Just keep on (g)rowing

Don't know where I'm going, I just keep on rowing.

I just keep on pulling, gotta row.

Don't know where I'm going, i just keep on rowing. 

I just keep on pulling gotta row.

Moving is breathing and breathing is life, 

Stopping is dying, you'll be alright

Life is a hammer, waiting to drop.

Adrift in the shallows and the rowing won't stop.

Don't know where I'm going, I just keep on rowing.

I just keep on pulling, gotta row.

Don't know where I'm going, i just keep on rowing. 

I just keep on pulling gotta row.

Can't see the sky, nothing on the horizon

Can't feel my hands and the water keeps rising.

Can't fall asleep cause I'll wake up dead.

I just keep pulling, I just keep rolling.

Don't know where I'm going, I just keep on rowing.

I just keep on pulling, gotta row.

Don't know where I'm going, i just keep on rowing. 

I just keep on pulling gotta row.

Rowing is living and living is hard

But living beats losing all that we are.

And all that we know of and all that we feel

and all we remember imagined or real

All we remember imagined or real.

I heard and echo but the answer had changed

from the word I remember I started out saying.

Living is cheating if you're not pulling oars

But the current is leaving, I'll get mine, you'll get yours.

Don't know where I'm going, I just keep on rowing.

I just keep on pulling, gotta row.

Don't know where I'm going, i just keep on rowing. 

I just keep on pulling gotta row.

Rowing is bleeding and bleeding is breathing

Breathing is feeling burning and freezing

Keep getting dirty but I started out clean

I keep on rowing, I keep on rowing (x4)

Don't know where I'm going, I just keep on rowing.

I just keep on pulling, gotta row.

Don't know where I'm going, i just keep on rowing. 

I just keep on pulling gotta row.

Soundgarden "Rowing"  

I recently picked up the new Soundgarden Album "King Animal,"  I really enjoy the music but one song keeps resonating over and over in my head and that is Rowing.  Basically for the last month or two I feel like you could replace the word rowing with growing and you would have the story of my last eight weeks.

Having a toddler can really create some bad eating habits.  Noah gets a diet rich is yummy fats, because they are essential for his brain development and growth.  Things like whole milk, whole milk cheeses, butter, as well as healthier options like fruits and veggies.  He eats 3 squares a day as well as snacks which could be anything from cheez-its (a boy by my own heart), cheerios, kix, or yogurt.  While this doesn't sound terrible for me it does if you add that Noah loves to share his food.  He offers up handfuls of cheese and macaroni to me...how is a dad to say no?  Well, I don't usually and because of that I have been slowly creeping back up the fat dad path.  I by no means have fallen off the wagon, and thanksgiving didn't help much either.  I have put on about 5 or 6 pounds in the past 8 weeks.  My clothes don't fit worse, I don't feel less fit but I am heading in the wrong direction for meeting my goal weight.

Until Christmas I am back on the calorie counting and more intense workouts.  Ramping up running and cycling distances (albeit many miles will be on the treadmill or kurt kinetic trainer) should help improve those numbers.


Aside from working out and not losing weight I have been doing a vast amount of playing.  Something that is much more rewarding than anything a workout can provide.  So in the coming weeks, I will playing as much as I can with this guy:

Avoiding this as much as possible...empty calories really aren't what I need right now even if they are scotchy and delicious.

 And throwing in more of this:

Adding in a dash of this:

And by Christmas hopefully at my lowest weight yet.

#justgorun #fitdad

Brooks Ghost 5 Review.

I have been running in Brooks running shoes now for a few years now.  When I first started running I was in Saucony Rides, but then Saucony changed the shape or the shoe and it no longer fit me comfortably so I desperately went searching for a new ride...and I was introduced to the Brooks Ghost 3.   

I am a neutral runner with a midfoot strike, I prefer trainers with nice cushion but also a nice balance of light weight and snappy response.  I have run in all sorts of shoes in my time, racing flats, barefoot shoes, neutral trainers, cross country spikes, and also a mix of cross trainers.  I prefer a standard running trainer for my day to day runs because the cushioning and comfort are perfect for me.  

Normally I don't wait this long to review a new shoe but for this time around I thought to myself, how can I legitimately evaluate the quality of a shoe if I run in it only once or twice?  Sure I am behind the times and by the time you probably see this I am sure Brooks will be preparing to release the Ghost 6...but I digress.  

I found running bliss when I first ran in a pair of Ghost 3's about a year and a half ago.  They were the perfect balance of lightness, cushion, good looks, and solid wear.   Those shoes lasted me well over the 300-400 miles I usually put on shoes.   

Upon unboxing the shoe for the first time I can tell you that I love the new look of the shoe.  It has a slightly fatter midsole so it definitely provides a nice soft strike even for midfoot strikers like myself.  I love the colors of the shoes, I was never a flashy running shoe guy but I think I am now.  Upon picking up the shoe for the first time and comparing it to my Ghost 3's there is a palpable difference in weight.  The upper on the Ghost 5 has a much thinner and lighter appearance without appearing cheaper.  The quality of construction in the shoe is top notch my friends.  

The next step was to try them on, and like I expected and hoped, they fit just like the pair of Ghost 3's I had before.  It was a familiar feel except for the new fatter and more cushioned tongue in the shoe.  I can't say I totally love that new feature, I thought the thin light weight tongue in the 3's was fine, this fatter tongue does put a little more pressure on the top of my foot.  

Since purchasing the shoe I have put in the neighborhood of about 200 miles on them.  A solid mix of road and treadmill running.  The shoes still look new, there are no loose threads and the soles have barely worn at all.  The cushioning still feels as good as it did the day I purchased them and I can now see why Runners World magazine has rated this shoe one of their favorites for the past 3 years.  

These shoes have a pretty aggressive tread pattern for a simple road shoe.  They can hold their own on dry trails and even through some slicker spots without losing traction.  They are definitely a versatile piece of running gear.    The new thicker sole is like butter on the road and the light weight (for a trainer) is definitely appreciated on those longer run days.  I don't notice any issues with running form due to the weight of the shoe towards the end of longer runs.  I have with heavier shoes in the past that as I fatigue my form would break down, so either I am in much better shape or the shoe is making a difference.  The sole on this shoe is also very flexible so you don't really notice it much as you run which is definitely a plus.  

The upper of the shoe is definitely more airy than the Ghost 3's I previously ran in.  The ventilation is very good and even on 90 degree days in the sun my feet never had hot spots or blisters on longer runs.  The heel cup in the upper holds your feet well and prevents rubbing and hot spots as well.  I still don't love the tongue of the shoe being so much fatter than it was before, but it isn't a hindrance to my running just different than my last pair. 

In my opinion this is one of the better neutral trainers on the market today.  On the plus side this shoe is lightweight, well ventilated, and comfortable.  The ride is smooth and the sole is snappy and durable.  The shoe has a comfortable and large impact zone for midfoot strikers and adequate space in the heel cup to prevent the foot from sliding up and down too much.  On the negative side the tongue is a little too fat for my tastes, the shoe is heavy compared to racing flats or free running shoes so for shorter races I may opt to run in something lighter.  The shoe is also a little wide, but for me that is good because I need a wide toe box and narrow heal.  I would think that those with narrow feet may notice a little extra wiggle room in these shoes.   All in all I would rate these shoes as excellent for many people like me who run mid to moderate distance.  

If you aren't sure about sizing or fit for shoes, or what your running style is I highly recommend you go to Fleet Feet Pittsburgh near South Hills Village Mall.  See any of the sales staff there for help in finding the right shoe for you.  (note: I do not receive any money for this recommendation, this is my opinion.  I love these guys and gals at Fleet Feet they are honest, fair, and locally owned.  Supporting local business is important to me so I wanted to make sure they guys got some positive publicity!)

http://www.fleetfeetpittsburgh.com/ 

Running Reality Check.

Let's face the facts, most of us weekend warriors and fun runners are never going to break into the Olympics.  We will never win any major races and we will never compete against the worlds best.  None of those stark reminders will ever stop us from running.  I don't run because I want to win races (maybe when I was 18...now not so much), I run because I can, because I love it.  There is something incredibly liberating and uplifting about putting feet to pavement.  There is something inherently primal about running freely with nowhere to go and nowhere to be.  The sound of your breath, the pumping of your heart, and the sweat dripping from your nose.

As a kid I remember just running, it didn't matter what shoes you had on, what clothes you were wearing we just ran because we could.  We ran while we played, hustling through the brush in the woods playing war.  Chasing each other for hours during a game of tag or capture the flag.  We didn't do it to keep in shape, we did it because it was better than getting caught and becoming "it."  One of the things I am realizing in my "old age" of 33 is that I am not going to be winning any races any time soon.  Maybe if I keep this up long enough and run into my senior years I will be able to win some geezer classes at local 5k's...then again all those faster people from younger days will probably still be able to outrun me then too.

This whole blog/thought process came about the other day when I was getting ready to run...yeah getting ready is what I have sunk to.  It's becoming a process just to get out the door and do something I love.   Shorts, tech shirt, socks, shoes, ipod, sunglasses, and a garmin watch.  Walk out the door, music on check, watch turned on check, searching for satellites...searching...searching...searching.  I walk/jog aimlessly up and down the street waiting for the signal.  The music is sporadic sometimes I love the song sometimes I feel like I skip 4 or 5 in a row because I am just not "feeling" that song today.   When all the stars align and the satellites talk to the watch and the ipod plays my favorite songs I do get a little caught up in the run...but most days I find myself getting home and obsessing about times or splits.  What can I do to get faster or run longer or lose more weight.  Why can't I just turn off the competitive side of my brain and just run?  Well?  Why can't I...

I've decided that I need some mindless stat free, music free, satellite free, gear free runs.  I need to incorporate  runs into my schedule that are just that, Runs...and nothing else.  I just need shoes, socks, shorts, and a tee.  Walk out the door and just run, when my breathing and pace dictate it speed up, when they don't slow down.  Take time to pause and watch nature around me, take in the sights, sounds and smells of the run.  Enjoy the simple pleasure of noticing the sweat, hypnotizing myself with the rhythmic sounds of my breath.  Getting lost in the gentle patter of my shoes on the pavement, forget the watch, forget the time, sing my own song and just run.

Sure the timed runs at times are important especially if you are training for a race or have a goal that you want to achieve...but some days it just needs to be about the run and nothing else.  Because if I can't just get out and run because I love it, then why am I doing this at all?