For those of you without too much time to work out on a daily basis, I will be providing you with a new feature to help you get the blood flowing and make you feel energized.  It's called the QWOD (Quick Workout Of the Day) and will be posted 2-3 times a week.  If you get hooked on these and need more, or have any questions about a certain exercise, please send me an email and I'll help you out.

Today's QWOD:
-20 dips off the edge of your couch
-20 squat jumps (making sure your feet are parallel before each jump)
-1 minute of straight-arm plank to forearm planks (keep cycling through the whole time)
-30 standing shoulder presses holding soup cans or other light weights
-40 side lunges (20 per leg)
-12 side plank reach-unders SLOW per side

Do this as fast as you can without taking any breaks.

I recently came across an article in the Running Times Magazine about the minimalist running movement.  It provides some background on the modern day running shoe, as well as information on the whole minimalist and barefoot running movement.  Here's a quick quote about how the big shoes companies are starting to take notice:

"After 30 years of making shoes with large amounts of cushy foam and structured stability, shoe companies have gradually gotten into the act -- starting with Nike's Free in 2004. Although most brands have always had some type of lightweight trainer or racer in their line, this spring many manufacturers are offering some type of shoe specifically designed to promote a natural running gait. "More people are shifting toward this type of product, or at least trying it," says Sean Murphy, manager of advanced products engineering and sports research for New Balance. "I think this movement is going to start to affect even the training shoes you see on the wall [in running stores]."

The article is definitely worth a read, so check it out!