Wild Webb F-1's

It's time to devote some energy to the better half of what Sol Fitness Adventures represents: wilderness, and all things wild. We'll start with the "Webb F-1's." The F is short for filial, of course, meaning my pure genotypical parents' offspring; all nerdy biologists kids know this.

One of the most memorable aspects of my childhood was being outside with my father, Merrill Webb, who not only took us into the wild, but actually encouraged us to bring a little of the wild home, as he brought it to his science classrooms. My earliest pets were snakes, toads and lizards smuggled home in emptied pillowcases; crayfish tossed into the fish aquarium to devour my goldfish during dinner; and even a hawk in the basement when I was still in diapers. I was about 12 when we finally did get a dog, and by then the concept of taking a pet for a walk was an absurdity to me.

At 8 years old I learned to meditate through the meticulous pinning of insects, which had to be preserved in painstakingly perfect form in order to honor their sacrificial deaths. One of the first betrayals of my life occurred when I was told that my younger brother had actually sold my insects one by one to his high school biology class; the beginnings of what would become a successful sales career for him, I suppose. I had given up insect collecting for good by then. My personal bioethics had begun to evolve - I was attending college on the 4-H monies earned by killing poor bugs for my own glory.

Sometimes, when I am feeling particularly cagey in my urban environs, I think back to the time when I was proudly referred to as a "Webb F-1." There would be a congregation at the dinner table, heads bent over fragile butterflies, science papers spread for grading, the sound of someone playing the piano, the smell of homemade toast in the air; silence broken only by the hissing words, "Who shook the table?"

Paddle Boarding the Mid-Atlantic

Look out, Laird Hamilton! I think I found my new toy - the paddleboard.
My friend Amie and I had just hiked the Billy Goat Trail, a wild little gem on the outskirts of D.C., when we spotted a guy with ripped-up arms gliding across the pond on a board. He looked like he was in a very "zen" state of mind paddling the calm water, surrounded by green. It turned out that this was Greg, the director of Potomac Board Rats, and he was cool enough to let me try out his new ride.
I was hooked from the minute I stood up. Being more of a mountain girl - I've never even tried surfing - I figured my snowboarding prowess would come in handy. Not to mention all the work I've been doing to strengthen my 'core muscles' - the glutes, low back and abdominals. Paddleboarding felt like the ultimate core exercise. I was outside, using all of my major muscle groups, and focusing intently so I wouldn't fall in.
Now, how to go about acquiring my own board and rigging it on the VW Golf...

Race for the Cure 5k

I've always wondered how long it would take to walk a slow mile, but the competitor in me won't let me do the research! Last Saturday's Race for the Cure 5k in Washington, D.C. gave me the perfect opportunity to find out. Between my broken little toe (don't ask, it's not an impressive athletic story) and the 47,000 other participants swaggering pace, I managed to finish in precisely one hour - that's 20 minutes per mile. GASP. Well, at least now my 5k time in the triathlon last month feels like an Olympic world record.

But this race wasn't about competition, I remind myself. This was about comaraderie, teamwork. My friend Tommy Tomlo of Human Development Systems rallied a team of 40 people, friends and clients, to raise money for breast cancer research. The walk was a celebration of life, survivors, and the wonderful sisterhood of women. Fit or unfit, this is an event that everyone should take part in at least once in their lifetime.

Demolition Derby Dis-pair

Whoa, dag! I missed one of my favorite adventures of the season - the demolition derby in southern Maryland. Never mind the junker cars that remind me of my high school parking lot, the big bouncing ball car volleyball game, or the enraged driver fist-fights, it's the plumbers-bumbs and beer bellies that I go to watch. Lucky for me a friend shared his favorite pictures of the night - complete with crevices deeper than the grand canyon and cleavage that could hide a footlong hotdog.

What is the deal, America? When did we decide to sit back and become the world's most gluttonous generation of all time?

Forget all the political talk of healthcare reform; what we need is mindset reform. Let's implement a little proactivity and take a walk for a change. Or better yet, buy some fresh produce from the local farmers market instead of gorging ourselves on cheetos and yet another six-pack of cheap beer. Perhaps those who continue to choose these unhealthy lifestyles can bear the financial brunt of rising health care costs, while those who make healthy choices are incentivised with lower insurance premiums. What do you think?

Career Day in Anacostia

Yesterday I was a guest fitness expert at Ferebee-Hope Elementary School's career day, in Anacostia, Washington, D.C. Although I had been looking forward to the visit for over a month, I went to bed the night before still at a loss as to how to inspire 1st and 5th graders. Fortunately, I woke the next morning full of inspiration, and began running around the house collecting props of all the fitness and outdoor gear I could carry.

My plan worked like a charm with the 5th graders, who politely competed to answer my fitness IQ questions in order to stand up in front of the class to demonstrate different types of fitness. The students took on the role of trainer by encouraging and holding each other accountable and felt the pain of performing squats and bicep curls and wearing technical gear like rock climbing harnesses and snowboarding goggles.

I quickly learned that my original plan was a bust with the 1st graders and if I had a chance of holding their precious attention I'd better alter my course by forming as much group participation as possible. We found some open space and practiced counting skills as we did jumping jacks, sit-ups, and balanced on one leg. But perhaps the most profound moment occurred when we sat close together on the floor and they entered an almost trance-like state of attention during a focused breathing exercise. I looked into their innocent, big brown eyes and found myself telling them what a precious gift their bodies are, that if they take good care of their own bodies they will be able to perform wonderful acts of service for others and accomplish anything.

They say that when the student is ready the teacher appears. That morning, as the inquisitive students of this underprivileged elementary school marveled at my Utah green eyes and blond hair, and I in turn reveled in their warm hearted acceptance of me and my message, it became clear who the real student was, and what an opportunity I had just been given.