It's gonna be a good life

Music gets to me, what can I say?

A couple of weeks ago, after days of rain, it was finally sunny out all day. I happened to be in Indianapolis for my friends wedding, and I went for a run in downtown and a park. Amazing, and the U2 song "Beautiful Day" was stuck in my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V8nu6e8eFY

This weekend, I went for a short, awesome visit to the place I call home: Detroit. Regardless of what people say about the city, it's where I came to know my family the most and the place I call home. There is something about everyone's "home", wherever it may be.

Small highlights of Memorial Day in Detroit:
-Solid 7 mile run in my home city I have never gone to "just run" before
-Attacked by a bird, twice on this run
-First "wood working" with Dad in a long time
-Walk with baby niece and sis
-"Play time" with a 1 year old... always remind you how simple you can make life and enjoy it
-BBQ with family
-Enjoyed cooking/prepping with mom/dad for the first time in a long time.
-Casino Fun - of course I lost

Along the way I heard this song again that sums it up- One Republic - Good life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZhQOvvV45w

Despite what gets you down, finances, weight, work, troubles in life, I can always find some comfort in a good song.

Amateur Hour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewiKcKkgthc

Jump to time 4:24 to 5:05, sweet tip (that's me in the blue socks tipping the puck), showing my amateur skills!

What's in a name?

So, a friend and I tossed around a couple of ideas to re-name the blog, here are a few with some reasons:

Zen of Ken - to be motivational and at peace
Kaizen Ken - to always change life for the better

zen of kendo - combination

Kentendo -old nickname from some friends that truly know you, only you hardly get to visit

A bunch of others came up, but the winner is.....

"Kenning Around" - because it can mean so much, such as joking, kidding, running, playing, drinking, partying, biking, swimming, celebrating....Whatever it is....it's life!

Where to start?

I have been debating starting a blog for some time, but now have bitten the bullet to try!

The first goal will be to use this for running aspirations, and maybe motivate others as well as be motivated. But in the end, I will go with the flow and it should keep me public and honest. After back to back half marathon weekends, and setting a PR and feeling like crap the next week. At least I accomplished that lofty goal, so time to make some new goals.

How frequent will I update this? Depends on how I feel, a couple times a week, month, but hopefully more than a couple times a year.

Let's start off with those annoying "active.com e-mails". To be honest, they are frustrating to get all the time "run this race, be more fit, etc." However, I always find myself going to a few of the articles to read something motivational.

I guess annoying(ness) can pay off. Example, Today's list: 76 ways to get moving...

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/76-Ways-to-Get-Moving.htm?cmp=291&memberid=110780424&lyrisid=21910270

Here is my list of completed motivational items:

1. Set your goal.

2. Buddy up. I used to only run alone, now am finding the benefits of running with others.

3. Amp up your playlist. Music is what keeps me going and digging deep, along with people watching.

4. Write your goals out.

5. Log your training. I am an engineer, lots of graphs, maybe I’ll post them sometime.

6. Buy a new workout outfit. I just bought a tech shirt, 1 size smaller than what I used to run in!

7. Watch your favorite sporting events at the gym.

8. Share your progress on Facebook. I’ll use FB to be short and sweet, and this blog for a few longer thoughts

9. Buy a new pair of running shoes. Every 200-300 miles based on my graphs

10. Sign up for a fitness class.

11. Schedule it.

12. Visualize your goal.

13. Blog about your experience. And so journey begins

14. Watch an inspirational movie like Rocky. Miracle, Spirit of a Marathon.

15. Celebrate the wins.

16. Keep your makeup or your work shoes at the gym so you have to go.

17. Get a group. Is 2-3 friends a group?

18. Get a training plan. Modified as needed, but start with a Hal Higdon type plan

19. Get fueled. Runs not fueled absolutely suck!

20. Hydrate. I need to do better at this as it becomes hotter

21. Warm up.

22. Listen your body. Taking a week off can be clutch!

23. Rest up.

24. Hire a personal trainer. Friends can do the same, and cost much less

25. Buy a new app.

26. Take before and after pictures.

27. Reward yourself.

28. Borrow a dog.

29. Help a charity.

30. Sign up for a race. Sign up for multiple races

31. Make peer pressure work for you.

32. Join a club.

33. Try a new sport. Hockey will be a part of me, but I see biking and swimming in the future.

34. Set up a friendly competition.

35. Buy a fitness DVD.

36. Make a plan.

37. Get a coach.

38. Inspire yourself.

39. Start slow. I may never win a race, but at least I’m out there day in and day out

40. Watch more TV. I have actually started watching less

41. Set out your workout clothes the night before.

42. Hide your keys at the bottom of you gym bag.

43. Park farther away. At $4 a gallon of gas, I’ll jump in the first spot I see and walk in from there.

44. Take the stairs. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t

45. Stop smoking. N/A

46. Keep a jump rope in your bag.

47. Make a bet. Gambling is fun, gambling with friends is more fun!

48. Make it a vacation. Detroit/Malibu/Disney in the future

49. Get dropped off somewhere.

50. Reward yourself with a nice meal out.

51. Put your alarm on the opposite side of the room.

52. Weigh yourself. Daily, and graphed

53. Throw on your favorite music and have a dance party.

54. Buy a video game that gets you moving.

55. Play with kids. Too often, we do not go “be like a kid again”. Pond hockey made me realize how I have to do this more, just go “be” and enjoy.

56. Get outside and do some gardening.

57. Go to a farmer's market.

58. Try volunteer work that involves manual labor.

59. Know your numbers.

60. Keep track of how many steps you take in a day.

61. Go camping, hiking or backpacking. Time to go!

62. Find a new trail. Love my GPS watch for this

63. Hula hoop.

64. Try pick-up basketball.

65. Join a league. Hockey, Hockey, Hockey

66. Sign up for a gym membership. But, it’s been so nice out lately, time to try the pool

67. Buy free weights.

68. Play in the water.

69. Walk.

70. Have a friend buy your groceries and only buy healthy stuff.

71. Start reading food labels. I am reading, now learning what to look for

72. Start by stretching.

73. Buy a goal outfit.

74. Read a health/motivational book. So many are out there, some good, some bad. Any suggestions?

75. Follow a blog.

76. Find a mentor.