Have Media Will Travel

A blog about outdoor adventure, family travel, national parks, media, technology, marketing, fitness and me.

elemental training

Are You Deciding, or Are You Committing?

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If you’re like me right now, with only a few days until Christmas and with homemade sweets at every turn, you might be thinking about New Year Resolutions. Most of us are indulging, justifying it by saying, “Once the new year gets here, I’ll make changes.” For now, pass me the fudge. And the pecan sandies. And the egg nog, and while you’re at it, the Irish creme and everything else that’s full of yummy.

So, I’m recycling a video blog I did some months ago. Thanks to my good friend, Sharon Terhune, (a fellow athlete at Elemental Training Center) for interviewing me about a distinction I made between deciding and committing that enabled me to lose significant weight and get myself into good health.

Interview with Endurance Athlete Tavis Eddy

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I recently interviewed Tavis Eddy, an endurance athlete here in Lander, WY. I did the interview for Elemental Training Center, the performance training gym to which I belong. I really enjoyed interviewing Tavis. He articulated better than I can the reasons to love uphills and covering long distances on the trails in our mountains. I hope you enjoy the interview!

Elemental Training Athlete Tavis Eddy, from Lander, WY from Shelli Johnson on Vimeo.

My Personal Trainer Shares His Knowledge

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This is POST 26 of my “fitness journey.” For backstory, see Post 1,
Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7,Post 8, Post 9, Post 10, Post 11, Post 12Post 13,Post 14, Post 15, Post 16, Post 17,Post 18, Post 19,Post 20,Post 21, Post 22,Post 23, Post 24 and Post 25.

Those of you who have been following my fitness journey know that a little over a year ago I enlisted the help of a personal trainer, Steve Bechtel, of Elemental Training Center.

The work has been hard, but the results have been staggering. As a result, I’m convinced of the value a personal trainer can add to a person’s health and life.

Here’s part one of eight video clips I recorded during a recent interview with Steve. In this first video clip, among other things, Steve talks about the difference between “exercise” and “training.” He shares many insights. I encourage you to follow the entire interview on my HaveMedia YouTube channel.

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

Next Up: 50-Kilometer Trail Run

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This is POST 25 of my “fitness journey.” For backstory, see Post 1,
Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7,Post 8, Post 9, Post 10, Post 11, Post 12Post 13,Post 14, Post 15, Post 16, and Post 17,Post 18, Post 19,Post 20,Post 21, Post 22,Post 23, and Post 24.
Howdy! It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a fitness update. Let me try to catch you up. Right now I’m training for the Lake Tahoe 50-kilometer trail run on July 17. I’ve done 50ks and trail marathons before, including an attempt at a 50-miler. But, it’s been a while since I ran. :>

Running again.

So this next phase of my training is focused on incorporating running into my training, as well as ramping up my endurance. Currently, I’m doing two days a week of foundation/strength work with coach, Steve Bechtel, of Elemental Training Center. I’m also doing high intensity workouts 2-3 times a week (running hill intervals or doing intervals and tempo work on the elliptical trainer or stepmill), and also fitting in some short trail runs or bike rides during the week if the opportunity presents itself. Then, during one weekend day, I’m spending 3-6 hours trailrunning, hiking, cycling or some combination of these.

One of the things I love most about training for an endurance event is the journey — the scenery I get to experience in my back yard, the foothills and peaks of Wyoming’s southern Wind River Range.

Scenes from my training:

Running on a dirt road above Sinks Canyon State Park, near my hometown of Lander, WY.
Many of the trails I run are still covered in snow. This hill is at about 7,500' elevation and this was on April 30.
A view of the big country in my back yard. If you look closely, you'll see a tiny speck at left. That's my friend, Kathy Browning.
Running with a friend, Holly, and her dog, Milo, in the Twin Creek area of our back yard.

In addition to the many miles I look forward to logging in our Wind River Range foothills and high country, and the Tahoe 50k event, I plan to pedal my road bike 100 miles during the Fremont Area Recreation Tour (FART), and also do the 28-mile Logan Peak Trail Run. I might also mention I hope to keep the weight off, possibly even lose a little more, but only if I can sustain the level of training necessary to complete all of the above. We’ll see how that goes. I will keep you posted here.

Thanks for your continued readership and support. I appreciate it very much!

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

Matt Sissman talks about his training for the Leadville 100, and the experience

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Typically I use this “fitness” space to share my progress, challenges and goals.
This time I have a special treat, though: A video blog of a conversation I just had with Elemental Training athlete Matt Sissman, of Lander, WY, who last August completed the Leadville 100, a 100-mile, high altitude trail race. He was kind enough to share his thoughts with me about the experience – not only the event, but the training that led to it, and the instrumental and meaningful role his family and friends played in it. The video is 42 minutes long. I find Matt’s experience is inspiring, and hope you enjoy listening in on the conversation.

Matt Sissman shares his Leadville 100 Trail Run Experience from Shelli Johnson on Vimeo.

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, and Sophie Mosemann.