Every now and again I'll provide a product review for running related products or literature. None of these reviews will be paid endorsements. If I recommend something it's because I believe it is good not because I was paid to do so. Today I have two books I strongly recommend for runners The first is Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performance (The Racing Weight Series) I gave this book a 5 star review at Amazon.com. It's a simple plan that does not rely on gimmicky diet plans to help an endurance athlete determine an ideal racing weight and to achieve that diet weight through proper nutrition and timing of that nutrition while burning fat and developing muscle. This was by far the best book I've read on the subject of weight management for the endurance athlete. The second is Weight Training for Running: The Ultimate Guide. I also gave this book a 5 star review on Amazon. Weight training is essential for runners. Not only does it build long lean muscle which is essential for speed and endurance it burns fat through increased metabolism better than most other forms of cross training. This book provides photos and descriptions of 100+ weight exercises that benefit runners from the upper body to the core to the lower body and legs along with sample workout plans and recommendations based upon different goals. It's small, lightweight, and will pack nicely into a gym bag to carry with you to the gym. It is also available for the Kindle. I've owned many weight training guides but this is the first (and only) book I found dedicated to the runner and the specific weight training regimens needed to build a strong core while developing the fast twitch needed for explosive speed and the slow twitch needed for long runs.
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I have two primary sites that I track my runs, rides, and works out, DailyMile and Garmin Connect.
If you'd like to connect with me at either site here are my profile links: DailyMile Profile Garmin Connect Profile While you will find that I have profiles on other sites these really are the only two that I ever use. Today I received an email from Dan Woods asking me if I'd consider being a RunJunkEes™ sponsored athlete to represent the RunJunkEes and running through his brand and website.
I couldn't have said YES fast enough. We are not RunJunkIes. We are RunJunkEes. The E representing EVERYONE. RunJunkEes are inclusive of all who run and it simply does not matter how long you've been running, how fast you run, or how long you can run. If you run we welcome you to our RunJunkEe world. The very fact that Dan selected me as a RunJunkEes™ sponsored athlete, a guy who's been running less than 3 years with a PR of 4:38 for a full, is more than enough evidence to his attitude towards RunJunkEes and running as a whole. I am not an elite. Not even close. I'm just a guy who decided in June of 2011 after losing his nephew Mavrick to blood cancer to run a half marathon and raise a couple of thousand dollars to benefit leukemia research and along the way, that first "season", training fell totally head over heels in love with running. I love what running has done for me and what I see it do for so many others. Running is not the source of my "weight loss transformation" (that was actually strength training in the gym with my friend and personal trainer Abel Berry). Running is, however, the source of a personal transformation that goes much further than anything physical. It has made me more confident and more secure in my ability, as a human being, to accomplish whatever I set my mind to. I started running June 27th of 2011 and in October of that year completed my first half marathon at the 13.1 Dallas and in December my first full marathon at the MetroPCS White Rock Dallas Marathon. To date I have completed 20 half marathons, 10 full marathons, and 2 ultra marathons (50Ks), many of them as a Rundraiser raising money with TEAM in Training to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I'll share more about TEAM's mission and why it is the single most important reason I run in the coming days. For now, I'll close this first blog entry in thankfulness and gratitude for this honor. RunJunkEes is by far my favorite running community online and to have been selected as a sponsored athlete and ambassador is truly an honor. |