Anne Shawhan and The Creation of Fitbird Fitness

FitBird Fitness BIO by anneshawhan

Beginner Tri Camp Coming to Baton Rouge!!

Why We Go To Camp!

For those who are anxious about camp, lets take a look back at 2012!

Van Go Winner!

Shout out to all my Gnomies! Yes, that's right...not only were we the third place winner of the All-Female Running Club division for the Rouge Orleans 126.2 mile relay from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, but we were also the winner of the Van Go Award for Best Decorated Van! Thank you to Go PT for the honor!

Special thanks goes to Lizzard and Sherpa Kevin for their finely crafted gnome hat and beard that covered the van. Not only did we look fun, but we raced fun too! Many a vehicle's antenna were decorated with mini-gnomes throughout the 24 hour race.

And a big congrats to the Jail-Birds for their Second Place Win in the same division! I look forward to a re-match! Maybe....

Running With My Gnomies Van

Which way to New Orleans?

Lizzard, Coug, Canada, Crowe, Koko, Polly

Captain Gnomie

The New Website Is Here!

If you haven't seen it, check out the new FitBird site  and refer back frequently for upcoming news and events, photos, and the FitBird store!

Bookmark it on your browser for easy viewing!

Mobile site coming soon....

Hotter Than Hell Triathlon Camp! Coming Soon!!

Join FitBird Triathlon Club!!

Upcoming March Swim Clinics!

Training Program for RocketChix! Sign Up Now!!

 

Champagne Run 2011

It was original although some might say peculiar. Either way it was an incredible way to end another hard year of team training. To what do I refer? I am referring to what will now be known as the annual FitBird Champagne Run ~ a morning New Year's Eve team training run around the LSU lakes followed by champagne, mimosas, muffins, and music!

Pre-Run: Lizard, COOg, SWMFU, FireFly (bottom)
Heather, Crash, Bubbles, The Judge (top)

As with many FitBird adventures, this one started as an impromptu flag planting that got little response until it was re-vamped with the promise of champagne and fun after the training run. It held true to its promise, and after a training run that was kind of like playing "best ball" in golf (in other words a run that was decided by who had the best training peaks plan for the day), the champagne began to flow and our presence in the parking lot of the City Park tennis courts became obvious to all around.

It's these times that it is clear to me what it means to be a FitBird. We displayed to the community a team being supportive of each other and having fun. Support was demonstrated during the run as some members were encouraged to stick to their plan as it was written and go solo to stay focused on their upcoming goals, or it was demonstrated by the merging of plans in order to run in small groups to push each other to go farther, or by each team member high-fiving and cheering the "faster" birds as they made their way in reverse around the lake at a quicker pace timed just fast enough to get back in time for the after-party. Effort was made to run with strangers and encourage them to join in on the fun. A recruitment drive of sorts began to form as vehicles were stopped to encourage new faces to become FitBirds, and champagne and muffins were offered to contacts that members have made during their training.

Surely it had to have been quite the scene... a range of ages, abilities, and backgrounds of ladies who were sweaty, laughing, eating muffins, and making mimosas in a parking lot at 10 am while ukulele music played in the background. As the last runner arrived she was greeted by a musical chorus of "She's all smile, all smiles, all smiles" and received a finish line "wave" of sorts as she was handed a drink. I mean, where else do you get that??

We became such an attraction that heads turned as vehicles drove past, and finally one male runner requested his picture be taken because his wife would never believe him.

Thanks to Lizard for instigating this first run, and to all who contributed in making it a success! Thanks to FireFly for the trunk buffet, to Crash for the fancy cheeses, and to SWMFU (Joyce's Indian Name - Stand with Middle Finger Upward) for the homemade handpicked blueberry muffins! Thanks also to Poly for making sure that FireFly didn't have to worry about filling up her fridge with half-empty bottles of champagne once the party ended...

Post Run: COOg, Smiles, Lizard, Maddy, FireFly (bottom)
Poly, SWMFU, Bubbles, Koko, Crash, The Judge, Vortex

Another EPIC adventure and the first of many Champagne Runs to appear in our future!!

 See you all December 31, 2012!!

Rouge Orleans 2011

FitBirds start thinking about Rouge Orleans 2012! It is an incredible ultramarathon race and a life changing adventure! There may be multiple FitBird teams organizing this year, so start twittering with each other!! This is a synopsis of 2011 and our video entry for an attempt to win a team entry for 2012.

Youth Paratriathletes Media Blitz!

The FitBird Falcons Youth Tri Camp has received a lot of media attention, especially in regards to our paratriathlete division. Thanks to all of the Falcon-Teers, sponsors, and community for supporting and encouraging both staff and athletes! What a rewarding experience!


And last week's media spot on the same group of athletes... FitBird Falcons prep for Paratriathlon/WGMB Fox 44. We have received incredible coverage and hope that race day will be embraced by the media so the youth will have some fame when they complete what they've set out to do!

FitBird Newsletter July 2001

Santa Rosa Training Camp Promo Video 2011

 

Time is running out! Register soon for Training Camp in Santa Rosa, Florida! This is great race preparation for the Santa Rosa Tri on October 1st, which just happens to fall on Coach Anne's birthday! (another reason to celebrate). Santa Rosa Triathlon consists of a 600 yard swim in the Gulf, an 18 mile bike along the beachfront, and a 3.1 mile run through some lovely neighborhoods. The swag is great, the food excellent, the setting serene, and the after party is, well... you have to see it to believe it.

Even if your season's goals do not include the Santa Rosa Tri, this camp will help build your base, teach you to swim in open water, improve your technique, and make your stomach hurt from laughing. If you've never experienced this kind of focused training, don't let it intimidate you. It is open to beginners and advanced athletes alike. Come challenge yourself, see how far you've come, and push beyond your perceived boundaries. There is no limit to what you can do!

For more information, or to register, contact Anne at 225.246.1731.

JUNE NEWSLETTER 2011

Youth Triathlon Camp Informational Meeting!!

Youth Tri Camp

New Open Water Swim Clinic Dates

Preparing For the Athleta Iron Girl New Orleans Triathlon!

It's not too late to commit to a great sprint distance triathlon, coming up on May 22, 2011 in New Orleans! This all female event consists of a 1/4 mile swim in Lake Ponchartrain near the UNO Research Center, a 12 mile out and back bike along Elysian Fields, and a 3.1 mile run along Lakeshore Drive. 


FitBird Fitness shares a similar mission with the creators of the Athleta Iron Girl events which, among other things, is to empower women toward a healthy lifestyle!


For many of you who are about to complete their first Rocketchix race, this is a great race to follow up with! Both races are sprint distance and the Athleta Iron Girl New Orleans Triathlon progresses you into racing the swim course in open water. The temperature of Lake Ponchartrain right now is comfortably in the 70's and the swim area is along the beach near dry land.


We will be offering some opportunities for open water swim training between now and the race so there is plenty of time to get comfortable in the water. Grab some friends and head to New Orleans for an opportunity to race either solo or on a relay with other women in a supportive and fun setting!


Click to register and at checkout enter code: CCIGFBTRII to receive $15 off your registration.

Open Water Swim Clinics Coming to Lake Ponchartrain!

False River Open Water Swim

It's that time of year! Tri Season has begun and the water is getting to the point where even a wet-suit may feel too warm soon! There will be a number of Open Water Swim Clinics coming up over the following weeks to help you get prepared for your races this season. Whether you are new to open water or you are an experienced triathlete, you will benefit from the practice of a coached open water swim.

Santa Rosa Open Water Training

Coach Shawhan will instruct you on how to adapt your stroke technique from what you are used to using in the pool setting to an open water setting, as things like chop and current can affect your swim.
Clinics will include special drills for open water swimming and sighting, skills training for swimming with large groups of racers, tips on positioning yourself within your wave, turning efficiently around at the buoys, reading the currents, and getting in and out of your wetsuit quickly.

If you have never participated in one of these clinics, now is the time!

Swim clinics that are held in New Orleans are typically held in the "swim hole" of Lake Ponchartrain, on Lakeshore Drive.

Dates for upcoming clinics will be posted soon!