Podcasts during my run

A few weeks ago my cousin Lars suggested I start listening to Podcasts during my runs. I get a little tired of the same music playing during my almost daily runs, so I was open to something different. Although I consider myself somewhat technologically savvy, I have never downloaded or listened to a podcast in my life.

So I decided it would be fun to download a daily podcast from a Chicago radio show I used to listen to when I was living in the windy city. I went to my iTunes store and was able to download a subscription to the Erik and Kathy show as well as "PodRunner" and "How Stuff Works".

As I went out for my run this morning I was excited to listen to my long-lost friends' radio show from the previous morning. The commercial free podcast had me giggling to myself during the first 3 miles of my run. After Erik & Kathy, I tried How Stuff Works. I was really looking forward to this podcast because I love to know how things work!!! Unfortunately I couldn't stay interested. The topic was lucid dreams and somehow they manage to talk about overweight 35-year-olds doing yoga. I only made it through 5 mins of the show. Finally I switched to PodRunner. Now this is my style. It really is free running music set at different paces. This morning was "A hypnotic, lulling workout mix that will zone you out and bring you back to earth hardly even aware of the calories you've burned". Not bad, but I was near the end of my run and only listened to it for about 8 minutes.

7 inspirational and motivational running films

Looking for movies to watch before your next race or run? Check these out:

1. Chariots of Fire – No list of running movies is complete without this one. A movie about two runners who are competing in the summer 1924 Olympics. They are each running for something more than a medal.


2. Prefontaine - Starring Jared Leto, this movie received Two Thumbs up in 1997. It is the inspiring yet tragic story of Olympic hopeful Steve Prefontaine.


3. St. Ralph – A 14 year old boy is determined to win the Boston Marathon. He has made a deal with God that if he wins, God will save his mother from her illness.


4. Run Lola Run – Lola may not be running for a medal, but she is running a race against time. This great high energy film tells the same story 3 times each with different outcomes.


5. Rocky – Although a boxing movie, a runner can’t help but be inspired by the Rocky’s training and the famous scene when he runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.


6. The Long Run – A South African drama about an old, worn out coach who trains a promising women to run one of the most difficult races, the Comrades Marathon.


7. Run Fat Boy Run – It’s a silly romance worth watching. The main character will do anything to get back his girl, including train for and run the London Marathon.

Back on the running trail again!

I didn't keep my promise of a post marathon update. There are a few reasons for this, excuses, yes, but reasons none-the-less.

First of all, the Vancouver Marathon was not one of my better races. The truth is it was my first DNF (did not finish). Although a tad disappointing, and even a little bit embarrassing to admit, "stuff" happens. So I didn't finish my 7th marathon. The world isn't going to end and I can still consider the fact that I did prepare myself for the race, which is 98% of the work anyway, right?

Secondly, I started running for the examiner.com. I am the SF Running Examiner. It's not like I'm a writer for runner's world or anything, but it does require me to think of content put together stories about running in and around the bay area.

And finally, I've just been plain busy with everything else in my life.

But I have decided to start blogging again. Although I get to tell the world about running in SF on the examiner.com, I still have to keep my stories in the 3rd person - more informative if you will. This is where I get to state my opinion or make fun of myself or other runners (not that I would do that, although I did see this guy running in Crissy Field yesterday wearing a bright blue unitard. That was very strange and I wish I had had my camera. He wasn't even that weird looking of a character, and he was running with someone who seemed perfectly normal....)

Stay tuned! I will eventually give an update on Vancouver and my next events.