LINKED FITNESS

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a great new fitness site called Linked Fitness. www.linkedfitness.com

It is a comprehensive site for anyone interested in keeping fit.

Following is their mission statement.

We believe that keeping fit and healthy doesn’t have to be a chore. Our mission is to inspire you to achieve your goals by providing all the latest fitness information and a wide range of tools to support your progress and keep you on track.

 

Join the Linked Fitness Community and get creative by designing your own profile and connecting up with other members to share your ideas and keep motivated. Find sporting and fun fitness events to attend in your local area. Nothing interesting happening near you? Why not create your own fitness group and invite others to meetup and get active with you in your neighborhood.

Linked Fitness will be here for you every step of the way to provide you with the knowledge and inspiration you need to succeed. Whatever your fitness level or lifestyle, we understand that keeping fit and staying healthy can be tough, so let us support you in achieving your goals whilst still having fun.

And, it is absolutely free to join Linked Fitness.

Check it out. You won't be disappointed.

A RUN TO A NEW LIFE

Three years ago, Michael Higgins exemplified what has, sadly for many Americans, become a common story of success.

The 43-year old married father of two held an important corporate executive job. He commuted forty minutes to and from work each day. He was successful, exhausted by the end of each work day. he ate and drank whatever he wanted, and it showed. Standing at a height of 5 feet, 9 inches, Michael weighed 269 pounds, was on the verge of Type II diabetes, had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a chronic skin condition, and he couldn't navigate steps without pain in his knees.

In January 2013, thanks to the encouragement of his wife and two friends, Michael decided to change his lifestyle, and make the adjustments necessary to go from fat to fit. He signed up for a 3K race in March, eliminated processed foods from his diet, eating leaner meat, and adding an array of fruits and vegetables to his daily food intake..

Training sensibly and remaining committed to his goals, he did indeed run his 3K race, and by July 2013 he had already reached his initial benchmark of weighing in at 200 pounds, a remarkable drop of 69 pounds in just six months.

And he didn't stop there. To date, Michael has run a number of 5Ks, a 10K, a 10-miler, and a half marathon, and has trimmed his weight down to 175 pounds, a loss of nearly 100 pounds since his healthy journey began.

Today, his blood pressure and cholesterol are normal, he takes no medication to control either issue, and even his skin condition of Rosacea has disappeared. Michael has eliminated all artificial sweeteners, soda, and sugar from his diet, and he drinks plenty of water daily. He also uses myfitnesspal.com to log his workouts and daily calorie intake.

The journey of Michael Higgins is truly remarkable, as he has literally run to a new life of good health.

He writes a great blog, http://formerlyfatrunner.com/. Check it out and subscribe to it to receive updates and advice from Michael, as he inspires others to run to a new life as he has done.

                                                         Michael Higgins-Before

                                                                           After

HAPPINESS STEP BY STEP

Having written two books about running, I frequently enjoy reading other writers perspectives about our sport and its benefits.

I recently read, Happiness Step By Step: The most practical how-to guide to more happiness in your everyday life, and...the most unusual easy running guide, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0156XO93E, by Usual Oddman (you gotta love that pen name).

The book is great and the download is free!

Most of know that running is a positive addiction. In this book, the author explains the addictive nature of running, and lists reasons why we should embrace the addiction.

The book begins by outlining what are the things in life that really make us happy. There are a lot of unhappy millionaires out there. Movie stars, professional athletes, and other high-profile individuals may have reached a level of success, but many are dreadfully unhappy.

For the person who may need motivation to begin an exercise regimen, the author is a superb salesman. He offers many concrete reasons why it is time to get up from the sofa and get out for a run. And to make it easier for non-runners, he suggests an easy, regular workout schedule.

Peace-of-mind, stress release, camaraderie, and physical wellness are all incentives for those who may be reluctant to become runners.

The issue of weight loss is tackled by providing scientific and medical evidence about the effects of regular exercise and calorie burn along with a sensible approach to food consumption. Simply put: a regular running regimen, along with sensible eating habits, WILL result in weight loss.

There is a chapter that offers tips on proper running techniques, as well as some suggestions on what prevents many folks from embarking on a regular running program: finding the time to do it.

Most veteran runners recognize the importance of having running goals. In this book, the author recommends the half marathon distance as both a reasonable and an attainable goal for anyone who plans to run.

Simply, the author has, in a short, concise manner, written a recipe book that links running with happiness.

In a sense, he is a preacher and veteran runners are the choir. We all want more members of our running congregation, and this book is an excellent method of spreading our running gospel.

Read this book and recommend it to your friends. It is free and packed with advice that all runners can benefit from.

You can also go to http://happinessstepbystep.com/free.shtml to sign up for the author's new releases,mailing list, and to receive free bonuses.

Check it out and experience happiness...step by step.

PERSONAL TRAINING FOR YOUR PERSONAL BEST

Not everyone can afford a personal coach...or can they?

Visit my website: www.muldowneyrunning.com, and I'll personally coach you...FOR FREE!

You can also buy my books at Amazon and Lulu.com. No free workout plan there, but you can check out my gigs at Fiverr. www.fiverr.com

Ok, what's the catch? There's always a catch.

The catch is that you purchase some great summer reading material, in the form of one of my books: Running Shorts, or Personal Best. Both offer a great deal of running advice in their own right, but when you purchase a book, which I'll personally sign for you, I'll design a six-week personalized training program, just for you.

Here's how it works.

Buy one of my books, at: www.muldowneyrunning.com, then scroll down to the 'Contact' form.

Tell me your racing or training goal. Give me a short description, including your age, approximate weight and fitness level, and we can get started. Then I'll create a six-week training plan just for you.

It doesn't matter if you want to train to lose weight, to return to running, to run your first 5K, half marathon, marathon, or anything in between. I'll write a program that will get you there.

Believe me, I've been there. I've been at this for 39 years. I've run a 2:22:54 marathon, and I've gone back to square one after tearing my hamstring in 2013.

So, don't wait. This promotion ends on September 10.

Now you can run YOUR personal best...for free.

MORE THAN LACING UP THE SHOES

Running may be the simplest, most basic form of exercise. After all, one needs to simply place one foot in front of the other and go as fast as possible for a prescribed distance.

But we all know that running is much more complicated than that, and if you're around this sport long enough you realize that you need to prepare properly for each workout, and seek out a competitive edge whenever possible in order to make running more enjoyable and more efficient.

In my first book, Running Shorts: A Collection of Stories and Advice for Anyone Who Has Ever Laced Up a Pair of Running Shoes, www.muldowneyrunning.com, I wrote a chapter entitled, 'The Diet Book,' in which I stated that society's dietary and obesity woes could be solved very simply: "Eat less and exercise more."

Clearly, when it comes to our running performance, we do need to be mindful of our diet. I believe that we should do everything in moderation. I respect and applaud those who practice a vegetarian or a vegan diet, but I personally believe that, for runners, a balanced approach to nutrition is advisable.A steak, on occasion, won't hurt you. A steak every night is probably not a good idea.

Eat food, not products.

 Most every night during the summer, my diet includes a vast array of colorful vegetables grown in my garden. Lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and cucumbers comprise a portion of the nightly treat.

It may seem a bit "Old School," but the classic American Cancer Society suggestion of ingesting nine fruits and vegetables on a daily basis is a great piece of advice.

Balance your diet, and experiment with foods that seem to provide you with the most energy and allow you to perform at your best.

In your all-important running logbook, or on your app, write down the foods you eat, and gauge your performances after ingesting those foods.

Do your research.

There is more information out there than ever.

Suffering from leg cramps?

Perhaps you require more potassium. Eat more bananas to fill that potassium gap.

Some runners suffer from bowel problems during workouts or races.

Again, keep track of your foods and adjust your diet accordingly.

Finally, when your diet just isn't enough you may need to add supplements to your regimen.

Often, you may suffer from a diet deficiency, and supplements may be the answer.

When it comes to running, a college coach once told me, "You need to properly fuel the fire."

From a health and performance standpoint, a sound, balanced, energy-filled diet makes good sense.