Exercise Log Blog

If you’re on my mailling list then you already heard the story about how I got a prototype pair of speakers for running with my MP3 player.  They let me run with music by reducing the risk of getting hit by a car or surprised by someone or something.  Well, I said that I would try to put up a video showing the speakers, so I asked my buddy Jeremy to be the videographer and help me out.

I did a quick couple mile run in Boise and had him meet me on my usual route, which happens to be a pretty busy street during the morning commute with no sidewalks.  The music I chose for my run was Simple Minds (yeah, I love 80’s music).

Each time I run with music I understand a little better what others say about the motivation and increased energy that seems to be part of the run.  For example, when I started my run I felt physically crappy, but the music kept me going until I got into a groove.  When I had to stop for the camera I was a bit disappointed:(  I really got into  the run and the music gave me a good pace

OK, stop talking already and show me the video!  I know.

Enjoy! And after you watch it, post a comment telling what you think about the video (and the speakers)…

 

 Safer Exercise Speakers for your iPod or MP3 player: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’ve been swamped since my Running Shoes guest expert interview with Rich Harris last week.  I already posted the recording of the interview for those that couldn’t watch it live, but I’m trying to find time to make a sort of highlights video to post on the blog.

Among other things Rich shared a really great story about running in a race with a Gold Medal olympic athlete where at the end of the race this great runner came over and gave him a compliment.  I think you can imagine how that would feel, and it was a fantastic high point for him in his career.  While it didn’t specifically talk about the running shoes, it was really motivational.

And I think we all know that no matter how great your running shoes are, if you don’t get out the door and push yourself, then you just don’t reach your goals.

I also wanted to post a link to Rich’s website for his specialty running store, Bandanna Running.  I’ve had a few people say that they were planning to make the four hour drive from Utah up to his store just to make sure that their next pair of shoes is right for them (and I can’t blame them).  After talking to Rich and making the video that we did in his store, I’m weary of trying to buy shoes any place other than a specialty running store.

While I’m not sure that every store is as competent as Bandanna Running, you’re probably a lot more likely to find experienced runners and the shoes you really need at a specialty running store.

So, the next time you think that you’re too old to run because you come home complaining about your knees or ankles, do yourself a favor and go find a specialty running store in your city and ask someone who really knows something about running shoes, which brand and type will work best for your feet.

And keep an eye out for the highlights video that I plan to put together from out Running Shoe web conference.

As it turns out, there are a lot more people than I would have guessed that listen to music while running. I say this because I usually don’t listen while running, but the survey results show some really great reasons. Since the results are a bit too much for an e-mail I decided to post them here.  Here they are:

1. Do you listen to music while running?
Yes 85.4%
No 16.7%

2. What is the biggest benefit you get from listening to music while running?
Rhythm and Cadence 46.7%
Entertainment 51.1%
Other (please specify) 31.1% (see select responses below)

- Able to run faster when listening to hard /heavy rock music !.
- gives me a way to time my run.
- Music motivates me and gives me that extra push when I need it.
- Sometimes I run to get away from things and it helps me to do that.
- I just love music anytime.
- just enjoy music. keeps me going.
- as a distraction of the hundreds of things I should/could be doing
- motivation! and it distracts me from the ickiness of the hill i am climbing, or from worrying about how much distance i have yet to go.

3. Where do you do most of your running?
Trails 20.6%
Street 67.6%
Track 0.0%
Park 14.7%
Treadmill 32.4%

4. Do your headphones/earbuds stay in while you run?
Yes 76.1%
No 23.9%

5. What are your thoughts on running while listening to music? Is it safe/dangerous? Is there something that would make it easier/safer?

There were a lot of great responses to this question about running with music, but I can’t include them all here (just too many responses). But an overwhelming theme was that music helps to motivate, focus and increase workout intensity.

Let me say that one more time: music helps to motivate, focus and increase workout intensity.

Thanks to Maintain Fit members that took the survey. I’ll send a little more of a summary out to the list.

If you missed the survey and want to tell me whether or not you listen to music while running, you can answer the survey here: Do you listen to music while running survey.

The Sawtooth Relay was held this weekend putting running teams of 6 members up against a 62 mile relay race over the top of Galena Summit as the runners made their way from Stanley, ID to Ketchum, ID. The relay is split into 12 different legs along highway 75 that passes through the heart of Idaho aside some of the most breathtaking scenery that someone would be lucky to see in their lifetime. I even heard that a guy decided to run the race all by himself this year! I’m sorry, that’s just insane.

The race has several grueling stages, including the monster stage 6 with 1,331 elevation gain to reach Galena Summit! But even though its a challenging race, the atmosphere is more like a big party, with runners dressed up as girl scouts (you guessed it, these were guys), brides, 80s pop stars, and I’m pretty sure I saw a guy wearing a US Flag patterned unitard, and almost all of the chase vehicles were decked out with the team names and appropriate (and some inappropriate) sayings.

There were friends of mine on 6 different teams in the race, and everybody was having such a good time. I think most people just run the race to be able to hang out and party afterwards…

And when you talk about having a running partner and the social obligation to keep up with running, this is such a perfect example, even the other teams are cheering everyone else on as they are running by. Its easy to see that runners are such a close knit community. Here is a team of racers including my friends Phil and Becca that are running across the finish with the runner finishing out the last leg of the relay.

I was able to catch the bike to run transition in the inagural Ironman 70.3 event held in Boise, ID last weekend. The swim was in Lucky Peak Reservoir, continued near Sandy Point Beach and ended up with the bike/run transition in downtown Boise. Every time I am around a triathlon, I always get motivated to do one someday. It would definitely be an advantage to be able to use the course from this year to train (the bike section blows right by my house).

Here is the end of the bike section, where you can see the Boise Depot in the background.

Here is a shot looking into the huge number of bikes in the bike racks at the transition. You can see the Grove Hotel on the left at the end of the transition, and the Capitol Building in the backdrop.

What brand of running shoes do you run in?

The first morning of my life that I ran over a mile, all I had to run in was an old pair of Adidas cross trainers.  Shortly after that first run I found a running partner and we quickly built up some miles.

Well, after a couple months of running, I had developed awful shin splints.  They were so bad in fact that I thought I would have to quit running.  I went to a massage therapist and a tried a few other things, but nothing seemed to work.

One day I finally told my running partner that I would have to stop running.  I explained that I had horrible shin splints and that they were just getting worse with each run.

As you can guess I was extremely disappointed.  I had really come to enjoy running and how I felt each time I went running.

I didn’t want to quit running forever!

My running partner told me to go and buy up a pair of real running shoes and give them a try before I gave up running.  I asked him if he really thought that a pair of shoes could make that big of a difference and he said “absolutely”.

So I went to the mall and picked up the cheapest pair of Nike running shoes I could find.  I think they were $50 or so. I met him that evening for a quick 3 1/2 mile run, and you won’t believe what happened.

After those 3 1/2 miles my shin splints were gone! GONE!

So motivated by that experience I tracked down and expert in running shoes and convinced him to do a teleconference for Maintain Fit.  But it gets even better than that.

You see he actually ran professionally for the Nike team for a number of years all over the world and now he owns an uptown specialty running store in Boise ID.  His name is Rich Harris.

When I mentioned to him that I wanted to do a teleconference he agreed pretty quick.  So I pushed my luck and asked him if he would be willing to let me come to his store and make a video about running shoes.

And…

He let me come to his store and make the video.  It turned out to be 27 minutes and we cover a ton of stuff.  We talked about how you can choose the shoe that’s best for you, and how many miles you can expect to get out of a shoe. There’s a lot more in there too.

To see the full video and be invited to join the teleconference go to this URL between Friday, May 30th at 9:00 PM EST and Monday evening, June 2nd.   The first 15 people to register will actually get a high quality DVD mailed to their home address.

Running Shoe Video and Teleconference with Rich Harris

 

 Running Shoe Video Teaser: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I saw this link today and thought it looked coll. I know that there has been some discussion around listening to music while running in the forum, but this might be a cool addition to your workout. At first glance, they appear to have workout videos for Free Weights, Core Strength, Swiss Ball. I haven’t downloaded them to my iPod yet, but I’ll probably try it later.

Have any of you tried this? If you know of other sites, post a comment and let me know their URLs.

http://somatotype.net/iPod_Gym/

Here are a few excerpts from the triathlon teleconference with guest expert Jim Mishler.  Jim has run over 170 triathlons over a span of 18 years.  He’s acted as race director for the Seahorse triathlon in Kalamazoo for about five years.  He really has a lot to offer and he even answered questions submitted by Maintain Fit members.

I’ve included some clips in this mp3 about how Jim went from having surgery that removed part of one of his lungs, to running in triathlons.  A little bit of the discussion about how to transition in a triathlon between disciplines and how to develop worthwhile relationships with local bike and running stores.

The original call has over an hour of great content.  This sample contains almost 15 minutes of highlights from the call.  Click play on the player below or even download the mp3.

In fact, there’s a little teaser for the next expert call.  I’m working out the final arrangements with our next guest expert who has been a world class runner and now owns a running store.  He’ll be telling us about running shoes, equipment and answering user questions.  Keep checking back at the blog and open up e-mail from me for an update on the next teleconference.

If you still have any questions about triathlons be sure to post to the forum and get Jim to answer you directly.  And thanks again to Jim Mishler for doing a fantastic, content filled, expert call for Maintain Fit!

 

 Jim Mishler Triathlon Teleconference: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’m really excited to announce that Jim Mishler has agreed to do a teleconference covering triathlons for Maintain Fit members.  He has tremendous experience with 18 years and over 170 triathlons to his name.  I’ve created a notification list for those interested in listening in on the call.

Jim has also agreed to let me distribute his 20-page PDF for first time triathlon participants.  You’ll get this as a free download when you join the notification list.

Check it out here: Jim Mishler Teleconference

Tonight I just finished a 2.8 mile run through my neighborhood. The sun was just setting and the air was crisp. I’ve been running on my treadmill all winter, which can be a real bore (but better than not running). I was surprised at how fast I was tonight. I’ve mentioned before that my treadmill is a bit off in it’s measurements, but I didn’t know how far off it was.

It sure does feel GREAT to be running outside again!