My Running Gear: Garmin Forerunner 735XT

When it comes to running - you don't have to have any gear.  That is the beauty of the sport!  You don't have to have anything but a desire to do it and the follow through to execute the desire.

The simplicity of running makes it unique.

Some people run barefoot.  Others run commando.  Most run with some sort of specially bought gear whether it be shoes, performance tech clothing, watches, belts, food, chaffing help, drinks, sun glasses, etc.  Like most things, there are items out there that are sold with hopes of aiding your efforts to become better, faster, stronger and more successful (success means something different to everyone).  It's no different with me - the average level runner.

Nice and Slow!

One thing that I always have on during my runs is my Garmin Forerunner 735XT watch.  It is amazing.  Now, in my first few years of running (going on 6 years now), I repeatedly bought cheap watches and used them until they broke down.  They worked great for a short time but would have to be replaced often.  If that is for you, keep going for it!  I decided however to spend a little money and go with a Garmin.  It has changed my running.  I am not fast by any means, or probably by anyone's standards, but I now can view stats of my runs that I didn't even know were possible to record with watch having only used cheap watches. Does this watch make me faster that a cheaper watch cannot?  In a way, yes but it doesn't shoot sugar or caffeine into my blood stream to do so, which would be awesome!  It does show me where my performance level is at and helps me push harder.    

Using the Garmin Connect app, I can view all that my watch recorded.  I can see elevation gain, elevation loss, calories burned, distance, map, cadence, average heart rate, max heart rate, splits, average speed, average moving speed, average pace, average moving pace, max speed, total time, total moving time, average run cadence, max run cadence, average stride length and it rates training effect.   It also gives graphics for each of those things!  When I say that it gives graphics - it breaks it down to "at what point of your run" that your cadence, pace, heart rate, etc took place.

It is not necessary to have the Garmin Connect app to view your results but for the all inclusive review - it is necessary.

Is it a smartwatch?  Yes!

For sure!  I can see who's calling, notifications, weather - all of it.  I can also sync it with other apps and it will configure those apps in regards to activity and calories consumed/burned/etc.

Is my watch just for running?  No!  

This particular watch is a triathlon watch.  It can also record Cycling results and Swimming results.  I have used it for cycling but not for swimming.  My understanding is that the heart rate will not work when under water.  I am not a big swimmer but would like to complete some sort of an Ironman.  It may be more of a simpler version of an Ironman as I am not at, or near, a point where they would be able to say over the system "You are an Ironman".  

Is the watch just for sports?  No!

This watch, like most Garmin watches I believe, record sleep habits, daily steps, Calories burned throughout the day and so forth.  To see detailed results though, the Connect App, which is free, is needed.  The 735XT also allows for you to personalize the different "apps".  You can change the face of the watch, add different data fields, widgets and such to the watch.  This is all done through the Connect IQ store.  Currently, my watch has a different than standard watch face that shows time, date, battery life, steps, miles traveled, calories burned, heart rate and graph of daily steps and cal burned.  It sounds like a lot but it isn't. Scrolling through the different apps/widgets on my watch I can see in more detail than watch face: steps, miles traveled, weather, my day stats, heart rate (current, resting heart rate, and graph of last 4 hours), controls, Notifications and Last Run.  All of that allows for customization.  Pretty Awesome right!

Is the watch worth the money?  Yes!

I don't like to spend money on stuff.  Maybe it was the way that I was raised to always find the deal - the cheapest price.  Was this a big expenditure for me?  It was.  It took some money but it was well worth it!  Through the years of buying the cheap watches - I probably could have bought one watch that was worth it and actually told the real story through my runs as I now have.

They say on race day that you stay "tried and true" to what you know works for you.  You don't want to eat something different than normal.  You don't want to wear a new pair of shoes at the starting line of a marathon.  You want to find something that works, that works well, and stick to it  This watch is the watch for me.  I can wear it for a run and have very detailed results to view and then keep it on when I go to work!  

It's never easy, for me, to spend a chunk of money on something that I wear but this piece of running gear has been worth it!

(I receive nothing for reviewing my watch!)

Get out of your head!

Loser!  

Failure!

You can't finish this!

You won't be able to lift that!

That is too high!

That is way too much weight!

You look fat!

You are fat!

She is better than you!

He is faster than you!

You can't ever look like that!

You won't be able to be successful!

You always come up short!

I can't change!

This is who I always will be!

Stop!

Just Quit!

***

Get out of your head and defy the thoughts that pull you down!

7 people + 3 months = Fit With a Purpose on Facebook

7 people + 3 months = Fit With a Purpose on Facebook

Fit With a Purpose has expanded onto Facebook for a more personal interaction.  The platform makes conversation easier and more accessible.  The website is a tool for many to use and continue to provide relevant content concerning Fitness, Faith, and Family.  

For the next 3 months, people are following the health and fitness journeys of 7 individuals as they embark on their personal journey to better fitness.  This is at their pace, will power, discipline, workout plans, gyms, homes, etc.  This is all up to them.  Each week, they will post a video talking about the successes and failures of the past week and share hopes for the upcoming week.  Throughout the weeks, Fit With a Purpose will provide insight into workout routines, healthy recipes, and similar areas.  

We hope that you will add Fit With a Purpose's Facebook community to your 'must follow' social media list and that you will continue to watch the website for ongoing conversation in the world of fitness, faith, and healthy family advice.

GO TO Fit With a Purpose's Facebook Community

5 Ways to Exercise for Free!

If you have made New Year's resolutions then you probably have said that you want to lose more weight.  You're under the same line of thinking as last year and the year before that.

How's that going for you?  If we are making the same resolution as the year before than we have gone wrong somewhere.  What is or what is not working?  For many, what isn't working is paying for a membership to a gym and not going to the gym.  If you can afford to do so, a gym membership is a great thing to have as long as you use it!

Maybe you have a membership to a gym as I do or maybe you recently acquired your membership to enhance your health and fitness for your new goal.  That is great! Many people are unable to do so though and I thought it'd be good for everyone, gym members included, to know of ways that exercise and fitness can come at no cost; health and fitness can come free.

I.  Go for a walk.

What is a walk going to do for you?  Everything!  Your goal was to become healthier right?  Breathing fresh air, moving around, and outdoor scenery can do great things for you!  Maybe it's around your block that you'll walk.  Going to the nearby park and walking around will give you a good workout as well. Many parks now have walking paths for those wanting to get outdoors. If you live near a school, chances are that there is a running track near you then - take advantage of that track and track your distance with ease and without any special technology.  Walking is free and it's benefits are priceless.

II.  Take up Hiking.

Hiking has a lot of walking in it but here is much more to hiking.  Hiking can be very challenging.  When hiking, you will find that your heart rate is going to perform at different rates rather than the consistency of walking.  This would be compared to circuit training.  Your heart rate is going to rise when hiking uphill in the woods more so than walking through a valley.  This change in heart rate is going to promote weight loss just as circuit training in the gym.  Find a nearby state park, friend's or family's property, or local park and go exploring!  Hiking can be great for the mind as well.  Any type of exercise can be rewarding but hiking and taking in the outdoors will provide you an opportunity to view the grandeur of the creation around us.  As you hike, look for wildlife, beauty and get away from the busyness of the everyday.

III.  Use Your Body for Resistance Training

Being overweight comes at a health cost.  It usually means labored breathing, higher risk of heart disease, lack of energy, sleep problems, and many, many more side effects.  One way that you can overcome this weight problem is to use the weight against your weight.  Simple exercises, in terms of difficulty to perform, like push-ups, squats, and lunges can use your current weight to build muscle - all while losing weight.  Let your inhibitor become a benefactor.

IV.  Get Creative with your No-Cost Workouts

I've carried a lot of groceries in from the car to the house for my wife.  I tell you that a gallon of milk can get heavy after a while.  Why not save your milk containers and fill them with water and use them as weights for lifting?  Do lunges while carrying the filled containers. Fill them with dirt, water or sand - all of that would work for the task.  Why not do what many gyms are doing and use a tire for a workout?  Let's face it, you won't be able to lift a tractor tire in the beginning for this workout so go with a smaller one.  Take an old tire and flip the tire over again and again. Take a sledge hammer, bat or stick and hit the tire with force.  Tie a rope around the tire and drag it.  Do you have a fire place?  Take those pieces of wood that you've cut for the fire place and throw them as far as you can again and again.  Does your child have a swing set?  Go and do pull ups on the swing set.  A quick search on the internet can give you machines or exercises that you can perform in the gym; just mimic those moves and machines with things you have around the home.

V.   Scour the Free Listings on Social Media & Craigslist

People are always getting rid of things.  Granted, at the beginning of any year it would be a little harder to find exercise equipment for free as many are now using their dusty machines or people are benefiting from selling their unused equipment.  Some though are being given away.  Find a local Facebook group and search for free items.  Put a ISO (In Search of) or WANTED post out there on those sites stating what you are looking for.  Drive around during spring cleaning and see what people have put on the curb.  It seems that exercise bikes are always available.  Check Craigslist to see what is in your area.  Ask family to see if they have something around the house that is unused.  Remember that you don't have to own the equipment personally but can borrow the equipment from friends or family until you can save up enough to get what you want!

It may not be as easy to exercise as it is to come up with excuses not to exercise but it is totally worth it when you see the results!  

I need help vegetarians!

I'll just say it.

I enjoy sitting down at the dinner table with my little family to a meal full of chicken/venison/beef or some other kind of meat as the main course(sometimes the only course). That doesn't happen as much anymore though. I

 am very interested in the vegetarian diet, but not all the time. Since having the kidney stone, I choose to have meat only 3 days a week due to the extra stuff that meat has that helps form stones. I did see an initial change in weight dropping off but am unsure if it was the stoppage of eating meat or an increase in activity. What I am sure of is how my body felt the days that I don't have meat. I usually feel better.

I've decided to try a different kind of vegetarian diet of my own. It's the '6 day vegaterian'. It's not a special diet - it's just a vegetarian diet for 6 days of the week. My wife and I like to go out to a buffet after church on Sundays to a nice meal and I thought Sunday would be a good meat day (especially since I can barely stomach the thought of spending the same amount of money on a meat dish as a non-meat dish).

Here's my dilema. My wife and I run out of/exhaust the vegetarian meals that we know we like. There are tons out there, but many of them aren't for the novice vegetarian. I think vegetarianism is a science and one that takes a lot of study (and money). I figured some of who visit my site are vegetarians and so I have some questions for some of you.

1. How does being a vegetarian affect your activities (specifically running)?

2. How do you make up for the nutrients lost that was from the meat?

3. What store do you go to to get the best quality of food?

4. We like organic foods, but is all lost when vegetarians don't use only organic?

5. What is your favorite vegetarian dish?

Also - I think I'm doing another HALF-MARY in the early Fall.

Run Art. Check it out!

Hey All!

Great News! I found time to create a picture.

I know that doesn't sound like great news, but this picture was on approximately 5.2 miles of canvas ---- called road.

I was reading a blog the other day, and I cannot remember the name of the blog :/ , trying to find something inspiring towards running and such, something that I think is pretty typical of runners that want something new to do.

Anyways, I read of a guy that ran a route that when looked at from the aerial map view, it looked like the Apple symbol in honor of the now retired Steve Jobs. I thought that was pretty awesome and am pretty turned onto this idea. I don't know what it is called in other circles (and I'm sure it's popular in other places), but I'm calling it "Run Art". I have to admit that it is pretty FUN and gets you excited for your run! You should really try it. I have already mapped out my long run for my HALF TRAINING for tomorrow and I think you'll like it!

Check out what my run today looked like.

It takes time to map out, but makes your run seem shorter for some reason

What are some ways that you make your runs fun?!

Crossfit or P90x. Strength training!

Weight loss plateaus are no fun or easy things to be a part of. I've been hovering between 185-190 for the longest time. I've made my plan and believe that it'll take me past this plateau.

I will be cutting my longer distance runs. I will still be doing the Half Marathon at the end of this month, but will not be doing the longer distances 8+ for the rest of the year. Next year I will train for another Half and possibly the full.

While I may be cutting my longer distance runs - I'm keeping my running consistent. I love to run and believe it is a great exercise, I just need to focus on strength training to get to a new level.

I have a couple options in my strength training. I've talked about increasing the strength training the last few posts - it's time to do something about it.

The two options are Crossfit and P90x. I want to do the Crossfit, but don't have the resources around me. I could try and do the Crossfit on my own, but I don't think that it's going to work. That leaves me with p90x. I have done p90x before for 3 or 4 weeks and saw some positive changes so I will come back to that.

Today, Week 1 - Day 1 - P90x begins. It'll be good.

In what way have you made changes to improve your fitness time?

New Home. New Job. Challenge Control Center.

New Home.

As you know, we're moving. We signed a lease on a house on Monday and my wife took some pics of the place. I thought that I'd show you around a little. Actually, I'm just going to direct you to my wife's blog because she is a better showyouarounder . Check out the New Home here!

New Job.

We are moving because I have taken a job as youth minister at a church roughly about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away. It makes for a move, but we are excited about getting into the new position and for the future of it.

I'll only have about a 10 minute drive to work - that is not that bad. I live closer to work now, but I won't mind the extra bit!

Control Center.

Also, another thing that I have done is created a control center for my weight loss challenge. Past winners have branched off and started their own challenges and I thought it would be good to have a central location for all of them to come together. Please, go and be friends of the new site. We need love there too!


Seth Tyler's WLC Control Center!
As of right now, there are three total challenges. I am looking for others that want to start their own weight loss challenge in their own neighborhood. Are you interested in that? If so, email me at:

stylerwlc [at] gmail [dot] com

What is one thing that you will accomplish today!

Home Food Database. HalfWay Giveaway Winner. Awesomeness

awesomeness.
I'm going to start out with the Awesomeness; well, what I feel as awesomeness. I have been rocking my food intake that past few days. My wife and I's anniversary was this past week and we took a small getaway - and while I took part in a few calories that I wouldn't typically in a normal week...I was still able to produce a very, very small loss. It was only a .2, but even if it were a gain I'd be okay with how this week went. I have been shooting for around 1800 calories a day and have been hitting them outside of those 2 1/2 days we were away. I think that is pretty awesome. My body just naturally feels that its back on schedule. That's awesomeness to me.

Home-Food Database.
When we got back home, I made a calorie & sugar food database on a spreadsheet of the foods that we have at home and what I typically eat. I have been able to simply use a formula to record all of my daily calories by simply clicking on a few boxes -- and i don't have to go online to do it. I've even included quick finds on the spreadsheet so that I don't have to go to each ingredient, but that all of the ingredients have already been calculated together to make my find and recording simple. I'm pretty proud of it and it helps for me to keep track -- and I don't have another login to remember :)

Halfway Giveaway Winer.

The giveaway that I was hosting - F.W.A.P. HALFWAY GIVEAWAY - celebrating my halfway mark to my 1010 miles in 2010 goal ended on Friday night. There were 50 entries into the giveaway and using a random generator, the number chosen was.....42.

comment #42 was made by....

Cassie said...
And as far as a simple exercise, I'm not sure what it's called, but like triceps extension (I think) where you have a hand weight over your head and drop it down and raise up over your head. Very simple for me to do while I am at work...

Congratulations Cassie! I will need your information in order to send you your AWESOME gifts! Thanks for participating. email [styler (at) cccb (dot) edu].

What is something that you have been AWESOME at!!!

GUEST POST: [Kyle Gershman, GB&B] "Freedom...Worth Fighting For?"

Freedom...Worth Fighting For?

Many thanks for Seth for allowing me to guest post in his absence. Seth has been a great source of inspiration for me in my journey to getting healthy. He is a near unstoppable source of energy and has succeeded in areas that I'm still struggling, e.g. dreaded strength training, so I continue to follow and learn by his example.

While my history of getting fit has included the usual great successes followed by huge setbacks, my latest run at getting fit started last November around 236 pounds. 70 pounds later, I maintain my current 165 pound weight through mostly running and focus on making more good food choices than bad...I still strive to improve on strength training and overall body composition. I graduated C25K in late March and have recently rocked my longest run yet of 7 miles.

And if any of you have followed my blog Getting Better and Better, have received comments from me, I mention Freedom quite a bit. It was the subject one of one of my early blog posts. It was the base of my index card submission to Jack Sh*t, Getting Fit's W.I.D.T.H. series

Before going on, let's take a look at the more relevant definitions from dictionary.com

free·dom  [free-duhm]
–noun

1.the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.

I want the freedom to be able to do any physical activity I choose to do. I need a physically fit body to carry out that freedom, though. Sure, I've done many physical activities while being less fit than I am not, but they never truly felt free. There were always strings attached. I couldn't go as far, as fast, or for as long as I wanted to. I was always restrained by my lack of physical fitness. I have friends who are very fit and very adventurous. It really irked me to have to awkwardly turn down or suggest alternative adventures that I felt I was more capable of enjoying.

At the urging of one of our fit friends, last October before I started my latest bid for physical fitness, my wife and I went to Yosemite National Park and hiked the Glacier Point Trail. Here is my video review. It was a very hard experience for me. I was probably around 240 pounds at that time and already an experienced hiker, but it was a struggle. Did I complete the hike? Sure, but I was practically immobile that evening and for the next two days. I gave away my freedom of doing anything else for the next few days just to get that one hike in. There were other activities at Yosemite we wanted to do, but we lost our freedom to do so. If you watch the video, you'll hear me breathing heavily at certain points. Again, I could "do" the hike, but I had a really tough time enjoying it as much as I could have. I wasn't really free to take in all the experiences of the hike as I was more concerned about my health and capabilities throughout the hike.

2.exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

While I'm fortunate to be under a group healthcare plan, I don't know that I feel any freedoms (just yet) to go out and seek my own healthcare coverage. My BMI, waist to hip ratio, etc. all would have put me in a high risk class and may have made coverage prohibitively expensive. There were definitely times I'd like to have left the comforts of company employment and provided group coverage, but I never felt free to do so. I don't want to be restricted by regulations or other parties to determine what kind of coverage I deserve and at what price.

I don't want an airline to tell me I can't fly.

I don't want an amusement park to keep me from riding the rides.

3.the power to determine action without restraint.

This is the freedom of choice...the POWER to determine my actions instead of actions being selected for me.

My wife and I decided to try rock climbing. This would not have been a consideration before. While we had some reasonable choice in taking on certain activities like hiking, cycling, walking, etc. because we had some control over distance, time, terrain, etc., there are some actions that I don't think I had the power to choose.

I'm sure there are some hefty rock climbers out there...I'm sure that the ropes, harnesses, gear, etc. are likely designed to work with people who are much larger than I was; however I never even considered it. I assumed (and I still think rightly so) that climbing rocks on ropes where you are dependent on others for your safety simply was limited to a more fit participant.

Getting down to a healthy weight gave me POWER...it gave me the freedom of choice.

Perhaps there are other freedoms you would like. Would you like to be free of fear? The fear of what the doctor might say next? Sure...me too. I've lived much of my life in fear instead of living it. Getting healthy removes many of those fears. Sure, bad things can still happen, but when you KNOW you aren't healthy, you KNOW that there are higher risks and it raises the fears of something bad happening.

Like our forefathers and their question for freedom, it is something we all deserve...it is something worth fighting for.

What does freedom look and feel like to you? What are you prepared to do?

Dreams. Aspirations. Pursuit. Because of you...

"So what do you do?"

"I'm a teacher and a preacher. It's fun."

"That's good. If you had the opportunity - what would you be doing; what is your dream?"

"..."

"Why don't you pursue it?"

____________________________

This is a recent conversation that I had with someone. I left the conversation inspired to dream bigger and have much more enthusiasm for what the future may hold.

I usually have a pretty good grasp on what is taking place and hold a positive mindset for the future, but I will admit that sometimes I tend to view my dreams and aspirations as just that and not go for them for whatever reason.

I hate to admit that, but it's the truth.

In a part of my past, (what seems like a life time ago), I was told by a mutual friend of me and a girlfriend - that my girlfriend had labeled me as someone who just 'talks big but will never amount'.

That hurt.

I think I allowed that person to bring me down. It was by my own doing.

It is no more.

I surround myself with positive people. These people are ones that encourage me to pursue my dreams and aspirations. They make me better.

So, this is where I am at.

I have big goals and big dreams. I am in constant pursuit of those goals and dreams.

What does this have to do with Fit With A Purpose, fitness, and weight loss?

It has everything to do with you. You help push, encourage, and keep me founded on what it is I am trying to do.

We (you and me) are building Fit With a Purpose to be a community of encouragement, fierceness, and a logical path to success. When starting this site, it was an half-hearted attempt to simply keep track of a couple miles.

It has transformed though - because of you.

I have dreams -- BIG dreams -- because of your support and encouragement.

I have aspirations -- BIG aspirations -- because of your dedication and devotion.

I have success -- BIG success -- because of watching you succeed and push forward.


At some point - I will tell you what those big dreams are...but for now - you will just have to believe me that right now - I am living my life to do the most that I can.

I am not going to let this point in my life (where I am at right now) to be just a waiting room for the "Big Dreams", but to let this time transform into the Big Dreams.

We are not successful by accident.

We push. We strive We struggle We overcome. We drive. We run. We walk. We work. We swim. We lift. We move. We eat. We act. We dream. We aspire. We live. We laugh.

...and the best part is

...we are doing all of those things

...with purpose.

Moderation. Vacation Tips. Camp Recap.

Question.

So how do you go on vacation and not come back weighing more than when you left?

Answer?

Moderation.

You've seen it all over the fitness/weight-loss blogosphere and you'll see it here too - moderation is key to a successful, long term victory over excessive weight.

Let's think about it.

Moderation is simply taking control over how much that you put in to your body.

As you know, I spent the last week at a camp and unlike most camps - this camp has some really good food. Let's see, some of what we ate was...

turkey and stuffing. beef brisket. pizza. chili. hamburgers.

Those things are completely different then my usual diet and I did feel the affects of them throughout the week, but yet I come home today weighing the same amount of weight as when I left.

It is because I practiced moderation.

Because I was a part of the staff -they wanted to heap the food onto my plate. I was able to say "not that much", "just a little", and/or "no thank you".

Moderation allowed me to enjoy the foods that I don't typically eat and not feel guilty about eating it.

Would I suggest that you eat that way all of the time?

Not at all.

I have another week of camp coming up and I would really like to lose that last 20 pounds. Eating foods that are processed, unhealthy, and not full of the vitamins and nutrients I need will not get me to where I want to be. I will be taking some of my own food with me next time so that I can have more control (other than just saying no or going hungry) of what I get to eat.

Another thing that helped me while I was at camp was the physical exercise that I got.

Monday we played soccer (won), Tuesday was Ultimate Frisbee (won), Wednesday was a 3 on 3 basketball tourney (2nd place), and Thursday was 6 on 6 volleyball tourney (lost). There were also multiple times that the campers were playing Knock-Out. Knock-Out is where everyone is in a line behind the free throw line (basketball) and shoot one after another trying to make the shot before the next one does. The whole point is to eliminate everyone else until you are the winner.

So, I tell you all of this to give you some tips on what to do when you are on vacation, away with work, and/or away from home.

Tips for when you are away.

1. Learn to say "No", "not that much", or "just a little".

2. Take action. Be active in order to balance the abnormal intake.

3. Enjoy what you do get to eat. Don't feel guilty about eating something that you don't normally.

4. Know when the vacation, trip, and/or hiatus is over. You have to set your limits when things are out of your hands and it requires follow through.


I've had a good week, but am really happy to be home. I've missed blogging and have no idea as of right now what the google reader has to say. I am pretty far behind on all of your blogs and hope that you take no offense at that.

You will be seeing me much more this week as I will be home for the full week.

What tip do you have to offer for when someone is on vacation?

Internet. Running Tips For New Places. Weird Workouts.

Internet...finally.

We have internet finally at our house which means that I will be more up-to-date, for the next couple of days.

It’s kind of funny that as soon as I get the internet – I will be away working at a camp for five days. I will have my laptop and my phone (which serves as a modem) so I may be able to get online for a little bit.

This upcoming week will be crazy full of activity. If you have never been to camp or ever worked at a camp – let me tell you that you are always active when there. The afternoons are my favorite time because we get to go out and just play sports.

It’s going to be so hot. :)

Tips for Running in new places.

After we got all moved in – I got to go for some nice runs. It’s always neat to run in new places. Everything is new to you and makes for quality runs. While they are quality runs – running only makes sense when you are able to have fun and enjoy the runs.

I made a mental list while running of things that you should do when you decide to run in a new place.

1. Become familiar with the area. Just because you are new doesn’t mean to know nothing about the place.

2. Know your route. I’ve talked about it before here about mapping your route before you run. This way you will not be caught off guard with longer distances and times.

3. Wear an identity of some kind so that you will be known. In the event that you may need an identity card – you’ll have it and others can find it.

4. Wave and acknowledge the people that you pass and see. While this may have some benefits as for safety purposes – this is just being nice and friendly.

5. Wear reflective bits and pieces. This is general knowledge. If you think about it – you may be running in an area that doesn’t get a lot of runners and people aren’t watching for them. Running safe is smart running.

6. Don’t run at night. While running at night may be something you do in the comfortable environment of home and community – it is not a good idea to run at night in a new area, environment, and route.

7. Have fun.

Enjoy yourselves and remind yourself that what you are doing now -- is helping your future!

Guest Posters.

If you emailed me to let me know that you would like to guest post while I am gone – please let me know what you have planned to do. We will work the specifics out by email.

If you would like to guest post still here at Fit With A Purpose, let me know – I still have some room if you would like too. I am looking for quality posts to give to my readers!

Do you have something that you want to talk about and want your blog to get some more traffic – guest post here!

Email me at styler [at] cccb [dot] edu.

What has been the weirdest thing that has happened to you while working out?!