Ouch!

Frustration broke me. Really. Like its predecessor, P90X 2 has a cardio-core move called the Dreya Roll, named for Tony's friend and one the "kids" in P90X videos, Dreya Weber. Her move has you stand straight and then fall back on your gluteus maximus, roll back on your shoulders and then reverse the roll back to your feet. In the original P90X the version of the Dreya Roll allows for the use of your hands to push off the floor to return to an upright position.

Core P90X 2 takes it up a notch. While doing the Dreya Roll you hold a medicine ball, thus your hands are not available to assist in getting back to your feet. I cannot do this version. On the third week, I finally admitted defeat and dropped the ball. My goal was just to get to my feet without using my hands. The modification didn't help. The result remained the same. After several attempts I grew very frustrated and pushed back harder to increase the roll back speed. Still no success. Then I rolled too hard and lost control. I ended up with my full weight on my bent neck. Ouch!

Modify. Take it easy. Exercise another day.

Tom

Annoyed in Naples

Going on two years ago I ran in Naples, Italy. I had a nice run, but did not love the scenery. Last month I ran in Naples, Florida and had a very different experience. To no surprise super early morning running in the dark is not nearly as fun as being able to take in the surroundings under the light of day.

My recent trot in Naples, FL was good for exercise, but not the best for enjoying the lovely scenery. With the limited vision I was able to make out four rabbits along the trek. What I did not see, but did hear and feel were water sprinklers. I'm not sure seeing would have helped. I was right in the middle of an array of sprinkler heads when they began their scheduled spray of cool water.

In more ways than one, this turned out to be an invigorating start to the day.

Tom

Fitness Scam

Below is the actual e-mail I received from the Presidential Fitness Challenge.
You did it, Thomas! You earned a Presidential Champions Bronze Award! What progress! What dedication! What a lot of points! You deserve a pat on the back and a T-shirt, medallion, or other reminder of your achievement. Check out our selection in the President's Challenge Shop, and keep up the good work!

It’s clearly implied in the note; people who complete the challenge have to purchase their own award. Wow! So, the administration sets out to encourage fitness for children and adults. In the process they put together a newsletter, a host of online tools and an exercise tracker to keep up with your fitness goals. In the end the program charges individuals for their own success. Ain't that America!

Albeit, the awards are not expensive, I feel like the program misses the point. I'd just as soon have the organization e-mail a Print-Your-Own certificate. But no, over three months of daily exercise earned me the right to buy an award. Do you see it coming? Well here it is. As you might expect, you can go to the online shop and buy awards without doing the work. Have I already said, Ain't that America!?

So here my unsolicited advice, run for the love of it and exercise for life. You'll save money in lots of ways and never ever feel gipped.

Tom

Finally a Few Miles

January 12 marked the first run of 2012. That stands as record, not one that causes me to beam with pride or excitement. Even the first couple of weeks of 1996 and 1997, before the official Streak, have earlier miles listed in my exercise diaries than this year. I knew my patterns would be different as I fully incorporate these indoor exercise programs into my schedule, but this simply feels wrong.

It's very cold this morning, 28 degrees at present. I plan to get out for a good long run later in the day no matter what the temperature. I need it. I realize clearly, that for me running is good for the body, mind and spirit.

Take care of yourself. Run.

Tom

Five Dark Days in Florida

Earlier I went on in a post about how I love running in Florida. I've been running in the Orange Tree State nearly every year of the Streak, and many times multiple occasions in a single year. I am a big fan of running in the south as I mention quite often. Likewise, I have noted that heat and humidity are of little concern to me. I good sweat makes for a solid reminder that I had a strong run. Having said all that, our zany travel schedule kept us on the move in our most recent visit to Florida.

This resulted in five dark runs for me. By that I mean I ran before the sun crested the east coast. Our fully packed agendas were well worth the sacrifice, but it was a shame of sorts to run in such a beautiful place and not be able to see much of it. When returning home we stopped over in Lake City. In the morning, my predawn run took me through a mall sprawl area. Ordinarily I'm not a fan of this setting. Today, I welcomed the well-lit area. Of course, the one day when I could see my surroundings I ran into rolling fog that covered the morning. The fog came in and persisted. In fact it made for a harrowing drive up I-75 as we returned to Georgia.

This was the morning December 31 and my last run of a super year. I know without a doubt, 2012 will be the best ever. I've trained hard. I know the changes that need to be made in my diet. Now, it's time to PUSH!

Happy Healthy New Year.

Tom

Getting Around SW Florida

When not running in Southwest Florida other modes of transportation included trams, the ubiquitous air boat and a city tour of Naples via Segway. We had the most fun on the Segways, but the air boat did prove quite exhilarating. The Big Cypress Swamp, the Everglades, nature preserves, beaches and other parks opened the door for numerous ways to enjoy nature and being active.

I want to believe all the core and balance exercises I've done in the last year and a half helped with my ease of centering and riding the Segway, thereby making it all the more entertaining. That's probably not the case, but surely better balance didn't hurt. I had no idea prior to this trip that the Segway operates on pressure, not hand gears or brakes. To speed up, slow down, go in reverse or turn you simply shift your body weight. To some degree when driving the device it feels like it is operating by mind control. Shannan, too, was very good. She was the first of our group to mount the two wheeler and she made it look like a breeze.

Navigating the Segway takes confidence as much as anything. One member of our group never got the hang of it. What a shame, as the ride and tour where fantastic. I highly recommend riding a Segway, especially in flat areas like Naples, FL.

Ride. Slide. Glide. Run.

Tom

Fond Memories in Ft. Myers

As the sun crossed the horizon it painted a vivid morning sky. What a wonderful job! 62 degrees greeted December twenty-sixth in Ft. Myers, FL. I've visited the gulf coast town previously, but this morning marked my first run. It was a glorious day for such a thing. Warm weather, flat terrain and sea level breathing, worked in unison to provide a runner’s paradise.

On numerous occasions I have enjoyed pleasurable runs in the sunshine state. This day I logged nearly six miles along a lovely canal. While watching wildlife engaging in their daily routines I reminisced about the many times and places I have jogged in FL. Short and long, city or beach, one and all I've found fabulous routes and had great outings.

I recall several years ago being out for a lovely December jog on the beach in Miami. I watched the sun rise over the ocean. This was in the time before MP3 players. I had an FM radio tuned to a local channel. Repeatedly, newscasters lamented the 55 degree temperature. I reviled in the weather that was 20 degrees higher than Atlanta.

I enjoyed over two hours of running once in Kissimmee. Shannan was at the Space Center and I was training for a marathon. Due to work and pleasure we've visited all the major cities and crisscrossed the state several times. Thus, I could go on and on about running on the peninsula.

Suffice it to say, Florida makes for fine running.

Tom

Bring the Balance

Balance and Power is the name of the third workout in the P90X 2 series. Don't underestimate the balance part. I stumbled, fell, rolled, toppled and many other unsteady movements over the course of the workout. Being stubborn, I refused to admit I couldn't do an exercise. To that end, I paused and replayed sections over and over to the point that I worked out for two hours. Still, I had to note on my progress sheets where I could not complete the several exercises correctly.

Bear in mind this is routine is not about weight or resistance, it's 95% balance and the rest mind over matter.

I had a rough outing today. In the mean time I'll work on my yoga, moves and mentality, and come back for the same set next Friday.

It's a new year. Push harder.

Tom

Cabin Fever Coming

2012 looms just ahead. Though time sneaks by quickly, it doesn't always seem like a thief if you use it wisely. After reviewing my goals and resolutions for 2011, I'm happy to see I faired well. Next year's plans are a bit more ambitious and somewhat daunting. One thing stands out as abnormal. Using a variety of fitness programs, I'll be exercising indoors more than ever. I'm a fan of nature and being outdoors. For me, that is one of the great appeals of running.

Weather permitting; I'll work two runs a week into each program. Still that's a lot of time to follow a fitness trainer on DVD. I'll soon be in sunny Florida where I intend to run for several days on streets, sidewalks, beaches and in and around the Everglades. Once we get home, then it's focus time. We'll see if I can stay on point once spring arrives.

P/S-2012 has arrived. I did have several nice runs in FL, related posts will follow. I'm off to a great start (4 days in of 90) with P90X2.

Resolve to exercise.

Tom

Who’s to blame?

We all know that recycled products and organic foods cost more in the supermarket. It does seem a little odd since products made from recycled goods, and organic foods arguably have lower production costs due to reduced use of fillers, preservatives, and human capital from farm to factory. So why do these items cost more? Does the price point get set by supply or demand? We all know if a product doesn’t move off the shelf then the price point has to increase to help carry the bottom line.

Shannan and I try to buy organic foods, which often places us into to a debate between two philosophical positions within our lives, budget and conservation. Like the marketing and retailing of the stores, in our case, budget generally wins out as well. That’s not the worst of it. Here is a little nasty trick of the marketplace as it attempts to attract the health conscious buyer. Take a look at the ingredients of cranberry juice. Some brands contain high fructose corn syrup, which does not naturally occur in the berries or in the process of making them into juice. This story gets worse. Some organic options don’t add the sweetener (yea!); however, the product is not really cranberry juice. It’s mostly apple juice (to make it taste sweet) with 10% or less cranberry.

Dang! Why can’t we just buy juice? The answer is, the market bears out what people (us) want. Clearly most folks want their juice to taste sweet, not like actual juice. Shame on us as consumers, and shame on marketers.

Save money. Eat Healthy. If you can’t do them both at once, go for a run.

Tom