Thought of the Jay!

Real Men Drink Tea!

2017-02-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Real Men Drink Tea!

I started drinking green tea out of laziness. Seriously, who has the time to brew coffee? Plus, all the added pressure of having to have sugar, non-spoiled milk, and a spoon handy. Way too much pressure for me... well at least younger me. While laziness brought me green tea, the taste and health benefits have made me a lifelong convert.

What makes green tea so good? Green tea is created from unfermented Camelia sinesis leaves. Those leaves possess a very high concentration of antioxidants. Antioxidants help the body fight free radicals that have harmful effects the body's cells. It is commonly accepted that radicals contribute to many heath problems. Toxins from cigarette smoke, liquor, and a lot of other fun stuff contribute to the creation and acceleration of free radical growth. Several laboratory studies have suggested that drinking green tea helps neutralize the effects of the free radicals.

Sure most of that sounds fancy smancy but all it means is that green tea will help your body fight the negative effects from a wild Saturday night!

Results from many laboratory experiments theorize that drinking green tea can help prevent, or slow the advancement of, several types of cancers including: breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. It has also shown to assist individuals battling other illnesses too. Green tea has been shown to: help control blood sugar levels assisting people with diabetes, boost metabolism to help the body burn fat more efficiently leading to weight loss, lower the inflammation caused by arthritis, and many more.

Green tea typically has caffeine which can cause some users to experience negative side effects. Common side effects include: insomnia, anxiety, irritability, upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea. However, it is very easy to find naturally decaffeinated tea bags.

I'm drinking a mug of decaf green tea right now as I write this post.

Most of the time I drink my green tea plain but from time to time I get a little fancy and try one of these alternatives:

Add some honey - Some people think that the taste of plain green tea is a little bitter. Honey is a nice natural sweetener that may help.
Add some whiskey - This is a personal favorite! It creates a warm sake like effect. A mug or three eliminates all daily stress!
Add fresh garlic - I do this when I begin to not feel well. Not only does this help keep away colds it also keeps everyone else away! I've even convinced my wife to try this a few time!

Let me know if you have any unique ways to drink green tea...
If.... or should I say when you try the green tea and whiskey let me know what you think!

Green tea is a great drink that offers many possible health effects. Grab a mug and give it a shot!

Sources:

100 for 100

2013-02-28T15:10:00.001-05:00

My schedule doesn't easily allow me to fully workout everyday. Typically I have about three days a week where I can find time to break a sweat, but schedules often change and "emergencies" seem happen and get in the way. To supplement my normal workout schedule, and add some consistency to my routine, I've decided to do 100 pushups everyday for 100 days. As I'm writing this post I've just completed day 46.

"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable!" ~ Jillian Michaels

Why pushups? Pushups are a very basic body weight exercise. They build strength in your core, forearms, wrists, upper arms, shoulders and chest. Pushups are also proven to increase your metabolism, and boost your confidence. Plus they give you an effective workout in very little time.

"I believe that every human has a finite amount of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises." ~ Neil Armstrong

Check out this Bloom to Fit video demonstrating 48 pushup variations:

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." ~ Mother Teresa

Carpe diem! Start your own streak today!

Get going and let me know how you do.

Top 10 - US Holidays

2012-12-05T11:07:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Holidays ~ here's my list...

10. National Running Day - This no cost, fun holiday promotes an active lifestyle and allows everyone no matter of skill level to participate. (www.runningday.org/)

"There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open." ~Nike

9. Father's Day - Membership has its privileges!

"If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right." ~Bill Cosby

8. Halloween - A holiday that allows you to dress your kids up in silly costumes and parade them around the neighborhood so they can demand free candy from the neighbors... awesome!

Q: Why was the skeleton afraid to cross the street? A: It had no guts!

7. Easter - It's like Christmas with warmer weather; but without the pressure of gifts.

"Easter is the only time it is perfectly safe to put all of your eggs in one basket." ~Unknown

6. Super Bowl Sunday - Someone in Congress needs to create an official holiday that gives everyone off the Monday after the Super Bowl. That way everyone can fully enjoy the magic that is the Super Bowl. No matter your favorite part: the game, the commercials, complaining about the half-time show, or the Puppy Bowl, the Super Bowl has something for everyone. (Side note: I think it is time for Budweiser to bring back the Bud Bowl.)

"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?" ~Vince Lombardi

5. Independence Day - A day filled with BBQ, beer, and fireworks designed to celebrate our freedom and remember the American beat down of England. USA! USA! USA!

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ~The Declaration of Independence

4. New Year's - I consider this a combo holiday. New Year's Eve is a celebration; party like it is 1999 because who knows what's going to happen. New Year's Day is a day of new beginnings and new starts; anything is possible. The two combined make for a roller coaster of ideas.

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to." ~Bill Vaughan

3. Mother's Day- Moms rule! Everyday moms take on the daily stinky, sticky, un-fun jobs so the least we can do is give them one great day. Plus, in my family it has been the tradition to get Boston Market on Mother's Day so it is a win for me too!)

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back." ~William D. Tammeus

2. Christmas - Christmas is by far the biggest, most over-the-top holiday. Each year the "season" begins earlier and earlier. This holiday has everything: religion, gifts, tradition, family, light shows, TV specials, family recipes, etc, etc, etc. So why isn't it #1? With all of the fun and potential around Christmas it can be too much. The stress of trying to keep up with it all can be overwhelming.

"Where do you think you're going? Nobody'd walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny ******* Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat *** down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of ******** this side of the nuthouse." ~Clark (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation)

1. Thanksgiving - Without a doubt, the best holiday! A day about being thankful for what you have, centered around a big meal with your family, capped off with football.

"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants." ~Kevin James

Running Games

2012-10-11T17:07:00.001-04:00

Running is fun, but running for extended distances can get pretty boring at times. To limit the boredom, I try to run in new and interesting places and play simple games along the way.

A fun game, particularly during this time of the year, is to see how many leaves I can catch during my run.

What do you do to keep you mind focused on long runs?

"Long distance running is 90% mental and the other half is physical." -Rich Davis

Shooting Stars!

2012-08-10T15:24:00.001-04:00

The 2012 Perseid meteor shower season is here! Every year in mid-August the Earth passes through the orbit of a comet named "Swift Tube" and meteors fall into our atmosphere. From now through August 13, the late-night/early-morning crowd will be able to witness this annual event. During peak hours 60 to 100 meteors per hour could be seen.

"Seen a shooting star tonight slip away. Tomorrow will be another day." ~Bob Dylan

Between the hours of 11pm - 4am will offer the best viewing times, but this year's show is expected to have increased visibility due to a dimly lit waning moon. In addition to the meteor shower, the sky scene will be extra enjoyable since Venus and Jupiter will also be visible the to naked eye.

"Attention all shooters, I'm a shooting star. Life is a course and I'm a shoot for par" ~Lil Wayne

Tips for watching the meteor shower:

Know when the shower will peak in your area.
Watch from an area with the least surrounding light.
Bring a reclining chair so you can watch the sky more comfortably.
Play the Star Wars theme song in the background to make the experience that more dramatic.
Let Google Sky Map help you identify what you are seeing.
Relax and enjoy the show!

"I love just who you are, I ain't gon' try to change ya. You are a shooting star, that's why you are my favorite." ~LMFAO

For more information check out this video from NASA:

"Don't you know that you are a shooting star, yeah. And the all the world will love you just as long. As you are, a shooting star." ~Bad Company

Book Review: The Giver

2012-07-23T22:03:00.000-04:00

"After reading The Giver, I was left confused and disappointed. It seemed as if it would be interesting, but you can't judge a book by its cover. The contents were dull and predictable. Quite honestly, I wouldn't recommend it to any reader seeking a fine piece of literature. It just doesn't suffice.

The Giver is about a young boy named Jonas. He resides in a futuristic society in which each citizen is assigned a job, a spouse, and children. The children are born to mothers who will never get to see them. Trying not to give anymore away, I will only say that Jonas is assigned an important job and is challenged with the release of an innocent child. Jonas is left with the option of leaving his home, job, and family to save the child, or facing the harsh reality of his community and job, and enduring the release of the child.

This book was dreadful. I became more and more dissatisfied with each page. It was a waste of time and hardly made sense. I'll admit, there were a few interesting lines, but far too few to continue reading after the first chapter. Although I finished it, I regret doing so. It was, by far, the worst book I've ever picked up. It proved to be mediocre, no better than what the average person could conceive. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone." ~Teen Ink

General Book Info:
Author: Lois Lowry
Plot: An eleven year old boy is selected to become "The Receiver of Memory" in his utopian community and learns the secrets of his town.
Book Type: Fiction
Genre: Dystopian

My Thoughts:
Initially I hesitated at purchasing this book because it was advertised as a novel for young adults. However, since it was a Newbery Medal award winner, considered controversial, and most importantly was on sale, I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad that I did.

However, if I would have read this when I was younger, I like the person quoted above, I probably would not have liked this story either. At this point in my life, now that I'm a little more aware of the complexities of everyday life, I really enjoyed this story because it reminded me of the importance of personal freedom. In this story life has been simplified to the point where no one suffers and everything is perfect. Or is it?

Pick up a copy today: The Giver

"How could someone not fit in? The community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made." ~The Giver

My Netflix Movie Review: The Descendants

2012-05-19T15:08:00.000-04:00

"Alexander Payne’s latest offering The Descendants is based on the book by Kaui Hart Hemmings who wrote it aged 28, whilst living in San Francisco as a full time mum. It is another opportunity for us to admire Payne’s skill at portraying middle-aged men trying to cope with a mid life crisis badly. In some cases the characters in his films have crises of their own making, such as Sidewaysand About Schmidt, but in this film the opening scene of a mother being injured in a boating accident changes the lives of everyone connected with her. Payne’s dark humour and acerbic observations of middle aged men has never been better portrayed than George Clooney as Matt King, the central character of the story. The film has already won two Golden Globe Awards, won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as well as having four other nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Clooney." ~Thinking faith

General Movie Info:
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Plot: A wealthy Hawaiian land owner's wife is injured in an accident leaving him to care for his two daughters alone.
Rated: R

My Thoughts:
The movie was well acted acted but the plot had too many layers for my tastes. Listed as a comedy/drama but is way more of a drama than a comedy. If it had more of a comedic twist, the many layers to the plot could have provided funny moments but it wasn't that kind of movie. The movie was good but not great. This George Clooney film is one to watch with the wife not the guys.

Check out the official trailer:

My Netflix Movie Review: Moneyball

2012-04-25T21:06:00.001-04:00

"This is really a movie about business. None of the individual players have major roles. The drama all happens in the mind of a general manager and his numbers guy. They bet against tradition and in favor of numerical analysis. That goes against a century of baseball history, although for all of those years, fans have thumbed through their baseball almanacs and issued mind-numbing statistical theories on talk shows. What the numbers crunchers demonstrated is that a computer can assemble a team better than human instinct." ~Robert Ebert

General Movie Info:
Genre: Sport, Drama, Biography
Plot: The Oakland A's attempt to put together a low budget team that will compete with major league baseball power houses like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rated: PG-13

My Thoughts:
The biggest question I had going into the movie was if story itself was worth telling. I watch baseball and I don't remember the the A's winning the World Series. So what is the point? This movie, while being a story about a baseball team, is more of a story about taking chances to get what you want. This movie got a lot of attention due to its star power. Staring in this film, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman all did a great job worthy of the praise they received. Overall, the movie is good and I recommend watching it.

Check out the official trailer:

Taking a Stand at Work

2012-04-24T16:45:00.002-04:00

Sometimes it feels like the powers that be at work are trying to keep you down. Not in a motivational sense, but in the stay seated and do your work sense. For the past month, I've been fighting those powers and standing the whole time at work. I converted my cube from a normal 'grow old and retire cube' to a high action power standing cube!

"Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and like to write standing up." ~Ernest Hemingway

The American Cancer Society found that women who sat more than six hours a day were 37 percent more likely to die an early death then women who sat for less than three hours a day and men were 18 percent more likely. To make it worse, other studies have have suggested that the time you spend exercising does not negate the time time you spend sitting and being lazy when it comes to heart-disease. Statistics have shown that the more hours a day you spend sitting increases your chances of living sickly or dying young. Exercise, even daily, don't allow you to escape this truth.

"Regularly exercising is not the same as being active. A person may hit the gym every day, but if he's sitting a good deal of the rest of the time, he's probally not leading an overall active life." ~Peter Katzmarzyk, Ph.D

Standing cubes, while not a new idea, have been growing in popularity over the past few years. I first saw a standing cube last year while touring the Treasury Building in DC and the Wall Street Journal did an article last year refering to them as "Silicon Valley's newest status symbol" (Standing Desks Are on the Rise). Some notable standing workers include: Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Chirchill, Earnest Hemingway and Donald Rumsfield. Currently in my office, myself and about five others have transitioned to the standing cube.

"Prolonged sitting is a risk factor for all-cause mortality, independent of physical activity. Public health programs should focus on reducing sitting time in addition to increasing physical activity levels." ~Archives of Internal Medicine

So what's it like standing all day? Don't your legs start to bother you? Standing all day is certainly different than sitting all day. There isn't that "let me sit down and get to work" feeling when you arrive because... well... you don't sit down. Standing locked into one place can get uncomfortable after just a little while, so I find myself swaying and rocking back and forth a lot. I admit, if others could see my movements through out the day they would probally think I'm crazy crazy!

"Excessive sitting is a lethal activity." ~Dr. James Levine, Mayo Clinic

With one month in the books I don't plan on stopping this experiment anytime soon. If you are looking for a way to get more active and shake-up your at work experience at the same time - I highly recommend giving the standing cube a try.

Book Review: The Call of the Wild

2012-04-11T20:32:00.002-04:00

"THE CALL OF THE WILD is a great work of literature; there can be no doubt. Written in a style that is at once muscular and poetic, it is both an adventure story and a meditation on civilization versus savagery, with savagery clearly having more appeal to the author. As Buck gradually reverts to the instincts and behaviors of his wolf ancestors, he becomes both more alive and more truly himself. This, and its implications for human beings, gives young readers plenty to think and talk about, which explains why this book continues to be a favorite for discussion groups and classrooms.

There's a brutality here that not all children will find to their taste, and modern American children are more likely to want to discuss the way Buck is treated than the way he acts. The sensibilities that drove the author and his original audience have changed dramatically since the time this book was written, and animal rights and treatment are a hot topic with children these days. "The law of club and fang" is a long way from the experience of most modern young readers, who may not agree with author Jack London's view of the whole situation. This, of course, can also prompt interesting discussions, though they may be different from what the author was thinking of when he wrote it." ~Common Sense Media

General Book Info:
Author: Jack London
Plot: Buck, a large domesticated family dog, is kidnapped and forced to work hard labor during the gold rush of the late 1800s.
Book Type: Fiction
Genre: Animals

My Thoughts:
Since this book is a classic, I had obviously heard of the book but had no idea what the book was about prior to reading the story. As the story began and progressed I was fairly certain I knew how the story was going to go - I was wrong. The read was fairly simple and straight forward and the author kept me entertained as I followed Buck's journey of personal growth and development. I would definitely recommend this book.

"His eyes turned blood-shot, and he was metamorphosed into a raging fiend. So changed was he that the Judge himself would not have recognized him." ~Call of the Wild

Netflix Movie Review: Friends with Benefits

2012-04-11T20:32:00.000-04:00

"Sweet, funny, romantic, and not nearly as post-modern as it pretends to be, Friends With Benefits has everything you'd expect from an R-rated romantic comedy in the 21st Century -- but not any more than that. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are smoothly convincing as a couple who initially resist their deep-seated attraction to one another, cracking a steady stream of jokes and looking very enticing in their underwear. The supporting cast features the likes of Patricia Clarkson and Richard Jenkins, who always brighten up a movie. And director Will Gluck (Easy A) keeps the action popping until the more serious consequences kick in." ~ Peter Martin, twitchfilm.com

General Movie Info:
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: Two friends try to add casual sex to their friendship.
Rated: R

My Thoughts:
If you are expecting a great top-notch movie you will be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the movie was good and keep me entertained but this type of "love" story has been told many times before and this version didn't add anything new. But if you are looking for a light-hearted romantic comedy this movie will keep you entertained with occasional laughs. (I did find Timberlake's running joke about landing airplanes funny.)

Check out the official trailer:

My Netflix Movie Review: Stay Cool

2012-04-02T08:12:00.000-04:00

“That sucked,' says Henry McCarthy (Mark Polish) about twenty minutes into Stay Cool, which is a funny coincidence, because I said the same thing when the movie ended an hour and a half later. This is the sixth film from the Polish brothers (Mark wrote and stars, Michael directs), whose earlier films include the odd and fascinating Twin Falls Idaho and the lovely Astronaut Farmer, so its poor quality is all the more surprising. According to imdb, it was shot back-to-back with their currently-unreleased fifth film, Manure; I’m not sure if they were just worn out from finishing another picture, but however you slice it, I think they gave that title to the wrong movie." ~ Jason Bailey, Fourth Row Center

General Movie Info:
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: A successful author returns to his hometown to deliver the commencement speech at his old high school and struggles to let go of the past.
Rated: PG-13

My Thoughts:
The basic storyline of a person confronting his past in light of current success is nothing new. In fact, it has been done successfully several times before but this version may be the worst adaptation I've seen. The movie was filled with stars such as: Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, Mark Polish, Hilary Duff, Jon Cryer, Chevy Chase, Michael Gross, etc. so the expectation was there that the movie would be at least entertaining. However, it fell fall short of entertaining. The movie plot did have potential and the star power associated with the film could have been great but for whatever reason it just didn't happen. Do yourself a favor and skip this movie. I'm sure you can find yourself a better way to waste an hour and a half.

Check out the official trailer:

Happy 1st Anniversary!

2012-03-28T19:57:00.000-04:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of "Thought of the Jay!" Thank you everyone who has followed or stumbled upon one of my posts over the past year. It has been a really good year for me!

"Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments." ~Rose Kennedy

From the beginning, the purpose of this blog was to help me prioritize my many completing priorities and to find ways to improve my life. Over the past year, my life has improved across the board.

"It's when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached." ~Mike Huckabee

My family life took a major step forward as my wife and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl (aka - Tiny Hiney) into the world to complete the perfect pair. The boy continues to grow and add daily excitement to our routine. He's about to finish his first year of preschool and has developed greatly as a result. And my wife... pretty as ever!

"If the family goes, so does our civilization." ~Ronald Reagan

This past year has also been good for my career. My hard work was recognized and I received a promotion within my department. My new position offers greater responsibility and potential to get involved in new initiatives. I was also named Committee Chair to our regional Program Integrity Committee.

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." ~Sam Ewing

I'm still breathing, so my health and fitness can't be too bad. I've done a good job at keeping consistent in my efforts as opposed to extreme peaks and valleys. While the "page views" for Thought of the Jay! have been fairly good my fitness and health posts have been the most well received. My Run til you're tired.. then keep running! post has by far been my most viewed post. Next month I'll be competing in my second Tough Mudder so I expect to have a post shortly after to discuss the experience. I've also given up sitting at work - adding a little more activity to my day. I also plan on doing a post about my standing cube in the near future.

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Finance wise, I've managed kept everything in order. Most of my saving is done automatically, through ShareBuilder and my work TSP plan, so I just have to sit back and let time take care of its self and hope that nothing interferes with my ability to continue making contributions. But on a more interesting subject, I'm planning on purchasing a new home in the near future. I'm sure that process will result in some sort of post or two.

"A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life." ~Suze Orman

Well... Thanks again for following the Thought of the Jay! Be sure to follow me on your social platform of choice: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, etc. because this next year I expect things to only get better!

My Netflix Movie Review: Drive

2012-03-15T22:59:00.001-04:00

"Drive is a quiet film. Yes, there are intense action scenes that push the R rating toward an NC-17, but the overall vibe of Drive is one of silent menace. And although the film centers around a mechanic/stunt driver/getaway driver, high speed car chases aren't what Drive's all about. There's so much going on under the surface of Drive's unnamed main character (played with simmering intensity by Ryan Gosling) and so much left unspoken - when other directors would have chosen to fill the air with dialogue - that Drive does something films rarely do: it makes audiences think. Who is this strange man who parcels out his words as though he's being made to pay in blood for their usage? So much is left up to the audience to interpret that Drive is less a film you passively watch and more of an experience you must engage in." ~Rebecca Murry, About.com

General Movie Info:
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: A quiet Hollywood stuntman, mechanic and getaway driver finds trouble when he assists his neighbour's convict boyfriend.
Rated: R

My thoughts:
Overall the movie was just not very good. The styling and music was very 80's (and not in a good way). Ryan Gosling is a good actor, but in this role his character was not very believable. Since the movie has an odd quirky quality, I'm sure some people will love this movie but if you ask me... I'd skip this one.

Check out the official trailer:

My Netflix Movie Review: 50/50

2012-03-12T22:06:00.000-04:00

"Part of me doesn't even want to tell you that 50/50 is a comedy about a guy with cancer. Chances are you'll groan and stop reading. That would be a mistake, because 50/50 is not infected with the usual TV tear-jerking and bogus uplift. It's actually hilarious, heartfelt and acted with such no-bull audacity that you'll hate yourself for just thinking you'd hate it." ~Rolling Stone

General Movie Info:
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Plot: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogan star in this dramedy inspired by a true story. 50/50 follows the relationship of two friends after one is unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer.
Rated: R

My thoughts:
Since cancer isn't exactly a knee slapping topic, I wasn't expecting this movie to be the most enjoyable movie experience. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a compelling job portraying a young man facing his mortality. While Seth Rogan adds just enough humor to keep the movie moving along without ever getting too dark and sad. Overall, it is a pretty good movie. As long as you are aware the movie is about cancer and not your average Seth Rogan joke-fest, I would recommend adding it to your queue.

Check out the official trailer:

My Product Review: Vibram FiveFingers - KOMODOSPORT

2012-02-26T21:38:00.000-05:00

"With today's athlete in mind, Vibram FiveFingers has raised the intensity with the Vibram FiveFingers KomodoSport. This aggressive multisport design inherits what we love about the KSO with functional improvements that appeal to the most active fitness enthusiast. For the first time ever, Vibram introduces a stitch-free, seamless 2mmfootbed to reduce friction. Heel and instep hook-and-loop closures help secure the stretch nylon upper to the contours of your foot-just like a second skin. The KomodoSport wouldn't be complete without a4mm Vibram TC1 performance rubber outsole which provides the grip and protection you need for a variety of cross training activities. Machine Wash, Air Dry.” ~ www.vibramfivefingers.com

General Product Info:
Type: Running, fitness, minimalist
Cost: $110
Materials: UPPER - Stretch Mesh and Polyamide - SOLE - TC-1 Rubber - FOOTBED - 3mm PU & CoolMax - Machine washable. - Air dry away from sun or heat source.

My thoughts:
I had considered buying a pair of these since I first saw a fellow participant wearing them at the 2009 McGuire “Beast of the East” Mud Run and since then have gotten close to buying a pair several times, but could never seem to pull the trigger. Just after this past Christmas, in need of a little extra something to get me motivated enough to go for a run in the cold, I decided to just go for it and buy a pair.

"Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better. ~Juha Väätäinen

Prior to buying them, I was concerned about how comfortable it would be having my toes separated. However, after wrestling with the shoe to get them on, and finally getting all of my toes into the right spots, I knew that these funny looking shoes were going to be fun! They were much more comfortable than I was expecting. They felt more like an extension of my foot as opposed to something I was wearing on my foot.

"Running is real and relatively smple, but it ain't easy." ~Mark Will-Weber

Minimalist shoes, like those offered by Vibram, have really gained in popularity ever since Christopher McGougall's "Born to Run” book hit shelves in 2009. The book tells the story of how the Tarahumara Indians are able to run great distances barefoot. Since then, many articles have been written to the pros and cons of running barefoot or with minimalist shoes. The pro camp claims that the human body was designed to run. And only recently have we begun doing wearing shoes. The con camp claims that most people are not perfect running machines and shoes can assist runners compensate for their physical shortcomings. Both camps claim to be the healthier, better option.

"Every run is a great run!" ~Sasha Azevedo

Before buying the shoes, and since, I’ve read quite a few articles about how to properly ease into this type or running to avoid injury. Most runners won’t be able to put on a pair and run as they normally would without some discomfort. Typical running shoes absorb much of the impact and provide stability to the runner. Since these shoes don’t provide cushion, or additional stability, the runner must adjust his/her stride to feel totally comfortable while running. It does take a few minutes to get your stride down but once you do it feels very comfortable and natural. However, I found my feet and legs got tired very quickly. This was because my muscles were being used in new ways. Experts recommend transitioning to these shoes be done slowly. Starting off with about 10% of your normal running load and slowly building up and I would certainly agree... but too many miles too fast isn’t the only way one can hurt themselves.

"Learn to run when feeling the pain: then push harder. ~William Sigei

My interest in these shoes had nothing to proper running form or healthy running. I was more interested in wearing them to get muddy. This pair in particular, I bought to wear during the Tough Mudder event I’ll be doing in April. So far, all of my running I’ve done in these shoes has been done in the woods on and off the trails. Instead of avoiding mud, I aimed for the mud. (Yes, the mud feels cold and mushy between the toes.) Who needs bridges? Not me, when I could just run in the creek.

"Life is short... running makes it seem longer." ~Baron Hanson

So... I got hurt. I pulled something in my leg. But my injury wasn’t because of too many miles, or poor running form, it was done trying to do something silly. I hurt my leg while trying to jump out of a creek onto a steep muddy embankment and crawl up the hill. Why was I trying to do this? I’m not sure, it was not the first odd decision I made on that run but it was the last.

"My greatest ideas stem from running." ~Sasha Azevedo

So would I recommend a pair? Absolutely. The shoes are comfortable and easy to wash. Up until my injury, I had fun every time I wore them. Actually, I had fun the time I hurt myself too! But if you get a pair use them wisely -start slow and remember you are not a superhero just because you are wearing super shoes.

OK now I’m motivated... but where’s MY pen?

2012-01-29T21:50:00.000-05:00

Generally speaking, I’m a pretty motivated guy. I get done what I need to and hopefully a little more, but at the same time I’m aware that none of my actions are leading towards a cure for cancer. So often, I need to find a little extra motivation to keep me going. That extra little kick to help keep my interest. When I got bored of taking little runs around the neighborhood I signed up for a marathon. After that, I couldn't go back to just running around the neighborhood, so I signed up for the Tough Mudder. Having a little something extra that you are working towards helps keep the juices flowing. With a little creativity you can always find an activity or idea that can distract your mind from the realities of your current situation and keep you moving in the right direction. The past few weeks at work have been a little more hectic than usual, but luckily, fate gave me a little something to use as a motivator. The little something extra was a classic whodunit. ~ Who stole my pen?

"No matter how many goals you have achieved, you must set your sights on a higher one." ~ Jessica Savitch

So the walk to my desk that morning was nice and quiet. I was able to plop into my chair and drink my coffee in peace and quiet as I waited for my computer to fully load. I dismissed all of my calendar reminders that expired, deleted the junk that collected in my inbox, and prepared myself to jump into my workload. Typically I sip on my coffee throughout the morning, but this morning I decided to to sit back and enjoy my coffee. I knew my day was going to be hectic so why not at least enjoy all of my coffee while it is still hot? Well... it was go time ~ time to get to work. I grabbed the large post-it pad I use to keep myself on task and my pen. As I grabbed my pen the top fell off. My pen was broken!

"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward." ~ Victor Kiam

This pen was special. A while back, a very small group of us at work got the same pen. Since the pens were so nice we ended up each getting a couple of them. In meetings, others began to comment about how they liked the pens and slowly the pen circle began to grow. At this point, about ten or so have the pen. It was not a very expensive pen but it looked nice, felt good in my hand, and wrote well. I’ve had this pen for quite a while. In fact, this was the first pen that I’ve kept around long enough to need ink refills. I really liked that pen...

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done,it's always your choice." ~ Wayne Dyer

Bummed that my pen was broken, I found it difficult to find the motivation needed to really dive into my work. So I picked up my broken pen and admired it... the shiny exterior, the stylish etchings, the bar code sticker. HOLD ON! My pen didn’t have a bar code sticker! Upon further inspection this pen also had the original ink cartridge, not the ink refill my pen had. This was not my pen! Someone, someone in the pen circle, had broken their pen and then switched it with my perfectly good pen. ~ Let the games begin! With great motivation I attacked my work. I was going to do whatever I could to get all of my work done because I had something that needed to be done. I am going to find my pen!

"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing." ~ Thomas Jefferson

OK, maybe I shouldn't have worried about the pen, but I did. And maybe I should have used something else to motivate me through my day, but I didn’t. I used what I was dealt. Everyday we face obstacles in life, what we do with them is up to us.

"Either you run the day or the day runs you." ~ Jim Rohn

To date I still have not found my pen... but I’m still looking! And when I find the pen, because I will find the pen, the satisfaction will be sweet but it won't be end the end of my story. I'll still face obstacles both large and small that will need to conquered and most likely I'll need something new to keep me motivated... but I'll find something to keep me going!

"It's always too early to quit." ~ Norman Vincent Peale

New Year’s Reso-YOU-tions!

2011-12-29T13:02:00.000-05:00

Resolution time is here again. I was planning on making my usual pledges and keep it status quo. You know, the basic New Year goals - taking over the world and establishing a new world order, ending world hunger, be the lead singer in a rock band, paving the rainforest to build Jay-Land Amusement Park, or opening and operating a successful bed and breakfast in downtown Iran or Syria.

"It wouldn't be New Year's if I didn't have regrets." ~William Thomas

OK, maybe some of those ideas are a little far ambitious for a single year goal. Perhaps instead I should join the masses in declaring that 2012 will be the year that I finally stick to a workout plan that promotes weight loss and gets me beach body ready. I could even give up McDonalds and pizza! Maybe that’s it, 2012 will be the year that I finally decide to get up early each morning to workout and follow those workouts with sprouts, wheat germ and everything else healthy. While I’m at it, I could also get my house organized, save more money, volunteer my time to help others less fortunate, reduce the stress in my life, and do all of this while spending more quality time with my family. Perfect plan!

“New Year’s Day... now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paying hell with them as usual.” ~Mark Twain

OR not, I’m not into the whole morning thing and McNuggets dipped in Hot Mustard sauce are way too delicious for me to ever give up on a permanent basis. In fact, I’m not going to make a resolution to do any of those things. Why would I make such resolutions anyway? I’m pretty stoked with myself and what I’m doing. So instead of worrying about what I should do to improve myself, I’m going to do everyone else a favor and make some reso-YOU-tions.

“New Year’s Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.” ~James Agate

What is a reso-YOU-tion you ask? A reso-YOU-tion is act of informing others as to what their resolution should be. All the time I encounter people with glaring flaws and most of the time I try to ignore them. Not this year! Now when talking to someone with stank breath, instead of trying not to hold my breath, I’m going to suggest they make a resolution to brush and floss or regularly. And so on... I’m sure the general public will inspire some great reso-YOU-tions!

"Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits." ~Anonymous

Like the idea? Great! But if you start giving out reso-YOU-tions of your own I have a little advice for you. Give them to strangers. (Probably best to give to strangers that you can out run or beat up... just saying.) Avoid friends and family. I started this new phenomenon the other day by providing a reso-YOU-tion for my wife. This backfired! She was VERY quick to offer some resolutions right back to me.

"Good Resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where that have no account.” ~Oscar Wilde

This year help out the greater good and hand out some reso-YOU-tions of your own! Happy New Year everyone!

New Foodie

2011-12-23T23:01:00.000-05:00

Baby girl is now officially a foodie. At her last doctor’s appointment we got the go ahead from her pediatrician to begin her on solids when we thought she was ready. She must have understood the doc because from that moment on she began to get stronger and stronger. When the girl began to eye down anything and everything anyone was eating we decided we should start feeding her soon before she began a plot to feed herself.

"He was a bold man that first eat an oyster." ~Jonathan Swift

So for the past week or so she has been eating her big girl food. Well... maybe not big girl food but a bowl of mush definitely counts for something. Rice mush with some sort of vegetable puree all mixed together. She loves it! So far she hasn't found anything she doesn't like. .

"Like religion, politics, and family planning, cereal is not a topic to be brought up in public. It's too controversial." ~Erma Bombeck

Currently she doesn’t have much say as to what or how she eats. We strap her into a chair and give her what we want to give her. But over the next few years she’ll begin to develop her own eating habits. Sure, I hope she develops healthy eating habits and enjoys nutritious foods but those aren't the habits I’m too concerned about right now. Instead of wondering what kind of weird quirky habits she’ll develop.

"I don't like food that's too carefully arranged; it makes me think that the chef is spending too much time arranging and not enough time cooking. If I wanted a picture I'd buy a painting." ~Andy Rooney

Will she...

demand that her food not touch other types of food?
eat everything with only a fork?
eat her plate in order of least favorite to favorite or will she start out with her favorite item first?
become a vegetarian?
will she develop trichophagia and compulsively eat hair?

"I want my food dead. Not sick, not dying, dead." ~Oscar Wilde

Everyone eats and everyone has some sort of habit attached to their eating. I did a Google search for odd eating habits and found a few weird celebrity examples:

Steve Jobs once tried a fruit and veggie only diet in hopes that it would allow him to stop bathing.
Ronald Reagan didn’t eat a tomato for 70 years.
Michael Jackson used to have granola, almond milk, fruit juice and a tank of oxygen for breakfast each morning.
Claudia Schiffer eats nothing but fruit before noon.
Elvis once flew 800 miles to eat his favorite sandwich.

"I won't eat anything green." ~Kurt Cobain

The holidays are a great time for eating. Enjoy your sugar cookies, honey baked ham, tiramisu, fondu, and all of your other family favorite recipes.

"My idea of fast food is a mallard." ~Ted Nugent

Enjoy... Happy Eating!

Ho Ho Ho...

2011-12-08T22:45:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving in the rear view and Christmas approaching quickly, I am slowly getting into the holiday spirit. Growing up I didn’t celebrate Christmas so I don’t automatically go into fa-la-la mode just because tis’ the season.

"Aren't we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa." ~Bart Simpson

Don’t get me wrong, I like Christmas and over the past week I’ve given it my best shot to begin getting festive. Last weekend, I went to a gingerbread cookie baking event at the boy’s preschool, I put up our tree and took the family to a local drive through light show. I'll admit it, I've even sang a carol or two in the car while drive around the town. (Some of those songs are really catchy!)

"Christmas is awesome. First of all you get to spend time with people you love. Secondly, you can get drunk and no one can say anything. Third, you give presents. What's better than giving presents? And fourth, getting presents. So, four things. Not bad for one day. It's really the greatest day of all time." ~Michael Scott (The Office)

Having kids definitely adds something special to Christmas for me and makes me want to get more into the spirit. Watching the boy get excited about the lights, music, etc are definitely memory's I'll remember forever. (Luckily for me he’s still too young and hasn't begun asking for outrageous gifts ~ so far its still just about the fun!) And watching baby girl have her first Christmas will be very special. (We already got her picture with the big fella framed.) I'm sure on the big day she will be in a very cute holiday outfit with a bow, on her still mostly bald head, looking prettier than ever. With my great kids and wonderful wife how could I not get into the Christmas spirit?

"Okay, this is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back?" ~Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)

According to Santa, it appears that some of my behaviors and actions still have some room to improve. To see the video I received from Santa (and make your own Santa video) click here:My Message from Santa.

"I hate Christmas. The mall is full of nothing but women and children. All you hear is, 'I want this,' 'Get me this,' 'I have to have this' ... and then there's the children. Ans they're all by my store 'cause they stuck the mall Santa right outside ringing his stupid bell. As if you need a bell to notice a 300-pound alcoholic in a red suit. 'Ho, ho, ho,' all day long. So, nice as can be, I go outside, ask him to shut the hell up. He takes a swing at me. So I lay a hook into his fat belly and he goes down. Beard comes off, all the kids start crying and I'm the bad guy." ~Al Bundy (Married with Children)

Since I’ll probably need to the till the last second to get myself on the “Nice” list. I’m going to track Santa’s journey around the globe. You should too! Check it out here: NORA Santa Tracker

"You stink, you smell like beef and cheese, you don't smell like Santa." Buddy (Elf)

I'm pretty sure this year will be my best Christmas ever!

I hope it will be yours too. Have a wonderful holiday season.. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,

Rock on you Festivus people, Happy New Year, etc, etc, etc...

Movember - A Look Back

2011-12-02T22:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I survived Movember and my face is now back to normal. My month of facial hair beauty was quite a unique learning experience. The most prevalent lesson learned was that the stache is a powerful tool and should only be worn by the most manly of men. When you don a stache, you are no longer viewed as a mortal man - you are a Rock Star!

"BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE: If you are not already doing some form of exercise, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activities most days of the week." ~Movember.com

Over the course of time, the world has had the pleasure of sharing space with some great moustaches: Hulk Hogan, Ned Flanders, Tom Selleck, Charlie Chaplin, Einstein, Super Mario, Groucho Marx, and Burt Reynolds. But for unknown reasons, the stache is no longer a mainstream look. Instead, the stache has more of a cult-like following along with the likes of the mullet and acid washed jeans. When one decides to grow the stache, they can not do so with half intentions, or the greatness of the look will consume you.

"EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET: Fill up with fruits and vegetables, whole grains; include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars." ~Movember.com

While growing the stache was fun, and it gave me something to talk about for the month, the main goal of Movember is to educate men about the health risks they face and to raise awareness of healthy actions they can take to prevent illness. While I'm sure I could have done more to promote those issues, I talked to enough people to feel I did my part. I think I may have even convinced a few people to participate next year!

"MANAGE YOUR STRESS: Stress, particularly long-term stress, can be the factor in the onset or worsening of ill health. Managing your stress is essential to your health & well being and should be practiced daily." ~Movember.com

Men's health is important not only during Movember but everyday! So men, don't forget to check your balls!

Below is a pictorial journey of my stache...

Day 8

Day 13 - at Tough Mudder

Day 14

Day 16

Day 22 - Co-workers getting into the spirit!

Day 26 - The stache at the beach.

Day 27 - The stache tours the city with the boy.

Day 30 - The end is near!

It was one wild month!

Time to go...

Free at last!

Keep them Quiet

2011-11-21T21:09:00.000-05:00

(Photo by iskir)

We've all been out in public and heard a kid freaking out. The parent is frazzled and the kid just keeps yelling and yelling. The parent will threaten, ignore or yell back but nothing works. It is easy to say that you would never allow your child to act in such a way but things don’t always go as planned. Luckily... there’s an app for that.

Don't bother people for help without first trying to solve the problem yourself. ~Colin Powell

The only thing worse than hearing a kid freaking out in public is hearing your kid freak out in public. My baby girl is still too young to cause any real issues but the boy is quite capable of causing quite a stir. Most of the time he’s happy to go along with the day’s scheduled activities but for those days when he’s not in the mood I hand him my phone and let him play away. Is this bribery? Sure it is... but it works.

If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right. ~Bill Cosby

Here are some of the apps that have kept him entertained. If you have a kid in the there year old range, or know someone who has an out-of-control little rug rat , try these free Android apps:

AIAI for kids - A simple alphabet app with several different games. The simple and easy alphabet game for kids.
NumNum for kids - Same format as AIAI for kids but this one is numbers as opposed to letters.
Bubbles - Make and pop bubbles. Very simple but can buy you a little quite time at the food store.
FishFarts Kids - Touching a fish makes it fart and zoom off.
Kids Connect - Connect the dots to create a picture. The dots can be either letters or numbers.
Zebra Paint - Color pictures by touching a color then the object you want to change.

Hopefully these apps work for you too because I certainly don't want to hear your kid acting a fool!

Tough Mudder - Mission Complete

2011-11-14T22:29:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I completed the Tri-State Tough Mudder in Englishtown, NJ. Billed as “Probably the Toughest Event on the Planet” this Tough Mudder event was a 12 mile obstacle course designed to test the all-around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie of its participants. Would it live up to its billing?

First off, I would definitely recommend a Tough Mudder event to anyone interested in entering a challenging but fun event. Obviously, this event is not for everyone but if you think that you have what it takes... go for it! (Click here to read my original 'Tough Mudder' post describing the course.)

After entering the Tough Mudder it is difficult to explain the event to others without mentioning "Electroshock Therapy". It is the one obstacle that sticks in everyone mind. It is the one that makes your mom think you lost your mind. Mud - you know about mud. Cold - you know about cold. Twelve miles - you understand running twelve miles. But most people don't really know about being electrocuted. Could it really be that bad? Well... after going through it and discussing it with my running mates I've learned that it just depends on how the wires hit you. You may feel a little jolt or what one of my team members described as "getting kicked in the face by a mule." But know this, when you run through the obstacle you will get shocked!

For me, getting shocked was never really a concern. It was fun to mention but nothing I thought about as something to worry about. What did concern me was the tunnels. I'm not a fan of tight places so the idea of crawling though a dark tunnel under ground was not too compelling. Since the Tough Mudder is a two day event and I was running on the second day. I decided to see if anyone posted and videos of the course. That's when I found this video... it didn't ease my concerns regarding tight spaces.

But as it turns out the tunnels were not the biggest challenge. It also wasn't the fire, the mud, the twelve miles, carrying a tire around a race track, the hills, etc... it was the COLD water! I have never been in such cold water and a few years ago I had a broken water heater for a few weeks in November! After one of the water events I saw a person whose face was dark purple with spots that appeared ghostly white. (I'm not 100% sure but I don't think they let that guy finish.)

Instead of trying to explain the experience, here's a video that runner made the same day I did the event. It doesn't capture everything but it gives you a good idea...

All-in-all it was a fun challenge and I'm glad that I did it. If you decide to enter a Tough Mudder event I highly recommend doing it with a group of people. It makes the adventure more fun!

New York City Marathon... A year later

2011-11-04T00:01:00.000-04:00

With the 2011 New York City Marathon right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about my experience running it last year. And since the expiration date for me rehashing the story without living too much in the past is quickly approaching, I thought now would be as good a time as any to tell my story. Hopefully it will calm the nerves of someone about to run it this year and maybe inspire someone else to run it next year.

Why did I want to run the marathon?
I didn’t have any great reason to want to run a marathon other than just to say I did it. For whatever reason, I kept hearing about marathons. It was either someone I loosely knew was running one or stories on the news, but one way or another I kept hearing about them and it planted a seed. At that point, I really didn’t run very often and would not have considered myself a runner. Sure I had gone through brief periods of time where I would take a jog but nothing too substantial. My biggest challenge to date was a 10k mud run. The idea of running a marathon was kind of crazy.

"Marathoning is just another form of insanity" ~John J. Kelly

One day, after hearing an inspirational story about a about a person that overcame a grave illness and went on to accomplish some grand goal, I remember thinking that if I ever get some disease or illness that I hope I’m one of the people that fights back as opposed to just rolling over and accepting my fate.

"If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon." ~ Katherine Switzer

But why should I wait for a potential tragedy to motivate me? I was perfectly healthy and able now but wasn’t doing anything special, why should I wait? So I decided that I would run a marathon. Knowing that completing the goal would take a lot of time and motivation, I decided that it would be easier for me to get psyched up over a major marathon as opposed to a local race.

How did I get in?
Immediately following the 2009 New York City marathon, I went to their site to find out more information and discovered there are many ways to become a participant. The “simplest” way is to pledge to raise a large sum of money or to get in through a lottery. So... I added the lottery entry date into my calender and then basically forgot about it.

"The marathon is a charismatic event. It has everything. It has drama. It has competition. It has camaraderie. It has heroism. Every jogger can't dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon." ~Fred LeBow

A few months later, I received an email alert that today was the day that the lottery would open. At first, I ignored the message. Running a marathon would be crazy. But as the day went on, the thought of running kept coming back into my mind. So I did a little research and realized that the odds of me being selected were quite small. So I went for it... if I didn’t get in it would still be an interesting story (sort of).

"You should run your first marathon for the right reasons, because you'll never be the same person again. You must want to do it, not because your boss or spouse did it." ~Bill Wenmark

About a week before the lottery results were going to be announced, I figured it would be a good idea to go for a jog. Considering that it was quite possible that I’d be training for a marathon, it seemed like a pretty solid idea. Well, as it turns out it was a good idea because to my surprise I was one of the lucky people selected.

My Training Plan
The first thing I did was research how to train for a marathon. I read as much as I could and tried to learn the basics. Quickly I realized that most training plans only lasted a few months. So I decided my the best thing for me to do was to get running, build up my miles and over the next couple of months develop my training plan.

"A marathoner is a marathoner regardless of time. Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day's effort, be it fast or slow. It is conquering the challenge." ~Mary R. Wittenberg

I researched just about every site, blog, and book I could get my hands on. What I learned was that marathoners, and marathon training plans for that manner, fall into one of two groups.

Anyone can run a marathon. With proper training and pacing anyone can finish and enjoy the marathon experience. Oprah ran a marathon, how hard could it be?
Marathons are only for serious runners. If you are not running 75+ miles a week and training everyday you should not enter a marathon. Marathons should not be a bucket list achievement but instead a race that you intend to win. The first person to run a marathon died so only the fittest should attempt!

I ultimately found both groups rather annoying. Group 1 was too easy going and Group 2 was out of my league, so I ultimately developed my own plan. My plan certainly won’t be touted by anyone as a recommended option but it worked for me. I basically ran three days a week and tried to improve each week. My plan kept my legs fresh while still allowing me to work towards the 26.2 goal. (If you are interested my training log can be viewed here: My Training Log)

"No doubt a brain and some shoes are essential for marathon success, although if it comes down to a choice, pick the shoes. More people finish marathons with no brains than with no shoes." ~Don Kardong

One race day tip offered by almost all sources was to do nothing new or different on race day. During your training you should figure out what actions work best with your body and stick to them. Good in theory, but this run was going to be different than all of my training runs. I never had: travel to take a run, catch a bus to a parking lot where I’d have to wait in the cold, and I had never run as far as I was going to run.

The Big Event
The night before the race was surreal. After all my months of training, coming to NY and partaking in all of the pre-race hoopla, the race was all that was left. Was my training sufficient?

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy... It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed. ~Jacqueline Gareau

Standing at the starting line I felt great. Any shred of doubt I had was gone. I was going to run the New York City Marathon and I was going to do it now. I felt pumped!

"The Marathon is an art; the marathoner is an artist." ~Kiyoshi Nakamura

Aside from just finishing, I had a personal goal of finishing somewhere between 4:30 and 5 hours. As the race began, I felt healthy and confident that I could accomplish my goal. After the first few miles, my confidence grew.

"A marathon is a string of moments, mixtures of events and emotions that we sample as we move along." ~Unknown

I felt so good, I quickly got caught up in the excitement and was giving the spectators high-fives as I ran the course. I stopped briefly twice to say hello to two groups of people that made the trip to see me run. (They were both exactly where I thought they would be and I found them without any difficulties.) Around the 13 mile mark I was ahead of my goal time and still felt great. I felt unstoppable...

"The marathon can humble you" ~Bill Rodgers

Over the next few miles things began to change and my body quickly began to tire. I slowed down, walked a few times, but managed to keep going. Despite feeling tired, and going noticeably slower, I was still confident that I would not only finish, but still manage to finish within my desired time. However, my spirits quickly began to damper with about 8 miles to go. I knew I would finish (no matter what I was going to finish) but my goal time was quickly becoming unrealistic. Approaching mile 20, I was 4 hours into my race. To achieve my time goal, I would need pick up my pace and gut out the last six.

"If you feel bad at 10 miles, you're in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you're normal. If you don't feel bad at 26 miles, you're abnormal." ~Rob de Castella

I gave those last few miles everything I had. My legs were shot, I was chafed, snot was flowing out of my nose, and tears were flowing down my face with each step, but I kept going as best I could. At this point the race became personal. I set a goal, worked towards the goal, and had the goal insight. All I needed to do was make it a reality.

"If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon." ~Emil Zatopek

When it was all said and done I finished in 4 hours and 56 minutes.

"There will be days you didn't think you can a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing you have." ~Unknown

I know my time is far from great, but it is my time. I put in a lot of hours into getting that time and I am proud of every second.

Movember - The Stache is Back!

2011-10-27T18:02:00.000-04:00

The time has come for me to release my inner stache! This November, along with men (and women) from around the world, I will be improving my look by donning a moustache.

"I...left the stubble on my upper lip for a moustache I planned to grow" ~P. Theroux

Now, I'm sure many of you are thinking: "of course you should grow a mustache - it is an all-time classic look", "Nice!" or "Great, I was thinking how awesome a stache would look on Jay". And for those kind thoughts I thank you, but this endeavor is about more than just looking awesome. The goal of the moustache is to celebrate Movember to and help raise awareness of health issues affecting men.

Napoleon Dynamite: How long did it take you to grow that moustache? Pedro: A couple of days. ~Quote from the movie: Napoleon Dynamite

The information listed below was taken from Movember.com. Please take the time to read it over and afterwards share it, or what you have learned, with someone you care about. Men are people too!

Thanks,

Jay

WHAT IS MOVEMBER?

Movember is the month formerly known as November, where men and women across the globe join together to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues. Men grow a Mo (moustache) for 30 days to become a walking, talking billboards, for our men’s health causes - specifically cancers affecting men.

Men who support Movember, called Mo Bros, start by registering at Movember.com. Mo Bros start Movember 1st clean-shaven, then grow and groom their Mo, for the rest of the month, raising money along the way. Women who support Movember, called Mo Sistas, also start by registering at Movember.com. Mo Sistas champion the Mo by supporting their Mo Bros, organizing events, leading a team and spreading the important message of men’s health.

MEN'S HEALTH FACTS

The average life expectancy for men is five years less than women (presently 77 years old compared to 82).
1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 3 women will be.
Evidence suggests that about a third of the 571,950 cancer deaths expected to occur will be related to obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition and thus could be prevented.
1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 240,890 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed and 33,720 men will die.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34. 8,290 men will be diagnosed with the disease and 350 will die.
Smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. An estimated 115,060 men will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 85,600 men will die from the disease.
While not as common, men can get breast cancer. About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men and about 450 men will die from the disease.
The most common cancer in the US, skin cancer strikes 1 in 5 Americans. An estimated 43,890 men will be diagnosed with skin cancer and 8,080 men will die from the disease.
An estimated 13 million adult men over the age of 20 in the US have diabetes- and a third do not know it.
Approximately 50 million men and women in the US have high blood pressure- almost 30 per cent of them do not know it.
About 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure, and blood pressure tends to rise with age.
1 in 8 men who suffer from mental illness actually seek help (inspire.org).
Four times as many men commit suicide compared with women.
24% of men are less likely to go to the doctor compared to women.

Let’s face it, men are known to be more indifferent towards their health, especially when compared to the efforts of women, who proactively and publicly address their health issues in a way not traditionally seen with men. As a result, today the levels of awareness, understanding and funding for support of male health issues, like prostate cancer, lag significantly behind causes such as breast cancer.

The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in the US and around the world are numerous and complex and this primarily due to a lack of awareness of the health issues men face. This can largely be attributed to the reluctance of men openly discussing the subject due to longstanding traditions, coupled with an ‘it’ll be alright’ attitude. Men are less likely to schedule doctors’ appointments when they feel ill or for an annual physical, thereby denying them the chance of early detection and effective treatment of common diseases.

Studies show that many men don’t get regular health checks for the following reasons:

Fear it will lead to a hospital visit.
Embarrassed to discuss their health issues.
Find it too hard to see a doctor because they just can’t fit it into their schedule.
Just can’t be bothered making an appointment.

Statistics show that, on average, men die at a younger age than women – the average life expectancy for men is five years less than women (presently 77 compared to 82). That said, despite trailing the women’s health movement, things are beginning to change, but much more progress needs to be made to close the gap between the state of men and women’s health. Established taboos and barriers relating to men’s health are gradually being broken down.
Movember aims to change the face of men’s health and reverse this way of thinking by putting a fun twist on this serious issue. Using the moustache as a catalyst, we want to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to talk about their health more openly.

Movember's primary campaign objective is to raise awareness of men's health issues, specifically cancers affecting men. We want everyone to know that most cancers are highly curable if caught in the early stages - including prostate and testicular cancer. Movember aims to increase early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment, as this will ultimately reduce the number of deaths from cancer. It’s time men face the startling health facts.

It’s not all bad news! Maintaining a good diet, smart lifestyle choices and getting regular medical check-ups and screening tests can dramatically influence your health, Regardless of age, stay on top of your game by doing the following:

HAVE AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL
Find a doctor and make a yearly appointment each Movember for a general health check. Getting annual checkups, preventative screening tests, and immunizations are among the most important things you can do to stay healthy.

DON’T SMOKE!
If you do smoke, stop! Compared to non-smokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer death in men.

BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
If you are not already doing some form of exercise, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.

EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET
Fill up with fruits, vegetables, whole grains; include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off by physical activities.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS
Stress, particularly long-term stress, can be the factor in the onset or worsening of ill health. Managing your stress is essential to your health & well being and should be practiced daily.

DRINK ALCOHOL IN MODERATION
Alcohol can be part of a healthy balanced diet, but only if it’s in moderation, which means no more than two drinks a day. A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY
Start a discussion with your relatives about the health issues they’ve had in the past. Be sure to learn about relatives that are deceased too.