Chacos on the Run

500 MILES!!!

2011-11-06T17:51:00.001-08:00

I did it!!! A full seven weeks early, too!!! Now I need to figure out a new goal for next year. Any suggestions?

Week in Review: November Week One

2011-11-06T17:47:00.000-08:00

Miles: 7.83
Swim: 30 minutes

Plus three games of Ultimate Frisbee on Sunday for a tournament...that's about 5 hours!

Week in Review: End of October

2011-10-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

Miles: 16.15
Swim: 30 min
Weights: 5

October Week Two

2011-10-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

Miles: 7.5
Weights: 1

Short week, my friends. Going to try and get out there and take advantage of the nice weather while it lasts!

Happy running,
S

October Week One

2011-10-09T17:30:00.001-07:00

Miles: 7.23
Swimming: 50 minutes
Weights: 2 times
Wii fit: 0
Bike: 0

Low mileage week. Mostly because of Yom Kippur. Oh, Jewish holidays. Oh, fasting...

Book Review: In The Long Run

2011-10-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "In the Long Run" by Jim Axelrod. It was awesome. The book chronicles Axelrod's relationship with his father and family, his journey into running, and his career as a CBS news reporter. His descriptions of physical pain and mental heartache are spot on. Some of the passages are downright gritty. Others made me laugh out loud. And through it all I kept thinking this is why I run.

September Week Four

2011-10-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12.4
Weights: 2
Bike: 0
Swim: 30 min
Core Fitness: 5

Happy happy happy. Happy happy happy.

September Week Three

2011-09-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Miles: 15
Swim: 1 hour
Bike: 0
Wii fit: 0
Weights: 2
Core Fitness: 6

I'm thinking I need to drop back down to 12 miles a week, assuming I make it to my ultimate frisbee games on Sundays. There's plenty of running around during that, and all this extra mileage is starting to get to me...

September Week Two

2011-09-18T18:50:00.001-07:00

Miles: 15
Weights: 4
Bike: 0
Wii fit: 0

It might be a little under 15, actually. I ran 12.66 at the gym over the course of the week, and played an ultimate frisbee game on Sunday. First game of the season. I loved it! So much fun! It was a long game (about two hours), so I figured I probably ran pretty close to the total 15.

Woah!

2011-09-11T09:48:00.001-07:00

Hey, you know what I just realized? I've run more this year than I did during 2010 entirely. How cool is that? 500 miles, here I come! Only 80 more to go.

Last week of August, first week of September

2011-09-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

Miles: 28.72
Weights: 6
Bike: 6
Wii Fit: 1

Plus swimming! It should be an even 30 miles (15 miles each week), but apparently I miscalculated how much running I needed to do today, and, well, now I've showered and changed. There is a 5% chance I'll run that last bit tonight. But a 95% chance that I'll find something else to do with my time.

August Week Four

2011-08-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12.93
Bike: 0
Core Fitness: 6
Wii Fit: 3

Ok, I know I said I'd do 15 miles a week, but we had an earthquake AND a hurricane this week. Cut a girl some slack, would ya? I'll make it up, I promise.

August Week Three

2011-08-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12.45
Bike: 0
Core fitness: 0
Wii Fit: 4

So this is it. I start my new job tomorrow. And with it, new exercise goals. The current goal to hit? 15 mile weeks, for the next 10 weeks. Then we'll re-evaluate.

First Two Weeks of August

2011-08-15T04:05:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12.18
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 12
Bike: 0
Wii Fit: 1

I realize these stats are pretty bad. But in my defense, it has been a pretty busy week. I moved houses. I got a new job. I furnished the new house. It rained a lot. I had to lift lots of heavy things, and spend time with new housemates, and unpack lots of boxes. That said, I am ready to go back into a real fitness routine. I am ready to focus on health and running. So this week the stats should be a little higher, but I will be on a trip Thursday to Sunday, so please keep that in mind. After that though...after that we should be looking at solid mileage (12-15 miles a week), more core fitness (new house has a wii fit, plus I'm just making it more of a priority), and more weight lifting (minimum of twice a week, because the new job that starts in a week has a gym in the building!). Yay!

End of July

2011-08-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

In the last two weeks, I have been on a retreat, had an asthma attack with an extended cough, flew back to Oregon for a wedding, and then flew back to DC. Sadly, I did not get nearly enough running done. I am moving houses this week, and hope to get back into a high-mileage rhythm soon.

Miles: 12.53
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 8
Bike: 1

July Week Three

2011-07-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 3
Bike: 2 miles

July Week Two

2011-07-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Miles: 13.3
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 4
Bike: 1

July Week One

2011-07-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12.3
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 5
Bike: 0

June Week Four

2011-06-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

Miles: 14.75
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 4
Bike: 0

June Week Three

2011-06-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Miles: 13.8
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 4
Bike: 1

June Week Two

2011-06-12T18:44:00.001-07:00

Miles: 12
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 2
Bike: 7

Who has tips or thoughts about running in 90-plus degree weather and combating humidity? I'd love to know your thoughts.

June Week One

2011-06-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12
Weights: 0
Core: 4
Cycling: 11

May Weeks Three and Four

2011-05-30T06:29:00.000-07:00

May Week Three
miles: 12.5
weights: 0
core fitness: 5
bike: 8.5 miles

May Week Four
miles: 12
weights: 0
core fitness: 4
bike: 7

I finally fixed my bike. Now it is really starting to feel like summer! The heat and the humidity is really getting to me on my runs. I'm trying to run shorter distances, but the time it takes me to run even two miles is pretty discouraging in this weather. It's already mid 70s by 9am! Hopefully my body will adjust sooner rather than later.

May Week Two

2011-05-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

Miles: 12
Weights: 0
Core fitness: 4

Last Week April, May Week One

2011-05-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

Oops! I totally haven't put up anything from my race. I'm sorry! I'll do it soon.

End of April:
miles: 3.1
weights: 0
core fitness: 4

Week one of May:
miles: 12.5
weights: 0
core fitness: 5

Obviously my 5k was the only thing I did the end of April. I'm going to start making up for it though. I'd like to push my 10-mile minimum to 12 miles this month. Wish me luck!

RunAmuck!!!

2011-04-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

Race tomorrow! My very first one. It's a 5K muddy-run obstacle course. I'm on a four-person team. We're dressing up in Lady Gaga themed costumes, even though the costumed entries were full and we're technically running as non-costumed. Woo-hoo! I'm excited. And nervous. But mostly excited. I'll give you all the details as soon as I can!

April Weeks Two and Three

2011-04-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Miles: 22.6
Core Fitness: 8
Weights: 0

Sorry I missed a week posting. As you can see, I did get the miles in. And I'm trying to do more core fitness. Let's see if I can get myself to the gym now and again...

April Week One

2011-04-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

Miles: 14
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 4

Half-Marathon Run

2011-04-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

Ready to run...Katie Levy at my side!

CT joined us for a bit on the Mall before heading back home.

And....13.1!!!!

So...clearly we had time for a few photos along the way...no the most competitive half-marathon ever. But it certainly was fun. And we ended in 2:59.

March: Week Four and Five

2011-04-04T19:09:00.000-07:00

Miles: 17.52
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 1

Ok, so not so many miles. On the plus side, some of these miles were pretty fast. And the weather is getting nicer, and the days are getting longer, and I anticipate many more runs straight after work. Hurrah for spring!

Also, I signed up for my first race! The RunAmuck Mud and Music Festival. Click here to check it out. It's a 5K obstacle course, complete with ropes, mud, and running. AWESOME.

Sunshine Instead of Snow

2011-03-27T15:23:00.001-07:00

The weatherman predicted snow, but we had a little sunshine in the late afternoon instead. Here was my five mile run:

Sunshine. Blue skies. Four wood ducks playing tag in the water. Crunchy brown leaves. Way too many dogs that look like their owners, forcing me to turn giggles into really bad fake coughs. Two little girls picking flowers with their mother, but being hurried along because Dad was making pizza back home and they needed to get back before it got cold. Cyclists. A man peeing on a tree. More sunshine. Smiles. Runners. Walkers. Couples. One man sitting on a big rock and watching people on the path below. Sunlight playing hide and seek in the creek bed, bouncing off the trash and back into the trees. One dog with a stick that was bigger than he was. A pair of blue shorts discarded on the side of the road. A red cloth that was stuck in some branches. A lone whistler. An older woman applying bright green eyeshadow on a younger woman to prepare her for a photo shoot. The kids across the street playing basketball. I really wanted to join them, too. And a neighbor taking out the trash. Did I mention sunshine???

March Week Three

2011-03-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Miles: 18.1
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 3

I ran a half-marathon distance with Katie on Thursday!!! Yay!!! Photos to follow. Sub-3.
:-)

Long May You Run

2011-03-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

Long May You Run is a book by Chris Cooper that is guaranteed to inspire or inform every runner and non-runner out there. The book is broken into sections beginning with "Off the Starting Line" and ending with "Run for your Life." In between, there are tons of running quotes and facts, historical tidbits and biographies of famous runners, descriptions of great races and all running-related races. Whether you're looking for an organization where you can donate old running shoes, or if you're looking for a list of the best running movies, this book has got it all.

Bonus points for teaching me something new! Did you know, the early marathon distance (the distance between Athens and Marathon) was 25 miles? In 1908, the Olympics were held in London. The Olympic Marathon started at Windsor Castle, which meant they had to add a mile to reach the finish at the Olympic Stadium. And of course the royal family had to have the best view, so they added 385 yards so that the participants would finish in the right location. In 1921, the new distance of 26.2 miles became the official marathon distance. Pretty cool stuff, right?

One of the quotes in this book reads: "the real purpose of running isn't to win a race; it's to test the limits of the human heart" - Bill Bowerman. I can't think of a better running book that addresses all aspects of running, provides inspiration, and encourages you to learn more about all things running.

What are you waiting for? Go out and run!

March: Week One

2011-03-06T19:03:00.001-08:00

Miles: 6
Weights: 0
Core Fitness: 2

Not the best of weeks. But some of that was intentional. Trying to rest up for the half-marathon in just a little over a week!

February Week Four

2011-02-27T20:16:00.000-08:00

Miles: 16.1
Weights: 1
Core Fitness: 6

Highlight of the week was definitely my weekend of running. Over the course of two days, I ran a half marathon distance (13.1 miles). Getting just that much closer to being able to run it all on one day! And that one day is coming up in just a few more weeks...yikes!

Running Tide

2011-02-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

Running Tide is the autobiography of Joan Benoit (with Sally Baker's help). The book starts in Maine, with the end of Benoit's dreams of being an Olympic skier, and carries us through winning Boston in 1979 and of course, winning the Olympic trails in 1984 just a few weeks after surgery, followed by being the winner of the first women's Olympic Marathon. Benoit tells it all with her unique, determined style. She addresses the pain, the energy required, the taxing routine, all with a matter-of-factness that makes her incredibly likable. Benoit is focused, down-to-earth, and rather self-reflective. It was entirely enjoyable, and I finished feeling energized and ready for my next run. Though the kind of dedication and talent required for Benoit-style running is not something I will ever possess, I admire her tenacity and appreciate her love for running and athletics. And oh boy do I want to go to Boston now!

A short example of Benoit's self-reflective tone: "Looking back on it now, I can see how this setback helped me. When you have an occupation like mine-- self-contained, lonely work that allows you to call yourself boss--you have to make a solid commitment to it. No one in this world would be adversely affected if I stopped running tomorrow; I might get a few calls from people wondering what happened, but I'm not part of a giant corporate machine...nobody relies on me to do my job except me: I had to learn to rely on myself."

And of course, her thoughts as she neared the finish line at the Olympics: " When I got close I could hear the crowd rumbling inside--they had been watching the race on a pair of giant screens and knew who and where I was. As I ran into the tunnel the noise was muffled and I heard my own footfalls. I thought 'Once you leave this tunnel your life will be changed forever.' I fastened my eyes on my shoes and kept running."

Feeling inspired yet?

February Week Three

2011-02-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

Miles: 11.72
Weights: 1
Core Fitness: 4

Had a nice run on Saturday, 7.5 miles through the park. Absolutely lovely! This warm weather is wonderful!!!

My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon

2011-02-17T18:47:00.000-08:00

I just spent the last two days reading "My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon," by Bart Yasso (with Kathleen Parrish). I dived into this book head first, and every time I set it down it felt like I was surfacing for air. This is a delicious taste of racing and running, through the life of the "Mayor of Running."

Each chapter is a quick story of a particular race or time in Yasso's life, and each has an accompanying photo or two. Yasso is funny, honest, and completely humble about his accomplishments. It's easy to see why he's inspired so many hundreds of people over the years.

The last section of the book is full of detailed training plans for different distances, followed by a brief synopsis of Yasso's Must-Do list of races.

This is a must-read book. It really is. Yasso's insights are great. Here's one of my favorite paragraphs, from page 203: "Running is about acceptance--of yourself and others. When you're out on the trail sweating, it doesn't matter if the guy or gal next to you works at a fast-food joint or is CEO of Kellogg's. It doesn't matter what color they are, or how old they are, or what religion they practice, if any at all. Running celebrates our commonality. Are we human because we can run on two feet, or does running make us human? I know I feel more like myself when I run, even if it's only a few miles, or at least I feel like the self I like best. Running inspires creativity, relieves stress, and gives us insight into ourselves and the world, making the human condition more tolerable."

Be right back. I'm going to go run now. Thanks for the inspiration, Yasso!

February Week Two

2011-02-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

Miles: 10.33
Weights: 1
Core Fitness: 4

Not the best of weeks, fitness wise. Hit my miles, but that's about it. Oh well. Better luck next time.

February Week One

2011-02-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Miles: 7
Weights: 1
Core Fitness: 5

February running is not off to a good start! The weather is getting a little bit better though, so maybe that will be encouraging.

Once a Runner

2011-02-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

This week I finished reading Once a Runner, by John L. Parker, Jr. It came highly recommended from one of my friends. It is about a fictional collegiate runner named Quenton Cassidy, and his attempt to run a sub-4 minute mile. The beginning of the book was great. The end of the book was wonderful. The middle didn't impress me at all. I probably would have stopped reading if my friend hadn't been so sure I would enjoy it. What Parker does best is talk about running. He really gets it. Heck, he probably gets it more than I do. And when Cassidy talks about the "trials of miles, or the miles of trials," you start to feel like you get it too. Once a Runner gives you a glimpse into the world of collegiate running, about the dedication and focus required. What bored me was some of the college pranks (though there were a few funny moments), the drama that happens when Cassidy gets kicked out of school for not following the rules, the detailed focus on any of the non-runners. It reads like a book that was written in the 1970s, which it was. If you want a taste of running in the '70s, this is a wonderful book.

Bottom line: If you want a taste of running, read the first twenty pages and the last fifty and don't bother with the rest.

Agree? Disagree? Have another book to recommend? Please leave me a comment.

Happy running!
S

January: Week Four

2011-01-30T20:52:00.000-08:00

Miles: 12
Weights: 1
Core Fitness: 6

Good week. Happy week. Yay running.

January: Week Three

2011-01-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

Miles: 10.05
Weights: 1
Core Fitness: 5

My long run this week was 7.2 miles. I ran South on 16th St, around the White House, onto the Mall for a bit and then back up through Dupont and Adams Morgan. I spent a lot of time thinking about how slow I was running, and how cold it was outside. Somewhere around mile 2 I started to warm up a bit. And then I hit the White House and the Mall, and I started thinking about values--American values, Jewish values, my values, where they overlapped and intersected and diverged. I don't have any major revelations to share, but I do think there is something inspiring about living in the nation's capital. A sense of history, perhaps, or a sense of place. Maybe that's inevitable when you run by a park that is known both as Meridian Hill Park and Malcolm X Park. Maybe it was the tour I took of U St. and Shaw with Prof. Bernard Demczuk of George Washington University on Friday. Dr. Demczuk was a wonderfully engaging and knowledgeable speaker who thoroughly convinced me that DC was the true birthplace of the Harlem renaissance. Whatever the reason, I am truly grateful that DC is my home for now, and that this is where I can run.

Oh, and I started reading "Once a Runner." Review coming soon!

January: Week Two

2011-01-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

Miles: 12.21
Weights: 2
Core: 5

And I took the GREs this week. Oh yeah, baby!

January 2011: Week One

2011-01-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Miles: 15.98
Weights: 2
Core: 6

End of December, 2010

2011-01-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

Total mileage while on vacation: 7.36 miles

Total mileage in 2010: 419.2

Not quite 500. But a couple hundred more than I usually run. Which is great.

I'm back on track for 2011. This year's goals? Actually hit that 500 mile mark. Run a half-marathon (with Katie Levy, route to be determined, in March, to celebrate our birthdays!). Get in at least ten miles a week. Weights a couple times a week. More core fitness.

As I mentioned before, I'll be using DailyMile to track all of my daily stuff, but I'll still to weekly updates with the mileage I've run, number of weight lifting sessions, and number of core fitness workouts.

I also hope to do more reviews of running related stuff. I know I've been really slacking off on that, but I'll get back to it. Soon.

Thanks for reading. Keep me posted with your running endeavors!
S

Daily Mile

2011-01-10T20:05:00.000-08:00

http://www.dailymile.com/people/ShaynaT

That's right. I'm still here. Just trying to focus on other aspects of my life... I'll be tracking miles at Daily Mile, for the sake of convenience, but I'll still be posting here as well. And I haven't forgotten that I need to close out my 2010 report!

Easy running,
S

Month in Review: December

2010-12-09T18:55:00.000-08:00

So here's my week/month in review:

Monday: 2.25 mile run, weights
Saturday: 9.5 mile run
Sunday: 1.48 mile run

Total miles: 13.23

Wow! Look at me go. 9.5 miles! That's so exciting. Also, less than 90 miles to go! Woo-hoo!!!

And then what did I go and do? I got sick. That's right. Struck down by the common cold. It's terrible. No running, no weight lifting, no social fun activities, just blowing my nose and pretending I'm healthy enough to be at work.

Why's this a month in review you may ask? Because I'm going to Thailand for three weeks. And yes, I'll be bringing my running shoes. You'll get a report when I'm back (and maybe a photo or two of my brother's wedding). Until then, happy holidays! And stay warm.

Week in Review: Nov 22-28

2010-11-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

Thurs: 6.19 mi run
Sun: 3 mi run

Total mileage: 9.19

Week in Review: Nov 15-21

2010-11-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

Mon: 2.5 mi run, lift
Tues: 2.25 mi run, lift
Sat: 4 mi run
Sun: 3.75 mi run

Total miles: 12.5

Starting to see some real results from all of my hard work! It's very gratifying.

Week in Review: Nov 8-14

2010-11-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

Mon: 1.5 mi run and weight lifting

Sat: 3 mi run

Total miles: 4.5

Started going to the gym again, now that it's too dark to run outside after work. How on earth did I used to run on treadmills all the time? It's so borrrring!!! Also, I'm sore.

Week in Review: Nov 1-7

2010-11-07T16:41:00.002-08:00

Friday: 2.12 mi run
Saturday: 8.0 mi run

Total miles: 10.12

I was in a pretty bad car crash this week. Everyone was fine, but it was pretty scary, and I wanted to be really careful about how I used my body. I did feel ready for a nice long run by Saturday. Yay! I feel great now. I definitely want to start putting in long miles again. Recovery time was quick, and I cut off about 15 minutes of my time for this distance. Woo-hoo!

Week in Review: Oct 25-31

2010-10-31T19:33:00.000-07:00

Mon: 1.88 mi run
Weds: 1.75 mi run
Fri: 3 mi run

Total miles: 6.63

While I have been getting faster, I am disappointed in my lack of miles. Of course, the Rally to Restore Sanity and Halloween celebrations cut in to my running time this week, but I could find excuses not to run every day if I wanted to. I don't want to. I want to be out there running. So let's focus on that for awhile, shall we?

People Ask Why I Run

2010-10-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

"People ask why I run. I say, "If you have to ask, you will never understand". It is something only those select few know. Those who put themselves through pain, but know, deep down, how good it really feels."

~Erin Leonard

Week in Review: Oct 18-24

2010-10-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Monday: 3 mi run
Thursday: 3.55 mi run
Sunday: 4.9 mi run

Total miles: 11.45

My Sunday run was the best run I've had since being here in DC. I ran trails in Rock Creek Park with my new Garmin. It was so much fun. Picture lots of fall leaves (crunchy!), stepping on stones to cross and recross rivers, lots of tree roots, scrambling up and down mountains, crisp and cool air, and a sense of purpose again. YES.

Week in Review: Oct 11-17

2010-10-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

Monday: 1.64 mi run
Thursday: 3.56 mi run

Total miles: 5.2

Week in Review: Oct 4-10

2010-10-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

Sun: 3.70 miles

I bought a garmin forerunner yesterday. It needed new batteries, so I haven't gotten to try it out yet, but I'm working on it. Hopefully this will mean more short runs and more overall miles!

Week(end) in Review: Sept 27 - Oct 3

2010-10-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday: 5.45 mi run
Sunday: 4.89 mi run

Total miles: 10.34

I don't want to talk about it.

Week in Review: Sept 20-26

2010-09-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

Mon: 3 mi run
Tues-Sat: sick
Sun: 2.2 mi run

Total mileage: 5.2

Sad. Sad. Sad. But oh, so sick. Feeling better already.

Week in Review: September 13-19

2010-09-19T20:19:00.001-07:00

Mon: nothing
Tues: nothing
Weds: 4.89 mi run
Thurs: none
Fri: Yom Kippur
Sat: Yom Kippur
Sun: 3 mi run

Total: 7.89 miles

I haven't given up. But I am going to be realistic. My work schedule does not allow for a lot of running. I would like to ensure that I run at least three times a week, and in order to do so, I need to sacrifice my fixation on the mileage. I'm therefore going to extend my goal of 500 miles in 2010 to a goal of 500 miles in my first year of running...which means until February 6, 2011. That extra time is going to help me stay healthy, stay focused, and stay sane.

Week in Review: Sept 6 - 12

2010-09-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Mon: rest
Tues: 3 mi run
Weds: rest
Thurs: rest
Fri: rest
Sat: 5.55 mi run
Sun: 3.52 mi run

Total mileage: 12.07

I thought this week was pretty disappointing as far as the running was concerned, but the numbers added up a lot more than they thought they would. It was my first week of work in a new job, which went extremely well, but a little more running in the middle of the week would be ideal.

Week in Review: Aug 30 - Sept 5

2010-09-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

Mon: 2.2 mi run
Tues: rest
Weds: rest
Thurs: 5.28 mi run
Fri: rest
Sat: 3 mi run
Sun: 3 mi run

Total: 13.48 miles

Week in Review: August 23-29

2010-08-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

4.5 miles total. Blah. I did move across the country though. Now I'm in DC. Hopefully lots more running will happen soon!

Sport is about not being wrapped up...

2010-08-27T11:14:00.003-07:00

"Sport is about not being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport is about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at the last minute. Sport, like all life, is about taking your chances."

Sir Roger Bannister

Week in Review: August 16 - 22

2010-08-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Mon: rest
Tues: rest
Weds: 8.03 mi run
Thurs: rest
Fri: 5.o3 mi run
Sat: 3.80 mi run
Sun: 3.40 mi run

Total miles: 20.26!!! My first week of running over 20 miles! Boy, am I tired!

Eight Mile Victory!

2010-08-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

I know it's not my normal time to review the week's running, but I ran eight miles this morning and feel absolutely wonderful. It's the farthest distance I've run so far, and I'm really proud of the achievements I've made so far this year. Thanks for checking in!

We Run, Not Because We Think It Is Doing Us Good...

2010-08-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable."

-Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile

Speaking of the first sub-4 minute mile, I'm currently reading The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It, by Neal Bascomb. I'm not usually interested in sports history books, but this one is well worth reading. It is suspenseful and inspiring, covering the lives of Roger Bannister, Wes Santee, and John Landy as they raced to be the first to complete a "perfect mile." Although the record has been broken multiple times since 1954, the subject matter is still compelling, and the book is well written. I highly recommend it.

Week in Review: August 9 - 15

2010-08-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

Mon: 6.76 mi run
Tues: 2.28 mi run
Weds: rest day
Thurs: 3.35 mi run
Fri: hiking Mt. Shasta
Sat: rest day
Sun: 4.32 mi run

Total mileage: 16.71

Week in Review: August 2 - 8

2010-08-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

Mon: rest day
Tues: 5.03 mi run
Weds: 2.28 mi run
Thurs: rest day
Fri: driving to the coast
Sat: wedding on the coast
Sun: driving back home

Total miles: 7.31

Sometimes life gets in the way. This week included being a counselor at a day camp, in charge of 11 campers ages 4-6, and attending a beautiful beach wedding. I can deal with poor mileage for such a good reason. For one week, anyway. I'm already hard at work again.

Outside Magazine and Dream Towns

2010-08-01T21:56:00.000-07:00

In the August 2010 issue of Outside, my hometown of Ashland, Oregon, was named the best town for trail running. Pretty darn cool! I'm kind of partial to this town myself.

The facts, according to the magazine:
Population: 20,996
Median home price: $395,000
Hometown Heros: Hal Koerner (two-time winner of the Western States 100), Jenn Shelton, and the Skagg brothers
Ashland has a "dozen in-town trailheads connect 25 miles of multi-use singletrack to the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail and the path-riddled Siskiyou National Forest.

Other perks: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (best live theatre in the West). Lots of parks, including dog parks. Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges literally in your backyard. A ridiculously cute main street. The Suburu to other kind of car ratio is close to 1:1, possibly as high as 1:2, if you exclude non-tourist cars. Oh yeah, and the elevation is 2000 ft above sea level. The magazine didn't include that information, but I thought you might appreciate it.

The runner up? Spokane, Washington. Check out the magazine itself to learn how the best towns were picked, and what towns are the best for surfing, cycling, skiing, etc.

Week in Review: July 26 - August 1

2010-08-01T21:50:00.001-07:00

Mon: lazy*
Tues: lazy
Weds: 3.13 mi run
Thurs: driving driving driving back to Ashland; 3.53 mi run; 11.72 mi run (outside!)
Fri: rest day
Sat: 6.76 mi run (longest distance so far)
Sun: rest day

*"lazy" refers to spending all of my time shopping, eating and drinking with friends, walking in the city, and spending a few hours a day unpacking furniture and moving around boxes for a friend who recently moved into a new apartment.

Total miles: 13.42

I have been trying to shorten my gait and switch to a chi running style. It certainly helped on my long run! More on this later. :-)

Week in Review: July 19 - 25

2010-07-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

Mon: 5.21 mi run
Tues: 3.54 mi run
Weds: rest
Thurs: 3.54 mi run; driving driving driving to Lincoln City, OR
Fri: Driving driving driving to Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA
Sat: Rocked the West-B (Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic --in other words, what I need to get into graduate school), two hours dancing
Sun: rest day

Total miles: 12.29

Not too bad, considering all the travel. Still would have been nice to get in one more run though!

Fitness-- if it came in a bottle

2010-07-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

"Fitness - if it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body." ~Cher

How true is that? And until they do put it in a bottle, I guess I'll have to keep running.

Week in Review: July 12-18

2010-07-18T23:16:00.000-07:00

Mon: 3.71 mi run
Tues: 0.78 mi run, 45 min bike ride
Weds: rest
Thurs: 5.03 mi run
Fri: 2.28 mi run
Sat: rest
Sun: 2.28 mi run

Total mileage: 14.08

Math = Problems

2010-07-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

Randomly, my computer started switching between kilometers and miles, just for run. This only happened occasionally, so it was hard to me to figure out. Bottom line, I ran 1.54 miles less than I had thought. :-( I've changed the total, but am too lazy to change the day by day mileage breakdowns. Hopefully I'll get a review or two out this week.

Week in Review: July 5 - 11

2010-07-11T23:12:00.000-07:00

Mon: camping

Tues: 2.85 mi run

Weds: rest day

Thurs: 5.03 mi run

Fri: 3.69 mi run

Sat: rest day

Sun: 2.79 mi run

Total miles: 14.36

Top three things to watch out for in Ashland, Oregon while running:

1. Deer. I'm not joking. One attacked my dog last week, and it was a good thing we were there to scare her off. There have been other reports on my street of deer jumping onto balconies to attack deer and at least one neighbor has started to take a big stick with her when she walks our street. They are feerless, fierce, and not at all what you'd expect from Bambi's mother.

2. Blackberry bushes. They have a tendency to rip shorts, legs, or whatever else gets too close...

3. The absolute beauty of the mountains and trees. By the time it cools off enough for a run, the sun is setting and twilight in the mountains is like no other time of day.

I hope you have a great week!

Week in Review: June 28 - July 4

2010-07-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

Weds: 2.90 mi run

Thurs: 2.28 mi run

Fri: 3.71 mi run

Total miles: 8.89

Week in Review: End of June

2010-07-02T16:21:00.001-07:00

I decided not to do my normal layout for this post because I am too embarrassed to show you just how little running I did the last week I was in Italy. For details of what exactly distracted me from running, check out my Chacos in Milano blog. I did get to swim on beaches near Genoa and Portofino for a couple hours, so that's something, anyway.

I will say that I got two runs in, 2.78 miles and 4.27 miles, giving me a total of 7.05 miles for the week.

Now I'm back in Ashland, Oregon, trying to remember what it's like running in the hills. Here's a hint: it's very painful. But I'm not stopping anytime soon. Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans! I'm camping all weekend, but I'll be back with this week's stats and more running-related reviews next week.

My feeling is that any day...

2010-06-21T14:36:00.001-07:00

I'm kind of feeling this today:

"My feeling is that any day I am too busy to run is a day that I am too busy." --John Bryant

Week in Review: June 14 - 20

2010-06-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

Mon: 2.78 mi run
Tues: 3.35 mi run
Weds: 2.78 mi run, 3 hours dancing
Thurs: rest day
Fri: 6.01 mi run
Sat: Playing tour guide, 2 hours dancing
Sun: Playing tour guide

Total miles: 14.92

I bought a camelback vest for long runs. It took awhile to get used to the weight and the sloshing, but it made my six mile run this week so much easier than my five and a half mile run last week. This is my last week in Italy, so I'm not sure how often I'll get to update this in the next two weeks. But don't worry, I'm going to be very busy. My feet are already tired! I'm ready for two days on an airplane. Happy running!

Get-Fit Guy's Quick and Dirty Tricks Podcast

2010-06-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

Ben Greenfield is the host of the Get-Fit Guy's Quick and Dirty Tricks. That's just what you'll get with this podcast. There are seven episodes out so far, and they generally run 6-8 minutes long. The tips are basic, but informative. If you're a beginner, the topics covered will inspire you and give you a good place to start your fitness journey. Old-timers might want to skip this podcast, unless they're interested in short reminders about good healthy advice on weight-loss, cardio, diet, and strength-training. The best thing about this podcast? It's short without being too condescending. Kind of like this review.

Advice for a Friend

2010-06-16T04:17:00.001-07:00

One bad day, or even a bad week, will not erase all the hard work you've done. It might set you back, but the miles you've put on your running shoes don't just get canceled out. You've earned those.

Week in Review: June 7 - 14

2010-06-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Mon: 2.02 mi run
Tues: rest day
Weds: 3.78 mi run, 3 hours dancing
Thurs: allergy shot day = no exercise allowed
Fri: lift weights 1 hr, 5.05k bike, 2 hours dancing, 20 minutes bikemi (Milan's awesome transportation system includes bikes)
Sat: personal day, 20 minutes bikemi
Sun: 5.5 mi run

Total: 11.3 miles

The miracle isn't that I finished...

2010-06-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
- John Bingham

Week in Review: May 31 to June 6

2010-06-06T12:11:00.001-07:00

Mon: 3.78 mi run
Tues: 2.78 mi run
Weds: 2.02 mi run; 4.5 hours dancing the club
Thurs: rest day
Fri: 1 hour weight lifting, 5.15 k bike
Sat: 2.78 mi run
Sun: 5 mi run

Total mileage: 16.36 miles

I think I'm finally ready to start increasing my long runs! I've been feeling really strong lately, even with the hotter temperatures. I also switched directions on my runs, just so my feet don't get used to the slanting sidewalks of Milan...

Why I Do This: A Summary

2010-06-05T06:51:00.001-07:00

Welcome! For all of you who don't know me personally, I thought I would post an updated summary about who I am, and why I started this blog. The Chacos on the Run blog was started when I fell in love with podcasts, blogs, and everything running-related. This happened in part because I spent a year in Italy, and didn't have access to running books or a regular circle of native-English speakers. You can read all about my Italian adventures here. Anyway, I listened to a few podcasts, checked out a few blogs, and before you know it, I was hooked. So I started telling people about my favorites... It didn't take too long until I realized that my Italy blog was all about my running, and I was getting tired of repeating myself to my friends about why they should listen to certain podcasts. I decided to create the Chacos on the Run blog to monitor my running and to review podcasts, blogs, and anything else that inspires me to put on my running clothes and get out on the road.

What I didn't expect was that podcasters and bloggers I reviewed would actually read my own blog! But of course I should have expected it. After all, these are people who donate hours of their time every week to tell us about their own lives. Posting these reviews here and on iTunes (when I get around to it...) is the least I can do. I am so grateful for everything these podcasters and bloggers do. You inspire me!

I hope you enjoy reading my reviews. Please let me know if there are blogs or podcasts out there you think I should know about! I wish I could put out more reviews each week, and I really will try to get at least two a week, but it can be difficult. I don't want to listen to a single episode and then write a review about it. No, I want to listen to a few of the initial episodes, three or so of the most recent ones, and a couple in the middle. All that listening takes up a lot of time, but I am happy to do it. And of course, I want to stay updated on all of the other podcasts I've already come to know and love! I am trying to prioritize reviewing new podcasts or blogs, as I think it is more exciting to listen or read along from the beginning without trudging through a backlog of 50 or so episodes. But I will also try and throw in some oldies-but-goodies as well. And I do always try and balance male and female producers, as well as subject matter: triathlons vs. running vs. weight-loss podcasters and bloggers. Hopefully you will find something out there that you like. Let me know if you do! My e-mail is shayna.tivona@gmail.com

And finally, I would like to request that everyone who comes to this blog and enjoys it click on the following link to read all about an organization I am fund-raising for. Donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and support! Have a nice day.

www.firstgiving.com/shaynativona

The Happy Runner

2010-06-05T02:12:00.000-07:00

What's not to love about a pregnant runner who loves running and focuses on the positive things in life? This is a woman who gets happy when she finds her favorite pair of socks. Now that is something I can support! The Happy Runner blog is all about Felice, running, and being happy. I bet you didn't see that last one coming, did you?

Besides being happy, one thing I really like about the happy runner blog is that Felice is always cheering on other runners, especially the mom running club she participates in. She also has a cute baby count-down gadget. Also interesting are her reviews and giveaways. While this leads to a bit more advertisement than I generally like, the chance to win free stuff is always appreciated, as is her honest opinions about the products she is asked to review.

In Felice's own words: "This blog is a journal of my running, thoughts on running, and running-related tips and information that I've picked up or learned along the way. I'm not a professional runner, nor am I a runner who finishes races too close to the front of the pack. I occasionally place in my age group but it is very, very unlikely that I would ever win a race. I do, however, try my best. And I love, love, love to run. So I figure that has to count for something! I have a few other things going on in my life beside running: I'm a mom to a two-year-old boy, a wife (of 10 years!) to a great guy, an active community volunteer, a freelance writer and editor, and a bit of a Yankees fan. I love Starburst jelly beans, Craisins, my Brooks Addiction running shoes and all of A.S. Byatt's books. Why I have composed this like an online dating profile, I'll never know. But, now you know a little more about me. And I hope that's not a bad thing." It's definitely not a bad thing! Click here to go to The Happy Runner blog.

One Twenty Five - Weightloss Blog

2010-06-05T01:47:00.000-07:00

One Twenty Five is E's weight loss blog, which has been including a lot of running lately. I love this blog because it's sassy, smart, and full of pictures. She's based out of Toronto and works in the financial district. Other information is kept tightly under wraps. Like a superhero. Despite this, the blog entries read like those of a close friend. You commiserate with her in your own mind when she's injured or lusting after her boy roommate's junk food. You want to join her parties, and go shopping with her. You cheer for her on her runs or when she refocuses on her goals. And most of all, you admire her healthy approach to losing the extra weight to get to her goal of 125 pounds.

The only down side? It's a tumblr blog, and I really don't like those very much. I'm a blogspot girl for life. And for those of you who like the weight loss journey to look like an episode of Growing Pains, or Full House, or some other family sitcom, this may not be the blog for you. Booze, boys, and belly fat (along with any other fat you can think of) are all mentioned regularly. But hey, a girl can be forgiven for a few well-chosen words, especially when she's funny. And E is very funny.

What can you expect from E? In her own words: "Here you’ll find: hopes and disappointments. dreams and life. wishes and wants . chocolate and lettuce. cupcakes and celery. martinis and beer. love and feeling lonely. christmas lights and birthday cheers, smarties and ice-cream. scales and graphs. regrets and accomplishments, passions and goals, running and sleeping. This is me. This is my life. Since I can remember I’ve been creeping the Internet for weight loss blogs, hoping to stumble across a wise one that would give me the motivation and drive to shed my lard once and for all. A blog I could relate to and gain a swift kick in the ass from. That never happened, so essentially in a self indulgent attempt, I created my own blog to inspire myself everyday and to remind myself I’m worth it."

She also wrote: "...it got me thinking, why the hell am I fat?! Simply put? I LOVE food. I love the taste, the cooking, the baking, the red wine, the social aspect etc. I know lots of people often credit being over weight to an “emotional issue” *cough Oprah cough* and I have given this theory some thought, but then realized, nope… I just LOVE food. I had a great run of eating everything and anything, which has resulted in my heftiness. If I wanted something, I found it and ate it. The reason for my sudden holy-shit-i’m-fat-I-better-lose-weight ephinany is a) My clothes were getting tight b) I was sick of guys over looking me, (this is a theory, but I believe I have a strong argument) and c) I realized as much as I LOVE food, I think I’ll LOVE being skinny more."

Want to read more? Click here.

Week in Review: May 23 - 30

2010-05-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Mon: 3.78 mi run
Tues: 2.78 mi run
Weds: 1 hour weight lifting, 6k bike
Thurs: rest
Fri: 5 mi run, 2.5 hours dancing in the club
Sat: 1.01 mi run
Sun: rest

Total mileage: 12.57 miles

Tribork is Trying

2010-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Tribork is Trying is a triathlon and weight loss podcast brought to us by Tribork, a married 38-year old man with a young son. Tribork has decided to take on triathlon sports in an attempt to lose weight and get healthy. Most episodes run between 20 and 30 minutes. There are only seven episodes out right now, but this looks like a very promising podcast.

I find Tribork to be an engaging podcaster. He often talks about his family life, his career, and of course his workout history. I like hearing him talk with his son. He is very honest about his workouts and health, and I often want to tell him to stop being so hard on himself! According to his most recent episode, I'm not the only one who wants to tell him to slow down. A recent health problem has interrupted his workout schedule, but Tribork promises to return soon, with his wife as co-podcaster.

I think the real value of this show is that Tribork gives voice to all those overweight individuals who try too hard, have to stop, and then come back and try again. At this point, this is as much a weight loss podcast as it is a triathlon podcast, and a very interesting one at that. It is this kind of consistency, minus the injuries, that cause real changes to our lives and our bodies. Good luck, Tribork! Just keep on getting out there whenever you can. What you're experiencing is something many of us have dealt with in the past. I, for one, appreciate you giving voice to what so many beginners face in their journey to get healthy again.

Click here for the blog and access to podcast episodes.

Adventure in the Sierras

2010-05-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

A college buddy of mine, Rosa, has recently been inspired to get back to running. While she credits me with a lot of the inspiration, she's always been an athletic person, so I can't really accept too much of the credit. Her new blog, Adventure in the Sierras, is all about her training for a half marathon while working with urban kids in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She just started it, so there's not too much I can say about it. But I can recommend her! She's funny, cool, and damn sexy. And she's just a click away.

Week in Review: May 18 - 23

2010-05-24T02:40:00.000-07:00

Tues: 2.78 mi run
Weds: 3.78 mi run
Thurs: 1 hr weight lifting, bike 5.5k, 2.02 mi run outside
Fri: Rest, couple hours dancing in clubs, walking for hours trying to find a friend's gig on the other side of Milan
Sat: Rest
Sun: 1.5 mi run, very strange, involved carrying a suitcase while running, very hot outside. Hurt my foot, iced it, I hope it's all better, but decided not to run any more today, just in case.

Total miles: 10.08

Hurrah! Back to running 10 miles a week! I'd like to kick that up a little more, but I need to adjust to the sun first. Oh. Did I forget to tell you? The sun is finally out in Italy. Which is really nice for my happiness levels, my golden brown skin, and the pile of books I need to read. It's not so nice for figuring out when to run. I wake up in the late morning, which means that if I want to run, I need to be going out around 7pm, when it begins to cool off. Dinner gets pushed back to 9 or 9:30. Not ideal. Any suggestions?

Geek Girl Runner

2010-05-24T01:35:00.000-07:00

Geek Girl Runner is yet another cool podcast. In case you haven't noticed, as much as I like reading blogs and finding gizmos and gadgets, what really inspires me is all the podcasts out there!

Brought to us by Kris Howard, Geek Girl Runner is "a blog and podcast from the back of the pack." Originally from Indiana, Kris now lives in Australia with her husband. Because she is in the Southern Hemisphere, her winters are our summers and our summers are her winters. I'm not sure if it's enough to warm me up on a cold day or cool me down on a hot one, but it's certainly a change of weather. Most episodes are around 30 minutes long.

The Geek Girl Runner blog gets updated more often than podcast episodes are released, but both are concise, entertaining, and upbeat. One thing I really appreciate is that Kris is focused on staying healthy, not too worried about the slow pace, and has fantastic side stories involving knitting, her circuit training gym, and the joys of running in new places. Her accent is interesting to listen to because she's picked up quite a bit of Aussie talk, but hasn't converted all the way.

If you're looking for a podcaster with a good attitude this might be the one for you. Click here to find out.

You Don't Have To Run Alone Podcast

2010-05-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

My newest favorite podcast is You Don't Have To Run Alone, starring Ted Beveridge with special guest appearances by his daughter Chloe. Like many podcasts about running, a good portion of the episodes take place on the run. The sound quality and editing is excellent. Ted has a calm voice (when he's not laughing hysterically or cheering) and the 45-60 minute episodes make the miles go by quickly. I definitely get lots of weird looks from the Italians when I laugh aloud while running, but I'm going to keeping listening and laughing along.

Like many of my favorite athletes, Ted's podcast journey began a few years back, when he had a little trouble with the physical fitness tests done by the Air Force. He decided to take up running, and as so often happens, fell in love with it. Now he runs 50 plus miles a week, is very active in the online running community, finds other podcasters to run with in the DC area, and has one of the hottest new podcasts on the internet.

Ted is very health focused. Food is one of his regular conversation topics, and his food rants are a crowd favorite. Other highlights include conversation about his work in the air force, his family, descriptions of DC, and life on the base. His intro song (Sara Haze's Beautiful Day) always makes me appreciate the fact that I'm healthy and strong and I am lucky to be outside running!

He also just finished his first marathon. Congratulations, Ted! You're a fantastic running buddy, and I'm glad you've decided to put yourself out there in podcast form.

Click here for his website and access to his podcasts.

Week in Review: May 10 to 18

2010-05-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Monday to Wednesday: Still sick
Thursday: stuck at home because one of the kids was sick
Friday: 2.78 mi run
Sat to Mon: hiking in Cinque Terre, no running. Gorgeous hikes though, and tons of stairs to climb!

Pretty disappointing week as far as my running goes. So I posted some nice reviews in iTunes (username: ShayTiv) hoping to get a few karma points. Looking forward to posting multiple podcast reviews this week!

Week in Review: May 2 - 9

2010-05-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Mon: 45 min weights, 2.36 mi treadmill run
Tue: 2.02 mi run
Weds: 1 hour weights, 2.36 mi treadmill run
Thurs: rest day
Fri: Sick. Again. For those of you keeping track, I have officially been sick more times this year than in the last eight years put together.
Sat: Sick.
Sun: Still sick. This really sucks.

I'd love suggestions on how NOT to get sick. This is no fun.

In happy news, I finished my first hundred miles of running!!!

Week in Review: April 26 - May 2

2010-05-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Mon: 1 hr weights
Tues: 2.78 mi run, 3 hours dancing in the club
Wed: 2.78 mi run
Thurs: 5 mi run
Fri: 40 min weights, 30 min bike
Sat: rest day
Sun: Touring Torino. Lots of sitting on trains, queuing in lines, and trying to figure out how to get anywhere, since everything was blocked off due to the Pope leading mass in the main piazza.

CanDoTri Podcast

2010-04-30T04:58:00.000-07:00

CanDoTri Podcast is Chad Matsalla's podcast about learning to become a triathlete. His background is in swimming, with some biking. He's been running for a little less than a year, which means we get to tag along to his first timed running race. He hails from Canada. This is a new podcast, with five episodes currently available. Most episodes are around 45 minutes long. Episodes begin with a running quote, followed by some upbeat music.

Chad has a very clear voice, a little clipped, and it almost seems robotic at times, especially when he is inserting specific temperatures and humidity reports. If you find it difficult to understand running podcasts that are recorded while running, this is a very clear podcast and I suggest you give it a try. I have to admit, the more I listen, the more impatient I am for a new episode to come out. I think this podcast is easy to listen to, not just because of his clear voice, but also because it is factual with some personality quirks and jokes included. As much as I appreciate other podcasts that are all over the place (ya'll know who you are), sometimes it is nice to listen to someone who is clearly logical. I also like when Chad talks about himself in third person with very little inflection on his race report. Example: "Our hero seems to be fading. How is this going to end." No question mark, because he didn't really say it like a question. Even more than this, I like when he pumps himself up: "quick feet! Quick feet!" Also fun is the noise inserts of cheering crowds and other sound effects . And the interviews conducted so far are interesting and concise.

The CanDoTri website seems pretty slick. Chad seems to have lots of tech-savvy things there. Unfortunately, I'm not tech-savvy, so this does me no good. But maybe you will appreciate it! There's also a short list (I assume it will be expanding over time) of podcasts that Chad likes. And of course, a little tweet box.

In his own words: "I'm a swimmer. I've always been a swimmer. As a swimmer, I've never needed electronics or worried about distances. It was always me and the black stripe, the wall, and the clock. Over and over. Don't get me wrong, I really like swimming. But to finish my first triathlon, I was going to have to run. They told me that this was the only way I was going to be allowed to finish the race. I had three months. Three months for this swimmer's legs to go from zero gravity to what I thought was the monotonous pounding that runners subject themselves to each day. I suceeded. I finished the race and met my goal of not walking. As I was finishing the race, I realized how much I loved the whole experience and started to think about how I learned to run and how that had to change for my next race."

Click here to check out the awesome website and download the CanDoTri podcast. I highly recommend this podcast.

Long Run

2010-04-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

I had my first long run today since getting back from Morocco. Because I'm a beginning runner, that meant five miles. It sure felt longer! I felt great about it though, and spent a few hours in the park. I even had a wickedly good gelato (dark chocolate and raspberry flavors) from the best place in Milano. Perfetto!

I'm working on listening to podcasts as quickly as I can! I like to listen to at least six episodes of an established podcast before reviewing. I try and listen to old episodes as well as recent ones. I haven't gotten too much feedback about this blog, so I'm not sure what exactly ya'll want to read. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way! Meanwhile, enjoy the sunshine.

Made Fit TV Podcast Videos

2010-04-28T14:37:00.001-07:00

Made Fit TV Podcast Videos are hosted by Jennifer DiDonato. Her main theme is: "Fit bodies don't just happen, they are made." What an empowering message! Episodes are around 10 minutes long and cover a variety of topics from fitness to nutrition to specific exercises one can do at the gym or around the home. You will find yourself enthralled with Jenny's bulging arm muscles.

From their website: "Made Fit TV is a show dedicated to Health and Fitness for everyone who wants a fresh look at the world of working out and weight loss. Jennifer Didonato, a NASM certified personal trainer, covers everything from strength training & cardio to diet and healthy eating. She also reviews products to inform you of what works and what doesn't."

Be prepared, Jenny is not relaxing or soothing. She is there to motivate and get you moving. Episodes are upbeat and sometimes rush through or over simplify things in order to keep them short. There are plenty of episodes that I don't find useful, but there are some good ones. I especially like the ones with specific exercises or routines you can do at home. The most frustrating thing about this podcast is that episodes are oddly difficult to get rid of after I've finished watching. There is also a lot of self-promotion for Made Fit TV.

Made Fit TV is constantly hosting competitions or random drawings for prizes.They are really interested in getting feedback and making episodes based off of listener questions. I appreciate that they focus on keeping fitness and health cheap and easy! The blooper moments are hilarious, if you are lucky enough to watch an episode with those at the end.

When it gets down to it, there are so many great podcasts out there, I wouldn't put this in my list of top twenty. But if you're a visual person, or if you only have 10 minutes to spare, or if you just like the idea of TAKING OWNERSHIP of your body and fitness, then this might be a good fit for you. Click here.