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RunDeanRun Challenge

Are you feeling blah and unmotivated? Want to inspire and energize yourself to achieve new fitness goals?

Get ready for the RunDeanRun Challenge! No matter who you are or where you are starting from, everyone can think of their own personal “stretch” goal … something you want to achieve that goes beyond your current fitness capabilities and performance.

To be effective, your stretch goal must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Based). For example, your goal could be:

  • Total Distance – Run, hike or walk a specific number of miles or kilometers in a day, week or month
  • Total Vert – Run, hike or walk a specific number of feet or meters of elevation in a day, week or month
  • Personal Record (PR) – Run your fastest time on a specific route in a month
  • Personal Streak – Run or walk a specific distance every day in a month
  • Strength Training Streak – Strength train a specific number of times in a week or month
  • Pre-hab Exercises – Complete the pre-hab exercises you are supposed to be doing every week

You choose whether your challenge is private or public. If you want to challenge yourself and keep it private … awesome! If you want to challenge friends or family to achieve the same goal by motivating and inspiring others … also awesome! The RDR Challenge is about doing whatever it takes to get you moving and grooving.

You choose the start and end date for your challenge anytime between now and August 31, 2020. Track your progress during your challenge using any tracking device and upload your activity to fitness apps such as Strava, Garmin Connect, etc.

How do I register for the challenge?

  • If you are a RunDeanRun client, there is no cost. If you aren’t a RunDeanRun client, the cost is $15 (for the buff and shipping).
  • Email your name, mailing address and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Based) goal for your challenge to rundean@gmail.com
  • We will send you this awesome RDR Buff with pace conversion table, Lost Soul Ultra Training Run distances and No Excuses Motivation!
  • What happens at the end of your challenge? Snap a pic of the successful completion of your challenge (based on the honor system) and send it to rundean@gmail.com so we can celebrate your success!

Rice Balls

Trail runners often ask me what they should eat when they have upset stomachs caused by too much sun (heat exhaustion) or too much sugar (nausea, vomiting or diarrhea). The answer is rice balls (onigiri).

I eat rice balls when I need a quick pick-me-up, and I also eat them when I can’t eat anything else. They are portable so you can take them in your pack, or store them in your aid station drop bag. American ultrarunning legend Scott Jurek (in his book Eat & Run) says white rice is:

  • Great for cooling your body
  • Packed with carbohydrates
  • Soft and easy to digest
  • A great source for electrolytes and salt

Rice balls can be made in any size or shape, and can be eaten plain or with seaweed for added flavor.

Rice Balls

1 cup Japanese rice (we use Kokuho Rose)
1 1/4 cups water
Salt
Nori seasweed (we use Costco’s Kirkland Roasted Seasoned Seaweed)

Cook the rice in water using a rice cooker, or on the stovetop (bring to a boil over high heat, cover pan and simmer for 25 minutes). Remove from heat to cool slightly.

Rice can be formed into any shape you want … three common shapes (rectangles, triangles, round balls) are in the photo below.

  1. Fill a small bowl with water and wet both hands.
    – If you are using a plastic container (i.e, rectangle or triangle) to shape the rice, wet the sides of the container (water helps to prevent the rice from sticking to your hands or the container).
  2. Salt your hands.
    – If you are using a plastic container, salt the the bottom of the container.
  3. Use your hands to form the rice into a bite-sized ball.
    – If you are using a plastic container, press the rice into the container. Salt the top of the rice and then flip over the container to release the rice.  If necessary, cut the rice to the desired size.
  4.  If desired, wrap the nori sheets around the rice. If two pieces of nori overlap, use water to seal the two edges together.
  5. Store the rice balls in a container or ziploc bag.
  6. Enjoy!