Sunday, January 27, 2008

Core Strength

I found this video at Runners World, and thought that it was useful and in need of being passed on.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Congratulations!


Many of you just completed your first half or full marathon at the P.F Changs after training for four long months with RunFar Arizona. I want to tell each and everyone of you how proud I am of the hard work and accomplishment you forged. I told all of you from the start that it would not be easy, buy the end would justify the means. Was I right?
Again congratulations and relish in the moment of your feats. Now, with that being said, the training for Rock and Roll San Diego will start in February, so I hope to see many of you again soon, and don't forget to invite your friends!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Shoe Review - Asics Gel Kayano 13


I recently received a pair of the new Asics Gel Kayano 13, which came very highly recommended by various persons. I was excited to try them out as I had heard so many great things about the Kayano line (the cushioning and just right amount of stability) that I was finally ready to try something outside the Mizuno stable.

Being a somewhat heavier runner (220 pounds currently), cushioning and stability are areas that usually vary greatly for me compared to what the general tester and wearer experience, but I had read several reviews of previous Kayano models that stated that the shoes were great for heavier runners, so what is there to loose? They were on sale for $89 and I was ready to try them out.

Initial impressions:

The fit was good for my foot type (fairly narrow) the toe box and heel cup fit nicely, with no slippage or sloppiness. They laced up well and felt sturdy and stable.

When I first tried the shoe on and did some light jogging, I thought that the shoes were very stiff and rigid, with most running shoes even non-cushioned versions there is usually a pillow cushioning feeling to them right out of the box, but it was missing here. After about 15 miles on them, the stiffness started to come out and the cushioning has started to make an appearance ( I have never worn a shoe that the cushioning started after putting miles on them, it is usually the opposite), but now that they have over a month of running on them I can not give them high marks compared to what I have experienced in various Mizuno's. The moderate level of stability is there as advertised so they have the nail on the head there, but the rest of the shoe left holes in the walls.

Rating:

I give the Asics Gel Kayano 13 3 out of 5 stars.

(I guess it also doesn't hurt to try running shoes on before buying them, but I live and learn!)

Thursday, January 3, 2008

This rings true every day...

I found this online and wish that I could follow it daily, it seems easy enough, so why is it so hard to follow? This is part a commencement speech from Steve Jobs of Apple at Stanford University.

"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

I always liked this, but it never hit home until my grandfather (who was more like a father to me really) passed away on December 13th. I had never experienced death to someone I loved before this, I guess I was lucky-depends on how you see it-but it has been an eye opener and made me realize that I will not be here forever. I miss him daily and wish that I spent more time with him, but know that we had many awesome adventures and times together in Sedona.

I really need to start living every day to the fullest, which while being so very, very simple is also so very hard. Most of us have jobs, family, outside influences that pull us away from what we really want to be doing. But in the long run, we are already naked, what do we have to loose?

This can be applied to running at so many different levels. If you desire to run a half or full marathon because it is something you have always wanted to do, what is stopping you? An internal fear? You want to shatter your personal best at a certain distance, but you keep hearing how it is out of your range...don't listen. Are others telling you (to your face or behind your back) that you can't do it? You need to do what your mind and body wants to do, and so do I.