Self-awareness is not a journey; it is a state of mind...

So What is self defense? Today's post is from Kasia and Kirk, Harbor members and self defense instructors. This is something everyone should read!

 

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “self defense” or “self protection”?  Associations range from a picture of a martial artist breaking timber blocks, to fights in movies and finally to an instructor in a heavy suit yelling obscenities and attacking his students.  The associations are almost never pleasant and often threatening. It is simple - self-defense and self-protection implies a lack of security and presence of a threat.  But if we prepare ourselves to address a threat and teach ourselves to be aware we can live our lives with the comfort of knowing that we are ready should the unlikely happen. 

So, even though unpleasant, why is self-defense and self-protection so important?  Why would you consider taking a class that is, most likely, going to make you uncomfortable, vulnerable and most of all may have you start considering the unthinkable? 

It is not because statistics are scary:  1 in 6 women will become a victim of a violent crime in their lifetime; women are more likely to be attacked than men; violent crime in Madison has been steady increasing.  It is because the unthinkable may happen.  Our only shield is our knowledge and our preparedness.  So where and how do we start?

Self Protection is simple – be attentive, vigilant, listen to your intuition and you should be able to avoid the majority of unwanted situations.  Once in a possibly threatening situation, you can use simple moves and your body’s natural response to gain the upper hand and get away to safety.  We made simplicity and effectiveness a big part of our teaching philosophy, but our ultimate goal is to help the class participants realize and access their own strength and determination.  You are more capable than you think and no matter what the circumstances, you can always do something; you have the right to protect yourself; you have the strength to do it. 

Self-awareness is not a journey; it is a state of mind….

Kasia and Kirk have been Harbor members for a number of years.  You can see them lifting weights in the weight room and practicing self-defense in the gym.  Kirk, a former Marine, bodybuilder and power lifter worked as a Private Security Person and a bouncer.  He is currently an instructor and First Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Kasia has a martial arts background, but her interest in self-defense has more to do with being a woman and understanding the vulnerabilities of the “weaker sex”.  

Personal Records- Darren's Badwater experience

Darren is a cycling instructor here at Harbor and a Cancer Survivor. He went from

hearing "you may never walk again to competing in the Badwater Ultramarathon, "the world's toughest foot race".  Talk about inspiring! Today he is sharing with us 

about his experience from July.

 

Badwater 2011 was flat out tough.  I have been fortunate enough to race and compete in some of the toughest events out there....including four Ironmans, Badwater 2009, the Boston Marathon, four six-mile ultraswims, and eight other 100 mile ultra-marathons (including the Leadville 100, the worlds highest 100 miler).

 

When competing for a second time, a frequently asked question is often, "Did you PR?"   PR stands for "personal record" and basically means did you run faster than your previous efforts.  The drive to constantly "PR" in life can be both a positive and negative.  In our heads, to PR, means that we have physically improved somehow.  However, that is not always the case as there are dozens of factors that influence our race performance.   These factors can influence another acronym commonly used in sport, the dreaded "DNF" (did not finish).

 

There was no PR at Badwater 2011.   At mile 40, the temperatures were 128 degrees and the wind was gusting up to 25 mph.  I got violently ill and had convulsive cramping from the heat and conditions.  I lost an entire races nutrition and fluids in about 30 seconds.  It was like I got punched in the mouth and was down for the count.  This was not a good situation.  I was taken off course and stretched out horizontal and packed with a half dozen bags of ice in an attempt to cool me down and get fluids and nutrution in my body.   A that point, I realized a Badwater 2011 PR was not in the cards.   At that same point, the word DNF hovered around me instead.  A DNF?  How did this happen?   How did I get into this situation?  I was well trained.  I had a good nutrition and hydration plan. I had a great support crew.  I had an excellent race plan.  I was racing and doing all the right things.

 

I have never DNF'd a race in my life, ever.  I feel that you train, you race, you compete, you work through the ups and the downs, but you never ever DNF.  To DNF means to stop trying.....to be defeated.   I would have to be dragged off a course before I would eve DNF.  To me, racing is personal.  A DNF is not part of my plan in life. 

 

However, I was down for the count at mile 40 of a 135 mile ultra-marathon.   I have race medics standing by with IV's, just waiting for me to give them the word.  Had I taken an IV, I would have been disqualified from the race.   I have nearly 100 miles to go, including crossing all three significant  mountain ranges.   I was likely looking at at least another 36 hours to go in my race in an attempt to beat the race cut-off of 48 hours.   I somehow gathered up the strength simply to sit back up.  I somehow gathered the strenth to simply stand back up.  I somehow gathered the strength to start to walk.  I eventually (hours later) found enough energy to even start to run again.  It was not pretty.  I was movntg forward however.

 

Badwater 2011 was not a PR from a time perspective.  Badwater 2011 WAS a PR from a physical pain threshold as well as from a mental endurance standpoint.   I have never put my body through more physical pain as I did in the final 36 hours of my race.  Along with that physical pain came 36 hours of having to endure my mind trying to make sense of what I was asking my body to do. Never in my life have I had to endure such prolonged brutal conditions on such a broken body.   I eventually crossed the finish line with my crew by my side in just over 45 hours, some 3 hours before the cut off.

 

Acronyms in racing/competing are funny.   They mean different things to different people.  Did I DNF?  Hell no.   Did I PR?  You bet......just a way you might not have expected.  I set a PR with my ability to process and endure pain.   All the cards were stacked against me.   The DNF devil was calling. 

 

Sometimes it truly is about the journey and not just the finish time.  In the end, all I know is I finished what is widely known as "the world's toughest footrace."    It was tough.....very tough.

 

Darren

 

What "personal record" are you going for this fall? Maybe a time in a 5k race, or maybe you are trying to challenge yourself to get to Harbor at least 4 times a week? Whatever it is remember that it is about the journey not just the end result. Writing your goals out and sharing with others helps you stay motivated!

 

Back to School and Fall Fitness Goals

The start to a new school year is upon us and that means more time for you! Harbor has a lot of exciting classes and programs coming this fall so why not try something new? 

Want to try running? Join our 10 week to a 10k program!

How about working on that 6-pack? Try our new CX30 class coming in September, all abs, all the time.

Maybe you are ready for a challenge and want something quick? 30 Minute Mania will whip your butt into shape!

Relaxing and stretching may be just the thing you are looking for. In that case our new HOT YOGA program would be the answer!

Whatever your goal is for this fall, Harbor wants to help! Start sharing your goals and find others who share the same the goals. Leave a comment below!