Things I think about while running. (February edition)
Posted: March 8, 2013 Filed under: running | Tags: athletes, dedication, Doughnut, exercise, fruit, marathon, peaches, road racing, running, sports, Sugar, training Leave a comment »
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I often have deep and random thoughts while I run. Here are a few things that I thought about while running last month:
1. I need to paint my walls.
2. Is there a name for the color that is currently on my wall?
3. Peaches
4. Fruit. Yum!
5. I’m sweating profusely.
6. Is sweat slippery?
7. I should have turned the heat down.
8. I feel like a glazed donut.
9. Donuts!
10. This treadmill spins around like a donut.
11. Donuts!
12. This room needs more light.
13. I need to see the sun.
14. The sun is round like a donut.
15. Donuts!
What do you think about while running?
Five things I learned this week. 3.3.13
Posted: March 3, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: birthdays, food, friends, learning, weather Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. I loathe long stretches of overcast days.
2. Tomorrow I will be a wise old sage.
3. My friends are the best friends.
4. My girlfriend rocks.
5. My favorite birthday meal is crab legs.
What did you learn this week?
Cresting the hill
Posted: March 1, 2013 Filed under: life | Tags: AARP, fear, forty, God, grace, growing older, learning, life, Obi-Wan Kenobi, star wars, story Leave a comment »
(Photo credit: lpirees)
So this is my last weekend in my thirties. My fortieth looms ominously just three days ahead and I’m not sure what to expect. Will there be a dramatic change? Will things suddenly stop working? Will I start moving slower and all hunched over? I wonder.
Will I get a letter in the mail on Monday from the AARP? Will I pay closer attention to those TV commercials with the old lady on the floor who can’t get up? Should I learn the intricate strategies of bingo? Not likely.
It’s just forty. It’s no big deal. Turning twenty didn’t bother me. Neither did turning thirty. So why should forty? I don’t fear it… I welcome it.
As I crest this hill, the one thing I look forward to is this new character type that I’m supposed to become. The wise old sage. To put it in Star Wars terms, I’m past the days of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. Now I’m Obi Wan.
And in this day and age, don’t we need more Obi wan’s?
I’ve reached the age in life where I can refer to those younger than me as “Sport”, “Punk” and “Junior”. And I now have the freedom to scream at them to get off my lawn.
I’ve reached the age where I can own the silver in my hair and the wrinkles around my eyes. I don’t need a product to cover them up. They distinguish me. They let people know that I have a story to tell.
I’m thankful for my first thirty nine years. I thank God for making me who I am today, the lessons He taught me, the people He put around me and the future He has in store for me.
So as I crest the hill, I remember that I am a wily old veteran of life while still living it. I’ve been there and done that and am still doing it. There are new lessons to learn and more work to be done.
Forty is not the end.
It’s a new beginning.
Five things I learned this week. 2.24.12
Posted: February 24, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: Academy Award, cable, christianity, devotionals, learning, movies, oscars, spaghetti, taxes, worship Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. If there is a such thing as tax-dumb, then I’m tax-dumb.
2. Video devotionals are great.
3. Man can’t live on spaghetti alone.
4. Cable isn’t worth the price I pay for it.
5. I don’t know what movies are up for an Oscar this year.
What did you learn this week?
The treadmill in the corner
Posted: February 22, 2013 Filed under: running, sports | Tags: athletes, exercise, Fitness, marathon, road racing, running, Speed, sports, training, Treadmill Leave a comment »
My treadmill sits right next to the dusty Bowflex machine in that unused space in my house. I named my treadmill Reed because it’s a Reebok treadmill and that name just seemed to fit. And if your name is Reed, I’d like to apologize up front because Reed and I are not friends.
I leave Reed in the corner of the little room because I really don’t want to see him. I really don’t like Reed. In fact, I have a love/hate relationship with Reed. Reed doesn’t like me either. He doesn’t want to start up some times and I have to unplug his power cord and smack his side to wake him up.
But sometimes Reed and I must coexist. He comes in handy on really cold days and rainy days and days that I get behind and need a quick workout. And although Reed is loud and ornery and smelly, he’s not completely useless.
I’ve learned that there are things that the treadmill can do that will make me a better runner and even though we don’t see eye to eye… Reed is often my ally.
Here are some positive benefits of a treadmill workout:
Focus on form – Even though the treadmill doesn’t allow you to propel yourself forward, the motion is all the same. The key to efficient running is good form, the way your body moves, the mechanics. The treadmill is a great place to focus on where your feet are landing, how your arms are swaying and what your posture looks like.
Speed – Quick leg turnover means faster speeds. And to have quick leg turnover we have to perform intervals. Performing intervals requires that we speed up and slow down within a certain time period. And there is no easier way to change our speed than with the touch of a button. Fortunately, the treadmill has easy access to a wide range of speeds.
Maintaining heart rate – The treadmill keeps you moving and simply moving keeps the heart rate up. And when the heart rate is up, we gain and maintain fitness and burn calories.
The treadmill is not my favorite thing and Reed and I don’t always get along but we make it work and make the most of it.
What do you think of the treadmill? Love it or hate it?
Five things I learned this week. 2.17.13
Posted: February 17, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: basketball, christian, God, hoops, learning, march madness, meteors, sports, valentines day, weather, wind Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. Valentines day is expensive.
2. Meteors are real.
3. God is powerful.
4. Not a big fan of college hoops but I’m ready for March madness.
5. I don’t like windchill.
What did you learn this week?
Things I think about while running. (winter edition)
Posted: February 15, 2013 Filed under: running | Tags: athletes, dedication, exercise, humor, marathon, road racing, Road Running, running, seasons, Trail running, training, Treadmill, Ultramarathon 4 Comments »
TREADMILL TRASH (Photo credit: happy via)
I often have random thoughts while I run. Here are a few I had while running this winter:
1. I love this treadmill.
2. I hate this treadmill.
3. Are these cold weather running pants made for men.
4. These cold weather running pants are hard to get on.
5. My lungs burn.
6. My legs burn.
7. New years resolution: Run more.
8. New years resolution: Run farther.
9. Maybe I could run an ultra marathon.
10. No chance (ultra)
11. Maybe (ultra)
12. No way (ultra)
13. I’ll think about it (ultra)
14. I’m eating cake after this run.
15. I’m still hungry.
What do you think about while running?
