Running my First 15K

     Today I ran my first organized group race, the Lakefront Discovery 15K, run along Milwaukee’s beautiful Lake Michigan shores. Running really makes you dig deep down to find out what you’re made of. Turns out I’m made of running material — I met the goal and did fairly well, too!

     My husband and I took off from the starting line together, but his knee injury roared and clawed for him to stop. He couldn’t finish, which is tremendously sad because he trained so hard for this run. I kept going for the two of us and decided to dedicate my run to him. That turned out to be a really good thing because it kept me going more than once, especially when the wind made me wonder whether I was making any forward progress. His cheering along the way was another buoy that kept me from sinking.

     Many steps later, I was sprinting across the finish line with a time fifteen minutes better than the last time I’d run such a distance. My final time was 1:25.24 for a pace of 9:10. I’m really pleased to have done this even while it marks the end of my running season this year. Now I concentrate on skating.

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Defining Your Genre

     The writers of the Wisconsin Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators are a great group and often pass along helpful writing tips. Here’s the latest, a genre glossary written by Agent Jennifer Laughran of Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Click here to learn exactly what it is you’re writing!

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Eschewing Picture Books for Chapter Books?

     A New York Times article says booksellers are cutting back on the number of picture books they offer because parents are pushing their children to read chapter books earlier. That, along with the recession, is cutting sales, so booksellers are offering fewer titles.

     My gut reaction to that was, well, what’s wrong with parents buying their kids what they want them to read? The world constantly pressures parents in countless other ways; this is one area where parents have real control. If they want their children to read more advanced books for the sake of improving literacy and/or test scores, that’s their right. Also, many children aren’t satisfied with picture books once they learn to read. I taught each of my kids to read at age 3, so they were reading chapter books well before kindergarten.

     But the longer I stew on this, the more I think it’s sad for a whole lot of children, especially reluctant readers. If parents are absolutely forbidding picture books simply because of their packaging, they’re missing out on a lot of the benefits that genre has to offer. Some picture books cover deep themes and use higher vocabulary than chapter books specifically because they’re meant to be read aloud by an adult rather than being read by a child. Moreover, picture books provide a comfort that can translate into a love of reading. Pushing kids to read something that’s too difficult for their level can make them see reading as a huge chore. And really, do we need to force the end of childhood at age 4? Don’t these little humans have an entire lifetime to read boring budget reports?

     To be fair, the article pointed out the many distractions in life now that may have something to do with decreased sales, and e-books are surely cutting into sales of physical books, but the trend to eschew picture books seems wrong to me, and, frankly, I don’t buy it. I think the picture book will survive.

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New Rules in Short Track Speedskating

Vancouver Olympics 2010 3000m Short Track Relay

     This weekend, U.S. Speedskating held an officials’ clinic in Milwaukee to cover changes in ISU Short Track Rules. Some of the changes were better received than others, with one in particularly causing some controversy. Some call it the beginning of “roller-derby style” skating. Others think it makes sense.

     In the past, an official could disqualify a skater for an infraction called “cross-tracking.” If a passing skater crossed into another’s path and there was contact, the passing skater was in the wrong. S/He held all responsibility to pass cleanly.

     The new rules allow officials to call infractions on either skater, depending on who actually does the contacting. If the passing skater causes contact, s/he receives the penalty. If the skater who was passed skates into the skater who is now ahead, s/he receives the penalty.

     At this weekend’s Am Cup I event, this new rule was a hot topic with considerable confusion as to its implementation and affect on the sport.

     Some believe it will cause much rougher skating, allowing aggressive skaters to push others into dangerous situations and causing a lot of tangles on the ice. This is a sincere concern for parents and skaters alike. You already have a sport in which racers fly across the ice with knives on their feet; there is no need to make the sport even more dangerous than it already is.

     Others, however, think the cross-tracking rule was confusing to begin with and that this new rule allows officials more leeway to penalize whomever they feel is guilty of contact. Olympic Short Track Skating is, after all, a race between skaters and not a race against the clock, as is Olympic Long Track. There always has been and always will be contact.

     I empathize with both camps, and I expect there will come a time when an official’s call will be vehemently rejected by spectators, half of whom will blame the passing skater for the tangle, while the other half claims just the opposite.

     And a few skaters I talked with are reserving judgement for the moment. They plan to see how the new rule pans out over time and whether it benefits the sport or not.

     Time will tell.

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A Mummy Couldn’t be Prouder

     When you get your first award for writing or illustrating, it’s a big deal. A very big deal. A mega big deal. So you can imagine how proud I am that my daughter won her first book award!

     Antonia took second place in the 2010 Wisconsin Association of School Boards’ Write and Illustrate Your Own Picture Book Contest! Her awesome creation, The Mummy Comes Moaning, was judged one of the best among 342 entries state-wide. She competed in the 4th & 5th grade division. Along with a certificate of commendation and a cash award, her book will travel the state to be displayed at the WASB Fall Regional Meetings and the State Education Convention held in Milwaukee in January of 2011.

     Toni put so much thought and time into her project. She had to meet strict requirements and deadlines. She created her book from scratch, hand-binding it herself. She wrote and rewrote her story. She sketched and painted and added various media to creatively illustrate each scene. She devoted many evening and weekend hours to turn in the best book she could. In the end, it was a masterpiece, and she’s incredibly proud to see that work rewarded.

     My husband, Jeff, and I couldn’t be happier for her. Congrats to you, Toni! Well done!

Posted in A Writer Writes, In The News | 5 Comments »

Dryland Training and Blasting Expectations

     I just finished up my dryland training for the summer and am feeling so, so ready for the skating season to start. For those of you who may not know what dryland training is, it’s training on dry land as opposed to on the ice, so skaters work their legs and aerobic and anaerobic capacity to get in the best shape possible before the season starts. The picture here shows me working on one-legged squats called Wooders, one of many exercises that give us speedskaters those thunder-thighs of which everyone else is so jealous.

     But seriously, the idea between training over the off-season is so that once the season starts, you’re in the best shape possible when you hit the ice. If you don’t train off season, it can take half the season just to get back into shape, and you might not really start working on technique before then. With dryland training, technique work starts on Day One.

     I think generally there are low expectations for Masters skaters, both on ice and off, certainly more so in the United States than in the Netherlands, so I was really happy to do the summer training right alongside those in their prime fitness and blast any low expectations out of the water. I’m proud of the sheer volume of hard work that we’ve put in all summer long, and I’m thankful for my family, which put up with, encouraged, and even joined in on many workouts.

     Now a few weeks off before it’s back to the ice.

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Comic Books and Boys’ Literacy

     The timing couldn’t be better for Comic-Con 2010, those who love a good comic book, and those who find themselves constantly defending them. A new report by the Canadian Council on Learning says comics and graphic novels boost boys’ reading abilities.

     The study states what researchers have long held as true: girls are generally more inclined to read than boys and score higher in literacy tests. However, the researchers stress that may be due to the fact that boys’ reading choices aren’t represented in school libraries and classrooms.

     The study cites findings that comics were boys’ second most popular reading choice after newspapers and magazines, and the proportion of elementary school boys who read comics stood at 75 percent compared to girls’ 50 percent.

     Is this all to say that comics would improve boys’ reading? The report calls comics an effective gateway to reading novels. It also suggests that if boys’ reading choices aren’t represented in libraries (where most kids get their books), then those boys aren’t reading as much as they might otherwise, thus they’re lacking practice in reading. And we all know practice makes perfect.

     Of course, the counter argument is that the very reading of said comic books is what’s lowering boys’ reading capabilities; that comics are the junk food of literacy, and that if the kids were reading novels, their comprehension would improve.

     I’d venture to say that parents of reluctant readers are happy to see their children reading anything, be that comics or Herman Melville. Even parents of super readers will likely understand the occasional desire for a different, possibly lighter style of literature, say Batman over an aged classic.

     Let’s hope either method gets more kids reading.

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Kindle’s Highlight Feature Allows for Social Reading

     I recently read a great New York Times article that I wanted to share. It’s about the Kindle-users’ ability to highlight favorite passages, which other readers on the network would then notice and perhaps comment upon. There’s been criticism of this function; some people fear the popular passages will distract readers from thoughtful, solitary contemplation, which they believe is necessary for higher reasoning and, therefore, better reading.

     The writer of the article argues, “Quiet contemplation has led to its fair share of important thoughts. But it cannot be denied that good ideas also emerge in networks.” I must agree. While I sometimes slip into a good book for reasons of pure escapism and, thus, want to be left to enjoy the adventure in peace, I also enjoy talking with people about great books. Apparently many other people feel the same way, as evidenced by the thousands of book clubs across the country. Obviously a great many people enjoy sharing literature and new ideas.

     As a writer, I’d also love to learn which passages are my readers’ favorites. Who wouldn’t want to know which words struck a chord?

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Short Track Nationals

     My daughters and I are back from the U.S. National Short Track Championships, held with the American Cup Finals, in Wausau, Wisconsin. What a blast!

     There were incredible talents there on the ice. Up for grabs were a spot on the 2010 World Short Track Team for the American Cup men and every age-group championship title.

     My girls and I skated four distances each. Corina’s lean is really improving in her new boots, and Antonia got two personal bests. I managed to get one personal best and finished out the season with both long track and short track national titles.

     Now comes a short period of rest before the real work starts — dryland training over spring and summer. Running hills and stairs will remind me once again what sore legs feel like.

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Success for the 2010 Olympics!

     I’ve had the honor and immense pleasure of skating with many of the speed skaters that will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics. There aren’t many sports in which an amateur can train right alongside the best of the best, but speedskating is one of them. I’ve gotten to know a bunch of them, including Shani Davis, Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr, Mitch Whitmore, Jilleanne Rookard, and others, and I can honestly say that they’re friendly and humble and fun people.

     I wish them all great success. They train tirelessly, sacrifice much, and challenge themselves day in and day out. Congrats to them for what they’ve already accomplished and what is to come!

Posted in In The News, Speedskating | 1 Comment »