Happy International Women's Day | surf's up!

Water Connection, in celebration of International Women's Day. A still from the upcoming film, "The Women And The Waves 2." A huge shout out to all the women in this photo and all the women I've worked with over the years, gifted with such beauty and brawn! #internationalwomensday #Surfland #surfergirl #thewomenandthewaves2

A photo posted by Joni Sternbach (@jstersurf) on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:31am PST

60 laps. 60 years. 1 more goal met.

The smile says it all.

Every year on my birthday, I give myself an athletic challenge. This year it was to swim 60 laps, one for each year I've been alive.

This year, I announced my challenge on Facebook adding a little pressure but also opening myself up to fantastic support from friends I've met along the way. I was going to do the swim on my birthday, but we were under a heat advisory and at 106 degrees before 10 a.m. So I delayed and attempted it today, Saturday, the final day of my birthday week.

I got an early start. As with all big things worth doing, it's best to break them down.

After 5 laps: I thought just 12 more sets of 5. At 10 laps: 6 more sets. 20 laps: in a groove.

At 30, the halfway point: I started grinning. One more set of 30.

Laps 40 and 50: It's kind of like an out-and-back run, the return leg feels like I've done the work and everything else is gravy. Dig in, keep going.

And during laps 51-60: I started thinking about the literal meaning of those laps. Each lap was a quick up-and-back to review my life during the past few years. Cutting through the water, I was leaving those years behind.

And during my final lap, lap 60: I thought about what's to come, what I can make of my 60h year.

During that final lap, I set a couple of goals. Some people would call that setting my intentions. I call it preparing for my 61st birthday challenge.

Annual birthday challenge to myself

I've had a lot of great accomplishments in my life. I've done a lot of cool things. One of the things I'm most proud of is that as an adult I re-taught myself to swim. A strong crawl which got me through several triathlons and a couple of 5-mile races off of Waikiki. 

On my birthdays, I always do something athletic and I tie it to how long I've been alive. 50-minute run on my 50th birthday. 55-minute hike on my 55th. 

I've been swimming a lot these days, 30 laps 4 or 5 times a week. On Tuesday, I plan to swim 60 laps. One up and back for every year of my life. And after that, I want cake. Lots of cake. Happy birthday to me and thanks, in advance, for all of your best wishes.

Our hearts go out to everyone in Boston today

If you see a runner, ask if you can help. Temp is dropping and a lot of out-of-towners have nowhere to go.
— Billy Baker (@billy_baker) April 15, 2013

When I first saw this Tweet about 15 minutes after it was first published by Billy Baker, reporter for the Boston Globe, it had been retweeted 371 times. No wonder.

One quote I remember hearing during the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shootings was in answer to "Where do you find good in such things?" The answer: "Look toward the people running in to help."

We all want to help today... again. I'd be happy to open my doors to a stunned and lonely runner. I want to keep my eyes on the helpers.

Robin, Phoenix

Photo: Boston Globe sports | After I wrote this post, I saw this article about the runner in this photo. He's OK.

Setting my own bird free

Indigenous warrior Heard Museum, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

Ear buds in, Jill Scott cranked, comfortable shoes on, I head up Central.
(5 minutes free.)

I smile at office workers grabbing a quick snack and fly on by.
(15 minutes clear.)

My spirit jumps on behind the Kid on a long board.
(30 minutes grooving.)

I make the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art my turnaround point. Today is one like many lately. I push away from my desk, grab a bottle of water, set my watch and go.

It sounds so simple, but it's not. There are many locks to break, dragons to slay, before I can break free of the Oh So Important Things that have my attention.

The Heard, with its sculpture garden, was a good choice. My fast walk becomes a ramble becomes a wander becomes a lesson.

(60 minutes and my little bird is set free.)


Robin, with an Indigenous Warrior at Phoenix's Heard Museum

U.S. women really stole the show at the London Olympics 2012

Just wanna play ball.

I replayed this commercial a lot during the Olympics. It served to reinforce all the great athletics we were seeing on the screen.

Amazing fact from the 2012 London Olympics: Only two countries won as many gold medals at the 2012 Olympics as the 29 won by American women.

More on this from a story on Bleacher Report: US Women Stole the Show in London

"That's right, just two countries matched the American women in gold medals. China as a country won 38, while Great Britain took home 29, tying the U.S. ladies. I think it's safe to say that American women dominated these Olympics.

It gets better. The United States women won 58 medals in all, better than all but three countries (China, Russia, Great Britain).

And they topped the men both in gold medals won (29 to 17) and overall medals earned (58 to 45).

Way to hold down the fort, ladies."

Way to play ball, ladies!!

Robin, Tempe

My personal Olympic moment

my olympic moment, originally uploaded by RobinJP.

I had to get off the couch and go have my own Olympic moment today.

This is a photo of me after a 9-mile bike ride in 102 degree heat. Don't worry, I always turn red. A frozen water bottle pressed on my neck calmed that right down.

I felt strong. I was moving. I am an athlete, just like those on the world stage.

I was really inspired to get moving when the women beach volleyball started. Those women do not have couch-potato bodies.