After having made it through the holidays, it's time to commit to those New Years resolutions that we've all made and get back into shape! I find that without a definitive goal, I have a hard time mustering the motivation to leave the house, especially when it's twenty below; my solution: my wife has committed me to running the 10k in May. I'll have to at least maintain my cardio just to avoid embarrassment! My solution to avoiding wintery runs and crowded gyms (give it another few weeks and the crowds will dissipate!) is an exercise bike sitting in front of a TV - this helps pass the time so that I can easily petal for an hour without getting bored. The canal has just opened, so there's a perfect opportunity for some outdoor exercise, and there's always a Beavertail waiting for me at the end of my skate!

It's May, and that means only another month of training for Fitman 2009! Fitman is an annual contest that a small group of people participate in every year. The competition is based on ten fitness criteria for men that were outlined in Men's Health Magazine, based on the following activities: - Bench Press - Leg Press - Jump Height - 40 Pushups - Flexibility - Waist to Hip ratio - 700 Yard Swim - 300 Yard Shuttle Run - 1.5 mile Run - Basketball Toss For each event, you are given a score ranging from 0 to 1.75 depending on your performance. The weight activities are scored based on the amount you lift as a ratio of your body weight; other events, like the running and swimming events are based on time to completion; the scores are also adjusted for age, so for example, someone who is forty gets one score category higher than someone who is thirty-five, for reaching a given target. Participant fitness levels range from average, like me, to national competition level, so this is really more of a competition against yourself than each other (at least, that's what I tell myself!) although there are prizes for the best performers. The diversity of events tends to balance the scores a little bit; ironman runners do well in the endurance events, but tend to have lower scores in strength events, whereas heavy lifters will excel at bench and leg press, but have a distinct disadvantage at the 300 yard shuttle run. I find the Fitman event a great motivator to start training every spring, and it provides a well-rounded set of goals. Instead of just focusing on weights, it forces me to concentrate on cardio, endurance, flexibility and diet as well. I'll try to get some photos at this year's event so that you can see what it's all about!

Spring has finally arrived and I think it's time to wake up from my winter hibernation! Yes, there's numerous winter sport options available in the Ottawa area, but I'm more of a summer person.. well, maybe spring - summer can get too hot! I need to start burning off those winter pounds, or at least try to keep them off - my weight's been going up and down like the stock market lately! Since my wife has signed me up for the 10k event of the National Capital Marathon, I figure I'll get back into my running routing; it's a great way to lose a few pounds, build my cardio and enjoy the outdoors. I might also get my bike out of winter storage - cycling is a great way to cross train in between my running days. Ottawa has over 170km of recreational paths, which is great, since I'm not a big fan of riding in traffic! Whether it's walking, running, hiking, biking, soccer, football or one of the dozens of other activities available, it's time to get out there and enjoy the summer!