If you’re reading this, chances are that you already realize what a difference your phone or iPod can make when it comes to getting fit. Our approach is designed not just to get you from one fitness level to another, but to do it from the palm of your hand, keeping you on track and motivating you along the way.
As Spring approaches, consider making a small purchase or two to up your game for the coming running season. Here are three ideas. Continue Reading
Posted in BootCamp, iPhone, iPhone App, Motivation, Running, Spring Fever Checklist
If running with a partner can be tricky, trying to figure out a fun, effective group run can be downright intimidating. Especially if you have a wide range of speed and fitness levels, trying to find a workout that works for everybody (and doesn’t deteriorate into a handful of people doing their own thing) is often a challenge.
Here are four fun runs that will push the whole group without leaving anyone behind. Continue Reading
Posted in iPhone App, Motivation, Running
With Saint Patrick’s Day tomorrow (and falling on a weekend, no less), lots of folks are gearing up for more than a typical dose of merriment. This is a holiday where even the most mild-mannered out there sometimes take celebration to the extreme, meaning on Sunday morning there will surely be plenty of folks out there paying the price for having a year’s worth of fun in about 8 hours.
If this sounds like you – or if you just want to have a night out without wrecking your workouts for the week – here are some tips for bouncing back and take advantage of Sunday as one more great chance to go for a run. Continue Reading
Posted in Motivation, Running
We’ve talked a lot about the benefits of training with a running partner, but sometimes it’s tricky to find someone who is ready, willing, and able to be your go-to running buddy. And often, there are cases when you’ve got just the right person – great attitude, good rapport, easy to get along with — except for one nagging little problem: they don’t run.
Well let’s get them started! Here are some tips on turning your everyday buddy into a running buddy. Continue Reading
Posted in Motivation, Running
When it comes to working out regularly, sometimes it’s the little things that knock us off track – a rainy day, an unconscious tap of the Snooze, a pile of dirty workout clothes. By themselves, these wouldn’t be a big deal, but when they catch you on a day when you’re a little sluggish or are feeling your motivation slip, they can be the last straw.
The better job you do keeping the little things little, the more successful you’ll be at working out consistently. Since athletes tend to burn through dirty clothes week in and week out, today we’re starting with how to keep your workout clothes clean and ready for your next run. Continue Reading
Posted in Motivation
Before we know it, the Spring running season will be here and those of us who have been chased inside by the cold will venture back into real world training, all squinty and happy. Our forward-looking Spring Fever Checklist series will give you some things to think about between now and then.
We’re kicking off the Checklist with a post about Upper Body Training for two reasons: (1) the upper body is both important and often neglected as part of a runner’s form and (2) now is a great time to do something about it.
We’ve talked about it before. Running with poor form makes you feel less comfortable, fatigue more quickly, and cover less ground. Now obviously, your lower body is the business end of running, but there are also plenty of upper body pitfalls that can rob you of your speed for no good reason. Continue Reading
Posted in blog, Motivation, Running, Spring Fever Checklist
This week Bluefin mentor and all-around inspiration Hal Higdon and his wife Rose are hopping on a plane to Cairo for a once-in-a-lifetime trip across Egypt and Israel as part of an alumni event for alma mater Carleton College. Hal will be covering their adventures over on the Training Peaks blog, where he contributes regularly through the weekly Q&A with Hal Higdon.
As an elite athlete and all-around adventuresome fellow, Hal has had a life filled with chances to travel and explore. Even when he was young, running opened the door to many opportunities, with championship races held in major cities all over the world. Continue Reading
Last week we talked about how to take advantage of nice days and get the heck away from the treadmill. Today we’ll cover a few ways to keep the time you DO have to spend on the treadmill both interesting and beneficial.
It’s easy to just be a hamster on a wheel, plugging away for mile after mile doing the same workout, at the same pace, probably with the same blank expression on your face. Here are five ways to mix it up. Continue Reading
Posted in Heart Health, Motivation, Running
We’ve definitely talked in the past about beating the winter training blues, but for a lot of our readers, this is turning out to be anything but the average winter. From generally warm temperatures in some areas to oddball beautiful days in others, this season is throwing a lot of us for a loop.
But how to make sure we’re getting the most out of the goofy weather, soaking up some fresh air and natural light while it’s available? Here are five ways to do just that. Continue Reading
Posted in iPhone App, Motivation, Running
Cholesterol is just one of those things. You know it’s important, but it isn’t exactly an issue to get excited about. Still, it can have a profound impact on your health, especially in the long term. And taking control now can dramatically reduce cholesterol complications later in life.
Here are some thoughts on getting a handle on your cholesterol, starting with the basics: what’s up with that good-cholesterol/bad-cholesterol deal anyway? Continue Reading
Posted in Heart Health, Motivation, Nutrition
