Equipment

When I used to think about walking, I never thought about equipment.  If you are in Europe walking up and done a bunch of hills, many people grab a walking stick, but we're not in Europe or an area with incredible changes of elevation.  Besides, if we did have walking sticks then we might find ourselves in a disagreement with TSA like Peter Mayhew did at the airport recently.

I'm certainly no expert but I'm happy to share some info about some of the equipment I am using to help me attain my 9 mile walk in August starting with clothing.  There is a great deal of details available on the web about what you should and shouldn't wear so I would never try to complete with the information available.  I will say this.  I have been walking mostly in cotton fibers.  As it turns out, cotton is not my friend.  There are many synthetic option out there that do a great job of wicking moisture away from your body so if you are going for long distances or more intense workouts, investments in products from Under Armor or products with Cool Max Fabric in them are advisable.  You do have to look a little harder for them if you are my size, but options can be found.  Even cotton socks can be bad during a long haul and this time of year can contribute to blisters.

Shoes are crazy important.  Take your time with these and do some shopping.  You don't have to buy the most expensive shoe to get a good pair.  Shoes should be lightweight, made out of a breathable fabric and hold up to the activity you've chosen.  I personally prefer my cross trainer shoes over walking because I feel like they support me better because they generally have a larger sole.  Most people will want to stick with a running shoe or even a walking shoe, because well...I'm being too obvious.  Talk to a pro a a real shoe store and replace your shoes every 200-300 miles depending on wear and tear.  I'll be getting a new pair in Mid-July to make sure they will hold up through August.

I just bought a back pack system for carrying water.  I spent $20 on it at Sam's and Have used it once without any problems.  I really put it through its paces on Friday morning and update you if there are any problems.  The pack comes with places for extra water bottles, a spot for your phone, lanyard for keys, several little pockets and even a built in safety whistle.  The only down side so far is once your phone is in there, it's not coming out until you take the pack off or a friend helps you out.  I asked Siri if she could hand me a Gatorade while she was back there but she responded, "I'm sorry, Brian, I'm afraid I can't answer that."  Ultimately, it a good idea to have a plan for keeping hydrated and pack like this can definitely help.  A runner on the other hand might not like a pack bouncing up and down on them as they run.  There are straps to hold it down, but I guess it depends on the runner.

The final piece of equipment I will talk about is my smart phone.  I use my phone to track my mileage and listen to music or even bible readings to pass the time.  I don't have fancy headphones, just simple earbuds that came with the phone and they seem to stay in place for the most part.  From my research, I would recommend against earbuds that provide a seal blocking out external noises when walking and running outside.  If your on the street you need to be able to hear a car approaching.   If your on a path, you need to be able to hear "On your left!" from a cyclist racing past you.  The best reason to have a phone though is to make sure you have a way to call for help if you need it.  I've lucked out so far and haven't needed it, but you never know.

Good gear can make a difference but don't let that get in your way.  I can name several civilizations past and present where people routinely was and run without the benefit of advanced equipment.  Just bring what you need to feel safe, and remember it's much easier to feel safe when you have a friend walking with you.

The First Week!

Heard Nature Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
McKinney, TX

The first week of FamFit was amazing! 

   People have pledged to walk, run, bike, rollerblade and swim over 3,500 miles!  (I would have to wear my inflatable wings if I were going to try and swim that far.)

 We started off the week walking as many days and we could and sneaking into the gym for some elliptical / treadmill time, but Friday was spectacular.  The weather was so nice that we headed out on our first day out of school to walk some of the nature trails and the Heard Museum in McKinney, TX.

 The museum adventure began in the visitor's center where we saw magnificent displays of naturally occurring crystalline structures including a geode that was bigger that a basketball hoop!  They also had too many fossils to list with activities for younger kids.  My son didn't want to leave the fossil sand pit.  Most importantly to me, we had the opportunity to learn about snakes in the area.  Do you know what a copperhead snake looks like?  We do now, and we won't soon forget it.

We drank some water and finally headed off to experience the main reason we choose this location, the nature trails!  The trails alone extend for over five miles through a wildlife sanctuary with a few rescued animals in cages and many native species that live in the natural prairie and wetland habitats.  My son helped us find frogs, turtles, ants of every variety, ducks, fish, and cranes.  Luckily we didn't see any snakes, but like many parks in our area, they are always a few nearby.  The beauty of the fauna throughout really made us feel like we were leaving civilization further behind with each step on the rugged pathways and raised deck paths that carry you out and over the water.  How many wildflowers can you name?  I can name about two.  My wife on the other hand knows many and spent some time teaching the names to our son.

If you are looking for fun ways to meet your walking goals, this is a great place to go.  (Together we walked 6.84 miles which is 2.28 miles each.)  You can follow all the trails or just take a short stroll around one of the 1/2 mile loops.  Either way, bring some water, a little cash for the entrance fee, and maybe some extra for the gift shop.

Have a great week, don't forget to send in your miles for the week, and it's never too late to join FamFit.  Just email us at FamJam@collincreekcommunity.org and we'll get you started.

Healthy Substitutes

Part of what I try to do while logging miles is counting calories.  Here's one quick recipe for a low calorie smoothie that I like to make.

Ingredients:

• Frozen fruit (I usually find a variety pack in the freezer section that has strawberries, peaches,                 pineapple, and I think mango.)
• A banana (preferably ripe, you can substitute a light yogurt or milk)
• Crystal Light lemonade.  (Prepare the crystal according to directions.  You can substitute any light juice that you prefer but you might want to water the juice down some.)  

 Directions:

1. Peel the banana and put it in the blender.
2. Add 2 cups frozen fruit.  (I usually just make it 2-3 handfuls.)
3. Pour Crystal Light lemonade into the blender until the frozen fruit is covered.
4. Blend!  (if it stops turning, you can add a little more Crystal Light.  Make sure it's blended through.)
5. Taste!  It can be a little tart especially if the banana is a little green.  Some people prefer this with a little honey.  Add if needed and blend again.

If you like it without the honey, you end up with 2 large glasses of blended fruit and about 70 calories depending on the exact amount used.  

A few substitutes like this can make low calories dieting a little easier.

By the way, I'm not a licensed dietitian or doctor.  Just a guy sharing some thoughts.  You should always consult your doctor or other professional before starting a new workout program or a new diet.  

100 Miles

I started logging my workouts around January 23rd of this year.  Mostly, I've been walking.  This moth I pushed my total miles over 100.  It was not a specific goal of mine to hit that mark until last Saturday and I was about 20 miles shy of the milestone.  Pushing ahead through the week, I walked as much as I could.  The great thing though is that I actually look forward to walking.  There are times when I'm sitting around and I think, "I'd rather be walking." It just goes to show that the more you do something, the easier it is to do.  Unfortunately, that's true of things that are good for you and things that aren't so good for.  I don't know about you, but I think I'll spend a little more time this summer focusing on things I can do that are actually good for me.

Getting Started

Welcome to my blog dedicated to may participation in the new FamFit program at Collin Creek Community Church in Plano, TX.  This is a program born out of our monthly FamJam experience where families come together to learn about God.  This new program takes takes this idea out into the parks of our communities where we can walk, play, and pray together.

We will announce this new program on Sunday June 2nd and in doing so, challenge families to be more active in their families, communities, and their church.  I am personally nervous about it because the idea is very important to me, and I want it to be received the way it is intended.  I'm also nervous because this is my first blog and I want to keep it interesting and informative.  I will post my on going activities as often as I can. (My newly downloaded app should help me do just that.)

If you have any suggests or have any questions, please let me know and I'll do my best to respond.