I am not a runner

I’m been doing this fitness thing for a long time. This isn’t my first rodeo, so to speak. I’ve learned a lot over the years. One of things that I’ve learned is that this industry is fluid. What’s good today is bad tomorrow and vice versa. In other words what makes a lot of money today may not make as much money tomorrow. Oops… was that our loud?

I digress.

OK, here is what I’ve learned. I’ve learned that I don’t know everything. Yes, it pains me to admit that. I tend to form very strong opinions about certain things. This is good for me as a fitness professional. I am unique and I stand by my guns. This is part of the reason that I am successful.

I can’t be stubborn though. That could hold me back.

Thus, some opinions have softened and even changed over the years. This is a good thing.

Maybe it’s me getting older. Maybe it’s me being involved at different levels of the industry. Regardless of what the reason the fact is this: I have learned to evolve and change.

I’m still always right. Don’t confuse the issue. Anyway…

I write this introduction for a reason. The reason is that I’ve changed my opinion about something. It is something that is near and dear to my heart. It’s an activity that I do everyday. It’s and activity that DEFINES me. Yeah, it’s running.

For years I’ve let people get away with a lame excuse. That excuse was this, “I am not a runner”. Fine. You’re not a runner. Not everybody can run or has the mental capacity to run so it’s ok if you don’t.

That’s a bunch of crap. I no longer accept that excuse.

Humans are made to run. Did you know that humans can beat a horse over a marathon distance? Did you know that humans can beat most any animal over a long distance? Did you know that the early humans would chase their prey until said pray got tired and then we’d simply club them to death!

Check out this interesting audio piece from NPR about running. It runs about 17 minutes and is well worth it:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114319707

Because we sweat while other animals simply pant and drool we can go much further before we need to eat, drink and rest. Humans are long distance creatures.

What about the sprints? Yeah, not so much. Usain Bolt is one fast dude but my dog could outrun him over 100m and my dog is FAT.

We weren’t made to swim either. No self respecting alligator is going to let Michael Phelps out swim her.

Jumping we suck at as well. My cat stands like 6 inches off the ground but yet can jump on the counter with very little effort. That would be like you and I jumping on to the roof of our homes from a standstill. Not likely.

Don’t even get me going on how much we can haul on our backs versus what bugs are capable of. Have you ever seen an ant doing lunge walks? See you got me going…

But we can outrun most animals over a long distance.

You are a runner, just like me. Most of you just don’t know it.

So what does this all mean?

It means that if you haven’t done a marathon you need to. Start small. Do a 5k first. Then a 10k or a 10 miler. Then a half marathon. Then the whole enchilada. The full Monty. The marathon. 26 miles 385 yards. You can do it. It’s in your genes. Where is there a race?

www.racesmith.com
www.coolrunnings.com
www.active.com

Find a race. Pay your entry fee. Do the race. Stop whining and do it.

My knee hurts. My ankle hurts. My back hurts. I have asthma. I get cramps. I cry a lot. I’m depressed. I’m anxious. I’m too busy. I don’t have money. I don’t know how to train.

You know these are all excuses. Everybody should do a marathon at least once in their lives. I’ve done mine. My wife has done hers. My friends Peter and River just did theirs. What about you?

Yes, you can walk a marathon. If you can walk you can walk a marathon. Yes, you can overcome all the EXCUSES that I listed about. You can and should do a marathon. Who wants to go for a run?

The vast majority of Americans refuse to take 100% responsibility for their lives and their fitness levels. This is why we are one of the sickest, fattest and slowest developed nations on earth. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Just imagine if every American trained for and completed a marathon in the next year. That’s the thought I want to leave you with. Just imagine….

Pass the Turkey

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. One of the many days per year that people think it’s OK to eat like a sow. The others, of course, being Christmas, New Years, Easter, Groundhog Day, the Super Bowl, March Madness (the entire month), 4th of July, Veterans Day, whenever the Gators, Bucs, Magic or Seminoles play, Columbus Day, First Day of School, Last Day of School, Black Friday, Red Monday, Friday the 13th, Saturday the 14th…

Of course I’m joking but I do have a serious point to make. It starts today with a question:

Is it OK to eat like a 400 pound gorilla every once in a while? Logically the answer it yes. BUT, (and that is a massive BUT) it is not OK to do this often.

I’ll explain.

Overeating on the holidays usually turns into overeating on any occasion where the mood hits you. This turns into dinner every night, then buffet lunches, then you’re putting new holes in your belt because you’re going to start your diet next week. That’s crap and you know it.

Can an alcoholic have one drink?

Can a former smoker have just one smoke?

Overeating on the holidays turns into overeating all the time. Why do you think that Americans are so fat?

How can YOU avoid the “Holiday Bulge” in your belly?

1. Get your butt out the door and do something first thing in the morning! For as long as I can remember I do one of two things on Thanksgiving morning. I either go for a long bike ride or I do a road race. This year I’m going the “Seniors First 5k” in Orlando. www.trackshack.com . Perhaps you’d like to join me?

2. Play football. That’s another thing that I do every Thanksgiving. Even if it’s just throwing the ball with my kids at least I’m outside and moving.

3. Eat a great breakfast. Have some oatmeal and fruit or some organic cereal. Just made sure that after you exercise in the morning you get some good food in you.

4. Bring a healthy dish to the party. Don’t be the one that bring pie. You know someone else will do that. Bring a salad or a fruit tray. Then you need to eat what you brought.

5. Graze like a horse. Once the food is out start munching. It’s better than all at once.

6. Drink lots of water. Water fills you up and helps to counteract al the alcohol you are likely to consume.

7. When dinner time comes eat lots of different foods but have small portions.

8. A typical Thanksgiving Dinner can have 5000 + calories. Most of that comes from mashed potatoes with gravy and dessert. Have an extra helping of turkey or salad.

9. Try to steer clear of the cranberry sauce (added sugar) and gravitate towards good stuff like green beans or asparagus.

10. Enjoy a piece of pie. Not three!!

The biggest tip for the health conscious at Thanksgiving (or any other holiday for that matter) is to enjoy yourself and don’t try to be perfect. You are allowed to slip once in a while. Americans are not fat because we eat too much at the holidays. We are fat because we eat too much on those pesky days that end in “y”.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! From my family to yours we wish you a happy and safe holiday season!