This is who I really am.

For all of my runner friends and friends that workout a lot I have some advice for you: HYDRATE! HYDRATE! HYDRATE! I have friends, and a wife, that don't drink enough water. You people are crazy! I try to carry a bottle of water with me everywhere. You need to drink water most of the day. I start drinking water as soon as I get up. If you are a runner you should try wearing a hydration belt. There are several different kinds. This is the one I wear:   I actually found it for $20 at T.J. Maxx. That is half the price they are usually. The price is worth it to get a good one even if you don't find it on sale.   With it still being hot outside you have to make sure you are hydrated BEFORE you go out and run. Take care of yourselves. And stay thirsty my friends.      

This week's Music Monday is my playlist from my most recent race, the Celebrate Munford 5K. This is something that I've wanted to do for a while. I mention in these posts from time to time about songs being on a playlist. I thought I would write about my playlist for my most recent 5K. I am starting this post a few days before the race. I am giving the details of why and how I chose these songs. After the race I will go back and finish the post with how the songs affected me. When I make a playlist for a race like this I try to do a few things: have a song to warm up with, songs that push me to run harder, and a song for how I feel once I have finished the race. The songs build up from "slower" to "insane". Here goes: 1. "Where Are You" - Our Lady Peace I chose this song to warm up with. Most times I'll go with a song that has a lot of "swagger". Something that kinda conveys a sense of confidence. Usually a rap song like the W

This Week's Music Monday is "My Own Summer" by the Deftones. This is where it all started. This is the first Deftones song I ever heard back in 1997. This is my all-time favorite song. This song is why the Deftones are my favorite band. My dog's name is Chino after the lead singer Chino Moreno. This song is my ringtone. If I could somehow make it happen this song would play anytime I walk into a room kinda like a WWE entrance theme. The first time I heard this song I knew right away that this is my kind of music, this is my kind of band. You can't find a hard rock band out there right now that doesn't give props to the Deftones for being a band they were influenced by. At the time Linkin Park was becoming a big deal they were playing on a tour with Metallica, Limp Bizkit and the Deftones. For some stupid reason the Deftones played before Linkin Park. And sure enough Linkin Park gave props to the Deftones and covered this song. The one time I saw

I have three routes that I usually run. I have a one mile loop around the YMCA that I use the most. I have a loop around my neighborhood that I use when I can't get to the Y. But my favorite is an out and back from the Y. I use this out and back when I want to go for a long run or if I really need to make myself run. The route starts at the end of the parking lot of the Y and goes towards Navy Road. I cross over Navy Road to Veteran's Parkway and out to Navy Lake. Depending on how many miles I plan to run I know where to turn around and come back. All the way out to Navy Lake is 5 miles but I also use it for shorter distances. Days like yesterday is why I like that route so much. Yesterday was one of those days that I wanted to run at least 5 miles or more but I was really tired. I knew if I ran the loop at the Y I would be tempted to quit early. It's easy to talk yourself into shortening your run when you are running a loop because you keep coming back to your startin

This week's Music Monday is "Unity" by Shinedown. This is another powerful song from one of my favorite bands. I've done posts about their songs "Bully"  and "Fly From The Inside" . They are a band much like Our Lady Peace that I could do a lot of posts about their music. A lot of their music is positive and "supportive". I really feel a connection with their message. They are a band that I always feel is there for me. Much like OLP, their music really "feels" like it's written for me. My favorite line of the song is: So have you ever been caught in a sea of despair? And your moment of truth Is the day that you say "I'm not scared" Another line that really connects with me: If I told you that you're not alone And I show you this is where you belong Put your hands in the air One more time This song is sort of a tribute to their fans and how they feed off the band and how the band feeds off of t