Being immersed in the fitness industry provides me with a ton of different opportunities to experience different techniques, methodologies, and products. I recently had the privilege of a...
Yamuna Body Rolling – Better than Foam Rolling?
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Magnificent Monday & a Goof Restaurant Review
The mailbox provided a gift when I got home today. It will seem pretty cheesy to most people, and by most people I mean almost everyone. Vistaprint offered me a free sample prototype while I was trying to negotiate customized t-shirts for the A-Train. Of course I didn’t need to give them our final design, since I didn’t have one yet, so I gave them something quick, but I thought it was kinda cool. Ready for a laugh? Here ya go.
(Pause for laughter)
On a serious note the t-shirt is soft and is decent quality and the printing is well done. If you need quick turnaround on shirts I would say that Vistaprint does a decent job. I wouldn’t say it did as well as Fit2Run here in Tampa, but it may be a little less expensive.
The weekend was filled with some great training and some pretty good pizza. “Wait. Did he just say pizza? ” Yes, I said pizza from Anthony’s Coal Stone Pizza. Those whom know me understand that I usually follow a pretty strict Paleo lifestyle, but one meal a week I treat myself, especially while I have been training as hard as I have been. Pizza is something I cannot seem to drop completely, and I really don’t have any intention of doing so.
I am a pizza connoisseur. I have had pizza from all over the world, so it takes a lot to impress me. I have had a hard time here in Florida finding a decent pie, but luckily Anthony’s just opened up here in South Tampa on Dale Mabry. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. My favorite pizza of all time is in New York City, at John’s Pizza on 44th St between 7th and 8th Avenues, but obviously it takes a little bit of effort to eat there. Anthony’s is by far the best I have tasted in Florida and it takes 3rd or 4th on my list of pizza’s I have had the pleasure of gorging on.
Not only is the pizza extremely tasty, but the service is second to none with a great selection of beers, wines and coal fired wings that are absolutely to die for. The first time you eat at Anthony’s they give you a couple of wings to sample with grilled onions on them. They have no buffalo sauce on them and they do not need it. They have an excellent dry rub that after being cooked at 900 degrees the meat is tender and nearly falls right off the bone with an exquisite taste. Everything at the restaurant is cooked in a coal fired oven. There are no other ovens or microwaves, everything is cooked fresh.
The pizza comes straight from the oven to your table with just this little bit of charing on the edges. It is a super thin crust that is flakes and is crispy. The sauce is made everyday where the you can still taste the tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper as it mixes with the rich blend of cheeses and topping in your mouth. Truly a treat, and it pretty much has to be because it is by far not the least expensive pizza in the world.
Anthony’s Pizza gets – G, G, G, G – 4 out of 5 Goofs. (I know, I know that makes this blog even more cheesy, but give me a break I am trying to start a brand here.)
(Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza did not compensate me to write this review)
Have a great week!
Carpe Viam!
The Goof goofs – Twisted Tuesday
It happened even before I realized it. I was on the ground with a burning sensation on my chest and both of my knees. “OUCH! Son of monkey’s uncle!” (edited for content). I face planted during a sub eight minute mile during a run on Davis Island this morning. (Pause for laughter) (Pause for more laughter) It’s ok I’ll wait.
I hope everyone does laugh because it is funny. Here I am, Ironman, Running Coach and motivator, on the ground bleeding for a full 10 seconds. What makes it even more funny, is that I teach two major aspects when I coach form. First is to raise your knees in order to make you lighter like a gazelle, second is to look five feet in front of you. Well,obviously if I was actually following my own advice this wouldn’t have happened. (Pause for more laughs)
 |
| Ouch! |
There I am. I scraped and bruised both hands, my chest and both knees. Needless to say the shower hurt and of course the Hydrogen Peroxide “bath” stung as well, but nothing compared to my ego. Don’t get me wrong it was still dark, and the curb was one of those six-inch step ups, but I still should have seen it.
What makes matters worse, is that I was running with Scott and Sarah out by the airport and a biker came by and suggested we have lights on because he couldn’t see us. I understood that, it made sense, but would I even think about adding more weight for lights? I have ran that route a thousand times, he wasn’t going to hit me and I sure would never hurt myself running. Biking? Maybe, but surely not just running. That incident happened all of ten minutes before I bit the concrete. It tastes a little salty this time of year from the sweat that seeps off all the runners, but it isn’t bad.
It did remind me of some safety aspects we as athletes need to think about, especially if we work out in the morning or at night. Daylight is not coming as early or staying as late this time of year so we need to take some more precautions. Here is just a couple of gentle reminders of tips you may know or may not:
1) Use a reflector belt when running in darkness. They are light and you can just put them around your waist. I was required to have these belts in the military and I hardly remembered they were there, but I also could see the people around me. 
2) Lights come in all shapes and sizes both to help you see and help bikes, people and cars see you. There is a great visor light that allows you to see the road in front of you and also lets the cars see you. Also there are plenty of red lights that can be attached to your shorts or fuel belt for your back.
3) It is not a bad idea to run with pepper spray or some kind of defensive spray that can be reached easily if you run alone. This means guys too. Don’t get an ego if you are out there alone. No one will be around to see you anyway. Of course the best thing is to always run in groups at night and it is a heck of a lot more fun.
4) If you are running on the road, run on the left against traffic. First, it makes it easier for cars to see you and you have more time to assess if you are in danger to move out of the way. Second, it is actually the law. I have never seen it enforced, but it is the law. Pedestrians against traffic, bikers with traffic.
5) Keep a change of clothing or at least a shirt change in your car. Sometimes you don’t realize how much you sweat during the cooler months and when you start to cool down it will get uncomfortable. After your cool downs, change your shirt before heading home or anywhere else. It may be just a short ride, but you will thank me for it.
Well, that is all the tips for this week. I wish you all the best workouts possible this week, and if you are here in Tampa come out to Cork & Olive, in Brandon, on Thursday at 6:30 for Run for a Cause. I’ll be there with my group. Message me on Facebook or use the contact page and I can give you more info if you would like.
Carpe Viam!