Newton MV2 Review Posted by John on January 2, 2013 2 Responses » Jan 022013 Brand: Newton Running Name: MV2 Color Options: Black/Green, White/Orange/Yellow Weight: 5.8 oz Drop: 0 mm Other: High-traction 5-lug midfoot pattern, 2nd generation Action/Reaction technology, biomechanical metatarsal sensor plate, optional 3 mm lift included Price: $125 Continue reading “Newton MV2 Review” » Technorati Tags: minimalist running, minimalist shoes, MV Squared, Newton, Newton MV2, Newton Running, running, running shoes, shoe review
Nutrition Experiment: Wrap-up Posted by John on November 30, 2012 No Responses » Nov 302012 An amazing thing happened today. I came home from work, had a light snack, took my time getting ready, and went for a run. And it felt great! Okay, not profoundly great. I didn’t run super far, set a new PR, or got somehow transformed into a sleek thoroughbred. No, I was sweaty, tired, and my legs burned as I sprinted down the last block towards my house, but I couldn’t help but smile. The source of my sweaty smile and sense of accomplishment? My newly completed nutrition experiment. After analyzing what I ate, crunching the numbers, and making some simple fixes to my life, I can call this experiment a success. I’ve learned a great deal over the past few months, and I’m excited to share my new wisdom. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment: Wrap-up” » Technorati Tags: carbs, diet, exercise, fats, healthy eating, nutrition, nutrition experiment, protein, running, running tips, training tips
Nutrition Experiment: Week 4, Protein – Part 2 Posted by John on October 17, 2012 No Responses » Oct 172012 Protein week is at an end, so lets look at the numbers. Surprisingly enough, more fat was consumed this week than during fat week (an increase of 33% was also seen compared to the control week). One notable difference this week, however, is that the fat was mainly from mixed animal and plant-based sources. Overall, protein consumption increased 15% from the control week. This discrepancy in fat intake comes from the fact that many foods that are high in protein are also high in fat. My diet this week consisted of of eggs over easy with sliced ham for breakfast, breakfast bagels for lunch, and a meat with cheese and a few veggies for dinner. Snacks consisted of mainly yogurt. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment: Week 4, Protein – Part 2” » Technorati Tags: diet, food science, nutrition, nutrition experiment, protein, running, running diet, running nutrition, running tips
Nutrition Experiment Week 4: Protein Posted by John on September 17, 2012 1 Response » Sep 172012 Week four is here and it’s time to delve into the fun and exciting world of protein! So what the heck is protein, and what does it really do? Personally, protein brings to mind images of body builders at the gym slamming weights, drinking Muscle Milk, and yelling as they do curls. But it’s not just about building muscle. Proteins are the Lego sets of the biology world, that your body can use to build almost anything it needs. To start, proteins are made up of amino acids (Legos). Our bodies break down the proteins we eat and use these amino acids to build other proteins our bodies need, just like when you use Legos from one set to build something totally different. We use these proteins to do everything from build muscle, form DNA and RNA and boost our immune systems, to creating hormones and enzymes, and a host of other cool stuff. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment Week 4: Protein” » Technorati Tags: diet, nutrition, nutrition experiment, protein, running, running diet, running nutrition, running science, running tips
Nutrition Experiment Week 3: Carbs, Part 2 Posted by John on September 7, 2012 No Responses » Sep 072012 My week of carboliciousness has given me a lot to think about. Carbs have a reputation of being the Jeckle and Hyde of the nutrition world: you either love them as a super-fuel, or you shy away from them in fear. So how do I feel after my dualistic encounter? Lets find out. Following my stellar last week of upping healthy fats, I’m making an effort to stick with the more natural, less processed foods. Chips, cookies, cake, and other assorted processed treats are not totally off limits, but last week, it seemed to make a huge difference incorporating more “whole” options. So, I followed suit this week, basing my meals on rice, quinoa, bagels, and pasta. I also brought back cereal, and added whole grain waffles for breakfast. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment Week 3: Carbs, Part 2” » Technorati Tags: carbohydrates, carbs, diet, nutrition experiment, protein, running diet, running nutrition, running science, running tips
Nutrition Experiment Week 3 Carbs Posted by John on August 27, 2012 No Responses » Aug 272012 It is week three, already, and that means it’s time for Carb Week! Second only to Shark Week, this is the week that I was looking forward too. First, I love carbs. Bread, in my mind, is probably one of the greatest inventions in human history right after beer (which, incidentally, is also a carb and therefore fair game this week). Secondly, carbs have forever been labeled the quintessential athletic super fuel. I mean, I can’t count how many pre-race pasta feeds I’ve seen in my life. But are carbohydrates really the greatest fuel for our bodies? From a biological standpoint, yes. Fat and protein primarily serve other purposes in the body and take many more steps to break down then carbohydrates. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment Week 3 Carbs” » Technorati Tags: diet, exercise diet, nutrition, nutrition experiment, running, running diet, running nutrition, running tips
Nutrition Experiment Week 2: Fats – Part 2 Posted by John on August 20, 2012 No Responses » Aug 202012 Week 2 is over and so far the results are promising, and intriguing. The past week has resulted in a lot of data, and it’s kind of cool in that narcissistic sort of way to make graphs and analyze information you collected about yourself. But after this second week, I feel strangely proud knowing that I have the power to make small changes, and see tangible shifts in how I feel, and how well I run. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment Week 2: Fats – Part 2” » Technorati Tags: diet, diet tips, eating fats, experiment, nutrition, nutrition experiment, running diet, running experiment, running nutrition, running tips
Nutrition Experiment Week 2: Fats Posted by John on August 17, 2012 No Responses » Aug 172012 OK, so now that we’ve established a baseline, it’s time to have some fun, and do some research. This week is all about fats. Fats are used by the body to maintain the cell membrane, aid in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, and provide fuel and body cushioning, among other things. This being said, as a running fuel, fats are not ideal. Fats take many more steps for the body to breakdown into the magic stuff ATP, and then carbs, which reduces metabolic efficiency. Not ideal, but good in a pinch. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment Week 2: Fats” » Technorati Tags: diet, exercise, experiment, fats, fitness, nutrition, running diet, running experiment, running nutrition, running tips
Nutrition Experiment Week1 – Part 2 Posted by John on August 10, 2012 No Responses » Aug 102012 Week 1 Control Average nutrient breakdown per day: Fat: 69g Carbs: 198g Protein: 95g I am at the end of week 1 and it has been both interesting, and tough, to track my normal eating habits. I never fully realized all the crap I ate until I started tracking things. Not that I indulge in a lot of fast food, but I’m not one to go after salads, either. I recommend tracking your intake to everyone at least for a few days just to get a real sense of how you eat. You could even try a tool like the FitBit to help provide you with an easier place/system to track your diet and activity. The results may surprise you. I tend to eat three straight meals a day, and then snack at night or on days off. Unfortunately, this sometimes forces me to go long periods of time without eating before I would go running, or, on the other hand, to go running fairly close to breakfast before the temperature begins to rise. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment Week1 – Part 2” » Technorati Tags: diet, experiment, fitness, food pyramid, my plate, nutrition, running, running diet, running nutrition, running science, running tips
Nutrition Experiment: Week 1 – Control Posted by John on August 1, 2012 No Responses » Aug 012012 I want to start by talking a bit about my purpose and goals for this experiment. The main purpose is to see how different nutrients effect my performance, energy levels, and overall mood during my runs. Week 1 was a control week in which I ate what I would normally would. In week 2, I will increase my intake of healthy fats. Week 3 will focus on carbs, and then, finally, week 4 will be all about protein. Throughout this process, I will try to be as detailed and scientific as possible. I will track everything single thing I eat, and break down the nutrient count using MyFitnessPal. I will also be keeping a daily journal tracking how I react to different dietary changes. This being said, I still want to have a life. I know there are a lot of variables that I cannot take into account, but that’s not the point. Life happens, and so, keeping that in mind, the goal is to get a real world idea of how diet effects running performance. Continue reading “Nutrition Experiment: Week 1 – Control” » Technorati Tags: diet, diet tips, nutrition, running, running diet, running experiment, running nutrition, running science, running tips
