Vine Land Running Club

Everyone can benefit from exercise and good nutrition. Most women know that the right combination of exercise and nutrition can result in fat loss, increased muscle strength and improved energy. Regardless of at what age a woman becomes physically active and aware of good nutrition, the rewards of a comprehensive fitness program are tremendous and extremely beneficial. Once you decide that you actually wish to change to a healthier lifestyle, a fitness program can be a great way to get into shape. With so many options available, how do you decide which fitness program is best for you?

Exercise equipment can be costly and take up a lot of space, especially when it goes unused. A gym or fitness center membership can be expensive and inconvenient; most women are busy enough without taking the time to travel to a health club. Luckily, there is no better place than in the privacy of your own home for reaching your fitness goals.

With so many options and varieties of home fitness videos, books, and exercise equipment, the problem arises of how to choose the right home fitness program. You do not want to spend thousands of dollars on some fitness gadget that will gather dust or make a new clothes hanger. Exercise videos can be boring. And with a woman’s busy schedule, who has the time or energy to read all of those books?

Exercising at home is perfect because it can easily fit into your schedule and your budget. Anyone considering an exercise program should contact her physician to be sure the fitness program is compatible with her health. In addition, it is important to include these essential components for an effective fitness program: strength training, flexibility, cardiovascular training, and balance.

Strength training can increase muscle strength, coordination, and metabolic rate. This type of exercise uses free weights or resistance bands to help target and tone your muscles. Strength training has also been shown to improve bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Flexibility training or stretching exercises can increase the physical performance of your body and general health. This component of a complete fitness program is often overlooked. Flexibility training can help to reduce your risk of injury, improve your posture, and even reduce post exercise muscle soreness.

Cardiovascular exercise is integral for healthier heart and lungs. Although some place more emphasis on weight training for muscle development, it is important to remember that the heart is a muscle too and needs to be conditioned through regular aerobic activity.

Balance is crucial to our bodies, and becomes more important as we age. As we become older, our balance can become compromised. Improving coordination and balance through exercise can prevent falls and allow our bodies to function more efficiently.

Although it is a great start to having more energy and improving the quality of your life, a good exercise program alone is not enough to complete your change to a healthier lifestyle. We have all heard the adage, “you are what you eat.” Every woman needs to be aware of food and nutrition, key factors to be incorporated with comprehensive exercises for a complete fitness program. Do not eliminate food groups from your diet, rather become aware of healthy eating and good nutrition to complement your exercises.

There is a program that will have you fit, healthy, and bursting with energy. A unique home fitness program designed especially for women is available. Sisters in Sneakers includes all of the essential components of a complete home fitness program for exercises and nutrition.

When you exercise at home, the fitness program you choose must keep you motivated and interested. Sisters in Sneakers proves exercise does not have to be boring. Sisters in Sneakers allows you to vary your exercise routine to keep you out of an exercise rut and on your toes while conditioning different muscle groups.

Even with the best women’s home fitness program, sometimes the going gets tough when you are all alone. Sisters in Sneakers gives you the opportunity to connect with a fitness partner for friendship and to offer encouragement to each other, increasing the chance that you will succeed to achieve your fitness goals.

Physical activity and good nutrition are two of the best gifts you can give yourself. Praise yourself for making a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, conveniently and affordably in your own home with Sisters in Sneakers. Sisters in Sneakers is creating a new generation of lifetime movers, one woman at a time. Visit www.sistersinsneakers.com today to begin your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Have you ever suffered from red, inflamed, splitting itchy skin, and a consistent painful irritation between the toes as the wounds seep with tacky blood infecting all who come into contact with this awful contagious condition? Athlete’s foot is a truly unpleasant foot complaint that can sometimes prove difficult to cure. But the good news is that once it is cured, it’s really quite preventable providing a sensible foot care routine is carried out regularly.
And if you think athlete’s foot is something that only ‘other people’ catch, then think again! If you’ve not been infected (yet), it probably just means you’ve just been lucky so far, as it’s reported that over 70% of the population will develop athlete’s foot during their lifetime.
As I said in the opening paragraph, this is a preventable condition, or at the very least, the risk of infection can be drastically reduced by taking proper preventative measures. But first, let’s take a quick look at what athletes foot is exactly.
Athletes foot (tinea pedis), is a form of ringworm that lives on your skin and toenails. Most folks know it as a type of fungus. We all have one or more of the fungi that can cause athlete’s foot on our bodies. They actually feed on dead skin cells and although this may sound repulsive to some, they are actually quite harmless.
How do we get Athlete’s Foot? To contract it we have to provide the perfect conditions for the fungi to thrive, namely dark, humid and wet areas. Sweaty feet wrapped up inside dark tight fitting footwear (particularly trainers), are most at risk of getting infected. However, athlete’s foot is highly contagious too, and can be picked up relatively easily by using other people’s towels, shoes, socks, and also by standing on surfaces that have been stood and walked over by someone already infected.
What are the symptoms? The early symptoms of athlete’s foot are when a red itchy rash appears between the toes (often starting between the 4th and 5th toes). If left untreated, this can become much worse with splitting and bleeding and an unbearable itching sensation.
How can we prevent it? Although there’s not 100% protection against contracting athlete’s foot, the risk of infection can be greatly reduced by taking the following preventative measures:
Make sure you dry your feet carefully after bathing, showering or swimming. Make extra sure you dry thoroughly between your toes.
Whenever possible, wear shoes made from leather or other natural materials as these help your feet to aerate easier. Rotate your footwear and especially sports shoes. The less time the fungi has to thrive, the better the chance are at keeping it away.
If your feet are prone to sweating, change your socks regularly and use cotton sock whenever possible as they breathe easier. You might even want to take a spare pair to work with you. Be sure to give your feet a quick wash between changing socks and dry thoroughly. You might also want to consider using shoe liners that are specially designed to help reduce foot moisture.
Wear flip flops (thongs), when using communal showers at local pools and gyms so as to reduce the risk of picking up other people’s infection.
What are the cures? If you do find yourself infected with athlete’s foot, it can be treated locally with antifungal creams, sprays, liquids and powders. All of these products are available over-the-counter from the high street pharmacists. Imidazole antifungals seem to be the most effective.
However, if you get a real stubborn bout that doesn’t seem to respond to un-prescribed topical medicine, then visit your doctor for alternative treatment without further delay.
Remember, athletes foot is extremely contagious and it’s important not to share towels or footwear with those infected. Additionally, read the instruction carefully for the medication you are using, as most will advise you to continue treatment up to 2 weeks after the condition has ‘apparently’ cleared up.

Though jobs in the sports industry might seem to be plentiful, it is a very competitive field. Divided into ten sections, this industry contains thousands of jobs in, sporting events, trade shows and meetings, sport sponsors, sport related media, sport facilities, sport retailers and manufactures, and professional sport services.
This industry in particular has a large turnover, a complex infrastructure, and an influence on many people’s lives via the media and participation. To completely understand the nature of the sports industry, one must know that it is composed of different components:
Different Components in the Sports Industry
-Sporting goods – equipment manufacturers, high street sports retailers

-Facility management, provision and maintenance – motor sport facilities, stadiums, sports and leisure centers

-Sports coaching

-Sports tourism – packages for fans attending the world cup matches, or Olympics

-Sports development – sports development initiatives, governing bodies for various sports, local authority sports development officers

-Sports-related gambling/betting

-Professional sport

-Health and fitness – health clubs, GP referral schemes, personal fitness

-Trainers

-Sports medicine -sports injury clinics, physiotherapists

-Outdoors and adventure activities – mountain biking, climbing, canoeing
To know every section of the sports industry, you must understand the type of activities that take place and the respective organizations that provide them. For instance, if you are planning to get involved with sporting goods, you should know the different types of goods that are available through specialist equipment manufacturers and high end retailers, plus names of the various companies involved.
Likewise, to seek a job in sports development, you should be aware of what “sports development” is and the various jobs available for sports development officers, as well as the organizations that employ them, like the local authorities and charities governing bodies of different sports.
In general, people take it for granted that jobs are restricted within the sports industry. However, there are many other opportunities available. A job in the sports industry could range from that as a professional athlete, to a ball girl/boy, to a general manager of a professional sports team. You don’t have to work for a professional sports team to get into the industry. You could start working as a trainer or coach for a high school team, a journalist, or a sports agent, or even work as a television broadcaster.
Salary Range in the Sports Industry
The sport, the team and the type of job, are some of the aspects that influence salaries in the sports industry. Following are examples of salary ranges of some jobs in the sports industry:
Coach: $20,000-$400,000+ (College) and $20,000-$70,000 (high school)

Sportscaster: $18,000-$1 million

Sportswriter: $15,000-$1 million

Sports Event Coordinator: $24,000-$90,000+
Education largely depends on the type of job one is planning to pursue. A college degree may not assure a job in the industry but may provide numerous opportunities for employment. Besides, it is almost impossible to get into the sports industry without experience. The best way to prepare for a job in the sports industry is to get maximum exposure.

Skies, shoes, weights, helmets and all the other sports equipment are available with a high price tag, but it is important to note the fact that there is no need to forgo your sports equipment just for the fact that they are high priced equipments as there are many other ways through which you can get the sports equipment within the reasonable limits. Incase you are passionate about a sport then there are many other ways through which we can get the sports equipments at a low cost.

The first and the foremost way in which you can save money are to borrow the equipments from your friends or family. Incase you need the skis for the weekend then it is important to understand that you can try getting them from your friends. However it is important to note that the borrowing from your friends and others will work if incase you are new to a particular sport and you are trying it the initial times. It can really frustrate the people incase you are going to borrow from them the few times, it is preferable that you borrow from them on trial basis so that you can know your comfort basis, incase you don’t find it comfortable then probably you can go in for some other brand product. Hence borrowing is an option which you can rely on incase you need the equipment for a short term basis. Incase you are sure that you need the equipment then it is important that you look into the discount stores so that you can bargain at get the equipment at a reasonable prices.

Another option which you can go in for incase you are looking at buying the goods at the reasonable prices is to look in for the second hand goods. It is important to consider the fact that when you are intending to buy the second hand goods, you need to buy the goods that are not much used and are in good condition. For checking its worth it is important that you test it properly, then take in the decision to buy it, and do bear in mind that you pay fair price for the product. Ensure that the equipment can bear normal wear and tear. Proper check will not surprise you when you use the product on a regular basis.

The next option wherein you can get the sports equipment on reasonable basis is to become a smart and shrewd shopperholic person. You can get the equipments from the discount stores. Purchasing during the sale will enable you to have better offers at hand. There are many clearance sales available that can help you to get the best deals at your requirement. There are good offers available mostly during the start as well as the end of the season. It is important that you have a glance at the markdown price so that you can grab the product at the favorable price. Another perspective wherein you can save money is to buy the best quality goods that can last longer which can help you to save the money to be spent on repetitive basis.

For the most part, people seem to value their lives. Some feel they are really important and their existence is completely necessary, while some others like living but aren’t to worried about their eventual demise. I never really put a value on my own life, though if you read my previous blog you might think I walk around with a pistol in my mouth. But friends there is a distinct difference between recognizing you have not accomplished anything and not wanting some more time to try and get things done. Luckily, a couple weeks back, I was able to see just what kind of price I put on my own livelihood.

More… It was just another Thursday evening. Because I can’t let go of my college days, I found the need to hit up a local watering hole. Like most college kids, Thursday night is the time to usher in the upcoming weekend by drinking large amounts of alcohol and convincing yourself that even though you have to work the next day, it’s Friday, and for some reason that means it doesn’t count.

When I first moved to LA back in the summer of 2004, one of my favorite pastimes was to head down to Champs sports bar on Thursday nights for some team trivia and 50 year-old eye candy. Sadly, Champs ended their trivia night thus leaving a huge hole in my social schedule. About a month ago, we learned that champs had reinstated their trivia night. So, without much hesitation, I decided it was time to return to my stomping grounds that filled my life with purpose. Play trivia, win a $60 bar tab, and then get hammered for free. But this night, would not be like the trivia nights I had come to love…

“We haven’t had trivia night for three weeks”. That sentence from Ronda the bartender stung deep. Apparently, the beginning of football season signaled the end of trivia night. But since we were all there, we decided to hang out anyways, order some food, down some pitchers, and play some bar sports. Now champs may not draw an A-list crowd, but it will bring in Hepatitis of the A variety. However, it has one of the most exciting games in the history of the planet, shuffle board. A long wooden table covered in a saw-dust like substance that acted as lubricant to slide steel-like pucks back and forth. This was truly a game for the man who can’t participate in competitive athletics, that’s where we came in. It quickly became an obsession amongst the group, and like anything pure, we found a way to make it full of trash talk, cursing, and sexually suggestive language. It was that game we were playing, laughing, shouting, and drinking. Then, it happened…

“Oh come on!” I had just slid my shot right into the gutter, a real amateur move, bush league garbage. Then, a girl yelled and sprinted across the bar and out the front door. I instantly felt bad as I egotistically thought I startled the young lady with my outburst. If only I had been right. Quickly behind the fleeing female were two men, both wearing ski masks, both holding hand guns. Now my first thought was, “ok, whose birthday is it”. It seemed very practical in a bar like Champs that someone would stage some stupid event like that to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Once again, I wish I had been right and the two men weren’t escorting in a cake with candles, instead they brought a gift of anger, profanity, and the threat of violence.

“Everyone on the #@*&-ing ground! Nobody (expletive) move!” Yeah, they meant business. Instantly, I and my three friends ducked down behind the shuffle board table. Now I’m kneeling down with my head lowered looking at my friends Tom, Osa, and Steve. We send each other glances of “is this really happening?” Yes, it was. Luckily for us between the robbers and ourselves was a long counter that ran along the shuffle board table and cut the bar into too rooms. This kept us out of sight from the robbers as long as we were on the ground. Once I realized we were dealing with a serious situation, I started to think that the thieves didn’t know that on the other side of the counter were 4 young, but unhealthy men in their mid 20′s. I thought they would come around the corner, be surprised by our presence, and all hell would break loose. So I did the only thing I could think of to keep them from panicking, I hid my wallet. Yes that’s right, for some reason I thought, “Well they’re not getting my cash and credit cards,” and so I slid my wallet deep under the shuffle board table so it was concealed between the counter and the gaming table. I then peered over the shuffle board table so I could see the robbers; it was half an effort to make myself known, half an effort to get a look at these thugs.

The one guy had a massive hand gun. Looked like something Eugene Tackleberry of Police Academy fame might have as a side arm. It was so big and shiny silver that my first impression was that it was a fake. Then my second impression was, who cares if it’s fake, Champs sports bar, which was probably full of criminals anyways, was not worth a slug in the chest.

Now we’ve all seen movies where people are put in situations like this. And we like to ask ourselves, “How would I respond in a situation like that?” We like to think we’d be like Arnold or Chuck Norris and take down the bad guys. That’s what I thought, and that’s what I did. I crept around to the opening of the two rooms, I knew if I had one of my friends be a distracter, I could get the drop on them!

REALITY: I stayed knelt on the ground hoping they didn’t come into our section of the bar. I was an idiot and realized if they came person to person and I didn’t have my wallet on me, it was going to cause more trouble than good. And let’s be honest, it’s not like there’s much room left on my credit card, and there’s sure as hell nothing in my checking account on the ole’ debit card. So why in the names of Christ’s under shirt, was I trying to hide my wallet and cause problems? I laid low and hoped it would all be over soon.

Steve and Tom stood up and announced their presence, the thief told them to stay still, I waited for him to turn his back to them, and then I pounced. He went down like a sack of potatoes when my 6’5″ 230 lb. frame crashed down on him, I turned his gun against him and pistol whipped him into an unconscious state!

REALITY: MAN, are these guys ever going to leave?? Just take the register cash and get out! I thought about reaching for my cell to dial 911, but I didn’t know if they would come around the corner and see me dialing, it didn’t seem like a worthy risk. I mean after all, they didn’t have a woman in their sights, right?

The other robber got a girl in his sights. He grabbed her and put the gun against her head. I told him the jig was up, to just leave the bar and run away, leave his dead beat partner behind. It was then he pushed the woman out of the way and raised the gun to me and fired a shot. I anticipated this move and fell to a knee. His bullet went into the popcorn machine and led to an explosion of kernel’s and hot oil not seen since my tragic circus mishap of 1989. I returned fire, landing a shot in his knee and shoulder. I didn’t want to kill the man, that would be an easy way out for him. He was going to do time for this injustice!

REALITY: “Alright everyone, they’re gone” We stood up and looked around. The bar patrons were a little shaken up, but the only physical injury was an older gal took a knock on the head from one of the perps. Soon the police arrived and interviewed all of us. We told the police the whole story, his reply “well if you didn’t think they saw you, why didn’t you get the drop on them?” I kindly told the officer I wasn’t risking death to save $200 out of the champs register. He understood. The owner showed up and that’s when I felt the most traumatic pain of all. “Everyone who has a tab going, it’s on the house, nobody pays tonight!” I had settled my tab 10 minutes before the robbers showed up! (Insert expletive) I couldn’t even get free booze out of the ordeal, but at least I had my health.

The police arrived and congratulated me on doing a great service to the community. Apparently these men had hit up many places, but walking into my bar was the end of the road for their hack operation. I received an accommodation and award from the city, as well as interviewed by local papers and news stations. My story was going to make a best seller and a must see Hollywood movie they said. My life had become valuable in the shadow of this thievery.

REALITY: My life didn’t flash before my eyes. I wasn’t even really nervous throughout the ordeal. I was thinking about whether or not West Virginia covered the spread that night. After talking to the police we hung out in the parking lot. Ronda said the robbers took her $80 in tips. The four of us all threw in some money to replace that sum; after all, she’s the one who had the gun in her face for the majority of the time. It wasn’t a Hollywood ending, which is ironic, since it happened in Hollywood. Instead, it ended with Steve and I sitting on the couch, still a little nervous, but not stressed. We consumed a couple cocktails to take the edge off and laughed at some of the moments of the experience.

No, I’m not a hero. It never really occurred to me to even try to be one. I thought briefly about how we might stop them, but you know what, who the hell cares if they’re robbing Champs. They robbed us by not having trivia! Take their money, what do I care. The place is a hole in the wall! Even Bruce Willis would have just let the criminals do their thing. I suppose by choosing that course of action, or no action, I found I do put some value on my own life. It’s not much, but it’s something.

I still drank the following Thursday. I won’t let them deter me from that. The day I let a couple of So-Cal thugs, pulling of the most cliché robbery in history, keep me from booze, is the same day I recognize Alabama as a state in the union. Robbers may have made me keep my head down, but they’ll never keep my glass from going bottoms up!