Getting Greener

Greetings! I keep saying I'm getting greener and greener. I moved up another notch recently as I plunged into the electric car world. I've been driving a hybrid for 10 years. Without reservation, I'm quite pleased with the Toyota Prius. The vehicle gets great gas mileage and assists in my effort to be environmental friendly. For some time, I've given a lot of consideration to going totally electric. Most of the information suggests electric cars keep getting better, and by 2017 the market will have a number of options that get 200 miles to a full charge.

My timeline got moved up as I purchased a 2015 Leaf with only 300 miles for about half the sticker price. It was a deal too good to pass. So far, I really love the car, though I confess I've had a few bouts of range anxiety. I've learned how to best drive the vehicle to get optimum miles per charge. That has increased my deep appreciation for the Leaf.

Charging stations are a different story. The electric car movement has not caught on yet. Thus, there are few chargers available. Even worse is the people who drive gasoline cars tend to park in front of the charging station, so rude.

If you can't get there by running, use an alternate fuel vehicle.

Tom

Key West Treasures

Key West draws a terrific amount of tourist attention from a Presidential resort, Hemingway’s House, Jimmy Buffet’s Restaurant, Mallory Square and outlets for every nearly every musical taste. Many runners know that the island is also fantastic for jogging. When I went out for a run in the main tourist district around 5:30 am, several other were out on the street.

Sea level coupled with beautiful surroundings gave way to a fabulous running environment. I realized I wanted more time out on the road. In that our schedule was flexible for the day (a rare occasion for us on vacation), I added an extra thirty minutes to keep running around the city highlights and in neighborhoods.  It was a grand time.

Enjoy Life. Run.

Tom

Another Ode to the Desert

Right smack in the city, a university town at that, much of the first line of vision looked like any town in the U.S. Other senses were not so easily fooled. Dry air on the skin, baked sand under foot, and for me, something only describable as an inner connection to the land. Of course, I knew full well I was in the desert. Even in the dark I could make out cacti and other arid plants sparsely populating the increasing concrete filled landscape. Desert, ah the desert.

Spending time in the desert works on me psychosomatically. I did not lament heading out in the 40 degree morning for an early run as I had for the last month or so in Atlanta. Upon my return I walked around soaking wet from the perspiration and didn't tell myself I would surly freeze to death. Yet, another fabulous quality of desert life is I seem to ignore physical and psychological concerns of elsewhere in the world.

Afterwards a very fast run in flat lands of Tempe, I cleaned up and joined the group. That morning we delightful in a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. If you are interested in organic architecture or Wright's work, this place is certainly worth a visit.

Love the landscape. Run.

Tom

Cold, Rain, Wind and Limited Space

Greetings! An injured ankle, cold weather and rain led to a late exercise our third day in Paris. Shannan and I set out for our day of sightseeing and I planned to run later in day. Shortly after 2:00 pm we returned to the hotel. Outside it was misty, windy and generally unpleasant. I decided to workout in the room. 

Those of you who have visited Europe know it's not uncommon to have VERY limited space in hotel rooms. Nonetheless, I managed to get in an anaerobic routine in the tight area using resistance bands. Feeling a bit guilty I worked hard and ended up with a good workout. This was great in light of the weather and my injured ankle. Here's a preachy moment: You can  excise every day if you really commit to the cause. Don't let situations present obstacles or create excuses not to exercise. Find a way. Make it happen.

Tom

18 Years and Counting!

Greetings! Turning 18 is a major milestone and a point of many rites of passage for folks in the United States. This week I celebrated the 18^th anniversary of The Streak, exercising every single day.  In the first few years of The Streak I read an article noting that in order to burn fat you need to engage in at least 18 minutes of exercise. Personally, I set a minimum of running three miles to preserve The Streak. Depending on the setting, I run 3 miles in 19 to 23 minutes. So, I felt that was a good match for the 18 minute mark.

As you may know, there is a large organization of runners in the U.S. who run every day. Folks who run at least one (1) mile every day for over a year get included on the Running Streak List.  I am NOT on that list as I don’t run every day.  I include a wide range of cardio and resistance training as options for daily exercise (for me, walking, no matter how far or brisk, does not count).  As far as I know, there is not a formal group for people like me, who do aerobic or anaerobic exercise every day, though I feel certain there are great numbers of us. 

Thus, I draw on the data from Run Every Day list.  According to their current records, my 18 year old Streak places me at 114^th overall on the list and 10^th in GA.  The longest running streak in America is sixty-four year old man from CA who has been running for over 45 years. The oldest running streak in GA in a sixty-eight man from Jonesboro who has been running for 41 years. These guys and the other people above me on the list are inspirations, for sure.

I am extraordinarily grateful to have The Streak as a part of my life. I find daily exercise to be a holistic panacea. I am thankful for the wherewithal to get up and get moving every day and the people around me who support The Streak and celebrate with me. Thank you!

Run. Exercise. 18 Years and Counting!

Tom

Check. Plan. Run.

Greetings! Weather in Atlanta has been erratic at best of late.  This is not new for us in the City too Busy to Hate. Many years ago I learned to plan for my run. Once you get started the elements will not be as bad as your psyche makes them out to be. For me, it’s cold or rain, especially in combination, that cause delay in actually heading out to run. Usually within a few minutes my mind and body adjust. That is not to suggest I take off in 32 degrees in a tank top. I do check weather reports and plan accordingly. To the surprise of many, I always run in shorts no matter the temperature. 

Tina, my running coach, from some years ago made a case for shorts. Since her admonition I've run in sleet, ice (not too smart regardless of apparel), snow and at the frozen base of Mount cook in New Zealand. Tina is correct. The legs take care of themselves. I find fingers and ears to be a different story. I steer away from winter running without gloves and something to cover my ears.

As noted above, I live in Atlanta. Here, heat and humidity seem to encourage many female runners to hit the road in job bras and guys to go shirtless.  Bad call. I think at this stage of medical advice everyone knows of the sun’s potential to damage human skin. Furthermore, wearing a tee shirt will actually keep your body cooler. It helps to create a natural air conditions system in tandem with perspiration. 

Whatever the weather, take a minute to check the forecast and dress for a comfort and safety.

Check. Plan. Run.

Tom

Clebrating Days

Traditionally birthdays make for a good time for reflection. This year my birthday fell on rather busy day. Shannan had an all-day event and I was scheduled to participate in a professional conference downtown. As is my standard, I headed into the city early to avoid traffic. Time worked to my advantage, so I used the excess time to drive around the area where I was raised. It was nice to be there on this day. Memories flowed.

The juxtaposition of then and now suited me better than previous nostalgic rides through the old haunts. All in all, life has been good and I am extraordinarily grateful. I intend to celebrate a great many more birthdays. I pray each year will be better than the one before, and that I have the wherewithal to never forget the long and magnificent journey of life rooted in a working poor neighborhood in Atlanta.

Of all that has changed in my life since childhood, The Streak is the most influential. I’ve taken opportunities to go back to run in the area. This day, I marked miles in the car. It was nice, not to mention is t was below freezing outside.

Celebrate. Remember. Run.

Tom