#2 days after a casual 1:30 half marathon

[icarusaturn]

Learn about me!

1. Your name?

Maria Lawson

2. Nationality?

American

3. Age?

16

4. Birthday?

November 12, 2003

5. Zodiac sign?

Scorpio

6. Gender?

Female

7. Sexuality?

Bisexual

8. Your looks ( add a picture or describe them)

9. What do you/did you study?

I’m still in high school, but I’d like to study something either about language, music, or helping people/animals

10. What’s your current job like/what do you have?

I work during the summer at a Dairy Queen, a lot of my friends work there so it’s usually pretty fun

11. Your birth order?

Second, third if you count my sister

12. How many siblings do you have?

2, one brother and over half sister

13. Do you have good relations with your family?

Mostly yes

14. How many friends do you have?

Many but only around 5 close friends

15. Your relationship status?

Single

16. What do you look for in an SO?

Honest, kind, loves animals and kids, up to adventure, loves music, loves nerdy things, open to trying new things, good sense of humor, respects boundaries & privacy, not pushy

17. Do you have a crush?

No

18. When did you have your first kiss?

8th grade

19. Do you prefer a serious/meaningful relationship or casual dating/one night stands?

I won’t mind either a serious relationship or casual dating

20. What are your deal breakers?

No common sense, being an asshole, pushy, no respect, derogatory towards others, no self respect, being overwhelming and or annoying, hates animals/is rude to animals, can’t be independent, lazy

21. How was your day?

Good!

22. Favorite food and drink?

My favorite food is probably chicken or bacon cheeseburgers for meat, otherwise I love any sort of fruit. My favorite drink besides water (lol) is lemonade

23. What position do you sleep in?

Usually I sleep on my stomach or my side

24. What was your last dream about?

One of my friends’ sister was working at a Barnes and Nobel

25. Your fears?

Being betrayed, being lied to, everyone secretly hating me, being left alone, being forgotten

26. Your dream?

I want to be successful and happy with a good place to live and good friends

27. Your goals?

The same as my dream

28. Any pets?

Yeah, one cat named Sabrina

29. What are your hobbies?

Art, theater, band, choir, speech

30. Any cool places in your area?

I live in a small town, so there’s many unique things about it

31. What was your last awkward situation?

I was in the car at the local grocery store and someone I didn’t like parked next to me

32. What is your last regret?

My last relationship

33. Language(s) you can speak?

Only English, although I’m trying to learn sign language

34. Do you believe in astrological stuff? (Zodiac, tarot, etc. )

It’s very interesting so yes, I’d also like to learn more about it

35. Have any quirks?

I have synesthesia, the type where I can hear colors

36. Your pet peeves

Lazy people, people touching my stuff without permission, when someone keeps trying to talk to me while I’m listening to music, annoying loud people, obnoxious rude people, people who blurt things while someone else is trying to speak, people who think they’re better than everyone else, liars

37. Ideal vacation

Anywhere where whoever I’m with and I can do what we please whenever we please

38. Any scars?

A few from childhood and some more recent ones from self harm. I’m in a safer space and state of mind now, so there’s no need to worry

39. What does your last text message say?

I just signed up, did it work?

40. Last 5 things from your search history?

Marvel characters

Color block hoodie teddy fresh

Griz and Norm frozen

Everything I wanted lyrics

Kirishima shirt

41. What’s your device background?

42. What do you daydream about?

Movie/show scenes, memories, possible future outcomes, music

43. Describe your dream home

A house in the city with a bay window, an atrium, a claw foot bathtub, and a modern vintage look/feel, clean with nerdy decor

44. What’s your religion/thoughts on religion

I don’t have a religion because I don’t know much about it, but either way I don’t want to attend any holy services, because I’d like to prioritize other things. I do believe that everyone has their own rights to what they believe in, to me it’s like saying people should be able to eat, it’s common sense

45. You Personality type?

Campaigner personality ENFP - T

You can read about it on 16 personalities

46. Most dangerous thing you’ve done

When I was around 12 I flew with my brother alone on a plane

47. Are you happy with your current life?

For the most part yes

48. Some things you’ve tried in your life?

I’ve tried competitive dance, baking, hiking, and woodworking to name a few

49. What does your wardrobe consist of?

The usual stuff, t shirts, hoodies, jackets, sweaters, casual & fancy clothes, dresses, lots of shoes, jeans and leggings

50. Favorite color to wear

Yellow or blue

51. How would you describe your style?

Trendy nerd

52. Are you happy with your current looks?

Yeah mostly

53. If you could change/add something to your appearance - impossible or not - what would it be?

I want freckles lol

54. Any tattoos or piercings?

I have 4 lobe piercings, 2 on each side, and my left ear helix so 5 in total. I’m planning on getting many small tattoos and my septum pierced. Nothing drastic, all simple and small

55. Do you get complimented often?

Yes, almost every day with my hair and a lot with outfits

56. Favorite aesthetics?

Nature, vintage, character inspired

57. A popular trend that you dislike

There were these weird wavy eyebrows, not a fan 😂

58. Songs you’re currently obsessed with?

All of the Frozen 2 soundtrack, For The First Time in Forever and Let It Go from Frozen, Are You Bored Yet by Wallows, Amerika by Young the Giant, Maniac by Conan Gray, Come Around by Papa Roach, Same Damn Life by Seether, and Soarin by Bazzi

59. Song you wouldn’t normally admit you like?

I like mostly everything, so I would admit to liking mostly any song someone brings up

60. Favorite genre?

Pop or show tunes/ movie tunes

61. Favorite song/band/ genre?

My favorite song right now is a tie between Show Yourself and Into The Unknown from Frozen 2 or Are You Bored Yet by Wallows

62. Hated popular songs/artists?

6ix9ine, lil pump, artists like them

63. Put your music on shuffle & list first 5 songs

Prom Queen by Molly Kate Kestner

I’m Born to Run by American Authors

Holding on to You by Twenty One Pilots

Trip Switch by Nothing but Thieves

Swimming Pool Summer by Capital Cities

64. Can you sing/play any instruments?

I sing Soprano 1 and play Flute

65. Do you like karaoke?

Yeah!

66. Own any albums?

No vinyls or cassettes or DVD’s, it’s all on my Spotify lol

67. Do you listen to the radio? What stations?

I only listen to Spotify

68. Favorite movie/series?

My favorite movies are Frozen, Frozen 2, The Lion King, or any marvel movie past iron man lol

My favorite series are My Hero Academia, Voltron and friends

69. Favorite genre movies/ books/ etc.

Action, comedy, and fantasy

70. Your fictional crushes?

None lol

71. Which fictional character is you?

A mix of Elsa and Anna and Bakugou and Kirishima

72. Are you a shipper? List your otps if so

I don’t ship many things but I love Tododeku and Kiribaku

73. Favorite Greek god?

Apollo, Athena is my favorite goddess

74. A legend from where you live that you like?

There’s no legends where I live, but I like state legends like the legend of Paul Bunyan

75. Do you like art? What’s your favorite work or artist?

I like more modern artists, like ones on tumblr lol. These are a few artists I really like

@elentori-art @tecochet @cherriielle

76. Can you share your other social media?

I have Instagram, Twitter and the like but my Pinterest is maria_1820

77. Favorite youtubers

Colleen Ballinger, Joey Graceffa, Trainer Tips, David Dobrik, Molly Burke, Shane Dawson

78. Favorite platform

Everything but Facebook lol

79. How much time do you spend in the internet?

All of the time 😂

80. What video games have you played? Which ones your favorite?

I’ve played the sims and Mario kart and I like the sims more lol

81. Your favorite books?

We are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson and the My Hero Academia series

82. Do you play board/card games?

Not really

83. Have you ever been to a night marathon in cinema?

Nope

84. Favorite holiday?

Christmas

85. Are you into dramas?

Medical/police/firefighter dramas lol

86. Would you use death note if you had one?

I’d like to say no but I probably would

87. What changes would you make in the world no matter how impossible, if you had the power to?

I would have everyone have a good house and money

88. (There wasn’t a question here so I made one up)What was your first word?

Besides mama, my first word was eat

89. If you turned into a paranormal being, what would it be?

A Phoenix

90. What would you want to happen to you after your death?

I’d want my body donated to science

91. If you had to change your name what would you pick?

I like my name so I wouldn’t change it

92. Who would you switch lives with for a week?

Maybe a guy to see what it’s like

93. Pick an emoji to be your tattoo

🪐

94. Write 3 things about yourself + only one of them must be true

I love acrylic nails

I’ve never been on a train

I met Dan and Phil

95. Cold or hot?

Cold because I could put on a sweater

96. Be a hero or be a villain?

Hero

97. Sing everything you want to say or rhyme?

Sing everything because I sometimes find rhyming annoying

98. Shape shifting or controlling time?

Shape shifting

99. Be immortal or be immune to everything aside from natural death?

Immune to everything but natural death

100. Book or movie?

Both

[innerclouds]

Requested:

Asks, because why not?

-

1. Name No.

2. Nationality Mutt.

3. Age Old.

4. Birthday Eventually.

5. Zodiac sign (or your primal zodiac sign) Rat.

6. Gender Complicated.

7. Sexuality Triggering.

8. Your looks (add a picture or describe yourself)

9. What do you/did you study? Comfort foods.

10. What’s your current job like?/What job would you like to have? Meh.

-

11. Your birth order My what?

12. How many siblings do you have? Too many.

13. Do you have good relations with your family? Not really.

14. How many friends do you have? One.

15. Your relationship status Pending.

16. What do you look for in a SO? Brains.

17. Do you have a crush? Maybe.

18. When did you have your first kiss? Forever and a half ago.

19. Do you prefer serious and meaningful relationships or casual dating/one night stands? Depends.

20. What are your deal breakers? Long list.

-

21. How was your day? Tiring.

22. Favourite food & drink Chinese take out, spicy mexican, plain coffee and tea, ginger ale, water.

23. What position do you sleep in? Sides.

24. What was your last dream about? The old man and the cat again, seriously wtf is on the stage in the room below, why can't I see and why do I keep having this one?

25. Your fears Long list.

26. Your dreams Short list.

27. Your goals Shorter list.

28. Any pets? Gatto.

29. What are your hobbies? Procrastinating.

30. Any cool places in your area? I live next to a literal ghost town if that's considered cool these days, other then that it's wilderness everywhere else. So no, probably not.

31. What was your last awkward situation? I have multiple of those daily so I don't bother to keep up.

32. What is your last regret? Long list.

33. Language/s you can speak English, engrish, bad english, pig latin, spanish, italian, german, russian, japanese.

34. Do you believe in astrological stuff? (Zodiac, tarot, etc.) Not really, but it's fun to entertain.

35. Have any quirks? Pop all the joints.

36. Your pet peeves Long list.

37. Ideal vacation Raiding certain countries of all their street food.

38. Any scars? Lots.

39. What does your last text message say? Something about cats.

40. Last 5 things from your search history Sexual dimorphism in animals, recently opened place in town, amazon, wowhead and something for SL.

41. What’s your [device] background? Gay red head.

42. What do you daydream about? Cheese.

43. Describe your dream home Big enough, big kitchen, large fireplace, skylights, trees, out in the sticks, lots of property for a hobby farm, horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, donkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits, quail, fish pond.

44. What’s your religion/Your thought about religion Flying spaghetti monster. Stay in your lane and we'll get along.

45. Your personality type Brains.

46. The most dangerous thing you’ve done Short list of those.

47. Are you happy with your current life? It could always be better.

48. Some things you’ve tried in your life Such as?

-

49. What does your wardrobe consist of? Jeans, t-shirt.

50. Favourite colour to wear? Black.

51. How would you describe your style? Nonexistent.

52. Are you happy with your current looks? Lolno.

53. If you could change/add something to your appearance - impossible or not - what would it be? All of it.

54. Any tattoos or piercings? No.

55. Do you get complimented often? No.

56. Favourite aesthetic? Couple of those.

57. A popular trend that you dislike Coughing on produce during a pandemic and/or stealing products during a pandemic under the guise of internet brownie points by giving it to the homeless. I get it, you want to do a good deed, but pay for the items then give them out, don't be a piece of shit and steal it then turn around all "It's for a good cause!" Yeah nah, you're still in the wrong because you stole and are an asshole for hiding behind the homeless afterwards like a coward.

-

58. Songs you’re currently obsessed with? None atm.

59. Song you normally wouldn’t admit you like. Idk.

60. Favourite genre? For what? Music? I dunno.

61. Favourite artist/band/genre? I don't have a particular favorite anymore.

62. Hated popular songs/artists? Anything rap.

63. Put your music on shuffle and list first 5 I don't have anything that has a shuffle on it.

64. Can you sing or play any instruments? No.

65. Do you like karaoke? No.

66. Own any albums? A few.

67. Do you listen to radio? What stations? No.

-

68. Favourite movie/series? Long list.

69. Favourite genre of movies/books/etc Mystery, horror, drama, scifi.

70. Your fictional crush/es Short list.

71. Which fictional character is you? Rather not say.

72. Are you a shipper? List your otps, if so Sebagrell.

73. Favourite greek god? Aeolus, I guess.

74. A legend from where you live that you like Something about a giant mountain fish.

75. Do you like art? What’s your favourite work or artist? Yes. Dunno.

76. Can you share your other social media? I'm on twitter but don't bother, it's pretty much dead.

77. Favourite youtubers? Eh.

78. Favourite platform? See above.

79. How much time do you spend on the internet? Too much/not enough.

80. What video games have you played? Which one’s your favourite? Soma.

81. Your favourite books (manga also counts) Handful of those.

82. Do you play board/card games? No.

83. Have you ever been to a night marathon in cinema? No.

84. Favourite holiday Halloween.

85. Are you into dramas? Sorta?

-

86. Would you use death note, if you had one? Absofuckinglutely.

87. What changes would you make in the world, no matter how impossible, if you had the power to? Roll the earth into the sun like a marble.

88. Could you survive a zombie apocalypse? I expect I could for about a week or two then do something stupid and end up dying for it.

89. If you had to be turned into a paranormal being, what would it be? Ghost, so I could actually go invisible whenever I wanted. Alternately, new cryptid who preys on take out delivery and ambushes at the door before scurrying off with the boxes.

90. What would you want to happen to you after your death? Be reaper.

91. If you had to change your name, what would be your pick? Something celtic.

92. Who would you switch your life with for a week? No one, everyone's got problems just in different shades.

93. Pick an emoji to be your tattoo Ew, no.

94. Write 3 things about yourself - only one of them must be true Rode in a hot air balloon. Won some baseball contest thing. Is actually a gay red head. -

95. Cold or hot? Lightly chilled.

96. Be a hero or be a villain? Villain or antihero.

97. Sing everything you want to say or rhyme? No.

98. Shapeshifting or controlling time?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ePWNmLP0Z0

99. Be immortal or be immune to everything aside from natural death? That's a tough one. On one hand I'd like to live to see the heat death of the universe or at least until the sun torches our dirt ball/we collide with andromeda, but on the other hand I'd rather not have to deal with another plague.

100. ….. or …..? ....

[wjrnow]

Marathon Running Guide for Beginners

While training to run a marathon, one needs to focus on cardiovascular fitness and musculoskeletal resilience (the ability of your skeleton and muscle to bounce back). Your body encounters a significant musculoskeletal resilience factor compared to cardiovascular fitness when the distance to run increases.  Put, in other words, running short miles needs your body to receive oxygen as fast as possible. However, if you wish to run all day long, you will need to bear compressive and ground reactive forces on the musculoskeletal system. A marathon takes a middle ground while challenging both these components. The marathon-running guide for beginners that we have provided below will help you find the perfect regime for your daily running routine.

How and Where to Start?

Marathons vary from peaceful, low-key events with tens of thousands of competitors on backcountry roads to spectator-lined metropolitan courses. Race a few quick runs, root for a competitor, or participate at marathons to help yourself get accustomed to the event and recognize your interests. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Visit a Physician: Marathons that go as far as 26.2 miles or more will put you at a comparatively higher risk of injury than casual everyday jogs. Therefore, you should consult with your physician before you take on any training program.

Give Yourself Time: The conventional wisdom recommends that aspiring marathoners maintain a running routine for as much as a year before they take on any training program. One factor which often leads to injury while you run is building weekly mileage too quickly — so don’t overlook the importance of running at least 20–30 miles regularly a week before you commit yourself to marathon training.

Don’t Start Big: Start with short races that cover 5K, 10K, or maybe half a marathon. Short tracks are the most efficient way to mentally and physically prepare for your first marathon. You should try building your weekly mileage with time by running nothing more than three to five times a week.

Preparing Yourself for a Marathon

Base Mileage

Training programs for marathon range anywhere between 12 and 20 weeks. Beginners who are just starting need to aim at building their weekly mileage to as much as 50 miles over four months that lead to race day. Running three-five times a week is enough. A relatively relaxed pace allows your run to complete itself at its best. You should take care to run at a leisurely pace– think in terms of anything that will enable you to have a conversation. When building your base mileage, don’t increase the weekly limit you have sent by more than 10 percent. The focus of your base training phase should be on:

Increasing endurance- this refers to your aerobic capacity.

Training your central nervous system is needed to ensure that the communication between your muscles and brain remains efficient.

Improving muscle strength mainly focuses on preventing injury and ensuring a smooth transition to more challenging workouts.

Increasing Distance

The next step in your training is building your long run every week. Do this once every week or a maximum of 10 days. Make sure you increase the long term by a couple of miles every week. Remember to take it down a notch to avoid overtaxing your body and preventing injuries.  Doing such runs at a slow pace will help build confidence by allowing your body to adjust to longer distances while you only burn fat for fuel. Most training plans require that you run as much as 20 miles. However, when you run a marathon, you might have to cover an extra few miles. If you train correctly, your body will attain a peak shape that you can take advantage of on the day of the marathon, along with the crowd support and adrenaline rush you are sure to get. Some other points to keep in mind:

No Garbage Miles: To stop the “garbage miles” from affecting your regime, the perfect weekly routine will consist of a few days devoted to weightlifting. There will also be other long-term days that will help the body heal from the intense regime while constantly developing enormous stamina.

Dressing Right: Review the prediction for the day’s weather, and dress accordingly. Carry the tried-and-tested gear and not anything new.

Choosing the Right Shoes: Naturally, if you start in the winters, you will have to be careful about what you are wearing. Pick the shoes that will give you maximum support and protection while staying comfortable at every step, particularly at long distances.

Training your Muscles: Working on muscle performance is essential. The right approach towards it is pushing yourself to the practice of running faster paces on an 800-meter track or even the gymnasium treadmill. This workout helps develop the body and prevents it from overwhelming itself while the athlete remains motivated to move at a heightened speed. A better way to end the long runs is by forcing yourself in the last mile to move harder so that your muscles are accustomed to completing the marathon at a higher pace.

Enjoy: Reflect and rest instead of racing on the day before the marathon. Spending too much time running or walking can just tire you out. On the other hand, sticking around the entire anticipation of the pre-race will increase your stress rates and leave you tired by the end of the day. However, taking a long, 20-minute run to shake off your muscles and relax your emotions may also be helpful. If you’re racing, take the opportunity to note you’ve worked well and are prepared.

Taking Proper Rest

Days of rest imply no racing. They let you heal your muscles from taxing workouts and help avoid mental exhaustion. Injury is the worst threat of all potential marathoners, and recovery is the most excellent defense against damage. If you’re waiting on your rest days to do something active, you should consider some cross-training as an option. Cross-training may include yoga, swimming, cycling, hiking, walking, weight lifting, or any other active pursuit that is not as high-impact as your everyday running. Drink many cups of water or an energizing drink in the immediate moments after you finish the race. If you can, try and move a little to help your muscles calm down. Perform gentle relaxation exercises. Eat some simple carbohydrates, regardless of whether you like it or not.

Building Aerobic Metabolism

These days long runs are almost always compared to your endurance. If you wish to increase stamina, you need to increase the distance of your long run. Long-distance running has some apparent benefits:

Mitochondria become denser

You race faster

You remain more energetic

The efficiency in running increases

There is an improvement in muscle strength

This helps you become mentally tough

You build a dense capillary network that delivers oxygenated blood

Follow the steps below to increase your metabolism:

Speed training is an optional feature to add to your fitness schedule. It will improve your aerobic ability and make it easier for you to ride! The most popular forms of speed-work are progression runs, intervals, and tempo runs.

Progression runs make for an excellent early-season exercise, where you slowly ramp up to the pace of a tempo at the end of your sprint.

Intervals are a series of repetitions of similar, short runs, completed at a slightly quicker speed than usual with jogs of rest in between. For starters, you might run 4 X 1-mile repeats at a fast pace, with 5 minutes of easy jogging or even alternating walks throughout the mile.

After intervals come, the longer tempo runs— generally about 4–10 miles, based on where you’re in your workout. These require you to run at a demanding yet manageable pace. This exercise style prepares both the body and the brain to take out demanding tasks for a prolonged period.

The muscle is a tissue that remains metabolically active. This implies that during exercise and at rest, it can use oxygen for heat. A pound of flesh consumes around five calories or so over a 24-hour cycle, so the introduction of 4-5 pounds of muscle will increase the metabolism by about 20 calories a day.

Neuromuscular Fitness

Neuromuscular exercises help improve leg strength and neuromuscular health (your brain’s capacity to interact efficiently with your muscles). This is essential even if they are not your primary target. Some great ways to build neuromuscular strength are:

Running fartlek workouts once every 2-3 weeks

Sprinting up a hill 1-2 times in a week

Running strides a couple of times in a week

Hill sprints and strides are best considered “drills” instead of “workouts.” They ‘re an addition to your workout regime but not as parts of running, such as track intervals or hill repetitions. There is no need for you to do more than three hill sprints and strides a week. The “bridge” between quick, easy races and more demanding workouts is given by Fartlek preparation.  By utilizing resistance (weight) to stimulate the central nervous system, you will healthily attract loads of muscle fibers.

Muscular Training

Several muscle fibers are activated from both lifting and moving quickly – they “use more muscle,” which is more efficient in creating strength. Thus, it is evident that fast running and weight lifting are a part of your physical preparation – irrespective of whether you’re practicing for a mile run or a marathon. Here’s an easy way to get going if you’re new to strength training:

Start with exercises on bodyweight strength.

After 1-2 months, add medicine ball and resistance bands workouts.

You will now be able to step up like a pro with a good weight lifting plan.

After you start to lift daily, you may feel “off” when not doing it.   You will discover that you don’t heal as quickly, and feel less secure. Other things you should do:

Build the mileage slowly and for the long term

Regularly participate in hill sprints or strides.

Complete aerobic workout every seven to fourteen days

Include a fast fartlek workout between 10-14 days.

Nutrition for Marathon Running

It is easy to guess that you will need extra fuel for the miles once you start running. You’ll approximately consume an additional 100 calories for every mile you race. Not just this, the muscles would require extra protein to hold themselves up when working successfully. Here’s a short introduction to the foods you can consume as marathoners:

Glucose Drinks

These are taken in the first 15 minutes after your run is over and are best digested for muscles wanting sources of fuel. It is critical to have 15 minutes, as this is when your muscles will use them best.

Complex Carbohydrates

These deliver slow and steady energy. Complex carbs, including whole bread, whole grains, and unrefined pasta along with vegetables and potatoes, won’t cause the fast blood sugar rise and drops that leave you feeling exhausted when you complete your run.

Protein

Protein is necessary for the reconstruction of both tendons and muscles. Proteins are also critical to hormone control. The more often you exercise, and the more ground you cross, the further work will need to be undertaken to strengthen the muscles. A simple reference is that you’ll need up to 1.5 grams of protein for every kilogram you weigh if you’re running long distances. If you are just looking to lose a few pounds, your nutrition should be good quality and ideally lean, such as meat, tofu, poultry, nuts, and fish. Low-fat protein should not be an issue for those runners who don’t have a weight problem.

Fats

The healthiest oils to eat are monounsaturated oils, such as olive oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil, and avocados. Monounsaturated fats decrease heart diseases and stroke, making them the Mediterranean Diet’s essential ingredients. The receiving of their food calories from these kinds of fats and oils is safer for an athlete than from poor choices like lard or deep-fried stuff.

Water

Consuming water is essential for every individual, but this is even truer for a runner who sweats more than an average person. A good rule to abide by is drinking as much as two liters or eight cups of water in a day. There are other fluids like sports drinks, fruit juices, and herbal teas, which can be considered healthy fluids while you need to steer clear of caffeine and alcohol, which dehydrate the body.

Marathon Preparation FAQs

What Steps Should I Follow During the Race?

Move on gradually. It’s quick to get stuck in the excitement of race-day, but going too soon is a significant novice mistake. As long as you feel great, there will be plenty of miles to pick up your pace.

Remember that at the first few help stations, the bathroom queues are the largest. If you can wait for a couple more miles without some pain, this will save you time.

When you have a companion who arrives to encourage you, think about the places he or she can follow along the road. It can be a big help to have a partner along the way.

Do I Need Vitamins and Minerals?

Vitamins and minerals will play a vital role in giving you the strength to complete your run. When running, you will need increased energy, which would also mean you need more vitamins and minerals. These can preferably be given by a safe, well-balanced diet of new and whole foods. Bottled supplements can never substitute a balanced, diverse menu, and can be regarded merely as an option, instead of a necessity.

How Much Cushioning Should My Shoes Provide?

How much cushioning your running shoes contribute is mostly a question of personal choice. Over the years, empirical information has embraced the advantages of running with more, or less, or no padding at all — but there is no objective better alternative. However, different kinds of running shoes have their advantages. You should want to invest in a pair of well-cushioned running shoes if you’re running high mileage and have had to suffer foot pain in the past by spending too much time on your feet.

Reaching the Finish Line

Several runners desire to complete a marathon as a part of some personal challenge. You could wish to test your limits or might want to prove that you can go the distance. Maybe a friend of yours talked you into running or losing weight. No matter why, once you have made up your mind to become a marathoner, hold on to your resolve and make sure that you go the distance!

[pidgezero-one]

does using a blogging site for #pastebinmonday defeat the purpose? who cares

speedrun PBs:

overall this has been a great year for me. i didn't meet all the goals i set at the start of the year, but some of them i became less invested in while developing others.

i achieved top 300 in super mario kart, which is a big deal for me considering the level of competition in that game developed over 19 years. pretty proud of that, and i know i have so much more potential to climb.

i'm pretty happy i got a bunch of people to run crystal caves for a while. i talk a lot of shit about my runs but my WR is actually not that bad. i think with the route i'm using i can save half a minute at most. i'll get it soon.

i got a time i'm somewhat happy with in smrpg any% and took a hiatus from that category. i started running smrpg most of the stuff and it quickly became bar none my favourite thing to speedrun. i almost have my time under 4 and a half hours, currently sitting at 4:31:56. that's wild considering how good i thought my 4:47 was, lol. i'm having so much fun improving my times and finding time saves and helping flesh out the route and all that. i also had fun routing Beat Culex and am going to return to working on that category soon. think it'll always be my favourite game.

dkc2 is hard but i'm enjoying learning it.

i'm very happy with my mario land 2 time. submitting to agdq for the first time and not seeing a wall of red was neat even if it is a lottery. i was only a backup runner but i know that my time being decent allowed for that. i'll grind this game again soon.

i dunno if im gonna return to EB pajama. i really liked the all sanctuaries routing, and it's obsolete now. we'll see.

current plans:

i haven't streamed much this week because i'm having capture card issues =( so instead i've been doing the following:

-uninstalling drivers from device manager and reinstalling over and over

-trying old drivers

-attempting to test in amarec, which crashes, bc the native software also crashes

-testing from usb ubuntu, which wouldn't load and started hanging when i tried to manually run casper

-testing from usb linux mint which worked, but i don't wanna change OSes

-forcefully installing an obsolete windows 7 update to bypass a sha256 error

-bricking my OS with the above step, unable to boot to command line or use system restore from repair disc

-taking the drive out of my laptop and using an old win7 install on a 3rd hard drive to copy my files on the dead drive to an empty partition on the laptop drive

-the copy operation froze up so i made a backup instead

-was able to unbrick my OS after all and deleted the backup

-deleting the empty partition and attempted to fresh install windows 7 on it

-turns out my optical drive isnt reading discs at all which explains why i couldnt run startup repair

-made a boot usb of windows 7

-saved an image of my OS to the empty partition

-reinstalled windows 7 on my drive

-swapped the pcie slots of my cap card and usb card

-tried very old drivers to flash the card which also hung when i let it run overnight

-card somehow flashed itself successfully after i uninstalled the drivers

-upgrading to windows 10 which i left running while i go to work

so yeah... this is an adventure lol. as soon as i can restore my OS i'll get back to streaming, speedrun calendar coding, and drawing your emotes

luckily there's plenty of stuff i can stream that doesn't need a capture card! until i can get game capture working again, i will likely be streaming the following:

-return to the Crystal Caves 1 any% grind! my standing WR has about 30 seconds of mistakes in it. would like to get that 22.

-maybe i'll pick up CC1 any% cheat codes... /maybe/

-got lots of smrpg science to do. i'm planning on documenting every timed hit in the game. i might stream this casually

-speaking of smrpg science, i'm planning on rerouting the Beat Culex category to skip pandorite, i might stream that too since i can do it mostly with web tools

offline i'll practice dkc2 and mario kart.

other speedrun stuff:

rpg limit break 2017 was a huge turning point in my "career". i'm very grateful i had that opportunity and did a good enough job with it. to this day i still have ppl contacting me on twitter to say how much they enjoyed my run. that's cool. i will be submitting smrpg most of the stuff to 2018.

doing a billion marathons was great. i love to entertain, i love to perform, despite being mildly antisocial irl lol. got to meet a lot of amazing people that way and have no regrets.

thank you everyone for the support this year, it makes it a lot more fun. it's still wild to me that ppl actively wanna watch me play video games

i don't know what marathons i'll be going to next year.

smash stuff:

i miss you guys so much you have no idea

good personal stuff:

holy crap guys i got really thin, im not sure if 160lbs is a good goal anymore. if i see my ribcage protrude too much more i'll stop lol

i'm still reeling from friday. if you don't know what happened friday, read this thread: https://twitter.com/pidgezero_one/status/941905358259408897 i love my friends so much and i'm very very lucky to have you guys in my life... i dont even have the words for what i was feeling during and after that

in case it wasn't obvious enough from that thread and also this https://twitter.com/pidgezero_one/status/942742039158018048, grats to everyone who suspected that i'm in love with mishrak! unfortunately i dont have a prize 4 u. but this is definitely why i've been in higher spirits lately, lol

is it too soon to fall for somebody again after my last relationship only ended 3 months ago? idk. you can't really control at what time someone amazing shows up in your life and steals your heart. but that's why the option of taking things slow is there. anyway he's great and i'm really really happy. this is also why idk what marathons i'll be going to in 2018 yet :)

selling all that stuff helped me a ton financially. debt escape will be soon hopefully.

im gonna start resuming language lessons soon. time to stop being lazy.

i put a bag of frozen shrimp and a canister of lawrys salt in my lunchbox today rofl

bad personal stuff:

i'm still hurting over losing my best friend. it's been almost 5 months now. i miss him so much every day. i never got any closure or real understanding, so i'm doing everything i have to do to not let it consume me anymore. this means i've left some of your discords and i'm sorry about that. i just wanted my life back and to not be overwhelmed with anxiety all the time. but i'm trying harder to just focus on the friends i have who never left my side and make me feel cared about and made me keep my head above water when i wanted to sink. thank you and i'm sorry i was absent and unreliable for a long time. i feel like i took the people who care about me for granted and i'm just trying to do better.

[northshorehealthandfitness]

[caption id="attachment_65188" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photos (clockwise from top left): Big Sur International Marathon, Vermont City Marathon, Los Angeles Marathon, Grandma's Marathon — Duluth, Inc.[/caption] When it comes to spring marathons, the iconic Boston Marathon is always the pinnacle event of the season. But it’s not the only time runners around the country will lace up to cover 26.2 miles by foot and inspire along the way. These top 15 U.S. spring marathons (listed by date, from mid-March to early June, 2017) are all perfect opportunities for runners to prove there’s no such thing as a spring break. RELATED: Winter Running Guide: How to Run Faster by Spring

15 Spring Marathons We Love

[caption id="attachment_23693" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series[/caption]

1. Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon

Location: New Orleans, LA Date: Sunday March 4, 2018 Keep the Mardi Gras spirit going at the flat and fast Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon. It’s a big (and somewhat easy) tour through the Big Easy — with the party vibes of the French Quarter, the history of Treme and the natural beauty of City Park setting the tone. Like the many other Rock ‘n’ Roll events, expect a highly-organized race with lots of serious and just-for-fun racers. The only question is — will you stop for beignets from Cafe Du Monde before, during or after the run? There’s also a half-marathon, 10K and 5K taking place the same weekend. RELATED: The 50 Best Half-Marathons in the U.S. [caption id="attachment_65044" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Los Angeles Marathon[/caption]

2. Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon

Location: Los Angeles, CA Date: Sunday, March 18, 2018 Join more than 24,000 runners at the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, one of the largest marathons in the country. The point-to-point, net downhill course starts at Dodger Stadium (the oldest ballpark in the MLB) for a tour across La La Land, and finishes steps from the Santa Monica Pier. Along the way, keep an eye out for star sightings through the city’s vibrant neighborhoods including Echo Park, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and more. Fans of this marathon say it’s the awesome crowd support “from the stadium to the sea” that will make you feel like the real celebrity. [caption id="attachment_24167" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Yuengling Shamrock Marathon[/caption]

3. Yuengling Shamrock Marathon

Location: Virginia Beach, VA Date: Sunday, March 18, 2018 It might not be ideal beach weather, but the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon has welcomed a wee clan of more than 4,000 marathoners to its fast, flat resort town every St. Patrick’s Day weekend since 1973. The BQ (Boston Qualifying) course will take you past historic hotspots like Cape Henry Lighthouse and along the famous beach boardwalk. More than 22,000 other runners and walkers join in the rest of the weekend festivities — a half-marathon, marathon relay, 8K and “Leprechaun Dash.” Celebrate with a jig and a swig at the post-race party with live music, Irish stew and — what else? — ice cold Yuengling. [caption id="attachment_65045" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Boston Marathon[/caption]

4. Boston Marathon

Location: Hopkinton, MA Date: Monday, April 16, 2018 The Boston Marathon is the big leagues. It’s a pilgrimage for runners and often a lifelong quest to even qualify — because you’ve got to be wicked fast. Even after the bombing in 2013, Marathon Monday (which falls on Patriots’ Day each year), continues to feel like a city-wide party. Now celebrating 122 years, it’s the world’s oldest annually contested marathon. The 30,000 runners will once again head out to the starting line in Hopkinton, conquer the challenging Heartbreak Hill and finally, cross the iconic finish line on Boylston Street. RELATED: How to Run the Boston Marathon Like a Pro [caption id="attachment_24171" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Kemper Mills Fant Photography[/caption]

5. Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon

Location: Roanoke, VA Date: Saturday, April 21, 2018 Like rolling hills? You better if you want to run the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon — hailed as “America’s Toughest Road Marathon” and featured on many race bucket lists. A group of 750 runners will face 7,430 feet of total elevation change over the course (more than any other road marathon in the country), with three huge climbs and descents. So how do runners endure the killer ups and downs? Because they know the most breathtaking views of the region’s mountains and valleys are (of course) best seen from the top. There’s also a half-marathon or 10K option available the same day. [caption id="attachment_65046" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Derby Festival MiniMarathon/Marathon[/caption]

6. Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon

Location: Louisville, KY Date: Saturday, April 28, 2018 And they’re off — the 3,000 runners at the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon that is! Once they’re out of the gates, marathoners will take on the BQ course that includes a hilly section through Iroquois Park around mile 12 and a quick trot through the infield of the historic Churchill Downs. Spectators, we suggest you grab a mint julep and place your bets before the finishers come down the final stretch into downtown Louisville. The largest day of road racing in Kentucky history, this weekend also includes a half-marathon and team relay marathon. [caption id="attachment_65047" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Big Sur International Marathon[/caption]

7. Big Sur International Marathon

Location: Carmel, CA Date: Sunday, April 29, 2018 It’s no surprise to see Big Sur International Marathon, the largest rural marathon in the world, on this list. It’s been popular for more than 30 years, thanks to a stunning point-to-point course that runs along scenic Highway 1. It touches seven state parks, crosses the iconic Bixby Bridge and features 13 significant hills in the back half. Perhaps the 4,500 runners are too distracted by the sweeping Pacific Ocean views and Redwood forests to notice? With additional race distances suited for everyone (from the 3K kids run to a 21-miler) and plenty to do around the Monterey Bay area, we’ll add this at the top of our spring getaway list, too. RELATED: The 30 Best Marathons in the Entire World [caption id="attachment_65048" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon[/caption]

8. Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon

Location: Monmouth, NJ Date: Sunday, April 29, 2018 If you’re looking for a fast, flat, beginner-friendly and BQ-friendly race, then, “baby, you were born to run” the Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon. Not without a few sharp turns, this course takes you through a stunning stretch of the Jersey Shore. The race starts at Monmouth Park Racetrack and meanders through some small town neighborhoods before heading south. At the turnaround point, near mile 19 in Asbury Park, you’ll have the Atlantic Ocean views to take your mind off of hitting any walls. The crowds come out to cheer you on in the final stretch — along the boardwalk in Long Branch. The weekend’s events also include a half-marathon, relay and 5K. RELATED: 5 Running Tweaks That Took an Hour Off My Marathon Time [caption id="attachment_65049" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Flying Pig Marathon[/caption]

9. Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

Location: Cincinnati, OH Date: Sunday, May 6, 2018 It started out as an idea scribbled on a bar napkin by some local runners in 1999. Today the annual Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon has reached new heights as part of one of the largest running events in the country. Nearly 5,000 marathoners will cover the beautiful BQ course which “flies” through the “Queen City” and over the bridges of the Ohio River — all with 150,000 enthusiastic spectators rooting them on. And what other race can claim a bacon stop at mile 15? The weekend also includes a half, relay, 10K, the Flying Piglet kids fun run and more. RELATED: The 10 Best Races That Are Fit for Foodies [caption id="attachment_65050" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Vermont City Marathon[/caption]

10. KeyBank Vermont City Marathon

Location: Burlington, VT Date: Sunday, May 27, 2018 If you’re going to run 26.2 miles through Ben & Jerry’s country, you deserve extra scoops at the end of the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon. And that’s not the only treat for the 3,600 marathons who take on the BQ course. The charming streets of downtown Burlington, sparkling waters of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack and Green Mountains set the scene. Shaped like a clover leaf, the race is very spectator-friendly. And runners, you’ll be thankful for them, especially during the epic climb at mile 15, casually referred to the “Assault on Battery.” There’s also a relay option available, if you want to split the distance (and share that ice cream). RELATED: 15 Fun, Fast and Beginner-Friendly Marathons [caption id="attachment_65051" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Newport Marathon[/caption]

11. Newport Marathon

Location: Newport, OR Date: Saturday, June 2, 2018 Whether you want to run your first marathon or earn a BQ, you can do it at the Newport Marathon in the heart of Oregon’s central coast. According to race officials, almost half of all 1,000 participants earn personal records (PRs) at the non-profit race. There’s only one catch: You better like oysters, because you’ll be encouraged to slurp ‘em down at miles 11 and 19 of the flat. You’ll also trek through some of the most picturesque neighborhoods and fishing villages along the bay, with only a few gentle rolling hills and one short steep hill (mile 4!) along the way. Then it’s flat to the finish, where runners earn the unique recycled glass medal. [caption id="attachment_65052" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon[/caption]

12. Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon

Location: Deadwood, SD Date: Sunday, June 3, 2018 The Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon has been called the “best kept secret in marathoning.” Well, we can’t wait to tell you about the invigorating point-to-point BQ course of the largest trail marathon in the country. The first 1.5 road miles start in the old mining town of Rochford and lead 500 marathoners to the start of the Mickelson Trail, through the land of the Lakota Sioux. Here they’ll cover a mix of small climbs and flat ground in the first half and a huge stretch of downhill (especially mile 19 to 20) before coming to the end of the trail. It’s not necessarily a fast course, but if you want the thrill of trail running (meadows, forests, babbling brooks and lots of mud) in a marathon setting, this race is for you. RELATED: 14 Trail Running Adventures to Try Before You Die [caption id="attachment_65053" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association[/caption]

13. Steamboat Marathon

Location: Steamboat Springs, CO Date: Sunday, June 3, 2018 For more than 35 years, the Steamboat Marathon’s warm hospitality has welcomed 500 marathoners to experience a beautiful BQ course along the Elk River. The net downhill course, with majestic views of the snowcapped Rockies, isn’t for everyone though. With rolling hills, steep descents and a five-hour time limit, it’s a tough one for walkers or those who aren’t used to altitude. But there’s also a half-marathon and 10K available. Everyone can soak up their accomplishments post-race with a dip in one of the area’s historic hot springs. RELATED: 15 Races for People Who’d Rather Walk Than Run [caption id="attachment_65054" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Grandma's Marathon - Duluth, Inc.[/caption]

14. Grandma’s Marathon

Location: Duluth, MN Date: Saturday, June 16, 2018 How can you say anything bad about Grandma’s? It’s a small town race, with big-time popularity. Since 1977, this annual race has drawn 9,000 marathons to the North Shore of Minnesota. From super organization, to the vast views of Lake Superior along Old Highway 61 (and 32 rivers, creeks and stream crossings along the way), to the enthusiastic crowd support, it’s easy to see why. The point-to-point, waterfront course is pretty flat — just a few gentle hills and one bigger one at mile 22 — so it’s a great choice for beginners, PR-seekers or those who crave a quick swim after the finish line. The weekend’s events also include a half-marathon and 5K. [caption id="attachment_65055" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon[/caption]

15. Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon

Location: Anchorage, AK Date: Saturday, June 23, 2018 With all the extra daylight to spare around the summer solstice, why wouldn’t you run a full marathon in Alaska? For many past participants, the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon is a destination that’s well worth the trip. The certified course is a mix of bike trails, rocky gravel and paved roads that keep you and about 1,000 other runners guessing. Take in the natural beauty (and maybe a moose sighting or two!) as you meet people from all over the world — all coming together to spend the longest day of the year doing what they love best. On the selection process: We spent a lot of time reading online participant reviews and soliciting input from our own editorial team, as well as running contacts from around the country. When it came down to the tough choices, we went with picks based on positive reviews, reputation, popularity and the unique value they offer to the runner. We create these lists to not only feature some of the always-popular, bucket list races, but to shine a light on some newer, smaller or challenging races that offer the participant something off the beaten path. Originally published February 2014. Updated January 2018. Read More The Best Fall Marathons in the U.S. Why I Started Running — And Never Stopped 50 Running Resources for Speed, Strength and Nutrition

The post The 15 Best Spring Marathons in the U.S. appeared first on Life by Daily Burn.

via Fitness – Life by Daily Burn

[achrafchachi]

101 Best Hobbies For Men Of All Ages

1Pool/Snooker

You’ve probably already played one if not both of these games.

Most bars have pool tables, after all. But we’re not talking about playing after a few beers. We’re talking here about you practising over and over until you’re actually good.

Which is actually a lot easier said than done (especially with snooker).

2Golf

A classic gentleman’s hobby, right here. If you want to get out and in the fresh air but you’re not an adrenaline junkie

, golf is a great hobby to pick.

It can be expensive to get all the equipment, and membership fees are not always cheap.

But what we most like about golf is that your improvement is measurable. And like other individual sports, it requires a high level of mental concentration. This engages your mind on the task at hand, forcing any negative or stressful thoughts to take a backseat. For 9-18 rounds at least, anyway.

And if you’re on the corporate ladder, not much eases the climb like an invite to play a round with the boss.

3Archery

Hey, if you tried and enjoyed darts, why not get involved with darts for the big boys. Yep, we’re talking about archery.

Shooting an arrow from a bow is fun, requires skill, accuracy, concentration, and makes you feel like you’re in an old western. It’s also known to improve your patience.

4Shooting

A very manly hobby idea indeed, this one.

Target shooting is a lot of fun, although you can get lost down a rabbit hole of what gun to buy and it can end up costing you big. But there’s definitely something satisfying about learning to shoot and improving your aim.

Just don’t go crazy and shoot a bunch of people and blame us.

5Working Out

This isn’t a particularly ‘out there’ suggestion, granted, but it’s still worth mentioning.

Going to the gym is a very popular hobby for a lot of guys, and on the off chance you’ve never tried working out—you should give it a go.

Even if you don’t fall in love with it, it’ll boost your form, flexibility, and fitness levels and you’ll feel much better physically and mentally.

If you want to start out at home, you can get a lot done with a pair of dumbells and a bench. These two are solid options:

TELK Adjustable Dumbbells (105 LBS Pair) with Gloss Finish and Secure Collars, 65 with Connector, 105 to 200 lbs

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Bigzzia Adjustable Olympic Weight Bench - 7 Positions, 330 lbs Capacity, Folding Flat/Incline/Decline FID Bench, Perfect for Full Body Workout and Home Gym (Black)

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

6Martial Arts

If you dig Kung Fu movies, then you’ve probably always fancied trying your hand at a martial art or two. It’s great exercise, you learn about other cultures and, vitally, you learn self-defense.

Maybe you handle yourself already, but a clever choke hold is probably preferable to windmilling an entire bar of people.

7Riding Your Bike

Cycling’s a good way to get outside more. It can also get you from A to B quicker than driving in some cities (dudes from L.A. and San Fransisco will know the pain).

But it can also be an easy way to get and keep fit. But don’t be a hero. Remember to wear a helmet. They may look stupid but they stop you from dying.

8Darts

Again, there’s a good chance you’ve thrown a few darts around in your time.

It’s a quick, fun thing to do with friends while out drinking. But play a little more seriously and you’ll be rewarded with seeing yourself get better at something.

And, your math skills will improve. A double whammy.

ON SALE NOW

Viper Shot King Regulation Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard Set with Staple-Free Bullseye, Metal Radial Spider Wire, High-Grade Compressed Sisal Board with Rotating Number Ring, Includes 6 Steel Tip Darts

−11%

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

9Sailing

Alright, so you may need a little bit of a budget for this one.

And be quite close to the coast. But if you can rent, borrow or even buy a boat, there’s nothing quite like learning the ropes (and knots) and hitting the water in a sailboat.

It’s hard work, though. Don’t underestimate it. But the hard work pays off. It’s also a really good way to ‘tech detox’ and recalibrate your brain with nature.

10Parkour

A heart-racing French invention, parkour is basically running about a bit. But not on a flat surface, oh no.

You’re supposed to vault walls and scale buildings and jump over things. It’s an incredible workout and tests your problem-solving skills too.

You’ll need a good basic level of fitness before you get started, though.

11Rock Climbing

There are two ways at looking at rocks.

1.) ‘Oh, a rock. I’d best get out of its way.’

Or 2.) ‘Ooooh! A rock! I’d best climb all over that.’

If you look at them as climbable, then you’ll already probably be a rock-climber.

If you don’t, maybe trying climbing over or up some rocks. You never know, you might enjoy it.

12Surfing

Again, this hobby requires you to live kind of near the sea.

But it the waves are a driveable distance, then surfing can be a fun hobby indeed.

It takes practice, though. Don’t expect to try it and master it straight away. It’s hard work. And tiring too.

See the movie Point Break for more information on surfing and bank robbery – a slightly less advisable hobby.

13Fencing

If you’ve always seen yourself as a bit of an old school charmer type, then maybe fencing’s the hobby for you.

Elegant, quick, unique, you can guarantee it’s a hobby that will intrigue anyone you tell about it.

Provided they don’t think it’s about putting up fences and not, you know, sword fighting. Let’s be honest, they’re probably just going to think you watched The Mark of Zorro one too many times.

But who cares.

14Obstacle/Endurance Races

You’ll need a high starting fitness level for this.

We’re talking about marathon races, triathlons, weird obstacle races, iron mans, those weird running through mud things…

This one’s also a lot of hard work. But the feeling of individual achievement on completing one is pretty hard to beat.

15Skiing/Snowboarding

Preferably, you’d live in a snowy area for this kind of activity. But it’s not necessarily vital.

Plenty of towns and cities have dry ski slopes now. You could practice on those and just try to fly somewhere for skiing once or twice a year (more if you’ve the time and money for it).

It’s fun and it’s great exercise.

16Swimming

Speaking of excellent exercise, it doesn’t get much better than swimming when it comes to fitness.

It’s an all-over workout and helps with all sorts of things like asthma and bad backs.

It’s super inexpensive too.

Our Speedo pick if swimming for fitness:

Speedo Men Race Endurance+ Polyester Solid Square Leg Swimsuit

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

And for a more casual swimming style:

SULANG Men's Lightweight Quick Dry Predator Graphic Board Shorts Large 34-35,Green Shark

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

17Canoeing

Canoeing is a bit of a classic male hobby.

Getting into one of those tiny boats and fighting against the tide (or just going with the stream) is a lot of fun.

You’ll need a few lessons before you hit the rapids, though. If you dig kayaking but don’t enjoy the helmets, maybe try rowing. Another fine male pursuit.

18Boxing

There’s a perception that boxing is an aggressive thing. But it isn’t.

It’s a disciplined sport that promotes fitness and the release of anger in a managed and controlled environment.

What better way to rid yourself of stress and anxiety than by thumping a huge leather bag (or a buddy that’s gone to the boxing gym with you)?

Trideer Pro Grade Boxing Gloves, Kickboxing Bagwork Gel Sparring Training Gloves, Muay Thai Style Punching Bag Mitts, Fight Gloves Men & Women (Black & White, 10 oz)

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

19Running

Hey, who said hobbies had to be complicated and weird and require a load of equipment and research?

Sometimes a new interest can be as simple as getting your sneakers on and going for a run.

Running or jogging is one of the most popular hobbies for people across the world. And for good reason.

Running is not only good for your physical health, but it’s also great for your mental wellbeing.

Our favorite running shoe right now is the Nike Revolution 4. They’re super comfortable, lightweight, breathable, and the shock absorption is really noticeable when you run.

Check them out:

Nike Men's Revolution 4 Running Shoe, Dark Grey/Black-Cool Grey/White, 10 Regular US

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you’re on a budget, we’ve heard the Teslas are a pretty good grab for under $30:

No products found.

20Coach a Kid’s Team

If you like sport but you’re not the best at playing it, consider coaching as a hobby.

We’re not suggesting you apply to work for the New England Patriots or anything. But there might be a local side that could use a hand.

Volunteer for a kids’ set-up. It might be fun. Then again, it might be unbearable for you. There’s only one way to find out.

Musical Hobbies

21Playing the Guitar

If you already play the guitar, you’ll know it’s a great way to spend your spare time.

Learning new songs is always fun. You can pick up a decent axe for half a day’s pay and hit YouTube for tips on getting started.

Before you know it, you’ll be able to play easy three chord songs and you can go from there.

The Fender 6 is a solid beginner’s choice:

Fender 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar, Right Handed, Arctic White (0310202580)

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

22Learn An Instrument

Guitar not appeal? Don’t dismiss the idea of a musical hobby altogether. You can still learn to master another musical instrument.

Piano, maybe? Violin?

Hell, even a harmonica isn’t to be laughed at. Sure, you might look like a hobo or Death Row prisoner playing it, but if it’s good enough for Bob Dylan, it’s good enough for you.

23Singing

Most of us sing in the shower or when we don’t think anyone else can hear us. If you’re a bit of a karaoke whizz and reckon you’ve got a good voice, maybe have a lesson or two.

You could either just do it for fun, or join a choir or a band.

24Start a Band

Now that you can sing, play the guitar and the harmonica…

Get a band going! It could just be a one-man show.

But if you’ve got friends who play, it’d probably be more fun to get it going with other people.

And if it turns out you’re not half bad, get a little set booked in at a dive bar or something.

25Start a Classic Vinyl Collection

If you’re more of a thinker than a doer and don’t fancy yourself as a musical prodigy, then maybe take up collecting LPs.

Be warned, though – starting a vinyl collection can be addictive and end up costing you A LOT of cash.

Still, keep it sensible and you’ll no doubt enjoy yourself.

ON SALE NOW

Victrola Navigator 8-in-1 Classic Bluetooth Record Player with USB Encoding and 3-speed Turntable

−15%

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Technology Hobbies

26Start a Blog or Website

If you have an interest already and fancy telling people more about it, you could start a website or blog about it.

These days it’s incredibly inexpensive and simple to get a website off the ground (hey, we’ve managed it, right?!). That said, it does take a lot of work if you decide you’d like to make it more than a hobby.

Designing, writing, publicizing, analyzing analytics, there’s plenty to keep you busy (trust us, we know…). But if it’s what you love, it won’t feel like work.

27Learn To Code

If you’re more technically minded and the writing side doesn’t appeal, you could learn to code.

It might be a fun thing to do on the side to keep you entertained. Or, if you do well, it could even turn into an alternative career path should you find yourself at an employment crossroads in the future.

Our editor has used Udemy to learn HTML, CSS, and other coding languages and highly recommends it. It’s a huge platform and has all sorts of online courses.

28Become a Social Media Manager

Messing about on social media is what most of us do with our lives anyway.

If you’re not on social media, join up. It’s a great way to stay connected.

If you’re already a bit of an expert, you could approach businesses with an offer to grow and manage their social media. Or, you could become an influencer on Instagram and collaborate with brands.

It can be surprisingly simple to turn the things you love into things that make you money.

29Online Courses

Going back to school can be an appealing prospect for some. Especially if you didn’t achieve everything you could have the first time, or if you want to learn new skills to further your career.

The best part? You can learn flexibly and at times that suit you. Again, Udemy is a great place to start for finding great online courses. Be sure to read the reviews before you sign up.

30Flying Drones

Now, you’ll need a little cash for this. And also a vague knowledge of the law with regards to aviation.

But if you’ve got the money for one and know you won’t be illegally flying it, zipping one of these about is well known to be a pretty good time.

HOBBYTIGER H301S Ranger Drone with Camera Live Video and GPS Return Home 720P HD Wide-Angle WiFi Camera for Kids, Beginners and Adults - Follow Me, Altitude Hold, Long Control Range

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

31Video Games

Do you really need encouraging on this one…?

Video games fans don’t need telling twice to fire up their Xboxes, Playstations, or gaming rig PCs.

Hey – if you enjoy them, play them. Recent studies have also shown video games to be the best way for men to de-stress.

Just try not to overdo it.

Intellectual Hobbies

32Reading

Your new hobby doesn’t need to be something crazy you’ve never thought about or experienced before.

Your new interest might already be right there in your own home. Check your bookshelves.

Are they any interesting-looking books you’ve never got round to reading? Pick them up and give them a spin.

Or if you’re looking for inspiration, check out our list of 75 books every man should read.

33Researching

If it’s non-fiction you’re into, you might find that you’re really interested in a particular field.

True crime, say. Or history. Or politics. Or sport. Whatever.

Get into an area, dig deep, learn about it. Hit the library, go crazy on the internet… Really get in there. Become an expert.

This one links in well with starting a blog or website. As your expertise grows, you’ll have a lot of knowledge to share and will be able to add a lot of value to others (if that’s a road you want to go down).

34Writing

Maybe you’d like to try writing for yourself now you’ve read all those books and researched your favoured topic so thoroughly.

Try a blog for starters. We’ve already told you how easy it is to set one of those up. Then set up social media accounts for it. You can combine lots of these hobby tips,

You can combine lots of these hobby tips, y’know.

35Going Back To School

We mentioned online courses earlier. Maybe you don’t have the discipline for that. It’s fine to admit that.

Or maybe you have the time to attend a college or night school in person, or perhaps face-to-face tutoring is how you learn best.

36Learn Another Language

Most of us at some point in our lives will think about how cool it would be to speak another language.

So why not give it a shot? It’s up to you how far you want to take it. You could learn the basics of Spanish to make vacationing in Spanish-speaking countries a little easier. Or maybe you’d prefer to learn to speak Italian as fluently as a native.

Either way, you’re sure to be rewarded for your effort.

37Astronomy

If you’re the sort of dude who looks up at the stars and thinks, ‘I wonder what’s on TV?’ then this hobby idea might not be for you.

But if you’re the sort of dude who looks up at the stars and wonders about the universe, then maybe investing in a telescope and a few astronomy books might be a cool idea.

38Poetry

So you’ve tried your hand at writing longer form and you didn’t enjoy it. But you still like the idea of writing creatively…

Well, maybe poetry is for you. Sure, some of your friends might laugh at you, but screw them. You might have a talent and enjoy it.

Don’t rule anything out in your search for the perfect hobby, that’s what we say.

39Theater

If you dig movies and television, it’s not a huge stretch to suggest that you might appreciate the theater too.

It might sound a little high-falutin’, but plays were the first type of drama. They’re just movies set on a stage, after all.

And nowadays, some have some pretty spectacular production value.

Hobbies to Do With Your Partner

40Ballroom Dancing

Sure, you’re looking for hobby ideas for men.

Because you’re a man. But it might be a nice idea to get your girl involved in your new interest too. And we don’t mean make her get into dirt biking.

Strengthen your relationship while at the same time racking up some serious boyfriend or husband points with a little ballroom dancing.

41Salsa Dancing

Ballroom not really your style? Are you more of a quick-footed, red-blooded Latino type?

Then maybe you could give salsa dancing a try. There are plenty of clubs and groups, most meet in bars and clubs.

Sure, it might feel weird to begin with, but it’s great exercise. Look at it that way.

42Interior Decoration

Maybe you could amuse yourself and your lady by renovating a room at home.

Do some research, pick some colours, design some things.

You might find you’re more creative than you ever knew.

43Traveling

CLICK TO TWEET

Traveling really is one of the best things you can do in life, for so many reasons.

There’s plenty of fun to be had abroad. And maybe this is a bit weird, but I kind of enjoy planning the vacation as well.

You know, scoping for hotel deals, checking what’s going to be on when I’ll be there, packing my suitcase…okay that last one’s going too far.

Looking for destination ideas? Check out this list we put together for guys with partners, and this one for fellas who are flyin’ solo.

Oh, and be sure to check out Hotwire if you’re booking hotel accommodation. If you’re willing to gamble slightly on which hotel you get, you can save a crazy amount of money.

Hobbies to Do With Friends

445-a-Side Soccer

If you and your buddies just meet up and sit around drinking, maybe there’s something a little healthier you can do together that will give you all a new hobby at the same time.

And team sports make sense. Scaled-down soccer with five on a team is great fun.

Play once or twice a week and you’ll be fit in no time. And you’ll have a lot of fun in the process.

Remember though, no one likes a diver.

45Ten Pin Bowling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSV1c2eVkEM

Soccer not really your bag? Looking for something a little more relaxed?

If you’re more into silk shirts, hot dogs, and bottled beers, then get you and your boys (it can also be fun with another couple) signed up to a local bowling league.

46Paintball

If you love Platoon and Saving Private Ryan, but the Army’s a bit too much of a commitment for you, you can always pretend you’re a war hero by getting a bunch of guys together and shooting each other with bullets made of paint.

It’s top fun, a great workout and you get to employ strategic skills. Oh, and shoot paint at people.

Food & Drink Hobbies

47Cooking

Being able to prepare food is a vital skill you should have down to some degree by now anyway.

But regardless of how useful you are in the kitchen, there’s always room for improvement.

And again, if you get really good – maybe you can take it seriously and consider a career in food.

Failing that, you’ll be a guy who can pull off a range of different meals with ease. How awesome is that?

48Barbecuing

So you like the idea of cookery, but you prefer being outside to inside? It sounds like you probably appreciate flame grilling a huge steak much more than you appreciate pea puree and celeriac foam.

Well, take up barbecuing! It might sound silly, but there are real serious BBQers out there who invest big money and time into being the Barbeque KING.

You too can win that title in your neighborhood. But please note, if you win it, we can’t guarantee your neighbors will kneel on sight of you (like they should).

Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

49Alcohol Appreciation

Sure, you like drinking beers and enjoy the odd bourbon.

But perhaps you could read up on wine or liquors and learn their tasting notes and get a cabinet going. Become a connoisseur.

Don’t be a douche about it with other people, though. No one likes that guy.

50Brewing Your Own Alcohol

Carrying on the boozefest, brewing your own beer is a top hobby.

It’s a little like chemistry or alchemy. But at the end of it, you’ve got a whole keg or two of beer to drink.

51Distilling Your Own Spirits

Once you’ve read up on spirits and brewed your own IPA, now it’s time for the big boy stuff.

Make your own liquor. Create a headache-inducing moonshine if you like. Or get smart and create a beautiful Scotch.

It’s up to you how seriously approach it.

52Making Your Own Hot Sauces

So, you can cook, you can brew, you can distill.

Now for the ultimate manly food and drinkability… Creating a patented hot sauce that works great with food but is spicy enough to kick even the cockiest pal’s socks clean off.

Classic Hobbies

53Camping

An old style and very manly hobby, heading out into the woods with a tent and tins of beans is classic leisure.

You might want to go with friends or family. Or go full survival mode and try it on your own.

Learn to start a fire while you’re there. It’ll be rewarding. And warm.

Coleman Dome Tent for Camping | Sundome Tent with Easy Setup for Outdoors

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

54Hunting

Again, this is very old school.

If you’re okay with the idea of sending out bullets to rip through the flesh of defenseless animals, then this might be for you.

Fun, no doubt. But whether it’s moral is It’s open to debate.

55Joining The Freemasons Or Similar

Fraternal societies like the Masons have kept men busy for centuries.

There are rituals to learn and people to meet. You can also find out if they really influence world events too. Bonus.

56Model Building

Most young boys will have played with or even built a few simple models as kids.

But that doesn’t mean it’s strictly a childish pursuit. Model planes and boats and things can be huge and enormously complicated. They can take ages to put together and require great patience, skill and resilience.

Viloga 3D Puzzles for Adults DIY Tiger Moth Bi-Plane Wooden Models, Laser Cut Balsa Wood Airplane Kits to Build, Perfect Woodcraft Construction Set Aircraft Model Kit for Home Decor Collection

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

57Hiking

If you like to keep fit and get outdoors, hiking is the pursuit for you.

It’s basically just walking, but in the countryside.

It’s good for the heart and you’ll discover the secret spots of nature within your local area.

58Being a Dandy

A little niche, this. But there’s a sub-culture of men who are all about the ‘Classic Man’. The dandy. The gentleman.

They wear sharp three-piece suits, slick their hair back and smoke pipes.

It’s fairly heavy, but if you appreciate all things retro, you might enjoy it.

59Fishing

Now we’re talking, huh? Fishing is the ultimate gentlemanly hobby.

Nothing makes a man feel more like a man than casting a line and successfully landing a fish.

It can be expensive to get all the gear, but we suggest you just borrow a rod for your first time. See if you like it.

60Cigars/Pipes

If you don’t smoke or can’t stand it, then obviously, this won’t appeal.

But traditionally, a man would smoke. If youu’re inclined to toke, maybe cigars and even pipes might appeal.

AMANCY® Popular Cedar Wood Lined Portable Travel Leather Cigar Humidor Case,Packed by Nice Gift Box

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

61Become Interested In The Sartorial

You don’t have to become a catwalk model or invest half your wages in a new wardrobe, but an interest in fashion might keep you busy.

If you’ve always tried to dress well, maybe take things a little further and really read step up your fashion education.

Oh look at that, you’re already on the right website!

As a start, check out our guide on how to dress correctly for your body shape.

62Watches

A man should have a good watch. A watch enthusiast should have many good watches.

And maybe you’re destined to be a watch enthusiast. After all, there’s something quite beautiful about a well-crafted timepiece.

Further reading:

Vincero Watches Review: Are They Any Good?

Watch Gang Review (Black Tier): Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

13 Stunning Minimalist Watches For Men Under $200

63Falconry

This might not be the most popular option on our list, but it’s a classic male pursuit, for sure.

All you need is a big leather glove. Oh, and a falcon.

Animal Hobbies

64Bee-keeping

Alright, you might not fancy this suggestion all that much.

We get it. It’s weird, right? Dressing up like an astronaut and fiddling around with bees… But just think of all the free honey.

65Animal Rescuing

If you love animals, there are lots of ways of turning that into a workable hobby.

You can volunteer to help animal rescue charities. Or, if you’ve got the time, money and land, you could even set up something that helps abandoned pets.

66Dog Training

If you understand dogs and fancy imparting a little of your knowledge to dog owners, training dogs and helping their humans can be fun.

And you can even earn a little money on the side. Or you can just adopt some mutts for yourself and just train them to the max.

67Keeping Fish

Did you know that staring at fish can reduce blood pressure, stress, and even minimize insomnia?

While that’s pretty awesome, it’s also pretty fun to build and maintain the tank, and learn about different fish.

If you’re interested, start with a small tank and see how you find it.

68Bird Watching

Get some binoculars and look at some birds.

It’s as simple as that. Give it a flap.

DIY Hobbies

69Carpentry

The great thing about taking up DIY-based hobbies is that they can be fun and you can really see the benefit.

Learn a little woodwork and just think of the home improvements you could make.

70Lock Picking

We’re not encouraging you to become a cat burglar in your spare time, but locks are quite fun.

Each is a riddle begging to be solved. Learn to master them and never pay for a locksmith again.

71Gardening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsfoeUHMgP4

Ah, gardening. There’s lots to learn, plenty to keep you busy and if you stick with it, there’s a lot of payoff to getting a little green-fingered.

Scientists are finding evidence that gardening provides numerous human health benefits including reduced depression and anxiety. And as we recently explored, depression and male suicide is a real and growing problem in the world.

Not everyone enjoys weeding and getting dirty in their back yard, but you might.

Scuddles Garden Tools Set - 8 Piece Heavy Duty Gardening Kit With Storage Organizer, Ergonomic Hand Digging Weeder Rake Shovel Trowel Sprayer Gloves Gift for Men Or Women

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

72Metalwork

Like with woodwork, if you can get into being able to work with metal, you might be able to carry out some home repairs for free.

Or just learn to create some cool artwork.

73Car Restoration

While you should already own a basic set of tools, learning how to fix your car can be enjoyable and save you a lot of cash on mechanic bills.

Plus you can buy old vehicles for cheap, tweak them a bit and sell them on. Fun and a potential money spinner.

74Motorcycle Restoration

Don’t dig cars, or prefer half the amount of wheels?

Then the same rules as above apply. Just with motorcycles instead of cars.

75Furniture Restoration

Maybe you like the idea of restoring beaten-up old classics, but aren’t mechanically minded. Taking old furniture and restoring it could be your thing.

Again, there’s cash to be made here too.

76Glass Blowing

Ever fancied making your own glass vase? Well, us neither.

Still, though – it’s an idea.

Cheap Hobbies

77Card Games

Play with pals, practice on your own, maybe even just learn to shuffle well.

A man and a pack of playing cards… It’s a classic combination.

You’d be surprised how long you can keep yourself amused for. And all for just a handful of change.

Bicycle Playing Cards - Poker Size - 4 Pack

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

78Volunteering

Here’s about as worthwhile a hobby as it’s possible to have. And it’s something we feel every man should try before turning thirty.

Fulfilling and a genuine help to others, volunteering for a charity is beyond a doubt one of the most rewarding and selfless things you could do with your spare time.

79Photography

After you’ve spent out on the camera, photography is a fairly inexpensive hobby.

It’s also creative, and a great way of expressing yourself. In time, you could sell the rights to your images for a decent side income, or even pursue it full-time.

Canon PowerShot SX530 HS Digital Camera with 50x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3-Inch LCD HD 1080p Video (Black)+ Extra Battery + 24GB Class 10 Card Complete Deluxe Accessory Bundle And Much More

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

80Art

Interpret ‘art’ as you wish. It could just mean drawing or painting or whatever you like.

Whatever you do, though – it can be fun and shouldn’t cost the Earth.

81Board Games

Hey, so it’s not the coolest hobby a man can have on his own.

But if you have a bunch of friends over, board games can be a lot of fun.

Check out one of our favorite YouTube Channels, Beer and Board Games. It’s hilarious and you’ll get a feel for which games you might like.

ON SALE NOW

Ticket To Ride - Play With Alexa

−10%

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

82Chess

You don’t need to be serving a life sentence in prison for a crime you didn’t commit to take up chess, y’know.

Anyone can learn at any time. It’s a classic game and really tests the ol’ grey matter.

And of course, it’s useful if you ever do get sent down by mistake.

83Poker

Once you’ve learned to handle a pack of cards, why not master a true game of skill?

Poker’s fun and you can play with friends, online or at the casino. Get good enough and you could even compete professionally, although this will require some financial investment.

DA VINCI Professional Casino Del Sol Poker Chips Set with Case (Set of 500), 11.5gm

Check Price on Amazon

Last update on 2020-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

84Drawing/Writing Comic Strips

First of all. If you’re a comic book fan, don’t worry – we won’t tell anyone…

But if you do dig reading comic books, why not try writing and drawing your own strip? You might be the next Stan Lee. Or Stanley (that’s Stan Lee’s next-door neighbor who can’t draw comics).

Weird Hobbies

85Collecting Things

We’re not encouraging you to become one of those weird hoarders you see on TV, but starting up a little collection of something you’re into can be fun.

Before you start collecting though, we suggest you:

a) Make sure you have room for it all, and

b) Run it past your partner if you have one.

86Tomahawk Throwing

What? This section is called ‘Weird Hobbies’…

Knife or tomahawk throwing isn’t your run of the mill pursuit, we know.

But that’s the point. It’s quirky. But a real thing. Men in the 50’s used to strip to the waist and chuck sharp stuff around all the time.

87Antiques

If you back yourself as being able to spot a bargain, and you’re capable of bartering and selling things on for a good price, then antiquing may just be your bag.

It may seem unusual, but it can be entertaining and you’ll learn a lot about history. It can even make you some serious cash if you’re good at it.

If you’ve ever seen American Pickers you’ll know what we mean. Yes, they close out some pretty big deals, but as they’ll tell you, there’s good money to be made on the small stuff, too.

88Metal Detecting

Again, metal detecting might not be the kind of new hobby you thought you were looking for.

There’s nothing all that cool about being the sort of guy who combs beaches looking for bits of scrap metal. But the moment you find a whole bunch of rare coins? You’ll be loving it.

89Stamp Collecting

Yep, stamp collecting.

Hey, it’s the world’s most popular hobby for a reason.

90Bonsai Trees

Because we’re told there’s something quite peaceful and charming about growing and nurturing and caring for a miniature tree.

They also help you fight common illness like fatigue, coughs, and sore throats. This one almost falls in the gardening category, but Bonsais look pretty cool and we wanted to give them they’re own day in the sun.

91Building Train Sets

So you thought metal detecting was geeky…

Look, odds are, we know this suggestion might not be for you.

But hey – some people like trains. Some people like miniature trains. Bobby Baccalieri from The Sopranos did, and so might you.

92Historical Reenactments

You know you’re fully immersed in the weird and geeky suggestions when you’re being told that maybe as a hobby you want to try giving historical war reenactments a go.

But if you like history and messing about in-field, it’s an idea. Just, maybe don’t tell your friends. Or any women you meet outside of historical reenacting. Ever.

93Train Spotting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9773XbY5vA

Alright, now this is getting a little silly.

There’s virtually no chance this will appeal to you. It’s essentially standing around in the cold waiting to look briefly at a train. We’re struggling here to find the motivation.

But, still. Different strokes for different folks.

94Role-Playing Games

As you’re probably realizing, this section isn’t about being ‘cool’. We’re trying to hook you up with the perfect hobby. If you’ve got this far down our giant list and you’ve not found anything suitable, then we’ve got to dig deep.

And maybe RPG games are your calling.

95Magic

Magic can either be incredibly nerdy and lame or it can be spectacular and cool.

Learn a few tricks, don’t push them on your friends constantly, but a bit of sleight of hand is always impressive.

And there’s a whole world to learn about if you get into it…

96The Esoteric

Does reading up on the occult and about all things bizarre sound appealing? Then go nuts.

97Genealogy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_cfGoOaXR8

If history fascinates you and you’re a family man, then do a little research into your family tree.

A lot of people do it and get a real kick from it. And it’s understandable why.

You may track down a long lost relative and build an awesome new connection and insight into your background.

98Sewing/Knitting

Traditionally a women’s pursuit, you might think. And, well, that’s true.

But men knit now. And, in fact, men invented knitting. Specifically fishermen. So think again if you think it’s wussy.

99Meditation

If you’re stressed out and that’s why you’re looking for a hobby, try meditation. Even if you’re not, it’s something worth looking into.

Meditation is known to reduce stress, improve concentration, and even slow ageing, to name a few.

100The Stock Market

You might need a few bucks for this.

But playing the exchanges can be a thrilling (if dangerous) game. Here’s a great article to get you started.

101Pottery

You know, making pots. There’s not much else to say here.

Just like Demi Moore in Ghost (except without the spirit of Patrick Swayze groping you).

[krnaturalphoto]

2019 Finger Lakes 50’s

Last year after running my first two 50k ultra marathons I decided to take the next “logical” step and test myself out at the 50 mile distance. Perhaps many people would not see any of this as logical but it made sense to me. I wanted to find a race that suited my preferences. My first two 50k races were very different from each other. One being very flat and one being much more rugged with a lot of climbing. I did not feel like either of those things suited me well for a 50 mile adventure. I really needed something in between, not flat but not too much climbing either, I needed to find something in my Goldilocks zone. I also didn’t really want to travel too far. I didn’t want to have to worry about any extra logistics other than the running of the race. So that obviously limited my options as well. But as it happens just the right race takes place not too far from where I live and even better I had some experience at this race. The Finger Lakes Running Club puts on the Finger Lakes 50’s race each year. This event is comprised of races of 25k, 50k, and 50 miles. I had already run the 25k in 2017 as my first ever 25k, so I was familiar with it. The biggest downside to this event is that it is held on the first weekend of July, and I do not generally do well running in the heat. In my first experience at this event I guess I was fortunate that it rained the whole time so that I did not have to deal with the heat.

Finger Lakes 50’s is a loop course event. Each loop is approximately 25k. So for the 50 miles I would run 3 loops, plus a half mile baby loop to round out the 50 miles. I was a little concerned about the course being loops because of the temptation to drop at the start finish line after the conclusion of each loop especially if I was struggling. I tried to reframe this as loops being a positive aspect of the race. I convinced myself that it would be good to get more familiar with the layout of the course as things went on and know what the course conditions were like out on the course. FYI course conditions can change mid race.

I was able to “convince” one of my best friends to go on this journey with me. And by convince I mean I casually mentioned that I was going to do it and then she was “convinced” to do it as well. We both have run the same two 50ks together and shared many miles of running and training and adventure. We are similar runners, so our plan was to run this thing together and share the miles, the adventure, and the suffering.

We spent the first half of the year trying to pretend that at some point we were going to be running 50 miles. We focused on all the other races we had planned. Once we both completed our 50k in June Finger Lakes 50’s loomed large. In mid April I had developed a some sort of injury to my hip/groin area that had not recovered by Worlds End 50k in June and really hampered me there. I already had tried just cutting back on training some prior to Worlds End. So, post 50k the only realistic option for me was to try and get some type of treatment for my issue and rest as much as I could and hope it would recover or I would never make it through a 50 mile race.

I went and saw a primary care doctor for the first time in about 20 years. I started a prescribed medication other than antibiotics for the first time. I began massage therapy treatment with Soul Ease. I also received chiropractic treatment from Market Street Chiropractic. Orthopedic doctor’s opinion was that it was likely hip bursitis.

The hardest part about trying to recover is that I was really cutting back my running, especially my long runs because that is what aggravated the injury the most. So since the goal was to rest it and not aggravate it I was not testing it either so I had no idea how it was going to respond on longer runs. Just over two weeks prior to the race I decided I needed to try to get a little feedback regarding my injury and test it out. I went for a long run on the Interloken Trail, a side branch of the Finger Lakes Trail and also a location of some of the trails I would have to run during the 50 mile loop race. I ran my planned 13 miles and I was pretty happy with it. I had no major issues. So for the next 2 weeks I did minimal running including zero running for the 5 days leading into the race. I wanted to maximize my chances of being healthy. I figured my best chance at completing this race was to be as healthy as possible. I could grind out the miles on tired sore legs if I at least had my health. After all my very first 50k trail adventure was a solo adventure on the Finger Lakes Trail with very little planning and no training and my longest run prior to that was a 25k, what could go wrong? That is was I kept telling myself at least.

So with less than ideal training and while recovering from an injury I embarked on a 50 mile race. Good idea? Only time would tell.

Race day arrived and it was going to be a hot one. As start time neared the temperature was around 70 degrees. 70 degrees is the temperature around which I start to be unable to sustain my running. Most of the races I have done in this temperature range have not gone great for me. The high temperature for the day would end up being around 88 degrees. Far hotter than I would choose to run in.

The 6:30 AM start time arrive and we were off. Down the gravel road we went and shortly we took a right into the woods and onto the trails. Pretty early on in the first loop before the first aid station there is a long downhill section that is on a gravel road. On a shorter race or at least a race of a distance I was experienced with this is the type of section I would love and run hard down to pick up time. In my one and only other experience on this course I ran down this road hard and was passing people, but that was a 25k race. With close to 50 miles still to go that did not seem prudent on this go around. We talked about how we wanted to handle this section and just decided to run casual, not trying to run hard but not putting on the brakes either. We just let gravity do the work, gaining some speed on some steeper sections and then letting speed dissipate on lesser grades.

As we made our way around the loop the first time the heat and humidity intensified. We played it cautious trying not to burn out before we got to where we needed to really hit cut off times. Especially in open exposed areas and other areas that felt particularly hot we took it easy and even walked. We walked when we otherwise could have run in order to save strength for later on. We were trying to strategize to mitigate the effects of the heat. If we felt like we needed to go easier we did just that without hesitation.

One good thing about the heat the past several days and on race day was that the trails were remarkably dry when the race began. They weren’t totally dry, but much improved from when I had been out in the area on a training run. This made running when we wanted to a much easier thing to do and made walking at a decent pace much easier too. When I was out on the trails two weeks prior there was significant water on the trails during the first loop of the course there was almost no water and not even much of anything that could be called mud except in a few spots.

We complete lap 1 in 3 hours and 35 minutes. That left us around 4 hours to complete a second lap. We took stock, refreshed ourselves, ate and drank, and then headed back out into the heat for lap number 2. At this point I was pretty confident we would get our first two laps done within the cutoff of 7 hours and 45 minutes. As lap two wore on the heat and humidity did not relent. I was having difficulty eating much of anything solid. At aid stations I ate watermelon and drank whatever non water fluids they had for calories, and I was able to eat some of the salt potatoes I had with me, but I wasn’t able to eat any of the other food I had been relying on for fuel that I carried and none of the other food at the aid stations were appealing. As the heat continued to wear me down I exchanged my hat for a buff that I could put ice in. Then at a later aide stations I added another buff so I could carry even more ice. Eventually, shortly before the half way point on loop 2, I gave up everything extra I was carrying just to try and keep from overheating. I gave up my food and I even gave up my camera gear which is saying allot for me considering I am a photographer who documents everything and that was the plan for this race.

Shortly after the half way point of the second loop I really started to feel the effects of the heat. As we ran, my hands started to go numb and I began to feel a little light headed and dizzy. I said I needed to stop running and walk for a bit. We walked and I recovered enough to run after a while. Unfortunately the same symptoms returned and we continued this walk run approach. My friend was not going to just leave me there in the woods even though I encouraged her to do so. We arrived at the first aide station after the half way point and I tried to regroup. I added as much ice as I could. I put ice in both of my buffs and in my shirt and in my shorts to try to cool down. The effect of the cold from the ice on the extreme heat of my body made me a bit dizzy and took me a moment to recover from. I used more ice at this race than I had ever used before at a race and more than I had thought I would. It was a necessity. It was the only thing allowing me to keep going. Unfortunately the ice did not last very long once you started running again. It lasted only mere minutes in the heat. After getting more fluids and fuel I needed more time to recover. I told my friend to go without me. I know she didn’t want to leave me at that aid station, but I knew that she did not have time to spare to wait for me and could not afford to move as slow as I would likely be going once I started off on the trails again. She looked back, frowned, then she went on without me.

I regrouped and then headed back out on the trails myself. I was moving slowly on the trails. The heat and humidity were nearly unbearable for me. Then it happened. First a trickle and then the skies opened up and a deluge of rain burst from the skies. In a matter of minutes everything was soaked. I was getting what I desperately needed. The rain cooled me off significantly. Not only did it help me physically but it lifted me mentally as well. It rained so intensely that the trails quickly flooded. It was like running up a stream. the trail conditions quickly converted from nearly pristine and dry to possibly worse than the conditions in 2017. I ran. I don’t know how fast I ran but I ran as fast as I could. I felt better and stronger than I had since the beginning of the race. I surged forward knowing that I had to beat the clock. I ran at a pace that took my breath away and eventually required me to walk and catch my breath. I repeated this run hard as you can then rest approach trying to surge through the storm. I was running so much better at this point that I actually passed a few people which would have been unthinkable even a few minutes ago. The change in weather and course conditions were so uplifting and provided such a sure of adrenaline with the chance to chase the clock that I completely forgot about the pain in my hip that had begun to bother me again. I kept looking at my watch thinking that I might actually be able to complete the loop in time to move on for a third loop. Could I actually do it?

The whole race my wife had been at each aide station to cheer us on. My friends husband joined our crew stating on the 2nd loop. When I emerged through the woods in the torrential downpour and arrived at the final aid station my wife was there in the pouring rain cheering for me as she had been all day. My friends husband had gone ahead to continue crewing for her up ahead of me as she continued to race the clock as well. As I arrived at this last aid station there was a new face there. Another of my friends had arrived to cheer me on and crew for us in this crazy storm. Seeing another familiar friendly face at the aid station helped to lift me up. They asked me what I needed. I just took a cup of coke. I told my wife I thought I still had time to make the cut off. It was then that she had to do the most difficult thing and break the news to me that I wasn’t going to make it. I had two miles to go, JUST TWO MORE MILES to complete the second loop. But I only had 9 minutes to get there. On my best days on completely fresh legs I couldn’t get that done. There was no way I could make it. My day was going to come to an end without even starting a third loop. As I write this I am fighting back emotions and tears are welling up in my eyes. This was not the outcome I was hoping for.

Despite the news that I could not possibly make the cut off I was determined to push through as hard as I could to what would be not the start of my third loop but my finish line. I somehow summoned the strength to overtake a few other runners on the road with me. I continued to run down the road, towards the end of the loop. I knew that the news of my imminent finish was demoralizing because as I headed down the road the pain in my hip that hope had vanquished returned more painful than I had felt it the entire day. I tried to push through it. I ran as hard as I could for as long as I could, but what was the point. I wasn’t going to make it in time. I walked and relieved the pain. Then when I could I resumed running again. This section of gravel road felt longer than any other stretch on the course even on the first go around, it felt interminable on this final approach before ducking back into the wood rounding the pond and emerging at my finish.

I don’t know if I would have been able to make the final cut off at the 10 and a half hour mark, but I wish more than anything that I had had the chance to find out. If you finish the second loop but do not finish in time to start a third loop they credit you with a 50k finish which is nice, but that is not what I was here for on this day. I was here to push myself to new limits. I was here to run more miles than I had ever run before. I wanted to get out there and try for that third loop more than anything. I would have rather start the third loop and not finish but run more miles than ever before then to finish my 4th 50k. I was here to test my limits and in some ways I did test my limits just not in the way I had hoped for. Apparently when I rolled into the last aid station I was not doing as well as I thought I was. My crew at that aid station told me after the race that I was a bit unsteady and wobbly during my time at the aid station and also appeared to be wobbly after I left the aid station and started running again as well. I did not get the result I had hoped for but I got an experience like nothing I had experienced before. Pushing through pain again, fighting off heat exhaustion, having a resurgence in the rain, and running with fun and joy when previously it had dissipated.

There is nothing better than taking on a new challenge like this race and having my wife and friends there to cheer me on. Running through most of my race with one of my best friends was the only way to take on this new challenge. I am so grateful that she went along on this crazy ride with me. I am even happier that she did make the cut off to start a third loop and then the final cut off to be able to finish that third loop. And I am overjoyed for her that she finish that race and that I got to cheer her on for that third loop and see her finish. That made the day a good day. Seeing my friend overcome the adversities I could not and succeed at this race that stopped me in my tracks was what I needed after not being able to finish. Having our other close friends there at the end was also a blessing. They were there to console me and cheer and celebrate her accomplishments. I am fortunate to be a member of this group.

It is really easy to second guess myself about this race and how we approached it. Should we have run harder on the first loop especially in places we took it easy? Should we have moved through aid stations faster? Should I have started taking on ice sooner? Should I have worn the arm sleeves and filled them with ice as I had planned to? Should I have not carried as much as I did for the first loop plus? What could I have done differently to produce a better outcome for myself? These are all pointless questions because there is no way to know how a change in any one thing would have effected everything else that occurred that day.

Looking on the bright side I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I can maintain enough fitness to run a 50k without a whole lot of training between races. I learned that my hip while not completely healed is actually getting better. I was able to run much farther in this race before experiencing significant pain than in my last race. I learned that if I ever run another long summer race I need to have a real strategy for dealing with the heat. I learned that I can run a 50k without having to change my shoes and have no major issues as a result. I learned that I still have not found socks that my toes will not poke a hole in. I continue to learn that I have a lot more to learn.

One of my goals with this race aside from finishing the 50 miles was to capture as much of it as possible on camera. I carried 4 devices for this purpose: my cell phone, a chest mounted GoPro, a hand carried GoPro, and a small mirror less Nikon camera in my pack. I was not taking many photos in the beginning because I wanted to save it for later when I was tired and needed to take my mind off things especially on the third loop. Then I realized what if there is no third lap. When I evenutally realized I had not been taking many photos and that I would be giving up all my camera gear at the next aid station I just turned on my chest mounted GoPRo to capture as much as I could of the race until the memory card fillled up.

I utilized my chest mounted GoPro the most because it was the easiest to use in the circumstances. I used my hand held go pro a few times. I took a few shots with my cell phone in just one spot. I never even took my Nikon out of my pack. The lack of photo taking was due to the heat and humidity requiring all my energy to just remain focused on the race. There really wasn’t much time where I felt comfortable enough to either stop and take photos or to just make the extra efforts to use cameras. Plus as I ended up losing to the clock there really wasn’t time for it anyway. An even more disappointing factor is that after not finishing the 50 miles I got home and uploaded my photos to the computer and for a variety of reasons, many of which are beyond my control a lot of the photos did not turn out well. So that was extra demoralizing.

The day after the race I needed to do some recovery. I tried to recover with Avital’s Apiaries products I was given to test out. I soaked my sore and tired legs in a hot bath with Avital’s Apiaries Recover Bee bath fizzies. I used their Recover Bee soap. Then once I was done tired soaking my legs I gave them a rub down with Avital’s Apiaries Recover Bee massage oil. After that my legs did feel a little better.

from 2019 Finger Lakes 50’s

[itsmatt311]

Eastern States 100 | 2017

2017 Eastern States 100: Steep, Loose, Slippery, HARD.

 Sitting here 4 days after finishing the Eastern States 100 mile endurance run (slowly), I’m still at a loss for exactly what happened this past weekend.  I knew when I signed up for this race nearly a year ago that it would be tough, but really how hard could it be? 33% finishing rate, those people must just be weak or unprepared, I thought.  Think again.  I read the race reports, watched the YouTube videos, and heard the stories, studied the elevation profile and slowly but surely I started to believe the hype.  

I’ve never been one to train ‘specifically’ for an event.  I tend to take the generalist approach to training for ultras, integrating cross training and HIIT workouts which I historically supplement for miles of running, but this time was different.  3 months leading up to the ES100, I found myself driving to the Appalachian Trail 3 or 4 days a week after work and on weekends to train.  For the first time in my “running” career, I was training 25-30 mile weeks in the trails and then cross training on the days I would not hike/run.  Friends and family would ask from time to time, “Do you think you’re ready?”  And for just about any other ultra I’d shrug it off and say, “Yeah it can’t be that bad”, but this time I would say, “I don’t think anyone can fully be ready for this.”  And that’s the mindset I had approaching this race.  102.9 of the most brutal, rocky, slippery, wet, hot, humid, off-camber slanting, feet pounding, leg twisting ascents and descents of single track trail I’ve ever seen.  It makes the Appalachian Trail seem like a walk through Central Park.  This race scared me to think about, it frustrated me, made me anxious at times, but ultimately it humbled me, and I think that’s exactly the mindset anyone looking to tackle this beast needs to attack it with.  At the end of the day, everyone who even attempts this type of a race is a risk taker. Plain and simple.  You’re signing up for something you know very little about and hoping that when the time comes, you have what it takes to endure and persist.

I’m going to skip the night before the race, it was largely just people camping restlessly near the start line and packing and re-packing their packs and drop bags.

The race began with a short stretch or asphalt (about a mile), and then bottlenecked into a single track trail that would have been tough to hike during the daylight, much less at 5:00 AM in the dark.  This trail slanted from left to right and like the rest of the course, was carved directly into the side of a mountain.  You see, there’s 3 primary things you should know about Pennsylvania hiking trails… 1. They’re rocky.  And each rock is loose and will break in in half if you’re not careful.  2. They don’t switchback much at all. They take the direct approach to getting up the mountain… straight up it.  It’s not uncommon to be on your hands and knees climbing up the broad side of a mountain or sliding on your butt directly down it… toboggan style. 3.  Every trail is off-camber, and slants drastically to one side or the other. If you’re not careful, you could very easily fall off of the mountain.  I’m not joking, someone broke their hip in this very predicament.  

It’s said that the first 17 mile is the toughest and slowest section, and that might be, I don’t really know. I can tell you this though, you won’t care how tough it was when you get to mile 75 and still have a marathon left to go.  The first 17 miles are definitely tough.  They’re frustrating as heck mentally too because these are the miles where you’re “fresh” (whatever that means in this race), and yet after your first climb and about 7 miles in you’re already feeling wrecked.  I can tell you everyone I saw out there around miles 7-10 felt this exact same way.  You’re climbing the type of terrain that Billy goats wouldn’t even mess with and all the while you’re already worrying about cutoffs.  This race hits you hard and hits you fast, and there’s no way around it. This sentiment was felt by most of the runners I was in contact with throughout the race.  The lack of switch backing on trails in the Allegheny National Forest cannot be overlooked.  The climbs were straight up the mountain, and the descents were straight down the mountain.  The 2nd aid station around mile 11 didn’t have Tailwind, which was not favorable.  Furthermore, this was not a drop bag location and thus I couldn’t revert to my Gatorade Endurance carb mix.  Alas.  I grabbed what I could, mostly chips and M&M’s and several shots of Coca-Cola and headed out across the trestle bridge across the Susquehanna River. 

After a few more ups and downs through single track mountain trails, you do eventually catch a slight break after your first marathon from about miles 25-31.  This stretch was largely gravel fire roads and ATV trails.  I climbed and descended quite a bit more until finally I hit the “Halfway House” around 2230 with a bad headlamp and a drop bag that was never brought to that aid station.  I don’t know who or how it was overlooked it, but 1 of my 6 drop bags never made it to the aid station.  And therein lies a couple pivotal lessons that any 100 mile ultramarathon finisher will attest to. 1. The importance of having a short memory.  2.  Accepting that rarely does everything go according to plan.  I’m without a jacket for the night, without dry socks, dry shoes, and without my iPod.  For a brief moment I was irritated; 6 drop bags, no crew and they managed to not bring the most important drop bag I had.. the one that would get me through the night.  But then the strangest thing happened to me.  I began laughing for some reason.  Maybe it was lack of calories or salt (make sure you bring lots of both!), but for whatever reason I just laughed, I wasn’t really in the mood for feeling sorry for myself just yet so I grabbed as much food as I could and marched off into the night woods.  I guess the easiest way to put it is this: when things don’t go your way, you’ve got to forget about it, accept it, and move forward; relentlessly forward.  

After about 0.5 mile I realized I had forgotten my trekking poles back at the aid station.  Oh well, whatever, I wasn’t about to go back for them.  I quickly found some decent enough, sturdy but not too heavy sticks in the woods and these would serve as my “trekking poles” until mile 69 where they’d become a casualty of the woods.  Most of the night I spent fast hiking rocky, off-camber sections of narrow trails and humming an annoying traditional Irish drinking song to myself over and over and over again, it was Charlie and the MTA if you’re wondering.  Man, it would have been nice to have that iPod.  Still climbing, still descending, and trying not to trip and fall off a mountain summed up miles 54-62.  

Mile 62 was a lively aid station just outside of an old motel with a large campfire burning, but I wasn’t getting anywhere near that thing.  Put me in a chair in front of a campfire at 2 in the morning unattended & I’ll be out quicker than Charlie Sheen can say ‘winning’ after 3 lines of coke.  This aid station was actually the bomb.  They brought in pizza, which marked the first real meal I had had since mile 25.  Side note: it truly does pay to be a front runner because those lucky a$$holes got their pick of the litter with regards to hot food and well stocked aid stations, lucky for me these volunteers understood our pain and ordered pizza for the tortoise crew as well.  I hiked out of that aid station feeling recharged after stuffing myself full of pizza and loading up on carbohydrate mix and other necessities only to start up a wicked steep ascent.  I don’t know if it was the fact that it was 0300 and I was droning or what but this climb sticks out as one of the tougher ones.  

The entire day and night are spent trying to keep your mind occupied and positive and your feet moving a clip fast enough to make the next aid station.  A little back story on me, I’m not a terribly slow runner.  I’ve done a handful of ultra’s but wouldn’t classify myself as a “runner” per se, however I tend to be a middle of the pack finisher.  This race was totally different.  While I was never minutes from making an aid station, I was rarely an hour ahead of one either.  This became extremely mentally exhausting, and that was no more prevalent than the stretch from miles 69-72.  These 3 miles is the toughest section of trail I’ve ever been on and probably ever will be on.  Calling it a trail at all is generous.  This coupled with the fact that by this point in the race my feet were beyond wrecked and my legs were completely drained made for a slow and painful progression through this segment of rocky, moss covered descent as dawn was approaching.  My make-shift wooden hiking poles that I had found back at mile 54 actually broke during this section and I didn’t bother searching for another pair.  This section certainly slowed many down that day, and by the time they made it to mile 75, many dropped and many did not make the cutoff time.  

The next section of trail wasn’t too bad... for a Pennsylvania mountain trail and I painfully made it to mile 80 by around 0800 on day 2, not able to run but not necessarily walking either, more of a shuffle.  This was an incredible aid station.  Really all of the aid stations were decent, and the enthusiasm from the volunteers cannot go unnoticed.  They truly wanted to get you what you needed so that you could get back up out of their chair and proceed on.  The lack of hot coffee at nigh twas a bummer mentally because there’s something soothing and calming about a hot cup of joe but at any rate, this wasn’t that type of race so I took what I could get, which as far as caffeine goes was shots of Pepsi and Coca-Cola throughout the night.  Not all of the volunteers were ultra-marathoners, which was actually refreshing because they didn’t treat you like you had been hit by a mortar and instead just casually asked how you were.  I remember a lady at this aid station offering me a Red Bull and pancakes with syrup, and I said sure why not!  My feet hadn’t really been patched up since mile 25 and even then the doc told me that I’d just have to deal with it through most of the race because he wouldn’t be out again until mile 86.  So I did.  After that I thanked the volunteers and left.  “Bib 125, out!”.  

Heading toward Skytop was no small feat and it was largely a 5 mile climb to Skytop (mile 86).  The aid station workers said that this climb would be our last climb... yeah right.  It wasn’t and they knew that, but I would have told them the same thing if the roles had been reversed.  Sometimes not knowing what lies ahead is what gets you through it.  Much has been written about the gnarly ascents in this race, but don’t get me wrong for a second, the descents are equally as bad, if not worse.  Imagine descending a mountain on single track trail, now tilt that trail another 10-15 degrees steeper, throw in middle to large loose, moss covered rocks and roots, wet mud, and narrow the trail to 6-12” wide and remove any semblance of switchback you can think of and you’ve got your typical downhill at Eastern States.

The strange thing about this race is that it seemed like I always had 2 hours to get to the next aid station, whether it was a 4 mile stretch or a 7 mile stretch.  This added to the stress of making cutoffs but it kept you in the game as well because you knew that if you hustled to cover 7 miles in 1.5 hours, then you’d be able to bank that extra time for the 4 mile segments.  At any rate, I left mile 86 for a 7 mile stretch into what would be mile 93.  This stretch had a few big climbs and a couple short downs, and one particular creek crossing that I fell into.  My shoes were damp since about mile 3, but I tried to keep them as dry as I could. This didn’t go so well and lead to major foot issues throughout the race and by this point I was in some serious pain due to the loose rock and slippery wet steep conditions.  Hot spots all over my feet, they felt bruised and beyond repair.  I had to try and think about something else but the pain was always there and I was becoming physically and emotionally spent.  I made it to mile 93 with 35 minutes to spare and to be completely honest with you, dropping crossed my mind for the first time.  I sincerely appreciate the woman with the VT 100 hat on for giving me a shot of whiskey and ginger ale and saying the simplest, most no non-sense thing to me which got my head back in the game.  She said to me, “you didn’t come this far to quit now.  Now go get your buckle.”  I was rejuvenated, and actually left that aid station teary eyed with a weird mix of joy and agony, both simultaneously.  When you think you’re at your breaking point, you’re not, even if your mind thinks you are.  And I convinced myself that I was finishing this God awful hard 102.9 mile challenge so that I would NEVER have to come do it again.  At any rate, I carried on trying my best to maintain an 18 minute mile and trotted on out of mile 93 headed for mile 99.  

I got to the final real aid station of the course at mile 99, the Team RWB aid station, proceeded on for another couple of miles and then and it was literally all downhill from there.  And when I say downhill, this sadistic race director saved the roughest, toughest, meanest 1.5 mile straight downhill son-of-a-rock scramble you could ever imagine straight to the bottom of the mountain. 0.5 mile, 1100 foot descent with no switch backing on a rocky downhill directly down the mountain.  Yes, you do pass a rattlesnake den.  They were sitting out tanning on a concrete slab, not bothering anyone.  I was so loopy by this point in the race that I couldn’t care less.  People were stopping to get pictures, although I’m thinking that was the runners’ crews.  I didn’t give a frog’s fat ass about photos at this point I was cussing that race director the entire way down that dirty steep mountain.  Then it was across a field and straight to the finish.  “Make sure you RUN to the finish!!”, the volunteers chanted.  Yeah right guys, wishful thinking.  At any rate I trotted across the grassy field to the finish line.  Unlike at the 2016 Umstead 100, I wasn’t emotional, I guess I didn’t have the energy for it or it hadn’t quite sank in yet.  Unreal.  I had finished the Eastern States 100 miler in 35 hours 19 minutes. Couldn’t be happier to finish this race, and I sincerely thank everyone for the support.  The race director ran out of belt buckles, so mine will be mailed in September... kinda bummed about that but oh well.  It will be a nice surprise in mid September when it comes in the mail.  

A few thoughts on Eastern States 100 mile finishers:

1.  We’re not logical.  People can’t and probably won’t ever be able to understand why we push ourselves through these kinds of pain thresholds and misery.  We live in a society that worships comfort and so for most people, the thought of running 100 miles seems stupid or crazy or just plain dumb.  I’m not sure if this is a defense people use for justifying why they don’t want to try this type of event or if they really just feel that way, but either way... it’s something that is ever present.

2.  We’re not all “runners”.  Yeah 100 miles is a long ways to “run”, no question about it.  But physically it’s possible even for the non-experienced trail runner.  People can’t seem to get this when I tell them that I’m not really a runner at all.  I don’t like running just for fun, I do it from time to time, but it mostly bores me.  I like the challenge that 100 miles brings me physically and mentally; with an emphasis on mentally.  I crosstrain because it’s more fun than running through town.  Nearly everyone I know who is fit can complete a 100 mile run with the right mindset, a never quit attitude, a tolerance for pain, and a well thought out planning strategy.  

3.  100 miles is the great equalizer.  You can tangibly observe an athlete in the gym who can likely lift a lot of weight.  You might even be able to spot a swimmer or a cross country runner, but spotting a 100 mile finisher, good luck.  They come in all shapes and sizes and ages.  I’ve seen 50 year old 250 lb men finish Eastern States hours before me.  I’ve seen 70 year olds who can run circles around 30 year olds.  I’ve also seen tough, geared up, studded out athletic looking 20 something year olds drop out at mile 50.  100 miles isn’t what you might expect.  

[travelswithzsubes]

Boston.

It’s strange to sit in the quiet of your own home, the familiar yellow comforter on your bed wrapped around you. The same poster is on your wall that’s been there since college. Everything feels the same, and still, and quiet. That’s strange. It’s strange because you’re lying there, and you realize you just did something that you’ve been looking forward to your entire adult life.

That’s what Boston was for me. The goal that I couldn’t accomplish, the thing that was just perpetually out of reach. I’m overdramatizing it a little bit, but that is how it felt. 

It was 2008 when it became a goal. I signed up for the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2009, only to go way too hard and tweak a hamstring during training that still bugs me to this day. I qualified in 2011 at Delaware, but I didn’t get in. I qualified in 2012 at Ocean Drive, but said no and went to China. I got injured. I ran slow times. I doubted if I would get there. I started from scratch, crosstrained, ran a lot, hurt my knee, ran faster, and gutted out the Philly Marathon in 3:01:41. Ten months later I found out I got into the race, tears springing to my eyes as I saw the happy email on my computer.

Fast forward another seven months. I trained better than I thought I had for Philly, and D and I took the bus to Boston, coolers of food in tow, knowing that we’d be part of something amazing but not really sure what that would mean.

My goal was to run a faster than 3 hour marathon for the first time ever. My mom had promised that if I did that, she would try to qualify for next year, and we would run Boston together in 2018. 

Pre-race

It was Passover. I decided to keep the holiday. That meant no pasta, no PB&J, none of the carboloading that I’ve always done. It did mean a lot of quinoa, which was a strange thing. That’s where the coolers of food came into play - we brought lots and lots of food with us. More on that later.

The first order of business, though, was going to the expo to pick up my number. For me this was the most emotional part of the entire weekend. Something about handing over my credentials and getting my very own Boston number, and hearing tips from the volunteers on how to run the race and on how it the streets would be packed with wall-to-wall people, all cheering for me and making me feel like a rock star - it was too much for me to handle. It would be a lie to say I didn’t choke up.

Getting that elusive number and T-shirt.

I recovered for the athlete’s capitalistic party that was the pre-race expo. Every running or even athletic product you can imagine - it’s there. People buying half-price shorts, testing out some sort of leg sleeve massage contraption, taking free samples of green and red and brown gels...that is what was going on. We stayed for an hour before I started worrying about staying on my feet for too long, but not before we checked out the ubiquitous Boston Marathon jackets that cement people’s status as a legit runner and were given a free poster that listed, in small print, every one of the 30,000 runner’s names that was registered for the race. (I bought a jacket later - with all the people walking around Boston after the race wearing them, their purchase kind of feels like an involuntary part of your marathon registration fee.)

Then it was home for a bowl of quinoa and cheese and tomato sauce and endless tinkering with my gear, wondering what shoes I would wear, and so on. I finally got to bed a little after 10pm. It was on.

The get-up.

Monday Morning

I actually slept pretty well - not long, but deeply. I woke up excited, threw my clothes on, and was out the door quickly, off to Central Station, where I hopped on the train with other clear-bag-toting folks en route to Boston Common, where we would board buses to Hopkinton and the starting line.

The ride to Hopkinton takes an hour. “We’re going to have to run this whole way?” someone said. Indeed, we would.

Course map - 26.2 straight east.

The marathon has a true army of volunteers that don’t seem to leave your side throughout the entire marathon experience. They’re there in Boston Common, repeating the same directions over and over for hours. And they’re certainly there when you get off the bus in Hopkinton, directing you to the large field area, where everyone’s waiting. It’s a typical race starting line with way more stuff than you’re used to, like people whose job it is to write your name on your shoulder, free gels and Gus to eternity, on demand sunscreen, bagels, and a very, very long line for coffee.

Some people brought boxes to lay on and blankets to cover themselves and laid down for a nap - nothing you bring to the starting line can be shipped to the end of the race. Others brought incredibly trashy magazines to read - there’s something to be said for the power of gossip and Justin Bieber to take your mind off the supreme effort you’re about to put forward - while others just sat, staring off into the eternal abyss. Everyone was wearing layers of throwaway clothes, cargo shorts and sweatpants that were far too big and strange fleeces, adding to the bizarro nature of the scene. There was a palpable nervous energy in the air no matter what people were doing. 

I got in the short bathroom line once I arrived, ate a banana, bathroom again, sat and stretched, contemplated getting my name written on my shoulder for cheering purposes, decided against it, borrowed someone’s phone. got in a longer bathroom line, got right back in the same bathroom line, ran into an old runner friend from Philly, and munched on the matzah/almond butter/honey I brought to the starting line with me. That last part was certainly a first. (More on that later.)

It was 9:10 at that point - time to walk the 0.7 miles to the starting line. “It’s time,” the Philly friend said. I had told him about my three hour goal. “Just go out and do it.”

It was exactly what I needed to hear.

The Walk

The walk to the starting line is like a funhouse of runner fantasy. Take my picture with my bib number 5,000 times? Don’t mind if I do. Provide countless places to drop off your trash and clothing? Yes. Cheering people, cheering bros, encouraging you to “hydrate” with a morning swing of brownish rum? Mmm-hmm. All along, I was walking with all the very fit and attractive people around me, trying to wrap my head around the fact that this was THE walk to the Boston Marathon starting line. 

At the expo, on the way to the start.

There’s an additional area with port-o-potties near the start, which I certainly visited. Some men try to pee against a school right there, and were promptly shooed away (and ticketed?) by a whistleblowing police officer. It was then off to walk to my corral. The national anthem was played, which was less emotional than I expected, followed by a very loud fighter jet flyover timed just right.

I made my way to the corral. Typical runner energy - people hopping, shaking out muscles, and doing things that were probably unnecessary. There’s nothing better to do. The minutes counted down quickly. They announced the elite males, and the Americans got a huge cheer. A TV camera panned over us. We all waved.

And then - the gun. We all heard it go off and a collective yelp emanated. I instinctively gave the stranger next to me a high five and we wished each other good luck. We shuffled toward the starting line, and two minutes later it came into our vision.

The loud crowd, the runners dwarfing me, everything else...if you guessed that I choked up as I crossed that starting line as I set my watch, you are correct.

The Race

Maybe this is the part you’ve been waiting to read. Congratulations on making it this far! You are a true marathon champion for doing so.

Everyone warns you about the first few miles of the race, and I can see why. The first mile is straight downhill. People were passing me, so I tried to maintain the pace that I wanted. I don’t have a GPS watch, so it’s a little tougher to know my exact speed, but I have a decent sense of it. 

I was trying to maintain a 6:52/mile pace throughout to get that elusive three hour marathon. I went out too fast at my last marathon in Philly, running the first half in 1:27 before finishing out the second half in 1:34. I was determined to run a more consistent race this time and try to negative split (run a faster time in the second half than in the first half). I’ve never negative split a marathon, and I wanted this to be my first. So I was gunning for a 1:30 first half, and something faster than than over the last 13.1 miles.

The first few miles are actually tough because the road is so crowded with people and it’s tough to run at your pace - there’s always someone in front of you, blocking your way. I ran the first mile at 7:02, which was great - I really didn’t want to go out too fast. People warn you about Boston’s hills throughout, and it’s true - the race is rarely flat, and there are rolling hills the whole way. The big hills - including the famous Heartbreak Hill - begin at Mile 16 in Newton and end with Heartbreak around 20.5. The Newton Hills. How quaint.

It was a hot day, but I usually run well in heat - and on hills. I wasn’t all that worried, but I did notice within the first two miles that it already felt especially hot. I hadn’t done any training in hot weather - I did a 17 miler in the hills of Northwest Connecticut in 7 degree weather - so my body wasn’t quite prepared for it.

I resolved to drink more than usual. I poured water over my head every couple miles and tried to get as much water down as I could at the water stops. The stops do slow you down as people stop in front of you, so that made me a little nervous, but I got to Mile 6 right at my target pace. At that point I felt like I was out for a casual run - I was very optimistic. 

Have I mentioned the crowd yet? They’re everywhere - and loud. It’s unreal. There’s a biker bar at Mile 2, and they are out in full force. Amazing signs along the way, too. Framingham at Mile 6 is filled several feet deep with screaming fans, as is Natick, Newton, Wellesley, Ashland and pretty much every other town you pass through.

It was around Mile 7 that I slowed down for the water stop and noticed that I was a bit tired - that I actually felt pretty hot. I was still on pace, but that wasn’t a great sign. Throughout Miles 7-10 I tried to maintain that 6:52, but I was a little behind pace, and I got to Mile 10 20 seconds slower than what I wanted. No matter - I resolved to run easier throughout Miles 10-13. No need to burn myself early - I needed to save myself for the end of the race. A few seconds now probably wouldn’t come back to bite me later. Once I adopted that mindset, I instantly felt better. I can do this, I thought. It was also a boon to see D at Mile 11 in Natick, just totally screaming my name.

The famous Wellesley scream tunnel is right before halfway, and it is as advertised. College students hold signs like “Why do all the cute ones run away?”, “Kiss Me: I’m Competitive,” “Call Me (followed by their actual phone number”, and so on. You can hear the screams from half a mile away. I choked up here, too - the scream tunnel is legendary, and here I was, right in the middle of it. Some people stopped for kisses, as is per tradition. I soldiered on. 

Halfway came up soon after that. I hit it in 1:30:16 - close enough to the pace I wanted that I was satisfied. I need a sub-1:30 second half, I told myself. You can do this. Still - I could tell the hills, which never stopped, took a little bite out of me, each and every time.

Mile 14 was more of the same. When I checked my watch after Mile 15, though, I realized I had lost a full 20 seconds off the pace I wanted in that mile alone. I did math frantically in my head, wondering how that could be the case. I didn’t feel like I had slowed down. How was it possible?

And yet it was. It’s not a good sign when you don’t notice that you’re slowing down but your watch tells you that you are. It means your body can’t keep up with the same pace you’ve set already - that it’s physically starting to break down. In other races, you can buckle up and push through that and use your will to maintain your speed, but with 15 miles behind me and another 11 to go (and 11 feels like an eternity at that point), there’s no real doing that for that amount of time.

Mile 16 was pretty much straight down hill into Newton Lower Falls before you start the Newton Hills. I resolved to try and make up time on the downhill before the hills. Downhills aren’t really my strength, but I let my legs go, knowing that it could have a bad effect on my quads later but also knowing that I had to do something to make up the time I had lost.

When I hit the Mile 16 sign I realized I had run it in 6:57 - not fast enough. I needed a 6:45 at the slowest to really give myself a chance. I was really starting to hurt at this point. 

The first Newton Hill starts right at that point. As I said - I like hills. Before the race, I created a mantra for myself: “Hills don’t scare me.” Now was the time to put it to the test.

But when I started up the hill, something happened that doesn’t usually happen to me - I just seized up. My left groin just seized and buckled and spasmed, and all of a sudden I felt like I was running in slow-motion, nearly a full minute per mile (or more) slower than I had been for the earlier part of the race. It felt like I could barely make it up the hill. People were passing me left and right, and I instantly felt like the slowest person on the course. (Since everyone in my wave had qualified for Boston, this was by far the fastest caliber marathon I had ever done. EVERYONE is fast. People don’t mess around. It’s humbling, and it’s part of the reason why everyone started passing me.)

I knew in the back of my head that this was the end of my chance to run a three hour race. The margin for doing so was already razor thin by Mile 15, and if I was going to hit the wall this early on it wasn’t possible. I considered the possibility of walking. It hurt really bad in that moment.

But I knew I’d probably see Sarah soon after that, which helped me keep going after the top of the hill. I also passed someone I had seen in the Barkleys Marathons doc, legendary ultra runner (at least in my eyes) John Fegyveresi. He was spectating. I was so shocked to see him that all I could do was unintelligibly point at him and yell “hey!” as I ran past. But he waved and returned the greeting, somehow. (Which led to this Twitter interaction.)

I did see Sarah right around 17, and I was able to get out a full “How’s it going?” If I still felt like I had a shot at three hours, I would have chugged on by, barely stopping, but I knew it was probably out the door at this point.

From then on, every step just hurt. The next hill came and I zombie-ran up it. It helped to unexpectedly see Marvin from RVRR, taking my picture. “Go Zach!” But it was all I could do to keep my legs moving at that point. The miles started to pass very, very slowly. My calves were spasming, and both sides of my groin were as well. My shoulders hurt. My forearm was spasming, as well, which makes no sense.

So I wonder what exactly had gone wrong with my body. What exactly had caused it to revolt against itself? I had trained for distance, but I didn’t do a ton of miles (for fear of injury), and I wasn’t at a tip-top fitness level, but I had thought my training leading into the race had been good. I had cut out alcohol and dessert for the two months leading up to race day as well. It was hot - that wasn’t helping, I was sure, even though I had stopped at water stops.

But I think the spasming was indicative of a lack of nutrition. I may be wrong, but I think I just hadn’t had enough electrolytes/salts to keep myself moving efficiently, especially in this heat. And when I thought back to the matzah breakfast (instead of the typical PB&J I eat with bread), the quinoa dinner (instead of pasta with cheese), and just the general Passover food throughout the week, I started to wonder...

So that I think was the biggest reason I was hurting in the very specific way I was - in combination with the other factors.

It was a little sad to realize that I wouldn’t achieve my goal. It kind of hurt too much to be sad, though. Also, I was here, running Boston. I couldn’t let it go to waste, and so I started noticing the crowd more, trying to actually absorb its energy and feed it to my arms and legs.

Mile 19. Mile 20. The famous Heartbreak Hill came, and I shuffled up it. I honestly don’t have a real sense of how hard it was since I wasn’t running like I normally do. I was just trying to drag my body to the top. And I did, and I knew the next five miles would be mostly downhill.

The top of Heartbreak, high-fiving what I’m sure was a screaming spectator.

They’re not entirely downhill, though. There are some upticks that you feel. I was really just trying to hang on at this point - I had started running a 10 minute mile. Running that pace isn’t typically aerobically difficult for me, but my legs could barely sustain it. 

I saw RVRR’s Lauren right after 21, which helped. Any cheer helps. And then I resolved, right around Boston College and Cleveland Circle, to give as many high-fives to the screaming fans as possible. (A solid, unbreakable wall of adoring, loud fans had begun in Newton and didn’t let up for the rest of the race.)

The crowd was unbelievable. Words can’t describe how important they were in getting me through the race. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Actually, bros are some of the best people to pass. They’re drunk and loud and give powerful high-fives. It’s the best. (Giving high-fives to children is the best too.)

So as most of my wave continued to pass me, and not run directly along the crowd, I broke the mold. I ran right alongside the crowd and had everyone pretty much to myself. And I gave high-fives to everyone who offered their hand. People were cheering for me personally. When the crowd was a little more subdued, I egged them on. “Come on!” I yelled, gesturing with my hands. They responded enthusiastically.

I stopped three times to stretch especially spasming muscles, but I never walked. Maybe that’s a little dumb and macho, but it feels like a point of pride.

Around Mile 24 I caught a big wave of cheer and sped up for about a 1/4 mile. After that, I realized my body just didn’t have it to do that. So I stopped again, stretched, and then shuffled along. The big famous Boston Citgo sign came into view, and I knew we were approaching Fenway Park.

Citgo - finally attained!

We finally got there and to Mile 25, and I saw the baseball game there was still going on. Finally, I thought. I could smell the finish line, and that was wonderful.

Still, a tinge of sadness accompanied that thought. Soon the Boston Marathon would be over, and that would be the end of the race that I had dreamed about for years. I tried to hang on to the moment as long as I could. 

I knew I’d probably see D and Danny at Mile 25.5 or so, near the Mass Ave crossing. And there they were, above me, screaming my name. It felt good. I had given my last few high fives before then - security kept us far away from the crowd at that point. That was fine. I was soaking in the love, and the love was certainly there.

I stopped under the Mass Ave bridge one more time to stretch an aching hamstring and then was back up one of the final hills. By that time my watch read something like 3:23. Earlier, I had thought to myself that it would be nice to crack 3:30. But I saw that I probably wouldn’t. And I didn’t care, because no one else did.

I made the famous right on Hereford Street, and I knew the equally famous left on Boylston was coming up. I did it, and there was a long straight away to the finish. The large finish line display was in the distance. 

I put my head down and tried to bask in the glory, trying to alternately get myself to the finish line but make the moment last as long as possible.

And then, all of a sudden, there it was. Right in front of me, as others passed. I raised my arms, more to have the race photographer capture the moment than for any feeling of triumph. I didn’t feel like I’d triumphed over those particular 26.2 miles. It was a painful slog with thousands of your best friends cheering for you. 

But it was the end of a chapter in my life, and so I raised them high.

The end.

Post-Race

There’s a very long walk through an endless supply of helpful angels. One of them wrapped a heat blanket around my shoulders; another placed a finisher’s medal around my neck. “Do you need chips? Apples? Gatorade? Vanilla Powerful Muscle Building Hero Energy Drink? Water?” The rock star feeling that you have throughout doesn’t end at the finish line.

More than a few people asked me if I needed a wheelchair. I was walking, but very, very gingerly. Somehow, my legs felt just moderately better than they had after the Philly Marathon, when my calves were stuck in a hellfire, but still - everything hurt. It certainly would have been nice to have one, but I refused because if I sat down, I wasn’t sure if my legs would allow me to get up at this point, and also because of pure, irrational machismo. It’s true.

But I kept walking, eventually making my way to the Family Meeting Area, where D would meet me. I called her twice from different people’s cell phones as she walked two miles and made her way through long security lines. She is the official champion of the day. 

And as the sky darkened and the wind picked up and it wasn’t hot anymore, how was this possible? and I drank my power drink and talked to a guy who casually mentioned that his wife had finished ninth in Boston 30 years ago, D showed up. I wrapped my heat blanket around me one last time as I prepared to put on warm clothes.

And we walked to Back Bay Station, where I got a free subway ride. “Congratulations,” every single person said. We got off the subway. “Congratulations. Congratulations.” I passed a flower shop. “Here’s a free rose - for all finishers,” they said. I felt happy and light and sore and champion-like.

My finishing time was 3:32:13. I slowed to 11 minute miles by the end. But as I type this one week later, I’m over that. I’ll just remember the long procession, and the cheering, and I’ll wrap my blue Boston Marathon jacket around me and finger my medal as a tangible reminder of all of that.

I don’t know if I’ll get back to Boston. If I do, I hope it’s with my mom. But what matters now is this is the first time in my life I truly achieved a long-term personal goal I had been working toward for a very, very long time. I’ve made lists, I’ve made incremental process toward others, but some have just died on the vine. I’m not sure what that means for the future, other than the fact that I want to build a house of my own one day, with my hands.

Let’s add that one to the list next - and happily check Boston off. 

Cherry blossoms and a finisher’s jacket I haven’t taken off since I got it.

[sillystringlouis]

girl please answer all of those 1D questions. all of them

Bless you. Thank you.1: When did you first realize how much you love One Direction? November of 2013

2: Who's your favourite and why? Niall. He’s just made of sunshine. I love his voice. I love that he contributes his guitar playing to the band. I love that he’s everyone in the bands’ best friend. I love how much he cares. I also love that he’s been open with his struggles with things like claustrophobia. I love that he makes sure to tell us how he is. I love so much about Niall.

3: Who's your least favourite and why? Can I say Zayn? Cuz he’s been a bit of a dick since he left the band.

4: Name four things that remind you of your favourite. Sunshine. Guitars. Harry Potter. Anything Irish.

5: What do your friends and family think of your love for One Direction? They’ve accepted it lol. But sometimes judge me for it.

6: What's your earliest One Direction related memory? Well my earliest clear memory is Leakycon 2013 when I was ragging on my friends for loving 1D so much. I wasn’t a fan for the first couple years, I’ll be honest. 

7: Are you sometimes embarrassed of liking the boys? Hell no. You gotta love what you love, man. 

8: Do you like the boys mainly for their music? Yes. It’s fun. And listening to their music, giving it a chance, is how I started liking them. 

9: What's your favourite tattoo on each of the boys? Oh god. I don’t even know anymore. I’ve lost track of their tattoos. Lets go with the screw for all of them. Because cute.

10: What's your 1D order? Niall, Harry, Louis, Liam, (Zayn)

11: Name three of your favourite funny moments. Bro I don’t even know anymore. They make me giggle too often to pick 3. 

12: What are your five favourite songs? Never Enough, Walking In The Wind, Fireproof, Where do Broken Hearts Go, Don’t Forget Where You Belong. But ask me tomorrow and they might be different. I love so many of their songs so much.

13: What's your favourite album and why? Made In The AM. I loved how much they wrote themselves of the album. And I love how chill of an album it is. 

14: Is there a One Direction song that makes you cry? I used to cry during Little Things. But not so much anymore.

15: Is there a One Direction song that you can't stand at all? Would people kill me if I said What Makes You Beautiful? Because yeah. No thank you.

16: Favourite music video? Drag Me Down

17: Least favourite music video? You and I

18: What's your favourite hairstyle on Harry? I’m a sucker for his long hair. He rocked it.

19: What's your favourite hairstyle on Zayn? AMAs. That ONE TENDRIL OF HAIR FALLING DOWN. Y’all know what I’m talking about.

20: Do you get nostalgic over fetus One Direction or do you think they're hotter now? Hotter now. I’m a fucking 23 year old woman. No fetus 1D please.

21: Which of the boys would you want to get drunk with? All of them, TBH. Depends on what I was looking for. If I wanted to get drunk and CHILL? Niall. If I wanted to get drunk and party - Louis and Liam. If I wanted to get drunk and have crazy conversations? Harry.

22: Which of the boys would you want to have a movie night with? Niall. Potter Movie Marathon. Lets go.

23: Which of the boys would you want to go shopping with? Oh Harry for sure. Best fashion sense of the lot of them.

24: Which of the boys would you want to have really rough and kinky sex with? Goddamn. Fuck me. Zayn. Probably.

25: Which of the boys would you want as your best friend? Niall.

26: If the boys were animals, which boy would be which animal? I hate these sorts of questions. 

27: If the boys were a song ( not a One Direction song ), which song would which boy be? And these.

28: Sort the boys into Hogwarts Houses. This I’ll do. Niall is a Hufflepuff. Louis is a hatstall between Gryffindor and Slytherin and ultimately would end up in Gryffindor (he reminds me of Sirius Black. Which is high praises from me. Even though I know Sirius wouldn’t have ever been a Slytherin. But anyway). Liam is a Gryffindor. Harry is a Hufflepuff. And Zayn is a Ravenclaw. 

29: Is there something you dislike about the boys as a band? The fact that they’re STILL ON HIATUS? GOD.

30: Which of the boys is the best boyfriend? Niall. Thoughtful, sweet, and loyal. Niall would be a kick ass boyfriend. 

31: Which boy is which fictional character? ( Book / Movie / TV- Show ) Meh. Still not into these sorts of questions.

32: Which boy is the most like you personality-wise? Oh god. Louis maybe? Snappy and outgoing but a little self conscious? Yeah. 

33: Do your friends like One Direction? Some do, some don’t. 

34: To how many of their concerts of have you been? Oh god. 17. Listen. I followed them to the UK and saw half the tour for their last tour. 6 straight shows at the O2. I was at all of them. 3 shows in Sheffield. Again - there. 

35: Blond or brunett Niall? Brunett

36: What would you get your favourite for christmas? LOLOL nothing. Maybe tickets to a show or something. Here’s the thing. 1D can buy anything they want. I’d have to be thoughtful and shit and I don’t know them well enough to give them good thoughtful gifts.

37: Describe your dream-date with your fav. Booze and good food while at a Blackhawks game. Cuz you best believe I’ll make Niall into a hockey fan and make him support the right team.

38: Describe your dream- wedding with your fav. I’ve never been the type to imagine such a thing. Sorry. But yeah.

39: Would you want kids with your fav? How many? How would you name them? Again - I’ve never been into imagining such a thing. I know I’ll never date my fave so why bother?

40: Have you ever felt like you're losing interest in the boys? Yeah. But it comes back. I ebb and flow in my fanship of things.

41: You hear One Direction in public- do you go off or pretend not to care? Go off if I can. But usually I’m working when I hear them lol. They play at my work all the time :)

42: Do you have any posters? A couple but not up

43: Do you like the film This Is Us? I’m watching it right now lol. Or listening to it while I answer these. I love it

44: Do you have any merch? A few things. mostly tshirts. And the headband bow. And things like that

45: Do you think the way the boys act in public is how they really are? To a degree but not entirely. They’re public figures. Just like any other public figure they’ll never be fully themselves out and about.

46: Do you believe in Larry and other conspiracy theories? Fuck no. Get out of here with that Larry bullshit. Let Louis live. I could go OFF about how fucking disrespectful some Larries are about Louis and his child. But I won’t right now. 

47: Which of the boys' girlfriends do you like the most? I never really form opinions on any of them because like. It’s not my life or my place to say anything.

48: Did you ever hate on a female associated with the boys? Nah. Not at all

49: Favourite ship? Narry

50: Favourite bromance? LiLo

51: What's your favorite fanfic? I couldn’t tell you offhand. But there was a Narry fic, I forget what it’s called, where Niall and Harry ended up forming a duo after the band split up. And it was awesome. 

52: Do you read a lot of smut? Used to. Less so now.

53: Describe your favourite dirty fantasy with your fav. Again - with the imagining unrealistic things lol

54: If you got to spend an entire day with your fav, what would you do? Go to the HP WB studio tour then see Hamilton. :) 

55: If you were a One Direction song, which song would you be? Midnight Memories

56: Would you rather get high with Zayn or see a movie with Liam? See a movie with Liam

57: Would you rather go ice-skating with Harry or play Monopoly with Niall? Both. I can’t pick between ice skating and Monopoly lolol

58: Would you rather stroll through London with Louis or hang in Los Angeles with Harry? London with Louis

59: Would you rather sleep with Niall once or go on three dates with Zayn? Sleep with Niall

60: Favourite Louis moment? Him performing on X Factor just recently. He’s so brave, that wonderful boy.

61: Favourite Niall moment? Every moment ever. 

62: Favourite Harry moment? Also every moment ever.

63: Favourite Zayn moment? When he tweeted Louis his condolences then showed up in London with the rest of the boys to support Louis.

64: Favourite Liam moment? Snake Habitat. 

65: Has your fav always been your fav? Nope. But I cycled through pretty quickly to get to Niall

66: If you were to pick an outfit for your fav, what would you get him? I really dig when he wears Alexander McQueen tshirts. Stylish but casual.

67: If you were a tattoo artist, what would you make Niall's first tattoo? The screw. Next question.

68: Talk about the three things you like the most about your favourite. Didn’t I already do this? 

69: Talk about your favourite's sense of humour. Dumb. I love it.

70: Talk about your favourite's face and why you love it. His smile. HIS SMILE MAKES ME WEAK. Okay? Okay.

71: Talk about your favourite's body. Gorgeous but not too buff. Which is rad.

72: Do you like the way your fav dresses? Yeah he’s fine lol.

73: When was your fav the hottest? When was his prime? Right now

74: Which of the boys would you rob a bank with? Louis. 

75: Which of the boys would you tell your darkest secret? Niall

76: Which of the boys would you avoid to get in a fight with? Liam. Boy is strong

77: If you saw your fav in public, would you run after him or leave him alone for good? Leave him alone if I couldn’t meet him without making a scene about it and make people mob him

78: What kind of fan-pic would you like to take with your fav? hugging pics are my faves.

79: Have you ever spammed your fav on Twitter? Nah. That’s annoying.

80: What do you like the most about Liam? How warm and loving he is.

81: What do you like the most about Zayn? His bravery. He faced a lot of adversity.

82: What do you like the most about Harry? His silly side. He lets loose nicely.

83: What do you like the most about Niall? How he brightens every room he is in.

84: What do you like the most about Louis? How he feels like he could be your best friend and how much he cares for his friends.

85: Favourite AU? Meh

86: Which of the boys would make the prettiest girl? Zayn proved he does. 

87: Which of the boys will make the best husband? Niall again.

88: Which of the boys will make the best dad? Louis IS the best dad

89: Which of the boys is most likely to be a succesful solo artist after 1D? I wouldn’t have necessarily said this before, despite how much I love Niall. But now I’ll say Niall. His music is gonna be super chill and rad and played on radios everywhere. I’m so pleased.

90: Have you ever had a carrot phase? Nah that was before my time.

91: Is 17 year old Harry overrated? No age of Harry is overrated.

92: Red suspender- Louis or weed smoking bad boy Louis? Both. They’re both very special and important parts of his being. Red suspender Louis was a young and innocent and more carefree Louis. Weed smoking bad boy Louis has toughened up some. He’s still warm and lovely. But he’s also more fiercely protective and mature. 

93: Did you watch 1D Day? Talk about your experience. Yep. Well. Some. I was also at work some. That was about a week into me being a fan of 1D so it was...an experience lol

94: Narry or Zouis? Narry

95: Ziam or Ziall? Ziall

96: Did you ever make fan art? nah.

97: Do you write fics? Nope

98: Do you think you'll get over the band one day? Maybe. But that’s okay if I do. I love the time that I’ve loved them.

99: What's a One Direction related memory you will never forget? Literally flying to London for them? And meeting some wonderful people because of them. Also meeting Louis was pretty amazing. 

100: Talk about the first time you really noticed the boys. I mean. Noticed how? You’d have to live under a rock to not notice them after X Factor. But I finally let myself start liking them about 4 days before Midnight Memories leaked :)

THANK YOU FOR THIS. FUN TO TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE!

[justinbrownphotographer]

Sunset-to-Sunrise Marathon in Peak District (Hope) 27th October 2018

The time had come around, where all the training I had undertaken was going to be put to the test. My friend and I decided to sign up to this race, as we have not had done a night time trail race before. My friend had already recced the route, so I can confidently say if it was not for her doing this we would have had to stop a lot more and check the map (so fair play for the effort she put in). 

Driving down to the location was a bit of a nightmare, the journey took way longer than what Google maps had estimated. So, from the start, this race was a situation of chasing my tail. This day I learned a lot about prepping before, what to do during, and what is vital at the end of the race. I will share my experience here, so hopefully, somebody may not have learned the way I did.

Firstly, even though the drive to the race location maybe two to three hours, make sure you are wearing your actual running gear. Do not think I will get there with x amount of hours to spare and get ready then, because if something hinders your drive duration, you will be arriving at the destination in your casual clothes, which you cannot run in. So, by the time I got there I had approximately 45 minutes or so to get ready, loads of time, eh’? No, there was a briefing that everybody had to attend and a kit list check. Those things eat into your time you thought you had to get ready. I had to leave the briefing halfway through to go back to the car and start to get changed. Luckily my friend I was planning to run with, stayed for most of it. Almost changed and ready to race, I thought I will go to the toilet quickly, as I got out of the car, I looked to see a mass of people already running. Dammit, I have missed the start!! I ran to the start point and made sure I ran through it as we were wearing GPS trackers. My friend was at the front of the pack (she is a beast). So, already I was at the back of the hundred or so runners, which was compiled of runners who were either doing the half marathon, full marathon or the ultra marathon. Whilst all this has happened I still have not been to the toilet, stressed! After passing many runners I could eventually see my friend, so I continued to push the pace to catch up with her. I think it clocked in at an 8-minute mile, which is pretty fast for a trail marathon. Anyway, we were now reunited and got chatting about life, running, Peak District etc. We had about an hour of daylight before it started to get dark, so we did try to push on a bit whilst visibility was good. I won't mention how hilly it was or wasn't, it is in the Peak District, this is normal. After ascending one of the first hills, I turned around 180 degrees to see the sunset, luckily I had my phone handy (Huawei P20 Pro with Leica Lenses), I had to stop and take the photo.

The first third of the race was done with reasonable visibility and steady running. My friend and I passed a few people on our travels, we had brief chats with them. It is a funny thing with runners on these long races, people will talk to each other like they have been friends for years, but I think the shared passion puts people on a page where we are all equal. 

Secondly, as the night crept in the temperature started to drop, which is obviously a normal process. Observing around us the stars were shining that means it is clear skies, which means no cloud cover. In addition to that, the wind was strong and reducing the temperature (windchill), casting my mind back to the briefing a few hours ago the organiser informed us that the windchill will reduce the temperature by approximately 5 degrees. I think this was a fair statement, when we were running we could see ice particles in the beam of our head torches. Even though this marathon was regarded as a trail event, there was a section of the route that took to the road for approx 3-4 miles, where we were exposed to this constant wind. Lesson number 2 was before you get cold if you know the temperatures or conditions are changing for the worst, be proactive and start to add layers, do not wait until you feel really cold because it will take you a long time to get warm. The next checkpoint could not come soon enough after being on that exposed road for the best part of 40 minutes, the difference about this checkpoint is that it was indoors, I think it was a small school or something like that. My friend and I made the most of the supplies on offer, water and a couple of bourbon cream biscuits (they are vegan). But, the most surreal thing was the noise, there was no noise, the sound of silence was comforting, after having the wind battering our ears for almost a whole hour, to hear nothing was a relief. The marshal at the checkpoint let my friend and I know, that my friend was currently 1st place female and I was 2nd male. So, we were not doing too bad.

After this checkpoint, I think there we were about 7 miles or so from the end. My friend and I agreed to keep pushing, no stopping unless really necessary or if it got too hilly. We stuck to the plan, the last part of the race included some hills that were a bit difficult to run (realistically slow jog/shuffle) up. Hence, we walked this part of the course, but as soon as we could run we got back to plan. We were getting close to the end now, we were running past local pubs and restaurants, we could have quite easily stopped for a quick snack, only joking, you do not tend to have a massive appetite whilst doing these types of run. One turn remaining and we were now on the same road where the sports club is (the start point), Yes!, just minutes to go. My friend and I crossed the finish line, my friend 2nd (1st Female) and I was 3rd. Finally, time for lesson 3, when you finish a race especially in the autumn and winter months, get changed out of the wet clothes. I sat down and got chatting, but 30 minutes or so later I was now freezing. Once, I got back to the car and got changed I started to feel better. My friend who has been doing these races for a while popped to the car and got changed into fresh clothes straight away. Regardless of who is around, whether you have a 6-pack or a 1-pack, get out of the wet clothes (from sweat or rain) and get into dry clothes and wrap up.

[phatjosh180]

Welcome to 'The Honey Bucket List'

Some 6-7 years ago when I made my 180 race goal, I made it for a number of reasons. The biggest reason mainly being — I wanted running to be very much a part of my every day life. Not just a hobby, fad or thing to casually do on the weekends.

At that point in my life I got the vision of what running could be for me. I saw what it did to my fitness and mental health. It truly transformed me and life goals. And, I wanted to more of that.

That’s why I made the 180 race goal. Which was 180 races over 13.1 miles by my 40th birthday. I made that goal just prior to my 30th birthday and figured it would carry me into my 40’s.

Well …

It will carry me a few weeks prior to my 37th birthday.

Kinda undershot that estimation, right? Either way, here I am now just over a half year from meeting that goal. So, what’s next? 200 races? 300 races? Maybe even 500? More marathons? More ultras?

Seriously, what’s next?

Luckily, I’ve been thinking about what’s next now for the past year. Because, the last thing I want to do is get to my 180th race, cross that finish line and not know where to go. Knowing where I’m going next has been one of the greatest parts of this journey. I need that continuity for many reasons.

I’ve thought about shooting for 500 races or perhaps striving to join the 50 states marathon or half marathon club. But, while those are worthy goals — I’ve just felt they’re not for me. I’m done counting my races, because to me — this journey has become less about the number and more about the journey for me.

I don’t see races as my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 50th, 75th, 100th, 180th or whatever — I see running alongside Jill during her first marathon and ultra marathon, I see fighting through 50 hard fought miles along the Pony Express Trail or battling extreme weather, circumstance or injury to find the finish line. I don’t see numbers, I see adventures.

And, that’s really what I want next. I want more adventure. I want to focus more on the journey than the destination — tough there are some destinations I want to arrive at eventually. I want to see more of Utah, experience more of the world and do things I truly want to do.

That’s why I decided to focus on a bucket list after my 180th race. I decided to make a list of 26 places, challenges and goals I want to reach within the realm of my running. I don’t have a time goal for completion. I don’t really want one. I will have specific time goals for some items when I decide to tackle them.

When constructing this list, I made three basic rules —

They had to be things I truly WANTED to accomplishment.

They shouldn’t be things based on what I OUGHT to be doing.

They had to be things I would have FUN doing and striving toward.

Easy enough rules, right?

I could have easily added a goal on my list of running a sub 4 or 5 hour marathon. But, you know what? That’s never appealed to me. I’ve never cared about my marathon times. So for me to put that onto my bucket list — that wouldn’t be true to me, my passion or ultimate purpose of the list. I don’t want to do that to myself.

But, you better belief that I added my sub-30 minute 5K and sub-two hour half marathon time goal on there. Those are goals that I will always be striving toward — or at least want to accomplish. Those are goals I feel are very much within the realm of not possibility, but doability as well.

This wasn’t an easy list to put together and took very much the good part of a year to construct and finalize. I feel good about what’s here. It’s been vetted — numerous times. It’s been edited numerous times as well. Even as late as earlier this week.

But, this is the list. These are my goals — my ambitions — my drive for as long as it takes me to do it. And, I can’t help, but get excited thinking about it. Not just the items on the list, but the adventure it will set me out on in the process.

That’s the spirit of this list.

So without any further adieu, here’s my list …

1 – Run a 100 mile race. 2 – Join a 10-year race club. 3 – Run the Athens Marathon. 4 – Run the Boston Marathon. 5 – Complete 12 marathons within a calendar year. 6 – Complete 6 ultra races within a calendar year. 7 – Complete 5 overnight Ragnar Relays in 5 different locations. 8 – Complete 5 Vacation Races in 5 different locations. 9 – Run a sub-30 minute 5K. 10 – Run a sub-2 hour half marathon. 11 – Summit Mt. Timpanogos. 12 – Summit Mt. Olympus in Utah. 13 – Run (at least) the Zion Half Marathon 14 – Run (at least) the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon 15 – Run (at least) the Canyonlands Half Marathon 16 – Run (at least) the Capital Reef Half Marathon 17 – Run (at least) the Arches Half Marathon 18 – Run a pack burro race in Colorado. 19 – Run the Running with the Devil Half Marathon in Las Vegas. 20 – Run the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta. 21 – Run the Soldier Field 10 Mile in Chicago. 22 – Run across the Grand Canyon — rim to rim. 23 – Run across the Golden Gate Bridge. 24 – Run (at least) a marathon on a treadmill. 25 – Run 100 miles during a regular work week (M-F). 26.2 – Write a running book.

So what do you think? Let me know what you think about my goals in the comments below.

As you can tell, some goals are road running goals while others are trail running goals. There are some that could be both and there are even some goals that are more mountaineering than trail running. It’s a mixed bag of goals and ambitions.

I am excited for this next phase in not just my running, but life. I am only three months away from reaching my goal, but I am excited in knowing where my next step will take me once I cross that finish line.

Here’s to my Honey Bucket List!

A post shared by The Runcast (@theruncast) on Oct 18, 2017 at 5:40am PDT

Welcome to ‘The Honey Bucket List’ was originally published on PhatJosh | My Life Running.

[onelongpath-blog]

Why the South West Coast Path?

Five years ago my brother and I set off on our first ever running event, London Run to the Beat Half Marathon, and roughly 95 minutes later I told everybody that would be the last running event i would ever take part in. 7 marathons, 2 half marathons, 1 triathlon and miles upon miles of training runs, i have now set myself the biggest challenge to date - 630 miles within 30 days.

Running a half/full marathon is what lots of amazing people do to raise money for charity all across the world. Watching the London Marathon always makes me incredibly proud, seeing thousands of people pushing themselves to the limit not just on race day but through all the training miles that nobody gives them credit for. I have massive respect for anybody that steps out of their comfort zone and takes on a challenge that tests them both physiologically and psychologically. Running is something that came naturally to me, once i began training regularly, and i have always enjoyed going out for a casual half marathon. By the time i finished my 7th marathon, the distance didn’t seem as though i was really pushing myself to the limits or stepping out into the unknown. To be honest, i started to get bored of them and wanted to push myself further.

Less than six months after finishing my 7th marathon, i unfortunately suffered a knee injury that would put me out of all sport for two years. Two years of frustration, pain and feeling seriously down at times was a tough period for me. Running has always been a way for me to clear my head and relax me should something get the better of me. Two years away from that really hit me hard and those closest to me will know the frustration of not being able to even run down the road. 

Coming back from an injury like that, the majority of people would say to ease back into things and start by planning small little events. Common sense would be to follow that idea, however I’m not one of those people. I want to be pushed and tested out of my comfort zone. Why run a 10K when i have previously ran 5 marathons over straight weekends? Surely that isn’t a challenge anymore. It was then when i started looking at different events or challenges i could potentially do, long distance cycling, ultra marathons and running from Cardiff to Bournemouth were just a few of the ideas. But after a little bit of research i found the perfect challenge that would really push me to my limits, The Great South West Coast Path. 630 miles of beautiful picturesque views may sound quite a nice idea over a long period of time but when you try to complete the path within 30 days and then add the total elevation change of over four times the height of Mount Everest, this is something that my body is going to have to seriously prepare for both mentally and physically. 

Doing this is something i know won’t be easy and i will certainly have times when i wonder why on earth i am doing this but pushing myself to the limit and also raising lots of money and awareness will certainly make the tough times worthwhile.

[ultralifehackerguru-blog]

New Post has been published on http://www.lifehacker.guru/100-small-changes-you-can-make-to-improve-your-health/

100 Small Changes You Can Make To Improve Your Health

Not every change you make to live a healthier lifestyle has to be drastic. Many people go balls to the wall and cut out all their carbs or go from never running to training for a marathon.

The problem? Most realize how difficult such a drastic change can be and bail on their goal.

It’s better to take baby steps on your quest to build a healthier, stronger version of yourself. Pick one or two of the changes below and focus on those. Once you’re comfortable with the changes you made, pick up a few more.

1. Cut out soda.

2. Cut out juices.

3. Drink more water (8 8-oz cups per day).

4. Walk to work if distance permits.

5. Get a gym membership.

6. Come up with a workout plan that involves hitting the gym at least 3x a week.

7. Buy fruit instead of cookies and donuts.

8. Eat more vegetables. The fiber and nutrients will keep you full and prevent overeating.

9. Consume 25g fiber per day if you are female, 38g for males.

10. Drink less coffee so that you do not rely on caffeine.

11. Get 8-10 hours of sleep.

12. Go on a run at least once a week.

13. Read a blog on bettering your health and/or fitness at least once a week.

14. Plan your meals ahead of time so that you don’t give in to cravings when come meal time.

15. Purge your pantry of all junk (and no, not by eating it).

16. Try cooking healthy recipe instead of eating out.

17. Talk to someone new at the gym every week. Making friends will make you enjoy your time there and want to return.

18. Buy egg whites instead of only whole eggs.

19. Try turkey bacon instead of pork bacon (I eat both depending on the occasion).

20. Keep an exercise log so you can see that you are making progress.

21. Invest in healthier snack foods such as nuts, fruit, snap peas, baby carrots, etc.

22. Set a goal and don’t stop until it’s achieved.

23. Set baby goals with corresponding rewards to encourage you along the way.

24. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether that be talking to a fit friend or hiring a fitness professional.

25. Understand your body. Figure out the number of calories you can consume daily to maintain, gain, or lose weight.

26. Avoid drinking to get drunk except on special occasions (it really shouldn’t be an end-of-the-week habit).

27. That said, restrict yourself to 1-2 alcoholic beverages when you do drink casually.

28. Increase your protein intake. It will keep you full and promote recovery from exercise.

29. Take a multivitamin. Most of us do not get the essential micronutrients we need day to day.

30. Take a fish oil supplement. Omega-3’s are essential for a strong heart.

31. Go on walks after eating large meals.

32. Wake up an hour earlier (given you slept enough hours) and get moving. You’ll be more productive if you start the day off with a little exercise.

33. Avoid movie theatre popcorn if you can. That stuff is dangerous. A large bucket can contain over 1000 calories easily.

34. Find and start a fitness program.

35. If you smoke, stop.

36. Pick up a sport you want to try.

37. Re-pick up a sport you stopped participating in.

38. Join health initiatives and challenges at the workplace.

39. If you’ve been sitting for over an hour, get up and walk around — like right now if it applies.

40. Take your dog on a walk! If you have one of course. The exercise isn’t just for your pup.

41. Vacuum the house. It’ll get you moving and can burn up to 300 calories per hour!

42. Avoid artificial sweeteners. If you need one, try Stevia.

43. Drink skim milk instead of whole milk.

44. Incorporate a resistance training routine instead of only performing cardio. It promotes strong bones and faster metabolism.

45. Drain the bacon grease before frying your eggs!

46. If you are eat a salad, avoid dousing it in dressing. A single serving of ranch dressing can be up to 150 calories.

47. Trouble sleeping through the night? Decrease caffeine intake. Especially within 5 hours of bedtime.

48. Read a book. Stimulating your mind promotes physical health more than you know.

49. Choose baked chips or veggie chips instead of regular ones.

50. Avoid deep fried foods. Baked or grilled versions are better choices.

51. Buy fresh veggies over canned or frozen ones if possible.

52. Do not drink Fireball. Stuff has antifreeze in it.

53. When eating out, pick a healthier option. It’ll taste better than you expect.

54. Write your thoughts out every once in awhile. Keep a diary. Write an article. It helps relieve stress.

55. Talking to people also relieves stress. Get out there and be social. Don’t hold things in.

56. Choose leaner meats for your sandwiches and meals.

57. Don’t skip meals too often. Your body needs food for energy.

58. Start a running or workout group amongst your friends and/or colleagues.

59. Listen to music you enjoy. It soothes.

60. Buy whole grain breads and pastas over instead of white.

61. Order brown rice instead of white rice at Chinese restaurants.

62. When your family or workplace orders donuts and you can’t resist, only take one.

63. Use low or non-fat versions of sauces. Those tiny little packets of Chick-Fil-A Sauce have 140 calories!

64. Rely less on Ibuprofen for hangovers and more on water and hydration.

65. Find a workout buddy! The extra accountability will keep you, well, accountable.

66. Take naps when exhausted instead of chugging more caffeine. Listening to your body goes a long way.

67. Substitute unsweetened apple sauce for butter when baking.

68. Sweeten with Stevia instead of sugar when baking. A 1:1 ratio works well.

69. Take a green drink supplement if you don’t get a wide range of vegetables and fruits daily.

70. Meditate. Occasionally taking a moment of silence to be inside your own mind and simply think can promote mental health and relaxation.

71. Eat until satisfied, not full.

72. Prep meals over the weekend so that you have healthy and readily available options throughout the week.

73. Snack less and eat more filling meals.

74. Do mini workouts during commercial breaks. Push ups, sit ups, crunches, planks, and squats are all prime candidates.

75. If pressed for time in the gym, perform compound movements that hit large numbers of muscles such as squats and pullups.

76. Wait 10 minutes after eating meals to make sure you’re actually still hungry before going for a post-meal snack. It takes time for your brain to catch up to your belly sometimes.

77. Read food labels. Knowing how much protein, fat, and carbs you’re consuming is key to understanding your nutrition.

78. If the nutrition label indicates any trans-fats, do not eat that food. Trans-fats clog your arteries.

79. Learn to refuse unhealthy foods when they are offered to you. Learning to say no is a good lesson to learn for every aspect of life. You can’t make everyone happy.

80. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

81. Get off the internet sometimes and go outside. We spend too much time on Facebook and Twitter and not enough moving around.

82. Add lemon to your water. It aids digestion by clearing the digestive tract.

83. Stretch tight or sore muscles. Many of us have become immobile with age and lack of exercise. Stretching can get you moving and functioning properly again.

84. Use non-stick spray instead of butter and oil when pan-frying foods.

85. Drink your coffee black. Sugar and creamer add unnecessary calories and really add up over time if you’re a coffee drinker.

86. Consume 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar daily to prevent heartburn and acid reflux.

87. Get up to get the remote instead of asking for it to be passed to your lazy bum.

88. Incorporate a day to go hiking on your vacations. Hiking can burn anywhere from 300 to 600 calories per hour.

89. Sign up for a 5k or 10k. You’re more likely to do something if you pay for it. This also provides a sense of urgency because you can’t push back the date.

90. Stop waiting and take out the garbage before it overflows. Just another way to get moving. You’ll also get that bonus sense of accomplishment that comes with having a nice, clean, empty trash can (or is that just me?).

91. Request no butter and no oil at restaurants. Excess fats really pack on the calories.

92. Pass on the fries. They are high carb and high fat, which means extra high calorie. Save them for cheat meals.

93. Get some sun. Vitamin D deficiency is more common now than ever. Excess sun can be detrimental to your skin health, but most people don’t get enough.

94. Perform both high intensity and low-intensity exercises — anything from walking to burpees. This ensures that your body becomes efficient using both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems.

95. Hit the pool! Swimming for fitness burns more calories than running. Don’t believe me? Google Michael Phelps’ 12,000 calorie diet.

96. Pace during long phone calls. It may sound silly, but the extra steps really add up. I’ve paced over 1500 steps back and forth while talking on the phone. That’s almost an entire mile!

97. Load up a quarter to half of your dinner plate with veggies. Portion control helps prevent overeating.

98. Stop thinking and start doing. If you’re “thinking about” getting in shape or starting a program, JUST DO IT.

99. Use cheat meals instead of cheat days. A full day of cheating can throw off your progress pretty badly if you can eat a large enough amount of food. It’s difficult to do this with a single cheat meal though.

100. At Chipotle, get a bowl instead of the burrito.

©

[allcheatscodes]

sniper elite iii pc

http://allcheatscodes.com/sniper-elite-iii-pc/

sniper elite iii pc

Sniper Elite 3 cheats & more for PC (PC)

Cheats

Unlockables

Hints

Easter Eggs

Glitches

Guides

Achievements

Get the updated and latest Sniper Elite III cheats, unlockables, codes, hints, Easter eggs, glitches, tricks, tips, hacks, downloads, achievements, guides, FAQs, walkthroughs, and more for PC (PC). AllCheatsCodes.com has all the codes you need to win every game you play!

Use the links above or scroll down to see all the PC cheats we have available for Sniper Elite III.

Check Xbox 360 cheats for this game

Check PlayStation 3 cheats for this game

Check Xbox One cheats for this game

Check PlayStation 4 cheats for this game

Official Title: Sniper Elite III Also Known As: Sniper Elite 3

Genre: Adventure, Action Developer: Rebellion Software Publisher: 505 Games ESRB Rating: Mature Release Date: July 1, 2014

Hints

Currently we have no tips for Sniper Elite III yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Cheats

Currently we have no cheats or codes for Sniper Elite III yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Unlockables

Currently we have no unlockables for Sniper Elite III yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Easter eggs

Currently we have no easter eggs for Sniper Elite III yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Glitches

Currently we have no glitches for Sniper Elite III yet. If you have any unlockables please feel free to submit. We will include them in the next post update and help the fellow gamers. Remeber to mention game name while submiting new codes.

Guides

Currently no guide available.

Currently no guide available.

Achievements

Steam Achievements

A few of my favourite things – Get a kill with each offensive item

A shot in the dark – Complete all the long shots

Advantage – Sniper – Get 30 kills from sniper nests

An ode to Rube Goldberg – Get 20 chain reaction explosive kills

Archivist – Find all the war diaries

Casual Reader – Find half of the war diaries

Charlie’s Challenge – Get a testicle-shot from over 100m away

Competitive streak – Play 10 competitive multiplayer matches

Conserving oxygen – Hold breath for one hour

Convenience is key – Kill the target by shooting nearby explosive barrels

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Ratte – Complete Mission 6

Dedicated soldier – Complete 100% of the campaign on any difficulty

Definitely no “90-day wonder” – Attain a rank of Sergeant (level 11)

Demolition Man – Complete Mission 7

Double tap – Incapacitate 2 vehicles in Kasserine Pass within 5 seconds (Mission 6)

Double the distance – Snipe enemies over a cumulative distance of a double marathon

Elite fan – Own Sniper Elite, Sniper Elite V2 and Sniper Elite 3

End of the ‘lein’ – Find and kill the visiting General (Mission 3)

Fast-moving target – Shoot the target in his car

Ghost of Tobruk – Clear the mountain pass without alerting the enemy (Mission 1)

Grenadier – Kill the target with a grenade

Hard as nails – Complete the game on Sniper Elite difficulty

Herr Charles – Kill the officer at the meeting with a testicle shot

Hidden and dangerous – Complete a campaign mission without being seen (excluding Tobruk)

Highly decorated – Earn 1 of every ribbon in competitive multiplayer

I Fort this would be difficult – Get to the informant without being spotted (Mission 4)

I Siwa you did there – Make the target officer’s death look like an accident (Mission 5)

In the middle – Kill the target with a chain reaction

In the nick of time – Complete Mission 5

Indestructible – Complete a mission after losing over 500 units of health

Long way down – Throw an enemy off one of the bridges (Mission 8)

Make it go boom – Kill 20 enemies by shooting explosives

Nesting instinct – Find all the Sniper nests

No escape – Kill the target in the vehicle by shooting its weakspot

No refuge – Complete Mission 4

Nothing is optional – Complete all the optional objectives

Officer material – Attain a rank of Second Lieutenant (level 31)

Oscar Mike – Relocate 100 times

Pest Control Specialist – Complete Mission 8

Prepared for any eventuality – Create and save 4 loadouts

Regular soldier – Complete the game on Marksman difficulty

Saved by the bell – Crush the target with a bell

Sniping with friends – Complete the campaign in co-op

Sweating bullets – Shoot and kill the target

Tactical distractor – Distract 20 enemies with flint or rocks

Tagged – Tag 100 enemies or vehicles

The Everyman – Complete all the challenge missions

The gathering – Find all the collectible cards

The Gazala Gallop – Complete Mission 1

This is my rifle… – Customize 1 rifle

Threat assessment – Observe the target and correctly choose to leave or kill

Three birds, one stone – Destroy all 3 bomb dumps at the same time (Mission 7)

Through the fire… – Complete Mission 3

Through the looking glass – Kill 10 snipers before they see/shoot you

Time to reload – Complete the game on Cadet difficulty

True sniper – Complete the game on Authentic difficulty

Wait for it… – Kill 10 enemies with flint-triggered detonations

Well, well, well – Hide a body in each of the wells in Gaberoun (Mission 2)

Wonderwall – Complete Mission 2

You’ll try anything once – Play 1 mission in each mode (campaign, challenges, competitive multiplayer)

… And stay dead! – Kill the target in 7 different ways

[entirebodyexercise]

Returning To Training After A Big Race

Follow these standards to swiftly obtain on your own back up to speed.

Within the first 1 Day after competing, your highest top priorities in terms of healing are launching muscle mass repair, replenishing muscular tissue glycogen shops, as well as rehydrating. Call it phase one of post-race recuperation. Yet what happens after the very first 24 Hr? Why, stage 2 of post-race healing, naturally, where the emphasis is on the go back to training.

How quickly you return to regular training depends upon the length of the race you have actually merely finished, your fitness degree, as well as when you prepare to race next. If the race you have actually simply completed is the last one in your present training cycle, you should feel no rush to return to typical training. You'll be better served in the lengthy run if you allow your body as well as mind to invigorate with a quick duration of lack of exercise followed by a duration of casual, just-for-kicks workouts, perhaps featuring some alternative methods of workout. That said, below are some general standards to think about when preparing your go back to training:

After shorter races (as much as 10K): You can do your next hard run within as couple of as three days, if you're a high-mileage runner. Or else, wait regarding 5 days.

After a 10-miler or half-marathon: Fitter runners could go long or quickly again after 4 or 5 days. More laid-back joggers should wait at the very least a complete week.

After a marathon: All runners wanting to maintain a high degree of physical fitness must do little or no running for 4 to seven days, followed by a week of just low-intensity running. Then you can go back to your regular regimen.

Cross-training is an excellent means to maintain physical fitness without slowing down the recovery process in the first few days after a much longer race. Walking, swimming, cycling, and also inline skating are all excellent choices, as long as you keep the strength low.

Here are 3 instances of training schedules for the very first 10 days after a race. The first example is a routine that is suitable for a jogger who has actually simply completed a brief (5K or 10K) race and also wants to go back to training as quickly as possible to prepare for the next race. The 2nd example is ideal for a jogger who has actually merely completed a marathon as well as wishes to return to regular training quickly. The 3rd instance is proper for a runner who has completed a top race that will certainly be complied with by an "off-season" healing duration. This example includes biking and yoga as off-season cross-training activities, yet do not hesitate to replace whatever tasks passion you one of the most.

Example 1-- Quick recuperation after a 5K or 10K

Day 1 RestDay 2 Easy Run 3 milesDay 3 Easy Run 5 milesDay 4 Fartlek Run 6 miles easy w/6 x 30 secs @ 5K paceDay 5 RestDay 6 Easy Run 5 milesDay 7 Long Run 10 miles easyDay 8 Easy Run + Sprints 4 miles easy 8 x 10 secs uphill @ complete speedDay 9 Easy Run 5 milesDay 10 Pace Run 1-mile warmup 4 miles @ half-marathon pace 1-mile cooldown

Example 2-- Quick recovery after a marathon

Day 1 RestDay 2 Walk 2 milesDay 3 Pool Run 30 minutesDay 4 Elliptical exerciser fitness instructor 40 minutesDay 5 Easy Run 4 milesDay 6 RestDay 7 Easy Run 5 milesDay 8 Elliptical machine Fitness instructor 40 minutesDay 9 Easy Run 5 milesDay 10 Fartlek Run 6 miles simple w/6 x 30 secs @ 5K pace

Example 3-- Off-season recovery after a marathon

Day 1 RestDay 2 RestDay 3 Walk 2 milesDay 4 Walk 2 milesDay 5 Bicycle 40 minutesDay 6 RestDay 7 Bicycle 40 minutesDay 8 Yoga 30 minutesDay 9 Bicycle 1 hourDay 10 Yoga 30 minutes

****