Come rain or snow, I love to be outside running. I've never been one who prefers running on a treadmill or doing workouts inside. Sometime ago I was training for an Ultra and eventually decided to stop running due to a nagging injury. In order to get some exercise I ended up borrowing a friends road bike and trainer and set them up out in the garage. I started doing workouts on the bike and eventually bought my own road bike and have used it both in the garage on a trainer and on the roads. A different form of exercise, in the convenience of my home, was a nice option to have. Most likely, at some point in your running career, you will have an injury and need to take time off running. Using a good cardio machine is a great option to stay in shape while recovering (depending on the injury) so you don't lose all your fitness. They offer a low impact workout while being able to provide high intensity as well. Cardio machines offer a solid option for cross training. They engage muscles not used in running and can help strengthen those used in running. Let's look at some benefits to having a cardio machine in your home:
With the wide variety of cardio machines out there, here are some things to keep in mind to help you make the right choice:
To help you get started in your search for the perfect machine, I've provided the below options for review:
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Let me set the stage for this post by reminding you of an experience you've probably had. It's freezing cold outside, the snow is falling and your inside staying warm. You've just had dinner and are walking into the living room when something through the front window catches your eye..."it couldn't be" you say. You rub your eyes and look again; sure enough, there is a crazy person running down the street with a smile on their face. I would bet if you're reading this post, you've been that "Crazy Person" running in a blizzard or the pouring rain.
Runners are a unique breed - there's not much that will keep the dedicated runner from getting in his or her daily run. However, just because runners have the mindset to get themselves out the door in extreme conditions, doesn't mean they are immune to effects of temperature, wind, and moisture -- a great cold weather run can turn into a miserable, yet memorable event quickly if your core and appendages aren't protected. Jackets, pants, gloves, and hats, are key accessories in cold, wet, and windy environments. Advancements in materials allow cold weather clothing to repel wind and rain, keep body heat in, and allow moisture to escape. There are many different brands and styles of running jackets, pants, and accessories in the market today; so, how do you know which one if best for you? Here are some questions you need to ask yourself before selecting a jacket:
Below is a selection of cold weather running apparel to help you find the perfect items to help keep you warm allowing you to finish enjoying what's left of winter running. Do you need a GPS watch for running? This may be a question you've asked yourself recently and have struggled deciding if you are going to bite the bullet and get one or not. Well, the answer is simple....possibly. Ask yourself this questions, why do I want one? If your answer is to simply time your run or know how many minutes you've run or worked out, then a GPS watch isn't really needed. However, if your answer is to track distance covered on a single run and over a period of time, know how fast you're going at any given moment during the run and your average pace over the entire run, track the vertical feet you've climbed, and maximize and track your overall training, then a GPS watch is your answer. A wide variety of GPS watches exist on the market today. Some watches do the bare minimal such as pace and distance covered and usually have a shorter battery life when in GPS mode. Other GPS watches offer the minimal options plus heart rate monitoring stride length, altitude, more accurate GPS, and more. However, along with more options comes higher cost. Below are some GPS watch options to aid in your search for finding the perfect watch for your needs. Here are five things to consider as you review and compare the different watches: (1) Accuracy of the GPS - if you stick mainly to the roads, then a cheaper option will probably do. However, if you do a majority of your runs on trails, in the trees or around tall city buildings, a model with a more accurate GPS would be to your benefit. (2) Reading visibility of the watch, can you see the info you want while running. (3) Battery life - not just how many days the watch will last on a charge, but how long it will run while in GPS mode. (4) Simplicity - how easy is it to use. (5) Budget - how much are you willing to spend. Garmin Forerunner 35
Polar M200
Fitbit Ionic
Apple Watch Series 3
Garmin Instinct
Suunto 9
Garmin Forerunner 645 Music
Polar M430 GPS
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