TheDailyRunner.com

Need a reason not to run a marathon? Here's 26

Here's an article that gives you 26 reasons not to run a marathon.

To read them, go here... http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/10/17/news/local/ba4a84bf6398f3fe862574e40079970e.txt

Touring America One Jog at a Time

For those regular travelers eager to at least try to stay in shape while on the road by jogging, the solution is too often the treadmill in the hotel gym, an experience that can range from drearily boring to — let's be frank about this — gross. It's also a wasted opportunity.

      

From years of traveling around the country covering political campaigns, I have discovered that jogging can be one of the great ways to explore a city. It is a way to go sightseeing and to discover hidden paths or neighborhoods.

I have found these in various ways: running randomly (and getting hopelessly lost more than once), checking with concierges, talking to local residents, Googling or just scanning a map for the nearest river, park or historic neighborhood.

For the rest of the story, go here.... http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/travel/escapes/17run_roundup.html?8dpc

Marathoner still finds time for family

Kim Budzik describes herself as “just a self-trained, keep-on-going, ever-ready runner.”

The “keep-on-going” part seems particularly accurate given the Friendswood legal secretary’s most recent running accomplishment.

In late September, Budzik, 48, finished the Tahoe Triple — three marathons held on consecutive days — for the third consecutive year. The event circumnavigates the entire shoreline of Lake Tahoe, and on the third day the runners participate in the regular Lake Tahoe Marathon.

Budzik was 29th of the 75 runners who completed the series, finishing in 4 hours, 41 minutes, 39 seconds, 4:39:23 and 4:55:55, respectively. “It’s a tough course for us flatlanders from Texas, (with) the elevation and the mountains,” she said. “I go out and pace myself so I can keep running the best I can.” Budzik said she first decided to attempt the Tahoe Triple because it would net her two states — Nevada and California — in her quest to run a marathon in all 50.

“The reason I keep going back is the camaraderie, the people that I meet out there,” Budzik said. “There aren’t too many people who want to run three marathons in three days, but lo and behold, we keep coming back.” ‘Just kept on going’

For the rest of the story, go here..  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6061346.html

Pick the Right Sports Drink

Here's a good video from Runner's World that shows you how to pick the right sports drink

Gabriel Weiss: A passion for running

Blog:  Here's a good article about from a high school junior about her passion for running.

The games have been played the same since my grandfather's era, but a different mentality has taken over. The motivation beneath the helmets of football players and other competitive athletes is heavily influenced by scholarships and intense pressure from coaches and parents. The emphasis put on lengthy practices, which begin long before the season, transforms many high school sports into an almost full-time job. Can this high-stakes, pressure-infused way of playing possibly enhance the game, or is this tainting the true meaning of sports?

    

I am a competitive cross-country and track runner, which means I participate in a never-ending season. With very few exceptions, I never stop running, not even in the summer. I know from experience all that goes through the mind while playing sports, both on and off the field. I roll out of bed every weekday morning and stare at the clock that reads 6 a.m. I lace up my shoes and brace myself to run mile-intervals or 1,000-meter repeats, but I must constantly remind myself why I do this: I love this sport and I want to be the best.

To read the rest, go to.... http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-west_weiss_16edi.ART.West.Edition1.4afcaf1.html

Being green, but not with envy

“It’s not easy being green.” Kermit the Frog’s melancholy catch phrase caught the attention of millions of “Muppet Show” viewers and tugged at the hearts of those who cared about the felt frog as he sat on his lilypad while eluding Miss Piggy.

“Going green” is a more recent catch phrase, also attracting the attention of millions, but stemming from the drive to protect our environment rather than lamenting over blending in with it.

If you’re anyone who’s anyone, you’ve got green, you’re going green, turning green, voting green or now even running green. “Going green” is the old “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” on overdrive. It’s beyond putting the wine bottles and newspapers out for biweekly pickup; it’s more than collecting the beer cans from the family hoedown in a separate bag; it’s reducing our carbon footprint and becoming more eco-friendly.

But what exactly is running green? I wore my green Saucony running shoes yesterday and ran more on my toes than normal. That reduced my footprint, right? Not exactly.

For the rest of the story, go here... http://www.gjfreepress.com/article/20081016/HEALTH/810159974/1023&parentprofile=1063&title=Being%20green,%20but%20not%20with%20envy

Lose the shoes -- barefoot training can help reactivate neglected muscles

There is a growing movement amongst some runners to abandon shoes and go barefoot. These runners point to famed two-time Olympic marathon champion Abebe Bikila who ran barefoot as well as famed-Olympian South African Zola Budd.

WHAT IS IT?

Barefoot training is gaining popularity with coaches, personal trainers and runners. The idea behind barefoot training is that our technically designed shoes may actually give us too much support, cushioning and stability, making the muscles and neuromuscular pathways of the foot and ankle weak and "lazy."

For more of the story, go to ... http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastlife/story.html?id=f13999c4-2780-499b-a4fe-a8d0655569cc

At the heart of running

In a study this fall, the Minneapolis Heart Institute investigates marathon running's effect on cardiovascular health.

Common cardiovascular wisdom sees aerobic activities such as running as healthy habits that can do only good for the heart. But a study released this past summer by a German clinic has created controversy around marathon runners and the phenomenon of artery-clogging plaque that can cause heart attacks.

The study, conducted at the West-German Heart Center Essen, focused on male marathoners 50 and older. Among its findings was that while the runners had lower than average cholesterol levels and better blood pressure, they had more measurable coronary calcium buildup or plaque than did the general population.

For the rest of this article, go here... http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/30802599.html?elr=KArks:DCiUo3PD:3D_V_qD3L:c7cQKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Another Hot and Steamy Marathon in Chicago

Elite runners and weekend warriors enter the Chicago Marathon seeking to run fast times on a flat course, but for a second consecutive year, excessive heat made it a victory for many of the 33,000 participants simply to reach the finish line.      

Unlike last year, the marathon was not halted Sunday as temperatures reached 84 degrees three hours into the 26.2-mile race. And after many complaints about insufficient water in 2007, runners praised organizers for having plentiful drinks and aid stations available. Still, it was a struggle for many participants, even some of the stars, on a cloudless day with nothing to shield them from the sun.

“It was little too hot today, maybe more than Beijing,” said Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania, who won the women’s Olympic marathon on an overcast morning 56 days earlier but faded to fourth place Sunday. “I was afraid to push harder; maybe I am dying at the end.”

To continue reading, go here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/sports/othersports/13marathon.html?ref=sports

Joggers live longer--even if they're overweight

Jogging on a regular basis helps you live longer even if you are overweight because it lays the foundation for a healthier body and provides benefits in addition to weight loss, according to a health specialist.

According to Prof. Toshihito Katsumura of the Tokyo Medical University's Sports Medicine for Health Promotion department, regular jogging improves blood flow and strengthens blood vessels, while drastically increasing the number of capillary blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrition to muscles.

Vascular endothelial growth factor, a type of protein, is triggered as soon as you start jogging. Jogging five days a week increases the amount of capillary blood vessels in the muscles. After just three weeks of jogging, the amount reaches the maximum.

As a result, the oxygen-utilizing capability of muscles is dramatically enhanced, and physical endurance is improved.

According to recent studies, if a jogger runs at a brisk pace for an extended period, the health benefits can continue for many days. Such runs also increases a person's metabolic rate, even when resting or sleeping.

For the rest of the story, go here... http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20081005TDY03103.htm