Upcoming Events June 6th and June 7th

If you have been thinking about getting on the water and have the desire to test your skills on a river The Great Castell Race is an excellent place to start. The race begins at the RV park off highway 87 between Mason and Fredricksburg and ends at Riversounds campground, home of singer songwriter Jerialice Arsenault. The event benefits the Lance Armstrong foundation. We will cover 12 miles of the Llano and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music and dance at the finish.

http://www.castelltexas.com/race.html

Sunday we will cheer on the ladies as they swim, ride and run at the 2009 Austin Danskin Triathlon. Participants will cover .8K (.5 mile) swim, 19K (12 mile) bike, 5K (3.1 mile) run. For many women this is their first triathlon and to that we say "You GO GIRL!" If you are not ready to do your first triathlon make that a goal to work toward and come out to cheer on this years participants. Attending a triathlon will show you that if you put in some training and make the decision to do a triathlon you can do it. I am so proud of the women who take the time to live an active lifestyle and train for this event. Active Life Goals and The Expedition School will be there keeping the ladies safe in the water and cheering on their efforts. You can find information about the Danskin at http://www.danskinwomenstri.com/Austin-TX.html

We would love to hear about your experience! If you are competing in the Danskin tell us about your training successes and let ALG know how you do in the race.

Staying active kept Ms. Mathews going well past 100

On Wednesday morning I attended the free yoga session at Ruta Maya Coffee House. Toward the end of the session we heard a loud clasp of thunder and about five minutes later the sky opened up and we had a torrential downpour. It was the kind of rain storm that gives you a new appreciation for nature. As the rain poured over the gutters and down the street we all stood around and watched basking in the glory of how fast things can change. One minute it was pouring down rain and a few minutes later the sky was blue again and everything was calm and peaceful. We did not have a choice to change the weather, mother nature gave us rain and rain is what we got. In our lives, however, we do have the choice to decide our activities and our daily routine.

As the rain finished I started talking to a classmate who lives in my old neighborhood. In the conversation we somehow began discussing a neighbor who I remembered from the area. When I lived in the area Ms. Mathews could be found walking down the street everyday in her red jacket, red shoes and red hat. She would venture out from her house and go approximately 3 miles to the local community center. A three mile walk isn't that far but in Ms. Mathew's case it is amazing because at the time that I lived in the neighborhood she was 102 years old. I learned today that Ms. Mathew's is now 108 and is currently in a local hospital. Her neighbor said that she attributes some of her longevity to the fact that she walked daily and she said that Ms. Mathew's loved to eat oranges. I wonder if she would have had the same longevity if she was not as active?

So the next time you think you are too tired, too old, or too out of shape to go out and get some exercise think about this amazing woman walking 3 miles each day, crossing South Congress avenue and traveling to the local community center. It really goes to show us that we can accomplish more than we think if we stay healthy and exercise. Our choice to be active can really boost our chances of a long active life.

Set Your Direction

Today is the first day of launching the blog site and moving forward as we grow and expand the Active Life Goals community. Coming soon we will have a place for you to set your goals and chat with other members through our forum.

In the mean time we want to know...

What is your Active Life Goal?

Add a comment at the end of this post and let us know what you are currently working on.

Real Ale Ride, Blanco TX

This week Co-founder of www.activelifegoals.com, Melissa Odom will branch out in her cross training to conquer the Real Ale Ride in Blanco, TX. The ride will take participants through the rolling hills of Texas on course lengths of 15, 30, 50, 65 or 80 miles. Missy has chosen the 50 mile route for this ride. This will be her first road ride on her new Cannondale Carbon 6 bike. To get ready for the race we spent some time this weekend at the Veloway and toured around the neighborhood streets to get a feel for traffic and road signs. Missy is training for the Crater Lake Marathon in Oregon and using road cycling as a way to cross-train and keep her legs strong and active.

While I wish I could complete the ride I will be on hand working with The Expedition School as medical support for the event. We are looking forward to a great day in the Hill Country with many miles of rolling hills.

Round Rock REI Clinics and Events

Paddling Basics
6/11/2009 7:00 PM
Everything you need to know to get started kayaking or canoeing. In this clinic we will cover information on how to choose the different types of boats, paddles and pfds used for various paddling experiences.We will also talk about making boat adjustments, launching the boat and basic paddle strokes for kayakng and canoeing.To get you on the water as soon as possible REI staff member Kim Sorensen will also share with you her favorite local paddling destinations.Kim has over 15 years of experience on the water in various kayaks and canoes including the successful completion of the 260 mile Texas Water Safari Canoe race from San Marcos to the Gulf of Mexico in 2008.

Location:REI Round Rock Community Space
Contact:Daniel Grillo/Kim Sorensen

Our Mission

At Active Life Goals our mission is:

To inspire, motivate, and educate members of the community to achieve active life goals by providing an online forum to set your direction, plan your route and reach your final destination.

What is your Active Life Goal?

Oh the places your goals will take you!

Last year I set a goal to get my Wilderness First Responder certification in 2009. I wanted the first aid and CPR skills for my personal trips and I was hoping to use my WFR certification to lead trips in 2009. In January I attended a WFR class at University of Texas in Austin and 10 days later it was official. I knew that I could use my certification to lead trips and work in outdoor programs but I had no idea the path that this new certification would take me on. Over the last 3 weeks I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with The Expedition School founded by Wilderness EMT director Kimery Duda. We provide the medical support for events such as Adventure races, triathlons, and trail runs. This experience is really helping the knowledge sink in from my Wilderness First Responder class. It is such a pleasure to work with such wonderful people who are willing to help you learn and grow. If you get a chance check out the website at www.expeditionschool.org to find out more about safety classes and expedition adventures that you can go on. By setting a simple goal to get my certification I was able to open up new doors of opportunity and adventure. Where will your goals lead you?