There are a lot of reasons we run: to lose weight, to be more active, become one with mother nature, spread running and a healthy lifestyle to others and to feel good about oneself. For me, it WAS all of the above. I’ve been lucky to accomplish all of these goals and more. I’ve even been able to make a more meaningful connection to God thru running. All of these are great, except there’s something missing. Over the last couple of years, there’s been a void that I haven’t been able to fill, until now – passing my passion for running to the next generation.

According to the American Heart Association, one in three children in America are overweight or obese. That’s ridiculous. I know the culture in the United States provides less time for us to promote a healthy lifestyle in our kids but come on!!! How are we able to reverse this trend of Fat Americans by not attacking the root of the problem, the next generation.

Our kids idolize us. No matter what we do, the see it. Like it or not you are a roll model (take that Charles Barkley). You may not have signed the waiver but if you have kids, it’s part of the package. It’s your responsibility whether you like it or not. If you’re a runner, this should be a no brainer. Your kids WANT to be a part of your life. If running is your thing, you should be more than willing to share the experience with them.

This premise finally hit me over the head in December. The day after running the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon, my eldest son cornered me and said he would like to try running a race with me. After processing the statement for a brief moment, my response was “heck yeah!” While I’ve always hoped my kids would follow in my footsteps, I never wanted to be that parent that “forced” their kids to fulfill my dream. The other thing this declaration did was stir another desire in me – passing what I learned (too late in life) to the next generation. If I could inspire my kids to lead a healthy, productive life – what ripple effect could that possibly create? The repercussions are limitless!!!

I grew up with a father who was part of the original running boom. Although I didn’t know it at the time, he greatly inspired me to take up running later in life. I have frequently have flashbacks of him heading off for a morning run in his cotton white t-shirt and rundown New Balance shoes held together with Shoe Goo [If he knew what he knew now, he just would have bought new shoes]. While I wish his inspiration would have grabbed my subconscious sooner than it did, I’m glad it finally burrowed its way thru my thick scull.

Now it’s my turn. While my kids have seen me head out the door running for six years now, it’s time to really set the wheels in motion. My son (11 years old) and I have started training together. We call them “Son Runs” and they’re the most fulfilling runs that I’ve ever been a part of. Not only does my heart fill with emotion when he flashes that huge grin at me before we start but we’ve gotten even closer with our solitary time spent together. It’s amazing how much you can learn about your offspring by spending 10-20 minutes with them alone on the road. You begin to realize that they do listen, they do grow up and they become a spitting image of you.

We don’t ever listen as closely as should. Our minds our preoccupied by a stressful day at work, everyday issues and the ever quickening pace of our lives. If I could ever hope anything from this post is that you’ll take two minutes out of your day and think about how you can pay it forward. How something as little as inviting your child on a run could set them on a path early in life that they will one day thank you for.

Our date has been set for the 2012 Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon. Dad and son will run together in what will be for me, the greatest moment in my life.

Thank you dad for in some way inspiring me to become the man I am today. I in turn can only hope that my sons will say the same thing to me, 20 years from now.

RMFR

Christmas is right around the corner and if you’re like me, you’re nowhere near ready. A fact that I’m fully becoming aware of is that the older I get…the faster time seems to fly by. So in the spirit of the holiday season, we’re giving away a FREE large ORB running shirt. We’ll pick a winner by random Christmas Day and you’ll have the shirt before the new year. Make sure to include your email when you login to comment.

Simply comment on this post and let us know what running gift you would most like to see under the tree (or in your inbox) December 25.

To help start things off, I’ll start:

1) I want to run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon with my 11-year old son in 2012.
2) Entry into the 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon (registration open January 18)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ORB!!!

Well this summer definitely has not been good for me or I should say I have not been good for my summer. I had big plans for running this year. An aggressive race schedule, picking up my pace, more running with my kids and on the trails – all have fallen by the wayside. The end result? 15 additional pounds and a runner completely out of shape. I’ve only run 36 miles in June and July. I’ve had running WEEKS with more miles.

Entering my sixth year of running and I thought I knew it all. I had nearly perfected my shortened stride – landing on my forefoot and prevented all my nagging injuries. I decided I didn’t need a training schedule. I could get up early and head out the door with any hesitation. Things were perfect..and then I became lethargic. I sprang up out of nowhere and has affecting everything in my running universe…even this website. Things had to change and change fast!!!

How am I going to do this? Getting right back to basics is how. First thing on my todo list – make a training schedule. No matter how many miles you have under your belt, having a piece of paper with runs scheduled on certain days of the weeks is a necessity. Yes you may know how many miles you need to tomorrow or this week, having a constant reminder and place to cross off your workouts is a good of motivator as any.

The second thing to do is sign up for a fall/winter race. If there’s a deadline, you’re more inclined to keep to your schedule. We’ve all gone into a race unprepared and it’s not a pretty site. One I don’t wish to experience again. The Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon is paid for and scheduled. There’s no turning back now.

The next thing is that I’m going to aim for something I’ve never done before. I running compadre of mine is running the Tule Springs 12 and 6 Hour Peacock Run and asked others to join him. While I’m not ready for 12 hours of running, I can certainly push for 6 hours. I’ve done 26.2 but nothing over that. If there’s anything that is going to get my to log some serious miles, it will be shooting for a previously unattainable goal.

We all have certain stretches of struggles with running. Whether it’s an injury, lethargy or something else, we can all snap back to something better than before. I’m hoping that sharing some of this may help someone in a similar situation come back from the struggles they are currently wrestling with.

Until then…RMFR!

It was announced yesterday that the 2011 Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon will now be run at night. Aiming to become the world’s largest nighttime running event, I think Rock-n-Roll has to take a look at some of the details to make this thing work.

The first issue I have are the costs of registration for both the marathon and half marathon. If you register before March 10th you’ll ONLY be paying $121 for either event. If you happen to wait until later in the year, you could end up forking over $155 for the half marathon and $175 for the full marathon. Seriously? $175!!! I can tell you one thing, if these prices do not change, last year was my last year running the marathon in Las Vegas.

The second issue I have is that they put a time limit of 4:30 on the marathon. The marathon starts at 4:00 pm and the half at 5:30 pm. The half time limit has been set at 4 hours. This makes no sense. Not only are you alienating a ton of marathon runners but the math doesn’t add up. Based on these times, the marathon would end at 8:3o pm and the half at 9:30 pm. Why is the cutoff for the full marathon not 9:30 pm? This isn’t the Boston Marathon…never will be.

The final thing that needs to be fixed is the marathon route. If they don’t fix the jigsaw puzzle that constituted last year’s route, they’ll have a hard time retaining any repeat runners to this event in the future. I understand the excitement for first time runners. The strip is quite a site and even more so at night but isn’t worth the hassle if these issues aren’t addressed.

Stay tuned.

RMFR

Since my injury issues this year, I wanted to test KT Tape to treat my own ailments. This isn’t a product endorsement – I paid for my own tape.

I’ve been struggling with peroneal tendonitis since the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon. Having used samples from races before, I was familiar with the product so I thought I’d give it a shot. First of all, I like the individual strips. Tearing and removing the adhesive back is fairly easy as well. While the application of the therapeutic tape can be a little tricky at first (the tape is split lengthwise for use on different injuries) when treating a nagging injury, it became easier. The price is right too. The package of 20 strips was only $12.99.

(more…)

So, 2011 is going to start with a nagging injury. After confirming it with physician, I’m dealing with Peroneal Tendonitis in my left ankle.

Peroneal Tendonitis is caused when your peroneal tendons (they run along the outside of your ankle, under your ankle bone) are stressed. What caused this stress? I can name 3 things without even thinking.

1. Overuse – even though I took a week off after the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon, it wasn’t enough. I really struggled physically during that race and jumping right back in as intensively as I did was a recipe for disaster.
2. Tight Calf Muscles – since running in the Vibram’s, my calf muscles have been extremely tight. I haven’t found the right method for relieving that tightness but need to find an answer and quick!!!
3. Excessive Pronation – while my stride has gotten much better, I constantly fight my pronation issues. The week my flair up occurred, I recall having to really pay attention to my foot falls because I was falling into old habits.

(more…)

I was really hoping for my injury bug to take a change for the better. To my surprise, I’m in the same spot I was exactly at this time last year. After the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon last year, my hips were spent. I had issues with bursitis all year last year and back to back marathons (Vegas and Disney World) I was out of action for a good couple of months.

This year is presenting a similar issue. I struggled after trying to PR Vegas this year. While I didn’t “officially” come away injured, I think it took it’s toll more I thought. I took my usual week off from running the week after the marathon. I put together a maintenance training plan to begin my 11 for 2011. Nothing too aggressive, just enough to keep sharp between races.

(more…)

I’m determined to make 2011 a busy one. I’ve decided to take the year off from the full marathon distance (yeah, I say that now) and focus on banking a bunch of half marathons under my belt. In my five years of running, I’ve kept it kind of slow (13 races) and have steadily added races to my schedule. 2010 was my busiest year yet with five races (2 full marathons and 3 half marathons) but I’m throwing down the gauntlet for next year. In honor of 2011, I’m going to run 11 half marathons with a side goal of joining the Half Fanatics along the way.

Without further ado, here’s the list:

(more…)

This year marked the second year for the Rock-n-Roll series in Las Vegas. Instead of a narrative, I’d like to present the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The Good

• The weather was amazing. Low 40′s and no wind with partly cloudy skys. Couldn’t have asked for better weather. The 7 am start time was a welcome addition to the previous year as well.
• The expo was moved to the Sands Convention Center to “spread the wealth” among the strip casinos. Not only was the space larger, but for a event this large, the lines were quick and navigating the expo was easy.
• The half marathon course runs the entire strip. There is some looping around downtown but it has to be one of the best half marathon courses around.
• The band “Playground” can simply rock classic rock.
• The Competitor Group is planning on making Las Vegas one of the world’s largest marathons. With nearly 30,000 runners this year, I think they have a shot and welcome the idea. The wave start is great and really doesn’t take that long to get thru.
• They didn’t have huge payouts this year for “elite” runners. Their thinking is that this is an event and doesn’t need the star power to attract runners – I agree.

(more…)

I kept telling myself that I wasn’t going to do it. I wasn’t going to rush things and ease myself into them. Well…rushed or not, I’m in my Vibram Five Fingers for good now and there’s no looking back.

To update those who haven’t followed my transition, here’s the Cliff Notes version.

In May of this year after the Fargo Marathon, I purchased a pair of Nike Free’s. My plan was to slowly ween myself out of motion control shoes and my custom orthodics. It was time to simplify my running style and go back to the basics. I concentrated on shortening my stride and striking the ground with my midfoot. After five months of injury free running, I jumped into the VFF’s looking to complete my transition to minimalist running. The initial plan was to start the new year running my prized Bikilas after the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon. After some disappointing long runs in my Free’s I ditched them this Saturday and set off for my 20 miles in the VFF’s (even though my longest run in them was only 8 miles). On Sunday, after the soreness had subsided in my calves and feet, I’ve made the decision to run the marathon in them.

For those of you contemplating the move to minimalist shoes, I’d advise you to take it slow. It’s going to take awhile to develop your stride and longer yet to build the muscles in your feet and ankles.

With nearly 80 miles in my VFF’s, I don’t consider myself an expert by any means but I’d like to pass along some things I’ve learned along the way.

• First things first. Change your stride. Really focus on your stride and if you’re striking your heal…stop. Work on shortening your stride and landing on your forefoot and letting your heel fall as you shift your weight. This is the hardest habit to break and will need the most work.
• Start with a less cushioned shoe like the Nike Free or something similar. These are the only ones I can testify to and would suggest going to your local running store for some advice.
• If you wear orthodics, keep wearing them at first. Then, pick one day a week to run without them. As you get more comfortable, add days without them.
• Once you’ve left your “crutches” behind, it’s time to practice running barefoot. And by barefoot, I mean NO SHOES. Again, pick one day a week and go to a park with lots of grass. I’d pick shorter recovery run days since you may be doing a bunch of laps. Pay attention to how you run without shoes. It’s completely different.
• It’s time to get your minimalist shoes. Vibram started the tread but now there are a bunch of options available. I get a lot of crap for my “finger shoes” but I’ve never worn something more comfortable. Once you get used to getting your toes in, you don’t even notice they’re not squished together in a normal shoe.
• You’re well on your way to running “barefoot” but now is the time for restraint. WALK, DON’T RUN. For the first couple of weeks, wear your minimalist shoes for your everyday tasks. Get used to walking in them before trying to run in them.
• Just like the other steps in this process, start running in your minimalist shoes once a week. I’d recommend your shortest easy run of the week. This way you’re not focusing on pace or distance and can really focus on how to run. You need to learn how to run “light.” This doesn’t mean staying on your toes the whole time. Trust me, I tried and my calves were in knots for a week.
• Slowly build your miles in your minimalist shoes. You’ll find that when you go back to other running shoes, you’re dragging dead weight. Your stride is as bouncy and your form will suffer. You need to really take what you’ve learned and apply that to every run.

You’ll know when you’re ready. It’s like riding a bike. Once you have your balance, you’ll take off. I hope this helps and please feel free to shoot me any questions you may have.

RMFR