Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with jogging

Sketchy encounter while jogging, what now? How do I avoid future confrontations like these?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:38:53 -0800

A lady used my cell phone to call her boyfriend who had just taken her gas money and left; it seemed like a normal (err, kinda) situation until she told me not to tell anyone I saw or talked to her. Should I report this somehow, or am I overreacting? I stepped out for a jog around 9PM as I hadn't been out for a while. After my first lap around the part of the neighborhood I jog in, I received a text and promptly pulled out my cell phone (yes, I'm a teenager). When I did so, a lady on the side of the road came over and wanted to use my cell, going on about how her boyfriend left her here with no ride or anything.

Apparently he drove over to pick her up, took a small amount of cash from her to use for gas, and then left her to go somewhere else -- I didn't catch where, it was either his dad's or his brother's place, the lady was talking too fast for me to keep up. She kept freaking out, wanting to go over to his place to see if he was really there. She also went on about how she needed a ride there, but when I suggested calling someone she knew she didn't really seem to have anyone to call, as she would ignore me or say something vague (like "yeah...").

The lady dialed and redialed her boyfriend's number using *67 multiple times (the counter on my phone went up to around 14, and she also had me delete the number off my recent calls list a few times), despite that half the time it went to voicemail due to him shutting the phone off. She seemed pretty distressed, so I just let her have the phone whenever she asked to call again, though eventually I got pretty uncomfortable.

It all seemed normal (ish) until she started asking questions that put me on the defensive -- she asked if I had an older brother or friend who could drive her over (not that personal, but I'm a minor so this was a bit iffy, didn't seem appropriate for her to do) and where I lived.

Then, the first time she seemed like she was about to leave, she said to me, "Don't call the cops on me, 'kay?" and laughed a bit, trying to play it off like it was a joke. When she actually did leave, she told me not to tell anyone in the neighborhood I saw or spoke to her, which set a multitude of alarms off in my head.

So, MeFi, here are my questions:

1) Should I actively do something to alert someone, whether it be parents (I'm a minor) or authorities about this situation? If so, who, and what main points do I need to focus on or say?

2) Do I have a legitimate reason to be worried about this, or am I just a little shaken because she started asking personal questions, and her little comments near the end?

3) Should I be worried about my personal safety? Not only because of her remarks not to tell anyone, namely the cops, but also because while we were standing around several cars drove by; quite a few slowed down a lot, and though she seemed to recognize a few "neighbors" or "friends," they didn't stop for her. Also, should I worry about someone having my phone number, despite that she used *67 to dial with?

4) How do I avoid situations like this in the future? By this, I mean, how can I get myself to firmly reject someone's request for help? I don't mean to be an ass, but after a few minutes of standing there with her on my phone, I realized what a stupid choice I made -- interacting with a stranger at night, handing over a personal belonging, and then not being able muster the nerve to ask for my cell back, saying I have to leave and be on my way, etc.

One last little question, though this is just to satisfy my paranoia: do I have to worry about transmission of anything viral, antibacterial, infectious, so on and so forth, from her using my cell phone? She also put her arm around my back and patted me on the shoulder real quick to demonstrate what her boyfriend did before he kicked her out of the car, what about that? The entire situation just seemed pretty sketchy, I just want to ask to make sure.

Huge thank you, MeFi, for helping me to deal with this situation. I'm just a bit shaken after that weird encounter, and my habit of being paranoid about this kind of stuff, especially germs and strangers, didn't help at all -- plus, I had to walk/run a half a mile home after the whole event. Everytime a car passed I was desperately they wouldn't stop and ask about some lady.

Throwaway email: sketchyjoggingencounter@gmail.com

Thanks again.

Running watch for couch to 5k timing

srboisvert — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:36:16 -0800

I'm looking for a running watch with a programmable countdown timer that would be suitable for doing the couch to 5k routines. Anybody have some recommendations. It would have to sophisticated enough to handle the need for different length intervals per the couch to 5k plan. That is stuff like beep after 90 seconds then after 2 minutes etc...

New Orleans jog / walk trails & a hair saloon

dog food sugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:51:37 -0800

New Orleans: looking for a hair saloon, places to jog, places to walk. We'll be there for about 4 days and I need a cut and some color. Please let me know if you have a recommendation.

Also I love to walk. I've walked all over the Quarter, much of the Garden District, all along the trolley lines. Do you know of places that are nice for a stroll? By myself or with someone?

And I'm on a health kick. Would love a place I could jog. Where are the trails?

Thanks so much for any and all recommendations. I love your city.

And I thought these running shoes were suppoesd to help me STOP clomping!

SpecialK — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:04:14 -0800

Running Filter: I'm a clomper with flat feet. Arch/stability support + a flexible arch: Are these contradictory features? I clomp if I get tired when running. I'm a completely recreational jogger, and really do it more for the sake of one of my dogs, who needs a good several mile run to help him settle down.

Thanks to misplacing my running shoes one morning and jogging a lot farther than I thought possible in an old pair of cross-trainers, I've found that having a flexible arch (whereas the 'arch support' shoes have an arch that's as stiff as a board) seems to help me roll from heel to toe... whereas the super duper New Balance stability support / arch support shoes that were SUPPOSED to help me with my bad feet do the exact opposite.

I've tried running in bare feet just a little bit to see what it felt like, and it was uncomfortable -- the arches of my feet cramped up and made it almost impossible to walk for the next couple of days. I'm assuming, based on that experiment, that I still need good arch support.

As an inexperienced runner without access to a really good running shoe store (nor the money to spend at one), is there a good way to find a shoe that will meet these needs? I like New Balance a lot because they keep my heel from shifting around. None of the other major brands seem to accomplish this feat, but the New Balance shoes all seem to have very stiff arch areas. Advice?

How can I ease my body into liking exercising again?

veol — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:36:18 -0800

I decided to exercise! Hurrah! So I bought me a skipping rope and decided to start jogging. Unfortunately, my body is not liking the idea (especially my knees). Help? Some background info:

I am a 21 year old male. I used to work out regularly at the gym doing weight training and some light cardio, but it has been about a year since I have stopped. Since then, I have not exercised regularly (or at all, really) and am out of shape. I did not play any sports either. The most I have done is go on extended walks up and around town for 30 minutes ~ an hour every now and then (maybe twice a month-ish?), and walk to classes on campus.

Well, now that school is over for the summer, I decided to bring my body back into shape, starting with some cardio. I bought a skipping rope and some ankle weights. I knew that it had been a while since I took a whack at exercising, so I decided to take it slow and not use the ankle weights until a couple of weeks later. I started today, with skipping 600 times, in intervals of 200 jumps. I had planned on doing some light jogging, but it started to rain, and I wasn't man enough to run in the rain, so I stopped. Fast forward a couple of hours later, and my right knee is hurting. It is a bit painful at the bottom of the kneecap, about where the shin meets the knee.

I want to keep exercising! To counteract this, I've decided to buy proper shoes for jogging/skipping rope. My reasoning is that maybe I need to cushion the force of my run and jumping. Also, I'm thinking of buying something to bandage/brace my knee to keep my kneecap stabilized. (I could use some feedback on this though, I'm just hazarding a remedy).

Soo... I guess my questions are: What should I do to make my hurting knee(s) feel better? How do I prevent my knees from hurting? Should I change my exercise plan?

Many thanks :)

Help! I cant jog. What can i do to stay fit? Not what you think. More after the jump!

freddymetz — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:37:17 -0800

Help! I cant jog. What can i do to stay fit? Not what you think. More after the jump! I jog 6 days a week. My schedule is: 2 hour jog, 30-60 minute jog, 30-60 minute jog, rest, 2 hour jog, 30-60 minute jog, 30-60 minute jog.

The problem is, i sprained my foot (or so i think) while jogging in the woods , which doesnt hurt much, but enough to make it impossible to jog.
What can i do to stay in my routine, and what can i do to stay fit while my foot heals (presumably a few days/a week)?

(by the way, is my running schedule any good at all? or is there a more efficient one?)

Short-term reward for running?

Mrs. Pterodactyl — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:15:20 -0800

What are some good (non-food) rewards to keep me motivated as I try to start jogging? Mr. Pterodactyl and I have started jogging and I would like to create a standard treat to keep myself motivated. All of the rewards I can think of are food related and not only would that help defeat the purpose of running, it also seems like it would be a good way to develop an unhealthy relationship to food.

The main activity I use to relax is reading, but I'm not going to stop doing that in order to make it a reward for running, so that's out. Our bathroom is not attractive or relaxing (even by candlelight) so bubble baths are unfortunately not the pleasant experience they were in my old apartment.

Any suggestions you might have for something simple and enjoyable (and cheap -- the Pterodactyl household's riches are all of the spirit rather than the material world) that someone physically exhausted would find pleasant would be very welcome. Thank you!

Couch to 5K Aches and Pains: Will they go away eventually?

otherwordlyglow — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:23:48 -0800

I'm in the beginning stages of the Couch to 5K and wonder if my aches and pains are normal new exercise sorts of things or if I'm hurting myself in a bad way. I've been doing the Couch to 5K for about 4 weeks now but am still in Week 2 of the program (i.e I'm taking in slow). Lately my right knee, left hip and left ankle are giving me trouble. Not so much when I run (jog) but during the rest of the day. The ankle thing is probably the result of a minor twist about 3 weeks ago. I've had intermittent knee pain for about 2 years though this seems like it's ramping up rather than getting better over time. I've never had hip problems before. I was pretty sedentary prior to starting this program though in good health. I'm 41 and female and have never done much running other than what was required of me in high school. I'm usually running outdoors on sidewalks, mostly flat though some moderate hills.

I sort of expect that when I start a new exercise, there will be some aches and pains as my body adjusts to the new activity but I'm wondering if now, at four weeks in, I should be over that?

I've just started doing exercises to strengthen my quads (seated leg lifts with leg extended) thinking that that might help my knees but is this something I can overcome? I don't want to be causing myself harm doing this!

Great ladies running clothes and gear?

mintchip — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:06:25 -0800

Great ladies running clothes and gear? Amateur running looking to get out there 3-4 times a week (for 3-5 miles each time). I'm looking to get some more gear but don't really know much about what I should be looking for. My challenge is adjusting to weather that is often cold/wet/windy when I start out and then feels warm pretty quickly once I get moving.

I really don't know what I should be looking for in "good" running gear, since I've always just used old sweats or discount off-label workout clothes like those you can get at TJ Maxx. I'd like to get your recommendations here and then look for them at online discounters. Basically, I'm looking for favorite brands and advice features to look for in:

1. tops
2. pants
3. outer layers
4. workout bag
5. accessories (fanny pack, etc.)

Bonus if you can recommend a great padded sports bra (size A here). Thanks!

Running Longer and Longer Distances

yeti — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:50:01 -0800

What do I need to know/buy/wear to run longer and longer distances? It appears I’ve caught a running bug. I’ve built up my weekly mileage to 20 miles: 4 mile short runs during the week, and an 8-miler on the weekend. I hope to keep building on this and train for a half marathon and maybe even a full one someday. The max my body can sustain at the moment is 8 miles (65 minutes), but I expect that threshold to creep up over the months. For short runs (6 miles and under), I’m fine going all amateur-hour: cotton socks, beat up shoes, coffee to rehydrate (only half-kidding here).

What do I need to know to run longer distances? Good synthetic socks? Special underwear to prevent chaffing? Bodyglide? Vaseline? Is this typically only on runs over (X) miles? Is this in lieu of band-aids over my nips? (I have a hairy chest, so I think band-aids are out of the question.) What’s this I hear about gels? Do I take one whenever I rehydrate with electrolytes? I've heard bits and pieces from websites, but nothing organized to guide me.

Is this stuff that comes standard in a book – and if so, which? There seems to be information out there for first time runners, e.g. C25K, and general information about injury prevention online, but little to guide me in the world of long distances lasting over an hour. I already bought a Garmin 305, and the Stick – both of which have been great investments. And sunscreen. I learned that one this weekend. What else is there? Running suddenly went from intuitive to complicated.

Distance running along specific route in Central park

omnigut — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:57:30 -0800

NYJoggingFilter: Distance in Central Park; from 90th St, round the north of the park (over the hill), south along the road on the West side, but cutting back across along the Bridle path which takes me East then North along to 90th St again. Anyone? I've seen the other routes, but can't for the life of me get an accurate measure. Also, but don't go to any trouble finding out if you don't already know, anybody know the equivalent distance if it was on the flat (without those hills on the north of the park)?

Thanks!

Jogging in Aix-en-Provence?

annabellee — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:12:43 -0800

FranceFilter: Where can I go jogging in a semi-secluded, flat area in Aix-en-Provence? I'm staying in Aix-en-Provence for several weeks and am looking for a good jogging route. I'm staying just off the Cours Mirabeau near La Rotonde. Ideally, I'd love someplace like a park but it seems like most of the green space is outside of the city. I know the French aren't huge on jogging and I want to be as far from city bustle and cars as possible. I don't have a car or the luxury of a lot of time to travel by bus to the ideal location. A friend recommended the periphery of the city, but I fear this is too populated. Is there any path by a stream or flat, secluded area where a casual jogger could get some exercise in Aix?

Tips for running?

mintchip — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:25:33 -0800

Tips for running? I run (interspersed with some walking) 3-5 miles about 4-5x/week.

1. Other than getting good shoes, what do I need to do to protect my knees? Is getting knee and joint problems from running inevitable?

2. How bad is it to run on a decline? In the area I live it's really difficult to avoid running downhill.

3. Even though I'm quite fit I seem to be really slow about building up aerobic endurance. Is there something I can do to speed this up? I get out of breath after maybe 1/2 half mile and then walk for a bit and start running again. How long before I should be able to go the whole distance without stopping?

Any other jogging/running tips are welcome.

Running against the flow?

gyusan — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:25:33 -0800

Why do some runners run in the road ... against traffic? I've noticed in the past, and today in particular, that a majority of the runners I pass are running in the road, against traffic. Not all, but most. The presence or absence of a sidewalk or trail alongside doesn't seem to make a difference.

I bicycle alot, and one reason I notice this is that inevitably they are running in the bike lane, against traffic. This morning's ride in San Francisco went through the Sunset, the Richmond, the Presidio; both on the urban streets and the more "rural" roads in the Presidio ... many runners going the "wrong" way, out in the traffic lane.

On a bike as a kid you learn early to "go with the flow" ... is there opposing advice for runners?

How do I train for a marathon?

ChasFile — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:44:44 -0800

How do I train for a (half-)marathon? I know there have been questions on this before, but those tend to be really specific and start at a place of knowledge, which I have none of.

Background: For the sake of not having to totally invent the wheel, let's assume I'm already jogging casually for 3-5 miles 3 times a week.

So talk to me like I'm a five-year-old: what do I do between now and race day to get in half-marathon shape? I'm intentionally skimping on the details because I'd like general advice, links to good training guides, etc. "What I know now that I wish I knew when I started training" kind of stuff.

Y'know how Jim Fixx died? A heart attack, while he was jogging!

Lucinda — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:22:06 -0800

I will be jogging in my first 5K race in a week and a half. What can I do in the upcoming days to ensure I don't crash and burn? I am not expecting to win any awards or break any records - at my pace and my rate I will call finishing under 40:00 a major, major victory (I have been doing the Couch to 5K program.) But I'm excited (because I never thought I'd actually *be* at this point), and want to make sure I have the best experience possible.

Any advice y'all have, I'd appreciate. How should I spend the next week and a half? I jog every other day, on the course that the 5K will take (it goes right past my house). What should I eat the morning of the race? (It starts at 9am). What should I eat the night before?

The awkwardness of the crap distance runner

chesty_a_arthur — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:46:42 -0800

Please help me (age 30, healthy weight, no major physical ailments) learn to run like a normal human. I have never really been able to run correctly. even when I'm in excellent physical condition, I get winded very quickly when running. My running gait is awkward to the point that small children have laughed at me in public at softball games. I am assured by those who have seen me run that it's more of a fairly rapid stagger than a recognizable run.

But running is incredibly appealing: the outdoors! the city! it's basically free once you get the shoes on! music! fresh air! I am willing to be incredibly uncomfortable in the normal new-to-running kind of way, but if I don't get help, I'll keep wasting energy and eventually injure myself

I live in Manhattan, if that's relevant. Where and how can I re-learn to run? Is this something (generally speaking) that insurance might cover physical therapy for? Should I go to a sneaker store for a gait analysis? Is there a book, or a mnemonic? I have tried the Couchto5K program and it was great as far as getting me into better shape, but in the end you can't run a 5K if you can't run very well.

Help me, MeFi, what can I do?

Did road runner have once shin splints?

randomDirtPattern — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:14:29 -0800

I have resumed jogging. However, already after 5 minutes of running, I will have unbearable pain in my lower legs. I might be experiencing "shin splints", and I wonder what are some good ways to prevent/lessen/delay these. I start running, and after 5 minutes I will feel bad muscle pain in the lower-front part of my lower legs. If I continue running for another 5 minutes, I will start running like a duck, as I cannot flex(?) my feet anymore. Another 5 minutes, and I am done and walk back home as a sad duck, although rest of my body is just starting to get warm and I feel like I could have run for an hour if I did not have the terrible pain in my legs. Strangely, this pattern does not seem to change much if I put walking or stretching breaks between these 5 minute sequences. (Although I haven't tried any "5 min run, 10 min walk, 5 min run" kind of extremely loose sequence).

I don't think that I am running too fast, I stretch fairly before I start (and after, when the pain is gone), I am wearing some 'cushion' type of running shoes and I am healthy in general.

I believe this is a bad case of the common shin splints, which should be normal when one is just unfit and needs to get in shape. I wonder if there is anything I can do to reduce or delay this pain. Actually, I don't mind the pain afterwards, since it usually takes 10 min. of rest and then it's gone. I just want to delay the pain, so that I can run longer and so that running is more fun.

I would love to hear from people who had the same problem and how they coped with it... Did you change shoes and the pain was gone? Is there an effective stretching trick? I will be happy to hear some advice or experience.

knee support for a jogger/runner?

grafholic — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:00:02 -0800

joggers with knee problem - do you recommend a knee support? I added jogging to my regular workouts lately, and I started to toy with an idea of running a half marathon this year (not to run competitively, but just to make my exercises a little more fun by adding a goal).

When I started jogging, I was only going for about 3 miles or so and I didn't have any issues with it. But when I started thinking about running a half marathon, I started to jog longer (duration and length) and I started to notice knee pain a day after my jog, which lasts about 3-4 days (or longer if I don't give myself a good rest). At first, I thought it was my old shoes not very fit for running, so I got a good pair running shoes which was designed for people with...well, sort of bad running form (which I believe I have). The shoes have been great, but knee pain continues.

I'm now considering about buying a knee support, but my boyfriend doesn't believe ones sold at drug stores (priced about 15-30 dollars) are any good.

So, my questions are:
* Does knee support actually help (in terms of relieving pain or not creating pain after running long distance)?
* What brand/kind do you recommend?

Running shoes online

2or3whiskeysodas — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:22:18 -0800

Looking for particularly good prices online for running shoes, if such exist. Also, general advice on the subject, maybe. I've been a casual runner (30 minutes, 2-4 times a week) for many years. I've never bought a pair of shoes that didn't suit me fine. The clerks at the shoe store I've bought from in the past have always told me that I have "neutral" feet.

Money's tight right now, but my old shoes are getting hella worn out. So I'm mostly looking for the best price I can find. I'm fine with ordering another pair of the Asics I have right now. Any websites you're particularly pleased with, especially in the price department?

Also, if there are any compelling "do not do not do not order running shoes online" arguments, I'm open to hearing them. I do plan on training for a marathon this fall, and when that starts I'm planning on hitting my usual store. Thanks!

Give me feet of steel.

middleclasstool — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:42:23 -0800

Resources for exercises for my feet, arches, ankles, and lower legs? I'm a distance runner -- or, more accurately, was one until after my first marathon, when IT Band Syndrome finally caught up with me. I've done physical therapy but will have to go back to the doc's for more treatment. Right now I can't do more than three miles for fear of making things worse.

I'm told the ITBS is likely a result of my overpronation, which I'd like to correct. Inspired by this post, I ran a mile barefoot on the treadmill last night, then spent the rest of the evening walking around barefoot and paying careful attention to feedback from my feet, and learned more about my gait from that than six months of running prior. I found myself working muscles in my feet and lower legs that I didn't even know I had. It was, in short, awesome, and has encouraged me that maybe I can build up muscles to help at least partially correct my gait so maybe I can ultimately transition to a lighter-weight shoe.

Thing is, I'm not finding many resources for strengthening exercises that target ankles, shin muscles and feet for overpronaters, so I turn to you for help. Resources need not be online. Books are good too, though I'd prefer not to kill trees. Give me feet of steel, people.

And yes, I will check with the doctor, but it'll be a bit before I can get in to see her.

My body hates jogging...

TheOtherWay — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:08:45 -0800

My body has an irrational prejudice against jogging, though not most other exercise - can anyone explain why? More inside... I'm a 40 year old in middling physical condition. And, my body hates to jog. I can't come to any other conclusion. I've been swimming 1-1.5 km 2-3 times a week for 2 years. No heavy breathing when I finish, heart rate below 130 after a mile in the water. I ride 50 - 100 km a week during warm weather months, walk the course when I golf and do the Royal Marines calisthenic program a few times a week (and breath very hard during that, no question, but without asthmatic shortness of breath).
So, yesterday, 7 at night, temp about 60F, I tried to run with my 8 year old, as he's going to be doing a short "mini-marathon" (1.5 k) for early elementary kids in June. 200 meters in, I can feel my bronchiae going into full on "crimped hose" mode, and I'm sucking wind even while falling behind my son. We got through 800 meters, and I needed to walk off the asthma spasm. After that, I was able to do wind sprints with him, no problem. But, when I tried that regular old jogging pace again - bang! - everything closed up, and I was sucking wind again. This has been a consistent pattern with me since my teens. Haven't gotten a satisfactory answer from a doctor yet. So I come, in supplication, to MeFi...
Can anyone out there tell me why I can swim, bike, sprint and do fairly challenging calisthenics without asthma, but 200 meters into a light jog, I feel like I'm breathing mustard gas? Help! Can anyone recommend a diagnosis/approach/course of action/solution that will let me go running with my son?

How do I get started using a treadmill?

zooropa — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:50:32 -0800

How do I get started using a treadmill? I just bought a treadmill from a co-worker. I am 33 years old, overweight by about 30 lbs., and type-2 diabetic. I know I need to get in shape for many reasons. Please no judgments about why it took so long.

Is there anywhere online with a good resource for beginners? Ideally, I'm looking for a resource online where I can keep a log or record of my progress.

But most importantly of all, I don't know where/how to begin. Almost everything I've seen so far is geared toward experienced runners. I'm nowhere even close to that. I would like to follow something like this:

* Day 1, walk 15 minutes at 3MPH
* Day 2, walk 15 minutes, jog 5 minutes
* Day 3, walk 10 minutes, jog 10 minutes

And so on and so forth.

So I'm really looking for two things:

1. A guide to getting started with a program that details what I need to do

2. An online tracker

Put a bounce in my step without breaking it, please.

RollingGreens — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:57:43 -0800

I'm looking to get physical, but how can I avoid injuring myself when shifting from a sedentary to a mildly more active lifestyle? I'm a young guy (20) who, while not dramatically unfit, is still dripping with teenaged lethargy... I'm looking to gain a little more endurance and energy in general by taking up jogging in the Montreal area (that is, avoiding gyms as much as possible as I'm shy like that).

The main thing I'm asking here is what exercises/stretches would be most useful to do in the lead up to my initial stints of jogging? I've heard stories of people damaging their knees and ankles pretty badly when just diving into athleticism without preparation, so I'm looking to reduce the pain while maximizing the gain.

Thanks

How do I mount a laptop to my treadmill?

mosch — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:09:23 -0800

What's the best way to mount a laptop to a Landice L7 Treadmill, for use while walking? Previously I had a True 500 treadmill, and I mounted a laptop by building a custom wooden shelf. This (obviously) presented some problems, and shortened the lives of the laptops that sat on the shelf, but was great for my fitness regimen.

Since the original experiment was such a success, I want to do it right this time. But what is right?