How Far Was That?

When we first started running I though it would be very simple - get out the old Nikes and go for a run.  But of course, the further you get into running, the more you realize it's just not that simple.  Technology, gadgets, specialty clothing, specific shoes, etc all help to make running easier and more enjoyable (although some are not necessary).

One website that we have found very helpful is http://www.mapmyrun.com/.

Another plus to using this website is that you can also figure distance on more than just roads (like bike trials, for example).

You can choose to measure distance in miles or kilometers.  You can choose a "map" view or a satellite view.  We prefer the satellite view  so that you can identify makers for a "turnaround" point if you're running an "out and back" route.

Stop guessing how long you run or driving your car around to messure the route you run/walk/bike, and give this website a try.

From Couch to 5K

I always hated running. My old adage used to be "I don't run unless someone is chasing me... or there's free food". But last year, we decided to pick up running, anyway.


How did this happen? I can't even recall. But what I do know is that we just decided to go out for a run one day. After about 2 minutes I thought my lungs would catch on fire and my heart would explode. It was terrible. Why did people do this to themselves? And for fun, no less? So, I did what I also do when I have a question - I google it. By doing so, I came across a program called Couch to 5K. It's a 10 week program that uses interval training three days per week to take you from coach potato to running hero in 10 weeks. (Okay, maybe not a running hero, but at least someone that can run an entire 5K.)

Armed with this new training program loaded on my iPod, we signed up for our first 5K that was 11 weeks off. The first week is intervals of 60 seconds jogging, 90 seconds walking for 30 minutes total. I recall thinking "this is my kind of running" (aka - the kind that has more walking than running).

Over the course of those 10 weeks we slowly got in better shape and able to run not only farther, but faster, as well. When our first 5K race came around in June, I was very anxious. I'd always been so confused by those people that paid money to run. Didn't they know they could run for free anywhere? I didn't feel so bad about paying the entry fee, as the money was going to support our local "rails-to-trails" program (the same trail we run on many times each week!). I didn't anticipate the adrenaline from a race that I had no possibility of winning (or even placing in). But something about the early morning crowd, the people, the energy - it just gets the adrenaline pumping. Well, long story short, we ended up meeting our goal of running the entire 5K without walking. Did we break land speed records? Of course not; but we were both proud of ourselves for having stuck with the program and completed our goal.

Races have since become a guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure and give us something to "train" for to keep us hitting the pavement as often as we can. Our goal is always to improve over our last race time and I look forward to our first race of 2011 to see if we can accomplish that goal.

Our Little Buddy

Captain Theodore McPuppy (AKA Teddy)

For those of you who don't know, we have a dog named Teddy that we love (some probably think too much, but we don't care).  He is our best buddy.  He is a 4 lb Yorkie.  I will admit that I was a little hesitant to get a dog when Julie first approached me about getting a puppy 3 years ago.  I did not want the responsibility and I generally just didn't think it was a good idea. However, it didn't take long for him and I to become best friends.  We bonded right away because I was the one that would get up in the middle of the night to take him to go potty and I spoiled him with treats. 



What a stud.

I never thought that I could become a softy for anything, let alone a dog.  But now, we are inseparable.  He comes with us to Michigan.  He goes on walks and bike rides with us.  He even protects us from the evil pig and toads outside our house (it's a plastic pig... but he must know something we don't).  At night he sleeps between us and sometimes under the covers. 

Teddy has made me realize that I love dogs more than I love people (most people).  You put a homeless dog on the side of the road and a homeless person on the side of the road, I will feel more sorry for the dog than the person.  Why?  I'm not sure.  I suppose because I feel like the dog doesn't really have a choice.

Seriously.  AW!!!!!!

 

It's wonderful to have something in my life that no matter what, loves me.  For instance, if I put Julie and Teddy in the trunk of my car for a couple of hours... who is going to be happy to see me when I open it up?  I know my little buddy will be there wagging his tail the entire time ('little buddy' is not my pet name for my wife).  My wife would first deck me, then shoot me, then send me divorce papers. So, how can you not love something that no matter what happens, they love you back with all of their heart?

Teddy and I sleeping.

Julie is going to tell me that I need to post something on here that is fitness/health/food related.  Ok, so here ya go.... Teddy weighs 4 lbs.  He does not need to go on a diet nor does he need to exercise.  We cannot eat him.  Firstly, he doesn't have much meat on him.  He is mainly fur.  Secondly, he probably tastes like Pupperoni since that is his favorite treat.  Thirdly, I haven't been able to find any recipes that contain puppy.  Lastly, that's just wrong.  What Teddy does is really makes our house feel like a home.  I do not have a degree in psychology...oh wait... yes I do.  But I am not a psychologist.  However, I do know that a happy home is a great way to promote a good mental health.  In my unprofessional opinion, a healthy lifestyle includes good mental health.  You may not need a dog to make you happy, but finding something to love and to love you back is a great way to brighten up your life.

This post is in memory of Baby, Teddy's mom.  She passed away last Friday.

Bondi Bands - Review and Giveaway!

With help from Rebecca at Bondi Bands, we are excited to bring you our first giveaway!



Bondi Bands look cool.



Bondi Bands are a fantastic product that can be used as a sweatband or a headband.  They are made from a wicking material so they not only keep your hair out of your face, but sweat too!

Julie: Ladies - I'm sure you've all worn that headband that looks cute, but after a few hours of wear, it gives you a headache that just doesn't justify the cuteness.   One thing I can promise you is that Bondi Bands are headache free and look way better than sweatbands!  Another plus, is they don't slip off your head! 

Chad: When we first started running, I was just letting the sweat drip off my forehead.  After a while I got sick of sweat in my eyes, so I purchased some sweat bands (the kind that you see NBA players wearing).  It can look silly at times, but I needed something to catch the sweeat.  As summer went on and it was hotter and hotter out, I found that I was still getting sweat in my eyes because those bands could only soak up so much.  Julie found this neat little product called Bondi Bands and thought we should give it a try.  I was skeptical at first because the band itself is very light weight and thin.  I didn't know how this could actually stop my sweat from running down my forehead.  Let me tell you, it definitely works.  I wear these not only for running, but also to basketball. 

Bondi Bands can also double as ear warmers when running in the cold.

There are a lot of different styles and colors to choose from.  Some have writing and some are plain.  And for you philanthropists, consider your purchase of Bondi Bands good for you and good for others!  Each year, Bondi Band contributes 10% of their pretax profit to charity!

Now, at this point, I'm sure you're thinking, "How can I get a Bondi Band for myself"?  There are two ways you can get some for yourself.  You can go to their website ( http://www.bondiband.com/ ) and check out the different styles and colors. Or you can win one by submitting an entry into our drawing! 

Here are many ways you can get an entry into our drawing (the winner will be picked by random.org):

- Go check out bondiband.com and leave us a comment letting us know why you want a bondi band!

- Become a follower of our blog and let us know with a comment (or leave a comment to let us know you already are a follower).

- Post this blog entry on your facebook (and let us know by leaving a comment)
- Post this blog entry on your twitter account (and let us know by leaving a comment)
- Link this blog entry on your own blog

Yes, that means you can get up to 5 chances to win!  We will be doing the drawing Tuesday, March 15th - so get your entries in before then!

Julie's Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
2 oz. cream cheese
1 cup frozen broccoli - thawed
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Mrs. Dash Tomato Basil Seasoning

Recipe:
Preheat oven to 375.  Butterfly chicken breasts and pound thin.  Season each side with Mrs. Dash Tomato Basil Seasoning.  Mix broccoli, parmesan cheese and cream cheese.  Put cheese/broccoli mixture in the middle of each chicken breast and roll up.  Use toothpicks to hold chicken together.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over chicken. 

Cover dish with tin foil.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove foil and cook another 5 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

Julie: This is another good recipe that we always have all of the ingrediants for so it's a good back-up meal for when you didn't plan anything for dinner!
Chad: This is one of my favorites.  It's a little fussy so we don't make it as often as I wish we did.

Tutti Fruity

Do you ever get hungry in the middle of the morning before lunch? Do you ever go to the snack machine or find some sort of junk food to snack on during that time? Where we work, junk food is always VERY available. How do you make healthy decisions with temptations like that?

We have started taking a bowl of fruit with us to work for those very instances. I wasn’t a super fan of this at first because fruit does not contain any salt, creamy fillings, cheese, meat (the junk that we always seem to crave).  However, we have learned to appreciate fruit more. It really is a great snack in the middle of the day and we have zero guilt afterwards. We would recommend cutting up some of your favorite fruits and snacking on them as the day goes by.

Our daily fruit snacks we take to work with us.

Some interesting fruit facts...

-Blueberries won’t ripen until they are picked and have more antioxidants than most any other fruit and vegetable.

-There is more fiber in an orange than in most other fruits and vegetables

-British sailors used to be call ‘Limeys’ because they ate citrus to prevent scurvy on long sea voyages

-A single orange seed will likely yield more than one plant

-Peaches were once known as Persian apples

-“You’re a real peach” originated from the tradition of giving a peach to a friend you liked.

-Some Chinese peaches are flat like a puck.

-Strawberries are not really a fruit nor a berry but an enlarged receptacle of the flower.

-Strawberries and apples are a members of the rose family.

-Strawberries are very high in vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.

-Fruit juice takes about 15 minutes for your body to digest whereas it takes 30 minutes for raw fruit.

-The ‘healthiest’ fruit that is readily available to most of us is guava.

-Dangerous ‘oxidants’ are in our bodies. Fruits that contain antioxidants help reduce the harmfulness of these oxidants (i.e. fruits have been known to reduce the risk of cancers).

-Before the invention of canteens, explorers would use watermelons to carry their water

-Banana plants can grow an inch or more during the night.

-There are more than 7,000 different types of apples in the world.

-Kiwi fruit is named for the national bird of New Zealand, the Kiwi bird, because of its brown fuzzy skin.

-Strawberries are the only fruit that has it’s seeds on the outside.

-Pineapples are berries

-Bananas are loaded with potassium. Potassium is important in keeping blood pressure at a healthy level.

-There are more than 100 varieties of bananas. Some have red skin.

-Avocados are commonly used as vegetables. Botanically, they are fruits.

-Avocados contain about 22% fat and a medium sized avocado contains about 300 calories and 30 grams of fat.



Sources: factmonster.com, thefruitpages.com, fruitnutritionfacts.com, gourmetgiftbaskets.com, easyfunschool.com, foodreference

Running in the Cold

Spring is just around the corner and it's a good thing because we are getting some serious cabin feaver.  This week has been a great week for us because we have been able to run every night thus far.  It was very difficult to run in the cold yesterday, but it wasn't that bad. 

As it stands right now, our plan is to start out slowly.  We are only running about 50% of a 5K at a snails pace.  This is the best way for us just because when we push ourselves too hard, we get burnt out.  We are going to increase our pace and distance as time goes on.  Eventually, when it gets a little warmer, we will start a true 'conditioning' program to kick our butts into a higher gear. 

On a seperate semi-unrelated note, we will be reviewing a running product in a week or so and will be giving away a free sample of the product.  Keep an eye out for this.