Suganthi Balasubramanian from Guilford, CT said:
Aaallrite, lets get it started :). Hmm, where do I start? I have written a lot about these gems, running out of words, so let me be to the point, thank you for making my runs sooo much fun, Cardioguru. Sorry Sean, you did not think I would let you off that easy, did you? Just in case you fall asleep before you read this in its entirety, the number I choose is 5000. Now settle down into Level 1 and read on.
Dear Cardioguru Sean and Music Maestro Todd,
I begin by thanking both of you with all of my ‘Cardiocoached’ heart. The music is enchanting, the countdowns are precise, the coaching is flawless and the entire package screams ‘perfection’. I don’t know enough about music to critique it, all I can say is that I enjoy listening to music and if Todd picks the music, I will love it. Now when I think of making playlists with songs for running, I mentally assess it to see if it will get the seal of approval from Todd. Thank you Todd for this wonderful blend of music, it truly is an aural treat and for taking me to distant places. Spain was swell. While I love all the volumes, V4 still remains the darling of the lot. You won me over with V4 in one fell swoop.
I knew how to run, but Sean taught me to enjoy it and crave it. I have been running with CC for about a year and a half now. My running has evolved since the first time I used CC with Jeff Order’s V1. I never worried about calculating my HR even though that is the crux of these workouts. The first few months I used these workouts, I gave it my all and meticulously tabulated and graphed my speeds (highly uncharacteristic of me). But soon, I got confused when I started to add in the inclines, muddled with the different challenges and tracks, perplexed as to why I couldn’t exactly remember the sequence after having done it so many times and amazed that I am still feeling giddy with excitement after one of my Cardiocoach runs. I also realized that it was unrealistic to expect dramatic two minute reductions in my mile pace and learned to appreciate the reductions that came in decimal increments of minutes. So I told myself, to heck with it, just enjoy the workout. I have transitioned from treadmill runs to outdoor running now. I no longer need the digital readout of the treadmill to force my legs to speed up to Level 3. While the music and Sean made it possible for me to achieve this outdoors, the belt on the treadmill moving at the preset pace allowed me to stay at that pace, but outdoors, I let my guard down easily. But with practice, I have overcome that barrier. My first run with CC1 (Jeff) was 2.17 miles and initially running 4 miles was a major thrill for me. Now I routinely run 4-5 miles and try to get in a 8-9 mile run once a week. A 30 minute run feels inadequate to me and I crave hour-long runs. I do sneak out of work every so often to satisfy the urge. Well, I could go on and on, but since all of you have real life duties to attend to and I need to have some writing material for the next contest [a Garmin Forerunner 305 would be nice ;) ], I will stop soon.
Suffice to say that this continues to be a journey filled with excitement and surprises for me, running with Cardiocoach has taken me to many different emotional planes: started out as excitement, a proud feeling of accomplishment, but now I experience a whole gamut of emotions, ranging from sheer joy, child-like excitement, unbridled enthusiasm to a great sense of relief, calm, contentment and release of overwhelming emotions of gratitude, love and affection.
Thank you Sean, for giving me the gift of health and for teaching me to coax my endorphins out. Thank you for your gentle, yet firm encouragement, for your impeccable sense of timing when you come to my rescue and remind me that it is just another 10 seconds to the pinnacle. I affectionately refer to Sean as my plaque remover and I truly believe it. Since my debut with CC, I have used other mp3 workouts and not one of them come close to your brainchild. You were the first to come up with this ingenious concept and your workouts are the best: technically sound, accessible to all fitness levels, superb coaching and inspirational Coaches notes that adds pizzaz to this mesmerizing package. I wish you huge success. But please explain this paradox to me Coach: I thought that running with you would make my heart strong, instead I find it becoming soft, sappy, emotional and forgiving! Do you think running with a HRM would fix that problem?