Physical Funness for the Motion Starved

Fit more fun into your fitness while exploring the outdoors.


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Client of the Month

Ever notice how some of the best things happen by accident? I like to call them Happy Accidents.

Shira & Zack representing!

Shira & Zack representing!

That’s what this whole Client of the Month thing is, a Happy Accident. You see, it all started in October when Shira reported that she had lost enough weight to fit into the custom Giants World Series jacket that her daughter had given her.  Shira worked really hard, was consistent with her workouts and lost the weight just in time for the World Series. She was so happy and I was so proud of her I just had to make a special mention of her success. So, Shira became the very first Motion Starved, Client of the Month.

Don't mess with Marty

Then there was Marty. Marty, definitely gives me a run for my money (or his money rather). Since Marty has an appreciation for my creative ways, each time I meet with Marty I’m forced to dig deep into my wizardly reserves. Marty, on the other hand is receptive to anything I toss his way, even when it’s a 10lb med ball, in the mud, in the pouring rain. For that, I wanted to give him a special shout-out.  Marty then became the Client of the Month for November.

And then all hell broke loose. Dr. B started working extra, extra hard in an effort to steal away Marty’s title. Marty then went into over-drive to hang onto his coveted title. Clients from every direction wanted to know how one becomes Client of the Month. Most everyone began working harder. All I had to say was…“The Client of the Month doesn’t whine!” Magically all whining ceased and sweat started flying! Ack I thought… why didn’t I think of this earlier? This was a happy accident.

With that said, it is now time to award the Client of the Month for December 2012…

DB says..."I love doin' dips!"

DB says…”I love doin’ dips!”

I Kelley, hereby award Dr. Barbara Rinkoff Client of the Month for December 2012. Dr. B has earned this award because of the monumental change in her attitude toward working out. Her enthusiasm radiates and burns brightly with every tricept dip she takes. Keep up the great work DB! I’m proud of you!

And since I’m on a roll…

Susan's happy to be done with her workout!

Susan’s happy to be done with her workout!

I would like to award Susan Chang The Client of The Year for 2012. Susan has attended just about every single Saturday Stair Climbing Workout I’ve conducted, rain or shine, in sickness and in health. Susan comes to class and proudly works at her own pace. She never complains and when I’m not looking she even pushes the pace a bit. For that, I would like to recognize her dedication and spirit. You go girl!

And finally… Happy New Year to all, and to all, a 2013 filled with wonder and joy! I look forward to a year filled with good spirited competition, good times and good friends…


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The Paradigm Shift (a testimonial)

DB doin' dips

DB doin’ dips

This is Dr Barbara, aka DB. DB is my chiropractor and I am her trainer. DB has been snapping my bones back into place for years but it wasn’t until this last February that DB finally succumb to my magical ways and came out for a sweat with me.

At first DB and I worked out just one day a week at 9:30 in the morning. We would meet at a park on the top of a hill. Each day I watched as DB dragged her fleece clad body up the hill seeming to dread what she was about to endure.

Aside from the initial dragging up the hill, DB was always excited to workout and happy once she started moving. DB especially likes to get competitive, often with me and even herself. It’s fun to watch and to participate in (especially when she tries to sprint me).

Now, DB and I work out two days a week and she even manages to get herself to our workouts by 8:15 am! Just the other day DB informed me that she felt as though there had been a “paradigm shift.” She confess that until recently she really didn’t like working out but now…  something had changed. “I really look forward to working out” she said. Frankly, when DB said this I was happy to hear it, but focused on keeping her moving before she changed her mind.

While DB has always been very appreciative of me and often sends me new clients, I was especially touched by a text message she sent the other day.

“Hey Kelley.  Just wanted to tell you that you rock!!! I really appreciate your encouragement and support and positive attitude.  This paradigm shift in me is amazing and I totally attribute it to you!!!! So thank you!!!! You’re the best!”

Ah… shucks DB!


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Do you have Cocktail Arms?

CocktailArm1
I once had a trainer who liked to use the term “cocktail arms” as a way to entice ladies to work out their arms. In case it’s not obvious, Cocktail Arms are arms that look good in a sleeveless cocktail dress, and we all want that. Right?

Being that we’re at the height of cocktail dress season it’s the perfect time to fire up the guns (you fella’s too!). Here’s a little recipe to get us all started…


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You’re invited!

Mt. Davidson, haunted forest

This is no ordinary 5k workout…

Did you know that Mount Davidson in San Francisco is haunted? Rumor has it a band of rabid raccoons once overtook and devoured an entire boot camp class as they jogged through the forest. “Some nights you can hear the sweaty classmates gasping for breath and screaming as the coons munch on their limbs. It’s an awful sound.”

In celebration of all things haunted, join us for a 5k run with a few challenges tossed in. We’ll be running through the eerie Mount Davidson forest by the light of the full moon and a few dozen glow sticks. Be prepared to jump over “stuff,” claw your way through what may seem like a pile of brains all while dodging the ghosts of exercisers from the past. Post work out we’ll celebrate at the top of the mountain and award prizes to the first Man and Woman to finish as well as the last to survive. All fitness levels are welcome and encouraged to attend, however you will be spooked and you will be challenged! This event is geared towards adults although strong juniors are welcome with parents in attendance.

Monday, October 29, 2012 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Meet in downtown West Portal at the West Portal Public Library the corner of
Ulloa Street & Lenox Way.

This event is FREE although a $5-$10 cash donation to cover expenses would be very much appreciated. Halloween costumes are not expected, but encouraged if you dare.

To register, please visit our Facebook “event” page

Generous prize donations provided by:
Bursa Mediterranean Cuisine – Goat Hill Pizza – Pops Sandwich Shop – Dr. Barbara Rinkoff, DC – Round Table Pizza – Spiazzo Ristorante – Sports Basement

P.s. If you hear a squeaking sound in the trees…RUN!

P.s.s. This is a collaboration between Motion Starved and The City is our Gym.


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Getting sandy with Marty (a testimonial).

Just another day at the office

Today when Marty showed up for our workout this is what he found. I think he was amused.

Then I made him: run, pulling the tire in the sand behind him, hit the tire with the sledgehammer, do push-ups off the tire and run up the Sand Ladder (sans tire). Then Marty got lost when I mistakenly told him to turn left at the top of the ladder, rather than right. After that I don’t think Marty was so amused any more.

Then, when I got home I found this really nice note from Marty…
” I am really enjoying and learning from the creativity and variety of your workouts. I’m used to engaging workouts, and to some degree my body in general, in the same way you might vacuum a rug. Necessary, but not particularly interesting. But I’m finding the variety and joining of creative engagement with efficiency and effectiveness is really making me be in the workout, rather than just waiting for it to be done. As my mother would say, how cool is that? Thanks.”

Thank YOU Marty! I’m sorry I lost you today but that’s all part of the fun (I mean my creative design).  Keep up the fantastic work!

P.s. Dr. B say’s your back is getting better and I bet Heather is digging those big guns of yours! Work it!


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Nice effort Mr. Bus… but we beat you… AGAIN!

Chilly on the starting line

6:00 pm July 11, 2012 – Myself and #1 assistant Kevin arrive at the intersection of Cervantes and Fillmore Street. Just minutes later a women in running gear walked up. I greeted her, ask if she was here to run with the bus and before she could say  “yes,” a spandex clad herd emerged. Within minutes there were 80 some people standing at the intersection. Holy cow!

As I attempted to meet and greet the racers, Kevin and Sally of Athleta managed the paperwork. Looking around I was stunned by the massive group, were they wondering  WTF was going on and when could they start running…?

Driver of our victim

6:20 I asked Jenn Pattee of Basic Training to wander across the street to where the busses deploy. Her mission, to find and make friends with our impending victim. It took a couple of trips but eventually Jenn managed to ascertain, befriend and photograph the man who would drive our target. A job well done.

6:28 pm, shockingly on time, the janky bus started sputtering toward the start. I went into hyper drive attempting to run through the rules of the race. Just as I spit out my last word the bus pulled up at the bus stop, aka: starting line.

My last words were…“When the light turns green GO!”

The second the light turned green 80 some pair of legs were off and running as the bus sputtered off down the road behind them. At the Chestnut Street bus stop, the bus was forced to stop and pick up passengers. This allowed the runners to break away, make their way across Lombard and eventually up the hill. At this point the bus had been dropped by the entire field or runners.

It wasn’t until the second block of 15% grade on Steiner Street that the bus managed to close the gap and catch the back of the field. By this time many of the racers were just blocks away from crossing the finishing line at Sacramento.  As the bus turned to make it’s way up the final climb on Broadway I did my best to block for the remaining field. My trusty SEVEN (bike) and I made every effort to detain the bus by slowly grinding up the climb in front of the coach. That’s when the bus softly tooted its horn, put the hammer down, attacked and sped past me on my left. As I crested the top of the climb and passed the bus at the stop on the corner, I head the driver yell out his window, “nice try!”

Making my way down Fillmore toward the finishing line I noticed shop owners and bystanders cheering the runners on. It was amazing to see the racers sprinting toward the finish line while dodging pedestrian traffic to the cheers of strangers on the busy shopping street.

By the time I reached the finish line most of the runners had come through and were enthusiastically cheering on their fellow racers. There were folks of all shapes and sizes, women, men, dogs, strollers, young and forever young.  Everyone had smiles on their faces. It was thrilling.

While not every person managed to beat the bus the majority of the field did. And frankly, it seemed to me as though the bus was moving a little faster than usual. Do you suppose the driver took our challenge to heart? Or maybe Muni learned of my advice to start working on it’s climbing. We’ll never really know…

Party time!

Post race, we were off to the Athleta store for snacks, congratulations and awards. A good time was had by all and the excitement was flabbergasting.

Special thanks to Athleta on Fillmore for their bountiful sponsorship, of prizes, snacks, cheerleaders, promotion and general excitement for the cause! Thanks to Hint water for keeping the racers hydrated, to Lisa and Sports Basement for their prize contributions. To Jenn Pattee and her Basic Training crew, thank you for helping to make this the best Run with the Bus ever! To Kevin and all my friends who came out to support.

Lastly… THANK YOU to everyone who showed up, raced and had a good time. That includes The Bus! This event would not have been possible without every last one of you! Stay tuned… this is just the beginning…


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Incredible?

Did you know that Lou Ferrigno, Aka The Incredible Hulk is now a part-time cop in San Luis Obispo? It’s curious that a successful actor is now putting his life on the line to protect the people. Kinda cool as it’s “the people” who made him a star. How incredible is that?

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how lucky I am to live in such an amazing city and to be surrounded by so many wonderful people and things. Along with my love for this life, I feel a pressure to do something “incredible.” Like run 100 miles in a day, or win The Mt. Tam Hill Climb (bike race) again. (That fete was actually a miracle, which is why I should do it again. Just to be sure it was real.)

Every day I’m surrounded by so much excitement and incredibleness it’s sometimes overwhelming. It wasn’t until today that I realized that incredible comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s all in how you look at the world.

With that, here are a few things in my life that I find inspiring and incredible.

GGB from Crissy Field

This is my view almost every day. In my mind, no other city in the world is more incredible. The hills in the distance are my training ground, my escape, and my quiet place. They call my name like a siren, inspiring me.

Meet The Pigs, aka Pigstas (Pigs are People Into Gluttonous Situations). These ladies are undeniable evidence that keeping fit keeps you young. Their spirit is both inspiring and incredible. The Pigs mission statement:

3 Pigstas

Legends say that Pigs float free of time, carrying hopes for love, joy and celebration. Like a Pig, we aspire to Hoof It, and savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The Pigs “delicate” grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation. 

It’s a Grand View!

These are some of my clients. Every day they inspire me to give my best. It is these people who are incredible in

Stretching?

my mind. They trustingly run up and down stairs and hills, in rain,

wind and sweltering heat. Then, without a word they willingly lay on the sidewalk and twist their bodies into pretzels. And

when it’s all over… they hug me and smile lavishly. It feels incredible!

My Dad

This is my dad. A couple of summers ago we rode our bikes 500 miles across Iowa. While the ride itself was incredible, the inspiration I get from my dad runs much deeper. In my mind, there is no one more incredible than my dad. He is an inspiration to many, and he doesn’t even know it.

Lastly, I remind you that we all have moments of “incredibleness,” open your eyes and you shall see. I leave you with my new mission statement:

The view is always better through sweat covered eyes. 

The top of my world…

Go out and find your incredible.

XoXo, Kelley


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After all, isn’t it all relative?

Grizzly Ryder

I’m not like a lot of my friends. Half Marathon, 21K/13.1 miles is my distance. I don’t run “long” and I don’t run “fast.” The folks I measure myself against and admire run much faster or much longer than me. It’s silly that I sometimes feel insecure measuring myself against them.  After all, isn’t it all relative?

For some, 21K is hella far.  For others it’s just a moderate training run. To me, my average 9++ minute-mile is slug slow. To some, that seems fast. Does it really matter how fast or how far? Should’t I just appreciate that I have what it takes to drag myself out of bed early every weekend morning when others are snug in their beds?

A more experienced bike racer friend once advised me; “If you’re not moving forward you’re moving backward.” He was referring to positioning oneself within the field of riders, but the statement works for life in general. With that said, I imagine we should wake up every day and push to make ourselves better than we were the day before. Move forward so to speak. Be your own “better.”

I write this post because I recently finished my first race of the season. It was 17k. It was hilly and it was beautiful. I ran slowly up hill and I ran fast down hill.  I got passed a lot on the first climb, but I too passed people going up and then I passed people going down. I passed people who had passed me earlier in the race and I loved that feeling. I was out there on this day for no other reason than because I wanted to be. I expected only to finish feeling proud of my accomplishment, for having taken steps to keep moving forward, to better myself. In the end I found that in spite of myself, I’d managed to finish first in my age group and better than halfway through the total field of women. I beat men & women many years younger although I’d been beaten by many more than I beat. My lesson; a reminder that my typical measure my success is out of whack. It had no place here on this day and it really has no relevance what so ever, as… success is relative, specific to any given day, situation, imagination.

So, go out and run/ride, whatever… do it because you can and because if you aren’t moving forward you’re moving backward. Remember, how you measure up in your own mind doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you get out and do it… Do it every day and do it to the very best of your own personal ability. You may just surprise yourself one day.

P.s. My pal Pen raced this day as well. Pen was one of the very first people over-all to cross the finish line. And, Pen even stopped before the line to pick up her 3-year-old son Max so they could cross together. Nice job Pen! (Is it any wonder why Pen is at the top of my measuring stick?)