So last night I headed out for my run in the early evening. As it was looking quite overcast, I decided to go without my headphones to avoid their getting soaked (and presumably never working again) in a heavy down pour. I also changed up my running route, and headed out to, and then up, Main St. What makes this note-worthy, is that it was fairly warm and there were many people outside. My usual route takes me on less-walked and crowded areas containing less traffic of both the foot and car variety. Read more ›
Where you run changes the sites and sounds..
Posted in running
Beeping and Waving… or not.
Its nice to wave at the runners you know as you drive by!
So last week, I decided to head out for my second 7.5 mile run of the week (in my FIRST 20 mile week since my surgery!!!) The interesting thing, was within the first mile I had 3 different cars beep and wave! Later on in the run – another one did. The cars were moving faster than I were, albeit – not by much (you believe this right?), but faster none the less – so I was unable to see who it was. However, as I was running – it was very encouraging and helped perk me up a bit. To be honest – the intial ones perked me up so well – that I really enjoyed the run and smiled a good portion of the way!
Different things can perk people up or make them feel good about themselves. I know I love hearing from people – “I saw you out running yesterday!” But a beep and a wave WHILE I am running – turns out that is even better. It can take a good run, and make it great.
Ironically.. My wife drove by on her way to work, and did NOT beep and wave… Can you feel the love?
(In her defense, our horn isn’t in the middle of the steering wheel. She said she hit the airbag as she went by…)
Posted in running
Even when you don’t want too.
ok, so the smoke was NOTHING like this...
So, Yesterday turned into one of those days. It was beautiful out – the sort of day we have all been dreaming about all winter. I spoke to The Wife, and we came up with a great plan to head over to the park after work. She and I were going to go for a run, while the kids rode their bikes – a great family evening. So I stopped at Walmart, and had the overwhelming smell of burning oil, and smoke coming out from my wheel-well of my minivan. Well, we didn’t go to the park (which made for some very sad children – but we will reschedule!) Read more ›
Annoyances… Water Bottles.. Blisters…
- Starting and Ending point of “the loop” – Lourdes Hospital.
So, since I didn’t do my long run the day before so I felt I should do it last night. Off across the bridge, and out to do “the loop.” (For the locals – the loop is a Riverside drive from Lourdes Hospital, down to the South Washington St. Bridge, across the bridge to Vestal Ave, up to the Vestal Parkway, to Old Vestal Road, across the bridge to the Circle, and back up Riverside Drive to Lourdes Hospital.) Read more ›
Tagged with: running, VFFs, Vibram Five Fingers
Posted in running, running shoes, vibram five fingers
Posted in running, running shoes, vibram five fingers
Time to Start!
So, we all know of (and I am sure – have been) those people who know they are out of shape, and need to start eating right or exercise more. When I started my running regime, I know I told myself – “tomorrow.. I can do it tomorrow..” or maybe next week. Monday is a great day to start!!! Well, obviously I started – as I have been running pretty regularly. However, I have talked about what I am going to do in addition to running… and then I talked about it some more. I have discussed video games as fitness, but never tackled doing it more than trying them out to see what they were like. Read more ›
Technology Failures, and Counting Calories.
Whats a Kilometer?
A nice run last night – did a nice four-mile run in the Vibram’s and really enjoyed it. I had turned the audio back on for my mile and speed measurements – but it was giving them in kilometers.. Like I had ANY idea how far I had gone in kilometers! I only know 5km, 10km and 15km, not 1 km! But I stopped and changed it to miles – which then gave me measurements at .2 and .7 miles instead of .5 and mile. So I didn’t have my usual measurements/times, but it amused me to no end. I also didn’t have my heart rate monitor plugged in well – so no BPM either! Read more ›
Tagged with: #calorie counter, #fatsecret, #vibram five fingers
Posted in running, vibram five fingers
Posted in running, vibram five fingers
Start Running Happy
I have posted a couple of times on different types of technology that I use while running (which – for me – always seem to involve my phone.) I have a heart rate monitor, I get notifications of my current speed, distance and time. I use this information to push myself – to help me run faster, further and better. Well, I was posting to a friend’s Facebook recently about how I matched his distance (but not speed – he can run faster/further than I can), and he posted an interesting response:
“As much as you WANT to run, you should build yourself to it. Whenever I take a week to recover from some injury, I usually back my mileage off to recover and not hurt something else. I gave up trying to complete so many miles in a week…, and try to increase my mileage so I can say I can do it. I just let my body tell me what I can do and that is that! Running has become so much more fun that way! Plus with the warmer weather and longer days, I look forward to long runs on the weekend! You’ll do it, just don’t get carried away!” (quote from Christopher Coleman on Facebook, 4/15/2011) Read more ›
Posted in running
Even Races adapt to the times.
There has been an interesting trend in new races that I have seen posted. It used to be that the standard races were your 5k, your 10k, your 1/2 marathon and your marathon. Looking over the listing of upcoming races in the area on the Triple Cities Running Club calendar, there are a larger variety of distances – from your 15 k & 20k, to a 3.85 mile, 4 mile and others. It’s great to see a variety arise – allowing people to pick what ever range fits their running style and ability.
There has also been another new trend that I hadn’t noticed until this year (for all I know it started ten years ago though.) The Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, and even local races like the Mudders and More Trail Run and Family Walk have started up. They advertise themselves as MORE than a run, and indeed they 
are – Filled with obstacles from Jumping Fire, crawling under barbed wire and scaling a cargo net – these races are a step away from your traditional “hit the road and run”. I suspect it has brought “running a race” to a whole new group of people.
I signed up for the Warrior Dash on Aug. 14th in Wyndham NY. My buddy that is doing the Marine Corps Marathon is registered with me, my wife is registered, and a whole bunch of people from the Southern Tier Martial Arts as well! I have NO plans on doing it in a certain time, it’s simply going to be a good time to run and have fun. It’s definitely a different view from when I run normal 5k’s.
Have a heart – or, Learning how to USE that heart for better fitness!
Better life through technology. Isn’t that the dream of scientists (and capitalists) everywhere? I decided to look into what technology could do for me! (ok, I read an ad and wanted it) – so I picked up a heart rate monitor. I think I have made it pretty clear that I LOVE my android phone and what it does for me, so obviously I wanted a heart rate monitor that not only sync’d with my phone – but preferably with the CardioTrainer software I use for everything exercise-related. It seems that the people who make CardioTrainer realized there are idiots like me out there that want to use more technology, and want it to all 
integrate in one place. Due to this revelation on their part, you can now purchase the Polar Wearlink®+ Wireless Bluetooth Transmitter and have it track your heart rate as you go – getting updates on your phone as to what you should do (speed up/slow down) for your optimum heart rate for fat-burning. I strapped this thing on to my chest (after wetting the contacts – per the instructions) and headed out for a run. I was told every half mile that I needed to slow down to reach optimum fat burning levels. Read more ›
Tagged with: heart rate, heart rate monitor, running with a heart rate monitor
Posted in Heart Rate, running
Posted in Heart Rate, running
What a nice day for a run….
Ok, really? not so much… Cold.. Rainy.. Wind of up to 30 mph… And this is the day I decide to go do ten miles. Now for those that actually have seen my mileage, I have only run 6 miles at a decent speed (considering that technically I am still recovering), and 6.6 at a slow speed with Dustin.. That would make this 4 miles over my maximum. I am pretty sure that 4 miles is more than 10 percent of 6 miles, but I did have a reason. The Greater Binghamton Bridge Run Half Marathon is on May 15th, and I would really Read more ›
Posted in running
2013 Was an amazing year, for me, So I am really looking forward to 2014!
Once and Future Runner 