Welcome to RunBikeThrow!

If you were expecting the “Fitness at 50” site, you are in the right place. Starting today, it has a new name, but its purpose remains the same: to post my adventures and lessons learned in running, biking, and Aikido, and to encourage people to get up and get active.

Why the name change? Two main reasons.

I started this blog two years ago to share the challenges I’d planned for my “year of being 50” (2012), including a 500-mile bike ride, 50K run, and taking 50 Aikido classes in a month. That year is now past, and it’s time to move on. But you can browse my successes, failures, and other posts from then, or view a summary on my “Quest 2012” page.

I also wanted to show what’s possible at age 50 and encourage people of that age to get active. But lots of people 50 and over are already very active, and programs are springing up to support them, such as the YMCA’s “50 Moving Forward” program. And my posts were never aimed at the 50-and-older crowd anyway. I want to encourage being fit and active at any age, and that’s the way I’ve been writing my posts all along.

So why the new name of “RunBikeThrow?” It represents the three athletic activities I do and enjoy the most.

 

Run: I started running regularly at age 46 and ran my first race (the Holiday Hustle 5K in Dexter) in 2008. I now run about 1,000 miles a year, including marathons (Chicago 2011 and Ann Arbor 2012) and an ultramarathon (50K at Run Woodstock in 2012). I write about my races, training runs, shoes and other gear, volunteering, and just about anything else related to running.

 

Bike: I am a recreational cyclist who enjoys long trips through small towns to see (and write about) what’s to see. Last year I completed a ride I’d planned for several years – a 500-mile round trip from Ann Arbor to our campground in Empire and back, at age 50. This year I’ve already put in one weekend tour and will continue to use cycling in combination with distance running to train for my big event this year, and beyond.

 

Throw: I have been a student of Yoshokai Aikido (mainly through the Ann Arbor Rec & Ed club) since 2005, which has changed my life physically, mentally, and to some degree, spiritually. While I am progressing toward and hope to achieve black belt, the greatest reward is in the journey – the training itself, and what I learn from the classes and clinics I attend.

My interest in healthy eating, cooking, and all things chocolate continues as strong as ever, and I will continue to write about them here. But most of what I learn about and experience in the world of chocolate and coffee will be posted on my new blog, which I’ll tell you all about as soon as it’s ready.

So a big THANK YOU THANK YOU to all my current readers, and I hope you like the change! If you’re already following this blog under fitnessat50.net, there’s no need to change anything. You should continue to receive new posts just fine.

Speaking of, we’ll be back to regularly scheduled subjects next time. Thanks for reading!