Running for Fun

If you are looking for more ways to put the fun back into your running regime, we perhaps have a couple of items that can help! Last week, while running, there were a couple of times when I suddenly wished that I had a camera with me. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to be unencumbered when I run and could not imagine carrying a camera. For the same reason, I do not usually listen to music as I run.

All of a sudden, it occurred to me that my holster for my cellphone would clip to the side of my running shorts and might be relatively unobtrusive. I decided to try it out! It had the double benefit of also giving me a music source and since I have a stereo bluetooth headset, this would allow me to listen to music as well as have a camera. Since my cellphone is a Nokia N8, it has a high-quality 12MP camera built-in, the quality of which rivals some of the high-end point-and-shoot cameras.

Usually, when I run, I get into a daydreaming mode and am often oblivious to my surroundings. However, last week on one of my runs, I suddenly realized that I was missing out on one of the more fun elements of the exercise by ignoring the scenery especially at this time of the year when the fall colours are coming into their own. I have mentioned in previous posts that I am extremely competitive, even with myself. As a result, each run, I am trying to beat previous ones. This is, to some degree, counterproductive and it is obvious that I will not always be able to better my performance. I decided that occasionally I should be running purely for the fun of it and not always pushing myself to the limit. Accordingly, today, I hitched my trusty Nokia N8 to my running shorts and hooked it up to my Altec Lansing Backbeat 903 bluetooth headset and headed out for a kinder, gentler run. You can see the results in the frame above from Garmin Connect in terms of the running and below in the gallery in terms of the pictures that I took en route.

Of course, it was serendipitous that the weather cooperated, being sunny but not too warm, hovering around 13c. One thing that was apparent as a result of stopping a few times to take a picture, my average heart rate was considerably lower than it otherwise would have been. Yes, it took me a couple of minutes more to finish my 8K run but I was in much better shape at the end. I enjoyed having the music along too but discovered that my particular headset is not waterproof and the sweat from my head fried it. Although I would ordinarily heartily endorse the Backbeat 903 paired with the Nokia N8, it is just not suited for running or jogging. You can find many better alternatives here

Given that today is Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, I must say that one of the things that I am personally grateful for is living in Ottawa where, as a runner, I have lots of choices of where to run, generally away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Having the right running gear also helps a great deal. The addition of my N8 and an appropriate bluetooth headset has definitely allowed me to put more fun into my personal running regime. I encourage you to try it!
Pics here
In summary, if you are having trouble dragging your butt out of the door for that fun run, perhaps you could take a page out of my book and try adding music and/or photography to your jaunt. Anything that helps get you in the mood and keeps you going is a good thing.

Similar Products: Powered by

	GOgroove AirBand Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset for Motorola / Samsung / LG / Apple / HTC & More A2DP Enabled Smartphones :: Amazon Experience Wireless Audio Freedom with our NEW GOgroove AirBand Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset. Get High-Quality Bluetooth audio streamed
	Philips SHB6000 Bluetooth Stereo Headset :: Amazon Constructed with water proof materials coupled with adjustable earhook that provides secure fit, these wireless headsets have been designed