Fitness Apps

There are more and more fitness apps becoming available to help people keep moving.

I have enjoyed using an app that logs your speed, mileage and other data for a variety of activities outdoors called MapMyTracks.  I find it pretty useful.

Check out this post from the FitMom's Blog to learn about more apps that will help you manage your fitness activities more effectively.

Treadmill Workout

This is a fun treadmill workout for something a little different.

Try this out from Nicole Nichols in www.dailysparkblog.com. 

Holding Yourself Back?

You may be holding yourself back . . . and you don't even know it.

This is a thought-provoking article from Patrick McCrann in Endurance Nation.  It explores some of the areas where you can be keeping yourself from improvement in triathlon training due to unhealthy habits you have adopted.

For example - Are you training too much?  Do you allow yourself to properly taper?  Do you participate in too many events?

There are some good points in this article . . . and they apply to any area of physical training and not just triathlons.

Form A Habit In 21 Days

I have mentioned in the past that as spring comes, maybe it's a good time to look back at those resolutions you made at the beginning of the year.

At this point, there is a pretty solid chance that all or most of the resolutions you made are dead. However, that shouldn't stop you from dusting off and starting fresh again.

This post for www.active.com by David Glover outlines a great approach for successful achievement of a goal for the new year.  It's based on a premise from one of my favorite life philosophies - "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by the late Steven Covey.

First, set yourself up for failure by trying to do more than you can achieve. Second, a habit is formed in 21 days; therefore, anything can be achieved in 21 days. Right? 

Take a read at this and see if it will help you fare better with your new year goals.

A Running Lesson

How about a running lesson?

Do you know what the eight types of runs are?  Well, I didn't know either until I read this article from www.competitor.com. 

There are eight types of runs - everything from the base run to the recovery run and everything in between.  Read up and learn for yourself.

Five Exercises That Will Make You Faster

Are you looking for some speed?

Check out this video from Everymantri.com that features five exercises to make you faster.  Do you want to get faster?  If the answer is "yes", then catch up to Olympian and Half-Ironman World Champion Joanna Zieger to learn how.

See What Local Fitness Centers Offer

Of course, it's still a relatively new year. 

Summer is just around the corner.

Maybe these two thoughts contribute to your willingness to check out joining a gym.  I enjoy belonging to a fitness center.  It provides great camaraderie and motivation to consistently show up.

So, if you live here in Central Iowa and you are looking for a gym, check out this article from Juice about some of the facilities available.  There is great information here - click the various links on the left to read more about other gyms. 

There are some specials available at local Des Moines area gyms.  Plus, you can learn about some studios that do things a little differenty.

Vacation/Holiday Training

If you are a committed fitness nut, you always worry about how you are going to juggle workouts when you're on vacation.

With spring break coming up, this subject will certainly enter peoples' minds.  Never fear as there a variety of options to pursue.
It's always easier when you are traveling with folks who understand the importance of maintaining your fitness schedule. Check out how Andrea juggled her workout schedule over her recent Christmas holidays in the Go The Distance blog.  She spells out some great ways to keep your fitness momentum while enjoying your time off.

More Cross Fit

We have raised the benefits of using CrossFit to vary your fitness routine up.

How about this workout from the Carrots and Cake blog? 

CrossFit is great exercise.  It really forces you to work muscles you don't normally work.  Trust me, if you are sore after this workout - it means you did it right.

I am taking a break from posting for a bit.  We will be back soon!

Quality Events

Are you looking to travel to an event this year?

It's certainly motivating and exciting to travel to a premier event to compete.  Kirsten Korosec of www.active.com previews 13 events from around the country that you might want to consider if you are contemplating traveling to an event. 

There is a little bit of something for everyone here on this list including marathons, triathlons and a 5K/10K race.