Category: Exercise

Turn Off Raise to Wake and Tap to Wake When Running with the iPhone to Prevent Accidental Emergency Calls

by Adam Tow

I have been getting back in shape after losing some fitness two and a half years into the pandemic. Today marks the 12th consecutive week that I have done a long Saturday morning run of over thirteen miles. Most of my self-supported half marathons have taken me along the San Tomas Aquinos Trail from Santa … Continue reading Turn Off Raise to Wake and Tap to Wake When Running with the iPhone to Prevent Accidental Emergency Calls

17,111 Pull-Ups for 2015

by Adam Tow

I started tracking my pull-ups progress in September, 2014. I recorded 4,672 pull-ups for the remainder of 2014. This year, I did 17,111 pull-ups, which I dutifully logged every day in a spreadsheet. 2015 Pull-Ups Log January 2,016 February 1,680 March 1,600 April 1,603 May 1,926 June 1,279 July 1,500 August 1,025 September 1,152 October … Continue reading 17,111 Pull-Ups for 2015

Firehouse 5K – Great First 2 Miles, Terrible Last Mile

by Adam Tow

The inaugural Firehouse 5K run was held today at Santa Clara University. I had heard about it only a week before and signed up just days before the event. The last organized run I had done was the Tortoise and Hare run in 2008 with my friend Felix. And, before that, my last official race … Continue reading Firehouse 5K – Great First 2 Miles, Terrible Last Mile

Low-Key Hillclimbs 2015 #1: Montebello Road

by Adam Tow

This has been a very good year for completing my fitness goals. I have been able to lose a significant amount of weight, break my high school running times in the 5K and half marathon, and build good strength through pull-ups. Until this weekend, however, I had been neglecting my cycling. Most of my Strava … Continue reading Low-Key Hillclimbs 2015 #1: Montebello Road

I Got My Body Composition Analyzed by Body-Spec’s DXA Scanner, and Here are the Results

by Adam Tow

On Saturday, I went to the Brick House Fitness center in San Jose, where BodySpec was conducting body fat, muscle and bone scans using a General Electric dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scanner (DXA or DEXA) housed inside the BodySpec RV. I spoke with the Co-Founder and CEO of BodySpec, Jason Belvill, prior to my scan. … Continue reading I Got My Body Composition Analyzed by Body-Spec’s DXA Scanner, and Here are the Results

Fit at 40… Before and After a 30 Pound Weight Loss

by Adam Tow

This post serves as a marker for my weight loss journey as I say goodbye to my 30s and say hello to my 40s. Regular readers, friends and family will note that I’ve been running and doing pull-ups like a madman over the past 8-9 months. At my heaviest, I weighed 166 pounds. Before, I … Continue reading Fit at 40… Before and After a 30 Pound Weight Loss

The Minimalist Closet

by Adam Tow

It’s been a week since I started my minimalist uniform project; it’s going well, but I’ve made a few tweaks into the plan. First, I decided that having fifty cotton t-shirts to wear around the house defeated the purpose of the project. So, I found a deal on an Icebreaker Men’s Anatomica Short Sleeve Crew … Continue reading The Minimalist Closet

Pull-ups, Body Recomposition and Weight Loss

by Adam Tow

Last year, I weighed myself and was shocked to see 166 pounds on the scale. How did I let myself go so far? I couldn’t even do a single pull-up, which meant my strength-to-weight ratio was terribly off. My pull-up failure, coupled with my burgeoning waistline and the impending arrival of our son, prompted me … Continue reading Pull-ups, Body Recomposition and Weight Loss

2014 Low-Key Hillclimbs #2: Sierra Road

by Adam Tow

Saturday morning brought the second Low-Key Hillclimb ride of the 2014 season: Sierra Road. I rode this during Week 8 of the 2007 LKHC season, ascending the 3.66 mile, 1759 foot climb in 38:34. Based on my my performance last week at Montebello Road, I knew that I could beat that time; the question was by how … Continue reading 2014 Low-Key Hillclimbs #2: Sierra Road

New Balance Minimus 10v2 Trail Shoe Review

by Adam Tow

At the beginning of this year, I replaced my venerable Puma H Streets with a pair of New Balance Minimus Hi-Rez shoes. The weight of the Hi-Rez shoes was amazing, even when compared to the already light H Streets. The sole was made up of these rubberized pods that were glued onto the bottom of … Continue reading New Balance Minimus 10v2 Trail Shoe Review