4 Feet Running

Welcome to Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous with 4 Feet Running! This week is chock full of assorted topics: - Nik and Dan go running in Newport, RI, where there are stray Bernese mountain dogs, wine corks littering the streets, and the resident wealthy eccentrics have personal croissant chefs - They also have chicken breast on sale - Nik gets faster in her Frees and breaks a weekly distance record - Dan is a little faster too, because speedwork is agreeing with him - He also has a drinking problem (he's addicted to carrying around his fuel belt bottle) - They're both doing the Worldwide Festival of Races in Hartford next time - A little about the psychology of goal-achievement with professor Richard Wiseman, and why Dan is always a nervous wreck - Nik and Dan meet Stanley the German shorthaired pointer's doppelganger - They discuss Nik's nutritional issues and various fun ironies involving the Paleo diet - Anyone want some Del's frozen lemonade? - Two more giveaways in the 4 Feet Running book club -- listen to find out how to win! - Advice on how to arrive last in a road race - They get some great feedback from wonderful listeners (10.6.09)

It's a do-over, reboot, renewed 4 Feet Running! After a little delay, they're ready to run again. This week: - Nik and Dan explain where the hell the show has been for a month - They're in an '80s mood for some reason - Dan falls into a brief but crippling funk due to the heat, but finds redoing his schedule has improved his mojo - Nik gets permission from famous listener Petra to revamp her schedule, too - More grossness: bedbug nests, street trash, plus learn about the fascinating and repulsive life cycle of the hookworm - Nik's knee issues are much improved thanks to forefoot running, and Dan gives her an elbow in the buttcheek - They talk about the barefoot running craze and why they're skeptical of some of the more out-there magical claims - Nik orders and tries out a pair of Nike Frees to help make her more speedy, though they make her toes feel like they've been working out - Dan doesn't like the Frees because contrary to the name, they cost money - They read lots of great feedback from listeners - Special phone call from Hollywood Actor and runner Edward Norton, probably (9.18.09)

In the woods, no one can hear 4 Feet Running scream! Not even when they're slowly being bitten to death. This week: - Even though last time Nik and Dan said they hate the woods, they try it anyway at Massasoit State Park in Taunton, Mass. - They immediately regret not having brought bug spray - Quote of the week #1: "So far no murderers. We've been walking for three minutes." - Quote of the week #2: "You see one tree, you've seen em all." - Stanley the pointer dog goes for a dip and tries to free himself from his leash - Dan tries speedwork, strength training (again), and is awful at trail running - Nik has trouble with the humidity, keeping her blood sugar regulated, and is a mosquito magnet - Picture the Raiders of the Lost Ark tarantula scene but with mosquitos - Drinking game: take a shot every time Nik or Dan says: "I HATE THIS!" or "I HATE THE WOODS!" or "I DON'T LIKE THE WOODS!" - They eventually find a road and run on that instead -- hooray! - They read email from some great listeners (8.17.09)

Celebrate 2 whole years of 4 Feet Running with Nik and Dan! This week: - They're actually not at a race for a change -- weird, innit? - Warning: There's so much gory news in this episode for some reason, it's like CSI: 4 Feet Running - Updates on Nik's knees and ankles, and why she's not using Uncle Higgy anymore - Dan remembers his running beginnings and first milestones - He also runs into a telephone pole - They get to see actual cows (sorry, they forgot to take the camera), and they'll tell you where in Fall River the buffalo roam and the pigeons race - They look ahead to their next year of running and the races ahead - Lots of great feedback from wonderful listeners, and a Special Guest Appearance by Carnac the Magnificent and his sidekick Gordon (7.26.09)

It's a family fun-day road race on the 4th of July with 4 Feet Running! This week: - Meet Dan's mom, who is walking her first-ever road race: the Mattapoisett 5-mile Road Race - Dan's mom is kind of shy about talking into the mike - Special guest appearances by John from the Poi and his friend Martin, a former marathoner and current cranberry engineer - Nik tries to overcome a string of lousy runs, Dan's mom gets tips for a first-time road-racer, and Dan keeps his mom company - Two stop-lights, a post office, and a lot of friendly people: that's Mattapoisett - They set up another giveaway in the 4 Feet Running Book Club: Running and Being by Dr. George Sheehan -- listen to find out when! - Nik realizes one meal of pancakes a day is her limit -- not two - Dan decides to don the luchador mask for a special 5K road race in October (and possibly a cape) - Tons of fantastic email from wonderful listeners (7.11.09)

You've rocked -- now let's roll with 4 Feet Running! It's the second half of Nik's San Diego Rock 'N' Roll Marathravaganza! This week: - Nik crosses the finish line in beautiful San Diego and gives a full race report on her fifth 26.2-miler, one of her hardest - Like Elvis? Nik doesn't -- at least not anymore - Like runny-nosed kids? Nik doesn't -- at least not anymore - Hear the long and complicated adventure of how they managed to leave the race finish area - Which would you rather have hurt: your stomach from yucky electrolytes or legs from lack of electrolytes? - Polyester and sequin jumpsuits, Adidas sandals with socks and walking poles: common San Diego marathon wear - What did Nik and Dan think of San Diego? "The weather was not what we were promised" - Nik bids a fond adieu to Uncle Higgy and says hello to Uncle Pfitzy - Dan loves his mother, but not in a $50-for-a-T-shirt way - Nik and Dan consider whether a billion dollars is worth being mauled by a bear for - Another giveaway in the 4 Feet Running Book Club: "Ultramarathon Man" by fellow San Diego marathoner Dean Karnazes - They get some great feedback from wonderful people - Stay tuned to the very end for a special dawggie treat (6.23.09)

San Diego -- drink it in with 4 Feet Running! It always goes down smooth. This Part 1 of a 2-part San Diego extravamarathaganza! This week: - Nik runs her fifth 26.2-miler, the San Diego Rock 'N' Roll Marathon - Nik and Dan take a little pre-race jaunt around downtown San Diego, where they do some jogging -- or maybe it's "yogging," it may be a soft J - Where's all the good weather at? And how'd Dan's beard get so gray? - They stay at a "haunted" hotel, and as predicted they never hear or see anything - They run by Petco Park and they don't see or hear anything there, either - Nik and Dan see tens of thousands of people on race day in Balboa Park, including famous running bloggers Maddy (Maddy Runs) and Alisa (Ambitious Aspirations) - Nik never ends up making the switch to Pacific time -- it's quite amazing, actually - But she DOES make the switch to Ininji toe-socks, which feel terrific with sandals - A little corral-side chit-chat with Nik, Alisa and Maddy about tea, toenails, and "emergency" iPod playlists - Experience the music of the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon as Nik runs by - And stay tuned for the next episode where we meet Nik out the race chute, get her race report, and more! (6.14.09)

We're a little bit on the other side of the country, we're a little bit Rock 'N' Roll: Here's a quick video of Nik's San Diego Rock 'N' Roll Marathon run! Results, race report, anecdotes, observations, chit-chat and a whole slew of fun audio coming soon! (6.6.09)

Have a second helping of chicken salad, with Part 2 of 4 Feet Running's Willow Tree chicken salad half-marathon in Providence! This week: - Dan is struggling around the 7.5 mile mark while Nik is adjusting her knee brace and watching her Garmin Forerunner quickly lose battery power - No tunnel shoutouts this time: Dan has the abdominal stitch to beat all abdominal stitches - It's a good, bad, and ugly kind of race but have a great time, despite not getting a space blanket - They get spotted from listener Tim at the finish line (sorry, it was hard to hear everything, Tim) - How Nik and Dan's knees have held up since the race - They read tons of feedback from lots of wonderful people - It's a Voice-Mail-O-Rama! - The mystery of why Dan is not the Chi Running guy (5.21.09)

Have a Willow Tree chicken salad sandwich, hold the sandwich, with 4 Feet Running! This is Part 1 of a 2-part half-stravaganza! This week: - Nik and Dan prepare to run the Willow Tree chicken salad Half-Marathon in Providence, Rhode Island - If they can ever find the start line - Little things get in the way, from vomiting dogs to Garmins that won't sleep, from ass-knots to twingey knees - Take a little trip down memory lane as they remember how Dan got himself into this half-marathon mess - Nik decides she'll pace Dan for the half so she can see him run double-digits in person (and her knee hurts) - More tunnel shout-outs than you can shake an underpass at - Why you shouldn't wear bad shoes even for sitting in a cubicle - Testicle shout-out! Woo hoo testicles! - They meet Ron Burgundy's doppelganger standing in the middle of nowhere - Even though she's broken here and there, Nik is running pretty well, and Dan's having the best run of his life...until, dot-dot-dot... - Will Dan make it through the rest of the race intact? Will Nik's Garmin keep a charge until the end? And why is someone convinced that Dan is the Chi-Running guru Danny Dreyer? Tune in next time! (5.13.09)

Limping a little? Take a walk break with 4 Feet Running. This week: - Nik, Dan, and the dogs go for a stroll along the East Bay Bike Path in Warren, R.I. - Apologies for the Rice Krispies crunchiness early in the episode -- microphone trouble - Nik takes it easy on her knee, which is still smarting from her tussle with a runaway post office - She has better luck with the bike trainer and yoga, but bad luck in terms of wardrobe choice - Dan goes for his longest run ever, a 12-miler the week before his half-marathon race - The difference between horrible crime and whimsical crime - There's also some consternation about Dan's wardrobe choice - Another 4 Feet Running Book Club giveaway is announced! Who wants a book full of running tips and dirty pictures? Stay tuned for 5/5 at 5 p.m. - They read e-mail from some great people, mention a great charity, and do two tunnel shoutouts -- in a REAL tunnel, Gordon (4.27.09)

It's a super-sized 10K by the sea with 4 Feet Running! This week: - Nik and Dan run the Cohasset 10K Road Race by the Sea - Where's the race? I dunno ... over there somewhere ... I dunno ... - They hear the race is supposed to be nice and flat - It's nice, but only a Himalayan sherpa would think it's flat - They find where Cohasset, a tony coastal suburb, keeps its antique cuspidor shop and it's all-natural health food store - Does Nik get her 3rd PR in a row? Will Dan conquer Cohasset? Listen to find out - They talk about the new 4 Feet Running book club - They get tons of feedback from lots of wonderful people, including one of the grossest emails ever received - They plug GoWagon.com and their new monthly challenge for April, Rock Paper Scissors, andthe Trilogy Running challenge - And tons of other stuff (4.15.09)

Third time's the charm with 4 Feet Running! This week: - Nik runs the New Bedford Half Marathon for the third time after almost bursting an eyeball the first time and bonking the second time - It doesn't smell like fish and garbage in lovely New Bedford this year - Nik's been training like a machine, and so has Dan -- as long as he follows his weird assortment of mojo habits - Dan's the man-purse and Nik goes bottle-less - Weirdos spotted in New Bedford: some guy in teeny-weeny shorts, another guy pointing a leaf blower at concrete under a bank drive-thru, a third guy leering at a baby and somebody's wallet - Nik has a fantastic race, much to everyone's pleasure: See the map, elevation, and more on Garmin Connect! - They take a quick jaunt around the historical area of New Bedford - Should runners get a job? Judge for yourself - Details coming soon about the 4 Feet Running book club! - They read fantastic feedback from lots of great listeners (3.23.09)

Coming right up: small Philly run with Cheez Whiz, no mushrooms, no onions, and an extra-large order of 4 Feet Running! This week: - Nik and Dan take a quick weekend trip to Philadelphia to see their family - Apologies for taking so long between episodes, but there were on bedbug patrol - Also trying to determine what all of Nik's Gramma's bizarre kitchen implements do - If you're ever in the City of Brotherly Love, watch out for a Chili's waitress and a hotel valet who shake down Massachusetts tourists for extra big tips - They take a run up the Rocky stairs (well, Dan tries to, anyway) - Both Nik and Dan are doing fantastic with their running -- yes, they actually do talk about running - Monkey-poop coffee is good to the last plop - Pat's? Geno's? Pfft. Nik and Dan think best steak sandwich is the Portuguese steak sandwich - They read a mountain of email, with Special Guest Star Gordon (3.10.09)

Have a lovely time with 4 Feet Running's 4th video podcast! This special video was made with an extra little pinch of love for Runcast.tv's February "In Love With Running" event! This week: - Nik and Dan venture to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, to talk about their relationships with running - It's a complicated relationship for Nik - It's also complicated for Dan, and sometimes it hurts (3.2.09)