JUN 2019
ADVENTURES WITH
Pam LeBlanc
THE TRAVEL ISSUE AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM
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4 Time Power Lifting World Record Holder Since Receiving Bi-lateral Arthrosurface Shoulder Implants
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WE PADDLE
DOWN LAKE AUSTIN
YOU PARTY
june 10 AT LCRA Redbud Center
Join us Monday, June 10th at the LCRA Redbud Center for the TYLER'S Dam That Cancer fundraising party benefiting Flatwater Foundation. The party starts at 6pm as 200 paddleboarders complete the 21-mile, dam-to-dam fundraising paddle. The celebration includes live music, food, drinks, raffles and more. Everyone is invited to this party that helps provide access to mental health therapy for people affected by a cancer diagnosis.
OPEN DAILY AT 8AM WE BEGAN SERVING VITAL FARMS EGGS OVER 10 YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE TAKE H E A LT H Y EATING TO WWW.MAUDIES.COM
Sunrise Sweet Potato Hash
June 2019
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THE GOOD STUFF
HIDDEN TEXAS GEMS
36 ADVENTURES WITH PAM LEBLANC JUNE
44 ADVENTURE TRAVEL RACES 6
2019
Stacey Deville, Realtor StaceyDeville.com | Stacey@moreland.com | 512.650.6364
Deville Custom Homes
Stacey is a longtime resident of Austin, a REALTOR with Moreland Properties and co-owner of a successful construction company, Deville Custom Homes. Her clientele ranges from the seasoned investors, the luxury buyers/sellers all the way to the first time homebuyers. If you are looking for an ethical, knowledgeable local give Stacey a call!
DevilleCustomHomes.com | 512-492-5255 | 512-650-6364 Deville Custom Homes (Deville Construction) is a family owned Austin based construction company specializing in Custom Homes, Remodels and Commercial Construction. Through our intelligently designed build process we transform properties, land, and commercial buildings into functional spaces and custom masterpieces! We pride ourselves on sustainability, using only the highest quality products and employing only the best contractors. From speculation builds to luxury builds, Deville Custom Homes has set the bar high for craftsmanship.
Contents Editor’s Letter 10 Digital Content 12
HIGHLIGHTS
Exposure 13 Destinations 52
Events 78 Races 80
20
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
64
WHERE ATHLETES TRAIN
70
SAND VOLLEYBALL
NUTRITION
LIFESTYLE
WELLNESS
FITNESS
Recipe 14 Intermittent Fasting 16
Unplugging in Montana 26 Texas Gems 30
Meditation 58 Wellness Spotlight 62
Workout 72
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2019
ADVERTISE WITH
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From the Editor room. Knock on wood. In hindsight, I think it would have been better off to title this issue the “Adventure Issue.” As with everything we do here at the magazine, our editorial themes for each issue are planned far in advance. Last July, during a long day of brainstorming and solidifying the themes for all of 2019, we decided on the “Travel Issue” for this month. Not to say that the content this month isn’t about travel, at its core, but the stories this month are really about the experiences that comes with travel — or the adventures we’re really seeking when we travel. I think you’ll see what I mean as you continue to read. Our cover story is a first-person piece written by Pam LeBlanc, who was the voice and face of adventure travel for Austin for 21 years as a columnist at the Austin American Statesman. No longer with the Statesman, Pam is embarking on a new chapter of her career as a freelance writer and is setting her sights on even bigger experiences. Her introspective piece gives you a unique look into her life and career — where her love for adventure comes from, why she loves it, why it’s not always easy and why it’s always worth it. (Page 36) Once Pam’s words have inspired you to venture out of your everyday norm, you can flip the page over to find our feature on several unique and fun adventure travel races across the country to add to your bucket list. After delving into both of those stories, in the fitness section, you can read about three Austin athletes who have all traveled outside of Texas in order to train for various sports such as triathlons or martial arts. We also have a piece on several great Texas towns you shouldn’t pass over for a far-away trip. Non-travel related, you can also learn more about the Dragon Boat and Paddle Festival and the rising sand volleyball scene that are both happening right here in Austin. I think it’s only appropriate I end this month’s letter with a quote straight from Pam’s story. “Stay curious. Get dirty. Try new things and see new places. And do it all with an open mind. Life is a series of grand adventures, no matter how close or how far, how big or how small. Grab hold and let them kick you in the pants.”
I LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AS A “CAUTIOUS THRILL-SEEKER.”
I
t’s sort of an oxymoron, I know — being cautious and thrill-seeking. Stay with me. What I mean is that I think I have a healthy understanding (and some fear) when it comes to participating in adrenaline-seeking, crazy stunts. While I’m always up for some adrenaline action, I’m aware of my limits and that I’m not invincible. A great example would be that I voluntarily will (and have) jump out of an airplane with a parachute and an instructor strapped to my back, but you won’t ever find me attempting to free solo climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. It’s a good mix, because I’ve had the opportunity to experience a lot of adventure in 28 years — rafting, climbing, zip lining, snowboarding, skateboarding, skydiving, cliff diving — and I’m still alive to talk about it all. Oh, and with zero broken bones, concussions, stitches or trips to the emergency
JUNE
Keep Austin Fit,
Kat Barclay EDITOR
10
2019
#KEEPAUSTINFIT CEO | LOU EARLE PUBLISHER | LYNNE EARLE
Follow us on Instagram: @ AU ST I N F I T Tag us or use the hashtag #keepAustinfit for your post to be featured.
COO | ALEX ECENIA ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | ALEX EARLE EDITOR | KAT BARCLAY ART DIRECTOR | CARLEY METZGER ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Ashley Anjula, Caitlin Moore, John Whitney, Jensen Collie WRITERS Lisa Baile, Marie Young, Shannon Dolan, Pam LeBlanc PROOFREADER Danylle Salinas PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Fitzsimmons INTERNS Hanah Flanigan, Haylee Reed, Kelly Frossard, Meara Isenberg, Monica Hand, Ronald Vaugn
GENERAL INQUIRIES info@austinfitmagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES aecenia@austinfitmagazine.com 512.407.8383 EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS kat@austinfitmagazine.com fitfocus@austinfitmagazine.com EVENT LISTINGS austinfitmagazine.com/events SUBSCRIPTIONS austinfitmagazine.com/subscribe
2609 S 3rd St. Austin, TX 78704 p 512.407.8383 Austin Fit Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements, in that the views expressed therein may not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or any magazine employee or contributor. This publication and all of its contents are copyrighted. Austin Fit Magazine is the assumed name of its publisher, Louis M. Earle, who has no interest in the business of Denis Calabrese who operates an exercise program under the assumed name of Austin Fit, which trains individuals to improve their jogging or running skills to participate in marathons. The views, opinions and other representations published in Austin Fit Magazine are not those of Austin Fit or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
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TEXAS CLIFF DIVING SPOTS
MENTAL HEALTH
SOULCYCLE’S
Column
JUNE
Summer Playlist
12
2019
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLES MCCOY
Exposure
L O C AT I O N
Defiant CrossFit, Round Rock
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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E
NUTRITION SPONSORED BY
Soup Peddler Real Food & Juice Bar
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brian Fitzsimmons
With moodenhancing powers!
JUNE 2019
Recipe The Afternoon Delight juice from Soup Peddler Real Food & Juice Bar is an ultra-hydrating, cleansing, luscious break in your day. JUNE
14
2019
THE AFTERNOON DELIGHT JUICE Makes 18 ounces
The crisp, fresh watermelon in this juice harmonizes with tart citrus, a tropical kiss of pineapple and is brightened with a hint of mint and ginger, then grounded with the earthy sweetness of beet to culminate into a lovely magenta concoction. Combined with the mood-enhancing benefits from the maca root powder and rose water, this juice will take you to your happy place.
INGREDIENTS ½ of a small beet, ends cut off 1 inch chunk of fresh ginger, skin on 1 small handful of mint ½ of a small lemon, peeled 2 wedges fresh pineapple, rind trimmed 1 wedge fresh watermelon, rind trimmed 1 teaspoon maca root powder 4 drops rose water
P R E PA R AT I O N Prep the fruit and veggies as described above. All ingredients will go into juicer in the order listed. The pineapple will fill the total mixture to about 10 ounces and then proceed with watermelon until filled to 18 ounces. Add maca and rose water to final mixture and whisk until maca is dissolved. INSIDER TIP:
You can also find this juice concoction among an array of superfood smoothies and juices at Soup Peddler Real Food & Juice Bar, where the menu stretches far beyond artisanal soup!
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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E
NUTRITION AUTHOR
Shannon Dolan, Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach
THE SKINNY ON INTERMITTENT FASTING What it is, how it works and what you need to know before trying I.F.
I
ntermittent fasting is a controversial topic in regards to weight loss. Fasting your body for several hours of the day in order to lose weight... is it safe? Is it sustainable? Although it seems like it has recently moved into the spotlight, intermittent fasting is not a new idea. It has been included in religious practices and utilized for medical purposes throughout decades, and it’s been known to support the body in many ways: • • • • •
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improves blood sugar regulation allows the body to tap into fat stores decreases inflammation creates weight loss potential removes metabolic waste
• increases human growth hormone • gives the digestive system and liver a break from processing food, thus allowing for more immune support There are a variety of intermittent fasting types — fasting for 16 hours (most common referred to as the 16:8 method), alternating full-day fasts of 24 hours or prolonged fasts over 48 hours. However, before we explore non-eating, we first need to understand what happens to our bodies when we consume food. Our bodies break down our food into glucose (sugar) which triggers the brain to tell the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin is responsible for bringing the excess sugar circulating in the blood into the cells for
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NOTE: When blood
sugar is low, the brain signals the cells to release the stored form of glucose, which can be found in fat tissue, muscles and the liver, into the body for fuel.
2019
pexels
Your body adapts to using its fat stores as fuel
storage in order to utilize as energy later. When blood sugar is low, the brain signals the cells to release the stored form of glucose, which can be found in fat tissue, muscles and the liver, into the body for fuel. During times of fasts, this process of breaking down stores continues and allows our bodies to learn to use our fat storage for energy, which typically happens after 12 hours of not eating. Fat is the largest storage of energy in our body and can feed us for long periods of time (which is how people survive the multiple-day fasts). During the breakdown of fat, known as lipolysis, human
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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E
NUTRITION
growth hormone is released. This hormone is beneficial for muscle growth and repair. Within the 12-16 hours, autophagy — the process of cells releasing dysfunctional proteins built up within cell walls — occurs and aids in the process of decreasing inflammation and encouraging the body to remove excess waste. This eating technique is used for weight loss simply by narrowing the feeding window, which we perceive as taking in less energy and, as a result, helps us to lose weight. One aspect to consider is that intermittent fasting is not a diet, but rather an eating schedule. The practice is more of a lifestyle plan in which the benefits occur after consistent action. During feeding times, there needs to be focus on eating a real, balanced, whole foods diet paired with consistent exercise. If those steps are followed, chances are you will see weight loss. If you are considering starting intermittent fasting, the best way is to ease into it with shorter fasts, starting with 12 hours and working your way up to 16 hours or more. When you’re starting out, it’s also best to schedule the largest amount of fast time for while you are sleeping. For example, stop eating at 8 p.m. and have your first meal at noon the following day. Nutritionists recommend starting the process of intermittent fasting when you do not have
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LIQUIDS TO AID IN YOUR FAST:
WATER WITH LEMON
A VARIETY OF TEAS
COFFEE
HIGH-QUALITY BRANCHED CHAIN AMINO ACIDS
BONE BROTH *(Should only be used after a workout if physically unable to finish the fast, as consumption of bone broth is not a part of a true fast)
2019
pexels | Freepik
“
ONE ASPECT TO CONSIDER IS THAT INTERMITTENT FASTING IS NOT A DIET, BUT RATHER AN EATING SCHEDULE.”
any major work meetings or scheduled events for the morning hours as well. Consuming some coffee or herbal tea during your fast to ease hunger is also allowed and won’t mess up your fast. Cinnamon chai tea can aid in sugar cravings and peppermint tea may be used to soothe the stomach. However, one common question with intermittent fasting is whether or not exercise while in a fasted state is safe. You can certainly continue to work out. Although it might be challenging at first, your body adapts to using its fat stores as fuel. Just be mindful and pay close attention when you first start, as there is potential to feel light-headed and dizzy. If you are not scheduled to eat for a few hours after working out and you are concerned about nutrition timing, remember that your human growth hormone levels are high, so your body is still in prime position to gain muscle. You can plan your workouts closer to your eating window, supplement with some BCAAs or drink some bone broth to help if you find yourself physically unable to complete the fasted window after challenging workouts. Either way, make sure that the meals consumed during the feeding window are balanced with good quality proteins, carbohydrates and fats to refuel properly. Intermittent fasting is not for everyone, though. As with any major diet, you should always consult with a doctor prior to starting intermittent fasting — especially those with known health risks, those who are using certain medications, people with metabolic disorders, pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, adolescents and individuals who have a history of disordered eating. afm
Fas
tin
g
I . F. M E T H O D S
16:8 METHOD FAST FOR 16 HOURS, EAT FOR EIGHT HOURS
8 A.M.
Water and coffee or tea
10 A.M.
Water and herbal tea
NOON
Break fast — first meal
3 P.M.
Snack
5 P.M.
Dinner or snack
7 P.M.
Dinner or snack
8 P.M.
Start fast
5:2 METHOD FAST TWO DAYS PER WEEK
Monday
Fast
Tuesday
Normal eating
Wednesday
Fast
Thursday
Normal eating
Friday
Normal eating
Saturday
Normal eating
Sunday
Normal eating
ALTERNATE DAY FASTING FAST EVERY OTHER DAY
Monday
Normal eating
Tuesday
Fast
Wednesday
Normal eating
Thursday
Fast
Friday
Normal eating
Saturday
Fast
Sunday
Normal eating
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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E
LIFESTYLE AUTHOR
Meara Isenberg
JUNE
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ronald J. Vaughn II
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2019
Dragon Boat Racing on Lady Bird Lake
DRAGON BOATING COMES TO AUSTIN Annual racing festival celebrates culture, community
R
aising a red jar of paint into the air, Amy Wong Mok addresses the crowd gathered around the dock by Lady Bird Lake. “Is everybody ready?” she says before a long brush is dipped into the container. The brush paints an iris onto the carved head of a dragon, which is attached to a boat floating close to the shore. This eye-dotting ceremony typically precedes dragon boat racing, an international sport where participants must paddle in sync to race a 40-foot, canoe-style boat. On this particular Saturday, Wong Mock was kicking off the Austin Dragon Boat and Paddle Festival. Dragon boating originated more than 2,000 years ago in China and is intertwined with the story of a
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beloved Chinese scholar and minister named Qu Yuan from the fourth century B.C. In the legend, Yuan commits suicide — throwing himself into a river — in protest of the era’s corruption. People gather in boats, beating drums and splashing the water with paddles to scare away the fish and evil spirits around his body. Enter dragon boating, a sport based upon the unity of the paddlers who worked together to honor him. That’s according to Wong Mok, who says the story is about a sense of community — reflected not only in people coming together for the sport, but for this festival. “That is what we are trying to do here — to build a community,” she says. Wong Mok brought the festival to Austin 21 years ago and has watched it slowly grow into the cultural
AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E
LIFESTYLE
celebration it is now. Hundreds of people gathered this year to watch teams race on the sparkling lake, enjoy dance and drum performances and compete themselves. The festival, which was held on April 27 and 28 (the festival is always held during the last weekend in April), includes both competitive and recreational racing teams. Watching the more experienced teams race across the water, it’s clear that the sport requires technique beyond just paddling a boat. Each dragon boat consists of 20 paddlers sitting side by side, a drummer at the front and a steerer in the back. With each drum beat, the team members paddle in unison — pushing the boat smoothly through the water. “Getting 20 people to move at the exact same time is hard. It’s a challenge,” Sheena Chang, an organizer of
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the festival, says. “But once you do, it’s actually really pretty to watch.” Chang coaches the Austin Coolers, the city’s only year-round competitive dragon boat racing team. She says the team practices up to three times a week, working on this technique. There are about 40 members on the Austin team, including Scott Baltisberger, the Cooler’s team captain. He says to move successfully, the team must think with one mind. “You can’t really have standout stars in the dragon boat. You can’t really have egos,” Baltisberger says. “In this, every single person counts.” Baltisberger joined the team four years ago and says he was surprised to learn how popular competitive dragon boating was. “It turns out it’s this huge [sport] — I mean, it’s like all over the world,”
Baltisberger says. The Coolers have traveled to compete in cities around the globe, from Denver to Montreal to Hong Kong. Baltisberger says for him, these trips are one of the best parts of being on the team. “Wherever you go in the world and you meet people that are involved in the sport, you’re automatically connected,” Baltisberger says. “It’s sort of like a universal language. It’s really enriching.” At the Austin festival, the Coolers were given a chance to race in their own backyard. The call to compete was answered by teams from Houston, Dallas and even a team from Tempe, Arizona — the Gila Dragons. Peter Funnel, the team’s coach, says they travel to a couple of destinations a year, but this was their first time coming to Austin.
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“
YOU CAN’T REALLY HAVE STANDOUT STARS IN THE DRAGON BOAT. YOU CAN’T REALLY HAVE EGOS. IN THIS EVERY SINGLE PERSON COUNTS.” “The fun part for us is to choose a city that is interesting and not one that we’ve been to all the time,” Funnel says. “We don’t just focus on paddling and just sitting at the event. We’re actually going to take in the sights and sounds of the city.” On this trip, The Gila Dragons did just that — taking a bicycle tour around Austin before making their way to the festival. Funnel says dragon boating is unique because it relies on skill and coordination, rather than just athletic
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LIFESTYLE
ability. He says this gives the Gilas — which has college-aged members as well as members in their 60s and 70s — as good a chance at success as a boat full of younger racers. “We’ve got quite the age range,” Funnel says. “And what’s really nice about dragon boating is you can still go out and compete against teams even though you might not be 20-something. We still try and bring it.” This aspect of the sport is emphasized by Chang as well. She says with dragon boating, no matter who you are, “if you’re willing to put in the work, you can get good at it.” Alongside competitive teams like the Coolers and Gilas, the festival hosted a number of corporate and recreational teams. Some recreational teams, such as the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, return to compete every year, Chang says. “It’s just a good way to bring people together,” she says. “While
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they may not necessarily have the time to dedicate to a whole year of training, this is a month out of their year that they can do this — come out on the water and race.” Many seconds separated the competitive teams’ times from the non-competitive. However, on the shore, it was harder to tell the teams apart. Different teams mixed together — standing around chatting, sitting in the white chairs in front of the performance stage and gathering at the edge of the water to watch the boats go by. Perhaps that is what Wong Mok envisioned when she decided to bring the first dragon boat festival to Austin all those years ago. It is certainly something she is proud of now. “Even if you come to the dragon boat festival alone, look at all the people around you,” Wong Mok says. “You can easily feel the community in Austin.” afm
2019
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LIFESTYLE A U T H O R A N D P H O T O G R PA H Y
Lisa Baile
TRAVEL TIME: UNPLUG AND EXPLORE Experience ranch life in rural Montana.
A
bout 1,400 miles north and slightly west of Austin, Matt and Jamie Wickens — along with their three children — own and operate a fourthgeneration working cattle ranch located on the edge of the Missouri River Breaks outside of Winifred, Montana.
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In this remote area, they rent out a large cut-timber lodge accented by steep bluffs, roaming Angus beef cattle and stunning vistas of Big Sky country to guests seeking an escape from busy city lives and technology. Meanwhile, in Austin, at my house near Lake Travis, school is out, summer is here and the battle for our kids to abandon their devices and head outdoors has begun.
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Soon the weather will also conspire against us, making it almost too hot to be in the sun. This is when I stick in our “Lonesome Dove” DVD, watch Captain Call and Gus trek from Texas to Montana and dream about our annual trip to the Wickens’ ranch, a magical place for us. We will ride horses, hunt for dinosaur bones, swim in natural hot springs, feed the pigs and experience the rural lifestyle of my ancestors, many of whom homesteaded in the area. Thankfully, it’s easier to reach Fergus County in Central Montana now than it was for Captain Call. We fly into Billings, or sometimes Bozeman or Great Falls, rent a car and drive about two and a half hours to Lewistown. There, we stop at Albertsons and stock up on groceries. Then, just a few miles outside of town, our cell phones no longer receive coverage — we’re finally unplugged.
We look for mule deer, antelope and other wildlife in the distance. We have a little over an hour until we reach the ranch, and we already start feeling the freedom of the wild.
Visitors can herd cattle on horseback
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“
The mountains are on our left, and miles of wheat fields are on the right. Our daughters are giddy — they can’t wait to enter the cowgirl world again. Yep, this is what we come here for — where the pavement ends and dirt roads begin. Some would say not much has changed since 1805 when the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled through and documented this area. The frigid water in the nearby Judith River, named by William Clark after his wife, was my bathing spot several years ago when I came out here for an authentic cattle drive. I spent a week on horseback, herding hundreds of cattle to their summer pasture with a small group of tourists, one of whom had come all the way from Australia.
NOTHING BEATS A DAY OF PICNICKING AND SWIMMING AT GIGANTIC WARM SPRINGS.”
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Matt and Jamie usually rent out their lodge to hunters, evidenced by bighorn sheep, elk and whitetail deer mounted on the walls. During hunting season, they say it is not uncommon to see 100 deer a day. Our family is here in July, so we will spend most of our time on horseback, three-wheelers and nearby driving adventures. Our daughters’ first stop will be to dig for dinosaur fossils, knowing that professional paleontologists have had successful finds on the ranch. Nothing beats a day of picnicking and swimming at Gigantic Warm Springs, a natural spring that reminds me of the unspoiled beauty of Barton Springs when I was growing up. According to David Vanek, whose family has owned the area since 1940, this is considered one of the world’s largest warm springs. Vanek said the two most popular months are July and August, and the entrance fee is $4. You may even get the place to yourself like we did a few years ago when we dined on Crock-Pot chili and played a lively game of volleyball on the water’s edge. It’s worth venturing to the Charlie Russell Chew Choo, known as Montana’s premier dinner train. It winds
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through 56 scenic miles and crosses two historic trestles during its three and a half-hour voyage. Halfway through the trip, the train abruptly stops, and masked bandits board the train for a “robbery.” Our kids love it, especially when the bandits jump back on their horses after a pretend shoot-out and ride off into the sunset, literally. One year, we went to the Annual Roy Open Rodeo in an open arena and watched bull riding, steer wrestling and kid barrel racing. On our way back, we drove by the area where my great aunt, Bridget Hickey, who is also the namesake for my firstborn, was one of the few female homesteaders in Montana in 1914. She filed a 320-acre claim near Roy and initially lived there in a tent. Later, she, her sister and brother
built a more livable wooden abode. Living to be 106, “Aunt Bridgie” taught homesteaders’ children for many years. Following in her footsteps, my father also lived in Montana one winter and taught in a one-room schoolhouse with no plumbing and no insulation. As the vacation comes to an end, we thank the Wickens for another great summer and fly back home. As a life-long Austinite, living in my city that has become increasingly urban and unrecognizable, I find myself craving the unspoiled elements of Montana ranch life. Although we won’t be moving anytime soon, I’m certain these trips up north are important to not only help us relax, but also to unplug and seek out high adventure. afm
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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E
LIFESTYLE AUTHOR
Haylee Reed
HIDDEN GEMS OF TEXAS Texas towns to explore for your next summer vacation
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W
ith summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time of year to gather a group of friends or family and set out on a little adventure. Maybe you’re thinking of roaming the dreamy streets of Paris or seeing your first Broadway show in the Big Apple — but going on vacation doesn’t have to mean traveling internationally or even leaving your home state. There are abundant exciting travel destinations right here in Texas. Not sure where to go? Start with one of these.
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MARFA
NICK SIMONITE
El Cosmico
For a mystical, magical weekend, take a trek out to West Texas to discover the little town of Marfa. Tucked away in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos with a population of just around 2,000, Marfa may seem, at first glance, like any old, dusty western town. However, widely known as the arts hub of West Texas, Marfa is an eclectic town infused with a mixture of art, music, food and culture. According to the Marfa Chamber of Commerce website, the town was founded in the early 1880s as a railroad water stop, and later grew quickly during World War II. But in the 1970s, minimalist artist Donald Judd put Marfa on the map when he chose it as the home for both his studio space and permanent art installations. Since his death in 1994, both the Chinati Foundation and the Judd Foundation have been preserved to carry on his legacy, and they continue to serve as two of Marfa’s main attractions today. Its minimalist arts scene contrasted with the remote desert landscape draws in visitors from all over the country looking to experience the otherworldly magic of Marfa. If you’re interested in spending a night in this West Texas gem, book a room at El Cosmico, a campground providing chic trailer, tent and teepee lodging. Or, if you prefer something more classic, check out Thunderbird Hotel or Hotel St. George. By day, you can explore the thriving arts scene, including Ballroom Marfa, a small gallery dedicated to visual arts, film, music and performance, or Prada Marfa, an art installation by artists Elmgreen & Dragset, created to resemble a Prada store just 20 minutes outside Marfa in the town of Valentine. Or, you can take a stroll through downtown and peruse some of the local shops, such as Freda, Wrong, Garza Marfa or Marfa Brand Soap. If you’re hungry, Marfa is also home to a diverse food scene, from fine dining at The Capri or Restaurant Cochineal to hole-in-the-wall eateries such as Food Shark and Stars Marfa. Of course, no trip to Marfa is complete without seeing the Marfa Lights, the mysterious glowing orbs that appear in the southeast horizon of town.
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EL PASO
At the westernmost tip of Texas just along the Rio Grande, which serves as the border with Mexico, sits El Paso, Texas. Only a stone’s throw from its big-city neighbor across the border, Ciudad Juarez, El Paso is a melting pot of American and Mexican culture and history, which is infused in many of the city’s most popular attractions. At Chamizal National Memorial, a 55-acre park and cultural center, visitors have the opportunity to stand on what was once Mexican territory. While many people visit the site to enjoy its stunning landscape, the park also serves as a commemoration of the 1964 settlement of the border dispute between Mexico and the United States. Afterward, head over to the El Paso Mission Trail, the 9-mile historic route that encompasses the most notable
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surviving Spanish mission stations in Texas, including the Ysleta Mission, the oldest structure in Texas. If you’re interested in exploring the outdoors, make the drive just 30 miles northeast of town to experience the natural beauty of Hueco Tanks State Park. Named after the immense rock hills and natural basins that collect rainwater, the park provides natural trails for hiking, panoramic views of the terrain and opportunities for rock climbing and camping. If you haven’t had your fill of scenic views, trek over to Franklin Mountains State Park, which boasts over 100 miles of hiking trails, as well as the popular Wyler Aerial Tramway, an aerial cable car that offers breathtaking views of the deep canyons and rugged mountains. If you’re in the mood to stay indoors and learn something new, visit one of El Paso’s many museums, such as the El Paso Holocaust Museum, the Museum of History or the Museum of Art. After a long day of exploring, grab a bite to eat at L & J Cafe, a local favorite which offers homemade Mexican fare, or Café Central, a chic downtown bistro serving the most upscale food in the city.
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Franklin Mountains
FREDERICKSBURG
Less than a two-hour drive west of Austin, you’ll find the charming town of Fredericksburg nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Founded in 1846 by German immigrants and settlers, this quaint town contains authentic German culture, a variety of shops and boutiques, and over two dozen wineries. If you’re visiting on a warm summer day, there are plenty of outdoor activities to take advantage of. Seventeen miles north of Fredericksburg sits Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, one of the most popular hiking and camping sites in Texas. Here you can climb the magnificent 425-foot pink granite batholith called Enchanted Rock, which includes eight miles of trails, wildlife, spots for picnicking and rock-climbing opportunities. Another option for a day outdoors is to enjoy the beauty of Wildseed Farms, the nation’s largest wildflower farm. A Fredericksburg
favorite for plant lovers, Wildseed Farms contains over 200 acres of wildflower fields, as well as walking trails, a butterfly garden and countless photo opportunities. If you’d rather sip your way along the wine trails, the 30-mile stretch from Fredericksburg to Johnson City includes more than 30 wineries, including Pontotoc Vineyard, Lost Draw Cellars and Grape Creek Winery. In the evening, take a stroll down the historic Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg, where you’ll find over 100 shops, art galleries, theaters and restaurants. The street is split into two parts — the Magic Mile shopping district and the historic West Main Street — and at the epicenter, you’ll find Marktplatz, the site of frequent community events and festivals. For a German-inspired meal, grab a bite to eat at the Old German Bakery and Restaurant, Otto’s or Der Lindenbaum.
CL AIRE MCCORMACK
Main Street Parade
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LIFESTYLE BROWNSVILLE
Located in the southern tip of Texas less than half an hour from the Gulf of Mexico, the city of Brownsville is home to a bicultural diversity and southern charm. Situated just across the Rio Grande from the Mexican town of Matamoros, Brownsville contains an authentic Tex-Mex culture that reveals itself through its architecture, traditions and history. For a warm summer day in this South Texas town, grab a swimsuit and towel and make a trip to Boca Chica State Park, an isolated white-sanded beach sitting just 20 miles east of town. Visitors can enjoy an afternoon swimming, fishing, sunbathing or watching wildlife in this local paradise. If you haven’t yet had your fill of the outdoors, head over to the Gladys Porter Zoo, a 31-acre zoological and botanical park containing over 1,500 rare species of mammals, birds and reptiles, located in the center of Brownsville’s Cultural
Palo Duro Lighthouse
District. Afterward, check out the Brownsville Farmers’ Market, hosted every Saturday in Linear Park. With a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, the Farmers’ Market is the perfect way to experience the community and support local farmers. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the town, make a trip to the Historic Brownsville Museum, where you can discover the region’s bicultural history and diverse culture. Housed in a Spanish-style building constructed as a Southern Pacific Railroad depot in 1928, the museum displays a variety of artifacts and photographs that reveal the town’s fascinating history. Or, if you’re interested in exploring even more, check out the Commemorative Air Force Museum, The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art or the Costumes of the Americas Museum.
COURTESY OF VISITBROWNSVILLE.ORG
Charo Days Fiesta
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Cadillac Ranch
COURTESY OF AMARILLO CONVENTION AND VISITORS COUNCIL
AMARILLO
Otherwise known as the “Yellow Rose of Texas,” Amarillo is located in the heart of the Texas Panhandle along Route 66. Beginning as a railroad town in the 1880s, Amarillo has transformed into a flourishing city filled with western heritage, a thriving arts scene and breathtaking natural scenery. If you’re the outdoorsy type, make sure to start out at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the second largest canyon in the country. Just 25 miles south of town, the canyon provides an unforgettable scenic view, and the park includes opportunities for zip lining, horseback riding, biking, camping and hiking. Next, for all of you art junkies, Cadillac Ranch is a mustsee attraction. Built in 1974 by the art group Ant Farm on billionaire Stanley Marsh’s property, Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation comprised of 10 junkyard Cadillacs buried nose-first into the ground. If you plan on visiting this quirky Amarillo site, make sure to bring along a can of spray paint to add your own personal art to the exhibit. Next, head over to the giant pair of legs located off of I-27 heading south out of town. Built by
local artist Lightnin’ McDuff, the sculpture is called “Ozymandias,” named after the famous poem written in 1818 by the Romantic poet Percy Shelley. If you’re looking to learn something new or experience authentic Texas culture, take a trip to one of Amarillo’s many museums, such as the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum, the Texas Air & Space Museum or the Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum. Later, stop by The Big Texan Steak Ranch, where you can attempt the legendary 72-ounce steak challenge — if you can finish in under one hour, your meal is free. Whether you accept the challenge or opt to be a spectator, this iconic restaurant is worth the trip. Lastly, take a stroll down the Route 66 Historic District, lined with shops, antique stores, festivals and a variety of architectural styles, including Art Moderne, Art Deco and Spanish Revival. While the route no longer exists, the district continues to stand as a symbol of legendary highway that once carried travelers out of Amarillo for decades. afm
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AFTER 21 YEARS AT THE AUSTIN AMERICANSTATESMAN, AUSTIN’S FACE AND VOICE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL, PAM LEBLANC REFLECTS ON THE ADVENTURES SHE’S HAD AND LOOKS FORWARD TO EVEN BIGGER ONES AHEAD.
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A SERIES of
GRAND ADVENTURES AU T H O R
PAM LEBLANC
P H O T O BY
BRIAN FITZSIMMONS
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“WHAT DAY IS IT AND WHERE AM I?”
I repeat those words a lot, because as an adventure travel journalist, I wake up bleary-eyed and rumpled in a variety of crazy places. On the best nights, I’m nestled inside a warm tent someplace remote, tucked cozily in a friend’s guest bed or snoozing inside a cabin in the woods. A lot of times, I bed down in cookie-cutter hotel rooms, and occasionally, I curl up inside my vehicle. More often than not, I’m alone, because my husband has his own career demands. Since leaving my long-time job as a fitness and travel writer at the Austin American-Statesman last fall to go freelance, I’ve awakened in a backcountry hut without electricity in Colorado, on a bobbing boat surrounded by humpback whales 10 hours off the coast of the Dominican Republic and on a deflated tent pad in the Chihuahuan Desert as a cold front blew through, dropping temperatures 40 degrees in a few hours. Ah, yes. The glamour of it. My suitcase typically remains half packed, but every time I back down the driveway on my way to satisfy some burning curiosity, its contents shift. I swap snow skis for scuba gear, a bike helmet for a backpack or canoe paddles for running shoes. I buy lots of sunscreen. I always pack a swimsuit (but prefer to skinny dip if no one’s around). And somehow I always forget my toothbrush. First, some background. I was born in Michigan and moved to Austin at age five when my dad, a rocket scientist, got a job here. I credit him with instilling in me a sense of curiosity and appreciation of Mother Nature. He bought a book about roadside attractions in the Texas Hill Country and loaded the family into the Volkswagen bus to explore. We admired the car-sized balanced rock that once stood at the top of a hill near Fredericksburg (someone rolled it off its perch in 1986), climbed over fences to check out dinosaur tracks and pitched a tent at Inks Lake State park. He found as much wonder in an old rock he turned over in his hand as the Grand Canyon, and he taught me to admire the little things in life.
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P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y PA M L E B L A N C
I knew back then I wanted to write. I compiled a family newspaper, which my dad copied and distributed to relatives. He walked with me into the greenbelt at the end of our street to take pictures to go with my words. I attended Texas A&M University for college and landed my first journalism job at a small newspaper in Plano, then moved to McAllen to work for The Monitor before coming back to Austin to write for my hometown newspaper. The Austin American-Statesman didn’t hire me as a travel writer. I started as a reporter in the Williamson County bureau, covering government and writing a general column, and after a few years subbed in when the travel editor went on leave. Eventually I found a permanent spot in the features department, writing mainly about fitness and travel, focusing on the outdoors. I’m not about high thread count sheets or fancy meals. I’ll take a tent in the woods and a dehydrated meal cooked outdoors over ritzy digs and champagne.
I spent nearly 21 years at the Statesman, writing the weekly Fit City column, penning car reviews with Pete Szilagyi and traipsing all over the state, and beyond, on adventures — and loving nearly every minute of it. We dubbed 2017 as my “year of adventure.” I did stuff that scared me — like scaling a 38-story building while dressed as Wonder Woman. I cussed so much on that assignment that the soundtrack to the GoPro video footage was one long bleep, but I discovered if I just didn’t turn around and look, I’d eventually reach terra firma. I ran a naked 5K race, wearing only a cowboy hat and shoes. The most awkward part? Removing my clothes and discussing logistics with the freelance photographer hired to cover the event. Once the race began, though, it felt like any other run, just with better airflow. I wanted to learn more about our state, so I rode a camel through West Texas. I canoed the Devil’s River and kayaked the Pecos, figuring out how to paddle as I went, discovering
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“I took the ski shot of a woman at Sunshine Village ski area near Banff in February. She's skiing on a run that had burned in a forest fire several decades ago. My trip coincided with the polar vortex, and temperatures got down to -30 degrees! It was so cold!”
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that all those black things on my legs were tiny leeches and bashing my body against my boat so many times I looked like someone had taken a baseball bat to me. Adventure made me feel alive, despite the discomfort. I learned it’s okay to mess up and write about it — I’m all about public humiliation.
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I went to women’s surf camp in Costa Rica, where I learned that it’s possible to learn new things when you’re older than 50 (I’m 55). I spent 15 days backpacking the John Muir Trail in California. There I stood on top of a peak, gazed down at a glinting lake where I’d started hours before and realized that just by keeping my body moving, even if I did it slowly, I could do things I never thought I could do. During a ski trip to Colorado a few years ago, I saw a flyer advertising a burro race. It stuck in my mind, and last summer, on my last official assignment for the Statesman, I rented a burro named Little Jonah, who’d lost nearly every race he’d ever competed in, and signed up for the Gold Rush Challenge. Little J had a great day, though, and never balked. We finished in the middle of the pack, and I learned that burros level the playing field when it comes to running. Slow runners with happy burros always pass fast runners with grumpy burros that stop mid-race. I never got hurt, either, though I almost got fried when a storm dropped a live power line near my tent during a mushroom foraging excursion in New
Mexico, and once I tangled my leg in a rope swing and found myself momentarily suspended, upside down, over the San Marcos River. But newspapers are not exactly the most stable place to hitch your pony. So, I unbuckled the safety harness and set myself loose as a freelancer last fall. Now I want to cover adventure — big adventure — on a broader, national scale. In all my time spent writing about adventure travel, here’s what I’ve learned: I love this life. I mean love it — as in I couldn’t possibly sit on my haunches in front of a computer all day, every day. I still have to do a lot of that as a writer, but I mix it up with frenzied jaunts that take me all over the country and beyond in my freelance work for the American-Statesman, Texas Highways Magazine, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, the Houston Chronicle, Real Simple Magazine, Lance Armstrong’s WEDU organization and more. For one six-week period last fall, I slept at home for a collective 10 days. During that span, a national magazine sent me to Florida to write about a romantic weekend getaway. I arrived at
“This shot is off the back of a live-aboard dive boat near the Blue Hole off the coast of Belize. I spent a week on the boat, diving at different locations, including Half Moon Caye and the Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau. The little boat in the shot is a dingy used to pick up divers after they resurface.”
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my destination, a beautiful boutique hotel on the beach, just as a thunderstorm crashed into shore, whipping up waves and lighting the charcoalcolored sky with bolts of lightning. I dropped my suitcase, admired the fire blazing in the fireplace, took note of the romantic music playing and popped open a bottle of wine they’d left for me, filling just one of the two glasses handily arranged on the table. Then, I crawled into bed and snuggled with my suitcase. Yes, sometimes I get lonely. But solo travel has made me more confident. A few months ago, another magazine hired me to haul a trailer with a pop-up tent on it all over East Texas on assignment. I’d never hauled a trailer and was pretty nervous about backing it into a campsite. When I got to my first park, a man in the space next to me came over and offered to do it for me, and rather than argue, I let him. But at the second park, I met a 70-year-old woman traveling
alone in a similar rig. I unrolled the window and asked her not to laugh too hard as I lined up my trailer. She came over to share some tips, then let me alone to work things out. It took me 17 tries, but I finally did it. And when I did, I jumped up and down and thanked her for teaching me to rely on myself. In the last six months, I’ve traveled to Colorado three times to ski, climb a frozen waterfall and skin to a backcountry hut, rafted part of
the Rio Grande River and dashed off to Portugal for an actual vacation with my husband (but when you’re a travel writer, you never actually “vacation,” so I wrote about that one, too). I’ve driven to College Station and Grapevine and South Padre Island on assignments and flown to the Dominican Republic to swim with humpback whales, finally landing back in Austin, where I’m in the midst of a self-imposed long-distance
“I took this while climbing a frozen waterfall outside of Telluride, Colorado, in February. These are the back of my own legs. I twisted my body around and looked down at the guide holding my harness ropes below.”
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“GO INTO EVERY ADVENTURE WITH LOW EXPECTATIONS. THAT WAY YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED.”
travel moratorium so I can catch up on training for the Texas Water Safari, a 260-mile canoe race from San Marcos to Seadrift along the Texas coast, in June. About the time I recover from all that, I’ll head off again. Back to Colorado yet again before I grab my woolies and anti-polar bear perfume and point my arrow north, where I’ll be the embedded journalist for two months on the Arctic Cowboys expedition — three veteran Austin paddlers who will attempt to kayak the entire Northwest Passage over a two-month span. It’s crazy, but I like it that way. I’ve learned a lot as this pleasedon’t-try-to-rein-me-in life has unfolded. My biggest travel advice is to go into every adventure with low expectations. That way, you won’t be disappointed. Don’t get caught up in exotic locales. Sure, scuba diving beneath 200 schooling hammerhead sharks next to Darwin’s Arch in the Galapagos Islands ranks as one of the most amazing and lovely experiences of my life, but I find bliss in my own backyard, too. Don’t discount the parks and cobwebby corners of Texas that you haven’t taken the time to explore. Jump off the cliffs at Pace Bend on Lake Travis. Take a swim at McKinney Falls. Stay in a cabin at Bastrop State Park. Spend time in the West Texas, where you’ll find one of the best views anywhere, for my dime, off the Mesa de Anguila trail in the little-used southwest corner of Big Bend National Park. Stay curious. Get dirty. Try new things and see new places. And do it all with an open mind. Life is a series of grand adventures, no matter how close or how far, how big or how small. Grab hold and let them kick you in the pants. afm
To read more about Pam LeBlanc and her adventures, head over to pamleblancadventures.com.
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e v i F e r u t n e Adv avel Tr aces R to Add to Your Bucket List
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here is something special about visiting new places. But for the adventurous athletes out there, there’s something even grander about pushing your physical limitations and competing in a new place. There are so many types of races across the country. Whether you’re a hiker or biker, or looking for something leisurely or more challenging, one of these five races is sure to suit just the adventure and vacation you’re looking for.
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o d a r o l Co GoPro Mountain Games Vail, Colorado mountaingames.com
Hosted in the beautiful mountains of Vail, Colorado, the GoPro Mountain Games bring a fun vacation and adventure travel into one. There is an activity for everyone, including your four-legged friends. At the Mountain Games, both professional and amateur adventure athletes can compete in 11 different disciplines and more than 30 competitions that include kayaking, SUP, running, slackline, trail running, mountain and road cycling, climbing and even dock-diving for dogs. Then, the games are capped by the big contest for who is the toughest mountain warrior in a final Ultimate Mountain Challenge. UMC athletes compete all weekend long, racking up points based on how many events they can finish, difficulty level and how well they place. Money prizes are awarded to the top four males and females of the weekend. There is also a free concert series, yoga sessions, food vendors, art exhibitions and activities for kids. The Mountain Games are a project of the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, which has a mission to enhance the quality of life in the Vail Valley through arts, athletics and education.
Molokai-2-Oahu The Molokai-2-Oahu race is not for the faint of heart. With a course that begins at the island of Molokai stretching all the way to Oahu across the Ka’iwi Channel, this 32-mile stand-up paddleboard race is considered one of the world’s most difficult paddle races. Already challenging enough as it is, the Ka’iwi Channel — translated as “the channel of bones” — has a reputation as some of the world’s most treacherous waters. The race was first started in 1997 by one of Hawaii’s top paddlers, Dawson Jones, after he aspired to create a race across the Ka’iwi Channel. Today, the Ka’iwi Channel is host to not only the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, but also official races for outrigger canoe and surf skis. Each humanpowered race across the Channel Of Bones is regarded worldwide as the crowning achievement of the sport. This race will test your physical and mental strength, provide gorgeous scenery as well as celebrate traditions set by the rich Polynesian history and heritage of Hawaii.
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TOP: RICK LOHRE; LEFT: COURTESY OF 808PHOTO.ME
Molokai, Hawaii molokai2oahu.com
a i n r o f i l a C Bay to Breakers
C O U R T E S Y O F G A M E FA C E M E D I A
San Francisco, California baytobreakers.com
Known for the crazy and colorful costumes participants wear, the Bay to Breakers race is a reflection of the vibrancy and colorfulness of San Francisco. Originally known as Cross City Race, the event first began in 1912 and was intended to be a precursor to the world-class athletic events being planned for the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition. However, the event is also one of the many that were held to aid in rebuilding and lifting the morale of the city after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Participants begin the 12K course starting from in the city all the way to the finish line along the Pacific Coast’s Ocean Beach. The course takes runners through many iconic San Francisco neighborhoods, including Hayes Street Hill and Golden Gate Park. Participants also wear unique and crazy costumes and outfits. It is also all-encompassing, attracting serious runners, families, weekend runners and walkers. The race now is one of the largest in the world, setting a Guinness world record with 110,000 participants in 1986.
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n o g Ore Hood to Coast Mt. Hood, Oregon hoodtocoastrelay.com
COURTESY OF HOOD TO COAST REL AY
The Hood to Coast Relay first began in 1982 as a result of running friends looking to test themselves with a new challenge, and since then, has grown into the world’s largest relay race. Relay — meaning you’ll need to gather a group of friends before signing up for this adventure. The relay is made up of teams with eight to 12 members and totals 199 miles from the start at the base of Mt. Hood all the way to the finish line at the Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon. The race is split into 36 legs, and each member of the team takes on at least three legs of the race, an average of three and a half to eight miles per stretch over 24 to 36 hours. You will have to run through the night, but the race’s party atmosphere makes it a little easier. For all the non-runners out there, you can still participate. There is also Hood to Coast Walk, which operates the same way but with walking. Both events max out on team limits each year, so sign up quickly.
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Tuckerman Inferno
T O P : D A V E G O R K E ; B O T T O M : C O U R T E S Y O F W I S E G U YC R E AT I V E . C O M
Glen, New Hampshire friendsoftuckermanravine.org
The Tuckerman Inferno appeals to adventurers of all types. The race first began in 2000 and is the primary annual fundraiser for Friends of Tuckerman Ravine, a nonprofit that functions to preserve and protect the unique alpine and subalpine eastern slopes of Mount Washington, specifically focusing on Tuckerman Ravine, Huntington Ravine and the Gulf of Slides areas. It also pays homage to the original American Inferno ski races of the 1930s. While classic American Infernos were top-to-bottom ski races only, the current Tuckerman Inferno is now a pentathlon that involves running, kayaking, biking, hiking and skiing or snowboarding — which makes it one of the most challenging adventure races in the country. The race begins in Story Land in Glen with an 8.3-mile run that climbs about 600 feet. Next, competitors tackle a 5.5-mile kayak that drops about 200 vertical feet, following it with the 18.2-mile bike leg that climbs 2,000 vertical feet. After the bike leg is the 3-mile hike, climbing a total of 2,268 feet. Near the end of the hike in a transition zone. Participants then pick up their skis or snowboards to carry to the final leg of the race, a giant slalom ski course within the Tuckerman Ravine or general area. The exact location for the course varies depending on race snow conditions and safety requirements the day prior to the race. The race can be completed as an individual or as a team of five.
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Adventure DESTINATIONS
Switch up your routine and take your yoga practice to one of these exotic paradises.
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AdZENtures If you're looking to start a yoga practice, mix up your existing routine or reconnect to your passions and feel alive again... consider an AdZENture!
What will you do with your one wild and precious life? —Mary Oliver
AdZENtures specializes in providing unique and unforgettable experiences that include outdoor adventures, cultural immersion, physical activity and wellness practices through yoga and meditation. Pair yoga with other special interests such as travel, nature, adventure and cultural immersion creating the opportunity for people to feel empowered, invigorated, connected and alive. AdZENtures hosts events in Austin and throughout the country as well as offering international experiential retreats in destinations that are out of the ordinary. adzenturesyoga.com
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Portugal
ADZENTURES INTERNATIONAL RETREATS with Lindsey Conroy
SEPTEMBER 14-20 2019
The southern region of Portugal offers fabulous beaches, thermal springs, impressive caves and hiking trails along with the rugged coastline. Many water adventures followed by an amazing sunset from our cliffside, outdoor yoga spot await our AdZENturers. With insight from local friends, we provide an unforgettable retreat that's off the beaten path and includes only the very best. From the in-house chefs catering every meal on our self-sustainable eco farm to the local guides teaching us to surf, this AdZENture will be truly unforgettable.
LOCAL AUSTIN TEACHER!
Slovenia JUNE 13-19 2019
The only country in the world with “love” in the name, Slovenia is an undiscovered gem full of beauty, adventure, nature and culture. Known as an outdoor playground and the Valley of Adrenaline, Soča Valley is home to one of the featured AdZENtures. This unique, all-inclusive experience provides an unparalleled experience for individuals or those traveling in groups. Enjoy destination yoga classes atop mountains at sunset, gondola rides to Acro yoga workshops on the summit, riverside flows next to the limestone Emerald River. Gear up for whitewater rafting, canyoning and skydiving or enjoy a riverside massage, wine tastings and fortress tours. There's something for everyone in the valley of Narnia!
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Muy’Ono Resorts
Thatch Caye Private Island Thatchcayebelize.com
Thatch Caye is an all-inclusive private island resort off the coast of Belize. The perfect place to disconnect and recharge with a peaceful atmosphere, overwater bungalows, and pristine beaches. The resort is limited to 30 guests at a time, guaranteeing a unique experience. Just a short boat ride away from both jungle and ocean activities, Thatch Caye has it all.
Muy’Ono Resorts in Belize combine private resort life with unique retreats and activities for adventure-seekers that you won't find anywhere else.
Copal Tree Lodge Copaltreelodge.com
Inspired by the beauty and biodiversity, Copal Tree Lodge takes guests on a journey that offers the best in genuine hospitality, bespoke tours and activities, as well as an organic farm-to-table dining experience that is set in a sustainable and community-driven development.
Both Austin yoga instructors and international guest instructors provide unique yoga retreats that will have you leaving Belize relaxed, refreshed and re-energized.
RETREATS NOT YOUR JAM BUT VACATIONS ARE? Use promo code FITBELIZE for 25 percent off at any Muy'Ono Resort. Book by July 15. Travel by Nov. 7, 2019. Visit muyono.com/fit for more details. JUNE
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buoyant sequencing to warm your body and set your spirit free to be. From this place you will return home with clarity and ease. Carrying that laid-back, happy, satisfied feeling and having cultivated a deeper understanding of yourself and appreciation of your yoga community.
Women Empowerment Yoga Retreat with Manja Podratz SEPT. 23-28, 2019, COPAL TREE LODGE
Are you ready to take it a step deeper, combining Yoga Practice, Nature Immersion and Spiritual Life Coaching? This retreat allows you to take your time back in order to re-balance, heal, reconnect to your life’s purpose and prioritize what’s truly meaningful to you. Retreat to the heart of nature to reconnect with your heart’s frequency. Instructor Manja Herlt Podratz will create and hold a sacred space for you and bring her tools for your inner healing, energy work, chakra re-balancing, inviting all Divine and Mother Earth’s support into your life and manifesting that bold vision for yourZself. She offers guided trances and somatic experiencing that help you to reconnect to your inner wisdom and source of unique power. This type of “Back To The Source” retreat is the ultimate empowerment course for individuals, small groups and work teams.
MUY'ONO RESORTS INTERNATIONAL RETREATS Adult Summer Camp
Bootcamp, Zumba, PiYo & Aerial Fitness Retreat in Belize
AUG. 12-16, 2019, THATCH CAYE
For one week, Thatch Caye will be an adults-only playground. You and up to 29 other fun-loving adults will experience a once-in-a-lifetime week of fun in the sun. Enjoy all your favorites from summer camp, with an adult twist, of course. Unlike summer camp as a kid, activity participation isn’t required! It’s your vacation, the camp just adds some childlike fun to it. Who wouldn’t want to escape real life and live like a kid again?
with Tiffany Baker DEC. 2-8, 2019, THATCH CAYE
Take a vacation to a beautiful private island in Belize and improve your fitness, get challenged to work harder and have plenty of time to relax as well. Join Certified Personal Trainer and Health and Fitness Coach Tiffany Baker on a seven-day (six nights) complete fitness retreat in breathtaking Belize. Fitness, fun and rest (yes, you can have it all) come together for an amazing time.
BFree Retreat—Move into Possibility
Private Island Yoga Retreat
with Shelby Autrey LOCAL AUSTIN TEACHER! AUG. 1-6, 2019, COPAL TREE LODGE
with Kaley Klasson LOCAL AUSTIN TEACHER! MAY 7-12, 2020, THATCH CAYE
Spend the end of your summer in the jungle at a Belize yoga retreat. Revitalize and nourish yourself with guided vinyasa and meditation in the open air overlooking the Belizean rainforest. This is an all-inclusive retreat led by BFREE YOGA owner Shelby Autrey. Rise, shine and flow to the sounds of monkeys howling and Toucans chirping. Each day will include mid-morning yoga practice on an open air yoga palapa. We will connect our breath to the true sounds of nature and flow through creative and
Join Kaley for an exclusive yoga and wellness retreat on a private island in beautiful Belize. It's our intention to create an abundant experience full of connection, movement, nourishment and relaxation that will feed your mind, body and soul, alike. Expect daily yoga classes, guided meditations, excursions, workshops, ocean dipping, snorkeling, gatherings and ample time for restoration. This retreat is designed to serve your own unique and personal needs in a pristine setting, where you know you'll be taken care of at an incomparable rate.
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WELLNESS AUTHOR
Marie Young
CONTEMPLATING MEDITATION? Which type of meditation is right for you?
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onsider meditation. What comes to mind? Do you see images of wise men in loincloths sitting cross-legged? Are they in the Himalayas meditating for hours, with minds completely devoid of thought? Even if your image is not that exotic, you may still wonder, what is meditation and what are its benefits? And what is the best meditation for you? Or, what is the difference between meditation and this “mindfulness” word we are hearing so much about?
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Meditation — from the Latin root word “meditatum,” which means to ponder or contemplate — is a practice of mental training to help focus attention, slow down the frequency of thoughts and relax the body. Traditionally, practitioners (mostly, though not exclusively, in Eastern cultures) use meditation for spiritual insight and to invoke a higher power. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that has taken off in the U.S. because it is distinctly secular and is where much of the current scientific studies about the
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Pexels
Focus your attention on your breath.
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WELLNESS
TRY IT OUT
Marie Young, certified meditation instructor
A SIMPLE MEDITATION
1. Sit with your spine erect but not rigid. 2. Take a few breaths. 3. Place your attention on your lower belly under your navel. 4. On the inhale, feel your belly rise. 5. On the exhale, feel your belly fall. 6. Keep your attention on the sensation of the rise and fall of your lower belly. 7. When your attention/ mind wanders, return to the focus on your breath. 8. Do this for three to five minutes or however long feels good to you. Join one of the weekend programs. They’re fun, educational and free with your admission.
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benefits of meditation are centered. Jon Kabat-Zinn, an expert elder in the mindfulness arena, defines mindfulness as “…paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and nonjudgmentally.” Sharon Salzberg, another mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention in a way that creates space for insight.
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heavyweight, adds that, “Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention in a way that creates space for insight.” All meditation has myriad benefits, from stress relief to lowering blood pressure to improving attention span and emotional regulation. The list continues. One study cited in The Sport Journal even says that mindfulness meditation can help sports performance. You don’t need science to tell you the potential benefits of setting aside time in your busy day, consciously breathing
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2019
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Practice being present
and gaining some perspective on your thoughts. There are many different forms of meditation — things like focused attention (a good place to start is to focus on the breath), loving-kindness, mantra and more. Yoga, tai chi and walking are all forms of moving meditation. With so many different avenues of meditation, how do you know which type of meditation is best for you? The best thing to do is research and try the different types until you find one that suits you best. There are also plenty of resources, such as
books or smartphone apps available to help guide you through short meditations in the morning, middle of the day or before going to bed. If you have been on the fence about trying meditation, take the plunge. At the very least, it can help you feel a sense of calm and peace. At its highest form, it can put you in touch with a deeper part of yourself and can become a powerful part of your self-care and spiritual practices. afm
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WELLNESS S P O N S O R E D B Y:
Sebring Clinic
WELLNESS
Spotlight
Q&A WITH LANE SEBRING, M.D.
AFM: Why do you practice in a way so different from most medical doctors?
years and somewhat to my surprise, I have learned to be very effective using a more or even completely natural approach. Early on in my post-medical school and post-residency education, I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture by Lauren Cordain Ph.D. where he first revealed the Paleo diet. The diet so beautifully explained why humans get all these chronic diseases as we age and wild animals and our hunter-gatherer brethren do not. They all eat the foods they are designed to eat. BYW Hunter gatherers almost universally die of one of three causes, trauma, infection and in their sleep at a ripe old age, typically in their late 70s, 80s and 90s having dance through the night like everyone else two nights before. We have data on more than 229 groups of hunter gatherers and not one of them have even a word for any of the arthritides we expect to get as we age.
DR. SEBRING: I knew before I went to medical
school that nutrition was not going to be part of the curriculum. I did not know how so very true that was. We were taught drugs and scalpels. After completing my residency and opening a practice in Wimberley 23 years ago, I began attending nutrition conferences and functional medicine conferences. I also attended The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine conferences where I served as a board examiner for many years for fellow physicians who also wanted to become board certified in Anti Aging. Over the
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Brian Fitzsimmons
Dr. Sebrings brings functional, integrative medicine and paleo diets to Central Texas
I became the first doctor to base their medical practice on the paleo diet. That paradigm shift opened the door and my mind and presented me with a much larger tool box and none of it was toxic. I still find occasional need to use modern drugs but it is usually temporary and it is my last choice. I practice Integrative Medicine. I integrate Modern Medicine into my Natural Medicine practice when it is better for my patient. AFM: What sort of tools does an Integrative Medicine doctor have that Traditional Medicine doctors do not? DR. SEBRING: The biggest tool is the fact that people are largely shown how and empowered to take care of themselves and not nearly so dependent someone, the doctor, telling them what to do. So the tool is motivated and very results-inspired patients. The next tool is putting people on the human diet, the Paleo diet. Not being on the Paleo diet is the largest cause of disease we have. It's an archaeological fact that when we went off of this diet is when chronic diseases began. It caused us to have weaker bones, narrowed faces, smaller brains and a loss of 6-7 inches in height. These changes and followed the introduction of the agricultural production of food all around the world. Integrative doctors also recognize the total toxic load that things like heavy metals, plasticizers, pesticides, herbicides, food additives, hormone disruptors and on and on and we can help facilitate their removal. Our bones have 100 times more heavy metals than our ancestors 2,000 years ago. The World Health Organization said in the 90s that more than 90 percent of chronic diseases have a heavy metal component.
imbalance, chronic inflammation and stress. In other words, Orthomolecular Medicine respects your body's original design and enables you to discover what it's like to be a healthy human. The testing utilized is considerably more expansive, personalized and focused. It is used to confirm diagnosis, to discover cause and monitor the correction. I use the body’s own chemistry to rebalance and resupply the body with what it needs. This can be done with diet, nutritional supplements and bio identical hormones. From cortisol for adrenal fatigue to testosterone creams that transport them into the skin or even customized IV nutrition delivered directly into the body. afm
AFM: What is Orthomolecular Medicine and how do you use it? DR. SEBRING: Orthomolecular Medicine utilizes
the body's own chemistry to recreate a normal, healthy metabolism which has previously fallen victim to illness caused by infection, hormonal
QUESTIONS? To learn more visit SEBRINGCLINIC.COM Or reach Sebring Clinic at 512.847.5618
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FITNESS AUTHOR
Meara Isenberg
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brian Fitzsimmons
TRAVELING TO TRAIN
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ach racing season, professional triathlete Pablo Gomez travels to Bogota, Colombia, where he is from, to bike on mountains as tall as 9,000 feet. He braves the higher elevation and lower oxygen levels to feel the effects of altitude training, a strategy where athletes increase their red blood cell volume at altitude and benefit from it once they return to sea level. “It’s very demanding on the body,” Gomez says,
Why some Austin athletes choose to exercise outside the city
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“But if you do it right, if you take some time to recover when you are there, you can get a boost of fitness out of the whole thing.” From accessing specific terrains like high-altitude mountains, to maintaining focus during a workout, there are many reasons why athletes like Gomez travel to train. Altitude training usually takes
place for periods of three weeks or longer, according to Ed Coyle, director of UT Austin’s Human Performance Laboratory, which investigates the physiological factors that regulate exercise performance. Higher altitudes – and the lack of oxygen that comes with them – cause the body to produce a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO, which is the
Pablo Gomez travels to train in high altitudes in order to increase red blood cell volume and then benefit from it later at sea level.
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FITNESS
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WHEN YOU COME BACK DOWN TO SEA LEVEL, YOU HAVE MORE RED BLOOD CELLS TO CARRY OXYGEN, AND THAT WILL IMPROVE ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE.” stimulus to increase red blood cell production, Coyle says. “When you come back down to sea level, you have more red blood cells to carry oxygen, and that will improve endurance
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performance,” Coyle says. It takes a few days to get acclimated to the altitude, Coyle says. It’s common to feel sick as the body adjusts to a change in oxygen pressure. This discomfort is familiar to Gomez. “Your body’s under so much stress because of the altitude,” Gomez says. “Sometimes you don’t sleep as well, you’re dehydrated because it’s very dry.” While Coyle says altitude training is not a guarantee of improvement, as training intensities such as running speed are often reduced in the harsher environment, the method can benefit professional athletes looking to shave seconds off their competition time. Missy Kuck, a swim coach at the
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Triathlete, Missy Kuck took training trips in order to get something she couldn’t locally — like hills or humidity.
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Austin Aquatics and Sports Academy, also has experience competing in triathlons. Over the 20 years she spent as a triathlete — six of which were professional — she traveled to several different states to train. “I would do the training trips to get something that I couldn’t get locally,” Kuck says. “For example, if you’re gonna go to Asheville, North Carolina or northern Georgia, you’re going there to bike the hills, or if you’re gonna do a training trip somewhere south and you live north, you’re doing it to acclimate to the humidity.” Training trips to Asheville were some of Kuck’s most memorable. There, she was exposed to mountainous terrains that made her workouts challenging, but effective. “A lot of times you get used to your training area, whether it’s riding flats or false flats, maybe short hills, and then you go on a training trip and you’re going to get to climb up mountains,” Kuck says. “All of a sudden, all the hills at home seem like little speed bumps.” Kuck says while traveling comes with it’s challenges, from dealing with unfamiliar landscapes to the logistics of housing and transporting equipment, there are ways to make the experience easier, such as traveling with a group or contacting a training facility at the destination and using their equipment. “Variation will improve your training,” she says, regardless of if you are a professional athlete or not. Both Kuck and Gomez have found that traveling to train helps them maintain focus. When he attends training camps in places such as Arizona, Gomez says he has a different mindset than he would have in Austin. “In the city that you live in, you always have distractions; you always have, ‘I can go and run errands or
When she’s not competing, Kuck is a swimming coach at Austin Aquatics and Sports Academy.
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do groceries or meet with friends,’” Gomez says. “When you go to these mini training camps or longer training camps, you just have one thing to do, and it’s to train.” Colin Van Ert took this focus to the extreme when he traveled to Goiânia, Brazil to practice and perform capoeira, an AfroBrazilian martial art. Van Ert slept on a cot in a tiny house, and for two months, his life revolved around training. “That’s pretty much all I did — just eat, sleep, train, rest, repeat,” Van Ert says.
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Capoeira combines music, dance and acrobatics, and is performed in what’s called a game. In this game, two individuals — the capoeiristas — are surrounded by a circle of people and perform martial arts movements with each other in a dance-like fashion. In Brazil, Van Ert trained with a capoeira master, practicing movement, working on sequences and conditioning. He says traveling to train helped him improve at the sport, while also exposing him to a new country and culture. “It was just a big adventure,”
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Van Ert says. “I was really excited to go and be in a place that was completely different.” Since then, Van Ert says capoeira has helped him find community in other countries he’s visited. He says when he travels to new places, it’s easy to reach out to and feel welcomed by other athletes who practice the martial art. “Training is a great place to find community,” Van Ert says. “And then when you travel, it’s an awesome way to get more connected to wherever you are.” afm
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Colin Van Ert
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FITNESS AUTHOR
Monica Hand
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brian Fitzsimmons
SERVING IT UP The budding sand volleyball community of Austin.
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Troy Schlicker, realtor by day, wasn’t expecting much more than a good workout when he responded to a Craigslist ad looking for those interested in starting a sand volleyball team for Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar’s spring league of 2010. He’d been in Austin for a few years by then and had been trying various forms of athletic outlets to meet people and stay active. He responded in hopes it would be an interesting change of pace from the typical flag football and basketball leagues. Schlicker, who has lived up north most of his life and grew up playing basketball, hadn’t even considered the sport before, let alone knew where to find it in Austin. But after a game or two of playing, he was hooked. “That’s what’s great about the community. You don’t have to be a world class player,” Schlicker says. “You can just go out with a team of friends and have a beer and be active.”
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Before long, he was training to make his way up the skill levels. Going from a team of six to a team of four, and now — about eight years later — competing at the top level in doubles. “I never intended it to be something that I take super seriously,” he says. “It wasn’t until I realized I enjoyed it that the competitive nature kicked in.” The story of Schlicker’s passion for sand volleyball has a lot of common threads for other players in Austin, like Chris Olds, who came across the sport in 2011 after his own career with competitive basketball. “I knew things were changing when I started showing up to basketball games covered in sand,” Olds says. “I was playing beach volleyball five to six times a week [one] year after I started.” His interest extended all the way into opening his own local beach volleyball company, 512 Beach. It started out as just him and a teammate training other players by word-of-mouth.
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In 2015, after an injury, Olds was asked to run a tournament for several members of the community. The first year, 512 Beach ran two tournaments. The following year it increased to eight and continued to grow. “Last year we ran over 60 tournament dates with over 120 divisions,” Olds says. “That’s more than any other individual organization in the country!” The main differences with sand volleyball and court volleyball are team and court sizes. As skill levels increase, the number of players on
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FITNESS can go hard on the sand and not feel as strained in the end.” No matter how long you’ve been playing, there is always a challenge that comes when stepping into the sand. The extra balance it requires means high demand of both legs in jumps and landings, as well as some relearning of movements — which can be challenging even for avid indoor players. “Our bodies are amazingly resilient and adaptive,” Schlicker says. “But every sand court is different based on depth — it takes getting used to.” Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar, which opened in 1989, is one of Austin’s oldest and well-known spots for sand volleyball leagues in the city. The
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EVERY SAND COURT IS DIFFERENT BASED ON DEPTH — IT TAKES GETTING USED TO.”
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each team decreases. Courts are smaller in order to accommodate the small team sizes, and the sand creates resistance for movement. The sand, though it adds resistance, actually provides an interesting benefit for athletes as it softens push-offs, landings and quick dives. This eases tensions and impact on joints compared to gymnasium floors. “I’ve always noticed the cushion it creates on my joints,” Schlicker says. “You
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venue hosts tournaments from March to November, weather permitting, and offers volleyball camps, clinics, leagues and court rentals. As the sport has gained traction, so have opportunities to play, including places like Austin Sports and Social Club, ATX Sports + Adventures and Wooly’s Beach, all offering various opportunities to compete. Most, but not all, of these organizations base leagues and divisions on skill. “With more players on the scene and interested in playing, each skill level is getting deeper,” Olds explains. “Even with new tournament formats aimed to accommodate everyone, we still have wait-lists for almost every 512 Beach event.” Austin is also featured as a stop in the Association of Volleyball Professionals, the
largest professional beach volleyball tour in the United States. It will be held this year on May 17-19 at Krieg Fields. Spectators can watch some of the top sand volleyball players in the state and all over the country. Donald Sun, the AVP managing partner, says the association has already seen the involvement of sand volleyball grow within the city of Austin. In just three years, numbers at Krieg have increased continually as word has spread. “It’s only gotten bigger each year,” Sun says. “Texans love their volleyball — rain or shine, they’re ready.” afm *Editor’s note: This story was written and printed prior to the AVP tournament. Follow avp.com for next year’s tournament dates.
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FITNESS SPONSOR
Sebring Clinic
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brian Fitzsimmons
Dr. Lane Sebring
WORKOUT OF THE MONTH
This workout from Dr. Lane Sebring is designed to stimulate muscle growth, including both fast twitch (strength) and slow twitch (endurance) muscle fibers. It also has a strong aerobic component that gets the heart rate up and improves endurance with high intensity interval training.
BASICS OF THIS METHOD
With each exercise start with a light weight (3-5lbs) and do 8 reps to warm up. Then go to the highest weight you can do for 8-10 reps while paying strict attention to technique and form. After completing that set, immediately drop down to a slightly lower weight and do it to very near failure and continue to work each successively lighter set to failure or near failure down to the fifth set where you then pick a weight light enough that you can do 20 to 30 reps to max out the slow twitch endurance fibers more completely. Now you rest, usually
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from a minute to a minute and a half if you need it. The time required for each muscle group is short; typically 3-6 minutes including rest whether you use one, two or three different exercises for the muscles groups. Repeat the method, working different muscle groups. This can be a whole body workout in one trip to the gym or broken up into two or three workouts. NOTE: More seasoned lifters will want to add a second or even third exercise immediately after the first one that works the same muscles before resting. Or you can simply repeat the first set again for multiple sets.
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UPPER BODY
SHOULDERS: Lateral raises to work all three parts
of the shoulder, front, middle and back. Start with the elbows slightly bent and leaning slightly forward. The dumbbells or cables are raised to shoulder height keeping the little finger raised slightly higher than the other fingers.
CHEST: Choose either an incline, flat or decline bench to start and it’s best to rotate every two weeks between the three bench angles to build the top, middle and bottom portion of the chest muscles. When decreasing the weight from the heaviest to the lightest weight it is good to change quickly to each lighter weight as the chest muscles recover very quickly due to an exceptional blood supply. This is especially true when doing the last set as it should be quite thoroughly fatigued before beginning the high repetition set. TRICEPS: Use dumbbells, an EZ curl bar or a pulldown
lat bar.
BICEPS: Use dumbbells and rotate the palm inward
to maximize contrac- tion, or an EZ curl bar or cables. The EZ curl bar can be done with reverse curl to work the forearms.
BACK: Use lat pulldown, bent over rows or dumb-
bells as shown.
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FITNESS
LOWER BODY
LEGS: Use dumbbells or an olympic bar and only do two or three sets before abandoning any added weight and do the high rep set without any weight. CALVES: Use two heavy dumbbells going up on one tip toe and back down to the ground or go up on both tiptoes if you're unable to do it with one leg only. This is repeated using only one dumbbell and then no dumbbells for the high rep set. ABDOMINALS: Start the warmup with 7 set-ups and then add as much weight in the form of a plate or cable held behind your neck that you can do 10-12 set-ups and almost no more. Next, reduce the weight and go for four sets with successively lighter weight and then do 20-30 with no weight.
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FROM THE DOCTOR
“Adding a good exercise program to your life can give you a lot more life. For many years I was all about diet for my patients’ health. Then when I began to add resistance exercise to my patients health program it began to fix problems I had previously only partially improved. I saw the exercise catapult them to the next level. That improvement was not only seen in their increase in energy and their physical health, but in their mental health, their relationships and their overall productivity each day.”
Change up your routine!
— DR. LANE SEBRING
This workout will get you started and beyond. Add different exercises for each body part as you see fit. Change up your routine periodically to ensure a more complete workout and to prevent the workout from getting stale or boring. TIP: Wanting to kick this workout up a notch? Try sprinting through
the last 4-5 reps of each of the high rep sets. Enjoy the power this workout, the time efficiency, its ability to build muscle and the ability to provide growth of both the strength and speed muscle fibers and the endurance muscle fibers, and providing cardio. You will learn to both respect and enjoy it and. Make it your own.
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Special thanks to Justice Quintana my trainer and his wife Rachel Emery and the use of their gym, Just Results for this photo shoot and their Krav Maga classes.
Dr. Lane Sebring Sebring Clinic Wimberley 512.847.5618
AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E
CALENDAR JUNE 2019
Submit your event online at austinfitmagazine.com
Events CAP10K GLOBAL RUNNING DAY Austin JU NE 5
JUNE 1
Bubblepalooza Long Center for the Performing Arts Presented by Silicon Labs, Bubblepalooza returns on Saturday, June 1 at 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The kick off to All Summer Long, this annual celebration of open play on the H-E-B Terrace and our lawn — Austin’s front porch — is perfect for families of all ages, with music, games, food trucks and of course, tons of bubbles. This year’s activities include a giant rock-climbing wall, trampolines, giant bubble making, foam pits, chalk art
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and much more. Enjoy live music by Big Wy’s Brass Band, The Saddle Sores (White Ghost Shivers) and Kupira Marimba, and a special performance by Summer Stock Austin students. JUNE 2-30
(every Sunday)
Circle Brewing Co. Presents Pints and Poses Circle Brewing Company Certified yoga instructors will guide yogis and amateurs alike in an hour of detoxifying Hatha yoga. Following the class, the Tasting Room will open for a refreshing pint of Circle brew to complete
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this zen-like experience. JUNE 5
Cap10K Global Running Day Austin AmericanStatesman Parking Lot Join the statesman and Cap10k on Global Running Day to participate in two unique routes through Austin. To celebrate this day Cap10K staff have organized two routes that are variable in distance, free, open to the public and begin and finish at the Austin AmericanStatesman’s West parking lot. Social run/walk route distances vary between 3
and 6 miles. Maps, bottled water, nutritional bars, high fives and selfies will be shared at this year’s Austin Edition of Global Running Day. Feel free to bring a friend. JUNE 6-9
ATX Television Festival Alamo Drafthouse- Ritz, Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Paramount Theater The 2019 edition of the ATX Television Festival will feature a variety of screenings, panels, and more to celebrate the ever-growing medium of television. Among
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Tyler’s Dam That Cancer
JUNE 8
12th Annual Taste of North Austin The Domain The 12th annual all-day family food festival will feature delectable tastes, beverage sampling, live music, children’s entertainment and shopping. Aromas of the various cuisines will fill the Domain’s open-air corridor, enticing guests to sample fares from local restaurants. There will be complimentary children’s activities throughout the day, including balloon twisting, glitter tattoos, crafts and more. Taste tabs will double as “votes” for each restaurant’s partner charity, combining food and philanthropy. JUNE 8
Destination Brew Fest Vista Brewing Destination Brew Fest is a boutique beer festival benefiting the Texas Brewshed Alliance. The
MASTERS ST IN
festival features some of the best lagers and farmhouse style ales from Texas and beyond. Attendees will have an opportunity to dive deep into the story and history behind these beers with brewery representatives and a hand-picked range of specialty partners. JUNE 10
10th Annual Tyler’s Dam That Cancer Lake Austin and LRCA Redbud Center It’ll be a celebratory year for the 10th edition for the 21-mile stand-up paddle and party for TYLER’S Dam That Cancer. Dam That Cancer is the premier fundraising event for Flatwater Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides access to mental health services for those in need affected by cancer. The post party paddle will be hosted at LRCA Redbud Center.
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the highlights will be the premiere of HBO’s upcoming summer series, Euphoria; a screening of the recent Grey’s Anatomy episode, “Silent All These Years,” followed by a conversation with stars Camilla Luddington and Kim Raver; a panel for the recently-canceled Netflix series, One Day at a Time; a panel for the upcoming reboot of Veronica Mars on Hulu; screenings of episodes of Grown-ish and Archer; an appearance by Kevin Bacon as part of panel for the never-aired Tremors pilot; and more. atxfestival.com
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in the industry as well as national headlining bands. The Saturday night headliner at this year’s rally is Kings of Chaos, featuring a superstar lineup including singers Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, guitarist Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), bassist James LoMenzo (Black Label Society, Slash) and drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, John Fogerty).
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JUNE 22
Half Christmas Party Lala’s Little Nugget North Austin neighborhood bar Lala’s will be hosting its annual Half Christmas Party. Guests can don their best ugly sweater and meet the jolly man himself with an appearance from Santa. Get in the spirit with Jingle Juice Cocktails and special holiday-themed Tiki Mugs. JUNE 29
JUNE 13-16
Pig Roast Luau
Republic of Texas Biker Rally
Sauce Odyssey Sauce Odyssey will present a Luau-inspired party featuring games and food. Chefs Jared Smith of Sauce Odyssey and Ryan Rosen are collaborating to bring the ultimate feast. The Polynesian-style menu will feature a whole roasted pig, brined and slow roasted in a caja china, alongside a selection of sides.
Travis County Exposition Center The Republic of Texas Biker Rally has brought riders and motorcycle enthusiasts from all 50 states and international locations to Austin for the largest “turnstile” motorcycle rally in the United States. The rally holds some of the best motorcycle attractions
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CALENDAR J U N E -A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Submit your event online at austinfitmagazine.com
Rides & Races FIT FOODIE FESTIVAL & 5K Round Rock JUNE 1
JUNE
JUNE 5
JUNE 15
Global Running Day
San Marvelous Road Race #4, (Cycling)
Everywhere
New Braunfels JUNE 1
Fit Foodie Festival & 5K Round Rock
JUNE 6
Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run 5K Austin
JUNE 1
Texas Trail Running Festival Spicewood
JUNE 20
Final Driveway Mini-Series (Cycling) Austin
JUNE 7-9
Tulsa Tough (Cycling) Tulsa, Oklahoma
JUNE 22
Capt’n Karl’s - Night Trail Run Pedernales Falls
JUNE
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Nonprofit. Community. Rowing.
JULY
Austin’s largest non-profit community rowing club
AUGUST
Private Lessons, adult programs as well as middle and high school rowing programs Home of Nationally ranked Regattas
J U LY 1 4
AU G U S T 2
Ice Cream Day 1 Mile, 5K, 10K, 13.1, 26.2
Dog Days 5K
74 Trinity Street
Austinrowing.org
New Braunfels
Virtual Run in Austin
512.472.0726
AU G U S T 1 7 - 1 8 J U LY 4
Popsicle Fun Run 4 Miler
The Habanero Hundred Cat Spring
Kyle AU G U S T 2 2 - 2 5 J U LY 1 3
Capt’n Karl’s Muleshoe Bend Night Trail Run
Hotter N Hell Hundred (Cycling) Wichita Falls
Spicewood J U LY 1 3
Hell’s Half Acre 50K, 25K, & 5K Fort Worth J U LY 1 9
El Chupacabra de San Antonio 5K, 10K San Antonio J U LY 2 0
Stars and Stripes Half Marathon and 5K/10K New Braunfels
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NW Hills
Steiner Ranch
5145 FM 620 N 8127 Mesa Dr (512) 953-8153 (512) 369-3488 www.galaxycafeaustin.com
There’s always room for more stories.
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek®. The spacious interior and large cargo area keep the journey comfortable. Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive + 33 mpg[1] make the going good. Love is out there. Find it in a Crosstrek.
Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive +33 mpg hwy[1] EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology Standard SUBARU STARLINKTM Multimedia with Apple CarPlayTM
275
$
[2]
PER MONTH LEASE/ 39 MONTHS/10,000 MILES PER YEAR
Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive +32 mpg hwy[3] Standard EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology Standard SUBARU STARLINKTM Multimedia with Apple CarPlayTM
$
310
$2,180 $295 $275
$2,495 $295 $310
$2,750
$3,100
KRD-13
[4]
PER MONTH LEASE/ 39 MONTHS/10,000 MILES PER YEAR
KDD-15
AUSTIN SUBARU [5]
[1] EPA-estimated highway fuel economy for 2019 Subaru Crosstrek CVT models. Actual mileage may vary. [2] MSRP $27,671, with approved credit. [3] EPA-estimated highway fuel economy for 2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i models. Actual mileage may vary. [4] MSRP $32,497, with approved credit [5] Purchase/lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru & receive a complimentary, factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years/24,000 miles (whichever comes first). See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages, & limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12/31/19 and reside within the promotional area. See Austin Subaru for program details and eligibility.
Bringing Family & Friends Together Near New Braunfels, TX
Lakeside Cabana Rentals & Glamping! Book online at:
SonsIsland.com info@besttexastravel.com 888-993-6772
Give your body and mind the vacation it deserves. Spots are filling up fast. Book your stay now. Near New Braunfels, TX
geronimocreekretreat.com | info@besttexastravel.com | 888-993-6772