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Tour de endure & the Taylors

10/28/2020

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Marshal and Sammy Taylor have been ASA Athletes for a few years now. They’re two of 4 kids in the Taylor household, both affected differently by mitochondrial disease. Their mother, Stacy, said that it was difficult to find activities for kids with disabilities that aren’t heavily focused on the disability. They “can’t exactly go to summer camp,” but it’s also hard to find a place where they can be treated just like everybody else...until they found Athletes Serving Athletes. 

The family’s first introduction to our organization was on the NCR trail in Towson, MD. They rolled up to the meeting spot, and the Captain/WingMan system was explained, but not over-explained. Marshall and Sammy were secured in their joggers, and set off with their new training partners without the usual series of hyper-detailed questions and instructions. It was a breath of fresh air. 

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Since then, Marshall and Sammy have finished countless races with the ASA community. Sammy likes to sing during training runs, and nothing beats the thrill of crossing the finish line for Marshall. When the pandemic hit, losing the opportunity to race and train together and in person hit our community hard - but we never gave up, and we never quit. 

ASA launched virtual challenges all summer, and Athletes like Sammy and Marshall kept up and stayed connected. When ASA launched Tour de Endure, Sammy and Marshall signed up and continue to participate in 3 activities per week based on the Mental, Physical, Social and Dietary Health Pillars. (ASA even featured them on its social media pages for doing a Dietary Pillar Pizza Night with the family!)

When the school year began, the Taylors made an effort to make a meal from scratch one night per week that doubled as both family bonding, and a way to fulfill their Tour de Endure activities. Marshall reads the recipes and helps measure everything out, and Sammy loves to experience the smells and textures of the different ingredients.
The family also fulfills both the Mental and Social Health Pillars through living out their motto: “Everything is better if you can laugh a little bit.” On a typical night, you can find them watching Impractical Jokers and cracking up together. ​
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“Making the Tour de Endure commitment is a strong reminder [to take care of ourselves],” says Stacy Taylor. She expressed that despite its lack of penalties, it’s difficult to ignore the promise she and her family made to themselves to participate and improve their health in all four Pillars. 

The Taylors are a beloved part of our ASA Community, and we’re so incredibly proud of them for continuing to stay connected and healthy with us during these times.

​For more information about Tour de Endure,
Click Here.
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7 Socially Distant Fall Activities

10/14/2020

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Your social health is just as important as your mental, physical, and dietary health. That's why it's one of our four Tour de Endure Pillars! Spending time with friends and family and connecting with the people you love can have a significant positive impact on your overall health. Over the summer, it may have been easier to get together for socially-distanced outdoor activities with loved ones than it is now as the season changes. Here are some socially-distant activities you can participate in together this fall! 
7. Exchange Your Favorite Fall Recipes 

Even if you aren't able to cook in the same kitchen, share some of your favorite cozy fall recipes with friends and family. Choose a day where you cook each others' respective meals, and enjoy dinner together over the phone or video chat so you can talk about them! 

6. Enjoy a Night by The Fire 

If you have the space for it, set up a bonfire and invite your friends or family over to the yard to enjoy s'mores and good company. You can still hang out in person while maintaining 6 feet of distance, and experience a classic fall activity together. 

5. Make Your Own Candles 

There are plenty of kits you can find online to jump-start your candle-making hobby. Spend a day with your family making homemade candles with fall scents (think cinnamon and spices!) to gift to your loved ones over the holidays - just make sure you sanitize them before wrapping! 

4. Carve Pumpkins 

Head on over to your local pumpkin patch and pick up some good ones - have any friends or family do the same, and put together a socially-distant carving set-up in the driveway or backyard. Carve your designs together while enjoying some warm apple cider and then reveal your creations once you've finished! 

3. Take a Nature Walk 

Head out to your nearest trail to check out the fall foliage with a friend. Make sure the trail is large enough for you to maintain a safe distance, and catch up while enjoying all the beautiful colors that fall has to offer!

2. Visit a Drive-In Movie 

Find the closest drive-in movie theater and call up a friend or family member you've been missing during quarantine. Park your cars next to each other and safely watch movies together! 

1. Head To Your Local Brewery or Vineyard 

Most breweries and vineyards have spaced-out outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying a pumpkin ale or a nice fall wine while maintaining a safe distance between yourself and your friends! Grab some drinks (if you're of age!) and a nice lunch together. 

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There are still ways to spend quality time with friends and family this fall even if it's a little different this year. Do it for them, and do it for your personal social health. And be sure to post any pictures or videos of your Fall activities on social media this season and tag #TourdeEndure!
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6 Indoor Physical Activities for the Fall & Winter

10/6/2020

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Cold weather is upon us, and while that means fun holiday activities are in our future, it also means that opportunities to exercise outdoors are becoming more limited. Sure, you can always bundle up and head out for a nice morning walk or run, but if you want to stay active within the comfort and warmth of your own home, here are some ideas we came up with! ​

6. Yoga 

Yoga is a great way to practice your flexibility, and you don’t even need that much room or equipment to get a good workout out of it. Find yourself a yoga mat or even a towel, and set your laptop, tablet, or phone up in a space where you can see it. There are tons of free Yoga classes on YouTube, so find some flows that work for you and go nuts! 

5. HIIT Workouts 

“HIIT” stands for “High Intensity Interval Training” and is a great way to stay in shape using minimal equipment. You can look up some free courses for inspiration, or even devise your own circuit if you’re feeling creative. 

4. Jump Rope

All you need is a rope and a little bit of space (and maybe some awesome music or a TV show to watch in the background) and boom! You’ve got a great cardio workout that’s cheaper than investing in a treadmill. Here’s a jump rope workout for beginners to get you started. 

3. Body Weight Workouts 

The only equipment you need for this type of exercise is yep, you guessed it - yourself! Practice movements like air squats, pushups, lunges, crunches, and more. You can even string them together to create your own HIIT workout! Here’s a body weight workout for inspiration. 

2. Stairs 

Got a set of stairs in your house or apartment complex? Run or walk up and down as many times as you need to in order to get a good workout in. It’s just like the stair-stepper machine at the gym, but manual! 

1. Dance Party 

What better way to combine the holidays and indoor workouts than to host a fun, themed dance party with your family? Create a playlist with fun, fast-paced songs and make a game out of it: see who can dance the longest to as many songs in a row as they can. It’s fun, and it’s good for you! 

Just because the seasons are changing doesn’t mean our physical habits have to change along with them. And one of the best things about these indoor workouts is that you can do them over zoom with friends and family to keep each other accountable. Pick activities that you genuinely enjoy doing, and have fun with them! 
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443-ASA-1204 (443-272-1204)
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