Friday, September 28, 2012

What are Wall Monkeys?

What is Wall Monkeys?

WallMonkeys started in 2008 out as a simple idea – Print custom wall graphics of kids playing sports. My kids, your kids, everyone’s kids. Any sport, any activity,whatever YOU want. Fathead.com was offering Derek Jeter and A-Rod. While professional athletes are great, (and overpaid), I did not want them on my wall. This customer wanted his own son and daughter on the wall. As an entrepreneur, I decided to see if anyone was printing custom wall graphics from the customers photo. No one was. So, an obsession began. Learn everything there is to know about wall graphics and printers. Simple, right? Buy a printer, material,build a web site, and ‘they will come’! Not exactly, but I attacked the business with a passion and a focus on the product and the customer. While the passion and focus are firmly in place, the business has developed quite a bit.

Fast forward four years, and here we are today. While we still print plenty of kids playing sports, we also offer over 15 MILLION images in our online catalog, giving us the World’s Largest Collection of Print on Demand Wall Graphics. From Picasso to Van Gogh, Alligators to Zebras, Wallmonkeys.com has it all.

WallMonkeys has a dedicated print facility in Kensington Maryland, complete with a small army of printers to get your images printed and shipped within 48 hours. Made in the USA, printed with pride, one at a time, just for YOU.

From the mom next door to Fortune 500 companies, WallMonkeys has wall graphics to meet your needs, budget,and time frame. What can we do for you?


Thursday, September 27, 2012

October running events around Kansas City

10/06/2012                                                                                          8:00 AM


The Grin & Bear It Run is held as part of the activities of the Harrisonville area's annual Burnt District Festival, and the 
course features streets lined with beautiful historic homes. Proceeds from the event benefit the Patient Assistance Fund, which helps needful patients at Cass Regional with special needs such as medication, home care supplies and transportation.
Location: Harrisonville, MO
Entry Fee: $25 Adult, $15 Kids 12 & under
 
               
10/06/2012                                                                                          8:00 AM


The 2nd annual Revolution 5K Run/Walk will take place at the Liberty Memorial. Proceeds provide scholarships for students in rural El Salvador so they can attend high school and college. A donation will also be given to Neighbor2Neighbor, serving the homeless and near homeless in the Westport area. 
 
 
Location: Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, MO        
Entry Fee: $25 through 9/30, $30 after
 
           
10/06/2012                                                                                          8:00 AM
 

Come help cure SMA with the 12th Annual Race-n-Roll 5K at Bishop Miege High School! This will be followed by some great music, food, entertainment, and plenty of fun for the whole family!  SMA is an inherited and often fatal disease that destroys the many facets of the nervous system. There are more than 7 million carriers in the US alone.  
 
Location: Roeland Park, KS 
     Entry Fee: $30 Adult, $10 Children 17 & under

   
10/06/2012                                                                                       8:00 AM
 
Parktoberfest 5K | a run in the park is a 'flat & fast' 3.1 mile run & 2 mile family run/walk through English Landing Park in Parkville, Missouri. Proceeds from this event benefit The Friends of Parkville Parks.
 
Location: Parkville, MO
Entry Fee: $30        

10/06/2012                                                                                          8:00 AM   
The 2nd Annual OctoberFast 5K will take place in downtown Pleasant Hill. The race proceeds the Hope Harvest Festival -a great event for kids! Come enjoy a nice, fast course! 
 
Location: Pleasant Hill, MO        
Entry Fee: $25
 
           
10/06/2012                                                                                          9:00 AM


Haven's Wooded Trail Run is
 a 5K run sponsored by the Leavenworth Parks & Recreation Department. This race will be held at Haven's Park. Haven's Park is a beautiful wooded nature park with many different types of trails throughout its 65 acres including mulched, old asphalt fire roads, hills and single track. Race participants should plan on turning their running shoes into muddy shoes while running through mud pits, jumping and climbing over logs and maneuvering through other race course obstacles.  
 
Location: Leavenworth, KS 
Entry Fee: $25

   
10/07/2012                                                                                       7:30 AM
 
The Scarecrow Panther Scamper is a 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Walk benefiting the Northland Christmas Store and Oak Hill Day School Physical Education and Athletic programs. Post-race breakfast provided by the Gladstone Hyvee.
 
Location: Gladstone, MO
Entry Fee: $25 through 9/28, $30 after    
   

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Achilles Injury Update 9/24/12

I can’t tell you how much Blogger sucks at times… 
I had this post written and ready to go only to try to edit a small section. The whole post disappeared and before I could go back, it was gone. Normally I write them in word and copy them over, but not this time. Damnit.


So, the summary… 
Achilles is still down. Running and cycling are out. Pool running and swimming are in. The Kansas City Marathon may be in jeopardy. Time will tell. So far I’m running up a tab at the sports clinic for rehab and Graston on the back of the legs. Look it up, like torture. Good times.



If you have ever ran in the pool… 
You know it’s not exactly exciting. The scenery doesn’t change and the only real variety is changing your tempo. Try running for 2 hours in there and not going insane. BUT, I still want to run the KC marathon, so Coach Bob swears by the pool run and I’m putting my eggs in the pool.


But, I’ll share my top 10 tips for pool running.
  1. Bring something to listen to. Grab your H2O audio and bring the iPod. It’s going to be a long day and if your pool is anything like the normal gym warm therapy pool, kids and inappropriate adults will be aplenty. If H2O is a little high priced for you, consider a plastic baggie taped around your iPod and stuck in a swim cap. Don’t submerge it, but it will work in a pink if you keep your head above water.
  2. Wear something to protect your toes. Water shoes; bring them if you have them. Old tennis shoes, wash them off and bring them. Nothing is worse than being injured than being injured with tore up toes from scraping the pool floor.
  3. Find a deep pool. The deeper the better. It will help simulate running if you can barely touch to use the pool floor to help and reduces impact, which is the main reason of doing pool runs while injured.
  4. Have patience. You will probably see obnoxious kids, adults with questionable decorum and depending on the time, a generally full pool. Find your inner peace and work it.
  5. Keep your form. Don’t think just because you are in the pool that you can just let your arm movements go to pot. Keep your form, even though you will have to work harder to do it under water. It defeats the purpose if you’re nursing an injury and ruin your form.
  6. Don’t float. Don’t bring floaties unless you are heading to the kiddie pool. If you’re going to go through the agony of a pool run, come to work. Don’t rob yourself of the full benefit of the workout by making it easier.
  7. Unless you have a polar heart rate strap with the proper software, you won’t be getting much heart rate data as most straps don’t work in water. Learn to read your perceived rate of exertion to gage how hard you are working. If you’re not getting the heart rate up, it may not be as effective keeping your fitness up while you are off of your feet.
  8. Jammers work in a pink. Running in water causes less friction, so your ordinary jammers will work for a pool run. You might wear them out faster, but don’t fret that you need to go out and buy more gear to get your pool run in.
  9. Stretch like you mean it. Just because a water run might have less impact doesn’t mean you get a vacation from stretching. You older triathletes out there can attest that stretching becomes more and more important after years of beating on the body. Allow for the 10 to 15 pre and post-workout stretch.
  10. Don’t be fooled, it’s still a workout. If you bring it, fitness will come. If you put the work in, you won’t come out feeling the pounding from a 2 run on pavement, but your legs should feel like lead. You will be fatigued in places you didn’t think about while your joints recover. You will work your arms harder, your uplift effort on the legs will be harder and you will get worked.
So, if you have a sickness and the only prescription is pool running, heed these tips to avoid going insane in the pool.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

End of September Kansas City area races

9/29/2012                                                                                            8:00 AM
 

Check out the 4th Annual Belton Parks and Recreation 5K Run/Walk. New this year is a 10K component! All proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  
 
Location: Belton, MO
Entry Fee: 5K -$35, 10K -$40, Kids Fun Run -$15
 
               
9/29/2012                                                                                          8:00 AM
 
Run/Walk for Life (formerly Walk for Life) is a 5K to benefit The Women's Clinic of Kansas City. TWC's mission is to care for and educate women, especially as it relates to potentially difficult pregnancies. Entry fee includes a 2012 Run/Walk for Life! T-shirt, race packet including: bib number, timing chip, info about TWC and other local races, and eligibility for our door prize drawing! 
 
Location: Independence, MO
Entry Fee: $30
         

9/29/2012                                                                                            7:00 AM   
Come on out to the 5th Annual Run. For the Kids. 5K Walk/Run and 10K Run! This run will benefit the Liberty Public Schools. Join us for friends, fun, music, and more! 
 
Location: Liberty, MO        
Entry Fee: $25; $20 (Grades 4-12); $15 (3rd Grade and under)
 
           
9/29/2012                                                                                            8:00 AM
 

Charity run/walk with corporate sponsors of Advisors Excel, LLC and Security Benefit se2.  The day of the race there will be a live remote. Food and drinks provided for participants after the race.  Participants will also receive a registration bag with a race t-shirt and goodies.  All proceeds from the race will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Topeka.   
 
Location: Topeka, KS
Entry Fee: $35

   
9/30/2012                                                                                            8:00 AM   
Join us for the 2012 Race for Recovery to benefit Friends of Recovery -an organization that promotes self-run, self-supported, addiction recovery homes. Runners will enjoy a great certified course, race t-shirt, and bib chip timing!    
 
Location: Shawnee, KS        
Entry Fee: $25 -5K, $30 -10K
 
           

Monday, September 24, 2012

Questions and Answers with #TheNorthFace athlete Michael Wardian

Michael Wardian, a North Face Endurance athlete and Ultra Runner, was kind enough to answer the top ten questions for endurance athletes.

Wardian started running and competing in triathlons in 1996 after finishing his lacrosse career at Michigan State University, where he played attack for the Division 1 team. Michael’s first marathon was the 1996 Marine Corps Marathon. With a time of 3:08, Wardian qualified for the Boston Marathon and has since completed more than 150 marathons, 60+ Ultra Marathons on three continents, twenty triathlons, including Iron Man Lake Placid.



Without further delay, top ten questions and answers with Wardian below.

1. Who was your Childhood inspiration? MRW: My Childhood inspiration was my Mom. I love my Dad too but I am a Mom's boy at heart and my Mom was an amazing athlete (my Dad was really good too though) and I wanted to be as good as she was at things. She was competitive too, so we had a lot of great games of Tennis, Ping-Pong, Racquetball, Golf, board-games, etc....She never would let us win so I was always driven to beat her fair and square.

If you are looking for a professional athlete, I was a lacrosse player growing up so like many lacrosse players from the 1980ties, I was a huge fan of Paul and Gary Gait, the Gait Brothers, they really dominated College Lacrosse and they were my heroes. I would spend hours in the backyard trying to do "Air Gait" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46hKXLA-8Jw). I got pretty good at it and even was able to do it a few times.



2. What's your favorite race? MRW: Wow, I have a lot of favorite races and events and I think of all the races that I would like to do and haven't even been to yet but out of the races I have done I have to say The Endurance Challenge races that The North Face puts on are amazing and of those races I think the San Francisco Championship Race in the Marin Headlands is just incredible. Getting to run on the cliffs overlooking the San Francisco Bay is just jaw dropping. If you haven't been out to the event, it is so worth going.

3. What's your favorite post-race treat? MRW: My favorite post-race treat, depends on the distance, obviously 5K-Marathons are different than say a 100K or 100 Miler but right now I am on a salad/wrap kick and I love Sweetgreens and I like their salads with Udo's Oil, seriously, tasty stuff. If I am not in the Washington, DC area, then I can normally go for a PowerBar, Muscle Milk, or something like that post-race. A lot of times I just want something besides water.

4. What do you hate about racing? MRW: I don't hate anything about racing. I love it all. I love the competition, I love the course, I love the challenge, and I love how I feel when I am pushing and also when I am crushed. I think if there was one thing I dislike about racing is not being able to race or not racing to your true potential.

5. What’s your best training tip? MRW: I think the best tip that I can relay is to be consistent. Being consistent is what I think leads to the most gains for people. Getting out the door everyday doing something, helps to keep your body healthy, active and ready for the next challenge.

6. Does Training improve or sink your love life? MRW: I think training definitely improves my love life as I am more energetic and excited about being alive and in motion.

7. What’s your most embarrassing career/race moment? MRW: I got a couple zillion embarrassing career/race moments, how much time to you have? Seriously, I have had my fair share of embarrassing moments racing as much as I do, there are times when you forget things (not often as I am pretty much dialed in but it happens). I recall at the Santa Barbara Marathon, I forgot my The North Face, Better Than Naked race shorts (they are my favorites and I only brought 1 pair) and I didn't arrive in Santa Barbara until around 1200 AM the night before the race so I could just go to the store and get another pair. So I go out of the hotel about 12:30am and try to find any shorts to wear for the race, I was going to buy a swim suit or something but I couldn't find anything at the Gas Station or Grocery store that was open so I end up in the lobby of the hotel before the race at 4:30am, asking anyone that looks like a runner if I can "borrow" some running shorts, well I got a lot of "No’s" but turns out the race director, Rusty a super duper cool guy, gave me a pair of shorts right before the start and I was able to run 2:21 in them, so it all worked out but I was completely embarrassed.

8. How do you push yourself through the pain? MRW: I am fortunate in that I don't tend to worry about "pain". I actually like to embrace the "pain" or I think of it more as discomfort, real pain, injury pain (now that I have had some injuries, I think I am learning) is different and I plan in the future to more aware of the difference between discomfort and an injury but either way, I am lucky that I can focus on my goal and overcome a lot of discomfort.

Sometimes, I will use a mantra, "Stay After It" or perhaps "Why not today", to keep repeating that over and over in my head as the pace gets tough and a lot of time those little sayings can make all the difference.

I also have a lot of experience gathered over the years and I know if you keep eating and drinking that anything is possible. You have to believe in your training and yourself and amazing things are possible.

9. Is winning everything? MRW: Winning is important definitely and I am very competitive person but my primary goal in anything I do best no matter what. I always try to break through what I think is possible and push the limits of what I have done in the past in order to keep evolving as a person and athlete.

Sometimes because of those objectives I end up winning the race/event/etc... but winning is not everything. If I came in last and set a personal best, I would be content but I would always be motivated to work harder to set another high goal and that goal might be to win an event while overcoming my personal limits. Always pushing what I think is possible is what drives me day in and day out.

10. What would you do if you were not a pro athlete? MRW: I am lucky that I am competing as a professional athlete but I also work full time as an International Ship Broker with Potomac Maritime, LLC in Washington, DC and my wife, Jennifer and I have two (2) terrific young boys, Pierce (6 years) and Grant (3.5 years) old. We have a busy life but I wouldn't change it for anything.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Upcoming fall races in Kansas City

Featured Race 
 
 Inaugural Mustache Dash 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, October 13 @ 8am
Park Place in Leawood, KS

The Mustache Dash is a fun new 5K run/walk at Park Place in Leawood. Hosted by The Gent's Place and Michael Shae Salon and Day Spa, this event celebrates the art of fine grooming and encourages all participants to enjoy wearing a mustache, if only for the race! The Mustache Dash 5K will be run on a great course that starts and finishes in Park Place at 117th and Nall in Leawood and winds through the shady Leawood Country Manor subdivision just north of Park Place.

In addition to a great course, participants in the chip timed Mustache Dash 5K will receive a great shirt, fake mustache kit, and finisher's medal and will be eligible for top overall, masters and age group awards! There will be lots of great food and beverages and also a Lil' Shaver's Kids Run, presented by The Learning Tree, after the 5K.

Other Upcoming Races

Sacred Steps 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, September 22 @ 8am
Church of the Resurrection - Leawood, KS
Be a part of this fun 5K event, benefiting programs targeting those living in poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Online registration is closed, but you can still sign up at packet pickup beginning on Thursday at 4pm at COR or on race morning.

Prairie Pride 5K Run/Walk and One Mile Fun Run/Walk
Saturday, September 22 @ 8:15am
Prairie Elementary School - Prairie Village, KS
Enjoy a shaded residential course in and around Prairie Elementary School at this second annual event, benefiting the Prairie Fund Educational Foundation.  There is also a one mile fun run/walk prior to the 5K, beginning at 8am.  Online registration is closed buy you can register at packet pickup or on race morning.

Roots and Blues and BBQ Half Marathon and 10K Run/Walk
Saturday, September 22 @ 7am
Downtown Columbia, MO
Take a tour of the streets and trails in and around Downtown Columbia and stay for the music and barbecue festival, a ticket for which is included in your registration fee.  There is prize money for the top finishers in the 10K. Online registration is closed by you can sign up in person at packet pickup on Thursday or Friday or on race morning.

Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk
Sunday, September 23 @ 8:30am
Sammy's Pizza in Leawood, KS
The Free to Breathe 5K features a scenic route through Leawood South and benefits the National Lung Cancer Partnership's research programs. There is also a 1/2 mile walk and a kid's run.

Pony Express 5K/10K Run/Walk
Saturday, September 29 @ 8am
Pony Express Museum - St. Joseph, MO
This new event starts at the Pony Express Museum and takes runners through downtown St. Joseph. 10K participants will enjoy a run along the Missouri River.  The event, organized by the Junior League, benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Lakemary 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, September 29 @ 8:30am
Lakemary Center - Paola, KS 
This scenic and fun 5K Run/Walk held in Paola, KS (a short 30 minute drive south of the Kansas City Metro area) will take you from Lakemary's main campus through the beautiful tree lined streets of Paola, circling in Wallace Park and back to the Lakemary Center. 

Blazing the Burg 5K
Saturday, September 29 @ 6pm
Downtown Louisburg, KS
Want to know why this event won the "BEST 5K COURSE" Award from the KC Sports Commission in 2011?  Is it the terrific views of Louisburg?  Our small town spirit and charm?  The fresh country air?  Unexpected surprises all along the race route? Sign up today and find out! 

Head for the Cure 5K Run/Walk
Sunday, September 30 @ 8am
South Park - Lawrence, KS
Be a part of the fight against brain cancer and run or walk this event in downtown Lawrence. Grab some friend or family members and form a team and meet at South Park for this fourth annual event.

Blue Valley Strut For the Streaks 5K
Saturday, October 6 @ 8am
Blue Valley Rec Center - Overland Park, KS
This fun, easy, and enjoyable certified course begins at the Blue Valley Rec Complex and makes its way through the beautiful streets of Southern Johnson County.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Blue Valley Blue Streaks, our local Special Olympics team.

John Glaser 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, October 6 @ 8am
Station 71 Headquarters - Shawnee, KS
This third annual event benefits the John Glaser Memorial Fund, set up for the family of Shawnee firefighter John Glaser, who lost his life in the line of duty in 2010, and SAFE, an organization that supports family members of public safety officers who lose their lives in the line of duty. 

Pink Laundry 5K Run/Walk
Sunday, October 7 @ 8am
City Hall - Lee's Summit, MO
This fourth annual event in Downtown Lee's Summit benefits the Stephanie Vest Foundation who provides financial and emotional support to young parents facing a cancer crisis.

Barstow School 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, October 13 @8am
Barstow School - Kansas City, MO 
This new event starts and ends at Barstow School in south Kansas City and winds through nearby neighborhoods.  Participants receive a long sleeve shirt and can participate with their guests in a health expo provided by St. Luke's South.

Jeff Taylor Run 5K/10K Run/Walk
Sunday, October 14 @ 8am
EH Young Riverfront Park - Riverside, MO
This scenic course starts in E.H. Young Riverfront Park, wraps around the Argosy Casino and then heads out on the Riverside levee along the Missouri River.  It is a very level course that promises a fast run-time and a great walking opportunity for those who want to take it a little slower.

Bill Cross Backsnack 5K Run/Walk
Sunday, October 14 @8am
Zona Rosa - Kansas City, MO
This second annual event benefits the Northland Childhood Hunger Initiative Fund, who partners with Harvesters to provide BackSnack, a backpack filled with nutritious, child-friendly food for children to take home at the end of the week. 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Injuries are a part of the game...

Are you hurt, or are you injured?
If you have ever seen The Program, you know what I'm talking about.






Last weekend was a normal planned 2 hour run for the upcoming KC Marathon.  While out there, it became apparent that I had strained my right achilles tendon... or at least done enough damage to the calf areas over time that the flare ups are becoming a bigger deal.

I have kept achilles flare ups at bay over the past 7 to 8 years with sports massage, rollers and ice.  That addressed the symptoms, but never the cause.  I thought I just had tight calves.

As I found out this week, there's a reason other than just "that's the way my body is".

Paid a visit (and you will pay) to a sports clinic and the chiropractor performed some analysis and shot video of me running.  I lean at the hips and pronate badly, especially with the right foot.  It was painful to watch the straight line shot of me running and watch the right foot twist inward sharply at the bottom of planting to push off.

I'll be hitting some PT and therapy to correct some scarring damage and build some strength in the lower calves to help alleviate the pronation and leaning.

In the mean time, I'll be hitting the pool for water running and avoiding the bike and real running for the remainder of the week.  I'm injured and can still play, but I need to take some action to avoid becoming injured with a severe tear or complete tear of the achilles.

That sucks, especially since the fall weather is AWESOME around here and it's perfect running weather.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Review of SNAP Infusion SUPERCANDY by @EatPlaySnap

What’s in you?

Is Gatorade, chocolate milk, GU gel, Cliff shots, Powerbar Gel Blasts or SNAP Infusion SUPERCANDY in you? Never heard of SNAP infusion? You’re not alone.

Here at the testing labs, we were hard at work in our energy nutrition test cleanroom when SNAP Infusion gave us a call to try them out.


Being one to never shy away from reviewing products short of illegal substances, we jumped at the chance.

Let’s be honest, SNAP Infusion is not a household name in the triathlon world, or is it? Do let us know if you have ever heard of it or tried it and what you think.

But, here’s what WE think of SNAP Infusion SUPERCANDY.

Nice dress. The packing certainly is professional and eye catching. One could go so far as to say the candy wrapper is candy for the eye, pun intended. It’s interesting that they have 5 different options for their endurance snacks and the wrappers are very similar, so be on high alert when grabbing for that back of gummy treats so you don’t end up with tart instead. There is a difference, but it’s subtle.



It’s good to have options. Just like looking for a date on prom night, it’s good to have options. If you aren’t feeling the beans, try the tarts. If you aren’t looking for a tummy full, try the gum and chew your way to a PR. What triathlete doesn’t grind their teeth on the run? Don’t want 160 calories, try beans for 80 calories. With 5 different types of treats, there’s something for everyone.

It fills without over filling. The pack sizes are the right size for a quick pre-workout fuel or in-situ workout nutrition. You can eat as little or as much as you need to cater to your needs, as all people are not made the same. Just fold the pack over and save for later.

Not all-weather options. Some of the choices are not the best for hot weather. The mels melted in the summer heat basking on the porch before being let in upon delivery. The gummy candy could also have issues with hot weather and being over-sticky. Not the best option when you’re on mile 45 in your 70.3 race and looking for a clean nutrition exchange from packet to mouth. The other options for beans and tarts would survive extreme temperatures without much issue.


Does it do a body good? Will you experience an immediate 5-hour energy-like pickup? No. You will not hit a huge sugar high and subsequent crash in 30 minutes. It’s the steady-state energy infusion you would expect from a quality nutritional product. While the bulk of the candies are providing carbs and some potassium, they are also providing up to 9 grams of sugar. It’s there, but it’s not like eating straight jelly beans or snickers bar. Back to the choices, if you want less sugar, then you could switch to the tart which only has 1 gram of sugar per serving.



It’s not just for endurance athletes. SNAP Infusion could be a great substitute for those with a sweet tooth looking for alternates other than M&M’s and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups. With all foods, moderation is key, but if you find yourself at work and that apple or banana just won’t touch your craving, consider popping some SNAP gummies or beans.

It’s handy. The individually wrapped servings are great for the athlete on the go. Just keep your supply up and grab a pack when you’re headed out the door or waking up to get ready for a 3 hour morning ride before the kids are up.

At least they are more hip than a 40 year old at a high school party. They have an appealing web site, hooked up with Facebook and Twitter and stay active on the platforms. They have the social media must-haves checked off on their list. It’s always nice to be able to reach out via online media platforms and reach to the core of customer service.

In a nutshell, SNAP Infusion SUPERCANDY is a viable option for endurance athletes looking for something a little sweeter. What triathlete hasn’t justified a few no-substance treats after a 2 hour BRIK workout? Well, now there’s no excuse needed. Just tell your disapproving cohort that SNAP Infusion SUPERCANDY is candy in name only. It’s tasty, it’s stylish, it has choices and it has real nutritional value.

*SNAP Infusion sent samples of SUPERCANDY for me to test. In no way did SNAP influence this review.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Get some DVD's!

What is DVD Planet?

The finest and most eclectic selection of DVDs and Blu-rays on the planet! THE site for movie geeks everywhere!


Monday, September 17, 2012

Training numbers and thoughts with @KokuaMultisports

It's been a few weeks now on the Coach Bob plan, and it's safe to say it's different...
I like to think I was ahead of the curve from the "ordinary" self-coached triathlete.  Each workout had a purpose and I avoided junk miles and working out, just to work out.  With a family and full time job, I wanted to get something done that would help me run triathlons on the weekend.

Well, my workouts were nothing compared to what Coach Bob has had in store.  The swimming I expected to be more scripted like it is, but the running and riding are much different.

There's a larger focus on time instead of distance.  While I may not going as far, I'm working harder than I have in past workouts.  Threshold, tempo, zone 2 and more could be combined for just one run.  Nothing is more fun than slipping in some zone 4 work on the long weekend run.

The bike... is a lot different.  I'm coming to realize that I had been pushing too high of a gear for too long of an rpm.  Thus, wasting my legs faster than they would have lasted.  It's tough trying to spin my sticks at 100 rpm for more than 2 minutes, especially on open road.

Take a look at last week's numbers:
BIKING - 42 miles - would have been more, but due to a sore achilles from Saturday long run, I opted to rest it Sunday for a swim.
RUNNING - 27 miles
SWIMMING - 3.79 miles in two workouts
TOTAL MILES - 73 miles
TOTAL TIME -  08:21

Overall not a bad week considering I cancelled work on Sunday for a sore achilles.  It's a nice little flare up that happens now and again.  It peaked Sunday morning and is feeling better and better.  Hopefully I can get back to the normal schedule.  I might have to schedule more 1/2 session for PT with Kent at TK Muscle Therapy.

Stay tuned to see if I can survive family, work, working out and moving all in the same week!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

9/10/12 Week in Review

Here's a snippet of articles I've written for Examiner.com. Some might have shown up on the blog, but most are only on Examiner. If you're not signed up to get alerts when I publish an article, then this will be the only way you can find out what else has been spewing out of my mind!




September 14, 2012
September 13, 2012
September 12, 2012
September 7, 2012
September 5, 2012
September 5, 2012
September 4, 2012
September 2, 2012
August 31, 2012
August 30, 2012