GET OUTSIDE! (please)

See that picture over there? Yea. I need to attend a workshop on taking self portraits with my {droid}. I stink at it....and no, i don't have gas (at least not in this picture).

I took myself out for another trail run on wednesday while my wife and youngest son were gone to watch our middle son and his Freshman football team whoop a$$ on a team that beat them earlier in the season. I missed the game, but was very happy to hear the results and the highlights as acted out by Bryce in the living room. Good times!

Wednesday was streakday #11 for me. A new record. Such a great feeling to get a run in every day. Pretty much my only criteria was that the run needed to be a minimum of 2 miles. Some days were exactly that, but mostly because of time constraints, and not energy or fitness levels. I do, though, need to get more GenUCan. Could always use more of that, so if you are looking for stocking stuffers, etc....hint hint........I like Lemonade, Chocolate (who wouldn't?), and the blueberry...

Anyway, I ran on a trail system in Lebanon, NH. Pretty darned hilly (1328ft elevation gain over the 10k loop), but I really like it out there. It is one of the first systems that I ran on when I started back on this running thing. The 'out' loop runs along the ridgeline, and the original plan was to run the same trails on the way back, but due to some concerns about the darkness on the trail (no light with me!), I chose the 'lower' trail that stayed just downhill from the ridgeline. I'd never been on that particular trail, and found that i really liked it! At one point I ran pretty much straight into a bog (luckily, I didn't fall and die, because that sort of thing actually happens....here). As I tried to scramble out along a rock, it turned out to be a FAKE ROCK (piles of leaves), and my feet got muddy anyway. Normally I wouldn't care a bit, but I had to go get some items at the grocery store on the way home.....as it was, my lower legs were splattered with trail mud and sticks, so that was cool. oh, and I had TWO hitchhikers. yep, TICKS. thankfully I felt them before they started digging into my flesh.

Here's the trail, about 1.5 miles from the car, on my way back. I must say that I really enjoy running in areas like this, and wish that I could make a living at it, because I would love that. Just sayin'....if someone wants to pay me to just run around the woods every day, testing things, writing about them, etc...well, pop a note in the comment section! HAHAHAHA...yea, well, i know that isn't going to happen, so i'll stick with my day job! In the mean time I'll keep going back out into the woods as often as I can, huffing and puffing like a mad man, trying to outpace myself.

I've thought of some pretty cool things for 2012 on my recent runs, but need to run them by my training/events manager (Love you +1) before I go public with them. You know how it is....

I leave you with a thought:

Do what you like to do, as often as you can do it, because there WILL come a day when you can't. For me, that day will suck, so I am going to try to do the little things more often. (Heads up.....)

Be Well,

Gene

Generation UCAN product review

Some time ago I recieved a package from GenerationUCAN. I won it  by being one of the first 200 callers people to reply to a tweet that they sent out. Yes, while I am at work i am often camped out on Twitter. I have a dual monitor system, which is a pretty sweet set-up. ANYWAY....

Their product makes this claim:

"While traditionally fast acting carbs have been denounced by many nutritionists, SuperStarch has been deemed revolutionary because of its unique time release characteristics. Protein advocates like Dr. Jeff Volek have called it an innovation."

What does that mean? I dunno either. Luckily, their page is VERY comprehensive, and it goes on to say that amazing things like poo-flinging monkeys from Panama were involved (but not harmed) in the discovery of this product. Seriously. (OK, FINE. NOT seriously. please don't sue me. you can't get blood from a stone.)

The idea for this product came about because of a special dietary need for one of the founders' kids. See their website for the grand details, test results, industry input, acclaim, and of course...

SHOPPING!

There are so many flavors to choose from, your best bet is to get at least one of each packet. My favourites are the Lemonade and Vanilla. I actually find that the lemonade, when combined with plain yogurt, is AWESOME. I mixed vanilla and chocolate (not together) with both soy and rice milk (again, NOT together), and they dissolved very well. NO gritty feeling, no chalky textures. Just pure goodness.

While on their site, i recommend that you pick up one of their blender bottles. A what? yep. this is a FABULOUS idea. I don't know if it is their idea, but i haven't seen it anywhere else, so.....I'll give them credit. The bottle is nothing special, but you place this little whisk-ball inside when you shake the b'Jeezum out of it. Definitely helps with the mixing process.

Seen here is the contents of the box of goodies that I received. The shirt is great. I wore it to every basketball game i went to this winter. Now, of course, I just have to flippin' get off my ar$e, pick one, and DO IT.

As their slogan says, UCAN!

I should probably include here that I did, in fact, feel great during the runs I took after using the GenUCAN products. NO upset stomach (which is one of their big claims, so WIN!), no crash (another claim-->WIN). The energy didn't seem artificial, didn't induce a fuzzy buzz, like some products have (5 hour engergy, anyone? no, thanks.)

We met with and talked to some of their people at the Boston Marathon Expo, and they were very open, receptive, and personable. I enjoyed chatting with them! Hit up their website, check out their product line, hit them up if you see them at an expo!

UCAN!