Media Response 4

So, this week we began our marathon training program. Last year, I read 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon and we used it as our training guide to prepare for the Ogden Marathon. This year, inspired by listening to the audiobook version of Born to Run, we decided to choose an off road marathon for our big goal. We plan on running in the Timp Trail Marathon. Anticipating that this might be a little more difficult than our previous marathon, I started looking for a training program that was also a little more intense. After reading several reviews of training books on Amazon, we decided to use the FIRST training program. In addition to doing three weekly running workouts, one speed, one tempo, and one long run, I decided to add some core strength training on my own.

Once again I returned to amazon, this time in search of a fitness dvd that I could do to work on improving my core strength. After reading a bunch of different user reviews I opted to buy Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I've never actually seen the Biggest Loser but through pop culture osmosis I've managed to pick up the premise of the show and a little bit about the trainers and I felt like the dvd would be a good fit for me. The dvd arrived yesterday and this morning I got up and completed the first training circuit. My arms are really tired, but I feel good about the workout and I think it's going to help me to be a stronger runner.

What does this all have to do with media literacy and our ongoing discussions? As I was getting ready for work this morning I was pondering all of the various media elements that have gone into my marathon training decisions. I've read a variety of written texts both online and off, I've listened to books about training, I've relied on the expert opinions of strangers via blogs and product reviews, all to prepare myself to do one of the most basic of human activities--running. I don't know that I have anything super profound or original to say about the topic but I do think it's really interesting to look at just how much the way I interact with media has impacted just one small area of my life.