Compete January 2017 by COMPETE Magazine

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JANUARY 2017 Volume 11, Issue 1

PUBLISHERS Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Style Editor Bobby Ciletti • bobby@competenetwork.com Graphic Design Assistant Matt Boyd • mattb@competenetwork.com Field Ambassador Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Jared Garduno, Jeff Kagan, Ali Kay, Miriam Latto, Bryan Lee, Michael Losier, Kevin Majoros, Dr. Rob Elliott Owens, Brian Patrick and Sarah Woodward Photographers Thomas Fleisher, Leland Gebhardt and Robert Mercer Sales & Partnerships sales@competenetwork.com Administration Camille Powell • camille@competenetwork.com Copyright © 2017 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved. Corporate Office 4703 South Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3 Tempe, Arizona 85282 • 480-222-4223 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

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PHOTO COURTESY MATT BELAIR

MATT BELAIR JOURNEYS WITHIN 16 FOR PEAK SPORTS PERFORMANCE KICK–OFF

7 LEFT FIELD

Grandstanding, Speed Read,Thumbs UP/DOWN

11 COMMUNITY HERO

Duy Ngo- Supporting GLISA North America

DEPARTMENTS 22 INTERVIEW

A Sports Star is Born

24 MVP

Steven Benedict

27 CHALLENGE

Calling All Adrenaline Junkiest

30 ATHLETE

Rosie Cossar’s Journey to Representing Herself

SPORTS 34 36 38

World OutGames Miami Confirms Human Rights Speakers NAGAAA Looking to 2017 Austin Hosts LGBTQ Sports Coalition

OVERTIME

40 FITNESS

5 Keys to Finding the Right Gym

42 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 STYLE

Changing Up New Year’s Resolutions

COMPETE ONLINE

Check out Compete stories, videos and more online at: competenetwork.com

COVER ATHLETE Matt Belair SPORT SNOWBOARDING, SKATEBOARDING, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS PHOTOGRAPHER Nicole Mannell

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 5

FROM THE SKYBOX BY ERIC CARLYLE, PUBLISHER/CEO

RINGING IN 2017 @CompeteEric

anuary is about making a fresh start, setting big goals and trying new things. That is what we said to ourselves when we started Compete back in 2006. Now in our eleventh year, we will begin 2017 by looking back at Compete’s first ten years, celebrating where we are today and making plans for bigger goals and more new things for this year. This month you will find a selection of some of our favorite covers (of course, they are all our favorites!) in a special two-page section of the magazine. Looking back, each cover was special to us because each issue of Compete is filled with our team’s blood, sweat and tears. And since our magazine was founded on the rugby pitches of New York’s 2006 Bingham Cup, the blood, sweat and tears part has a literal meaning for us. But putting rugby aside, we have featured many different sports on the cover of Compete. Basketball, cycling, diving, fitness, football, rodeo, running, soccer, race car driving, softball, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling are just some of the sports we have featured over the years. In 2017 we will continue featuring your favorite sports and introducing you to sports you may not be familiar with, all the while encouraging you to participate in a sport as an athlete or to appreciate and enjoy it as a fan. And remember, we always appreciate your feedback. If you would like to see something in Compete Magazine or on our website, CompeteNetwork.com, please let me know because you, our readers, are Compete Magazine. By the time you read through this special issue of Compete, the ball will have already dropped – 2017 is already here. But metaphorically at least, we want to thank you for ringing in the New Year with us by reading and enjoying this issue. Sport On,

Eric Carlyle Publisher/CEO eric@competenetwork.com

| COMPETE | January 2017

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FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

2017 STARTS ON A FIRM FOUNDATION

t’s always fun to begin a new year – there’s excitement for the new and unexpected, for fun things, new friends and ideas, even hope that things that @CompeteConnie haven’t gone so well in the past will be improved or simply discarded. But it’s good to celebrate a new year with some perspective. Things don’t always happen in my desired timeframe or yours. Sometimes they develop slowly and in ways we don’t always hear about or know the connections being made so we may miss the good “stuff” going on. As we begin 2017, today’s sports scene reflects the important and tireless efforts of the untold numbers of people and organizations who have been actively involved in the sports diversity movement over the years. The general public is beginning to realize that gay people actually do play sports. And they don’t just “play,” they’re every bit as competitive as any straight athlete. The big professional team sports in the U.S. are also making some real inroads by acknowledging their LGBTQ fan base by holding Pride Nights. And Major League Baseball (MLB) has made particular strides in its internal culture since it created a position for retired out MLB player Billy Bean as its vice president of social responsibility and inclusion. There were some important birthday celebrations in 2016 – NAGAAA’s Gay Softball World Series turned 40, IGBO’s annual bowling tournament hit 36 and IGRA’s World Gay Rodeo Finals® turned 30. These are just a few of the organizations that have been around for a long time that are still actively involved in gaining and maintaining members. They’ve paved the way for younger gay sports organizations to form around a particular sport, like the NGFFL’s Gay Bowl that turned a “Fierce” 16 last year (skip the sweet stuff!).And they all welcome ally athletes, showing that sports diversity really does work. With the stigma around sexual orientation lessening in large parts of the world, many elite athletes from around the world, particularly Olympians have started to come out. And international tournaments like the Gay Games celebrating its tenth games next year and World OutGames celebrating its fourth world games this year, have opened the global door for LGBTQ athletes of all skill levels to participate. Is it all perfect? No, not at all. Prejudice and ignorance still exist and probably always will. But is it improving? Is there hope for continued advancement of sports diversity in 2017, for more inclusion, equality, acceptance and even some understanding? The answer to this is certainly a yes – there’s a firm foundation already in place, just waiting to be built upon this year. As you read this first issue of 2017, enjoy the stories of committed athletes who are making it better already. And then join in – you can make a positive difference, too! Keep Smiling,

Connie Wardman, Editor-in-Chief connie@competenetwork.com

| COMPETE | January 2017

nagaaasoftball.org (636) 3NAGAAA

Welcome All Athletes to the Sin City Shootout Good luck to all of the NAGAAA member cities participating this year For more information, or to get involved in gay softball, visit nagaaasoftball.org.

COMMUNITY HERO

KICKOFF

Duy Ngo

Asset Management, Mobilitie, LLC Vice-president, board of directors for GLISA North America Sport: Tennis

As the May 26 through June 4, 2017 date for the Miami World Outgames inches ever-closer, Duy Ngo’s work load with the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association North America (GLISA NA) may even increase. GLISA NA is the North American portion of GLISA, international rights-holder to the OutGames and since its inception in 2006, close to 10 OutGames editions have been produced globally. GLISA North America has a working board of directors staffed by volunteers that are active, something requiring those involved to have a huge commitment to the organization’s cause of supporting the LGBTQ community to “compete, connect and learn.” It requires community heroes. And that is certainly a good description of Ngo and his role as GLISA NA's vice-president. Part of Ngo’s duties in this volunteer role are to execute the organization’s digital media platform (website, social media, email campaigns, etc.), coordinate brand stewardship, manage internal information technology systems, provide external communications and engage in partnership development. Part of his special involvement in the LGBTQ community is to participate in various forums relating to LGBTQ sports, including the #LGBTSportsSummit in connection with Connect meetings. If that were not enough, he also assists with host selection and promotional activities for the OutGames. For the upcoming Miami World OutGames as well as past events, GLISA awards the rights to a host city and then works closely with the local committee to plan and implement the host city's vision of the OutGames. That can include making connections, building partnerships, advising on strategy, providing information and resources as well as promoting the OutGames itself. Finally, GLISA serves as the legacy host for each completed OutGames. When asked what the best thing is about working with GLISA North America, Ngo describes the organization using words like “nimble” and “agile,” ones that encourage individual initiatives and foster creative freedom. “We are a diverse collection of fearless dreamers and passionate good-doers. My colleagues are amazing and generous human beings,” he said. “Naturally, such an environment produces out-of-the box approaches to projects and exciting partnerships. My work at GLISA

North America informs and enriches other parts of my life, empowering me to strive for the same level of ambition and achievement.” But remember that GLISA isn’t his only passionate commitment. Ngo is a tennis player, Photo courtesy of Duy Ngo a member of the Los Angeles Tennis Association (LATA), one of the oldest and largest LGBTQ sports organizations in the U.S. As part of the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Association’s (GLTA) global tennis consortium, LATA sponsors many of GLTA’s U.S. tournaments in which he plays on a regular basis. And if his wheels weren’t already going fast enough, he recently took up spinning. Ngo’s day job is working in asset management for Mobilitie, LLC, the largest privately-held telecommunications infrastructure company in the U.S. So while this job isn’t directly involved in the LGBTQ community, it is tangentially if you consider the company’s technologies that power mobile connectivity to such apps as Grindr. If that counts as involvement, then his job also helps support the LGBTQ community. It’s hard to imagine how Ngo finds time to fit in everything he manages to accomplish. When asked if he had any special achievements in his life, his response was, “I am of the opinion that the strength to get up every morning to pursue one’s passion and to live life in accordance with one’s values is enough of an achievement.” Ngo also talked about the insidious nature of staying silent, referencing a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” Congratulations to you, Duy Ngo for not being silent – no wonder you are a community hero!

DO YOU KNOW A COMMUNITY HERO? Community Heroes is a regular feature in Compete Magazine. Nominate deserving individuals by emailing us at heroes@competenetwork.com and include a brief biography of or a link to your nominee.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 11

KICKOFF

LEFT FIELD

SPEED READ MLB BANS LONG-STANDING ROOKIE HAZING RITUAL

The long-time Major League Baseball (MLB) hazing ritual that forces rookie baseball players to dress up like Disney Princesses, Hooters girls and even more bizarre costumes is now gone. MLB created a new Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying Policy banning the historic practice as part of the sport’s newly ratified five-year labor deal and the players’ union agreed not to contest it. Many current and ex-players aren’t in favor of the new policy, saying that it’s a fun bonding ritual. However, Billy Bean, who came out after he retired and is now vice president of social responsibility and inclusion for MLB, has put the policy in perspective for those who still support the hazing ritual. "We didn't used to take pictures or talk about what we used to do. Now players are posting pictures in the clubhouse in real time ... We need to be cognizant of the 7- and 8-yearolds that have access to your Twitter feed 24/7," he says. Bean also said that "If the hazing is disparaging toward women, or the LGBTQ community, or old stereotypes that people used to think were funny about ethnic backgrounds or religious views, that's not funny anymore." But he also says that MLB isn’t turning into the fun police, that there are friendly initiations for rookies that don’t send a harmful message. With average seasonal salaries over $4 million, he thinks players should realize that others may find those "fun" traditions offensive.

CHAPECOENSE AWARDED COPA SUDAMERICANA TROPHY In a bittersweet follow up to last month’s tragic plane crash that killed many of Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer team as they traveled to the Copa Sudamericana final, CONMEBOL has awarded the tournament title to the ravaged team. The decision was made after Atletico Nacional, the team assigned to play Chapecoense in the final, insisted they wouldn’t play and urged CONMEBOL to give the trophy to Brazilian team.

OLYMPIAN GABBY DOUGLAS TO CONFRONT CYBERBULLYING Three-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Gabby Douglas has joined Hack Harrassment as a change ambassador. An initiative aimed at combating cyber-bullying, the program is backed by major worldwide technology companies that include Intel, Vox Media and Recode in hope it will “promote safer, more inclusive online experiences for everyone." The 20-year-old Douglas was subjected to heavy online bullying during the Rio Games, especially from social media sites such as Twitter, criticizing her for not putting handover-heart during the National Anthem and for not giving

| COMPETE | January 2017

teammates Simone Biles and Aly Raisman a standing ovation for their gold and silver finishes in the individual all-around finals. As a result, she hopes to spare others from the same fate through her participation in this program. "I just want to say that you are not alone," she said in a “Good Morning America” interview. "And even though it may seem the world's against you - and I definitely felt like the world was definitely against me in Rio - I'm here to tell you that's not the case."

WNBA OFFERS APP FOR PLAYER SAFETY OVERSEAS Many Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players play overseas during the league off-season in China, Turkey, Russia and other European countries. To ensure their safety, the new league app will allow players to receive advisories and notifications similar to those sent by the state department to U. S. travelers. It also enables them to communicate directly with the league and its security team if danger should arise.

CHRISTINA KAHRL PROMOTED TO MBL SENIOR EDITOR AT ESPN Congratulations go to Christina Kahrl, well-known baseball writer, a co-founder of Baseball Prospectus and transgender activist for her recent promotion to MLB Senior Editor at ESPN. A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America and writer for ESPN.com, the Chicago resident and her wife, Charlie Mae Wanamaker will be moving next month to Bristol, Connecticut, home of ESPN’s corporate headquarters. Kahrl is on the board of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and in 2014 was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

FORMER TEAM USA GYMNASTICS DOCTOR ARRESTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY Dr. Larry Nassar, former head doctor for Team USA Gymnastics and prior to that for Michigan State University (MSU), has recently been arrested as part of a federal investigation into child pornography. According to a two-count indictment filed in Michigan, he possessed "thousands of images of child pornography" from 2003- 2016. He is also accused of molesting dozens of patients, including an Olympic medalist, during his time with Team USA from 1996 through 2015. An investigation by the Indianapolis Star claimed that over the past 20 years “at least” 36 American gymnasts have made allegations of sexual abuse. Nassar and Team USA Gymnastics are also the subjects of lawsuits from two women who were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by him that was to reported to but ignored by team officials.

KICKOFF

GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE

HONORING YOU CAN PLAY (Dec. 2016) Very happy to see You Can Play recognized at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards. I have been a professional hockey fan for years and appreciate You Can Play’s mission and good work.

Steven Bailey Chandler, Arizona MORE ALLISON JONES, PLEASE (Nov. & Dec. 2016) I’d like to see more about Allison Jones in the pages of Compete Magazine. While it was nice seeing her mentioned in both the November and December issues, someone as inspirational as Allison deserves to be a featured story, not just a sidebar.

COMPETE READER SURVEY Favorite Half-Time Snack? Vegetables 15%

Nachos 35%

Wings 25% Chips 25%

Brett Jacobson San Diego, California

TALK TO US! Submissions to Compete should include the writer’s name, address and contact phone number and should be sent by email to letters@competenetwork.com. Letters may be edited by Compete and become the property of Media Out Loud, LLC.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 13

SPORTS KICKOFF

QUIZ

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

A. Nordic Combined. Athletes in this sport compete in cross country skiing and ski jumping.

BRITISH BOXER NICOLA ADAMS … for being named as Outsports’ Female Athlete of the Year for 2016. The bisexual boxer won a world championship and also defended her Olympic title by winning another gold medal in Rio, the first British boxer to defend an Olympic title in 92 years.

Source: TriviaChamp.com

WAKE FOREST RADIO ANALYST TOMMY ELROD … for leaking gameplan information to multiple opponents starting in 2014. A former Wake Forest football player and coaching staff member in the 90s, he’s been fired by the school and also banned from Wake Forest athletic facilities.

FOUR CALIFORNIA PRO SPORTS TEAMS

NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL

… for tweeting support and donating money to help victims and families affected by the devastating Oakland warehouse fire that killed 36. It includes the Oakland Raiders, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors.

... for saying the hiring process for some coordinator jobs will use the Rooney Rule that includes minority candidates.

Pictured above, Henry Beam, Beam Law, PLC

Q. Which event can trace its origins to training undertaken by Norwegian soldiers in the 1890s? • Freestyle Skiing • Cross Country • Ski Jump • Nordic Combined

| COMPETE | January 2017

MATT BELAIR

GOING WITHIN TO GO

BEYOND BY CONNIE WARDMAN PHOTOS BY NICOLE MANNELL

| COMPETE | January 2017

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 17

hen you ask athlete, sports coach and podcaster Matt Belair about his future goals and he says he wishes “to raise the consciousness of the planet by popularizing the mental game of sport,” you think you’re talking with someone who has had exposure to the mental sports programming used by today’s elite athletes. But when he follows that up by saying “You have to let go of everything you think you are in order to BE everything you actually are,” offering to help people transcend limitations to discover their highest potential in sports, you realize that you’re talking with someone who has a much broader, deeper understanding of the ineffable power of the mind. Connie Wardman: Thanks for talking with Compete Magazine, Matt. Please share your story with our readers. Matt Belair: Sure. I grew up a martial artist and was always interested in the power of the mind. In my early 20s I moved to Whistler, Canada and was a professional snowboard coach for eight years and travelled the world. I continue to study mind power and wrote a book and created a course designed to help athletes master the mental game of sport. I’ve meditated with monks in Nepal, trekked Everest, trained with pro MMA fighters in Thailand and trained with 34th generation Shaolin Monks in China. And now I teach others what I’ve learned over a lifetime of study. CW: What is it you love about sports in general that keeps you engaged and what are your own sports of choice? MB: I love sport because it is the most fun and engaging way to help develop self mastery. I love the camaraderie, community, passion and intensity sports naturally brings forth. For me, it’s snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing and hockey. CW: You’re only 32-years-old but you’ve already experienced so much in your life. Who first inspired you to live what I’d call a life of discovery? Was it family, friends, mentors or perhaps your own early recognition of your life’s path? MB: I believe that exploration of myself and the world was something that was in my DNA. However, the first influencer was my father who introduced me to martial arts. The second influence was martial artist Bruce Lee whose philosophy and work I began implementing at the age of six. I’ve been drawn to martial arts ever since I was a kid and the practice has shaped who I am dramatically. Bruce Lee died 11 years before I was born but his impact on the world as the greatest martial artist of all time already had been solidified. In fact, most people don’t know that he studied philosophy at the University of Washington. In his 32-year life he left an incredible wealth of knowledge that anyone could learn from. I studied his movies, documentaries, read his books and absorbed his philosophies around martial arts and life.

| COMPETE | January 2017

CW: Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve called Lee your mentor and favorite athlete no longer living. What did you learn from him? MB: He taught me about self-expression, being dedicated to your practice, pushing past your limitations and achieving your highest potential. This led me to experiment and research meditation, visualization, psychology, neuro-linguistic programming, hypnosis, sports performance and developing your intuition and psychic abilities as well as astral projection, law of attraction and more. I explored all avenues of consciousness, mind power, self-exploration and personal development, no matter how "out of the box" they may have seemed. CW: Do you have a favorite living athlete? MB: Yes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Luan Oliveria, one of the best skateboarders on the planet. However, his attitude is what sets him apart. He is always having fun, he skateboards for himself and he gives back to his underprivileged hometown. He's what I would refer to as a conscious athlete. CW: Given all your life experiences, Matt, what are you teaching your students? MB: Zen Athlete is a compilation of the most effective techniques in sports psychology and human performance. I developed the Zen Athlete program and wrote a book, my greatest personal achievement. All of the techniques have been proven to work for me, my clients and hundreds of others over time. Our philosophy is to help you use your sport as a tool to develop your body, mind and spirit. To achieve more than you ever thought capable of and to apply those lessons to your everyday life. It is to use sport as a tool to elevate your consciousness, to smash your limitations in all areas of your life and to give you a direct path to the realization that you are capable of anything, you are infinite, you are more powerful than you could possibly imagine! The combined tools and strategies help you take your abilities to another level to increase your performance and help you unlock hidden potentials. But that's just the beginning. Many of the students experience their personal lives dramatically change for the better as their inner work harmonizes their outer world. The final step of the process is out of body, 5th dimensional, transcendent experiences that will leave you forever changed. To go beyond, you must go within. Actually, dramatically improved performance is a pleasant by-product of elevated consciousness and the balance of mind, body and spirit. CW: Thank you for your time, Matt. And on behalf of all our readers, namaste.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 19

| COMPETE | January 2017

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A SPORTS ST (Partially reprinted from Eric Carlyle’s first Publishers’ Letter in the June/July 2007 issue)

DID MICHAEL JORDAN’S PARENTS KNOW HE WOULD BE A SPORTS STAR THE DAY HE WAS BORN? I’m betting they did. Like Michael’s parents, we could already see quality in our future sports star, Sports Out Loud (later renamed Compete). But it was also apparent that there were some differences that would set them apart – Jordan may have been born in a hospital but Sports Out Loud was born in the front seat of Eric Carlyle’s car in the spring of 2006. So now, as Compete Magazine enters its 11th year, Eric and the Compete staff look back at the first ten with big smiles, acknowledging the changes in the LGBTQ sports community that prompted changes in the magazine. When we began, we used the term “gay” to describe our magazine; we also used “GLBT” and then decided on “LGBT.” Now, starting in 2017 we are using the more inclusive “LGBTQ” that reflects the wider and still growing acceptance of sports diversity. Please join our celebration throughout 2017 as we look back on our first ten years and look forward to the next ten. So just like Michael Jordan’s parents, Eric is the lucky parent of a seasoned sports pro and the Compete staff is happy to be part of this modern family.

| COMPETE | January 2017

TAR IS BORN

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 23

HOMETOWN: Fort Lee, New Jersey. CURRENT RESIDENCE: California. SPORT(S): Judo. Currently a professional track and field athlete. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single. FAVORITE ATHLETE: The Rock. FAVORITE TEAM: Dallas Cowboys. INTERESTS: Martial arts, running, art, bettering myself. BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: My legs. WHY YOU LOVE SPORTS: Because it has set the platform for all my discipline, drive and dedication that I have today. SPORTS PLAYED: Judo, baseball, soccer, football, track and field. GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT: League championships, county championships, national championships and Olympic qualifiers. ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: Media placements over 30 magazines, Olympic trials, national record holder.

To be included in our MVP section, e-mail: MVP@competenetwork.com

| COMPETE | January 2017

STEVEN BENEDICT

Photos courtesy of Orbanic Photos

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 25

We’ll leave you thinking ...

SO MANY

BALLS

IN THE AIR SO MANY GAY SPORTS LEAGUES — >>>> WITH STAY UP TO DATE WITH OUR MOBILE APP FIND US ON

SPORTS. DIVERSITY.

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CALLING ALL ADRENALINE JUNKIES: THE 10 TOUGHEST RACES IN THE WORLD BY HARRY ANDREW

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TUMBLEINTO.COM

hat sort of sports year do you have planned for 2017? Are you the adventurous type who loves competition, someone who thrills to new experiences? Then take a look at these ultra events that are listed as the toughest races in the world. Maybe this is the year you’ll tap into your wild side and try one of these iconic races. Are you game?

6633 Arctic Ultra – Canada

Barkley Marathons – U.S.A.

Charlie Ramsay Round – Scotland

Dragon’s Back – Wales

Considered by many as the toughest, coldest, windiest ultra distance footrace on the planet, the 6633 is a non-stop self-sufficient footrace of 350 miles (or a 120 mile short route) between the Yukon and Northwest Territories, both races crossing over the Arctic Circle in March when temperatures are well below zero. Since it began in 2007, only 11 people have completed this eight-day challenge.

This is really long distance fell or hill running at its most challenging – a 58-mile circuit taking in 24 summits with a total altitude climb of approximately 28,5000 feet that includes Ben Nevis, the highest mountain peak in the British Isles. Oh, and it’s done in under 24 hours during June or July.

This 100-mile run through the backwoods of Tennessee is inspired by the 1977 prison break by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin, James Earl Ray. Limited to 40 runners, over a 60-hour period they’re required to scale a 65,000-foot incline across five unmarked 20-mile loops. The course has only been finished 16 times since its 1986 start. It takes place in late March or early April and the course changes each year.

This legendary race started in 1992 and covers 200 miles of craggy, unmarked terrain running from north to south Wales. Runners have five days to conquer a brutal 51,000-foot incline in rainy conditions and low visibility. This ultra marathon takes place in May.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 27

Iditarod Trail Invitational – Alaska

Patagonian Expedition Race – Chilean Patagonia

Only a small number of winter ultra athletes are invited to participate each year in this 1,000-mile course through the Alaskan wilderness – the world’s longest winter ultra marathon. In 2016 only 65 people were invited. They can travel it by fat bike, on foot or on skis but they’re totally responsible for their own supplies and navigation; GPS devices aren’t allowed. There is also a shorter 350-mile race that racers must complete in order to be considered for the 1,000 mile race. The race is held in February.

Salzkammergut Trophy – Austria

SUP (Stand Up Paddling) 11 City Tour – Holland

One of the most difficult mountain bike races in Europe, the Salzkammergut Trophy is a 16-hour race over 130 mile course through the Alps with an altitude of close to 23,000 feet. Altitude difference can range up to 12,624.67 feet.. There are seven different race distances, including the Extreme Course dedicated to all adrenalin junkies. It’s held in July.

source: Maxim Petrichuk / Shutterstock.com

Tour Divide – Canada/U.S.A.

This fixed course race, called the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, is the world’s longest off-pavement cycling route running from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico – 2,745 miles! The self-supported race has riders covering an average of 170 miles per day and climbing over 200,000 feet over the course of the race (the website says it’s the equivalent to scaling Mount Everest from sea-level seven times). It’s held in June.

Also known as The Last Wild Race,” the Patagonian Expedition is an annual 10-day team endurance adventure race that is held in the remote wilderness of Chilean Patagonia. It’s held every February to help protect and raise awareness about the region’s fragile environment. A maximum of 20 four-person co-ed teams trek, bike, kayak and climb their way on a new course every year.

| COMPETE | January 2017

source: Gertan / Shutterstock.com

One of the longest and toughest stand up paddle (SUP) board races in the world, the 11 Cities Race is held each year in Friesland in northern Holland. Over five days paddlers cover 138 miles; that averages out to over 25 miles-per-day. The event takes place in September.

10 Yukon River Quest – Canada

The world’s longest annual canoe and kayak race (also known as “a race to the midnight sun”), consists of 444 miles along the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City. It must be completed in 85 hours and that requires two mandatory stops – seven hours spent in Carmacks and three hours spent in Coffee Creek. Basic survival equipment is required and a SPOT device must be tracking each team at all times. Runs during June and July.

ATHLETE

OLYMPIAN ROSIE COSSAR’S JOURNEY TO REPRESENTING HERSELF BY BRIAN PATRICK CANADIAN ROSIE COSSAR IS A RHYTHMIC gymnast who has represented Canada at the 2011 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games held in London. But the 25-year-old athlete from Toronto, Ontario was keeping a heavy secret during her competitive career – she is a lesbian. Here is her compelling story. Brian Patrick: What are your favorite sports, Rosie, and what got you interested in sports originally? Rosie Cossar: My competitive sport was rhythmic gymnastics (RG). Since I retired I’ve played tennis, soccer, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball and skateboarding. I love the way playing sports makes me feel. It fulfills a part of me that nothing else can. I get such a high from playing sports and I feel empowered when I’m physically active. Getting together with my friends to play sports or engage in physical activity is one of my favorite things. BP: As a former world-class athlete, what do you consider your greatest athletic achievement as well as your greatest personal achievement? RC: Athletically, it’s being a three-time medalist at the Pan American Games and being an Olympian at the 2012 London Olympics. Personally, it’s being team captain of the first Canadian RG group to qualify for an Olympic Games. BP: I’ve watched your incredible presentation made to the International Olympic Academy in Greece this summer about your sports career and now, your advocacy work. Since, in some regards, it closely mirrors the experiences of other LGBTQ athletes who don’t have the same opportunity to speak publically, please share it with our readers. RC: I started RG when I was five-years old. The reason was one of convenience for my parents. My older sister Rachel was already attending RG classes so my parents could drop me off with her for three-hours-a-day to expend some of my endless energy. I attended RG lessons for three-hours-a-day, four-days-a-week. There’s something intriguing about me ending up in a sport like RG since it’s perhaps the most feminine sport out there and I was probably the biggest tomboy you’d ever meet. My first competition was when I was eight and that same year I travelled to a training camp in Moscow for what would be the first of many solo trips overseas in my career. BP: Traveling to Russia at such a young age must have been quite an experience.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSIE COSSAR

RC: It was a big step in my athletic journey since I was surrounded by the best athletes and coaches in the world. I was exposed to a caliber of RG that I had never seen before. While this sounds glamorous, I was completely on my own. I made the 10-hour flight without any of my family and was met by one of the coaches who accompanied me to the National RG Training Centre in Moscow. I was exposed to a level of difficulty far surpassing what I was used to. Here it was normal to spend the duration of training in tears, and here it was normal to be stretched so far beyond what you thought was your limit that you would end up screaming in pain. This was also the first time I was away from home, introducing me to the feeling of being homesick. This combination of factors made it a very eye-opening experience, the first of some very challenging obstacles I faced on my journey to the Olympic Games. Two years later at age 10, I again was on a flight wearing my “unaccompanied minor” badge. This time I was on my way to New Brunswick to train with one of the best and toughest coaches in Canada. But with every challenge I overcame, my development and success was exponential. The year before I was ranked 54th in our Canadian National Championships and after my first year with her, I jumped 50 places, ranking fourth at the following national championships. I remained on the Canadian National team for the rest of my RG career. The next six years were spent traveling the world from one competition and training camp to another – Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Belgium, Japan – you name it. Despite how difficult it was to overcome the lifestyle hardships, I was very appreciative for having the opportunity to not only visit but actually live in such diverse parts of the world, experiencing so many of the world’s most rich and unique cultures. BP: When did the Olympics seem like a possible goal for you or was it a lifelong dream of yours? RC: No. When people ask me if I dreamed of the Olympics since I started so young, I realize I didn’t. In 2008 the Canadian RG federation came up with a plan to qualify our first group for an Olympic Games (OG) and I (Continued on page 32)

ATHLETE was chosen to be team captain. It wasn’t until we started the group project that I started to consider the possibility of going to an OG. No Canadian team had ever qualified. But as we climbed the ladder at international competitions, I was determined we would be the first. When I say we started from the bottom, I mean it! In our first year of international competitions our team finished in last place every time. Thank goodness we were a group of very driven, hard-working athletes. To make a long story short, in September of 2011, we competed at the RG World Championships in France, the qualifying competition for London 2012. Our chances of qualifying were very slim – we needed to perform two perfect routines to secure a spot. And we used our incredible team dynamic and sheer determination to perform two textbook-perfect routines, securing our spot to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games! * BP: That’s an amazing feat, Rosie. But what about your personal struggle that led to your sports diversity advocacy work. RC: I did face another challenge in sport, one that I feel is very important to talk about; the struggle over my sexual orientation, a subject that is too often left unspoken in sport. When I was 14- 15-years-old, I realized with great fear that I was different from everyone else – I was much more attracted to women than to men. This was terrifying because there’s a lot of expectation in the world in general. But specifically there is a lot of expectation in the world of sport, especially in a sport like RG where femininity is such a concentration. Both on and off the field, you are expected to perform in a way that represents there’s only one type of woman – a heterosexual woman, a straight woman. I wasn’t sure what that would do to my position in the sport. Could it potentially influence judging in a sport as subjective as RG, could it end my career or negatively impact my team? I began to feel I was being punished for something and would ask myself what I did to deserve this punishment. I thought long and hard about that question. I felt a huge weight on my shoulders since I wasn’t able to be myself. Instead, I was wearing a permanent mask. I had to pretend all the time, lie to everyone and make up stories to make it seem like I was the same as everyone else. This was exhausting. The amount of training I’ve done in my life does not compare to how exhausted this mask made me feel. Photo by Oliver Aubrais

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Thank goodness, one day a thought miraculously came to me that I had been representing my teammates, my city, my province and my country – but I had not been representing myself. Knowing that I was going to compete at the Olympics, to become an Olympian, I knew with absolute certainty that I was not going to compete with this mask – I was going to honor the actual person who had been on this journey since she was five. There was no going back. I was going to be ME. I started to come out to my teammates and my coaches individually and yes, there were difficulties. But ultimately I was letting myself be free. So at the Olympic Games I was completely open; I had taken off my mask, my disguise. I was representing myself and I felt so free. BP: What have you been doing since your retirement and public coming out in 2014? RC: I am focusing all my being into LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, dedicating my work to future generations of athletes so they don’t feel alone, scared and punished because of their sexual orientation. Nothing is more important to me than sharing a message of inclusion. I started not knowing a single gay person in the gymnastics world – I really felt I was the only gay person in the world. So I began sharing my story, opening up conversations with whomever I could to raise awareness about what LGBTQ+-identified athletes face in the world of sport. For a few years I volunteered all my spare time speaking at events that were willing to learn more about LGBTQ+ inclusion and now I find myself running the Canadian Olympic Committee’s LGBT Inclusion in Sport program! For this I am extremely grateful. BP: Congratulations, Rosie, and thanks so much for your dedication! Are you and your message being openly received in Canada? RC: Yes, I think because I’m a genuine person with a big heart and I care deeply about people. I believe that everyone deserves a happy life and I feel my purpose in this life is to encourage making a change in how people treat each other. There is a life that exists for gay people and it can be a good life. When I was young I spent so much time worrying about how I would be able to live my life as a lesbian, feeling that I would never meet another woman who would love me. I wish I could show my younger self where I am today, what I’ve built for myself and the work I’m doing in the LGBTQ world; also that I am comfortable in my skin now and indeed, have found that other gay people do exist! BP: Rosie, you really have found your purpose in this world and we’re all better for it. Thank you so much for sharing your story! * To see one of those qualification performances go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdCuoQ-0ZVU

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SPORTS

WORLD OUTGAMES MIAMI ANNOUNCES INITIAL SPEAKERS FOR GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE BY HARRY ANDREW COME THE END OF MAY, APPROXIMATELY 10,000 participants from across the globe are expected in Miami, Florida to participate in the World OutGames to share in a 10-day program of sports, culture and human rights. From May 26 to June 4 this year’s event offers 34 different sports and more than 450 events that span those three areas of interest. An important focus of the OutGames that sets it apart from other LGBTQ international sports gatherings is its human rights emphasis, its determination to open people’s minds with compelling and current insights about the LGBTQI community from global thought leaders. While it includes a large sports component, the three-day World OutGames human rights conferences are not restricted to sports issues, however. In keeping with the theme for Miami’s OutGames – ENERGIZE YOUR BODY, EXPAND YOUR HEART and IGNITE YOUR MIND – program tracks include: promoting inclusivity in sports; health and wellness; and global social justice. It was recently announced that the organization has joined forces with the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (IIREHR) in support of the World OutGames Global LGBTQI Human Rights Conference. Their support will aid in developing the exchange of ideas with distinguished panelists from around the world. According to Ivan Cano, CEO of World OutGames Miami, “We are thrilled to have the support of the IIREHR whose generosity will help create an impactful conference as part of our 10-day event. We extend our appreciation to IIREHR Executive Director Carlos Quesada and his staff for their commitment to our efforts which will inspire, motivate and transform thousands of our athletes, participants and activists.” The IIREHR will provide two workshops at the Human Rights Conference in Miami Beach (Friday, May 26 through Sunday, May 28, 2017) and two plenary lunch speakers. Their support will make it possible to welcome 12 LGBTQI human rights activists from Latin America, the Caribbean and Cuba to the conference. “It is our privilege to show our support of this global event,” said Quesada. “We look forward to a meaningful conference which can highlight challenges and pursue solutions for a unified world.” The first confirmed speakers are as follows: • Dr. Cecile Houry of Florida International University speaking on “American Women and the

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Modern Summer Olympic Games: A Story of Obstacles and Struggles for Participation and Equality” as part of the Promoting Inclusivity in Sports program track. Speakers confirmed for the Global Social Justice program track include: • Austin Bryan and Richard Lusimbo from Uganda representing Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). They’ll be speaking on “Politicization of Homosexuality in Uganda: Scapegoating Sexual and Gender Minorities.” • From the U.S. is Carlos Quesada of The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights Country USA, leading a panel on “The Human Rights Situation of LGBTQI people in Latin America.” • Haven Herrin of the U.S., representing the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) North America, is speaking on “Fueling a Queer Religious Left at the Organization of American States.” • Justin Klecha of the U.S. is representing SAVE, South Florida’s leading organization dedicated to protecting LGBT people against discrimination. He will lead “Prejudice Reduction Conversations to Decrease Anti-LGBT Prejudice: An Interactive Workshop on the Art and Science of Persuasion.” • Also speaking as part of the Health and Wellness program track is Marthe Djilo Kamga from Belgium. Online registration at outgames.org is available now to participants and the registration package includes admission to the opening and closing ceremonies, access to OPEN sports and culture events, access to the Festival Village and much more. In addition to the support of the IIREHR, World OutGames Miami is made possible through the support of the Florida Sports Foundation, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority and Miami Sports, Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs Council, the City of Miami Beach, the Miami Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

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SPORTS

NAGAAA LOOKS FORWARD TO 2017 BY KYLE MILLER 2017 IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTH American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA). Wow. It’s hard to believe 40 years of the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) are already on the books, and the 41st GSWS is coming to Portland, Oregon from September 3-10, 2017. NAGAAA has come a long way over the last 40 years and perhaps the theme for the upcoming Portland series says it best, “Progress, Pride, and Play!” I had the opportunity to sit down with Chris Balton, NAGAAA’s commissioner and Roy Melani, director of the 2017 Portland series as they shared some insight into plans for the 2017 year. Roy also serves as assistant commissioner in the open division on Portland’s Rose City Softball Association (RCSA), the member city group playing host for the 2017 series. The upcoming year won’t be the first time NAGAAA takes over the west coast but it’s been awhile since the series has been out west. Seattle hosted the GSWS in 2008, San Diego in 2005, and Portland back in 2002, making it 15 years since Portland has played host. Roy is excited about members of RCSA showcasing Portland and how it has changed over the last 15 years, saying that “Portland is a very progressive city and NAGAAA will be a big fish in a small pond.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAGAAA

Having been openly welcomed by the mayor and governor as a destination for softball players, Roy notes that with the ocean and great hiking less than an hour away, the RCSA is very excited to have lots of fun while they show off the area to the rest of North America. However, he offers this caveat – they cannot control Mother Nature but they do hope the climate in Portland will create an environment that people will not forget. As for the weather, Roy says not to fret. “We will have some turf fields that can be used should there be rain.” But what seems to make Roy the most excited is what he calls the “Portland Experience for the Athlete.” According to him, “This will include over 450 volunteers for the week setting up concierge services.” The volunteers’ duties will include helping teams find restaurants for their team dinners and even making reservations for them as well as arranging off-site accommodations for trips to the Columbia River Gorge and a wine tasting tour of the Willamette valley for those who come early and help with field operations. Since hotel rates are far less for Portland during this time of year, Roy encourages players to come early and enjoy what Portland has to offer. While the city is looking forward to the upcoming series, NAGAAA commissioner Chris says the 40th Anniversary of NAGAAA brings a “deep commitment” of leaders to the organization. Seeking a third term as the NAGAAA commissioner, he reveals that growth is the organization’s biggest hurdle going into its 40th anniversary. While saying that adult softball is declining in North America, he shared that NAGAAA has shown growth since 2000. Ironically, according to Chris, “This poses a challenge for member cities who want to host the GSWS since without softball complexes they won’t be able to accommodate the 200 teams and 5,000 players who attend our annual marquee event.” Founded in 1977, NAGAAA is the largest LGBT sports organization in the country. For more information on NAGAAA and getting involved, visit one of the member cities through the organization website at www.nagaaasoftball.org. Kyle Miller is chair of marketing and communications for NAGAAA

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SPORTS

AUSTIN HITS A HOME RUN HOSTING LGBTQ SPORTS COALITION BY MIRIAM LATTO AUSTIN, TEXAS HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR migrating bats. But the city hosted several important LGBTQ tournaments last year, including the Gay Softball World Series which drew an audience of over 5,000 athletes, coaching staff and fans. Austin is a city that’s serious about being more inclusive. This past December the Austin Sports Commission (austintexas.org) hosted planners from the LGBTQ community led by Connect Sports (connectsports.com). Attendees included representatives from North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA), National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA), North American Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (known as GLISA North America), Federation of Gay Games (FGG), International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA), International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) as well as the Rose City Softball Association (RCSA), Austin Softball Association, HelmsBriscoe (a full service event site

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selection service) and Compete Magazine, the world’s only LGBTQ sports diversity magazine. The group met at The Chive headquarters in downtown Austin to discuss challenges that tournament planners face when planning tournaments. Topics included marketing to millennials, coordinating tournament dates among different organizations and involving more organizations in the LGBTQ Sports Coalition. Josh Todd, sports director with Connect Sports led the coalition meeting. Patrick Higgins, vice president of marketplace for Connect said “we'll be conducting a sports summit for LGBTQ sporting event organizers in Las Vegas this March and we'll cover all participation costs for qualified sporting event organizers of LGBTQ sporting events” The event is being held at the Mirage from March 27-29 (connectmeetings. com). Victor Ocampo of HelmsBriscoe said, “As a first time participant I felt immediately welcomed by the group. I felt

the sense of a common goal. I look forward to a continued partnership in our meetings to develop a significance in the LGBTQ Sports space.” IGLFA’s Kimberly Hadley added that “Austin hosted an enjoyable meeting and experience while showing us the best of the city as LGBT sports organizations and allies gathered to share best practices, discuss challenges and engage support from the community.” Playing tour director was Lance Aldridge, executive director of the Austin Sports Commission. Tour stops included the Hilton Austin Hotel, JW Marriot Austin, South Congress Hotel, Franklin Barbeque, Austin’s Trail of Lights and a bus tour of Austin and its many impressive hotels and sports facilities. “The Austin Sports Commission is honored to be a part of Connect Sport's LGBTQ Sports Coalition. Everything about the Coalition and its initiatives aligns perfectly with the direction of Austin's citywide leadership. We are

excited to be a part of this group as it grows in stature,” Aldridge said. Aldridge and his team at the Austin Sports Commission are available to assist tournament planners in choosing Austin for their next tournament or event.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

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FITNESS

5 KEYS TO FINDING THE PERFECT GYM BY BRYAN LEE

NOW THAT 2017 IS HERE AND THE RESOLUTIONS are kicking in, many are faced with the daunting task of finding the right fitness center to accomplish their transformation goals. The following five key factors will save you a lot of time when it comes to locating your cozy home away from home.

1. GAY FRIENDLY When choosing your perfect fitness habitat, you should choose a place where you feel welcome! Picking a gayfriendly gym with a small-town feel will not only make you feel included but also give you some extra incentive to drag yourself to work out even when you don’t feel like it.

2. VARIETY Finding a fitness center that offers more than cardio equipment and weights is a must. Look for a place that offers classes, boxing, sports courts, rock climbing walls, etc. and utilize the entire facility to keep those workouts fresh and fun.

3. AMENITIES Look for one with some great perks, like free personal training, tanning, massages, swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms, healthy snacks and eye candy. Instead of making your workouts “a job,” make it “a pleasure.”

4. FLEXIBLE AND CONVENIENT HOURS Although your gym doesn’t need to be open 24 hours a day, make sure the hours and days are conducive to your daily schedule.

5. AMPLE PARKING

addition to Hammer Strength fitness machines and free weights, CPG also offers a variety of workout options such as classes, boxing speed bag, aerobics room, even a giant tire for that outdoor bootcamp feel. As an additional perk, this fitness oasis also offers a variety of personal trainers and a tanning salon. Not only is CPG easy to get to being centrally located, there is ample parking in the front and rear of the facility. This is the perfect workout retreat on a hot summer day in Phoenix. www.cpgfit.com

THE SPORTS CENTER AT CHELSEA PIERS, 60 CHELSEA PIERS, NEW YORK, NEW YORK As New York City’s most inspiring gym, the 150,000 sq-ft sports center features a 25-yard indoor pool, basketball courts, a sand volleyball court, indoor rock climbing wall, boxing ring, cardio and strength training and a quartermile indoor track. Three studios are home to 150+ classes a week, including yoga, Pilates and cycling. Although large in size, there really is a sense of community because of the complex design. It never seems busy and you never have to wait in line to use any of the equipment. Perhaps the best part of the workout experience at The Sports Center is relaxing on the sundeck that overlooks the Hudson River! Even though this sports center is a little out of the way, everyone is eager to visit and experience Chelsea Piers and breathe new life into their workouts! www.chelseapiers.com/gym

Finally, make sure that it has a place to park your car! I have come across a number of wonderful workout facilities across the country. Here are just two of them:

CENTRAL PHOENIX GYM, 4530 N 7TH STREET, PHOENIX, ARIZONA Keith Lipman and Randy Eddlemon III have created what they refer to as “a small boutique gym that's trainer based.” Open to the public, they say they’re “very competitive to some of the big chains without that big chain feel; we're still a small business, basically a mom-and-pop or, in our case, a pop and pop store.” Central Phoenix Gym (CPG) strives to create a welcoming environment for everyone. In BRYAN LEE is a National Exercise & Sports Association (NESTA) certified personal trainer, life coach and author who has lost over 130 pounds. Please check with your personal physician before using these health and fitness tips.

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GYM BAG

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If Santa (or your favorite elf) didn’t bring you the specialty sports gear you wanted for Christmas, no worries. Take charge of your 2017 sports performance with some of the newest, best training aids on the market.

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Apple and Nike have paired up to create a perfect running partner, featuring a built-in GPS to track your runs, a bold, easy-to-read face and a comfortable band that’s both lightweight and breathable. Its superior display lets you easily view your pace, distance and time with the brightest Apple Watch display and then swipe for even more information, including heart r a t e and your route. It’s also water resistance-rated to 50 meters. Requires an iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, or 7 Plus and iOS 10 or later and battery life is up to 18 hours It can motivate you with personal reminders based on your run history and the weather that helps you stay focused. You can also share your runs with friends, compete on virtual leaderboards and even send virtual fist bumps to keep each other going. $399

If you’re into extreme sports like Tough Mudder, these may be the shoes for you. Merrell and Tough Mudder teamed up in 2016 and this resulting vegan-friendly special edition shoe is perfect for a mud obstacle race. It provides optimal agility from start to finish yet is easily washable for your next adventure. Its multidirectional lugs help shed mud and provide 360-degree traction and the tread offers drainage and protection from debris while the Unifly™ midsole offers cushioning and stability. Save 15-percent on any U.S.-based 2017 Tough Mudder event using the code: ToughMudderGiftUS2016. Both men’s and women’s Tough Mudder shoes come in two colors and cost $100.

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Yet another partnership, this time between Oakley and Intel has produced Radar Pace™, a real-time voiceactivated coaching system for runners and cyclists that creates a unique training program that tracks your performance and coaches you in the moment. It collects and analyzes your personal performance data, including heart rate, power output, speed, cadence, distance and time. It even automatically adjusts to make up for missed workouts, keeping you on track toward your workout goals. A touch pad on the temples offers control functions with simple taps and swipes for volume, music control, calls from your paired phone and more; the microphone array is enabled for voice commands. Water resistant up to IPX5, it has interchangeable lenses to optimize performance in any environment; Prizm Road lens to optimize and sharpen visual acuity; impact protection and rechargeable via a USB port. $449.

The Beast provides real-time data on the quality of your workout that you can watch on your smartphone screen. It measures the power, speed and force you’re using during your weight-lifting sessions, making it perfect for gym-rats and those working on the perfect six-pack abs. All data is collected in the Beast Webportal, the first performancebased training diary for weightlifting. It delivers a set of relevant information based on sports science that is key in helping you reach your training goals faster. Easy-to-understand metrics help you adjust workouts to your goals and adapt training loads on your daily conditions, thus preventing injuries and overtraining. The Beast Athlete package comes with a Beast sensor, the wristband, a user’s manual and a micro-USB charging cable. $249.

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OVERTIME

EVENTS

FOR A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS PLEASE VISIT COMPETENETWORK.COM/EVENTS

CURRENT EVENTS IN JANUARY AQUATICS

CHICAGO METROPOLITAN SPORTS ASSOCIATION

Las Vegas Masters SCY Las Vegas, Jan. 14

BASKETBALL San Diego Hillcrest Classic 2017 San Diego, Jan. 27

BOWLING Chuzapalooza Tucson, Jan. 13

CHICAGO METROPOLITAN SPORTS ASSOCIATION (CMSA) is another wonderful umbrella organization for a wide variety of sports for LGBTQ and allied athletes. As the largest not-for-profit LGBTQ organization in the Midwest, some of its sports include basketball, golf, kickball, softball, billiards, dodgeball, volleyball, soccer, ultimate frisbee and flag football.

Fort Lauderdale Invitational Regional Tournament Ft. Lauderdale, Jan. 13 Seattle Espresso Cup Seattle, Jan. 27

FLAG FOOTBALL Sin City Shootout Las Vegas, Jan. 12-15

RODEO IGRA University Las Vegas, Jan. 13-15

SOFTBALL Orlando Meltdown Orlando, Jan. 13-15

TENNIS Miami Art Deco Open XXII Key Biscayne, Jan. 13-16

VOLLEYBALL Mardi Gras Classic New Orleans, Jan. 14

MULTI-SPORT EVENT Sin City Shootout Las Vegas, Jan. 12-15

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Begun in 1978 as the Gay Athletic Association, softball was its first sport. The organization continued to add new sports and members until finally changing its name in 1998 to the CMSA. And a look through the organization’s Hall of Fame listings, particularly the early years, show just how involved Chicago athletes were in the early years of the sports diversity movement. CMSA continues to provide camaraderie for Chicago’s LGBTQ athletes – the CMSA Annual Party 2017 is being held January 28 at Joe’s Bar – and the organization and its member sports teams and members continue to practice inclusion and equality within their own ranks. Their annual Pride Bowl hosted by the CMSA Flag Football Leagues, members of the National Gay Flag Football League, won Compete Magazine’s National Tournament Award in Denver this past November for its efforts in creating a women’s tournament division for the first time in the tournament’s history with Matt Herek accepting the award on behalf of his team.

STYLE

BY BOBBY CILETTI, STYLE EDITOR

PUMP YOUR BRAKES BEFORE BREAKING YOUR 2017 RESOLUTIONS BOBBY IS A TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE EXPERT AND FOUNDER OF THEDAYSOFTHECHIC.COM. TWITTER @BOBBYCILETTI

AT THE END OF EVERY YEAR COMES THE START of a brand new year. And many begin that uncharted territory with the requisite New Year’s Eve resolutions. These wellintended resolutions have us vowing for improvement of one kind or another in various areas of our lives. And yet almost immediately, we begin breaking them in January. At that point, since they haven’t made it through the first month of the year, most people choose to abandon their resolutions entirely.

NUTRITION

So how do you avoid setting yourself up for failure and other resolution pitfalls? Instead of changes on a grand level, focus on something manageable and scalable, where the difference between failing and succeeding is not so stark. After all, the only thing that is constant is change. So lighten the self-imposed pressure of a resolution with these broader lifestyle changes for a 2017 that is better, not broken.

When you think nutrition, try to avoid the concepts of diet or weight loss – these resolutions are among the most frustrating and breakable. Instead, focus on nutrition as a whole. Ask yourself questions, like do you eat out more than you cook? Do you have a balanced diet? Do you skip meals? Have you ever checked yourself for nutritional deficiencies or food reactions? Even as a healthy eater you could be surprised to learn you have some land mines hidden within your diet.

STYLE

BOBBY SAYS …

If you have been looking to change your personal style, the beginning of the year is the perfect time to start. Whether you acquired new clothing during the holidays or are taking advantage of the post holiday sales, you can use this moment as a catalyst to change up your style. As the seasons progress, you can continually comb through your wardrobe to make room from your evolving style.

Another way to approach the New Year’s resolution pitfall is to pick a theme instead of specific resolutions. If you want to be more involved, think ENGAGE; if you want new experiences, pick DIVERSITY. The good and perhaps the most rewarding news for the New Year’s resolution dilemma is that you cannot break a theme, only contribute to it. It is a much more rewarding strategy to begin your brand new year!

SKIN Maybe you did not take as good of care of yourself in 2016 as you should have? Forgot to moisturize or maybe didn’t pay attention to applying SPF? Start the year off with a facial to identify skin concerns. And with rising rates of skin cancer, by all means see a dermatologist and have a body check. Next, visit a department store or skin store and talk to experts who can be helpful in finding products for your personal skin concerns. Start by finding and implementing a simple routine with three products or less and build from there.

SLEEP Not getting enough sleep is something that plagues one-in-three adults according to the Center for Disease Control. Sleep is a fundamental component to healthy living. If you are concerned you are not getting enough sleep, talk to a healthcare provider. Also evaluate your bedroom. Consider what adjustments you can make there

to have a better night’s sleep. A new mattress could be the right start and with so many emerging mattress companies out there it is a simple fix. Most of these companies like Casper, Nest or Cocoon offer easy shipping and return options, so it is worth a try.

| COMPETE | January 2017