Rockstar Runners

Helpful Links

We just received an email from Rachel, one of our team members, telling us about a site she discovered.  Here's what she had to say.

"I just recently signed up for the Rockstar Runners group – fun idea!  I wanted to share some hints that I’ve discovered, but didn’t know how to go about contacting the group except by emailing one of the team members!   Hope you don’t mind. :)

Anyway, I recently discovered a few websites that are great for tracking running distances using Google Maps.  Wherever you go (as long as Google Maps reaches there), you can track your distance and map and record your routes.  The one I use is

http://www.mapmyrun.com

I think there would be a lot of readers out there (especially new ones) that would be interested in this information.

Have a great day!"

What a cool site that is.  I will definitely be making use of this when I'm arriving in a new city and I'm trying to find somewhere to run.  I may even have to start adding some of my own great runs to the list!

I also use this site:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

I just got back from a 20 mile run and that is the site I used to figure out the distance.  I've been using it for at least a year or two now and it always seems to be pretty bang on for accuracy.  Especially when you allow for the fact that you won't be running in exact straight lines like you create on the map.

Anyway, if you have any other sites or tools that you use that you think would be helpful for our little community here just leave a comment below and we'll eventually compile them into one great find everything you need post.

Thanks Rachel!!

Moving Forward,
Glenn

Snow, Runner's Trots, and French Canadian Bums

One of the things I love about running is that it is something you can do no matter where you are. Since I became a "runner" three and a half years ago, I have enjoyed many memorable runs in such exotic locations as Thailand, Sweden, Morocco, England, and others. This past weekend I added another run to the "memorable" list - and for rather unconventional reasons.

I had a long run to do while visiting my brother in Montreal, so early Sunday morning I crawled out of bed, packed up my water and GU Energy Gels (they've got a new flavor out for Christmas - Mint Chocolate... it's actually pretty good!) and headed out to run the streets of Montreal.

Now, I will concede that I have not been as consistent as I would have liked training for my next marathon (Disney in Orlando on January 13th), so I'm not quite as far along as I would like to be at this point. I have also been training for the most part in the Nashville area where the average temperature up until the middle of last week was STILL around 70 degrees.

It was not 70 degrees in Montreal on Sunday morning.

Getting Started

Welcome again to Rockstar Runners!  We are thrilled about the response we’ve already had in just the first few days of getting this club started.  It seems that many of you are quite interested but still a bit tentative about how to go about this whole thing of running.

In my last post I mentioned how just getting off the couch and getting yourself outside a few times a week makes you a Rockstar.  So, if you are just starting, or just wanting to start, that’s exactly how to begin.

To get your running habit started the best thing to do is to take it slow and actually create the habit.  To do this, set aside 30-60 minutes at least 3 times a week to get outside and go for a walk.  No matter the weather, make sure you get outside and walk.  Reacquaint yourself with your neighbourhood or maybe even just the outdoors.  We were made to walk not sit around for hours on end!  Take a loved one with you or a pet and you suddenly have some new quality time to spend together.  Do your best not to miss a day even if it means a late night or early morning walk.  Remember, you are establishing a habit here.

A great motivational tool for me is to log my exercise.  I hate to see days with zeros in them and I love to see days and weeks that are full of high numbers.  So grab an old calendar, schedule the days and approximate times you’ll be walking then when you get back from your walk write in your time or distance or just put a big “X” through it.  You need to find what motivates you the best.  A sophisticated spreadsheet works great for some people and a scrap of paper nailed to the wall works just as well for others.

Logging your distance works great as you can see the accumulation of all your excursions.  You could also look at your watch whenever you pass a certain landmark and write that time down when you are finished.  By noting your distance or landmark times you’ll be able to see how you are progressing and whether or not you are ready to step it up!

During the weeks you are doing your walks it’s time to think about getting a proper pair of running shoes which I’ll talk more about in my next post.  So until then, be a Rockstar and get yourself outside and enjoy that beautiful crisp fall air!

Moving forward,
Glenn

Welcome to Rockstar Runners

Hello and welcome to the Rockstar Runners running club! Jeremy and I have been dreaming about this for a while now and I’m excited that you are here reading this and we are finally able to get things rolling. What is this whole Rockstar Runners thing you ask? Let me explain.

Quite simply, if you can get off the couch and get yourself out for a run a few times a week then YOU are a Rockstar! People will watch you and be influenced by this simple act more than you realize.

Jeremy and I have been traveling around the world for the last six and a half years with two other very talented guys playing in a rock band called ‘Downhere’.  During this time we have been doing our best to redefine what a Rockstar is. 

Over the past 4 years (since we have taken up running) we have been literally running all over the world. I would guess that by now we’ve run in most U.S. states and Canadian provinces as well as in Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland and Scotland. During this time I have managed to run 4 marathons and Jeremy has run 2 as well as a half marathon.