Archive for: running
Running Tips for “Spring” in Your Step
If you’ve been busting your butt on the treadmill over the last few months and need a change of scenery, it’s time to head outdoors and hit the pavement running! Here are a few tips that’ll prep you for the differences and help ease the transition.
Upgrade your running shoes. You don’t want to run on a road in worn out shoes and end up hurting from shin splints. Upgrade your shoes by going to a store where they watch you run. One of my favorites is Fleet Feet. I first discovered them at their Syracuse location and still go back on my trips from NYC. They just suited me up in the new Boost shoe by Adidas. My run feels lighter, which is critical when going from the treadmill to tougher outdoor routes where you deal with different types of terrain and weather patterns.
Train first. Because jogging outdoors is generally more intense than the belt assisted forward motion of the treadmill, you need to train your body to adapt. Instead of jogging 6 miles per hour at an incline of zero, you should reduce your speed and increase your incline. When you bring your speed down to 5.5 and run with an incline of 2–3, it will simulate running outdoors where you’re the one who pushes the ground away under your feet, not the machine.
The A’s of April: Attitude
Tysen Ober is a 23 year old soldier who recently returned from an overseas deployment to Kuwait. With no job, no school, and no relationship awaiting his return, Tysen knew this was his moment to do something big. And boy is it big! Tysen will be running 3,500 miles from California to Maine to raise money for wounded warriors. His hope is to inspire others to “get out, get active and get involved in giving back to this country.” His drive and vision inspired me to talk about how far we can all go with the right attitude (see the bottom of this article for ways to support Tysen’s quest).
Questions / Answers on Fitness Basics — Things to Consider
Good questions with answers below…
(1) How long is a workout? Should it be a half-hour or a full hour?
Depends on your goals and current fitness level. 30 min is great for a beginner / maintenance plan or high intense workout. 60+ min is needed for longer events like marathons, triathlons, spec ops training, but fine for a body building workout. Like I said — all depends…
Mine are usually 2–3 hours long full of calisthenics, running, swimming mix in the summer and shorter with weights and light cardio in the winter — see how
21st Century Nutrition
When I was living in Texas, I toured the Johnson Space Center near Houston. It was remarkable to see that iconic image of the Mission Control Center, NASA’s command center for Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle missions. It is a surprisingly tiny room considering the magnitude of the accomplishments of both man and machine over the last 50+ years. Today, NASA, the US Military and other private organizations continue to innovate. The image here is an artist’s concept of an adaptive or “morphing” aerospace vehicle that can change their shape in flight to adapt to conditions and enhance flight performance. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could adapt on the fly as well? We can with the latest nutritional advancements for the 21st century.
A Workout Customized for Your Blood Type!
Imagine if your doctor, nutritionist and personal trainer all got together with a plan to help you lose weight and de-stress.… this dream come true is a brand new workout system just launched that is a customized for your DNA, and it has never been done before.
The blood type is a powerful genetic fingerprint, and there is a chemical reaction to food you eat, workouts and your blood.
The Blood Type Workout (www.bloodtypeworkout.com) has just launched this month. The kit contains a blood type test, stability ball, sand weights, exercise bands, and at least 3 DVDs for each type A, B, AB, O, and advice from doctors and nutritionists, Dr Joseph Christiano and Dina Khadar who wrote the Blood Type Diet.
I had the pleasure of creating an original workout video for one of the types, I did a walking-based cardio workout for one of the type AB DVDs. Here is a segment from Fox & Friends showing some of the moves.
How To Dominate Sub 2 Hour Half Marathon Training
Half marathon training consists of much more then running a few miles during the military work week.
You have to truly want it if you are to make waves in your fitness levels.
The military is comprised of some of the brightest minds and fittest individuals in the world.
We aren’t lacking in the initiative department.
We all want success but successful running takes more then wanting.
There are no short cuts in this sport and I know far too many service members are self-sabotaging themselves into believing they don’t have what it to takes to run their specific 2-mile goal time or 5K to marathon performance goals.
I am here to tell you, you do have what it takes but you had better be willing to make the sacrifice to better your life and your fitness to earn a breakthrough.
The Beat Goes On
Did your parents make you take music lessons when you were a kid? I had to learn to play the piano. At the time, I considered it sheer torture. Especially since my piano lessons with Mrs. Mauthe included bicycling past the meanest dogs in the neighborhood. No matter how hard I pedaled, they always seemed to catch up, nipping at my heels and terrorizing me for a full block until I reached my teacher’s driveway. Then another form of torture ensued…piano lessons! In spite of my youth-filled drama, I decided to give it another go and I’m reteaching myself how to play minus the task-master teacher and the crazed canines. It’s a bit arduous, but there is something calming about a music filled house. Science seems to agree especially for those dealing with combat related challenges.
The Spartan 300 Workout and New Variations
Most everyone has heard about the Spartan 300 Workout developed for the actors in the movie 300 by the Gym Jones folks. If you have not seen this or tried it, be warned it is pretty advanced, but you can make your own variations with some creativity as the core of this workout is fantastic.
The 300 is designed like this: Six exercises for 50 reps of each = 300 total reps. Now the original 300 is this specific series of exercises:
Worth the Pain?
If you’ve been tracking our friend and elite athlete, Gary Allen, as he took on the arduous journey of running from Maine to Washington D.C. — mission accomplished! Gary ran 705.2 miles in 15 days culminating in a victory climb up the steps of the U.S. Capitol building last night. Gary raised over $12,000 for charities with most of the donations benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. Although you may not take on that kind of extreme fitness challenge, the wear and tear of daily living, regular exercise, and deployments may lead you to reach for the aspirin or ibuprofen. While pain relief may be comforting, it may also lead to some dangerous habits.
Go the Distance
…whispered the voice to an inspired but equally confused Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner), in the movie, Field of Dreams, as this bungling Iowa farmer plows under his crops to build a baseball field to the disbelief and dismay of most everyone around him. It is a great story of faith and trust, drive and determination against all odds. In my December Great Gadgets for Giving article I introduced you to ultra runner, Gary Allen, and his quest to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, the American Cancer Society and Sandy Hook Elementary. I heard the “voice” last night after meeting up with Gary at mile 105 of a 700+ mile run from Maine to Washington, D.C. and I was inspired to give you an update on his progress and perhaps help you find your voice.
Great Causes for Giving, Part III
Are you guilty of re-gifting? With only a few days left until Christmas, have you run out of ideas and time to find that perfect gift or, frankly, any gift? Let’s face it, you’re officially a wrapping paper wreck reaching for anything in your house that can pass for a present. Before you re-wrap, perhaps these Santa-worthy causes will warm your heart and spread the true spirit of the season to those you love. The following individuals and organizations give the ultimate gift, their time and their compassion by making a positive impact in our communities, supporting our wounded warriors, veterans and communities with hope and healing during times of crisis. 
Great Gadgets for Giving, Part II
If you’re all tangled up in a tinsel tizzy over what to get the fitness enthusiast in your life, here are some of my favorite gifts to get you moving, grooving and feeling great. The following innovations are my salute to the the American spirit. These companies and organizations have a great track record of supporting our military community. Happy shopping and be sure to stay tuned for Part III for special gifts that keep on giving long after the holiday season.
Interval Pyramid Tempo Training
This is an article recently written by a friend of mine — retired Royal Commando “Sol” Sollerer.
A number of people have approached me saying they have reached a plateau in terms of how fast they can run 10km, 5km race, or even the military 1.5 mile PFT – and they want advice. Here it is!
Interval training sessions, expect you to run for a set distance, or for a set time — 3 to 6 times, maybe more, during a run and generally full into the brackets of Aerobic, Cruise, Sprint, Negative Splits – or for the highly conditioned athlete Tabata Intervals.
Weight Gain Needed Before Spec Ops Training?
The questions of how to gain weight and do I need to lift weights are often thrown around by Spec Ops candidates preparing for the upcoming year or more long training pipeline. There are many avenues to get the results you seek. I will recommend a few but our military / spec ops audience may have some more ideas to pass around in the comments section below. Here is the question:
I’m a freshmen in college and plan on joining the Navy to go for the SEALS afterwards. My PT scores are pretty good and I’m working on getting them better, but my real question is do I need to gain more weight and muscle. I only weight 141 lbs and am 5’11″. I know you say weight lifting is not needed to prepare, though I feel like I do need to gain more weight by lifting and taking massive amounts of protein. Also, your opinion on Creatine would be greatly appreciated! Thanks,
Road Racing in Afghanistan — What is Truly Important
It has been a long time since I have posted here at Military.com’s ‘Daily PT’.
I have been deployed to Afghanistan for the past 4 months and am en route home (currently in Manas, Krysgstan).
I wrote my new post, Racing in Afganistan –A Humbling Experience while here thinking over the 5K I ran in while at Bagram Air Base in Bagram, Afghanistan a few days ago.
My posts on my website are usually educational and ‘how to’s but wanted to share with you all my thoughts more in a diary style. I hope some of you can take something from it.
What Are Some Group PT Ideas — Advanced Level?
Here is a commonly asked email from military members who are placed in charge of their command’s group PT program, but this one is a request for more advanced workouts for his hardcore group at his command. See his request:
Stew, Thanks for your numerous articles / books as I have used them since I was a civilian several years ago. Now, I am placed in a position to spice up our Command PT and we have many advanced level athletes who spend much of their free time at the gym, running races, or preparing for their future Spec Ops careers. Any recommendations for tougher than average workouts we can do as a group?
Obstacle Course Races — A Good Way to Prepare for Military Training
Recently, people of all fitness levels have been getting involved in obstacle course races. One email this week was from a high school student who wants to prepare for the Marines during his last year in school. Here is his email question:
“Stew — I am going into my senior year and play two sports (football / baseball) but I want to prepare for the Marines when I graduate. Any advice?”
The fact you are on two sports teams is great. Learning to be a team player is critical for any military, law enforcement, fire fighting profession and will help you more than you realize later in life as well. So keep your workouts focused for football and baseball performance and enjoy your last year of high school sports.
Attack Your Two-Mile — Workouts That Work
Service members are always trying to improve something that they are doing.
We’re determined and am sure, if we aren’t, there has been an NCO or Officer who has helped bring that quality out of us.
Running is a great sport. Far too many people sell themselves short when it comes to running.
I am not fast enough. I don’t have enough talent. Well, I never have been a good runner. Who is telling you that?
Want to Try Minimalist Running Shoes?
Minimalist running shoes are all the new rage. A departure from control and cushioning, the minimalist running shoe has emerged as a new popular choice for runners.
A minimalist running shoe is extremely flexible and low to the ground to create the sensation of barefoot running. By running in a shoe with minimal cushioning, most runners will naturally reduce their stride length to avoid landing painfully on their uncushionedheel. This change in running form reduces initial joint impact and promotes a return to what some consider a more natural foot motion.
Army Spouses Join ‘Ultra-Runner’ Ranks
By Amy Perry
Earning the elite title of “ultra-runner” is no easy feat. Few athletes have the stamina to complete jogging journeys that far exceed the already grueling 26.2-mile marathon. It demands a lot of training and unshakable determination as well, and those who make it tend to be fanatical about their love affair with long-distance running.
Two Fort Lee Army spouses joined the ultra-runner ranks Saturday when they completed the 20th Annual Bull Run race in nearby Clifton. Glenda Frazier, spouse of Chief Warrant Officer 5 Cortez Frazier, and Brittany Smith, spouse of Staff Sgt. Daniel Smith, completed the 50-mile trek and raised their running game one notch higher.
