goanothermile Member

CONGRATS on finishing your first HM! That is a big accomplishment. If you feel tired or sore today, I'd suggest taking this week off and just recovering. The benefit of good rest will far outweigh any tiny loss of fitness. Maybe go for some walks to stretch your legs. You can get back into the swing of things next week. In…

You're getting good advice. You general level of fitness must be pretty good. For people who start out pretty fit, it is tempting to overdo it at the beginning. It seems pretty aggressive to go from a bosu ball right into 3.92 miles at a 10 minute pace in just a few days. The intervals that C25k uses are designed to let…

Getting the steaks completely dry on the outside is the key to a nice browned crust. My process: 1) Pat dry with paper towels. 2) Liberally sprinkle with kosher salt at least a couple of hours before cooking. This allows the seasoning to be drawn into the meat rather than just sit on the surface. Big difference in flavor.…

Congrats to you! Your first HM is a big accomplishment. I've done quite a few halls and one full. You are wise to take on some other running challenges before trying to tackle a full. Building your base miles and gaining race experience will pay off if you decide to do a full marathon. I'm thankful that I was able to…

So - how did it go?

I used to feel EXACTLY like this when I was your age. I still prefer to run over any other form of exercise. However... I've learned to appreciate balance. I would encourage you to keep an open mind. Heavy weights aren't the only other option. Yoga, Pilates, cycling, swimming, Crossfit, spin... it is a great big world of…

The best shoes are the ones that support your feet in the right way and don't hurt you. My brand preference used to be Mizuno... but they quit making the model I loved. Their replacement shoe doesn't work for me. This is a good link: http://running.about.com/od/shoesapparelandgear/ht/runningshoe.htm

I have a very similar story. High BP runs in my family. Father is in his mid-70s and having kidney issues. Exercise used to moderate my BP, but as I reached my mid-40s, that no longer seems true. I was 20-25 lbs overweight and seeing my BP steadily creep upwards. I threw in the towel this year and asked for BP meds. I'm on…

Yep. Best advice. Stick with what you've already proven works for you. Eat what you always eat. Drink what you always drink. Wear your favorite tried and true shorts, underwear, shoes, insoles, socks, hat, sunglasses, belt, etc. Any new variable you throw in on race day has the potential to cause you a problem. (Try to…

My favorite piece of running gear is my GPS watch. Mine is an older model that just keeps on ticking. If you don't already have one... that is a great investment, gift idea, whatever. My favorite gels are Huma Energy Gels. They have a thinner consistency and go down easier than the thicker GU and Hammer Gels. Plus, they…

I agree with this. My shoes last about 300 miles. My combination of weight, overpronation, and heel-striking tends to wear them out by then. I also like to rotate shoes. I try to keep two usable pairs in the stable. I'll use the newer pair for long runs/race and have the older pair for midweek shorter runs. Having an extra…

I've had one since June. I like it a lot. It is a fun gadget that helps remind me to log and track everything. I tried the FitBit One first and didn't like it. Keeping up with the tracker was a pain and the sleep monitoring required wearing a different band. The Flex solves that with the bracelet. As far as I'm concerned,…

I like both for different reasons. My ideal is joining a training group for a specific race. That is a good combo for me. I do the weekday runs on my own and meet the group on Saturday morning. Knowing that we're doing a specific distance on Saturday is motivation to stay on track during the week.

Weight loss happens relatively slowly. People you see every day don't suddenly see a change. In my experience, you are more likely to get a comment from someone that you haven't seen in a while.

I use a Fitletic belt. Works great for me! http://www.amazon.com/Fitletic-Ultimate-Race-Belt-Black/dp/B00A49V0LA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1412643759&sr=8-4&keywords=Fitletic

I've been on an overnight oats kick for several weeks. I like mine - 1/3 cup rolled oats, 1/3 cup nonfat greek yogurt, 1/3 almond milk. Sometimes I throw in some frozen blueberries. Another tasty alternative is chocolate almond milk.

My preference is 3-4 runs per week, with a rest day before the long run. When I was only running and doing minimal cross training, I would run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and long run on Saturday. I like my long run to be 30-35% of my weekly total mileage. I'm a lot more focused on cross training now than I have been in…

I still haven't figured out the ideal way to work in SL while training for a half. Lifting on days off from running does impact my runs. The squats leave me a bit sore, tight, and fatigued the next day. Once the long run gets to more than 6-7 miles, lifting the day before my long run is a recipe for disaster. What is…

I've been a runner for years, but was never able to be successful or consistent with any type of weight training. I didn't enjoy it and really never had a good plan. About 3 months ago, I started StrongLifts and taking yoga a couple of times per week. I am very happy to report that StrongLifts is working really well for…

Easier to understand when you can see it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6aiK6C1HXs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6aiK6C1HXs Obviously you'll need to have a foam roller. I think this is the one I have:…

When facing these kinds of decisions, I try to remind myself that I can do it all, I just can't do it all at the same time. If you want to try low carb, I would recommend waiting until after you complete your HM. You've put 11 weeks into training so far. I'm assuming that you want to do Akins for weight loss. Eating…

It depends. <8 miles: Nothing special. Shower. Hydrate. Eat what I need/want. Stretch. Might do this before work. 8-13 miles or less at a normal training pace: Glass of Hammer Recoverite or chocolate milk. Eat some protein. Just get on with normal activity, which usually includes some walking around. Foam roll, definitely…

I have run in Mizunos or Asics for years. That might not work for you. Go to a good store and let them fit you. Find the one that feels the best. Don't worry about the brand.

Not sure how far along you are in the process of "getting into" running. My advice for beginners: 1) Shoes are super important. It is worth going to a specialty running store and having them fit you into shoes that are right for you. They will analyze how your feet strike the ground and recommend the right category of shoe…

Sorry to hear that you are dealing with that. Given that you aren't at risk of spreading anything... my advice would be to give yourself permission to go lightly. I see it as a spectrum. On one end we have the "My body says I'm very ill" and the other end is "I don't feel like working out today, feel like being lazy, think…

Rodney Yee's videos seem to get pretty good recommendations. There have been prior threads with a similar question. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/587864-best-yoga-video-for-beginners I applaud your interest in starting yoga. I just started about 3 months ago on the advice of a PT. I was recovering from a calf…

I use a fitletic belt for my iphone 5, inside the Lifeproof case. I have been happy with it. It works better than an armband for me. I like it because I can carry things in addition to the phone. It has loops for gels and I can stick car keys in there if needed. It also keeps everything snug so it isn't flopping around…

You have gotten some good advice already. I think the two most common mistakes are wearing something new and starting the race too fast. The one race day tip that I haven't seen mentioned - plan your arrival to the race carefully. Make sure you know where you are going on race day and arrive in plenty of time. Get there a…

Definitely don't "power through the puke." Eating and then tossing it up is worse than not eating. I don't think you are doing yourself any harm by not eating prior to running when the distances are 5 miles or less. I would definitely suggest drinking some water first. Unless you eat something really simple (like an energy…

A few years ago, I had a round of plantar fasciitis. There were a couple of things that seemed to help. 1) Take a longer warm up & cool down 2) Soaking my feet in a tub of ice water (mostly water, some ice) for 10 minutes or so after exercise. That seemed to reduce the inflammation considerably. Certainly not a cure all,…