Thank you sports moms

In light of Mother's Day, take a few minutes to thank and appreciate the sports mom in your life. The nickname soccer mom has taken on an entirely new meaning over the years, especially on the Island. Children athletes are enjoying a variety of sports year round and staying healthier because of it. Behind the scenes though is mom running around all over town keeping everything together. Kids are so busy nowdays a mom could be juggling taking her child to sports games and practices, school, Boy or Girl Scouts, piano lessons, karate, a haircut, doctor or dentist appointments and dinner all in a week. Just being on a sports team can be a three- to four-day a week commitment but they gladly do it all for their kids. So here's to you, super sports moms, for all you've done for the sports fanatics in your house. They couldn't do it without you. You're the best.

To see or purchase more pictures of baseball, basketball or adult kickball go to www.amisun.com.

Adult co-ed kickball schedule:

May 12, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Ross Built Construction VS. Slim's Place

May 12, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Jessie's Island Store VS. Beach to Bay Construction

Adult co-ed kickball week #2 results:

Ross Built Construction - 6
Beach to Bay Construction – 7

Slim's Place – 1
Jessie's Island Store – 7

Baseball Schedule:
Tee Ball:

May 17, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Gulf Bay Realty VS. Beach to Bay Construction

May 17, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Air & Energy VS. Beach to Bay Construction

Pitching Machine:

May 16, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
Cedar's Tennis & Fitness Club VS. Island Real Estate

Basketball Schedule
Instructional League:

May 13, Friday, 6 p.m.
Coastal Orthopedics VS. Beach Bums

May 14, Saturday, 1 p.m.
West Coast Air Conditioning VS. Beach Bums

May 17, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Coastal Orthopedics VS. West Coast Air Conditioning

Division III (8-9-year-old):

May 13, Friday, 7 p.m.
Agnelli Pool Service VS. Anna Maria Oyster Bar

May 14, Saturday, 12 noon
Agnelli Pool Service VS. Cortez Kat Charters

Division II (10-11-year-old):

May 11, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Southern Greens VS. Connie's Landscaping

May 14, Saturday, 10 a.m.
Southern Greens VS. Ross Built Construction

May 16, Monday, 6 p.m.
Beach Bistro VS. Sandbar restaurant

Division I (12-13-year-old):

May 11, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
A Paradise Realty VS. Eat Here

May 14, Saturday, 11 a.m.
A Paradise Realty VS. Walter & Associates

May 16, Monday, 7 p.m.
Eat Here VS. A Paradise Realty

May 17, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
E Training Solutions VS. A Paradise Realty

Premier League (14-17 year old):

May 11, Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Dip's Ice Cream VS. Rotten Ralph's

May 16, Monday, 8 p.m.
LaPensee Plumbing VS. Rotten Ralph's

May 17, Tuesday, 8 p.m.
LaPensee Plumbing VS. Island Sun Newspaper

A Runner's Body

I was on an airplane sitting by the window eyeing oncoming passengers making eye contact with someone to sit next to for the next 2 to 3 hours. The tall guy who grabbed the aisle seat was looking for stretching room.

After takeoff, he asked, "Are you a runner?" I nodded. "You can always tell," he said. "And I'm guessing a long time."

"30 years, give or take. How did you know?" I asked.

"You can just tell. I run. I know," he responded.

There's actually a book called, "The Runner's Body," so this wasn't any surprise, and it wasn't the first time someone asked if I was a runner. Why it is important what a personal trainer looks like? Despite credentials, most people hire a trainer based on looks. They want to look like the trainer, or at least work toward looking like what the trainer looks like. In a steroid world, it is important to ask, "How'd ya get to look that way?"

If you want me as a personal trainer, you can call or e-mail me via the contact info below to find out where I work and when. [The runner at Publix who struck up a conversation about the personal training shirt I was wearing, and came to my gym and didn't find me, please give me a call for my hours.] When you go to a gym, whoever is at the front desk may end up as your trainer, whether or not they have expertise in your areas of interest. That's how trainers get business.

In addition to gyms, I do workouts in the comfort of your home or business. That's called private hire. I bring all my own really fun, effective equipment or you can use what you have or both. My most effective workouts use weighted balls, which accomplish quick results for building the core. Before we do anything, I assess your situation to determine what kind of program will work best for you.

Why hire a trainer? Often, people just aren't motivated to exercise on their own. On the form I give prospective clients asking them to rank their level of motivation, the highest I've ever seen is a 5 out of 10. Or what they're doing isn't working.

Inquire about the trainer's certifications and experience. I've seen runners come to a gym and the first thing they say is, "I used to be a runner." Runners generally don't have bulging muscles. At close to 60, my ability to consistently place in local races for my age group is one of my most important qualifications.

Over 30 years, I've had some injuries and have learned how to recover and more importantly avoid injuries that derail so many. Continuing education classes teach that, but living it is crucial. I am also the only certified running coach through Road Runners Club of America on the Island, and one of six in Bradenton.

If you have run a race, it was most likely certified by RRCA. Ask trainers if they have a running certification. Even if you don't want to run, the certification teaches "Couch Potato to 5K," and everything in between, including walking.

While walking is great exercise, often it takes a ramped-up, mixed-up routine to improve fitness. My personal training certification is one of the most widely recognized through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Certifications help trainers design exercise programs without causing injury.

Ask trainers what they do to work out. In addition to running, I work out twice a week doing a strenuous kettle bell boot camp with the physical therapists at Coastal Orthopedics in Bradenton. I am an assistant volunteer cross-country coach at Manatee High. Local newspapers have reported on how I run with/inspire kids.

Ask your coach/trainer what races he/she has run. I ran last week's DeSoto 5K in Bradenton and placed fourth in my age group. I ran with some high school girls including my Sarasota Half Marathon relay partner, Riley Paige Dunn.

Anyone can get a certification. But there is nothing like learning from someone with a broad depth of experience who continues to perform well over decades. If you read this column regularly, you know my successes with clients in challenging situations.

Islander Ellen Jaffe Jones is also the author of "Eat Vegan on $4 a Day," which has just gone on Amazon.com for pre-sales. For training in a gym or private hire, she can be reached at ejones@vegcoach.com or 941-704-1025.

Island resident Ellen Jaffe Jones is an accomplished endurance runner, cookbook author, Aerobics and Fitness Association of America certified personal trainer and RRCA certified running coach. For coaching or training, she can be reached at ejones@vegcoach.com or 941-704-1025.