Hard Hard Core Workout

Okay, so I know it's been awhile since I've posted (and by awhile, I mean 15months in dogyears). I haven't been feeling great at my running, but at least slugging through it. I wanted to post again because I've been doing a new workout. This one was proposed by Jamoosh, who I've been reading his blog. He put up a new Hard CORE Club challenge, which to me is like daring me to thrust hot pokers into my eyes; I'll only do it if I mention it to my girlfriend that I might do it, and she then threatens to call me a wuss if I don't follow through. I usually don't follow through, but THIS TIME I kinda/sorta have....... Hopefully that makes some sort of sense and you're following my rambling post.

It's been almost a week since I ran, because I felt like I pulled my back and was really sore. I was looking for every excuse I could, but fortunately, my girlfriend kicked me out of bed this morning after my alarm had gone off at least a dozen times. I grumped and groaned, saying "I can't get up." Eventually I got out on the road and did a quick 3mi in my Vibram FiveFingers for the first time in at least 4mo. And it was a quickie (that's what she said)..... I ran the 3mi in just over 8:08/mi avg. It even felt good enough that when I got home, I plopped on my back on the floor on a yoga mat and cried for 10min started my CORE exercises.

They weren't actually that bad either! (Jamoosh, if you're reading this you can stop right here.) I did five exercises and they felt like TORTURE!!! I mean, I feel stronger already! My CORE workout went like this........

Crunches - 30 (not bad, I can almost feel my abs, from what I remember of 'em!)

Leg Lift - 30sec (felt this a lot in the abs and glutes)

Hip Lift - 30sec (easily could do this all day, might actually drive kids to the orthodontist in hip lift position)

Front Plank - 45sec (some trouble with these, due to aforementioned lack of abs)

Push ups - 20 (took several rests, since I'm now lifting more weight doing this than in high school)

Superman - 15 reps (this actually was a great stretch for my back)

Since I've got started so late in the week with doing CORE exercises, I'm planning on doing a couple days of them this week. It will probably end up being Thurs/Fri/Sat if I'm lucky, or best two outta three of those.

So, I do hafta say my CORE is underway! (Hey, I'm a poet and I know it!) Anyways, my running feels pretty good even despite the week layoff. So I'll keep at it, keep doing my CORE and hopefully get more posts up here too to show my progress. Maybe someday I'll have ripped abs, downward pointing nipples, and a bad bronzer tan like Adam. On to the next one!!!

The Law of the Legos

A question had been asked recently "How many Legos is too many?"

I have debated this question many times in my own mind. While I don't have the capacity to tackle that question in one sitting, I feel I might at some point if I'm really planning on procrastinating. Of course, it'd have to be something major that needed to be put off for days, or maybe weeks, since counting every single little block would take some dedication. It's not something I have a feeling could be done over one summer vacation.

This leads to another question of Legos: how can little plastic blocks be so entertaining? So many kids (myself included) throughout their childhoods (mine's still occuring) are so enthralled with the little locking blocks. They thrill the imagination just to think of all the things that can be created with them. Not to mention the themed toys they are designed after; Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc. Heck, there's even an amusement park and video games inspired by the toy-themed sets. Even today, if I was walking down the sidewalk and found two Legos, there is NO force in the universe that is powerful enough to keep me from connecting those blocks together!

Which begs the final question regarding Legos: Why the HELL didn't I think of those first?!!

It's the Best Day Ever!

I was not in a great mood today when I picked up my boys from school. I don't know why, I just wasn't feelin' it. I WAS however feeling my age. My back hurt, my knees ached, and my foot had a bruise on the heel the shape (and felt like the size) of Italy.

I grumbled as I ordered them into the car and told 'em to buckle up. We drove to my work @ REI to check my schedule and they played in the hallway while I wrote my schedule. While there, my boss' boss (the queen bee) of the office complimented me on how good the older one was to the younger. I agreed, saying they are excellent brothers to each other. She offered them yogurt covered pretzels, and they each politely thanked her for them.

After that we stopped by McDonald's for dinner, which we took home and ate. They both then thanked me for getting them McD's, completely unprompted. They did their Tuesday chores and spent some time on homework.

We all three then sat down to watch our favorite sports on TV. We watched the Phillies lose a heartbreaker to the Braves, the Coyotes lose to the Red Wings (hopefully not a pattern), and the start of the Suns and D-Backs games. We even got to call their grandparents and talk to them about the younger's 5th birthday. They were so cute and sweet, I couldn't help tickling 'em every once in a while.

As they got ready for bed after showers and brushing their teeth, they crawled into bed and I kissed their sweet smiles good night. My older son piped up and said, "Thanks, Daddy."

"For what?" I inquired.

"For giving us the best day ever of our lives!" he replied.

Me too, buddy. Me too.

What will they think of next?

Finally! My prayers have been answered!

I've always enjoyed running and biking for many, many years throughout my life. Running has been my love for most of my life. And biking has brought me more joy than I can measure. Both are fantastic ways of getting out in the outdoors and improving my health as well as my piece of mind. I always have a hard time choosing between the two sports. But I can't count how many times I've asked myself "Why can't I do both?" (Actually, I can, and it would be zero.)

Now I don't have to choose!

Check out the Treadmill Bike!

Now you can get the same fat burning benefits of a conventional treadmill without the gym membership fees! Take a look at these key benefits:

• When the weather's nice, the last place you want to be is cooped up in some stuffy gym. Imagine running through evergreen forests or strolling down country roads. All of this is possible thanks to the rugged design and all terrain tires on the revolutionary Treadmill Bike.
• The Treadmill Bike's hard wearing belt offers a sure grip while protecting your feet from dirt and other contaminants commonly found on the earth's surface.
• Because the Treadmill Bike is also a mode of transportation, use it instead of your car for everyday tasks such as shopping, and traveling to school or your place of work.
• Thinking of taking the Treadmill Bike to the grocery store? Be sure to stock up on ice cream while you're there. You will have earned it.
• Treadmill Biking is fun for the whole family. The variable resistance feature* means that treadmill bikers of different abilities can workout together and no one will get left behind.
• Today's urban landscape is increasingly dominated by large SUV's and multilane roadways. The Treadmill Bike's elevated running platform means you'll be seen over the hood of even the most heinously overbuilt motor vehicle.

And it's Canadian! Go figure, eh?! Those crazy Canucks have thought of everything!

I'm ordering mine today from Bike Forest!

Check out this video of the Treadmill Bike as they take it off some sweet jumps!!

Happy Easter and BYOBW!!!

Bring Your Own Big Wheels (BEEEOOOTTCCCHHH)!!!

Sorry this is a little late for Easter, but well worth it....

For 10 years now on San Fransisco’s Lombard St. there has occurred a wonderful little gathering of big wheel enthusiasts! All riders dress up as their favorite Easter hero.

They then grab their ballin' big-wheel and race 'em down the hill. There are several heats, and the fastest overall rider takes home the coveted title. This last Easter was pouring rain, but that still didn't stop participants from slipping and sliding down Lombard.

Check out the video with all the hair-brained antics of your favorite childhood cartoons!!!

Hitting close to home....

The head of Ahwatukee Cycling Group and competitive cyclist friend of mine was hit while bicycling in Ahwatukee at Elliot Rd. and 48th St. Heidi Clayton, 42, is in the intensive-care unit at the center, according to her Web page. She was struck by a teen driver and Heidi now faces hand and back surgery. Funds for her care are being raised on the site www.cyclistsagainstrecklessdrivers.org. Phoenix police Sgt. Frank Matsko confirmed that Clayton and a pickup truck driven by a teenager collided near Elliot Road and 48th Street on the morning of March 25. The accident is still being investigated, he said. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts.

Thanks.

Awareness Test:

Yeah, I got 13 too, but I missed the bear. Did you?

Quote of the Day.....

"The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you'll crash."

~Professional Mountain Biker Juli Furtado

Quick update

Went out to SoMo for a nice Bouldering Sesh yesterday. Met some great friends, did some sends. Got on some routes that I'd done previously, but for some reason they seemed harder. Weirdy.....

Didn't realize how much my hands get scraped up on the rock out here. Last time, it didn't seem to take as much skin. Left quite a bit of blood on the rock along with chalk. Dunno if my hands are more sensitive or what. Not so much flappers, as actual cuts on my fingers and palms. I know this rock is chossy, but it's frickin' reeedickulous!

Anyways, it's been beautiful weather, hopefully can do more climbing/bouldering before the weather turns to Hell. That's all for now........

That's "SIR" Fivefingers to you!

Sweet! So it finally happened! YEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!

As an employee at REI, we have uber opportunities to sit-in and learn about the various products we love and use ourselves. I attended a Vibram (apparently pronounced vee-brum in La Moda Italiana) clinic with a Vibram rep who explained the usage and fit of the FiveFingers line. I had used my FiveFinger KSO's for the RAGNAR Relay Race the weekend before, and had turned in some of my best running times ever for an event. I was excited to see a guide for actually fitting these on users, as well as a full catalog featuring pictures of people using them for running. It was also interesting to see the different styles that are set to debut soon.

I asked when she was done if Vibram does a sponsorship for its athletes for local events or anything. She mentioned that Vibram doesn't necessarily "sponsor" athletes, but that they may become ambassadors for the brand. This involved being a "face" for FiveFingers (as strange a visual as that may sound) and basically wearing them in public. I've been a proponent for FiveFingers for almost a year now, and LOVE living in them.

So now my info has been forwarded on to Vibram, so I just have to wait to hear from 'em. I think this will be the hardest part. But I SO looking forward to being a representative for FiveFingers! I can't wait!!!!! I have a Twitter, Facebook, and DailyMile account where I spout off a lot about Vibram FiveFingers. Check 'em out if you haven't already!

The Sandbag Cometh!

Growing up, I was always into different sports. I love competing, and have a highly competitive nature anyways. It wouldn't matter what sport it was, I wanted to win. Being a cross-country runner, I always enjoyed running, but I wasn't the greatest at it. I tried my best to running fast, but I definitely wasn't the fastest. I wanted to be, but there were definitely others who where faster. I started being a sandbagger before I even knew there was a term for it, before I ever started climbing.

I ran in the rain on Monday in my Vibram FiveFingers and enjoyed it. But I was thinking of the past when I would become discouraged that I couldn't run as fast as other guys. I would feign some sort of injury or illness that would prevent me from running as fast as I could. Or at least as hard as I could try.

I kept going back through my high school track days (which seem probably rosier than they were). I kept thinking about how I used to run the mile in 5:31, and how hard it would be to run that fast again at that pace, although I probably could run just a single mile close to that time. Then, as my mild wondered, I compared my regular running pace to what I ran in high school. I thought, "how in the world did I go from 5:31/mi to my current best of 7:45?!!" And even on my best days, I couldn't match the pace I had in high school. Then a lightbulb seemingly switched on. Yeah, I don't think I ever ran a 5:31 mile, even on my best days. I think I must've projected the other runners' times onto my own finishing time. I'm pretty sure Zach Irvine probably could've run a 5:31, but I'm sure I didn't.

It was at this point I felt a ton of pressure lift off my shoulders. I felt like years (OK, I've been outta high school for a decade. And a half.) of my own expectations were dashed. I've been feeling for YEARS that my running has taken a dive. I felt like I'd been sandbagging, and never living up to my potential. I guess it's just that I'm living up to lower expectations. That's not so bad. At least I now have a new perspective on my fitness!!

Up In Your Bedroom, After The War

"It's us, yes, we're back again
Here to see you through 'til the day's end
And if the night comes and the night will come
Well at least the war is over."

Stars - In Our Bedroom, After The War


This is one of my favorite Stars (is it "The Stars?" I was corrected once by someone who assured me there was no "The" in the band's title) songs, and have often thought about the meaning while I'm out on the road running. I often have it "running" through my mind (forgive the bad pun, ask my girlfriend, I really can't help it) and it again popped up in my head today while running.

This last weekend I did the Ragnar del Sol Relay from Prescott to Tempe. It's a great race, and tons of fun to deal as a team. I did it the first time two years ago, and this year I was the only veteran among 11 other "newbie" teammates. The race was immensely surreal, as, in the middle of the night during a leg along the dark highway, a teen runner was hit by a vehicle. He wasn't actually running, but handing off water to a teammate before he unknowingly stepped backwards into a lane of traffic and the oncoming car. He was rushed to the hospital and was on life support for several days before he later died of his injuries in the hospital. It was quite a somber mood as we were awakened early that morning by a call from the other team van saying we needed to get up and meet at the next checkpoint where they were going to mass start everyone again. Our team was mostly silent as we met the other runners to restart the race after the road closure.

Some people thought the race should be called off, others were upset that their teams had been delayed. Even after the restart of the race, we all knew it could've been us who was hit, or that it could happen again at any time. That's why this relay can be so dangerous. But with that danger comes such exaltation, from not only the length of the race, but the camaraderie among the teams for what you've put yourself through. Together.

I could overhear people talking about the accident, and what had happened. I heard people say he's now in a better place. That it was his time. Personally, I think this is total bullshit. He was 18 years old, and a high school senior. He had A LOT of life left ahead of him. I think it's tragic that it was cut short, but disgusting that people push their ideals onto the situation. As a parent, I think it's horrible when a parent out-lives their child, and that this should never happen. My thoughts go out to his parents and family at this time, and I hope they remember him happy always. I can't imagine the grief and pain his family must be going through. I just wish people wouldn't turn it into their own theological pulpit.

Anyways, I think this song has been popping up in my mind because of recent events. I don't know that I'm still "as atheist" as I used to be. I know for a good long time, I didn't believe there was a god. I think there's many others that share my sentiment. I know I see things in different situations. I can't help think there's a higher power, whatever that higher power is, I think it's beyond what you or I can comprehend. But I see it in a sunrise. I hear it in a baby's coo. And I definitely feel it on a trailrun when I reach a peak and look at the world around me.

Anyways, thanks for listening.


~Danny

The Revolution Will Not Be Shod

I am starting this blog to chronicle my runs on roads, trails, in shoes, outta shoes, and even some other activities in which I partake in between runs. I am a huge advocate for barefoot running, because it works for me. I have heard the benefits of the activity, and been running in Vibram FiveFinger KSO's for about 9 months now. I've found they help my posture, improve my form, and actually make me a bit faster than "shod" (shoe) running. I think everybody should try running barefoot, it's an amazing and freeing feeling. But do your research first. Don't go out and run 8mi your first day in VFF or barefoot. Be smart. Also, I recommend reading "Born To Run" by Christopher Mcdougall. I have several other friends who are part of the barefoot running movement, so check out their thoughts, blogs, and sites. Most of all explore what works best for you personally. And have fun!