Winning!!!!!!!

It's been two weeks since I have posted, but I have been busy!

Yes, work continues to be busy, but I've also been really busy on the courts too.

As I mentioned in my last post, my USTA Mixed Doubles team and I traveled to Augusta August 11th weekend for the Georgia State Championships. Back in March I committed to getting in better shape to be fit to endure and win in Augusta. It was HOT HOT HOT! I played 5 matches in 3 days, and my endurance was great! I never got winded or too hot on the court and stay energized the entire time. I brought meals with me so that I could properly fuel, and I got up in the mornings to get in a little strength training or warm-up cardio before matches.

Winning!

My effort paid off--my team won our division in the Round Robin (my partner and I won all of our round robin matches--enduring a few three setters in high heat!). While we did not take the prize, we showed up and played well. We'll continue to build our team, and I know we'll be back next summer!

Winning!

Coming back from Augusta to lots going on in the office to hosting my family this weekend, I did not get in as much gym time as I liked. Thank goodness lean bodies are made in the kitchen! Even with my family in town , lots of eating out and entertaining friends this weekend, I exercised discipline with my eating and did not blow my progress (because progress can be blown in one weekend! Trust I know!).

Winning!

Last but not least--I AM SO PROUD OF MY WOMEN'S USTA 3.5 MCGHEE SUPER SLAMMERS! This team is the epitome of tough! We started the season 0-3. This could have derailed us, but we are Champions (literally Champions-recall we won the State Championship at 3.0)!

After an awesome 4 match winning streak at the end of the season, we earned a play-off spot as a 16th seed. We beat the #1 seed in the first round and Kept the Momentum going all the way to yesterday winning the Semi-final Round! It was a tough day, but my team was tougher!

My partner and I--Captain and Co-captain (no pressure there) played the 5th line of the match. We found ourselves at 2-2 with advancing to The City ON THE LINE! One could imagine the slight anxiety as we prepared to take the courts (again-Captain and C0-Captain--need I say more). I had to get mentally focused. I wouldn't watch the end of the matches before us because no matter what happened my partner and I HAD TO PLAY!

I told my partner--we have been here before. We are Champions! Let's play smart and aggressive tennis and take this thang! Well, the first set didn't go as planned (smile). We weren't playing aggressively and found ourselves 4-6 at the end of the first set. But, we had been in this position before. We are Champions!

We changed strategy; switched sides (with me on my more comfortable backhand side) and GOT THE JOB DONE--4-6, 6-1, 6-1!

WINNING!

Next Saturday is The City Finals! This week means PREPARATION! I KNOW WE CAN DO IT!

This week also means official 11th week preparation for the Race & Relax/Rock & Roll Half Marathon Savannah! This is going to take some real commitment from me. I don't particularly care for running, but I like the challenge of it nonetheless. I will do this again and run well!

Let the Winning Continue!

Getting Tennis Back in My World and Being Fit to Win!

With my busy travel schedule, tennis has become a less frequent activity for me. I have really missed being the courts! I LOVE THIS SPORT! People often think that tennis has helped me get fitter. It's actually the reverse for me. I train hard so that I can be fitter for tennis!

It makes a difference! One of the motivators for me getting my act together starting back in March was that I have the USTA Georgia State Mixed Doubles Championships this week! This is tennis in HEAT, and I could likely play two matches a day!

There is no way I was going to show up in Augusta without being as fit as I can be!

Although I am still a frequent work traveler, I did manage to get in 3 1/2 hours on the court this week, and got in some play last week.

As this week is State week, I plan to get on the courts every day up until I leave Thursday evening! I'll be keeping up with my regular training as well--started this morning with a quick 2 mi-run. I plan to get in a cycling class too before practice this evening.

This may sound like a lot, but it takes A LOT to perform and perform well on the court!

Many have the will to win, but few have the desire to prepare. ---Joe Paterno

I have the desire to prepare.

I am Shay Shay. I am Preparing!

A Week Off Doesn't Mean a Week Off for Shay Shay!

My trainer G is hopefully getting nice relaxation and fun time with his family this week. His week off didn't mean I also got time off from training and eating clean. This week was a travel week--no surprise there!

While the little hotel gym was modest, it had all I needed to get in some strength, circuit, and cardio training. It really feels good to stick to my plan. I know I have room to grow to a point where I push myself as hard as G pushes me, but I really did get in some intense sessions.

My colleagues and I had a great dinner at Art and Soul in DC, but I didn't go crazy. No wine, no bread, fish and veggies and just a few bites of dessert. I was back in the gym early the next morning.

Now, I'm back at home and feeling good that the scale needle stayed put. I put in over 3 1/2 hours of tennis drills/playing today. It was HOT, but I felt great and fit!

Tomorrow, I'll need to get in a training run for Race & Relax. We have a great group of ladies running and awesome sponsorship. So far the following business/organizations are sponsoring us:

American Cancer Society DetermiNation Program
http://determination.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=DN_FY11_home
http://www.facebook.com/ACSDetermiNation

The Wine Sisterhood
http://www.winesisterhood.com/
http://www.facebook.com/winesisterhood
http://twitter.com/#!/winesisterhood

Attune Foods
http://www.attunefoods.com/
http://www.facebook.com/attunefoods
http://twitter.com/#!/attunefoods

TGIF! I'm looking forward to a fun and fit weekend!