stellargirl returns

clean air 5K // indy hall fit club

This past Saturday, 7 of my super awesome friends and I ran the Clean Air 5K. Our motley crüe included several local bloggers, a handful of video podcasters, a few programmer extraordinaires, a crafty maven, a hot rock chick, and of course, yours truly.

If you were ever thinking of running, training for a 5K is a really great way to get into it. I have known lots of people who have followed the Couch to 5K program with great success. There are lots of races happening all the time for so many different causes. You can raise money to research diseases, spread awareness about issues that are important to you, all while getting yourself in shape.

Here's a list of upcoming races in Philadelphia... who wants to run the next 5K?!

workout music

I am so living in 2005 with my old school style ipod shuffle. My big ipod broke a few months ago and pandora has curbed my immediate desire to replace it.  Nevertheless, I've been trying to fill my dinky little shuffle with good music for the gym.  I've been working off of an old running mix and trying to incorporate a pleasant variety of catchy and upbeat tunes.  A lot of music appreciation rules get thrown out the window when creating a workout mix... I'm currently really digging Sean Paul and other randomness ranging from Dolly Parton to Justin Timberlake to Le Tigre.  I *think* what I am really missing is the artist formerly and still known as Prince.  But I don't know... I need suggestions.  What are your favorite workout tunes?  Please share in the comments!

running with ipods

I used to be really into running when I lived in Manhattan.  I would run along the west side in Hudson River Park.  There were always plenty of runners out, the water was pretty and I could really tune out and keep going, not having to stop for traffic lights, pedestrians, etc.  Plus, a run outside is so much more exhilarating than a run on a treadmill.  I haven't been so great about keeping up with that hobby since I moved back to Philadelphia.  That is, until I heard of Nike+.

Basically you put a sensor in your shoe which transmits to a receiver that you plug into your iPod nano.  It keeps track of your distance, pace, calories burned and you can even power up with a higher tempo song to get your butt in gear.  Believe me, I always need to do that!

Of course, I would have to buy an iPod nano and a pair of super fancy Nike running shoes, but maybe this is just enough motivation to bust out my New Balances and my iPod shuffle.