Great Highway To Lake Merced

I'm feeling pretty good! I ran 6.87 miles at 11:31 up The Great Highway to Lake Merced. I took a shot of apple pie flavored energy gel at the 4 mile mark and felt like a superhero! I am Endorphin Dude, see me run!

The Garmin 205

I'm excited about my new Garmin 205 GPS watch. This is a very complicated little piece of machinery, but I'm slowly learning how to use it. I admit, I have at tendency to put instruction manuals into the desk drawer, never to be seen again. I'll probably just keep pushing buttons on this Garmin until I figure out how it works. I do have to say that this watch is better than any running iPhone app I have downloaded to date!

Runderwear

Runderwear: The runner's underwear, otherwise known as "rundies." Or, you can just call them compression shorts. I got a pair today. I know, too much information. The funny thing is that I wasn't exactly sure what the fitting room etiquette for undergarments was. Do I strip down to my birthday suit and try on the form fittting rundies? Or do I just purchase the garment and pray that they fit? I chose to do the latter, as I didn't know what the last guy did or didn't do with the runderwear!

In any case, I'm glad I got me a pair of these compression shorts. My runs are much more comfortable now. Ok, that didn't sound right, didn't it? I better stop this blog entry now!

Color The Skies

I just registered for the "Color The Skies Rise. Shine. Give. Run. 5K" on September 5th. I need to have some race experience under my belt, so I chose this one, since my trainer's running club is running the show. I know I'll have the support of him and his wife, who just happens to be my running partner in crime. She, too, signed up for this event. All proceeds will benefit Children's Hospital Central California. I am really excited to be rippin' through Ripon! Wow...Tony Nguyen running a race. Can you fathom that?

32 Waist

I just reached another mile stone in my quest to become healthy. I can now fit into a pair of 32 waist jeans. I believe this is the first time in my adult life that I have achieved this feat. The last time I was able to fit into a 32 was probably back in junior high.

My Lunch, Courtesy of Rainbow Grocery

115/77

I went to Safeway to buy some hummus, and I noticed the blood pressure machine near the bakery. I decided to sit down and take a reading. I figured, when in Rome do what the Romans do, but in my case it was more like when at Safeway buy some food and get your blood pressure taken. I am happy to report that the numbers look good! 115/77. Not too shabby.

Snack Idea

Here's a snack idea for you health conscious folks out there: Hummus in a bell pepper. I am a big fan of the hummus, and I'm finding that this light snack really hits the spot. Hummus makes a great dip or condiment. Furthermore, my online research shows that this garbanzo beans spread is good for you! According to ehow.com:

"Hummus is a natural, vegan food that can be a part of virtually any diet. Chickpeas, like most beans, are an excellent source of fiber that digests slowly and keeps blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly, making them ideal for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. Combined with rice or whole grains, they provide a complete protein. Chickpeas also contain molybdenum, a trace mineral that helps the body detoxify sulfites, as well as iron and manganese, which are essential for healthy blood and high energy."

Give this a shot. You won't be disappointed.

The Fast Pass

Walking is a great aerobic activity, one in which has helped me lose a huge chunk of weight. If I had my way, I'd be walking my dog every night for a few hours. Unfortunately, I have this little thing called a day job, so I am unable to do this. I do manage to walk her for about an hour or so, but with daylight savings time coming up soon, I won't be able to get the maximum cardio workout in. Enter the fast pass. With this ticket, I am able to take the bus anywhere in San Francisco! So rather than driving to work in morning, I take the 38L-Geary to O'Farell and Van Ness and walk the rest of the way to work. By doing this, I am able to fit in 90 minutes of cardio per day. This is a win win situation for me, as my heart gets its exercise and I don't lose my parking spot!

Sprouted Flourless Whole Wheat Berry Bread

I am experimenting with different kinds of foods, just to keep a healthy mix in my life. I picked up a loaf of sprouted flourless whole wheat berry bread from Trader Joe's and it's pretty good. Who said wheat bread has to taste like card board? I recommend having this with some hummus or low fat cheddar cheese with honey mustard. Avoid the mayonnaise!

Ocean Beach Run

I love where I live. Not very many people can say they have a beach in their backyard! I went on my first run off a treadmill today, and it felt great! I started out at The Cliff House and ran all the way to the San Francisco Zoo. I was able complete over 5 miles with minimal walk breaks.