Running: A FEVER

RAF011: Sunrise Run

My first morning run! Time management forces me to be flexible with my workout schedule. I have some concerns about early morning running, such as cold muscles, darkness, and whether I will get to work on time. As a precaution I decide to make this an all-walk, no-run workout. I am doing dynamic stretching, but have no clear direction on how to do it. I like the progress I am seeing in the lengthening of my workouts and an increased number of steps on my pedometer. I get some good advice fro...

RAF010: Mental Toughness

It’s great to be past that statistically significant seventh episode, by which most podcasts end. But that’s only a statistic. Time is a factor. How would I get my runs in if my schedule was less flexible or more hectic? What about my goal? We have setbacks, and it’s important not to look at a setback as a failure. It can be too easy to pronounce the project failed and just quit. When I got back from Thanksgiving it was too dark to work out, so I missed that day, but I got right back at it t...

RAF009: It's Beautiful ... This Stretch

“It’s beautiful … this stretch.” I finally take a new route starting at the marina that turns out to be much more picturesque and interesting. There are woods, a dam, a bridge, and a waterfall-like spillway. Here are some pictures. More advice about warmups: stretch after the workout to avoid soreness by releasing the lactic acid that builds up in the muscles. New in this episode: CAR TIPS: Let your car warm up for at least a minute before you start driving. Maybe up to a two minute run, I t...

RAF008: Weight, Hydration, and Long Underwear

I discuss my weight and how that affects what I can do at this point in my journey. Losing weight is a conundrum. I need to have enough nutrition to do the exercise I need to do, but eating lighter will help me lose weight faster, which would make working out easier. So far I haven’t found a new part of the course. Pain is part of this process, but sometimes running helps me feel better. I get into a routine of drinking water, 20oz pre-run, 40oz post-run. Weight: 271 Workout time: 38 min ...

RAF007: After the Turkey

Back from Thanksgiving after three days off, I get right back in to the swing of things. What happened? It was the taking of Dad’s advice combined with the usual holiday temptations. Christmas? Who knows? But I’m not giving up and waiting for a new year’s resolution. Great weather today. I was planning to find a place to park so I could start at a different part of the course. Though I was unsuccessful, it gave me a chance to talk about stretching, both static and dynamic. On the trail, an e...

RAF006: Advice from Dad

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend I went out walking one day with my Father, who offered some advice on moderation in exercise. In accord with Southern tradition, my family calls me by my middle name Brent, because my father and I have the same first and last names. It may be enough to work out several times a week to give my body time to recover and rebuild before the next workout. But developing a habit of regular exercise is also a good idea. Weight: 269 Time: 25 minutes Distance ...

RAF005: Goals and Habits

I express concern about having something come up that forces me to not work out one day, and having that turn into a lot of days. I talk about the book Living Forward by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy and my priority for physical fitness. Goals and habits are important. Both good and bad habits are hard to break. But it takes time to establish a habit and I haven’t been doing this for very long. Weight: 267 Time: 31 minutes Distance (total): 1.25 miles Run portion: .5 minutes Heart R...

RAF004: Joe Cool on the Trail

“I’m just like Joe Cool. I’m lookin’ good today, I’m feelin’ good, it’s another beautiful day.” Daniel J. Lewis is the RSS Guru. 10,000 steps per day is considered a good amount of exercise. But even walking a mile and a half of intentional exercise, I have not achieved that yet. Wearing the super-cool, ultra-groovy opthalmalogical sunglasses, I went for a record 1.5 miles at a faster pace (possibly because I was looking so darn cool). Speeding up the pace is something I am trying to do each...

RAF003: Setting a Goal

Did I start gradually enough? I may be walking for at least a week, but I want to start doing some running at least during part of the workout as soon as I can. Getting ready for Thanksgiving. How will I handle the unhealthy food choices and tendencies toward just sitting around napping and watching the football games? I take a more challenging part of the course with inclines, and decide that I will set a specific goal to achieve in the next year. I feel good after the run. This is Sunday a...

RAF002: My First Little Run

“There it is, my first run!” Another beautiful day for a walk/run. Objective is to push myself a little more, and add some distance. I learn how far I am walking by using signs on the course. I vow to track performance in the future. For the first time since I started this project, I run, if only for a few seconds. Nobody knows everything about running, so sometimes you just have a try something and see how it works out. This is how I learn and progress. As always, I want to avoid injury so ...

RAF001: On the Trail for the First Time

“I’m not going to have the attitude that I’m not going to run. I’m definitely going to run.” I go out on the trail for the first time, discover Lake Fayetteville and think about thinking about running while walking. It’s important to have a goal, only if you want to achieve it. My goals are to be healthy, to be flexible and strong enough and fit enough to do things I want to do, like maybe playing disk golf or riding a bike. I see people running around the lake and I’m inspired, I want to be...

RAF000: Look out for what's coming!