Healthy

I try to do as much variety as I can to stay fit and not get bored. Currently I play for two different rugby teams, and I work out at Orange Theory Fitness a few times per week.

My life has always been active and filled with sports. My parents were active and often outdoors and I suppose it just got passed down. On my dad’s side I was the only granddaughter so I always played with the boys.

In elementary school my activities grew to a variety of sports and rec leagues. In high school I specialized in wrestling and rugby. I was offered wrestling scholarships from two different universities, but I chose rugby as my main sport.

Working out is good for the longevity of your body and it makes me feel good about myself. It’s also a huge stress relief. The community networks I’ve built up by being involved in sport & activity have become a very integral part of my life.

I’m pretty selective about what I eat because with the amount of training I do I need to consume more than the average person to fuel my body and aid in active recovery. I do a lot of meal prep during the week.

People who are just starting out need to harness that initial energy and realize there will never be a perfect time to start. It’s always brutal before you go but feels so much better afterwards. It’s easy once you’ve got that habit formed.

Life
I currently have an admin/sales position at a fitness studio. Longer term I’d like to have a job that made meaningful travel easier, and if that means staying in the fitness industry that would be great.

Sometimes the challenge is not getting burned out by being too involved in team committees & communities. Time and motivation can be difficult but once you remember why you started and how good it feels it’s pretty easy to get motivated.

I’d love to play rugby internationally again. I had a few exhibition games in Asia and was able to play a full season in Australia. We won the premiership that year and that was awesome!

Playing internationally was a riot and I learned so much from those experiences. It made me a better athlete as a whole and increased my knowledge of the game.

Style
I don’t put a lot of merit into brand names, although I do like my Nike rugby cleats. As long as I feel good in it and I’m comfortable, I’ll wear it. I have everything from Lululemon to hand-me-downs from my mom and brothers. I’ve also traded a lot of clothes throughout my travels. I did go through a shoe phase for a couple of months but that was it.

Healthy

Right now I’m pursuing a combination of running, swimming and soccer. Although I retired from soccer two years ago, I started playing again this spring and also started dabbling in swimming. A couple of months ago I did my first triathlon. It was a “mini-Tri” that was all indoors. I got second and even though it was a small field I found it encouraging and fun.

I had a streak going – I exercised every day for over 6 months.

But that streak got broken when I injured my back while golfing. Now I also have an injured sheath around my Achilles tendon from soccer so I’m laid up for a bit. That’s frustrating! Now in my fifties, I have to pursue activities I can sustain without getting injured.

Fortunately, I have more time to devote to leading a healthy lifestyle: my kids are in their twenties so they’re semi-independent. My diet, paying attention to stress levels and ensuring a healthy work/life balance are more top of mind.

Like many Canadians, I played hockey & football growing up. Basketball was my sport of passion in high school. In university I shifted gears and started playing soccer. I’d never played organized soccer before but I just loved it. I slowly got better and played for over 30 years, and coached for over 20. I’ve coached youth and adult soccer at all levels, from recreational to premier. I played UofS Huskies soccer in the last year of my graduate degree.

I played soccer in the last 2 World Master’s Games: 2009 in Australia and in 2013 in Italy. I’m planning to go to the World Master’s Games in Auckland, New Zealand next year, my sport still to be determined.

I’ve had both knees scoped and last time the surgeon said there was no cartilage left in there so the change of pace and direction in soccer has taken it’s toll on me. But I can still run pain-free, so I’m doing more of that. I recognize the need to make smart choices about the sports I pursue as I get older. I am contemplating track or orienteering.

I’ve also been getting more into hiking, biking and yoga for the past couple of years. Yoga is quite radical for me, but I’m really enjoying it and it’s definitely increased my flexibility and my controlled breathing skills.

My wife and I have been hiking for the past few years. We fell in love with Portugal, and did hikes there in 2014 and again this year. We hiked both on the mainland and on Madeira, and also in the Azores; it was all incredibly beautiful. The trails are everything from easy to technically difficult. At the same time we like to focus on the history of the places we visit. We most recently hiked several trails in Sedona, Arizona, another fun junket!

My fitness goals have always been motivated around modeling good behaviour for our three daughters. My credo is: “work hard, play hard”. I’m a highly competitive person. Exercise has become a ritual for me: if I don’t do something active every day or two, I start feeling really lousy both physically and emotionally, so I need to stay active to feel good.

I love to eat and that’s probably my lifestyle weakness. I am cognizant of the huge role that diet plays in maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.

I often remind myself of the cliche that “you can’t outrun your diet”.

One of my inspirations for diet is my oldest daughter who until very recently lived at home. She transitioned to vegetarianism and then to veganism and that radically changed how all of us in our home approached our diets, and in a good way! The rest of us did not become vegetarian or vegan, but it forced us to think a lot more about our diet. That was really valuable so I thank her for that.

Ideally, everyone would have an ultimate goal for fitness, but I think it’s even more important to simply get started. Start small and don’t set yourself up for failure. If you say you’re going to exercise every day even though you haven’t exercised in months or years, you are setting yourself up to fail.

Life

I have worked in health administration for the past 30 years. Most recently I was the CEO of a community health centre which is a mid-to-high level stress job where the buck stopped with me. I’ve recently left that role which has given me the opportunity to focus on my own personal health and my family.

Long term I am committed to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle – it’s the right thing to do. Over the next few years I will continue hiking and biking. I am making plans to climb Kilimanjaro, visit and conquer Machu Picchu, and trek the El Camino de Santiago de Compostela over the next few years.

Style

I’m not a big shopper but I really like Columbia gear for working out and hiking, so places that sell that are where I often shop for clothes. I was hiking in Sedona, Arizona and there was a Columbia outlet store not far out of Phoenix, that was kind of like a heaven for me. I prefer the really light dry-fit clothes.I’m also a bit of a gadget guy and my most recent purchase was a Garmin Fenix 3 which tracks just about everything I do, and much more. It also tracks heart rate and other stats like VO2 max, cadence, and SWOLF for swimming. It has GPS, a compass, an altimeter and a barometer so is very useful when I’m off the grid.

Soccer
Shirt: Columbia Titanium
Shorts: RecTec
Socks: Adidas
Cleats: Adidas

Hiking
Shirt: Columbia
Shorts: Kuhl
Boots: Salomon Quest 4D
Backpack: Vaude
Hat: Columbia

Street
Shirt: Windriver
Pants: Pantagonia
Shoes: Steve Madden
Watch: Garmin Fenix 3 HR
Glasses: Hugo Boss

Healthy
I do running, strength training, soccer, and hot yoga. I also try out lots of classes at the gyms around Regina, and do water sports at the lake. A few years ago I got my kettlebells certificate and I use them as my strength training. Kettlebells are great to travel with – you just throw them in the trunk! You can work all major muscle groups and improve your flexibility and joint mobility.

I have always been active: I played soccer as I was growing up and continued playing in high school. I’ve always had that drive and liked competition.

After high school I needed something to do on my own and so I got into running. I got hooked on that and found I could still be competitive. But I’ve always had a healthy lifestyle due to my mom and sister. My mom is a very healthy, active lady and my sister plays sports as well.

One of the things that keeps me motivated is the adrenaline rush you get from exercise. The serotonin is flowing after a workout and you’re just on cloud nine!

I enjoy it – that’s my happy place and time. I love going to workout classes with friends of mine and doing things with people that are active. I don’t sit still well!

Fitness gives you mental clarity and balance – I think everyone should try to incorporate exercise into their life. It helps if you have a workout buddy.  You might have to do a bit of soul searching to find the right activities and balance them with the rest of your life.

I used to eat whey powders and protein shakes but recently I’ve been going to a naturopath. He’s put me on pretty much a paleo diet.

Basically I’m sugar free, grain free, and dairy free. It’s helped me with my training immensely: I’ve noticed a huge difference.

Life
I’m a dental assistant. Usually I get up pretty early and do weights before I go to work. Lately I’ve gotten into longer distances so I usually use my evenings for runs. I also work a second job so on those days I try to squeeze in a shorter run.

I have worked as a personal trainer in gyms before but right now I’m just training some family and friends because I’m really focused on my running.

My biggest workout challenge is finding the time while working two jobs. My long-term goal is to run the Boston Marathon, but right now I’m focusing on running the Queen City Marathon.  QCM will be my first full marathon but I’m going to use it to try and qualify for Boston. I’ve crushed eight half marathons now as well as a Tough Mudder and a Spartan race so I think I’m ready.

Style
You can probably always find me with a pair of Hillberg & Berk sparkle ball earrings.I always change my colours and match them. Especially working in dental: we wear scrubs so I dress it up with nice earrings. I like Kate Spade as well as some Michael Kors earrings: anything flashy and shiny! They are kind of my signature style.

Lately I’ve had my little Lokai bracelet: it’s got a little bit of dirt from Mount Everest and sand from the Dead Sea, so it symbolizes balance because those are the highest and lowest points on earth. I also like my Pisces necklace and it rarely comes off!

For footwear Birkenstocks are super comfy, as are Sanuks because they’re made out of yoga mats. I’m usually in leggings or skinny jeans and a t shirt! For sportswear I like Nike and Under Armour, and Lululemon sports bras. Ten Tree is also a good brand, as is North Face for hiking. I usually just want to be comfortable and mix fitness wear with my street style a lot.

Pink Kettlebell
Tank: Savage by 22Fresh
Capris: Nike
Shoes: Nike
Earrings: Hillberg & Berk
Bracelet: Lokai
Necklace: Pisces

Blue Kettlebell
Sleeveless Hoodie: Nike
Leggings: Under Armour
Shoes: Sanuks

Lake Sunset
Top: Stay+ by good hYOUman
Leggings: Under Armour

Healthy
I do mainly running now as I was a U of S Huskie Track & Field athlete. I like to work out in the gym, and I also do a couple of community workouts each week. That way you get to exercise outside and enjoy the summer weather.

I’ve played most sports ever since I can remember. My parents always had me outside. I can remember changing from football to hockey in the back of the van as we were driving to the rink. We were always at the rink in the winter.

I think I could skate ever since I could walk.

When I was 8 or 9 my sister lived about three quarters of a kilometre away, and my mom and I would run there to visit her and my nephews. My mom really got into running and about a year later ran marathons, eventually qualifying for Boston. She put me in little races and I started running those. I always looked up to her because she fit in her running while being so busy with our family. We travelled with her to some races.

It was inspiring watching mom run the Boston Marathon!

I want to move freely, and be up for any challenges that come my way. By leading a healthy and active lifestyle, I also hope to inspire others to be fit and enjoy the outdoors.

I try not to eat anything that will upset my stomach a couple of hours before a workout. I also eat post workout meals like bananas and chocolate milk, maybe in a smoothie with stuff that will replenish the nutrients I need. I eat balanced meals and try not to eat too much of one thing. But I always have time to indulge in a bit of chocolate!

Find something you enjoy, and workout with a buddy or group that keeps you accountable. It should be something that you look forward to. Always try to move forward in your fitness goals.

Life
I just graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Education. For the summer I’m working at a couple of fitness retailers. I enjoy that because they both promote healthy lifestyles, and have communities that encourage fitness. That allows me to share my thoughts with like-minded people that have the same motivation.

About three years ago I started coaching a junior girls basketball team and absolutely loved it! I knew I wanted to be a coach and it solidified my career choice as a teacher. This past year I was head coach for both track and field and cross country.

I try to mix up running with weight training and sports like tennis and basketball so I’m not always doing the same thing. But sometimes it’s hard to get out when it’s cold or rainy. We all have our peaks and valleys.

I’m finishing my track career so I want to focus on road races, starting with trying to beat my 10k personal best. Long-term, I want to start doing some half marathons and marathons and eventually qualify for Boston.

Style
Most of my workout gear comes from Running Room or Lululemon.

Run
Shirt: New Balance
Shorts: Adidas
Socks: Nike
Shoes: Mizuno Inspire
Sport Watch: Nike Plus

Street Style
Shirt: Hunter’s Moose Jaw
Pants: Sears
Shoes: Spring
Socks: Instance Blue Jays

Healthy
Running and yoga are my main fitness routines. At home I like to do the 21 Day Fix Extreme and also the Les Mills Bodypump. It’s a weight training video thing.

I grew up in Germany, and when I was 3 years old my mom put me in classical ballet until age 8. I did Rhythm Sports Gymnastics from ages 8-14. We got really competitive an did an international competition in the Gran Canaria Island in Spain. That’s as far as I went with that. It was pretty cool!

I just want to turn 100 and walk without a stick!

I want to age gracefully – that’s what motivates me. Lyndon and Jan Smith inspire me a lot. They both look really fit and can still crank out times I can just dream of. That keeps me on my toes!

It’s inspiring for me to educate people about fitness too. I finished three half marathons in my first year of running them – 2014. Since January 2015 I have been coaching half marathons. One of my athletes did longer runs on the weekends and did her first full marathon. She’s a mom of three little kids all under 5 years of age, she has a full-time job, and she was training for a full marathon. I don’t know how she did it – I just thought “wow”!

I just take away these stories from different people and it motivates me.

Right now I’m training for my first full marathon. Coaching forces me to commit 100% – there is no ditching out when you’re the coach. It’s a phenomenal feeling to see what you can do when you put the work in, and to share the success of my little group!

Diet plays a big role in my life. I try to eat as little sugar as I can because I have a sweet tooth. I portion size – I eat until I’m full and really notice when I’m full. And I don’t eat after 8 pm.

For exercise find something that you love and just do it! Don’t overthink it – it’s always easier once your body gets warmed up and you’re into it.

Life
I’m a Running Events coordinator for the province of Saskatchewan. One or two nights a week I also work as a server. With two jobs sometimes the lack of sleep makes working out a little harder. It’s also hard to do the long runs on hot days. But if I have a goal race I get the workout done.

My goals include completing this marathon, then getting really fast 10k and 5k times. I also want to keep my weight level during the cold winter months when it’s harder to work out.

Style
I love how Lululemon clothes fit for workouts, and how they combine with other items for street style. I like Suzy Shier & H&M when I’m not in Saskatoon. In Europe I like Tally Weijl & s.Oliver. For running, I like the Running Room stuff. A good sports bra and good shoes are the essentials.

Jump
Sports Bra & Leggings: Lululemon
Watch: Garmin Vivoactive

Winston’s
Dress: Vintage shop on 13th Avenue, Regina.
Shoes: Spring.
Necklace & small earrings: Swavorski. Larger earrings: Bijou Brigitte.

Bus Stop
Long sleeve & headband: H&M
Leggings: Lululemon
Shoes: Tom Taylor

Healthy

Currently soccer & running are my main sports. My first love was dance, and I taught aerobics for over 10 years. I’ve done lots of team sports, including team handball and rowing. We were a very active family as I was growing up.

I’ve always been pretty careful about my diet but three years ago I was diagnosed as a diabetic. As a result, I’ve tweaked my diet to manage this by limiting sugar intake.

As an older athlete I want to be a role model, especially to my three kids, and let them know that it’s not hard to stay fit, no matter what age you are. And it’s important.

Life 

I have a bachelor of education and used to be a Physical Education teacher. I’ve coached for the better part of two decades: most notably soccer. When we started a family, I became a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled all three of our children until they started high school. Currently I’m an administrative assistant at a church and also do Children’s Ministry.

One of the gifts God has given me is athleticism, so I want to take care of the body He’s given me and use it to the best of my ability.

I’m usually pretty motivated but I’m definitely a fair weather runner, so it’s always easier for me to get my runs in when the weather is nice. But I usually get some form of workout in because I enjoy it.

One thing that keeps me going is goals. It’s always good to have a race or a game to work towards.

Recently my husband & I have been training for Masters Athletics events & various destination races.

If you’re struggling with your fitness routine, try to find something you really like, which might not necessarily be the activities your friends are doing. If you don’t have a workout buddy keep a workout journal to help you stay on track.

Style 

I’m not an elitist: I don’t stick to one particular brand, especially for apparel. For running shoes it’s usually Asics, but I also have several other brands.

Running
Top: Lululemon
Shorts: Nike
Shoes: Brooks Pure Flow
Socks: Asics
Sports Bra: Moving Comfort
Watch: Garmin FR15 GPS

Bridge
Sundress: Aeropostale
Sandals:  Merrell
Bracelets: Pandora & Run For Women 2016
Earrings: Hillberg & Berk

Field
Top: Athletic Works
Jeans: Miss Me
Bracelet, Earrings, Necklace: Hillberg & Berk

I can’t think of a better way to launch this blog than with a post about my wife Jan. I met her at a road race in 1985. We both came in fourth: out of the medals, narrowly missing the prizes. Three kids and a few decades later, I’d say we were both winners that day. I’m very fortunate to be married to one of the sweetest, most fit people I know. In the above post you’ll find  a bit about Jan’s lifelong journey of fitness.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this blog, and find some inspiration from the people highlighted in these posts.

Lyndon Smith