Get More Out Of Your Running Shoes

I thought this was a helpful post regarding running shoe care.

Taking a few extra steps can put some additional life into your shoes - and save you money. Check it out - these tips make logical sense and there are videos included.

So You Didn't Reach Your Goal

If you're regularly participating in events, you'll be faced at some point with the grief of not reaching your goal.

This happened to a writer of the Mission to Another Marathon blog recently. She graciously accepted the hugs and high fives and moved on. What else can you do?

If there's anything I've learned in my fitness career - most events have an "annual" attached to their names. That means you can always return and try again. Or you can try another event at the same distance at the same time of year.

The most important issue is determining "what went wrong?" Educate yourself as to the steps you can take to improve.

Perhaps you need to change your goals. Check out this article from Runner's World to learn more about alternative goals for a successful race.

This Is How You Get Really High

I read about this marathon in the New York Times recently - it's not for the faint of heart.

The Mount Lemmon Marathon annually takes place near Tucson, Arizona in the fall and features a 7,700-foot climb of 26.2 miles. That's really high!

No wonder it's billed as the "world's toughest road marathon". Check it out and read what veteran marathoner Bart Yasso has to say about this test of endurance. Although, not a participant, he was a special guest at the event this past fall.

Tri Training Tips For The Off-Season

Check out this post from Tri Coach Rich Strauss about triathlon training in the off-season.

He offers advice on how to be faster and make the best use of your time limitations for effective training.

As many of us are "self-taught" in the tri world, Strauss gears his comments to the "self-coached" athlete.

I will probably be doing a limited amount of posting during the holidays, but will cut back some. Enjoy the holiday season with your family!

Distance Running A Long-Term Investment

If you're going to engage in distance running as a pastime, you must believe in yourself.

The Runner Dude's Blog recently related how training to reach distance running goals is like a long-term investment. Ultimately, there will be hiccups along the way, but one needs to be patient and follow the program. In the end, savings and patience provide return on your investment. In other words, don't spend your time worrying and believe in yourself.

Read this post to learn how you can motivate yourself to overcome the obstacles that all runners invariably face in working to reach their goals.

Another Endorsement For Yoga

Yoga is such a great form of exercise.

Check out how the music group Sugarland uses yoga as a fitness tool in this article written by Jen Murphy in the Wall Street Journal.

Yoga is very relaxing and easy to learn. Some people tell me they don't feel they get a "workout" from participating in yoga. I believe yoga is most effective when you supplement it with other cardio activities.

Try to attend a yoga session and learn how its benefits can work for you.

Need Motivation, Watch A Fitness Commercial

Need a little motivation to eat less and feel more active?

Watch a fitness commercial. According to a study highlighted in USA Today, people who watched a fitness commercial ate less and felt more active versus commercials for other products or services. They also felt more body- and health-conscious.

Check out Nanci Hellmich's article to learn more about the results of this study. The next time you need motivation to eat less or work out more, you may need to dig out those old Tae Bo commercials.

Motivational Wisdom

Never let others define you.

I really appreciate the wisdom of this statement. When others tell you can't do something, prove them wrong. Work to show them you can.

This post from Daily Spark serves to provide us with the motivation to be everything we believe we can be. If we believe we can accomplish something, don't let it end with the perception of someone else telling you that you can't.

Setting Goals

Reading the Frayed Laces blog recently made me think about the importance of goal setting in our training.

Admittedly the goal of becoming an "Ironman" by completing an Ironman triathlon event as illustrated in his Frayed Laces post is a little ambitious, but it serves to make the point. We can all be more focused and effective in our fitness activities if we work toward a goal. Whether it's losing a certain amount of weight, completing a 5K under a certain time or competing in a marathon -- we'll all be that much more committed if there's a plan in mind toward a specific accomplishment.

And yes, I do remember I just wrote about taking it easy and taking time to work out "just for fun". There really is a place for both. Sometimes we need goals to keep our training on track. But at other times, we need a break too.

Take time to evaluate what goals will be important to you as we work toward next spring/summer's event season.

Some People Take Things A Bit Too Far

So I have read that a Southern Baptist leader is denouncing yoga. What gives?

Yoga is one of the most innocent practices I know, but R. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary says yoga is not a "pathway to God" or representative of Christianity.

Wake up, Al! I don't think most of the 15.6 million Americans who practice yoga view it as the "pathway to God". They do it because it's a relaxing way to be in better touch with yourself through relaxation, stress relief and low-impact physical activity.

Mohler's comments make it appears as though yoga is the equivalent of satanic worship. I think he probably has greater problems he could be attending to if he really wants help people find their pathways to God.

Share Your Pre-Race Rituals

What are your pre-race rituals?

Do you have to have a certain food? Are you a coffee drinker? Are you checking to make sure your "lucky" race shirt is washed the night prior to the event?

Personally, I have to get that shot of coffee before every workout. It gives me a nice "wake up call". I also have a stretching routine I do prior to all events.

Check out Christine Luff's post on pre-race rituals. Also, take a minute to comment on this post and share yours with us.

Fall Running Is Great

While it's a bit late for this post where I live, many of you can still enjoy the benefits of the fall running season.

This post from Run Girl Run is a reminder of why running is so great when the fall weather is mild. There are a wide variety of races in which you can participate, you don't have to get up at the "crack of dawn" to "beat the heat" and the scenery is great.

Fall is a GREAT time to run!

Just Work Out - For The Fun Of It!

I just read a great post that serves as a reminder to all of us working to stay fit -- shouldn't fitness be fun?

Many times I share tips in my post that help bring "purpose" to our training efforts. However, it's important we enjoy our fitness endeavors too.

As we start the holiday season, many of us are "in between" seasons. Take this time to relax and enjoy your workouts. Just go for a run, spin class, yoga class or weights session and enjoy it. We should try and do some workouts that lack in purpose, but offer more in enjoyment.

Read this post from the Iron Mom blog and you'll understand what I mean.