My New Deal

Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the new deal in 1933 as a series of programs to affect some change in the United States of America. The Three R's (Relief, Recovery, and Reform) were provided for the people and the economy of America.

As many of you may know the goal was to try and lift our country out of the Great Depression. The new Deal had some success except a back slide Recession in 1937. The real saviour of the economy was probably World War 2.

How does all of this apply to my running, well I am setting out to Reform some of my bad habits. I have not quite slipped into a Great Depression, but I am hoping to avoid any such thing. I think I have in mind a few programs that just might help avoid that.

So, I'm signing a New Deal with myself. It is my goal use changes in my Free Time, my Food, and my Focus. I think that these changes will be good for both my running and my life.

Free Time - I devote a lot of my time currently to doing things that are unrelated to my job and my running. While I enjoy these things a lot (Movies, Playstation 2, television), I know that I can change up my free time to incorporate these "fun" things and the things that I need to spend more time on (Strength Training, Core Muscle Development). I also know that I need to spend more time in my life on cleanlieness so that on the morning of a long run I can find everything I need(and so I don't feel like I live in a sty).

Food - Reading labels and making the tough choices. (i.e. Reduced Fat Cheezits, or the plain ones) Being in my situation I like to stay cheap. I don't like to spend a lot of money on food. If I spend $50 on food in a week I feel like I'm spending too much money. I know there are foods that are better for me (Organic Peanut Butter over Jif) and some of those are actually cheaper when they are better for you. I need my carbs, I need my protein, and I feel like I need less Fat, but I still need it. I need everything and I need to do more research and learn which ones I need and in what quanitities. I need to eat the right things at the right times. I need to eat the right recover foods if I'm gonna be out there the next day or week running again.

Focus - Running. Where does it rank? I've proven to myself in the past that running actually matters more to me than boozing it up with my friends. You may not believe this, but I have chosen running over a night out, "Sorry guys I can't go out I have a long run planned in the morning". And even worse that wasn't one of my great runs. I have pretty good focus on my runs, but I need to see it through. I'm not saying that I have bad focus right now, but it's something that I cannot let slip.

The Three F's, that are being incorporated into My New Deal, are not necessarily ones that I've been really bad about, but I can always use improvement. I can always do better. Food, Focus, and Free Time are going to keep me out of the Great Depression so that I'll be more than ready for my Saturday and Sunday(and sometimes Friday night) wars!