The Internet is a beautiful thing – it truly is. Within mere seconds and the tap of the “Return” key, you can have millions of little factoids of information at your fingertips. I mean, really – there is very little that you CAN’T find these days. I would like to take a trip down memory lane of some things I have googled in the last 7 days. I would like to preface this by saying that these are all (unfortunately) true. Sad, but true. And in case any of these topics strikes your fancy, I’m linking up to my favorite finds…

1. Is “googled” considered a verb yet? According to Microsoft Word, no. That bothered me. Then it bothered me that I was using “googled” as a verb in a written document.
2. How to get more miles per gallon out of my car. With the rise in gas prices this week, I’m willing to save a dime or two if I can. I just cleaned out my trunk.
3. Black Dog Menu, Urbana. The venue may look a little questionable, but this Urbana eatery is one of the best in the area. Trust me. And if you don’t want to trust me, trust all the 5-star reviews on this Urban Spoon link.
   

   Deliciousness

4. How long will sauerkraut keep? One turkey hot dog left and it would have been a sin to eat it without sauerkraut. I think that explains it.
5. Ways to use up leftover sauerkraut. See aforementioned question.
6. Ways to use up leftover sauerkraut other than a Reuben sandwich. I could have assumed that a Reuben sandwich was an option. I’m expecting a little more from you, Google.
7. Best Whitney Houston songs. Regardless of the cause of her death, the nation mourned the loss of this musical icon last weekend. Needless to say, I have been listening to her music all week. This also links to the music videos for her Top 10 songs of all time. All at Once, I wanted – for just One Moment in Time – to Dance with Somebody. With somebody who loves me.
8. How soon can I drink coffee after getting a filling? After getting three (yes, three) cavities filled on Thursday morning, I needed a pick-me up. Too early for wine, so I figured coffee would do. For future reference, if you want to drink something and your mouth is numb all over, do it while looking in a mirror to avoid major spillage down your new white tank top.
9. Celebrities who have run marathons

Not really sure why I decided to google about celebrity marathoners – possibly the fact that marathon season is now in high gear, especially here in Champaign-Urbana. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I’m intrigued by the health and fitness levels of celebrities. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the names I saw. I don’t think that all of these can necessarily be deemed as celebrities, but they are all famous in their own sense. And while I’m sure this is only a small snapshot of those who have made that 26-mile journey, these were the 10 that popped up on the lists most frequently. See how you compare in finish times with the rich and the famous. Anyone in particular that I missed? Surprised by any of those on the list?

10 Famous Marathoners (complete with pictures, finish times and – of course – my two cents)

Oprah Winfrey – Marine Corps Marathon, 1994 (4:29:20)

After her 85-pound weight loss in the early 90s, Oprah decided to start a training program (chronicled on her show, of course). She stuck with it and inspired women everywhere that if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.

Al Roker – New York City Marathon, 2010 (7:09:00)

The Today weatherman had gastric bypass surgery in 2002 and whittled himself down to a much healthier weight, allowing him to run – and finish – the NYC Marathon. Who knows, we may find him running his next race in our neck of the woods…

Will Ferrell – Boston Marathon, 2003 (3:56:12)

Funnyman first, but avid runner comes in a close second. Who would have guessed that the same guy who went “streaking in the quad” in Old School would qualify for one of the most elite races in the world.

Katie Holmes – New York City Marathon, 2007 (5:29:58)

I vividly recall this getting a plethora of media coverage. And most of it had nothing to do with Katie actually running the race, but rather that she went out in sky-high heels within hours of finishing. All the more power to you, Katie.

Lance Armstrong – New York City Marathon, 2006 (2:59:36), 2007 (2:46:42)Of course he ran back-to-back marathons. Of course he improved his time. And of course he broke 3 hours. It’s Lance Armstrong. What else do you expect?? Living strong…

Sean “Diddy” Combs – New York City Marathon, 2003 (4:14:54)

I’m not sure whether he was going by Puff Daddy, P Diddy or Mr. Combs when he ran in NYC in ’03. Regardless, he clearly had a sense of who he was and where his priorities were at; he ran the race for charity, raising $2 million for children-related organizations.

Al Gore – Marine Corps Marathon, 1997 (4:58:25)

Gore ran this race when he was still VP with Pres Clinton. Not only did this give him a few hours away from the job, but 26 miles by foot is much better for the environment than by automobile.

George Bush – Houston Marathon, 1993 (3:44:52)

Before he was running after weapons of mass destruction, the former U.S. President was running an impressive marathon time. Bush may have been one of our fittest Presidents – a great role model in the health arena.

Mario Lopez – Boston Marathon, 2002 (5:41:41), NYC Marathon, 2011 (4:23:30)

I loved him from the time I was 4 years old and he was A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell. Mario may have taken his time in Boston, but took a very impressive 1:20 off his finish time in NYC.

And a few more, for good measure…

• John Edwards – Marine Corps Marathon, 1983 (3:30:18)
• Billy Baldwin – New York City Marathon, 1992 (3:24:29)
• Anthony Edwards – Chicago Marathon, 2003 (3:55:40)
• Lisa Ling – Boston Marathon, 2002 (4:34:18)
• Meredith Vieira – New York City Marathon, 2010 (5:59:00)
• Alanis Morissette – New York City Marathon, 2009 (4:28:45)
• Apolo Ohno – New York City Marathon, 2011 (3:25:12)
• Edward Norton – New York City Marathon, 2009 (3:48:01)
• Ryan Reynolds – New York City Marathon, 2008 (3:50:22)

Puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

As I contemplated my weekly blog topic, I was preoccupied with my tight hamstrings and sore shoulders. After doing more than 100 push-ups in Strength class and then running afterwards, I was – in a word – exhausted. And sore. I question my sanity sometimes (often) and wonder how/why people (me) put themselves (myself) through rugged workouts like that. Poor me, right?

WRONG.

I should be grateful that I CAN exercise. If I feel like going on a run, I can. If I want to climb the stairs, I can. If I want to jump on my bike to pick up something at Walgreens, I can. Heck, if I want to go climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, I can (I won’t. But I technically can…)

And I hear this voice inside my head. Exercise is a PRIVILEGE.

And it is a privilege.

If any of you have attended a group exercise class at Mettler Center with Joy, one of the group ex instructors, you have likely heard this mantra. It has become my new favorite quote (and that is saying a lot, because I really like quotes). When we are 30 minutes into a Power Hour Cycling class or pumping out our 16th rep of chest press in Strength class and Joy yells out “Exercise is a WHHATTT?” I get this sudden burst of vitality that no energy drink or supplement could provide.

The picture at the top of this post sums this whole notion up so well. I think about all of those who can’t work out or choose not to work out and I’m just so appreciative of my body and that I’ve been blessed with good health and the ability and desire to live an active lifestyle.

A few weeks ago, I came across the story of little Cody McCasland, a boy who has defied all odds since the day he entered this earth. Cody was born with a rare birth defect called Sacral Agenesis that caused his legs to form both missing tibias and knees. He underwent surgery to amputate both of his legs above the knee at just 15 months old and started walking with his first set of prostheses at just 17 months.

How can you NOT be inspired by this image?

Now 10 years old, Cody and his parents have formed Team Cody to raise money for the children’s hospital he was treated at, as well as the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Cody has trained and competed in many athletic events and has even spent time with military professionals that have come back from Afghanistan and Iraq with amputations, showing off his “unlimbited abilities.”

Check out Cody on The Ellen Degeneres Show back in 2008.

Amazing how after I watched this video, that pain in my hamstrings and shoulders suddenly snuck out of my body and hid itself in shame. This boy takes nothing for granted and clearly has decided to make the most of his physical ailment. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself, but chooses to live a life where he helps others.

For those of us who are fortunate enough to have no physical limitations, let’s consider ourselves lucky. Let’s take advantage of the fact that we CAN exercise. Be grateful every time you walk from your car to your front door, every time you play a pick-up game of basketball with your friends, every time you are sore because you were able to take part in a race. And always remembers – exercise is a WHHATTT?

A privilege.

Now if you read the title of this post, you are probably wondering what my pathetic infatuation has to do with celebrity appearances. The idea for this post came one evening this past week when I was indulging in my addiction. As I was on the elliptical at the gym, I found myself extremely “connected.” In addition to actually working out, I was watching one of those entertainment TV shows, reading the latest issue of a guilty-pleasure magazine AND listening to the radio on my iPod (not to mention, I was people-watching…sad, but true). I’m that person at the gym; you know, the one who does practically everything else other than focusing on the repetitive motion of the machine. Still feel like I got a good workout in, nonetheless; heart rate was up and I did break a sweat or two. Some would say this is not actually working out; I, on the other hand, call it true talent.

In addition to all my other distractions, I pose for pictures on machines too...

Alas , this is not the point of my post…

As I was employing my superpowers and watching the TV while reading the magazine, two nearly identical stories were on my radar, discussing not-so-fit celebrities trying to get in shape for 2012. And both of them involved images such as these…

K-Fed (Brittany Spear's ex) running

Hopefully the old Arnold "will be back"

This got me thinking about celebrities and whether we view them as healthy or not healthy (another distraction from my actual workout – rats). All too often, we think “Oh it must be so easy to be a celebrity and have the money and time to devote to getting in shape and eating right.”

Sure, they may have a few extra resources at hand. However, celebrities must still have the drive and motivation to live a healthy lifestyle, just like you and me. We all know that the only person who can whip you into shape is YOU. Your personal trainer can help, those tasteless-yet-supposedly-healthy tofu brownies may help. But YOU have to want to make the change and put in the work to do it.

Another factor to consider is that appearances can be deceiving. Just because someone (namely a celebrity) looks healthy, does not necessarily mean they are healthy. And conversely, some people may look like they are a bit overweight (a relative term, in my opinion), but may actually live quite the healthy lifestyle.

So I made a short list (making lists – another addiction of mine…). Keep in mind that this is a completely subjective list. The research done for this was made up of knowledge I have gained from the most credible of resources: celebrity gossip magazines, questionable entertainment websites and the like. However, despite what I like to choose to believe, I’ve been told tthese are not the most accurate sources for information…

I’m interested to hear your feedback on my thoughts. Is it easier for celebrities to stay in shape than the Average Joe or Jane? Any celebrities you would want to add to my lists? Any disputes on those I put on my lists? Talk to me – remember, I like staying connected…

Celebrities who look healthy and ARE healthy

• Reese Witherspoon: One of my favorite actresses and a great role model for living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Reese is an avid runner who attributes her dedication to the fact that for her, running doesn’t even feel like working out. She frequently has a fitness buddy with her, whether it is her husband or dog, and also incorporates yoga and spin classes into her regime to avoid a workout rut. She has a healthy looking physique, unlike so many of the celebrities we see today deemed as “in shape.” And while she makes great movies, I think Reese’s most admirable role is as the Global Avon Ambassador, for which she participates in numerous Avon Breast Cancer Walks across the nation each year.

• Matthew McConaughey: The notoriously shirtless actor doesn’t spend countless hours at the gym, but rather stays active in the great outdoors. I know when I go to a beach, my first thought is to scope out the prime location to lay down and do nothing other than sipping a large strawberry daiquiri. Matthew sees it as an opportunity to surf, run or even cycle. He also strength trains on a regular basis and keeps his family fit by running with his wife and two little kids. Matthew attributes his great body and health to choosing hobbies that revolve around some type of active undertaking, advice that many of us could benefit from.

Celebrities who look healthy but are NOT actually healthy

• Jennifer Aniston: Yes, this woman has made every “Best Celebrity Body” list known to man, she does hours of power yoga with famed celebrity yogi Mandy Ingber, and eats lots of lean protein and veggies. But did you know Aniston has been a smoker for years? Now supposedly she quit as of recently in preparation for having a baby. But smoking is one of the most unhealthy habits you can partake in with long-lasting side effects. Smoking does not equal healthy, not matter how much you work out and eat right. I would still kill for her toned arms though…

• The Situation: You may have heard of a show called Jersey Shore. I pride myself in the fact that I have never watched it, but I do know of the characters all too well through their incessant media exposure. The Situation, aka Mike Sorrentino, does have a great physique…I mean, look at those abs?? He lives an active lifestyle, has his own workout videos and keeps his body in tip-top shape. However, he also takes part in heavy drinking and late-night partying and junk-food-runs on a regular basis, inevitable creating long-term damage to his body. And last year, The Sitch signed a deal to be the face of Boca Tanning Club – and I think we all know the harmful side effects of the tanning beds. Sometimes looks just aren’t everything.

Celebrities who DON’T look healthy…and you are right, they are not 

• Paula Deen: Other than the Republican Presidential Race, the biggest story of the past few weeks has been that Paula Deen was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes – years ago.  I hate to pick on her even more AND I do love watching her shows on The Food Network. She is a very entertaining woman and a great cook. However, I don’t think anyone can argue that the woman is not exactly a picture of health. Her dishes are almost always covered in a heavy cream sauce, fried or dipped in layers of chocolate. One of her most infamous dishes is a burger sandwiched between 2 Krispie Kreme donuts. She calls it a “Brunch Burger;” I call it “Heart Attack Waiting to Happen.” Hopefully she takes the opportunity to create some lightened-up versions of her classics and show America that low-fat does not have to mean low-flavor. I truly wish her all the best in her efforts to get healthy. Just switch those Krispie Kremes for whole wheat sandwich thins, Paula, and you are on the road to recovery.

• Jack Black: A greatly talented, hilarious actor – but not a healthy role model. So many Hollywood funnymen have built a career around being a larger size (a somewhat double-standard in my opinion). Think about it: Chris Farley, John Goodman, John Belushi, and the list goes on – they almost used their heaviness to make a name for themselves. Black has joked about his weight and being a fat guy in Hollywood, saying, “I’ve got a lot of fat guys trying to knock me off fat mountain. They’re all coming. They’re like, ‘I want to be the fat guy.’ I’m like, ‘No I’m the fattest fat guy. I’ll beat you fat guys.” Luckily, he has vocalized his hope to lose 50 pounds through “push-ups, sit-ups and a strict diet of…raisins.” He will need to eat more than raisins, but hopefully he will stick to his plan and be able to achieve a healthier lifestyle. We want him to make us laugh for years to come.

I picked up a book the other day, The Cardio-Free Diet. I didn’t pick it up because I am looking to go on a diet – I was just intrigued by the title. I wanted to see how author Jim Karas pitched this supposed “See results in just 2 weeks!” diet that didn’t involved any cardio? I was skeptical…very, very skeptical.

The premise of his book is that cardio does not help people lose weight – at least in the long run (pun intended). Not only that, but he says that cardio exercises actually kill us. The strain it puts on our bodies and the endless hours that people spend running, spinning or doing jump squats will cause much more harm than help.

He basically contradicted everything we have been taught about the importance of cardio.

In his words, cardio is “mindless exercise that yields forgettable results. “

Hmm. Okay…

Karas believes strength training and calorie-cutting is the key to long-lasting results. To an extent, I agree with this. I think that watching what we eat is clearly vital to our overall health; if we don’t watch what we put in our mouths, we can’t be surprised when it shows up on our hips 2 days later (yet we all still are in shock when our jeans are a little tight after eating 3/4 of that chocolate cake). And I’m happy that strength training is finally getting the much-deserved attention that it should. I found a number of highlighter-worthy points in the book. I’d like to share a few…

1. People who go cardio-crazy have a tendency to overestimate the number of calories they are burning, thus actually gaining weight. We think that jogging for 20 minutes on the treadmill burns enough calories to warrant an extra piece or 3 of pizza. We start eating more because the extra cardio makes us hungry.

Boy – that hits close to home. I know when I trained for the half-marathon last year, I actually gained weight. I wasn’t loading up on junk by any means, but I was eating more than usual. Nothing like a long run to make you have the appetite of a pregnant woman carrying triplets. Anyone else experienced this?

Yeah right - who is going to pick the apple?

 2. I think it is a little extreme to say that we shouldn’t do any cardio and that cardio is harmful to our body. Ask anyone in the healthcare world and they will tell you that we need to have some cardio activity to keep our hearts healthy and our waistline trim – and decades of research will back this up. Now, there is such a thing as over doing it with the cardio. Too much of a good thing is…well, not a good thing. Over exercising can put us at greater risk of injury and exhaustion and lead to burnout.

Call me crazy, but I’m going to stand by the CDC and disagree with Karas: get your 20-30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise. Make it a walk, run or hula-hooping. Just get your heart-rate up and I think you will be much better off.

3. Karas’ big push is for strength training – and rightfully so. Strength training is not just about trying to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I mean, I strength train 4 times a week and I would compare my body more with a 16-year-old boy than the Terminator. All joking aside, since I started lifting weights about 2 years ago, I have seen such a positive change in my body, not to mention it makes me a stronger, faster runner. Just some of the reasons why you should strength train:

• Helps you develop strong bones and protects your joints from injuries
• Muscle burns more calories than fat. Hence, the more you strength train, the more muscle you will have and the more calories you will torch – not just during your workout, but for hours afterwards
• Reduces the signs and symptoms of many chronic conditions, including arthritis, back pain, depression, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis
• Makes you look really tough. Okay, maybe this is more of a personal reason. But seriously, you look tough

4. Now this one just made me laugh. Karas said that marathon runners have higher rates of respiratory infections from running outdoors, therefore arguing that running is bad. Really? That is like saying that we shouldn’t drink coffee because we might burn our tongue (Note: I still burn my tongue pretty much daily. Just can’t wait 30 seconds…). It may be true that running outside exposes us to more toxins; however, I’m going to go ahead and say that the pros of running far outweigh the cons.

This guy just makes me laugh. Mostly because this is what I look like after I run.

So – did I like the book? Meh.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

There were a number of ideas in the book that I agreed with – and probably an equal number that I disagreed with. In general, I don’t really agree with any “all-or-nothing” approach to health; I think we need a balance of cardio, strength training and watching what we eat if we want to see long-lasting results. Nonetheless, Karas’s book made me really think about my workout routine and active lifestyle. And – in my opinion – any book that challenges my thoughts is a good one.

Let me know your thoughts on cardio vs. strength training, as well as feedback on some of what I said. Interested to hear what some of you veteran runners think!

So this is nothing new. We all know to eat our fruits and veggies and limit our Ben and Jerry’s and Tostino pizza rolls (hmm – those sound pretty darn good right now…). However, it seems that the best foods for you are often the most expensive. Many of us feel we have to choose between having a slim waist and having a slim wallet.

Not so, my friends – not so.

It was quite a shock to me when I first started grocery shopping for myself and spending my hard-earned cash on food just how expensive it can get. I remember the first night in my apartment and I went grocery shopping; I spent almost $200. I was sure that I was going to be broke in about 3 weeks. I quickly learned that maybe fresh tilapia and pineapple in January wasn’t the most cost-effective way to get my nutrients.

So I made some changes. I scoured the web for “cheap healthy foods” and “eating healthy on a budget.” And I while it took some time and effort, I feel I finally do a pretty good job of getting the biggest nutrition bang for my buck.

Some of my frequent grocery store purchase…

Pasta, preferably whole wheat. Cheap, easy to prepare (now that I can successfully boil water)…and usually can find on sale for less than $1, or about $0.15 a serving.

Eggs are an economical nutritional powerhouse if you ask me. And I eat them like Paula Deen eats butter. Limit yourself on the yolks and use half whole eggs with egg whites in fritattas and breakfast burritos. Here is one of my favorite recipes for Huevos Rancheros. No meat, just eggs and beans – and you still get nearly 16 g of protein.

Ask anyone who knows me well – I eat an insane amount of oatmeal. Honestly, I could (have) eat (eaten) it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a little ridiculous. However, you can get a 42 ounce can of oats for about $2.50 on sale – just about $0.06/ounce. Not a bad deal, not bad at all. And one of my favorite things to use in my oatmeal…

Pumpkin. It’s not just for pie at Thanksgiving. I ALWAYS have pumpkin in my cabinet. I frequently make this Pumpkin Oatmeal, and I’m a huge fan of this Pumpkin Bread, which comes out to just $0.24/slice (and 181 calories).

I use cinnamon like most people use salt – put it on everything. On my oatmeal, toast, coffee, apples, Cheerios – you name it. Bottled spices and extracts are a great way to boost flavor in foods without spending a fortune on fresh herbs. Not to mention, they have a MUCH longer shelf life.

So that is just a snapshot of some of the more cost-effective and healthy foods that frequent my pantry. A couple other tips I’ve picked up along the way…

• Shop in season: I love fresh produce, but I almost had a stroke when I tried to buy 2 small bags of grapes the other day and they rang up for $21. Not doing it. A great website I have bookmarked is this one, which gives a pretty extensive list of the best fruits and veggies to buy in-season. And keep in mind, frozen and canned fruits (without the heavy syrup) can be just as good for you, if not better, than fresh.
• Watch those sales ads: I have a Sunday morning ritual of drinking my cup of coffee, eating my oatmeal (shocking) and going through the Sunday ads to make my weekly grocery list. Most people don’t want to take the time to shop at multiple grocery stores, but if I can shave a few bucks off my bill by going to two grocery stores this week, you better believe I’m going to. Also – keep in mind Wal-Mart’s “lowest price guaranteed” deal; if Special K is on sale at Meijer for $2.50, Wal-Mart will honor that price. They even have the ads at each check-out, so you don’t need to bring them with (Yes, I was THAT girl. On a Saturday afternoon. With a line of 16 people behind me. You live and you learn…)
• Make a list: Actually, don’t just make the list – stick to the list. This is a challenge – one in which I often fail. And it’s never the nutritious items that are impulse buys. No one picks up an extra bunch of bananas; you pick up a bunch of mini muffins because they remind you of when you were 6 years old. Supermarkets are very strategic in where they place things throughout the store. Resist the urge to stray from your list and you will leave the store with less bulk and more cash.

Got some good tips on how to stay healthy AND be frugal when grocery shopping? Any good, healthy recipes that don’t break the bank? Share them with us. I want to make sure I don’t get burned out on oatmeal…

Barefoot running seems to be one of the latest fads in running, yet can something that was the footwear of choice for millions of years really be considered a “fad”? The tennis shoe wasn’t even introduced to the United States until 1917, so what were we doing before that?

I like to think that when the great forefathers of our country needed to get rid of stress, drop those pesky extra five pounds or fit in their corsets, they went out for a run – dare I say it – barefoot.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Janak Patel, a retired professor of engineering at University of Illinois and avid barefoot runner. Janak, 63, has been running for nearly 15 years, yet just started running barefoot this past spring – completely on a whim. While out running in Mahomet on a grassy trail in Lake of the Woods, he simply had the urge to kick off his shoes and finish the run sans-footwear.

Running a trail race in May 2011 - barefoot.

“It just felt so natural – and so good,” says Janak.

Janak’s running really began by accident when he ran a 5K in crystal Lake Park for his daughters’ school. He said he wasn’t physically fit enough to even run the race and at the end of it, he pulled a muscle stepping off the sidewalk. That was a huge wake-up call and made him realize he had to get back in shape. And running was the answer.

Now an avid trail runner, Janak is part of a running group who runs various trails throughout Central Illinois. Only one of the other members runs barefoot, but what Janak enjoys most about the group are the friendships he has established.

“The social aspect of running groups is so important,” he says. “When it is a bloody cold day and the last thing I want to do is run, I just look at those 15 people waiting for me in the parking lot and that is enough to get my going. It just helps so much.”

Throughout my conversation with Janak, I had one lingering thought: “You MUST have stepped on something sharp/pointy/object-that-did-not-feel-so-good…”

This past year on his birthday, Janak was running a special “Birthday Run” with his trail group. It poured rain the night before and the trails were under 6-8 inches of water (which he actually loved because it meant he could run in the mud). However, on one of the sloped hills, Janak stepped on a large thorn that went straight into the arch of his foot. After pulling it out, blood gushed out of his foot and seemed like it would never stop and clot. He finally just got tired of holding his foot up and wanted to finish the run.

So he did, finishing just as strong as he had pre-thorn.

THAT is dedication.

Janak tries to stick with a running schedule, typically running at least two mornings a week and then weekend trail runs with his group. He ran just over 1,300 miles in 2011 alone. His daughters used to call him crazy for getting up early for his 6 am runs. And while there are many mornings when he much rather stay in bed, he always tells himself that he needs to at least go out there and try, and if he doesn’t feel like finishing, he can come home.

“And I have never come back without finishing,” Janak says with a grin on his face.

Like I said, I had a sudden desire to just go out and run barefoot after talking to Janak. He just made it sound so natural and carefree, just like when you were a kid running around in the streets without your shoes (don’t worry Mom and Dad, I always looked both ways for cars). So I asked Janak, “What do you recommend to someone who wants to start running barefoot?” A few pointers from the Barefoot Connoisseur:

• Start SLOW. Don’t expect to run at the same pace you are used to running with your Asics.
• Do things around your house and outside barefoot first. Whether it is vacuuming, gardening or just going up and down the stairs, train your feet to function without that extra padding.
• Start running on grass for a few months before hitting the pavement. Janak prefers the trails to concrete for a variety of reasons, one of which being there is much more shock absorption and less pressure on the feet.
• It will take a while to toughen up the skin on your feet, but it will become very strong and less likely to be affected by the normal wear-and-tear from running barefoot. However, since the arch of your foot never really touches the ground, it doesn’t get tough like the rest of your foot (Janak had to learn that one the hard way…)
• Avoid running barefoot if it is too cold outside. Janak’s rule of thumb is if it’s 45 degrees or below, he laces up the tennis shoes. The last thing you want is to be mid-run and have your toes go numb. Doesn’t make for a very pleasant remainder of your run.

As we finished our chat, I realized that I was interviewing someone on running without shoes for Body n Sole’s blog. Body n Sole – you know, the shoe store…

I started to laugh. Janak said, “Oh don’t worry, I got a $500 gift card to Body n Sole last year for my birthday. I wouldn’t think of buying my shoes anywhere else.”

Good man.

Wearing some good quality shoes...

It’s only January 9, so hopefully you are still going strong with whatever you decided to do/not to do: eating that extra serving of vegetables, not smoking or eliminating one of your 14 cups of coffee per day (that one might be mine…).

I was browsing through blogs the other day and came across a post on New Year’s resolutions on the RunnerDude’s Blog. He discussed how to avoid “the BOMTICC syndrome” this New Year’s, and because I have an odd obsession with acronyms (who doesn’t these days?), I was intrigued to keep reading.

BOMTICC stands for “Bite-Off-More-Than-I-Can-Chew” and it is an all-too-common syndrome when we develop our resolutions. And why is that? Because we concoct these “unrealistic expectations” in our mind of what we can achieve.

So how do you avoid becoming stricken with this syndrome that affects millions year after year? Develop resolutions with the following tips in mind:

(Note: It is January 9, but it’s not to late to revamp or recreate your resolutions. Who says you can’t make resolutions on January 9 – it is still a resolution for the New Year, right?)

1. Set realistic goals for yourself: You know yourself better than anyone else. You know your weaknesses and your strengths. If you want to start going to the gym but haven’t been in 6 years, setting a resolution of going 2 hours every day right off the bat may not be realistic. Instead, aim for going 3 times a week or saying that you will try 2 new group exercise classes a month. Start small with your goal – you can always add to it later.
2. Write it down or share it with a friend: According to Nebraska Medical Center exercise physiologist Kris Volkmer, “studies show if you have a support system or share your goal with someone, you’re more apt to stick with your plan and be motivated.” Tell a friend or family member that you trust will help hold you accountable, but also won’t scrutinize you if you fall off the beaten path.
3. Reward yourself: Rewards along the way can be great incentive – as long as they don’t derail you from your ultimate goal. For example, if your goal is to have better overall health, don’t reward an intense cardio session at the gym with a trip for a cookie dough blizzard at Dairy Queen. Instead, treat yourself to a massage or a new pair of shoes.

It is really easy to start out strong with these resolutions and then quickly lose steam. I read a statistic that by mid-February (about 6 weeks into the New Year), 88% of us have given up all hope and sink back into our old habits. It’s statistics like this that make me

1. Want to defy the odds (anyone with a competitive personality will know what I’m talking about), and
2. Hate statistics

After I finished reading the blog post on BOMTICC, I became glad that I don’t really make resolutions (Note: the drinking-less-coffee resolution mentioned above would be an “unrealistic expectation” for me, hence why I didn’t even bother making it a resolution). But then I realized that I suffer from BOMTICC 365 days a year. Hmm. Maybe I will make a resolution: find a cure for BOMTICC.

Before getting into the bread and butter of this blog post, I would just like to take a moment to introduce myself as the newest face of our blog. My name is Ashley and I have been given the honor of helping run the Body N Sole blog. I am so looking forward to sharing useful information with all of you, whether it be product reviews, tips on the latest running trends or just general thoughts on the hottest health and fitness topics. I am interested in what YOU want to hear – so feel free to leave me a comment on here and let me know. 

I think any good blogger shares little tidbits of herself with the reader. So here is “Ashley in a Nutshell:”

• I was born, raised and have never left Champaign, IL. Maybe someday…
• I am 24 years old and work in Marketing/Advertising
• Likes: Working out (running, group exercise classes, yoga – you name it, I like it), fresh peaches, watching Food Network, organizing things
• Dislikes: American cheese, having to sit still for an extended period of time, filling my car up with gas, wasting leftovers

If you are interested in anything else, just ask.

Now – on to the fun run!! 

What started out as a dreary and cool New Years Eve morning turned into an afternoon full of sunshine, a bit warmer weather – and a bit more wind. However, that didn’t stop more than 175 eager runners from coming out for the 13th Annual Body N Sole 5 K Fun Run.

I arrived at about 3:40 thinking I would be late (another thing you should know about me: I’m always on time/early). I was a bit skeptical at the small crowd that had formed at the front of the store. I figured people were either:

1. Turned off by the wind gusts that had developed
2. Starting their New Year’s Eve festivities early, or
3. Stopped in Friar Tuck’s and lost track of time. Okay, maybe that was just me…

First thing I did was check out the snacks table. Now these snacks were clearly for post-race. I think everyone understood this except me and every kid under the age of 8 that walked in.

However, by 3:50, everyone seemed to have trickled in. There were people of all ages, some donning New Year’s garb, others still getting one last wear out of their Santa hat.

The expectation was for runners to either donate $5 or food for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. I was so pleased to see the amount of food donated – ’tis the season of giving.

Just before 4, all the runners filed out the doors and into the parking lot. I couldn’t believe how within the mere 20 minutes since I’d been in the store, the sky had gone from full of gloomy gray clouds to a crystal blue. Mother Nature clearly knew about the Annual Body N Sole Fun Run…

And – they were off!

Now you may be asking, “Why didn’t YOU run Ashley?” And yes, I’m still asking myself that. My foot has been bothering me the past few days, probably from one too many group exercise classes this week. Didn’t think it would be a great idea, but as soon as I saw those runners go, I wanted to just run right after them – with my purse, Ugg boots and all. Trust me, I was tempted. Check out some of these great pictures from the run – compliments of Beth Scheid. Beth – it takes great skill to run AND take pictures!

First leg of the race and looking strong!

Thanks to Jed Bunyan for stopping traffic for us!

You know it's a perfect day for a run when you can wear shorts and a t-shirt or sweatpants and a jacket

Runners of all ages came out for the race

I knew I should have stuck around. Busting open the snacks post-run...

New Year's Eve baby?

From the sounds of it, all had a great time. What a great way to end 2011 on a healthy note with family, friends and fellow Champaign-Urbana-ians. Runners stayed around after the run for the snacks and drinks, as well as a raffle and some great giveaways, compliments of Body N Sole.

Here’s to a happy, healthy and safe 2012. On behalf of Body N Sole, thanks so all those who participated!

The weather is supposed to be great on Saturday – almost 50 degrees and sunny…in December! Don’t wait until January 1 to get your year off to a great, healthy start; end 2011 on a high note and let your healthy lifestyle carry over into 2012.

Our Fun Run benefits the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. Runners can either donate $5 or a food item to the Food Bank. Food items can include canned meals, canned beans or other vegetables, canned fruits, boxed meals or peanut butter.

And if none of the reasons above are good enough for you, we will be providing refreshments and door prizes after the run! Entry is limited to the first 175 runners. Deadline is WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, so sign up today! RSVP by stopping in our store, emailing us at info@bodynsolesports.com or call 217-356-8926.

Hope to see you there!