tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84246693201145849042024-03-13T16:56:42.272-04:00Run Funner: Tips and Tales for Beginning RunnersHow I learned to love running, and what I've learned to keep myself running.Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-60378057612197003902011-08-13T11:01:00.004-04:002011-08-14T16:25:17.773-04:00Weight Loss Secrets Revealed...Well, Sort Of, Anyway.In case you didn't know, I lost 40 pounds over a 6-month period. The change was so drastic that people who hadn't seen me in a while didn't recognize me. The most common question I get asked even now is, "how did you lose all that weight?"<br />
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Are you ready to find out my proven secret? It's so simple, I guarantee anyone can do it. Do you really want to learn my simple mathematical formula for weight loss? Here it is:<br />
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Decreased Input + Increased Output = Success. <br />
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Well gee, that's great, Tim, but what does that mean? <br />
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I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but the truth is that there is no magic bullet when it come to losing weight. It takes a change in perspective, and it takes real commitment. <br />
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The first step toward shedding the pounds is to decrease your caloric intake. In other words, for you Gator fans, this means EAT LESS. Okay, I'm sorry, that Gator snipe was uncalled for. I apologize. Florida Gator fans are not unintelligent people. They're just misguided. Where was I? Right. Eating less. If you want to lose weight, start counting calories. It doesn't really matter how you count them - you can join a program like Weight Watchers, which uses a points system to simplify the process, or you can read the labels of everything you put in your mouth. <br />
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There are a number of websites and services available to help you count your calories. Right now, I use "MyNet Diary." They have a free app you can download to your smartphone, and it connects to a database that has virtually everything you might think to eat. Simply input your meals and snacks and it will tell you the total calories. It will also track your daily calorie intake and, using weight and height information input by you, it will tell you how many calories you need to eat in order to continue your progress. <br />
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The app is also very good about telling you when you are not eating enough. It will tell you how long it will take to reach your goal if you stay with the plan, and it's quite accurate.<br />
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MyNet Diary is just one of many apps and programs available. I use it because i found it worked very well and, well frankly, it was free.<br />
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The next step is to increase your caloric output. This is the hard part. It starts with you getting up off the couch, right now, and strapping on a pair of decent running shoes and pounding some pavement. Don't worry about going too far or too fast. Not yet, anyway. Just worry about moving your body and burning off those calories.<br />
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Remember, food is fuel. Fuel is full of energy. If you take in excess energy, your body stores it as fat. Your fat is kind of like a battery. Have you ever left a cell phone on a charger for too long? What happens? Over time, the battery life begins to decrease. It will even become bloated. Our bodies respond similarly. If we take in more energy than we need, we become bloated as we store all of that extra energy we didn't use. The difference between us and a battery is that we can reverse the process. We simply need to put our extra energy to use.<br />
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I know this isn't the news you wanted to hear, but the fact is there really is no hidden secret to weight loss and healthier living. You simply need to just get out there and do it. The good news is that, in the end, you'll feel better about yourself and you'll inspire others, as well.Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-42630335576764287042011-08-13T10:23:00.004-04:002011-08-13T16:56:02.810-04:00Back to the BlogIf you were following my blog, you may have been wondering where I've been for the last couple of months. More likely you forgot you were ever following it to begin with, and were perhaps even relieved to stop seeing posts from the chubby runner guy in your inbox. <br />
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If for some reason you were actually enjoying my posts, then fear not. I'm back. I've been very busy on other projects for the past several months, and took some time off to recuperate from the rigors of my day job. If you're interested, I have a new side gig writing for About.com as the new Guide to criminology careers. You can follow my work for them at <a href=:http://criminologycareers.about.com">CriminologyCareers.About.com</a><br />
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As for running, don't worry. I'm still running. I won't lie to you, though. The Florida heat has been oppressive, so my mileage this summer has not been as high as I would like it to be. I'm sticking with it, though. Hopefully, you are too. I'll try my best to keep you motivated!Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-53590241959031053252011-05-14T14:21:00.002-04:002011-05-14T14:21:43.544-04:00Keep Moving Forward...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I took a week off of running this past week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never WANT to anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sometimes life happens, like this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, not life entirely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also heat, humidity, and sleep deprivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I move along on this journey into the world of running, every week and every run teaches me something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week, I learned about running while you are sick (don’t do it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week, I learned about running in the heat (don’t do it) and more importantly, sometimes, it’s okay to not run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself over the last year with regards to running, and I have made it a point to religiously run at least 5 days a week, minimum of 2.5 miles per run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lately, I’ve been disappointed if any run is less than 5 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As runners, especially new runners, I think we all put a lot of pressure on ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s bad enough if you’re just trying to get into shape, but if you add weight loss into the mix, then it becomes an unhealthy obsession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve fallen into that trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any day I don’t run 5 miles is a bad day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you can imagine what a terrible week I’ve had when finally, due to long work days, family obligations, zero sleep and 90+ degree weather, I just didn’t have it in me to get up and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I could have made time to get up and go 2 miles, but if I couldn’t go 5, I didn’t want to go 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is silly, really, when you break it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because at the end of the day, and running is better than no running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having realized the folly of my thinking, today I have made myself the pledge that I will squeeze in what I can when I can, and it will be okay if I don’t run a half marathon every time I lace up my shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also realized that summertime running is not the same as springtime, autumn or winter running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time of year, I am finding, greatly affects my performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact of the matter is, 92 degrees and 70 percent humidity is stifling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very fortunate to live in Florida, where 3 quarters of the year are conducive to great running weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have, however, unfortunately entered that 4<sup>th</sup> quarter wherein it is almost impossible to grab a run of any decent length at a reasonable hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our winters are mild, sometime lows dipping below 20, but highs always in the mid 40’s at the lowest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fall and spring are phenomenal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But summer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summer is an oppressive beast, pressing on your chest when you try to breath and beating on your skin as you fight to pad out mile after mile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hot, it’s miserable, and frankly, it isn’t even fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to combat it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just get up and move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can do one mile, than do one mile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can do two miles, do two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Push through the hard summer months, but be careful, and don’t go too hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just keep yourself moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned this week that it’s more important to run a little bit than a lot, and that every run doesn’t have to be a long one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that you should do what your body is telling you it CAN do, not what your mind tells you it wants to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get frustrated when you can’t go as far as you want or as fast as you wish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just keep moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, running is a lot like life in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t do everything we want, and we can’t always go as far or as fast as we think we should, and sometimes, it’s not our fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we do need to keep moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-37180282911503970972011-05-03T20:29:00.003-04:002011-05-04T09:03:36.731-04:00Going the Distance (or finding it easier, anyway)...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got an early birthday present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s called freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, it’s called the Garmin Forerunner 305, but really it’s freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been running almost exclusively on the treadmill for months before I made the transition to road running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were several things I liked about the treadmill, the biggest being that I could set my pace and I could have real-time information on my distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more on treadmill running, see my post </span><a href="http://runfunner.blogspot.com/2011/04/treadmill-is-your-friend.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I didn’t like about treadmill running is that after a few miles, even my “distraction kit” of SportsCenter, iPod and Amazon Kindle couldn’t keep my mind occupied to quell the boredom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to the doldrums of indoor running a few beautiful late winter days in North Florida and a wife who wanted to try running some trails, and you’ve got some motivation to get off the belt and hit the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first started running on roads and trails, I found it to be a tough transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t pace myself well, so I would start out too fast and have nothing left to finish with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I had no idea how far I had gone until I got back and drove the route, or I would plan a route ahead of time on Google Maps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beside the minor inconvenience this caused (I know, I know, this is how people have been doing it for years, and 10 years ago there wasn’t even Google Maps , and I’m a spoiled Gen Xer, blah, blah, blah, but this is 2011 and I’m still a little miffed we don’t have flying cars), I found more often than not, one of two things would happen:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not knowing how far I had gone, I would measure my route after getting home and be disappointed that I had not run farther, knowing I had more in me or I would pre plan an ambitious long route and leave (again starting too fast) only to find that I didn’t have the stuff to finish after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enter the Forerunner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my wife who first brought up the idea of wanting a good training watch, because her watch didn’t have a stopwatch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, she said “I don’t want anything fancy, just a stop watch so I can time my runs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked around and decided on a women’s Timex Ironman series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a good watch for a good price, with lap memory and a stopwatch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But while we were looking, I stumbled upon the existence of GPS watches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was mesmerized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a previous post about shoes (you can read it </span><a href="http://runfunner.blogspot.com/2011/04/first-things.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) I mentioned I had really wanted Nike + shoes so that I could sync them with my iPod, which would in turn give me an idea of my pacing and my mileage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the Nike + sneakers weren’t in the cards, since the running store I go to, Shaw’s Athletics in Tallahassee, doesn’t carry a Nike + shoe with the stability I need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trust Shaw’s with my life, and won’t wear another running shoe unless they tell me it’s okay, the Nike + aint gonna happen for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was intrigued with the idea of a GPS watch, which could give me all the information I had wanted, plus MORE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife started experiencing the same issues I was having with outdoor running, as she was making the transition to the road as well, and I mentioned the GPS watches to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly, she suggested that maybe she’d get me one for my birthday (don’t ask when my birthday is – no one but my family knows, and I’d rather they’d not have found out).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more surprising, she said she’d get it for me EARLY, so I could start using it ASAP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I diligently began to research GPS watches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After scouring review after review, store after store and blog after blog, I had my heart set on the Forerunner 305<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000CSWCQA&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>, which you can find on Amazon.com as well as some of the big boc retailers online like Target and Walmart, though it's no longer available in stores, at least not stores around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason I settled on the Forerunner 305 is that it has all of the features I might think I need, including a heart rate monitor, and you find it new at a reasonable price (around $130 on Amazon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been out for a couple of years, and Garmin has released several other options since the 305, but from all of the reviews I’ve read, it still appears to be the best device they’ve come up with yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has outstanding GPS reception, maintaining good signal in some pretty thick trails in woodsy North Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can record my route, I get real-time feedback as far as pace and distance are concerned, and I can make sure I don’t overdo it with the included heart rate monitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>means for me, more than anything else, is that I can put it on, get out and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have to pre plan routes or drive them afterward anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I literally just go outside, turn it on and run, and as long as I remember how to get home, I’ve got no worries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even then, it has a rudimentary map and remembers your start location, so you can find your way back if need be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can quickly glance down and see if I need to slow it down or speed it up before it’s too late and my body gives up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I can watch my distance and get that extra boost of encouragement by seeing that it I push just a little more, I’ll go just a little bit farther.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really helps me when I feel like stopping to be able to tell myself “just one more half mile, bud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve got a half mile in you!” and the next thing I know, I’ve gone another 2 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only minor issue (and this is minor for me) is that it takes about 45 seconds to a minute to find the satellite when you first turn it on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once it gets the signal, it keeps it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, it has completely changed my whole running experience for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It even motivates me to get up and go to begin with some days because it’s such a neat toy I want to get out and play with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After my run, it syncs with my computer and I can look at my pacing and my mile splits (my pace for each individual mile), my heart rate over time, which I can compare to my distance and my pace, and even my elevation throughout my runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s what I use to update the “My Recent Runs” box on the right side of this page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife loved mine so much, I got her one for an early Mother’s Day gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, if you are completely new to running, I’m not saying go out and buy one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you’ve been at it for any time, and are going to make a hobby<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of it, I absolutely recommend getting a GPS watch to help you along your way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you’re going to get a GPS watch, you can’t go wrong with the Forerunner 305.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*Garmin has not contacted me or offered me anything at all for this post; I purchased the Forerunner on my own, and another for my wife, and it has changed my running experience so much that I wanted to share it with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-31124132872530093432011-05-01T16:20:00.000-04:002011-05-01T16:20:25.985-04:00Just Who Are You Trying To Impress, Anyway?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My wife lies to me, regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tells me, straight-faced, such outrageous fibs as “you look great” and “you’re so skinny” and “don’t you look handsome.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know these to be lies because we do, in fact have mirrors in our home and, despite the fact that I wear glasses, my corrected vision is still 20/15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I know she’s either a bold-faced liar or she needs to make a trip to the optometrist herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering the fact that in all other aspects of her day-to-day life she seems to see just fine, I’m inclined to believe the former over the latter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the alternative would be to believe that she in fact does think I look “great” or “handsome” or “skinny,” and this can’t be true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have pictures. They’re not pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or “handsome.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then again, if she allows me to live until July, we will have been married for 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She must have stuck around for some reason, and I can say with absolute certainty that it aint money (there is none), and it aint my personality (I have none).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So maybe it is my boyish good looks, if by “boy” you mean warthog and by “good” you mean horribly disfigured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if you’ve made it this far in the article, you are no doubt asking “what in the word is the point of all of this self-depreciation?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest assured, there is one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point, friend, is this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have a warped sense of how we look and feel about ourselves, despite how others view us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us )you know who you are) are inclined to believe we are far more important and pretty than we really are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may know these people as “Kardashians” or by their earlier name “Hiltons.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us, however, believe ourselves to be far uglier, fatter, and stupider than we actually are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t give ourselves enough credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spend so much time worrying about what others might think that, more often than not, we don’t listen to what others actually tell us they think!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, it doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No don’t get me wrong:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do care what people think of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be thought of as nice, kind, intelligent, not the stinky guy, etcetera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I can’t worry about what people think of how I look, because that’s probably the part of myself I have the least amount of control over and the most warped perspective about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can control how I treat people, how I talk to them, and what I say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot, barring surgical intervention, change the size of my nose or my ears or the look of my skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in running, at a certain point, there is no more weight loss, there is no more changing of the shape of your body,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there is no more change in the way your clothes fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a certain point, even running, you will just be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because hopefully, the change you get from running, more than your physical appearance, will be on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will feel better internally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will feel better about yourself, despite how you think you look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will feel more proud of yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all of that will keep you going, mile after mile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because at the end of the day, you’re not doing this for anyone else, just you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True, it will help you become a better person, but you’re doing that for you, too, aren’t you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t we all want to be better people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the day, you’re not trying to impress anybody but yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran 10.3 miles today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8 months ago, I couldn’t run 1 mile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should you be impressed by that? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want you to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really not a big deal for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are thousands of people that run farther and faster than I ever will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s a big deal for me, because I am proud of myself for having done it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s what I hope to inspire in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought, the idea, that YOU CAN DO IT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t get anything out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you will, if you strap on those shoes and hit the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be proud of yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you’ll impress yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because you’re the only person you have to impress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone else in your life was impressed by you a long time ago, or they wouldn’t still be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have fun!</span></div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-49217910870838613842011-04-28T21:18:00.001-04:002011-04-28T21:20:28.848-04:00For Those About to Walk...<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002NZMQNY&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Saturday of last week, I ran 9.5 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt great. Seven months ago, I would have told you that was insane, and that we domesticated horses and invented cars for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran it nonstop at just under a 10-minute mile pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who have been running for a long time, you’ll likely say that wasn’t very fast at all, and that a good runner would cover that distance nearly twice as fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you’re right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to win any marathons at that pace, and I’m darn sure not going to win a 5K.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not even my best pace, though for that distance, I feel pretty good about it, which is the whole point of this blog: learning to feel good about yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After doing some more reading and research, I learned that, at that distance, it’s a good idea to bring some food, like an energy bar and water and / or Gatorade to rehydrate and replenish electrolytes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After reading this, I felt so good and so confident that I could do better that the next day, I got up, strapped on my Camel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pak (loaded with Gatorade), grabbed a granola bar, and set out on what I tended to be an even longer and faster run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the first mile, I was feeling okay and decided it would be a good idea to work on my speed a little bit, so I started sprinting at quarter mile intervals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After mile 2, I was feeling tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I decided to take a nice, easy jog for a little bit of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After mile 3, things started to chafe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men, if you have been running for any length of time at any significant distance, you know what I’m talking about and you know how bad it hurts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJYGISrb4TRe_XBmh5Ccbpwz9X3436I4f3Q8Hm3FxiZUPXb0ijNK7-mRiKOjoEYLrNLgb5TJacBwClPjvLaDGW0Doab06LHbveIndttlfDvoaPTTMbvAmsJr4l4HpMBs4AfeXIiTpslg/s1600/IMG_0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJYGISrb4TRe_XBmh5Ccbpwz9X3436I4f3Q8Hm3FxiZUPXb0ijNK7-mRiKOjoEYLrNLgb5TJacBwClPjvLaDGW0Doab06LHbveIndttlfDvoaPTTMbvAmsJr4l4HpMBs4AfeXIiTpslg/s320/IMG_0047.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ladies, I’ll just say that I’m not talking about what you think I’m talking about, but I’m still too polite to come right out with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, I was in pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going shirtless wasn’t an option because I had my Camel Pak and because I was in a residential neighborhood and, frankly, no one’s done anything bad enough to deserve having to see me running through their neighborhood without a shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I started to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked for another 3 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that was all I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My legs were tired, my chest was tired, I was hot, and other stuff hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you are no doubt asking yourself “why is this idiot telling me all of this?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I’ll tell you why:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I want you to realize that sometimes you gotta walk before you can run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or in this case, walk after you run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case, what I’m saying is that it’s okay to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you can give yourself permission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t use to think that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first started, and was actually able to run, I felt like walking would be a step backward, would be me giving up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, some days, your body is just not going to have anything to give.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you’re working hard most days, that’s to be expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a difference between not wanting to and not being able to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are otherwise able to get up and run, but just don’t want to, than you’re giving up. If your body just doesn’t have anything left to go out and pound the pavement, than walking will do the trick just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will still burn calories, keep you moving, keep your legs warm and loose for another run tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will still get you your miles for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it will, I the long run, help build your endurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no shame in walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is only shame, is you are inclined to feel it, in not trying, in giving up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And walking is not giving up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve said before, and I’ll keep saying it. You will have good runs, you will have great runs, and you will have downright ugly, nasty runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nasty runs make the good ones better and the great ones greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any runner who tells you they always feel great after every run is lying, unless what they mean to say is that they always feel better that they decided to run as opposed to not running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days, I feel terrible after I run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This afternoon, for example, on my lunch break, I only had time for two miles, so I got my two miles in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I never even start to feel good on a run until around mile 3, so there was no way it was going to be a good run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m still glad I ran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So keep moving, even if you’ve got to walk a little bit, or even a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll better and better about yourself in the long run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-54369783451781690842011-04-23T16:05:00.001-04:002011-04-23T18:01:56.886-04:00Racing, for the Uninitiated<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001TP73UK&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Up until April 2, 2011, which was only 3 weeks ago from the date of this post, I had never in my life ran in any sort of race of any kind, whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After running for several months on my own, I had only recently begun toying with the idea of participating in a road race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been running up to 6 miles fairly consistently, at what I thought was a pretty decent clip for a fat guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My best time was 6 miles in 56 minutes on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I started looking for races around town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason, the 5K distance just didn’t excite me…I felt like, for my first race, it would be over too fast for me to even enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I signed up for a 10K, with my lovely and dedicated (she’d have to be, fat as I was) bride signed up for concurrent 5K, which meant we could line up together and maybe run together for a bit before our courses diverged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turns out, there are a lot of things you should know going in to your first race, especially if it is well attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First among them is pre-registering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was one we figured out on our own, and fortunately we registered online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was good for a couple of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One, we paid and there were no refunds, so there was no backing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two, we didn’t have to worry that they would run out of bibs or spaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also helps the race organizers plan appropriately for aid stations and refreshments at the finish line (we’ll get to these later).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8J62oNlgskn2n9Xp_3xwtYRR4Y1wsUvWJ8F93hqFgtVpdz2scYqXyFgF7qf-q2UbeHXZtDJ8CDw6Sai4XYw59mIjYS78TOITo5EcizO9zN-k2YBX2LRGOcF2ONy1i3YTyLZhTSn9z5Y/s1600/Jamie+and+Tim+running.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8J62oNlgskn2n9Xp_3xwtYRR4Y1wsUvWJ8F93hqFgtVpdz2scYqXyFgF7qf-q2UbeHXZtDJ8CDw6Sai4XYw59mIjYS78TOITo5EcizO9zN-k2YBX2LRGOcF2ONy1i3YTyLZhTSn9z5Y/s320/Jamie+and+Tim+running.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>One thing we didn’t know about was the “packet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During pre-registration, of course, there was all kinds of information about race packet pickup, when and where we could do it, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Problem was, we didn’t know what “packet pickup” meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I know this sounds really stupid, but at the time, our line of thinking was “what could a race packet possibly consist of?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, generally, when I’m running, I have as little with me as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured for races, you paid your money, maybe got a t-shirt, ran and went home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we learned, what the packet consists of, at least around where I live, is your ‘bib,’ which is the paper number you see runners wearing in races, and maybe your shirt if you got one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around Tallahassee, where I live, the bibs contain the timing chip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some races, you may have to attach the chip to your shoe, but our bibs have the chip attached to the back of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this packet, while very important, is no big deal, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, it’s not so big that it would warrant the need to pick it up early, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have looked around at any races in your area, you’ll likely see that most of them start early in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which meant that, if you have other obligations (like kids) you have a very short timeframe within which to get to the race location, park, get your packet, put your bib on, use the restroom one last time (which I am finding out is very important), and get to the starting line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived on the morning of our first race, we panicked because we saw so many people who looked like they had done this before, getting out of their cars already wearing their bibs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We asked them where they got them and they told us they had picked them up before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we panicked even more,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because we asked if they had a registration</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> table and they told us they didn’t know, suggesting we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>weren’t going to get to run after all because we were too lazy to go pick up our stupid packets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turns out, there was a table, as there always is, but the line was long and time was short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this was a long, drawn out way of saying that you should pick your packet up early if you can, so you can show up at the starting line ready to go without having to worry about silly things like bibs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the race started, I thought I had originally planned on running alongside my wife, but she could see I wanted to run, so she said “just go!” and off I went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was surprised at how much the adrenaline and the excitement of the race propelled me and gave me boosts along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, running in such a huge pack allowed me to pace myself better, picking people to pace or pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you approach the finish line, there is a clock, so you can see your gun time and and give you that last little push to fight for a few extra seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up finishing my first 10K, which is 6.2 miles, in 55:23, which was my personal record.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I got to the finish line, my lovely wonderful wife was already there waiting (having run the 5K), and I can tell you there was no better sight in the world than seeing her proud face when she saw me coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the race, there were tables set up with food and refreshments (lots of carbs to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>replace what you lost: bagels, juice, water, etc.), and everyone there was extremely friendly and happy, which makes sense if you think about it, because this was probably the single largest gathering of </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgVKR3mkGIIQV10h6hm4WAKs5xzydFDo_1xqpAvjRX7JJoYaiykvG-ixk244sgzy-FNMzqLKJbwkhSa4S7Lw6q2r3Pkx_p52GRu8hPovFUlsJo3NqPoJ45XV2eigiKS7144VGojTdzQc/s1600/Tim%2527s+10k+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgVKR3mkGIIQV10h6hm4WAKs5xzydFDo_1xqpAvjRX7JJoYaiykvG-ixk244sgzy-FNMzqLKJbwkhSa4S7Lw6q2r3Pkx_p52GRu8hPovFUlsJo3NqPoJ45XV2eigiKS7144VGojTdzQc/s320/Tim%2527s+10k+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">endorphins in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I made my way to the water table, where I heard the single greatest </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">sentence I believe has ever been uttered (outside of the Bible):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re out of water. Is beer okay?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, are you kidding me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When is beer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NOT</i> okay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean besides when you are driving or are at work or, well I’m sure there are a few other occasions when it wouldn’t be appropriate, but really, how awesome is beer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now don’t get me wrong, I am not a big drinker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may normally<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>drink<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about 12 alcoholic beverages of any kind in a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just choose to spend my money on other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But nonetheless, ice cold beer is very refreshing, and I now know that it is insanely refreshing after running your heart out for 6.2 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea going into this race that there would be such a big to do at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just thought you’d run, get your time and go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these races are so much more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re a celebration of running, people who share your enthusiasm for the sport or who are trying to jumpstart their weight loss, or who are trying to accomplish a personal goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they’re all happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which makes the races fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And which is why I am now addicted to racing, and have found one more reason to love running.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-89420686918769406542011-04-22T19:06:00.000-04:002011-04-22T19:06:21.352-04:00I am not an elite runner....<span><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000MGFVQ0&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span>...Not by any standard. In fact, I'm not even a <em>good</em> runner. I'm just a runner. And I'm okay with that. My last race, I finished in the top 30 percent overall, but smack dab right in the middle for my age group. So I guess you could say I am an average runner. But I still consider myself to be a beginner, and there are a million things I don't know about running. Which is why I started writing about it. That probably sounds counterintuitive, and in a sense it is. But there is a method to my madness. As I have progressed in my hobby (as I've previously posted <a href="http://runfunner.blogspot.com/2011/04/change-paradigm.html">here</a>, I don't call running "excercise" ...it sounds too much like work and kind of sucks all of the joy out of it), I have naturally tried to find information about it, such as what equipment to use, how to run faster or longer, etc. But as I've searched and searched, I keep finding running blogs and articles that were written by researchers and elite runners, who use terms that I still don't understand, like VO2 max and fartlek (although fartlek sounds like something I would have called my little brother when we were growing up, as it turns out, it's a Swedish term and has to do with speed work - which is another term I have only recently begun to use). I'll be honest with you: I still don't care about all of that stuff. Now there are probably some hard core runners who may read this and gasp. That's okay. I understand. But hear me out. I'm just starting out. I'm the guy for whom it was a big deal less than a year ago for me to be able to run a full mile without stopping for a cheeseburger, a glass of water and an oxygen mask at least twice along the way. So fartleks and <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqN7f9gpigTqWQIQplk8ZgKBLlw2wJb4gXTEnFrS6p1lSuJSXD5-k544BXL-i_yxPsuQteUBr2Pgy-1UtkSbdgWifUd4jnjkztgrJlu-61ytoOno2TVUWAu5K_G8sUnt6f5OpgyOOdM5s/s1600/Jamie+and+Tim+running.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqN7f9gpigTqWQIQplk8ZgKBLlw2wJb4gXTEnFrS6p1lSuJSXD5-k544BXL-i_yxPsuQteUBr2Pgy-1UtkSbdgWifUd4jnjkztgrJlu-61ytoOno2TVUWAu5K_G8sUnt6f5OpgyOOdM5s/s320/Jamie+and+Tim+running.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>intervals and "speedwork" were way outside of my realm. But when I was first trying to learn more about running, those terms were very overwhelming. I sometimes second guessed myself because I kept being confronted with how much I really didn't know, and started wondering if it really was for me. It seemed like everyone else on the planet had been running their entire lives and I was the only idiot who had just clued in to the fact that it was fun and good for you. I kept with it anyway, because the weight was falling off and, well, bikini season was coming up and I was going to finally fit into my two-piece. Wait, that was my wife. I kept running because, despite my hopeless lack of knowledge and my dismally slow speed, I felt good. And then I realized that there's plenty of time for caring about fartleks and VO2 max later. Right now, I just like running. It makes me feel good about myself. Let's face it, no matter how fast I get, I'm not going to win a 5k, and I'm definitely not going to win a marathon. But I do enjoy running in them. Well, not marathons yet, but I'm working on it. Running is personal, and it's all about yourself and your accomplishments. The only person you ever really need to worry about trying to beat is yourself. And you don't even really need to worry about that. My point is simply this: If you are new to running, just get out there and do what you can. Work your way up to a distance you feel good about, at a pace you can handle. Eventually, you'll start going faster on your own. Take the pressure off. Unless it’s something you grow to love, you won't want to do it often, which means someday you'll stop. And I'd hate for you to stop. It's okay to just be who you are. You don't have to be a lifetime track star. Just get out there and go! Make yourself proud. So here's to us newbies and beginners and average runners! And when you start participating in races, please, for the sake of those running behind you, try to go easy on the fartleks!Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-77407860433262568012011-04-20T21:00:00.000-04:002011-04-20T21:00:51.060-04:00Change The Paradigm...<span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwO7Bi2dqHdyuiqOR5BH76Cq6oiQpNrA9Q96CUOYmccf_7nhJRTq8f1qssTzAJ8J1Q1iiXj_oqGacP0lheTEIhQ92MKoZ1edKdTR3AMElVdSBQtUem3Rvne0UsIFua2vcnmfOrILUYww/s1600/100_6285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwO7Bi2dqHdyuiqOR5BH76Cq6oiQpNrA9Q96CUOYmccf_7nhJRTq8f1qssTzAJ8J1Q1iiXj_oqGacP0lheTEIhQ92MKoZ1edKdTR3AMElVdSBQtUem3Rvne0UsIFua2vcnmfOrILUYww/s320/100_6285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I've said previously that until about 9 months ago, I hated running. Or, more precisely, I hated anything that had anything to do with physical exertion of any kind. I'm not sure if I can properly articulate to you how much I disliked the concept of exercising, but let me put it to you this way: I have been "Tased" before, and I can honestly tell you that, though it only lasted 5 seconds, and that as soon as it was over there was no lingering pain or other effect, it was nonetheless the longest 5 seconds of my life and the most excruciating thing I have ever experienced. I would rather be shot in the arm or leg with a bullet than be tased again, and if anyone EVER points a taser at me and tells me to do something, by God I am going to do it. Until August of last year, if you gave me the choice of being tased or exercising for 30 minutes, I'd take <span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0013B9Q64&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>the Taser. So hopefully we are clear about where I fell on the whole exercise thing. So what changed for me? The answer is lot's of things. Motivation, for one. And by that I mean that I actually was motivated, whereas I had been previously. Before I began running, I was dieting, and I was fairly successful. You will be surprised how much you can accomplish by simply counting your calorie intake and being accountable for what you eat. As well as that was working for me, I wanted to take my weight loss up a notch, so I started walking kind of fast and calling it "working out." But remember at that point in time, I still hated it. The phrase "Working Out" was akin to a filthy limerick (and not even a funny one) or a fart in church during communion (again, not a funny one..okay, it would be<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWATCTxaGks41ms3f-Wyz0g5VAK37aRP3JyQ9HnEPJS4jNv-mgy0X7OnzGIcQcq5uLGBa5XELL4hbumlCg8mOYVLjfd53hW3W6ZYsmEC8Lrseu0I0T7Aryov4OFVU0QOsmsEljfI-l4E/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWATCTxaGks41ms3f-Wyz0g5VAK37aRP3JyQ9HnEPJS4jNv-mgy0X7OnzGIcQcq5uLGBa5XELL4hbumlCg8mOYVLjfd53hW3W6ZYsmEC8Lrseu0I0T7Aryov4OFVU0QOsmsEljfI-l4E/s320/IMG_3887.JPG" width="320" /></a> kind of funny....well, alright, it would be hilarious). Hopefully, you get my point. "workout" was a dirty word. So what did I do to keep me going? I stopped calling it exercise. I just started calling it "running." Becoming a runner was all about changing my perspective on running. Exercise was something you were <em>supposed to do</em>, something people like doctors or your parents <em>told you to do</em>, like homework or coming to a full and complete stop at a stop sign when no traffic is coming. But "<em>running</em>," well that was a hobby. That was something I <em>chose</em> to do. I know that, in the end it is a difference without distinction, but it made all of the difference to me. In fact, I still refuse to say that I <span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000092YR6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>exercise. I "go for a run." It sounds pleasant, relaxing and enjoyable. I am a "runner." It's just what I do, just like some of you are crafters, or knitters, or bikers, or surfers or whatever it is you do that <em>makes you happy</em>. And running makes me happy, because I do it for fun, not for exercise. Not for work. It's not work. It's my free time and my hobby. So I refuse to call it exercise. Because "exercise" is an imposition. Running is a passion. The whole point of this post is to say simply this: if you are truly interested in taking up running, I highly suggest you shift your perspective on the subject. Yes, it is good for you. Yes, you will be healthier. Yes, you <em>should</em> do it or some other form of cardiovascular activity. All of those things will be no less true by changing your thought process. But what changing your thought process can do for you is get you interested in running for all of the selfish reasons that really motivate us deep down, like the fact that, in our busy day to day lives, we all want a little free time or quiet time to ourselves (throw on the earbuds, crank some tunes and go for a run...talk about "me" time!). So don't call it exercise. Call it a hobby. Call it your quiet time. Call it your time to decompress. But trust me. Get out there and go, and you'll love yourself for it!Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-81542828616854955222011-04-18T19:54:00.000-04:002011-04-18T19:54:54.618-04:00The Treadmill Is Your Friend...<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002L6HE9G&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrmFwzZr9i65oYifri6B0EUHYYC1PJ_jnEhs9JlSpnfKDFir1HdP1m_VKcNQlwh9J-S7qVs84D2VHgs8UkM74vYRXOI1DzN8fPjr67DSl1j-bBp5W6KoUZCN_2ldV1VvxQZuYUjQ59qc/s1600/208705_10100707755968213_5217230_68370449_2065817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrmFwzZr9i65oYifri6B0EUHYYC1PJ_jnEhs9JlSpnfKDFir1HdP1m_VKcNQlwh9J-S7qVs84D2VHgs8UkM74vYRXOI1DzN8fPjr67DSl1j-bBp5W6KoUZCN_2ldV1VvxQZuYUjQ59qc/s200/208705_10100707755968213_5217230_68370449_2065817_n.jpg" width="200" /></a> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am not like a lot of runners you may read about. I have never, ever been any kind of athelete. Sure, I played baseball and soccer and basketball as a boy, but really only because it was a social convention for American boys; it's just what boys were supposed to do. I was never good at any of it. And I hated to have to run. Physical exertion has never, up until now, been a "thing" for me. So I'm not too proud to admit that it was really, really , REALLY hard when I first started running. My chest hurt, my legs hurt, my feet hurt, my head hurt. and I was dizzy during and after my workouts. I know now that was probably a bad thing and that I was probably...scratch that, I was DEFINITELY working too hard for my fat little body and my tired little heart. Looking back at how I felt after those first few "runs," I realize now I should have slowed down just a tad. The sad thing is that I wasn't going very fast to begin with. I'm talking maybe 2 miles in 25, 30 minutes. When I tell you I was out of shape, I am telling you I was WAAAYYY out of shape. I was in such bad <span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002NZMQNY&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>shape, I had to strap a Camelbak to my back just to go 2 miles. So how did I get past it? Perseverance. I would love to tell you there is some magic formula, but there's not. You either want it or you don't. For me, for the first time in my life, I wanted it. But even at that, it was hard to keep going at first. The key word for those of you who are starting at zero like I was is: DISTRACTION. It is all about distracting your brain and your body. So when I started running, I started on a treadmill. If you have access to a treadmill, I highly recommend you start off there. You can set your pace, and you can easily track your progress. It is inside, so there are no excuses for temperature or weather. But more importantly, it offers ample opportunity for you to distract yourself. When I first started running on the treadmill, I did so ith the help of SportsCenter, my iPod, and my Amazon Kindle. I set the Kindle on the treadmill and adjusted the font so I could read it while I moved, I cranked the iPod up to max, and put closed captioning on the T.V. This way, There was always somewhere for me to take my brain when it got tough. I could tell myself, "Just one more song," or "Just one more page and I'm done," or "Just let me get through this story on Albert Pujols." And after that one more song or one more page or <span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002FQJT3Q&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>one more Pujols story (can’t enough Albert Pujols news…please, please, please re-sign with the Cards!), I would look down and see that if I pushed just a little harder, I would have gone farther or faster than I ever had before. And before I knew it, I was running 3, 4 and 5 miles regularly. And my pace was quickening. I also recommend starting off on a treadmill because you can set your pace, whereas if you run outside, it is very difficult for you to pace yourself and you can get yourself hurt very fast, with no progress made. Additionally, the treadmill will help reduce injury in those early days because it is going to be cushioned, or at least offer more cushioning than the asphalt, which means you will have more opportunity to strengthen your muscles and bones before you push yourself too hard. So if you are thinking about beginning running, only you knows what's best for you. But for me, the treadmill made all of the difference in the world. And when the time comes, you will likely want to transition to outdoor running, as I have. For the last couple of months, I have been running almost exclusively outdoors, only using the treadmill during inclement weather or if I need to squeeze a quick run in after work. But in the beginning, I don’t think I could have gotten as far as I have without first taking those baby steps on the treadmill.</div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-1943531110866569422011-04-17T20:14:00.004-04:002011-04-17T21:07:17.339-04:00Why I Run...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORe-jaHL37ODpUYBJuunBZytB0Og2k6TtfMQdDF79IM0c1CpqdNRmmokHwdkMUtQzxawa0mzK2zF_2hG9jI1MtCpGSMooRGdVJN01Jl0iYiSGpoUgVvtw-2kG-dtsPOaMvk_hlAjIwMs/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORe-jaHL37ODpUYBJuunBZytB0Og2k6TtfMQdDF79IM0c1CpqdNRmmokHwdkMUtQzxawa0mzK2zF_2hG9jI1MtCpGSMooRGdVJN01Jl0iYiSGpoUgVvtw-2kG-dtsPOaMvk_hlAjIwMs/s320/IMG_5564.JPG" width="320" /></a>As I said in an earlier post, my passion for running all started with weight loss. Or, more specifically, wanting to look good for my wife. I understand that everyone has different motivations. My sincere hope is that you find yours. Once you catch the running bug, you'll have a hard time losing it. But staying with it until then takes some serious mind over matter and "stick-to-it-tive" that is tough to come by without some outlying motivator. Short term goals are great, but if you are looking to lose weight or get healthy, a full blown lifestyle change is required. So you've got to want it. For me, more than anything, I wanted to be the man my wife deserved. The first time I hopped on the treadmill, she told me she was proud of me. It was like a drug! Every step, every milestone, however small, I could see and feel her pride. Nothing motivates me more, even now. But in the beginning, when it really was all work and no fun, when I wanted to fall on the floor and die, all red-faced and wheezing after just one mile, the only thing that made me want to get back up and do it all over again the next day was thought that my wife was proud of me. So I kept going. That pride is still there, but I have finally developed a love for the sport of running. Because after all of that hard work, I feel good about myself. And I feel good both mentally and physically. So I am finally where my wife wanted me to be all along: I'm doing this for <em>me</em> now. Not because anyone wants me too, not because I need to lose weight, not because anyone else is imposing anything else on me, either real or imagined. I'm doing it because I love it. And I love it because it <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000E3XPYQ&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>evolves. Running is always different, never the same. Even running the same route. I have good runs, I have great runs, and I have really nasty runs. But they're always <em>different</em> runs. And there is always, and always will be, a challenge. And I love a challenge. No matter what I do, how fast or how far I go, there will always be room to improve. Which means I'll never give up or get bored. I love running because it gives me an opportunity to spend some time with myself and my thoughts. Now, you may say that you can do that on the couch as well as you can running,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTZerFE8aOkkW8cydVVNYD9j2UvKUkQl-MXyj65cXt_8yO_N2BggtuCVutwvS7CpCYl9DADl_4UlfUp2N8HmtN7wLx8gCUrxUhxwKvOlTayypzhy_CZHHC26RUnx2zy6eh5d0DSVto30/s1600/IMG_5561+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTZerFE8aOkkW8cydVVNYD9j2UvKUkQl-MXyj65cXt_8yO_N2BggtuCVutwvS7CpCYl9DADl_4UlfUp2N8HmtN7wLx8gCUrxUhxwKvOlTayypzhy_CZHHC26RUnx2zy6eh5d0DSVto30/s200/IMG_5561+%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a>but you can't. Running allows you to tune out the world, and the world knows not to bother you while you're running. I love running because I get a tremendous sense of accomplishment, like I've never gotten anywhere before. Yes, I have accomplished much in my life, but not like this. In the past, and even now in most facets of my life, I try to achieve based on others' expectations’. In running, it is all about me, and the joy is all mine, and the accomplishment is all mine. Every mile I add to my maximum distance is another notch on my belt. Every second I shave off of my time is one more sign that the work is paying off. I love running because it has changed my life in ways I never thought possible. So, I started this blog because hopefully, just hopefully, you can learn to love it to. When something makes you this happy, you want to share it with everyone. And so I am sharing it with you. And also, maybe as I run and as I write, I'll become the man my wife deserves.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div></div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-14803256395077010712011-04-16T19:59:00.004-04:002011-04-17T20:14:52.291-04:00First Things....SHOES, SHOES, SHOES!If I can share one thing with you about running that will change your life, it is this: SHOES. You cannot scrimp on a good pair of running shoes. Think about it. Running is a non-contact sport (or activity, if the word "sport" scares you away). The only piece of gear you carry or wear that should touch the ground are your shoes. If other things are touching the ground, send me an email...you may be doing it wrong. When I first began my running lifestyle, I did not know this. As a seasoned couch potato, however, I did see a lot of commercials. So I KNEW that Nike was the best shoe you could get. I didn't know anything about running shoes. At first, I was running in run of the mill, everyday all-purpose sneakers. As it became apparent that I was going to be "doing this for a while," I realized I needed to invest in a pair of "good" running shoes. So I drove my happy (and rotund) rear to the department store and picked up a $60 sale pair of Nike Reax running shoes. Hey, they said "run" right on the shoe, so I'm good, right? As it turns out, not so much. Don't<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojyjdxKlft8lVE6_tKL3umzPifmUiVWVY_0BvjCx8hV95AbuNvOPumZCq89Z95vIY0EoQEIGzQq361VWDkmIdSvT3kAmhekAhVnUdhyr4B4vQk_2BGtVbhlNHiqTa2Jl3H1cnlbpoy7c/s1600/Reax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojyjdxKlft8lVE6_tKL3umzPifmUiVWVY_0BvjCx8hV95AbuNvOPumZCq89Z95vIY0EoQEIGzQq361VWDkmIdSvT3kAmhekAhVnUdhyr4B4vQk_2BGtVbhlNHiqTa2Jl3H1cnlbpoy7c/s200/Reax.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nike Reax</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">get me wrong, Nike makes a fine product. This is not in any way meant to knock Nike. However, I very quickly learned that, when it comes to running, you CANNOT just grab a pair of shoes that look like they're running shoes and go. As a matter of fact, I have since learned not to place any value whatsoever in what the shoe looks like, as long as it works. I'll get to that in a bit. But before I do, let me tell you how I came to these conclusions. Back to the Nikes. Remember, I had no clue about running shoes, but of course I had heard of Nike and Reebok an Asics and New Balance, blah, blah, blah. So I <em>knew </em>they had to be great shoes, right? So I bought my pair and ran with them. Literally. Now, no speed, no distance, no problem. So they were great starter shoes, because I was not straining myself in any way (or rather, looking back I'll say I shouldn't have been straining myself in any way...I was SLLLOOOWWW). But once I picked up my speed, the aches and pains started setting in. During this time, my wife was running with me, as well, and she started experiencing sever foot pain. After some research in the internet, she started to believe it might be time for new shoes. I knew of a specialty sport shoe store in town (Shaw's) from when my little brother played soccer (I was never an<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0000ANG1E&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> athelete of any kind), and suggested she try it. Long story short, they provided her with a pair of shoes that fixed her problem, and she was on her way. I continued to struggle with dull aches and pains, but I attributed most of it to my attempts to increase my speed and my distance, and the normal soreness associated with exercising (I hate that word - exercise - I'll post on that later). I was not yet in tune with my body, and not yet accustomed to the normal aches to realize <em>something was wrong</em>. One September Saturday morning, after I had been running regularly for about 6 weeks (and my body had begun to crave it), I ran the furthest I had ever run: 6 miles. I was so proud and felt so great. I was on a huge high all day because of my great accomplishment, and knew I would only go farther and faster from there. Until the next morning, when I stepped out of bed. My right foot felt like I was literally stepping on knives. Thinking I must have slept on it funny, I decided to go for my run anyway. I couldn't even make it a mile, the pain was so great. I couldnt put any weight on it. I took a week off, resting my foot, alternating heat and ice, and sucking down iboprofren. Nothing worked. I began to panic. I was watching all of my hard work and progress drain away, all due to a stupid injury. Finally, my wife convinced me to go get new shoes. I was still being stubborn, and had my heart set on a pair of Nike + sneakers so I could sync them with my iPod, but she insisted I wear whatever the people at Shaw's gave me. At the store, I told the salesman my problem. He asked me to take off my shoes and walk so he could watch me. I did. He said "I'll be right back." He walked into the back room, handed me a box of Saucony ProGrid Guide 4's and said "try these on." I did. I have never looked back. My new shoes saved my running life. As soon as I tried on the shoes, the pain went away. Not being familiar with running, I had never even heard of the brand, but I didnt care. All I knew was that my foot did not hurt anymore and I could run again.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqNgaSLFQRTGSCgJJg7c7B55iu_BG0z1AHfu6Mndi1JVXrmh61ESTUEQVpCLqgoQHrkgOwKYXNMEWJsOzv6TZLdF7OgmEqILe4fvYeEGOyX6xPW0Q8G8ZuuHS6BqbbuLSnqzrBhM_CFI/s1600/20091-2_1_700x700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqNgaSLFQRTGSCgJJg7c7B55iu_BG0z1AHfu6Mndi1JVXrmh61ESTUEQVpCLqgoQHrkgOwKYXNMEWJsOzv6TZLdF7OgmEqILe4fvYeEGOyX6xPW0Q8G8ZuuHS6BqbbuLSnqzrBhM_CFI/s200/20091-2_1_700x700.jpg" width="200" /></a> I am not telling you that you should run out and buy yourself a pair of Sauconys (although they work FANTASTIC for me!). I'm just trying to share with you what I've learned, and what I learned was that you need to select your shows based on your foot; all shoes are NOT for all people. Pronation, Overpronation and Underpronation are terms that you will hear alot when looking for shoes. I am telling you this: don't worry about it. Don't try to figure out what's wrong with your feet. There are professionals who will do that for you, better than you can. Don't try to pick shoes on your own. If you are going to run, you need the right equipment to do it in, and more important than anything else, you need the right shoes FOR YOU. So if you have not already done so, you <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0041KL9G4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>need to go to a speciality running store and allow the sales associate to help you. LISTEN TO THEM. They know what they are talking about. Save yourself the pain and the hassle I went through, not to mention the $60 I was out for a pair of shoes that ended up hurting my feet. I cannot reiterate enough: DO NOT SCRIMP ON SHOES! Wearing the right show will make all the difference in the world in your running. And once you've found the right pair of shoes, keep a log and track your miles. There are planty of web sites that allow you to do this, such as active.com, but an excel spreadsheet or simple pen and paper will do the trick. Your running shoes will have about 300-400 good miles in them. After that, you'll need a new pair or you'll risk injury. Your body will tell you when it's time for a new pair, too. Listen to it. I'm not telling you anything I haven't found out the hard way. I just bought my second pair last week. Trust me, it is not a gimmick to get you to buy shoes more often. They break down, and when they break down, you will, too, if you don't replace them. I'd like to say a special thank you to Shaw's Athletics in Tallahassee for saving my feet and allowing me to keep on running. You guys are great!</div></div>Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424669320114584904.post-2112378500709124722011-04-16T17:24:00.002-04:002011-04-20T19:59:09.010-04:00It almost always starts with weight loss...<strong>Welcome!</strong><br />
This is the first post of what I hope will be a long-lasting journal of my adventures in weight loss and running. My goal is to chronicle everything I learn, so that others can benefit from my mistakes and set themselves up for success.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEqe0h8WqsYx2tidUFHaYO5IcY8aUqk0dJkf03o10xSmrYZ1IyQIxBtmGZ4uQabRL4kV4BcXpmCJeUNvkzBWBmHaY9qP3LTnskdn0encTSAuBacZDCXE5iMNwxxXJskiVMe8ykFV-_aE/s1600/before+and+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEqe0h8WqsYx2tidUFHaYO5IcY8aUqk0dJkf03o10xSmrYZ1IyQIxBtmGZ4uQabRL4kV4BcXpmCJeUNvkzBWBmHaY9qP3LTnskdn0encTSAuBacZDCXE5iMNwxxXJskiVMe8ykFV-_aE/s320/before+and+after.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Fatty McGee to Forest Gunp</strong><br />
Soooo....yeah, both those guys are me. Forty + pounds apart. The first picture was taken on January 1, 2010. The second was taken on April 16, 2011. I would love to tell you that I am proud of the weight I lost, but I am not. Because I am not proud of the fact that I had that much to lose to begin with. At the same time, had I not allowed myself to get into such poor physical condition, I most likely would never have found such a wonderful hobby in running. If you are an experienced runner, this blog probably won't be for you, unless you just like to laugh at the rookie or you would like to add some comments or correct my mistakes. Rather, this blog is for the begining runner, because I am still a begining runner. My goal is to share with you my experiences and my journey as I learn and progress. <br />
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<strong>Motivation</strong><br />
I believe anyone can lose weight, and anyone can run. But a very relative few like to do either. We see ads all over the place encouraging us to lose <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=runf01-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004SJWMDC&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>weight this way or that. We look in the mirror, or squeeze into our ill-fitting clothes, fat dumb and unhappy, wishing we wanted to do anything about it. All it takes is a little motiviation. For me, it was my wife. She will tell you that's no good, that you need to do it for yourself, and that is very true, in the end. But in the begining, something's gotta get you off of the couch, and she was the one that did it for me. There was no magic moment or anything like that. She had just lost the last of her pregnancy weight, and I was so proud and appreciative of the work she did that I finally decided that if she was going to be stuck looking at me for the rest of her life, she at least deserved to have me look halfway decent. So I started eating salads instead of chili cheese fries. I started drinking water instead of soda. I started having air-popped popcorn at night instead of ice cream. And the weight started coming off, slowly but surely. It dawned on me that if I started moving more, the weight might come off a little faster. So I started walking on a treadmill, about a mile or so everyday. After about a week of walking, my body started telling me it wanted to go faster. So I went faster. Then it wanted to go farther. So I went farther, up to 2.5 miles at a clip. And the weight started coming off faster. After just 3 weeks, I was running. At first, I had to force myself to get up and get going. But soon, I had to force myself to stop.<br />
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<strong>Change of Perspective</strong><br />
My body was telling me it wanted to go farther and faster. But even more than that, I started to love it. I had to do it. I ran and ran and ran, at least 5 days a week, ususally 6 or 7. And I felt great. But what was most amazing, at least to me, was that it stopped seeming like work. It became a hobby. I stopped caring about the weight loss. I didn't care anymore about my weight. I only wanted to run. And even now, I refuse to say that I excercise everyday. I RUN everyday. It has become my single favorite activity. And I hope that those of you who are thinking about losing weight realize that you, too, can get to where you want to be AND HAVE FUN DOING IT! Because it is fun, and it is exciting, and because it's good for you.<br />
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<strong>Join Me...</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HORCmXszmbePNii6WNmYSvpMcuY_vkI4UPhTdbRJbFAwal7y2YwlK0iDUxmsuDn7DjfLjIWLicEnpGmSvR8ZLDK2Q9ND8gr_9ht1W2zbREXZDaH8_hqzELIO04CVnhwYIz8mP5DkimU/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HORCmXszmbePNii6WNmYSvpMcuY_vkI4UPhTdbRJbFAwal7y2YwlK0iDUxmsuDn7DjfLjIWLicEnpGmSvR8ZLDK2Q9ND8gr_9ht1W2zbREXZDaH8_hqzELIO04CVnhwYIz8mP5DkimU/s320/IMG_3887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is a journey for me, and I would like to invite you to come along. It's a journey that has taken me from being a slug to a rabbit (albeit a middle of the pack, average speed rabbit - but a rabbit nonetheless). I will tell you how I got here, and everything I've learned, and I will share with you everything I continue to learn. Because just as I've found that I have to keep on running, I've found that with running, you have to keep on learning!Run Funnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10725653004542800461noreply@blogger.com0