I saw an interesting news article. It pretty much said runners tend to live longer, since they exercise more and tend not to smoke. The study stated that running reduced the risk not only of heart disease, but of cancer and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Most of the volunteers did some exercise, but runners exercised as much as 200 minutes a week, compared to 20 minutes for the non-runners.
The study also showed that people cannot use the risk of injury as an excuse not to run — the runners had fewer injuries of all kinds, including to their knees.
So, there you have it, run more to live longer, be healthier, and have less injuries.
I recently started taking a new supplement called Zrii. Within the first couple days, I could see some results. A few things that I quickly noticed were, improved sleep quality, more energy, better digestion, and mental clarity. In regard to running, recovery after a long and exhausting run was much quicker than usual. Also, my energy levels during my running seems to have improved. The daily recommended dose of Zrii is anywhere from 1 - 3 ounces.
For the first four days I took Zrii after my morning run and before breakfast. This helped me get use to the new supplement. On days 5 - 7 I took 1 ounce before my run (Wow). Now I take 1 - 2 ounces in the morning about 30 - 60 minutes before my run. Zrii really empowers my run and gives me a boost of energy to make my training count. Other options would be to take another ounce in the afternoon or in the evening.
I think if you take 6 ounces for 6 days, you will see that zrii can make a difference in your training. The prosperity plan along with the product can really make an impact in your life. Zrii is just now hitting the mainstream and it is a great time to get on board. Please contact me if you have any questions.
So, you may be wondering, what is in zrii that makes it so great. Well, it is a mixture of 7 ingredients that each bring something special. Amalaki, Ginger, Turmeric, Tulsi, Schizandra, Jujube, & Haritaki make up the product known as zrii.
Amalaki or Indian gooseberry is the main ingredient and is one powerfull little fruit. Amalaki has been considered the most effective source for, among other things, promoting cellular rejuvenation, enhancing immune function, and increasing vitality.
Ginger improves digestion, absorption and assimilation. In addition, Ginger has been used frequently for dyspepsia and colic, to ease pain from arthritis, has blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that can help treat heart disease, and can be an effective treatment for nausea.
Turmeric compliments circulation and digestion. In India, it is used as an antiseptic to treat burns and cuts and Ayurvedic doctors value Turmeric for its fluoride. The United States National Institutes of Health is conducting four clinical trials to determine if curcumin is an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s and colorectal cancer. Curcumin has been used for thousands of years as a safe anti-inflammatory and may be an effective treatment for psoriasis. Finally, Turmeric has demonstrated some ability to help slow down the spread of some cancers.
Tulsi (or Sacred Basil) enhances digestion and intestinal health. The plant’s extracts are also used in remedies for colds, headaches, stomach ailments, inflammation, heart disease, and malaria. Recent studies suggest that Tulsi may be effective as a painkiller and may help reduce glucose and cholesterol levels. It also has antioxidant properties.
Schizandra is said to help mental function and memory. It is used in many tonic formulations as an astringent, while in traditional Chinese medicine it is used to resist infections, increase skin health, and combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.
Jujube is known to calm nerves. By grounding the fruit to a powder, small amounts can be used to promptly reduce the effects of stress and purify the blood.
Haritaki has been shown to nourish tissues, particularly the heart, liver, and kidney. It is used to treat diseases of the eye (both internally and externally). In addition, Haritaki, by blocking the ability to utilize sugars, may help to eliminate bacteria and have cholesterol-lowering qualities.
Wow, that is alot of good stuff With those ingredients, you would be a little hesitant to sip this elixir. Well, there is no reason for hesitation. Each time I take zrii, it is like a different taste, it actually stimulates the taste buds and it is really unlike anything I’ve tasted. It is actually a very tasty flavor comination. One 3 ounce serving of Zrii also has the affect of eating one seriously large fruit salad:
30 pounds of apples
12 pounds of bananas
8 pounds of oranges
6 pounds of papayas
4 pounds of mangos
So, just by looking at the ingredients - in a runner’s eyes zrii’s ingredients have some good qualities like increased vitality, improved absorption, improved circulation, anti-inflammatory, enhanced digestion, improved mental function, combats thirst , stress reducer, & blood purifier. Sounds like an elixer to create some PR’s.
The power of Zrii doesn’t stop with just the product. Zrii is the only product that is endorsed by The Chopra Center for Wellbeing. The Chopra center is led by world-renowned authors, physicians, and educators Deepak Chopra M.D. and David Simon M.D.
The founder of Zrii is non other than Bill Farley (No, not the guy from SNL). Bill Farley has helped create many significant brands, including BVD, Lucchese, Gitano and the mega-billion dollar brand, Fruit of the Loom. Building on his previous successes, Bill has set up Zrii to be another great successful business venture. Zrii’s revolutionary and carefully crafted Prosperity Plan balances near-term income with long-term wealth. It’s also more generous than any existing plan.
So, if for nothing else, take Zrii for health, but also look into the prosperity plan. Check out my site at http://innerlight.myzrii.com/. You can sign up directly on the site, with an option to just order Zrii monthly or with a small one time fee become an Independant Executive, which is the way to go if you are up in the air.
The Independent Executive has the following benefits with the small one time fee:
“I want to own my own Zrii business!”
Start a legitimate home-based business
Earn extra income working part time or full time
Create wealth commensurate with your effort
Proven success system to follow
Best-of-breed training program
100% 30-day Money-Back Guarantee - Less Shipping Costs
Enjoy the health benefits of Zrii — The Original Amalaki
The preferred customer has the following benefits:
“I am excited to consume Zrii but have no desire to earn bonuses.”
Save 25% off the retail price
Participate in Zrii’s convenient AutoShip program
Receive convenient home delivery via UPS
100% 30-day Money-Back Guarantee- Less Shipping Costs
If you are interested in learning more, have any questions, or would like a sample, just send me a quick email to zoomwithzrii@gmail.com or from myzrii site. Visit my site at http://innerlight.myzrii.com.
I have only logged 20 miles in the LunaRacers, and I must say wow.  I have covered a variety of surfaces so far - cement, asphalt, track, & treadmill and all of them felt very comfortable. My only drawback so far is a blister that I received this morning on the back of my right heel.Â
The shoes have a very cushy feel to them, especially under the heel area (the back of the heel is lacking a little extra padding, that I will need to supplement during my next run). The shoes are super light at 7 ounces for size 14s. I ran a 400m in them and shaved a couple seconds off my PR. My long run so far has been 7.5 miles, so I will push that boundry and see how far I can run in them. I’ve heard that the LunaRacers will be used in the olympics for the marathon. I’m not sure I could run the long haul in them, but time will tell. I will have a full write up later, I just have enjoyed my 3 runs in them alot! I will run in either my elite’s or equalon’s to get a feel for just how light the LunaRacers are (and to get a little more cushion for my heel).
I’ve put almost 75 miles on these shoes and they are good short distance shoes. I’ve ran on cement trails, dirt trails, city streets, and the treadmill. I gave them a workout for the first 50 and got a good mix of distances covered.  My furthest run to date is a 13.25 miler. They have a feel of the Nike Jasari’s with a little bit more cushion. I can feel the cushion under the ball of my foot and the miles seem to melt away quickly. They don’t fit as tight as the Jasari’s which is better for longer distances.Â
I feel that I can both run fast and run far in these shoes. Even though they are not touted as a stability shoe, I still feel some cushioning and control. During my 13 miler over the weekend, I started to feel the lack of cushion just under my big toe on both feet.   It wasn’t really pain, just the feeling of not enough cushion. My feet started to feel a little tight in the shoe also.  I don’t think the hayward’s would be a marathon shoe for me, but they could be a middle distance shoe.
I really like them for runs up to 10 miles, I need to further test them on distances over 10 miles. I loved them in the early morning cool hours when running in Portland. I have worn them on the treadmill 3 times now, and I am steering away from the Hayward’s as a treadmill shoe. 2 out of my 3 runs produced some calf pain after about 4 miles on the treadmill. The first time on the treadmill, they were fine after logging 6 miles. So, I’m still up in the air if they are a good treadmill shoe.
So, overall, the Nike Hayward 3’s are a great mid distance shoe for outdoor conditions. Of course these shoes are not crafted for overpronator’s, so a runner with a higher arch may have better luck with them on the treadmill and longer distances. I still love the way they fit and how light they are. They are very responsive on multiple surfaces (I will need to test them out in the wintery surfaces).
The next shoe on my study list are the Nike LunaRacers. These are the super light (7oz for 14s) shoes that you will see during the olympics. I have logged a few runs in them already - wow…. report soon
A couple weeks ago I applied to be a product tester for Nike. I thought that maybe I would be able to get into the program, but I heard that test sizes for Men are usually 9’s and 10’s. I just got an email that I was declined.Â
Thank you for your interest in Nike Product Testing. Although you may be able to provide us with excellent feedback on the performance of our products, your athletic profile does not match our current testing needs. You are welcome to reapply in six months.
We appreciate your interest in Nike Product Testing.
I think that my size 14s were probably just too much for the program. So if you are interested in the program (you will have better luck if you wear a 9/10 for men or a 7/8 for women.) Check out the requirements below and apply at: https://producttesting.nike.com
Requirements:
Athletes must be 15 years old or older to be eligible to become a “Nike Product Tester” of Adult sized footwear.
Any child wearing shoe size infant 1 Child to grade school 7 Youth is eligible to test Nike Kids footwear. Parent or guardian’s presence and help will be required during kids testing.
Collegiate (NCAA) athletes are not permitted to test Nike footwear through this program.
You must be a United States resident to be eligible to participate in this program.
You must have a valid email address so Nike Product Testing can contact you.
Timelines are critical. You must be able to meet specified feedback and shoe return deadlines.
This program is voluntary. You will have to return all test footwear to Nike.
Make sure you read the Confidentiality statements too
Good Luck, and let me know if you are one of the lucky chosen ones. On a side note, I can reapply in 6 months, so I need to shave my feet into a size 10.
You may or may not have seen the website Motion Based. It allows you to upload your run data from your GPS watch. The website allows you to view and share your last 10 workouts for free, and charges for the ability to utilize more than 10.
Garmin has just recently launched a new service called Garmin Connect - http://connect.garmin.com. Currently, it only supports the Forerunner 50/405 and a couple Edge devices. I recently checked out the site and I was pretty impressed with its setup and display of information.
Currently Garmin Connect allows you to upload your run data for free and share out individual activities. You can have your run data automatically upload to the site when your forerunner uploads its data to your computer. You can then go onto the site and enter a description for the activity, name the activity and put an activity and event type.
The website then displays all of your activity data including; google map of run, distance, elevation gain/loss, Calories, laps, Heart rate, device information, and cadence for cycling activitites.Â
Garmin Connect doesn’t stop there, it also allows you to run reports on your data and get all sorts or report data with nice looking graphs. You can even set filters on your activity data to find an activity meeting specific criteria. The site lets you filter activities by keyword, Activity Type, Event Type, & set the time period to filter by. Other filters like fastest pace would be a good addition.
Garmin Connect also lets you set goals on the site. You can set either a distance, time, calorie, or frequency goal.
This is a quick overview of the site, check out a few screen captures below. Also keep an eye on this site - http://connect.garmin.com/help/whatsnew for what is coming to the site and what has been implemented already. I may need to get a footpod to add those treadmill runs to my garmin database
I thought I would post my current shoe inventory as I field test some new shoe models. Now for the intersting trip of my shoe history. I’ve ran through 3 different shoe companies, I started with Asics, then moved to Brooks, and have ended up with Nike. Here is a little time line
2005 - In the Beginning… There was Asics
Why Asics? - Being new to running, all the cool kids were wearing them, I jumped on the band wagon.
March/April 2005 - Asics Cyclone (13)
May 2005 - March 2006 - Asics 1100 (13)Â & Asics Cyclone (13)
2006 - The year of the beast
Why Brooks Beast? - As I ran more, I started to get leg problems, I would actually get a feeling that someone was grabbing my leg during long runs. I did some research and found the Brooks Beast. At this time I didn’t know that I overpronoted, but I knew my foot type and went from there. The Beast were said to be for “bigger” runners with flat feet.
March - April 2006 - Brooks Beast (13)
The Beast worked for me, they were heavier than the Asics though. My leg grabbing feeling returned, so I found out about Gait Analysis and went and got one. I found out that the Asics were totally wrong for me and that the Beast worked. I also found out that my shoes were too small, the running store outfitted me in 14’s.
Memorable line said by the guy at the running store in regard to running in the Asics 1100: “I’m surprised your ankle hasn’t snapped yet”Â
April 2006 - October 2006 - Brooks Beast II’s (14) I continued to run pain free in the Brooks Beast II’s in a size 14. Then one day, I needed to buy a new pair and low and behold, I couldn’t find a size 14 in the Beast. The running store suggested these new stability shoes from Nike called the Equalon, so I picked up a pair.
The Nike+ Era
Outfitted in my new Equalons and my shuffle, I looked into the whole Nike+ thing that I had been hearing about. The Mrs. picked up a shiny new nano and Nike+ kit and I was off and running into the new world.
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October 2006 - November 2007 - Nike Air Equalons.Â
July 2007 - October 2007 - Nike Zoom RS - I received the RS as a gift and utilzed them in some smaller races to set a few PRs.
I enjoyed over a year in the new Equalons and the Nike+ community, then Nike improved on the shoe with the new Equalon II’s. They were lighter and more responsive than their predicesors, all was good
Current Shoe lineup
So, this brings me to my current shoe lineup. I am currently running in 3 different Nike shoe styles.
Short Distance race shoe:
Nike Zoom Jasari - These were a replacement of the Zoom RS. I really like these shoes for 5K & 10K races. They fit snug and they are super light at 11.25 ounces for a size 14. They are my lightest shoes out of my current three. I keep my running to under 10 miles with these shoes, they don’t have as much cushion for longer distances. I wore the Zoom RS for a half marathon and could really feel the lack of cushioning the last couple miles.
Longer Distances
Nike Elite+ 4 - I received these as a gift and I really like them, they feel much lighter than the Equalons, even though they are only 1 ounce lighter at 13.75 ounces. They have as much cushion as the Equalons and I don’t get any leg issues. I haven’t done anything over 13.1 with these yet.
Nike Equalon 2’s - The update to the Equalon I’s was enormous. These shoes look and feel like a totally different shoe. They are more responsive and lighter than the original equalons. I really like these shoes for the long haul. I need to field test the Elite 4’s on runs over 13 miles to get a feel for which shoe I like better for the marathon.
So far I have ran 1 marathon in the Brooks Beast II, 3 marathons in the Original Nike Equalons, and 2 marathons in the Equalon 2’s.
My race PR’s and what shoes I used are as follows:
5K - Nike Zoom Jasari - Father’s Day 5K - Ft Collins, CO 6/15/2008 - 19:43
10K - Nike Zoom Jasari - Bolder Boulder 10K - Boulder, CO 5/26/2008 - 42:30
Half - Nike Elite+ 4 - Rocky Mountain Half Marathon - Denver, CO 6/8/2008 - 1:35:24
Marathon - Nike Equalon 2 - Colorado Marathon - Ft Collins, CO 5/6/2008 - 3:50:16
My everyday shoe has been the Nike Free 5.0. I really like these shoes for walking around. They are really comfortable and feel great.  I have only ran about 1/2 mile in them and only use them for getting around. I should really try running a few laps in them to see how they feel.
So, there you have my shoe history up until now. I have a few shoes to report on, including the Nike Hayward 3’s (which may replace my Elites…), lunaracers (Jasari replacement?), the Nike Trail S+, & some Sparq shoes which are more for short training sessions.
I picked up a few new Types of shoes when I was in Oregon. I picked up some Nike Hayward 3’s (I love these shoes). I picked up some LunaRacers, SPARQ Trainers, and I also picked up some trail shoes (after my awesome trail run on Sunday morning) . I will post my thoughts on these different shoes on the blog. I have logged 2 10 mile runs with the Haywards and they are great
I was tagged by one of my running buddies - Chefsy- to answer a short running questionnaire. So here are my answers to the 5 questions posted, I got a little poetic on question 3. Oh, and here are the rules of the Tag…
Copy the rules (or your version of them) and the set of questions onto your blog post, provide your own answers and then tag at least 5 new people. If tagged, you’ll find your name at the end of this post.
To be sure everyone tagged knows they’ve been invited to play, go to their blogs and leave them a comment notifying and referring them to your blog for details.
Lastly, once the chosen have answered the questions on their own blog, they should come back to yours to tell you.
I didn’t really tag anyone, so if you are reading this and you have a moment — TAG!
1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
       I really started running in early 2005. 10 years ago my running was very limited, maybe 10 miles per week. I still got out for early morning jogs though.
2. What is your best and worst run/race experience?Â
       I have had many good and bad experiences in races ranging from hitting the wall at 20 to winning my age group in a 10K.Â
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       My best would be running the 2008 Relay in California. I met new Nike+ friends and we ran a relay. I ran some of my fastest times and overcame some mental barriers dealing with hills.
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       My worst experience would have to be my first marathon. I hit the wall around mile 17 and had a hard time with the distance, I ended last in my age group, but I finished. It was bitter sweet, I had run a marathon, so in that regard it wasn’t my worst experience. It couldn’t have been too bad, I have ran 5 marathons since that one and shaved over 1 hour and 45 minutes off that first marathon time J.
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3. Why do you run?
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       There are many reasons and many motivations. When I don’t run, the day doesn’t seem to flow correctly; an early morning run really starts the day on the right track.Â
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I run for the runners high, it is such an extreme feeling
I run for peace of mind, running is a mental healing
I run for the chance to arrange my thoughts and reflect
I run for the clarity, the thoughts, the ideas that I collect
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I run for health, the steady footfalls keep me fit
I run for the sweat, sometimes an ounce per minute
I run for the goals, milestones, and trials yet to be set
I run for the speed, for distance, for adventure in the sunset
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I run for the friendship, bonds I’ve built from nation to nation
I run for Nike+, the people, the challenges, the inspiration
I run for me; to maintain my mind, body, & soul
I run for them; people, charities, causes, & the world as a whole
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I run for the feeling of achievement, one step further, one step faster
I run for the chance to push past the limit, a new challenge to master
I run for the hope it may bring, to assist and inspire
I run for all these reasons and more I run to aspire
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My history of running…
       It was in 2005 when I got serious about running. I was in my new job and my coworkers all ran, maybe it was peer pressure. I was 250 pounds at the time and a bit out of shape. So in the beginning it was more of a health & social motivation.Â
       As time passed, I enjoyed running more and more. As I lost weight, I gained a passion. In late 2006 along came Nike+ and my love of running grew exponentially. The aspects of Nike+ helped take my running further than it had before. Now, normal training runs became more race-like, I met people around the world (both virtually and in person), my running took on a new form.
       In 2008 I started to train harder and lost more weight. I joined a gym and met with a trainer to help take my running to the next level. April was a turning point as some of my mental running barriers fell away during a team relay race in California.  May & June were banner months as I set new PRs in all 4 race distances.
4. What is the best or worst piece of advice you’ve been given about running?
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       Best advice would be to get a gait analysis. It turns out that I was running in the wrong type of shoes and I needed to go up one size. My leg issues disappeared and all was well.
5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
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       I was an extra in Tim Burton’s Movie Mars Attacks. The filming was in 1995 at Red Lake near Kingman Arizona. I spent 2 weeks on location and was a background camera man. It was an awesome experience and I definitely would do it again. I have a few pictures packed away in a box somewhere, when I locate them I will post them up on my blog J
We spent some time in Oregon over the July 4th holiday. I got 4 good solid days of running in viewing a great deal of the Oregon trails. I got in some city running, beach running, riverside running, & forested running. I also ran my first trail runs and loved it!
Run Day 1: We flew in on the 4th, so I didn’t get a run in that day. On Saturday the 5th, I ran from the hotel up to Leif Erikson trail to meet a friend in Portland. She couldn’t make it, but I didn’t take my phone, so I didn’t know that she couldn’t make it. I ended up not running the Leif Ericson that day, but got close to 7 miles in by running from the hotel to the trail head.
Hotel to Leif Erikson Trail Head
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Run Day 2: We ventured to Seaside Beach on Saturday and enjoyed some time at the Beach. My early morning Sunday run was great. It started along side the beach on the prominade and ended up as a uphill trail run. The prominade was only 1.5 miles, so after looping around and only covering 3 miles, I needed more. I saw the mountain in the distance and decided to venture over to it.Â
I found the Tillamook trailhead and ran about 1.5 miles up a muddy trail. It was great, the solitude and adventure of not knowing what was around the next corner. It truly felt like I was on some deserted jungle island, the unique bird calls and other unknown sounds. Halfway up it started getting really misty as I ran through cloud cover. I came across four girls hiking down and continued on. A little while longer, the trail got really muddy and pools of water formed, I decided that I needed to turn around. Down the mountain I went and back to the room to wash away the mud from the adventure.
Hotel along prominade and through Tillamook Trail and back to Hotel.
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Run Day 3: We were back in Portland staying near the LLoyd Center. 2 Miles away was the RiverFront Park and a nice running path circling the river. The path crosses the river at a few bridges and runs past a huge fountain.
Hotel to River Run, along river and back to hotel near LLoyd Center.
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Run Day 4: On my final day of running, I decided to drive up to the Leif Erikson Trail to get a feel for the trail. The trail runs through Forest Park and has over 50 miles total of running trails. The trail is heavily forested and has some very steep portions. I ran out 4.5 miles and then ran back and went up one of the firelane trails that were really step. It was a great run, and I saw some interesting sights along the way. The trail is a great way to escape the city while you are in the city. The main trail goes out 11 miles, I would like to run an out and back 22 on the trail someday.
Along Leif Erikson Trail.
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Here are a few other pictures from the trip.
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With those ingredients, you would be a little hesitant to sip this elixir. Well, there is no reason for hesitation. Each time I take zrii, it is like a different taste, it actually stimulates the taste buds and it is really unlike anything I’ve tasted. It is actually a very tasty flavor comination. One 3 ounce serving of Zrii also has the affect of eating one seriously large fruit salad:
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