This item from the NY Times is one clue to the rising obesity and diabetes problem. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/the-pedometer-test-americans-take-fewer-steps/?emc=eta1
Adding steps can be as easy as parking at the far end of the parking lot. You'll get some extra steps and save a few dings in your car or truck door. It sad to see parents drive their kids a half a block to meet the school bus. Our legs are our best means to fitness. Walking is the easiest exercise there is. It can also be one of the most pleasurable. Even really out of shape people can start with a few steps. Your body will amaze you with how fast you'll be able to increase your distance.
Find a partner and make it part of your daily routine. You'll be glad you did. It might just the step to get you started on a healthier lifestyle.
I often wonder what people who cannot walk think of people who can walk but don't.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Marathon - The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Yesterday was the marathon (Green Mountain Marathon) that I trained for all summer.
Here's the good news: I finished. I qualified for the Boston Marathon. I finished 4th in my age group. I survived (barely).
The bad new: I was slower than I planned. Slower than I expected. So I was little disappointed. It was not a day for speed. The wind was in our face for a long time on the second half. (I felt so good at the turn) It was cold and the road was wet. After comparing some other runners times to their previous performances it was clear that it was not a day for personal records. Still, after all the preparation, I would have liked a better result.
The ugly is that I got got pretty ill. I nearly passed out when I slowed for Gatorade at one of the last aid stations. After I finished, I went downhill fast (LOL). I nearly passed out but got escorted, slowly, to a place I could sit and recover. A very nice young lady, whose name I cannot remember, attended to me. I really could have used some O2. Then, I threw up, twice. Once about an half hour after the race and again about an hour and half later.
I'm well recovered now. (I shot 79 with my Monday morning golf group). Still sore, but feeling better overall. No running for a week. I need to recover. I'll ride my bike, either indoors or out, depending on the weather. It'll be good therapy.
Boston? 2 days ago I would have said yes, definitely. Now, I'm thinking not. Yesterday was very difficult even with all the training. Boston is in April and I don't know how I could train properly during ski season.
Of course, yesterday, after the race I was thinking I'd never run another marathon. Now I'm having 2nd thoughts and maybe, just maybe, I'll find a race that'll be too enticing to resist. I may be crazy. We'll see.
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to the upcoming ski season and maybe even a 10k or a half-marathon sometime in November.
Was it all worth it? Absolutely! I'd do it all over again. Running 26.2 miles is a worthy accomplishment.
Here's the good news: I finished. I qualified for the Boston Marathon. I finished 4th in my age group. I survived (barely).
The bad new: I was slower than I planned. Slower than I expected. So I was little disappointed. It was not a day for speed. The wind was in our face for a long time on the second half. (I felt so good at the turn) It was cold and the road was wet. After comparing some other runners times to their previous performances it was clear that it was not a day for personal records. Still, after all the preparation, I would have liked a better result.
The ugly is that I got got pretty ill. I nearly passed out when I slowed for Gatorade at one of the last aid stations. After I finished, I went downhill fast (LOL). I nearly passed out but got escorted, slowly, to a place I could sit and recover. A very nice young lady, whose name I cannot remember, attended to me. I really could have used some O2. Then, I threw up, twice. Once about an half hour after the race and again about an hour and half later.
I'm well recovered now. (I shot 79 with my Monday morning golf group). Still sore, but feeling better overall. No running for a week. I need to recover. I'll ride my bike, either indoors or out, depending on the weather. It'll be good therapy.
Boston? 2 days ago I would have said yes, definitely. Now, I'm thinking not. Yesterday was very difficult even with all the training. Boston is in April and I don't know how I could train properly during ski season.
Of course, yesterday, after the race I was thinking I'd never run another marathon. Now I'm having 2nd thoughts and maybe, just maybe, I'll find a race that'll be too enticing to resist. I may be crazy. We'll see.
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to the upcoming ski season and maybe even a 10k or a half-marathon sometime in November.
Was it all worth it? Absolutely! I'd do it all over again. Running 26.2 miles is a worthy accomplishment.
Friday, October 15, 2010
In Case You Missed It from Harvard Medical: Lifestyle Changes
5 Conditions You Can Improve With Lifestyle Changes
This is pretty interesting, funny in a way. Four of the five involve physical activity. Worth reading:
http://view.mail.health.harvard.edu/?j=fe5e167575650d747412&m=febb15747d630d7a&ls=fdc715707666077f7d1271736c&l=fe5b1576736d017b7517&s=fe551c737263017c771d&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe1f16787262077e7d1d72&r=0
Exercise & Diet. Simple really.
This is pretty interesting, funny in a way. Four of the five involve physical activity. Worth reading:
http://view.mail.health.harvard.edu/?j=fe5e167575650d747412&m=febb15747d630d7a&ls=fdc715707666077f7d1271736c&l=fe5b1576736d017b7517&s=fe551c737263017c771d&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe1f16787262077e7d1d72&r=0
Exercise & Diet. Simple really.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
One Last Run
8 miles on Tuesday. 4 miles today. I have sore hips and it worries me. They're not as bad today but it still worries me.
My run today was better though. And I have nearly 3 full days of additional rest. I started slowly today just like I plan to do in the race. A slow start means I'll feel better at the end. I'm pretty sure I can finish even with the sore hips but starting a bit slower than what I plan for an average pace will help my finish.
There are so many variables that will impact my race. The wind and its direction. A head wind is like running uphill and will be very tiring. Wind from the side takes your breath away. Of course, a tail wind helps. The forecast is for very light winds. I'm hoping.
Temperature is critical. Too hot wears you out. Too cold is just uncomfortable. The forecast is for chilly about 40. Not terrible. I'll wear short sleeves. If not windy it'll be OK.
How I feel on that day will really matter. Everyone has good days and bad days. Time will tell.
Pasta the night before. Cliche. Yes, but predictable.
If I have a good day, I'll qualify for Boston. A bad day and I won't finish. Time will tell.
All I have to do is run.
My run today was better though. And I have nearly 3 full days of additional rest. I started slowly today just like I plan to do in the race. A slow start means I'll feel better at the end. I'm pretty sure I can finish even with the sore hips but starting a bit slower than what I plan for an average pace will help my finish.
There are so many variables that will impact my race. The wind and its direction. A head wind is like running uphill and will be very tiring. Wind from the side takes your breath away. Of course, a tail wind helps. The forecast is for very light winds. I'm hoping.
Temperature is critical. Too hot wears you out. Too cold is just uncomfortable. The forecast is for chilly about 40. Not terrible. I'll wear short sleeves. If not windy it'll be OK.
How I feel on that day will really matter. Everyone has good days and bad days. Time will tell.
Pasta the night before. Cliche. Yes, but predictable.
If I have a good day, I'll qualify for Boston. A bad day and I won't finish. Time will tell.
All I have to do is run.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Anticipation
The last week before the big race. I'm nervous. It's normal. I've driven the course. There are a few long, but not too steep hills. It could be windy. I hope not. I ran 8 miles on Sunday. I had a light workout this morning. I played golf. I need to eat well and get rested. That goes against my normal instinct. I'll be glad to get back to hard workouts and careful eating. Six days to go. Anticipation is building. Think positive.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
From Harvard Med on Atherosclerosis
Three minutes of reading that could change your life.
http://view.mail.health.harvard.edu/?j=fe5f16747c62077d7d14&m=febb15747d630d7a&ls=fdb61570776d0d75721c717c67&l=fe5915767267007a771c&s=fe551c737263017c771d&jb=ffcf14&
http://view.mail.health.harvard.edu/?j=fe5f16747c62077d7d14&m=febb15747d630d7a&ls=fdb61570776d0d75721c717c67&l=fe5915767267007a771c&s=fe551c737263017c771d&jb=ffcf14&
Thursday, October 7, 2010
NY Times Op-Ed on Taxing Soda
"obesity-related illnesses cost New York State residents nearly $8 billion a year in medical costs,"
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/opinion/07farley.html?_r=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/opinion/07farley.html?_r=1
Two Friends: Sleep and Rain
Much to my relief all I needed was a good night's sleep and rain to get back to normal. I can run 20 miles on Sunday then play golf all day the next day but I need sleep to do it well. Trying to get by on less than 7 hours while maintaining a high activity level is asking for trouble and I got it. I did me some good to lay around and watch baseball yesterday.
I had a solid 8 hours sleep Tuesday night and felt much better for my resistance training workout yesterday. Then I took a lazy day yesterday, thanks to the rain, and watched some baseball. It was raining hard this morning so I rode my stationary bike for 45 minutes in lieu of running. The cross training will do me some good and biking expecially will help me get my ski legs back.
Here's a good article from the Mayo Clinic on sleep needs:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/AN01487
I had a solid 8 hours sleep Tuesday night and felt much better for my resistance training workout yesterday. Then I took a lazy day yesterday, thanks to the rain, and watched some baseball. It was raining hard this morning so I rode my stationary bike for 45 minutes in lieu of running. The cross training will do me some good and biking expecially will help me get my ski legs back.
Here's a good article from the Mayo Clinic on sleep needs:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/AN01487
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Rain Tomorrow? I hope so.
I need some rest. I had a light workout yesterday. Then, I walked 18 holes. Tired. Skipped my run today. (It would have been short anyway.) Walked 18 holes in Woodstock & drove for 4 hours. Still tired tonight. I don't know if it's the very hard run on Saturday atop the golf (or just being old or an undermined problem) but I'm still tired. The rain tomorrow could mean a day without golf. Depending on how I feel, I may have a light workout tomorrow and then chill the rest of the day. I've got to be rested and recovered for that marathon in 12 days.
So, I hope it rains because apparently I don't have sense enough to just take a day off and rest on my own. Either that or I'm not quite concerned enough yet to take some R&R.
Tomorrow will tell a lot.
So, I hope it rains because apparently I don't have sense enough to just take a day off and rest on my own. Either that or I'm not quite concerned enough yet to take some R&R.
Tomorrow will tell a lot.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Last Hard Run - End Game
Two weeks to go. Yesterday I opted to work on speed rather than distance. I've put in the miles. I ran hard last week at the marathon relay and I didn't really feel fully recovered from that. A 20 miler might have been too much. Over training is more of risk right. I can't imagine another 20 miler doing much for my marathon race results. So I opted to run a 10 miler and do some hill & speed work.
Now, I'll start going shorter and easier as I taper and build energy. I did a half hour on my stationary bike this morning, nice & easy.
Now, I'll start going shorter and easier as I taper and build energy. I did a half hour on my stationary bike this morning, nice & easy.
Friday, October 1, 2010
From Harvard Medical: Defining Moderate Exercise
It doesn't seem so difficult. It certainly doesn't seem like too big a chore.
http://view.mail.health.harvard.edu/?j=fe6916747c64007d7517&m=febb15747d630d7a&ls=fdb11570776102747c13767d6d&l=fe5f15767363007e7115&s=fe551c737263017c771d&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2d16787365077c7c1474&r=0
http://view.mail.health.harvard.edu/?j=fe6916747c64007d7517&m=febb15747d630d7a&ls=fdb11570776102747c13767d6d&l=fe5f15767363007e7115&s=fe551c737263017c771d&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2d16787365077c7c1474&r=0
Rain Run
It looks like I was lucky, yesterday. I managed to get in a nice 8 miler well before the skies opened up. Actually, it did rain on me. It was a relatively light rain and there was almost no wind so I actually enjoyed it.
I'm still feeling the race I ran on Sunday but each day brings improvement. I had a good workout this morning. My strength is nearly 100% back. I'm about one pull-up shy of where I was.
I'm still deciding whether to run one more 20 miler or not. I know I'm fit enough for the marathon. What I don't know is if I'm recovered enough from last week's race to risk running 20 miles. The 26.2 mile race is two weeks from tomorrow. I want to be rested but fit.
Still thinking about it.
I'm still feeling the race I ran on Sunday but each day brings improvement. I had a good workout this morning. My strength is nearly 100% back. I'm about one pull-up shy of where I was.
I'm still deciding whether to run one more 20 miler or not. I know I'm fit enough for the marathon. What I don't know is if I'm recovered enough from last week's race to risk running 20 miles. The 26.2 mile race is two weeks from tomorrow. I want to be rested but fit.
Still thinking about it.
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