Top 6 Exercise Excuses:

Exercise Excuse No. 1: ‘I Don’t Have Time.’

I’m with you on this one, between work and a commute, my day is short about 13 hours everyday.  The only way I can “make time” to get my run in is to do it right after I get home.  When the car hits the drive way I make a bee line for my front door, jump into my work out gear and get back out the same door as fast as I can.  If I pause for one second, the odds are great I’ll miss my workout.  By getting right to it, I make the time.  The nights I can’t get to it after work, I use the same routine and do my run right after whatever it is that prolonged my work day.

Exercise Excuse No. 2: ‘I’m Too Tired.’

I could “Double down” here, and I get a lot of people telling me I look tired.  But honestly my energy level is the best it has ever been.  I might be tired during the day, but I don’t struggle to go up stairs, walk a few miles while on vacation or engage in any activity we chose.  It may take a little time to feel the effects but once you get moving…you’ll feel better that you did.

Exercise Excuse No. 3: ‘I Don’t Get a Break From the Kids.’

I don’t have to fight this one anymore, my kids are grown. And I don’t take it lightly, I understand dealing with child care issues can be tough. But I would encourage someone to team up with a friend.  I’m sure there is someone in your circle of friends dealing with the same desire to workout and needs daycare.  Maybe you can do a kid swap? If that does not work, join the Y or just get the kids moving with you.

Exercise Excuse No. 4: ‘Exercise Is Boring.’

It can be if you allow it, set goals to keep you aimed at your true motivation. Sign up for a race, or an adventure.  Banging away empty miles can get boring, but what if they are getting you closer to hiking your favorite trail or running the Grand Canyon.  And there’s always bikini season.

Exercise Excuse No. 5: ‘I Just Don’t Like to Move.’

An old friend says to me everyday when I ask him how he’s doing, “I woke up on this side of the dirt.”  If you don’t like to move, think about the alternative?  “Stillness is what kills us.”

Exercise Excuse No. 6: ‘I’ve Tried Before.’

We all fail, it’s life.  Before I ever attempted an Ultra marathon, I burned out at a local 5k race and gave up, that was 15+ years ago.  When I think of all I would have missed, I’m so glad I gave it another try.  And you can too. Today is a new day, let’s get moving!

Above are my ideas on how to beat the six most popular exercise excuses, but I’m not a professional, not a doctor and not a coach, although I do stay at Holiday Inns, you should really read more about this topic and get the professionals take on these six excuses here,

This picture goes way back vintage 1972/73 maybe?

Even at a young age I’ve always felt a deep connection with dogs, I just hope I was squeezing them to much.

(Me and my sister Jodi and a whole lot of puppies!)

Running while on vacation.

A change of scenery can do your mind and body good.  Going on vacation does not mean you have to take a vacation from fitness.  I tend to eat a little to much and I “MIGHT” have a few select beverages and sticking with my fitness routine helps fight off the vacation pounds.  Being able to stick with my running routine also introduces me to a new area and some sights that I may have missed if I decided to sleep in.

Saw on today’s run.  I did not have my camera, so these stock photos will have to do.

(Hot Air Balloon)

(Saw two Sandhill Canes, they were cackling as I ran by)

(Love the color of this car)

Monday morning we hit the sidewalks and trails, and again this morning we were out before the sun came up.  Michele got in a fast-walk 6 miles and I ran a solid 9 miles.  During this run I went by a young lady who was out smoking, she gave me a sideways look as I went by.  Kind of made me laugh.  I’m so thankful we are an active couple, I feel for anyone who may want to go out and do something physical but are limited by health issues they no control over or fitness issues because of poor decisions.  I’m so glad/thankful our health and fitness does not limit us.

(Hers and His)

Do you run on vacation?

Last Week In Review: (Feb 10 – 16)

Monday: 5.5 miles
Tuesday: 50 minutes
Wednesday: 7.8 miles
Thursday: 50 minutes
Friday: 0
Saturday: 3 miles and 30 minutes
Sunday: 0

Total:   16.3 miles – YTD Total: 375.27 miles on 33 Running Days

Kind of a light week you might ask.  And you would be right, but I have a plan.   I’ve got one big race coming up (Umstead 100 miler April 5/6) and one last long training run (Graveyard 100k 8/9 March) two weeks from now supporting it.  With that heavy load in the next 30 days, I figured I would play it smart and try and taper (aka getting healed up) before beating up my body and mind.

And I had a blog post published at The Running Stories.

How has your week gone, what races are you training for?

I’ve watched this about 10 times, never gets old!

In 2010, four of the greatest undefeated mountain runners on earth toed the starting line at the Western States 100-mile endurance run, the oldest and most prestigious 100-mile foot race in the world.

‘Unbreakable: The Western States 100’ follows the four lead men on this amazing journey. Hal Koerner, two time defending Western States champion, and running store entrepreneur from Ashland, Oregon. Geoff Roes, undefeated at the 100-mile distance, an organic chef from Juneau, Alaska. Anton Krupicka, undefeated in every ultramarathon he has ever started, a graduate student living in Boulder, Colorado. Kilian Jornet, the young mountain runner and two time Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc champion, from Spain.

While their lives may be quite different, the goal is the same: win the Western States 100-mile run. A win will require breaking the course record and running the fastest time in the history of the race. An epic showdown ensues, from Squaw Valley, CA in Lake Tahoe, up though the high snow covered Sierra Nevada Mountains, down through the extreme heat of the American River Canyons and finishing in Auburn, CA.

Though all four are undefeated, three must break and only one can remain Unbreakable.

I entered the Air Force late in life,  after graduating High School in 1982, I struggled to make ends meet and decided to enlist in 1988, I was 24.

My first assignment was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.  My duty position was that of a Crew Chief (maintenance mechanic) on NKC-135 aircraft for the 4950th Test Wing.

Last Week In Review: (Feb 10 – 16)

Monday: 0
Tuesday: 0
Wednesday: 0
Thursday: 0
Friday: 0
Saturday: 37.96
Sunday: 0

Total:  37.96 miles – YTD Total: 339.96 miles on 30 Running Days

Decided a little down time would be good for the body, been fighting a little IT band knee pain, so we shut it down for most of the week.

Saturday I ran the second of my training runs for the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance run.  I did not want to go into my 1st 100 mile event without seeing the course (if practical) so I planned a training run on site.  I put together a FB event, invited a bunch of runners and was lucky enough that 7 others including a veteran Umstead finisher showed up to run with us.  It was a great day , even as we ran though a world of slush, we had a great time. #slushrun2014

(3 Laps = 37.90 miles)

Pictures can be see here.  And a full report will be posted soon.

Some runners run in the rain.

Some runners run in the snow

Some run in the cold.

and Today We Ran In It ALL… #slushrun2014

(Great day was had by all, 37.96 miles)

(Beautiful Umstead Park, the trails were very slushy)

(Photo credit: Mike Young in the postage stamp)
(Mike, Dan, Me, Tom, absent Nathan)

 A full report will be posted soon.

50 6 Days until My 100 Mile Attempt RUN at the Umstead Endurance Run.

To mark this milestone in my training here are my Favorite Umstead 100 race reports and some 100 Mile Lessons Learned posts:

Gene’s 100 Run:

Wills’ first 100, the old course:

Jason’s DNF a good read for lesson learned:

Rip Master’s Umstead 100 Report:

Mike Skara’s Umstead 100 Miler:

Skinny Lumberjack’s lesson learned from 1st 100:

Finish your first 100:

The days are going by fast…