Last Race of 2010

Well...it's been a while since I've posted anything. So, for anyone who's reading - here we go! And thank you!

Here's a link to the results of what most likely will go down as my last official race of 2010. The ClearWater Turkey Trot held at Big Foot Beach State Park.

I finished just north of 1 hour...but it felt like I was flying. Seriously, I think the clock was wrong. But, alas - it is what it is. My place: 120-something out of 200. Not a great result, but I felt fantastic.

I powered through with Champion aqua socks...which apparently, the company no longer makes???

Check back for more later.

Re-post...

Sweet article that Milwaukee Magazine ran about me:

Check it out here.

You can't lick this envelope

You might hear an inspector or builder use the term, "house envelope." It refers to the seal of your home from the outside world. Some envelopes are sealed better than others...ever feel a draft from cold air coming through the front door? Ever touch an outer wall in the winter...and notice the wall's surface is really cold?

There are some easy things you can do to help seal your home's envelope. Start with buying some expanding foam, and silicone caulk rated for outside use. Inside, check the basement for leaks, cracks, gaps and any place where two different surfaces come together. Note the piping leaving the home through the floor - gaps!

Outside, seal all windows, door frames, siding gaps, etc. Seal anywhere pipes or wires enter the home. All these things add up to significant savings. Spend $7 today, and save $70 this winter season.

Here's a helpful link.

Take Advantage of the Energy Star Tax Credits

If you've been putting off the purchase of a new fridge, hot water heater or anything that qualifies for the EPA's Energy Star label - NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY.

It's a bit complicated, but essentially, Uncle Sam is giving you an income tax credit of up to $1,500 on the purchase of qualified products. For more information on how it works, talk to your tax advisor. First and foremost - save your receipts, warranty papers, etc. Oh, and you must purchase these items this year.

I just replaced an old fridge - the ice maker was broken, and the thing was just plain old. Old appliances waste a lot of electricity. With this purchase, I should notice an immediate impact on my utility bill.



Up next - my front storm door!

My foray into the "ultra" world

Okay, so I've been reading Born to Run...but you know that. This book has really inspired me to not only run, but love to run! It's fun - and I want to get better, every day.

So, I signed up for this 10K in October. It's on a state trail - no need to run on some man-made pavement track! It's not ECO. Here's a link to the 10K challenge - which is the first step toward an ultra...you know...50 - 100 miles. That seems crazy right now, but who knows???

Anyway - ECO living is healthy living; there's no doubt about that. The point of this post is this: find a way to love being healthy...and healthy becomes easy.

Eco-Friendly Tan

So, the most eco thing you can do is just step outside and soak up a few rays...everybody needs some sun, but too much can be harmful. But, if you want to try something good for you skin, that also will give you some color - try this:

Steep 4 black tea bags in two cups of water...let it steep for 15 minutes or so. Your bod needs to be uber clean, so take a shower. Once you're dry, use a sponge to wipe the tea all over your skin...let it dry, and rub it all over again.

Feel better? Your skin will thank you by glowing for a few days!

Shoe Review

Alright, so a buddy of mine is preaching "Barefoot Running" to me. Not sure if I want to drink his Kool-aid or not, but at the very least, I will read the book Born to Run.

For starters, I'm going to tryout the Nike Free 5.0 v4 shoes...it's supposed to help strengthen the feet.

My question is, has anyone tried these shoes? Are they any good? I'm looking for some insight, and any advice on barefoot running.

As you know, a 10K is in my future...and I want to "kill" this challenge. Shoes or sans shoes!