Podcasts to run by.....

I have been slacking on my blogging, admittedly.  I became sick yet again and spent the last couple of weeks battling through that.  After visiting several different doctors I have finally found (I think) what my issues have been with the constant upper respiratory issues.  They told me that I have asthma…..

I had asthma as a child and was actually hospitalized on a couple of occasions.  I had thought that I had outgrown it, but apparently not.  I have been taking Advair for the last couple of weeks and think that it is really helping me.  All of this aside, I did continue with my training as scheduled…..just not my blogging.

On this past Sunday I knocked out a 16 miler and tried my compression socks for the first time.  My initial reaction is that they do seem to help.  They did make my ankles feel more pain, but I think that was simply because my calves were compressed and not feeling as much as normally.  When I initially took the compression socks off of my legs at the end of my run my calves felt burning like they have never felt before.  I thought, “these things suck!”.  After about 10 minutes or so the paid subsided and I never developed any soreness at all.  Pretty remarkable since my calves usually always sore after a long run > 12-13 miles.  This all was a long way of saying that I will continue to use the compression sleeves and hope that they make my recovery that much quicker.

I normally don’t wear an iPod when running, but as my runs get longer and since I am only making it to run with my training group only about once per month, I am using the iPod some.  I still won’t likely use it for races (I haven’t in a long time).  I typically listen to podcasts and/or books to entertain myself during several hours out on the road if I do use an iPod.  My favorite podcasts include:

• The Dave Ramsey Show
• Wall Street Journal Small Business Report
• How Stuff Works
• Techstuff
• This American Life
• Freakonomics Podcast
• Anything by Andy Stanley

I also listen to books as well.  I get them from the library on CD for free and rip them onto iTunes and load them up for an entertaining run.

This Saturday I have an 18 miler on tap.  Runs are starting to get to the level where they are getting uncomfortable since I haven't run that kind of distance in many months.  I am at 18 miles on my long run already and my first marathon isn't until January 30 though so I should be okay.  Still need to drop some weight and I am sure that the pounding of the high mileage that I am about to get into will not be as bad.  Going into the holidays the weight loss thing is a little more difficult though.  We will see as I am still going to try to be 180 pounds by Jan 30.  I am using the Daily Plate website to help me track calories.  It is excellent and I highly recommend if you have never tried and are interested in that kind of thing.  It is affiliated with Lance Armstrong's foundation.

That is enough rambling for now.  Happy running!

Mileage this week = 10