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Yoga for Runners – Urban Yogis
Savasana – Final Resting Pose
The class is getting bigger. Two weeks ago we had 25 people practicing urban yoga. What’s urban yoga? It is yoga on the back porch of the Lululemon store in Old Town Pasadena. Urban yoga has no heaters, no roofs, no fancy wood floors, you hear horns honking, tires squealing, people wondering what we are doing, no doors, no windows, just some yoga in/on the concrete jungle. Hey, that’s the real LA.
The really cool thing about urban yoga is that it challenges your practice. Can you zone in on your breath and body, or does all the hustle and bustle cause you to lose your focus?
I integrate yoga poses with running form principles. We work on developing balance, strength and flexibility. Since most runners are new yogis or wonder what yoga really is, we flow through basic poses but trust that it is challenging. Runners need to be tested.
Class starts at 6:30 and is one hour long. Dress in layers to stay warm. Meet us on the back porch of the Lululemon store in Pasadena. Namaste.
VOTE TUESDAY!
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Urban Yogi
Yoga for Runners – Urban Yogis
Savasana – Final Resting Pose
The class is getting bigger. Two weeks ago we had 25 people practicing urban yoga. What’s urban yoga? It is yoga on the back porch of the Lululemon store in Old Town Pasadena. Urban yoga has no heaters, roofs, fancy wood floors, you hear horns honking, tires squealing, people wondering what we are doing, no doors, no windows, just some yoga in the concrete jungle. Hey that’s what we live in here in LA.
The really cool thing about urban yoga is that it challenges your practice. Can you zone in on your breath and body, or does all the hustle and bustle cause you to lose your focus?
I integrate yoga pose with running form principles. We work on developing balance, strength and flexibility. Since most runners are new yogis or wonder what yoga really is, we flow through basic poses but trust that it is challenging. Runners need to be tested.
Class starts at 6:30 and is one hour long. Dress in layers and meet us on the back porch of Lululemon in Pasadena. Namaste.
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Urban Yogi
What A Difference The Shoes Make
Gotta Love Your Shoes
Finding the right shoe is like finding your life partner. It is difficult, yet when you do find them you are comforted when times get tough. They are with you for better or worse, in sickness and in health and you start to feel until death do we part. The problem with that last part is we think more about our death then 300+ miles on our running shoes. Running shoes have a very limited life.
So here’s the next problem, your shoe company thinks they can do better and redesigns your favorite model. I don’t know what to tell you except, always buy more than one pair when you find that special relationship.
Some people have a very difficult time finding that perfect, or near perfect match. Maybe I’ll start a on-line service to help you match up with your perfect mate. Finding that shoes is like dating around. Every once in a while you find that match after just a couple of dates but most of us have to go out multiple times to hopefully find that match. And, the worse thing is when you think you have a good thing going then get dumped. Your feet never feel the same.
Here’s a couple of tips, go to a reputable running store to get your shoes. Most give you 30 days to try them out with good return policies. Get your shoes at least a half size large. Shoe shop in the afternoon or after a long run, when your feet are swollen, because you know they are going to swell on your run, especially on those long runs. You shouldn’t really have to break in your running shoes. Run around the store and outside the store in the shoes. And try on different brands.
Good luck in finding that special relationship. I’m in deep with the pair pictured. I just wish they would be with me longer. Oh well, they’ll get me through the LA and Catalina Marathons. If you don’t have another pair before your big races this spring, now is a good time to get them.
VOTE TUESDAY!
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – USA Triathlon Coach
The Hidden Beach Runner Video by John Graham
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLsvoDG6BKA]
You never know what you’ll find out in cyberspace. I just happened to find this on YouTube. It’s a 9 minute gem produced by Alumni Beach Runner John Graham. He actually did the 26 mile bike tour, got off his bike and started his marathon. Triathletes call this a very long brick workout. Wow!Train Focused, Steve Mackel – USA Cycling Coach
Snow Capped Run
Only in LA or Should I Say Long Beach
It was an incredible Saturday. In fact, it was the most beautiful day of the year so far. We have had rain, yet not on Saturdays. The rains last week brought snow and the cold temperatures lowered the snow levels to 2,500 feet. The mountains across the horizon were white. It was so beautiful. How how do long runs get better than that? They don’t.
Getting Ready to Go Long in Long Beach
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Head Coach Beach Runners
Long Trail Run Saturday
Some of the PV Beach Runners Crew
We made it. And didn’t see one parrot! Great job to everyone on the run. I am proud of all of you. And think that you are all on target. Gary
The Parrots of Pasadena
Parrots In Pasadena?
The Parrots of Pasadena or should I say South Pasadena. Here’s my story:
SoCalRunning.com member Eric told me there were parrots in Pasadena. I said, “You mean the green ones? Are you crazy? Don’t parrots come from places like the Mexican jungle. He said, “Yes but no” and told me a story about a Pasadena pet store that caught fire when a good samaritan ran into the store and started opening cages of the animals. He said, some parrots were freed and now we have over 1000. It sounded too goo to be true so I went home and looked it up on the internet and here’s what I learned.
Urban legend or not?
The parrots are mentioned on the official City of Pasadena web site and here’s what it says. “Naturalized parrots are frequently seen and heard around Pasadena. According to local legend, many were released during a 1959 fire which destroyed Simpson’s Gardenland and Bird Farm in Pasadena. Some of the parrots were probably pets that escaped or were set free. Some may have been released by smugglers attempting to avoid arrest. One common breed is the Red-crowned parrot.”
I am writing this to say, it is so cool to be running and riding around South Pasadena while seeing and hearing these green birds. They can be noisy and I know they really bug some people yet I love being around these odd birds. They fly in packs or flocks and hang out in lots of local trees. They just add a special spirit, color and noise to my runs. Maybe one day they’ll ask me how my run is going and I’ll respond, Polly want a cracker.”
Train Focused, Steve Mackel Triathlon Coach
Elite ultra endurance and trail runner MICHELLE BARTON
Southern California’s MICHELLE BARTON; an elite ultra distance and trail runner with an intoxicating love for the sport, eternally positive spirit, and incredible athletic ability.
I met Michelle at the Holcomb Valley Ultramarathon this year.
She won the race coming in hours ahead of me.
She passed me about mile four of Mt. Baldy.
I told her she had the best smile.
She said “I love you”.
That made my race.
Blogged with Flock
Tags: ultramarathon, podcast, motivation
Lisa Smith-Batchen sets-out for her 2nd consecutive “Badwater DOUBLE”!
ultra-endurance runner and coach Lisa Smith-Batchen, n incredible ultra-endurance runner who posses seemingly endless athletic ability, courage and perseverance, as she takes aim at completing a second consecutive Badwater DOUBLE. Lisa’s resume also includes victories at the 1997 and 1998 Badwater Ultramarathons (regarded as the most grueling Podtrac Playerfootrace in the world)
When you get a chance…
Listen to this amazing interview.
This inspiring woman, mother of two, ran the the Badwater Ultramarathon, then ran it in reverse!
A motivating example of what you can do when you set your mind body and spirit to accomplishing something.
Blogged with Flock
Tags: ultramarathon, motivation, sports psychology, badwater
Running with the Captain
Scotty, Runing With The Captain In Naples, Long Beach
Another great training weekend. The weather was fantastic and this is why I live in LA, a 70 degree Saturday in mid January. It was also a great football weekend.
The Beach Runners touched “The Queen” (the Queen Mary) on a long run. What other group is running in the hills, the beach, on ships and partying with the Captain, only us SoCalRunners. Check out the Beach Runners and our MarathonTraining.TV
Beach Runners About 9 Miles Out On A Three Hour Run
Now we are all getting ready for the Catalina and LA Marathon.
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – USA Triathlon Coach
Founder – Coach Steve
Running Shoe Store of the Month – Jan/Feb 2017
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