For the first time I am very, very nervous about an upcoming race.

I'm not nervous because I want to run fast (even though I do actually have a pace in mind for the first time). It's not because it's a particularly hard course -- although those two hills were brutal as I recall them.

Instead, I am nervous because I am running the race that started my journey, which has somehow prompted me to look beyond my running goals to my overall life goals.

Who knew running could get inside your head like that? (Perhaps sneakers should come with a disclaimer?)

Let me explain that last sentence in the easiest terms possible.

By Ryan Healy

When starting an exercise program, many people begin with endurance exercises such as walking, running, cycling, or swimming. This is understandable because these activities are typically familiar to us, and the benefits are widely known. Though when it comes to resistance training, few people know how to properly execute common exercises (squat, push-up, chin-up, etc.), or why they should be strength training, other than the obvious benefit which its name implies, to get stronger.

Allow me to shed a little light on why strength training should be an integral part of your workout routine.

"Ride as One."

This is the quote on the back of the T-shirt they gave me for pedaling in Tim Johnson's Ride on Washington.

On Sunday, thirteen cyclists who set out from Boston completed this journey, what may be America's toughest fund-raiser bike ride.

A group of cyclists stood before the Capitol Building April 28 in Washington, D.C., after pedaling from Boston in the third edition of Tim Johnson's Ride on Washington. Photo by Emma Fries.

This post is from my friend and colleague, Ed, who is a cyclist and videojournalist here at Boston.com/The Boston Globe. He's going to contribute to the Get Moving blog from time to time with updates from the cycling world. He's riding from Boston to D.C., with updates from the road logged here.

Ed Medina, Dir. Multimedia Development / Boston Globe

It's hard to fully describe how tired I am after yesterday's incredibly long ride to NYC from Hartford.

Here's a few stats from my Garmin:

I feel like a dishrag that's been used over and over and wrung out so many times it is nearly threadbare.

It has been a rough few weeks here in Boston, hasn't it?

So, I'm eternally grateful life has handed me a change of pace for a few days.

By Ryan Healy

It might come as a surprise to you, but even fitness professionals occasionally lack motivation to exercise or eat well. There are times when I’d rather take a nap or tackle my never ending to-do list than hit the gym. What I do to stay on track, and what can help you too, is to create a figurative motivation toolbox; something to keep you focused on your health and fitness journey, or to fall back on when the impetus to exercise wanes. Here are several ideas on what to develop or include.

This post is from my friend and colleague, Ed, who is a cyclist and videojournalist here at Boston.com/The Boston Globe. He's going to contribute to the Get Moving blog from time to time with updates from the cycling world.

Ed Medina, Dir. Multimedia Development / Boston Globe

Hello my friends and readers of Boston.com.

Tomorrow I plan to embark on a 525-mile bicycle ride to Washington, D.C.

I'm struggling to tell you all about this because so many things seem trivial compared to the events that transpired in my great city last week.

Some of you may know me as a producer and multimedia editor behind many of Boston.com's news updates, video reports, and countless Boston Marathon productions through the past fifteen years.

I'm also an avid cyclist and (very) amateur bike racer. A few weeks ago I approached 'Get moving' editor Elizabeth Comeau about sharing some of my training tips and updates from the ride.

We talked about tips for route planning, iPhone technology; even diet tips for some of the back-to-back marathon bike rides that comprise this journey.

Then the world changed.

Saturday morning I went for a run with two friends.

After covering the horrific events that unfolded last week, I was tired, raw around the edges, and still in complete shock.

To some of my friends, it seemed crazy I'd want to run a day after putting in a ridiculously long day (not nearly as long as law enforcement and other officials had worked), and I couldn't explain why I needed to run, but I just knew that I had to run.

Today I ran for the first time since covering the marathon.

It was also the first time I cried. Really cried.

By Ryan Healy

Whether you’re someone who has a physical limitation that makes exercising from the floor or your knees difficult, or someone who wants to work their core in a more functional way that mimics daily life, standing core work will benefit you and add more variety to your exercise database. Here are 5 fantastic exercises to help you hammer your abdominals, obliques, and more!

In the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon, heroes abound. While major media outlets discussed police and EMTs that converged on the scene of Monday’s tragedy, it became clear to me that friends, colleagues, and students serving as athletic trainers at the event were on the front lines at the finish line. Trained and prepared to serve the injuries and illness of sport, they found themselves in the midst trauma more fitting the fog of war.

Unexpected service and selfless compassion was the theme of the day and will likely be the theme of weeks to come. Personal gifts will be called into service and the ties that bind will bring comfort.

Over the upcoming days, weeks, months, and even years those around us will need help. It won’t look like the heroic efforts required in the moment on Boylston Street, but will be important nonetheless. Some of this help will be tangible in the form of money and physical assistance. More often it will be social and emotional. Trauma influences each and every one of us differently. We will grieve in our own ways and in our own times. We are resilient and will overcome. Throughout this journey a patient ear, a loving spirit, and ongoing patience is support that we can all give. We all have different skills and aptitudes, but our social-emotional connectedness is universal. We are all helpers.

Over the upcoming days, weeks, months, and, maybe even, years each of us may need to be helped. Adrenaline wears off and reality will set in. An important question that must always be asked in these times of tragedy is, “Who will help the helpers?” In the past 24 hours I have yet to stumble upon someone that does not have some sort of genuine connection to yesterday’s events. It would be reckless to suggest that psychological trauma will abound. This is simply not the case. We are amazingly resilient people. Nonetheless at times we may all find ourselves snapping at others, distracted at work, or in need of specialized assistance. We are all helpees.

This is both a selfless and selfish time. Be a kind ear and a warm embrace to those healing and rebuilding. Also, find personal strength from your friends and family and make steps to find control in times when things may feel out of control. You may not have the skills of an ER doctor or the presence of law enforcement, but you are a helper. Conversely, regardless of how strong you are it is o.k. to be a helpee.

This city will keep on running. It runs bravely and proudly as a connected and caring community.

Dr. Adam Naylor leads Telos Sport Psychology Consulting and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Boston University’s School of Education. He has a decade and a half of experiences working with professional through amateur athletes – of note: US Open competitors, NCAA champions, Olympians, Stanley Cup winners, and UFC martial artists. Beyond sports, over the past five years he has served as a corporate performance and wellness consultant. He can be reached at adam@telos-spc.com. Follow him on Twitter @ahnaylor.

As someone whose job it is to cover the news as it happens, I covered the Boston Marathon.

I was stationed at the finish line/medical tent area. The explosions went off right across from where I was standing for most of my day: If I had stayed put 5 minutes more I would have been in the thick of unspeakable tragedy.

Just five minutes.

Why did I decide to leave when I did? Maybe it's fate. Maybe it's good timing. But the real reason I left where I was standing is because of a dear friend whom I met through this blog -- through running.

On a day where so many people are dealing with the tragedy and death, it feels strange to say this, but I feel like running saved my life.

If I had never started running -- never started this blog -- I would have never met my friend.

I was just packing up to go when my friend messaged me. I replied back saying I was packing up, and I'd come meet him to say hello.

We were walking to the T by the time we heard the giant boom.

Just the day before, at the B.A.A. 5k, I had experienced what I've often heard people who have run The Boston Marathon talk about -- that special something that happens when you round the corner onto Boylston Street.

That "special something" is that pang of excitement I felt looking up from the course and seeing the Citgo sign; the ease with which you can strike up a conversation with someone who is running their first marathon-- or even first race; the feeling that you are just one of the many who are struggling to reach the finish line -- just a cog in the collective wheel churning toward the end.

Today, the city of Boston and the running community collectively struggled again, through a different kind of heartbreak than we are used to hearing about on the marathon course.

And, because of that struggle, I think many of us feel like we are part of something we can't explain. We are connected. The runners, the volunteers, the journalists, the doctors and medical staff who worked yesterday tirelessly in one fashion or another.

I have often told friends who have asked me when I will run The Boston Marathon that I am not sure I have the determination it takes to accomplish such a task.

But you know what? I was wrong. I do have the determination, because The Boston Marathon has something other races don't: Boston.

As a runner, there seems to be a collective feeling that one day, you'll run Boston.

Now I know I have to -- not just for me -- but for the city I love.

Follow updates as Boston.com's Elizabeth Comeau tweets from the Boston Marathon medical tent:

Earlier updates:
3:44 pm
Talked to a man who has family who was working medical tent that medical personnel have been moved to Beth Israel from the main tent location.

3:40 pm
Am OK. Hunkered down a ways away from the explosion. I was walking away from finish line and was quite far when I heard the boom. Trying to get information about what's going on. I had gotten almost to Park Street when I heard the boom. At Park, they weren't letting anyone board the T. That's all I know for now. I hope my colleagues also covering the Marthon are safe. Thank you everyone for your messages. I am safe.

1:40
No regular updates from the medical tent staff this year in terms of how many people have been treated thus far or what the common ailments are since the extreme heat isn't a factor like it was last year. Reporters here at the tent don't have much to go on except our obsevations.

1:30
Most runners coming across look tired, but in good condition and far less are headed for the medical tent than last year at this point. There's a calmer atmosphere here at the tent this year compared to last, and everything seems to be operating like a well-oiled machine. A crowd of runners who crossed just behind her all gathered to catch a glimpse of Joan Benoit. Volunteers, too, peeked their heads out of the tent to see the former marathon champ give her post race interview. The sun is shining but there's still a slight breeze here at the finish. It's been a gorgeous day for a run.

Noon
We've seen men and women's wheelchair winners and now the women's winner Rita Jeptoo has rolled in.

10 am
Boston police just made sweep of grandstand with their dogs, spectators were carefully and tightly shuffled out of key areas and credentials were being checked at every stop along the finish line. Front of the medical tent is completely covered with just one opening in the tarp allowing a peek inside. Volunteers just wait now with most of the prep work done.

9 am
Good chilly marathon Monday!
I'm stationed here outside the main medical tent located just after the finish line. Last year, the medical tent had a spotlight on it, since temps were record-breaking. This year, temps are much cooler.
The volunteers who will escort any runners who are in need of medical attention are being briefed by marathon officials about where to take the athletes, and what to expect once runners start pounding in.
Follow @bewellboston for more ongoing updates throughout the day.

Regular workouts keep me in decent shape. But I’m always looking for ways to get faster, stronger, and more flexible. There are a myriad of options out there, which can be overwhelming for beginners and seasoned athletes alike. I’ll play the role of guinea pig and review some of the new and unusual exercise classes being offered around the region, with the hope you’ll find one that appeals to you and gets you moving. If you would like to suggest a workout for me to try, tweet me @apoztv.

One of my favorite forms of exercise is cycling. I love nothing more than to grab my road bike and put the pedal to the pavement, enjoying not only the full-body workout it provides but the sights and sounds that go along with it. For that reason, I can’t think of anything more boring than taking a spin class.

Spinning has been around for years, but only recently has it exploded in popularity. Being confined to a small, dimly lit studio, sitting shoulder to shoulder with sweaty people on bikes that are anything but comfortable and staring at an instructor while pedaling for 60 minutes straight is, well, unappealing to me. But the Sports Club/LA’s newest location in Chestnut Hill may have come up with just the right remedy for an athlete like me who needs constant stimulation.

The first thing you notice upon entering the REV cycling studio, which is tucked away in a non-descript back corner of this pristine workout facility, is the IMAX screen. It’s gigantic. Facing the panoramic screen, which simulates rides around the world, are 40 spin bikes that come equipped with heart rate monitors.

The class I attended took us on a virtual ride through the beautiful countryside of Spain. Interesting to note, our instructor was the one in the video (part of a side business he runs)… so he provided commentary along the way, detailing the difficulty of certain climbs or little known facts about the region, much the way a tour guide would. Sprinkled in were instructions on when we should exert ourselves and climb out of the saddle, when we should ease off on pedaling and grab some water, or simply words of encouragement.

Before the class began, he warned us about the possibility of experiencing motion sickness. In my head, I laughed and thought, “Who in the world would feel sick while riding a bike in front of a big screen?” Me, that’s who. Twenty-minutes into the ride, as we were virtually speeding down a hill and rounding a few tight corners, the pedals weren’t the only things spinning. My head felt dizzy, my stomach slightly nauseous. But I remembered what he said, and looked down at the floor for about a minute and the feeling quickly passed.

The non-impact workout was as intense as you wanted it to be. Each bike has a knob that lets you add as little or as much resistance as you feel comfortable with. The class consisted of fat-burning intervals in the form of virtual hill climbs and sprints past other cyclists on the screen. The music and mood lights were choreographed accordingly along the way. The IMAX screen did wonders to eliminate any feelings of boredom brought on by past spin sessions. Dare I say, it was actually fun. Post-class, I experienced some soreness in the legs, which to me, is the sign of a good workout, along with a sudden urge to hop a plane to Spain.

The Sports Club/LA, Chestnut Hill, www.sportsclubla.com, Cycling Fusion, Tuesday/Thursday 8:30AM, Memberships are $140/month

OK kids, first some business. I'm covering the marathon today so follow @BeWellBoston for photos, tweets, and all things marathon (I'll be at/near the medical tent).

Second: Holy guacamole, batman. The B.A.A. 5K was epic for me -- in so many ways.

It was hard. It was fun. It was filled with new friends and old.

Since I know you're all dying to know how I did, I finished the 5K in 27:50, down from my last 5K (with the #ProjectAdam boys) of 28:28. So, I'm happy about that. Plus, it gives me a new PR to try to crush come my next 5K in May.

The day started early (not as early as my normal days, but still EARLY!), with me hopping on the T to arrive at Copley. Having already put on my bib (so I didn't have to carry it or anything else I needed except my keys), I was surrounded by other people headed to the race to run.

All of them had an interesting story to tell:

There was JT and his dad, Tim, from Texas. Tim was running the 5K with me while JT was mentally preparing for the marathon today (good luck, buddy!).

Then, there was the sweet woman who started a couch-to-5K program with her employer: She had run a few 5Ks and was just hoping she'd do better than the first one she ran. (I'm sure she did.)

Another young dude was headed to meet his sister to run with her. He convinced me I should really run the Falmouth Road Race (I may be easily persuaded when it comes to races).

When I finally got to the race start, I met up with #ProjectAdam's very own Adam Salsman, who was also ready to crush the race. Then, we met up with a former co-worker of mine, Scott, and the three of us made our way to the corral.

The course was great -- miles 2-3 were my favorite. Knowing you were getting close to the end, and running that last mile on the actual marathon course across the finish line was unlike anything I can explain.

This was my first 5K running with more than a few hundred people. There was something like 6,000 people registered to run. There is something so intense about that many people all lined up to pound out a few miles that just makes you feel like you're part of something you can't explain. I can only imagine that's how people running the Boston Marathon today must feel -- only for WAY more than a few miles.

Today cemented a desire to run a marathon in my brain. It may not be soon. But I'll run one. I have to. I don't want to miss out on whatever it is I felt yesterday.

Masters weekend is upon us, so time to take a break from this blog’s running and gym talk… time to give a bit of respect to the fitness potentials of golf. Did you know that walking 18-holes of golf burns about 1450 calories? Did you know that you walk in the range of 6-7 miles over the course of a round of golf? Because you are not running and the ball is not moving, it is easy to be a fitness snob when it comes to appreciating golf. Nonetheless it is good exercise for both mind and body.

This being said, the saying often attributed to Mark Twain, “golf is a good walk spoiled,” resonates a bit too loudly. Golf is a great walk if approached with the right mindset and a bit of good humor. Regardless if you are a weekend hacker or striving to be the club champ, here are a few thoughts towards unspoiling a perfectly good walk:

Give yourself the break you would give others. We are funny social beings who can get caught up in putting false thoughts into the minds of others. Perhaps you have thought, "They will think I'm a real idiot if I shank this tee shot." Rory Mcllory put his tee shot deep into the backyard of Augusta National's cabins in 2011. Your playing partners probably think he's a decent golfer and a decent person. They probably also pay little ill will to your scuffs and struggles over the course of a round. Try to be as accepting of your golf game as your playing partners will be.

Flake out rather than focus intensely. There is a lot to see and appreciate around a golf course. Between the wildlife, ingenious course design or affable playing partners, there is something for everyone. Intense focus is only required when you are standing over your golf ball. Enjoying the walk is allowed in between swings. Take time to stop and smell the azaleas.

Play with perspective. Golf appears so easy… neither the ball nor you are moving. Yet if we put it in perspective, the club head is pretty small, the golf ball is even smaller, and your plan is to put it into a cup with a 4.25 inch diameter that lies over 100 yards away… quickly. Recent research has highlighted the value of how stepping back, smiling, and accepting the challenge really improves one’s golf game. This weekend, many PGA professionals will find themselves hitting shots off of pine straw and a few will watch their ball roll unapologetically into Rae’s Creek. Finding trouble around a golf course is just part of the good walk.

A good walk can be as healthy as a good run. Mark Twain is a funny guy… he may be off base about golf if you approach it with the right mindset. This Masters weekend enjoy the eye popping color of Augusta National that streams into your living room. Then consider getting outside for a good walk… perhaps while playing a handful of holes of golf.

Dr. Adam Naylor leads Telos Sport Psychology Consulting and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Boston University’s School of Education. During the golf season, he serves as the mental game professional at The Bay Club Mattapoisett and Nashawtuc Country Club. He is the author of A Quick 9 for the Mind: Reflections from the Public Links to the US Open and is active in helping develop New England’s future collegiate golfers. He can be reached at adam@telos-spc.com. Follow him on Twitter @ahnaylor.

By Adam Salsman, Boston.com staff

In one of the posts I did for the Get Moving blog, one of the commenters asked what my next goal would be, after running the Smuttynose Palooza 5K. I initially planned on kicking the overall distance up and running a 10k this fall.

But then our beloved @BeWellBoston said "Hey, let's do this Triathalon Sprint."

Seeing as I'm a glutton for punishment (See also: #ProjectAdam), I happily agreed. And then I thought about it.

It was recently brought to my attention by a dear friend that I have done a lot of fit things over the course of my life.

Here's my laundry list of a few of the fit things I've tried:
Rock climbing
Rowing
Sailing
Figure skating
Field hockey

If it weren't for Robert Edwards, among other brilliant, determined doctors, I would not be here.

It's really that simple. And that overwhelming.

Robert Edwards, 87, happens to be one half of the duo who pioneered in vitro fertilization (IVF). He is a Nobel prizewinner, and was part of the team who, in 1978, helped the parents of Louise Brown give birth to the first IVF baby.

Edwards was not my doctor. However, I will always be connected to this man. In 1981, I was born as the first "test-tube baby" in the United States.

To date, more than 4 million babies have been born world-wide using IVF, which involves the fertilization of an egg with a sperm in a petri dish outside a woman's womb.

It sounds so simple now, but back then, when Edwards and Dr. Patrick Steptoe were first attempting such a procedure it was controversial, very risky, and quite frankly, an unproven technology.

Edwards and Steptoe were the ones who pioneered the procedure in the U.K. Their work prompted Drs. Howard and Georgeanna Jones to found the clinic in Norfolk, Virginia where I was born.

In a way, I owe these doctors my life.

I was a teenager the first time I met Edwards. He was brilliant, and his laugh could fill a room. He was the most quintessential British man I had ever met. He stood with his hands in his pockets when he was listening to medical research, but he gesticulated wildly when telling a story; he drank tea; he made carefully-crafted and subtly witty jokes.

As with all of the doctors who worked tirelessly to perfect the procedure, which brought me into the world, I am forever grateful to this man.

There are simply no words to express the overwhelming sense of loss I feel -- not just for myself, but also for the world of assisted reproductive technologies.

In my "status" as the first IVF baby in the U.S., people in the media have often looked to me for a comment when prominent reproductive news happens. Today is one of those days.

What can I possibly say to all of the couples he helped? What could I possibly say to those who happen to be children of assisted reproductive technologies?

The truth is, despite being a writer, I have no words. He created life. And he created hope for those who thought hope was lost.

By Ryan Healy

Let’s face it; chin-up and pull-up variations are exercises that look both awesome and tough. Who doesn’t want to be able to do one? They work primarily the muscles in your back, but also your biceps, forearms, and core, giving you a lot of bang for your buck. Working up to your first one can be challenging though. Here are some alternative exercises that will help you to eventually clear the bar!