12/11/2007

Visualize Your Marathon

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Self Portrait Sunday 12-09-07 from FlickrHave you ever dreamed of running a marathon? I have thought about running a marathon for years, but I’ve never gotten past training for a 5K. I’ve enjoyed the sense of accomplishment that I’ve gotten from running a 5K, but I think I’m ready for more.

This video from Zappos and The Las Vegas Marathon shows you all 26.3 miles of the Las Vegas Marathon. It’s an excellent visualization tool for imagining the race.

This reminds me of the Starling Fitness Walking DVDs. I wish they would sell me a DVD of the race route filmed at regular speed so I could use it to train on my treadmill. Wouldn’t that be the ideal visualization technique for running that race?

26.3 miles is a LONG distance. I didn’t realize how long until I watched this video. It’s fast forward (so much so that it gave me motion sickness to watch it), and it still took almost eight minutes to go through the whole route. After seeing what 26.3 miles looks like, I think it’s way too soon for me to start training for a marathon and maybe I should shoot for a 10K next.

12/10/2007

Runner+ Challenge Winners (12-10-07)

By Laura Moncur @ 8:11 am — Filed under:

We are knee deep in the holidays, but the running competition is still stiff. We had some phenomenonal numbers this week! Click over to Runner+ to see all the results.

Casio took the Level 1 challenge with his total of 8.14 miles last week! A special welcome to our newest runners, ainn18 (7th place), Ladanea (9th place) and chenn (12th place). Thanks for joining up with us and I hope you like the challenges!

Level 1 Results 12-03-07

Vangelis won the Level 2 Challenge by running 18.03 miles this week. Good job!

Level 2 Results 12-03-07

I was determined to break out of Level 2 this week and I made it, barely. I had no idea I would win the Level 3 challenge however!

Level 3 Results 12-03-07

RicC should have dropped out of Level 4 and moved on to Level 5, but I’m giving it to him this time. He overshot the Level 4 Challenge with 48.10 miles.

Level 4 Results 12-03-07

IACOBITTI would have won the Level 4 Challenge if RicC had dropped out of the race when he exceeded the limit. Instead, IACOBITTI wins the Level 5 Challenge with his 38.5 miles.

Level 5 Results 12-03-07

Once again, mkimes won Level 6 by running 49.65 miles last week! You have a great streak going! Keep it up!

Level 6 Results 12-03-07

Congratulations to all the competitors! Join us at Runner+ and show off your mileage!

If you exercise by running or walking, you can compete in the Starling Fitness Challenges on Runner+. All you need is an account at Runner+ (free) and you can log your miles there. If you have a Nike+iPod kit, then your runs will automatically be added, but the site will also allow you to add your runs manually. If you would like to compete against runners on your level, here are the links for this week’s challenges:

Level 1 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 0-10 miles a week.

Level 2 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 10-20 miles a week.

Level 3 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 20-30 miles a week.

Level 4 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 30-40 miles a week.

Level 5 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 40-50 miles a week.

Level 6 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 50-60 miles a week.

12/8/2007

Shoveling the Walk

By Laura Moncur @ 2:10 pm — Filed under:

Saturday 12-08-07 from FlickrI’m just back from shoveling my sidewalk. Salt Lake City was dumped on last night and it has started up again, so I thought I better get the heavy and slushy stuff up before more snow fell.

How many calories does shoveling snow burn? According to Nutristrategy, it’s a pretty productive exerise:

Shoveling snow, by hand
If you weigh 130 lbs: 354 calories an hour
If you weigh 155 lbs: 422 calories an hour
If you weigh 190 lbs: 518 calories an hour

My little chore to keep myself from being buried in by the weather earned me a good 250 calories today.

The question is: should I still do my 3.25 miles on the treadmill today?

I’m obsessive about my mileage on Runner+. I’m determined to break out of Level 2 this week and move on to Level 3. If I don’t do my 3.25 miles today, that won’t happen, so yes, I’m still hitting the treadmill today.

The wind has kicked up and is blowing the snow from my neighbor’s roof onto my clean driveway. I’ve got my work set out for me today. Gotta get to it.

12/3/2007

Runner+ Challenge Winners (11-26-07)

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

I’m finally back from Las Vegas. I left Salt Lake City brown and chilly. I returned to a winter wonderland. Hello, TREADMILL! Let’s see how everyone did this week. Click over to Runner+ to see all the results.

fhulihee ran a total of 9.11 miles last week and beat the Level 1 challenge!

Level 1 Results 11-26-07

KellerMom won the Level 2 Challenge by running 19.04 miles and toasting us all by at least 3.5 miles!

Level 2 Results 11-26-07

Congratulations to resistente, who won the Level 3 Challenge with 25.39 miles. You dusted us all on that one! Bad form, Mike! You should have withdrawn from Level 3 before moving on to Level 4.

Level 3 Results 11-26-07

Erik finally had a chance to be the winner of the Level 4 Challenge with 39.43 miles.

Level 4 Results 11-26-07

Erik also took first place on the Level 5 Challenge by running 39.43 miles.

Level 5 Results 11-26-07

mkimes won Level 6 by running 57.38 miles last week! You have a great streak going! Keep it up!

Level 6 Results 11-26-07

Congratulations to all the competitors! Join us at Runner+ and show off your mileage!

If you exercise by running or walking, you can compete in the Starling Fitness Challenges on Runner+. All you need is an account at Runner+ (free) and you can log your miles there. If you have a Nike+iPod kit, then your runs will automatically be added, but the site will also allow you to add your runs manually. If you would like to compete against runners on your level, here are the links for this week’s challenges:

Level 1 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 0-10 miles a week.

Level 2 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 10-20 miles a week.

Level 3 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 20-30 miles a week.

Level 4 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 30-40 miles a week.

Level 5 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 40-50 miles a week.

Level 6 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 50-60 miles a week.

12/2/2007

There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Yesterday’s Frazz comic reminded me of how invigorating running in the snow can be:

Click to see full size: Frazz 12-01-07

“There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

I’ve never heard that quote before. When I did a little research it has been attributed to the Scandinavians and the Norwegians. Whoever said it was spot on.

When it starts getting cold outside, I run on the treadmill again. The cold air makes it so hard to breathe that I prefer the comfort of the indoors and the entertainment of the television nearby.

I had forgotten how nice it can be to run in the winter when I have warm enough clothes.

11/27/2007

Exercising with Bands

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Self Portrait Sunday 11-25-07 from FlickrI’ve kind of let my weight training fall behind lately. I’ve been focusing so much on running that it feels like anything that I don’t do with the Nike+ doesn’t “count” as exercise. My upper body strength has atrophied right back to where it was before I started weight training and the idea of having to start over has helped me procrastinate.

This video from diet.com made me excited about weight training again. These stretchy exercise bands are REALLY portable and so easy to keep in the house because they take up hardly any space and they aren’t heavy in your suitcase.

A whole weight training workout with just one piece of equipment!

11/26/2007

Runner+ Challenge Winners (11-19-07)

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

I’ve been in Vegas all week, but I still logged a bunch of miles using my Nike+. Let’s see how everyone did this week. Click over to Runner+ to see all the results.

Casio ran a total of 9.36 miles last week and beat out Tango Juliet by only 0.03 miles! Good job Level 1 runners!

Level 1 Results 11-19-07

brian289 won the Level 2 Challenge by running 0.15 miles more than AirGar. Such a close race! Bad form, scottwillis, you should be running on Level 3 with that mileage.

Level 2 Results 11-19-07

Congratulations to FidoDido, who won the Level 3 Challenge with 24.7 miles. You dusted us all on that one!

Level 3 Results 11-19-07

Once again, RicC is the winner of the Level 4 Challenge with 34.31 miles.

Level 4 Results 11-19-07

kjtay took first place on the Level 5 Challenge by running 26.38 miles.

Level 5 Results 11-19-07

mkimes won Level 6 by running 71.01 miles last week! That averages out to over ten miles a day! Great job, mkimes!

Level 6 Results 11-19-07

Congratulations to all the competitors! Join us at Runner+ and show off your mileage!

If you exercise by running or walking, you can compete in the Starling Fitness Challenges on Runner+. All you need is an account at Runner+ (free) and you can log your miles there. If you have a Nike+iPod kit, then your runs will automatically be added, but the site will also allow you to add your runs manually. If you would like to compete against runners on your level, here are the links for this week’s challenges:

Level 1 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 0-10 miles a week.

Level 2 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 10-20 miles a week.

Level 3 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 20-30 miles a week.

Level 4 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 30-40 miles a week.

Level 5 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 40-50 miles a week.

Level 6 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 50-60 miles a week.

11/25/2007

Keeping Track of Casino Walking

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Self Portrait Saturday 11-24-07 from FlickrYesterday, I used the Nike+ to keep track of all the walking we did around Las Vegas. Unfortunately, we didn’t log too many miles. Whenever we stopped walking, the Nike+ would eventually stop the workout, but I couldn’t hear it do it because I didn’t have my earbuds in. I wish I could set the thing to keep tracking no matter how many times I stop.

You can see the results of the walk here:

I only logged 1.11 miles because it had turned off a couple of times and I didn’t notice. Considering how often it turned itself off, we probably walked about 2.5 miles. Nike+ isn’t perfect. Not even by a long shot, but it’s better than anything else I’ve used and I LOVE competing on Runner+.

I’ve done pretty well exercising while I’ve been in Vegas, but no matter how much I exercise, I can’t make up for the eating. Someday, I’m going to figure out how to be with my family on a vacation without overeating. When I do, I’ll give you the inside scoop, okay?

11/21/2007

Save the Planet AND Lose Weight

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Self Portrait Tuesday 11-20-07 from FlickrWendy Bumgardner has an entry on how to save the planet by walking:

She has many recommendations, most of which seem like they were added to pad the list. The most important one she talked about, however was walking instead of driving.

I’m a big fan of this one, but it takes some planning to pull it off.

Wendy recommends that you can replace your workout with one 3 mile walk. That’s a 1.5 mile walk to wherever you’re going and a 1.5 mile back. The first step is to look at your house on Mapquest:

Adjust the zoom level until you’re at the zoom level where the legend is 800 m and 2400 ft. That’s a good zoom for you to work with.

Print up that map. A mile and a half is 7920 feet, so using the legend on the printed map, draw a circle that is 3 miles in diameter around your house like this. I used the old house I grew up in as an example:

Create a walking map from Flickr

After you have your circle drawn, find out what is within that 1.5 mile radius. It’s difficult to tell what is there from just the map, so this will take some planning and thought. There are a couple of parks I could walk to, the grocery store on 4000 West and the Home Depot on 5600 West.

Make a list of everything that is within that circle. Any time you need to go to anything within the circle, walk instead of driving.

You can do the same thing around your place of employment. You can achieve a 3.0 mile walk within an hour, but only if you walk quickly and don’t spend a lot of time at your destination. Next time you need to run an errand at your lunch break, see if the destination is within your circle. If it is, get in a workout AND save gasoline.

When I lived on White Cherry Way, I was a kid. I didn’t have a choice. My only choices were walking or riding my bike if I wanted to go somewhere. I knew all the places that I could easily get to, which wasn’t very many in the suburbs. Now that I live downtown, I have hundreds of places within my 1.5 mile radius. The funny thing is, when I drew the circle around my current house, I realized that there are a bunch of places that I could walk to that I never go to because they are west of my home. It opened up at least twenty more options for me by just printing out the map and drawing the circle.

Just replacing one errand a day by walking instead of driving can not only help you save money on gas but make you healthier. Print up a map of your neighborhood and do it today!

11/19/2007

Runner+ Challenge Winners (11-12-07)

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

With all the holiday celebrations coming up, I’ve found a daily run to be the best thing to keep me on track. I might not be able to keep eating healthy, but I can always fit in a walk or run. The challenges have been so helpful to me to keep on track. Click over to Runner+ to see all the results.

Casio ran a total of 9.82 miles last week and took home the Level 1 Challenge! Watch out, Casio! fhulihee is right on your heels!

Level 1 Results 11-12-07

ajmiarka won the Level 2 Challenge by running 0.15 miles more than stuckinord. Such a close race!

Level 2 Results 11-12-07

Newcomer, Erdbeere, won the Level 3 Challenge with 22.52 miles.

Level 3 Results 11-12-07

RicC is the winner of the Level 4 Challenge with 38.66 miles.

Level 4 Results 11-12-07

Pone took first place on the Level 5 Challenge by running 21.31 miles.

Level 5 Results 11-12-07

mkimes won Level 6 by running 67.83 miles last week! That averages out to almost nine miles a day! Great job, mkimes!

Level 6 Results 11-12-07

Congratulations to all the competitors! Join us at Runner+ and show off your mileage!

If you exercise by running or walking, you can compete in the Starling Fitness Challenges on Runner+. All you need is an account at Runner+ (free) and you can log your miles there. If you have a Nike+iPod kit, then your runs will automatically be added, but the site will also allow you to add your runs manually. If you would like to compete against runners on your level, here are the links for this week’s challenges:

Level 1 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 0-10 miles a week.

Level 2 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 10-20 miles a week.

Level 3 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 20-30 miles a week.

Level 4 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 30-40 miles a week.

Level 5 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 40-50 miles a week.

Level 6 weekly challenge from Starling Fitness. This level runs between 50-60 miles a week.

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