seth Garbett, are hosting an Aussie Jingle Cup. They are raising funds to compete with other high schoolers in Australia with a stop in Hawaii! This is an exciting opportunity for them.  Please come out and support them for $15 or more for a fun 4.2 mile run starting at the Wally Crawford Fishing Access, 4 miles north of Darby.  This will be our Saturday run on the 24th...call the store for car pooling (363-4193).  (This is Heather and Seth with Santa.)

The Snow Joke Half Marathon around Seeley Lake is coming up February 28th.  In March Missoula will have the Wheat Montana run on the 21st and Arlee will have the Buttercup run on the 28th.  See http://runmt.com/caljm.htm calendar for the Snow Joke and Aussie Jingle.

During one of our first snow storms

Antara Sports was visited by five groups of Corvallis 5th graders escorted by 7th graders for a leadership program. The groups went around to a number of businesses.  When they came to my store, I told them about my involvement in triathlons and how the experience led me to open the store.  Plus, I told them about Linsey Corbin coming to speak at the store and I played an Ironman DVD for them to see also. At one point, I ran an errand early in the day, not knowing whether more groups were coming or not.  My mother was surprised when 15+ kids entered into the store...that group got a little or a lot of MIS-information!  They asked questions and wrote down answers.  So if they were tested, that group wouldn't have done very good.  If my Mother didn't know the answer, she made it up...including how many triathlons I've done...she wasn't giving me the benefit of the doubt!  Said I did about 7...for the record...come on! I'm counting...18...in three seasons.  Don't know if I'll ever do as many as Matt and Jeremy, over 300 and 350 respectively....

Speaking of Jeremy...HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY Jan. 4th!  No age is sacred in triathlons...much to my chagrin.  I wrapped two birthday presents for Jeremy!  Here is a pic of him during a photo shoot for my building, holding Matt's torch and wearing wild Sugoi...and it was chilly in April too.

Looking for Scuba Diving  students for a class with Greg Sangster - 777-5360.

Also, see the new web page for some customers on the Community page of Antara Sports.  If you are a customer of Antara Sports, have a business, are a coach or trainer, email me to possibly be on this website and/or do a mutual link.

There is also some new vinyl on my car...by Seismic Signs...

Farewell and good luck to Stan Doran – He came to Hamilton as a mild-mannered Alabaman and left a triathlete.  Look out Alabama as he is headed back.

And in memory of my Grandmother, Martha Granrud, who always loved and accepted  me no matter what...even crazy schemes of opening my own business...she was the perfect Grandmother.