(783,1,'2017-01-20 16:45:51','2017-01-20 21:45:51','Let\'s have a little talk about <b>-Haters-</b>.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80WmeXeDx6M/UhtMBo-Un6I/AAAAAAAABYI/i88hlw2LLJQ/s1600/hatersgonnahatethumb.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80WmeXeDx6M/UhtMBo-Un6I/AAAAAAAABYI/i88hlw2LLJQ/s400/hatersgonnahatethumb.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />We all know what haters are. We all probably <b>know</b> some haters too. Odds are, many of you out there might even <b>have</b> haters of your <i>very own!</i> I\'ll go ahead and say that 90% or more of the haters out there are the people I\'m talking about in this post. Up to 10% might have a legitimate reason for hating...maybe. For the purposes of this article, let\'s assume we\'re talking about the 90% that I\'m about to describe.<br /><br />Ultimately, I have to say..<b>.I don\'t hate haters.</b> If you think about it the way I do...you can\'t help but love them just because of their very nature.<b> </b>Haters are <b>important! </b>Just not for the reason they wish they were. On this Motivational Monday morning, I think its time to talk about <b>the haters.</b><br /><br /><b>What drives a hater? What do Haters...hate? Why?</b><br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />So, before we go on...you might be wondering what exactly I mean by \"hate\". <b>What does it mean to be \"hated on\"?</b> How does someone \"hate on\" you?<br /><br />Think back to elementary school, middle school...yes even high school. The haters will <b>make fun of you. </b>The haters will <b>belittle you and your achievements. </b>The haters will try to <b>recruit others </b>to their side to make you feel like you\'re <b>all alone</b>. The haters will <b>bully you </b>and <b>badmouth you. </b>Haters will <b>spread rumors </b>about you. They\'ll try to make you feel like everything you\'re doing <b>doesn\'t matter </b>and no matter what you do, in the end you\'re <b>just a loser</b> wasting their time. <br /><br />If you\'ve seen people getting \"hated on\", you\'ve probably wondered what that person did to \"deserve it\". If <b>you\'re</b> getting \"hated on\" yourself, its probably bothering you that you <b>don\'t know why</b>! I\'m going to make this REALLY simple:<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Haters Hate Your Success&nbsp;</span></b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-76T_sSFFaFU/UhtNkxLQqwI/AAAAAAAABYU/lYjvob5e8hw/s1600/hatersmeme.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-76T_sSFFaFU/UhtNkxLQqwI/AAAAAAAABYU/lYjvob5e8hw/s320/hatersmeme.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>Yes. It really is that simple.</b> Haters are <b>bitter</b>. Haters are <b>jealous</b>. Haters see in <b>you</b> a reflection of everything they wish <b>they</b> were. Haters want to be able to achieve what <b>you</b> have achieved. Have you lost weight recently? <b>Your hater feels fat.</b> Have you run a race? <b>Your hater wishes they could run. </b>Your hater DID run that race? <b>You got a better time than them</b>. I\'m sure you get the point.<br /><br />I know this seems really childish and like something that belongs in grade school...but it\'s the unfortunate truth. Rather than celebrate your successes with you the haters try to wash it away and put you down. Rather than try to improve themselves and work on their shortcomings, they focus their energy on <b>bringing. you. down</b>.<br /><br />But <b>why?</b><br /><br /><b>Because the haters can\'t be bothered to do the work.</b><br /><br />Haters are often people who suffer from things like <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-i-dont-feel-like-it-syndrome.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"The I Don\'t Feel Like It Syndrome\"</a>.<b> </b>Maybe <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/defeating-demotivators-1-the-fear-monster.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Fear Monster</a> has them in it\'s grasp. <b>Maybe </b>they\'ve got a <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/why-workouts-fail-1-napoleon-complex.html\" target=\"_blank\">Napoleon Complex</a> or <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/why-workouts-fail-2-the-scale.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Scale </a>discouraged them so badly they just can\'t bring themselves to try anymore. <b>Maybe they\'re lost in <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/america-the-fat.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"America The Fat\"</a>. Or perhaps </b>they just can\'t drum up the<a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/conquer-the-truth-about-motivation.html\" target=\"_blank\"> motivation</a> to get it done. Whatever the reason...<b>SOMETHING</b> is keeping the haters from getting what they want and being happy, and it\'s everything that <b>YOU </b>have managed to work past to reach your successes and keep on going. <b>That makes your haters very mad</b>. It <b>frustrates them</b>. People often get angry or begin to <b>hate </b>what frustrates them or what they can\'t understand.<b> </b>So since the hater can\'t get past whatever it is stopping them...the mindset becomes toxic.<br /><br /><b>If the hater can\'t have success, neither can you!</b><br /><br /><b>THAT,</b> in a nutshell, is why haters hate. If the hater can\'t be happy...if the hater can\'t lose weight...if the hater can\'t run a race, get an A+, get a girlfriend, get a promotion...<b>neither should you</b>. They <b>hate</b> seeing you get what they want. That\'s why they hate on you and try to bring you down - <b>they\'re trying to make you quit</b>.&nbsp;<b> </b>But <b>this </b>is why I <b>love </b>haters.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Haters let you know you\'re doing a good job</b></span><br /><br />Honestly, the more hate I\'m catching...the harder my haters are hating, the <b>better</b> I must be doing. If they\'re hating on me <b>that much harder</b> then I <i>must </i>be making <b>that much greater</b> of an achievement. THAT is why I said haters are so important - <b>haters are your success meter!</b> Don\'t let them drag you down or discourage you - rather, let your haters <b>be encouragement</b> to go harder. See <b>how much</b> you can make the haters <b>hate </b>you. I\'d like to hope that eventually they\'ll either <b>give up hating</b> or start backing you, but it could very well be the case that they just <b>can\'t get past</b> whatever their own problem is...and they\'ll just keep on hating. <b>So what. Let them hate. </b>Just remember what it means.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdYuObL40sc/UhtT3ipSrDI/AAAAAAAABYk/ibm6uS1uZFE/s1600/tumblr_md5tvm53DT1qmp520o1_500.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"292\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdYuObL40sc/UhtT3ipSrDI/AAAAAAAABYk/ibm6uS1uZFE/s400/tumblr_md5tvm53DT1qmp520o1_500.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />By <b>continuing to do what you\'re doing </b>you\'re sending a message to your haters:<br /><br /><b>Your Opinion Does Not Matter. </b><br /><br />Your continued success and your positive attitude lets the haters know that <b>they are powerless to stop you.</b> In the end, you should probably <b>take pity on your haters - </b>they <b>wish</b> they could do what you\'re doing but they can\'t beat their own roadblocks. They <b>can\'t plow through </b>like you have and get down the road to success.&nbsp; <br /><br /><b>Sucks to suck.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />So next time someone starts hating on you or trying to bring you down...<b>just smile at them, </b>walk away, and know that <b>you </b>are what someone else wishes they could be. <b>Don\'t let the haters get you down or stop you - let them push you and encourage you </b>to keep achieving new heights. <b>Don\'t be afraid </b>to post those <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">before &amp; after pictures</a>. Don\'t be afraid to <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">talk about how you got where you are.</a><br /><br /><b>Don\'t be afraid to keep becoming a better you. </b>\"Haters gonna hate\".<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Let \'em. </b></span>','Haters','','inherit','closed','closed','','107-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:45:51','2017-01-20 21:45:51','',107,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/107-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(784,1,'2017-01-20 16:45:51','2017-01-20 21:45:51','Now that I\'ve undergone such big changes and my body has transformed so much, I\'ve gotten a better understanding of both my pre-fitness mindset and my current boundaries and limitations. The funny thing is...they go hand in hand.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SC41-blrdg/UjZyBZdbFTI/AAAAAAAABo8/OH1Y1xygKTY/s1600/idontthinklimits.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SC41-blrdg/UjZyBZdbFTI/AAAAAAAABo8/OH1Y1xygKTY/s400/idontthinklimits.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />On this Motivational Monday morning, I want to have a (relatively) brief and (per usual) candid chat about knowing yourself, being in touch with your body, and learning your limits. I hope many of you will come to find what I did - <b>it\'s all in your head.</b><br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><b>When I was 300 lbs </b>part of what was holding me back was <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/defeating-demotivators-1-the-fear-monster.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Fear Monster</a>. I was afraid to get up and go, I was afraid of failure. I wasn\'t really sure what my physical limits were...where my boundaries lay...<b>but I figured the bar was pretty low</b>. I knew how easily I got winded and I wasn\'t too keen on finding out just how little I could really do. So I just assumed I was pretty limited in terms of physical fitness. No running a mile, no heavy lifting, no endurance to speak of...nothing.<br /><br /><b>Then I started getting fit.</b> I started pushing it, going until exhaustion...<b>and then continuing</b>. This was a big step for me...I had never tested my boundaries...never challenged my limits. But I had to get through the workout. I had to keep up with the people in the video. I had to look impressive for Megan or <i>at least </i>look like I was making progress. Slowly but surely the little victories came...I could do regular push-ups instead of on my knees...I could do the jump a little between lunges instead of having to step quickly through them...progress is progress, right? Slowly, I kept getting better. I even tried going for a run!<br /><br /><b>Then Something Happened Last Week -&nbsp;</b> <br />I finished Body Beast...and I started getting onto my endurance training calendar for the half-marathon I\'m running. I went out for a run, and decided to do a fast 5K. Just <i>go </i>and see what I can do. I was <b>cookin\'</b>. I got back home and crossed my little \"finish line\"...and Runkeeper\'s audio cues came on when I \"stopped\" the run - my pace had <b>drastically </b>improved. I\'m not talking like baby steps progress, good for you, rah rah rah...I\'m talking <b>WHOA...who kicked on the afterburners? </b>I got 8:22 min/mile average - that\'s about a minute and a half off my usual mile time. I had no idea how I went that fast or maintained that pace over 3.1 miles...<b>but I did it</b>.<br /><br /><b>The Next Day </b>I went on a longer run - I had planned on 8 miles but only had time for 5, so I went. As I was running I heard my Runkeeper audio cues over the music of my playlist...telling me 9:15 min/mile, 8:56 min/mile, 8:57 min/mile...um...<b>EXCUSE ME</b>? <b>I was doing it again! </b>This time, I was going farther...could I maintain that past the 3 mile mark? Was it <b>possible?</b><br /><br /><b>YES! </b>I did 5.06 miles in 44:36. That\'s an average pace of 8:49. <b>You\'ve got to be kidding me!</b> The bottom line here is...my initial perceptions have gone out the window...totally shattered. My boundaries have been <b>pushed off a cliff</b>. I don\'t actually know what my limits are now, but I\'m convinced I can continue pushing them and improving. People like to say \"no, that\'s impossible\" \"no, there\'s no way I can do that\". <b>Nonsense. </b>One of my favorite quotes out there...is about the word \"impossible\".<br /><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI0SobW7TAw/Ue14lv4J6TI/AAAAAAAAA-4/FdU2N0hF-IY/s1600/impossible-is-nothing1.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI0SobW7TAw/Ue14lv4J6TI/AAAAAAAAA-4/FdU2N0hF-IY/s1600/impossible-is-nothing1.jpg\" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>\"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they\'ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact, it\'s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration, it\'s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.\" - Muhammad Ali</i><br /><br /><b>We create our limits in our minds. </b>I firmly believe that, given time and training, <b>anything is possible. </b>Our bodies are amazingly adaptable and will take as much as we are willing to throw at them. The human body can morph from 300 lbs and sedentary to 160 lbs and running ultramarathons. <b>The body will learn to do what you tell it. </b>If you just take the time and train, you can do anything. That\'s how professional body builders get so huge. That\'s how these people who run 100 mile races get that kind of endurance. <b>That\'s how I got where I am. </b>I whole-heartedly believe that, and I hope others will come to figure it out as they too push their limits and learn their potential.<br /><br /><b>The mind is an incredibly powerful thing</b> - if you believe you\'re sick, and you believe it hard enough, your body will manifest that and you\'ll get sick (it\'s an actual medical thing). If you believe you can\'t do something, you simply won\'t be able to. If you believe that you can\'t run, you will never make it past the first mile. But if you <b>let go</b> of the mental roadblocks you\'ve created for yourself and just...well...<b>try</b>...you\'ll be amazed at the things you can accomplish. In the last week I have had so many personal milestone accomplishments...its like all of a sudden I <b>broke through</b> to a new place. My body is more flexible, I found&nbsp; core strength I didn\'t know I had, I can run faster...all because <b>I just let go </b>of all the mental roadblocks and limits that I thought I had.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Lose your limits.</b> </span><b>&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>I challenge you not to</b> focus on what you can\'t do, or what you think you can\'t do...but to work on <b>being better than you were yesterday.</b> Reach a little farther, go a little faster, experiment with&nbsp; a little more weight...you\'ll find that over time, as you try harder and harder, you will go farther and farther. You will <b>shatter </b>your own perceptions of your ability. No matter how out of reach something might seem, just remember - <br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r6QzF3n9mDs/UjcbDB-Z99I/AAAAAAAABpQ/ZHY68-GNkdE/s1600/giventime.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r6QzF3n9mDs/UjcbDB-Z99I/AAAAAAAABpQ/ZHY68-GNkdE/s400/giventime.jpg\" width=\"400\" />&nbsp;</a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It won\'t come to you...you have to <b>work for it</b>.</span><b> </b></span></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>So get out there and GET IT!</b> </span></div><br /><b> </b>','Lose Your Limits','','inherit','closed','closed','','101-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:45:51','2017-01-20 21:45:51','',101,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/101-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `wp_ryff_posts` VALUES (785,1,'2017-01-20 16:46:25','2017-01-20 21:46:25','At this point a lot of people have heard, seen or read <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">my story</a> and asked me <b>how I did it</b>. How I got started? How I stayed motivated to keep going? Turns out, a lot of people ask me that question because <b>they want to know how THEY can do it too</b>.<br /><br />Well, here we are. The \"Get Up And GO\" Guide. This will break down everything you need to know, do, and remind yourself in order to...well... Get Up and GO! Let\'s dive right in - <br /><br />First Thing\'s First<b> - Get Out Of Your Own Way!</b><br /><b></b><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><b><br /></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LH9jfUr-XhM/UgKqj7IHAOI/AAAAAAAABHE/CFvxtJCN2P8/s1600/stifstopsign.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LH9jfUr-XhM/UgKqj7IHAOI/AAAAAAAABHE/CFvxtJCN2P8/s1600/stifstopsign.jpg\" /></a></div><b>YOU </b>are the only obstacle in your way. Nobody can<br />tell you that <b>you can\'t do it</b>. <b>Your voice</b> is the only voice that matters. You are <b>perfectly capable</b> of achieving your goals. So, <b>stop the excuses</b>, <b>do</b> what you need to do to be in a position to begin your journey...and <b>do it!</b> I could go on for hours, but that\'s about all there is to say in this part of the guide. I\'ve already talked about the <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-i-dont-feel-like-it-syndrome.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"I Don\'t Feel Like It Syndrome\"</a>, <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/defeating-demotivators-1-the-fear-monster.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Fear Monster</a>, <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/why-workouts-fail-1-the-napoleon-complex.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Napoleon Complex</a> and <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/conquer-the-truth-about-motivation.html\" target=\"_blank\">motivation itself</a>, so we\'ve covered a lot of the bases concerning why you might not have been doing anything - it\'s time to figure out what\'s been keeping you away from a better you and <b>beat it</b>. Those other articles might <br />help.<br /><br /><b>So What Are You Gonna Do Now?</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Meem0uxYX6U/UgPzfNL6fHI/AAAAAAAABHk/vf2fQbWEsgc/s1600/ok-now-what.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Meem0uxYX6U/UgPzfNL6fHI/AAAAAAAABHk/vf2fQbWEsgc/s320/ok-now-what.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>&nbsp; </b><br />No, really...assuming you\'re ready to do something, you have to know <b>what it is</b> you\'re gonna do! That means you need to have a goal envisioned in your mind. What is your goal - <b>what do you want</b> in the end? It\'s going to be a long road, and you need a road map to get there. So, figure it out!<br /><b> </b><br />Are you trying to burn fat and get lean (known in fitness world as \"cutting\") or get big and build muscle (\"bulking\")? What do you want to look like? What size do you want to be? What weight are you shooting for? Where do you want to be in a year? I know it seems far off, but if you set your ultimate goal now you can figure out your plan and set little, more immediately attainable goals to achieve along the way. Trust me - little victories along the path to the Promised Land can do a lot more for you than you can appreciate right now.<br /><br /><b>OK, </b>So you know where you want to go - <b>How Do You Get There?</b><br /><br />This is the part where you have to choose your starting point - what you\'re actually going to do to start losing/gaining weight. This can be a big decision, and it IS an important one.&nbsp;<b> </b>Megan (my fiancee) and I were between two programs - P90X and INSANITY. We were familiar with the two from word of mouth, internet ads, and tv infomercials. We had a rough idea of what we were in for and what the two were like. In the end, the differences we were deciding between were:<br /><br />P90X - requires some equipment, allows lots of modification of moves, well-rounded program<br />Insanity - requires NO equipment, doesn\'t really allow much modification (or any at all), cardio HELL. <br /><br />We decided, in the end, to do P90X first. Frankly, <b>I\'m glad we did</b>. For what we were looking to do it was a good starting point. It allowed us to ease into things modifying moves and achieving little victories, still getting the full workout done instead of failing after one or two full-out intense reps. It allowed us to <b>feel good</b> about our achievements and see our <b>progress</b> as we went along. <b>Yes,</b> we would\'ve seen progress in INSANITY too, but the fact we couldn\'t go balls-to-the-wall and get more than a couple reps might have discouraged us from finishing the program. Doint P90X also helped us build a base of muscle and shed some initial weight (read: a LOT of weight) that helped make INSANITY suck a whole lot less.<br /><br />In the end, <b>we made the right choice for us</b>. Maybe the other choice would\'ve worked for you. That\'s probably the toughest part - in the end, <b>you have to make the call.</b> Look into your available options and choose what you think is going to serve you best. P90X allowed my 300 lb out-of-shape self to struggle for 10 pushups on my knees and still complete the workout. Progress is progress -<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLDUQomQlGk/UgRhkwa-zqI/AAAAAAAABH0/llsPETZ427c/s1600/dead-last-finish-meme.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLDUQomQlGk/UgRhkwa-zqI/AAAAAAAABH0/llsPETZ427c/s400/dead-last-finish-meme.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>Because let\'s be honest - you\'re already lapping the guy still sitting on the couch.<br /><br />Once you figure out what you\'re doing, you need <b>the tools for success</b>.<br /><br /><b>What are The Tools For Success?</b><br /><br />Generally, whatever the program you\'re doing calls for! If you\'re going to do a program like P90X that requires equipment, <u><b>you need that equipment!</b></u> Things like resistance bands, pull-up bars, push-up stands, yoga mats, etc can be found at stores like Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Wal-Mart, or your favorite sporting goods store. I got my resistance band set for about $12, same with some nice push-up stands. Yoga mat was about $12 for a nice one and yoga block was $5 (worth it). Trust me,<b> the equipment</b> <b>is worth the investment</b>. Don\'t let a few extra bucks scare you away - it\'s worth it for your health, fitness and enjoyment. I\'d happily invest that $50 again to add enjoyable years onto my life. If you\'re going a little more hardcore with something like P90X2 or Body Beast, you\'ve probably already done some workout programs and have built up a collection of equipment already. <b>Don\'t choose a program simply because of a lack of required equipment</b>. I almost made that mistake, and if I had, I might have gotten discouraged and quit INSANITY, and I never would\'ve gotten in shape and started running.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAPp4HY0GyQ/UgRt0lGoo_I/AAAAAAAABIk/MWs3CFqF70I/s1600/IMG_20130730_103135_867.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAPp4HY0GyQ/UgRt0lGoo_I/AAAAAAAABIk/MWs3CFqF70I/s640/IMG_20130730_103135_867.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></div><br />If the program you\'re doing has worksheets, trust me...<b>print them and use them. </b>I WISH I had printed and used the P90X worksheets - I\'d LOVE to see how far I\'ve come since then. Not only that, but the worksheets help you stay on track, remember what weight/how many reps you did last time, and <b>continue to steadily improve</b>. I thought I knew better. Guess what? <b>I didn\'t.</b><b> </b>I\'ve come so far that now, in Body Beast, not only did I use worksheets, but I found better worksheets online and modified them to suit my needs. <b>USE THE WORKSHEETS</b>. You\'ll thank yourself later.<br /><br /><b>Before and After Pictures &amp; Measurements are HUGELY Important!</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><b><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U7bfQ1zYljU/UgRmPd603xI/AAAAAAAABIE/a9_wxDme9Sk/s1600/885308_10101200011174872_1745072204_o.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"377\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U7bfQ1zYljU/UgRmPd603xI/AAAAAAAABIE/a9_wxDme9Sk/s640/885308_10101200011174872_1745072204_o.jpg\" width=\"640\" /></a></b></div><br />Seriously, if you take one piece of advice, take this - <b>DO THE BEFORE AND AFTERS!</b> You have no idea how sorry I almost was...I waited until Day 6 of P90X to do before pictures.&nbsp;<b> </b>I was<i><b> so ashamed</b></i> of my body and <u>disgusted</u> with how I looked<b> I didn\'t even want to do before pictures</b>. <b>I wanted to forget all about it</b>. I am SO glad I finally did the before pictures. I can see how far I\'ve come! I can appreciate my achievements! It\'s such a great feeling and now that I\'m so much more fit people look at the before and can\'t believe it. (you can see all the <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">before &amp; afters here</a>) I <b>wish </b>I had taken measurements before. The only one I have is my waist size, and that\'s not entirely accurate. It was likely bigger than I think. <br /><b>Take Pictures, take your measurements, document your journey. Fit-&amp;-Healthy You WILL thank yourself. </b><br /><br /><b>Once you do that, it\'s GO TIME</b><br /><br /><b>SO, </b>You\'ve got direction, you\'ve got a program, you\'ve got the tools and you\'ve taken the pics/measurements. Presumably, you have a <b>suitable space</b> to do your workout. Anywhere you can do your workout, use your equipment, not disturb others (too much) and not be disturbed by others will do. <b>Don\'t worry about people watching you</b> <b>- let the hater\'s hate. </b>I would think anyone that could see you in your workout space would be someone close to you, and I would hope someone that close wouldn\'t judge you. <br /><br /><b>NOW that we\'ve moved on from the haters - </b>Get your fit test done (if there is one). Some programs, such as P90X, have a fit test you do before and after the program, whereas other programs like INSANITY have a fit test that is part of the regular schedule. Whatever the case, DO IT. Again, <b>you\'ll thank yourself later</b>. <br /><br /><b>This Is The Easy Part</b><br /><br />Not to rip a line from Nike or anything...but...well...Just Do It! You\'ve got everything you need. Just. Freaking. <b>DO IT! </b>If you need motivation along the way, just think about where you came from, where you want to be, and how much you don\'t want to look like that before picture again. Think about how good it feels to finish a workout and have that little success under your belt. Think of how good it feels to see yourself shrinking week to week, see your clothes fitting looser, needing to go shopping to buy new ones. Think of your loved ones and how you\'d like to be around a little longer for them, or how you\'d like to look better for them. If you\'re like I was, think of <b>how much it sucks to get winded going up one flight of stairs</b>. Everyone has that one little nugget of <i>something</i> that will kick their butt into gear no matter how much the workout sucks, how much you\'re swearing at Tony Horton or Shaun T through the TV, or how much you REALLY just <i>don\'t </i>want to get out of bed and go work out this morning.<br /><br /><b>If you need a little outside help</b> keeping yourself accountable, be a part of a group designed for just such a purpose. There are many on Facebook, many in real life (with real people!) too. Enough people reached out to me talking about inspiration and asking for advice that I went and made one. If you want, you can become a part of it&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/sothisisfitness/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>. I\'ve been a part of one for a while and I can tell you it was definitely a great motivator on the days I needed it. Other days, it\'s a great place to learn something or help motivate others. <b>Maybe having a workout partner </b>is what you need. I know having my fiancee there beside me every day doing the workout with me was a big deal. <b>I tried harder</b>. For her and for me. If she could do it, I could do it. If I could do it, she could do it. We were a <b>team</b>. Once we got to the end of Week 1 Day 6 we looked at each other and said \"If we can get through the first week, we can get through the whole thing.\" - and we did. <br /><br /><b>Fight off those last little excuses </b>that creep into your mind! Don\'t try to fool yourself and say you don\'t have time: no matter how long you work, how screwed up your hours, how awful your schedule, remember: <br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxsTZj6guyg/UgRq8Uu1ZEI/AAAAAAAABIY/tTzzOSFUWF4/s1600/too-busy.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxsTZj6guyg/UgRq8Uu1ZEI/AAAAAAAABIY/tTzzOSFUWF4/s320/too-busy.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Think you<b> can\'t do it? </b>It\'s just<b> too hard </b>and you\'re <b>too out of shape?</b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isFEI803Hzc/UgRxlKyUZzI/AAAAAAAABI0/QiEz6h3NlAI/s1600/no-excuses.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isFEI803Hzc/UgRxlKyUZzI/AAAAAAAABI0/QiEz6h3NlAI/s320/no-excuses.jpg\" width=\"310\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">So <b>get to it, Nancy. <u>You got this. </u></b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><b> </b>','The \"Get Up And GO\" Guide','','inherit','closed','closed','','120-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:46:25','2017-01-20 21:46:25','',120,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/120-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(786,1,'2017-01-20 16:46:25','2017-01-20 21:46:25','Let\'s have a little talk about <b>-Haters-</b>.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80WmeXeDx6M/UhtMBo-Un6I/AAAAAAAABYI/i88hlw2LLJQ/s1600/hatersgonnahatethumb.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80WmeXeDx6M/UhtMBo-Un6I/AAAAAAAABYI/i88hlw2LLJQ/s400/hatersgonnahatethumb.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />We all know what haters are. We all probably <b>know</b> some haters too. Odds are, many of you out there might even <b>have</b> haters of your <i>very own!</i> I\'ll go ahead and say that 90% or more of the haters out there are the people I\'m talking about in this post. Up to 10% might have a legitimate reason for hating...maybe. For the purposes of this article, let\'s assume we\'re talking about the 90% that I\'m about to describe.<br /><br />Ultimately, I have to say..<b>.I don\'t hate haters.</b> If you think about it the way I do...you can\'t help but love them just because of their very nature.<b> </b>Haters are <b>important! </b>Just not for the reason they wish they were. On this Motivational Monday morning, I think its time to talk about <b>the haters.</b><br /><br /><b>What drives a hater? What do Haters...hate? Why?</b><br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />So, before we go on...you might be wondering what exactly I mean by \"hate\". <b>What does it mean to be \"hated on\"?</b> How does someone \"hate on\" you?<br /><br />Think back to elementary school, middle school...yes even high school. The haters will <b>make fun of you. </b>The haters will <b>belittle you and your achievements. </b>The haters will try to <b>recruit others </b>to their side to make you feel like you\'re <b>all alone</b>. The haters will <b>bully you </b>and <b>badmouth you. </b>Haters will <b>spread rumors </b>about you. They\'ll try to make you feel like everything you\'re doing <b>doesn\'t matter </b>and no matter what you do, in the end you\'re <b>just a loser</b> wasting their time. <br /><br />If you\'ve seen people getting \"hated on\", you\'ve probably wondered what that person did to \"deserve it\". If <b>you\'re</b> getting \"hated on\" yourself, its probably bothering you that you <b>don\'t know why</b>! I\'m going to make this REALLY simple:<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Haters Hate Your Success&nbsp;</span></b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-76T_sSFFaFU/UhtNkxLQqwI/AAAAAAAABYU/lYjvob5e8hw/s1600/hatersmeme.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-76T_sSFFaFU/UhtNkxLQqwI/AAAAAAAABYU/lYjvob5e8hw/s320/hatersmeme.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>Yes. It really is that simple.</b> Haters are <b>bitter</b>. Haters are <b>jealous</b>. Haters see in <b>you</b> a reflection of everything they wish <b>they</b> were. Haters want to be able to achieve what <b>you</b> have achieved. Have you lost weight recently? <b>Your hater feels fat.</b> Have you run a race? <b>Your hater wishes they could run. </b>Your hater DID run that race? <b>You got a better time than them</b>. I\'m sure you get the point.<br /><br />I know this seems really childish and like something that belongs in grade school...but it\'s the unfortunate truth. Rather than celebrate your successes with you the haters try to wash it away and put you down. Rather than try to improve themselves and work on their shortcomings, they focus their energy on <b>bringing. you. down</b>.<br /><br />But <b>why?</b><br /><br /><b>Because the haters can\'t be bothered to do the work.</b><br /><br />Haters are often people who suffer from things like <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-i-dont-feel-like-it-syndrome.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"The I Don\'t Feel Like It Syndrome\"</a>.<b> </b>Maybe <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/defeating-demotivators-1-the-fear-monster.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Fear Monster</a> has them in it\'s grasp. <b>Maybe </b>they\'ve got a <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/why-workouts-fail-1-the-napoleon-complex.html\" target=\"_blank\">Napoleon Complex</a> or <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/why-workouts-fail-2-the-scale.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Scale </a>discouraged them so badly they just can\'t bring themselves to try anymore. <b>Maybe they\'re lost in <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/america-the-fat.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"America The Fat\"</a>. Or perhaps </b>they just can\'t drum up the<a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/conquer-the-truth-about-motivation.html\" target=\"_blank\"> motivation</a> to get it done. Whatever the reason...<b>SOMETHING</b> is keeping the haters from getting what they want and being happy, and it\'s everything that <b>YOU </b>have managed to work past to reach your successes and keep on going. <b>That makes your haters very mad</b>. It <b>frustrates them</b>. People often get angry or begin to <b>hate </b>what frustrates them or what they can\'t understand.<b> </b>So since the hater can\'t get past whatever it is stopping them...the mindset becomes toxic.<br /><br /><b>If the hater can\'t have success, neither can you!</b><br /><br /><b>THAT,</b> in a nutshell, is why haters hate. If the hater can\'t be happy...if the hater can\'t lose weight...if the hater can\'t run a race, get an A+, get a girlfriend, get a promotion...<b>neither should you</b>. They <b>hate</b> seeing you get what they want. That\'s why they hate on you and try to bring you down - <b>they\'re trying to make you quit</b>.&nbsp;<b> </b>But <b>this </b>is why I <b>love </b>haters.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Haters let you know you\'re doing a good job</b></span><br /><br />Honestly, the more hate I\'m catching...the harder my haters are hating, the <b>better</b> I must be doing. If they\'re hating on me <b>that much harder</b> then I <i>must </i>be making <b>that much greater</b> of an achievement. THAT is why I said haters are so important - <b>haters are your success meter!</b> Don\'t let them drag you down or discourage you - rather, let your haters <b>be encouragement</b> to go harder. See <b>how much</b> you can make the haters <b>hate </b>you. I\'d like to hope that eventually they\'ll either <b>give up hating</b> or start backing you, but it could very well be the case that they just <b>can\'t get past</b> whatever their own problem is...and they\'ll just keep on hating. <b>So what. Let them hate. </b>Just remember what it means.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdYuObL40sc/UhtT3ipSrDI/AAAAAAAABYk/ibm6uS1uZFE/s1600/tumblr_md5tvm53DT1qmp520o1_500.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"292\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdYuObL40sc/UhtT3ipSrDI/AAAAAAAABYk/ibm6uS1uZFE/s400/tumblr_md5tvm53DT1qmp520o1_500.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />By <b>continuing to do what you\'re doing </b>you\'re sending a message to your haters:<br /><br /><b>Your Opinion Does Not Matter. </b><br /><br />Your continued success and your positive attitude lets the haters know that <b>they are powerless to stop you.</b> In the end, you should probably <b>take pity on your haters - </b>they <b>wish</b> they could do what you\'re doing but they can\'t beat their own roadblocks. They <b>can\'t plow through </b>like you have and get down the road to success.&nbsp; <br /><br /><b>Sucks to suck.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />So next time someone starts hating on you or trying to bring you down...<b>just smile at them, </b>walk away, and know that <b>you </b>are what someone else wishes they could be. <b>Don\'t let the haters get you down or stop you - let them push you and encourage you </b>to keep achieving new heights. <b>Don\'t be afraid </b>to post those <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">before &amp; after pictures</a>. Don\'t be afraid to <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">talk about how you got where you are.</a><br /><br /><b>Don\'t be afraid to keep becoming a better you. </b>\"Haters gonna hate\".<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Let \'em. </b></span>','Haters','','inherit','closed','closed','','107-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:46:25','2017-01-20 21:46:25','',107,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/107-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(787,1,'2017-01-20 16:46:25','2017-01-20 21:46:25','Once again, I thought long and hard about how to approach this topic, but the simplest way to say it is - going through a health &amp; fitness journey alone <b>sucks</b> and often <b>just doesn\'t work</b>. For so many years I tried and failed to do it on my own. The desire was there, and I did use the word \"tried\"...<br /><br />Many, maybe even most people out there just can\'t do it alone, and if you\'re one of those people<b>...I get it. </b>I\'m not gonna say it\'s not your fault because, frankly, I don\'t think there necessarily <i>is </i>anyone at fault...it\'s just <b>freaking hard </b>to go it alone. In the last week I have really embraced, openly, the \"group effort\". I became a BeachBody Coach and immediately set out to start a P90X Challenge Group to help people make a change, stay with it, and <b>succeed</b> (more on that later). Today, on Hump Day no less, I want to talk about how to get over the hump of sticking with your health &amp; fitness decision by not having to go it alone. You might think twice about your impending solo act.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dz2l_d_zAoU/UlQOwn7vPSI/AAAAAAAAB3U/0skgMkyckXk/s1600/IMG_20131005_093735_948.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dz2l_d_zAoU/UlQOwn7vPSI/AAAAAAAAB3U/0skgMkyckXk/s400/IMG_20131005_093735_948.jpg\" width=\"225\" /></a></div>I\'ll come right out and say it - <b>going it alone sucks.</b> Some people out there have the drive and motivation needed to make change happen without anyone else there to push them, encourage them, and do it with them. Looking back,<b> I was not one of them. </b>I recognize that. I had my fiancee Megan there with me from <b>before </b>Day 1. When the decision was made to start...we decided it <b>together</b>. I tried for years to do it alone, and it never stuck. Without anyone there to help motivate me...it was so easy to just say \"nah...not today\" or \"<i>God Almighty</i> this is too hard...I\'m out\".<br /><br /><b>Nah, I\'m Totally Capable, I Can Do This!</b><br /><br />Ok, that\'s great! There <b>are</b> people out there who can get it done on their own. People who are SO motivated...SO driven, that they could not only complete a fitness program on their own...they could climb Mt. Freaking Everest on their own. I <i>wish </i>I was one of those guys. I mean, I probably am NOW, but then again, NOW I\'m fit, healthy, and I <b>enjoy </b>this stuff. I\'m talking last August, when I was 300 lbs and hadn\'t started this whole thing yet. <i>That guy </i>wishes he was driven enough to do it alone. If you\'re one of those people, I encourage you to <b>go for it</b> and make it happen. <b>You </b>are the kind of person who helps motivate others towards their successes. <br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Why Should I Have Others?</b></span><br /><br /><b>No Easy Outs</b><br />I have found, over the course of the years, that <b>not </b>having someone else doing it with you and committed to it...there are a lot of easy outs. For one, <b>nobody is there to see you quit</b>. It\'s really easy to quit when you don\'t have anyone to answer to...nobody to witness it. It\'s like it never happened! I feel like that\'s one of the top reasons people are...OK...with giving up. <b>It\'s not ok.</b> You\'re only letting yourself down. It\'s so easy to fall prey to the <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-i-dont-feel-like-it-syndrome.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"I Don\'t Feel Like It\" Syndrome</a> when you\'re on your own...easy for <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/why-workouts-fail-1-the-napoleon-complex.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Napoleon Complex</a> to overtake you...to just plain <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/conquer-the-truth-about-motivation.html\" target=\"_blank\">lose motivation</a>!<br /><br /><b>SUPPORT!</b><br /><b>I can\'t TELL YOU </b>how great it is to have someone there reaching milestones with you, achieving successes with you...just generally sharing in the experience. It was great to get through a workout, look at Megan 5 feet away, and high five her after we finished a workout. The look we gave each other after finishing the last workout of week 1 was of such accomplishment, relief, and joy...in that moment we knew we could do it - if you can get through the first week you can get through it all...<b>and we had done it! </b>Sharing that with her was great! Working with a partner I was able to <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/lose-your-limits.html\" target=\"_blank\">lose my limits</a> and achieve new heights I never would\'ve dreamed of before...I\'m running a half marathon in a week and a half for crying out loud!<br /><br />Likewise, it\'s great to be able to share in your struggles and work through it together. We were both practically dying on the floor together during some of the more intense days during some of the programs we did...but we looked at each other, reaffirmed we could do it, and kept going. You keep going for yourself, you keep going for them...whether it\'s because you want to succeed for them or because you want to challenge them to keep up...it\'s because <b>they\'re there</b>. <b>They\'re doing it too. </b>That other person can make the difference. They can also help to shield you from outside influences too...help keep you strong. When you\'re in it with someone else, they can help defend against the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/haters.html\" target=\"_blank\">Haters</a>. <br /><br /><b>Accountability</b><br />If you\'re doing your workouts with someone else...they\'re gonna know if you didn\'t do it. Maybe because you work out together, maybe because you check in with each other...but <b>they\'ll know</b>. Whether they give you crap for not doing it or whether you feel guilty all on your own...having that other person can keep you honest and get you to do it on a day you\'d otherwise say <i>screw it</i>. Knowing that other person is tracking their progress and will be showing you their before/afters can also encourage you to work just a little bit harder throughout the course of the program instead of taking it easy on yourself. Besides...if you\'re gonna commit, <b>why not go whole-hog?</b><br /><br /><b>THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA</b><br /><br />Working out with others is by no means a new idea...workout classes, CrossFit gyms, etc...there are countless people, groups, and organizations that use and encourage the buddy system or the group mentality. Why? <b>Because it works</b>. Having a community of people all in it together makes it work so much better.<br /><b> </b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KuZMwagaiGg/UlgGym6nN4I/AAAAAAAAB4E/UfZQ_RrjzXI/s1600/BBAltSigB.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KuZMwagaiGg/UlgGym6nN4I/AAAAAAAAB4E/UfZQ_RrjzXI/s1600/BBAltSigB.jpg\" /></a></div><b> </b><br /><b> </b><br /><b>What About That \"Challenge Group\" You Mentioned?</b><br /><br />Many<b> </b>BeachBody Coaches out there (probably all, really) run \"Challenge Groups\". Each coach, I\'m sure, does it differently. The idea, no matter how, specifically, they do it, is that a group of people (maybe 5, 10, 20...depends on the coach) all do the same program starting on the same day. They check in on a special Facebook group (or through some other method, again, depending on the coach) and talk about their progress. People in the group will talk about their struggles and successes, share in their accomplishments and difficulties, and seek advice, guidance, and motivation from the rest of the group and their coach. The coach is usually always there to actively guide and encourage the group members and provides tools for success to make sure each individual can achieve their fitness goals. Some coaches run their group for the full duration of the program, and some run it for a month or two. The idea is to help make sure, again, that each individual has the support, encouragement, and tools necessary to achieve success.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DvAPRqiRNpA/Ul8K0foMflI/AAAAAAAAB5A/WxHDvU36Jlk/s1600/challengegroup.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DvAPRqiRNpA/Ul8K0foMflI/AAAAAAAAB5A/WxHDvU36Jlk/s400/challengegroup.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />I am running a P90X Challenge Group. My group will be pushing play for Day 1 on Monday, October 28th. I\'ll be starting to put out information and guidance for them this weekend, getting them ready and preparing them for the challenge to come. If you are interested, please don\'t hesitate to reach out to me at <a href=\"mailto:Darrell@SoTHISIsFitness.com\">Darrell@SoTHISIsFitness.com</a>, make an account on <a href=\"http://www.teambeachbody.com/\">www.TeamBeachBody.com</a> (identify me as your coach - coach id 301487 or screenname SoTHISIsFitness - I\'ll find you), or request to join the <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/group/SoTHISIsFitness\" target=\"_blank\">\"So Fit\" Family facebook group</a>. You&nbsp; can get the program through me at www.BeachBodyCoach.com/SoTHISIsFitness . <b>If you\'re interested, you likely need to order by Friday or Saturday in order to have it in-hand in time. </b><br /><br />I\'m SO excited to have the opportunity to help people achieve their goals and finally attain success. This is the first program I did...it\'s what started me on the path to  where I am now! It\'s great to see that it\'ll also be the first program like  this for a number of people who have already committed to the Challenge  Group. I\'d love to help you too! That\'s the whole point of this blog. <br /><br /><b>So why do it alone?</b><br /><br />I\'m sure there\'s <b>someone </b>you know that also wants to make a change. <b>Someone </b>else who\'s having the same thoughts go through their head that are going through yours. Try feeling it out among those you know and see if someone wants to join you. Maybe you\'d rather go through a challenge group or online support community (like the <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/group/SoTHISIsFitness\" target=\"_blank\">So Fit Family</a>) to find your encouragement and motivation. Whatever the case, know that <b>you don\'t have to do it alone. </b>It\'s always better together. Happy Hump Day!','It\'s Always Better Together','','inherit','closed','closed','','93-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:46:25','2017-01-20 21:46:25','',93,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/93-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(788,1,'2017-01-20 16:46:46','2017-01-20 21:46:46','<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lym0hWbDKeY/Uga_wdROo8I/AAAAAAAABJY/XrddHCjnomM/s1600/IMG_20130810_123839_406.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"295\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lym0hWbDKeY/Uga_wdROo8I/AAAAAAAABJY/XrddHCjnomM/s320/IMG_20130810_123839_406.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br />So here we are. Tomorrow is the big day. Race day. I keep hearing that the Falmouth Road Race is the biggest, most popular race in New England second only to the Boston Marathon itself. All things considered, I believe it. I\'ve been preparing for this for months, and I feel like I was preparing for it before I even knew I was doing it. I\'ve logged over 140 miles training for this which, frankly, isn\'t<br /><a name=\'more\'></a> as much as I would\'ve liked. I suppose it was about the best i could do considering I\'ve been doing a bodybuilding program for the past 8 weeks...cardio and heavy iron aren\'t usually best friends...<br /><br />Anyway - in preparation for the race I gave special attention to my <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">playlist</a>. Some songs were ditched and some added. This was a painstaking process and believe it or not I did \"road test\" most of the songs I was considering...kind of the only sure way to know you can run to it.<br /><br />First - additions:<br /><br />A couple of these are actually kind of working as <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/running-on-rocket-fuel-anatomy-of-a-power-song.html\" target=\"_blank\">Power Songs</a> for me <br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wws7mnMewPw\" target=\"_blank\">135 BPM - Slipknot - Psychosocial</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9cM06Ok4TU\" target=\"_blank\">140 BPM - La Roux - Bulletproof (Chrispy Dubstep Mix)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVE8kSM43I\" target=\"_blank\">145 BPM - Slipknot - Duality </a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto\" target=\"_blank\">148 BPM - Florida Georgia Line - Cruise</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2yuGgp_U8\" target=\"_blank\">150 BPM - Five Finger Death Punch - Lift Me Up</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLk75fFXqH4\" target=\"_blank\">152 BPM - Five Finger Death Punch - Under And Over It</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2icdM9KuHU\" target=\"_blank\">152 BPM - Five Finger Death Punch - Back For More</a><br /><br />Next up - cut from the team:<br />These songs were just really throwing off my rhythm. Overall they were too slow and I was trying to move too fast to them - ended up off-sync and with a weird stride. <br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tolm-07if3c\" target=\"_blank\">108 BPM - The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. and Pharrel)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXBFun0ijYQ\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Cobra Starship - Hot Mess</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlW1VYrETAM\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Karmin - Brokenhearted (R3hab Remix)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlOAMKTj0hU\" target=\"_blank\">125 BPM - Rammstein - Du Hast</a><br /><br />Last - tried and failed:<br />I really wanted to be able to run to these songs, but <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-music-while-running-controversy.html\" target=\"_blank\">you just can\'t force it</a>. Instead of my running playlist I\'ll have to be satisfied with having these on in the car or something. Maybe when I do a cycling playlist I can revisit these (cadence and pace is different)<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Robin Thicke ft. T.I. - Blurred Lines</a> (too slow of a beat, couldn\'t match the rhythm to my stride)<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asOvnGHwtDU\" target=\"_blank\">138 BPM - The Vines - Get Free</a> (beat just wasn\'t quite right...almost)<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU\" target=\"_blank\">150 BPM - Imagine Dragons - Radioactive</a> (song is kinda slow and draggy. Beat would be good but its a sluggish kinda song - not energetic enough for running)<br /><br />One thing is for sure - I. Am. Pumped. I feel like I\'ve trained and have gotten myself to a point where I can not only finish, but finish strong with a time I can be proud of. I\'ve run the course once for practice so I know what to expect and I\'ve re-tooled my <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">playlist</a>. Just think - if in one year I can do what I\'ve done...anyone can.<br /><br />At this point, there\'s nothing to it but to do it. See you at the finish.','Primed And Ready - Falmouth Road Race (w/ playlist update)','','inherit','closed','closed','','119-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:46:46','2017-01-20 21:46:46','',119,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/119-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(789,1,'2017-01-20 16:47:41','2017-01-20 21:47:41','I\'ve been thinking a lot lately about what moves people...what motivates us to get out there and GET IT on a daily basis? What moves us to make the lazy choices, the crazy choices...the choices PERIOD? On that note...I\'ve been moved to do something that I\'ve been kind of quiet about -<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QC8YTfri-lI/UnekPXeyxqI/AAAAAAAAE1k/cCU1X4znnT4/s1600/Spartan-Race-Spartan-Logo2.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"125\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QC8YTfri-lI/UnekPXeyxqI/AAAAAAAAE1k/cCU1X4znnT4/s400/Spartan-Race-Spartan-Logo2.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>Yup - I\'m doing an obstacle race now! On November 16th, right about noon, I\'ll be doing the<a href=\"http://www.spartanrace.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> Spartan Sprint Time Trial</a> at <a href=\"http://mlb.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/index.jsp\" target=\"_blank\">Fenway Park</a>. Because a regular 5K wasn\'t enough...let\'s throw in some obstacles. So what gives? Why would I do something like that? Why would someone else? Why would someone even get up off the couch to run a REGULAR 5K? On this chilly Motivational Monday morning...I\'d like to answer that question to the best of my ability.<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Yes, </span></b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">November 16th at 12:15 pm I will be running the Spartan Sprint TT at Fenway Park as a part of the Masonic Medical Research Lab\'s team - The Ruffians (that was the most badass name the Masons could come up with I guess. haha). I was pretty quiet about this because I wanted the attention to be on my big half-marathon and the fundraising campaign that went along with it (thanks again to those who donated!).&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><b>BUT! </b>Now that it\'s done, I\'ve completed the half-marathon, and the fundraising is complete...it\'s time to focus on the newest challenge. But what exactly is a Spartan Race? <b>It\'s an Obstacle Course Race (OCR). </b>Ok...what is THAT?<br /><br /><b>It\'s exactly what it sounds like.</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FYdFaqmyu6c/Uneor1ZCHxI/AAAAAAAAE14/jO7xPRu1V90/s1600/tough-mudder-numbers_fe.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FYdFaqmyu6c/Uneor1ZCHxI/AAAAAAAAE14/jO7xPRu1V90/s400/tough-mudder-numbers_fe.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7CPbinDGRwc/UnepL7TiIQI/AAAAAAAAE2I/Kh-zyE_RKFc/s1600/Tough-Mudder.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7CPbinDGRwc/UnepL7TiIQI/AAAAAAAAE2I/Kh-zyE_RKFc/s320/Tough-Mudder.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glP-ZweDUyM/Uneo5zEc2MI/AAAAAAAAE2E/xSeHLhzF-Zk/s1600/tough-mudder.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"210\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glP-ZweDUyM/Uneo5zEc2MI/AAAAAAAAE2E/xSeHLhzF-Zk/s320/tough-mudder.png\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>An Obstacle Course Race, such as a Tough Mudder or Spartan Race, is just that...an race on an obstacle course! There are many different ones, and many different lengths. There\'s the Tough Mudder, which is roughly a half-marathon with about 20-something obstacles, there\'s the Spartan Race, which has a few different varieties within itself, and there\'s MANY others, all sprouting up from the original popularity of Tough Mudder and Spartan. Remember in <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/10/achievement-unlocked-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"Achievement Unlocked - 13.1</a>\" I mentioned every race half-marathon and up tends to give you a finisher\'s medal? <b>So do all these obstacle races. </b>Why? Because they\'re just as much of an accomplishment to finish as a half-marathon. Hell...some of them ARE a half-marathon!<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>So Let\'s Talk about the Spartan Race</b></span><br /><br /><b>Spartan Races come in a number of flavors: </b>The Spartan Sprint (about 3+miles), Spartan Super (8+ miles), Spartan Beast (12+ miles), Spartan Ultra Beast (26+ miles), and Spartan Death Race (48 hours of ridiculous). There are also Time Trials (what I\'m doing) that seem to range in length from 1 mile to 3 miles, and other military-style races (as if a regular Spartan wasn\'t military enough). <br /><br /><b>How about the one I\'m doing? </b>Spartan Sprint Time Trial at Fenway Park. Let me tell you how FUN this looks! Many of you probably wouldn\'t consider carrying a 60 lb sandbag up, down and across the bleachers at a ballpark \"fun\"... I wouldn\'t have either a year ago.<br /><b> </b><br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Which Brings Me To My Topic For Today: What Moves You?</span></b> <br /><br />What is it that makes you do what you do? What makes you run? What makes you bike? What makes you do P90X, INSANITY, COMBAT, etc? Why on EARTH would you run a freaking obstacle race? <b>What Moves You?</b><br /><br /><b>Everyone has something different</b> that moves them - that makes them do what they do. Some people want to make a change. Some people want to take on a challenge. Do you move in memory of someone? Because your friend is doing it? Because you\'re bored?<br /><b> </b><br /><b>I want to challenge you. </b>I want you to get out of your comfort zone. Do something <b>different</b>. Do something <b>challenging</b>. Get up off the couch and <b>start something</b>. If you\'re already off the couch and moving...take on a <b>bigger challenge. </b>Work <b>harder. </b>Go <b>farther.</b> <b>Push yourself</b>. Every day is valuable - it\'s up to us to take life by the horns and ride! If you get thrown off the bull, catch up, get back on, and <b>show it who\'s the boss!</b> I learned a valuable lesson throughout <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">my journey</a> - every day counts - LIVE LIFE! So, <b>MY next challenge?</b><br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">THIS sure looks like fun:</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-My_WV7HXhHk/UnekxWHIqFI/AAAAAAAAE1w/A_k-VvQ1MEE/s1600/spartan+spartans.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-My_WV7HXhHk/UnekxWHIqFI/AAAAAAAAE1w/A_k-VvQ1MEE/s400/spartan+spartans.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>So WHY exactly </b>would I want to get the stuffing beat out of me by <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gladiators\" target=\"_blank\">Nitro and Gold from American Gladiators</a>? <b>Because I can. </b>Because <b>it\'s there</b>. Because I want to <b>challenge myself </b>and <b>push my limits. </b>I want to see <b>just how far I can go</b> and prove that with time and training, <b>anything is possible.</b>. Don\'t listen to those clowns that tell you something is impossible. <b>Nothing is impossible.</b> Get out there and <b>GET IT!</b>','What Moves You? - Obstacle Race Time!','','inherit','closed','closed','','91-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:47:41','2017-01-20 21:47:41','',91,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/91-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(790,1,'2017-01-20 16:47:41','2017-01-20 21:47:41','Finally updated the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">running playlist.</a> Learned a lot in the past couple months about running, my pace, etc, and I\'ve made some changes and additions to the playlist to go along with that. <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/10/achievement-unlocked-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">Finishing that half-marathon </a>taught me a lot, too! Read on to check out the changes, and why I made them. Check out the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">running playlist here!</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s1600/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"180\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s320/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /> <br /><a name=\'more\'></a>You\'ll notice there\'s a lot of slower songs - around 130 bpm - that were added - I\'m still in the process of feeling those out on distance runs. They encourage me to keep a pace I can maintain over the course of 13 miles. I\'ll have to do a few more long runs to say whether they\'re keepers or not, but <b>so far</b> they\'re working for me. <br /><br /><b>ADDITIONALLY - </b>as of right now...everything 146 BPM and faster is part of a second, separate playlist for \"sprints\" - 5K\'s, maybe 10K\'s...shorter runs with a much faster pace! Right now I don\'t have the endurance, I don\'t think, to maintain my 5K pace over much more than a 10K pace...we\'ll see what happens.<br /><br />Newly added:<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8eXaXoUJRQ\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Selena Gomez - Slow Down&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys7-6_t7OEQ\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj - Beauty &amp; A Beat&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrschw-wdI\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Ke$ha - Warrior </a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOubzHCUt48\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Ke$ha - Die Young</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89u9T7WDoaM\" target=\"_blank\">130 BPM - Selena Gomez - Come &amp; Get It (Dave Aude Club Remix)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAhHNCfA7NI\" target=\"_blank\">130 BPM - Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHESy8XsJPs\" target=\"_blank\">130 BPM - Pitbull ft. Ke$ha - Timber&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w211KOQ5BMI\" target=\"_blank\">132 BPM - Rage Against The Machine - Sleep Now In The Fire </a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slFc9G7I74\" target=\"_blank\">133 BPM - The Offspring - Hit That</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco91kroVgQ\" target=\"_blank\">140 BPM - Lady Gaga - Applause&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0H-1IuaY8\" target=\"_blank\">143 BPM - The Offspring - (Can\'t Get My) Head Around You&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXmKiEqVx4\" target=\"_blank\">160 BPM - Metallica - Ain\'t My Bitch</a> <br /><br />Back on the list:<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpjGVyxZRDY\" target=\"_blank\">139 BPM - Britney Spears - Toxic (Armand Van Helden Remix)&nbsp; </a><br /><br />Cut From The List:<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJH38M723aU\" target=\"_blank\">123 BPM - Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko (too slow)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-jC3H_8Dk4\" target=\"_blank\">215 BPM - Good Charlotte - Lifestyles of The Rich And The Famous (too fast)</a><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlOAMKTj0hU\" target=\"_blank\"><br /></a> <br /><br />Again...let\'s not forget that disclaimer...<b>just because I\'d run to it...doesn\'t necessarily mean I\'d listen to it in real life.</b><br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Check out the running playlist here!&nbsp;</b></a>','Playlist Update - Go The Distance','','inherit','closed','closed','','90-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:47:41','2017-01-20 21:47:41','',90,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/90-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(791,1,'2017-01-20 16:47:41','2017-01-20 21:47:41','What an INCREDIBLE weekend! I\'m still kind of in shock...words just can\'t describe how <b>elated</b> I am. This weekend I ran the Frosty Knuckle 5K+ AND the <a href=\"http://www.hyannismarathon.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Hyannis Half-Marathon</a>...<b>back to back days</b>.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--B0rrgmczaA/UwppIp5tN5I/AAAAAAAAGdg/jiE1WGiv4F0/s1600/runwkndnumbr.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--B0rrgmczaA/UwppIp5tN5I/AAAAAAAAGdg/jiE1WGiv4F0/s1600/runwkndnumbr.jpg\" /></a></div>Not only did I do well in both races...but I came away with a pretty big accomplishment in the 5K+ and a MAJOR accomplishment in Half-Marathon! If <b>I </b>can do this...<b>anyone</b> can. How did I do it? And how can <b>you?</b> Read on, and share in the journey!<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />This weekend, by all accounts, was probably <b>a really bad idea</b>. On Saturday I ran the Frosty Knuckle 5K+...then I ran the Hyannis Half-Marathon Sunday. That in itself could\'ve been passable...if it weren\'t for a few things... you\'ll find those as you read through...<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Let\'s Talk About the Frosty Knuckle 5K+!</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qvySA8uyoHc/UwdHjD6XKRI/AAAAAAAAGbM/iZNE6aNHxsE/s1600/frosty_logo_MAIN-300x135.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qvySA8uyoHc/UwdHjD6XKRI/AAAAAAAAGbM/iZNE6aNHxsE/s1600/frosty_logo_MAIN-300x135.png\" /></a></div><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lnE9r_MfMP0/Uwp8FNIAdcI/AAAAAAAAGd8/U5bx_XVVEH8/s1600/IMG_20140222_104632950_HDR2.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lnE9r_MfMP0/Uwp8FNIAdcI/AAAAAAAAGd8/U5bx_XVVEH8/s1600/IMG_20140222_104632950_HDR2.jpg\" height=\"400\" width=\"170\" /></a><b>Frosty Knuckle 5K+ was a blast!</b> I should start by thanking my friend Natalie at <a href=\"http://www.eclipxhair.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Eclipx Salon</a> for sponsoring me into this race! <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/EclipxSalon\" target=\"_blank\">Eclipx Salon</a> is her hair salon in Salisbury, MA (50 Elm St.) - the race was actually only about 8 minutes from her salon! Normally I do aim to sign sponsors that have something to do with health &amp; fitness, but I think it\'s also great to represent local / small businesses. <a href=\"http://www.eclipxhair.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Please be sure to give her site a look!</a> I\'ll be running more races for her later this year, so keep an eye out!&nbsp; She loved my shirt idea, by the way - \"Run Like A Beast, Look Like A Beauty\".<br /><br />It was a smaller race - the \"field\" (# of participants) was only 160 people. Smaller races are different - having a smaller \"field\" can provide for a different feel. I don\'t really know how to describe it... \"intimate\" isn\'t the right word...but it isn\'t the big song and dance that something like the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/and-then-i-ran-falmouth-road-race.html\" target=\"_blank\">Falmouth Road Race</a> is (with its 12,000+ runners) or even the Hyannis Half Marathon (with just under 3,000 runners). You get to see more of individual runners\' personalities, the groups that come having fun together, and even the event staff has more fun. <b>Whatever word you use to describe it </b>- I enjoyed it.<br /><br />Going into this race I was still riding the high from my MIRACULOUS <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/02/winter-warlock-recap.html\" target=\"_blank\">2nd place overall finish in the Winter Warlock 5K (Plymouth, MA)</a>. Between that and the size of the race...I may have gone a little harder than I initially intended....<b>whoops.</b><br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">How I Set Myself Up For Trouble:</span></b><br /><br />My initial plan was more or less to take it easy - I knew I had my 2nd ever half-marathon the next day, I knew what my goal was for the half...and I didn\'t want to risk screwing it up by burning myself out the day before. <b>What ended up happening</b> was mile splits of 7:21, 8:09 (when I realized I had to SLOW THE HELL DOWN), and 8:48 (once I hit the sand).<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHVDMGumL8Y/UwqIfVUo5PI/AAAAAAAAGeY/EmhsUqBcNss/s1600/frostyknucklemap.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHVDMGumL8Y/UwqIfVUo5PI/AAAAAAAAGeY/EmhsUqBcNss/s1600/frostyknucklemap.jpg\" /></a></div><br /><b>Oh yeah</b>...forgot to mention...from just before the 3rd mile until pretty much the end...<b>we were running on the beach.</b> <b>SAND!</b> Good Lord...let me just tell you...this was the first time I had ever run on sand before...NOT FUN.<br /><br />OK...maybe \"not fun\" isn\'t the right way to put it...<br /><br />Running on sand was <b>incredibly challenging</b>. There\'s a reason my mile split dropped to 8:48 on the sand...its just so tough! <b>*PRO TIP*</b> If you\'re running on sand, do yourself a HUGE favor and run near the water, where the sand is wet and more firm. The dry sand is nearly impossible...it just moves underneath you so much - it\'s hard to get any propulsion! When you push off with your foot, usually the ground doesn\'t move and you go forward...but when the sand moves backward you get less forward movement for the effort you\'re giving. Running on the wet sand is a little better, but it still moves and dampens the effort you\'re putting out.<br /><br /><b>This is why I\'ve come to the conclusion that running on sand is EXCELLENT for training. </b>It\'s also why I\'ve come to the conclusion that <i>I don\'t think I want to run any more races involving sand</i>. Haha. Unless it\'s an obstacle race - then I\'ll just consider it another obstacle.<br /><br />I ended up doing pretty well all things considered. The race was a little over a 5K (3.3 miles) and I finished in 26:59, which is about 8:11 min/mile. I was pretty satisfied with that, especially considering I intentionally tried to slow myself down starting somewhere late in the 1st mile. <b>What really caught me off-guard</b> was when the race director Heidi started announcing age group awards...and got to the Male 19 - 29 age group...<b>and announced me as 3rd place!</b> My Mom (who was there) can tell you...the look on my face must\'ve been hysterical - I was NOT at ALL expecting that. The medal itself was pretty hilarious, but appropriate considering Frosty Knuckle is actually a beer (Google it).<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztz0A3KJlAE/UwqZ8qz1ftI/AAAAAAAAGew/58yyErXAcYo/s1600/IMG_20140223_195721959_HDR.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztz0A3KJlAE/UwqZ8qz1ftI/AAAAAAAAGew/58yyErXAcYo/s1600/IMG_20140223_195721959_HDR.jpg\" height=\"225\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>Yeah - it\'s a bottle-opener. Hah.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />The race was put on by Heat Event Management - Heidi (the Race Director) was SUPER nice and great to talk to - she said they do a LOT of trail runs, which is something I\'m looking to get into. She also mentioned that they happen in some really scenic places, which is a bonus. I definitely recommend looking into what they have to offer :) I LOVE local races. Another great thing about local races? ...sometimes they bring in LOCAL BEER! Ipswitch ale was there with a free beer for every runner :) So <b>that </b>was pretty great.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Jxnpf4Lw60/UwtIbzA3KDI/AAAAAAAAGgs/Hmk4rutNt5Q/s1600/ipsalebrewery.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Jxnpf4Lw60/UwtIbzA3KDI/AAAAAAAAGgs/Hmk4rutNt5Q/s1600/ipsalebrewery.jpg\" height=\"117\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>Quick side-note: </b>Salisbury Beach in the winter looked like something out of a zombie apocalypse movie. Think Zombieland...its got that creepy abandoned fun-house / boardwalk thing going on...it was odd. I wish I got a picture. Maybe when I go up in March for Smuttypalooza :)<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">On to the Hyannis Half Marathon!</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKY7_wbGd3Q/Uwqpu6I_UbI/AAAAAAAAGfE/C2Fc3Nmv2_k/s1600/hyannis+half.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKY7_wbGd3Q/Uwqpu6I_UbI/AAAAAAAAGfE/C2Fc3Nmv2_k/s1600/hyannis+half.jpg\" height=\"351\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>This was the big race! </b>I\'ve been looking forward to this since before the new year! This was my 2nd half marathon ever, and I was going in with a goal. My first half - the <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/10/achievement-unlocked-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">Cape Cod Marathon Half</a> - I had a rough idea, I was a little slower, and I was focusing on just <b>finishing</b>. I had a lot of hamstring and foot issues, I had I.T. Band issues, and I stopped to walk a lot as a result.  In the end, I finished in 2:09:29 (goal was to break 2:15:00).<br /><br /><b>Hyannis was different. </b>I had run more, trained more, and done long distances more. My obvious goal was to beat my old time. <b>My REAL goal was to break 2 hours. </b><br /><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3Sn-o8DbV4/Uwqz0ycT5NI/AAAAAAAAGfY/7P1bY37f1ZQ/s1600/IMG_20140223_095223017.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3Sn-o8DbV4/Uwqz0ycT5NI/AAAAAAAAGfY/7P1bY37f1ZQ/s1600/IMG_20140223_095223017.jpg\" height=\"400\" width=\"225\" /></a><span></span><span></span><br />So I showed up in Hyannis ready to go. My timing was a little off and I ended up getting there with enough time to get my number and shirt, hit the restroom and stretch. I had planned on getting there early, but that didn\'t happen...so I had to fight off that awful \"rushed\" feeling. I managed to simmer down once I got to stretching though.<br /><br />For starters...(literally)...I couldn\'t even get in the corral! It was so packed full there was just no room! I wasn\'t the only one who had to sneak in once the gun went off, though. To be fair, it was partly my own fault - I waited until about 5 minutes before gun time to even GET to the start and I refused to go farther down the chute - I was right up at the 8 min/mile flag. What can I say...I wanted to be near the start line! There\'s something about having that big neon clock at the finish at least KIND of close to your actual time...<br /><br /><b>***REAL quick - </b>for those who don\'t know - gun time is when the starting gun goes off to when you cross the finish. Net time is from when you cross the start to when you cross the finish. In a big race, you might not cross the start right when the gun goes off - might take 30 seconds, might take 5 minutes. The big neon clock at the finish goes off of gun time...so by being close to the start line, my net and gun times are close and that big neon clock is ALMOST accurate.***<br /><br /><b>As far as the race itself</b> - It was a nice run through Hyannis - we went close to (if not IN) downtown Hyannis, through Osterville, Craigville, and Centerville. We didn\'t <b>quite </b>go as far as Cotuit. It was a nice tour of Hyannis.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLT_Q9f3WcM/UwrRrJFRQqI/AAAAAAAAGgM/x0Hv5SBW4yM/s1600/hyannismap.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLT_Q9f3WcM/UwrRrJFRQqI/AAAAAAAAGgM/x0Hv5SBW4yM/s1600/hyannismap.jpg\" /></a></div>I\'ve learned that it\'s all relative. I approach each different distance I run with a different mindset and a different target pace. When I\'m half done with a 5K I\'m just as pooped as I am when I\'m half done with a 10K. This is <b>almost</b> the same with a half marathon...but it\'s a little different. It may have been because I was trying to go much faster than my first half. It may have been because I ran a race the day before. It may have been because there were hills ALL OVER the course instead of mainly concentrated along a 3 mile stretch...or it may just be because 13.1 miles is a <b>long freaking distance</b>. Whatever the case, this race was tougher than my first 13.1. I may not have had injuries/cramps/issues like the last time...but that opened up a new set of challenges. <br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLl42a6iFNE/Uwq0bTotE3I/AAAAAAAAGfg/VVzpdiFQxj8/s1600/IMG_20140223_145512083.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLl42a6iFNE/Uwq0bTotE3I/AAAAAAAAGfg/VVzpdiFQxj8/s1600/IMG_20140223_145512083.jpg\" height=\"400\" width=\"297\" /></a></div><b>What challenges? </b>It was me, my preparation, and my mind. In general, I feel like anything over 10 miles is all mental, and today reinforced that for me. That\'s the front of my shirt right there. I wasn\'t sponsored for the Hyannis Half, so I wore my own shirt. It wasn\'t a giant logo...it was <b>motivation</b>. It was for me and for whoever saw it - it\'s what I believe and what I\'ve been saying all along. The front said \"NO Limits.\" and \"I Can. I <u>WILL</u>.\" - You can see the back up above - \"Success happens one mile at a time\". I was repeating these three little gems to myself the whole race, because they were <b>all true</b>. Every time I wanted to slow down...<b>stop</b>...take a walk-break...I DEMANDED more of myself and resolved to get to the next mile. Know what I figured out? <b>I didn\'t really need to stop.</b> I kept telling myself \"I Can. I WILL.\"...<b>and I did.</b><br /><br />I started feeling my quads after a while...I kind of want to attribute that to running the Frosty Knuckle. The Race Director DID say she\'s had people tell her how sore their quads are after that race...<b>whoops</b>. After a while, that led to me feeling just how much my legs really weigh. I was reminded that while I have lost a <b>ton</b> of weight...at 175 lbs I\'m still heavier than many runners, and picking those legs up with each step requires a <b>lot </b>of work. <b>Didn\'t matter.</b> <b>No Limits.</b> I powered through it. I didn\'t demand big crazy reaches out of my body...I did it one mile at a time. My calves started to feel like they wanted to cramp up on me. <b>I didn\'t allow it</b>. I Can. I WILL. I kept telling myself...<i>every little bit you can run instead of walk...every little bit you can keep going...it ALL matters, and it ALL gets you closer to your goal! </i><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TdZa5Y7cjqI/UwrM6BiActI/AAAAAAAAGgA/Za0LdGLP5e0/s1600/paceband.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TdZa5Y7cjqI/UwrM6BiActI/AAAAAAAAGgA/Za0LdGLP5e0/s1600/paceband.jpg\" height=\"400\" width=\"153\" /></a></div>At mile 11 an old friend caught up with me...<b>my left hamstring</b>. I realized if I tried to just blast <span></span><span></span>through it my time would suffer and it could get worse, so I stopped and stretched super-fast and got back in it. I took a couple extra 10 second walk breaks because I had the time. <b>And I kept going. </b>Nothing was going to hold me back - I was on track for a sub-2 hour half...and I was gonna <b>get it</b>.<br /><br />How did I know I was on-track? <b>I had a paceband. </b>What\'s a paceband? It\'s that thing right there! I found a site, I plugged in the time I wanted to finish in, and told it the distance I was running. It did the math and put it together into a wristband that said at what time I needed to be at each mile marker. I printed it out, cut it out, and...\"laminated\" it...with some scotch tape. For the first 8 miles I was 2 minutes ahead of target. After that I started to slow a bit, but I was on-track. I knew <b>for a fact</b> that I could do it. It also allowed me to make smart, informed, tactical decisions about \"walk-breaks\"...10 seconds of walking here and there helped me keep my overall pace up. I DEFINITELY recommend printing up one of these for your next race. Solid idea for sure.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>So...How Did It Turn Out?!</b></span><br /><br /><br /><b>I DID IT! THAT\'S how it turned out! MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT - I BROKE 2 HOURS! Not by much, but I did it! I came in at 1:59:40 official time</b>. That\'s 9:49 faster than last time...almost 10 minutes off my time! I cannot BEGIN to describe how elated I am to have accomplished that! <b>ESPECIALLY </b>after having run that 5K+ the day before with that freakin\' <b>sand</b>.<br /><br /><b>The whole point of ALL of this...</b>all these races I\'m running this year...this site...<b>all of it</b>...it\'s to encourage, to motivate, and to show that <b>it <u>can</u> be done.</b> I was 300 lbs at the end of 2012! I had been a big guy <b>my whole life</b>. And here I am running back to back races and achieving amazing things like a sub-2 hour half marathon in the process! <b>ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! </b>Is this real life?! I literally would\'ve laughed out loud if, back then, someone tried to tell me this would happen...<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J-YOUducNeI/Uws8a0XiYCI/AAAAAAAAGgc/IUc3WDad9FQ/s1600/aftert25front.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J-YOUducNeI/Uws8a0XiYCI/AAAAAAAAGgc/IUc3WDad9FQ/s1600/aftert25front.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>It goes back to what I said</b> in the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/12/lose-your-limits-challenge-2014.html\" target=\"_blank\">Lose Your Limits Challenge article</a> - the only limits we TRULY have are the ones we set for ourselves. The human body is an amazing thing - given time and training it will do <b>whatever</b> you ask of it. It will change shape. It will get faster. It will endure longer. You just have to have the confidence and stamina to make those changes happen. Tell yourself exactly what I put on that shirt for me and everyone that could see it - <b>NO Limits. I Can - I <u>WILL</u>. </b>And remember - <b>Success happens one mile/km/lap/rep/pound/day at a time.</b><br /><br /><b>Honestly...</b> If I can do this, <b>anyone can. </b>You <u>WILL</u> get there. Just keep going :)','NO LIMITS. Frosty Knuckle 5K+ & Hyannis Half Marathon Recap','','inherit','closed','closed','','78-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:47:41','2017-01-20 21:47:41','',78,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/78-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(793,1,'2017-01-20 16:47:42','2017-01-20 21:47:42','2013 was such a huge year for me - I learned a lot about myself, my body, and my abilities. I learned that the only limits we <b>truly</b> have are the ones we set for ourselves - that\'s why I threw the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/12/lose-your-limits-challenge-2014.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"Lose Your Limits Challenge 2014</a>\" out there. At the time, I didn\'t realize <b>I had already taken on this challenge myself.</b> As my 2013 running season drew to a close, I began lining up my 2014 season - that is where MY challenge lies - this upcoming year of races is jam-packed. If things continue the way they are I\'ll be running a race nearly every weekend! Lots of races are close together or back to back, and there are going to be some BIG ones later in the year. My 2014 season starts in 13 days, and I\'d like to share the first installment of that season with you today.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><a name=\'more\'></a>I\'m so fortunate to have a number of sponsors backing me for my 2014 race season! Without them, I wouldn\'t be able to run <b>nearly </b>as many races as I am. These first three races I want to share with you are sponsored by my&nbsp; very first sponsor - the one that made it possible for me to <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/10/achievement-unlocked-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">run my first half-martahon</a> -<a href=\"http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;ved=0CC8QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fhaircutmeneastfalmouthma.com%2F&amp;ei=NEO4UrCEGOjv2QWuiYDQDA&amp;usg=AFQjCNFtc1JAvTbUMLqdzkdh92bZgrH5CQ&amp;sig2=zN0loStr8ORivGZ3VaRvwA&amp;bvm=bv.58187178,d.b2I\" target=\"_blank\"> <b>SportClips in Falmouth</b>. </a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-2CYtLQjJA/UgobuUylIzI/AAAAAAAABO8/0n6Q7101Shg/s1600/sportclips.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-2CYtLQjJA/UgobuUylIzI/AAAAAAAABO8/0n6Q7101Shg/s400/sportclips.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>For those of you who haven\'t been there...as the logo implies, it\'s a sports-themed haircut place meant primarily for guys. There are tv\'s literally everywhere - including posted up between chairs for you to watch tv while you get a haircut. It\'s definitely an interesting concept, and I can dig it. They also do this thing called the \"MVP\" - it\'s like a little man-spa. You should check out their site and learn a little more - if you\'re anywhere near (or on) Cape Cod, the one in Falmouth <b>is</b><i> </i>the closest one to you - I\'m pretty sure it\'s the only one this side of Boston. <br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><b>The Races</b></span><br /><br />George (the owner over at SportClips) was kind enough to sponsor me for three local races. The first one is on January 5th! I bet that\'ll be a cold one (or not, if this weird New England weather keeps up!).<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icCssMcGVs0/Urgx-WsctrI/AAAAAAAAGF4/TaOujXI2l04/s1600/IMG_8095.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"298\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icCssMcGVs0/Urgx-WsctrI/AAAAAAAAGF4/TaOujXI2l04/s400/IMG_8095.JPG\" width=\"400\" />&nbsp;</a> </div><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Cape Cod Road Runner\'s 34th Annual Winter Fun Run</span></b><br /><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvSQ-gFC2sY/Urg0dTJgcII/AAAAAAAAGGI/8kGzFoBQQ50/s1600/CCRRFunRunroute.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvSQ-gFC2sY/Urg0dTJgcII/AAAAAAAAGGI/8kGzFoBQQ50/s320/CCRRFunRunroute.jpg\" width=\"272\" /></a>This one looks like a lot of fun! The course takes you through some back-road area in Bourne / Monument Beach (just past the Bourne Bridge), with about a half-mile stretch along the beach itself. I\'m REALLY hoping it\'s not windy - that half-mile could be pretty awful. It\'s a weird length for a <span></span><span></span>course - 4.87 miles. I\'ve found that most, if not all, non-standard distance courses tend to have a story behind their distance. The <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/and-then-i-ran-falmouth-road-race.html\" target=\"_blank\">Falmouth Road Race</a> began as a run from the Captain Kidd in Woods Hole to the BBC in Falmouth (hence 7.4 miles), and it looks like (in terms of having a story) this race is no different. It used to be a course along a dirt road, which began at The Weary Traveler Shrine Club (Shriners are a part of Freemasonry), but over time maintenance of the dirt road became an issue, so they chose a new course. The revised course fell just short of 5 miles, but they stuck with it. <br /><br />This is a \"fun run\". <b>What does that mean?</b> It means there is no chip timing, and those bibs you see in the picture are basic and, it would seem, to help them jot down some overall and age group award winners. This\'ll feel the same as any other race I\'ve run - not like I\'m the leader of the pack taking home the prize for running a 15 minute 5K yet! Hah. The entry fees from this go to support the <a href=\"http://www.bourneconservationtrust.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Bourne Conservation Trust</a> - a private non-profit that acquires land in order to leave it in its natural state. Sounds good to me :). <br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Lovin\' L.I.F.E. 5K</span></b><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzHSbPZwReY/Urg1dzW9s9I/AAAAAAAAGGU/DDJZ4ErfKKA/s1600/12400_605858926109550_962739796_n.png\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"313\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzHSbPZwReY/Urg1dzW9s9I/AAAAAAAAGGU/DDJZ4ErfKKA/s320/12400_605858926109550_962739796_n.png\" width=\"320\" /></a><br /><b>This one has some special meaning for me</b>. This was not only my first 5K, but my first RACE ever! I\'m VERY excited to run it again and see how I stack up against myself from last year. Last time I ran this race it was just a month and a half after I started running in the first place. <span></span><span></span><br /><span></span><span></span><br />This race, if they keep the same course as last year, takes you through some back roads and neighborhoods in Mashpee, MA. The home stretch goes along Great Neck Road in Mashpee, and the finish line is right in the L.I.F.E. complex. <br /><a href=\"http://www.lifecapecod.org/\" target=\"_blank\">L.I.F.E. stands for Living Independently Forever.</a> It\'s a non-profit org that provides assisted living for adults with disabilities in its condominium complex. It\'s a great group doing some great work, and I\'m happy to support them! The race is on May 4th, 2014. Should be a nice spring day, just like last year!<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Falmouth Flag Day 5K</b></span><br /><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgkoCZp99DA/Urg-7E1gmrI/AAAAAAAAGGg/JiloqDnbVzc/s1600/598812_436432483056708_1291712048_n.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"262\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgkoCZp99DA/Urg-7E1gmrI/AAAAAAAAGGg/JiloqDnbVzc/s400/598812_436432483056708_1291712048_n.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a><br />This race is still pending announcement, so it\'s tentative. I\'m PLANNING on running this one! This looks like a really fun race, and I ALMOST registered for it last year. I\'m not sure of the exact route of the course, but if photos are any indication it looks like the finish is right near the Falmouth Road Race finish - by the BBC in Falmouth Heights. If that\'s the case, I\'m sure this will be a very scenic race! This (hopefully) sunny June race will be a nice way to come down off of a half-marathon and an obstacle race...more on that soon ;)<br /><b></b><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>WHY Am I Doing This?</b></span><br /><br />These are just three of the 12 races I am (so far) registered for (through July), and there will be more coming. <b>Why </b>am I running so many races? And<b> why</b> would I register for races back to back? <b>I\'m doing it to show that you can</b>. If I can do it, anyone can. This time last year I was just beginning <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">my fitness journey</a> - I had just finished P90X, I was on the road to being healthy, but I never in a million years would\'ve thought I could go and <b>run</b>. A year and a half ago...I was still resigned to the \"fact\" <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">that I was, and would forever be, <b>big</b></a>. Clearly, that is not the case. <br /><b><br />Running is the most simple form of fitness. </b>Some more...<i>enthusiastic</i> runners...can make it very complicated...but in its simplest form, you strap on a pair of shoes and hit the road, trail, or treadmill. <b>That\'s it.</b> No complicated moves, no fancy agility training, no weights, no special gear, just you and the road. There is <b>no reason</b> why someone can\'t get out there and <b>be </b>a runner. This is how I\'m losing <b>my</b> limits - I\'m running. I\'m running <b>more</b>, I\'m running <b>faster</b>, I\'m running <b>farther</b>. By the end of 2014, I want to have completed my first marathon. <b>I want that 26.2. </b><u>And I\'ll get it. </u><br /><br />I didn\'t identify, personally, as a runner until I finished that half-marathon. I don\'t really know why...maybe I felt like I had something to prove to myself, or had to accomplish something big...who knows. I\'ve come to find, however, that it\'s very easy to figure out if you\'re a runner. <br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXwiwZTzSfk/UrhBOaTYQ1I/AAAAAAAAGGs/EFNqOoJ6xEM/s1600/definerunner.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXwiwZTzSfk/UrhBOaTYQ1I/AAAAAAAAGGs/EFNqOoJ6xEM/s1600/definerunner.jpg\" /></a></div><br />So <b>get out there</b>. Challenge yourself. Do something amazing. <b>Lose your limits.</b> I promise you, if you lose your perceptions of what you\'re capable of, if you <b>challenge yourself</b>, and <b>put the time in</b> to train...you can accomplish some <b>mind-blowing</b> feats. If someone had come up to me in August 2012 (when this all started) and told me that as I entered 2014 I would be training for my first marathon...I would\'ve told them to their face they were <b>high</b>. Now...Now I\'m hoping to be training for an Ultra-Marathon by 2015. <b>Funny how things change.</b><br /><b>&nbsp;</b><br /><b>What are YOU training for? </b>Have you taken on <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/12/lose-your-limits-challenge-2014.html\" target=\"_blank\">the challenge</a>?','I\'m Running. A Lot. This Is The Start.','','inherit','closed','closed','','86-revision-v1','','','2017-01-20 16:47:42','2017-01-20 21:47:42','',86,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/86-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(795,1,'2017-01-21 08:41:09','2017-01-21 13:41:09','<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lym0hWbDKeY/Uga_wdROo8I/AAAAAAAABJY/XrddHCjnomM/s1600/IMG_20130810_123839_406.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"295\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lym0hWbDKeY/Uga_wdROo8I/AAAAAAAABJY/XrddHCjnomM/s320/IMG_20130810_123839_406.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br />So here we are. Tomorrow is the big day. Race day. I keep hearing that the Falmouth Road Race is the biggest, most popular race in New England second only to the Boston Marathon itself. All things considered, I believe it. I\'ve been preparing for this for months, and I feel like I was preparing for it before I even knew I was doing it. I\'ve logged over 140 miles training for this which, frankly, isn\'t<br /><a name=\'more\'></a> as much as I would\'ve liked. I suppose it was about the best i could do considering I\'ve been doing a bodybuilding program for the past 8 weeks...cardio and heavy iron aren\'t usually best friends...<br /><br />Anyway - in preparation for the race I gave special attention to my <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">playlist</a>. Some songs were ditched and some added. This was a painstaking process and believe it or not I did \"road test\" most of the songs I was considering...kind of the only sure way to know you can run to it.<br /><br />First - additions:<br /><br />A couple of these are actually kind of working as <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/running-on-rocket-fuel-anatomy-of-a-power-song.html\" target=\"_blank\">Power Songs</a> for me <br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wws7mnMewPw\" target=\"_blank\">135 BPM - Slipknot - Psychosocial</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9cM06Ok4TU\" target=\"_blank\">140 BPM - La Roux - Bulletproof (Chrispy Dubstep Mix)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVE8kSM43I\" target=\"_blank\">145 BPM - Slipknot - Duality </a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto\" target=\"_blank\">148 BPM - Florida Georgia Line - Cruise</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2yuGgp_U8\" target=\"_blank\">150 BPM - Five Finger Death Punch - Lift Me Up</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLk75fFXqH4\" target=\"_blank\">152 BPM - Five Finger Death Punch - Under And Over It</a><br /><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RROdymuLnc8\" target=\"_blank\">152 BPM - Five Finger Death Punch - Back For More</a><br /><br />Next up - cut from the team:<br />These songs were just really throwing off my rhythm. Overall they were too slow and I was trying to move too fast to them - ended up off-sync and with a weird stride. <br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tolm-07if3c\" target=\"_blank\">108 BPM - The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. and Pharrel)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXBFun0ijYQ\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Cobra Starship - Hot Mess</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlW1VYrETAM\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Karmin - Brokenhearted (R3hab Remix)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlOAMKTj0hU\" target=\"_blank\">125 BPM - Rammstein - Du Hast</a><br /><br />Last - tried and failed:<br />I really wanted to be able to run to these songs, but <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-music-while-running-controversy.html\" target=\"_blank\">you just can\'t force it</a>. Instead of my running playlist I\'ll have to be satisfied with having these on in the car or something. Maybe when I do a cycling playlist I can revisit these (cadence and pace is different)<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU\" target=\"_blank\">120 BPM - Robin Thicke ft. T.I. - Blurred Lines</a> (too slow of a beat, couldn\'t match the rhythm to my stride)<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asOvnGHwtDU\" target=\"_blank\">138 BPM - The Vines - Get Free</a> (beat just wasn\'t quite right...almost)<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU\" target=\"_blank\">150 BPM - Imagine Dragons - Radioactive</a> (song is kinda slow and draggy. Beat would be good but its a sluggish kinda song - not energetic enough for running)<br /><br />One thing is for sure - I. Am. Pumped. I feel like I\'ve trained and have gotten myself to a point where I can not only finish, but finish strong with a time I can be proud of. I\'ve run the course once for practice so I know what to expect and I\'ve re-tooled my <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">playlist</a>. Just think - if in one year I can do what I\'ve done...anyone can.<br /><br />At this point, there\'s nothing to it but to do it. See you at the finish.','Primed And Ready - Falmouth Road Race (w/ playlist update)','','inherit','closed','closed','','119-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:41:09','2017-01-21 13:41:09','',119,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/119-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(1339,1,'2017-08-15 13:11:29','2017-08-15 17:11:29','','coschedule email screenshot','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule-email-screenshot','','','2017-08-15 13:12:01','2017-08-15 17:12:01','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/coschedule-email-screenshot.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1340,1,'2017-08-15 13:19:02','2017-08-15 17:19:02','<em>(FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links - I may receive compensation. All opinions are my own, never bought or sold.)</em>\r\n<h2><strong>I\'m not perfect... <em>but I <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">know</span> it.</em></strong></h2>\r\nI\'m well aware that sometimes my life is a mess. There\'s nothing wrong with admitting that. What\'s wrong is <em>pretending</em> you\'re awesome when you\'re <strong>not</strong>. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away... it makes it worse. If you need help... <em><strong>seek it out</strong></em>. THAT is <em>exactly</em> what I did with my blogging life. Organization, timeliness, and promotion are not always my strongest suits... and then I found CoSchedule. <!--more-->\r\n<h2><strong>Organization is the key to the universe</strong></h2>\r\nI\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again - the first step in ANY successful venture... and reaching ANY goal... is a solid plan. A plan is gonna be pretty flimsy without good organizational systems and structure. Now, I don\'t talk much about the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on with blogging, podcasting, and social media promotion... but the fact that I\'m a world-class procrastinator doesn\'t help me in the slightest. I\'m also... <em>thrifty</em>... to a fault... so historically when I try to implement organizational tools to help myself... I try every free route I can go. While they\'re great in theory... well... to put it lightly... <em>t</em><em>hose have been less than successful for me. </em>So, finally, I caved - I looked into paid options... and came across CoSchedule.\r\n\r\nSo far, it has totally changed the game for me. I\'m still in the process of getting things situated and set up... but it\'s <em>already </em>made life so much easier. They\'ve got a nice little overview video that explains what they\'re about:\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/166544659\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://vimeo.com/166544659\">CoSchedule</a> from <a href=\"https://vimeo.com/user52179426\">Garrett Moon</a> on <a href=\"https://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Managing Drafts Made Easy</strong></h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1298\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Drafts-300x160.png\" alt=\"CoSchedule Drafts\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" />\r\n\r\nI read something very smart... and I think <a href=\"http://www.relentlessforwardcommotion.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">it came from the blog of a friend of mine</a>... <em>\"you don\'t have to publish everything you write.\"</em>. That\'s some of the best advice for a blogger/writer... for a number of reasons (that I won\'t get into right now). Now... just because I\'m not <strong>publishing</strong> everything I write... doesn\'t necessarily mean it should get lost into the void once I\'m done writing it. Looking through my \"all posts\" section on WordPress... I have <em>32 post drafts</em>. THIRTY TWO! Some of them are farther along than others, some are just titles... but <em>thirty two!</em> With CoSchedule... I can finally organize them. Tagging, color coding, and some visual organization... I can actually keep it straight! And, oh, there\'s another useful bit here to help organize things and keep it all moving forward...\r\n<h3><strong>Speed things up with pre-set \"profiles\"</strong></h3>\r\nThose of you who don\'t do this kind of thing might not realize... there\'s an awfully long, time-consuming road between thinking up an idea and having John Q. Public read a blog post or listen to a podcast. For each and every post, article, or episode there\'s a lengthy brainstorming, creation, post-production and promotion process, and honestly, it can be easy to forget something or miss a step. In the normal course of things there\'s only so much you can do to REALLY automate/fast-track that process and all those steps without everything feeling... automated and robotic.\r\n\r\n<strong>Enter \"profiles\" and \"social helpers\"</strong>\r\n\r\nI LOVE the \"profiles\" and \"social helpers\" features CoSchedule provides. \"Profiles\" allow me to set up custom task-lists I can apply to different types of posts. Got a recipe to post? A race recap? Product review? Each different type of post has a different list of things that need to be accomplished - \"profile\" act as a template, with all the tasks I need to accomplish for each different type of post right there. Profiles allows me to specify what needs to happen, and at what point in the production process, ensuring I don\'t move on to the next step without accomplishing everything that needs doing. \"Social helpers\" come into play when the production work is done, the piece is published, and it\'s time to promote.\r\n<h2><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1299\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Social-Campaign-300x160.png\" alt=\"CoSchedule Social Campaign\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" />Social campaigns all in one place</strong></h2>\r\nOne of the most challenging, scattered, and disorganized parts of blogging and podcasting (for me at least) is the social media side of things. Each different platform (Facebook, IG, Pinterest, etc) all exist in their own little world. You\'ve got to individually visit each one, create your posts, ensure image size is correct, format them correctly, remember your hashtags or @ tags or links or what have you. If you want to schedule out posts, well, most platforms you need 3rd party help to do it, and not every 3rd party scheduling tool works for every social platform (especially not the free 3rd party tools.\r\n<h3><strong>And then there\'s CoSchedule.</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1301\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Wordpress-Edit-Post-300x162.png\" alt=\"CoSchedule Wordpress Edit Post\" width=\"300\" height=\"162\" />Everything is <em>right there.</em> Nice and easy, readily accessible, and easy to manage. CoSchedule is so well-connected and integrated with each social platform, particularly Facebook and Instagram, that I can tag people, pages, and profiles right from within the social campaign editor - YES, no doubling back into the Facebook or Instagram apps to tag people or delete hashtags that carried over and I didn\'t need. There\'s also a handy \"preview\" function, where you can actually see what the final post will look like on each social network before you finish and schedule it to post!\r\n<h3>CoSchedule even has a WordPress plugin!</h3>\r\nIt\'s literally built right into my blog/website - beneath each blog post is the social campaign function. I get to see a nice pretty timeline of the social posts for every blog post I create. I can even template out how, where, and when those posts will go with the \"profiles\" feature. Oh - and those \"social helpers\"? You can basically create shortcuts for things you typically include in a social post, like a set of hashtags, a sponsor credit, an FTC disclosure, or anything else you can think of. Instead of having to type the whole thing out each time, you simply pre-program it - when it\'s time to post, you simply type something like {FTCDisclosure}, {healthyeating}, or {thanksponsors}. You can even include those as a part of the \"profile\" so based on your blog post type... <em>it\'s already there</em>. They\'ve just... made it so... <em>easy!</em>\r\n<h2><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1339\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/coschedule-email-screenshot-286x300.png\" alt=\"coschedule email screenshot\" width=\"286\" height=\"300\" />Weekly recaps right in your email</strong></h2>\r\nAfter all that work on blog posts, podcast episodes, social campaigns and more... it\'d be nice to have an easy way to keep track of everything you\'ve done... right? Well, it would appear CoSchedule gives you exactly that - and in a nice, neat little package too. I\'ll admit, when I looked through the available features on CoSchedule\'s website... I more or less \"read the headlines\" - I didn\'t notice they provided weekly e-mail recaps of your activity.\r\n<h3><strong>It\'s more than just a recap.</strong></h3>\r\nNot only do I get a recap of the blog posts and social \"campaigns\" I\'ve published throughout the week... I get updated engagement numbers as well! It\'s pretty handy for an at-a-glance look at how my posts are doing. This insight gives me an idea of where to take a closer look... to really figure out what people are responding to. It\'s crucial to know where to look so I can create more of what people <em>want</em> to see, hear, and read... and <em>less of what they don\'t.</em> This is, after all, both an outlet for me and a resource for others... so it\'s gotta be useful for BOTH of us, right?\r\n<h2><strong>This is a game-changer.</strong></h2>\r\nAs cheesy as it sounds, CoSchedule has totally turned my blogging &amp; podcasting game on its head - <em>for the better</em>. I\'m so happy I took the leap and gave it a shot. This stuff is hard enough... every tool we can get our hands on to make it a little easier... well, it makes a difference! If you\'re a blogger (or podcaster) and you feel like you could use a hand... Give CoSchedule a shot! <a href=\"http://www.coschedule.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Follow this link and start your free trial now :)</a>','Getting my (blog) life together with CoSchedule','','inherit','closed','closed','','1274-revision-v1','','','2017-08-15 13:19:02','2017-08-15 17:19:02','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/08/1274-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(1296,1,'2017-08-02 11:08:00','2017-08-02 15:08:00','','CoSchedule Calendar','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule_calendar','','','2017-08-02 11:08:57','2017-08-02 15:08:57','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Calendar.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1297,1,'2017-08-02 11:08:07','2017-08-02 15:08:07','','CoSchedule Dashboard','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule_dashboard','','','2017-08-02 11:09:04','2017-08-02 15:09:04','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Dashboard.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1298,1,'2017-08-02 11:08:12','2017-08-02 15:08:12','','CoSchedule Drafts','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule_drafts','','','2017-08-02 11:09:12','2017-08-02 15:09:12','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Drafts.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1299,1,'2017-08-02 11:08:20','2017-08-02 15:08:20','','CoSchedule Social Campaign','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule_social-campaign','','','2017-08-02 11:09:26','2017-08-02 15:09:26','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Social-Campaign.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1300,1,'2017-08-02 11:08:25','2017-08-02 15:08:25','','CoSchedule Wordpress Calendar','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule_wordpress-calendar','','','2017-08-02 11:09:37','2017-08-02 15:09:37','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Wordpress-Calendar.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1301,1,'2017-08-02 11:08:31','2017-08-02 15:08:31','','CoSchedule Wordpress Edit Post','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule_wordpress-edit-post','','','2017-08-02 11:09:49','2017-08-02 15:09:49','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Wordpress-Edit-Post.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1302,1,'2017-08-02 11:08:37','2017-08-02 15:08:37','','coschedule logo','','inherit','open','closed','','cos-logo-orange','','','2017-08-02 11:10:05','2017-08-02 15:10:05','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cos-logo-orange.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1303,1,'2017-08-02 11:11:43','2017-08-02 15:11:43','','coschedule logo','','inherit','open','closed','','coschedule-logo','','','2017-08-02 11:11:54','2017-08-02 15:11:54','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/coschedule-logo.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(1341,1,'2017-08-15 13:20:04','2017-08-15 17:20:04','<em>(FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links - I may receive compensation. All opinions are my own, never bought or sold.)</em>\r\n<h2><strong>I\'m not perfect... <em>but I <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">know</span> it.</em></strong></h2>\r\nI\'m well aware that sometimes my life is a mess. There\'s nothing wrong with admitting that. What\'s wrong is <em>pretending</em> you\'re awesome when you\'re <strong>not</strong>. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away... it makes it worse. If you need help... <em><strong>seek it out</strong></em>. THAT is <em>exactly</em> what I did with my blogging life. Organization, timeliness, and promotion are not always my strongest suits... and then I found CoSchedule. <!--more-->\r\n<h2><strong>Organization is the key to the universe</strong></h2>\r\nI\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again - the first step in ANY successful venture... and reaching ANY goal... is a solid plan. A plan is gonna be pretty flimsy without good organizational systems and structure. Now, I don\'t talk much about the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on with blogging, podcasting, and social media promotion... but the fact that I\'m a world-class procrastinator doesn\'t help me in the slightest. I\'m also... <em>thrifty</em>... to a fault... so historically when I try to implement organizational tools to help myself... I try every free route I can go. While they\'re great in theory... well... to put it lightly... <em>t</em><em>hose have been less than successful for me. </em>So, finally, I caved - I looked into paid options... and came across CoSchedule.\r\n\r\nSo far, it has totally changed the game for me. I\'m still in the process of getting things situated and set up... but it\'s <em>already </em>made life so much easier. They\'ve got a nice little overview video that explains what they\'re about:\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/166544659\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://vimeo.com/166544659\">CoSchedule</a> from <a href=\"https://vimeo.com/user52179426\">Garrett Moon</a> on <a href=\"https://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Managing Drafts Made Easy</strong></h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1298\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Drafts-300x160.png\" alt=\"CoSchedule Drafts\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" />\r\n\r\nI read something very smart... and I think <a href=\"http://www.relentlessforwardcommotion.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">it came from the blog of a friend of mine</a>... <em>\"you don\'t have to publish everything you write.\"</em>. That\'s some of the best advice for a blogger/writer... for a number of reasons (that I won\'t get into right now). Now... just because I\'m not <strong>publishing</strong> everything I write... doesn\'t necessarily mean it should get lost into the void once I\'m done writing it. Looking through my \"all posts\" section on WordPress... I have <em>32 post drafts</em>. THIRTY TWO! Some of them are farther along than others, some are just titles... but <em>thirty two!</em> With CoSchedule... I can finally organize them. Tagging, color coding, and some visual organization... I can actually keep it straight! And, oh, there\'s another useful bit here to help organize things and keep it all moving forward...\r\n<h3><strong>Speed things up with pre-set \"profiles\"</strong></h3>\r\nThose of you who don\'t do this kind of thing might not realize... there\'s an awfully long, time-consuming road between thinking up an idea and having John Q. Public read a blog post or listen to a podcast. For each and every post, article, or episode there\'s a lengthy brainstorming, creation, post-production and promotion process, and honestly, it can be easy to forget something or miss a step. In the normal course of things there\'s only so much you can do to REALLY automate/fast-track that process and all those steps without everything feeling... automated and robotic.\r\n\r\n<strong>Enter \"profiles\" and \"social helpers\"</strong>\r\n\r\nI LOVE the \"profiles\" and \"social helpers\" features CoSchedule provides. \"Profiles\" allow me to set up custom task-lists I can apply to different types of posts. Got a recipe to post? A race recap? Product review? Each different type of post has a different list of things that need to be accomplished - \"profile\" act as a template, with all the tasks I need to accomplish for each different type of post right there. Profiles allows me to specify what needs to happen, and at what point in the production process, ensuring I don\'t move on to the next step without accomplishing everything that needs doing. \"Social helpers\" come into play when the production work is done, the piece is published, and it\'s time to promote.\r\n<h2><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1299\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Social-Campaign-300x160.png\" alt=\"CoSchedule Social Campaign\" width=\"300\" height=\"160\" />Social campaigns all in one place</strong></h2>\r\nOne of the most challenging, scattered, and disorganized parts of blogging and podcasting (for me at least) is the social media side of things. Each different platform (Facebook, IG, Pinterest, etc) all exist in their own little world. You\'ve got to individually visit each one, create your posts, ensure image size is correct, format them correctly, remember your hashtags or @ tags or links or what have you. If you want to schedule out posts, well, most platforms you need 3rd party help to do it, and not every 3rd party scheduling tool works for every social platform (especially not the free 3rd party tools.\r\n<h3><strong>And then there\'s CoSchedule.</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1301\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CoSchedule_Wordpress-Edit-Post-300x162.png\" alt=\"CoSchedule Wordpress Edit Post\" width=\"300\" height=\"162\" />Everything is <em>right there.</em> Nice and easy, readily accessible, and easy to manage. CoSchedule is so well-connected and integrated with each social platform, particularly Facebook and Instagram, that I can tag people, pages, and profiles right from within the social campaign editor - YES, no doubling back into the Facebook or Instagram apps to tag people or delete hashtags that carried over and I didn\'t need. There\'s also a handy \"preview\" function, where you can actually see what the final post will look like on each social network before you finish and schedule it to post!\r\n<h3><strong>CoSchedule even has a WordPress plugin!</strong></h3>\r\nIt\'s literally built right into my blog/website - beneath each blog post is the social campaign function. I get to see a nice pretty timeline of the social posts for every blog post I create. I can even template out how, where, and when those posts will go with the \"profiles\" feature. Oh - and those \"social helpers\"? You can basically create shortcuts for things you typically include in a social post, like a set of hashtags, a sponsor credit, an FTC disclosure, or anything else you can think of. Instead of having to type the whole thing out each time, you simply pre-program it - when it\'s time to post, you simply type something like {FTCDisclosure}, {healthyeating}, or {thanksponsors}. You can even include those as a part of the \"profile\" so based on your blog post type... <em>it\'s already there</em>. They\'ve just... made it so... <em>easy!</em>\r\n<h2><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1339\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/coschedule-email-screenshot-286x300.png\" alt=\"coschedule email screenshot\" width=\"286\" height=\"300\" />Weekly recaps right in your email</strong></h2>\r\nAfter all that work on blog posts, podcast episodes, social campaigns and more... it\'d be nice to have an easy way to keep track of everything you\'ve done... right? Well, it would appear CoSchedule gives you exactly that - and in a nice, neat little package too. I\'ll admit, when I looked through the available features on CoSchedule\'s website... I more or less \"read the headlines\" - I didn\'t notice they provided weekly e-mail recaps of your activity.\r\n<h3><strong>It\'s more than just a recap.</strong></h3>\r\nNot only do I get a recap of the blog posts and social \"campaigns\" I\'ve published throughout the week... I get updated engagement numbers as well! It\'s pretty handy for an at-a-glance look at how my posts are doing. This insight gives me an idea of where to take a closer look... to really figure out what people are responding to. It\'s crucial to know where to look so I can create more of what people <em>want</em> to see, hear, and read... and <em>less of what they don\'t.</em> This is, after all, both an outlet for me and a resource for others... so it\'s gotta be useful for BOTH of us, right?\r\n<h2><strong>This is a game-changer.</strong></h2>\r\nAs cheesy as it sounds, CoSchedule has totally turned my blogging &amp; podcasting game on its head - <em>for the better</em>. I\'m so happy I took the leap and gave it a shot. This stuff is hard enough... every tool we can get our hands on to make it a little easier... well, it makes a difference! If you\'re a blogger (or podcaster) and you feel like you could use a hand... Give CoSchedule a shot! <a href=\"http://www.coschedule.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Follow this link and start your free trial now :)</a>','Getting my (blog) life together with CoSchedule','','inherit','closed','closed','','1274-revision-v1','','','2017-08-15 13:20:04','2017-08-15 17:20:04','',1274,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/08/1274-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(797,1,'2017-01-21 08:41:39','2017-01-21 13:41:39','<b>Not sure if you\'ve noticed, </b>but there\'s a serious problem in this country. I\'m not sitting here trying to lecture people about the \"obesity\" epidemic, or spit out some figures and statistics at anyone. I\'m talking about what I see in the world around me each day. <b>What am I talking about?</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><table align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0yPuOqYgrfg/Ug46ZpYYQII/AAAAAAAABS0/wTqEworgdcI/s1600/maternal-obesity.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"178\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0yPuOqYgrfg/Ug46ZpYYQII/AAAAAAAABS0/wTqEworgdcI/s320/maternal-obesity.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">img from medicaldaily.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>We, </b>as a nation,<b> are fat. </b>And for the most part, <b>it doesn\'t really seem to bother us.</b> Not as long as the line at McD\'s isn\'t too long. <br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY8cOcxnR7Q/UgywAeH6xJI/AAAAAAAABRk/Y19jxLJoVd8/s1600/fat-american.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"226\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY8cOcxnR7Q/UgywAeH6xJI/AAAAAAAABRk/Y19jxLJoVd8/s320/fat-american.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br />The problem is - we <b>want </b>what we <b>want</b> when we <b>want</b> it. When do we want it? <b>Now</b>. What do we want? What we <b>like.</b> Don\'t worry,&nbsp; we know what we like...<br /><br /><b>Everything we\'re told to like.</b><br /><br />Sugary, salty, fatty, sweet and designed to taste so good we just. want. <b>more</b>. What foods do you see advertised on TV? What delicious delicacies are you told are so good, so <i>irresistible</i>, you simply HAVE to go out and get it <b>right now</b>? Everything <u><b>bad for you</b></u>. Fast food burgers and fries, ding dings and hoo hoos, little snack cakes, drive-in hot dogs and potato puffs you <b>don\'t even have to get out of your car for </b>brought to you by people who can <b>roll to you</b> (because why should <b>they</b> be bothered to walk if you aren\'t?) and cheese poofs that look <b>bold and daring</b> because the cheetah eating them is a <b>jerk</b>. All these awful foods are <b>glorified</b> and <i>celebrated </i>as something we are privileged to be able to have.<b> But that\'s just ONE part of the problem...</b><br /><br /><b>IN MODERATION</b>, and I mean, like, as a <b>once-in-a-while treat</b>...I suppose it could be <i>possible</i> that your health and energy level wouldn\'t suffer too much from all this stuff. Problem is we don\'t seem to understand the <i>concept</i> of moderation. I find that many people just <b>aren\'t taught limits</b>. Our bodies will <b>tell us</b>&nbsp; when we\'re full, when we are satisfied...when we are <u>sufficiently nourished</u>.&nbsp; When I was little, I was told to <b>finish my plate</b> before I was allowed to have dessert. \"Eat your food, <b>there\'s starving kids in Othercountria\"</b>. That\'s great, stick it in a box and mail it to them...<b>little-kid-me is full!</b> And <u>that</u> is the instant we are taught to ignore anything resembling a signal from our body. We also don\'t eat slowly...we just <i>inhale</i> this stuff. People eat all this awful \"food\" so fast that it doesn\'t even register with their body that it\'s<i> </i><b>in there</b>, so we miss the signals our body is still <i>trying</i> to send us.<b>&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>And this is a behavior that we celebrate!</b><br /><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1plSxZlgo-c/Ug4s0485LbI/AAAAAAAABSM/FGpmWKyPvi8/s1600/moderation.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"252\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1plSxZlgo-c/Ug4s0485LbI/AAAAAAAABSM/FGpmWKyPvi8/s320/moderation.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a> <br />How many food-eating contests do you see? Food \"challenges\"? That famous American hot dog eating contest on July 4th? Where like 10 people line up on a nationally televised stage and try to shove 50+ hot dogs down their food-hole in <b>the fastest manner possible</b>? Seriously? It\'s disgusting to watch!&nbsp; I used to LOVE \"Man vs. Food\"...I thought it was <b>awesome. </b>Then over time I noticed the guy on the show seemed to be getting kind of fat. Like <b>visibly, noticeably </b>fat. Pretty soon after that there was a new show called \"Man vs. Food Nation\" where <i>he wasn\'t the one eating</i>, it was other people! Imagine that.<br /><br /><b>Speaking of portion size - </b>I was talking with a co-worker the  other day and I mentioned that I really liked the bbq chicken pizza at  such-and-such restaurant - it was REALLY good and very well-done. They  replied \"Oh, I don\'t like such-and-such restaurant...their portions are  so small!\". <b>Really?</b> Their portions are actually a pretty good size...it\'s just not the <b>overflowing platter of nom</b> that we\'re taught to expect. What a shame that\'s the expectation...the  food at such-and-such is actually really good and not the typical  get-fat-and-blow-up fare you get at most big chains.&nbsp; <br />And y\'know what makes this awful food and lack of moderation even <i><b>worse</b></i>?&nbsp; <br /><br /><b>It\'s all so cheap you can feed the wife and kids too!</b><br /><br /><b>Ten dollars </b>feeds the WHOLE family from the dollar menu! Got a <i>powerful </i>appetite <b>all on your own</b>? Get a <b>big box</b> of heart-stopping <i>tasty</i> for just $5! Want to make sure you REALLY fill up? There are plenty of buffets to choose from, some as cheap as 4.99 for endless everything! <br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-Qfm0aRU6E/Ug4peJeDPYI/AAAAAAAABSE/3c1mJX7PVic/s1600/obesity-ad.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"235\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-Qfm0aRU6E/Ug4peJeDPYI/AAAAAAAABSE/3c1mJX7PVic/s400/obesity-ad.png\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><br /><b>Appetite Stimulus Plan?</b> Are you <b>kidding me?</b><br /><br />This has got to be one of the top reasons, as far as I\'m concerned, that we as a nation are so fat - <b>it\'s so damn cheap!</b> I know as a recent college grad I have been broke since I was \"on my own\" in college. What happened when I got hungry? <b>I\'d find something cheap!</b> But boy was I HUNGRY! Well, I <b>was</b> taught to make sure I got my fill...Easy beans! 4 bucks at Taco Bell and I was <b>stuffed</b> for the night. Then again, that 4 bucks\' worth of food was probably more fat and calories than I should\'ve taken in for the whole day.<br /><br /><b>Another problem with all this cheap food</b> we stuff ourselves with is...it\'s <b>cheap</b>! Not just price-wise, but quality-wise too. Next time you go grocery shopping look at the ground beef. Notice that the higher the fat content (and lower the quality) the less expensive it is. The health food section, \"natural\" section...whatever they call it... is often much more expensive than the rest of the store - prohibitively expensive for many people.&nbsp; The average American can do a pretty good job eating relatively healthy, but the average American is also pretty decent at stretching a buck - so the cheap stuff makes it into the cart.<br /><br />But if you\'re feeding the family with this...that means <b>the kids are eating it too</b>.<br /><table cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6iZjQlS3ewg/Ug46XoW4ESI/AAAAAAAABSw/OdLd9BZMXJc/s1600/obesity.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6iZjQlS3ewg/Ug46XoW4ESI/AAAAAAAABSw/OdLd9BZMXJc/s320/obesity.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">img from the-menace-of-obesity.com</td></tr></tbody></table>This is one of my<b> biggest </b>problems with this WHOLE thing...we\'re teaching our <b>kids</b> that not only is eating to excess ok, but its the norm. Some of you may know, I work in a pretty big restaurant chain (over 100 locations)...and I\'m in a tourist town, so LOTS of people come in. I can\'t tell you how many <b>round</b> children I see walk in the door. ROUND! I can\'t understand how, as a parent, some people can allow their child to eat so much that they become <b>so</b> fat they\'re <i>round.<b> </b></i>Kids can\'t get their hands on that amount of food on their own, it\'s being <b>provided</b> to them. I don\'t even know what else to say...it\'s just <b><i>irresponsible</i></b> to feed your kids that kind of food that often and that much that they blow up. And this isn\'t a nutrition thing...but most of these kids aren\'t encouraged to go out and play all that much...many of these kids are the same ones who sit at one of my tables with their eyes glued to and hands surgically attached to a GameBoy or smartphone playing games. <b>Not the best way to burn off the 3000 calories your kid ate today.</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axzMVOgSmTM/Ug42slFHkYI/AAAAAAAABSc/W-8GzYll_ck/s1600/so+hungry.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axzMVOgSmTM/Ug42slFHkYI/AAAAAAAABSc/W-8GzYll_ck/s320/so+hungry.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>No. You\'re not. </b>You\'re <b>bored. </b>Put down the burrito!<br /><br /><b>I guess where I\'m going with all this is</b> - we need to SERIOUSLY re-examine how we as a nation behave when it comes to food. Fast food, snack food and deep-fat are so ingrained in our culture that it\'d take a pretty big paradigm shift to get truly healthy. This whole problem, coupled with the <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-i-dont-feel-like-it-syndrome.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"I don\'t feel like it syndrome</a>\" is why we\'re in such a bad situation right now. However, if we take baby steps, <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/so-this-is-nutrition-the-basics.html\" target=\"_blank\">follow good nutrition guidelines like I\'ve talked about before</a>, and embrace healthy-eating movements we can start going in the right direction. <b>&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>I implore you</b> - start at home, with yourself and your kids. <b>Be conscious</b> of the foods you\'re putting in your mouth and putting on a plate for your kids. <b>Make sure</b> not too much of your food is coming from a greasy bag or box handed to you through your car window. <b>Listen to your body</b> - it will tell you when you\'re done. We eat for nourishment and to enjoy the taste, <b>not because we\'re bored.</b>&nbsp; <b>Teach your kids</b> healthy habits and the right foods to eat. <b>They\'re learning from YOU - </b>so make sure you\'re careful about what you\'re showing them.<br /><br /><b>We, as a nation, don\'t have to be fat</b>. But <b>it starts</b> at <i>home</i>. With <b>you.</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div>','America The Fat','','inherit','closed','closed','','116-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:41:39','2017-01-21 13:41:39','',116,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/116-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(798,1,'2017-01-21 08:41:39','2017-01-21 13:41:39','2014 is going to be a huge year - If things go the way I\'m hoping for I\'ll not only be running a race almost every weekend...but I\'ll be <b>running a half-marathon a month</b> and my <b>first marathon</b> or <b>Spartan Beast</b> by the fall! Maybe <b>both</b>.<br />I\'m going to push myself, I\'m going to find the ceiling and <b>SMASH through it</b>...<br /><br /><b>and I want YOU to join me.</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDkwFWSYoLQ/UqqofNnjVwI/AAAAAAAAGDg/kk-dcRJHahw/s1600/STIF-LYLCYL-Ch.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDkwFWSYoLQ/UqqofNnjVwI/AAAAAAAAGDg/kk-dcRJHahw/s400/STIF-LYLCYL-Ch.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><b></b></div>I\'m calling it the \"Lose Your Limits\" Challenge 2014. The idea is simple, the challenge is not.&nbsp;<b> </b><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\"Lose Your Limits\"?</span></b><br /><br />Like I said - The idea is simple: most of us think we have a pretty good idea of what our limits are. We know what we\'re capable of, and we know what probably isn\'t a good idea. We\'re also SURE of what we simply can\'t do. <b>Running?</b> No way. I\'m not a runner. I can\'t go out there and do that. <b>Obstacle race?</b> Are you <i>kidding me</i>? <b>Marathon?! </b>Are you <i>high?!</i> <br /><br /><b>I thought I knew what time it was</b>. I was a big guy. I was <b>always </b>gonna be a big guy. That\'s just how it was. I just needed to not be a <b>huge</b> guy. There was <b>no way</b> I would <b>ever</b> be under 200 lbs...I couldn\'t do that even at the PEAK of my physical fitness in high school. No way it was <b>ever</b> gonna change. <br /><br /><b>Then Megan and I did P90X. </b>That was August 2012. Mid-June 2013 I broke 200 lbs. <br /><br />I was <b>not </b>a runner. I was <b>not</b> an athlete. I was <b>not</b> gonna go out there and run. Just because I could do P90X and INSANITY didn\'t mean I could actually get out on pavement and <b>go</b>. That was a whole \'nother animal entirely. <br /><br /><b>But Megan and I went out for a run</b>. That was late-March 2013. May 2013 I finished my first 5K. Late-October 2013 I finished my first <b>half-marathon.</b> <br /><br /><b>Starting to catch on to the trend?</b> The first time I challenged myself was August 2012. <b>Nothing has been the same since then.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>I got out of my bubble. </b>I left my comfort zone in the <b>dust</b>. I <b>made time </b>to <b>make it work.</b> I pledged to myself and to those I love that I would <b>make a change</b>. And I DID. I changed my <i>life<b>.</b></i><br /><br /><u><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I want you to join me for the next step of the journey.</b></span><i><b> </b></i><b>&nbsp;</b> </u><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvt3AOYj8pc/Uqqn__DYAWI/AAAAAAAAGDY/5Y17jR45pZo/s1600/STIF-LYLCYL-Chpledge.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvt3AOYj8pc/Uqqn__DYAWI/AAAAAAAAGDY/5Y17jR45pZo/s400/STIF-LYLCYL-Chpledge.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><br />What do I want you to do, exactly? I want you to <b>take the pledge</b> to <b>lose your limits</b> by challenging yourself. If there\'s anything I\'ve learned in the last 16 months its this: the only limits we truly have are the ones we<b> set for ourselves</b>. I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it until I\'m blue in the face - <b>Given time and training, anything is possible. </b>What do you think you can\'t do? What\'s outside your comfort zone? Do you think you can\'t contort yourself into some kind of human pretzel (which would mean yoga is out of the question)? Do you think there\'s no way you have the stamina, endurance, or just plain <i>ability </i>to go and run any kind of distance (however short)? Do you think you\'re the most wimpy weakling on the planet and the idea of lifting weights is laughable? Do you think there\'s just <b>no time</b> to get it done? Don\'t have anywhere you can work out?<br /><br /><b>See where I\'m going with this?</b><br /><br />If it\'s something you \"don\'t do\", \"won\'t do\" or \"can\'t do\"...guess what? <b>Go DO IT. It doesn\'t have to be a physical barrier - </b>notice how \"no time\" and \"don\'t have anywhere\" were in there? Lots of people have a barrier like that in their way - they think they don\'t have time or anywhere to do it. They\'re <b>just as wrong</b> as the guy or girl who thinks they can\'t run a mile.<br /><br />If I can do it, <b>anyone can do it</b>. Seriously - see this guy? These two are the same guy.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl7dTuG5CMY/Uqqtw49X8CI/AAAAAAAAGEE/mUjbADIjOK8/s1600/blob.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"186\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl7dTuG5CMY/Uqqtw49X8CI/AAAAAAAAGEE/mUjbADIjOK8/s400/blob.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><b>Hard to believe, I know. </b>Amazing what happens when you get out of your own way, huh?<br /><br /><b>THIS ISN\'T JUST FOR NEWBIES! </b>Do you already work out? Already run races? Do Crossfit? What\'s the next big step that you haven\'t done yet? The next race you don\'t think you&nbsp; can handle? Do you lift/Crossfit and don\'t think you can run to save your life? <b>Bingo.&nbsp;</b> <br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">What am<i> I </i>doing, you ask?</span></b><br /><br />So far I have 13 races lined up through July, including a few half-marathons and an obstacle race. <b>I am planning on adding many more</b>, and by fall my goal is to participate in <b>and finish</b> my first marathon or Spartan Beast / Tough Mudder. More on all those races coming VERY soon. First race is January 5th! BRRRR! Check out the race calendar tab to the right for all my races (click \"find more\" to see them all!) - maybe come run a race with me! (if you DO want to, reach out! Comment, shout out on Facebook, use the contact form below, or email me at Darrell@SoTHISIsFitness.com.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">So How Do You Take The Pledge?</span></b><br /><br /><b>Simple: </b>Go to the <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/sothisisfitness/app_208195102528120\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook Page here. </a>\"Like\" the page, and follow the instructions. <b>Make the commitment.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>Don\'t have Facebook? </b>\"Follow\" the blog (via email or RSS - instructions below) and comment below telling us all that you\'re gonna <b>do it</b>! You can even tell us what limit you\'re gonna lose!<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>You Can Do This. </b></span><br /><br />If you <b>make the commitment</b>, <b>take the pledge</b>, and <b>set your mind to it</b> - you can absolutely <b>CRUSH</b> this challenge! There are lots of articles already on this blog to help you - check out the below articles for a good start in the right direction:<br /><br /><a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/so-this-is-nutrition-the-basics.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"So THIS Is Nutrition\"</a> - Nutrition Basics<br /><a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/making-it-work.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"Making It Work - Time Management\"</a> - Helps you figure out how to make it all work<br /><a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/10/its-always-better-together.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"It\'s Always Better Together\"</a> - Thoughts on doing all this with a partner / buddy<br /><a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/10/race-beginner-dos-donts.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"Race Beginner Do\'s and Don\'ts\"</a> - Self-explanatory<br />The Original <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/lose-your-limits.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"Lose Your Limits\"</a> Article that gave me the idea for this challenge<br />How to deal with <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/haters.html\" target=\"_blank\">Haters</a><br />Also, look at pretty much anything in the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013_07_01_archive.html\" target=\"_blank\">July 2013 part of the archive </a><br /><br /><b>There will be many more articles, product reviews, updates and (hopefully) giveaways / contests to help you along the way in your challenge. </b>I encourage you to follow this blog via e-mail (enter yours right above the run calendar box) or via RSS (click the orange RSS feed tab on the left of the page) to make sure you get all the updates!<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>No excuses.</b></span> It\'s time to <b>get out</b> of your own way, <b>lose</b> your limits, and <b>change your life</b>.<br /><br /><i>Will you take the pledge and accept the challenge? Leave a comment and let us know!</i>','\"Lose Your Limits\" Challenge 2014','','inherit','closed','closed','','87-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:41:39','2017-01-21 13:41:39','',87,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/87-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(799,1,'2017-01-21 08:42:28','2017-01-21 13:42:28','<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i><b>\"I can\'t believe I just did that!\"</b></i></span><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VteV8kQRa0/UzAluwpZPoI/AAAAAAAAGs4/5mGik_RUbOk/s1600/Fools_Dual_Logo_2013.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VteV8kQRa0/UzAluwpZPoI/AAAAAAAAGs4/5mGik_RUbOk/s1600/Fools_Dual_Logo_2013.png\" height=\"165\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br /><b>This past Sunday I ran the YuKanRun.com Fool\'s Dual Challenge. </b>It was a 5K at 8 AM and a half-marathon at 9 AM.<b> A combined 16.2 miles. </b>It is the farthest I have <b>ever</b> run in one morning, and my greatest challenge to date. I was exhausted. I was sore. I was hungry as all hell...<b>but I did it.</b> Not only did I do it, but...well...I guess you\'ll have to keep reading to find out ;)<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br />All I can say is...<b>WHAT A DAY!</b> I still can\'t believe I did that, and everyone I\'ve told so far looked at me like I was a nutball. For those of you who read <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/03/im-getting-foolish-5k-13-1.html\">my pre-race article about the Dual</a>, you know what I\'m talking about. For those who didn\'t catch that, let me give you a brief breakdown:<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUh7z0JC77c/UzAoBtLqR_I/AAAAAAAAGtI/Qu15w0TGh-s/s1600/yukanrunlogo.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUh7z0JC77c/UzAoBtLqR_I/AAAAAAAAGtI/Qu15w0TGh-s/s1600/yukanrunlogo.png\" height=\"111\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>The <a href=\"http://yukanrun.com/\">YuKanRun.com</a> Fool\'s Dual Challenge was a dual race put on by a race company called...you guessed it...YuKanRun.com. Their \"thing\" seems to be, well, making people run a LOT in one morning. \"Oh, you just finished a 5K? Go ahead and run a half-marathon!\" \"Oh, you had a nice mile run, you say? Go do a 5K, then grab a drink and run a half...<b>then</b> we\'ll talk!\"<br /><br />The race director, Craig, is a very nice guy - I went back and forth with him via email a bit. I have to say, he and his team put together a very good race! Well-organized, well-run, and FUN! <br /><br /><b>So, what\'s the deal? How did this work?</b><br /><br /><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEeO5Gx2044/U0fYoc0I9aI/AAAAAAAAGyo/ZWzY22Vwg_g/s1600/IMG_20140406_075941_661.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEeO5Gx2044/U0fYoc0I9aI/AAAAAAAAGyo/ZWzY22Vwg_g/s1600/IMG_20140406_075941_661.jpg\" height=\"335\" width=\"400\" /></a><b>Basically</b>, it was dual races...<i>and that was the challenge. </i>At 8 am the 5K began. See that neon yellow person on the runners\' right of the starting line? That\'s me. Go ahead, zoom in. I finished in 25:21. I then had about a half hour to relax, stretch, lose layers, refuel...do whatever I needed to do to get ready for the half-marathon. At 9 am, the gun went off and the half-marathon started. There\'s your dual race, and there\'s the challenge.<br /><br /><b>I was worried about the 5K, not the half-marathon.</b><br /><br /><b>I said this in my pre-race article</b>, but I\'ll say it again - The 13.1 was not my big concern - it was the 5K! When I go into a race, I go in with a certain mindset, approach, and set of expectations for my performance based on the race distance. A 5K is a VERY different mindset and approach than a half-marathon! I usually run out of gas and \"leave it all on the pavement\" when I run a race, no matter the distance...so having a half-marathon to deal with a half-hour after finishing a 5K...<b> that was MY challenge.</b> I had to make sure I paced myself and didn\'t go balls-to-the-wall in the 5K. A minute or minute and a half on my 5K time meant a lot more physical exertion, and could be the difference between great success and wild failure in the half-marathon. <b>I had to pace myself</b>. I had to try very hard to monitor my speed and keep myself under control. <b>It was tough</b>, but I had to remind myself over and over...<b>today is not a PR day, today is about finishing.</b><br /><br />With that mantra in mind, I ran two successful races, ran the farthest distance I\'ve done in one morning, and achieved a big accomplishment! <b>More on that in a minute ;)</b><br /><br />So, again...in my pre-race article I talked about the courses for the races. The 5K was, indeed a loop. On our approach driving to the race, we went up this gnarly hair-pin twisty steep hill, and Megan goes \"good thing you don\'t have to run on this road! It\'d already be blocked off.\"...guess what? <b>I had to run down it.</b> Thanks, babe. hah.It was a nice course though - classic rural New England, and not too bad difficulty-wise. The half-marathon course was just as advertised - a 6.5 mile out-and-back with a nice little loop for a turnaround. The elevation chart provided was also accurate...but I didn\'t realize exactly what it meant...more on that later.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Let\'s talk about the experience.</span></b><br /><br /><b>To be honest, I don\'t remember much of the 5K run.</b> It was such a big morning and there was so much going on...it\'s all a blur. As we were leaving after the races, Megan pointed out \"race\" signs that had designated the course for runners, and I completely had no recollection of running on those roads! Weird. I remember pacing myself. I remember making a point to not go too hard, but still run a strong, respectable pace. I remember crossing the finish, seeing my time...and being a bit disappointed...but I knew it had to be done to achieve overall success. It\'s just all so BLURRY!<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vH-CWPgk1Zo/U0fhz9x9RLI/AAAAAAAAGzE/uW9WVTA1czo/s1600/IMG_20140406_090031_426.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vH-CWPgk1Zo/U0fhz9x9RLI/AAAAAAAAGzE/uW9WVTA1czo/s1600/IMG_20140406_090031_426.jpg\" height=\"400\" width=\"225\" /></a></div><b>In contrast, I remember the half-marathon vividly</b>. The picture to the left is right after the starting line - for some reason Runkeeper started before I actually began the race, so when I tried to \"start\" it when the gun was about to go off...it was already running! I had to scramble to stop, delete, and restart it, so for about the first .1 miles I was trying to start up my run. Once I got that taken care of, however, things went well. I remembered \"today is not a PR day\", and that thought carried me through and helped me not over-exert myself. Another thought flying through my head was one word - <b>Endure</b>. That was particularly poignant given I was running 16.2 miles total. And, of course, the shirt...<a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/02/no-limits-frosty-knuckle-5k-hyannis.html\">It was the same shirt from the Hyannis Half - \"NO Limits - I Can, I Will\"</a>.&nbsp; <br /><br /><b>This race was all hills and headwinds! </b>I guess it didn\'t really click in my head when I looked at the elevation chart...I\'m so used to running on Cape Cod that I was NOT mentally prepared for the hills I encountered! Thanks to Insanity: The Asylum...I knew how to handle it though! Haha...lean forward and do high-knees! Those headwinds...I have never experienced anything like that! It takes so much more effort to run against that! I managed, though. Every once in a while I had to refocus, recenter, and renew my efforts. I also had to occasionally fix my form - pull my elbows in towards my body, stop doing the loopy-leg dance...just generally tighten it up. I didn\'t run with a pace band this time (like I did for Hyannis) because, as I said...it was NOT a PR day...so I had to monitor my pace the \"old-fashioned\" way.<br /><br />I had no urge to go to the water stops along the first half of the race - I had my own hydration source, and I\'d hydrate on my terms, when I was ready. I managed my water pretty well, but I did top off towards the end (people at the water tables were VERY nice). They also gave out energy gels along the course! I got a Gu Salted Caramel on the way out and a Clif Shot citrus on the way back! Hey, that\'s two less of my own I had to use, so I\'m not complaining :). <br /><br />I got a little bit of a surprise when I got to around the 6-mile mark...I saw the \"Entering Rockport\" <span></span>sign! Again, this was just me being oblivious to the world and it not \"clicking\" when I looked at the map of the course...but I distinctly remember thinking to myself <i>\"we\'re seriously running all the FREAKING way to Rockport and back?!\"</i> <b>Yes, Darrell...pay attention next time.</b> The scenery WAS nice though - classic rural New England the whole way. <br /><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-znlGtLvpR8w/U0fmF6l_uAI/AAAAAAAAGzU/IAJAn6ZtWys/s1600/4332-500h.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-znlGtLvpR8w/U0fmF6l_uAI/AAAAAAAAGzU/IAJAn6ZtWys/s1600/4332-500h.jpg\" /></a><br />The last half of the half-marathon was tough. Once I passed the turnaround (which was a nice little loop of road, not a hairpin turnaround) I started talking to myself in restaurant terms... <i>\"7 miles...10.1 all day\"</i> - literally just how it sounds - I had 7 miles down, and had run 10.1 all day (thanks to the 5K). I kept saying that each mile to remind myself to stay strong, run hard, and realize just how far I had actually gone...and how far I will have gone once I finish. To think...the accomplishment I was about to make by not only running two miles farther than I ever have...but to do it <b>strong</b>...<a href=\"http://runkeeper.com/user/dwmctague/activity/285722002\">something I failed to do on New Year\'s Eve Day when I ran 14 on a whim</a>. Damnit...<b>I prepared for this</b>, and I was gonna <b>SMASH IT!</b> Once I got to the 10 mile mark...I knew I had a <b>real</b> opportunity to come in at about 2 hours - if I could keep it strong I might even meet or beat my sub-2 hour PR from the Hyannis Half! I just had to achieve 9 minute miles... <b>Then the last two miles happened.</b><br /><span></span><br /><br /><b>The last two miles were especially tough.&nbsp;</b> <br /><br />At that point...I had gone 14 miles in total. My body was tired. I was mentally tired. My little mental boosts of \"you DON\'T need to stop, you\'ve GOT this\" were starting to wear thin. The people cheering along the race course began to be very important. Seeing others chugging along also became important to me - usually I tune everything out and run my own race, but I had to know, at that point, that others were struggling and fighting along with me. I saw others taking walk breaks just like I was. I saw people who I passed earlier pass me. I passed some who had flown by me earlier...it was just one big fight to the finish. <br /><br /><b>The last mile was the worst.</b><br /><br /><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQIok7aF6AU/U0fbJH3tG-I/AAAAAAAAGy0/uxvnu1vL5o4/s1600/IMG_20140406_110207_296.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQIok7aF6AU/U0fbJH3tG-I/AAAAAAAAGy0/uxvnu1vL5o4/s1600/IMG_20140406_110207_296.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"254\" /></a>At just past the 12 mile marker for the half (15.1 overall) I started really feeling it in my right hamstring and left calf. My muscles were starting to let me know just how hard I had worked that morning. With about .6 to go, I think, my left calf cramped. <b>Just once</b>. Just to say hi. Just to challenge me. I had to stop, stretch my calves, and hit the pavement again. <b>I refused to be beaten</b> this close to the end. I had worked WAY too hard to nuke my time and limp over the finish. I did everything I knew to keep a calf cramp from happening...and kept on chugging. My left calf and the bottom of my right hamstring threatened to cramp for the entirety of that last half-mile...but I kept going. I could SEE the finish, and it was gonna feel good.<br /><br /><b>And it did.</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9rK603SsRA/U0fqnG5I1OI/AAAAAAAAGzc/Qaba3necSsk/s1600/IMG_20140406_110210_516.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9rK603SsRA/U0fqnG5I1OI/AAAAAAAAGzc/Qaba3necSsk/s1600/IMG_20140406_110210_516.jpg\" height=\"155\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>I finished the half-marathon in 2:01:55!&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Considering all the hills and headwinds I had to deal with, I\'m pretty happy about that! Oh, and there\'s that whole \"ran a 5K first\" thing too. <b>I was thrilled! </b>After finishing, I literally said out loud <i>\"I can\'t believe I just did that!\"<b>&nbsp;</b><b> </b></i>I then proceeded to stretch and eat A TON...I was so sore...but I could actually function! I was a <i>wreck </i>after the Hyannis Half...I was pooped, I was discombobulated and couldn\'t think, I was sore, and my legs almost didn\'t wanna work. After this...I felt pretty good actually.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMIAusZUCEg/U0fvdPkCf3I/AAAAAAAAGz8/OTxsFKXGbMg/s1600/IMG_20140411_070915785.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMIAusZUCEg/U0fvdPkCf3I/AAAAAAAAGz8/OTxsFKXGbMg/s1600/IMG_20140411_070915785.jpg\" height=\"263\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>Oh...Remember that big achievement I mentioned earlier?</b><br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I PLACED 3RD IN MY AGE GROUP FOR COMBINED TIME!</span></b><br /><br />With a time of 25:21 in the 5K and 2:01:55.1 for the half, I had a combined 2:27:16.1 for the Dual...and <a href=\"http://racewire.com/html_results/3664_Fools%20Dual%20Age%20Group.htm\">clinched 3rd in the Male 19 - 29 age group by a commanding 19 minutes</a>! They had a classic podium for winners for a photo op...but I don\'t have any photos from that. Why, you ask? <b>The timing was messed up</b>. My 5K results for some reason didn\'t register, which meant I also didn\'t show up in the Dual results - it was as if I had only run the half-marathon! I figured this out after the fact, and was pretty bummed. I realized, though, that <b>this was in no way the race\'s fault - it was the timing company.</b> I shot an email to the Race Director and submitted a timing error request with the timing company, and they were both super-helpful in getting it fixed! My official results now show up, and I can say that I officially snagged 3rd in the Male Open Age Group! The Race Director is even sending me out my age group award since, due to the error, I didn\'t get it AT the race! That\'s very nice of him :)<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">There were some cool people and parting gifts too!</span></b><br /><br /><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzr8KpEcCT4/U0fyMeKgVqI/AAAAAAAAG0Q/STLs5ImhIT4/s1600/IMG_20140406_110909_893.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzr8KpEcCT4/U0fyMeKgVqI/AAAAAAAAG0Q/STLs5ImhIT4/s1600/IMG_20140406_110909_893.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"299\" /></a>In the picture above you can see the finisher\'s medal - pretty sweet medal! My 3rd half-marathon, and my 3rd finisher\'s medal. It even has a nice ribbon, complete with the race company\'s logo on the back. They also were nice enough to include a 13.1 sticker for my car! I\'ve been meaning to get one of those... I also got a sweet string sackpack (actually well-built!) and a runner\'s visor (for doing the Dual). Oh, also...<br /><br /><b>I got to (re)meet Nicolas - the Perfect Fuel guy!</b><br /><br />Within a few days (I hope) I\'ll have a product review up for <a href=\"http://www.perfectfuelchocolate.com/\">Perfect Fuel</a>. It\'s a performance chocolate, and I had it before both the 5K and the half-marathon. <b>I love it</b>. I think it tastes great, I like the idea and the science behind it, and I feel like it helped me in every run/race I\'ve used it in! Look for that article soon.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Overall, a great day and big success!</b></span><br /><br />I\'m SO pleased with my overall performance and just the day in general! This was the greatest challenge I have taken on yet - I went in with a strategy/gameplan...<b>and it worked!</b> I did well, I pushed my limits, and I achieved what I wanted - I may not have placed in the 5K or the half-marathon individually, but I achieved a combined place...which is fine by me :) I also learned...I was wrong - I said that it was NOT going to be a PR day...but once again it didn\'t \"click\" - I gained a new distance PR - 16.2 miles! Chalk that up to a win.<br /><br /><b>*Bonus* - </b>I took some video for my buddy Rick who\'s vlogging as part of his Falmouth Road Race training this year - you can see the video below! <iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"//www.youtube.com/embed/gQXc2sDAjHg\" width=\"560\"></iframe><br /><br /><b>So What\'s The Moral Of The Story?</b><br /><br />I strongly recommend checking out www.YuKanRun.com and looking into their races! they\'re a ton of fun, a great challenge, and a great way to try something new and see just what you can do! <br /><br />Just remember - If I can do crazy things like this, <b>so can you.</b> Pick a race, register, and take the plunge! You\'ll be amazed with what you can accomplish :)','FOOLISH! Fool\'s Dual Challenge 5K & 13.1 Recap','','inherit','closed','closed','','71-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:42:28','2017-01-21 13:42:28','',71,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/71-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(801,1,'2017-01-21 08:43:01','2017-01-21 13:43:01','<b>I love the feeling when you finish a race.</b> You see the finish line and get that burst of energy...and everything you have gets left on the pavement as you sprint on ahead to claim your victory (whether personal or overall). You cross the timing mat, you break the tape, you <b>get there</b>. The feeling of release, relief, and accomplishment on the other side of the finish line is <b>fantastic</b>...the joy and sense of satisfaction with the fruits of your effort simply <i><b>palpable</b></i>. Then you get to relax, have some water, have a banana, and chat with other runners...<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FEUjJDj5Rvc/U2osja9Id6I/AAAAAAAAHMg/ybdJ7fjZ8OI/s1600/IMG_20140504_111745870.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FEUjJDj5Rvc/U2osja9Id6I/AAAAAAAAHMg/ybdJ7fjZ8OI/s1600/IMG_20140504_111745870.jpg\" height=\"221\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /><b>Unless you\'re a genius like I was the weekend before last.</b><br /><br />Then you get to say a quick \"thank you, goodbye\" to the race director, wave to your friend that ran the race too, and shoot off across town to run the relay that your 5 friends have all been at for an hour and a half...<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><b>Today\'s article will pick up <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/05/a-lesson-in-double-booking-pt-1-herring.html\">where part one ended</a></b> - after I crossed the finish 4th overall at the <a href=\"http://www.plymouthrockracing.com/\">Herring Run Classic 5K.</a> Please, learn from my carelessness...unless you WANT a weekend like I had. Then go for it I guess.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">OK, so...wait, what?</span></b><br /><br /><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-22t0emFJ7yY/U2t1SKtYvNI/AAAAAAAAHOg/DYIrcWQoKdA/s1600/IMG_20140504_111755774.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-22t0emFJ7yY/U2t1SKtYvNI/AAAAAAAAHOg/DYIrcWQoKdA/s1600/IMG_20140504_111755774.jpg\" height=\"241\" width=\"320\" /></a>Yeah...for those who didn\'t read <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/05/a-lesson-in-double-booking-pt-1-herring.html\">\"A Lesson In Double-Booking Pt. 1\"</a> - first off...you should read that, but the short version is...I accidentally double-booked myself for races on Saturday, April 26th. I registered for the Herring Run Classic 5K (bib to the right) which I THOUGHT was April 19th, and the 26.2 Challenge (team marathon relay, bib above) which was on April 26th. As it turns out...I was wrong about the date for the 5K (it was the 26th too!)... Fortunately, the relay began at 9 am and the 5K at 10...and the starting lines were an 8 minute drive apart in Plymouth, MA...so I could make it work if I ran a late leg in the relay...<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Which is exactly where we\'re picking up now.</b></span><br /><br />So...<b>I crossed the finish</b> at the 5K. Elation, joy, hurrahs, handshaking with the 3 guys that beat me, my buddy that came in 2 places behind me, and the guy I edged out at the 2 mile marker. The joy of the moment, however, was predestined to be short-lived - after allowing myself but a moment of reverie it was time to head&nbsp; back across town to the staging area/starting line of the 26.2 Challenge Team Relay.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>26.2 Challenge?</b></span> <br /><br />The <a href=\"http://www.262challenge.com/\">26.2 Challenge </a>is a 6 man Team Relay over a total distance of 26.2 miles (marathon distance). It was put on by 26.2 Productions - this race is their thing...it\'s what they do. This year they\'re putting on a 26.2 Challenge in Plymouth (MA), Newburyport (MA), and Philadelphia (PA). The one we participated in, as you are aware, is the Plymouth event. The starting line, finish line, and team festival area was in Cordage Park Plaza...a little off the beaten path in Plymouth, MA. The Race Director Steve is a REALLY nice guy - very helpful, personable and approachable. He actually found me and came up to say hi as he spotted me leaving the registration tent. Great way to start the day.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QuP8Kaihc7g/U2uBid2qGMI/AAAAAAAAHO0/_-T787bT1zw/s1600/DSCN8996+(2).JPG\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QuP8Kaihc7g/U2uBid2qGMI/AAAAAAAAHO0/_-T787bT1zw/s1600/DSCN8996+(2).JPG\" height=\"240\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>I arrived shortly after our 4th man began his leg of the relay. </b>The first three runners had all done really well in their leg (R to L - Terrence, JP, and Jesse). I talked with them and with Jimmy (the guy to my right) and decided I\'d do the next leg, making Jimmy the anchor.<br /><br /><b>What\'s the <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_leg\" rel=\"nofollow\">\"anchor\"</a>? </b><br /><br />In athletics, the final leg of a relay is typically referred to as the \"anchor\". It is usually reserved for the fastest or most experienced member of the team. This person is the one who is responsible for making up ground/catching the leader or preserving the lead the team already has and widening the gap to ensure victory. Typically, you put your slowest man right before the anchor, who then comes in and smokes everyone. <b>Needless to say...</b>this described me and Jimmy perfectly. hah.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MH9u-j6--t8/U2uEd62ZWVI/AAAAAAAAHPA/1vYpy191W0M/s1600/DSCN8968+(2).JPG\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MH9u-j6--t8/U2uEd62ZWVI/AAAAAAAAHPA/1vYpy191W0M/s1600/DSCN8968+(2).JPG\" height=\"240\" width=\"320\" /></a>I took every moment I had to stretch, refuel and rehydrate. <b>I had done this before, </b>and I knew how to prepare and ensure success. <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/04/foolish-fools-dual-challenge-5k-13-1-recap.html\">The Fool\'s Dual Challenge</a> was still fresh in my mind - a 5K at 8 AM and a half-marathon at 9...If I could manage that, surely I could do a 5K then a 4.37 mile relay leg. Just a few key differences though...<br /><br />In the <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/04/foolish-fools-dual-challenge-5k-13-1-recap.html\">Fool\'s Dual Challenge</a> I made a point to go slow in the 5K - my goal was to get a decent time in the half-marathon and, frankly, to finish. I ended up doing so well I placed 3rd in my age group for combined time! This day, however, my goal was not to finish. <b>My goal was to compete.</b> I knew I\'d have a shot at a podium finish in the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/05/a-lesson-in-double-booking-pt-1-herring.html\">Herring Run Classic 5K</a> given the small field. I knew my team had a shot in the relay considering how fast the other 5 guys are. Also...<b>it\'s a team effort</b> - nothing but my absolute best effort would suffice. <b>That said</b>, refueling, re-hydrating, stretching, and using my <a href=\"http://www.tigertailusa.com/\">Tiger Tail</a> (review to come) were all critical. Once that was complete...it was time...<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>My Experience in the 26.2 Challenge - </b></span>&nbsp; <br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxTzCiiFMS8/U2uI2sCG46I/AAAAAAAAHPM/6cLjKgvdirk/s1600/DSCN9024+(2).JPG\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxTzCiiFMS8/U2uI2sCG46I/AAAAAAAAHPM/6cLjKgvdirk/s1600/DSCN9024+(2).JPG\" height=\"320\" width=\"240\" /></a></div>As I reached a point where I felt adequately prepared, I got ready to head to the starting line. We all knew about how long we expected each other to take, so I knew about when to be primed and ready. As we came within minutes of when we expected our 4th man to round the corner, I got my music playing, had <a href=\"http://runkeeper.com/user/dwmctague/profile\">Runkeeper</a> ready and waiting, and kept my eye out. Others on my team spotted him first (in the maroon long-sleeve shirt, pic to the right) and I stepped up to the starting line, finger poised over Runkeeper\'s \"start\" button. The team was fired up. I was amped. The crowd was cheering each finisher as they came in. As my teammate Alex crossed the finish line next to me<b> </b>I shot off like a rocket.<br /><br /><b>I was so ready to crush it.</b><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>The course was great!</b></span><br /><br />As I\'ve come to expect from many races (especially those in coastal towns)...this course was beautiful. We were along the streets of Plymouth, went along a rail trail, popped out by the waterfront, and then looped back around to the rail trail. The course was pretty flat, pretty fast, and a lot of fun. The rail trail was a bit narrow, and the gravel had become a weird almost muddy mix...but it was easily overcome by simply keeping an eye out. The course was well-marked when out on the streets and it was damn near impossible to get lost. This was another non-standard distance...4.37ish miles...but it\'s easy to figure out why when you consider it\'s a marathon team relay consisting of 6 people (26.2 / 6?). While out on the course...I learned a valuable lesson that helped me earn a great achievement - <br /><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Relays are a different animal entirely...</b></span><br /><br />I\'ve run road races before...but this was my first team relay. I learned very quickly how different relays are from normal road races. I\'m sure track meet style relays are different...but in this relay...it was so spread out that you were really running your own race. When I started, nobody else did. As I made my way out along the course there were lots of runners...but I had absolutely no idea how I stacked up against them. I had no idea if they were the 5th leg like me...or maybe the 3rd or 4th leg...or maybe even the 6th leg! I had no way to gauge myself against others...so I was left with only one option - <b>go as hard as I can for my teammates.</b> In the end, that\'s what it came down to - <b>my team.</b> <b>My team</b> is what encouraged me to keep running when I wanted to walk.<b> My team </b>is what encouraged me to pick it up when I felt myself slacking and slowing down. <b>Four of my teammates </b>had already given their all and run hard in their leg...<b>I couldn\'t let their efforts go to waste.</b> One of my teammates was ready and waiting to seal the deal and carry us to victory...<b>I couldn\'t keep him waiting and make his job harder.</b><br /><br /><b>So I ran. Hard.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YbYzqXWe1fY/U2uTQQc0ZHI/AAAAAAAAHPc/Ax8snshIEw8/s1600/DSCN9053+(4).JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YbYzqXWe1fY/U2uTQQc0ZHI/AAAAAAAAHPc/Ax8snshIEw8/s1600/DSCN9053+(4).JPG\" height=\"300\" width=\"400\" /></a> </div>As I came back in to Cordage Park Plaza I knew the finish was close (and so was Jimmy)...so I kicked on the afterburners, gave it everything I had, and rocketed on towards the finish. As I crossed, Jimmy took off like a rocket and the final leg had begun. I ended up finishing in 33:19 - a Personal Record pace of 7:38 /mile...that beat my previous best pace by 2 seconds per mile! I couldn\'t believe it...not only was this race over a mile <b>longer</b> than my previous best pace <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/what-is-good-enough-tavern2tavern5k.html\">(Tavern to Tavern 5K 2013)</a>...but I had <b>already run a race</b> before this one. Guess I was warmed up!<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>The anchor did his job well</b></span><br /><br /><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MPYsCOvct-4/U2uXnd0tWMI/AAAAAAAAHPo/UQbmmgjQjL0/s1600/262medal.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MPYsCOvct-4/U2uXnd0tWMI/AAAAAAAAHPo/UQbmmgjQjL0/s1600/262medal.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"178\" /></a>We all went inside for a celebratory (free) beer, and a little over 20 minutes later we started looking for our anchor Jimmy. He finished in 25:07 - a 5:46 pace and a good enough leg to earn him 4th place overall individual runner! We had to get a timing issue fixed, and as a result we found out a little early that we were the 2nd place All-Male team! Once the full results were in, we found out that not only were we the 2nd place All-Male team (there were 7 team divisions) but we were also the 6th place overall team out of 87! We only missed 5th by about 3 minutes, but we were THRILLED with our performance! It was nice to walk away with a medal when, honestly, we hadn\'t really gone in with any expectations of greatness. We were a rag-tag bunch of guys thrown together into a team when I, on a whim, asked one buddy if he was up for it. Nice how things work out. <br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Final/Overall Impressions?</span></b><br /><br />This race was a <b>ton </b>of fun and a great first experience with a team relay. I would do this race again in a heartbeat, and I absolutely plan on it next year. It was such a different experience, a totally different feel in the race festival area, and I love the team aspect of things - it gave me a whole new sense of motivation that I simply don\'t think I can replicate in a solo race. If you have an opportunity to run a team relay, <b>go for it</b>. If you live anywhere near Plymouth, MA...<b>run this race next year!&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>Oh, and honestly...</b>I don\'t think running a 5K before this relay hurt me. I DO wonder how I would\'ve done had I not participated in the 5K...but I\'m glad this happened. Next year I\'ll <b>probably</b> plan to not run anything else that day...and be a little more careful when registering for races. I very well could have been faced with a decision of having to choose...and that\'s no fun. <br /><br /><b>Then it was time to shoot out to Amherst, MA for an event with my college fraternity and...oh wait...I had another 5K the next morning...Good Lord...it never ends...<br /><br />More on that next time. </b><br /><br />','A Lesson In Double-Booking Pt. 2 - 26.2 Challenge Recap','','inherit','closed','closed','','68-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:43:01','2017-01-21 13:43:01','',68,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/68-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(802,1,'2017-01-21 08:43:27','2017-01-21 13:43:27','<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Sometimes <i>Life</i> feels the need to test you.</b></span><br /><br />The last few months have been one of those times. <b>It\'s felt a lot like this:</b><br /><b><table align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_fg18LkeB-4/U67GaAUcTfI/AAAAAAAAH-I/PibTJqTKO6w/s1600/Tough+Mudder+Mid+Atlantic+Facebook2.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_fg18LkeB-4/U67GaAUcTfI/AAAAAAAAH-I/PibTJqTKO6w/s1600/Tough+Mudder+Mid+Atlantic+Facebook2.jpg\" height=\"319.5\" width=\"480\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Yes, that is a pool of Ice Water.</b></td></tr></tbody></table></b><br />The last few months have been a little insane, and it all started with my triple-booked race weekend (<a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/05/a-lesson-in-double-booking-pt-1-herring.html\">here,</a> <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/05/a-lesson-in-double-booking-pt-2-26-2-challenge-recap.html\">here,</a> and <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/05/a-lesson-in-double-booking-pt-3-spring.html\">here</a>). Despite the fact that a number of things are off my plate, I\'ve managed to get buried by what IS still there - <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/anytimefitnessmashpee\">new job</a>, <a href=\"http://www.theknot.com/wedding/Megan-Darrell\">my upcoming wedding</a>, the looming menace that is \"September\", and more. <b>This can, and DOES, happen to the best of us.</b> So <b>what do you do</b> when life keeps on knocking you down? What do you do when it\'s tough to keep up with your health and fitness? <b>How do you beat the <i>I don\'t have time</i> thing?</b><br /><br />...let me tell you a little story...<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Lately it\'s been tough to un-bury myself. </b></span><br /><br />That ever happen to you? I envisioned a quiet couple of months for the summer. I don\'t have many races scheduled (see calendar widget to the right), I\'m not traveling to Amherst to visit my <a href=\"http://www.deltachi.org/\">Delta Chi </a>chapter (I\'m their Alumni Advisor), and most of the wedding planning is done...should be relaxing, right? Lots of time to write race recaps, product reviews, be thoughtful and create original content, create a workout program, and just <b>relax</b>.<br /><br /><b>I was wrong.</b><br /><br />Instead, I got a little complacent, got a little lazy, and things started to pile up. I don\'t know what happens to YOU all when you start getting behind...but for me it\'s kind of like my brain wants to do everything at the same time...and nothing actually gets accomplished. <b>Which really only made the problem worse</b>. Then the panicky stress sets in and you\'re really just not gaining any ground. Here I am about 10+ articles behind (a combination of race recaps and product reviews), I\'m 48 days away from the wedding and running out of time to accomplish the last things on the list, and there\'s a whole <i>laundry list </i>of things I need to accomplish on top of that (including laundry!).<b>&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>How do you surface? How do you break out of the crazy and actually make some headway?</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><b><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nrbs03J4ReA/U67fQiergDI/AAAAAAAAH-Y/JSKJgCvE4GU/s1600/Ice-Ice-Baby.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nrbs03J4ReA/U67fQiergDI/AAAAAAAAH-Y/JSKJgCvE4GU/s1600/Ice-Ice-Baby.jpg\" height=\"214\" width=\"400\" /></a></b></div><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Stop. Breathe. Don\'t Panic.&nbsp;</span> </b><br /><br /><b>You WILL get through this.</b>&nbsp;<b> </b>You just have to stop, breathe, and break it down into bite-sized pieces. Prioritize just like I walked you through in my <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/making-it-work.html\">time-management article</a>.You <b>can </b>get through it.<br /><br /><u><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Focus.</b></span></u><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8MxCMT9t1Hw/U67l6g2VpNI/AAAAAAAAH-o/b9Y7vxci-_8/s1600/adhd-1.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8MxCMT9t1Hw/U67l6g2VpNI/AAAAAAAAH-o/b9Y7vxci-_8/s1600/adhd-1.png\" height=\"282\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>It can be easy to get distracted<b> </b>and fall off from your super-productive timeline. This is an especially great challenge for me...as I have A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Basically...I start at \"apple\", I end at \"Optimus Prime rolling down I-95 Boston during rush hour\" and totally forget where I started and what happened in the middle. Picture the dog from \"Up\" - that\'s me. This is a large part of how I fell behind - I can spend hours accomplishing nothing...just running in place.<br /><br /><b>Through all of this, my workouts have not suffered.</b><br /><br />I had a workout program, I knew I needed to set aside an hour in the morning before the day got rolling, and I <b>got it done.</b> The problem happened when I completed that program. I didn\'t have anything else made up and ready to go...so <b>I kind of floundered for the last 2 weeks</b>. I ran a few miles as many days as I could...but I didn\'t have a program. I <b>certainly</b> didn\'t lack <i>motivatio<b>n </b></i>(If that\'s your issue, <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/conquer-the-truth-about-motivation.html\">read this now</a>), I just didn\'t have <b>direction</b>.<br /><br /><b>That\'s when my fitness fell off right along with everything else I wasn\'t getting done.</b><br /><br />So that\'s pretty much when I said enough is enough. <b>YOU CAN NOT </b>let your health &amp; fitness suffer...that\'s when it begins an ugly downward spiral.  I\'ve had to take time to stop, breathe, re-focus, and prioritize. I\'ve had to start trying to take things bit by bit and accomplish SOMETHING. <b>You can\'t do it all at once, </b>but if you start with one thing, you can move on to the next. Pretty soon, you\'ll break through and dig yourself right out of the ugly little pit you fell into.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1X2u_jJseiY/U67oU2k6RxI/AAAAAAAAH-0/ppGrHBPZgbA/s1600/TM-Arctic-Enima-Ice.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1X2u_jJseiY/U67oU2k6RxI/AAAAAAAAH-0/ppGrHBPZgbA/s1600/TM-Arctic-Enima-Ice.jpg\" height=\"247\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>And try to remember - you\'re not the only one stuck in that pit. You\'ll all get out.</b><br /><br />I guess what I\'m trying to say is - <b>try not to let it all overwhelm you.</b> Stop, breathe, don\'t panic, and focus. You can get it done AND find time for yourself. That said, you should start seeing more regular posts from me again. I have a few races coming up in the next two weeks that I\'m excited to share with you, and you\'ll FINALLY find out what the big deal is with September. Have questions? Email me or reach out on my Facebook Page. <br /><br /><b>You <u>Can</u> Do It. </b>','When Life Gets You Down - Surfacing From The Crazy','','inherit','closed','closed','','66-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:43:27','2017-01-21 13:43:27','',66,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/66-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(803,1,'2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','This has got to be the <b>single most frustrating thing</b> that has happened to me in recent memory.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjWZ6besTZQ/VD8xoVhjtFI/AAAAAAAAKvw/KeXo9vefYKs/s1600/brokenlegbeast.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjWZ6besTZQ/VD8xoVhjtFI/AAAAAAAAKvw/KeXo9vefYKs/s1600/brokenlegbeast.jpg\" height=\"225\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">For those who may not have read, <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/10/the-beast.html\">I finished the Spartan Beast at Mt. Killington, VT</a> (their World Championship course)...but long story short I broke my knee in the process. Now, I\'m left with the aftermath - recovery, healing, and attempting to live daily life pretty much without the use of my left leg (for 6 - 12 weeks).&nbsp;</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Today marks the halfway point through my \"initial recovery\"...but man...<b>I\'ve about had it.&nbsp;</b></div><i>(Forewarning - some pictures in this post might be slightly...gross.)</i><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><br /><b>Injury sucks.&nbsp;</b> I really don\'t know how else to put it. For those who have had to deal with it, I\'m sure you understand. For those who haven\'t...<b>be glad</b>.<br /><br />For \"Average Joe\" an injury is a big fat inconvenience... but as a fitness freak and a runner this is about a million times worse. But...before I launch into a rambling tirade...<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">So, what actually HAPPENED?</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmsiirqE_RY/VD81dH-svGI/AAAAAAAAKv8/lee2h0KHzKQ/s1600/IMG_20140921_144024.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmsiirqE_RY/VD81dH-svGI/AAAAAAAAKv8/lee2h0KHzKQ/s1600/IMG_20140921_144024.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"180\" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b>The Beast </b>was about 16.5 miles long. I went up ~6,500 ft and down ~6,500 ft. I must\'ve done around 200 burpees (maybe more). <b>It took me 10 hours 16 minutes</b>. By the time I got to the very end - the Fire Jump - I was pooped. I\'m talking a level of honest-to-God <i><u>exhaustion</u></i> I didn\'t know existed. <b>I saw the finish</b>. I ran. I <i>leaped</i>. I <u>hurdled</u> myself over those burning logs like I was about to win the Boston Marathon. It was <b>right there</b>...I was FINALLY about to finish!<br /><br /><b>Unfortunately</b>, the last bit of strength I had went into the lift-off....and <b>I had nothing left for the landing</b>.<br /><br />Do me a favor - stand up (yes, right now) and jump. Notice how when you land you bend your legs and kind of shock-absorb yourself?<br /><br /><b>Yeah...that didn\'t happen for me.</b><br /><br />So, when I landed, my femur (thigh bone) took my full weight plus my momentum and hammered it directly down into my tibia (calf/shin bone). My \"medial tibial plateau\" (the top side of the tibia facing the other leg) cracked under the pressure.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdD77Hm-ZYo/VD87wNhWjLI/AAAAAAAAKw4/ttrrgWjwl4c/s1600/IMG_20140929_141814679_HDR.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdD77Hm-ZYo/VD87wNhWjLI/AAAAAAAAKw4/ttrrgWjwl4c/s1600/IMG_20140929_141814679_HDR.jpg\" height=\"225\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>I now have a titanium plate in my left leg. </b>It has some lovely screws and elegant swelling to go with it. From date of surgery I\'m looking at 6 weeks until I can bear weight on the leg and an estimated 12 weeks until I\'m running races unrestricted.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">So here I am.</span></b><br /><b><br /></b><b>In the grand scheme of things, </b>it could be a lot worse. I could have soft tissue damage (ACL, MCL, etc). My knee could be <i>really, really </i>damaged and require much longer to heal. I could be looking at <i>never running again</i>.&nbsp;<b>But it\'s not, it doesn\'t, and I\'m not</b>. I got lucky.<br /><br /><b>And instead of being grateful, I\'m whining.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Why? </b><strike>Because I\'m useless.</strike>&nbsp;Because I <i>FEEL</i> <b>useless</b>. I have to use crutches to get around, so I can\'t really carry things. Sure, I can throw on a backpack, sling my laptop bag and my lunch bag on...but then my balance is so whacked I fall over if someone breaths on me the right way. I can\'t do so many of the things I took for granted 4 weeks ago.<br /><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHLc2MqsTbQ/VD87mtM3JxI/AAAAAAAAKwo/FRxIUuFXfNw/s1600/IMG_20141007_125710263.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHLc2MqsTbQ/VD87mtM3JxI/AAAAAAAAKwo/FRxIUuFXfNw/s1600/IMG_20141007_125710263.jpg\" height=\"400\" width=\"225\" /></a><br /><br />I feel like an incredible burden on those around me - my friends and family who are helping me out <b>immensely</b>&nbsp;during this challenge. My poor wife...the \"in sickness and in health\" clause got invoked WAY before either of us expected.<br /><b><br /></b><b>And to top it all off, I can\'t run or work out!&nbsp;</b><br /><b><br /></b>I am a runner, a fitness freak, and <b>a gym manager</b>. I go to work 5 or 6 days a week and stare at treadmills I can\'t run on. I see weights I can\'t lift. I see all my members doing what I want to leap up and do.&nbsp;<b>It\'s maddening</b>.<br /><br />It makes the little victories and the progress difficult to appreciate.<br /><br />My swelling has gone down. I can get through the day-to-day without painkillers (not even Tylenol!). I can rest my foot on the ground enough to balance myself (but no more weight than that).<br /><br />Yesterday I even had a major milestone: &nbsp;<b>I hit 90 degrees range of motion.</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cC_erJwY-1o/VD9BWPIF5gI/AAAAAAAAKxM/TamiEvC3c9U/s1600/IMG_20141015_110301762_HDR.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cC_erJwY-1o/VD9BWPIF5gI/AAAAAAAAKxM/TamiEvC3c9U/s1600/IMG_20141015_110301762_HDR.jpg\" height=\"225\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>But as soon as I\'m done celebrating, its not long before I\'m reminded of the frustrations. Y\'know, when <b>I can\'t carry the coffee pot</b> to the sink to fill it with water.<br /><br /><b>I know this will pass.</b>&nbsp;Before I know it I\'ll be weight-bearing and then it\'ll be leaps and bounds and I\'ll be cycling, on the elliptical, and then back on the road. Until then, I need to focus on the progress, the little victories, and my rehab plan. I have to figure out how to workout once I\'m cleared to weight-bear.<br /><br /><b>Focus on the positives. </b>My leg and my body may have found their breaking point, but I can\'t let my spirit and my mind find theirs. I will come back from this stronger and smarter than before.<br /><br />After everything I\'ve been through, <b>nothing is going to keep me down.</b><br /><br />','Breaking Point ...Literally','','inherit','closed','closed','','61-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','',61,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/61-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(804,1,'2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Wow...</b></span><br /><br />So much <i>happened</i>&nbsp;in 2014... Not just for me, but for a lot of people I know.<br /><br />2013 was a year of change. 2014 was a year of testing the waters, challenging ourselves, pushing the limits...<br /><br /><b>and shattering them to bits.&nbsp;</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibuGl7zIgdQ/VKKVKXW3utI/AAAAAAAASPo/6fJlQuPN5bQ/s1600/Screenshot_2014-01-01-10-38-44-1-1.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibuGl7zIgdQ/VKKVKXW3utI/AAAAAAAASPo/6fJlQuPN5bQ/s1600/Screenshot_2014-01-01-10-38-44-1-1.png\" height=\"123\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>Just what kind of change can you accomplish in a year? How far can someone come? This is my opportunity to look back and reflect...to appreciate the people I met, things I did, and how far I<i>&nbsp;</i>came...and to believe in what I can do in 2015. The Year Of The Conqueror is coming, but first I have to appreciate Limitless 2014.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Where to even begin...</b></span><br /><br />2014 saw a newly-fit 25 year old man eager to take on the world. I had lost 125 lbs, I had crushed my 5K PR, and I had run my first half-marathon. I wanted to see what this new body could do...<b><i>what could possibly be next?</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><b>Everything.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GohdK5fFaCc/VKKVyVLIU4I/AAAAAAAASPw/ww1vE7147Hc/s1600/IMG_20140729_180448643_HDR.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GohdK5fFaCc/VKKVyVLIU4I/AAAAAAAASPw/ww1vE7147Hc/s1600/IMG_20140729_180448643_HDR.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"180\" /></a></div>I took it upon myself to show just how much someone can accomplish when they set themselves to task. I ended up becoming <i>pretty </i>busy. I ran everything from 5K to half-marathon (6 of them!) and did a BUNCH of Obstacle Course Races (<a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/10/the-beast.html\">including The Beast</a>...yikes!). By the time it was all said and done I had registered or otherwise committed for <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/p/races_29.html\">37 races</a>, and anticipated that I\'d do 40 by year\'s end. I would\'ve gotten there, too, if it weren\'t for <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/10/breaking-point-literally.html\">breaking my knee</a>&nbsp;(break was race 32, did 2 more post-injury).<br /><br /><b>That break was a game-changer for me.</b><br /><br />Why? <b>I got married this year!</b>&nbsp;My wife, Megan, is very understanding about this whole \"fitness\" and \"running\" thing...but the weekend I went to Killington and broke myself at The Beast was different. The \"in sickness &amp; in health\" clause got invoked in a big way, and not only could I not run...or workout...I couldn\'t even <i>walk</i>&nbsp;for 6 weeks. Megan had to help me with virtually everything.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vRfld-0RBtg/VKKXgTrhUjI/AAAAAAAASQM/1gGPWNlAgFQ/s1600/crutch.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vRfld-0RBtg/VKKXgTrhUjI/AAAAAAAASQM/1gGPWNlAgFQ/s1600/crutch.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"178\" /></a></div><br /><b>I got a taste of what life is like for a lot of people.</b><br /><br />A lot of members at my gym come through the door battling something that is physically hindering their ability to take care of their health and fitness. For many of them, their malady is <i>not </i>going away &nbsp;in 6 - 12 weeks like mine did. While I can never fully understand what it\'s like to live your life like that, I got a sample...and I can appreciate how hard it is. <b>I am inspired</b>&nbsp;by the people that battle through this every day, especially those I see at my gym...<br /><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Oh...and, I started working in Fitness full-time!</b></span><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kWR6ZvQovQo/VKKX4RVypOI/AAAAAAAASQU/AKSew8EmdMI/s1600/AnytimeFitness.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kWR6ZvQovQo/VKKX4RVypOI/AAAAAAAASQU/AKSew8EmdMI/s1600/AnytimeFitness.jpg\" height=\"75\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br />I made a major life-change / career-shift and left the restaurant I had been at for 3 years (and my half-baked long-term plan) and became the Club Manager at an <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessMashpee\">Anytime Fitness near me</a>. The people I\'ve met and the opportunities that have opened up for me have been life-altering. I\'ve met so many people with so many stories...it\'s mind-blowing. I\'ve seen people come to tears in the face of a major achievement. I\'ve seen people spit in the face of adversity and begin their journey despite mountains of deterrents. I\'ve seen people go from self-loathing to self-loving. <b>It\'s simply incredible,</b>&nbsp;and I consider myself so fortunate to be a part of these peoples\' fitness journey. <b>They</b>&nbsp;inspire <b>me</b>&nbsp;to continue on and reach higher.<br /><br />2014 also saw some great professional relationships established. I was sponsored by so many different groups for my racing journey, and I\'m taking a great relationship with <a href=\"http://www.healthwarrior.com/\">Health Warrior</a>, <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/CapeCodNutritionCorner.Plymouth\">Cape Cod Nutrition Corner</a> and <a href=\"http://www.perfectfuelchocolate.com/\">Perfect Fuel</a> into 2015.<br /><br />I can\'t wait to take on my next challenge. The Year of the Conqueror is coming. What did YOU accomplish in Limitless 2014...and what will you conquer in 2015?','2014 - Limitless','','inherit','closed','closed','','52-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','',52,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/52-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(805,1,'2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','<b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">There\'s no turning back now.</span></b><br /><br />A lot of words, feelings, and thoughts are going to <strike>be expressed</strike>&nbsp;fall out of my face right now that may not make sense. For the sake of the uninformed...<br /><br />In four days I will, for the second time, be taking on the Spartan Beast at Mt. Killington, VT.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amillRsdPZg/U_dKh9NdWhI/AAAAAAAAJGo/DlyJjAz1DdA/s1600/Spartan-Beast.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"105\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amillRsdPZg/U_dKh9NdWhI/AAAAAAAAJGo/DlyJjAz1DdA/s400/Spartan-Beast.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>Those who have done this event before, like me, <b>get it</b>. Those who have not...probably have an incredible sense of <b>dread and anticipation</b>. <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/10/the-beast.html\" target=\"_blank\">For those who are interested, you can read my rambling, complainey recap of last year\'s race.</a> <i>Buckle up, it\'s a long one.</i><br /><br />Through all the raging emotions...somehow... I\'ve managed to find a little zen. There are some undeniable truths about this race that, if embraced, will help us all find a little solace, a little calm, and a little sleep in these final few days leading up to the mountain.<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>This \"race\" is going to destroy me.</b></span><br /><br />Let\'s not kid ourselves. No matter if you\'re on the podium or DFL... this will wreck you. The sooner we make peace with that the better. This is one of the most difficult events I have ever done. Harder, I think, than my first marathon. Harder, for sure, than the Seven Sisters Trail Race. The Spartan Beast at Mt. Killington has no equal, in my opinion, unless you start going to the realm of Ultra OCR\'s, such as World\'s Toughest Mudder, the Death Race, or even the Ultra Beast (which is two laps of the Beast).<br /><br />I am taking extra care of my body NOW so that it can withstand the unearned punishment it will endure Saturday. This \"race\" is going to annihilate me, body and mind. <b>I will cross the finish. I will recover.</b> <i>I know this. I accept this.</i><br /><i><br /></i><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>The time to train has passed.</b></span><br /><i><br /></i>We are four days away from the race. There is no more time to train. Hell, there\'s barely time to <b>pack</b>. Whatever is not yet planned...will not be - yes, even items to bring on the mountain. You should only run with what you\'ve trained with. By now, you must already know what you\'re bringing.<br /><br />No, I do not need every piece of gear I own. I know what nutrition I need. I know what clothing I need. I know what I will drink. I know what additional gear I need. I just need to pack it, put it in the car, and be done with it. <b>I will be ok.</b> <i>I know this. I accept this</i>.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>This will be harder than last year. Unless it\'s easier.</b></span><br /><br /><table cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DydM85_yrqg/VfgnMvpBk3I/AAAAAAAAd_w/7aSA0I6RCLM/s1600/12002898_10156036810185068_2215877450671638072_n.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DydM85_yrqg/VfgnMvpBk3I/AAAAAAAAd_w/7aSA0I6RCLM/s320/12002898_10156036810185068_2215877450671638072_n.jpg\" width=\"207\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">Photo Credit - Spartan Race</td></tr></tbody></table>Last year Killington was the World Championship race. This year its not. However, it IS still Killington...the birthplace of the Spartan Beast. Hell...the birthplace of SPARTAN in general. This year, instead of the World Championship, its a Founder\'s Race - this simply means the race founder(s) will help the already-evil course designer make this race more challenging.<br /><br />Because it clearly needed to be more challenging.<br /><br />And though rumors may fly about this obstacle or that obstacle (or lack thereof)...we all know this race is going to be hard, and we cannot know EXACTLY how hard until it\'s over. \"You\'ll know at the finish line\"...<b>what a bunch of jerks.</b> <i>I know this. I accept this.</i><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I am overthinking this. It is what it is.</b></span><br /><br /><table cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obI2zpcEhSo/VfgnhzdXgUI/AAAAAAAAd_4/BjjRy8W119U/s1600/12006576_10154243791529552_280808859841967624_o.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"317\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obI2zpcEhSo/VfgnhzdXgUI/AAAAAAAAd_4/BjjRy8W119U/s320/12006576_10154243791529552_280808859841967624_o.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">Photo Credit - New England Spahtens</td></tr></tbody></table>I know what I\'m doing. The fear of the unknown is strong, but there is much less \"unknown\" than I think. I know what a Spartan Race is. I know what last year\'s Beast is. I estimate this course will be in the neighborhood of 16 miles long (including carries). It\'s going to suck. It\'s going to be long. There are going to be (multiple) sandbag carries, bucket carries, log carries, barbed wire crawls...But, frankly, <b>it doesn\'t matter.</b> It is what it is. <b>I will survive.</b><br /><br />A wise man once said...<b><a href=\"http://www.newenglandspahtens.com/the-most-important-beast-or-ultra-beast-blog-post-you-will-ever-read/\" target=\"_blank\">\"Don\'t Panic\"</a></b>. <i>I know this. I accept this.</i><br /><i><br /></i><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I will not repeat last year\'s mistakes.</b></span><br /><i><br /></i>I made a lot of mistakes last year. I will not waste time. I will not stop unnecessarily. I will not stare at obstacles I know I will fail. I will hydrate and fuel every 45 minutes. If I fail an obstacle I fail it. Burpee (or don\'t) and move on. I will not fear failure. I will not make the rope climb. I will not make the rig. I may not make the spear throws. But&nbsp;<b>I WILL finish the Beast.</b>&nbsp;<i>I know this. I accept this</i>.<br /><i><br /></i><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>This \"race\" is not a race. Just do it.&nbsp;</b></span><br /><i><br /></i><br /><table cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MqB8yhIqq0A/VfgnpBbxNDI/AAAAAAAAeAA/13rA-dCUiro/s1600/11934976_10153665294978338_71976099320238870_o.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MqB8yhIqq0A/VfgnpBbxNDI/AAAAAAAAeAA/13rA-dCUiro/s320/11934976_10153665294978338_71976099320238870_o.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">Photo Credit - New England Spahtens</td></tr></tbody></table>More important than anything else, I must remember - this \"race\" is not a race. I said it last fall after finishing, and anyone you ask who has done this will tell you...this is not a race. This event...its a test. A test of your will, your fortitude, your ability to overcome. Don\'t race the clock - it will only cause you to make avoidable mistakes. I WILL be careful, and I WILL finish. <br /><br /><b>One of the best pieces of advice I ever got - </b>\"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must.\"&nbsp;I can do this. It will take everything I\'ve got, but <b>I can.</b>&nbsp;<i>I know this. I accept this.</i><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Run your own \"race\".</b></span><br /><br />You are here for a reason, whatever that reason may be. This is YOUR event, nobody else\'s. Other peoples\' opinions of how you run your \"race\" <u>do not</u> matter. How you burpee (or don\'t), how you climb a wall (or don\'t), how you fuel/eat/pee/walk/run...it is your business and <u><b>nobody else\'s.</b></u>&nbsp;<i>I know this. I accept this.</i><br /><i><br /></i><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>It\'s time to prepare.</b></span><br /><i><br /></i><table cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9K14u9MDOs/Vfgn_b6__oI/AAAAAAAAeAI/OKuiMwHsgH8/s1600/11390106_10153028761711429_1833357992792414227_n.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9K14u9MDOs/Vfgn_b6__oI/AAAAAAAAeAI/OKuiMwHsgH8/s320/11390106_10153028761711429_1833357992792414227_n.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">Photo credit - Spartan Race</td></tr></tbody></table><b>You\'ve got some things to do.</b> Account for and pack your gear/nutrition. Get your race clothing/gear selected and packed. Charge your GPS watch. Hydrate. Constantly. Make sure you eat enough. Make sure you rest enough. Most important of all...<a href=\"http://www.newenglandspahtens.com/2-weeks-and-counting/\" target=\"_blank\">Don\'t Panic</a>. It\'s here. You\'re as ready as you can be. With this event, that\'s all anybody can ask for. <i>I know this. I accept this.</i><br /><i><br /></i><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>So</b>,</span> if we see each other on the mountain Saturday...say hi. Give a friendly wave. Perhaps \"run\" part of the course with me. In the end, most of us will finish. Some will get injured. Some will get hypothermia and be pulled from the course. Do not quit. Do not give up. Do not give in. You can do this. Trust your training, trust your knowledge, trust yourself. <b>What will be...will be.</b><br /><br /><i>I know this. I accept this.</i>','Fool Me Once...','','inherit','closed','closed','','35-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','',35,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/35-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(806,1,'2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I thought I was looking for redemption.</b></span><br /><br />I came to the mountain on a mission. <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/10/the-beast.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Beast broke me last year</a>...and though I got my finish...it didn\'t feel like a true victory. At the end there was no celebration. No camaraderie. No reveling in our success with hugs, beers, laughter and high fives. I came back looking for what I thought was taken from me. To correct my mistake. I thought I wanted...no...<i>NEEDED</i>...<b>redemption.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CVP0WoXTOgE/VhEWBuLpuDI/AAAAAAAAeUQ/qkLw1Lk-nKY/s1600/beast-2014-finish-broken.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"182\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CVP0WoXTOgE/VhEWBuLpuDI/AAAAAAAAeUQ/qkLw1Lk-nKY/s400/beast-2014-finish-broken.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\">As it turns out...<b>I was wrong</b>.</span><br /><br />What I found and what I learned was much more valuable and worthwhile than that. Too bad it took me a year to figure it out.<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><b><a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/11/5-keys-to-a-great-race.html\" target=\"_blank\">As far as a rating goes</a>...</b>Let\'s knock this out now.<br /><br /><b>Pre-Race: 7.5<br />Race-Day: 8</b><br /><div><b>The Course: 7.5&nbsp;</b><br /><b>Support/Swag: 7</b><br /><b>Post-Race: 8</b><br /><b>Overall: 38/50</b><br /><br />Overall...average to above average. You\'ll get why by the end.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>The theme of the day was \"struggle\".</b></span><br /><br />What can I say about the Killington Beast that I (or someone else) haven\'t said before? Those who have done it...know. And those who haven\'t yet...can\'t possibly REALLY know until you\'re there. Suffering and struggling through it. There are insane ascents, vicious descents, technical trails that eat ankles for lunch and top it off with obstacles strategically placed to push you to your limits.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DydM85_yrqg/VfgnMvpBk3I/AAAAAAAAd_0/QP6ePvWIaUM/s1600/12002898_10156036810185068_2215877450671638072_n.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DydM85_yrqg/VfgnMvpBk3I/AAAAAAAAd_0/QP6ePvWIaUM/s320/12002898_10156036810185068_2215877450671638072_n.jpg\" width=\"207\" /></a>This year was a bit different from the past, though. This year Killington was a Founder\'s Race.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>What does \"Founder\'s Race\" really mean?</b></span><br /><br />Some would say it means Spartan Race is getting cheap and taking the easy way out on a course build. Spartan calls it \"going back to their roots\" when things were simpler. Honestly...I think <b>it\'s a little bit of both.</b><br /><b><br /></b>The \"Founder\'s Race\" idea results in a less complicated, less grandiose build-out. No massive banners. No 5,000 foot high rope climb rigs with a water ditch below large enough to build a house in. To be perfectly honest...the build-out reminded me of some smaller, local OCR\'s I\'ve run lately. <b>I kind of liked that</b>. <br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Each year is different.</b></span><br /><br />Each year at any given venue is its own event, and you kind of have to take it for what it is. I heard some people (some, my own teammates) complaining that this year\'s VT Beast wasn\'t as hard as years prior. I read one blog in particular that I thought was pretty...shall we say...elitist...about it. Complaining that US races are incredibly disorganized. <b>It kind of offended me.</b><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>In hindsight...I <i>WAS</i>&nbsp;slightly disappointed.</b></span><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FX6sL6uBRwk/VhEYoavbG0I/AAAAAAAAeUc/7TlNrlLShPw/s1600/beast%2Bpancake%2B2015.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FX6sL6uBRwk/VhEYoavbG0I/AAAAAAAAeUc/7TlNrlLShPw/s320/beast%2Bpancake%2B2015.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>As hard as it was...ultimately...it DID feel a little...disappointing in the obstacle category. There were innumerable things to climb over, at least 8 carries of some sort and three barbed wire crawls. These made up the VAST majority of obstacles. I felt there was a lot less...creativity...than I expected. Local OCR\'s I\'ve done...hell, even other SPARTAN races I\'ve done...have had more variety than that. Is this what \"Founder\'s Race\" means? If so...I won\'t mind if I don\'t run another. Lack of variety doesn\'t mean it was easy...but still...it felt like something was lacking.<br /><br /><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mgiGxXthH4/VhEbojzjnZI/AAAAAAAAeVM/E6F4J2fOIIA/s1600/beast%2Blog%2Bcarry%2B2015.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mgiGxXthH4/VhEbojzjnZI/AAAAAAAAeVM/E6F4J2fOIIA/s320/beast%2Blog%2Bcarry%2B2015.jpg\" width=\"213\" /></a><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Despite it all...the struggle was real.</b></span><br /><br />That mountain is no joke. This year\'s course had all the steepest ascents and descents from last year\'s course...plus new ones. The heat was a new challenge...one that got the best of me for a while. You just never know what you\'re gonna get on that mountain...<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Lack of water didn\'t help, either</span></b><br /><br />I\'m not gonna sit here and make a Federal project out of it...Spartan Race blew it with water...but at least <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/spartanrace/videos/10153031586476861/\" target=\"_blank\">they owned their mistake.</a> They depleted their water sources way early and lost pressure on (it seems) their one available hose. People (myself included) weren\'t allowed to fill Camelbaks. I had to ration my water a lot more than usual. Given the heat...this was a challenge. One I was not prepared for.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Teamwork saved the day.</b></span><br /><br />I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again...<b>I would not have made it without my battle buddies. </b>For the uninformed - a Battle Buddy is someone you run/crawl/climb/struggle through the race with.&nbsp;<b>Maureen and Rob were mine.</b><br /><br />Happened kind of by accident, too...I lost my original BB very early (it\'s ok, we had a deal, not upset) and came across them on the first major ascent. Deciding to stick with them was probably the single smartest thing I did all day.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KRC4pvrbkGg/VhEZ6oSZdmI/AAAAAAAAeUo/aKYe_VKZL80/s1600/beast%2B15%2Bbattle%2Bbuddies.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KRC4pvrbkGg/VhEZ6oSZdmI/AAAAAAAAeUo/aKYe_VKZL80/s320/beast%2B15%2Bbattle%2Bbuddies.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /><b>They had my back at every turn.</b>&nbsp;I was stunned to find them waiting for me at the bottom of the bucket carry. It got the best of me, whipped my ass...and there they were. Waiting. I felt bad because I took so long...this is exactly where I lost my battle buddies last year (except it was later in the race)...but there they were. And they were right there with me until the very end. Salt tabs, conversation, looking out for each other...they covered it all. It was a much different back-half of the Beast this year getting through it with a couple of BB\'s like that.<br /><br /><b>I would not have finished without them. Not this year\'s Beast. </b>No way.<br /><b><br /></b><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Imagine an entire community like that.</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_IO5sguLqU/VhEaTVthEmI/AAAAAAAAeUw/bXeBQnicU30/s1600/IMG_20150919_073611305.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_IO5sguLqU/VhEaTVthEmI/AAAAAAAAeUw/bXeBQnicU30/s400/IMG_20150919_073611305.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />That\'s the <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/nespahtens\" target=\"_blank\">New England Spahtens</a> - over 3,000 people just like that (to varying degrees). A whole community of \"care\". That\'s what OCR SHOULD be like...not whining about this or that, not complaining that someone didn\'t do their burpees, not bellyaching about cheating...just looking out for each other and having fun.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I almost cried at the finish line.</b></span><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1OzyNyZOdjw/VhEa5SiZv0I/AAAAAAAAeU8/7j-ep9x4gVI/s1600/beast%2B15%2Bfire%2Bjump.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1OzyNyZOdjw/VhEa5SiZv0I/AAAAAAAAeU8/7j-ep9x4gVI/s320/beast%2B15%2Bfire%2Bjump.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br />The look on my face at the fire jump was borderline horrified...but I jumped it. I landed. And I screamed out of pure elation. <i>I could finally run across the finish...</i><b style=\"font-style: italic;\">on my own.</b>&nbsp;And I did. And there was my wife. And my Battle Buddies. And that G-Damn medal I\'ve been chasing for months. <b>I did it.</b>&nbsp;The feeling is simply indescribable.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-9vYriFSlA/Vgcp17BJrfI/AAAAAAAAeMM/79CPufgh5AU/s1600/IMG_20150921_070553898.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"180\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-9vYriFSlA/Vgcp17BJrfI/AAAAAAAAeMM/79CPufgh5AU/s320/IMG_20150921_070553898.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Thanks to the team...I found TRUE success.</b></span><br /><br /><b><i>And it was a bit different than I thought it would be.&nbsp;</i></b><br /><br />High fives and hugs. Shared stories of successes. Lamenting opportunities missed on-course. A teammate not-so-subtly offering a victory shot and beer. And also...asking after teammates we hadn\'t seen or heard from. Not for the gossip factor...not out of curiosity...but out of genuine care, and to perhaps be ready to help console a teammate feeling like a failure. <i>So much positivity...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XA241grFg5k/VhEbFWSkA3I/AAAAAAAAeVI/qVP2yalrF04/s1600/beast%2B15%2Bvictory.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"213\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XA241grFg5k/VhEbFWSkA3I/AAAAAAAAeVI/qVP2yalrF04/s320/beast%2B15%2Bvictory.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br />Sitting in the lodge, much later, as I\'m getting ready to finish my beer and head home...A teammate comes in for hers. It\'s late, most others from the team have left. Despite being more sore than ever...of course I practically leap out of my chair to congratulate her.<br /><br />Back to the house...where other exhausted, beaten teammates rest as well. In the morning - shared stories of success. Breakfast in town surrounded by finishers, spectators...and people who <i>get it.</i>&nbsp;The next night...furiously hitting \"refresh\" on Chronotrack hoping to see friends finish the UltraBeast...<i>did they make it?</i><br /><br />The sense of completion...of victory...of <i>success</i>...didn\'t come from the medal, or simply from running across on my own two feet. <b><i>It was everything else.</i></b></div>','Struggle, Teamwork, & Success - Spartan Beast VT 2015','','inherit','closed','closed','','34-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:43:58','2017-01-21 13:43:58','',34,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/34-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(809,1,'2017-01-21 08:49:32','2017-01-21 13:49:32','<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I should have been SUPER sore.</b></span><br /><br /><a href=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGijIdCyO2c/VsxUDNI-nlI/AAAAAAAAjsk/K7c25j06C_Q/s1600/memerunamarathon1.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGijIdCyO2c/VsxUDNI-nlI/AAAAAAAAjsk/K7c25j06C_Q/s200/memerunamarathon1.jpg\" width=\"193\" /></a>A couple of weeks ago I ran my fastest 20 miler EVER. I should\'ve been sore as hell at SOME point the following week. And I wasn\'t. The only thing that hurt was the new blisters I earned from being an idiot.&nbsp;<i><b>And even THOSE</b>&nbsp;</i>were fine by Tuesday<b style=\"font-style: italic;\">.</b>&nbsp;As a matter of fact, that Tuesday I knocked out a pretty fast 4 miles in the freshly blizzarded roads of my New England neighborhood.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>What Gives?</b></span><br /><br />Why was I not sore? Why did I feel nothing even&nbsp;<i>remotely</i>&nbsp;resembling the bedridden crippleness I would expect from such a (relatively) hard 3 hour and 38 minute effort Sunday?<br /><br /><b>It\'s because I found the secret sauce.</b><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Step 1: Accept that there is no magic pill.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDPvtz_DyHE/VsxXhhA1mdI/AAAAAAAAjtU/iMHCynaeAA4/s1600/Snake-Oil-Ad.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"172\" src=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDPvtz_DyHE/VsxXhhA1mdI/AAAAAAAAjtU/iMHCynaeAA4/s320/Snake-Oil-Ad.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>Sorry to break the news...but there is not some magic pill that saved me from being a useless human being this past week. There is no \"one true way\" for&nbsp;<i>anything</i>&nbsp;in the health &amp; fitness world. If there WERE, we\'d all be doing the&nbsp;<i>same</i>&nbsp;workout, using the&nbsp;<i>same</i>&nbsp;supplement brand, at the&nbsp;<i>same&nbsp;</i>gym,&nbsp;and someone out there would be a super-billionaire.&nbsp;The thing that works for the majority of people (or me)&nbsp;<b>MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU</b>. As long we have that understanding...we can move forward :)<br /><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><br /></i><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Now then - the basics.</span></b><br /><br /><b>Q: Why do we get sore from working out?</b><br /><b>A: During your workout, you\'re breaking down muscle so it can build back up stronger.</b><br /><br /><a href=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jk_NzV4CtPk/VsxXZF_6SbI/AAAAAAAAjtQ/Z0MlD1P2yns/s1600/sponge-bob.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"170\" src=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jk_NzV4CtPk/VsxXZF_6SbI/AAAAAAAAjtQ/Z0MlD1P2yns/s200/sponge-bob.jpg\" width=\"200\" /></a>That\'s the short version, anyway. This breakdown usually leads to DOMS (Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness) - you\'ve essentially damaged your body, so of course, you\'re likely to feel that damage. This soreness (DOMS) can occur, arguably, anywhere from 6 to 72 hours after exercise (usually about 24 - 48 hours after). It is&nbsp;<b>perfectly normal.&nbsp;</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>OK, so what can I do about it?</b></span><br /><br />As I suggested...there\'s no one medically agreed-upon way to fix or prevent DOMS. If you scour the internet you\'ll find MANY ideas on how to fix it. Below are five things&nbsp;<i>I</i>&nbsp;do that work awesome for me and seem to be considered effective by the internet at-large.<br /><br /><b>1. Have a plan</b><br /><b><br /></b>You want to be sure you don\'t work the same muscle every day - they need a chance to recover. So,&nbsp;<b>have a plan </b>for how you\'re going to break things up<b>.</b>&nbsp;A plan for the day, of course, but a longer term plan too.&nbsp;<i>What are you doing today? Tomorrow? The rest of the week? Next week? How is next month laid out?</i>&nbsp;Having a plan will ensure that you don\'t waste time, your muscles can recover and work harder for you, and ultimately, over time, you can reach your goals.<br /><br />This whole \"have a plan\" thing...honestly...<b>it\'s something you should be doing anyway -&nbsp;</b>not just to avoid muscle soreness.<br /><b><br /></b><b>2. Hydrate</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><b><br /></b>Your body is mostly made of water...and it tends to perform better and do what you want when you stay well-hydrated. Everyone and their mother tells you to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day...<b>there\'s a reason.</b>&nbsp;To be safe, and to ensure your body has what it needs&nbsp;I say&nbsp;<i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">double that </i><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">(hell, I drink even MORE than that)</i><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">.&nbsp;</i>What\'s the worst that happens (<i>barring extreme circumstances)</i>? You pee more?&nbsp;<b>Good.</b><i>&nbsp;</i><br /><b><br /></b>This \"hydrating\" thing...it\'s&nbsp;<b>something you should be doing anyway.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>3. Fuel</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuIPtO47aes/VsxXA9j8dFI/AAAAAAAAjtE/TknxL35WWWQ/s1600/goku%2Beat.png\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"165\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuIPtO47aes/VsxXA9j8dFI/AAAAAAAAjtE/TknxL35WWWQ/s320/goku%2Beat.png\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b><br /></b>If there\'s no gas in the tank, the car doesn\'t go. Unfortunately, we humans can...and often DO...<i>force</i>&nbsp;our bodies to go when there\'s not enough fuel consumed. Whether you get abnormally tired or sore...you <i>will</i>&nbsp;feel it. The solution is simple:&nbsp;<b>EAT.&nbsp;</b>Your body needs fuel to power it through the day. On top of that, your body needs&nbsp;<i>more&nbsp;</i>fuel to get through whatever workouts your asking it to get through. Eat appropriately for your weight loss/gain goals and activity level. I\'m no expert, but <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2016/02/solving-muscle-soreness-the-secret-sauce.html\" target=\"_blank\">here\'s what I can offer for guidance on that front.</a><br /><b><br /></b>This, too, is&nbsp;<b>something you should be doing anyway.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>4. Rest</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYFDBMHFz_g/VsxWnPtf-VI/AAAAAAAAjs8/2sRITMGGAFY/s1600/sleep__square.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"128\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYFDBMHFz_g/VsxWnPtf-VI/AAAAAAAAjs8/2sRITMGGAFY/s200/sleep__square.jpg\" width=\"200\" /></a></div><b><br /></b>A critical part of this whole process is rest. Not just rest days as part of your \"plan\"...but actual REST. In a bed. You have to allow time for your muscles to recover, rebuild, and undo the damage done to them causing this soreness in the first place. It\'s that simple.&nbsp;<b>Get some sleep.</b>&nbsp;If you\'re not getting 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night...you\'ll probably be more sore than you need to be.<br /><br />Yes...<b>You should be doing THIS anyway, too</b>.<br /><b><br /></b><b>5. Recovery Aides / Supplements</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxdrz876cqI/VsxVVo6_KeI/AAAAAAAAjsw/_4MXucR2yQw/s1600/supplements_collage.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"161\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxdrz876cqI/VsxVVo6_KeI/AAAAAAAAjsw/_4MXucR2yQw/s320/supplements_collage.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>The harder your workouts, the more they demand from your body. Don\'t forget - how hard your workout is is relative to your athletic ability. A basic routine might still be pretty taxing if you\'re a total rookie. The short version here is: <u>use supplements.</u> There are a number of different supplements that can help give your body the raw materials it craves in order to build back up stronger, faster and thus&nbsp;<i>with less soreness. </i>Whey Protein, Creatine, BCAA\'s, Glutamine, \"Recovery Blends\" or \"Post-Workout supplements\"...there are a TON of options and ways to mix them.<br /><br /><b>So how do you sort it out and find the right one?</b><br /><b><br /></b><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TIG0nI7qc4/VsxV_8onE_I/AAAAAAAAjs4/Rhed2TDfhEI/s1600/ccnc%2Bbanner.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"147\" src=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TIG0nI7qc4/VsxV_8onE_I/AAAAAAAAjs4/Rhed2TDfhEI/s400/ccnc%2Bbanner.png\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />You need a pro. My strongest advice here is to find a local supplement store. NO - <b>not a GNC/Vitamin Shoppe/Big Box</b>...a <b><i>local</i></b> supplement/nutrition store. If you live in Massachusetts I <b>STRONGLY</b>&nbsp;recommend you find a Cape Cod Nutrition Corner. I liked them so much I wiggled my way into becoming one of their team athletes! They only stock products they believe in, they are incredibly knowledgeable about those products, and they\'re going to give you unbiased opinions because <i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">they don\'t make commissions from vendors</i>.<br /><br />Budget yourself $30 or $40/month for this. Most of the solutions they offer will only cost you roughly $1/serving. If you\'re ok buying 10 for $10 yogurts at Stop &amp; Shop or a coffee on the way to work, you should be ok with this option too. Stop by and see what they recommend. It could totally change the game for you :)<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">That\'s really it.</span></b><br /><br />In the end, no matter what,&nbsp;<i>if you\'re working really hard</i>...<b>you\'re going to be at least&nbsp;<i>a little</i>&nbsp;sore.</b>&nbsp;You CAN do a lot to deaden the blow...<b>it\'s not rocket science.</b> You need to plan, eat, drink and sleep...and using supplements can help put you over the top in terms of reducing that soreness issue. Try it...and let me know how it works out for you.<br /><br /><b style=\"font-style: italic;\">Disclosure: </b><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">As I mentioned,&nbsp;</span><i>I am a Cape Cod Nutrition Corner Sponsored Athlete.&nbsp;As always,&nbsp;<b>all&nbsp;opinions are my own</b>, never bought, sold or influenced. Trust me - if I ever come across something I think is awful, or even sub-par,&nbsp;<b>I won\'t be shy about it</b>. It simply hasn\'t happened yet.</i>','Solving Muscle Soreness - The Secret Sauce','','inherit','closed','closed','','24-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:49:32','2017-01-21 13:49:32','',24,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/24-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(810,1,'2017-01-21 08:50:01','2017-01-21 13:50:01','In the last three years I\'ve learned a lot about myself, my body, and what we\'re all capable of. I\'ve witnessed people achieve some amazing transformations, milestones and accomplishments, and I\'ve had my own fair share as well. With each success I have, each wall I break down...I can\'t help but want to see what\'s next. What ELSE can be accomplished that was previously \"impossible\"?<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTu3TdSMdoQ/Vzscl2MuCqI/AAAAAAAAj8Y/gZ_Hk9w9b9wdWLhNNhpEZzC2jLkW5ffrQCLcB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1463490308278.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTu3TdSMdoQ/Vzscl2MuCqI/AAAAAAAAj8Y/gZ_Hk9w9b9wdWLhNNhpEZzC2jLkW5ffrQCLcB/s320/PhotoGrid_1463490308278.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>I kind of threw this out there at the end of the year...but didn\'t really get into it. This past November I decided to leap off the edge and see, once and for all, how deep the rabbit hole really goes. I decided to see just how far I can come from my starting point of 305 lbs. I decided 2016 is the year of the Ultramarathon.<br /><br />The final challenge? 100 miles.<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Wait...what?</b></span><br /><br />Yeah...like I said, I more or less announced this <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2016/05/the-quest-for-100.html\" target=\"_blank\">in a post last December</a>. I realize now, though, that I kind of just used the announcement as a means to make a point (and frankly, looking back, I sounded like an ass doing it). Maybe I was going for shock value...maybe I was drunk on coffee...who knows. Point is...I didn\'t explain the whys and wherefores of what really is kind of a <b>momentous</b> thing. I most certainly did <b>not</b>&nbsp;do the thing justice, that\'s for sure. I owe it to myself, those supporting me, and to <i>the thing itself</i>&nbsp;to explain what the hell this is all about...and why on God\'s green Earth someone would choose to do it.<br /><br />So...yes. My latest challenge...perhaps the final, <i>top</i>&nbsp;rung of the achievement ladder left to climb...I am delving into the world of the Ultramarathon.<br /><br /><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><i>Ultra</i>marathon?</b><br /><br />Yes, I\'m not making that word up. An Ultramarathon is a running event longer than marathon distance (26.2 miles). There are two kinds - either time-limit (as far as you can go in 6, 12, 24, 48 hours) or the traditional \"distance goal\" (50K, 50 Mile, 100K, 100 Mile). So...what have I chosen to do?<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>50 and 100. Yes, Miles.</b></span><br /><br />Those are my two big goals this year. First I\'m running the Pineland Farms Trail Festival 50 Miler on 5/29/16. After that...October 22nd to 23rd 2016...Ghost Train Rail Trail Race, where I\'ve got 30 hours to achieve my goal of 100 miles. As my prize, I\'ll bring home a big green cowbell (Pineland 50) and a rail spike (Ghost Train 100).<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><i>\"You\'re insane.\"</i></b></span><br /><br /><i>Am I, though? </i>Earlier this month I&nbsp;had my last big training weekend - Saturday 4/30 I ran 18 miles. 12 hours later, on Sunday morning, I ran the Providence Marathon. I only slept 4.5 hours in between the two...and I finished Providence in <i>a new personal best marathon time.</i>&nbsp;In the two days after...aside from a slight twinge in my left shin (which we\'ll talk about another day) <i>I felt fine.</i>&nbsp;Literally hopping up and down.&nbsp;<b>That\'s exactly the kind of shape I want and need to be in</b> with a 50 mile race just weeks away. As <i>insane</i> as it might seem...<i>I\'m actually <b>ready</b>&nbsp;for this thing.</i><br /><i><br /></i><b>The initial decision itself...</b>THAT was a leap. It didn\'t happen all at once, either.<br /><br /><b>At first</b>&nbsp;I registered for 50K. I was nervous. It was DEFINITELY a big deal for me. But once I got over the initial shock I realized...if I can do a marathon, I can do a 50K (so I felt better). And if I could do 50K, I could do 50 Mile (so I upgraded my registration). <b>And if</b>, at that point, I can finish a 50 Miler...well, just <i>keep training</i>&nbsp;and I\'ll have the best shot possible at finishing my first 100 mile race. It\'s all about the training and trusting the process.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>That training, though, HAS been insane.</b></span><br /><br />Those who follow this blog may have noticed...I haven\'t written a whole lot lately. It wasn\'t really on purpose...its more a result of my free time being completely consumed by training for this latest undertaking. In case you haven\'t figured it out on your own yet...training for an ultramarathon means one thing...<br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><br /></b></span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>You run. All the time. Forever.&nbsp;</b></span><br /><br />Honestly though, I feel like all I do is run. I\'ll spend a good 10+ hours a week running (half of that on the weekend alone).&nbsp;I have to get up at the crack of dawn to get it done so I either get to work on time (weekday) or don\'t blow half my day running (weekend). &nbsp;The downside is obvious...but on the bright side?<br /><br /><b>I can go run 10 miles without even thinking about it.</b><br /><b><br /></b>My body has reached a point where I could nap through a 5 miler. That intense weekend of Providence Marathon? I was fully recovered in just a couple days. It\'s incredible to stop and think about how much I\'ve improved my fitness...and sometimes I still marvel at the fact that I really am an athlete. I\'m training for a thing that such a small percentage of the population even <i>considers</i>&nbsp;doing...even knows <i>exists</i>. I\'m not the fastest guy out there...but when you\'re taking on 50 and 100 miles...simply <i>finishing</i>&nbsp;is an accomplishment.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lthCN9gpIWs/Vzsc5v3_vXI/AAAAAAAAj8c/LBTpKKjX_wM0S6Qs5GbR0HAY-xLSsW8EQCLcB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1463489144103.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lthCN9gpIWs/Vzsc5v3_vXI/AAAAAAAAj8c/LBTpKKjX_wM0S6Qs5GbR0HAY-xLSsW8EQCLcB/s320/PhotoGrid_1463489144103.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><u style=\"font-style: italic;\">That</u>&nbsp;is why I choose to do this.</b></span><br /><br /><b>Because</b>&nbsp;<b>I can.</b>&nbsp;And years ago, as far as I or anyone who knew me was concerned...it was <b>impossible. </b>Now that I know what I know and have achieved what I have achieved...I want to see just how far I can climb. &nbsp;With my friends and family behind me, and with the support of awesome sponsors like <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/CapeCodNutritionCorner.Plymouth/\" target=\"_blank\">Cape Cod Nutrition Corner</a>, I know...<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><u>This Is My Time.</u></b></span><br /><br />I\'m gonna get that cowbell. And damn it all...I\'m coming for that rail spike. And if I can...<i>anyone can.</i>&nbsp;Go get it - I\'ll see you at the finish.','The Quest For 100','','inherit','closed','closed','','22-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:50:01','2017-01-21 13:50:01','',22,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/22-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(811,1,'2017-01-21 08:51:21','2017-01-21 13:51:21','In the last three years I\'ve learned a lot about myself, my body, and what we\'re all capable of. I\'ve witnessed people achieve some amazing transformations, milestones and accomplishments, and I\'ve had my own fair share as well. With each success I have, each wall I break down...I can\'t help but want to see what\'s next. What ELSE can be accomplished that was previously \"impossible\"?<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTu3TdSMdoQ/Vzscl2MuCqI/AAAAAAAAj8Y/gZ_Hk9w9b9wdWLhNNhpEZzC2jLkW5ffrQCLcB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1463490308278.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTu3TdSMdoQ/Vzscl2MuCqI/AAAAAAAAj8Y/gZ_Hk9w9b9wdWLhNNhpEZzC2jLkW5ffrQCLcB/s320/PhotoGrid_1463490308278.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>I kind of threw this out there at the end of the year...but didn\'t really get into it. This past November I decided to leap off the edge and see, once and for all, how deep the rabbit hole really goes. I decided to see just how far I can come from my starting point of 305 lbs. I decided 2016 is the year of the Ultramarathon.<br /><br />The final challenge? 100 miles.<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Wait...what?</b></span><br /><br />Yeah...like I said, I more or less announced this <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2015/12/crazynormal.html\" target=\"_blank\">in a post last December</a>. I realize now, though, that I kind of just used the announcement as a means to make a point (and frankly, looking back, I sounded like an ass doing it). Maybe I was going for shock value...maybe I was drunk on coffee...who knows. Point is...I didn\'t explain the whys and wherefores of what really is kind of a <b>momentous</b> thing. I most certainly did <b>not</b>&nbsp;do the thing justice, that\'s for sure. I owe it to myself, those supporting me, and to <i>the thing itself</i>&nbsp;to explain what the hell this is all about...and why on God\'s green Earth someone would choose to do it.<br /><br />So...yes. My latest challenge...perhaps the final, <i>top</i>&nbsp;rung of the achievement ladder left to climb...I am delving into the world of the Ultramarathon.<br /><br /><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><i>Ultra</i>marathon?</b><br /><br />Yes, I\'m not making that word up. An Ultramarathon is a running event longer than marathon distance (26.2 miles). There are two kinds - either time-limit (as far as you can go in 6, 12, 24, 48 hours) or the traditional \"distance goal\" (50K, 50 Mile, 100K, 100 Mile). So...what have I chosen to do?<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>50 and 100. Yes, Miles.</b></span><br /><br />Those are my two big goals this year. First I\'m running the Pineland Farms Trail Festival 50 Miler on 5/29/16. After that...October 22nd to 23rd 2016...Ghost Train Rail Trail Race, where I\'ve got 30 hours to achieve my goal of 100 miles. As my prize, I\'ll bring home a big green cowbell (Pineland 50) and a rail spike (Ghost Train 100).<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><i>\"You\'re insane.\"</i></b></span><br /><br /><i>Am I, though? </i>Earlier this month I&nbsp;had my last big training weekend - Saturday 4/30 I ran 18 miles. 12 hours later, on Sunday morning, I ran the Providence Marathon. I only slept 4.5 hours in between the two...and I finished Providence in <i>a new personal best marathon time.</i>&nbsp;In the two days after...aside from a slight twinge in my left shin (which we\'ll talk about another day) <i>I felt fine.</i>&nbsp;Literally hopping up and down.&nbsp;<b>That\'s exactly the kind of shape I want and need to be in</b> with a 50 mile race just weeks away. As <i>insane</i> as it might seem...<i>I\'m actually <b>ready</b>&nbsp;for this thing.</i><br /><i><br /></i><b>The initial decision itself...</b>THAT was a leap. It didn\'t happen all at once, either.<br /><br /><b>At first</b>&nbsp;I registered for 50K. I was nervous. It was DEFINITELY a big deal for me. But once I got over the initial shock I realized...if I can do a marathon, I can do a 50K (so I felt better). And if I could do 50K, I could do 50 Mile (so I upgraded my registration). <b>And if</b>, at that point, I can finish a 50 Miler...well, just <i>keep training</i>&nbsp;and I\'ll have the best shot possible at finishing my first 100 mile race. It\'s all about the training and trusting the process.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>That training, though, HAS been insane.</b></span><br /><br />Those who follow this blog may have noticed...I haven\'t written a whole lot lately. It wasn\'t really on purpose...its more a result of my free time being completely consumed by training for this latest undertaking. In case you haven\'t figured it out on your own yet...training for an ultramarathon means one thing...<br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><br /></b></span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>You run. All the time. Forever.&nbsp;</b></span><br /><br />Honestly though, I feel like all I do is run. I\'ll spend a good 10+ hours a week running (half of that on the weekend alone).&nbsp;I have to get up at the crack of dawn to get it done so I either get to work on time (weekday) or don\'t blow half my day running (weekend). &nbsp;The downside is obvious...but on the bright side?<br /><br /><b>I can go run 10 miles without even thinking about it.</b><br /><b><br /></b>My body has reached a point where I could nap through a 5 miler. That intense weekend of Providence Marathon? I was fully recovered in just a couple days. It\'s incredible to stop and think about how much I\'ve improved my fitness...and sometimes I still marvel at the fact that I really am an athlete. I\'m training for a thing that such a small percentage of the population even <i>considers</i>&nbsp;doing...even knows <i>exists</i>. I\'m not the fastest guy out there...but when you\'re taking on 50 and 100 miles...simply <i>finishing</i>&nbsp;is an accomplishment.<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lthCN9gpIWs/Vzsc5v3_vXI/AAAAAAAAj8c/LBTpKKjX_wM0S6Qs5GbR0HAY-xLSsW8EQCLcB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1463489144103.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lthCN9gpIWs/Vzsc5v3_vXI/AAAAAAAAj8c/LBTpKKjX_wM0S6Qs5GbR0HAY-xLSsW8EQCLcB/s320/PhotoGrid_1463489144103.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><u style=\"font-style: italic;\">That</u>&nbsp;is why I choose to do this.</b></span><br /><br /><b>Because</b>&nbsp;<b>I can.</b>&nbsp;And years ago, as far as I or anyone who knew me was concerned...it was <b>impossible. </b>Now that I know what I know and have achieved what I have achieved...I want to see just how far I can climb. &nbsp;With my friends and family behind me, and with the support of awesome sponsors like <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/CapeCodNutritionCorner.Plymouth/\" target=\"_blank\">Cape Cod Nutrition Corner</a>, I know...<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><u>This Is My Time.</u></b></span><br /><br />I\'m gonna get that cowbell. And damn it all...I\'m coming for that rail spike. And if I can...<i>anyone can.</i>&nbsp;Go get it - I\'ll see you at the finish.','The Quest For 100','','inherit','closed','closed','','22-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:51:21','2017-01-21 13:51:21','',22,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/22-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(812,1,'2017-01-21 08:52:32','2017-01-21 13:52:32','<div><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>It still hasn\'t sunk in.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rx2FNuxaDY/V2EuJx75oUI/AAAAAAAAmqc/wkSgtUIh6PwvynJgdHiN2OFlHYuI9DMFQCKgB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1464514429103.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rx2FNuxaDY/V2EuJx75oUI/AAAAAAAAmqc/wkSgtUIh6PwvynJgdHiN2OFlHYuI9DMFQCKgB/s200/PhotoGrid_1464514429103.jpg\" width=\"200\" /></a></div><i>I ran a 50 mile ultramarathon...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><i>Wow.</i></b>&nbsp;Honestly I\'m still in disbelief. Of...like...the whole thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I learned a lot during Pineland 50...both about myself and about life in general. I know, that sounds corny, cheesy, and painfully cliche...but it is what it is.</div><div><br />I\'ve been pretty lazy for the last two weeks (yikes)...it\'s about time I get back on it, get back into \"training mode\", and finally put together this race report.<br /><br />And gee willy, what a race report it is...<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>OK, so I embellished a little...</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>It\'s a race report like any other. Except... it\'s for an <i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Ultramarathon</i>...so that makes it...special? <i>I don\'t know, just grasping at straws here trying to continue feeling like a unicorn.</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><div>Know what, screw that, <b>of course I still feel special</b>, and rightly so. One more time...&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>50 miles.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>*ahem* Sorry guys...my \"entitled millenial\" was showing. <i>I\'m done now. really...</i></div><div><br /></div><div>According to my buddy Dave (an avid marathoner), at the end of the day it was actually a pretty challenging course. So let\'s talk about THAT... since I\'m sure that\'s what most of you are really here for. <i>(That and my charming wit, obviously)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Pineland - A lovely weekend on the farm</b></span><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href=\"http://www.pinelandtrails.com/\" target=\"_blank\">The Salomon Trail Running Festival at Pineland Farms</a> (<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pinelandtrails\" target=\"_blank\">Pineland</a> for short) takes place at <i>(you guessed it) </i>Pineland Farms and&nbsp;has 7 races over 2 days. Saturday features a 5K, Barefoot 5K, Canicross 5K (5k with your dog), and 10K. Sunday features the distance runs - 25K, 50K, and 50 Mile.<br /><br />I have no real experience with the Saturday course - rather than run it, I was working as one of the event timers with RaceWire that day. What I CAN tell you is the weather was positively <b>OPPRESSIVE</b>&nbsp;that day. &nbsp;It was SUPER hot, SUPER humid, the sun was beating down, and apparently there was some sort of \"ozone warning\"? I don\'t even know what that is. Conditions were so bad that the 10K course was almost cut in half and some health officials would\'ve probably been just as happy if the Saturday events just...got called off. I\'m glad they didn\'t - if I were a runner I would\'ve been PISSED at that...leave the choice to ME (which they did...downgrades were encouraged).<br /><br />For the most part it seemed like everyone had a pretty good time on Saturday, and it was kinda fun to see people running a race with their dogs.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>And then came Sunday...</b></span><br /><br /><a href=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsxmSMMFr4A/V16r44VVo6I/AAAAAAAAmmU/EDAKm-kFKwARL_bE52XdFnUpjnxY2KUrwCKgB/s1600/20160529_060009.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsxmSMMFr4A/V16r44VVo6I/AAAAAAAAmmU/EDAKm-kFKwARL_bE52XdFnUpjnxY2KUrwCKgB/s320/20160529_060009.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a>Started my day off <i>strong</i>...with a freaking 2:30 am wake-up. While I might not have been working as a timer Sunday...my wife still was. So at 2:30 am up she was, and so was I. By 3:15 we (and the other timers) had left the hotel and were on-site by 3:30. I took some time to wake up, acclimate, and <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2016/05/ultramarathons-understanding-why.html\" target=\"_blank\">blog some final pre-race thoughts</a>.<br /><br />It was surreal...just like it always is before a new distance. Mom and Dad (my crew) showed up at 5 AM just as instructed, and we went over the packet, aid station plan, and pace chart one more time. Then 6 AM came...and off I went.<br /><br /><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\">A Course So Nice You\'ll Do It Thrice!</b><br /><br /><i>I spared the aid station volunteers (and my support crew) from that OBVIOUS joke on race day, don\'t worry.</i><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8m_R18QnShs/V16riGBx7gI/AAAAAAAAmmM/cYrKQxGxhkML4YJR0uMsTA8gMsa-BWrAACLcB/s1600/pineland%2B50%2Bmap.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"306\" src=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8m_R18QnShs/V16riGBx7gI/AAAAAAAAmmM/cYrKQxGxhkML4YJR0uMsTA8gMsa-BWrAACLcB/s400/pineland%2B50%2Bmap.JPG\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>One of the things I liked about this course was how it was easy to mentally (and visually) break it up. I kind of split the course into \"The Grove Side\" and \"The Far Side\" (or \"The Yurt Side\").<br /><br />The way the course was laid out, you hit aid stations multiple times - a total of 8 aid station stops on the 25K course. This was another (much appreciated) way to mentally break down the course into bite-size chunks.<br /><br />So that\'s a 25K course - 50K runners did that twice and 50 Milers (me) did that 3 times plus a 3ish mile loop beforehand.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Ultra-long distance breeds...new challenges...</b></span><br /><br />The course didn\'t look too bad on paper...but man...<i>those rolling hills will get you.&nbsp;</i><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BI3by3pyUME/V16uGUQwd7I/AAAAAAAAmnE/OGUwBSqzxyw1W5d1SXkOVJwcw1OjnIlxwCKgB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1465822715567.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BI3by3pyUME/V16uGUQwd7I/AAAAAAAAmnE/OGUwBSqzxyw1W5d1SXkOVJwcw1OjnIlxwCKgB/s320/PhotoGrid_1465822715567.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><a href=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIJNpGTN_Ko/V16u-L5WLSI/AAAAAAAAmnU/VfU5yd353IU2k0TqBlHGwP5FHmaf0DNDgCKgB/s1600/Screenshot_20160613-090047.png\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIJNpGTN_Ko/V16u-L5WLSI/AAAAAAAAmnU/VfU5yd353IU2k0TqBlHGwP5FHmaf0DNDgCKgB/s320/Screenshot_20160613-090047.png\" width=\"180\" /></a><b>Yeah...</b>didn\'t think it\'d add up like that beforehand. Had this only been a marathon <i>(I can\'t believe I just said that)</i>&nbsp;it might\'ve been more manageable... but&nbsp;when you\'re talking such a long distance EVERYTHING adds up. Including GPS watch fluctuations/issues.<br /><i><br /></i><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">THAT&nbsp;</i>was more than a little obnoxious. I know I covered 50 miles, but between typical GPS watch \"non-exactness\" and my not running down the exact middle of the course the whole time...over the course of 50 miles I lost about .7 on my gps log. boo. <b>Let\'s be clear here</b>&nbsp;<i>(mostly for myself)...</i><b style=\"font-style: italic;\">I ran THE WHOLE 50 GOD DAMNED MILES. </b>Stupid gps...<br /><br />The course itself certainly did have its challenges - in addition to those rolling hills there were some sections of the course I absolutely DESPISED - not because they weren\'t good...because they were freaking hard to run on (especially 40 miles in).<br /><br /><b>For the life of me, I can\'t remember where it was</b>&nbsp;beyond just \"halfway through The Yurt Side\" of the loop...but there were parts of the course that went on the edges of farm fields, and the trail was sloped down and to the left. It sucked to run on. And with distance...comes compounded suck (the third lap of that was brutal).<br /><br />It was also kind of tough running through the thick field grass for some stretches...like running through an unmowed-lawn-on-steroids. Every time I was getting a little \"ugh\" about the course and the challenge, though, there would be an aid station or the festival area...and I\'d perk up a bit.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Course support was pretty stellar</b></span><br /><br />Honestly, if push came to shove... you COULD totally run this race without crew or probably even a freaking waistpack/vest. <i>I don\'t recommend it...but the point remains...</i>&nbsp;The aid stations were practically a runner\'s buffet, and you basically never went more than 3 miles without hitting one. I\'m talking boiled potatoes, chips, pretzels, chocolate, nuts, candy, water/gatorate/soda, pickles, pickle <i>juice</i>, pb &amp; j...sweet lord they had it all! Except bacon. <i>Slackers.</i><br /><i><br /></i><b>And I would be remiss if I didn\'t mention MY course support.</b><br /><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXHO4QWvv04/UkJWoEZkrcI/AAAAAAAABx4/MvwYwpAAlg0JLhGfVXI5b8Yg2zU1b1zBwCKgB/s1600/ccnclogo.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"151\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXHO4QWvv04/UkJWoEZkrcI/AAAAAAAABx4/MvwYwpAAlg0JLhGfVXI5b8Yg2zU1b1zBwCKgB/s200/ccnclogo.jpg\" width=\"200\" /></a><br /><b>First off </b>- <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/CapeCodNutritionCorner.Plymouth\" target=\"_blank\">Cape Cod Nutrition Corner</a>. If it weren\'t for them I wouldn\'t have been able to do any of this in the first place. They sponsored me into the races and all the supplements/hydration I used during training and on race day came from them. They\'re the reason I can do Ghost Train 100, too! I\'m proud to run as a Team CCNC Sponsored Athlete...their only runner, and CERTAINLY their only ULTRArunner :)<br /><br /><a href=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLzPt-tllJU/V2CRaL6YfLI/AAAAAAAAmp8/WAe23V46DRgadszH3BQfYdYDzvN7hbiLwCLcB/s1600/ads-78983-1443884053.73.png\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"166\" src=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XLzPt-tllJU/V2CRaL6YfLI/AAAAAAAAmp8/WAe23V46DRgadszH3BQfYdYDzvN7hbiLwCLcB/s200/ads-78983-1443884053.73.png\" width=\"200\" /></a>Then there\'s Jason from <a href=\"http://grinhola.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Grin Hola</a>&nbsp;- he didn\'t sponsor me...but he DID hand-deliver his amazing granola (review coming) direct to my doorstep 2 days prior to the race to ensure I had the appropriate fuel for race day. WOW. So <b>thank you!</b>&nbsp;It was one of few \"real foods\" I could deal with after mile 30. (stuff is MAGICAL)<br /><br /><i><u><b>And...last but not least...the most important one of all...</b></u></i><br /><br />That\'s right, <b>dear old Mom \'n\' Dad</b> holdin\' down the fort on race day! Dad posted up in The Grove and Mom at Final Mile Aid Station. We kinda whiffed on my first pass, we got me on 2, 3 and 4, and for 5 and 6 (sorry Mom) I basically told them to pound sand because \"I just need to FINISH\". So...thanks for dealing with that.<br /><br />And they knew...they KNEW...I went out too fast on loop 1. They knew because they paid attention to the pace chart I meticulously crafted <a href=\"https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2Heed0cppgSTk9uZkF5ZjNXVEk\" target=\"_blank\">(here it is for those who were asking)</a>. I was LITERALLY \"off the chart\" on my first loop. Too fast. Did I listen? No. Of course not. Mistake #2. #1 was going faster than I knew I should in the first place. Don\'t worry, it TOTALLY caught up to me on loop 2...and that\'s where I learned something vaulable...that I think I already knew...<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>The people make the event.</b></span><br /><br />Despite the in-the-moment suck, I DID have an enjoyable time...and it was largely due to the people. The aid station volunteers were either cheerful &amp; pleasant or downright bursting with excitement. The festival area (\"The Grove\") was awesome too - the energy was great to lift you up. On my 2nd loop through The Grove a woman from <a href=\"http://six03endurance.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Team Six03</a> was borderline lunatic with her \"WOO\" screams (hah).<br /><br /><a href=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54aEUaVX0cw/V2Et95Qn9II/AAAAAAAAmqU/MufSVz58vy4iY5ZMdzpJjaR3B6e_aLLzQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160529_052016.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54aEUaVX0cw/V2Et95Qn9II/AAAAAAAAmqU/MufSVz58vy4iY5ZMdzpJjaR3B6e_aLLzQCKgB/s320/IMG_20160529_052016.jpg\" width=\"238\" /></a><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Attitude is&nbsp;<u>everything.</u></b></span><br /><br />I know how BS that sounds...but it\'s true. When you\'re fighting such a huge mental battle, positivity, self-confidence, and a \"can-do attitude\" are literally the only things keeping one foot landing in front of the other. That\'s why the aid stations, The Grove, my crew, and my wife at the RaceWire timing table were all so important. Having those boosts helped make my staying positive possible. In my efforts to stay upbeat and \"yes I can\"...a realization dawned on me:<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Everything they say about Ultras is true.</b></span><br /><br /><b>It\'s all the same after mile 30.</b>&nbsp;<i>Yes, really.</i>&nbsp;The pain was the same from mile 30 to mile 50. My nutrition struggles were the same. My feet felt the same. <u style=\"font-style: italic;\">Everything really was the same.</u>&nbsp;It got no better, but it got no worse. <i>Same.</i>&nbsp;It became mental. The last 15 miles were tough. The last 10 were harder. The final 5 were the worst...<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">and that\'s when I found \"the dark place\".&nbsp;</span></b><br /><br />They say that mentally you\'ll go to \"a dark place\" late in the race...and I almost got out without hitting it... but I found it. It wasn\'t what I expected, though. It wasn\'t gloom and doom about succeeding in the 50 miler I was running. It wasn\'t <i>\"Oh God, what the hell am I doing.\" \"I can\'t do this.\" etc</i>...<br /><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><br /></i><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">It was about Ghost Train 100.</i><br /><br />The exact thought was \"What the actual f**k did I get myself INTO?! I can barely finish THIS...how in the HELL am I going to do 100 miles 5 months from now?! I can\'t do 100 miles! I\'m fighting just to get to HALF OF THAT!\". I was stressing. I was bargaining with myself. 5 months away I was telling myself it was OK to accept anything over 50. <i>Just make it to 60 that day. that\'ll be a win.</i>&nbsp;<b>And then I got a grip...</b><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>and in that dark place, I&nbsp;<i>found myself</i>.&nbsp;</b></span><br /><br />It was almost a moment of awakening. Like the fog cleared and I saw behind the curtain. I saw the struggle for what it really was - <i>mental</i>. I resolved that right now, with less than 5 miles left, it\'s time to focus on TODAY, not tomorrow.<br /><br /><b>And today...I knew I could do it.</b> I knew the whole time. The giveaway was that my doubt in the darkness <i>wasn\'t about the 50</i>. EVEN IN THE DARKNESS I <i>knew</i>&nbsp;I could finish this race.&nbsp;I remembered...<i>this is how I felt in the final 3 miles of my first half-marathon. T</i><i>his is the same loathing and self-doubt I felt at mile 20 of my first marathon.</i>&nbsp;I was ready to swear off running altogether then, too.<br /><br />And I finished both of those only to move on to either a faster finish next time...or the next longest race. <b><i>And today would be no different.</i></b><br /><br /><b>So I picked it up.</b>&nbsp;I tried to move with <i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">purpose</i>&nbsp;again. I demanded speed - had to go as fast as possible, I could still break 12 hours! Just GO.<br /><br />And as I fought my way back through the final miles I knew. As I came through the clearing to the Final Mile Aid Station for the last time...to Mile 49.1...I knew. As I approached the fork...left for 2nd and 3rd lap, right for finish...I knew.<br /><br />And when I <i>finally</i>&nbsp;took that right...and&nbsp;turned the corner... and saw my wife on the other side of the finish arch with my green cowbell in her hands...<i>I knew...</i><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D7bfs9_fr1w/V197MxOTGvI/AAAAAAAAmpQ/kElFoMsqJrs0F2AiqeFFMpagOAVLgYuUQCKgB/s1600/PhotoGrid_1464650883950.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D7bfs9_fr1w/V197MxOTGvI/AAAAAAAAmpQ/kElFoMsqJrs0F2AiqeFFMpagOAVLgYuUQCKgB/s320/PhotoGrid_1464650883950.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><i>...</i>I had overcome the final obstacle:<i> myself. &nbsp;</i></b></div>','Pineland 50 - The Come-Down','','inherit','closed','closed','','20-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:52:32','2017-01-21 13:52:32','',20,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/20-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(813,1,'2017-01-21 08:53:11','2017-01-21 13:53:11','<h2><b>I am genuinely impressed.</b></h2>\r\nWhen I first tried Puroast Coffee I think there were only three flavors. Now they have quite the variety...and I have to say - it was pretty exciting, as coffee goes, to try the new flavors as they came out. Every coffee roaster out there has their own array of flavors, some boasting a veritable <i>arsenal </i>of them. Many are passable, most need sugar to unlock the actual \"flavor\" of it...and some are downright awful, leaving a nasty aftertaste from the syrups used to create flavor.\r\n<h3><b>Puroast\'s flavors, however, are different.</b></h3>\r\n<b><a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2015/08/coffee-the-way-its-meant-to-be-puroast-review.html\" target=\"_blank\">As I\'ve made clear before:</a> </b>if you\'re not drinking Puroast, you\'re doing yourself a disservice. As trivial as it may sound to the casual coffee drinker... <b>not all coffee is created equally</b>, ESPECIALLY flavored coffee. How-so, you ask? <i>Oh let me count the ways...</i>\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<h3><b>It\'s no secret I\'m a big Puroast Coffee fan</b></h3>\r\nIf you follow this blog, you may have seen <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2015/08/coffee-the-way-its-meant-to-be-puroast-review.html\" target=\"_blank\">my Puroast review</a> a while back. The short version is - I ran into them at an obstacle course race (Battlefrog New England) and was super impressed. I stayed in touch, obtained some coffee samples (they had espresso, not coffee, on site), and did a review. To say the review was <i>positively glowing...</i> would be an understatement.\r\n\r\n<b>Coffee is my spirit animal</b>...and Puroast just stands head and shoulders above the rest.\r\n\r\nI was SO over the moon, as a matter of fact, that after my initial product review I had a long chat with their founder and became a Puroast ambassador/athlete of sorts. At the end of the day, aside from the occasional Dunk\'s hot or iced hazelnut...I just can\'t go back to other coffees. <i>Puroast has ruined me for other coffees</i>. It\'s honestly that good. It\'s like Puroast is the One Ring and I\'m freakin\' Golum. <b>I could go on for days...instead <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2015/08/coffee-the-way-its-meant-to-be-puroast-review.html\" target=\"_blank\">go read my Puroast review</a>.</b>\r\n\r\n*ahem*...<i>sorry, I was drooling for a second there...</i>\r\n<i>\r\n</i><b>SO... as part of that ambassadorship</b> I had the opportunity to try just about every flavor they offer. I honestly have not run into one I didn\'t like.\r\n\r\n<hr width=\"40%\" />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>\"Roasts\"</b></span>\r\n\r\nSo, some of these \"flavors\" aren\'t really \"flavors\" like you might think. Instead, they\'re different <i>roasts</i>...and yes, they\'re just as different from each other as hazelnut is from vanilla.\r\n\r\n<b>Dark French Roast</b>\r\n\r\nI smell the coffee - both the unbrewed grounds and a brewed cup. Puroast\'s Dark French Roast has a great, deep, rich smell. Not burnt, like some dark roasts. <i>Deep. </i>It has a taste to match. It\'s rich, full-bodied, and dark as night...without being bitter. <b>I know, we\'ve established Puroast isn\'t bitter</b>...but sometimes in flavors where you kind of <i>expect</i> some bitterness...it still catches me off-guard.\r\n<b>\r\n</b><b>Dark Guatemalan Roast</b>\r\n<b>\r\n</b>The Dark Guatemalan Roast is very similar to the Dark French Roast...but it\'s a bit smokier. I NEVER in a million years would\'ve been able <i>to tell the difference between dark roasts</i> before Puroast.\r\n\r\n<em>Sorry</em><i> I\'m not sorry..</i>.I sound like a broken record, but there it is. The low acidity and lack of bitterness strikes again, allowing me to detect flavors...<i>and enjoy flavors</i>...that I have never been able to detect and enjoy before in a cup of coffee.\r\n<b>\r\n</b><b>Espresso Roast</b>\r\n\r\nI happen to be drinking Espresso Roast right now. This flavor always reminds me of when I first ran into Puroast, as it was their espresso I (unknowingly) tried first. Like, ACTUAL espresso...so smooth I thought it was coffee. Their Espresso Roast is very similar - very smooth, not offensive or bitter as you might expect espresso to be. Definitely a full-bodied profile - the \"true\" taste of espresso is able to shine through.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>\"Flavors\"</b></span>\r\n\r\n<b>These are what you expect when you hear \"flavored\".</b> They are very different from each other, VERY different from the various \"dark roasts\" Puroast offers, but they are all VERY tasty. Puroast prefers to use natural flavorings. They blend in these flavors after roasting, when the bean is \"open\" and more receptive to infusion. Once the process is done they do a rigorous taste test, of course, to ensure the finished flavored coffees are nothing but the best.\r\n<b>\r\n</b><b>Chocolate Almond</b>\r\n\r\nI was pretty impressed with the depth of flavor I got out of this one. Puroast Chocolate Almond is a very light brew...not just color...it\'s just not a <b>heavy</b> coffee...if that makes sense. There\'s a subtle semi-sweetness of chocolate to it, which...<i>with the lack of bitterness</i>...you\'re able to get. Also...you almost get the dryness of a raw almond, with overtones of roasted almond. <i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Imagine that</i>...a \"chocolate almond\" flavor that ACTUALLY tastes like chocolate and almond. I think I\'m in love.\r\n\r\n<b>Mistletoe Mocha</b>\r\n\r\nThis was another I really wish I could\'ve made last longer. Mistletoe Mocha had a subtle chocolate bitterness - not bitterness like coffee bitterness, more like the bitterness of a dark or semi-sweet chocolate. This flavor wrapped that pure chocolatey goodness up with a warm, medium body. I\'d like another, please.\r\n\r\n<b>Toasted Chestnut</b>\r\nVery light flavor - a sweet nutty smell hits you first, then a subtle nutty flavor. The warm, full flavor of the chestnut comes through later on the back of your palate. A nice treat for the holiday season.\r\n<b>\r\n</b><b>Vanilla Nut</b>\r\nIn keeping with the theme of most of their flavored roasts, Vanilla Nut was very subtle and light on the palate. You definitely got a bit of a sweet vanilla taste - a bit more gentle than most \"french vanilla\" coffees you find.\r\n<b>\r\n</b><b>Bourbon Pecan Torte</b>\r\nThis was actually the first Puroast coffee variety I ever tried. Sweet smell right out of the package, as if there\'s an actual pastry hiding inside! The scent after brewing is incredibly similar. Light to medium body, again...very easy on the palate. Aptly named, as it does taste like a rich bourbon pecan torte in your cup. Well Done!\r\n<b>\r\n</b><b>Hazelnut</b>\r\n<b>\r\n</b>I find I often judge coffee companies on their ability to execute a good hazelnut. Not like it\'s the one true coffee flavor to measure all coffee brands by...it just happens to be my favorite, so if you can\'t hack it I\'m probably going to dismiss you as a whole (whether that\'s fair or not). I am happy to report, Puroast nailed it. Their hazelnut has a great subtle, gentle, nutty hazelnut flavor. Not overpowering, but definitely there...just right. It\'s very light on the palate, I\'d call it light body, not quite medium. I could drink this all day.\r\n<b>\r\n</b><b>Nutcracker Sweet</b>\r\nLight bodied and gentle on the palate. It does have a hint of nuttiness to it, but I\'m not sure I\'d call it \"sweet\". A tasty &amp; pleasant brew nonetheless.\r\n\r\n<hr width=\"40%\" />\r\n\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>So WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!</b></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Run, don\'t walk, to the supermarket (or...<a href=\"http://puroast.com/\">The Puroast Website</a>) and pick one up!</div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Beat the urge to stay in bed.</div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">What\'s YOUR favorite flavor?</div>\r\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n7Gg_p7zXk/V8glEm1DIKI/AAAAAAAApOA/eI3xU3KWrAIpzySDs5e6jlGNz6F-iqudQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160228_071810.jpg\"><img src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n7Gg_p7zXk/V8glEm1DIKI/AAAAAAAApOA/eI3xU3KWrAIpzySDs5e6jlGNz6F-iqudQCKgB/s320/IMG_20160228_071810.jpg\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" border=\"0\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;','Flavor Round-Up - Puroast Coffee','','inherit','closed','closed','','16-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 08:53:11','2017-01-21 13:53:11','',16,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/16-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(814,1,'2017-01-21 09:00:54','2017-01-21 14:00:54','<div><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Sometimes it seems </b>that no matter how hard we try and how well we plan...<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>It simply doesn\'t matter.</b>&nbsp;</span></div><div><br /></div><div>If the universe has decided it\'s going to flip your day upside-down...guess what. <b>That\'s it.</b>&nbsp;And that\'s precisely what has happened this past month here in good ol\' New England.</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQEq1zzfXGM/VNyUiHkfMBI/AAAAAAAAVlA/2AYDWUgSKmk/s1600/aint%2Bnobody%2Bsnow.jpeg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQEq1zzfXGM/VNyUiHkfMBI/AAAAAAAAVlA/2AYDWUgSKmk/s1600/aint%2Bnobody%2Bsnow.jpeg\" height=\"240\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Massachusetts</b>&nbsp;has had a \"historic amount\" of snowfall since late January. So far, something like 5 feet has been dumped on the city of Boston, with the rest of the state seeing similarly devastating snowfall. We live in New England...snow is not show-stopping. <i>This</i>, however, is a bit much.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>So much, </b>in fact, that it\'s completely thrown off both normal life <i>and</i>&nbsp;marathon training...for me AND others...But this isn\'t the first time somebody\'s plans have ever gotten thrown off.<br /><br />Today\'s theme? <b>Adapt or die.</b><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Planning is CRUCIAL</b>.</span></div><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTQlhY3s1lY/VN4Bqud0nBI/AAAAAAAAVlo/gkbqMG0uk3I/s1600/road-to-success.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTQlhY3s1lY/VN4Bqud0nBI/AAAAAAAAVlo/gkbqMG0uk3I/s1600/road-to-success.jpg\" height=\"256\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again - Planning is absolutely CRITICAL to success. The bigger the goal, the <b>more</b>&nbsp;important the plan. <b>EXAMPLE:</b>&nbsp;I decided, 9.5 weeks prior, that it would be a <i>great idea </i>to run a marathon. Given the immense task ahead of me, it would literally <b>only be possible</b>&nbsp;if I planned well and followed that plan. I mean...I was basically going <b>couch to marathon</b>&nbsp;and banking on muscle memory to get me halfway there.<br /><br />Having a plan, I find, is ALWAYS important for me. I <b>have to have</b>&nbsp;a schedule, a plan, a timeline...I have to have that plan so I have something to stick to. Without it...<a href=\" http://sothisisfitness.com/2014/12/its-easier-to-not.html\">it\'s so easy to just...not</a>.<br /><br /><div><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>\"The best laid plans of mice and men oft\'n go awry\"-&nbsp;</b></span></div><br />Whatever the reason, sometimes things just don\'t work out how we plan. Honestly, it\'s inevitable. <b>This...</b>however...I did not see coming.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3PWCT462NA/VN4JCLdriYI/AAAAAAAAVl4/IJFf1pW-eFw/s1600/BOS_FASTEST_70IN_SNOW.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3PWCT462NA/VN4JCLdriYI/AAAAAAAAVl4/IJFf1pW-eFw/s1600/BOS_FASTEST_70IN_SNOW.jpg\" height=\"221\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>SERIOUSLY?</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Just shy of 5 feet of snow...in just over 2 weeks.</b><br /><b><br /></b>That much snow in that short a period of time is a snow-removal <i>nightmare</i>. Town, City, and privately contracted snow removal \"troops\" have had a hell of a time dealing with it all. It was just...<b>so much so fast...</b>&nbsp;And ever since that last blizzard...<br /><b><br /></b><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">We\'re running out of room to put the snow.</span></b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byepDqSS2Ig/VN85jDxksGI/AAAAAAAAVmM/xDu6Z7pPgr0/s1600/B8ZDPALCYAE9Igb.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byepDqSS2Ig/VN85jDxksGI/AAAAAAAAVmM/xDu6Z7pPgr0/s1600/B8ZDPALCYAE9Igb.jpg\" height=\"240\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>The snowpiles and snowbanks are enormous. If you don\'t live in New England or, I don\'t know...on a mountain somewhere...you probably can\'t comprehend quite how large some of these snow piles really are. Schools were closed for a full week, some towns even slightly longer!<br /><b><br /></b><b>Why?</b><br /><br />If we don\'t have room for the SNOW...well, trickle-down effect that ends with lack of safe places to walk and run. In many places there STILL aren\'t <i>sidewalks</i>. Where there <b>ARE</b>...they often ice up due to the near-constant sub-freezing temperatures. Some days it\'s even single-digit/sub-zero!<br /><br /><b>All of that has made running outdoors damn near impossible most days.&nbsp;</b>But do we give up? <b>No.</b><br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Adapt or die.</b></span><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3w0ehkJF0qs/VN9FmueZCqI/AAAAAAAAVm0/fpnqxqF0aCw/s1600/adaptovercome.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3w0ehkJF0qs/VN9FmueZCqI/AAAAAAAAVm0/fpnqxqF0aCw/s1600/adaptovercome.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"320\" /></a>Things aren\'t <i>always </i>going to work out how we plan. Hell, we\'re lucky if it works out like that 50% of &nbsp;the time. If we just give up whenever things don\'t go quite right we will <b>never</b>&nbsp;get anywhere...and <i>I\'d</i> still be 300 lbs. <b>ADAPT.</b>&nbsp;Know what that means?<br /><i><br /></i><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>Figure it out</i>.&nbsp;</span><br /><br />Can\'t run outside? <b>Hit the treadmill</b>.<b>&nbsp;</b>Yeah, not the most attractive option, but hey, <i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">at least you\'re still running</i>. The same goes for whatever <i>your</i>&nbsp;plan was. Sick kid and can\'t get to the gym? Do a bodyweight workout at home. Hitting a plateau? <b>Make a change</b>&nbsp;to your workout or nutrition.<br /><br />There is <i>always</i>&nbsp;an answer. There is <i>always</i>&nbsp;an alternate way to achieve your goal. Giving up and throwing in the towel is <i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">never</i>&nbsp;the way to go.<br /><br /><i>I</i> was <b>SUPPOSED</b> to be running a 10 mile road race tomorrow as my last \"big\" training effort before the marathon next weekend...<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1rclKFQnX8s/VN8_Oln_9vI/AAAAAAAAVmk/3CB6pfEVP4c/s1600/neptunesnowlatest.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1rclKFQnX8s/VN8_Oln_9vI/AAAAAAAAVmk/3CB6pfEVP4c/s1600/neptunesnowlatest.jpg\" height=\"221\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><b>Aaaaaaand it\'s <i>postponed</i>. </b><u>Excellent</u>.<br /><br /><b>Fine, Universe,</b>&nbsp;I\'ll adapt.<br /><br />So instead, I\'m going to do 10 miles outside <b>TODAY</b>, before the snow hits.<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G7w7yRX72Js/VN8-uQ_m0ZI/AAAAAAAAVmc/HCB4fPGN-aQ/s1600/Screenshot_2015-02-14-06-52-04.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G7w7yRX72Js/VN8-uQ_m0ZI/AAAAAAAAVmc/HCB4fPGN-aQ/s1600/Screenshot_2015-02-14-06-52-04.png\" height=\"320\" width=\"180\" /></a></div><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>FINE.</b></span><br /><br />So I\'ll just hit the damn treadmill. <u>Just try and stop THAT</u>.','Best Laid Plans','','inherit','closed','closed','','45-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:00:54','2017-01-21 14:00:54','',45,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/45-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(815,1,'2017-01-21 09:01:52','2017-01-21 14:01:52','<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I should have been SUPER sore.</b></span><br /><br /><a href=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGijIdCyO2c/VsxUDNI-nlI/AAAAAAAAjsk/K7c25j06C_Q/s1600/memerunamarathon1.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGijIdCyO2c/VsxUDNI-nlI/AAAAAAAAjsk/K7c25j06C_Q/s200/memerunamarathon1.jpg\" width=\"193\" /></a>A couple of weeks ago I ran my fastest 20 miler EVER. I should\'ve been sore as hell at SOME point the following week. And I wasn\'t. The only thing that hurt was the new blisters I earned from being an idiot.&nbsp;<i><b>And even THOSE</b>&nbsp;</i>were fine by Tuesday<b style=\"font-style: italic;\">.</b>&nbsp;As a matter of fact, that Tuesday I knocked out a pretty fast 4 miles in the freshly blizzarded roads of my New England neighborhood.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>What Gives?</b></span><br /><br />Why was I not sore? Why did I feel nothing even&nbsp;<i>remotely</i>&nbsp;resembling the bedridden crippleness I would expect from such a (relatively) hard 3 hour and 38 minute effort Sunday?<br /><br /><b>It\'s because I found the secret sauce.</b><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Step 1: Accept that there is no magic pill.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDPvtz_DyHE/VsxXhhA1mdI/AAAAAAAAjtU/iMHCynaeAA4/s1600/Snake-Oil-Ad.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"172\" src=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDPvtz_DyHE/VsxXhhA1mdI/AAAAAAAAjtU/iMHCynaeAA4/s320/Snake-Oil-Ad.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>Sorry to break the news...but there is not some magic pill that saved me from being a useless human being this past week. There is no \"one true way\" for&nbsp;<i>anything</i>&nbsp;in the health &amp; fitness world. If there WERE, we\'d all be doing the&nbsp;<i>same</i>&nbsp;workout, using the&nbsp;<i>same</i>&nbsp;supplement brand, at the&nbsp;<i>same&nbsp;</i>gym,&nbsp;and someone out there would be a super-billionaire.&nbsp;The thing that works for the majority of people (or me)&nbsp;<b>MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU</b>. As long we have that understanding...we can move forward :)<br /><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><br /></i><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Now then - the basics.</span></b><br /><br /><b>Q: Why do we get sore from working out?</b><br /><b>A: During your workout, you\'re breaking down muscle so it can build back up stronger.</b><br /><br /><a href=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jk_NzV4CtPk/VsxXZF_6SbI/AAAAAAAAjtQ/Z0MlD1P2yns/s1600/sponge-bob.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"170\" src=\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jk_NzV4CtPk/VsxXZF_6SbI/AAAAAAAAjtQ/Z0MlD1P2yns/s200/sponge-bob.jpg\" width=\"200\" /></a>That\'s the short version, anyway. This breakdown usually leads to DOMS (Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness) - you\'ve essentially damaged your body, so of course, you\'re likely to feel that damage. This soreness (DOMS) can occur, arguably, anywhere from 6 to 72 hours after exercise (usually about 24 - 48 hours after). It is&nbsp;<b>perfectly normal.&nbsp;</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>OK, so what can I do about it?</b></span><br /><br />As I suggested...there\'s no one medically agreed-upon way to fix or prevent DOMS. If you scour the internet you\'ll find MANY ideas on how to fix it. Below are five things&nbsp;<i>I</i>&nbsp;do that work awesome for me and seem to be considered effective by the internet at-large.<br /><br /><b>1. Have a plan</b><br /><b><br /></b>You want to be sure you don\'t work the same muscle every day - they need a chance to recover. So,&nbsp;<b>have a plan </b>for how you\'re going to break things up<b>.</b>&nbsp;A plan for the day, of course, but a longer term plan too.&nbsp;<i>What are you doing today? Tomorrow? The rest of the week? Next week? How is next month laid out?</i>&nbsp;Having a plan will ensure that you don\'t waste time, your muscles can recover and work harder for you, and ultimately, over time, you can reach your goals.<br /><br />This whole \"have a plan\" thing...honestly...<b>it\'s something you should be doing anyway -&nbsp;</b>not just to avoid muscle soreness.<br /><b><br /></b><b>2. Hydrate</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><b><br /></b>Your body is mostly made of water...and it tends to perform better and do what you want when you stay well-hydrated. Everyone and their mother tells you to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day...<b>there\'s a reason.</b>&nbsp;To be safe, and to ensure your body has what it needs&nbsp;I say&nbsp;<i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">double that </i><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">(hell, I drink even MORE than that)</i><i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">.&nbsp;</i>What\'s the worst that happens (<i>barring extreme circumstances)</i>? You pee more?&nbsp;<b>Good.</b><i>&nbsp;</i><br /><b><br /></b>This \"hydrating\" thing...it\'s&nbsp;<b>something you should be doing anyway.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>3. Fuel</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuIPtO47aes/VsxXA9j8dFI/AAAAAAAAjtE/TknxL35WWWQ/s1600/goku%2Beat.png\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"165\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuIPtO47aes/VsxXA9j8dFI/AAAAAAAAjtE/TknxL35WWWQ/s320/goku%2Beat.png\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b><br /></b>If there\'s no gas in the tank, the car doesn\'t go. Unfortunately, we humans can...and often DO...<i>force</i>&nbsp;our bodies to go when there\'s not enough fuel consumed. Whether you get abnormally tired or sore...you <i>will</i>&nbsp;feel it. The solution is simple:&nbsp;<b>EAT.&nbsp;</b>Your body needs fuel to power it through the day. On top of that, your body needs&nbsp;<i>more&nbsp;</i>fuel to get through whatever workouts your asking it to get through. Eat appropriately for your weight loss/gain goals and activity level. I\'m no expert, but <a href=\" http://sothisisfitness.com/2015/02/back-to-basics.html\" target=\"_blank\">here\'s what I can offer for guidance on that front.</a><br /><b><br /></b>This, too, is&nbsp;<b>something you should be doing anyway.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>4. Rest</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYFDBMHFz_g/VsxWnPtf-VI/AAAAAAAAjs8/2sRITMGGAFY/s1600/sleep__square.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"128\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYFDBMHFz_g/VsxWnPtf-VI/AAAAAAAAjs8/2sRITMGGAFY/s200/sleep__square.jpg\" width=\"200\" /></a></div><b><br /></b>A critical part of this whole process is rest. Not just rest days as part of your \"plan\"...but actual REST. In a bed. You have to allow time for your muscles to recover, rebuild, and undo the damage done to them causing this soreness in the first place. It\'s that simple.&nbsp;<b>Get some sleep.</b>&nbsp;If you\'re not getting 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night...you\'ll probably be more sore than you need to be.<br /><br />Yes...<b>You should be doing THIS anyway, too</b>.<br /><b><br /></b><b>5. Recovery Aides / Supplements</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxdrz876cqI/VsxVVo6_KeI/AAAAAAAAjsw/_4MXucR2yQw/s1600/supplements_collage.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"161\" src=\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxdrz876cqI/VsxVVo6_KeI/AAAAAAAAjsw/_4MXucR2yQw/s320/supplements_collage.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>The harder your workouts, the more they demand from your body. Don\'t forget - how hard your workout is is relative to your athletic ability. A basic routine might still be pretty taxing if you\'re a total rookie. The short version here is: <u>use supplements.</u> There are a number of different supplements that can help give your body the raw materials it craves in order to build back up stronger, faster and thus&nbsp;<i>with less soreness. </i>Whey Protein, Creatine, BCAA\'s, Glutamine, \"Recovery Blends\" or \"Post-Workout supplements\"...there are a TON of options and ways to mix them.<br /><br /><b>So how do you sort it out and find the right one?</b><br /><b><br /></b><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TIG0nI7qc4/VsxV_8onE_I/AAAAAAAAjs4/Rhed2TDfhEI/s1600/ccnc%2Bbanner.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"147\" src=\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TIG0nI7qc4/VsxV_8onE_I/AAAAAAAAjs4/Rhed2TDfhEI/s400/ccnc%2Bbanner.png\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><br />You need a pro. My strongest advice here is to find a local supplement store. NO - <b>not a GNC/Vitamin Shoppe/Big Box</b>...a <b><i>local</i></b> supplement/nutrition store. If you live in Massachusetts I <b>STRONGLY</b>&nbsp;recommend you find a Cape Cod Nutrition Corner. I liked them so much I wiggled my way into becoming one of their team athletes! They only stock products they believe in, they are incredibly knowledgeable about those products, and they\'re going to give you unbiased opinions because <i style=\"font-weight: bold;\">they don\'t make commissions from vendors</i>.<br /><br />Budget yourself $30 or $40/month for this. Most of the solutions they offer will only cost you roughly $1/serving. If you\'re ok buying 10 for $10 yogurts at Stop &amp; Shop or a coffee on the way to work, you should be ok with this option too. Stop by and see what they recommend. It could totally change the game for you :)<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">That\'s really it.</span></b><br /><br />In the end, no matter what,&nbsp;<i>if you\'re working really hard</i>...<b>you\'re going to be at least&nbsp;<i>a little</i>&nbsp;sore.</b>&nbsp;You CAN do a lot to deaden the blow...<b>it\'s not rocket science.</b> You need to plan, eat, drink and sleep...and using supplements can help put you over the top in terms of reducing that soreness issue. Try it...and let me know how it works out for you.<br /><br /><b style=\"font-style: italic;\">Disclosure: </b><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">As I mentioned,&nbsp;</span><i>I am a Cape Cod Nutrition Corner Sponsored Athlete.&nbsp;As always,&nbsp;<b>all&nbsp;opinions are my own</b>, never bought, sold or influenced. Trust me - if I ever come across something I think is awful, or even sub-par,&nbsp;<b>I won\'t be shy about it</b>. It simply hasn\'t happened yet.</i>','Solving Muscle Soreness - The Secret Sauce','','inherit','closed','closed','','24-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:01:52','2017-01-21 14:01:52','',24,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/24-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(816,1,'2017-01-21 09:02:17','2017-01-21 14:02:17','<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Wow.</b></span><br /><br /><b>The Year Of The Conqueror </b>indeed...<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J-iA8FT2rb8/VK0eKiNef2I/AAAAAAAAS74/DzoQiHMcu-k/s1600/262%2Bsticker.gif\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J-iA8FT2rb8/VK0eKiNef2I/AAAAAAAAS74/DzoQiHMcu-k/s1600/262%2Bsticker.gif\" height=\"206\" width=\"320\" /></a></div>So I\'m beginning 2015 in the most epic of fashions...running my first marathon -<a href=\"http://www.hyannismarathon.com/\">the Hyannis Marathon - February 22nd 2015.</a> I\'ve run a lot of races&nbsp;this year...but most of them happened pre-injury while I was in my physical peak. On its own, a marathon would be hard enough...<b>But</b>&nbsp;<b>Now...</b>now I\'m out of practice and have lost some of my endurance and speed.<br /><br />It\'s gonna take a lot to be ready for this thing with just 9 weeks to train. But it <b>can </b>be done. And if <b>I can do it</b>...hell, ANYONE can. (Not that I\'d <b>advise</b>&nbsp;that...)<br /><br /><b>So how, </b>exactly, do I envision this being possible?<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>In Order To Succeed At <i>Anything</i>...</b></span><br /><br /><b>planning is </b><u style=\"font-weight: bold;\">essential</u><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">.</span>&nbsp;I said it in <a href=\" http://sothisisfitness.com/2015/01/2015-the-year-of-the-conqueror.html\">The Year Of The Conqueror</a> and I\'ll say it again...<b>planning is <u>essential</u>.</b>&nbsp;I DO have a plan, and for the last 3 weeks I\'ve been (mostly) sticking to it. Moving forward... I\'m going to have to be a lot better about <b>making time</b>&nbsp;for each day\'s workout...<br /><br />In figuring out my plan I used a little <a href=\"http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=google-fu\">Google-Fu</a>&nbsp;to see what was out there for training plans. I ended up finding out...the shortest widely-available training plans were generally 18 weeks. <b>Oh, good...</b>&nbsp;that means my 9 weeks must be <i>highly advisable</i>...but regardless...<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>A Plan Is Necessary.</b></span><br /><br /><b><i>And I figured one out.</i></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1yExyKZuAZQ/VK_O0VnDkDI/AAAAAAAATJA/rY10xzv200U/s1600/9%2Bweek%2Bmarathon%2Btraining.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1yExyKZuAZQ/VK_O0VnDkDI/AAAAAAAATJA/rY10xzv200U/s1600/9%2Bweek%2Bmarathon%2Btraining.jpg\" height=\"266\" width=\"500\" /></a></div><b>Essentially </b>I did a modified <a href=\"http://www.halhigdon.com/\">Hal Higdon Novice 2</a> program. I took the Hal Higdon program (a very highly-regarded, successful program) and chopped it down from 18 weeks to 9. I cut out the early weeks where distance builds and progressed the middle weeks a bit faster.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>It\'s not all about the mileage though-</b></span><br /><br /><b>Stretch and flexibility </b>are hugely important for runners...ESPECIALLY distance runners. I added the (strongly recommended) option for Friday\'s rest day to instead be stretch or yoga. Stretch vs. Yoga, how long or what style...that\'s all dependent on how I feel that particular Friday. Either way...again...I <b>STRONGLY</b>&nbsp;recommend a whole day be dedicated to this.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Runners can lift too, y\'know...</span></b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1iLg1iAka7U/VLPAzg16shI/AAAAAAAATWw/e-hCjl-JUgk/s1600/sneaker-weight.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1iLg1iAka7U/VLPAzg16shI/AAAAAAAATWw/e-hCjl-JUgk/s1600/sneaker-weight.jpg\" height=\"227\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>Runners NEED to strength-train! </b>It\'s unfortunate how many runners don\'t realize this, but it REALLY is important. Some low-weight high-rep strength-training is important to help build up leg strength for those long runs. Another area most runners don\'t think of - Core. Your core is stabilizing you throughout your run...it would be in your best interests to strengthen it to better handle the load. Your upper body is important too - your arms swing to help keep your momentum, balance, and stride in line - 26 miles is a long way to keep that swinging going. To this end I added in a light leg day and core work on Tuesdays and an upper body strength circuit on Thursdays.<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Rest is not laziness -&nbsp;</b></span><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>It\'s actually REALLY important!</i>&nbsp;</b>Your body needs time to recover from all the hard work you\'re asking it to do.&nbsp;It may seem like a wasted day or laziness...but <b>trust me</b>...it isn\'t.<br /><b><i><br /></i></b><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>In the end, I\'m convinced you can run forever...</b></span><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSTZqzOnDdY/VLPHHbdKGDI/AAAAAAAATXI/pwwrzyYArNk/s1600/ccnclogo.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSTZqzOnDdY/VLPHHbdKGDI/AAAAAAAATXI/pwwrzyYArNk/s1600/ccnclogo.jpg\" height=\"179\" width=\"200\" /></a></div>I follow a lot of people that run ultra-marathons...and I\'ve picked up on something. As long as you\'re putting in the work and doing endurance training...You can reach the point where you can run ANY distance. The key is...<b>the farther you go, the slower your pace.</b>&nbsp;Sure, I can do a 7:30 min/mile pace in a 5K...but when I\'m running 26.2 miles I\'m shooting for 10:00 - 10:30 min/mile. As long as you do a <u>complete</u>&nbsp;training program and figure out the right pace, you\'re golden. (Supplementing properly helps too - handy that <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=103806889934\">Cape Cod Nutrition Corner</a> is my sponsor for this race!)<br /><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Don\'t worry...you\'ll finish.</b></span><br /><br />You can\'t <b>ever</b>&nbsp;be upset with your finish time the first time you do a particular distance. Focus on the finish and celebrate the achievement. Sure, I\'d like to finish this marathon in 4:30...but <b>I\'ll be happy to finish PERIOD.&nbsp;</b>Once you\'ve got your first 5K/half-marathon/marathon under your belt...<i>then&nbsp;</i>go for a better time. <u>Don\'t ever diminish your success just because you didn\'t do it fast enough</u>.<br /><br /><b>So... </b>What are YOU training for to kick off <a href=\" http://sothisisfitness.com/2015/01/2015-the-year-of-the-conqueror.html\">The Year of The Conqueror</a>?<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcOyrgGyv6w/VLPD-xHbQbI/AAAAAAAATW8/Cvyd13x6lkU/s1600/262%2Bsticker.gif\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcOyrgGyv6w/VLPD-xHbQbI/AAAAAAAATW8/Cvyd13x6lkU/s1600/262%2Bsticker.gif\" height=\"206\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />','Mission: 26.2 - 2.22.15','','inherit','closed','closed','','49-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:02:17','2017-01-21 14:02:17','',49,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/49-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(817,1,'2017-01-21 09:03:04','2017-01-21 14:03:04','A lot has happened in the last sixteen days. In order to make fundraising for The V Foundation possible I\'ve been hitting the pavement hard in search of sponsors for <a href=\" http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/on-to-the-next-one-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">my big half-marathon run</a>. I\'m happy to say...I\'ve been incredibly successful! I\'ve been floored by the outpouring of support and by all the businesses who have responded to my story and have committed to sponsoring me! I want to recognize and thank all of my sponsors and talk about how some of them have gone a step further to support me, but I can\'t do ALL of that in one post...it\'d be too long and you\'d get bored.&nbsp; Instead, let\'s talk about one particular addition to what\'s becoming <b>two months of training and races</b>.<br /><br /><b>Those who have been reading</b> \"So THIS Is Fitness...\" know that Sportclips is the title sponsor for my half-marathon run. I called that the \"platinum level\" sponsor. I have also been seeking Gold and Silver level sponsors. One of the Gold level sponsors I\'ve secured went a step further and, among other things, went beyond the \"Gold\" level, allowing me to register for another race in preparation for the half-marathon! <b>That\'s awesome! </b>What race? Who did it?<br /><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xwqUQpmiSgA/UiANlyusqwI/AAAAAAAABY0/bGSP2Wyd-94/s1600/Mocean-Logo-22-300x102.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"135\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xwqUQpmiSgA/UiANlyusqwI/AAAAAAAABY0/bGSP2Wyd-94/s400/Mocean-Logo-22-300x102.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><a href=\"http://moceancapecod.com/\" target=\"_blank\">MOCEAN Cape Cod</a>! <b>That\'s </b>who. I poked my head in to the store one day (in Mashpee Commons, by the way), had a GREAT conversation with Ryan, the owner, and he seemed really into the blog, my story, and what I was trying to do. He threw out a lot of great ideas and hopefully late in September or early October we\'ll be able to hold a fundraising event at his store (as long as I can think one up!). He was so into everything I\'ve got going on with this that he not only signed on to be a Gold sponsor for the half-marathon, but he\'s now the title (Platinum) sponsor for another run! How excited do you think I am to add in another run to this little campaign? Yeah. So, what run is this?<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c4lueAHLlYw/UiCBA91nvPI/AAAAAAAABZE/dHx7ZaSYyPk/s1600/capecod4troops.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c4lueAHLlYw/UiCBA91nvPI/AAAAAAAABZE/dHx7ZaSYyPk/s320/capecod4troops.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>The 5th Annual Canal Run For The Troops 10K</b><br /><br />October 5th, at 10 am, I\'ll be starting what promises to be a beautiful run along the Cape Cod Canal. What a great way to spend day 2 of my birthday weekend! Turn 25 one day, go run a 10K the next. Works for me<br /><br />This run is put on by a great little organization called <a href=\"http://www.capecod4thetroops.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops</a>, headquartered in Brewster. I poked around their website, and they actually do a lot for Cape-based troops. You should check out their site (linked above).<br /><br /><b>There\'s something I\'d like to point out about road races:</b><br /><br />One of the nice things many people don\'t realize is that when you sign up for a road race like this, where an organization is putting it on, your entry fee isn\'t just helping to pay for the running of the event itself - <b>your entry fee is a donation to the organization</b> and the (presumably) good work it\'s doing. They plan to use the money raised from this run to send 1500 Christmas care packages to our troops deployed overseas. <b>Seems like a worthy cause to me.</b> Maybe one will make it to my cousin Joshua, <i>who knows</i>. <br /><br /><b>This Is Only Going To Continue Growing!</b><br /><br /><b>That\'s not the only run </b>I have the privilege of adding to my little campaign here, but I\'ll save the rest for another update. I\'m so excited at what this is turning into, so happy at the outpouring of support, and I can\'t wait to really get rolling with this! I want to send a BIG thanks out to Ryan and his crew at MOCEAN in Mashpee. You can find them in the Mashpee Commons at 34 Steeple St., <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MOCEANCAPECOD\" target=\"_blank\">on Facebook here</a>, and <a href=\"http://www.moceancapecod.com/\" target=\"_blank\">at their website here</a>.<br /><br />I\'ve got about two weeks until the <b>real</b> training starts. Once I get all the sponsors lined up and confirmed I\'ll get everything in order for fundraising, which will probably happen about the same time I start some serious half-marathon training! Keep an eye out for the next update - it\'ll probably be about the other runs I\'m adding in!<br /><br /><b>If there\'s one thing you learn from this</b> - let it be that anything is possible. In March I had never run before, <b>now I\'m sponsored for four races</b>. Wait...did I say four? You\'ll have to find out about the other two next time ;-) Don\'t forget to <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/sothisisfitness\" target=\"_blank\">\"like\" the Facebook</a> and <a href=\"https://twitter.com/SnuffyDX\" target=\"_blank\">follow the Twitter </a>- I post more frequent updates there - you might get some cool insider info!','Getting things in MOCEAN - Running Update!','','inherit','closed','closed','','106-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:03:04','2017-01-21 14:03:04','',106,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/106-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(818,1,'2017-01-21 09:03:04','2017-01-21 14:03:04','<a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ycoIyAHdC0k/Ui26pd_QY5I/AAAAAAAABf4/1H4jfoWfW6k/s1600/Screenshot_2013-09-09-08-08-14.png\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ycoIyAHdC0k/Ui26pd_QY5I/AAAAAAAABf4/1H4jfoWfW6k/s400/Screenshot_2013-09-09-08-08-14.png\" width=\"225\" /></a>There really just aren\'t enough hours in the day. Life is busy! We have so many things we need to get done in 24 hours...and it\'s just not enough. Work, sleep, eat, meetings, chores, errands, meet up with friends...before you know it you\'re overdue on a whole laundry list of things...oh and there\'s the laundry too! I have a whole screen of my phone (multiple homescreens) dedicated to my \"To Do\". That\'s it, right there! That\'s not even the whole list...those widgets <b>scroll</b>. I even have to color-code it to keep it all straight. I\'m sure some of you can relate.<br /><br /><b>Bottom line is...</b>how are we supposed to be expected to juggle everything we\'ve got going on <b>AND </b>get a workout in? It\'s crazy! What if you work a 12 hour day? What if you\'ve got the kids to worry about? It just. Doesn\'t. WORK.<br /><br />Well...On this lovely Motivational Monday morning...I\'m here to tell you...We have to <b>make it work.</b> \"BUT HOW?! I just can\'t do it!\" <b>Yes. You CAN. </b>And it\'s not as daunting as it might seem.<br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><b>OK... I know what you\'re probably thinking.</b><br /><br />You\'re probably thinking I have <b>no idea</b> how busy you are, <b>how much</b> you have to get done, and&nbsp;<b> how much this just doesn\'t work for you</b>. Well...that\'s just the thing. <b>It\'s not GOING to work for you</b>. You have to <b>make it </b>work. <b>You </b>have to work. Nothing worthwhile in this world comes easy. Your ideal body is no exception to that rule. It\'s never easy adding something else onto your plate, and that goes doubly so for a commitment of this magnitude. Last August, if I knew what this was going to become...300 lb me <b>probably</b> wouldn\'t have gone for it. 300 lb me would think 188 lb me was insane.<br /><br /><b>Baby steps.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyoeB1EbLPQ/Ui294Hk9WNI/AAAAAAAABgE/SIZWX5yvGYY/s1600/pugg-wall-clock__13080_PE040801_S4.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyoeB1EbLPQ/Ui294Hk9WNI/AAAAAAAABgE/SIZWX5yvGYY/s200/pugg-wall-clock__13080_PE040801_S4.jpg\" width=\"200\" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>What I find</b> is that most people staring a workout regimen in the face aren\'t looking at <b>that</b> big of a picture - they\'re looking at day one. Or week one. They\'re  looking at 45 minutes squeezed into their day, or an hour, an hour and a  half, even two hours when all\'s said and done getting to the gym,  working out, showering, coming home...<b>oh no Darrell...that\'s SO much time I don\'t have!</b><br /><br /><b>That\'s the thing...</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mglP1WHNXM0/Ui3AIREn8UI/AAAAAAAABgQ/xF3B2-hc4ns/s1600/excuseshappy.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mglP1WHNXM0/Ui3AIREn8UI/AAAAAAAABgQ/xF3B2-hc4ns/s320/excuseshappy.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><b>If that\'s the mentality</b>...you probably just don\'t want it bad enough yet. I know I know...I don\'t know you, I have no idea what you want...<br /><br /><b>Truth of the matter is</b>, when you want something bad enough, you will <b>move mountains</b> to make it happen. If not, you won\'t move very far from the couch. I know plenty of people who say they don\'t have time, they\'re SO busy...but somehow find time to watch hours and hours of TV each day...(<a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-i-dont-feel-like-it-syndrome.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"I Don\'t Feel Like It\" Syndrome</a>, anyone?)<br /><br /><b>The important thing to know is: </b>There is ALWAYS a way to make it work.<br /><br /><b>So, I\'ve done a lot of talking but I haven\'t told you how yet. </b><br /><br />You have to take a good hard look at what you\'ve got going on in your life. Look at your daily schedule. You probably have a LOT of free time that you don\'t even realize you have! My college fraternity - <a href=\"http://www.deltachi.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Delta Chi</a>, has a part of their scholarship program dedicated to Time Management - I\'m pulling this directly from that program...because it <b>works</b>. Take a blank weekly schedule like the one below (you can download it from http://www.time-management-abilities.com/printable-planners.html under \"advanced planners\":<br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnK00cAo53o/Ui3CyoO_JKI/AAAAAAAABgc/z-lO4mHExGE/s1600/weekly-planner-printable-planner-sample.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"289\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnK00cAo53o/Ui3CyoO_JKI/AAAAAAAABgc/z-lO4mHExGE/s400/weekly-planner-printable-planner-sample.png\" width=\"400\" /></a></div>Fill it out in order of: <br />1. Work (include travel time and getting ready...be reasonable)<br />2. Sleep<br />3. Meals (including cook time)<br />We\'ll pause here. All the remaining time, right now, is \"free time\". Yes, I know, you have SO MUCH you need to do...that\'s not free time. Well...here\'s where the next step comes in...<b>Prioritizing</b>.<br /><br />Yes, there\'s a lot you need to get done. Ok, great. This is the time where you need to decide what is ACTUALLY important. You might surprise yourself. Things like doctor\'s appointments, grocery shopping (gotta have food to eat, right?) picking the kids up from school or bringing them to sports/activities/etc are going to be high priorities. Many of these things likely have to happen at a certain time, so that\'s going to bump them a little higher up on the priority list as well. All of the other little things you need to get done are probably lower priority items. So, let\'s go ahead and put those high priority items on the calendar. So now we have<br /><br />1. Work | 2. Sleep | 3. Meals | 4. High Priority Items<br /><br />And the rest is free time. There\'s still probably a good bit of free time left each day, right? It might be occurring at strange times, but it\'s there. <b>This is the part where you can shimmy a workout in.</b><br /><br /><b>Yes, I know</b>...you still have SO MUCH you need to get done. That\'s what <b>prioritizing</b> is about. If you\'re still reading this, you\'ve already decided that getting your health and fitness straightened out is a high enough priority that you can shuffle some lower-priority things around. <b>So,</b> let\'s find a convenient place to stick that workout. I like to work out first thing in the morning...energizes me, gives me a boost for my day, gets it out of the way and...frankly...at the end of a long day I\'m worn out and there\'s a good chance I could lose motivation. I recommend you work out as early as you can. The earlier you work out, the more energy you\'ll have and the more successful your workout will be. <br /><br /><b>So now we\'ve got</b><br />1. Work | 2. Sleep | 3. Meals | 4. High Priority | 5. Workout | 6. Low Priority<br /><br />Now you can fit all of those other lower-priority items into your day. Throughout the course of the week, I\'m sure there\'s enough free time to get everything done that you need to get done. You probably even STILL have some free time left after that!<b> This will even work for the people who work crazy shifts</b>.<br /><br /><b>Yes, </b>this is not a fool-proof system. There are some people out there who work two jobs, three jobs, are going non-stop, and might not think they have time. Well, these are the people who need to take \"make it work\" to heart. I know plenty of people who will sacrifice something to make the workout happen. Sleep just a little bit less, get up a little bit earlier, go to bed a little earlier or later, take a little less time to eat, get ready for work a little bit faster...You need to look at your schedule once you\'ve gone through the list of work, sleep, meals, and high priority items and think hard about what or how you can shuffle, squeeze or re-arrange to make it work.<br /><br />I challenge you to <b>stay strong</b> and put the workout into the schedule before the low priority items. The only reason I wouldn\'t count the workout as a \"high priority item\" is because it <i>doesn\'t have to happen at a particular time</i>. High priority items should be the kind of thing that either HAS TO happen first, or <b>has to</b> happen at a particular time (such as a doctors appt., or getting to a business before it closes, etc). <br /><br />I\'ve gone through a lot of trial and error getting my schedule to work. I\'ve had a lot of ups and downs. Working in a restaurant, my schedule is different week to week...<b>I have to make it work</b>. As I\'ve gone through these 5 different programs I\'ve done, I\'ve gotten a little better at it each time. But, as I get more and more dedicated to my fitness I have to look a little harder at my schedule. I\'ve designed an endurance training schedule for <a href=\" http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/on-to-the-next-one-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">my half-marathon run</a> that is pretty involved...I\'m juggling a workout program, running, and yoga. I have commitments with Delta Chi, my Masonic Lodge, work, my fiancee, etc etc. <b>I\'m</b> making it work. <b>You</b> can too. <br /><br /><b>In almost every case</b> there is a way to make it work. You just have to find it. If you can\'t, <b>reach out to me</b> at Darrell@SoTHISIsFitness.com and I will do my best to help you figure it out. If you find you\'re having a hard time keeping your priorities straight (or <b>doing</b> the prioritizing in the first place) or want a community to help keep you accountable and share your struggles, please feel free to join the <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/sothisisfitness/\" target=\"_blank\">\"So Fit\" Family on Facebook</a>. It\'s a special community within the \"So THIS Is Fitness...\" world where we share our successes, seek support during tough days, seek and share advice and keep each other motivated to be and do our best and get to the goal we\'re all chasing.<br /><br />Just remember...<br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xUySsNkZkb0/Ui3JRUvtscI/AAAAAAAABg4/hrQok_YxeCU/s1600/grassgreensweat.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xUySsNkZkb0/Ui3JRUvtscI/AAAAAAAABg4/hrQok_YxeCU/s400/grassgreensweat.jpg\" width=\"400\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><br />','Making It Work - Time Management','','inherit','closed','closed','','103-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:03:04','2017-01-21 14:03:04','',103,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/103-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(819,1,'2017-01-21 09:03:05','2017-01-21 14:03:05','I\'ve been talking a lot about all these road races I\'m doing in the next two months - the 5K (from Sunday), the two 10K\'s, and of course the half-marathon. I\'m fortunate so many companies have signed on to sponsor me - they have made it possible for me to do these races and to continue to do work for a great cause (please be sure to check out the sponsors page and see who\'s helped me out - they\'re all great!). I\'ve only made a small announcement on Facebook, but the big news is -<br /><br /><b>I\'m fundraising for <a href=\"http://www.jimmyv.org/\" target=\"_blank\">The V Foundation For Cancer Research</a>!</b><br /><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><b><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f70yhYqH3Mk/UkON7n9SwoI/AAAAAAAABzA/466xqGDiB7o/s1600/JimmyVLogo.gif\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"190\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f70yhYqH3Mk/UkON7n9SwoI/AAAAAAAABzA/466xqGDiB7o/s400/JimmyVLogo.gif\" width=\"400\" /></a></b></div><br />Yes, this campaign of runs is a fundraising campaign, and the fundraising officially started a few days ago. <a href=\"http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/SoTHISIsFitness/ccm13\" target=\"_blank\">You can visit my online fundraising page here</a> if you\'d like to make a contribution. All of my training, <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">My Story</a>, and <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/meet-darrell/my-journey\" target=\"_blank\">My Transformation</a> has made this possible.<br /><br /><b> </b><br /><b>So...what IS The V Foundation and why do I (you) care?</b><br /><b></b><br /><a name=\'more\'></a><br /><b>&nbsp;</b>The V Foundation\'s mission statement, found on their website, is:<br /><br /><i>The V Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives  by helping to find a cure for cancer.&nbsp; The Foundation seeks to make a  difference by generating broad-based support for cancer research and by  creating an urgent awareness among all Americans of the importance of  the war against cancer.&nbsp; The Foundation performs these dual roles  through advocacy, education, fundraising, and philanthropy.</i><br /><br />The V Foundation was founded in 1993 by former NCAA basketball coach and N.C. State Athletic Director Jim Valvano with the assistance of ESPN. It was announced in a tear-jerking speech at the 1993 ESPY awards (seen below).<br /><br /><br /><br />Basically, Jimmy V was diagnosed with terminal cancer and wanted to help find a cure. Going through it from the patient side of it, he realized just how slowly cancer research fundraising ended up benefiting the actual patient, so he sought to speed up the process. Jimmy V passed away just two months after his ESPY speech, but 20 years later The V Foundation is going strong, making an impact, and working hard towards realizing his ultimate goal of finding a cure.<br /><br /><b>So what exactly am I doing to help?</b><br /><br />I am running four races to raise awareness and raise money for The V Foundation. One of them has already happened, the other 3 are all in the month of October.<br /><b> </b><br />9/22/13 - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/what-is-good-enough-tavern2tavern5k.html\" target=\"_blank\">Tavern to Tavern 5K - Cambridge, MA (finished 200/722 - time: 23:51 - 7:45 min/mile)</a><br />10/5/13 - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/getting-things-in-mocean-running-update.html\" target=\"_blank\">Canal Run For The Troops 10K - Buzzard\'s Bay, MA</a><br />10/20/13 - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/2-months-4-runs-one-great-cause.html\" target=\"_blank\">31st Annual Boston Firefighters Local 718 Memorial Road Race 10K - Dorchester, MA</a><br />10/26/13 - <a href=\" http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/08/on-to-the-next-one-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">Cape Cod Marathon Half - Falmouth, MA</a><br /><br />I\'m currently fundraising through word of mouth and online through social media. You can, again, reach my online fundraising page here:<br /><a href=\"http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/SoTHISIsFitness/ccm13\">http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/SoTHISIsFitness/ccm13</a><br />&nbsp;I\'m in the process of brainstorming a fundraising event to hold locally. More on that soon (I hope!).<br /><br /><b>Why The V Foundation?</b> <br /><br />I know there are a million charities out there I could be fundraising for and some people have asked me how/why I chose The V Foundation. The answer is very simple: My college fraternity - <a href=\"http://www.deltachi.org/\" target=\"_blank\">The Delta Chi Fraternity, Inc.</a> - partnered up with The V Foundation in 2006. Almost every philanthropy event I did as an undergraduate member of my Chapter was to benefit The V Foundation...needless to say I had a lot of exposure to it and what it stood for. After raising over $2,800 for Dana-Farber through my Falmouth Road Race run, I thought it\'d be nice to do something similar for the first charity I ever really worked with and that I had such ties to. All money raised through this campaign will be donated to The V Foundation on behalf of The Boston Area Alumni Chapter of Delta Chi. <br /><br /><b>So why should I care? And why should I contribute?</b><br /><br />These days it seems like everything causes cancer. We\'re figuring out every day that something else we\'ve gotten used to can give us cancer! Even some of those who do their best to avoid carcinogens can be struck by the disease, and unfortunately, nearly everyone has a friend or family member who has been touched by some form of cancer. Cancer has stumped the world\'s top scientists for years, and the research necessary to learn more and figure out how to beat cancer takes a lot of time, training and equipment which, of course, costs a lot of money.&nbsp; By contributing to fundraising for organizations like The V Foundation, we can help build up the funds needed for grants to help researchers who are working so hard to find a cure. <br /><b> </b><br /><b>Please help me make this a successful fundraising campaign!</b><br /><br />On behalf of The V Foundation for Cancer Research and The Boston Area Alumni Chapter of The Delta Chi Fraternity, Inc. I thank you all in advance for your help, support, and generosity! If you have any questions please don\'t hesitate to reach out and ask - Darrell@SoTHISIsFitness.com<br /><b> </b><br /><a href=\"http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/SoTHISIsFitness/ccm13\"><b>http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/SoTHISIsFitness/ccm13</b></a>','Do It For The V','','inherit','closed','closed','','99-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:03:05','2017-01-21 14:03:05','',99,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/99-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(820,1,'2017-01-21 09:05:57','2017-01-21 14:05:57','I have a confession to make...<b>I\'ve been cheating. </b>Cheating is bad. Cheating is where we lie to ourselves, to our loved ones, and to those around us. It\'s where we pretend what we\'re doing is OK even though in our hearts we KNOW it\'s wrong. Cheating is where we slowly undermine all the hard work we\'ve been doing. And <b>DON\'T EVEN </b>try to tell me you don\'t feel bad about it when it happens...\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-871zZ3EszOg/UsF44O1PC4I/AAAAAAAAGIw/Plf6xOwg2D0/s1600/Cookie_Monster.jpg\"><img src=\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-871zZ3EszOg/UsF44O1PC4I/AAAAAAAAGIw/Plf6xOwg2D0/s320/Cookie_Monster.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" border=\"0\" /></a></div>\nSo why do we cheat? <b>Because it\'s supposed to be OK here and there</b>. People tell us you just <b>have </b>to <b>allow</b> yourself a cheat day every once in a while to stay sane. <b>Why?</b> How is going against my nutrition plan going to help me? The short answer is...<b>it\'s not</b>. It\'s time to talk about the elephant in the room - and I\'d like to ask you to <b>RE-COMMIT TO YOURSELF </b>to be the best you can possibly be with your nutrition habits for 2014 and beyond!\n<b></b>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div>\n<b> Read on...and tell me if my story sounds familiar to you</b>.\n<a name=\"more\"></a>\nSo...Like I said...<b>I\'ve been cheating</b>. I really almost wrote \"nothing major\"...but that\'s just me lying to myself again. <b>Every cheat is major</b>. Every cheat is one more step down the rabbit hole. But I\'m getting ahead of myself.\n\nI\'ve been cheating. Little nibbles here and there, a few bites of this, not being strict about that, etc. I figure, I\'m doing great with my fitness and nutrition, I\'m down to 175...<b>THAT\'S AN EXCUSE! I had a ton of excuses!</b> \"It\'s ok, I\'m doing well, I can handle it.\", \"My metabolism is so fired up it\'ll just shred through this like nothing.\", \"<b>I\'ve earned it.</b>\", \"I just ran 10 miles, <b>shut up</b>.\"...\n<b>The list goes on</b>. Bottom line, I was justifying little violations of MY OWN RULES! Those rules, combined with hard work, are what got me these results...they\'re why I can actually SEE ABS NOW for the first time in my life...why would I go against that?\n\nReally...no good reason. It was there. I had waited too long to eat and was hungry. It looked good. None of those were on my list of good reasons to eat something.\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Why is cheating bad? Why is this a big deal?</b></span>\n\n<b>I\'m so glad you asked. </b>It\'s really simple. A cheat meal, or worse, a cheat DAY, is extra calories, fat, sodium, oil, grease, etc that you wouldn\'t normally have in your day or week. A cheat is a direct violation of all the hard work you\'re doing - of your careful portioning and planning, of your low-fat cooking, your extra effort each day to avoid those sources of fat and \"badness\"...that time you said \"no, thank you\" to a chicken wing or a beer. Cheating basically <b>undoes that hard work.</b> It might seem obvious, but if you don\'t cheat and you stick to your plan, <b>you\'ll see better results faster.</b> Cheating is also bad for another reason.\n<b></b><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\nCheating is a slippery slope</span></b>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oh7trFoyLKY/UsF3FBxbrcI/AAAAAAAAGIg/rAZ9kqCnZfI/s1600/celebrity-pictures-cookie-monster-stop-anytime.jpg\"><img src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oh7trFoyLKY/UsF3FBxbrcI/AAAAAAAAGIg/rAZ9kqCnZfI/s1600/celebrity-pictures-cookie-monster-stop-anytime.jpg\" border=\"0\" /></a></div>\nOnce you start cheating, you\'re making it ok. After you allow yourself to cheat enough times, you may start cheating bigger. It might not be just a nibble anymore, it might be a half a bacon cheeseburger...or a whole one...or a whole <b>day...I know</b>, I sound ridiculous and as if this is the end of the world...but honestly, <b>I\'ve been there</b>. <b>I did it</b>. When I was on Weight Watchers with my mom, we\'d go weigh in on Saturday morning, and once we left the meeting it was cheat day! We\'d go get a fatty sloppy greasy breakfast at our favorite local place, then we\'d do whatever for the rest of the day - no weighing, no measuring...just enjoy the day! Why? <b>We had the whole week to make up for it. </b>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div>\n<b>With that mindset, you\'re starting behind the 8-ball instead of making forward progress all week!</b>\n\nSo, I had established my one cheat day a week - I was following all the bad habits I needed to get rid of! What happened when I went to UMass and lost my support system? <b>I hadn\'t learned anything</b> and I fell back on what I knew. 5 years later...well...you know how I blew up.\n\n<b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I\'m asking you to re-commit to yourself for 2014</span></b>\n\n<b>Keep up your end of the bargain with yourself!</b> Stick with the program and get the results you\'re working so hard for. I know, I make it sound kind of DefCon 1, but it\'s better to head this kind of thing off at the pass than to get caught with your pants down later like I did. The whole point of starting this blog was <b>to help people learn from my mistakes</b>...well, here\'s a BIG one to learn from. I bet I could\'ve got better results from Focus T25 if I buckled down and stuck to my guns on nutrition. When I start P90X3 in January, I\'m going to revamp my nutrition, <b>really </b>pay attention to it, and get the best possible results out of it that I can!\n\n<b>Join me</b> in this! From this day forward (yeah, I\'m not waiting for the new year) every time I find myself looking at a cheat...every time I find myself bringing a cookie towards my mouth or some similar situation...the words of the video below are going to replay in my mind.\n<iframe src=\"www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMLaKR9eoRA\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe><b></b>\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>I kid you not.</b></span>\n<b> </b>\n<b>A friend reminded me about that little gem</b>, and it is SERIOUSLY what I need to scream at myself in my head sometimes...<b>and it works</b>. Try it :) You\'ll be glad, down the road, that you said no to that ONE BITE of pie, or that ONE SLICE of pizza...or that ONE DAY to just go nuts. Stick to your guns!\n<b>\nHave faith - you can do this! 2014 is going to be a big year!</b>','Put That Cookie Down!','','inherit','closed','closed','','85-autosave-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:05:57','2017-01-21 14:05:57','',85,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/85-autosave-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(822,1,'2017-01-21 09:19:38','2017-01-21 14:19:38','I\'ve been trying out something new, and after lots of training trials and game-day performance, I\'m ready to let you all know what I think.\r\n<h4><b>Health Warrior Chia Bars</b>.</h4>\r\nIf you\'ve seen <a href=\"https://twitter.com/SnuffyDX\" target=\"_blank\">tweets from me</a> that say #PoweredByChia...this is what I was talking about. There\'s been quite the \"superfood\" craze lately, and chia seeds are part of that. I\'ve been trying these out to fuel myself for runs, workouts, and life in general, and I\'ve got lots to tell you. In order to tell you about Health Warrior\'s Chia Bars, however, first the question must be asked...<!--more-->\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>What the heck is Chia?</b></span></h3>\r\n<b>Healthy. That\'s what.</b> Now that I\'ve gotten that out of my system, let me REALLY answer my own question:\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-620 aligncenter\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chia-seeds-300x190.jpg\" alt=\"Chia Seeds\" width=\"300\" height=\"190\" />\r\n\r\n<b>You may have seen it</b> in a little tube on a point-of-sale display at your local \"health food\"/ nutrition store, you may have seen the word \"chia\" thrown around in \"health food\" packaging, or you may have heard people talking about the newest greatest thing - <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_hispanica\" target=\"_blank\">CHIA</a>!\r\n\r\n<b>Chia is a little tiny seed, and it\'s been around forever. </b>The reason it\'s such a big deal now is that it\'s a superfood, and people are just now catching on to it - it\'s becoming mainstream.\r\n\r\n<b>So what\'s a <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfood\" target=\"_blank\">\"superfood\"</a>? </b>The word itself is just a marketing term companies throw around to say something has a wide berth of health benefits - as far as I can tell it\'s not actually a word nutritionists, doctors or dieticians have put out there. I\'m ok with it though - it\'s just a descriptor and it DOES apply here so frankly I don\'t care where it came from.\r\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div>\r\n<h4><img class=\"size-full wp-image-623 alignleft\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chiaseedshw.jpg\" alt=\"Health Warrior black chia seeds\" width=\"206\" height=\"279\" /><b>Chia seeds ARE pretty packed with nutrition...</b></h4>\r\n...for how small of a seed it is, anyway. <a href=\"http://healthwarrior.com/what-is-chia/\" target=\"_blank\">As Health Warrior describes on their site</a> - one 16 ounce bag (1 pound) of their chia seeds is equivalent to:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>10 lbs of salmon (Omega -3 Fatty Acids)</li>\r\n 	<li>3 lbs of tofu (protein)</li>\r\n 	<li>4 lbs of milk (calcium, I\'m assuming? They talk about strong bones with that one)</li>\r\n 	<li>4 lbs of oatmeal (fiber)</li>\r\n 	<li>15 lbs of broccoli (magnesium)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<b>That\'s an awful lot of work for one pound of little tiny seeds to be doing.</b>\r\n\r\nHealth Warrior uses those amazing, hard-working, nutrient-dense little seeds to make their Chia Bars.\r\n\r\n<b>So now that we\'ve covered those bases, we can look at...</b>\r\n<h3><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">What\'s in these Chia Bars?</span></b></h3>\r\n<b>These things are pretty amazing. Let\'s take a look at the label.</b>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-619 aligncenter\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chia-nutrition-300x111.jpg\" alt=\"Health Warrior Chia Bar nutrition facts label\" width=\"300\" height=\"111\" />\r\n\r\n<b>See that?!</b> These bars are 100 calories each (similar to other fitness \"nutrition\") and pack an awful lot into that little space. 1000mg of Omega-3 fatty acids, 4g of fiber (16% daily recommended intake), 4g of plant-based whole-food protein, and they make it taste good with just 5g of sugar.\r\n\r\n<b>But wait - </b>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-621 aligncenter\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chiabaringredients-300x140.jpg\" alt=\"Health Warrior chia bar ingredients\" width=\"300\" height=\"140\" />\r\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><b> It\'s all-natural and...well...healthy!</b> That 5g of sugar comes, primarily, from the organic agave syrup! <b>NOT </b>high-fructose corn syrup. <b>NOT </b>\"sugar\". <b>NOT aspartame, sucralose, fructose, or any \'ose\'</b>. Look at all the other ingredients - brown rice syrup, organic cashew butter, organic this, organic that...it\'s all organic and natural! These things are <i>really </i>healthy! The label also makes a point to say that it is soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free and 100% vegan. They get it done and take care of a lot of peoples\' dietary needs/restrictions. It SEEMS to me to be the case that this would also qualify as paleo-friendly, but I\'m no pro on paleo, so I\'ll have to look into that a little more.</div>\r\n<b>So </b>we know what they\'re made of, and we know the health benefits...but there\'s another important question to ask:\r\n<h3><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-624 alignright\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chiaunbox-235x300.jpg\" alt=\"Health Warrior chia bar unboxing\" width=\"235\" height=\"300\" /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Do They Taste Good?</span></b></h3>\r\n<b>YES! </b>At least, I think so. These chia bars are offered in a variety of flavors - <a href=\"http://shop.healthwarrior.com/\" target=\"_blank\">they are usually sold one flavor to a box</a>, but my friend Brad at Health Warrior was kind enough to hand-pack and send me a variety box so I could try them all! They have: Coffee, Acai Berry, Banana Nut, Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Coconut. I have to say, my favorites are Apple Cinnamon, Banana Nut, and Coconut. They\'re ALL really tasty, don\'t get me wrong, but those ones are all tied for first place.\r\n<h4><b>I swear, the flavors are crazy good!</b></h4>\r\nIf they were colors, they\'d be the most vibrant, saturated hues of the color possible - that\'s the best way I can describe how the flavor really nails the description - the Banana Nut REALLY tastes like banana nut bread, the apple cinnamon smell and taste evokes memories of my favorite apple cinnamon oatmeal and baked goods growing up, the coconut tastes like every yummy coconut dessert I\'ve ever had...<b>I don\'t know how they do it while keeping it so healthy and natural</b>, but these things are basically a pre-race dessert for me!\r\n<h3><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Texture</span></b></h3>\r\n<b><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-627 alignright\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_20140128_083305030-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"Health Warrior chia bar unwrapped\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" />I feel like texture is important to touch on with this product. </b>These bars are, primarily, made with little tiny seeds, after all, and you CAN tell when you\'re eating it. The texture is <b>not </b>offensive, let me be clear on that. Think of it, in a small way, like when eating popcorn - sometimes a little piece gets left behind in your mouth and you find it later. Sometimes I find a chia seed floating around my mouth once I start my run. I do not mind this at all - it\'s still wrapped up in some of the flavor-y goodness of the bar, so it\'s like a little flavor nugget left behind in my mouth. <b>I kinda like that</b>.\r\n\r\nPlease note that this does <b>NOT </b>happen every time, only sometimes. I\'m sure if you have your bar with some water that would likely eliminate that occurrence completely. I have a feeling this is kind of my fault as I tend to fly through it and not necessarily chew thoroughly. <b>Again - this is NOT a negative</b>, just something to be aware of. I happen to like it, and for the health benefits / fuel quality I\'m getting, I\'m more than happy to \"deal\". That aside, overall, the texture kind of reminds me of a soft, chewy granola bar. <b>No points are deducted in the \"texture\" and \"mouth-feel\" department.</b>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Performance</b></span></h3>\r\n<b>I. Felt. GREAT. </b>I\'m not going to take you through each individual run like I did with <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/09/review-fitaid.html\" target=\"_blank\">the FitAid review</a>, but after trying these bars a dozen times I can say with absolute certainty that I felt great when powered by these bars for a run, workout, or my day in general. I usually have a bar about 15 to 20 minutes before I begin my run/workout/whatever, and it gets me through my workout like a champ - when I might otherwise feel the need to stop, walk, or take it easy, instead I keep on truckin\' like a boss. For longer workouts, like a big distance run, I do tend to re-fuel after about an hour, but you should do that anyway - 100 calories isn\'t going to get you through a half-marathon, no matter HOW nutrient-dense it is.\r\n\r\nI went on a variety of run distances with this from 2 miles through half-marathon distance. Some were races, some were just my own regular workouts. I also used these for a pick-me-up on a regular day and felt great and really energized. These little bars are a great way to give your body what it craves to fuel it through a workout or through a normal day as a regular part of your daily health and nutrition.\r\n<h3><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-625 aligncenter\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/fuel-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Fuel meme with chia bar\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></h3>\r\n<h3>Health Warrior Chia Bars - the verdict?</h3>\r\nThere\'s no two ways about it - Chia is a great way to fuel yourself for whatever is coming your way, and Health Warrior\'s Chia Bars are an <b>EXCELLENT </b>vehicle to get it. I HIGHLY recommend that you find them, get them, and give them a try. You can order from <a href=\"http://healthwarrior.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the Health Warrior website</a> or find the bars at <a href=\"http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/\" target=\"_blank\">your local Whole Foods Market</a>. They\'re working on expanding, and I hope <a href=\"http://www.marathonsports.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Marathon Sports</a> (one of my <b>favorite</b> running stores) starts carrying it soon. If you have any questions, PLEASE reach out and ask! You can get me at Darrell@SoTHISIsFitness.com or use the contact form at the bottom of the page. Also, if you haven\'t already, <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/sothisisfitness\" target=\"_blank\">please \"like\" the \"So THIS Is Fitness...\" Facebook page</a> to keep up with everything going on - I post there a LOT more frequently than I do on this site.\r\n<h4><b>Now go get some Chia Bars! :)</b></h4>','Ch-Ch-Ch-CHIA! Health Warrior Chia Bar Review','','inherit','closed','closed','','80-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:19:38','2017-01-21 14:19:38','',80,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/80-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(825,1,'2017-01-21 09:26:00','2017-01-21 14:26:00','In our modern, advanced, intelligent society, I\'m <b>shocked</b>&nbsp;to see that we\'re still so susceptible to fear-mongering and mass ignorance. I\'m sure we all know...<br /><blockquote>\"Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.\"</blockquote><b>We have been wrong before.</b>&nbsp;We believed the Earth was flat. We believed cigarettes were healthy. We believed diet soda was <i>actually a healthy alternative</i> to regular soda. Today, we seem to believe \"GMO\'s\" are creating un-killable man-eating weeds, turning our soil toxic, and poisoning our children turning them into mutants.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">My question is:</span> </b>Do you<b> know </b>why you<b> hate \"GMO\'s\"?</b> Do you even <b>know what they are?</b>&nbsp;<i><u>Really?</u> </i>If you use your noggin for a minute and try to see through the mob-mentality hysterics...I\'m sure you\'ll be surprised.<br /><br /><b>Let me clear something up right now:</b>&nbsp;I\'m <b>not</b> Pro-GMO. I\'m <b>not</b> Anti-GMO. <u>I\'m Anti-Ignorance.</u><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1T3YejlVA8/VEyEBRrgCXI/AAAAAAAAK2Q/s9Rf1U__NxM/s1600/gmomg.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1T3YejlVA8/VEyEBRrgCXI/AAAAAAAAK2Q/s9Rf1U__NxM/s1600/gmomg.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"320\" /></a></u></div><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Get Educated. </b>Let me teach you a few things...</div><a name=\'more\'></a><b><br /></b><b>I really can\'t stand all the nonsense I see on Facebook.</b>&nbsp;I see people blindly re-posting all kinds of anti-GMO propaganda (yeah, I used that word) and I can\'t help but think... <i>do you even KNOW what you\'re saying by sharing/re-posting that?</i><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDs_S80JcYc/VEnlTbITrgI/AAAAAAAAK00/7rgtuvPZfjU/s1600/meme4.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDs_S80JcYc/VEnlTbITrgI/AAAAAAAAK00/7rgtuvPZfjU/s1600/meme4.png\" height=\"320\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Fear-mongering, scare tactics, and a gross misunderstanding/lack of <b>actual</b>&nbsp;<i>facts</i>&nbsp;has skewed things to the point where there\'s a veritable <b>war</b>&nbsp;on GMO\'s...and we may very well look back on it with immense regret. <b>I\'m going to do my best not to ramble. </b>Let\'s take this step by step.</div><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">First...What IS a \"GMO\", anyway?</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><br /></b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Farmers face a lot of challenges. </b>Pests, drought, weather, and much more can lead to low crop yields. Farmers have to overcome it all - after all, <i>we\'re counting on them to feed us</i>. Well, people realized that many organisms possessed qualities that would be IMMENSELY helpful in our crops to combat these very problems - hence, GM seeds.&nbsp;<b>GMO</b>&nbsp;stands for \"Genetically Modified Organism\". Basically, scientists take a gene from an organism with the desired trait and put it into the DNA of the seeds of a crop farmers grow, like corn or potatoes.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mae0EMZLc8s/VEnkY_b_XYI/AAAAAAAAK0o/GELLyQJuWSk/s1600/corn_img.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mae0EMZLc8s/VEnkY_b_XYI/AAAAAAAAK0o/GELLyQJuWSk/s1600/corn_img.png\" /></a><b>Example: </b><a href=\"http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef130.asp\">BT Corn</a>. BT stands for <i>Bacillus Thuringiensis.</i><i>&nbsp;</i>Corn has MAJOR pest issues - pests that are killed by a toxin BT produces. Essentially, introducing specific BT genes into corn made the corn <i>produce that toxin</i>.&nbsp;<b>That\'s right</b>, <a href=\"http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00707.html\">toxic to <i>specific </i>pests</a>&nbsp;(mostly),&nbsp;not ALL insects, not animals, not humans.<br /><br />There\'s also GM crops that are&nbsp;<b>drought-tolerant</b>&nbsp;and,&nbsp;more famously, <b>resistant to pesticide.</b>&nbsp;They\'re even working on being able to fortify foods with additional vitamins they don\'t normally have! If executed properly, something like that could solve a lot of problems around the world.</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Ok...but...<i>they\'re bad!</i>...right?&nbsp;</span></b></div><table align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuyNOJBSyjo/VEnkOfa5qcI/AAAAAAAAK0g/NWjDXg81qdg/s1600/bill-nye-meme-1.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuyNOJBSyjo/VEnkOfa5qcI/AAAAAAAAK0g/NWjDXg81qdg/s1600/bill-nye-meme-1.jpg\" height=\"248\" width=\"320\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">science AND research</td></tr></tbody></table><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Says who? </b>When I surf the internet and read all of the top results on GMO, Monsanto, and why everything to do with this topic is \"Bad\"...I see a lot of misinformation, scare tactics, and enough fear-inspiring trust-destroying buzzword combinations to make your head spin. There is a troubling lack of facts and peer-reviewed research associated with every claim I see that GMO\'s are bad/evil/destroying the world. See <a href=\"http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs\">this</a>, <a href=\"http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/\">this</a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/eight-reasons-gmos-are-bad-for-you.html\">this</a> as examples.</div><b><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\">What claims are \"they\" making?</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><br /></b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-GMO Corn caused tumors in rats</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">There were so many issues with this \"study\", and it is&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/09/24/does-genetically-modified-corn-cause-cancer-a-flawed-study/\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\">completely debunked,</a>&nbsp;yet&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/gmo-safety-zmgz13amzsto.aspx#axzz3H2L5KIKJ\">anti-GMO groups are still harping on it as fact</a>&nbsp;(yes, that was published well after retraction). Another anti-GMO site claimed GMO\'s<a href=\"http://naturalsociety.com/genetically-modified-foods/\"> caused liver/kidney damage</a>...but the \"review\" cited <a href=\"http://www.enveurope.com/content/23/1/10\">said itself that the tests were not sufficient to prove anything conclusive.</a></blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">-<b>Farmers are being sued when GMO pollen blows into their crops</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>This is a big twisting of the truth. </b>There are famous cases this is based on (see <a href=\"http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2001/2001fct256/2001fct256.html\">this</a>, <a href=\"http://decisions.fca-caf.gc.ca/en/2002/2002fca309/2002fca309.html\">this</a> and <a href=\"http://scc.lexum.org/decisia-scc-csc/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/2147/index.do?r=AAAAAQAJc2NobWVpc2VyAAAAAAE\">this</a>). There are far less cases being brought up and going to court than many anti-GMO activist groups would lead you to believe. They\'re going after people violating patent law by saving/replanting seeds, not wind-blown pollen.</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-GMO Seed-sellers are \"controlling and manipulating farmers\"</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FWSaeEknnUY/VExkXOFZC5I/AAAAAAAAK1Y/OBiyIdaPyfw/s1600/Handcuffed_hands_(line_drawing).jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FWSaeEknnUY/VExkXOFZC5I/AAAAAAAAK1Y/OBiyIdaPyfw/s1600/Handcuffed_hands_(line_drawing).jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"200\" /></a><b>Not quite.</b> These Genetically Modified seeds are, essentially, akin to a software developer creating a new program, or an artist painting a new picture - they retain the rights to profit from their new creation. The scientist may not have created \"seeds\", but they DID create seeds that have extra genes built-in. Copyright, trademark, and patent apply, even if it seems strange. The farmer agreed to these terms when they bought the seed. <b>Nobody held a gun to their head</b>&nbsp;- it was a choice.</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-Monsanto et al are selling sterile \"Terminator seeds\"</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">While it\'s true \"Terminator seeds\" (which do not grow back the next year) do exist, GM Companies have never actually put them to market. (that I know of)</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-GMO crops are creating unstoppable pesticide-resistant super-weeds and super-pests</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Pests and weeds are going to evolve and become resistant to our efforts just like the flu virus morphs and changes every year to resist the flu vaccine...but you don\'t see pitchforks and torches outside your local clinic or pharmacy, do you?</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-Pesticides are destroying good soil, rendering it forever useless without GMO seeds</b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-There\'s collateral damage as a result of \"Roundup-Ready\" crops.</b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">The list goes on. These are just some of the many allegations being made. I\'m not here to refute them all, but I simply <b>had</b>&nbsp;to point out&nbsp;that some are, in fact, <b>incredibly false</b>.</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\"Label it! I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!\"</span></b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZtOSc5jZUs/VExle-SrlPI/AAAAAAAAK1k/xDcXBAx3I9E/s1600/poison%2Blabel.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZtOSc5jZUs/VExle-SrlPI/AAAAAAAAK1k/xDcXBAx3I9E/s1600/poison%2Blabel.jpg\" /></a>This whole \"gmo\" labeling thing is such a huge deal right now...there are GMO labeling measures being fought for around the country...and food/drink/agriculture companies are pouring millions of dollars into the fight to squash it. <b>Why?</b></div><br /><b>Mandatory labeling accomplishes nothing.</b><br /><br />Labels are great - they allow us to have more information and, thus, make informed decisions. Sorry to break it to you, but <b>Mandatory GMO Labeling </b>wouldn\'t help us make <a href=\"http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html\">any kind of decision we can\'t already make</a>. <b>People say they want to know</b>&nbsp;so they can know what they\'re putting in their bodies. <b>They want to know </b>so they can avoid foods they don\'t want. <b>They want labeling because...they WANT it!</b>&nbsp;And <b>other countries have it</b>, so why shouldn\'t <b>WE</b>?!<br /><br /><b>Know what ELSE other countries have? <u>Communism.</u></b><br /><br />Seriously, though - every argument FOR mandatory labeling I see is a lot of demands, a lot of ignorance, a lot of \"I THINK I know what\'s up\" and little or no fact / REAL good reason. Current U.S. Law requires labeling on new foods that have significant nutritional or allergenic characteristic, and the FDA has judged that, so far, there is no danger, health risk, or reduced nutritional value from GM foods. There are many \"Certified Organic\" and \"non-GMO certified\" foods labeled as such. So...all those \"informed choices\" you want to make? <b>You already can.</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>On the flip side,</b> all the arguments I see <b>against</b>&nbsp;mandatory labeling <a href=\"http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html\">are based upon facts, research, and <i>real </i>reasons</a>. There would be a lot of cost involved in such an endeavor. Mandatory labeling hasn\'t exactly gone like a dream in other countries. Customers ALREADY have choices (as I said above). My favorite reason - mandatory labeling would imply some kind of health risk - you don\'t need to be a genius to imagine how <i>that </i>would pan out...it\'d be like slapping on a <b>poison label.</b></div><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">There IS positive potential for GM foods</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kijVfPI_Cjw/VEx-noufnpI/AAAAAAAAK2A/ynqp5hDdLVY/s1600/GLOBE_DetailMap2.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kijVfPI_Cjw/VEx-noufnpI/AAAAAAAAK2A/ynqp5hDdLVY/s1600/GLOBE_DetailMap2.png\" height=\"158\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>I\'m no expert, </b>but given the technology GM foods could solve a lot of problems. Better pest resistance and less reliance on pesticides could mean it\'d be less expensive for farmers to...<i>farm</i>. Less crop loss due to pests means more people get fed. Genetic Engineering could lead to larger fruits and vegetables, feeding more people. Vitamin enrichment could solve critical vitamin deficiencies in other parts of the world. Drought-resistance could mean crops could be grown in far more places - <b>more people get fed.</b>&nbsp;All in all, GM foods could be a big part of the fight against world hunger and feeding an ever-increasing world population.</div><br /><b>And if we freak out and squash GMO\'s...we\'ll only have ourselves to blame</b>.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">TRUTH IS - We\'ve been doing this for centuries&nbsp;</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Maybe not the same way</b>, but farmers have been \"messing with\" your food for a very long time. How do you think broccolini exists? Farmers have been doing their own (more crude and unpredictable) genetic modification for a very long time. Cross-breeding, selective breeding/planting, etc. <b>This is not a new idea</b>, just a new method. Why, all of a sudden, are we upset?</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Again, let me be clear</span> - I am <b>not</b>&nbsp;pro-GMO. I am <b>not</b>&nbsp;anti-GMO. I\'m simply remaining open-minded. I\'m forming my opinion and making my decisions based on <b>fact</b>, not fear. I\'m certainly <b>not</b>&nbsp;blindly following what everyone else tells me about GMO\'s. If YOU would like to be educated and sound a whole lot smarter when you talk about GMO\'s, you can visit any of these sites/read any of these studies:</div><br /><a href=\"http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/study-linking-genetically-modified-corn-to-cancer/\">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/study-linking-genetically-modified-corn-to-cancer/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/09/24/does-genetically-modified-corn-cause-cancer-a-flawed-study/\">http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/09/24/does-genetically-modified-corn-cause-cancer-a-flawed-study/</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-we-trust-monsanto-with-our-food/\">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-we-trust-monsanto-with-our-food/</a></div><a href=\"http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/monsantos-good-bad-pr-problem/\">http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/monsantos-good-bad-pr-problem/</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://genera.biofortified.org/viewall.php\">http://genera.biofortified.org/viewall.php</a></div><a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2014/09/17/the-debate-about-gmo-safety-is-over-thanks-to-a-new-trillion-meal-study/\">http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2014/09/17/the-debate-about-gmo-safety-is-over-thanks-to-a-new-trillion-meal-study/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.popsci.com/article/science/core-truths-10-common-gmo-claims-debunked\">http://www.popsci.com/article/science/core-truths-10-common-gmo-claims-debunked</a><br /><a href=\"http://gmoanswers.com/\">http://gmoanswers.com/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/\">http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/\">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/</a><br />http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm352067.htm<br /><a href=\"http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/\">http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/</a><br /><a href=\"https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233770770_A_decade_of_EU-funded_GMO_research_2001-2010\">http://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/pdf/a_decade_of_eu-funded_gmo_research.pdf</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Please - be educated. </b>Know what you\'re talking about before you join a fight that could have major global impact later on. Be open, learn something, and contribute something meaningful to the discussion :).</div>','GMOMG! - Educate Yourself.','','inherit','closed','closed','','59-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:26:00','2017-01-21 14:26:00','',59,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/59-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(824,1,'2017-01-21 09:23:47','2017-01-21 14:23:47','In our modern, advanced, intelligent society, I\'m <b>shocked</b>&nbsp;to see that we\'re still so susceptible to fear-mongering and mass ignorance. I\'m sure we all know...<br /><blockquote>\"Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.\"</blockquote><b>We have been wrong before.</b>&nbsp;We believed the Earth was flat. We believed cigarettes were healthy. We believed diet soda was <i>actually a healthy alternative</i> to regular soda. Today, we seem to believe \"GMO\'s\" are creating un-killable man-eating weeds, turning our soil toxic, and poisoning our children turning them into mutants.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">My question is:</span> </b>Do you<b> know </b>why you<b> hate \"GMO\'s\"?</b> Do you even <b>know what they are?</b>&nbsp;<i><u>Really?</u> </i>If you use your noggin for a minute and try to see through the mob-mentality hysterics...I\'m sure you\'ll be surprised.<br /><br /><b>Let me clear something up right now:</b>&nbsp;I\'m <b>not</b> Pro-GMO. I\'m <b>not</b> Anti-GMO. <u>I\'m Anti-Ignorance.</u><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1T3YejlVA8/VEyEBRrgCXI/AAAAAAAAK2Q/s9Rf1U__NxM/s1600/gmomg.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1T3YejlVA8/VEyEBRrgCXI/AAAAAAAAK2Q/s9Rf1U__NxM/s1600/gmomg.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"320\" /></a></u></div><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Get Educated. </b>Let me teach you a few things...</div><a name=\'more\'></a><b><br /></b><b>I really can\'t stand all the nonsense I see on Facebook.</b>&nbsp;I see people blindly re-posting all kinds of anti-GMO propaganda (yeah, I used that word) and I can\'t help but think... <i>do you even KNOW what you\'re saying by sharing/re-posting that?</i><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDs_S80JcYc/VEnlTbITrgI/AAAAAAAAK00/7rgtuvPZfjU/s1600/meme4.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDs_S80JcYc/VEnlTbITrgI/AAAAAAAAK00/7rgtuvPZfjU/s1600/meme4.png\" height=\"320\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Fear-mongering, scare tactics, and a gross misunderstanding/lack of <b>actual</b>&nbsp;<i>facts</i>&nbsp;has skewed things to the point where there\'s a veritable <b>war</b>&nbsp;on GMO\'s...and we may very well look back on it with immense regret. <b>I\'m going to do my best not to ramble. </b>Let\'s take this step by step.</div><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">First...What IS a \"GMO\", anyway?</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><br /></b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Farmers face a lot of challenges. </b>Pests, drought, weather, and much more can lead to low crop yields. Farmers have to overcome it all - after all, <i>we\'re counting on them to feed us</i>. Well, people realized that many organisms possessed qualities that would be IMMENSELY helpful in our crops to combat these very problems - hence, GM seeds.&nbsp;<b>GMO</b>&nbsp;stands for \"Genetically Modified Organism\". Basically, scientists take a gene from an organism with the desired trait and put it into the DNA of the seeds of a crop farmers grow, like corn or potatoes.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mae0EMZLc8s/VEnkY_b_XYI/AAAAAAAAK0o/GELLyQJuWSk/s1600/corn_img.png\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mae0EMZLc8s/VEnkY_b_XYI/AAAAAAAAK0o/GELLyQJuWSk/s1600/corn_img.png\" /></a><b>Example: </b><a href=\"http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef130.asp\">BT Corn</a>. BT stands for <i>Bacillus Thuringiensis.</i><i>&nbsp;</i>Corn has MAJOR pest issues - pests that are killed by a toxin BT produces. Essentially, introducing specific BT genes into corn made the corn <i>produce that toxin</i>.&nbsp;<b>That\'s right</b>, <a href=\"http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00707.html\">toxic to <i>specific </i>pests</a>&nbsp;(mostly),&nbsp;not ALL insects, not animals, not humans.<br /><br />There\'s also GM crops that are&nbsp;<b>drought-tolerant</b>&nbsp;and,&nbsp;more famously, <b>resistant to pesticide.</b>&nbsp;They\'re even working on being able to fortify foods with additional vitamins they don\'t normally have! If executed properly, something like that could solve a lot of problems around the world.</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Ok...but...<i>they\'re bad!</i>...right?&nbsp;</span></b></div><table align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuyNOJBSyjo/VEnkOfa5qcI/AAAAAAAAK0g/NWjDXg81qdg/s1600/bill-nye-meme-1.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuyNOJBSyjo/VEnkOfa5qcI/AAAAAAAAK0g/NWjDXg81qdg/s1600/bill-nye-meme-1.jpg\" height=\"248\" width=\"320\" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align: center;\">science AND research</td></tr></tbody></table><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Says who? </b>When I surf the internet and read all of the top results on GMO, Monsanto, and why everything to do with this topic is \"Bad\"...I see a lot of misinformation, scare tactics, and enough fear-inspiring trust-destroying buzzword combinations to make your head spin. There is a troubling lack of facts and peer-reviewed research associated with every claim I see that GMO\'s are bad/evil/destroying the world. See <a href=\"http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs\">this</a>, <a href=\"http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/\">this</a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/eight-reasons-gmos-are-bad-for-you.html\">this</a> as examples.</div><b><br /><span style=\"font-size: large;\">What claims are \"they\" making?</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><br /></b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-GMO Corn caused tumors in rats</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">There were so many issues with this \"study\", and it is&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/09/24/does-genetically-modified-corn-cause-cancer-a-flawed-study/\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\">completely debunked,</a>&nbsp;yet&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/gmo-safety-zmgz13amzsto.aspx#axzz3H2L5KIKJ\">anti-GMO groups are still harping on it as fact</a>&nbsp;(yes, that was published well after retraction). Another anti-GMO site claimed GMO\'s<a href=\"http://naturalsociety.com/genetically-modified-foods/\"> caused liver/kidney damage</a>...but the \"review\" cited <a href=\"http://www.enveurope.com/content/23/1/10\">said itself that the tests were not sufficient to prove anything conclusive.</a></blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">-<b>Farmers are being sued when GMO pollen blows into their crops</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>This is a big twisting of the truth. </b>There are famous cases this is based on (see <a href=\"http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2001/2001fct256/2001fct256.html\">this</a>, <a href=\"http://decisions.fca-caf.gc.ca/en/2002/2002fca309/2002fca309.html\">this</a> and <a href=\"http://scc.lexum.org/decisia-scc-csc/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/2147/index.do?r=AAAAAQAJc2NobWVpc2VyAAAAAAE\">this</a>). There are far less cases being brought up and going to court than many anti-GMO activist groups would lead you to believe. They\'re going after people violating patent law by saving/replanting seeds, not wind-blown pollen.</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-GMO Seed-sellers are \"controlling and manipulating farmers\"</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FWSaeEknnUY/VExkXOFZC5I/AAAAAAAAK1Y/OBiyIdaPyfw/s1600/Handcuffed_hands_(line_drawing).jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FWSaeEknnUY/VExkXOFZC5I/AAAAAAAAK1Y/OBiyIdaPyfw/s1600/Handcuffed_hands_(line_drawing).jpg\" height=\"128\" width=\"200\" /></a><b>Not quite.</b> These Genetically Modified seeds are, essentially, akin to a software developer creating a new program, or an artist painting a new picture - they retain the rights to profit from their new creation. The scientist may not have created \"seeds\", but they DID create seeds that have extra genes built-in. Copyright, trademark, and patent apply, even if it seems strange. The farmer agreed to these terms when they bought the seed. <b>Nobody held a gun to their head</b>&nbsp;- it was a choice.</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-Monsanto et al are selling sterile \"Terminator seeds\"</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">While it\'s true \"Terminator seeds\" (which do not grow back the next year) do exist, GM Companies have never actually put them to market. (that I know of)</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-GMO crops are creating unstoppable pesticide-resistant super-weeds and super-pests</b></div><blockquote style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Pests and weeds are going to evolve and become resistant to our efforts just like the flu virus morphs and changes every year to resist the flu vaccine...but you don\'t see pitchforks and torches outside your local clinic or pharmacy, do you?</blockquote><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-Pesticides are destroying good soil, rendering it forever useless without GMO seeds</b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>-There\'s collateral damage as a result of \"Roundup-Ready\" crops.</b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">The list goes on. These are just some of the many allegations being made. I\'m not here to refute them all, but I simply <b>had</b>&nbsp;to point out&nbsp;that some are, in fact, <b>incredibly false</b>.</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\"Label it! I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!\"</span></b></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZtOSc5jZUs/VExle-SrlPI/AAAAAAAAK1k/xDcXBAx3I9E/s1600/poison%2Blabel.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZtOSc5jZUs/VExle-SrlPI/AAAAAAAAK1k/xDcXBAx3I9E/s1600/poison%2Blabel.jpg\" /></a>This whole \"gmo\" labeling thing is such a huge deal right now...there are GMO labeling measures being fought for around the country...and food/drink/agriculture companies are pouring millions of dollars into the fight to squash it. <b>Why?</b></div><br /><b>Mandatory labeling accomplishes nothing.</b><br /><br />Labels are great - they allow us to have more information and, thus, make informed decisions. Sorry to break it to you, but <b>Mandatory GMO Labeling </b>wouldn\'t help us make <a href=\"http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html\">any kind of decision we can\'t already make</a>. <b>People say they want to know</b>&nbsp;so they can know what they\'re putting in their bodies. <b>They want to know </b>so they can avoid foods they don\'t want. <b>They want labeling because...they WANT it!</b>&nbsp;And <b>other countries have it</b>, so why shouldn\'t <b>WE</b>?!<br /><br /><b>Know what ELSE other countries have? <u>Communism.</u></b><br /><br />Seriously, though - every argument FOR mandatory labeling I see is a lot of demands, a lot of ignorance, a lot of \"I THINK I know what\'s up\" and little or no fact / REAL good reason. Current U.S. Law requires labeling on new foods that have significant nutritional or allergenic characteristic, and the FDA has judged that, so far, there is no danger, health risk, or reduced nutritional value from GM foods. There are many \"Certified Organic\" and \"non-GMO certified\" foods labeled as such. So...all those \"informed choices\" you want to make? <b>You already can.</b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>On the flip side,</b> all the arguments I see <b>against</b>&nbsp;mandatory labeling <a href=\"http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html\">are based upon facts, research, and <i>real </i>reasons</a>. There would be a lot of cost involved in such an endeavor. Mandatory labeling hasn\'t exactly gone like a dream in other countries. Customers ALREADY have choices (as I said above). My favorite reason - mandatory labeling would imply some kind of health risk - you don\'t need to be a genius to imagine how <i>that </i>would pan out...it\'d be like slapping on a <b>poison label.</b></div><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">There IS positive potential for GM foods</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kijVfPI_Cjw/VEx-noufnpI/AAAAAAAAK2A/ynqp5hDdLVY/s1600/GLOBE_DetailMap2.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kijVfPI_Cjw/VEx-noufnpI/AAAAAAAAK2A/ynqp5hDdLVY/s1600/GLOBE_DetailMap2.png\" height=\"158\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>I\'m no expert, </b>but given the technology GM foods could solve a lot of problems. Better pest resistance and less reliance on pesticides could mean it\'d be less expensive for farmers to...<i>farm</i>. Less crop loss due to pests means more people get fed. Genetic Engineering could lead to larger fruits and vegetables, feeding more people. Vitamin enrichment could solve critical vitamin deficiencies in other parts of the world. Drought-resistance could mean crops could be grown in far more places - <b>more people get fed.</b>&nbsp;All in all, GM foods could be a big part of the fight against world hunger and feeding an ever-increasing world population.</div><br /><b>And if we freak out and squash GMO\'s...we\'ll only have ourselves to blame</b>.<br /><br /><b><span style=\"font-size: large;\">TRUTH IS - We\'ve been doing this for centuries&nbsp;</span></b><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Maybe not the same way</b>, but farmers have been \"messing with\" your food for a very long time. How do you think broccolini exists? Farmers have been doing their own (more crude and unpredictable) genetic modification for a very long time. Cross-breeding, selective breeding/planting, etc. <b>This is not a new idea</b>, just a new method. Why, all of a sudden, are we upset?</div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><br /></div><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Again, let me be clear</span> - I am <b>not</b>&nbsp;pro-GMO. I am <b>not</b>&nbsp;anti-GMO. I\'m simply remaining open-minded. I\'m forming my opinion and making my decisions based on <b>fact</b>, not fear. I\'m certainly <b>not</b>&nbsp;blindly following what everyone else tells me about GMO\'s. If YOU would like to be educated and sound a whole lot smarter when you talk about GMO\'s, you can visit any of these sites/read any of these studies:</div><br /><a href=\"http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/study-linking-genetically-modified-corn-to-cancer/\">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/study-linking-genetically-modified-corn-to-cancer/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/09/24/does-genetically-modified-corn-cause-cancer-a-flawed-study/\">http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/09/24/does-genetically-modified-corn-cause-cancer-a-flawed-study/</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-we-trust-monsanto-with-our-food/\">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-we-trust-monsanto-with-our-food/</a></div><a href=\"http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/monsantos-good-bad-pr-problem/\">http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/monsantos-good-bad-pr-problem/</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://genera.biofortified.org/viewall.php\">http://genera.biofortified.org/viewall.php</a></div><a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2014/09/17/the-debate-about-gmo-safety-is-over-thanks-to-a-new-trillion-meal-study/\">http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2014/09/17/the-debate-about-gmo-safety-is-over-thanks-to-a-new-trillion-meal-study/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.popsci.com/article/science/core-truths-10-common-gmo-claims-debunked\">http://www.popsci.com/article/science/core-truths-10-common-gmo-claims-debunked</a><br /><a href=\"http://gmoanswers.com/\">http://gmoanswers.com/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/\">http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/\">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm352067.htm\">http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm352067.htm</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/\">http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/09/10/19-year-study-of-trillions-of-meals-shows-ge-crops-do-not-harm-food-producing-animals-humans/</a><br /><a href=\"https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233770770_A_decade_of_EU-funded_GMO_research_2001-2010\">http://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/pdf/a_decade_of_eu-funded_gmo_research.pdf</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>Please - be educated. </b>Know what you\'re talking about before you join a fight that could have major global impact later on. Be open, learn something, and contribute something meaningful to the discussion :).</div>','GMOMG! - Educate Yourself.','','inherit','closed','closed','','59-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:23:47','2017-01-21 14:23:47','',59,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/59-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(826,1,'2017-01-21 09:27:18','2017-01-21 14:27:18','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s1600/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\"><img src=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s320/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\" border=\"0\" /></a></div>\r\nFor thoughts on running with music read - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-music-while-running-controversy.html\" target=\"_blank\">The \"Music While Running\" Controversy</a>\r\n<b>\r\n</b>\r\n<b>I have scoured the internet</b> looking for the best running songs. Every site out there has a list, hell one site even puts together a new top 10 every month! Most of the songs chosen on these lists...frankly...<i>suck to run to.</i> I don\'t know who\'s picking them, but many are too slow, too dumpy, and just plain don\'t get you pumped up to RUN! Not amped for a sprint and not enough to cruise on a long run either. So I assemled my own list. Hope you like it.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLaJrWxq2pgRjz0xJ98FvebDsbjqgPp5Nz\" width=\"540\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\n<table id=\"songs\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>BPM</th>\r\n<th>Artist</th>\r\n<th>Song (w/YouTube hotlink)</th>\r\n<th>iTunes</th>\r\n<th>Amazon</th>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>100</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Nobody\'s Listening</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nobodys-listening/id528435845?i=528437028\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes</a></td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>102</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Criminal</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>106</td>\r\n<td>Finger Eleven</td>\r\n<td>Paralyzer</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>107</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Shake That (Feat. Nate Dogg)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>110</td>\r\n<td>The All-American Rejects</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Night Drive</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>112</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Wasted (Feat. Matthew Koma)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>114</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>115</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Immigrant Song</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>118</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Wake Up (Make A Move)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>120</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Doomsday</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>121</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Just Lose It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>124</td>\r\n<td>Disturbed</td>\r\n<td>Liberate</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Red Lights</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td>Hey Brother</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Icona Pop</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY\" target=\"_blank\">I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Pink</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ\" target=\"_blank\">So What</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Demi Lovato</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Neon Lights</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>127</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ufW2INWmM\" target=\"_blank\">My People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Calvin Harris</td>\r\n<td>Outside (feat. Ellie Goulding)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrschw-wdI\" target=\"_blank\">Warrior</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOubzHCUt48\" target=\"_blank\">Die Young</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCUuwgMbXA\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Brother (Syn Cole Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Duck Sauce</td>\r\n<td>Barbra Streisand</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Nine Inch Nails</td>\r\n<td>The Hand That Feeds</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Foster The People</td>\r\n<td>Pumped Up Kicks</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Uprising</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Selena Gomez</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89u9T7WDoaM\" target=\"_blank\">Come &amp; Get It (Dave Aude Club Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aEnnH6t8Ts\" target=\"_blank\">If You Seek Amy</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Pitbull ft. Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHESy8XsJPs\" target=\"_blank\">Timber</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Don Omar &amp; Lucenzo</td>\r\n<td>Danza Kuduro</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Jump (feat. Nelly Furtado)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Green Day</td>\r\n<td>Know Your Enemy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>131</td>\r\n<td>Adam Lambert</td>\r\n<td>If I Had You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>132</td>\r\n<td>Nelly Furtado</td>\r\n<td>Maneater</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slFc9G7I74\" target=\"_blank\">Hit That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Let\'s Go (Feat. Icona Pop)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>134</td>\r\n<td>Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td>I Kissed A Girl</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>135</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUb8bDtla-8\" target=\"_blank\">Talk Like That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X29ARaB7IkM\" target=\"_blank\">Price Of Company</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Metro Station</td>\r\n<td>Shake It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>137</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Knights Of Cydonia</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Anywhere But Here</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYC2FUutdKA\" target=\"_blank\">My First Kiss (feat. Kesha)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Miley Cyrus</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8N9WywIqY\" target=\"_blank\">See You Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Phoenix</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Franz Ferdinand</td>\r\n<td>This Fire</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpjGVyxZRDY\" target=\"_blank\">Toxic (Armand Van Helden Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5fBdpreJiU\" target=\"_blank\">Somebody Told Me</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Train</td>\r\n<td>50 Ways To Say Goodbye</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQDMCoylpgw\" target=\"_blank\">Watching You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Lady Gaga</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco91kroVgQ\" target=\"_blank\">Applause</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvf--10EYXw\" target=\"_blank\">Starstrukk</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qptFFT11eEk\" target=\"_blank\">Just Like A Pill</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Bleed It Out</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>142</td>\r\n<td>System Of A Down</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elo9svwGg0c\" target=\"_blank\">Violent Pornography</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>Marilyn Manson</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc\" target=\"_blank\">The Beautiful People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0H-1IuaY8\" target=\"_blank\">(Can\'t Get My) Head Around You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Maroon 5</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucv3r6Iy-9w\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky Strike</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk\" target=\"_blank\">What The Hell</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Powerman 5000</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsV500W4BHU\" target=\"_blank\">When Worlds Collide</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Promises</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>Blackjack</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Slipknot</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVE8kSM43I\" target=\"_blank\">Duality</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Right Round</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>The Ting Tings</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1c2OfAzDTI\" target=\"_blank\">That\'s Not My Name</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Ok GO</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA\" target=\"_blank\">Here It Goes Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNSgSzhBfM\" target=\"_blank\">Can\'t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Bulletproof</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Florida Georgia Line</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto\" target=\"_blank\">Cruise</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Basshunter</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgFwiCApH7E\" target=\"_blank\">Now You\'re Gone</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Rap God</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>The Prodigy</td>\r\n<td>Voodoo People</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>Neon Trees</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7Hlg75Mlo\" target=\"_blank\">Animal</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>DJ Khaled</td>\r\n<td>All I Do Is Win</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>So Much For The Afterglow</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Hit The Floor</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE\" target=\"_blank\">Mr. Brightside</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2yuGgp_U8\" target=\"_blank\">Lift Me Up</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Bonnie Tyler</td>\r\n<td>Holding Out for A Hero</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLk75fFXqH4\" target=\"_blank\">Under And Over It</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RROdymuLnc8\" target=\"_blank\">Back For More</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Mighty Fall (feat. Big Sean)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light \'em Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Black Eyed Peas</td>\r\n<td>Pump It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzL0EM1pKY\" target=\"_blank\">Thks Fr Th Mmrs</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>The Rockafeller Skank</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>The Fratellis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEXHeTcxQy4\" target=\"_blank\">Chelsea Dagger</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>B.O.B.</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>155</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Beast and the Harlot</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>156</td>\r\n<td>Drowning Pool</td>\r\n<td>Step Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>158</td>\r\n<td>Metallica</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXmKiEqVx4\" target=\"_blank\">Ain\'t My Bitch</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>159</td>\r\n<td>The Donnas</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCvRT2sy5FE\" target=\"_blank\">Take It Off</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>Knife Fight</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>Hey Ya!</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>162</td>\r\n<td>Andrew W.K.</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WccfbPQNMbg\" target=\"_blank\">Party Hard</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>164</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg59q4puhmg\" target=\"_blank\">Girlfriend</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>165</td>\r\n<td>Matchbox Twenty</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7EbtLb8ok\" target=\"_blank\">How Far We\'ve Come?</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>168</td>\r\n<td>Sum 41</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-iBGSLkfCU\" target=\"_blank\">Motivation</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>170</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Rock And Roll</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Cinderella Man</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Business</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>173</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>The Trooper</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>174</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>Run To The Hills</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>175</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Almost Easy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>176</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Survival</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>Centuries</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Good Charlotte</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desJKYvdq9A\" target=\"_blank\">The Anthem</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>180</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QewNZn871s\" target=\"_blank\">Sk8er Boi</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Cobra Starship</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyUdznNDutw\" target=\"_blank\">Nice Guys Finish Last</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Everyday Combat</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>220</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>Slash Dot Dash</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\n<b>A couple of things:</b>\r\n<i>1. Just because I\'d run to it doesn\'t mean I\'d listen to it in real life.</i>\r\n<i>\r\n</i>\r\n<i>2. I claim no ownership of nor responsibility for the content of the videos linked below. Some of them are official, some of them are original, and some of them are downright crappy...but you can listen to the song, and that\'s what counts. Some are explicit.</i>','Running Playlist','','inherit','closed','closed','','630-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:27:18','2017-01-21 14:27:18','',630,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/630-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(827,1,'2017-01-21 09:27:48','2017-01-21 14:27:48','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s1600/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\"><img src=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s320/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\" border=\"0\" /></a></div>\r\nFor thoughts on running with music read - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-music-while-running-controversy.html\" target=\"_blank\">The \"Music While Running\" Controversy</a>\r\n<b>\r\n</b>\r\n<b>I have scoured the internet</b> looking for the best running songs. Every site out there has a list, hell one site even puts together a new top 10 every month! Most of the songs chosen on these lists...frankly...<i>suck to run to.</i> I don\'t know who\'s picking them, but many are too slow, too dumpy, and just plain don\'t get you pumped up to RUN! Not amped for a sprint and not enough to cruise on a long run either. So I assemled my own list. Hope you like it.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLaJrWxq2pgRjz0xJ98FvebDsbjqgPp5Nz\" width=\"540\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\n<table id=\"songs\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>BPM</th>\r\n<th>Artist</th>\r\n<th>Song (w/YouTube hotlink)</th>\r\n<th>iTunes</th>\r\n<th>Amazon</th>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>100</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Nobody\'s Listening</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nobodys-listening/id528435845?i=528437028\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes</a></td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>102</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Criminal</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>106</td>\r\n<td>Finger Eleven</td>\r\n<td>Paralyzer</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>107</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Shake That (Feat. Nate Dogg)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>110</td>\r\n<td>The All-American Rejects</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Night Drive</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>112</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Wasted (Feat. Matthew Koma)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>114</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>115</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Immigrant Song</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>118</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Wake Up (Make A Move)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>120</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Doomsday</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>121</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Just Lose It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>124</td>\r\n<td>Disturbed</td>\r\n<td>Liberate</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Red Lights</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td>Hey Brother</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Icona Pop</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY\" target=\"_blank\">I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Pink</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ\" target=\"_blank\">So What</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Demi Lovato</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Neon Lights</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>127</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ufW2INWmM\" target=\"_blank\">My People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Calvin Harris</td>\r\n<td>Outside (feat. Ellie Goulding)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrschw-wdI\" target=\"_blank\">Warrior</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOubzHCUt48\" target=\"_blank\">Die Young</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCUuwgMbXA\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Brother (Syn Cole Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Duck Sauce</td>\r\n<td>Barbra Streisand</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Nine Inch Nails</td>\r\n<td>The Hand That Feeds</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Foster The People</td>\r\n<td>Pumped Up Kicks</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Uprising</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Selena Gomez</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89u9T7WDoaM\" target=\"_blank\">Come &amp; Get It (Dave Aude Club Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aEnnH6t8Ts\" target=\"_blank\">If You Seek Amy</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Pitbull ft. Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHESy8XsJPs\" target=\"_blank\">Timber</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Don Omar &amp; Lucenzo</td>\r\n<td>Danza Kuduro</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Jump (feat. Nelly Furtado)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Green Day</td>\r\n<td>Know Your Enemy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>131</td>\r\n<td>Adam Lambert</td>\r\n<td>If I Had You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>132</td>\r\n<td>Nelly Furtado</td>\r\n<td>Maneater</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slFc9G7I74\" target=\"_blank\">Hit That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Let\'s Go (Feat. Icona Pop)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>134</td>\r\n<td>Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td>I Kissed A Girl</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>135</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUb8bDtla-8\" target=\"_blank\">Talk Like That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X29ARaB7IkM\" target=\"_blank\">Price Of Company</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Metro Station</td>\r\n<td>Shake It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>137</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Knights Of Cydonia</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Anywhere But Here</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYC2FUutdKA\" target=\"_blank\">My First Kiss (feat. Kesha)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Miley Cyrus</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8N9WywIqY\" target=\"_blank\">See You Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Phoenix</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Franz Ferdinand</td>\r\n<td>This Fire</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpjGVyxZRDY\" target=\"_blank\">Toxic (Armand Van Helden Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5fBdpreJiU\" target=\"_blank\">Somebody Told Me</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Train</td>\r\n<td>50 Ways To Say Goodbye</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQDMCoylpgw\" target=\"_blank\">Watching You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Lady Gaga</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco91kroVgQ\" target=\"_blank\">Applause</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvf--10EYXw\" target=\"_blank\">Starstrukk</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qptFFT11eEk\" target=\"_blank\">Just Like A Pill</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Bleed It Out</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>142</td>\r\n<td>System Of A Down</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elo9svwGg0c\" target=\"_blank\">Violent Pornography</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>Marilyn Manson</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc\" target=\"_blank\">The Beautiful People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0H-1IuaY8\" target=\"_blank\">(Can\'t Get My) Head Around You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Maroon 5</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRb-C46cCZI\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky Strike</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk\" target=\"_blank\">What The Hell</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Powerman 5000</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsV500W4BHU\" target=\"_blank\">When Worlds Collide</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Promises</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>Blackjack</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Slipknot</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVE8kSM43I\" target=\"_blank\">Duality</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Right Round</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>The Ting Tings</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1c2OfAzDTI\" target=\"_blank\">That\'s Not My Name</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Ok GO</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA\" target=\"_blank\">Here It Goes Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNSgSzhBfM\" target=\"_blank\">Can\'t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Bulletproof</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Florida Georgia Line</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto\" target=\"_blank\">Cruise</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Basshunter</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgFwiCApH7E\" target=\"_blank\">Now You\'re Gone</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Rap God</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>The Prodigy</td>\r\n<td>Voodoo People</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>Neon Trees</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7Hlg75Mlo\" target=\"_blank\">Animal</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>DJ Khaled</td>\r\n<td>All I Do Is Win</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>So Much For The Afterglow</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Hit The Floor</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE\" target=\"_blank\">Mr. Brightside</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2yuGgp_U8\" target=\"_blank\">Lift Me Up</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Bonnie Tyler</td>\r\n<td>Holding Out for A Hero</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLk75fFXqH4\" target=\"_blank\">Under And Over It</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RROdymuLnc8\" target=\"_blank\">Back For More</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Mighty Fall (feat. Big Sean)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light \'em Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Black Eyed Peas</td>\r\n<td>Pump It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzL0EM1pKY\" target=\"_blank\">Thks Fr Th Mmrs</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>The Rockafeller Skank</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>The Fratellis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEXHeTcxQy4\" target=\"_blank\">Chelsea Dagger</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>B.O.B.</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>155</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Beast and the Harlot</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>156</td>\r\n<td>Drowning Pool</td>\r\n<td>Step Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>158</td>\r\n<td>Metallica</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXmKiEqVx4\" target=\"_blank\">Ain\'t My Bitch</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>159</td>\r\n<td>The Donnas</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCvRT2sy5FE\" target=\"_blank\">Take It Off</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>Knife Fight</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>Hey Ya!</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>162</td>\r\n<td>Andrew W.K.</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WccfbPQNMbg\" target=\"_blank\">Party Hard</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>164</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg59q4puhmg\" target=\"_blank\">Girlfriend</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>165</td>\r\n<td>Matchbox Twenty</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7EbtLb8ok\" target=\"_blank\">How Far We\'ve Come?</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>168</td>\r\n<td>Sum 41</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-iBGSLkfCU\" target=\"_blank\">Motivation</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>170</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Rock And Roll</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Cinderella Man</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Business</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>173</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>The Trooper</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>174</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>Run To The Hills</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>175</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Almost Easy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>176</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Survival</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>Centuries</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Good Charlotte</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desJKYvdq9A\" target=\"_blank\">The Anthem</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>180</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QewNZn871s\" target=\"_blank\">Sk8er Boi</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Cobra Starship</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyUdznNDutw\" target=\"_blank\">Nice Guys Finish Last</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Everyday Combat</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>220</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>Slash Dot Dash</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\n<b>A couple of things:</b>\r\n<i>1. Just because I\'d run to it doesn\'t mean I\'d listen to it in real life.</i>\r\n<i>\r\n</i>\r\n<i>2. I claim no ownership of nor responsibility for the content of the videos linked below. Some of them are official, some of them are original, and some of them are downright crappy...but you can listen to the song, and that\'s what counts. Some are explicit.</i>','Running Playlist','','inherit','closed','closed','','630-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:27:48','2017-01-21 14:27:48','',630,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/630-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(828,1,'2017-01-21 09:28:11','2017-01-21 14:28:11','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s1600/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\"><img src=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s320/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\" border=\"0\" /></a></div>\r\nFor thoughts on running with music read - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-music-while-running-controversy.html\" target=\"_blank\">The \"Music While Running\" Controversy</a>\r\n<b>\r\n</b>\r\n<b>I have scoured the internet</b> looking for the best running songs. Every site out there has a list, hell one site even puts together a new top 10 every month! Most of the songs chosen on these lists...frankly...<i>suck to run to.</i> I don\'t know who\'s picking them, but many are too slow, too dumpy, and just plain don\'t get you pumped up to RUN! Not amped for a sprint and not enough to cruise on a long run either. So I assemled my own list. Hope you like it.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLaJrWxq2pgRjz0xJ98FvebDsbjqgPp5Nz\" width=\"540\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\n<table id=\"songs\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>BPM</th>\r\n<th>Artist</th>\r\n<th>Song (w/YouTube hotlink)</th>\r\n<th>iTunes</th>\r\n<th>Amazon</th>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>100</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Nobody\'s Listening</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nobodys-listening/id528435845?i=528437028\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes</a></td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>102</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Criminal</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>106</td>\r\n<td>Finger Eleven</td>\r\n<td>Paralyzer</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>107</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Shake That (Feat. Nate Dogg)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>110</td>\r\n<td>The All-American Rejects</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Night Drive</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>112</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Wasted (Feat. Matthew Koma)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>114</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>115</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Immigrant Song</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>118</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Wake Up (Make A Move)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>120</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Doomsday</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>121</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Just Lose It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>124</td>\r\n<td>Disturbed</td>\r\n<td>Liberate</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Red Lights</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td>Hey Brother</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Icona Pop</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY\" target=\"_blank\">I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Pink</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ\" target=\"_blank\">So What</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Demi Lovato</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Neon Lights</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>127</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ufW2INWmM\" target=\"_blank\">My People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Calvin Harris</td>\r\n<td>Outside (feat. Ellie Goulding)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrschw-wdI\" target=\"_blank\">Warrior</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOubzHCUt48\" target=\"_blank\">Die Young</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCUuwgMbXA\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Brother (Syn Cole Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Duck Sauce</td>\r\n<td>Barbra Streisand</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Nine Inch Nails</td>\r\n<td>The Hand That Feeds</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Foster The People</td>\r\n<td>Pumped Up Kicks</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Uprising</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Selena Gomez</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89u9T7WDoaM\" target=\"_blank\">Come &amp; Get It (Dave Aude Club Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aEnnH6t8Ts\" target=\"_blank\">If You Seek Amy</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Pitbull ft. Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHESy8XsJPs\" target=\"_blank\">Timber</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Don Omar &amp; Lucenzo</td>\r\n<td>Danza Kuduro</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Jump (feat. Nelly Furtado)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Green Day</td>\r\n<td>Know Your Enemy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>131</td>\r\n<td>Adam Lambert</td>\r\n<td>If I Had You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>132</td>\r\n<td>Nelly Furtado</td>\r\n<td>Maneater</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slFc9G7I74\" target=\"_blank\">Hit That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Let\'s Go (Feat. Icona Pop)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>134</td>\r\n<td>Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td>I Kissed A Girl</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>135</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUb8bDtla-8\" target=\"_blank\">Talk Like That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JdQiDZDPqM\" target=\"_blank\">Price Of Company</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Metro Station</td>\r\n<td>Shake It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>137</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Knights Of Cydonia</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Anywhere But Here</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYC2FUutdKA\" target=\"_blank\">My First Kiss (feat. Kesha)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Miley Cyrus</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8N9WywIqY\" target=\"_blank\">See You Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Phoenix</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Franz Ferdinand</td>\r\n<td>This Fire</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpjGVyxZRDY\" target=\"_blank\">Toxic (Armand Van Helden Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5fBdpreJiU\" target=\"_blank\">Somebody Told Me</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Train</td>\r\n<td>50 Ways To Say Goodbye</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQDMCoylpgw\" target=\"_blank\">Watching You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Lady Gaga</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco91kroVgQ\" target=\"_blank\">Applause</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvf--10EYXw\" target=\"_blank\">Starstrukk</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qptFFT11eEk\" target=\"_blank\">Just Like A Pill</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Bleed It Out</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>142</td>\r\n<td>System Of A Down</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elo9svwGg0c\" target=\"_blank\">Violent Pornography</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>Marilyn Manson</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc\" target=\"_blank\">The Beautiful People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0H-1IuaY8\" target=\"_blank\">(Can\'t Get My) Head Around You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Maroon 5</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRb-C46cCZI\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky Strike</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk\" target=\"_blank\">What The Hell</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Powerman 5000</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsV500W4BHU\" target=\"_blank\">When Worlds Collide</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Promises</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>Blackjack</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Slipknot</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVE8kSM43I\" target=\"_blank\">Duality</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Right Round</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>The Ting Tings</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1c2OfAzDTI\" target=\"_blank\">That\'s Not My Name</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Ok GO</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA\" target=\"_blank\">Here It Goes Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNSgSzhBfM\" target=\"_blank\">Can\'t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Bulletproof</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Florida Georgia Line</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto\" target=\"_blank\">Cruise</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Basshunter</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgFwiCApH7E\" target=\"_blank\">Now You\'re Gone</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Rap God</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>The Prodigy</td>\r\n<td>Voodoo People</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>Neon Trees</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7Hlg75Mlo\" target=\"_blank\">Animal</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>DJ Khaled</td>\r\n<td>All I Do Is Win</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>So Much For The Afterglow</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Hit The Floor</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE\" target=\"_blank\">Mr. Brightside</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2yuGgp_U8\" target=\"_blank\">Lift Me Up</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Bonnie Tyler</td>\r\n<td>Holding Out for A Hero</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLk75fFXqH4\" target=\"_blank\">Under And Over It</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RROdymuLnc8\" target=\"_blank\">Back For More</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Mighty Fall (feat. Big Sean)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light \'em Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Black Eyed Peas</td>\r\n<td>Pump It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzL0EM1pKY\" target=\"_blank\">Thks Fr Th Mmrs</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>The Rockafeller Skank</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>The Fratellis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEXHeTcxQy4\" target=\"_blank\">Chelsea Dagger</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>B.O.B.</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>155</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Beast and the Harlot</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>156</td>\r\n<td>Drowning Pool</td>\r\n<td>Step Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>158</td>\r\n<td>Metallica</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXmKiEqVx4\" target=\"_blank\">Ain\'t My Bitch</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>159</td>\r\n<td>The Donnas</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCvRT2sy5FE\" target=\"_blank\">Take It Off</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>Knife Fight</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>Hey Ya!</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>162</td>\r\n<td>Andrew W.K.</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WccfbPQNMbg\" target=\"_blank\">Party Hard</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>164</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg59q4puhmg\" target=\"_blank\">Girlfriend</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>165</td>\r\n<td>Matchbox Twenty</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7EbtLb8ok\" target=\"_blank\">How Far We\'ve Come?</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>168</td>\r\n<td>Sum 41</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-iBGSLkfCU\" target=\"_blank\">Motivation</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>170</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Rock And Roll</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Cinderella Man</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Business</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>173</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>The Trooper</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>174</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>Run To The Hills</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>175</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Almost Easy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>176</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Survival</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>Centuries</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Good Charlotte</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desJKYvdq9A\" target=\"_blank\">The Anthem</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>180</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QewNZn871s\" target=\"_blank\">Sk8er Boi</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Cobra Starship</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyUdznNDutw\" target=\"_blank\">Nice Guys Finish Last</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Everyday Combat</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>220</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>Slash Dot Dash</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\n<b>A couple of things:</b>\r\n<i>1. Just because I\'d run to it doesn\'t mean I\'d listen to it in real life.</i>\r\n<i>\r\n</i>\r\n<i>2. I claim no ownership of nor responsibility for the content of the videos linked below. Some of them are official, some of them are original, and some of them are downright crappy...but you can listen to the song, and that\'s what counts. Some are explicit.</i>','Running Playlist','','inherit','closed','closed','','630-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:28:11','2017-01-21 14:28:11','',630,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/630-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(829,1,'2017-01-21 09:28:33','2017-01-21 14:28:33','Finally updated the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">running playlist.</a> Learned a lot in the past couple months about running, my pace, etc, and I\'ve made some changes and additions to the playlist to go along with that. <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/2013/10/achievement-unlocked-13-1.html\" target=\"_blank\">Finishing that half-marathon </a>taught me a lot, too! Read on to check out the changes, and why I made them. Check out the <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\">running playlist here!</a><br /><div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s1600/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img border=\"0\" height=\"180\" src=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s320/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" width=\"320\" /></a></div><br /> <br /><a name=\'more\'></a>You\'ll notice there\'s a lot of slower songs - around 130 bpm - that were added - I\'m still in the process of feeling those out on distance runs. They encourage me to keep a pace I can maintain over the course of 13 miles. I\'ll have to do a few more long runs to say whether they\'re keepers or not, but <b>so far</b> they\'re working for me. <br /><br /><b>ADDITIONALLY - </b>as of right now...everything 146 BPM and faster is part of a second, separate playlist for \"sprints\" - 5K\'s, maybe 10K\'s...shorter runs with a much faster pace! Right now I don\'t have the endurance, I don\'t think, to maintain my 5K pace over much more than a 10K pace...we\'ll see what happens.<br /><br />Newly added:<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8eXaXoUJRQ\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Selena Gomez - Slow Down&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys7-6_t7OEQ\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj - Beauty &amp; A Beat&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrschw-wdI\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Ke$ha - Warrior </a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOubzHCUt48\" target=\"_blank\">128 BPM - Ke$ha - Die Young</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89u9T7WDoaM\" target=\"_blank\">130 BPM - Selena Gomez - Come &amp; Get It (Dave Aude Club Remix)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAhHNCfA7NI\" target=\"_blank\">130 BPM - Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHESy8XsJPs\" target=\"_blank\">130 BPM - Pitbull ft. Ke$ha - Timber&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w211KOQ5BMI\" target=\"_blank\">132 BPM - Rage Against The Machine - Sleep Now In The Fire </a><br /><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV1hKciJTgg\" target=\"_blank\">133 BPM - The Offspring - Hit That</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco91kroVgQ\" target=\"_blank\">140 BPM - Lady Gaga - Applause&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0H-1IuaY8\" target=\"_blank\">143 BPM - The Offspring - (Can\'t Get My) Head Around You&nbsp;</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXmKiEqVx4\" target=\"_blank\">160 BPM - Metallica - Ain\'t My Bitch</a> <br /><br />Back on the list:<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpjGVyxZRDY\" target=\"_blank\">139 BPM - Britney Spears - Toxic (Armand Van Helden Remix)&nbsp; </a><br /><br />Cut From The List:<br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJH38M723aU\" target=\"_blank\">123 BPM - Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko (too slow)</a><br /><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-jC3H_8Dk4\" target=\"_blank\">215 BPM - Good Charlotte - Lifestyles of The Rich And The Famous (too fast)</a><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlOAMKTj0hU\" target=\"_blank\"><br /></a> <br /><br />Again...let\'s not forget that disclaimer...<b>just because I\'d run to it...doesn\'t necessarily mean I\'d listen to it in real life.</b><br /><br /><a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/running-playlist\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Check out the running playlist here!&nbsp;</b></a>','Playlist Update - Go The Distance','','inherit','closed','closed','','90-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:28:33','2017-01-21 14:28:33','',90,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/90-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(830,1,'2017-01-21 09:28:33','2017-01-21 14:28:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s1600/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\"><img src=\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LEdP8TY7uI/Ueh2Kn3CLTI/AAAAAAAAA7A/bpCKl5WHzZk/s320/IMG_20130718_185043_332.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\" border=\"0\" /></a></div>\r\nFor thoughts on running with music read - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2013/07/the-music-while-running-controversy.html\" target=\"_blank\">The \"Music While Running\" Controversy</a>\r\n<b>\r\n</b>\r\n<b>I have scoured the internet</b> looking for the best running songs. Every site out there has a list, hell one site even puts together a new top 10 every month! Most of the songs chosen on these lists...frankly...<i>suck to run to.</i> I don\'t know who\'s picking them, but many are too slow, too dumpy, and just plain don\'t get you pumped up to RUN! Not amped for a sprint and not enough to cruise on a long run either. So I assemled my own list. Hope you like it.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLaJrWxq2pgRjz0xJ98FvebDsbjqgPp5Nz\" width=\"540\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\n<table id=\"songs\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>BPM</th>\r\n<th>Artist</th>\r\n<th>Song (w/YouTube hotlink)</th>\r\n<th>iTunes</th>\r\n<th>Amazon</th>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>100</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Nobody\'s Listening</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nobodys-listening/id528435845?i=528437028\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes</a></td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>102</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Criminal</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>106</td>\r\n<td>Finger Eleven</td>\r\n<td>Paralyzer</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>107</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Shake That (Feat. Nate Dogg)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>110</td>\r\n<td>The All-American Rejects</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Night Drive</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>112</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Wasted (Feat. Matthew Koma)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>114</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>115</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Immigrant Song</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>118</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Wake Up (Make A Move)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>120</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Doomsday</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>121</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Just Lose It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>124</td>\r\n<td>Disturbed</td>\r\n<td>Liberate</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Red Lights</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>125</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td>Hey Brother</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Icona Pop</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY\" target=\"_blank\">I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Pink</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ\" target=\"_blank\">So What</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>126</td>\r\n<td>Demi Lovato</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPvK0Cwh3E\" target=\"_blank\">Neon Lights</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>127</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ufW2INWmM\" target=\"_blank\">My People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Calvin Harris</td>\r\n<td>Outside (feat. Ellie Goulding)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrschw-wdI\" target=\"_blank\">Warrior</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOubzHCUt48\" target=\"_blank\">Die Young</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Avicii</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCUuwgMbXA\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Brother (Syn Cole Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Duck Sauce</td>\r\n<td>Barbra Streisand</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Nine Inch Nails</td>\r\n<td>The Hand That Feeds</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Foster The People</td>\r\n<td>Pumped Up Kicks</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>128</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Uprising</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Selena Gomez</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89u9T7WDoaM\" target=\"_blank\">Come &amp; Get It (Dave Aude Club Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aEnnH6t8Ts\" target=\"_blank\">If You Seek Amy</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Pitbull ft. Kesha</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHESy8XsJPs\" target=\"_blank\">Timber</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Don Omar &amp; Lucenzo</td>\r\n<td>Danza Kuduro</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Jump (feat. Nelly Furtado)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>130</td>\r\n<td>Green Day</td>\r\n<td>Know Your Enemy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>131</td>\r\n<td>Adam Lambert</td>\r\n<td>If I Had You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>132</td>\r\n<td>Nelly Furtado</td>\r\n<td>Maneater</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV1hKciJTgg\" target=\"_blank\">Hit That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>133</td>\r\n<td>Tiesto</td>\r\n<td>Let\'s Go (Feat. Icona Pop)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>134</td>\r\n<td>Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td>I Kissed A Girl</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>135</td>\r\n<td>The Presets</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUb8bDtla-8\" target=\"_blank\">Talk Like That</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JdQiDZDPqM\" target=\"_blank\">Price Of Company</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Metro Station</td>\r\n<td>Shake It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>136</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>You</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>137</td>\r\n<td>Muse</td>\r\n<td>Knights Of Cydonia</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Anywhere But Here</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYC2FUutdKA\" target=\"_blank\">My First Kiss (feat. Kesha)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Miley Cyrus</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8N9WywIqY\" target=\"_blank\">See You Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Phoenix</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>138</td>\r\n<td>Franz Ferdinand</td>\r\n<td>This Fire</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>Britney Spears</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpjGVyxZRDY\" target=\"_blank\">Toxic (Armand Van Helden Remix)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>139</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5fBdpreJiU\" target=\"_blank\">Somebody Told Me</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Train</td>\r\n<td>50 Ways To Say Goodbye</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>The White Tie Affair</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQDMCoylpgw\" target=\"_blank\">Watching You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Lady Gaga</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pco91kroVgQ\" target=\"_blank\">Applause</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvf--10EYXw\" target=\"_blank\">Starstrukk</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qptFFT11eEk\" target=\"_blank\">Just Like A Pill</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>140</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Bleed It Out</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>142</td>\r\n<td>System Of A Down</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elo9svwGg0c\" target=\"_blank\">Violent Pornography</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>Marilyn Manson</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc\" target=\"_blank\">The Beautiful People</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>143</td>\r\n<td>The Offspring</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0H-1IuaY8\" target=\"_blank\">(Can\'t Get My) Head Around You</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Maroon 5</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRb-C46cCZI\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky Strike</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk\" target=\"_blank\">What The Hell</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Powerman 5000</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsV500W4BHU\" target=\"_blank\">When Worlds Collide</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Nero</td>\r\n<td>Promises</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>144</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>Blackjack</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Slipknot</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVE8kSM43I\" target=\"_blank\">Duality</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>145</td>\r\n<td>Flo Rida</td>\r\n<td>Right Round</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>The Ting Tings</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1c2OfAzDTI\" target=\"_blank\">That\'s Not My Name</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Ok GO</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA\" target=\"_blank\">Here It Goes Again</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>146</td>\r\n<td>Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNSgSzhBfM\" target=\"_blank\">Can\'t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td>Bulletproof</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Florida Georgia Line</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto\" target=\"_blank\">Cruise</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Basshunter</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgFwiCApH7E\" target=\"_blank\">Now You\'re Gone</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>148</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Rap God</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>The Prodigy</td>\r\n<td>Voodoo People</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>149</td>\r\n<td>Neon Trees</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7Hlg75Mlo\" target=\"_blank\">Animal</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>DJ Khaled</td>\r\n<td>All I Do Is Win</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Everclear</td>\r\n<td>So Much For The Afterglow</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Linkin Park</td>\r\n<td>Hit The Floor</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>The Killers</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE\" target=\"_blank\">Mr. Brightside</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2yuGgp_U8\" target=\"_blank\">Lift Me Up</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>150</td>\r\n<td>Bonnie Tyler</td>\r\n<td>Holding Out for A Hero</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLk75fFXqH4\" target=\"_blank\">Under And Over It</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Five Finger Death Punch</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RROdymuLnc8\" target=\"_blank\">Back For More</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>The Mighty Fall (feat. Big Sean)</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>152</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light \'em Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Black Eyed Peas</td>\r\n<td>Pump It</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzL0EM1pKY\" target=\"_blank\">Thks Fr Th Mmrs</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>153</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>The Rockafeller Skank</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>The Fratellis</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEXHeTcxQy4\" target=\"_blank\">Chelsea Dagger</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>154</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>B.O.B.</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>155</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Beast and the Harlot</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>156</td>\r\n<td>Drowning Pool</td>\r\n<td>Step Up</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>158</td>\r\n<td>Metallica</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXmKiEqVx4\" target=\"_blank\">Ain\'t My Bitch</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>159</td>\r\n<td>The Donnas</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCvRT2sy5FE\" target=\"_blank\">Take It Off</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Lemon Demon</td>\r\n<td>Knife Fight</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>160</td>\r\n<td>Outkast</td>\r\n<td>Hey Ya!</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>162</td>\r\n<td>Andrew W.K.</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WccfbPQNMbg\" target=\"_blank\">Party Hard</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>164</td>\r\n<td>Avril Lavigne</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg59q4puhmg\" target=\"_blank\">Girlfriend</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>165</td>\r\n<td>Matchbox Twenty</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7EbtLb8ok\" target=\"_blank\">How Far We\'ve Come?</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>168</td>\r\n<td>Sum 41</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-iBGSLkfCU\" target=\"_blank\">Motivation</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>170</td>\r\n<td>Led Zeppelin</td>\r\n<td>Rock And Roll</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Cinderella Man</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>172</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Business</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>173</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>The Trooper</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>174</td>\r\n<td>Iron Maiden</td>\r\n<td>Run To The Hills</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>175</td>\r\n<td>Avenged Sevenfold</td>\r\n<td>Almost Easy</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>176</td>\r\n<td>Eminem</td>\r\n<td>Survival</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Fall Out Boy</td>\r\n<td>Centuries</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>178</td>\r\n<td>Good Charlotte</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desJKYvdq9A\" target=\"_blank\">The Anthem</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>180</td>\r\n<td>Cascada</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QewNZn871s\" target=\"_blank\">Sk8er Boi</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Cobra Starship</td>\r\n<td><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyUdznNDutw\" target=\"_blank\">Nice Guys Finish Last</a></td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>187</td>\r\n<td>Lostprophets</td>\r\n<td>Everyday Combat</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr class=\"alt\">\r\n<td>220</td>\r\n<td>Fatboy Slim</td>\r\n<td>Slash Dot Dash</td>\r\n<td>iTunes</td>\r\n<td>Amazon</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\n<b>A couple of things:</b>\r\n<i>1. Just because I\'d run to it doesn\'t mean I\'d listen to it in real life.</i>\r\n<i>\r\n</i>\r\n<i>2. I claim no ownership of nor responsibility for the content of the videos linked below. Some of them are official, some of them are original, and some of them are downright crappy...but you can listen to the song, and that\'s what counts. Some are explicit.</i>','Running Playlist','','inherit','closed','closed','','630-revision-v1','','','2017-01-21 09:28:33','2017-01-21 14:28:33','',630,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/630-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(836,1,'2017-01-22 21:25:41','2017-01-23 02:25:41','','','','inherit','open','closed','','photogrid_1473007822129','','','2017-01-22 21:28:22','2017-01-23 02:28:22','',216,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PhotoGrid_1473007822129.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(837,1,'2017-01-22 21:49:41','2017-01-23 02:49:41','<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darrell and Megan venture out to the Foolproof brewery to experience one of the more...off-color...athletic events out there - a “beer mile”. Learn what a beer mile is, how it came to be a “thing”, and what it\'s really to participate in one. Also… Learn why Darrell came frighteningly close to his first voluntary DNF. And in a shocking turn of events...Megan beats Darrell in a race! All this and more in episode 5!</span>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can learn more about Foolproof Brewing Company and the events they hold (both at and away from the brewery) at</span> <a href=\"http://www.foolproofbrewing.com/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.foolproofbrewing.com</span></a>','#5 - The Fool\'s Mile','','inherit','closed','closed','','216-revision-v1','','','2017-01-22 21:49:41','2017-01-23 02:49:41','',216,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/216-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(838,1,'2017-01-22 21:52:03','2017-01-23 02:52:03','<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\'m Darrell McTague, and THIS is \"So THIS Is Fitness\". Join me as I share a little bit about myself, where So THIS Is Fitness came from (it\'s been around for a while, actually), and what its really all about. And, in the wake of my most recent ultramarathon experience...let\'s talk a little bit about failure.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This episode backlogged - originally published on the Athlete On Fire feed.</span>','#1 - Failure','','inherit','closed','closed','','220-revision-v1','','','2017-01-22 21:52:03','2017-01-23 02:52:03','',220,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/220-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(839,1,'2017-01-22 21:56:27','2017-01-23 02:56:27','<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darrell &amp; Megan talk about the big goals they\'ve been working towards all year and what the final 3 months of training looks like. Delve into their training plans a bit and get some ideas for your own! It\'s not as out of reach or silly as it might seem - we promise :) All that, plus a lesson in...making the right call...</span>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next time? The running journeys that led them to this point.\r\n</span>\r\n\r\nThis episode backlogged - originally published on Athlete On Fire','#2 - The Long & The Short Of It (1/2)','','inherit','closed','closed','','219-revision-v1','','','2017-01-22 21:56:27','2017-01-23 02:56:27','',219,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/219-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(840,1,'2017-01-22 22:00:45','2017-01-23 03:00:45','<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last time Darrell &amp; Megan talked about their big goals and the training necessary for success. This time, they talk about the running journeys that led them here. Their stories aren\'t quite so crazy, and could easily be anyone\'s story...including yours. It all starts with that first step.</span>','#3 - The Long & The Short Of It (2/2)','','inherit','closed','closed','','218-revision-v1','','','2017-01-22 22:00:45','2017-01-23 03:00:45','',218,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/218-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(841,1,'2017-01-22 22:17:22','2017-01-23 03:17:22','','','','inherit','open','closed','','photogrid_1472724501588','','','2017-01-22 22:17:40','2017-01-23 03:17:40','',217,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PhotoGrid_1472724501588.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(842,1,'2017-01-22 22:21:17','2017-01-23 03:21:17','<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Megan &amp; Darrell recap the mid-August race weekend of Anchor Down Ultramarathon and the Falmouth Road Race. They talk about each race, the experience they each had therein, and the big differences between the two. There was one BIG difference...and its what everything circles back around to...fun.</span>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can learn more about Anchor Down Ultramarathon at</span> <a href=\"http://www.anchordownultra.com/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.AnchorDownUltra.com</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out</span> <a href=\"http://www.runtruenorth.com/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.RunTrueNorth.com</span></a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to learn about their company and other events (including my favorite - Narragansett Summer Running Festival!).</span>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And check out</span> <a href=\"http://www.falmouthroadrace.com/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.FalmouthRoadRace.com</span></a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for more on THAT race.</span>','#4 - FUN','','inherit','closed','closed','','217-revision-v1','','','2017-01-22 22:21:17','2017-01-23 03:21:17','',217,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/217-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(843,1,'2017-01-31 06:59:57','2017-01-31 11:59:57','<h2><strong>I\'ve been struggling lately.</strong></h2>\r\nSeems to be a common thing with me, right? No matter how on-top-of-it I might try to be, it seems I\'m always missing the mark somewhere. It\'s probably a result of me trying to do too much with, quite simply... too little time in the day. I know I\'ve got my challenges, and I know EXACTLY what\'s working against me, just like (I\'m sure) many of you do too. Just because I KNOW, though, doesn\'t mean I always win the fight. Lately, I\'ve found myself... a little conflicted.\r\n<h3><strong>Yes, I understand that\'s vague.</strong></h3>\r\nBut honestly, sometimes a simple explanation is enough. I\'ve mostly figured out the answer here. I took some time the past couple of weekends to really try and get a handle on this. Now, I think I\'ve got it. This time... <strong>it\'s going to be different.</strong><!--more-->\r\n<h2><strong><em>\"Thou Shalt Not Covet\"</em></strong></h2>\r\n<strong><em>If you read the title you knew this was coming - stay with me here.</em></strong> No, I\'m most certainly NOT trying to open up a theological debate. I find, though, that despite major differences... many (if not most) religious texts tend to have a lot of the same <em>basic</em> moral guidance. Y\'know, the kind of stuff <em>we should be living by</em> on a daily basis. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The easy stuff - </span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Kill People</li>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Steal Stuff</li>\r\n 	<li>Listen To Your Parents</li>\r\n 	<li>Treat Others How You\'d Want Them To Treat You</li>\r\n 	<li>the list goes on</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBasic and easy, right? <i>You would think so</i>. Sometimes I\'m pretty dense, though, and need to be reminded of the basics. It happened recently... and it happened in such a way that I realized...\r\n<h2><strong>This is my \"Come to Jesus\" moment.</strong></h2>\r\nPeople who\'ve \"lost their way\" often \"find God\" or have that epic, emotional \"come to Jesus\" moment. It\'s where they realize they\'ve \"strayed from the path\" and religion brings them back home. To the straight-and-narrow. To their <em>true purpose</em> in life. <strong>Yes,</strong> I realize this is kind of an incredible use of hyperbole, but it\'s the best way I can think to describe this. As cheesy or grandiose as it may sound... in some small way...<em> that\'s the sort of place I\'m at right now.</em> Not through religion, not like I\'m actually \"finding Jesus\" right now (I did say this isn\'t a religious discussion, right?)... But that sort of coming-to-your-senses and finding \"the way\" - THAT is what I\'m about right now.  It happened over two distinct moments.\r\n<h3><strong><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-856 alignright\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PhotoGrid_1485406145886-300x300.png\" alt=\"podcast episode 22\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" />The first moment was innocent enough...</strong></h3>\r\nI was trying to figure out how to justify a podcast episode idea I had. Megan, my Mom and I were getting ready to go to the <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com/events/south-shore-food-wine-expo/\">South Shore Food &amp; Wine Expo</a>, and I was stuck. Aside from the fact that it was a GREAT event we wanted to go to... the point was for me to blog and podcast about it. Problem was... I found myself asking if it would lose me readers and listeners. I was trying to find a way to spin it to fit the \"health and fitness\" niche. And I found myself wondering... <em>WHY do I need to spin it? </em>That moment wasn\'t so much like a punch to the mouth... but rather... this nagging... <em>something</em>.\r\n<h3><strong>The second moment hit me like a ton of bricks.</strong></h3>\r\nI was on Instagram sharing content, finding people to follow, <em>doing my thing</em>... and I stumbled across something. Someone people were raving about. I followed the links and found a site that seemed to be growing well. This site had fantastic engagement, virtually 100% user-generated content... and even its own ambassador program! And I found myself <em>incredibly jealous</em>. <strong>And that\'s when it hit me.</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat that guy\'s doing <em>isn\'t my thing</em>. That\'s not what So THIS Is Fitness is even MEANT to be... <em>so why am I jealous of him?</em> Like honestly... it\'s not even CLOSE to what I\'m trying to do. The ONLY similarity is that it\'s running-related and there are event reviews. Then I realized I\'ve been looking at virtually everyone who\'s doing something similar to me... and getting jealous. <em>Envious</em>. I\'ve been so caught up with what THEY\'RE doing... spending so much time trying to figure out how to capitalize on what THEY figured out... that I\'m not worrying about ME, and how to improve MY thing.\r\n<h2><strong>This is where the Bible lesson comes in.</strong></h2>\r\n\"<strong>Thou shalt not covet\" - </strong><em>\"don\'t be jealous of what someone else has\". </em>If I had to take a stab, I\'d say some of the point of that is for us to appreciate what we have, rather than be envious of what others do. You would think that\'d be simple, right? I mean, after all... it\'s one of the Ten Commandments... those are supposed to be some of the most basic moral tenets to live by. <em>Whoops.</em> Maybe I should get onboard...\r\n\r\nWell, that\'s the realization I had. I find myself noticing this all over the place now, actually. I just recently had a long discussion with a couple of different people about someone who, for lack of a better phrase, is committing this same sin. Worrying about what everyone else is doing instead of worrying about what\'s REALLY important. (Difference is... he\'s completely oblivious &amp; unapologetic about it... another story for another day)\r\n<h3><strong>So it\'s time I take my own advice.</strong></h3>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-862 alignright\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20161201_091700-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"transformation photo - 130 lb weight loss\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" />I know who I am, I know what I want, and I know what So THIS Is Fitness is meant to be. I need to bring focus back to where this all started, why I put it out there, and what it\'s really meant to be. My \"core mission\", so to speak.\r\n\r\n<strong>I started this with a simple purpose -</strong> to share my journey &amp; transformation for the benefit of others going through the same things. The point was to show that I\'m just some schmuck - Average Joe... and if I can get it together, lose 130 lbs, and do the things I\'m doing... <strong>anyone can.</strong> It\'s grown over time, and I\'ve accomplished some truly... <em>unfathomable</em> things. My perspective has changed... my concept of what\'s \"normal\", what\'s \"crazy\", and what\'s \"nothing\" has totally shifted. I put the word \"just\" in front of things like \"5K\" and \"5 miles\". While it\'s great that I, personally, have reached that point... I lost sight of one of the most important messages I put out there:\r\n<h2><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Never</span> forget where you started.</strong></h2>\r\nSo here I am. Bringing it back to square one. Remembering the whole point of this thing. Share my journey to show others it really IS possible. Show people what it takes to get there from the perspective of someone who\'s <em>done it</em> and <em>been there</em>. Share all the things, lessons, perspectives, stumbles struggles and successes that I WISHED someone had told me when I was getting started.\r\n<h2><strong>I\'ve reached a really good place.</strong></h2>\r\nAll of this has grown into something much more than it was in the beginning... and now I know where the next step leads. It\'s time to grow it and take it to that new place. I\'ll be bringing much more content to this website... bringing it back to what it was meant to be. Blogs about my thoughts and my journey. Recipes that help me get my nutrition in line. The <a href=\"http://www.instagram.com/snuffydx\">Instagram</a>, <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/snuffydx\">Twitter</a>, and <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/sothisisfitness\">Facebook</a> pages as an outlet for me to share those things. <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/podcast\">The podcast</a> as a new platform for me to do all these things in a longer, more thorough, and more free-form way. Bringing other people\'s experiences and opinions into the picture via guest appearances &amp; interviews. Figuring out how exactly my amazing wife fits into this picture.\r\n<h2><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-861 alignright\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20161022_085553-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"surrounded by family friends and crew at Ghost Train 100\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /><strong>This is not a journey to be traveled alone.</strong></h2>\r\nOne of the most important things I learned through my original 130 lb weight loss journey... <strong>don\'t go it alone.</strong> I encourage you to interact, engage, and reach out! Connect with and contact me through all those mediums. Repost &amp; share on social media, get your freinds involved. Share the journey - both yours AND mine. Let\'s inspire and motivate each other. Keep each other accountable. Like I always say... <em>the only limits we TRULY have are the ones we set for ourselves. </em>It\'s time we all <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">get out of our own way</span> and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">make it happen.</span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Let\'s do this thing.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>You can find Darrell online through these mediums:\r\n</em><em>Podcast: <a href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/so-this-is-fitness/id1185769801?mt=2&amp;ls=1\">iTunes</a> - <a href=\"http://subscribeonandroid.com/sothisisfitness.libsyn.com/rss\">Android</a> - <a href=\"http://www.sothisisfitness.com/podcast\">Web</a> - <a href=\"http://sothisisfitness.libsyn.com/rss\">RSS feed</a>\r\nSocial Media: <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/sothisisfitness\">Facebook</a> - <a href=\"http://www.instagram.com/snuffydx\">Instagram</a> - <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/snuffydx\">Twitter</a> - <a href=\"https://www.pinterest.com/SoTHISIsFitness/\">Pinterest</a>\r\nEmail: Darrell@SoTHISIsFitness.com</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Thou Shalt Not Covet','','publish','open','open','','thou-shalt-not-covet','','','2017-01-31 07:07:43','2017-01-31 12:07:43','',0,'http://sothisisfitness.com/?p=843',0,'post','',0),(844,1,'2017-01-23 08:08:34','2017-01-23 13:08:34','I\'ve been struggling lately.\n\nSeems to be a common thing with me, right? No matter how on-top-of-it I might try to be, it seems I\'m always missing the mark somewhere. Lately, the struggle has been a combination of jealousy, FOMO, and purpose.&nbsp;\n\nWhat do I mean by that, exactly? <b>I\'m still trying to figure it out. </b>But I\'ve got a hunch... I have a feeling it might translate to other people, too.&nbsp;','Jealousy, FOMO, and Purpose','','inherit','closed','closed','','843-revision-v1','','','2017-01-23 08:08:34','2017-01-23 13:08:34','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/843-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(845,1,'2017-01-23 09:00:06','2017-01-23 14:00:06','<h2>I\'ve been struggling lately.</h2>\r\nSeems to be a common thing with me, right? No matter how on-top-of-it I might try to be, it seems I\'m always missing the mark somewhere. It\'s probably a result of me trying to do too much with, quite simply... too little time in the day. I know I\'ve got my challenges, and I know EXACTLY what\'s working against me, just like (I\'m sure) many of you do too. Just because I KNOW, though, doesn\'t mean I always win the fight. Lately, the struggle has been a combination of jealousy, FOMO, and purpose.\r\n<h3>Yes, I understand that\'s broad.</h3>\r\nSo what do I mean by that, exactly? <b>I\'m still trying to figure it out.</b> I do, however, have a hunch. I took some time this weekend to really try and get a handle on this. Now, I think I\'ve got it. I\'ve been kind of hollow-ly saying it for 3 (ALMOST 4!) years now, dunno how it didn\'t hit me sooner. <strong>Note: </strong><strong>this is not a religious discussion - don\'t make it one.</strong><!--more-->\r\n<h2><em>\"Thou Shalt Not Covet\"</em></h2>\r\n<strong><em>I warned you, right?</em></strong> No, I\'m most certainly NOT trying to open up a religious discussion can-of-worms. There\'s enough debate in the hidden meanings of Bibles and Korans and Torahs to last freaking <em>eons </em>(don\'t believe me? Read a history book). I find, though, that despite major differences... many (if not most) religious texts tend to have a lot of the same <em>basic</em> moral guidance. Y\'know, the kind of stuff <em>we should be living by</em> on a daily basis. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The easy stuff - </span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Kill People</li>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Steal Stuff</li>\r\n 	<li>Listen To Your Parents</li>\r\n 	<li>Treat Others How You\'d Want Them To Treat You</li>\r\n 	<li>the list goes on</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBasic and easy, right?\r\n<h2>This is my \"Come to Jesus\" moment.</h2>\r\nPeople who\'ve \"lost their way\" often \"find God\" or have that epic, emotional \"come to Jesus\" moment. It\'s where they realize they\'ve \"strayed from the path\" and religion brings them back home. To the straight-and-narrow. To their <em>true purpose</em> in life. As cheesy or grandiose as it may sound...<em> that\'s where I\'m at right now.</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Know how I realized it?</strong> Trying to figure out how to justify a podcast episode idea I had. Megan, my Mom and I were getting ready to go to the <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com/events/south-shore-food-wine-expo/\">South Shore Food &amp; Wine Expo</a>, and I was stuck. Aside from the fact that it was a GREAT event we wanted to go to... the point was for me to blog and podcast about it. Problem was... I found myself asking if it would lose me readers and listeners. I was trying to find a way to spin it to fit the \"health and fitness\" niche.','Jealousy, FOMO, Purpose','','inherit','closed','closed','','843-revision-v1','','','2017-01-23 09:00:06','2017-01-23 14:00:06','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/843-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(846,1,'2017-01-23 10:43:56','2017-01-23 15:43:56','','','','inherit','open','closed','','wordswag_1483703321449','','','2017-01-23 10:44:43','2017-01-23 15:44:43','',540,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/wordswag_1483703321449.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(850,1,'2017-01-25 07:15:15','2017-01-25 12:15:15','<h2>I\'ve been struggling lately.</h2>\r\nSeems to be a common thing with me, right? No matter how on-top-of-it I might try to be, it seems I\'m always missing the mark somewhere. It\'s probably a result of me trying to do too much with, quite simply... too little time in the day. I know I\'ve got my challenges, and I know EXACTLY what\'s working against me, just like (I\'m sure) many of you do too. Just because I KNOW, though, doesn\'t mean I always win the fight. Lately, the struggle has been a combination of three things: envy, purpose, fulfillment.\r\n<h3>Yes, I understand that\'s broad.</h3>\r\nSo what do I mean by that, exactly? <b>I\'m still trying to figure it out.</b> I do, however, have a hunch. I took some time this weekend to really try and get a handle on this. Now, I think I\'ve got it. I\'ve been kind of hollow-ly saying it for 3 (ALMOST 4!) years now, dunno how it didn\'t hit me sooner. <strong>Note: </strong><strong>this is not a religious discussion - don\'t make it one.</strong><!--more-->\r\n<h2><em>\"Thou Shalt Not Covet\"</em></h2>\r\n<strong><em>I warned you, right?</em></strong> No, I\'m most certainly NOT trying to open up a religious discussion can-of-worms. There\'s enough debate in the hidden meanings of Bibles and Korans and Torahs to last freaking <em>eons </em>(don\'t believe me? Read a history book). I find, though, that despite major differences... many (if not most) religious texts tend to have a lot of the same <em>basic</em> moral guidance. Y\'know, the kind of stuff <em>we should be living by</em> on a daily basis. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The easy stuff - </span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Kill People</li>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Steal Stuff</li>\r\n 	<li>Listen To Your Parents</li>\r\n 	<li>Treat Others How You\'d Want Them To Treat You</li>\r\n 	<li>the list goes on</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBasic and easy, right?\r\n<h2>This is my \"Come to Jesus\" moment.</h2>\r\nPeople who\'ve \"lost their way\" often \"find God\" or have that epic, emotional \"come to Jesus\" moment. It\'s where they realize they\'ve \"strayed from the path\" and religion brings them back home. To the straight-and-narrow. To their <em>true purpose</em> in life. As cheesy or grandiose as it may sound...<em> that\'s where I\'m at right now.</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Know how I realized it?</strong> Trying to figure out how to justify a podcast episode idea I had. Megan, my Mom and I were getting ready to go to the <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com/events/south-shore-food-wine-expo/\">South Shore Food &amp; Wine Expo</a>, and I was stuck. Aside from the fact that it was a GREAT event we wanted to go to... the point was for me to blog and podcast about it. Problem was... I found myself asking if it would lose me readers and listeners. I was trying to find a way to spin it to fit the \"health and fitness\" niche.','Envy, Purpose, Fulfillment','','inherit','closed','closed','','843-revision-v1','','','2017-01-25 07:15:15','2017-01-25 12:15:15','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/843-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(851,1,'2017-01-25 20:09:48','2017-01-26 01:09:48','\"STIF Ep 22 - Balance\" from So THIS Is Fitness by Darrell McTague. Released: 2017. Track 22. Genre: Health & Fitness.','STIF Ep 22 - Balance','','inherit','open','closed','','stif-ep-22-balance','','','2017-01-25 23:35:09','2017-01-26 04:35:09','',0,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Stif-Ep-22-Balance-and-Wine.mp3',0,'attachment','audio/mpeg',0),(852,1,'2017-01-25 22:58:54','2017-01-26 03:58:54','<h2><strong>Life is tough.</strong></h2>\r\nNo matter how awesome you are, sometimes life can kick you in the tail. That\'s just the way it is. There\'s no preparing for it, there\'s no guarding against it... If it\'s gonna happen, it\'s gonna happen. It\'s times like these that you need to bring a little balance and wine into your life.\r\n<h3><b>Ok, not literally balance and wine...</b></h3>\r\nI KIND of mean that in the literal sense, but mostly the philosophical sense... <i>Roll with me here...</i>\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThis past weekend I attended the South Shore Food and Wine Expo with my mom and Megan. We had a ton of fun, tried lots of new things, and the idea for this week\'s episode was born.\r\n<h3><b>In this episode:</b></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A heart to heart about wants vs needs</li>\r\n 	<li>Finding balance when life \"gets in the way\"</li>\r\n 	<li>Moving things off the chore list and into the fun zone</li>\r\n 	<li>A recap of the South Shore Food and Wine Expo</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<b>Check out my guests!</b>\r\n\r\nThe event was great, and I was thrilled to meet so many awesome vendors! Please take a moment to check them out online and learn more. Hopefully you\'ll see more of some of them here!\r\n\r\nInebri-art - <a href=\"http://www.inebri-art.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nFarms to Forks - <a href=\"http://www.farmstoforks.net\">website</a> - <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/farms_to_forks\">Twitter</a>\r\n\r\nAlden Park - <a href=\"http://www.aldenpark.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nRye Tavern - <a href=\"http://www.Ryetavern.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nVitamin J2 - <a href=\"http://www.jmafoodgroup.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nKalahari Biltong - <a href=\"http://www.eatbiltong.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nHophead Events - <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\n[podcast src=\"https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5025557/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/32cd32/\" height=\"90\" width=\"450\"]','#22 - Balance and Wine','','publish','open','open','','22-balance-and-wine','','','2017-01-26 05:16:52','2017-01-26 05:16:52','',0,'http://sothisisfitness.com/?p=852',0,'post','',0),(853,1,'2017-01-25 22:58:54','2017-01-26 03:58:54','<b>Life is tough.</b>\n\nNo matter how awesome you are, sometimes life can kick you in the tail. That\'s just the way it is. There\'s no preparing for it, there\'s no guarding against it... If it\'s gonna happen, it\'s gonna happen. It\'s times like these that you need to bring a little balance and wine into your life.\n\n<b>Ok, not literally balance and wine...</b>\n\nI KIND of mean that in the literal sense, but mostly the philosophical sense... <i>Roll with me here...</i>\n\nThis past weekend I attended the South Shore Food and Wine Expo with my mom and Megan. We had a ton of fun, tried lots of new things, and the idea for this week\'s episode was born.\n\n<b>In this episode:</b>\n<ul>\n	<li>A heart to heart about wants vs needs</li>\n	<li>Finding balance when life \"gets in the way\"</li>\n	<li>Moving things off the chore list and into the fun zone</li>\n	<li>A recap of the South Shore Food and Wine Expo</li>\n</ul>\n<b>Check out my guests!</b>\n\nThe event was great, and I was thrilled to meet so many awesome vendors!\n\nInebri-art - website\n\nFarms to Forks - website - Twitter - Facebook\n\nAlden Park - website\n\nRye Tavern - website\n\nVitamin J2 - website\n\nKalahari Biltong - website\n\nHophead Events - website','#22 - Balance and Wine','','inherit','closed','closed','','852-revision-v1','','','2017-01-25 22:58:54','2017-01-26 03:58:54','',852,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/852-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(854,1,'2017-01-25 23:30:52','2017-01-26 04:30:52','<h2><strong>Life is tough.</strong></h2>\r\nNo matter how awesome you are, sometimes life can kick you in the tail. That\'s just the way it is. There\'s no preparing for it, there\'s no guarding against it... If it\'s gonna happen, it\'s gonna happen. It\'s times like these that you need to bring a little balance and wine into your life.\r\n<h3><b>Ok, not literally balance and wine...</b></h3>\r\nI KIND of mean that in the literal sense, but mostly the philosophical sense... <i>Roll with me here...</i>\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThis past weekend I attended the South Shore Food and Wine Expo with my mom and Megan. We had a ton of fun, tried lots of new things, and the idea for this week\'s episode was born.\r\n<h3><b>In this episode:</b></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A heart to heart about wants vs needs</li>\r\n 	<li>Finding balance when life \"gets in the way\"</li>\r\n 	<li>Moving things off the chore list and into the fun zone</li>\r\n 	<li>A recap of the South Shore Food and Wine Expo</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<b>Check out my guests!</b>\r\n\r\nThe event was great, and I was thrilled to meet so many awesome vendors!\r\n\r\nInebri-art - <a href=\"http://www.inebri-art.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nFarms to Forks - <a href=\"http://www.farmstoforks.net\">website</a> - <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/farms_to_forks\">Twitter</a>\r\n\r\nAlden Park - website\r\n\r\nRye Tavern - <a href=\"http://www.Ryetavern.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nVitamin J2 - website\r\n\r\nKalahari Biltong - website\r\n\r\nHophead Events - website','#22 - Balance and Wine','','inherit','closed','closed','','852-revision-v1','','','2017-01-25 23:30:52','2017-01-26 04:30:52','',852,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/852-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(855,1,'2017-01-25 23:37:20','2017-01-26 04:37:20','<h2><strong>Life is tough.</strong></h2>\r\nNo matter how awesome you are, sometimes life can kick you in the tail. That\'s just the way it is. There\'s no preparing for it, there\'s no guarding against it... If it\'s gonna happen, it\'s gonna happen. It\'s times like these that you need to bring a little balance and wine into your life.\r\n<h3><b>Ok, not literally balance and wine...</b></h3>\r\nI KIND of mean that in the literal sense, but mostly the philosophical sense... <i>Roll with me here...</i>\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThis past weekend I attended the South Shore Food and Wine Expo with my mom and Megan. We had a ton of fun, tried lots of new things, and the idea for this week\'s episode was born.\r\n<h3><b>In this episode:</b></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A heart to heart about wants vs needs</li>\r\n 	<li>Finding balance when life \"gets in the way\"</li>\r\n 	<li>Moving things off the chore list and into the fun zone</li>\r\n 	<li>A recap of the South Shore Food and Wine Expo</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<b>Check out my guests!</b>\r\n\r\nThe event was great, and I was thrilled to meet so many awesome vendors!\r\n\r\nInebri-art - <a href=\"http://www.inebri-art.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nFarms to Forks - <a href=\"http://www.farmstoforks.net\">website</a> - <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/farms_to_forks\">Twitter</a>\r\n\r\nAlden Park - <a href=\"http://www.aldenpark.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nRye Tavern - <a href=\"http://www.Ryetavern.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nVitamin J2 - <a href=\"http://www.jmafoodgroup.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nKalahari Biltong - <a href=\"http://www.eatbiltong.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nHophead Events - <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com\">website</a>','#22 - Balance and Wine','','inherit','closed','closed','','852-revision-v1','','','2017-01-25 23:37:20','2017-01-26 04:37:20','',852,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/852-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(856,1,'2017-01-26 00:08:31','2017-01-26 05:08:31','','','','inherit','open','closed','','photogrid_1485406145886','','','2017-01-30 08:36:15','2017-01-30 13:36:15','',852,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PhotoGrid_1485406145886.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(857,1,'2017-01-26 00:11:11','2017-01-26 05:11:11','<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Life is tough.</strong></h2>\r\nNo matter how awesome you are, sometimes life can kick you in the tail. That\'s just the way it is. There\'s no preparing for it, there\'s no guarding against it... If it\'s gonna happen, it\'s gonna happen. It\'s times like these that you need to bring a little balance and wine into your life.\r\n<h3><b>Ok, not literally balance and wine...</b></h3>\r\nI KIND of mean that in the literal sense, but mostly the philosophical sense... <i>Roll with me here...</i>\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThis past weekend I attended the South Shore Food and Wine Expo with my mom and Megan. We had a ton of fun, tried lots of new things, and the idea for this week\'s episode was born.\r\n<h3><b>In this episode:</b></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A heart to heart about wants vs needs</li>\r\n 	<li>Finding balance when life \"gets in the way\"</li>\r\n 	<li>Moving things off the chore list and into the fun zone</li>\r\n 	<li>A recap of the South Shore Food and Wine Expo</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<b>Check out my guests!</b>\r\n\r\nThe event was great, and I was thrilled to meet so many awesome vendors! Please take a moment to check them out online and learn more. Hopefully you\'ll see more of some of them here!\r\n\r\nInebri-art - <a href=\"http://www.inebri-art.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nFarms to Forks - <a href=\"http://www.farmstoforks.net\">website</a> - <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/farms_to_forks\">Twitter</a>\r\n\r\nAlden Park - <a href=\"http://www.aldenpark.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nRye Tavern - <a href=\"http://www.Ryetavern.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nVitamin J2 - <a href=\"http://www.jmafoodgroup.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nKalahari Biltong - <a href=\"http://www.eatbiltong.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nHophead Events - <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com\">website</a>','#22 - Balance and Wine','','inherit','closed','closed','','852-revision-v1','','','2017-01-26 00:11:11','2017-01-26 05:11:11','',852,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/852-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(858,1,'2017-01-26 00:16:25','2017-01-26 05:16:25','[podcast src=\"https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5025557/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/32cd32/\" height=\"90\" width=\"450\"]\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Life is tough.</strong></h2>\nNo matter how awesome you are, sometimes life can kick you in the tail. That\'s just the way it is. There\'s no preparing for it, there\'s no guarding against it... If it\'s gonna happen, it\'s gonna happen. It\'s times like these that you need to bring a little balance and wine into your life.\n<h3><b>Ok, not literally balance and wine...</b></h3>\nI KIND of mean that in the literal sense, but mostly the philosophical sense... <i>Roll with me here...</i>\n\n<!--more-->\n\nThis past weekend I attended the South Shore Food and Wine Expo with my mom and Megan. We had a ton of fun, tried lots of new things, and the idea for this week\'s episode was born.\n<h3><b>In this episode:</b></h3>\n<ul>\n 	<li>A heart to heart about wants vs needs</li>\n 	<li>Finding balance when life \"gets in the way\"</li>\n 	<li>Moving things off the chore list and into the fun zone</li>\n 	<li>A recap of the South Shore Food and Wine Expo</li>\n</ul>\n<b>Check out my guests!</b>\n\nThe event was great, and I was thrilled to meet so many awesome vendors! Please take a moment to check them out online and learn more. Hopefully you\'ll see more of some of them here!\n\nInebri-art - <a href=\"http://www.inebri-art.com\">website</a>\n\nFarms to Forks - <a href=\"http://www.farmstoforks.net\">website</a> - <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/farms_to_forks\">Twitter</a>\n\nAlden Park - <a href=\"http://www.aldenpark.com\">website</a>\n\nRye Tavern - <a href=\"http://www.Ryetavern.com\">website</a>\n\nVitamin J2 - <a href=\"http://www.jmafoodgroup.com\">website</a>\n\nKalahari Biltong - <a href=\"http://www.eatbiltong.com\">website</a>\n\nHophead Events - <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com\">website</a>\n\n[podcast src=\"https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5025557/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/32cd32/\" height=\"90\" width=\"450\"]','#22 - Balance and Wine','','inherit','closed','closed','','852-autosave-v1','','','2017-01-26 00:16:25','2017-01-26 05:16:25','',852,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/852-autosave-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(859,1,'2017-01-26 00:16:46','2017-01-26 05:16:46','<h2><strong>Life is tough.</strong></h2>\r\nNo matter how awesome you are, sometimes life can kick you in the tail. That\'s just the way it is. There\'s no preparing for it, there\'s no guarding against it... If it\'s gonna happen, it\'s gonna happen. It\'s times like these that you need to bring a little balance and wine into your life.\r\n<h3><b>Ok, not literally balance and wine...</b></h3>\r\nI KIND of mean that in the literal sense, but mostly the philosophical sense... <i>Roll with me here...</i>\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThis past weekend I attended the South Shore Food and Wine Expo with my mom and Megan. We had a ton of fun, tried lots of new things, and the idea for this week\'s episode was born.\r\n<h3><b>In this episode:</b></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A heart to heart about wants vs needs</li>\r\n 	<li>Finding balance when life \"gets in the way\"</li>\r\n 	<li>Moving things off the chore list and into the fun zone</li>\r\n 	<li>A recap of the South Shore Food and Wine Expo</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<b>Check out my guests!</b>\r\n\r\nThe event was great, and I was thrilled to meet so many awesome vendors! Please take a moment to check them out online and learn more. Hopefully you\'ll see more of some of them here!\r\n\r\nInebri-art - <a href=\"http://www.inebri-art.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nFarms to Forks - <a href=\"http://www.farmstoforks.net\">website</a> - <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/farms_to_forks\">Twitter</a>\r\n\r\nAlden Park - <a href=\"http://www.aldenpark.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nRye Tavern - <a href=\"http://www.Ryetavern.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nVitamin J2 - <a href=\"http://www.jmafoodgroup.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nKalahari Biltong - <a href=\"http://www.eatbiltong.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\nHophead Events - <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com\">website</a>\r\n\r\n[podcast src=\"https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5025557/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/32cd32/\" height=\"90\" width=\"450\"]','#22 - Balance and Wine','','inherit','closed','closed','','852-revision-v1','','','2017-01-26 00:16:46','2017-01-26 05:16:46','',852,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/852-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(860,1,'2017-01-30 07:04:59','2017-01-30 12:04:59','<h2>I\'ve been struggling lately.</h2>\r\nSeems to be a common thing with me, right? No matter how on-top-of-it I might try to be, it seems I\'m always missing the mark somewhere. It\'s probably a result of me trying to do too much with, quite simply... too little time in the day. I know I\'ve got my challenges, and I know EXACTLY what\'s working against me, just like (I\'m sure) many of you do too. Just because I KNOW, though, doesn\'t mean I always win the fight. Lately, I\'ve found myself... a little lost.\r\n<h3>Yes, I understand that\'s vague.</h3>\r\nBut honestly, sometimes a simple explanation is enough. I\'ve mostly figured out the answer here. I took some time the past couple of  weekends to really try and get a handle on this. Now, I think I\'ve got it. This time... <strong>it\'s going to be different.</strong><!--more-->\r\n<h2><em>\"Thou Shalt Not Covet\"</em></h2>\r\n<strong><em>You knew this was coming - stay with me here.</em></strong> No, I\'m most certainly NOT trying to open up a religious discussion can-of-worms. There\'s enough debate in the hidden meanings of Bibles and Korans and Torahs to last freaking <em>eons </em>(don\'t believe me? Read a history book). I find, though, that despite major differences... many (if not most) religious texts tend to have a lot of the same <em>basic</em> moral guidance. Y\'know, the kind of stuff <em>we should be living by</em> on a daily basis. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The easy stuff - </span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Kill People</li>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Steal Stuff</li>\r\n 	<li>Listen To Your Parents</li>\r\n 	<li>Treat Others How You\'d Want Them To Treat You</li>\r\n 	<li>the list goes on</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBasic and easy, right? <i>Yeah, I figured that out too</i>... and it happened in such a way that I realized...\r\n<h2>This is my \"Come to Jesus\" moment.</h2>\r\nPeople who\'ve \"lost their way\" often \"find God\" or have that epic, emotional \"come to Jesus\" moment. It\'s where they realize they\'ve \"strayed from the path\" and religion brings them back home. To the straight-and-narrow. To their <em>true purpose</em> in life. As cheesy or grandiose as it may sound... in some small way...<em> that\'s the sort of place I\'m at right now. </em>Not through religion, not like I\'m actually \"finding Jesus\" right now (I did say this isn\'t a religious discussion, right?)... But that sort of coming-to-your-senses and finding \"the way\". It happened over two distinct moments....\r\n<h3><strong>because the first moment wasn\'t enough.</strong></h3>\r\nThe first moment was innocent enough. I was trying to figure out how to justify a podcast episode idea I had. Megan, my Mom and I were getting ready to go to the <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com/events/south-shore-food-wine-expo/\">South Shore Food &amp; Wine Expo</a>, and I was stuck. Aside from the fact that it was a GREAT event we wanted to go to... the point was for me to blog and podcast about it. Problem was... I found myself asking if it would lose me readers and listeners. I was trying to find a way to spin it to fit the \"health and fitness\" niche. And I found myself wondering... <em>WHY do I need to spin it? </em>It wasn\'t so much like a punch to the mouth... rather this nagging... <em>something</em>.\r\n<h3>The second moment hit me like a ton of bricks.</h3>\r\nI was on Instagram sharing content, finding people to follow, <em>doing my thing</em>... and I stumbled across something. Someone people were raving about. I followed the links and found a site that seemed to be growing well. This site had fantastic engagement, virtually 100% user-generated content... and even its own ambassador program! And I found myself incredibly jealous. <strong>And that\'s when it hit me.</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat that guy\'s doing <em>isn\'t my thing</em>. That\'s not what So THIS Is Fitness is even MEANT to be... <em>so why am I jealous of him?</em> Like honestly... it\'s not even CLOSE to what I\'m trying to do. The ONLY similarity is that it\'s running-related and there are event reviews. Then I realized I\'ve been looking at virtually everyone who\'s doing something similar to me... and getting jealous. <em>Envious</em>. I\'ve been so caught up with what THEY\'RE doing... spending so much time trying to figure out how to capitalize on what THEY figured out... that I\'m not worrying about ME, and how to improve MY thing.\r\n<h2>This is where the Bible quote comes in.</h2>\r\nMost religious texts have some of the same simple messages and life lessons, right? \"<strong>Thou shalt not covet\" - </strong>it\'s one of the Ten Commandments. It\'s supposed to be one of the ten basic moral guiding principals to lead your life by. Regardless of your religion, or whether or not you even <em>are</em> religious, I think we can all agree - <em>\"don\'t be jealous of what someone else has\" </em>should be easy enough... right? Well, that\'s the realization I had.','Thou Shalt Not Covet','','inherit','closed','closed','','843-revision-v1','','','2017-01-30 07:04:59','2017-01-30 12:04:59','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/843-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),(861,1,'2017-01-30 08:30:23','2017-01-30 13:30:23','','','','inherit','open','closed','','img_20161022_085553','','','2017-01-30 08:52:35','2017-01-30 13:52:35','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20161022_085553.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(862,1,'2017-01-30 08:30:29','2017-01-30 13:30:29','','','','inherit','open','closed','','img_20161201_091700','','','2017-01-30 08:43:04','2017-01-30 13:43:04','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20161201_091700.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(863,1,'2017-01-30 08:31:49','2017-01-30 13:31:49','','','','inherit','open','closed','','photogrid_1485782735504','','','2017-01-30 08:52:06','2017-01-30 13:52:06','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PhotoGrid_1485782735504.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(864,1,'2017-01-30 08:44:30','2017-01-30 13:44:30','<h2>I\'ve been struggling lately.</h2>\r\nSeems to be a common thing with me, right? No matter how on-top-of-it I might try to be, it seems I\'m always missing the mark somewhere. It\'s probably a result of me trying to do too much with, quite simply... too little time in the day. I know I\'ve got my challenges, and I know EXACTLY what\'s working against me, just like (I\'m sure) many of you do too. Just because I KNOW, though, doesn\'t mean I always win the fight. Lately, I\'ve found myself... a little lost.\r\n<h3>Yes, I understand that\'s vague.</h3>\r\nBut honestly, sometimes a simple explanation is enough. I\'ve mostly figured out the answer here. I took some time the past couple of  weekends to really try and get a handle on this. Now, I think I\'ve got it. This time... <strong>it\'s going to be different.</strong><!--more-->\r\n<h2><em>\"Thou Shalt Not Covet\"</em></h2>\r\n<strong><em>You knew this was coming - stay with me here.</em></strong> No, I\'m most certainly NOT trying to open up a religious discussion can-of-worms. There\'s enough debate in the hidden meanings of Bibles and Korans and Torahs to last freaking <em>eons </em>(don\'t believe me? Read a history book). I find, though, that despite major differences... many (if not most) religious texts tend to have a lot of the same <em>basic</em> moral guidance. Y\'know, the kind of stuff <em>we should be living by</em> on a daily basis. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The easy stuff - </span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Kill People</li>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t Steal Stuff</li>\r\n 	<li>Listen To Your Parents</li>\r\n 	<li>Treat Others How You\'d Want Them To Treat You</li>\r\n 	<li>the list goes on</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBasic and easy, right? <i>Yeah, I figured that out too</i>... and it happened in such a way that I realized...\r\n<h2>This is my \"Come to Jesus\" moment.</h2>\r\nPeople who\'ve \"lost their way\" often \"find God\" or have that epic, emotional \"come to Jesus\" moment. It\'s where they realize they\'ve \"strayed from the path\" and religion brings them back home. To the straight-and-narrow. To their <em>true purpose</em> in life. <strong>Yes,</strong> I realize this is kind of an incredible use of hyperbole, but it\'s the best way I can think to describe this. As cheesy or grandiose as it may sound... in some small way...<em> that\'s the sort of place I\'m at right now.</em> Not through religion, not like I\'m actually \"finding Jesus\" right now (I did say this isn\'t a religious discussion, right?)... But that sort of coming-to-your-senses and finding \"the way\".  It happened over two distinct moments.\r\n<h3><strong><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-856 alignright\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PhotoGrid_1485406145886-300x300.png\" alt=\"podcast episode 22\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" />The first moment was innocent enough...</strong></h3>\r\nI was trying to figure out how to justify a podcast episode idea I had. Megan, my Mom and I were getting ready to go to the <a href=\"http://www.hopheadevents.com/events/south-shore-food-wine-expo/\">South Shore Food &amp; Wine Expo</a>, and I was stuck. Aside from the fact that it was a GREAT event we wanted to go to... the point was for me to blog and podcast about it. Problem was... I found myself asking if it would lose me readers and listeners. I was trying to find a way to spin it to fit the \"health and fitness\" niche. And I found myself wondering... <em>WHY do I need to spin it? </em>It wasn\'t so much like a punch to the mouth... rather this nagging... <em>something</em>.\r\n<h3>The second moment hit me like a ton of bricks.</h3>\r\nI was on Instagram sharing content, finding people to follow, <em>doing my thing</em>... and I stumbled across something. Someone people were raving about. I followed the links and found a site that seemed to be growing well. This site had fantastic engagement, virtually 100% user-generated content... and even its own ambassador program! And I found myself incredibly jealous. <strong>And that\'s when it hit me.</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat that guy\'s doing <em>isn\'t my thing</em>. That\'s not what So THIS Is Fitness is even MEANT to be... <em>so why am I jealous of him?</em> Like honestly... it\'s not even CLOSE to what I\'m trying to do. The ONLY similarity is that it\'s running-related and there are event reviews. Then I realized I\'ve been looking at virtually everyone who\'s doing something similar to me... and getting jealous. <em>Envious</em>. I\'ve been so caught up with what THEY\'RE doing... spending so much time trying to figure out how to capitalize on what THEY figured out... that I\'m not worrying about ME, and how to improve MY thing.\r\n<h2>This is where the Bible lesson comes in.</h2>\r\nMost religious texts have some of the same simple messages and life lessons, right? \"<strong>Thou shalt not covet\" - </strong>it\'s one of the Ten Commandments. It\'s supposed to be one of the ten basic moral guiding principals to lead your life by. Regardless of your religion, or whether or not you even <em>are</em> religious, I think we can all agree - <em>\"don\'t be jealous of what someone else has\" </em>should be easy enough... right? Well, that\'s the realization I had. I find myself noticing this all over the place now, actually. I just recently had a long discussion with a couple of different people about someone, for lack of a better phrase, committing this same sin. Worrying about what everyone else is doing instead of worrying about what\'s REALLY important.\r\n<h3>So it\'s time I take my own advice.</h3>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-862 alignright\" src=\"http://sothisisfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20161201_091700-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"transformation photo - 130 lb weight loss\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" />I know who I am, I know what I want, and I know what So THIS Is Fitness is meant to be. I need to bring focus back to where this all started, why I put it out there, and what it\'s really meant to be. My \"core mission\", so to speak.','Thou Shalt Not Covet','','inherit','closed','closed','','843-revision-v1','','','2017-01-30 08:44:30','2017-01-30 13:44:30','',843,'http://sothisisfitness.com/2017/01/843-revision-v1.html',0,'revision','',0),