Cue the game show loser sound. It doesn’t matter (for weight loss) which diet your are on as long as your calories expended are greater than the calories you bring in.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/health/nutrition/26diet.html

Got 6 miles in today on ice and snow. Good thing it as dark when I started running, because the ice would have probably kept me from doing. As it was I was semi-ignorant of how icy it was and just did it. Good news is that I didn’t fall in spite of several slides. It did make for a slow run.

One of the main reasons I run is to lower my blood pressure and cholesterol an apparently running has been confirmed to do just that.

http://running.about.com/b/2009/02/23/another-health-benefit-for-runners.htm

Another reason to run fast and run long.

http://running.about.com/b/2009/02/18/running-good-for-your-eyes.htm

2 weeks of a sinus infection and 65 hour work week (not counting 10+ hours of commute time) seems to have ruined my training schedule (as well as my blogging time). I am on the third day of antibiotics and the sinus infection is starting to clear up.  Yesterday was a 15 hour workday and there is no end in sight. The joy of working for a global company on the edge of bankruptcy never ends.

I love the beaches here in Michigan. The ones at the link below are the beaches I dream about. Enjoy!!!

http://fitnessblackbook.com/main/25-world-class-beaches-worth-getting-in-shape-for/trackback/

Article in the NY Times. It reminded me the first time (and hopefully only time) that I needed to lose weight I did it as a competition with others at the office. We didn’t bet on it, but did keep track of the progress and posted it on the wall. It kept everyone motivated. Betting would certainly be a motivator for some groups.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/health/nutrition/05fitness.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

The good news is that it was finally nice enough to run outside on Sunday.  The bad news is that training on an elliptical machine is not sufficient.  The first three miles were at the correct pace.  All of the rest were not.  I was running with the stroller in hill so it is expected that it should be a little slower; however, it was significantly slower.  It is not as if there is no benefit.  I did not fell winded.  The main problem was leg fatigue.  I got progressively slower and couldn’t maintain a consistent pace for the duration of the run.  On Monday I was sore.

I will try increasing the incline one more notch on the elliptical.  I have not been getting enough long runs so that is a piece of the puzzle.  I haven’t gotten any good feedback from any of the forums about using an elliptical for training.  As a result, it would appear that there has been no significant comparisons and runners don’t use ellipticals.  The most common method for maintaining running fitness levels, while injured, seems to be running in the pool.  Other “off-season” running would be on an indoor track or treadmill.  I used to run outside no matter what the weather.  Macie has limited that activity this year.

Tonight will be progressive speed work (on the elliptical).  Tempo on Friday (maybe outside), Ride on Saturday (should be outside supposed to be in 40′s), long run on Sunday (will be outside).  Yeah, its getting warm again.  It is funny how much warmer 30 feels when it has been around 10 degrees for a month.