…to work at a small firm.  I learned a lot about the whole real estate development process and feel that  I am more knowledgeable than many of my peers.  The risk was that a slow down in the market affects the smaller firm more than a larger, diversified firm.  Honestly though, in this market and economy, I don’t know if it really matters where you work.  I may have taken another offer at a larger firm and had been laid off recently since I was the newest hire.  Who knows?  I enjoy real estate development and continue to be somewhat involved in it, but it doesn’t excite me as much as running and working on this website does.  I can see myself doing this for the rest of my life and enjoying it.  I am excited to learn, build, facilitate, and create.  And continue to do something that I love…running.

But honestly, even though this post is about me, it’s not about me.  It’s about creating something that may inspire people to become more mentally and physically healthy.  To motivate people to push themselves to their limits in accomplishing anything in life.  Running is what brought clarity to my post-Army life.  While I had to come back and resume my life with so many changes in it, running slowed things down and put the world in perspective for me.  It simplified it.  Made it clear.  It has lead me to overcome, grow, mature, and understand myself and my surroundings better than ever before.

So I’ve been writing this blog for about a month and a half now and I can tell you what I tend to write about.  I usually analyze the psychology of running.  Sometimes I equate running to some sort of social issue.  Sometimes I write a review on a shoe.  Maybe I’ll tell you about something we’ve added to the website.  A lot of the times I’ll talk about the medical side of running, like nutrition, injury prevention, how to make a turni-kit out of sticks, whatever.  I talk about my military experiences and how they relate to running.  I don’t write anything political.  I try to motivate.  I make suggestions.  I tell you about cool new running gadgets that I try.  I add humor whenever possible.  I find I make a lot of references to movie or TV show quotes.  I think that is because humor in the written form is different than in person, the readers have to understand your intent to humor.  I discuss the economy and how running relates to it.  I run races and tell you about them.  I run trail runs and tell you about them as well.  I won’t give you updates on my training schedule or PRs.  I don’t find doing this is very useful and quite frankly, boring.  Unless you ask me to do it.  Then I’ll talk about it.  This blog is whatever you want, I’m here for you.  One thing you can count on is  I will always talk about one thing:…running…seriously….I’m serious.

So that’s it.  That’s me.  I’m an open book and open to any suggestions about what you want to hear about or how much my grammar sucks.  Whateves.  I’m just Running Down a Dream.  Workin’ on a mystery; goin wherever it leads.  Thanks TP.

I’d also like to thank my brother Jeff who actually created the concept for this website and began building it using an awesome software program he developed:   review app. Check out his other websites too:  singletracks.com and tripleblaze.com.  Very smart guy; not as good of a runner.  And he’s not as good looking, but you would already know that if you read the blog yesterday.

Alright that’s enough about me.  Now you know who I am.  I’m actually tired of talking about myself and look forward to getting back to my normal blogging.  I recently read in Chris Brogran’s blog that the smartest, most successful people in the world are those who always want to know more about you rather than tell you about themselves.  I think that is true.  I’m going to try to do that from now on.  And yes, I was reading someone else’s blog.  I guess I’m a blogger now, but it’s not official because I haven’t added it to my “interests” on Facebook yet.

Word,

Chris Barber

This year on March14th will be the inaugural race of the Bandit14K/30K Trail Run in Simi Valley, CA.  The race promoters estimate 100 to 200 runners to participate in this first time event.  The race starts in Corriganville Park, running over mountains in single-track switchback, at one point you can see the ocean from 2600 ft. above sea level!

Yesterday a friend asked me, “How long can you hold your breath?”
I answered back, “How long do you want me to hold my breath?”
“One minute.” So I hold my breath for a minute. I wanted to breathe again about 20 seconds into the challenge; however, at the end of the minute I felt like I could have held my breath for another minute. Why is this? I don’t have extraordinary lung capacity. I have not practiced holding my breath before. The reason is because I told myself I could do it. It was a resolve to do what I set out to do, no matter how painful it could have become. Pain is was not a factor. It was all mental toughness. A mental toughness that runners posses.

People may point to my military background as to where I derived my mental toughness from. I did strengthen it there, but I had a high level of mental toughness before. So how did I achieve it? It was from distance running at an early age.

We’ve all heard it, running is 90% mental. It’s true. Well, maybe not exactly 90% of your ability to run faster or farther is controlled by your mind, but you get the point. When you want to stop, you don’t. When you want to slow down, you speed up. When you want to cut your run short, you keep going. All of that is 100% mental.  This is what bonds serious runners together. They resolve to keep running and keep pushing no matter how painful it is. If this is a measure of a serious runner, then I would venture to say that I have been seriously running since the 7th grade. That is the last time I can remember stopping during a run because of exhaustion. Not that there is anything wrong with stopping on a run. Sometimes you have to stop to enjoy a view or smell the roses. Just don’t do it because your mind tells you to do it. Thinking is overrated.  When did you start listening to your brain anyways?

So do you have to have any special talent or ability to attain mental toughness? No, just run. Every time you head out the door for a run think about how you are building your mental toughness. On the same token, if you get any urges to stop or slow down, think about how much you are decreasing your mental toughness.

So the next time you hear someone complain about the economy or politics or anything else, tell them to go run a 20 miler and toughen up! Then, challenge them to a “how long can you hold your breath” contest; you’ll win every time!

It’s girl’s night out, a first date, a holiday with the family…what do we all do? Gather, chat, love and EAT! It’s the American way, after all.

Most of us have the tendency to socialize around food. Don’t get me wrong, I am a strong believer in food. I have my Master’s Degree in Nutrition and will be a Registered Dietitian in just a few months and I got into this profession because I love food! However, (I hold my breath as I type this) there is more to life and socializing than food.

Chris, who writes a bulk of this BLOG, has encouraged so many of us to get out there and run to get in touch with ourselves again in this all-too “plugged in” world. And I fully agree with what he points out, but I am going to offer yet another advantage to running: socializing!

Instead of meeting your friend for coffee on Saturday morning, throw on your running shoes, say adios to the $5 cup of coffee and calorie-laden danish and go for a run with him or her instead. I assure that you will find yourself just as awake as after your double-shot mocha latte with extra foam and you won’t feel quite as guilty buying those skinny jeans that you found on sale!

The Serious Running website offers some wonderful trails around the United States to go and discover with friends. You’d be surprised at what lies just around the corner and behind some trees! Sometimes it’s fun to just go explore and see what you find. And if you find something worthwhile, post it on Serious Running!

Ordinary tasks like window shopping, browsing the menus of local restaurants or even house hunting can all be done with a little rubber on your feet, a bounce in your step and a friend at your side.

So, the next time that a friend wants to meet up, throw out the idea of exploring the city and catching up on a little run, then going to grab a bite to eat (you gotta eat sometime!). Plus, there is a 45-minute window after a workout when you can refuel your body’s muscles and tissues and prevent soreness. In other words, running not only offers you a way to stay in shape, but it offers a social outlet and allows you to feel good about your fish tacos and beer!

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A little about me:  My name is Lanier Thompson and I will be posting mainly about nutrition and food as it pertains to exercise and running.   Recipes, cooking (and eating) ideas, and hydration tips specifically for runners will all be  included. I will be focused on easy and great-tasting recipes, mainly because that’s what I like! Please post any comments or questions that you might have about food and nutrition. Happy running and eating!

On my runs I notice that most runners prefer to listen to music while running.  I have noticed that it is not confined to only a certain group of runners.  I have seen old people, stroller pushing people, track sprinters, and even someone carrying a CD Man (that’s serious).  As a thinker and a non-music listening runner I began to think about these people and wondered what they were listening too and why do so many people run to music?

Research has confirmed the benefits of exercising to upbeat music. In a study by Porcai and colleagues, presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, volunteers listened to music of various tempos while they worked out on stationary bicycles. The researchers found that the cyclists’ pedaling speed increased as the music tempo increased. Their heart rates and power outputs also varied (Porcai, J. “Effects of Music Tempo on Spontaneous Cycling Performance”, Meeting of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Kansas City, Usa/Missouri, October 16-19, 2003)

Len Kravitz, (not to be confused with Mr. Lenny Kravitz who I do suggest you listen to while exercising) an Associate Professor of Exercise Science at the University of New Mexico, in an article on the university’s website, cited a survey of 70 college students enrolled in an aerobic dance class. (Gfeller, K. – 1988 – Musical components and styles preferred by young adults for aerobic fitness activities. Journal of Music Therapy, 25, 28-43). In his summary he states, “97% of the students felt (perceived influence) that the music affected their performance during aerobic activity. Respondents identified the following factors that influenced their aerobic performance: music style (97%), rhythm/beat (94%), tempo (96%), lyrics (77%), volume (66%), mood (37%), and melody (17%). The results of this study support previous research that indicates that music benefits students from a motivational standpoint” (Nelson, D. O., & Finch, L. W. – 1963 – Effects of audio-analgesia on gross motor performance involving acute fatigue. Research Quarterly, 33, 588-592).

While I usually do not listen to music on my runs, I have experienced the benefits of running to a cadence from my four years of service in the United States Army.  Runners that do not have the benefit of someone yelling a beat at them can find music as a pace setter.  It is important to find the songs that have the right BPM (beats per minute) for your pace.  To figure out your BPM go on a run with a playlist of varying paced music and pay attention to what songs are the most comfortable to you.  Once you have established your BPM, add similar songs to your run list.  There are a couple of websites available that categorize songs by BPM and even sell mixed CDs and digital music.   Apple Computer, Inc. is also getting serious about music-paced running. They have partnered with Nike to form Nike+iPod and to market the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. A sensor in the Nikeplus running shoes tells the runner how far he/she has run and how fast. All of the data can be synched, stored, and displayed on the iPod and the nikeplus.com website. They also have posted “Nike Sport Music” on the iTunes Music Store. While not specifically selected for music-paced running, the playlists are designed to motivate the runner. And there is more. Apple has applied for a patent for an iPod program that will vary the tempo of iTunes songs to match the runner’s cadence. It will also allow the runner to select a song with a tempo that already fits her or his pace.