New Product
To reduce the number of plastic water bottles that end up in landfills, consumers are encouraged to buy reusable bottles. Since those can be bulky to carry along, a company in Thousand Oaks, California designed an alternative. Vapur is a reusable water bottle that flattens when empty. Like a regular bottle, it stands upright when full. But when it’s empty, users can fold or roll it up to stick it in a pocket or a purse.
Made of ultra-durable three-ply, BPA-free polymer, Vapur bottles can be cleaned in a dishwasher’s top rack and can be frozen to keep water cool. Vapur’s eco-creds aren’t limited to their day-to-day use: since the bottles can be shipped flat, they’re also greener to ship from manufacturer to distributors and consumers. All in all, it’s an innovative way to make it more convenient for consumers to drink and carry tap water. Also of interest is that the product was developed in-house by design agency Tonic, as part of their strategy to create and spin off products of their own.
Website: www.vapur.us
Contact: www.thinktonic.com/contact-us.php
What can you do in Vibram fivefingers? You name it.
- In to running? Go run a 5 mile race, a 5K, a half-marathon (in New York or Chicago), marathon, triathlon, or ultramarathon. Or just sprint! And yeah, you can POSE in VFFs, too.
- Want to take things slower? Go for a walk.
- Discover your city through the lens of your feet.
- Maybe you’re tired of the ground, so go skydiving or hang gliding in your VFFs!
- Or you can get vertical and climb a waterfall, a random rock wall, street light, or tree.
- If you prefer the watery depths, VFFs work with scuba fins, too! Or just go rafting (FiveFinger Flows a plus, but KSOs work fine!).
- Or perhaps you prefer fishing? What about kayaking?
- And then there’s hiking, which is a great way to get grounded (And many, many VFFers are enjoying the sensations of being almost barefoot in mother nature!).
- You can even go to work with KSOs modded for “dress mode!”
- How about wearing KSOs on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart?
- Need a break from the grind? Go explore Grenada, vacay in Hawaii, or relax in Jamaica. Or perhaps you’d rather play shuffleboard on a cruise or go camping in France.
- If you’re flying anywhere, sometimes you can even get through airport security without having to take off your fivefingers.
- Your “dogs killing you?” Then you must not have VFFs! Dogs give two paws up for fivefingers.
- Think fivefingers are funny? Then try improv in them!
- Watch some fireworks, grill out, and chill out on Independence Day.
- Go to a baseball game at Fenway Park or play a game of kickball.
- Go long-boarding.
- Want to lift heavy things? Be a “hard living comrade” and swing a kettlebell! Or try kettlebell certs and boot camps in them!
- You can march in a parade while playing the fife or, if you prefer, grab a trident and paint yourself blue.
- Not only do fivefingers work for putt-putt (or you might know it as “mini golf”); they also do fine for golfing.
- You can even impress your girlfriend by getting her a pair of VFFs!
- If that’s not enough, you can even get married.
As you can see, it’s really not “What can I do in my Vibram fivefingers?” It’s “What can’t I do in my VFFs?”
http://birthdayshoes.com/index.php
A Marriage Retreat that ROCKS!
by Don Swinford
If you know me, you know that I hate Marriage Retreats – with a passion! Marriage Retreats sole purpose is to destroy men. As you sit in a circle or around a camp fire the retreat leader will ask the guys, “Tell the group how you feel?”, “Share with the group how you have failed your wife (family)”, “Why do you put your job ahead of your wife (family)”, and on and on.
The leader will not stop badgering until at least one man cries. There are always tears and then some of the weaker men will begin hugging each other. The retreat will end with the men saying their wedding vows again to their wives. They make commitments they will never keep. And finally, the criers and huggers are so embarrassed and ashamed of their wimpy behavior that they go undercover until the memory of that dreaded weekend dies.
Not this guy and not his wife – we won’t fall into the Marriage Retreat trap. She’s so cool. She hates them too! Thank you Lord!
My wife (@feliciaswinford) is so innovative and creative; she designed the perfect Marriage Retreat for us. We tried it out his past weekend. It’s called A Marriage Retreat that ROCK! (aka The Five Commandments of a Marriage Retreat).
I. “Thou shall be alone.” Other couples cannot attend your Marriage Retreat! Just husband and wife, no one else. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Dillard House
Cloudland Canyon
II. “Thou shall eat lots of good food!” That rocks too! This is second on the list because cool stuff happens while sharing a meal (you share dreams, disappointments, goals, and life, etc.)
Dillard House
Big River - Killer Fish Tacos
III. “Thou shall communicate.” And if needed, use words! Pay attention, listen carefully, hold hands, and you know the rest. Just do it! It’s just the right thing to do.
Communicate Over Ice Creme
Communicate Over Popcorn
And More Popcorn
IV. “Thou shall have fun.” No if ands and buts are allowed. Do things that are fun. Fun things create lasting memories. Make it happen.
#1 at Waterfall at Cloudland Canyon
#2 at Tallulah Gorge in the Fog
V. “Thou shall take a little time to be alone.” Take a nap, read a book, or go for a run. The reason it is last on the list is because you only take alone time if that’s what your spouse wants to do. Put her first!
#2 Rock Climbing
#1 Site Seeing
@feliciaswinford ROCKS! She coordinated our weekend in Dillard, Chattanooga, and Cloudland Canyon and I must say this is the best Marriage Retreat ever!
A Marriage Retreat that ROCKS!
city running tours
Here’s a cool business venture ….
Share your love of running with us as we share our city with you! City Running Tours offers guided running tours of New York City, Chicago, Washington, DC and Charleston and soon many more. Whether you are a recreational runner continuing your daily routine or training for a marathon and need to get your miles in, City Running Tours is here to accommodate your needs as a runner and a tourist. Choose your distance and the sights you want to see, then let us share the history, urban myths and the unofficial landmarks that make these cities unique.
the human race update
Two of the founders of Run Club USA, Alan Reynolds and Don Swinford, ran the Nike Human Race 10k today. The race started at 8:30 AM EST. Both men ran hard and finished the race side-by-side.
It was an amazing race for both Sensei’s. Just Do It!
The Human Race
Swinsei has entered the Nike Human Race on Sunday, October 24, 2009. Find out more at The Human Race.
gym technik
As attractive as those tight-fitting workout clothes might be, there’s not much room to carry a notebook and pencil. With this in mind, Gym Technik created a digital tool that allows fitness buffs to track workouts and analyse their progress using something they’re likely to have with them anyway: their phone.
Users can set up a Gym Technik account online at home, and then use their smartphone to access routines and data while at the gym, where they can also input data on weights, sets and reps, and track their performance with progress charts and graphs. Collected data can be submitted to Gym Technik’s personal trainers for advice about achieving fitness goals, and users can access an extensive library of trainer-approved workouts. Gym Technik guarantees that its basic edition will remain free, but is working on a premium (paid) service.
While similar apps are available for the iPhone, there’s still room for entrepreneurs to create mobile offerings beyond the App Store, helping consumers track and improve progress towards fitness or other goals, from weight loss and healthy eating to academic development and finance.
Website: www.gymtechnik.com
Contact: www.gymtechnik.com/support.aspx?mode=contact
athletic apparel made from trash
Sports apparel is a huge industry dominated by a few giant brands. So it’s refreshing to see a small company from Arlington, Virginia gathering support across the United States. Which is probably due to Atayne’s unique angle: its athletic clothing is made from trash.
Atayne uses recycled polyester (from post-consumer plastic bottles) and recycled cotton. For odor control, fabrics are treated with naturally-derived chitosan. The concept for Atayne’s product line was born when founder Jeremy Litchfield discovered that his traditional red running shirt contained petroleum, dioxins and other potentially harmful chemicals that might be absorbed by his body when he perspired. Which sparked the idea for a performance apparel company that would put people and the planet first, instead of solely focusing on convenience and aesthetics.
Not only does Atayne’s approach mean less waste in landfills and less energy used manufacturing materials, it’s also likely to attract enthused and loyal customers who’d rather sport one of Atayne’s eco-proud slogans than a mega-brand’s logo. (Related: Recycled plastic bottles into graduation gowns.)
Website: www.atayne.com
Contact: info@atayne.com
Vest Sucks, but Logo Sucks Worst
Every year Peachtree City Running Club does a great job with the the Classic 5k /15k event. It’s the one event I look forward to every year. But they just can’t get the shirt, sweatshirt, or vest right. This year’s runner’s vest is too tight, too short, and too sucky. However, the logo is even worst. Check it out:
Come on Peachtree City Running Club, you can do better than this. This great event could be greater with a better product and better logo.
Saturday Random Thoughts
- Great job by the Run Club USA runners (Charles, Drake, Dwain, Jon, Ken, and Peter)
- Great event by the Peachtree City Running Club
- Race event Runner’s Vest SUCKS (every year the shirt, sweatshirt, jacket, or vest sucks for this event)
- Swinsei failed the Run Club by not supporting its members with a tent and banner after the event
- Starbucks was dead – where were our Moon Pies?
- Great running weather this morning
- Race event Runner’s Vest SUCKS
- #21’s volleyball career is over
- UGA is finally playing a good game (vs Vandy so it’s not that big of a deal)
- I guarantee Tech will win today (GT v VT)
- Race event Runner’s Vest SUCKS
- Congrats to Ronin’s daughter for running the 5k
- Stats is a great place to eat (Sports Bar — TVs everywhere!)
- Reese’s Peanutbutter donut from Sublime Doughnuts was awesome
- Race event Runner’s Vest SUCKS
- Back home watching football — it’s all good
Too Tight, Too Short, Too Sucky
Swinford drops out of 15k
Due to a family commitment, Swinsei will have to drop out of the Peachtree City Classic 15k. Swinsei and Ronin (JB) were scheduled to race this event. Ronin will now go head-to-head with Peter Cooke.
Cooke, Holcombe, Dale, and Speir are Racing too
Peter Cooke and Charles Holcombe have entered the PTC 15k as a training run for the ING Georgia Marathon.
In other developments, Ken Speir has challenged Drake Dale and Dwain Cox to a foot race at the 15k. Speir has guarantee a victory!
JB and Doc Representing Run Club USA
Once again @jonbridges and @dwaincox will represent our Club at the Peachtree City Classic 15k. Dr. Cox is shooting for a course record, while JB is gunning for a PR. Keep an eye on these boys as they make us proud.
Guest Blogger: Recap of 13.1
Guest Blogger: Peter Cooke
The race was rough but good. Started strong and definitely glad I trained for 12 weeks leading up to the race. The time off for various reasons during training did affect me some…I got cramps in my calves around mile 12. Next time I’ll heed the Swinsei’s advice and increase mileage whenever I come across an injury. Overall it was a great experience. I made my goal of hitting the 2.5 hour range (2:33) and ran out the last quarter mile and got the BLING.
I have a cool down race in the Peachtree City Classic 15k this week. Next up, Team Rage is four weeks into training for the ING Full in March 2010. Who’ll be there with us? http://www.inggeorgiamarathon.com/site3.aspx
pcookie
"I Want What Swinsei Has"
Samurai’s First Trail Event
A little tweeting …..
@i2ileadership Way 2 go Samurai. Trail runners are Fury kind or people unlike the 2 other guys.
i2ileadership Insane! 2:24.02 – 28th place overall. Bee sting on mile 10. A trail runner was born today. Samurai
i2ileadership @DonSwinford Moon pie for breakfast . . . Breakfast of mountain men! People like us all over the place. Crazy! sam
i2ileadership MMM12 miler begins in 30 minutes. These people are a different breed. Am i nuts? Intense mountain will require fury!
@i2ileadership let the FURY run free!
i2ileadership @DonSwinford MMM12 miler in 1 hour. Ready for the challenge! Samurai
Where ….
Fort Mountain State Park, located in Chatsworth, GA, 90 miles north of Atlanta. The Start and finish lines are located at the Main Group Shelter, located by beach.
Course Description — Hard ….
Difficult, sometimes technical trails with long, extended climbs, over and around Fort Mountain.
Both races will start with a flat, quick loop around the lake. The course then connects to the Gahuti trail via the rocky and rooty Big Rock trail. The Gahuti travels around the edge of the park. The trail is single track, cambered and rocky as it travels just below the summits of both Cohutta and Fort mountains.
The course will briefly leave the Gahuti to take in a loop around the top of the mountain. The top of the mountain trail is narrow and footing is difficult until reaching the legendary rock wall, where the trail then descends back to the Gahuti and gradually begins to widen with the footing becoming smoother. The hills do not end coming “down” the mountain back to the lake, the elevation gain is almost the same as the initial ascent.
The course will come back to the lake via the other side of the Big Rock trail (look out for bears! I spotted one last July on this trail section). The 12 milers will run back around the lake for their finish. The marathoners will turn and run up to the 301 loop via the steep power line trail.
The 301 loop is a beautiful, challenging, and mostly double-track trail. It passes through pine and scrub laurel thickets, upland hardwood and cove forests, by old mines, then waterfalls and rhododendrons before
returning up the mountain then following the mountain ridge top before descending back to the lake. From there the marathoners will run back around the lake for their finish.
WAY 2 GO SAM! U MADE US PROUD …..
13.1 Marathon Atlanta Results
The 13.1 Marathon Atlanta was a good event for all of us. Peter ran his first half marathon, while Charles knocked off 20 minutes from his first one in March of this year. Dwain ran his usual hard and fast race without being fully trained for this event. Don and Ken ran together for the majority of the race and enjoyed the conversations with each other and other runners.
DWAIN COX
|
Clock Time |
01:34:58 |
|
Chip Time |
01:34:17 |
|
Overall Place |
74 / 2601 |
|
Gender Place |
64 / 1147 |
|
Division Place |
9 / 193 |
|
Age Grade |
67% |
|
Pace |
7:11.5 |
DON SWINFORD
|
Clock Time |
01:55:49 |
|
Chip Time |
01:53:54 |
|
Overall Place |
594 / 2601 |
|
Gender Place |
406 / 1147 |
|
Division Place |
24 / 89 |
|
Age Grade |
60.9% |
|
Pace |
8:41.2 |
KEN SPEIR
|
Clock Time |
02:00:20 |
|
Chip Time |
01:58:25 |
|
Overall Place |
835 / 2601 |
|
Gender Place |
545 / 1147 |
|
Division Place |
69 / 157 |
|
Age Grade |
56.1% |
|
Pace |
9:01.9 |
CHARLES HOLCOMBE
|
Clock Time |
02:06:24 |
|
Chip Time |
02:04:35 |
|
Overall Place |
1084 / 2601 |
|
Gender Place |
662 / 1147 |
|
Division Place |
86 / 139 |
|
Age Grade |
47.5% |
|
Pace |
9:30.1 |
PETER COOKE
|
Clock Time |
02:34:55 |
|
Chip Time |
02:33:02 |
|
Overall Place |
2091 / 2601 |
|
Gender Place |
1012 / 1147 |
|
Division Place |
128 / 139 |
|
Age Grade |
38.7% |
|
Pace |
11:40.3 |
Great job, guys!!!!!
70 Miles of Birthday FURY
Samurai pictured above with Great1 and Speirit who he took under his wing at the SGM in 2007. Both men also achieved PR’s in the race thanks to Samurai’s influence.
—————–
Yesterday, on the anniversary weekend of the St. George marathon, our own Samurai (a.k.a. i2i) stormed to the top of the world rankings with a 70 mile week. It was 2 years ago this weekend that Samurai joined his Team FURY teammate, Sensei, in St. George where they both ran sub 4 hour marathons. This makes the third time that Sam has been World #1. He called the rise to the top his personal Quest. The “Quest” began last Monday as a gift to his father. Sam ran the 70 miles for his dad, retired Georgia Power Company founder, Lee Gravitt who turns 70 today.
i2i was quoted as saying: “Happy Birthday Dad! You have lived like a Samurai warrior for 70 years. Now you are given the gift of a 70 mile week and Samurai dominance on the leader board.”
Samurai was also pleased to hear that Team FURY partner Sensei ran a 1:53 half marathon yesterday in the inaugural 13.1 in Atlanta. Sensei’s performance was also a tribute to Father SAMURAI, Lee Gravitt. Sensei, current lunch specialist for Georgia Power, has special appreciation for Lee and his history with the company.
With these two monster performances, there is speculation that Samurai and Sensei are about to unleash the FURY in a big way. Stay tuned to see what the Team does next.
On 10/5/09 7:47 AM:
Runners (Male – Ages 40-49) who have run the most miles over the last 7 days:
1. Samurai (70.0) <http://www.logarun.com/calendars/Samurai/2009/10>
2. Lance Logan (48.0) <http://www.logarun.com/calendars/lltoolbox/2009/10>
3. russwyd (47.0) <http://www.logarun.com/calendars/russwyd/2009/10>
4. cgrecco (38.5)
5. jimdandy (33.2) <http://www.logarun.com/calendars/jimdandy/2009/10>
Mission Accomplished
by Don Swinford
Today Peter Cooke, Dwain Cox, Charles Holcombe, Ken Speir, and I ran the Inaugural 13.1 Marathon Atlanta. About 3000 runners participated in this event. Peter and Charles will be writing blog posts for us in a few days.
Good job guys! I’m looking forward to our next race — The Peachtree City 15k Classic.
Check this one off of the list!
Charles & Peter: Post Race
Number 1 in the World
For the 2nd consecutive year Randy Gravitt (aka Samurai, Sam, i2ileadership, i2i) has achieved the Number 1 ranking in the world. Let’s congratulate @i2ileadership for this significant accomplishment.
- Samurai (65.6)
- cgrecco (58.5)
- Lance Logan (46.0)
- russwyd (39.0)
- Hutchison (37.4)
Randy has run several marathons over the years such as the St. George, ING Georgia, Chicago, and The Flying Pig. He achieved this ranking not because he’s training for an event, but in honor of his dad’s Birthday on Monday!
Check out Randy’s blog at: I2i Blog
Gravitt, Swinford, & Speir
Cox, Swinford, H. Gravitt, and R. Gravitt
My 2nd Half Marathon
Guest Blogger: Charles Holcombe
“The upcoming 13.1. This will be my second half marathon. I ran the ING half marathon earlier this year. My time for that race was 2 hours and 26 minutes. I am planning to run in or around 2 hours even.
I feel like this is an achievable goal seeing that we have been training for a good 12 weeks. I’m pumped for another race which will help build up to the goal of running the full ING marathon in March.
My main goal when I returned to running was to improve my overall health and lose weight. So far I have lost 15 pounds, I feel better than ever and running has become an obsession for me. Bring on the Half because I’m ready.”
Note: Charles is one of the newest members of Run Club USA. Way to go Charles!
My 1st Half Marathon
Guest Blogger: Peter Cooke
13.1. This will be my longest run to date by about 3.1 miles. Team Rage has been training for the past 12 weeks leading up to this. Had a few kinks here and there plus two medical set-backs, but overall I’ve stayed strong and not let those times get me down.
Over the past 12 weeks of training I’ve increased my speed, mileage, endurance, and overall recovery time; mostly just stretching myself further. This has been a great experience and I’m ready to run this 13.1
Next up: running the ING Full in March.
But…
It’s all about the coffee…
PCookie
Run Strong Team Utah
Here’s a shout out to John Turnage, Alan Reynolds, Mark Lawrence, and Rick Harrell.
Have a great marathon at Top of Utah.
You guys are well trained and ready for this big event.
Top of Utah Countdown
Just a few days from now Alan, John, Mark, and Rick willing be heading to Utah to run the TOU Marathon. I thought it would be good to share a few of the comments from previous participants of this event:
RUNNERS COMMENTS
Average Ratings: Course –  Organization –  Fans –  |
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| Wow, what a great marathon! (about: 2008) Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 4 C. J. from Geneva, IL (9/30/08) 1 previous marathon The scenery in Logan was just breathtaking. There were many times during the first 14 miles that I couldn’t believe my luck in picking such a beautiful race. The altitude was a bit of a struggle for someone from the Midwest, but not a deal-breaker. I might suggest a new route for the last 12 miles, as there are so many turns that, at times, could interfere with one’s momentum. The volunteers and spectators were great. The race was planned extremely well and I hope to enjoy it again. Thanks to everyone for making it possible. |
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| Great first 1/2, smelly middle 1/3, nice finish (about: 2008) Course: 4 Organization: 4 Fans: 4 S. L. from San Diego, CA (9/25/08) 4-5 previous marathons | 1 Top of Utah Marathon It was my first time running in high altitude and it definitely affected me. I cramped halfway through and hobbled all the way to the end. It was my 4th marathon and 1st out of California. The canyon run is great and very pretty scenery. The first 1/2 goes fast, and it’s all downhill, so it’s easy. The middle 1/3 is all smelly, and the whole time you will smell horse crap. It’s flat and scenic, but it smells like horse poo the whole time. The end is through nice suburb and the finish is pretty nice. There’s a part toward the finish where the road is not closed off, so you run right next to cars and it’s sort of annoying. But overall, it was a nice little marathon that is growing. The pasta dinner was pretty good and worth it. Well organized for a little marathon, and the medal was nice and chunky. |
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| A Great Run (about: 2008) Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 5 C. M. from Yuba City, CA (9/23/08) 1 previous marathon | 1 Top of Utah Marathon This was my second marathon and a fantastic experience. The run down the canyon has breathtaking scenery that makes the time pass quickly. Once out of the canyon, the spectators are great. The hills near the end are short and not as bad as others have stated. A superb organization as well. |
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| Awesome Marathon! (about: 2008) Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 5 J. V. from Flowery Branch, Georgia (9/23/08) 50+ previous marathons | 1 Top of Utah Marathon Wow! This is a stellar marathon. The views of the sun rising over Blacksmith Fork Canyon are astounding, especially with the leaves changing. The course is a gentle downhill, with few real hills at the end either. The support was fantastic. Great medals, great shirts, and great moose trophies for those placed. The pasta party had a wheel to spin for a prize – and the prizes were as nice as $90 North Face sleeping bags. All in all, this clearly one of the finest marathons in the country: highly recommended. |
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| Beautiful course, typical of the Wasatch Marathons (about: 2008) Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 5 D. M. from Ogden, UT (9/23/08) 11-50 previous marathons | 1 Top of Utah Marathon If you run Salt Lake, Ogden or Logan, you know the course – start up in the Wasatch, run down a beautiful canyon not normally accessible to pedestrians, finish in town. The first 14 miles of this race are down a canyon. The biggest disappointment, for me, was the terrain after mile 14. Most of it was run through rural to suburban settings twisting and turning all the way to the finish. Compared to Ogden, I think Logan needs to rethink the last part of its course. I also think that Logan (and Ogden for that matter) need to think about wave starts. The first mile is incredibly congested as a couple thousand runners try to make their way along the narrow, winding 2-lane road at the start. Things had thinned out by the first mile marker, but it’s still quite the crowd. Still, the organization is impeccable. And, the canyon is very much worth the effort of doing this marathon. I live in Ogden, so driving up that morning was something of a hassle, but same-day check-in was flawless, making a hotel unnecessary for me. There were plenty of port-a-johns. Nice medal. Great volunteers. A very nice experience. |
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| What an awesome experience!!! (about: 2008) Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 5 Jose Jimenez from Utah (9/22/08) 1 previous marathon | 1 Top of Utah Marathon This was my first marathon and the experience probably could not have been better. Everyone involved in the marathon, from the race directors, to the volunteers, to my fellow runners were nice, helpful and encouraging. The course was beautiful and really calmed me down during some of the tougher parts of the race. I only gave the course four stars because there are some parts in the first half that are a bit too steep and the hills at the end were a bit demoralizing. The race expo was pretty good, the packet pickup was fast and the timing chip worked flawlessly (milliseconds are great). The finish line was great. There were a lot of spectators throughout the second half, but not so many that I lost my wife in the crowd. My goal was 4:30 and I did it in 4:34. All in all, a great experience. I will be back next year. |
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| Great run; very pretty in the canyon (about: 2008) Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 4 Cody Bowles from Stansbury Park, UT (9/21/08) 1 previous marathon | 1 Top of Utah Marathon I just ran this race not only for the first time, but as my very first marathon. The run was great. I didn’t like some of the uphill running at the end. I wish the terrain were a little bit more mixed. But all in all, it wasn’t bad. I had a lot of fun and finished in a time of 4:05.32. |
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| Perfection. (about: 2008) Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 5 Your Pal Roland from Smithfield Utah (9/20/08) 11-50 previous marathons | 6+ Top of Utah Marathons This was my 7th TOU and the best one so far. The leaves were more spectacular, the weather was ideal, and the organization was superb. If you’re looking for a marathon to run in Utah that has all the ingredients for an enjoyable run, this is it (although Ogden and Park City work just as well). A tip for packet pick-up: have a nice meal first, then swing by at about 8:30. No lines. |
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 Top of Utah Half Marathon (about: 2008)Course: 5 Organization: 2 Fans: 4 T. B. from Utah, USA (8/30/08) 1 previous marathon | 1 Top of Utah Marathon My husband and I ran the Top of Utah half this August and have to say that we were very disappointed! First, the race seemed really disorganized, the course lacked an obvious start or finish line and there were no obvious mile markers. Also, the start was completely nuts, they didn’t get the buses out before lining us up and then we were not lined up in any order, just crammed together with slow mixed in with the fast. Also, there was NO GU offered – only oranges and bananas, while we were both anticipating GU. In addition, the results did not get posted on the website, so even though we had to leave right after the race, we have no way of knowing what our times were. |
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| All-Around Great Time! (about: 2007) Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 5 A. S. from The great northwest! (10/7/07) 3 previous marathons | 1 Top of Utah Marathon This is such a great event: Beautiful scenery, downhill much of the way, great fan support. A few specific things I loved: |
Club Member of the Week – Larry Henry
On September 9th, I received a Direct Twitter message from Larry Henry asking me to blog about someone interesting. Here’s Larry’s message:
Instead of writing a bio or telling you what Larry likes about life, I decided to share the 10 things he hates:
10 Things Larry Hate (not all-inclusive)
1. Endless sales meetings … and meetings to plan more endless sales meetings
2. Meaningless e-mail … especially from people he doesn’t like. He doesn’t like many people.
3. Invitations to join Facebook … Larry believes FB is for losers.
4. Traffic … Larry thinks that with the lousy economy at least there would be fewer cars on the road.
5. LinkedIn invites from business associates he can’t get rid of.
6. Fewer freebies (aka free eats and swiped supplies) due to cutbacks.
7. Books with pages … that why we have ipods – reading is out, listening is in.
8. Eco, green, environmentally-friendly … Larry doesn’t give a crap about breathing fresh air.
9. Men that cry … there’re too many sissies in this world … too many “Wild at Heart Cry Babies”
10. Teleconferences. That’s right, more meetings.
Bonus: Larry HATES coffee served in a paper cup.
Run for a Cause: The Bridge Run
The food pantry at the Real Life Center is getting desperately low. There are a lot of people living right here in Fayette County who are struggling to put food on their tables.
The Real Life Center is a ministry aimed at providing food for these families. On October 3rd, the Bridge Community Center in Peachtree City will be hosting the First Bridge Anniversary 5K Run/Walk.
The race starts at 9:00AM at the Bridge Community Center; 225 Willowbend Road. All race profits will go to benefit the Real Life Center! Please help us to get the word out about this new run.
Link to entry form: The Bridge Run
Charter Member: John Turnage
Personal Info:
Wife, De. Married 20 years this May
Adelaide, 12, in 7th grade
Jack, 10, in 5th grade
Isaac, 7, in 2nd grade
First year all three kids not homeschooled. They go to Trinity
Employment:
Work at Delta. Been here 10 years. Also, have a payroll business. Been doing that for 3 and a half years.
Hobbies:
My hobbies at this point revolve around my kids. I like football and computers.
Reading:
I am reading all of the Harry Potter books. I stole that idea from LH.
Music:
I have listening to a lot of Toby Mac lately.
Marathons and Half Marathons Events:
I have only run 1 half-marathon: The Silver Comet. I think I finished it in just a shade over 2 hours.
I have run 2 marathons: Disney (2007) and three months later, the 1st ING.
I hated both of them.
Have you trained differently for the Top of the Utah Marathon?
I have trained very differently for this marathon. Many more miles and much more time. It have run almost 500 miles since March of this year. I am training based on my heart rate, not a run pace.
TOU Goal?
My goal is to finish in under 5 hours and to not be totally miserable.
Future running or adventure goals?
My future goals are to never run another marathon until after my 50th birthday. Which is in 7 years. I am going to limit myself to nothing longer than half-marathons.
I am an indoorsman, not an outdoorsman.
Charter Member: Alan Reynolds
Personal Info:
Wife Patti teaches Macy at home and volunteers at OM for the Bill Drake Band as their Stage Manager.
Macy turns 15 in October, teaching her to drive is just around the corner.
Morgan is a Sophomore at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.
Employment:
Work out of my home for Anthony Liftgates as their Southeast Region Sales Manager. I have been with them for 6.5 years.
What are your hobbies?
During marathon training, running is my only hobby. I love golf, ping pong and spending time with friends. I also enjoy serving on a couple of non-profit boards.
Books currently reading:
Amusing Ourselves To Death by Neil Postman and the expanded edition of Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels
Music currently listening to:
Third Day, Casting Crowns and Lifechurch.tv’s worship podcast.
Previous marathons and half marathons:
Marathons: Chicago, Big Sur, Music City Nashville and ING Atlanta
Half Marathons: ING Atlanta, Atlanta Half (Thanksgiving), Albany
Have you trained differently for the Top of the Utah Marathon?
The past year or so I have made several significant changes. (1) The middle of 2008 I decided to change from striking my heal to landing on my mid-foot when I run. (not on my toes like Dwain) Almost overnight the pain in my lower back went away. (2) On January 20th, 2009 I decided to run for 45 days in a row. Not having a reason to stop, I have kept it up. My motto is “I am running at 5:00 somewhere”. (3) I have a friend that has tried to convince me to train by what is called the “Maffetone Method of training”. Long story short, you do not allow your heart rate to go over a specific rate based on his formula. We will see how it goes on race day. I can say without a doubt that I have a great aerobic base and a resting HR of 42 which is down from 60 when I started training this way. We will see how it goes on race day.
Do you have a goal for TOU Marathon?
Anything under 4 hours
Future running or adventure goals?
Qualify for the Boston Marathon and run the New York Marathon.
Charter Member: Mark Lawrence
Personal Info:
Sally (age not disclosed), Katie (22 – graduated from Ga Tech May’09), Nate (16 – Jr. at LCS)
Professional Info:
CompuCredit. Been here for about 10 1/2 years. Started a side-business last November that’s growing – slowly.
What are your hobbies?
Running, golf, snow skiing and playing drums… but, not necessarily in that order.
What books are you currently reading?
“The 4-hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss, the Gospel of John.
What music are you currently listening to?
Listening to whatever music I have to learn the drum part to play. When not learning the music, I like Jeremy Camp (if you haven’t heard his story about losing his 1st wife to cancer, it helps understand the passion and depth of his lyrics), Bebo Norman, Third Day, Big Daddy Weave, Dave Mathews Band
What marathons and half marathons have you run?
Halfs: Silver Comet Half (Marietta – ran it twice), Atlanta Half (Thanksgiving Day), Country Music Half (Nashville, TN), Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Half (Albany, GA – PR 2h 8min – if I remember correctly), ING Half (Atlanta)
Fulls: Country Music Marathon (Nashville, TN – 5h 15min), Inaugural ING Atlanta Marathon (Atlanta – 6h 15min – it was BAD!)
Have you trained differently for the Top of the Utah Marathon?
Training for TOU has been different in 3 ways: a) we trained like most plans say to train – long, slow distances run at 1:30 slower than projected marathon pace; b) trained within a defined heart rate zone (my max rate was 135 but, on average, I stayed in the 140’s); c) there were 3 runs that were 20 miles or longer (previous trainging only had 1 run at that length). I’ll let you know if any of it’s working on 9/19/2009.
Do you have a goal for TOU Marathon?
My goal is the same as it’s been for my first 2 marathons – finish in 5 hours or under. If I can’t leverage 18 miles of downhill into a “less-than-5-hour” finish, I probably never will!
What are your future running or adventure goals?
Well… probably no more marathons in my future. I think 3 will be a gracious plenty at 52. I’d like to play more golf and run a half marathon here and there. Maybe a 15K or two every now and then. Oh, and keep running regularly so I can eat like Swinsei, not gain any weight and keep my annual bloodwork parameters all “within normal limits!”
Charter Member: Rick Harrell
Personal Info:
Kathy, Married 23 years, Teacher
Kevin age 20, Sophomore, Emory University
Anna age 16 Sophomore, Starr’s Mill HS
Employment:
Kroger Pharmacy 28 years
Hobbies:
Running and Golf
Book currently reading:
Velvet Elvis
Music currently listening to:
Anything Christian- XM radio mainly
Previous marathons and half marathons:
Marathons: Ga ING and Nashville
Half: Atlanta Half, Ga ING, Nashville, Albany
Have you trained differently for the Top of the Utah Marathon?
Training by heart rate. Try to always keep my HR below 130
Goal for TOU Marathon:
Less than 5 hours.
Future running or adventure goals?
Maybe rim to rim at the Grand Canyon. I will continue to run the PTC 15K, Ga ING Half. It would be nice to run about 4 half marathons a year. I am not sure I have another full marathon in me.
4 Charter Members Are Going to Utah!!!!!!!
Four of our Charter members will be running the eleventh annual running of the NordicTrack Top of Utah Marathon on September 19, 2009.
This week we will be highlighting each member. Be sure and check Run Club USA’s blog everyday this week.
Serenbe Trail Run
Today Elk (Dwain Cox), Samurai (Randy Gravitt), Jaime Henry, and Swinsei (Don Swinford) enjoyed an 8 mile run on the Serenbe Trail .
Following the run we had coffee and breakfast! Don’t forget the Run Club will be the official Club of the 2nd annual Serenbe Trail Run on November 14th.
The Deer Story at Serenbe
Last year as I was running the Serenbe Trail 15k a deer ran on the course within 2 feet of me and hit a lady. Here’s her story.
BTW, this lady passed me at the end and beat me!
Run Club’s Featured Event for November
Registration Fee Schedule
Fee Schedule for the 15k Trail Race:
$25 Early Fee open until midnight August 31st
$35 Reguar Fee open until midnight October 31st
$45 Late Fee open until midnight November 11th
Chicken Champions: Hood to Coast
Guest Blogger: Wayne Hoover
http://chickenchampions.blogspot.com
On Friday August 28, 2009 at 10:15 am pacific time. The Building Champions/Chick-fil-A Team along with 11, 988 of our closest friends begin a quest to experience and conquer the 28th annual Nike Hood to Coast Relay–197 miles from Mt Hood to Seaside Oregon.
If you are interested in following our progress, check the blog on Friday and Saturday. We will attempt to provide frequent updates via this site (as technology and blogger ability–my first attempt, be forgiving– allow) throughout our approximately 29 hour endeavor.
Join us as we have some fun. Comments and posts of encouragement along the way are welcome.
The Chicken Champions team is :
Daniel Harkavy—Lake Oswego, Oregon
Steve Scanlon—–West Linn, Oregon
Kristin Brown —-Portland, Oregon
Barry Engleman–Beavercreek, Oregon
Elizabeth David—-Atlanta, Georgia
Jay File ———–Peachtree City, Georgia
Shane Benson —–Fayetteville, Georgia
John Bermudez— Peachtree City, Georgia
Dayne Scanlon—- West Linn, Oregon
Ron Trout ——–Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Matthew Kyle —-Athens, Alabama
Wayne Hoover —Powder Springs, Georgia
More to come -check back on Friday at http://chickenchampions.blogspot.com as we crank up.
1000 Mile Club
For the 5th straight year, Grand Master Sensei (a.k.a Swinsei) has surpassed the 1000 mile mark. He has done it in spite of missing the entire month of Janaury due to rotator cuff surgery. Here’re Swinsei’s year-by-year results:
2005 1121 miles
2006 1000 miles
2007 1580 miles
2008 1716 miles
2009 1004 miles (as of August 26th)
13.1 Discount — Don’t miss it!
12 Economic Bubbles That May Burst
What’s the next big bubble? Green energy? Gun sales? Food? Nobody knows for sure.
Based on our research, 12 new bubbles already show potential to make and ruin investors. The markets listed below range from bubble-in-the-making to ready to pop:
1. Gun sales
Anticipating anti-gun legislation, certain Americans are snapping up guns to hoard, collect, or safekeep. Some are even stockpiling for investment purposes.
According a gun buyer mentioned in this Wall Street Journal article, a collection of “assault weapons” could triple in value if the federal government re-enacts a ban on their sale. Background checks on potential gun buyers increased by 27% in the past year, according to the article.
Some guns have already appreciated. For example, European-made AK-47s doubled in price between September-December 2008. For savvy buyers, the right to bear arms is also bearing fruit. The question is: When’s this bubble going to burst?
2. Option ARMs
Starting in May 2009, option adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) have been causing “more delinquencies and foreclosures than subprime mortgages,” according to a Wall Street Journal article written in July.
Option ARMs allow homeowners to pay partial interest on their home loans for a predetermined period of time. In some cases, the unpaid amount of interest is added to the loan’s principal. Once the partial interest window expired, homeowners are left with potentially unaffordable payments.
Combine that will falling property values, and you see yet another loan-inspired disaster. According to the Wall Street Journal,
As of April, 36.9% of Pick-A-Pay loans were at least 60 days past due, while 19% were in foreclosure. In contrast, 33.9% of subprime loans were delinquent, with 14.5% of those loans in foreclosure.
Option ARMs are concentrated in California, Florida, and other hard-hit housing regions, writes the WSJ. Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase, and the FDIC’s insurance fund hold a large proportion of option ARMs, so a burst bubble will hit them especially hard.
It’s just a matter of time.
3. Cap & Trade
In September, the Senate will vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which should really be called the Clean Energy Securitization Act. The act will create a cap-and-trade market that will create new derivative-friendly asset classes, according to this Christian Science Monitor article.
The government will, if the act passes, activate a market for carbon allowances and carbon offsets. The former are permits allowing companies to pollute; the latter, pollution permits that require companies to offset their carbon emissions elsewhere.
That, writes Mother Jones reporter Rachel Morris, is just the beginning. Once permits hit the market, financial experts will convert them in derivatives with names like “offset futures” and “allowance swaps.”
Bubblemania will ensue if the government shies away from regulation and enables the same kind of chaotic, over-the-counter system that enabled the mortgage-backed securities crisis.
The financial industry is currently lobbying for minimal regulation. If the bill goes through in September, and the government steps back from applying regulation, subprime carbon might not be too far away.
4. Incandescent Light Bulbs (EU)
A pending EU-wide ban on incandescent (traditional) light bulbs is causing consumers to hoard the soon-to-be unlawful products. Manufacturers are enjoying massive sales as a result.
The Spiegel article covering this bright bubble news didn’t mention anything about people hoarding for investment purposes, as they are for guns, but that certainly remains an option. The bubble will burst in September, when stores no longer sell incandescent lighting, and it will really burst when CFL (compact fluorescent lightbulb) technology improves enough to make people toss out their old incandescent.
5. China
Chinese stock markets have been surging, fed by easy credit from government-linked banks. The Shanghai Composite rose 16% in July alone. Banks extended $1.1 trillion in new loans during the first six months of 2009.
What’s more, a Chinese company enjoyed the biggest global IPO of the year. China State Construction Engineering Corp. raised $7.3bn in one day. The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 5% as a result: Investors feared that the same speculation that had increased CSCEC’s stock value by 56% was also overheating the market.
Unfortunately, China’s economy remains export-driven. The numbers are a smokescreen. The Chinese government is powerful enough to “make the right numbers appear” if it thinks the country’s economy needs stimulating, according to Contrarian Edge’s Vitaliy Katsenelson. “(T)he government is more than willing to artificially stimulate the economy, in the hopes of buying time until the global system restabilizes,” he says.
China is experiencing “asset bubbles that look like economic growth,” writes Bloomberg’s William Pesek. Will China’s market manipulation survive the recession, as the government has planned, or will the bubbles all burst?
6. Gold
To many investors, “quantitative easing” is synonymous with “buy gold as fast as you can!”
The problem is that more money in the mint doesn’t necessarily mean inflation. What if the Fed printed less money than was lost in the financial crisis? What if consumer demand remains low and producers can’t increase their prices? Or if, after banks recapitalize, there isn’t any extra money left? Or electronic money messes up the whole notion of quantitative easing?
Gold will spike when in inflation hits, but if there’s no inflation, speculators will be left empty-handed. Then again, if–as some goldbugs claim–the dollar weakens further, global financial systems collapse, and governments fail, it’ll be nice to have some bullion on hand.
7. Higher Education
Elite schools like Harvard and Yale have frozen some faculty salaries. What gives? It’s a widespread endowment dry-up, according to The New York Times’ Steven M. Davidoff. He explains that in recent years, endowments and tuition hikes have enabled universities to expand buildings, programs, and faculty, as well as increase salaries.
With the economic crash, however, endowments have shriveled. The Harvard endowment, on which certain parts of the university heavily rely, used to enjoy handsome portfolio returns: Its private equity portfolio gained 28% during the past decade. Now, it is facing more than 30% losses, according to Davidoff’s calculations. He estimates that up to 40% of Harvard’s assets are illiquid, meaning that it will have to aggressively raise donations or increase its liquid returns to fund itself and its private equity obligations.
“This results in a spiraling decline in Harvard’s liquid assets as each year they go lower to meet these needs and more and more assets become tied up in private equity,” writes Davidoff. Ouch. Overdependence on endowments and private equity is bursting the higher education bubble, especially at the top tiers.
8. Trustafarianism
Photo By Charles Sykes / Rex
Bubbles can be cultural, too. Just ask the hipsters featured in this New York Times article, who freeze in shock after being informed that full-time jobs last eight hours a day. For many, the parental bailout is a bubble that has either deflated or burst.
9. Alternative Energy
The next decade marks the rising of a Brave Green World. Governments are limiting carbon emissions and pushing large alternative energy subsidies. Peak oil makes the search for alternative energy sources more pressing. Cap-and-trade, if it passes, will create a new market for energy-related derivatives, enabling speculation and asset price inflation.
“There must be significant government involvement designed to focus energy and capital on the specific industry — and clearly that’s already happening,” writes Jeff Brady in this NPR article.
A few pieces still have to fall in place for a bubble to form. These include a massive update of the national energy grid, as well as a new source of credit for green ventures, according to Brady. He says that a grid update is in the works. A new source of credit, in my opinion, is just a matter of time. When that happens, brace yourself for the green market overvaluation—err, revolution.
10. Junk Bonds
In late July, average junk bond yields fell into the single digits for the first time in more than a year, according to the LA Times’ Tom Petruno. The KDP Investment Advisors’ index, which covers 100 junk issues, hit a high of nearly 18% returns last December, Petruno reports. Record bond defaults haven’t deterred investors from loading up on the risky bonds, but they have returns on their sides. Petruno says that “the average junk fund is up 27.2%.”
Those returns out-entice the prospect of massive defaults, which are bound to occur eventually. 42% of junk bond issuers have “highly leveraged balance sheets—much more than in previous years,” according to this CNNMoney article. It’s a good time to be in junk bonds—if you can get out before the bubble bursts.
11. ETFs
Vanguard’s John Bogle calls exchange-traded funds (ETFs) a “disaster waiting to happen.” The reason? Short-term traders are using ETFs to pursue short-term gains, according to this Seeking Alpha article. Passive investors try to jump on the bandwagon by buying into high-performing ETFs, not realizing that they chasing performance could spell speculative doom to their savings accounts. They’re good for long-term investing, Bogle says, but only if you use them right.
Bogle isn’t the only one wary of the ETF craze. The genre is facing oversupply to the point of redundancy. Early ETFs tracked “only the broadest indexes,” according Safe Haven’s Tyler Mordy.
Things have changed. “The first ETFs…were rather difficult to push around, and so not much given to speculative excess,” write William J. Bernstein of Efficient Frontier. He cites a “mind-boggling” variety of new ETFs—the HealthShares Infectious Disease Index is one example of how specialized the breed has become—as evidence that a new bubble may be on its way. “With each new wave of yet-more-improbable products, the danger grows,” he writes.
“Do we really need nine ETFs that essentially track the same thing?” Asks HS Dent’s Charles Sizemore. He says that specific supply and demand conditions created previous high returns. These returns caused competitors to enter the market, increasing supply, but diminishing the very returns that drove them into the market in the first place. At that point, “weaker competitors and products leave the market. We would expect there to be some kind of shakeout in the ETF sector in the months or years ahead.”
12. Food
Peak oil is so passé. Peak grain, on the other hand, could be the next big thing. Consider these facts:
-The planet doesn’t have enough high-quality arable land to keep up with the growing population. (The world has already consumed more grains than farmers produced during five of the past six years, according to this IPS article.)
-The amount of clean water in the world is decreasing, meaning less water for edible crops.
-Fossil fuels—commonly used as fertilizer—are getting more expensive.
-Climate change will affect crop production.
-The UN expects 12 billion people to inhabit the world by the end of the century.
It’s a simple supply and demand equation. Big demand for food and water, but little supply, means that prices will increase. It’s just a matter of finding the right agricultural niche to invest in. Right?
Not so fast. A bubble needs more than just supply and demand to foment. In 2008, a commodities bubble came and went. An increase in oil prices—caused by speculation, no less—drove up transportation prices, which in turn drove up food prices. Investors went on an agriculture/commodities binge, only to find their returns destroyed by falling prices, courtesy of the financial crisis.
This short, dramatic spike was of limited significance. A more sustained food bubble could be a ways off, especially if the government starts regulating commodities speculation. Look for persistent news of food shortages, rumors that you can make money by investing in agricultural stocks based on those shortages, and increasing food prices. At that point, a bigger bubble could be in the making.
We Take Our Lunch Very Seriously!
by @donswinford (aka Swinsei)
We did a trial run at the The Ohio BBQ joint on Hwy 74 today. While the fellowship was good with @creeks , @tim_winstead , @lhenry_wareagles , @jonbridges, @dwaincox , and @i2ileadership the food and environment was not at a standard that would make the cut for the Swinsei Ghetto Lunch Tour.
But obviously we had a good time:
The Swinsei Ghetto Lunch Tour continues next week …..
Though several of the contests we’ve written about in recent months have had unconventional purposes—filling a job, for example, or launching a new car—there’s no denying that they’re still an effective tool for good, old-fashioned promotion. To wit: aiming to celebrate “6 dozen years” of Krispy Kreme, the global doughnut chain is holding a contest that will allow winners to design their own doughnuts.
Krispy Kreme’s search for its “fave fans” invites doughnut lovers aged 18 and older to submit a photo with a 72-word (or less) caption that answers the question, “How has Krispy Kreme made your life special?” The contest deadline is Sept. 15, and a period of public voting will continue through the end of October before winners are announced in early November. A Grand Prize winner from each participating country will get a year’s supply of doughnuts, a trip for two to Krispy Kreme’s Winston-Salem, N.C., home and a chance to design and name their own doughnut. Following the design period, each winner’s doughnut concept will be uploaded onto the official Krispy Kreme Fave Fan website for public voting; the winning doughnut will then be sold at retail in April 2010 as a special edition.
Of course, besides simply celebrating the Krispy Kreme brand, this contest also includes a heaping helping of crowdsourcing, giving consumers the much-sought-after chance to have a direct say in the offerings of their favourite doughnut chain. Ask the crowd’s opinion, and you can bet ye shall receive—particularly where doughnuts are involved! 
Website: www.krispykremefavefan.com
Contact: www.krispykremefavefan.com/contact
Swinsei Ghetto Lunch Tour
After a successful Swinsei Ghetto Lunch 3 weeks ago at Tin Lizzy, a group of us went to Daddy Dz on Friday. As you’ll see from the pictures, Daddy Dz is a place you want to visit.
To find out about future tour stops, please follow @donswinford and @lhenry_wareagle on Twitter.
Yummmmmmmmmmmmm!
Next stop in a couple of weeks — Find out details in the coming days on Twitter.
National Trail Running Day, August 22nd!
“National Trail Running Day is a day to promote, celebrate, and experience the sport of Trail Running. Trail Running is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States with runners taking to the trails of varying difficulties and distances for a way to connect with nature and the environment, while also building strength and more technical running skills.
What should you do on National Trail Running Day? National Trail Running Day is a day for runners to come together and celebrate the sport of Trail Running. Anyone can plan an event for National Trail Running Day. Some of the events already planned are trail races, group trail runs, or trail clean-ups.”
Makes sense. A good way to promote an increasingly popular sport give it a official National Day status. You need to get on the bandwagon and try Trail Running before it’s too late. I took a friend Trail Running for his first time last week and he really enjoyed it. He was lucky he did too because he had already bought some trail running shoes and even listed “Trail Running” as an interest on his Facebook! I guess you can be interested in something you’ve never done before. For instance, I’ve never swam with sharks but I think they are interesting…wait…I have swam with sharks, off the coast of Tahiti. Trust me, it’s tough being the Most Interesting Man in the World.
I want everyone in the United States to become more interesting, it makes for an overall happier population, so that’s why I’m advocating that everyone try trail running on National Trail Running Day, August 22nd, the 3rd Saturday in August. If you’ve never been Trail Running before then you should try it for the first time. If you have done a trail run a couple of times, then you should try a trail race on NTRD. If you’re already an established, expert Trail Runner, then win a Trail Race on August 22nd. If you are an experienced Trail Runner but not fast enough to win a race, then get your trail running buddies (probably your best friends) together and organize a trail clean-up day. See, this day is for everyone! Go to the National Trail Running Day website to see if there are any events in your area, if not, plan one. I know you like to usually just grip and rip but this is an important holiday. You don’t just show up to Christmas without planning on what presents you are going to bring…unless you’re me and shop the day before without putting any prior thought into the presents and then always get exactly what people want. Maybe I should become a personal shopper.
Negative. Shopping is lame. Here are 8 reasons from the National Trail Running Day website why Trail Running is better than shopping:
8 Reasons to go Trail Running
- Strengthens your leg muscles that road running does not.
- Improves balance and agility from running on uneven surfaces.
- Increases your mental toughness.
- Biophillia – humans want to be close to nature. Trail Running increases your time in nature.
- The primal thrill of using your body for what it was made to do, be a long distance, all-terrain vehicle.
- Reduces injury because running on soft surfaces is better for your joints. Also, the differing steps do not put as much stress on certain parts of your body.
- Less traffic and cleaner air.
- Running in the shade is cooler, allowing you to run longer distances and get a better overall work out.
Well there you have it. I should have just done a blog post with those 8 reasons at the beginning instead of after all the other mumbo jumbo in the beginning paragraphs. You’ll have to excuse me for that. Sometimes I’m too interesting for my own good.
Related posts:
Twitter Will Kill You
The Club has adopted Twitter as it main mode of communication for its members. However, we may need to second guess our decision.
Guest: I’m Done!
By Guest Blogger: Dwain
For months I have been ridiculed by Don (a.k.a, Swinsei) for my views on environmental sustainability. Now, he has begun attacking me under the pseudonym ‘Larry.’ This is fooling no one. I have sat quietly and done nothing for fear that if I spoke up, Don would manipulate my power bill. This constant disparagement is also beginning to take a toll on my wife and kids. I will have no more of it!! I’m done!! Tonight, we have made a family decision. 
We are coming ‘off the grid!’ Tomorrow begins our slow process of weaning ourselves off so called “government regulated” power. We are targeting complete self-sufficiency by April-2010. We plan to install ten 400-watt 3X5 Solar Panels, four Microwind Turbines, additional insulation, and eighty-six 12 volt batteries in Dustin’s bedroom (to ensure we will continue to be able to operate our 3 plasma screen TV’s). Goodbye Power Company. Hello cleaner planet.
Guest: Anti-Green Movement (Climate-Rising) – Part 4
Guest Blogger: Larry H.
Eat a Lot of Meat
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, “Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming”. How do livestock release these greenhouse gases? Well, when they pass gas, they let off massive amounts of carbon dioxide.
No explanation needed here. The more meat we eat, the more animals farmers will breed, the more animals there will be to pass gass, the more greenhouse gases the animals emit, the hotter it gets.
From now on, eat only meat. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner = meat. If you get confused about what is acceptable and what isn’t, please refer to the food pyramid below.
NOTE: The views expressed in this blog post are not views necessarily embraced by the Run Club. The Club is about fair and balance and since we have had so many “green” postings over the months, our blog posts this week will give another viewpoint. As always, you decide.
FYI, This post is a Retweet from another blog on the web.
Guest: Anti-Green Movement (Climate-Rising) – Part 3
Guest Blogger: Larry
Take Out Your Installation
Insulation helps keep your house cool or hot, depending on the temperature you’re trying to keep your house. Confusing? Keep up. If you’re using the heat, insulation keeps your house hot. If you’re using the AC, it keeps your house cool. It’s like a thermos you would bring to school as a kid. Keeps cold drinks cold and hot soup hot. (Not at the same time).
Now that I’ve explained insulation, you probably understand that to be the best AG possible, you need to take it out of your house. If you do so, your heating unit or AC will need to work harder, which will force them to use more energy. This is good for the anti-green movement.
Here is the stuff you need to eliminate from your house:
Be careful, as the fiberglass gets stuck in your skin and starts to itch. Because of this, pink fiberglass insulation with the Pink Panther as a spokesperson doesn’t mix well with children. As a child, I always wanted to eat insulation. Maybe I did. That would explain quite a bit.
NOTE: The views expressed in this blog post are not views necessarily embraced by the Run Club. The Club is about fair and balance and since we have had so many “green” postings over the months, our blog posts this week will give another viewpoint. As always, you decide.
FYI, This post is a Retweet from another blog on the web.
Guest: Anti-Green Movement (Climate-Rising) – Part 2
Guest Blogger: Larry
Never Turn Your Lights Off
Lights use electricity. Electricity uses fossil fuels. Fossil fuels speed up global warming. If you use critical thinking, you’ll critically think that you’d be an idiot not to constantly leave your lights on. Here are some benefits of always leaving every light in your house on:
- It will speed up global warming. This one’s obvious.
- It will cure you of any depression. If you house is always really bright, how can you be depressed?
- It will make it easier for you to wake up in the morning.
- It will stimulate the economy because you’ll have to buy more lightbulbs.
NOTE: The views expressed in this blog post are not views necessarily embraced by the Run Club. The Club is about fair and balance and since we have had so many “green” postings over the months, our blog posts this week will give another viewpoint. As always, you decide.
FYI, This post is a Retweet from another blog on the web.
Guest: Anti-Green Movement (Climate-Rising) – Part 1
Guest Blogger: Larry
Plastic water bottles are terrible for the environment. They will undoubtedly speed up global warming. Go out of your way to use them.
You may run into a slight problem here. You may be asking, “What if I don’t want to drink water? I enjoy an early morning gin and tonic as well as water!” I’m a step ahead of you. If you want to drink something besides water, follow these simple steps:
- Get a new water bottle.
- Pour the water out.
- Pour whatever you want to drink into the water bottle.
- Drink.
- Repeat using a new bottle every time.
If this is not possible for some reason, drink your beverage out of a glass. To make up for your foolish decision, throw out two (2) full water bottles. Here are a few rules you’ll have to follow when dealing with water bottle consumption:
- Drink, drink, drink. Then throw the empty bottles out. Then drink more. Then throw those empty bottles out. Then throw out some more full bottles for the heck of it.
- Use as many bottles as you can. If you have a bottle that is 3/4 full and it feels a bit warm, throw it out and grab a new one.
- DO NOT RECYCLE BOTTLES. According to bottledwaterblues.com, 60 million plastic bottles are thrown out every day in America. Guys, 60 million? We can do better. By the end of the year, I expect nothing less than 100 million every day. According to my calculations, if we each drink 1.4 bottles more per day, we’re set for our goal.
NOTE: The views expressed in this blog post are not views necessarily embraced by the Run Club. The Club is about fair and balance and since we have had so many “green” postings over the months, our blog posts this week will give another viewpoint. As always, you decide.
FYI, This post is a Retweet from another blog on the web.
Elk Blog
by don g. swinford
One of our Club members Dwain Cox (a.k.a. Elk) has started a blog at FightingElk.com . He has written a 6 part blog series on “5 Reasons You Should Avoid Forming Project Teams”. Great job by Dwain on his posts.
Problem solving is considered the most complex of all intellectual functions. At Fighting Elk, they believe that problems are solved when creativity and scientific thinking are blended with the right amount of business know-how. Their expertise rests in their ability to distill problems, craft effective strategies, and deliver uncommon results.
Go check out Fighting Elk or follow the Elk on Twitter .
Run 13.1 Atlanta
by don g swinford
Run the INAUGURAL 13.1 Atlanta on October 4th and be the first to experience this exciting new half marathon!!
The 13.1 Marathon Race Series is a unique style of racing. Featuring a fully themed race offering runners and ruwalkers an exciting new way to race. Live entertainment, music, cheer teams and more on a scenic course.
Special Pricing
Special discount for this new event – Inaugural 13.1 Atlanta!
Regular Price: $55.00
Special Price: $42.00
To Register – click here
Promo/Coupon Code: 131PAST
Special Rate Expires: July 31, 2009
BTW, several of us have already signed up. Come join us!
i2i Leadership
Randy Gravitt (a.k.a. Samurai) has a passion for developing and encouraging leaders. He believe integrity and influence are the foundation stones of Leadership. i2i is designed to help leaders maximize their influence. That cannot happen unless we are committed to living lives of integrity. Integrity literally means, “to be whole or complete.” It comes from the same root that the math word ‘integer’ does. Just like an integer is a whole number, a person with integrity is the real deal! I hope that is true for all of you who visit i2i. Too much influence is on the line for you to ignore your integrity.
Check out Randy’s blog at http://bit.ly/IJxxN
www.i2ileadership.org
Marathon Man – 530 Marathons and Ultras
By Runners World (July 2009)
Larry Macon may not be the fastest runner on a marathon course. But the 64-year-old San Antonio lawyer zips through finishers’ chutes at elite speed. When your weekend itinerary usually involves running two—sometimes three—marathons, there’s always a plane to catch or a long drive ahead to get to the next starting line. “If I have time, I’ll shower at the hotel,” says the five-hour marathoner. “But usually life isn’t that good. So I’ll change at a stoplight. I’ve gotten good at it. I haven’t been arrested for indecent exposure yet.”
In his 15 years as a runner, Macon has completed more than 530 marathons and ultras. And every Monday he adds more to his spreadsheet log. Macon has stacks of bib numbers, boxes of finishers’ medals, and millions of frequent flyer miles to show for his efforts. And now he owns a Guinness World Record. In 2008, Macon ran 105 races of 26.2 miles or more—the most anyone has ever run in a year. (The previous record was 100). Macon says the achievement is a reflection of his logistical skills rather than his athleticism.
Just consider this back-to-back performance: In August, he finished the Frank Maier Marathon in Juneau, Alaska, at 12:30 p.m.; drove to the airport for a 2 p.m. flight; landed in San Francisco at midnight; then started that city’s marathon at 5:30 a.m. Or there’s the time he drove from the finish of the Cow Town Marathon in Fort Worth, Texas, to New Orleans (which took him 12 hours), arriving five minutes before the start of the Mardi Gras Marathon. And thanks to holidays like Memorial Day and races with Saturday night starts, he squeezed three marathons into one weekend five times in 2008.
Macon’s extreme racing has earned him figurehead status in the 50 States Marathon Club, whose members strive to run 26.2′ers in every state, as well as the Marathon Maniacs, a group that runners gain entry to by completing multiple marathons in short time frames. He’s been named Maniac of the Year four times. And this spring he finished his eighth cycle of the 50 states.
The Yale graduate, who earned his law degree at the University of Texas, started running in 1992 and tried his first marathon on a dare in 1996. “After that, I knew what was coming,” says his wife, Jane. “Larry never does anything casually.” In 2006, he ran 79 marathons/ultras; in 2007, he did 93.
“I’ve always been driven,” Macon says. “I used to work most weekends. My co-workers say that my running is the best thing that happened to them. Now they don’t have 400 e-mails waiting for them on a Monday morning.”
Macon’s ongoing travels don’t bother his wife, a lawyer who spends her weekends raising 600 miniature horses. “I have minus-zero interest in that,” Macon says. “If I’m around on a weekend, she’ll ask me, don’t you have to go out and run?”
On weekdays, he’s up at 4 a.m. to work with a personal trainer or to meet his running partner, Justice Rebecca Simmons. “Larry is a gifted trial lawyer,” Simmons says. “To be as successful as he is, you need to be aggressive and competitive. I think running has made him a better lawyer. It gives him time to think through cases.”
That’s true at small races where he often runs alone. But Macon says he prefers to chat his way through the miles. “I’m addicted to the social part of running,” he says. “Runners have a lower percentage of jerks than the rest of the population.”
Macon has no plans to beat his record. And he has no interest in going for the most lifetime marathons. “There is no reason to race this much unless I enjoy it—and I do,” he says. “The record was just a bonus.”
Running the Numbers
12: Pairs of running shoes Macon goes through a year
4:15: Macon’s PR (2007 Valentine Marathon)
7,500: Dollars spent in 2008 on race registration fees
1: Number of marathons he’s won (2008 Bear Lake Marathon)
5:49: His winning time (seven people ran)
To watch a video of Larry Macon’s postrace stoplight clean-up routine, visit runnersworld.com/macon.
Recapitulation: 4th of July – Independence Day!
by Don G. Swinford
“the race”
Alan and I had a great time on the 4th running the Peachtree Road Race. After meeting up at 5:30 AM to go downtown, we ran the race, spent time in the Southern Company Hospitality Tent afterwards, ate brunch at the BBQ Kitchen, and then went our separate ways to spend time with our families. Alan used the PRR as a training run in preparation for the Top of Utah Marathon in September. My plan was to run as hard as I could for as long as I could. We both accomplished what we set out to do.
“it’s all about the coffee”
Events are fun. Just ask JB — he’s the King of Bling! I personally find it fulfilling to set a goal, train for it, and achieve it. Over the past 5 years I have run more 30 events. Many of them I have done alone but the ones that are the most enjoyable are the ones I ran with others. That’s what our Club is all about. “It’s all about the coffee” means we go through life with others. It’s Drake, Alden and Bruce on the golf course; it’s David and Larry cooking big steaks on the grill; and it’s Alan and me running the Peachtree Road Race. There are many other examples, but I think you get the point.
“the gathering”
Most of us, including the Swinfords, spent time with friends (and/or family). Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fair, and picnics. I hope you enjoyed your 4th with others!
“independence”
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
We are thankful for all the men and women who have fought for our freedom and our independence throughout the years.
“results”
Alan Reynolds #15011
Sharpeburg, GAGender: M
| Distance | 10K |
| Clock Time | 58:46 |
| Chip Time | 57:17 |
| Overall Place | 9345 / 50007 |
| Gender Place | 6743 / 26170 |
| Division Place | 3221 / 14111 |
| Age Grade | 49.6% |
DON SWINFORD #10009
FAYETTEVILLE, GAGender: M
| Distance | 10K |
| Clock Time | 51:15 |
| Chip Time | 50:24 |
| Overall Place | 3773 / 50007 |
| Gender Place | 2990 / 26170 |
| Division Place | 1314 / 14111 |
| Age Grade | 62.9% |
79 Days
79 days until a crew from our Club will go to Utah to run the Top of Utah Marathon. These men have been training hard and will make us proud on September 19th. Let’s give them our support and encouragement!
Brian Grady
Alan Reynolds
John Turnage
Rick Harrell
Ken Speir (Maybe, Tentative, Probably, ???, …. Maybe)
Mark Lawrence (Training Partner)
If I missed anyone, please let me know.
Toe Running
Dwain does it, Ken does it, Alan does it, Jon does it. How about you? Toe-running is becoming the single most important thing that many runners are focusing on in order to improve their running. Learn more about toe-running at: Toe Running, Chi Running, and Pose Method.
Newton Running, Vibram Five Fingers, and Nike Free are running shoe that are designed to promote toe-running. Do you run on your toes? What are your thoughts?
Newton
Nike Free
Beware of the Heat — Part 3
The Truth About Hydration in the Heat
From Active.com
Most articles about exercising in the heat are all about hydration. But did you know that drink fluids during exercise in hot weather actually does very little to prevent the body’s core temperature from rising? It’s true, and the studies prove it. For example, a 2007 study from the University of Exeter, England, found that fluid consumption did not prevent a rise in body temperature or improve performance in a half-marathon running event. This was the first study to monitor internal body temperature continuously throughout a real race, using high-tech sensors that runners actually ingested the night before the race, which took place in hot and humid conditions.
Runners consumed as much or as little fluid as they wished during the race, and there was a high degree of variability in drinking rates. Runners replaced between 6 and 73 percent of body fluid losses over the course of the run. Researchers found no correlation between the amount of fluid runners consumed and their body temperature or performance. Thus, they concluded that drinking fluid had no effect on body temperature or performance in this context.
However, there is another way to interpret these results. Evidence from other recent studies suggests that the nervous system regulates body temperature and performance during exercise in the heat through a mechanism called regulatory anticipation. Essentially, the brain allows the body to work hard enough–and only hard enough–to reach his highest safe core body temperature, which is more or less the same in all humans.
Therefore, as long as they are working at maximum capacity–as one does during a race–runners competing in the heat will reach the same core body temperature whether drinking has a cooling effect or not, because inasmuch as it does have a cooling effect, the runner’s brain will simply allow him to run a little harder so that he still reaches the same body temperature.
But, if this is so, wouldn’t the authors of this study at least have observed a performance benefit to hydration? The answer is that they probably would have observed a performance benefit if they had looked for one within individual runners (by having each of them run the race twice–once without fluid consumption and once at the runner’s natural rate of fluid consumption), but instead they looked for a general correlation between drinking rate and performance in the general study population. Presumably, however, each runner instinctively consumed fluid at the proper rate to maximize his individual performance.
This speculation is borne out by a more recent study performed by researchers at the University of Cape Town South Africa. In this study, cyclists performed a time trial in a hot environment on several occasions, consuming fluid at a different rate in each. The authors of the study found that the rate of fluid intake had no effect on core body temperature, but it did affect performance. The cyclists performed best when they drank at an “ad libitum” (freely chosen rate).
So while drinking while running in the heat will not cool you down, it will speed you up. Specifically, drinking during hot-weather runs will keep your blood volume at close to normal levels, which in turn keeps your sweat rate high. And since oxygen is delivered to the muscles through the blood, maintaining your blood volume through drinking also enables your heart to deliver more oxygen per contraction, so you perform better than you can if you allow your body to become too dehydrated.
How much should you drink? Studies such as the one above suggest that you should simply drink according to your thirst. Drinking more will neither keep you cooler nor improve your performance; but it will increase your chances of suffering from GI distress.
By far the most effective way to prevent your body from overheating while running in the heat is not to drink a ton of fluid but simply to slow down. But your brain, through its anticipatory regulation mechanism, will strongly encourage you to do this anyway, at first by making you feel uncomfortable at your normal pace and then, if necessary, by simply refusing to allow your muscles to work as hard as you want them to.
This mechanism is no failsafe, however. During exercise in the heat, it is possible for the brain itself to overheat, causing this protective mechanism to fail and opening the door to heat illness. So, to avoid this dangerous situation, take all the usual precautions such as avoiding exercise during the hottest part of the day, wearing appropriate technical apparel, and heeding warning signs such as dizziness, lightheadedness and cessation of sweating.
Run Club News for June 27th
by donald g. swinford
60 miles
Run Club Charter Members Mark Lawrence and John Turnage ran a PR for mileage in a week – 60 miles in 7 days. They concluded the week with an 18 miler on Friday and 6 miler on Saturday. Way to go guys! Both Mark and John have completed a couple of marathons. John is training for the Top of Utah Marathon in September. Mark, being a nice guy, is training with John and others to offer encourgement and support to his friends.
Welcome Back
After a long absence from Run Club, Brent Ragsdale made his return. He join Dwain and me on a 7 mile jot. Brent is also a Charter Member of our Club and has run the Big Sur and San Francisco Marathons. Additionally he has run the Hood to Coast Relay!
Guest: I’m Green and I’m Proud ….
Guest Blogger: Larry Henry
Help me save the world! I recently joined Dr. Cox as an Eco-Runner and now I’m an Eco-Coffee Drinker … I’m totally “green”.
Our coverage of ad-supported FreePaperCups earlier this year sparked quite a reaction from eco-minded readers, many of whom very rightly pointed out the wastefulness inherent in using disposable cups. We’re happy, then, to present the KeepCup, a sustainable, reusable alternative designed to reduce the massive waste created when coffee cups are meant to be thrown away.
The average paper cup consumes 2.5 times its final weight in raw wood, and is also coated in a polyethylene lining that makes it not just waterproof but also unrecyclable. Similar in intent to I Am Not a Paper Cup, the KeepCup is a lightweight, reusable and recyclable cup crafted from polypropylene—otherwise known as No. 5 food-grade plastic. Two sizes are currently available—a small, 8oz. size and a medium, 12oz. version—with both a large, 16oz. size and a “Babycino” 4oz. size on the way. Particularly notable is that Australian KeepCup replicates standard sizing on disposable coffee cups commonly used by baristas, so it can be substituted for paper cups without any modification; the small and medium cups fit directly under the nozzle at the coffee machine. Cups, lids, plugs and silicone bands can also be mixed and matched to create colourful combinations, and the cups are dishwasher-safe on the top rack, with an estimated lifespan of four years. Melbourne-based KeepCup is targeting cafes and employers with the product; corporate branding is available. Introductory pricing on the KeepCup begins at AUD 7.80 for the small version, increasing to AUD 9.80 in July.
KeepCup is currently seeking “crusaders” to manage and distribute its cups in overseas markets. Given that Australians alone use some 500 million disposable cups each year—throwing out 951 every minute—there’s sure to be considerable opportunity in virtually every neck of the woods. One to get in on early!
Website: www.keepcup.com.au
Contact: info@keepcup.com.au
Coffee stocks are piping hot these days
While the broad market is struggling to hold its recent gains, shares of five of the largest publicly traded coffee companies are on a high boil.
Shares of Diedrich Coffee are up 4,525% this year, Green Mountain (GMCR) has doubled and even Starbucks(SBUX) is up 50%.
That shows that investors think consumers, despite the recession, still crave their coffee fix, though they’re looking for ways to spend less, says Michael Podhorzer of research firm Sidoti. “Coffee is recession-resistant,” he says. “Whether they go out for it or go to a grocery story, people will still buy their coffee.”
Behind the coffee stock boom:
•Do-it-yourself. Green Mountain is at the center of the make-your-own trend, as it makes popular single-serve coffeemakers under the Keurig brand name. Consumers drop a small coffee-filled pod in a machine, and coffee flows into a cup.
Green Mountain makes money selling the machines, but the replacement coffee pods, called K-Cups, are even more lucrative, says Jon Andersen at William Blair. Green Mountain’s earnings in the first quarter doubled from a year earlier to $13 million.
Meanwhile, Green Mountain licenses other coffee companies to make K-Cups. Diedrich’s stock has benefited because it is one licensed to make K-Cups, he says.
•Cost control and better store traffic. Starbucks rose 3.3% to $14.16 Tuesday after Robert W. Baird analyst David Tarantino upgraded it to outperform, saying advertising helped boost coffeehouse visits. And a close eye on cutting costs improved profit upside for Starbucks, says Cowen analyst Colin Guheen.
•Low share prices. It didn’t take much confidence to make investors willing to take a shot on the stocks, because they were priced for disaster. Diedrich and Caribou Coffee, (CBOU) for instance, started this year at less than $1.50 a share.
Some fear investors are in a caffeine-induced frenzy. Podhorzer is neutral on Peet’s Coffee & Tea, (PEET) saying, “We don’t really see any big problems, but we think it’s fairly to slightly overvalued.”
Guest: Athlete EcoPledge
Guest Blogger: Bedford Dwain Cox
I would like for the members of the Run Club to make this pledge.
I pledge to be environmentally responsible in my daily life by reducing the energy I consume, recycling, reusing and composting as much waste as possible, buying products and services from companies that are environmentally responsible, and by treading lightly on the earth.
I pledge to actively seek out and support races and events that are working to
(1) Minimize the waste they send to landfills by
a. recycling the waste produced at the event
b. reusing materials such as signs and banners
c. composting food waste and donating unused food to charities
(2) Minimize the greenhouse gases they produce by encouraging participants (that’s me) to
a. reduce the amount of energy we consume by carpooling and taking public transport
b. purchase carbon offsets (what’s a carbon offset?)
A racing flat that’s green (and fast)!
Here’s a great new running shoe for those eco-friendly runners:
It’s no secret. When it comes to sustainability, it’s time for running gear to lead the way, not follow. With our usual passion, Brooks has embraced this challenge. The result is the Green Silence—available February 1, 2010—a groundbreaking advance in running shoes that will not be kept quiet.
By utilizing recycled and other earth-friendly components, this striking—and strikingly fast—performance racing shoe breathes new life into the competition category—as well as countless post-race plastic water and sports beverage bottles, rubber that would otherwise be abandoned, and discarded Skid Row, Kix, and Ratt CDs. No wonder the Green Silence has so much personality.
Key Green Features:
- BioMoGo, the world’s first-ever biodegradable midsole for running shoes
- 75% of the shoe’s materials are post-consumer recycled
- Biodegradable insole and collar foams
- Laces, gillies, and reinforced webbing are 100% post-consumer recycled
- Water-based adhesives are used throughout
- All dyes and colorants are non-toxic
- Packaging is 100% post-consumer recycled
Constructed with roughly half as many parts as comparable shoes, the Green Silence requires less petroleum and energy to make. Of course, the shoe manages all of this while delivering the premium performance expected from Brooks.
Reduce your carbon footprint. Move forward. Run Happy®.
Learn more:
Interact with the Green Silence
See the shoe, its specs, and a 360 view and zoom
Explore what powers Green Silence performance
Read the Green Silence press release
Go to the Green Silence Glossary of Terms
Beware of the Heat – Part 2
My blog post 3 days ago encouraged all of us to be careful of the heat when we run. I wish I would have paid attention to the “warning” I was giving my readers. Today I went out for my daily run at 3:15 PM. It was 95 degrees, with a heat index of 99. My first 4 miles I was able to keep a good pace, but it was on mile 5 that I hit the wall. The heat hammered me. Here I am suffering on my driveway (which was very hot too!). I didn’t stay down long!
Beware of the HEAT — Part 1
Heat stroke: A core body temperature that rises above 104°F (40°C) accompanied by hot, dry skin and central nervous system abnormalities such as delirium, convulsions, or coma. Heat stroke that results from exposure to a high environmental temperature is called nonexertional heat stroke. Heat stroke that results from strenuous exercise is called exertional heat stroke. Irrespective of type, heat stroke can be LIFE-THREATENING! Immediate medical attention is essential when problems first begin. Symptoms may include confusion, combativeness, bizarre behavior, faintness, staggering, strong rapid pulse, dry flushed skin, lack of sweating, possible delirium or coma.
Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F (41.1°C) or higher within 10-15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
"Beware of the warning signs"
Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include:
- an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F (39.4°C), orally)
- red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
- rapid, strong pulse
- throbbing headache
- dizziness
- nausea
- confusion
- unconsciousness
If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a LIFE-THREATENING emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim:
- Get the victim to a shady area.
- Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place in a cool shower; spray with cool water from a garden hose; sponge with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
- Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F (38.3-38.5°C) .
- If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
- Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
- Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
Sometimes a victim’s muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side.
http://twitter.com/DonSwinford
Guest: Elk Hunting
Guest Blogger: Durden
Elk are really smart – they have a big brain. But they do lack common sense. They can run really fast because they are so afraid of guns. Chickens are wiser than Elks and Hogs are meaner. At the fall Run Club fall event, “Run and Gun”, our members will be hunting Elk.
What do you think about hunting Elk? Check out these two elks (one dead and one alive)!
http://twitter.com/DonSwinford
Guest: Chicken Hunting
Guest Blogger: Bedford Dwain Cox
I don’t have a problem with killing pigs. As Jewels said in Pulp Fiction, “a pig’s a filthy animal.” I do take exception to calling shooting pigs at night in a pig pasture “hunting.” If that is hunting, then everyone who works in a chicken processing plant is a chicken hunter.
Elk Hunting is REAL HUNTING!!!!
Guest: Hog Hunting
Guest Blogger: David Max Millican
We took 15 pigs in two nights. This is a very unique hunt. Thermal technology is unbelievable. It makes me realize I would hate to go to battle against the US forces.
Rod (Jagerpro) had a 24 year career in the Army. Trained two Olympic Army shooting teams and runs his hunt like a military mission.
Mission successful!
Rod provides a very unique hunting experience. Hogs cause thousands of dollars of damage in South Georgia row crops (Peanuts, Cotton, Corn, and Soy Beans). Rod takes hogs to help the farmers.
BTW, we kept a few hams, a little sausage, and some back straps. Planning on smoking some at the “Run and Gun”. Rod donates the meat to local families. He has fed about 200 families this year with hogs he has harvested.
Do you Tweet?
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Google Reader was a great way to keep up with blogs, especially Run Club and Ten26 ! But another option is to follow me on Twitter or Facebook . Generally when I have a new blog post, I will put it on Twitter which will also post it on Facebook. As soon as you get the Tweet you can go visit the blog.
Give it a try …. sign up today!!
U.S. Army Hooah 10k Road Race
On a hot and humid Saturday, Alan Reynolds and Drake Dale ran the U.S. Army Hooah 10k Road Race in College Park, Georgia. This was Drake’s first 10k and he finished in a very respectful time of 51:38. Drake has run dozens of 5k’s over the past 2 years. Alan is an experienced endurance runner with 4 marathons, several half marathons and 15k’s under his belt. He finished with a time of 53:42. Alan is in the process of training for the Top of Utah Marathon.
Drake and Alan, can you say "Hooah"!
We are proud of these guys. Way to go!
Hog Hunting!
As mentioned several weeks ago on this blog, one of the founders of the Run Club (David “Sensei” Millican) had a Hog Hunting Adventure scheduled for this weekend. The results after the first night is 8 dead Hogs!!!!!
15% Discount at Starbucks!
This morning Dwain and I met Jason Malcom, store manager at Starbucks. He offered to give our Club a discount on Saturdays. This is the deal: you have to run, walk, or cycle on Saturday morning to be eligible for the discount. This will be on the honor code so please don’t ask for the discount if you haven’t earned it.
Be sure to tell Jason and his staff “thank you” for giving us a discount. Here’s Jason’s email to Dwain:
From: Jason Malcom
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 11:02 AM
To: Dwain Cox
Subject: Starbucks
Hi again, it was a pleasure meeting you formally this Friday morning. Thanks to you and your Club for choosing us as your meeting place. I wanted to give you this email as a place to communicate about your Starbucks needs or concerns. Please feel free to let the Club know that Saturday’s are your days. We would like to extend a 15% off beverage discount for those running to or from the store. It will be an “honor code” on this one, but the two things I am promoting is a thankfullness to you all and health and wellness in our community — you guys are living that one out daily. I support you and hope that we can team up to build a strong alliance of our store and your Run Club to promote a healthy lifestyle. You guys definitely help our business weekly. Thanks!
Jason Malcom
Store Manager
Starbucks Coffee Company
130 Peachtree East Shopping Center
Suite 200
Every Saturday enjoy a 15 % off your beverage if you run, cycle, or walk to or from our store.
10009
This is my best bib number for the Peachtree Road Race in 8 years! I’m in time group 1-A!!!!
July 4th Race
Sensei: Ran with Raven
Alan Reynolds (a.k.a. Sensei) is one of the founding members of the Run Club. Last week Alan went on a 8 mile run with Raven on Miami Beach. Raven has ran everyday since 1975 (never missing a day). Over 800 runners ranging in age from 9 to 79, from over 60 different countries and 48 states have completed at least one 8 mile run with him. Everyone who completes the 8 miles gets a nickname. Alan was nicknamed “Pastor”! Alan has run the following marathons: Chicago, Big Sur, Nashville, and ING Georgia.
Raven is on the Left!!!!
Ronin: Middle East Adventure
One of the Charter Members of the Run Club and the one with the most Bling, Jon Bridges (a.k.a. Ronin) is on an adventure with his family in the middle east. You can follow Jon on his blog. As a member of the Run Club, Jon has run a lot of events, including the New York City Marathon.
A Swim in the Dead Sea
Samurai: i2i Leadership
My good friend, Randy Gravitt (a.k.a Samurai) is a tremendous leader at home, work, and in his community. He’s not only a student of leadership, but is also considered a guru on this topic. As a member of the Run Club, Randy has run the following marathons: Chicago, ING Georgia, St. George, and Flying Pig.
I strongly encourage you to follow Randy on Twitter as well as his blog.
Cross Training – do you do it?
Cross training should be an important part of your training. Often we get so focused on running that we forget to develop our core and to mix it up a little. One of the most effective cross training programs is Crossfit. CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide. It’s an amazing program for total fitness.
If you’re not hard core as the Crossfit program, Runners’ World has several programs for you to try. Due to my rotator cuff surgery in December, my cross training has been limited, except for sit-ups and light weight lifting. One of the fun cross training activities I enjoy doing is riding my bike. I’m not doing a lot of miles but riding my bike around Fayetteville / PTC is relaxing and a good change of pace. I’m still not 100% comfortable riding on the road with traffic. I have both road and mountain bikes. It’s been a while since I rode my mountain bike, but I’m looking forward to doing some “sweet jumps”.
Do you cross train? What activities do you do?
Tech Tip: Set up a feed with ease and never miss a Run Club post!!!!
Google Reader ROCKS …. If you enjoy reading blogs (especially RUN CLUB USA), then “Reader” is the tool for you. This is how you set it up. Great way to keep up with the Run Club news.
RSS Logo
There is a wide range of RSS readers available for all platforms and operating systems. Some RSS readers offer search engines, information sharing and more sophisticated interfaces, but they all make it easier to keep up with your ever-expanding collection of content from across the Web. Popular readers include Google Reader, Netvibes, NewsGator and Bloglines.
Follow these simple steps to create your own RSS feed in Internet Explorer:
- Go to the Web page that has the feed to which you want to subscribe.
- Find and click the RSS link or icon, typically indicated by an orange square with white radio waves
. - A new Internet Explorer page will open with the RSS feed you selected. Click on the Subscribe to this feed link. Often there are multiple feeds to choose from.
- A box will appear displaying the name of the selected feed and the folder it will be created in. All feeds should be saved in the Feeds folder. Click Subscribe.
Don’t forget to subscribe to:
Thanks,
Swinsei
Good News for Coffee Addicts
What’s the engine that drives American business? Innovation? Perspiration? Capital? Try coffee. From the shop floor to the boardroom, java—and I don’t mean the software—fuels workers and shapes office culture. What’s more, a steaming cup of joe may be as good for your health as it is for the bottom line.
Many people take their coffee with a small dose of guilt, worried that it isn’t good for the body. That’s a holdover from studies done in the 1950s and 1960s showing that coffee drinkers were prone to pancreatic cancer, heart disease, and other woes. These studies failed to account for cigarette smoking, which once went hand in cup with coffee drinking. Since then, the medical community has done a gradual about-face on the health effects of coffee.
Large, long-term studies show that coffee doesn’t promote cancer and may even protect against some types. It’s safe for the heart—so safe that the American Heart Association says it’s OK for heart attack survivors to have a cup or two a day even as they recover in the coronary care unit. Results from the long-running Health Professionals Follow-Up and Nurses’ Health studies show that drinking coffee cuts the risk of dying early from a heart attack or stroke. Coffee also appears to offer some small protection against Type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and Parkinson’s disease.
It’s possible that the bean improves productivity, too. A jolt of caffeine wakes up millions of workers in the morning (although this hints at its addictive property). Controlled laboratory experiments indicate that it causes feelings of well-being and increases energy, alertness, and motivation. Functional MRI scans show that coffee activates parts of the brain involved in short-term memory, the kind that helps focus attention on tasks at hand.
For all that, a word of warning is in order. The average cup of coffee serves up about 100 milligrams of caffeine, and a large specialty coffee can deliver five times that much. If you aren’t used to caffeine, it can make you jittery, boost your blood pressure, and dehydrate you. But the biggest health hazard is the extra stuff that drinkers add to coffee. Taken black, coffee is a nearly calorie-free beverage brimming with antioxidants and other phytonutrients. Add cream, sugar, whipped cream, and flavorings, and it turns into a fat- and calorie-laden dessert, which can add pounds that offset any possible health benefits. For example, a 16-ounce Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino with chocolate whipped cream contains 470 calories. Tucked into this beverage are 12 grams of saturated fat—nearly a day’s worth—and 58 grams (that’s 14 teaspoons) of sugar.
For most people, though, the health and social benefits of coffee outweigh the hazards, and the daily grind keeps American business percolating.
Written by Thomas H. Lee
National Running Day June 3rd!
Put on your shoes and run!
http://www.runningday.org
Searching for Fix ……
Swinsei went on a 10 mile jot in PTC looking for Fix. After running 1:33:14 in 90 degrees (hot and sunny) weather, he decided to call off his search today. It’s obvious Fix doesn’t want to be found. Once Fix is located (and he will be located) an intervention may be required. Here’s a pic of a dehydrated Swinsei trying to refuel.
Refueling
Where’s Travis “Waldo” Fix?
Fix is what the Club is all about. He was aimless, with no goals or ambition in regards to running and the Club took him under its wings. We provided him with wisdom and encouragement. We provided “water” to him. We helped him set goals – BIG ones! And he accomplished each and every one!
Fix’s accomplishments ranged from running a 5k, then a 10k, and finally a half marathon. In fact, in his final and best race, the ING Half Marathon, Fix beat the Ninja. Yes, the NYC Marathon Ninja!
Over the last 18 months Fix has fallen off of the Grid. He has had no contact with the Club or the Senseis. Starting today, the Senseis will search for Fix until they find him. We will not sleep until Fix is in his proper place on Saturday morning running next to Winstead, Henry, Wilson, and Brooks.
If you have information regarding Fix’s whereabouts, please contact one of the Senseis.
What Does the Lottery, 4:30 AM, Cigars, and Steroids Have in Common?
by Swinsei
Today’s gathering was much like any other Saturday. Random conversations coming from every direction. I was listening in to as many discussions as I could, but it was impossible for me to keep up. To my right was a discussion of the “evils” of the lottery. On the other side of the table were guys talking about their 4:30 AM run! I’m glad I didn’t join them today. One guy was telling us that he smoked 14 cigars in one day while he was traveling. Another topic going on was about doing steroids the right way (none of the guys do steroids). But the thought of being faster and stronger is a dream of every runner.
There were other random conversations — too many to count. There was, however, a common thread — it’s called COMMUNITY. Many of us have been meeting together every Saturday since 1998! Frequently we talk about things that really matter in life, like family, careers, and GOD! The lottery, cigars, cars, and the other chit chat allows us to be open with one another and primes the pump for discussions on things that really counts.
We are the Run Club and it’s all about the coffee!
FEAT MOVIE
63 Marathons in 63 Days!
Go to FEAT MOVIE
SYNOPSIS
Tim Borland, a 31-year-old father of two discovers his talent for endurance running is no longer fulfilled in the competitive realm. He meets 15-year-old Cathryn Achilles who is diagnosed with the rare terminal disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Despite the progressive loss of her ability to walk, talk, eat and sing Cathryn’s unwavering spirit inspires Borland to draw attention to the little known disease. He embarks on the A-T Cure Tour. In the fall of 2007, Borland runs 63 consecutive marathons (26.2 miles) spanning more than 14-thousand miles, 29 States, 1 Canadian Province and 63 communities where A-T children live. Every step of the journey, Borland pushes a mobility-jogging stroller that either carries an A-T child or a banner bearing the name of child who has died. Battling excessive heat, drastic elevation changes, drenching downpours and hurricane strength winds, one man connects families and children whose hope for a cure and life prolonging treatment is further complicated because so few are impacted.
Along the journey, filmmakers intimately introduce audiences to three A-T families whose children are experiencing different stages of the disease. Mark and Laura Lesperance of Neenah, Wisconsin, have two boys Max and Jake. At three months old, Jake was the youngest diagnosed case of A-T. Both boys struggle with compromised immune systems and showcase the typical first signs of the disease with a wobbly walk.
John and Marcia Wood of Lemont, Illinois adopted five children. Eleven-year-old Alyssa was three when she joined their family. Looking back at the video footage they captured at the orphanage in Vietnam, they now see the balance problems that are telltale signs of her terminal disease. Today, the 5th grader has a love of life that draws people to her like a magnet. Alyssa exemplifies the typical progression of A-T, as most kids are in wheelchairs by age 10.
Sixteen-year-old Cathryn Achilles has lost her ability to play the harp and piano. She is wheelchair bound and each night a feeding tube pumps vital calories into her stomach. She enjoys quilting, picking on her younger brother and participating in her local theatre company. It is Cathryn who inspired Tim’s amazing endeavor. The harsh reality of what A-T kids face everyday fuels Tim to complete each day’s marathon course. When Borland crosses the finish line in New York City, he’ll get a break. But, the race to find a cure continues.
FEAT exemplifies the limitless potential of the human body and spirit when focused on a goal greater than oneself.
“The All-American Family”
David Millican, co-founder of Run Club USA (and Master Sensei), took his family on a 17 mile bike ride on the Vacreeper Trail on Saturday. The Virginia Creeper Trail is considered to be the best rail-trail in the east.
This Trail which is near Damascus, Virginia, winds down through the Blue Ridge mountains from Whitetop to Abingdon, Virginia.
David is always finding cool adventures for his family. Way to go!
All-American Family
run club on may 23rd
by Swinsei
Every Saturday we meet at a local Starbucks. Today some of us ran while others came for the coffee and fellowship. The runners today had to deal with heavy rain — but rain isn’t a run-stopper!
The great thing about the Club is the interaction we have with each other. We have some of the brightest minds, most motivated, and biggest impact people in the world in our Club.
Take for example Bruce Brooks and Ken Speirs. Bruce is the “Aged Grasshopper”, Vietnam War Veteran and hero, sub-3 hour marathoner, and a small business owner. Ken is also a Veteran and is one of the highest ranked pilots for a major airlines. He has run 6 marathons and has a 3:48:05 PR.
Ken and Bruce
Alan Reynolds, Mark Lawrence, and Rick Harrell are currently training for the Top of Utah Marathon. These guys have run the Nashville and ING GA Marathons together; additionally, Alan has run the Big Sur and Chicago Marathons. All three of these guys are role models and impact players at their companies. These guys are the most committed runners in our Club. Nothing can stop them!
Alan, Mark, and Rick
Mike Wilson and Dwain Cox are neighbors and best friends. Mike works for the largest software provider in the world while Dwain is building / growing a small consulting firm. Mike doesn’t say a lot but when he speaks the words that follow are powerful. Dwain is the fastest runner in the Club and has some cool accomplishments in running and tri’s. Mike and Dwain are animal lovers and Dwain loves the environment too (tree hugger).
Mike and Dwain
Taylor Brooks is in his 20s and likes to hang out with us old dudes. He’s a talent man who can make things happen. Taylor is known for being a continuous learner. He reads 100s of books, blogs, and articles every year. He currently lives in Nashville, so we don’t get to see him very often.
Taylor
Matt Franklin is a marathoner (Chicago and New York City), mountain climber, golfer, motorcycle racer, a shooter (guns not basketball), etc. He’s the most adventurous man in our Club. He has no fear, he’s tough, and is willing to try new things. He’s all about connecting with others and having an impact on their lives.
Matt
Larry Henry is the voice of the Club. When he speaks we listen. His insights into topics such as college football as well as spiritual matters is incredible. His “Holy Discontent” is everything and everybody. He causes us to take a critical look at things. He has run the Nashville Half Marathon several times.
Larry
Drake Dale has been hanging out with us since last year. He’s an outstanding golfer, involved in HS soccer, and rides a really cool UGA motorcycle. He’s a good runner who could post a great marathon time, but he prefers to run 5ks and 10ks really fast.
Last but not least is Jon Bridges. The Ronin. He’s an Eagle Scout, race car driver, and impact player at work, church, and various boards. His work as Chairman of the Board at a local private school has been significant. JB is known for running events, including the New York City Marathon.
Well, I’m last. You have electricity in this state (and your homes and businesses) because of me! I’m glad to be a part of this powerful group of men. Many more guys are a part of our Club, but the guys highlighted today are the ones that showed up today, May 23, 2009.
Wet Run Today!
Have a great Memorial Day!
DONALD GENE SWINFORD VII
Lunaracer
Nike’s insatiable appetite for making things faster and lighter has seen them push the performance envelope time and time again. New for this year was the creation of Lunarfoam, a space age material which offers uncompromising weight and responsiveness relative to Nike’s previous most lightweight material, Phylon. Coupled with the weight reducing Flywire material, the Lunaracer has the makings of an incredibly featherweight but highly supportive piece of footwear engineering.
At only 5.5 ounces, the super-fast men’s Nike® LunaRacer+ gives you plush cushioning with springy Waffle Piston geometry and a surprisingly supportive upper thanks to composite Flywire construction. It’s true: only 5.5 oz.
I found these on sale at a 40% discount, plus I had a Nike gift card. I couldn’t pass up this deal!
RAVEN
Raven has been running 8 miles a day for over thirty years. He’s famous on South Beach and has had the opportunity to run with people from all over the world. This is an amazing story. If we all did for the Great Commission what this man is doing for running it would be amazing. I think you’ll enjoy this video.
Inaugural “Going Green” 10k Road Race
The Fury was once again released on Peachtree City on Monday afternoon as some of the finest runners south of Atlanta made an appearance in the planned green belt community. Among those in attendance for the eco friendly Going Green 10K Road Race were Dr. Dwain Cox of Flying Elk fame as well as two-time state cross country champion Hannah Gravitt of Landmark Christian. The other half of the field was made up of Team Fury members Don “Sensei” Swinford and Randy “Samurai” Gravitt.
Team Fury walked away victorious narrowly edging the Doc and the girl. A fury formula was taken into consideration due to the age and abilities of all runners. While Hannah and Cox both ran actual times under 50 minutes, team fury used the handicap to edge the dynamic duo by three seconds. All runners ran sub 52.30 times. Race photos reveal that the competition was very fierce as can be seen by the blood on Hannah’s going green race T-shirt. Team fury remains undefeated in handicap races although this was their first competition at the 10K distance. Previously Sensei and Sam defeated team Utah at the St. George Marathon by nearly an hour. Team Utah, not surprisingly did not show up for Monday’s Going Green event.
Pre-Race Photo Op
Award Winning "Going Green" Race Shirt
Post-Race Photo Op: Swinsei, Hannah, and Dr. Cox
Proud Dad - Hannah beat the Doc!
More Bling for JB ….
Jon Bridges completed the Callaway Gardens Duathlon (5k run, 30k bike, 5k run) in a record setting time of 2:06 (maybe it’s not record setting, but it’s a great effort and time).
