Archive for Fitness
Stainless Steel|Running Water Bottles
Posted by: | CommentsWhen I walked out my door this morning to go for regular Saturday morning trail run, I felt almost knocked over by the heat. Fortunately, I had my Klean Kanteen full of cold water. Living in in the Bay Area of Northern California, we are accustomed to very cool evenings with temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s. It felt like it was at least 65 degrees. Not that 65 degrees is too hot to trail run in. I run. Period. Read More→
Spring Training Fitness Plan
Posted by: | CommentsTwice a year I notice people going crazy over their fitness training routine-New Years and spring-break. Out of these two, I think spring-break racks up more in terms of people getting serious about fitness. People are more motivated to get fit because they wear less clothing and show more of their bodies. Read More→
Life Time Fitness
Posted by: | CommentsI can remember vividly the the day that my father gave me my first ice skates. They were a cheap pair of strap-on plastic skates with 2 blades on each skate. Our family skated on a a frozen pond in a vacant field in Minnetonka. This marked the starting point of my craze for fitness. My father quickly followed up with a pair of real leather hockey skates that I could lace up.
When the ice skating season was over and it finally turned warm in Minnesota, my father gave me a used green bicycle with a fake crank up motor mounted on the handle bars that made a vrrrrooom noises when I pulled it. I beat on this bicycle so hard that Dad bought me a Schwinn Sting Ray bicycle to withstand the punishment that I gave it.
I don’t think my father understood exactly what he was doing. I was a kid and he was making sure that I was having fun. As I got older, my addiction to being active increased. I played baseball, hockey, football, track, broom ball, basketball, cross country, wrestling, and cross country skiing. I was in excellent shape without ever having to “work out”. Exercise seemed so boring and foreign to me. I heard grown ups talking about it and I vowed to never participate in it.
My point is that staying in shape should be fun. I avoid painful activities at all cost. If a person detests going to the gym, he will stop going even if he has paid a few thousand dollars for a membership. I dare you to look at attendance rosters at your gym on January 1 and July 1. I bet the attrition rate is greater than 50%. The clubs bank on this and hope that you stop coming (as long as you keep on paying).
I have 3 fitness activities that I absolutely enjoy. My first love is long distance bicycle riding, followed by in-line skating, and running. I tend to run more than all the others combined because I can run just about any where.
Pick a fitness routine that you enjoy and you are guaranteed to stay in shape. Additionally, it must be convenient and readily accessible. This is your recipe for success to life time fitness.
If you enjoyed this and would like to see more fitness articles, please leave a comment.
Running Through Sprinklers
Posted by: | CommentsToday felt like the first day of summer with the temperature rising into the 80’s! My 2 boys of course wanted to know if it was warm enough to go swimming in the pool. My usual answer is “of course!”. It’s all relative.
I did my usuall route around the levy at quarry lakes. My boys as usuall complained that we were going on the same route. I do like to vary my routine, but out of concern for their safety, I minimize road crossing.
I let the boys really be boys this time. We made at least a dozen stops to throw rocks. I have to let go of my concern for being the next greatest Olympian and just be the greatest Daddy for my boys.
However, I did manage to get a full 1:18′ run in.
My boys asked all kinds of great questions like “How come rocks skip when you throw them on the water?” “Do people really turn green?” I wish I could remember all the questions. Because I am so wise, I usually answer “That’s the way it is.”
When we returned to our home street on Cherry Lane, the boys saw the sprinklers and looked at me with puppy dogs looks on their faces. I told them to go for it and have fun!
"I love the water!"
"Help!"
Liquid Vitamin Nutrition Makes Sense
Posted by: | CommentsI have been taking multi vitamin supplements for 20 and really believe in the benefits. However, after doing several water dissolving tests in glasses of water with many major brands, I am convinced that liquid vitamins have more value. Liquid is absorbed into the body more rapidly and will not end up in the toilet. Many vitamin companies also fill add all kinds of binders and coat the vitamins to enhance there shelve life. I am not that interested in shelf life. I am interested in body absorbtion.
Over the years, nutritional supplements in pill, tablet and chelate form have been the traditional choice for millions of people. However, scientific study has led many individuals to rethink their supplement choices.
The majority of classically designed supplements in tablet and pill form are poorly absorbed and used by the body due to poor formulation design. It’s no secret that graphic evidence of “passed” tablets and pills can be seen in waste water treatment plants, outdoor portable bathrooms and even on X-rays. Millions of pounds of undigested pills and tablets regularly pose problems for facility operators. Many of these forms of supplements are ineffectively used by the body – containing nutrient designs heavy in poor quality raw materials, excessive fillers and binders and the common use of outer waxy coatings.
In addition, the normal aging process, combined with preservative-laden foods, stress, environmental toxins and health challenges can also compromise the body’s ability to breakdown, absorb and use nutrients in even the best designed tablets and pills. That is why many people are turning to Eniva – to find and use leading liquid nutraceutical supplements.
Why LIQUID? Looking to nature, we see the ideal design for nutrient delivery systems – water. Water is the basis for all nutrient delivery systems for all forms of life. In plants, nutrients are consumed from the soil and found within the plant in a water-soluble and compatible state that can be used by both plants and people. When we eat food, it is the body’s job to liberate nutrients and further make them available for the body to use through specific body processes. No matter what we put into our bodies, the goal is always the same – to make it soluble/compatible with water.
Working together, Dr. Benjamin Baechler and the Eniva R&D Team have pioneered industry leading breakthroughs in nutrient delivery technology. The result is a superior delivery system for specific nutrients critical to the healthy functioning of the human body.
Long Distance Trail Running Withdraw Cured!
Posted by: | CommentsToday I was able to jump back into my mountain trail running mode to get my endorphin fix. We started running at 545 AM with long sleeve shirts and gloves. By the time we hit the trail gate at 645 AM, we were getting hot!
It was sunny and warm. The temperature was in the mid 60’s with little or no breeze. Everything was spring green!
I suggested to Andria that we run to the hang glider launch again. We like this run because it’s a 4 hour run with moderate hills and it’s easy on the eyes.
We made it to the hang glider launch in 2 hours and it was easy! The return trip of 2 hours was just as easy. Mission Peak was expectantly crowded as the warm air drew large crowds.
Upon returning to our vehicles I commented on how one of our partners, Sue Corrie has either lost her keys or locked them in her car. I discovered that this was my fate too as my keys were locked in my car. However, I carefully hide a key and zip tie to a place that is so hard and miserable to get at that I almost could not remove the key.
The 29 Year Run
Posted by: | CommentsToday I had the pleasure to run with a friend that I had not seen in 29 years. I have found that the human mind is the best Photo Shop program in the world. We are able to fill in decades of not seeing a person and view them as if we have seen that person daily. Since I had not seen Colleen since that proverbial senior breakfast in June of 1980, I was hoping that her Photo Shop program would be working and she would be able to touch up my gray hairs and wrinkles and at least sort of remember me. As far as I was concerned, she did not need any photo touch up. The years have been gentle to her.
I make a motion to do just what we are not supposed to do and be a a little vane. I think despite the years, we both looked pretty good. It has to be the running and healthy eating.
Colleen and I were definitely not the rowdy teenagers that we once were. She is the mother of 4 wonderful children and I and I am the father of 2 angelic boys. The important things of 29 years ago and are not even on the radar screen.
We decided on a nice easy run down the Luce line trail in Plymouth. The sun was bright. The ice was melting and it seemed like a million people were on the trail. We did not reminisce about things of the past. I choose to live in the present and savor each day. From all appearances, Colleen lives by the same creed. We shared stories about our kids and how much fun that we have as parents. Running was secondary. It’s just a vehicle to pass the time of day. Yes, it was the common bond that pulled us together for the day. We both want to prolong our youth and we use running as one of the vehicles of choice for aerobic activity. A little vanity is good!
Our short run was great. Colleen ran as graceful as doe on a mountain trail. It was yet another great moment frozen in time for us.
Run To Carver Park
Posted by: | CommentsWithin 10 minutes I was on the crushed limestone trail that is built on an rail road bed. It’s a killer trail. No cars and whole lot birds. I saw a few red cardinals. Three white tail deer darted ahead of me.
I made my first stop at the Tamarack Lake Bridge. It’s an old wooden bridge. I can hear the whistle blowing from days gone by. Only 25 minutes had gone by. I felt like I was 100 years back in time.
I was running around the lakes at Carver Park within 35 minutes. I darted through the woods where I usually get tormented by biting deer flies. I out smarted them this morning because they do not come out for another 3 months.
My 90 minute run was a slice of heaven for me. I had time to reflect my thoughts of my brother Mike’s recent death. I remembered that from dust we come and dust we return. Life is lived in cycles. Mike’s cycle was less than most and greater than some. We don’t know the hour or the day. Because of this, I choose to live like there is no tomorrow.
Trail Run to the Cottagewood Store
Posted by: | CommentsThis morning I was very prepared for run in the 26 degree weather. I had on super thin lycra tights, long sleeve cool max t-shirt, and a new Illuminati running jacket. Add a pair of gloves and and a running beanie and I could take on the great white north.
I was planning on an hour run. I had no schedule to follow. I wanted to see lakes and beautiful homes near the lakes. I immediately headed for the crushed limestone Three Rivers Bicycle trail. Please note that there is no river in sight and I don’t believe the trail crosses any rivers. Lots of lakes!
I love the names of the streets that the trail crosses-Timber Lane, Strawberry Lane, Sleepy Hollow, Cottage Wood, etc. The names really do reflect what the area is all about. Cottagewood is my all time favorite name for a street when I run in Minnesota. There is an old store that is sometimes in business and sometimes not. At the turn of the century (1900) it was a thriving store that sold general merchandise. Today as far as I could see it was one of those trendy tourist type places that sold ice cream and other sweets.
Today the run felt absolutely effortless. I have to mention that I run like a turtle when I am not training for a race. I usually stop and pet dogs, listen to cardinals chirping in the trees, and take photos of things that I find interesting. I also took some liquid vitamins that a friend gave to me and asked me to test out. I wish I would have taken a dozen or so samples packs of this stuff called Vibe. Call it placebo or real, something kicked in on my 2 hour run today.
The run was real. I arrived back at my parent’s place in 2:14′. I was listening to a cardinal singing in the trees. In the marsh behind my parents house red wing black birds were making there calls. I realized that where I live in California, there are not as many birds chirping. The sounds of the north woods are so precious to me.
Trail Run in The Dirt to Sunol
Posted by: | CommentsOn Saturday mornings, I usually wake up before my alarm goes off at 4:30 AM because I am so excited to go on my weekend trail run. This morning promptly at 4:25 AM, I woke up feeling very rested and ready to run. I had everything packed up last night except for my camera. I ate a good size bowl of super porridge(millet, oats, rye, amaranth, quinoa, millet,etc) with cultured kifer milk and raisins and a large mug of jasmine green tea.
We had 2 new editions to our running group this morning, Sue Corrie & her dog Rio. She had 1 or 2 cancellations and so did I. It was Sue, Andria, and myself. I changed the route slightly to accommodate Rio. Dogs really don’t like running on a paved road for 4 miles. Neither do I! After approximately 2.5 miles, we hopped the fence and were trail bound in the dirt to Sunol!
It was a clear starry night. Temperature was about 45 degrees. Perfect! We started out with flash lights on and shucked them after a mile. When we hit the trail everything was so green. It was like being in the dales in Ireland. No, I have never been there. It’s my blog so I can write and fake it if I have to. We ran to the top of Mission Peak and saw a spectaculiar sun rise. We did not linger as we were in the running mode.
When ever we get a new addition to our group, I am always leary. The person could either be really slow and mess up our pace or the person could be super fast and kill us! Sue was kind of like a Goldilocks girl. Just right! Andria and I not really training for anything, so we are very flexible. Sue is training for a what seemed like a half dozen races. Been there/done that with kids. God bless my wife for putting up with my 6 hour long training runs.
At the sign in gate to the Ohlone wildnerness we spotted a lone runner. Runners are rare at 6:30 AM anywhere. Practically non existent here. It was Steve Bradley! We ran with him to Sunol. Steve and Sue had never met. Their only connection is an old baby jogger that I gave to Sue 4 years ago. Steve gave it me 8 years ago and I needed to get rid of it. I suggested they become friend on Facebook a few days ago without realizing the baby jogger connection. They live a few streets away from each other in the Niles district of Fremont.
We reached Sunol in 2′15″. That was excellent considering that we ran Mission Peak before running down to Sunol. We took a nice long break and ate dried cherries,apricots, figs, cocoa nibs, nuts, and other running power food.
I have been running for 35 plus years. This may seem like a bragging moment-running is almost like walking now. Trail running seems effortless because we enjoy it so much. Don’t get me wrong, by the time we are finished, I am very tired. When I started ultra running 8 years ago, I would go home and go to bed after a 4 hour run. Now I go home and play floor hockey with kids and walk 3 miles with my wife.
After our 20 minute break at Sunol, we had the monster hill to climb. It’s approximately 1500 vertical feet to climb out of Sunol. I would be lieing if I told you that we ran the entire hill. We walked.
I am a die hard runner. However, I rarely talk about running. It’s kind of boring topic. Running is a life experience. Each run is different and somewhat philosophical. If I read someone’s blog about how many hill repeats, track work outs, and sprint works, I would be so bored. To each their own. I run the trails to see the beauty of God’s creation. I love the ever changing weather patterns. I get to see deer, cattle, goats, wild turkey, hawks, and occasionally a mountain lion.
Today was very special because I got to run with Andria and Sue. Running is not about running. It’s not glamorous. You stink when you are done. Your muscles get sore. Most of the time you do it alone.
