Bike is broke. But I knew that when I bought it.

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — 4 Comments

(Long rambling post about my new-to-me bike that I bought off of Craigslist. Consider yourself warned.)

I know, I’m reusing a picture from a couple of days ago.

I have had a desire to try cycling for a while. I have even gone so far as to go to my local bike shops and talk to the staff, learning and pricing. First off, $1300 for a base line Trek Road bike? I don’t even know if I LIKE cycling!!!! I can get a motorcycle for that – it has two wheels AND propels itself!!!! After my sticker shock wore off, I tried to get my ancient 1980’s 10 speed working, but it seems to pop tires. I couldn’t figure out which spoke was causing the problem, and had an issue spending the money that would be required to actually get it really road worthy. IT needed new cables, new brakes, wheels trued, new handle bar wraps, seat replaced, and a full tune up. I’m not dropping a couple of hundred bucks on a 20 year old bike that cost a third of that at the time. Read more ›

Tagged with: Broken Bike, Craigslist, I love Craigslist, Rear Derailleur, Road Bike, Trek, Trek 2000
Posted in Road Bike

Personal Training – Overview & Catchup

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — Leave a comment

I didn’t have a picture for this post, so here is a random picture of lab puppies I found on the internet.

I suppose I should give some specifics on the personal training, before I start an update.

When we signed up, we met with the “head” of personal training, that talked about how we wanted to turn our bodies into “Fat burning machines.” I think they had a marketing meeting with that phrase, as we heard it a few times. I don’t think we really let him complete his sales pitch though, as I had already decided I wanted a personal trainer. The nice surprise, was that they would run one session with both of us! Like a Two-Fer! Since I had already planned on signing up, this was a no brainer. Read more ›

Tagged with: Bootcamp, Cycling, LA Fitness, Personal Training, Weight Lifting
Posted in Personal Training

I’ve been quiet again.. Let me catch you up..

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — 2 Comments

Usually my quietness means that I have been sitting around eating bon-bons.. Before I vanished, I mentioned that this was the year I was really going to get back in shape. Not just running shape mind you, total full-body shape. Drop the pounds, build some muscle, run lots, and do all sorts of things that fitness-y people do.

So based on my past history, I posted this whole “hoo-rah” style post,worked out for a couple of days, and promptly stopped. Very Average American of me.. And also not entirely the truth.

When I remember, we take a picture of every run!

We take a picture together every run!

I have continued to run with my son, when he isn’t out-of-town on tour/camp/visiting grandparents. I’m still under the impression that he doesn’t really enjoy running as much as he enjoys being a runner (and the responses when he tells his class-mates he ran 5 miles on sunday), and spending time with me. I’m totally ok with that – as I enjoy our talks and the time together as well! Unfortunately, he seems to get used to running, the cramps settle down/etc – And then he goes away for a week or so, and the couple of weeks of progress goes away. I think that with the school year coming up, this will be resolved.

I have talked about the need to join a gym for ages. While I could have joined Gold’s Gym at any point (no sign up fee,and only 10-20 bucks a month), it is always packed, and didn’t have the atmosphere that I knew would be conducive to my using it. The I wanted to join was LA fitness, but they have a sign up fee, and you have to pay first and last month up front. My budget doesn’t usually have that much “extra” cash in a pay period, or even doubling it – for my wife if I could sucker her into joining with me. Well, some times the world smiles and “found” money appears that was unexpected, and is not budgeted. I was lucky enough to have this happen and my wife and I joined LA Fitness at the beginning of the month. Read more ›

Tagged with: Cycling, LA Fitness, Road Bike, running
Posted in Cross Training, Cycling, Kids

Tired of Fence sitting… Can’t count on anyone to push me off.

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — 2 Comments

Bryce must have been about this size.

Many years ago, I quit smoking. Looking back, its my mindset that is so interesting to me. I wanted to quit, yet I also didn’t want to quit. This fence sitting (with conflicting desires), was what made quitting so difficult, and the idea so unappealing.

I didn’t like the smelling of cigarette smoke. I didn’t like the amount of money I was spending on it. I was worried about future health issues.

I liked the stress relief. I enjoyed the fact that many times a day I had a cigarette and all I thought about at the time – was the cigarette. I liked the feeling of the warm smoke being inhaled. I liked blowing smoke rings. I liked the idea that some of my best ideas came through networking or just thinking, while out in the smoking area. Read more ›

Tagged with: fence sitting, seeking motivation, thoughts
Posted in Rambling

39th Birthday.

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — Leave a comment

Today is my 39th Birthday. It has been a day to stop and think about where I have come from, what I have accomplished and where I wish to be.

Up until now, I have not been the most diligent about sticking to an eating or exercise plan. In fact, I have been very…. average. Talking the good talk, but not matching the desires/talk.

With each passing year, it is going to be more difficult to reach the goals I talk about. I am starting to think that the “now or never” may be a statement of where I am in life, and I either need to step up, or stop pretending.

Tomorrow I will be posting my new workout schedule. It will be combining running and lifting. I am aiming for this to be the year, that i get in the best shape of my life.

Its going to be a good year!

Tagged with: #good year!
Posted in running

Weight

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — 1 Comment

So, I ran my marathon in November and then took the holiday season off. You know all the extra food that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years? Well, the holiday season is NOT the best time to stop running. Not running… Eating like I’m still running… The holidays…

As you can imagine, I put on some weight. In fact I put on 12 pounds in a very short time period. What really let me know how ridiculous my weight has gotten, was an attempt to put on a suit of armor that I fought in back in 2008. It was too small. Not only was it to small, but it was a good 8 to 10 inches from being able to be fastened closed.

Working on family, instead of speed.

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — 2 Comments

I’ve been running fairly regularly again – but with a different focus. My average 3 mile pace is now around 10:30 to 12, rather than the 8 to 9:30 it was. No, I’m not injured – I have a new running partner. I have found that having a running partner helps to get me out of bed in the morning as I know someone is depending on me. No longer do I lay in bed trying to find the motivation – now I just lay in bed for the 10 minutes between my alarms enjoying the morning. As soon as the second one goes – I am UP! I know I have to meet my running partner promptly at 5:40.

So, you see, my first alarm goes off at 5:30, then the second at 5:40. With that, I get up, walk down the hall, and wake up my son.

Vibram Five Fingers after a break

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — 1 Comment

So this weekend I tossed on my Five Fingers to go run errands in, as I had no clean socks for my Altras. Now both my Altra and my VFF running shoes are zero drop, so other than the lack of padding, I didn’t expect any real difference.

I can definitely say I walk differently in my VFFs. The next day, my calf muscle was SORE! I expected to feel some Plantar Fascia pain/soreness (and didn’t), but the calf pain? THAT was a surprise!

Tagged with: VFF, Vibram Five Fingers
Posted in vibram five fingers

Couch to 5K

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — 1 Comment

So my wife, the non-runner, has decided to give the Couch to 5k a shot. I was surprised, but pleased!

Our family has a tendency to be very supportive of each other – so we joined her! I admit that i did talk her into waiting for us, she had planned on using the treadmill.. I happened to like the idea of a family run in 70 degree weather!

Overall it went pretty well (despite the down-pour that hit us at the end), although she did have the standard wanting to run faster than was probably wise. She did very well, but did end up with very sore shins. Some research told her that toe-lifts is one of the best ways to help with that, and the soreness wasn’t enough to dissuade her from wanting to continue it tomorrow!

Go Anne!

Tagged with: c25k, Couch to 5K, running
Posted in running

Military and External Motivation

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Robinson Neidhardt — Leave a comment

Back in the mid 90’s, I joined the United States Navy. I was fresh out of high-school, and knew that if I went to college I would be wasting my time. Looking back, I can see that I had not motivation to go to school AND do well. In our “aged” wisdom, we can look back and see that many use college as a time to party, as opposed to a time to study, learn and grow (ok – so some do both.. I wouldn’t have.)

Can you find me in the picture? -Company C024, US NAVY from Oralndo RTC, 1994

I wandered down to my recruiter, talked to him and signed up (to make a long story short.)

I suppose looking back, I could claim I was being wise.. That I knew i wasn’t “motivated” enough to do well in school, and didn’t want to waste my time. That may even be the reason – I’m not going to try to apply my thoughts NOW to my motivation then. It seems a lot like cheating. Read more ›

Tagged with: Boot Camp, Bootcamp, C024, Drill Instructor, Motivation, US Navy
Posted in Other Exercise

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Follow “Once and Future Runner”