I love to run, but training can be hard, especially with a family and a crazy travel schedule. I often do sprints with my kids, where they bike and I run along side them so we can 'race' each other for a quarter-mile or shorter repeats. Summer Sanders More Quotes by Summer Sanders More Quotes From Summer Sanders I enjoyed every bit of my swimming career. I think that's the most important advice - to enjoy what you do Summer Sanders athlete motivational sports To be a champion, I think you have to see the big picture. It's not about winning and losing; it's about every day hard work and about thriving on a challenge. It's about embracing the pain that you'll experience at the end of a race and not being afraid. I think people think too hard and get afraid of a certain challenge. Summer Sanders pain work motivational The things you learn from sports - setting goals, being part of a team, confidence - that's invaluable. It's not about trophies and ribbons. It's about being on time for practice, accepting challenges and being fearful of the elements. Summer Sanders team practice sports It's not really about the competition. Your biggest challenge in a race is yourself. You're often racing against time. You're frequently running everything through your mind. You're always competing against preconceived ideas. It's not really the person next to you that you worry about. Summer Sanders race running ideas I grew up in northern California, where it was consistently in the hundreds in the summertime. My dad didn't think he should have to turn on the air conditioning when we had a swimming pool in our backyard; it was our built-in air conditioner. Summer Sanders swimming dad thinking I love to swim. When I jump in the water, I feel like I'm 12 years old again. It's really funny how it does that to me. Summer Sanders swim water years When people say, 'Hey, wanna come to our house for dinner?' I say, 'Yeah, what should I bring?' They say, 'How about the dessert?' I just don't skimp on the dessert. I make it the yummy way it should be made, and then I just don't eat the whole pan. Summer Sanders yummy house people I was a die-hard, obsessed fan of Michael Jordan. I'd take his posters with me to away meets, I'd walk out on the deck in my Air Jordans before I swam, I'd write 23 on my cap. I'm just a huge Jordan fan. Summer Sanders fans air writing Boston is the cream of the crop of the marathon world. It has such history that you feel such honor just being a part of it. All the other races have pacers to get you to a Boston qualifying time. Summer Sanders boston race honor It really was my brother who got me involved in swimming. I wanted to be just like him and do everything he was doing. Summer Sanders swimming brother wanted There is nothing in this world that I love more than my family. To be able to share the joy of running with them at the Runner's World Half Marathon and Running Festival where we can all participate together is as close as you can get to a perfect weekend. Summer Sanders weekend perfect running You can't go wrong with some nuts. The key word is 'some.' Eat them one at a time, not by the handful. Summer Sanders handful keys nuts Don't just tell your kids to be active and to get outside and play. Lead by example. Summer Sanders example play kids I'm really conscious of the amount of food I eat, but I don't deny myself anything. For example, I have a really big sweet tooth. At the end of the night, if I'm craving ice cream, I might not have the bowl that I would have when I was a kid, but I'll put a couple of scoops in a coffee mug, and I'll eat it slowly, and I enjoy every moment of it. Summer Sanders coffee couple sweet Indoor pools just don't seem as inviting to me. Summer Sanders inviting pool seems It's hard to go out and practice every single day, and you get really tired. But you have to believe in yourself. Summer Sanders success sports believe I love KIND bars. My favorites are coconut and almond and the dark chocolate and sea salt because staying fueled helps keep me from getting sick or injured. Bananas have also made a great comeback in my life. My kids eat them all the time on the go, which has inspired my go-to pre-run morning meal of peanut butter and banana on toast. Summer Sanders running morning kids Here's what I've learned about eating healthy when you're busy: It's all about preparation. Make your snacks on Sunday, and you will be good to go until Thursday or so. Summer Sanders snacks sunday healthy It's the one thing that's mine. My runs everyday aremy thing. It's my therapy, my hour to myself. Nobody can really take it away from me... It's such a huge part of me. I love to say that I'm a runner. Summer Sanders hours everyday running I don't care how much you're working out; when you go to put on that bikini, you're like, 'Oh no!' Summer Sanders bikinis work-out care
