For those of you who do not know it- guess what March is?!? That’s right! It is Youth Arts Month (YAM)!

This tradition of celebrating the youth’s participation in the arts has been going on since 1961. Which makes us here at 8^th Continent Soymilk very excited because it’s a chance for everyone to take a whole month to celebrate kids and their artistic development. Sometimes we take for granted how awesome kids are because of their wild imaginations.

Several people are celebrating YAM in their own way. Nationally, schools are holding flag design competitions, and selected designs will be flown in Washington, DC at the National Art Association Convention. In cities all over the US you can go to the local main libraries and see the community’s children displaying their art. You can help bring YAM to your kids by having an afternoon of crafts or drawing at home! You can also check with your school to see how they’re getting involved.

Related Links:

- The Importance of Art Education!

- Draw A Sun!

We have all had to make sacrifices during these times of economical challenge. I make my food at home, I take fewer road trips, I clip coupons (go here for a coupon for 8^th Continent Soymilk!) But one trend I have been noticing is the cutting of the arts in education. I worry at times that maybe some people don’t understand the vitality of the arts for developing children. The following excerpt from newhorizons.org helps illustrate the importance of arts education:

“Always among the highest expression of every culture, the arts teach us much about every historical period through its literature, visual arts, music, dance, and drama. Today it is recognized that to be truly well educated one must not only learn to appreciate the arts, but must have rich opportunities to actively participate in creative work. The arts are languages that most people speak, cutting through individual differences in culture, educational background, and ability. They can bring every subject to life and turn abstractions into concrete reality. Learning through the arts often results in greater academic achievement and higher test scores.”

Not only do the arts help develop a child’s imagination, creative thinking skills and expression skills, but they also teach tolerance and expand horizons to different cultures that a child may not otherwise learn.

But why? Kinderarts.com helps us understand:

• It’s been proven that early exposure to visual art, music, or drama promotes activity in the brain.
• Art helps children understand other subjects much more clearly—from math and science, to language arts and geography.
• Art nurtures inventiveness as it engages children in a process that aids in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, and self-motivation.
• Participating in art activities helps children to gain the tools necessary for understanding human experience, adapting to and respecting others’ ways of working and thinking, developing creative problem-solving skills, and communicating thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways.

These are not just opinions, these are facts.
We here at 8^th Continent Soymilk recognize the importance of art education. That is why we are giving you the opportunity to give back to your favorite K-12 school and in doing so, help develop your community to become fuller, richer, and more cultured.

All you have to do is go to our site, draw a sun, and submit it. The top voted 100 suns will win their selected schools $1,000 in art supplies. We encourage kids to participate too! Also the winning art may be featured on 8^th Continent’s new packaging!

Make sure to re-post, blog and share this article, because the more suns your school has, the more chances it has to win!

Please help keep the arts in our schools!

Can you think of other reasons why the arts education is so important? Leave a comment or let us know on Twitter or Facebook.

Ready to draw? OK, ready, set, sun!

These awesome Strawberry-Peach Pops take only 10 minutes to prepare and then you just have to wait till they freeze up!

The LA Marathon is only a few weeks away and I am keeping my training up! The 8^th Continent Soymilk Crew  is teaming up with one of our favorite charities Child S.H.A.R.E.  to make it through this 26.2 mile route.

Right now I am in a snow-covered environment, but need to stay in shape. As a lot of you have seen- I train even in the snow, which can be an amazing and refreshing experience with the crisp air against your skin, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know the correct way to train in frigid weather.

Luckily, active.com has provided me with an awesome list of 10 Winter Training Tips!

Use base-layer clothing made from fabrics that are designed to wick moisture away from your skin. This will keep you dry and warm for the duration of the workout.

Do not overdress. Though this may feel nice and comfortable at the beginning, you will sweat much more than you would otherwise, making your clothes wet. Wet Clothes = Cold Body. Generally speaking, if you feel slightly cool before starting your activity, you have dressed perfectly for the conditions.

Dress to your training plan. Hard workouts will require less clothing than easier workouts. If you are unsure how to dress, bring a shell jacket that can be used for your warm-up and cool-down, but can be easily taken off and stowed for the more difficult part of the workout.

Wear shades. In most cool or cold weather conditions, sport sunglasses will protect eyes from the bright sun reflecting off of the snow and prevent them from watering due to the cold or wind.

Keep it down. The down coat is king when it comes to cold environments and intermittent activities that involve stopping. A light-weight down coat is the perfect solution to keep you toasty during winter sports that incorporate periods of prolonged rest.

Staying on your feet and keeping them warm go a long way toward enjoying outdoor winter activities. Over-layering your feet will cause them to sweat, which can lead to cold toes. For cardiovascular-based sports, a single pair of warm, wicking socks will normally do. In very cold conditions or for gravity-based sports, use a double layer of socks.

A good trail running shoe provides extra traction for slippery surfaces and many offer waterproof features that help keep your feet dry. In areas with deep snow, a pair of light gaiters will keep the snow out of your shoes.

H2O. One of the biggest challenges for training in cold temperatures is avoiding de-hydration. While it may feel unappealing, drinking regularly during these lower temperature workouts is just as necessary as in warmer weather. Filling water bottles with lukewarm fluids will help to prevent them from freezing or being too cold to drink comfortably.

Plan your route ahead of time. Use a loop course to avoid getting too far away from home in the event something were to go wrong during your activity.

Avoiding frost bite and hypothermia is the most important consideration when preparing for cold weather activities. Make sure all of your skin is covered and carry an extra layer in case the conditions change during your workout.

Are you inspired to run the LA Marathon with us? Then feel free to join the event!

Have any useful tips? Make sure to let us know! Feel free to leave a comment or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

You can also check out the other tips that have been posted:

• What NOT to do when training for a marathon.
• Fun ways to get a workout that you may have forgotten about!
• Free Iphone Apps to help you train for your marathon!
• How to stay Motivated when training for a marathon!
• Nutritional Information for Marathon Trainers!
• 10 Best Socks for your Marathon

As we here at 8^th Continent Soymilk count down the days until the LA Marathon we start to ask ourselves the important question:

But what do I wear?!?

8^th Continent Soymilk is teaming up with one of our favorite charities Child S.H.A.R.E. to participate in this marathon and we are committed to going all the way! And we all know for this to happen- we need some socks that are borderline magical. One of my favorite sites that I am using to get prepared is Runnersworld.com and they had this awesome article on the best 10 sock designs.

The 10 best sock designs determined by 40 superfit feet.
Article by Meghan Rabbit

With one of the best trail networks in the country and a population stocked with ultrarunners, speed hikers, and weekend racers, Boulder, Colorado, is the Mecca of athleticism. So many runners in one location also makes for an ideal place to put the latest and greatest gear to the test. We asked 20 ultrahealthy types, from trail runners to triathletes, to use and abuse a wide range of running socks made from Earth-friendly bamboo, antibacterial silver, and other high-tech fabrics. Below are the ones our testers liked best.

Darn Tough Vermont Run/Bike 1/4 Cushion

Several ultrarunners raved about the cushioning and durability of these merino-wool socks. One even bragged about finishing seven ultramarathons–and all the training miles leading up to them–in a single pair.
Best For: Runners who prefer medium-thick socks for a wide range of distances, terrains, and sports all year round.
Price: $15
Contact: darntough.com

DeFeet Cloud 9 Regular Cuff

Testers appreciated the plush feel of these socks, which are made from a combination of moisture-wicking CoolMax fabric and abrasion-resistant Cordura nylon. Extra cushioning in the toes and heel, as well as two support strips on either side of the foot, yield a snug, stabilizing fit.
Best For: Long distances in cool weather. For fans of thick socks, these offer cushioning and support that are great for any terrain.
Price: $10
Contact: defeet.com

Bridgedale X-Hale Speed Diva and Demon

Overall, the Diva (women’s) and Demon (men’s) feel lightweight, which is remarkable given how much cushioning they provide for the heel and ball of the foot. The material used in these spots is a blend of merino wool and moisture-wicking yarn that keeps bunions and heels from getting red and chafing.
Best For: Any long run, no matter what the weather brings.
Price: $16
Contact: bridgedaleusa.com

Teko EcoMerino Wool Ultra-Light Micro

These socks are constructed of sustainable merino wool that’s soft and spongy–not itchy. Like all of Teko’s styles, they feature a tight-knit seam that is much less pronounced, cutting back on chafing across the top of the toes.
Best For: Shorter distances. While they retain warmth well, the Ultra-Lights don’t have the cushioning needed for longer runs.
Price: $14
Contact: tekosocks.com

Nike Elite Structure Running

The Structure features an innovative design that uses two layers of low-friction yarn to prevent blisters and a thicker weave in the heel and toe for cushioning and durability. Several testers noted how much they liked the extra support through the arch, provided by a Lycra band.
Best For: Marathoners, who’ll appreciate how these socks keep their feet dry and reduce foot fatigue during long runs.
Price: $16
Contact: nike.com

Feetures Bamboo & Wool Ultra Light Cushion Quarter

Made with 33 percent bamboo fabric–a material that helps wick moisture and kill odor-causing bacteria–these socks were the top pick of several triathletes for bike-to-run workouts. “They’re thin enough for my bike shoes and have enough cushioning to make a postride run more bearable,” said one tester.
Best For: Extra-sweaty runners and athletes who train in the heat.
Price: $13
Contact: feeturesbrand.com

Drymax 1/4 Trail Running

Our seasoned trail-runners loved the ribbed texture of these socks, which helped keep their feet from sliding around in their shoes. The socks’ somewhat bulky design has a wicking material on the inside and a water-repellent polyester blend on the outside.
Best For: Short treks, or for runners who want versatile socks for cross-training sports, such as hiking and snowshoe running.
Price: $11.50
Contact: drymaxsports.com

Injinji Performance Series Mini-Crew

Although the glovelike design of these socks felt a little odd at first, testers forgot about it once their shoes were on. The CoolMax inner lining and Lycra-and-nylon outer shell wick sweat well, and the anatomical five-toe design prevents friction between toes, resulting in fewer blisters overall.
Best For: Long-distance runners, especially those training in hot summer months, when chafing is more common.
Price: $12
Contact: injinji.com

Eurosocks Sprint Silver

The thickest pick of the bunch, most runners liked these socks best when the temperature dipped, since the bulk made their feet a little too sweaty in warmer weather. Testers who preferred the plush feel noted how well the polypropylene yarn and antibacterial silver fibers wicked sweat and didn’t stink up too fast.
Best For: Short, cold-weather runs when feet are least likely to sweat a lot.
Price: $13
Contact: angustrading.com

Pearl Izumi Silk-Lite and Ultra-Lite

Ideal for racing flats–or for runners who prefer thin socks–the Silk (women’s) and Ultra (men’s) use a microfiber mesh at the top of the foot to provide excellent breathability. Testers also liked how the compression panels wrapped and supported their arches.
Best For: Short races in warm weather. This sock is great for wicking away sweat but not for keeping feet warm.
Price: $8
Contact: pearlizumi.com

So now that you have the right socks all you have to do is sign up to join us!

Also make sure to follow along with the 8^th Continent Soymilk Crew on Twitter and Facebook to get updates and tips for your training!

Happy training everyone and make sure to check out the other Marathon training related posts:

• What NOT to do when training for a marathon.
• Fun ways to get a workout that you may have forgotten about!
• Free Iphone Apps to help you train for your marathon!
• How to stay Motivated when training for a marathon!
• Nutritional Information for Marathon Trainers!

We all know the importance of eating healthy! But did you know that your diet should change slightly when training for a marathon? This way- your nutrition can support your muscles, ease soreness, and keep you full of energy.

Luckily our friends at the LA Marathon have offered some phenomenal tips online on  what to eat while we get hyped up and in shape to reach that finish line! Check out the tips from the LA Marathon site!

1. What is the perfect snack? Snacks should consist of a carbohydrate and fat! A good guideline is 15-20 grams of carbohydrate accompanied by a serving of fat (9-10 grams) i.e. 12 almonds and an apple would be an example. Organic, all-natural energy bars work well also, in a pinch when you may have not thought ahead. NPN energy bars are perfect!

2. How much water to drink?
Every training athlete should drink about 0.5 – 1.0 ounces of water per day per body pound. During training, hydration is of paramount performance. You need to have proper hydration intake to keep your body moving and nutrients to where they need to be. Muscle tissue is 70% water and needs it to create ATP (energy).

Race day? Believe it or not, 13% of marathon runners suffer from hyponatremia, an overdose of water. To avoid the effects of taking in too much water on race day, assess during training your sweat level. If you are sweating profusely after a short amount of time then you could be drinking too much. Try to reduce the ridiculous amount of sugars in sports drinks by a 50/50 split water ratio. Use electrolytes either added to water or add water to sports drinks to ensure proper amount.

3. What do I eat before a run? A complex carbohydrate snack is the best thing to eat before a run. Carbohydrates are our bodies’ quickest source of energy and keep your blood glucose level at a constant, giving you a steady supply of energy. For short runs under 2 hours, a banana and a tbsp of nut butter is a great way to begin your training. For long runs start with a good complex carb like oatmeal (1 cup) and add 2 tbsp of peanut or nut butter 45 min before you run. You can use other complex carbs such as yams, corn, artichokes, potatoes, rice, seeds, legumes.

4. What do I eat/drink during a long run? Carbohydrate intake during exercise improves performance when distances go over 13-15 miles. Everyone is different so during training is your time to try powders, gels and bars to see how your body fairs with different energy products. You can eat food while running just avoid protein during your run – it slows down digestion.

5. What do I eat/drink right after a run? The best thing you can do for your body after a run is to consume protein. Protein supports your body in its repair of damaged muscle tissue that has been broken down during physical activity. A whey protein shake is a good source to get into your muscles quickly and efficiently. Try to consume within 15-20 minutes after exercise along with some fruit to increase blood glucose levels. Have a well balanced meal of 40% carb, 40% protein and 20% fat 1.5-2.0 hours after long runs. (See Below)

6. What is the importance of protein? Protein is your source of strength and repair. It is a nutrient that is not stored in your body so a regular intake is necessary to aid your body in muscular strength and endurance. Regular physical training tends to increase the amount of muscle breakdown and protein loss from the body, but protein is always needed to enhance recovery and muscle build-up. Make sure you get 0.5-1.5 grams per pound of body weight.

7. What do I eat to give myself the most energy? Complex carbohydrates are your key to energy. Upon consumption, carbohydrates are broken down into blood glucose and converted into ATP– energy that is instantaneously available to working muscles. As stated earlier, examples would be yams, corn, artichokes, potatoes, rice, legumes, vegetables, peas and beans, fruit. Whole grain foods, pastas and cereals are also complex carbs, but are secondary to naturally grown products. Combine these carbs with fat and you’ll have the best combination for energy.

8. Should I eat fat? Yes! The importance of fat in your diet can not be underestimated. Although carbs provide a quick energy fix and will help you the majority of the way, it is your fat that will carry you through the 26.2 miles. Fat gives 13.5 times more ATP (energy) per gram than carbs do! Take your body weight and multiply by 0.2-0.5 to get the proper amount of fat in your daily intake. 0.3 is a good average.

9. Should I take supplements and why? With your body operating at a high level of performance, you are going to need supplementation to help restore depleted vitamins, build-up muscle, prevent joint and ligament tension, ease soreness and recovery quickly. Although your nutrition is primary, supplementation provides extra aid to get your performance to its optimal performance.

10. Can I eat too many carbs when I’m running this much? Yes! An excess of carb intake will result in added weight gain. A marathon runner in training should consume a diet that is composed of 40-50% carbohydrates, 30-40% protein and 20% fat. This percentage would be 0.5-1.5 grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight. These vary on your frequency of training.

A few more words about hydration. The average human body is 60-70% water and without a constant consumption of fluid a person could become severely dehydrated if not deceased in 3-4 days. When training for a marathon, it is imperative that you keep your body fully hydrated at all times in order to maintain a healthy stamina, keen mind and optimal performance. Water carries out a number of important functions with in the human body. One of the many functions is body temperature regulation. When body temperature starts to rise, sweat glands secrete sweat, which is 99% water. As the sweat evaporates, heat is removed from the body and the body is maintained at a normal temperature. While water is lost through perspiration, so are important minerals in the body such as Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. These electrolytes can be replenished by drinking more fluid in combination with electro-mix to ensure your body has the necessary vitamins and water level to keep at optimal performance. Water can be obtained from the foods we eat and fluids we drink. It is always better to drink pure water rather than juices, tea, coffee, sodas. These sources will actually cause you to become more water deficient as most of the products contain caffeine, which is a diuretic and actually increases your excretion of water.

I will be participating in the LA Marathon with my 8th Continent Soymilk Family and one of our favorite charities: Child S.H.A.R.E.
Want to come out and join us? Just click here!
Want to donate to Child S.H.AR.E. and help a child find a loving forever home? Just click here!

Make sure to follow 8th Continent and me on Twitter and Facebook!

Happy training everyone and make sure to check out the other Marathon training related posts:

• What NOT to do when training for a marathon.
• Fun ways to get a workout that you may have forgotten about!
• Free Iphone Apps to help you train for your marathon!
• How to stay Motivated when training for a marathon!

Today is a big day for 8^th Continent Soymilk!

We have new packaging coming! Not only does it look great and fresh­–but it also allows you to be a part of the design process.

We want you to participate for a chance to have your art printed on the actual package. Also, your artwork will be entered to win $1,000 in art supplies for the school of your choice. $100,000 total will be given away, so 100 schools will benefit.

Go here to check out the new packaging and to draw a sun of your own! Now you can make art to give art back to your community.

For those of you who have children make sure to download a poster to put up in your school and get everyone involved! The more submissions we have from your school the better chance they have to win! Share this on Facebook and Twitter to have friends vote for your sun.

And who knows? Maybe you will see your sun on our package the next time you go grocery shopping!

We have all had those spurts of energy that last one or two or even three days where we feel on top of our workout routine and we are full of sticktoitiveness. However, they are usually just that- spurts. What do you do when that feeling has worn off? You are training for a marathon! And you need to keep training. I teamed up with my friends over at Marathon Rookie to bring you some tips to keep you motivated and help you cross that finish line.

Visualization
Set aside a few minutes each day, or at least a few times each week, to relax and picture in your mind the runner you want to be. Picture yourself making a great training run or running the actual race. As you are creating that image, try to get other senses involved by trying to feel what it will feel like to achieve your goal or push through any obstacles you envision.

Affirmations
Flood your mind with positive thoughts by talking to yourself every day. Tell yourself that you are a marathon runner. Our minds operate in the present so the more we tell ourselves something, even if it is not yet true, the faster our mind believes it and begins working now to make that affirmation a reality. Also, put an affirmation, race brochure, or inspiring quote somewhere you will see it every day like on your desk or bathroom mirror.

Block the Negative
Be aware of negative thoughts creeping into your mind. When you catch them, stop them cold in their tracks by telling yourself the opposite. For instance, if you catch yourself thinking you are tired during a run, tell yourself several times, with emphasis, that you feel great or feel strong. Do the same for any pain during a run. By telling yourself the opposite, you are diverting your focus from the negative to the positive.

Change into that Running Gear
Sometimes simply changing into your workout gear can get you in the mood to work out!

Get a Dog
OK, by now you all know I am practically obsessed with getting a dog sometime in my near future. Make a promise to your dog that you will take him/her on a walk daily. You will play fetch with him/her every other day… which is a great workout especially if your dog has not learned the step of bringing the thrown object back to you.

A Little Friendly Competition
Link up withe friends/co-workers/people online and start a little competition! Keep in mind everyone has different levels of running/exercising skills. But it isn’t about comparing apples to apples. It is about the improvement and progression! Knowing other people are going through similar challenges can help keep you motivated.

Over the course of training, you may find yourself lacking motivation at some point. This is very common. Maybe you get discouraged because unexpected events have caused you to miss a run, a few runs, or even a week or more of runs. Maybe something in your life diverts your focus from training and your goal. Whatever the case, do not let it stop you from achieving your goal!

Think of supporters cheering you on as you run with ease through the marathon or half marathon. Think about how rewarding it will be when you cross the finish line and reflect on what you have just accomplished.

Surround yourself with positive, motivating things. Watching running movies is great for marathon motivation. Find something that connects with you emotionally and you will find that your intensity and desire will grow to where you don’t just want to achieve your goal, you have to achieve your goal.

Take a step back and think about why you have set this monster goal for yourself and see yourself enjoying all the benefits you expect to have once you accomplish your goal.

Want to run the LA Marathon with me, the 8th Continent Soymilk Crew, and Child SHARE?

Well you can! Sign up here!

If you know me, you know my Iphone is like my freckles, constantly attached. So when I started training for the LA Marathon that I am doing with 8th Continent Soymilk and the awesome charity Child SHARE… one of my first priorities was to look up useful Iphone apps to keep me motivated, track my progress, and give me some awesome tips.

Here is a list of some of the Iphone applications that I use while training, and even some I don’t use… mainly because they are specifically for men. And because I like to call myself “thrifty”, they are all free!

• iHeart Run Free
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.
  Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
  This app utilizes your GPS and shows where you are on a map. It also tracks your distance and time and one of my favorite features is that you can detect your heart rate by holding the speaker up to your chest or neck! It saves up to 5 trips so you can track your progress.

• JogBuddy Lite for Men
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch.
  Requires iPhone OS 3.1 or later.
  JogBuddy™ Lite for Men is your mobile jogging companion on the treadmill, around the track, or around town and trail. Keep track of your weight, jogging (or running) time, miles, calories, and speed, as you listen to tunes or talk on your iPhone.
  JogBuddy does not use GPS or report your location to Google Maps. It works anywhere and consumes very little battery power.
• Pace Calculator
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch
  Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later
  This is a simple application that takes a running time and distance and calculates a specified pace. All you do is input a time, distances in miles, kilometers, or meters, and specify a pace in miles, kilometers or meters.
  This application is not constrained to specified values, so you can pick whatever pace you want for whatever distance choose. This is good if you want to calculate uncommon splits like 2k, 5k, 800m, etc. It can also work backwards. Lets say you want to know what 10k time a 68 second quarter-mile pace will produce? Just put 68 in for the time, 400m for the distance, and 10k for the pace.
  Use it to help plan or analyze your races and workouts. Or use it too see how fast the Olympians run each mile in the Marathon!

• Hill Run Calculator
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone
  Requires iPhone OS 3.1 or later
  If you do a lot of trail running or just run up and down hills a lot then you need this application!
  It’s really difficult to compare runs where you are doing a lot of hill climbing, as they’re all different and hills make a big difference to your pace. So how do you know how you are doing in your training?
  Hill Run Calculator to the rescue. Simply set the sliders to the distance and Ascent that you have done, add your time round the course and you will be instantly given a graphical representation of the equivalent run on the flat along with the equivalent flat pace. The perfect way to compare your hill runs.
  Perfect for Fell Runners, Trail Runners, Ultra Runners, or anyone who trains in hilly or mountainous areas.
  It’s as simple as that! Go give it a try!

• Utahrunning.com
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch.
  Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
  The UtahRunning.com Application is for all you Runners in Utah that want information about upcoming running race events and other types of running information. This app gives you instant access to the Utah Running Race calendar, their blog, their Twitter Updates and more.

• NikeWomen Training
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch.
  Requires iPhone OS 2.2.1 or later.
  This may be a shocking revelation, but men and women have different physical fitness needs. Yet, among the plethora of fitness applications available on the iPhone, few include workouts designed for women. The free NikeWomen Training Club application attempts to fill this void with a variety of exercise routines for women.

• Fitness Pro
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch (2nd generation).
  Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
  Fitness Pro is an iPhone and iPod Touch application with a massive exercise library.
  Clean pictures and a right to the point descriptions, gives you the detailed reference you need in the gym!
  Plan your own Fitness workout or just search the library for new powerful training ideas.

• Running Log Free 3.0
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch.
  Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
  Record your workouts and rest days with RUNNING LOG, and see your history and trends on the visual calendar and summary.
  To log a run, touch any calendar day. Then record:
  * distance (km/mi)
  * duration
  * effort level
  * type of run (cross country, intervals, race, etc. – choose from 15!)
  * route name
  * group runs
  * rest days
  * freeform notes
  Associated icons appear on the calendar to give you a clear picture of your workout trends. View weekly or monthly totals below the calendar.
  A summary screen provides statistics for the current month and grand total, including distance, duration and pace totals and averages. The summary screen also displays a scrollable list of all notes and data entered to date.
  Whether you’re a pro or a casual runner, RUNNING LOG is an invaluable tool to help you stick to your goals and track your progress.
  Some benefits of using Running Log:
  * Make yourself accountable for each day
  * See changes and improvements over time
  * Share your success and strategies with others
  * Better understand trends that may lead to injury
  * Motivate yourself to improve your fitness

• iMapMyFitness
  Compatibility: Compatible with iPhone.
  Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
  The new iMapMyFitness makes tracking your outdoor fitness activities and adventures easy
  iMapMyFitness uses the built-in GPS technology of your iPhone 3G to enable you to track your outdoor fitness activities and gets you closer to achieving your health and fitness goals. Step out your front door, hit the road or trail, and this app will effortlessly mark out your path along an interactive map and record essential metrics including duration, distance, pace, speed and elevation. Once you finish your workout, save your data and it automatically uploads to MapMyFitness.com where you can view your route, workout data, and a comprehensive workout history. Plus, the new iMapMyFitness gives you the ability to easily share your workout data with friends and family via email and Twitter.
  The new iMapMyFitness boasts all of these great features:
  • Real-time tracking that measures and displays time, distance, pace, speed and elevation
  • An interactive map that lets you view your current location and exactly where you have traveled along your route
  • Synchronization with your online Training Log on iMapMyFitness.com
  • Manual entry of workout data directly from the app so you can easily record your indoor activities like gym workouts and cardio sessions on the treadmill
  • Twitter integration that enables you to tweet your workout data to friends and family
  • Voice Feedback detailing distance, pace, or speed information. Get your run data in real-time through your headphones

OK! So now you have all of the awesome apps you need to reach success and the finish line!

Also make sure to check out my other posts for training!

What NOT to do when training for a marathon!

Fun new workouts that are actually really old!

Do you have any tips for me while I train for the marathon? Do you want to join us at the marathon?

You can hit me up on Twitter and on Facebook and go here if you want to attend the marathon with the 8th Continent Soymilk Crew and Child SHARE!

What do I mean by this? Well, since we have grown up, we do things much differently. We learn modesty, shame, and self-restraint. And in some aspects this is very important and a good thing to practice. However, we get SO much less exercise when we are modest.

Forget your inhibitions, and act like a kid again… trust me, it is a great workout.

If you are thinking to yourself: Hmmm… what is she talking about? I already do this? Then, I challenge you with this question:

When is the last time you did a cartwheel?

Yeah- that’s what I thought.

How about you pick a few of the following long-forgotten fun-filled games we used to play as children and try them out as an adult.

Difficult? Yes.

Fun? You betcha.

Great workout? Precisely.

Swing!
It is a great workout for your arms AND for your core muscles. Not only is it romantic to do with your significant other, it is also a giggling inducing fun activity to by yourself or with a friend.

Go fly a kite!
You have to get a running start, and then once the kite is up you can pull and tug against
wind resistance. You can also get a trick kite which allows you to do a ton of cool dips and dives
while giving you an even better arm workout. And sometimes, it is almost as calming as meditation.

King of the Mountain!
This activity requires two people or more, and you have to be trustworthy people and kind so no one gets hurt! But it is an AMAZING workout. So here is how it goes… find a pile. Of what? Well, there are a ton of options. Snow, dirt, rubble, etc. And see who can stay on top of the pile the longest.
You are putting your weight against someone else trying to (safely) push them aside so you can be King of the Mountain!

Do a cartwheel! Or a few.
I mean come one, when is the last time you did a cartwheel? Don’t worry about falling over sideways. So what? Remember? You are a kid again! Make sure you stretch before hand though- seeing as this old-school awesome exercise does take a bit of flexibility.

Dodgeball!
Running around, throwing balls at your friends, bouncing balls off of yours so you are not
“out”. This is not only TOTALLY fun… but it will keep your heart pumping and adrenaline going because
let’s be honest: a little competition can sometimes be exactly what you need to keep playing.

Monkey Bars!
This is a great upper body workout- and if your feeling saucy-maybe try a pull-up
or two.

Sled!
Just because it is winter, and depending on where you are there is snow doesn’t
mean you can’t exercise outside. Go sledding!

Red Rover Red Rover
Forgot about this game didn’t ya? Running, a little bit of wrestling and a killer workout!

So as you can see, if you throw yourself into a kid’s mindframe, you can workout AND have fun.

Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments, or on Facebook or even tell me on Twitter!

You can also check out my article on what NOT to do when training for a marathon here. So go ahead, let loose, have fun, and I guarantee it will be an awesome workout.

]]> http://www.8cpassport.com/2010/02/the-new-workout-is-not-so-new/feed/ 0 http://www.8cpassport.com/2010/02/the-new-workout-is-not-so-new/