Extending Life Of Running Shoes

What did you spend on your last pair of running shoes?

I just purchased a pair recently and it was $100.  The new Brooks I purchased were a little cheaper than the Nike Equalons I had liked -- but were discontinued.  The Equalons were about $140 a pair.  In short, purchasing running shoes is an investment -- so take care of your investment.

Do you alternate your shoes with another pair? Do you only use your running shoes for running?  These are just a couple of tips that will help extend the life of your shoes.  Check out this post from Jenny Sugar from PopSugar that will offer you some other thoughts on making those shoes last longer.

Going to take a little break from blogging. See you later in the month.

Workout Playlists

I love folks sharing new playlists.  I'm always creating new ones as you don't want to get into a "rut".

Here is a series of 11 playlists geared toward certain fitness activities from www.active.com.  Check it out.

Do You Have A Log?

How many miles did you run last week? 

Do you know approximately how many calories you consumed?

Let's assume for a minute that you are not meeting training and/or weight loss goals.  It's hard to know where the breakdown might be unless you are keeping track of what you are doing.

Take a lesson from The Happy Runner blog and keep track of your training activities.  By logging your miles, calorie intake and other stats; you can easily identify issues that may be keeping you from the goals you have set.

Kicking It Off

It's never too late to consider what will be your "kick off" to the season.

I'm sure it's warm enough now that many folks have already participated in a race event to "kick off" their season.  Where I live in Iowa, many runners start their season with the Red Flannel Run in mid-February.

If you haven't decided yet on which event will start your season, use this inspiration from the Misson To Another Marathon blog to schedule your next event today.

Thinking Triathlon?

Are you thinking a triathlon is in your future?

If you have regularly run and biked your way to better fitness, you may be ready.  How is your swim?  Have you incorporated swimming into your routine?  It's not a requirement, but are you willing to learn and train in the pool?

If you have answered "yes" to most of these questions, competing in a short triathlon event might be what you need to keep yourself motivated and engaged.  Tri Coach Gail Bernhardt has just the plan for you if you are ready to take this plunge.  Check out her blogpost on www.active.com.

Body Composition

We often have questions about body composition.

Why am I not looking better after working so hard?  Doesn't muscle weigh more than fat?

The fact of the matter is everyone is different -- diet and exercise affect everyone differently.  While some general trends hold true for most, we are all made of different body compositions.

This post from the Run To The Finish blog helps sort out some answers to these questions . . . as well as some common myths.  It is worth the read.

Farmers Heavier Than Other Groups

A recent study by the U. S. Department of Agriculture shows that farmers are heavier than other groups of the population - but one Iowa farmer is doing something about it.

Darcy Maulsby, a Lake City, Iowa farmer and a 39-year-old president of the Calhoun County Farm Bureau, has shed 85 pounds and taken her dress size down five notches. 

The study showed that nearly a quarter of the 90,000 Iowa and North Carolina farmers and spouses participating in this study reported doing no physical exercise during their free time.  Eighteen percent reported doing less than an hour a week in exercise.

Maulsby reversed that trend by "getting her butt of the couch".  She uses her gravel road outside her home to regularly walk her dog and swims at a local pool.  She satred a blog called Farmerlicious to share recipes and provide fun facts about food and farming at http://darcymaulsby.wordpress.com.