Cycling vs running: is there any competition?

Shiny alphadrive bike gear, I like cycling and what about you?

Hi there, fellow runner! How about cycling? Do you like it? Let's talk about cycling as an alternative to running. I don't really think that riding a bike can be anyway competitor to running. And here are few points from which I've noticed the difference. First of all is complicity -- riding a bike involves service, care and a place to store your bicycle. So you can't just wake up one day and say that tis is the day. You have to be prepared, to get bike from garage, check it's functions, drive it to service if found any troubles you can't fix on the go. Then you are connected to weather conditions -- it's quite expensive to ride during winter -- you have to buy completely worm outfit and bike gear for winter riding: new tires and more headlights for example. If you store a bike at home, you have to get more attention to it -- it need complete cleanup aftr every ride, because it will be absolutely dirty after every ride.

Cute 666 kilometers on vectra wireless bicycle computer.

Second issue is about fun and lack of motivation. You can cover great distances on bike, but half of your riding time you'll go downhill and make no action, lust sit on the seat. While riding in the city, you can even get in road accident and receive traumas which can be quite dangerous. And air in your city isn't breathable at all, but your body will consume it much more then when you go on foot. There are lot of happy green cities all over our globe, but there are lot of dirty ones and we should note this.

Running is much easier to do then cycling, but cycles are great, if you have one, go for a ride tomorrow. It's fun and beautiful despite all my words above this sentence!

Gandhi quotes: top 10 Gandhi quotes for runners

Hi there, fellow runner! I've found list of Gandhi's quotations on life and society on facebook wall this morning and looked through it while trying to plan weekend run. You know what conclusion I've finally got? Mahatma Gandhi really can be teinterpreted to improve runner's motivation. Here we go with the list:

1. There is no rule of public opinion in conscience matters.

For typical runner it should mean, that you can break boundaries if you have great passion for your health improvement. Rethink lifestyle, recreate timetable, shift job, move to another city even. And never consult anybody.

2. The whole nation's greatness and moral level can be measured by how single people take care of homeless animals.

For the runner it really can mean going vegetarian or even vegan -- think on it from philosophical point of view.

3. If you going to bring peace on earth, then take care of your children.

This rule is about getting to the root of the problem, about planning and preparation. So when you are on your first winter run, for example, you should be prepared if you'd read articles on winter running and bought adequate outfit before.

4. If you can't wait for the world to change, then change it yourself.

It's about that it's never too late to get in running business, you just have to get in )

5. If you are waiting for a change to come, then go for it and meet it on the half way.

looks like Gandhi copied 4th rule )

6. When you realize that you reached ideal, all further improvement stops and you are moving backward.

Try to add more self criticism. If you feel lack of it.

7. and 8. are not related completely. Skip to 9

9. Find your aim and there will be resources.

Thats all about your running fears -- you gonna do what you have to and solve problems when meet them, not sit on the bench babbling. 

10. Completely unrelated stuff about forgiving and powerful ones, skip back to the first and repeat x times )

Guilty pleasures of being lazy

Hi there, fellow runner. Today I'll show you 4 pictures of guilty pleasures. They are not pleasures really, but in some cases can ever grow to be addictions. Try to avoid this transformation.

Chocolate. It's sweet and somewhat tasty. Don't overeat!

Computer evenings. Though it's sometimes fun to do some work at home or to participate in on-line gaming, real life is always funnier.

Smoking is some sort of a crap from the past. Though if you please, you can smoke, but you are surely should expect terrible death in future. Have a nice day )

Wine and all other alcoholic drinks are of some use. But don't even go close to get addicted -- it'll ruin all your efforts.

Weekend long run

Hi there, my running friend! Today is the day of great running plans. It's weekend, though you should carefully plan your weekend run. Weekend is designed for long runs naturally. You can work out as hard as he'll and still have plenty of time to recover from most runners light injuries. Like itchy fingers and heavy legs.

Prince Frederick Karl [running] [between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915]

By the way, it's autumn out there, if you hand't noticed yet. Autumn is a perfect time to begin running or to start a weight loss program. Autumn feels like it was designed to run through it naturally too. You can advocate summer or spring, even winter has it's own benefits, but autumn. Oh, autumn has no competitors. It's pretty fun to run in autumn forest. Everithing is clear, air is cool, refreshing and inviting. Sun shines and it is so mild, oh. Your every other step feels like it's not a step on the ground, but a giant jump just to the outer space, in between of distant stars. Maybe I'm too much fond of autumn running, but who cares and does it matter?

Running is all about motivation. While moving yourself through local neighborhood on feet with quite a speed seems stupid at first glance, at a second one it comes to be more interesting process. You do stuff which is not actually useful at first glance and brings no profit and not fun on not fun at all even. And from time to time you begin to receive positive vibrations, your health improves in general, you can carry more weight and take more obligations, offer more cervices at last. So that's how it works, you improve stuff around you. Your life, it's all about improvement to things that are unrelated while you look from distance and seeing connections between your running and your life when look closer. So let's assume that running is finally for the greater good.

And getting back to autumn and weekends, this time you can shift some rules and get some more out your body, run more, run faster and run more intense. Don't ask me why you should try it, if you have such questions, you just shouldn't even try this, follow your training plan, but if you feel nice and want some experiments, just mix some other activities like push ups or sit ups in your training and fell better. 

Tip for a busy runner

Hi there, fellow runner! Today's agenda is full of lifesaving. As I can predict easily, you don't have enough time for anything important during the day. Your work and friends plus family relations consume most of your time and you are drained completely. That's why you are getting fat and feel upset sometimes, right?

There always are few tips for the rest of us, who can't stand the situation. You can't rely on any help from gym, you don't just have time for such activities, according to the terms of the question. But if you look closer at your daily routine, it will reveal two big slices of free time which are terribly underutilized. I'm talking about the way to and from your office.

Try to rethink that way, look at it from the runner's point of view. I, for myself, had discovered that I can achieve 30 minutes of forest running from my path to office and about 30 minutes of plain walking with beautiful landscape in the evening on my way home. Of course you shouldn't rely on this method too much, it's not a substitute to your carefully developed training plan, but as a short time solution it works best.

Three days a week training or more for a novice runner?

Hi there, fellow runner! Today's agenda will run about daily running. So you are starting your training and following one of entry-level programs. You are running 2-3 days a week and want more, because it seems possible and even easy. Here are some tips and thoughts. People always think that if small amount of something is good, then increasing this amount mean greater good. But it rarely happen this way. In most cases it works upside-down. And increasing something like training frequency without rethinking the process can result in more pain and injuries. You even can think about leaving running for more hard ones. So motivation will be corrupt from the beginning and almost all fun will be lost -- can you really risk this?

J.J. Eller wins 120 yd. Hurdle 1911

For a newbie runner or runner over 40 years old it's very important to have a plenty of leisure to recover body from stress after training. Right after run your body is going to expand it's aerobic capacities -- it's like building more infrastructure so oxygen may be delivered to muscles in more effective way. It consumes time and increasing training frequency can collapse all bodies ventures on this field. So the first keystone is good leisure and a plenty of sleep to recover from a training day.

The second approach to concept of three running days a week lays on three whales -- speed training day, strength training day and long-run day. So here we have some sort of diversification. When you fell like you are ready to improve you shouldn't start with improving training frequency -- it's less important. You can improve speed, strength and distance. Imagine and implement improvements in your routine, add more uphill running for your strength day or add more interesting and complicated intervals to your speed training day. Add more kilometers to your long-run weekend. Rethink the process and feel your aims and passions are fulfilled.

Runner and water: how to drink the right way?

Hi there again, my humanoid running friend! Lets get down to water business. You can ask what should we discuss here -- water is cool and clear and you drink -- what else? And you will be terribly wrong this time -- water can kill you when you drink it wrong way. Here are some tips as usual.

One of the premiere middle-distance runners of his day. Sheppard won four golds and one silver medal at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics. Interestingly, after retiring from competitive running, Sheppard became a lawyer and was one of the defenders of the Lindbergh child kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann.

Some of professional runners ran with hydration packs, some had water from hydration tables at the race route here and there, there is nothing special, but over watering your body means that you can get too much and your blood will have problems with sodium and in result you can die. And you will. And you shouldn't.

Human body can normally stand one percent dehydration and after a long race it's normal to have this level been upgraded to two percent. People always have problems with their metabolism after long races -- diarrhea, weakness, nausea are usual companions of exhausted sportsmen after long and hard race. And it's absolutely normal.

You can ask then how much should you drink to stay alive and be healthy. The answer is really astonishing: you should drink right that amount of water, which can fulfill your thirst. The main problem with this water deaths covers behind novice runners participating in marathons. There is a long way to finish, it takes from six to eight hours to get to the end point and people who really run all the way are being in the risk group while others, who just want to reach the end are free of troubles.

Running in cold and severe weather conditions

Hi there, fellow runner. Today we'll discuss really hot topic -- which meanwhile is very cold and wet and dark and rainy and even snowy in few weeks later -- winter and late autumn running, I mean. You should take care of your health and accessories in advance to never fall down in front of hard times later.

Bain News Service,, publisher.

Elphinstone Winning Washington marathon

1911 (date created or published later by Bain)

So days go darker, work become more monotonous and there's no light in the end and fire in the heart to heat your lazy body and mind. It's much harder to get up early in the morning or go out in the evening to have a nice small run. Your training log is filled with empty days -- no runs -- no fun, no health, no fitness -- all you can think about is a good night-sleep in your comfortable apartments. You know what? I have my great advice for you, fellow runner!

1. Create new running routes

To get more of autumn-winter new short daylight time try to rethink your approach to creating running route. Make changes to it to get more light -- choose something else, but park -- you will get street lighting to help you and mark all places where you can change to your running outfit -- plan running around that places. Utilize work, parents, time after meetings, maybe change your daily get-back-home routine to add some running.

2. Lunch break rethinked

Talking about work, you can use your lunch break as your run break -- find out if you have parks or stadiums around and feel free to change and do your sport activities.

3. Uphill running.

Try uphill -- it will not only strengthen your lungs and legs, but shorten your training time -- you'll fell results of your training faster, so you can get home faster. Find out if you have some fitting landscape around.

4. Try adding more speed.

It will help you get more warmth in short time. And it will empower your legs. Thy intervals like fastening for 20-40 seconds and then walking for a minute two - three times during your training.

When running goes down: revive the dead track!

Hello, fellow runner! Today's question of interest is about getting close to experience cap in our field. Imagine you are at the maximum of your abilities -- you run perfectly from your point of view. No progress and everything you get in return from all your attempts is frustration and pain. Newbies frequently come to such a situation -- adding kilometers and minutes to their daily running activities and receiving less then they are willing to get. It's not a problem of human powers, it's a common problem of overpumped expectations. So grab your will and do nothing but train, but differently, if you please. Just assume that there is no experience cap in running -- you should experiment, involve your imagination, reed blogs like this and create new routine for your fun. But remember that we discuss only running as a hobby -- not professional sport! My advices can ruin your career as a professional runner -- mind this )

First trouble: you are getting low on power faster then you expect and loose speed.

How to solve: just relax -- ease your routine. Run, say, non every day, bun every other day, add walk breaks or something like this -- shorten your training for some time -- take a break an rest a little -- make your running routine more comfortable and life will turn it's brighter side to you. When in actually happen, just don't miss a moment -- empower your training -- run better and faster!

Second trouble: you just can't run faster.

You should add some speed exercises in your training routine. Seped-ups, slow-downs and intervals. Try uphill running in some cases it can let you focus on your other potential powers. Add long run to your timetable -- for the weekend, sunday morning, for example -- run more then you regular do -- focus on distance, not speed. So, working in this side areas will improve your speed and you will notice the effect after all.

Third trouble: you are over exhausted during your long runs.

Try to slow down your pace, add more kilometers to your training at lower rate -- don't try to eat great pie, take it by slices.

Runner at the boiling point: training harder then you can imagine

Now you are running with the last effort, the training is almost over, stupid day, too. But then something clicks in your head and you're completely exhausted. Do not worry - it's stupid psychology. Muscles are doing their best. Entertainment mode is on: for example you can run - two hundred meters, three hundred meters, five minutes - you can run till your energy is still there to serve. Empty your fuel tanks.

photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24415055@N00/6654115437/sizes/z/in/photostream/

After all, you can always ask the question - if I were to stop now, then how do I get home - on foot? No, foot is to slow. Repeat special spell. Entity mantra. Tell yourself about sore, being angry at everyone and everything, rejoice life or just something to entertain brains - mathematics is always at your service.

The main idea behind this crap is that there always was something in your head to blok your thoughts from running. Think. Or speak. Actually, it's not bad to say something motivational. Or cheer on your feet. Like this: "Legs! Legs, run! Work feet, the sun is high! Time-time-time ". Or something like that - let your fantasy fly free.

You can entertain yourself with podcasts, while not running around the city - there's always something interesting they discuss ... talkative radio is also a nice choice.

But it's not for everybody. In general, see for yourself - weather you are a fan of audio stuff something else -- everything is determined by the situation, imagination and your condition. Imagine that you're running now in a critical race, event that matters a lot for you, anyway. And you can not give up, stop, go the distance. You have to break yourself to win, win, get up on the podium to shake the bottle of champagne, get a medal - just to taste. Lock the head in the picture, to which you aspire, in which you can see for yourself the place for which you are all that and started. Remember everything carefully. And just do your job. Nobody will do it better.

Once a runner, twice a runner: how to get back your running after a break

Hi there, fellow runner! How's the running routine going? Well, you might be in great condition now but remember your sporty time-line -- you sure had hard times when you left training route for a while -- a week, a month, maybe more. Let's discuss the situations so people, who never faced them, before can handle all troubles perfectly correct.

Imagine you had a brake in your training (which we can call fun, I assume) for one or two weeks. The first day back on the road you should run slower, maybe take more walk breaks and try to shorten the lenth of your regular route to avoid being over exhausted. Thats all -- don't worry.

The next situation -- if you stopped your running for a month plus-minus something. Here you have a week plan to get back -- it's easy and you don't really have to stick to it -- just mind it and be sure -- you'll make fun. For Monday you can 15 minutes training and you should run for 30 seconds, then you should walk for 30 an so on. Tuesday is for walking -- walk for 30-60 minutes. Then Wednesday: run for 20 minutes with same pattern as on Monday. You've got the idea? Yes -- next day will be more walking and the other day -- more running. If you feel good you can change ratio between running and walking and run for 30-50 seconds then walk for 30-10 seconds.

The last situation is the easiest -- you left running for more then a month -- it's ok to get back again using the plan above, but it's fun to imagine that you start running for the first time in your life, but again )

photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2913350364/sizes/z/in/photostream/