Seriously? Yup. If you run or walk with Nike+ (or your tracker of choice..iphone apps are supported!), Earndit will reward you! Sign up, link to your device of choice, and when you've run enough, you get to choose a reward!
Honestly, the amount needed to earn a reward is modest, with my current routine, it will only take me about a week and a half to earn a $25 gift certificate. I set up my Earndit account this week and it seems pretty easy and straightforward.
So what's the catch? Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be one. It's new, so be one of the first to jump on the Earndit bandwagon and give yourself one more reason to put on your running shoes tomorrow morning!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Motivation
Lately I've heard a lot of people people asking how to stay motivated to keep up an exercise program. Clearly maintaining motivation is a challenge for many people, regardless of their fitness level. Mid December to the end of January my beloved YMCA is overrun with the resolutioners who want to lose a few pounds, tone up, or get back into their skinny jeans. However, it never fails that by February the place is generally occupied by the regulars, plus a few resolutioners who have made a solid commitment. I think that their goals may be the problem. If I were trying to achieve the above goals, I can assure you I would have quit long ago. Exercising isn't about those things for me. I have managed to successfully be a regular gym-goer and exerciser for over two and a half years, I'm not sure I can explain how I stay motivated, but I'll try.
I have a body....and it can actually do things!
When I joined the YMCA after I finished chemo(September 17, 2007) I never considered not going regularly. Maybe because I traded in my cancer card [Member benefits include self-injected drugs, plus steroids three times a week, and an afternoon date with an oncologist every Friday] for a much less complicated YMCA key chain scanner card that I could use whenever I chose to[or not], it was a clear upgrade, and I would never choose the C-card over my Y-card. That said, I have a gratitude for my body's ability to function that keeps me motivated. My appreciation is based on the fact that I continue to be amazed that I can lift more, run farther, move faster, and do things I never thought I would-or could- but I think this attitude of awe and appreciation is one any person can own. You might be surprised what your body is capable of, but you'll never know how much it can do of you don't give it the opportunity to show you.
Expand your musical horizons
Music. Music, music, music! Never underestimate the power of a good song. Listen to a radio once in a while. I do this in the car so I have the chance to listen to things I haven't heard before. Then I download the songs that I think might be a good edition to one of my running/gym mixes and don't listen to them unless I am at the gym. Not only does the music motivate me while I am working out, it also motivates me to work out. Fave songs on my current mix: Ke$ha: Blah, blah, blah; and Jason DeRulo: Whatcha Say.
Get Inspired
If you can't seem to break yourself from the computer to go work out, watch something that will make you want to go do something productive. I watch Nike ads again and again. They're awesome. Not to mention that they'll give you some songs to add to that playlist. Watch a couple times and you'll be able to visualize the video while you work out, even more motivation. Examples:
No Excuses
Courage (my favorite)
I Can
Move
The Bottom line...
Staying motivated can be tricky, but the key is to just do something, anything. Sometimes I don't want to go, but once I put on my shoes and get out of the house, I can honestly say I have never regretted going for that run. Ever.
What motivates you?
Hope, Love, Run,
Marathon Girl
I have a body....and it can actually do things!
When I joined the YMCA after I finished chemo(September 17, 2007) I never considered not going regularly. Maybe because I traded in my cancer card [Member benefits include self-injected drugs, plus steroids three times a week, and an afternoon date with an oncologist every Friday] for a much less complicated YMCA key chain scanner card that I could use whenever I chose to[or not], it was a clear upgrade, and I would never choose the C-card over my Y-card. That said, I have a gratitude for my body's ability to function that keeps me motivated. My appreciation is based on the fact that I continue to be amazed that I can lift more, run farther, move faster, and do things I never thought I would-or could- but I think this attitude of awe and appreciation is one any person can own. You might be surprised what your body is capable of, but you'll never know how much it can do of you don't give it the opportunity to show you.
Expand your musical horizons
Music. Music, music, music! Never underestimate the power of a good song. Listen to a radio once in a while. I do this in the car so I have the chance to listen to things I haven't heard before. Then I download the songs that I think might be a good edition to one of my running/gym mixes and don't listen to them unless I am at the gym. Not only does the music motivate me while I am working out, it also motivates me to work out. Fave songs on my current mix: Ke$ha: Blah, blah, blah; and Jason DeRulo: Whatcha Say.
Get Inspired
If you can't seem to break yourself from the computer to go work out, watch something that will make you want to go do something productive. I watch Nike ads again and again. They're awesome. Not to mention that they'll give you some songs to add to that playlist. Watch a couple times and you'll be able to visualize the video while you work out, even more motivation. Examples:
No Excuses
Courage (my favorite)
I Can
Move
The Bottom line...
Staying motivated can be tricky, but the key is to just do something, anything. Sometimes I don't want to go, but once I put on my shoes and get out of the house, I can honestly say I have never regretted going for that run. Ever.
What motivates you?
Hope, Love, Run,
Marathon Girl
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Where's the Beef? (and do I have to eat it?)
After a long journey this past week, I am back home and ready to kick up my running, assuming my body cooperates. I have been running maintenance for the past two weeks and my knee and shin splint are getting better. My right leg still hurts at the end of a three miler, but I can do it without stopping. I'm continuing the stretching program and plan to gradually increase my mileage like the book I got suggests after an injury.
In my ongoing quest for health, wellness, and strength, I came across some interesting information regarding metabolic types. I don't know how legit it is, but it seems like a sound concept. People are efficient or inefficient in processing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Based on what you can process efficiently, those foods should be the major staples of a person's diet. Eating too much of a food group that is not processed efficiently, say carbohydrates, results in that food being stored as fat.
Apparently a person's metabolic type can be determined through a lipid profile (blood tests) or a simple questionnaire. I happened to have recent blood work to look at, and found my type was protein-fat efficient. (73 percent of people fall into this category) I also took the survey to see if that matched up, and it did. So where does this leave me?
Answer: Confused! Running sites, like runnersworld.com suggest a diet of 50% carbohydrates to fuel a runner. However, according to my (alleged) metabolic type, I should be eating 50% protein and 25% of both fat and carbohydrates. Aside from this being contradictory information, I have been fiddling with possible combinations of foods on LiveSTRONG's Daily Plate (LSDP), and I cannot figure out how to manipulate what I eat to have a 2:1 protein-to-everything-else ratio. Not to mention that LSDP tells me I am way over my protein allowance when protein makes up anything close to half of the daily protein/fat/carbs pie chart.
Not being much of a carnivore and trying to eat only organic animal products makes this metabolic type diet even more complicated (and expensive!) However, I think it's worth a try since the research I read indicates that eating based on lipid profile can make a person feel better. However, if it makes me feel physically healthy but I'm crabby from eating all this meat- it's nothing personal, I just don't really like it- is it really a good idea?
Like I said, I'm confused. I think like anything, finding a middle ground is important. Maybe eating 50% protein is not realistic. I like noodles. And fruit. However, trying to include more protein into my diet is doable and realistic. As for eliminating all the carbs, I don't think an all-or-nothing mentality is healthy. Besides, I need them to fuel the night run I am going to do later.
Hope, Love, Run,
Marathon Girl
In my ongoing quest for health, wellness, and strength, I came across some interesting information regarding metabolic types. I don't know how legit it is, but it seems like a sound concept. People are efficient or inefficient in processing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Based on what you can process efficiently, those foods should be the major staples of a person's diet. Eating too much of a food group that is not processed efficiently, say carbohydrates, results in that food being stored as fat.
Apparently a person's metabolic type can be determined through a lipid profile (blood tests) or a simple questionnaire. I happened to have recent blood work to look at, and found my type was protein-fat efficient. (73 percent of people fall into this category) I also took the survey to see if that matched up, and it did. So where does this leave me?
Answer: Confused! Running sites, like runnersworld.com suggest a diet of 50% carbohydrates to fuel a runner. However, according to my (alleged) metabolic type, I should be eating 50% protein and 25% of both fat and carbohydrates. Aside from this being contradictory information, I have been fiddling with possible combinations of foods on LiveSTRONG's Daily Plate (LSDP), and I cannot figure out how to manipulate what I eat to have a 2:1 protein-to-everything-else ratio. Not to mention that LSDP tells me I am way over my protein allowance when protein makes up anything close to half of the daily protein/fat/carbs pie chart.
Not being much of a carnivore and trying to eat only organic animal products makes this metabolic type diet even more complicated (and expensive!) However, I think it's worth a try since the research I read indicates that eating based on lipid profile can make a person feel better. However, if it makes me feel physically healthy but I'm crabby from eating all this meat- it's nothing personal, I just don't really like it- is it really a good idea?
Like I said, I'm confused. I think like anything, finding a middle ground is important. Maybe eating 50% protein is not realistic. I like noodles. And fruit. However, trying to include more protein into my diet is doable and realistic. As for eliminating all the carbs, I don't think an all-or-nothing mentality is healthy. Besides, I need them to fuel the night run I am going to do later.
Hope, Love, Run,
Marathon Girl
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Reflecting, Remembering, Pushing Through
Over the last week in the absence of adherence to 'The Plan' I have had more time to be annoyed with my body. I did some research and identified multiple reasons I am in pain, and to put it bluntly, this is all my fault.
Although I have been running for over two years, I forget how much I don't know about things like running form, stretching, and the long list of ways terrain can hurt me. I feel like I should know these things simply because I, like others who find themselves in a body they cannot trust or count on, have become so attuned to the voice of my body; an awareness that comes from living in a shell that for so long I did not have control over.
This week of pain and not running reminded me so much of the months I spent holding my breath, waiting for my body to turn on me. Again (and again, and again...) for so long I feared my insides would light up on scans because things I couldn't feel or control were happening in there. Not to mention all the other smaller betrayals; at the most awkward time my stomach would decide it didn't want to keep food inside, I would spike a fever, accompanied with sweats and chills the night before I had to take a test, rendering me a sleepless zombie. This week, I was reminded of that helplessness. Not being able to run made me feel just like I did when the treatment monster occupied my body, holding me captive.
The longer I felt helpless, the angrier I got, and the angrier I got, the more I felt empowered to take back my body. Not being able to run is not the same as treatment, I can fix my body this time. With a new found motivation to push through, I started reading articles online and I located a book to guide me through the transition from casual runner to half-marathoner. Now I am beginning to learn how much I didn't know.
Armed with knowledge, I see that I have made a step in the right direction, getting new shoes. Now I also have an arsenal of stretches to do after running, and a name for the pain in my knee (Runner's knee...How appropriate!). I learned that I should not stretch before I start off on a run. I need to warm up, then stop and stretch. As I continue to heal my shin splint and this case of runner's knee (who knew?!) ice packs are my new best friend.
I ran today. I took a flatter route that is a road not traveled by cars, allowing me to stay in the flat center of the road. (Running on the left side of the road all the time creates an uneven plane, resulting in pain and injury to the right knee.) I also took it easy, listening to my legs. They were whining, but not screaming for me to stop like the last time I ran. I think my body and I are back on the same team. Maybe we were all along. Maybe I just wasn't listening to my teammate as well as I thought I was. At any rate, I am back on the road. Like I used to say when things were tough, "I am NOT a quitter."
Hope. Love. Run.
Marathon Girl
Although I have been running for over two years, I forget how much I don't know about things like running form, stretching, and the long list of ways terrain can hurt me. I feel like I should know these things simply because I, like others who find themselves in a body they cannot trust or count on, have become so attuned to the voice of my body; an awareness that comes from living in a shell that for so long I did not have control over.
This week of pain and not running reminded me so much of the months I spent holding my breath, waiting for my body to turn on me. Again (and again, and again...) for so long I feared my insides would light up on scans because things I couldn't feel or control were happening in there. Not to mention all the other smaller betrayals; at the most awkward time my stomach would decide it didn't want to keep food inside, I would spike a fever, accompanied with sweats and chills the night before I had to take a test, rendering me a sleepless zombie. This week, I was reminded of that helplessness. Not being able to run made me feel just like I did when the treatment monster occupied my body, holding me captive.
The longer I felt helpless, the angrier I got, and the angrier I got, the more I felt empowered to take back my body. Not being able to run is not the same as treatment, I can fix my body this time. With a new found motivation to push through, I started reading articles online and I located a book to guide me through the transition from casual runner to half-marathoner. Now I am beginning to learn how much I didn't know.
Armed with knowledge, I see that I have made a step in the right direction, getting new shoes. Now I also have an arsenal of stretches to do after running, and a name for the pain in my knee (Runner's knee...How appropriate!). I learned that I should not stretch before I start off on a run. I need to warm up, then stop and stretch. As I continue to heal my shin splint and this case of runner's knee (who knew?!) ice packs are my new best friend.
I ran today. I took a flatter route that is a road not traveled by cars, allowing me to stay in the flat center of the road. (Running on the left side of the road all the time creates an uneven plane, resulting in pain and injury to the right knee.) I also took it easy, listening to my legs. They were whining, but not screaming for me to stop like the last time I ran. I think my body and I are back on the same team. Maybe we were all along. Maybe I just wasn't listening to my teammate as well as I thought I was. At any rate, I am back on the road. Like I used to say when things were tough, "I am NOT a quitter."
Hope. Love. Run.
Marathon Girl
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Update on the 1/2 Marathon Training
I successfully finished my first full week of training, however I have also developed a shin splint in my right leg and with it, a pain on the side of my knee that I haven't ever felt before.
I had a shin splint once before when I wore out my first pair of running shoes a couple years ago, and shin splints are annoying and painful. I did a little research, hoping I could blame this on my shoes again, and thank goodness, I could!
I've been wearing the running shoes I got in the fall to do kickboxing, Zumba, cardio-dance, and all the other classes I did all winter instead of running on the treadmill five days a week, and it turns out that wearing running shoes to do all those things, and then expecting to be able to run long distances with them, is just not what they're designed to do.
Because Nike discontinued my shoe of choice, and I wanted to make sure my $100 was well spent on a pair of shoes that would be comfortable, I took the advice of one of my more athletically experienced friends and made a little road trip to Aardvark Sports Shop in Bethlehem, PA. The store has salespeople who can fit customers with shoes that are right for their feet. They did a good job and even let me run around the store to see how a bunch of different shoes felt. I ended up with a pair of Nike Air Pegasus. They happen to be pink, an added bonus, as far as I'm concerned.
So as I sit on my bed typing this, a bag of frozen corn icing my shin splint, I'm hoping I'll be out hitting the streets again soon. My head and heart are in the training program 100%, now if I can only get my body on board too!
Hope, love, run,
Marathon Girl
I had a shin splint once before when I wore out my first pair of running shoes a couple years ago, and shin splints are annoying and painful. I did a little research, hoping I could blame this on my shoes again, and thank goodness, I could!
I've been wearing the running shoes I got in the fall to do kickboxing, Zumba, cardio-dance, and all the other classes I did all winter instead of running on the treadmill five days a week, and it turns out that wearing running shoes to do all those things, and then expecting to be able to run long distances with them, is just not what they're designed to do.
Because Nike discontinued my shoe of choice, and I wanted to make sure my $100 was well spent on a pair of shoes that would be comfortable, I took the advice of one of my more athletically experienced friends and made a little road trip to Aardvark Sports Shop in Bethlehem, PA. The store has salespeople who can fit customers with shoes that are right for their feet. They did a good job and even let me run around the store to see how a bunch of different shoes felt. I ended up with a pair of Nike Air Pegasus. They happen to be pink, an added bonus, as far as I'm concerned.
So as I sit on my bed typing this, a bag of frozen corn icing my shin splint, I'm hoping I'll be out hitting the streets again soon. My head and heart are in the training program 100%, now if I can only get my body on board too!
Hope, love, run,
Marathon Girl
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