Transformed via Spartan...

Going into my first Spartan Race, I was completely unaware, blind really. I had no idea what was coming, no clue what my body would go through, and no concept of the training I needed to succeed, let alone finish. During our annual Tri-Tip Challenge in September my friends Robert and Mario randomly threw out, "hey, CJ why don't you do Spartan Sprint with us in December?" I was totally against it, never thought I could do it and pretty sure my body couldn't handle it. Well, three months later, weeks of training, and I DID IT! I took my body passed my comfort zone, at least 15 times Saturday. I challenged myself mentally a hundred times or more. I fought through the mental breakdown while I pushed through the physical pain. I stopped myself if a movement hurt, or seemed dangerous. I rested when needed, even if my overly competitive habits resisted. I heard my coaches Chad Franco (CrossFit Five Cities) and Rob Yontz (True North Fitness, Ventura, CA) in my head when something didn't feel right; while making adjustments to attempt the challenge correctly.

It's been incredible, the emotional, spiritual and psychological benefits have been EPIC!!! I feel like I've conquered something bigger than just the race. I worked with myself throughout the entire race, to be mindful and cautious, yet fierce and competitive. There's something to be said for being a mature athlete and really truly listening to your body and your advisors/coaches. I recently wrote a blog on www.crossfitfivecities.com about how we all have a support staff. I have a big one, Chiropractor Rex Stevens @ The SLO Wellness Center, Massage Therapist Rachel Valliere, CrossFit and Life Coach Chad Franco of CrossFit Five Cities, and Spartan Coach Rob Yontz of True North Fitness. Without this team of people I would not have done the race, let alone finish it. I cannot articulate the lessons and blessings I have received since Saturday December 5th at Castaic Lake, CA. Bring on Spartan Super 2016, five more miles, many more challenges and hopefully, much more personal growth. Each time I conquer some sort of physical challenge in my life, I move forward and my heart gets fuller. Each time I conquer some sort of emotional challenge in my life, I get deeper, I am driven to be better from the inside out, and I continue to fully connect with my authentic true self. I am far from finished with my own personal transformation. I am not a winner, but I am a competitor and I am solid. I am grateful, sore and tired. Amen! AROO! #STFU #spartan #girlpower #neverstopgrowing #neverstoplearning #nevergiveup #inthemoment #thisisit

Looking back: 9 years of Roller Derby

As we close out our 2015 season with the final Cal Skate Roller Derby doubleheader this past Saturday night and our end of the year league meeting last night, I find myself searching through my memory. I reminisce about the people, the laughter, the sisterhood, the fans, the travel, the injuries, the growth, the friendships, but most of all the rewards. How lucky I am to have found this sport. It truly did save me from myself at times. Derby has helped me celebrate the accomplishments on and off the track, experience my growth in life and at practice while enjoying all that we'd learned during games. Derby has been with me through pain, sorrow, change, loss, and celebration. Derby has created a family for me, from my brief time playing in Washington to my 9+ years in California. I've watched hundreds of women come and go, with the most resilient sticking it out to find balance in their lives to fit skating in and discovering the best in themselves to succeed. We say the game is 33% physical, 33% skill, and 34% heart/mental. The heart component is what the sport is all about. If you don't have any skills or experience before you start skating, derby offers it to you, from day one; hours of volunteer training. As women, we have very few opportunity to continue playing sports after high school, if some are fortunate enough, college. Roller Derby gives us that chance. Derby gives women who have never played a sport, something new for themselves, for their bodies and their souls. Though sometimes derby has brought stress, or challenges, the positive has far outweighed the negative. I am grateful, blessed and honored to call myself a derby girl, a teammate, a skater, a jammer, a sister! I am a proud one time member of Central Coast Roller Derby, visiting skater with Slaughter County Roller Vixens, a part time member of Pacific Coast Recycled Rollers and a current member of Cal Skate Roller Derby. Cheers to all of the skaters, ref's, NSO's, derby wives, derby husbands, derby kids and the women who came before me! Thank you for giving me this amazing sport. Now, bring on 2016 my last, my 10th and my final year of competitive Roller Derby. Pride...Honor...Courage...Respect...Who are we? CAL SKATE!

Celebrating all women who talk sports...

It's so cool to me that women are showing up in sports broadcasting more than ever recently. Though we've been here for a while. You just might not have seen us, since the late 80's actually. I'm grateful it's happening! Sometimes I get bummed that it's now rather than when I started out in this business nearly 30 years ago. I am celebrating today, the fact that women are finally being noticed and getting a chance to talk sports in every medium. First, years ago, it was okay for women to write about sports, then TV sideline reporters started appearing more often, and later studio hosts/anchors were tolerated. Unfortunately, radio is moving a little more sloooooowly than the others. I am enjoying seeing these women succeed, hearing strong knowledgeable opinions and witnessing men accepting us a bit more. I hate to say, it's not exactly what I'd like it to look like, but it's a start, better than no movement at all. I guess my mom was right when she said I was ahead of my time. Today, I woke up thinking about these women, and it's cool how our sisterhood is growing. Women will support each other, we have that to keep us going. We will encourage each other to push through the bad moments. We lift each other up and can congratulate one another for our accomplishments. I am proud to be doing this 26+ years later. I'm enjoying interacting with all of the women out there who are working in this business around the country. The positive outweighs the negative...most of the time. While we celebrated Jessica Mendoza doing a playoff game, others looked to criticize her. But, to most of us the insults are normal, but sometimes it gets pretty darn ugly! Sports Anchor Julie DiCaro in Chicago writes: “When it comes to sports, women are big targets for abuse because the resentment is two-fold. Some resent us for our confidence and beliefs. But there also is an added resentment because we are supposedly infiltrating a space that has been decidedly male. There are some men who don’t want to share that space, because our presence changes that dynamic. Suddenly they have to be 'civilized.' It’s no longer a no-holds barred environment. Because women are not only present in sports, we’re demanding something from them. We’re demanding respect, and some just don’t like it. There’s no reason that I—and the thousands of other women in the field—should have to tolerate things online that no one would ever accept off it." DiCaro, a former attorney who is currently a writer for The Cauldron and an anchor for Chicago sports radio station 670 The Score. Check out her entire article, it does contain a bunch of vulgar words, just sayin'. www.si.com/cauldron/2015/09/27/twitter-threats-vile-remarks-women-sports-journalists. Instead of wallow in the negative and yucky stuff, today I toast so many successful women in the world of sports media... Cheers to DiCaro, Jessica Mendoza, Amy Lawrence, Christine Lisi, The Fabulous Sports Babe, Spain & Prim, Shelley Smith, Peggy Kuzinski, Shireen Saski Starman, Elise Woodward, Shannon Drayer, Kimberley Martin, Jessamyn McIntyre, Suzyn Waldman, Katie Nolan, Jamele Hill, the list is long, and that is the AWESOME part!!!!

I wanted to help...Katrina...10 years later

It's been 10 years, but to me it will stay with me as if it was yesterday. I remember how I felt the morning of August 29th, 2005. I'd been up most of the night watching the coverage, the anticipation of Katrina hitting the gulf coast region was everywhere. Not a network in the country wasn't there. Every reporter was decked out in storm gear and holding on to a light post, a tree, something, anything to stay safe while bringing the devastating video to us all around the world. It was sensational, but it was also significant. Nothing this big had hit our country in years! And, as I look back, I know we weren't ready, none of us were prepared to handle what came next. My heart was affected that day and I was driven to help...make a donation, answer the phones, something. I went to the local Red Cross office in San Luis Obispo, CA and about 10 days later I was gone, on a plane headed to Baton Rouge to do whatever I could to support the recovery efforts. I was devastated and shocked, when I arrived. It was like a ghost town. As our car, full of volunteers from Iowa, Wisconsin and California traveled from Baton Rouge into New Orleans the roads were empty, stores were boarded up, homes abandoned. It was spooky and so so sad to me. We drove in silence, four strangers brought together by the storm. We each walked away from our lives to head south and do anything to help. My life changed dramatically that year. And still 10 years later my heart breaks, the memories vivid of my time in Louisiana. I came back with the "Katrina Cough" we called it. I hacked for weeks during my waking hours and while I slept. Once in a while, still, if I dream about it I wake up feeling like I've lost my breath, the memories clear in my mind. Wow, I hope nothing, nothing like that ever happens again to any of us. As bad as it was, to be away from my job at ESPN, my family, my dog, my friends...if it happened again right now, today, I would drop everything and head out again. Because, that's who I am. In my heart I know people would come here to help if we needed. Please, don't you forget, I will NEVER forget!

Women in Sports, 2015...

What a month for celebration, Girls DO Sports & Girls TALK Sports!!! It started with the Women's World Cup Championship... Then the Serena Slam... Then Becky Hammon Coaches the NBA's San Antonio Spurs Summer League team to a Championship... Then Jen Welter got hired by the Arizona Cardinals as a pre-season Inside Linebacker Coach... Then Nancy Lieberman was hired by George Karl and the Sacramento Kings as an Assistant Coach... Then Ronda Rouseys MMA fight was what everyone in sports radio was talking about... Then Inbee Park wins the British Open, her fourth major on the LPGA Tour... Early in the spring the NFL hired Sarah Thomas as its first permanent referee/official. I want to say "it's about time." But, that wouldn't be fair, instead it seems like it's happening at the exact right time. I have been waiting on this for years. I started in this business in 1988 and my mother has always said I was ahead of my time. I disagree, I think I started at the exact right time. The growth and movement is slow, for sure. But, look at the civil rights movement, it started in the 1950's. And now in 2015, people of color are still NOT always free. Things move slowly in our country. I may have been one of the firsts, but, I'm not sure women truly have really even broken through in sports? In sports TV...maybe, in soccer...maybe, in tennis...maybe, in golf...maybe. But unfortunately, I may not be alive to see complete growth. I may not be alive to see a woman do play by play for Monday Night Football, but if I am, I want it to be ME! I may not be alive to see a woman as successful in sports radio as Jim Rome or Mike & the Mad Dog. But, if I am, I want it to be ME! Racial barriers are real, gender barriers are real...not gonna stop me! If I am ever called a pioneer, I'll know I've earned it!

Why 10,000 reps...

A couple of my buddies from Cal Poly Strength & Conditioning, Chris White and Chris Holder, have been swinging 10,000 kettlebells a couple times of year to perfect their swings and I guess, just because. In the spring of this year we talked about doing it together. I suggested, I would do it with them and why don't we make it a fundraiser. I mean, my goodness, if you're going to do something random and wacky like this, why not make some money for a great cause too? Did I mention, these guys are certified kettlebell trainers? Did I mention they're both the athletic trainers for Cal Poly? Did I mention they want to find any way they can to give back? Did I mention they're beasts? Here's my story. When my nephew Tanner was diagnosed with brain cancer at 10 years old, my family was shocked. When he died eight months later, we were devastated. That was over two years ago and I've had a lot of time to think and grieve. In my own grieving process I have been driven to do something. Maybe keep other families from dealing with the evil c-word. That's my story, what's yours? How can we help stop the disease madness on our planet, in our communities and amongst our closest family and friends? I don't have any factual evidence, but I know the world has changed and there are hundreds of sicknesses and diseases affecting our society that didn't exist before. How can we make a change and stop the downward spiral? I think if we all try to live a healthier lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating more fresh, local and organic produce/foods, it's a start. If you're feeling like I am about the decline of the health of our people, try making a few changes in your own life. We're raising money for B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer) this month in support of a group of folks who spend all of their time traveling to colleges and universities to educate young people on healthy eating and healthy living. Please, join our month long event, by exercising and/or donating to support what we're doing. www.classy.org/10000forprevention. Let's live in a prevention frame of mind rather than a reaction frame of mind!!! Thomas Edison once said, "The doctor of the future will give no medicine; instead he will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, nutrition and the cause and prevention of disease.”

Another year...

I love June, summer is here, the best fruits and vegetables are in peak season and it's my birthday month, Woot Woot! As I creep closer to 50, reeeeaaaally close, I sit present in my perspective, my life, my surroundings and my heart space. Looking back on the last year I have learned many lessons and received even more blessings & gifts. I did my first Triathlon, and probably my last. I went back to my alma mater (Syracuse University) for the first time in 24+ years. I visited my east coast family for Thanksgiving and fell in love with all of them. I vow to see that part of my Silas clan way more often from now forward. I learned a few things too; love isn't always what we want it to be and loving ourself is the MOST important love of all. I know my precious dog is in the second half of her life. This means, I will spend even more time with her as the months pass. I figured out how to listen to my body, take better care of it and rest at least one full day a week. I vow to laugh and smile as much as humanly possible! I vow to think with my heart, not with my mind. I vow to save my time for those who appreciate what I have to give. I vow to breathe fresh air often, from the top of a hill most of the time. I vow to give love to those who will honor it and love me back, unconditionally. I vow to only allow people close if they are trustworthy, honest, transparent and true! I vow to treat people kindly and stand up for myself to be treated kindly. I vow to love myself more now than ever because I have to be with me from start to finish. I'm even thinking of vowing to swing 10,000 Kettlebells during the month of July (to raise money for B4BC). Now, that one sounds CRAZY! But, I just might do it. What are your vows?