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ELITES, DEBUTS, HISTORY, WEATHER, AND MORE. If you don’t follow marathon racing as a spectator, you may not realize that there are some compelling reasons to watch this year’s Boston Marathon.
While the US participants are not top favorites in either the men’s or women’s races, they are talented athletes that might pull off a surprise. The Competitor.com article, “Could an American Win the Boston Marathon This Year?” by Toni Reavis identifies who’s who in this classic as well as possible difficulties that may sideline some runners. She also provided a historical perspective that gives Americans an emotional reason to view the men’s race; to honor Meb Keflezighi’s career. This is the Eritrean-born US champion’s last year of competition, and thus his last Boston Marathon. Reavis’ article relates how Meb gave Americans the gift of a Boston victory in 2014, the first running of the event following the 2013 terrorist bombing. The last US win, by Greg Meyer, had occurred in 1983. Can Meb do it again at age 41? The article also identifies that 2017 will be the Boston debut for 2016 Olympian and bronze medal winner Galen Rupp and for the American woman, Jordan Hasay. To learn the specifics on 10 of the US Elite Team members running Boston, there’s an article from MassLive.com with details. Other Boston Marathon–related news not in this piece, involves Katherine Switzer. Fifty years ago she became the first woman to finish the race wearing a bib, number 261. She had entered without clearly identifying her gender and a race official had unsuccessfully tried to eject her from the course. A Runner’s World article by Amanda Loudin describes Switzer’s lifelong work as “an advocate for women’s rights in sports” and her plans to return to Boston this year wearing the same number, at age 70! I’ll be looking for her. What if you wish to watch the Marathon but are not familiar with the international marathon “stars” in this race? Need a scorecard to help follow the leaders when they separate from the pack? The Boston Globe has listings of the women’s and men’s elite field runners by personal best, including the marathon at which it was accomplished and finish time, as well as their country. The Kenyans will be challenged by Ethiopians, other African nation elites, and North and South Americans. Rose Chelimo from Bahrain will be at the starting line. Per the men’s list, Japan’s Suguru Osako from the Oregon Project will debut on Monday. To help you plan, the race schedule, tidbits of information, and “How to Watch” was published April 10 on sportingnews.com. Elite women will start at 9:32am and elite men at 10am. Mobility challenged and wheelchair competitors will be sent off before the elites. Additional waves will follow the elites. Weather watchers can get a prediction made several days before the event and historical facts on weather conditions from a local Boston CBS News affiliate forecast. If, as a runner, you have never “watched” the Boston Marathon, consider viewing this year. You might find inspiration, experience thrills, celebrate sport, or enjoy a spring tradition in doing so. RUN HAPPY! http://running.competitor.com/2017/04/boston-marathon/could-american-win-boston_163397 http://www.masslive.com/news/boston/index.ssf/2017/04/2017_boston_marathon_meet_the.html http://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/50-years-after-sparking-a-revolution-an-icon-runs-boston-again https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2017/02/14/boston-marathon-elite-field/gkxwztGFpQxPjPV89N6RlK/story.html http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/boston-marathon-2017-schedule-how-to-watch-stream-patriots-day-red-sox/enfojboi2zrc1cs9x9eozawgo http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/04/11/boston-marathon-forecast-heat-concerns-runners/
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IS RUNNING GOOD FOR BONES? THE BOSTON MARATHON IS!!! There may be other research that addresses the topic of bone strength and how to build it, but work discussed below is the most helpful to runners that I've found.
The article, “Does Running Strengthen Bone?” by French scientists A Boudenot, Z. Achiou, and H Portier investigates the contribution of running to bone strength. It begins by discussing general principles. A strong skeleton, it informs readers, is one that “will be less prone to fractures”. Bone strength can be defined by qualitative and quantitative measures, including the determination of bone mineral density (BMD), which indicates the amount of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals incorporated in bone. BMD is commonly used for this purpose, as it negatively correlates with fracture risk (a low BMD is associated with higher risk) in certain populations. [There isn't total agreement that BMD is the best measure of bone strength, but is used clinically to asses fracture risk]. The paper describes in detail how bone becomes stronger physiologically. “Like a muscle, a skeleton needs exercise to be strengthened. It is estimated that only 30%–50% of potential bone mass can develop in absence of exercise… In fact, it is both mechanical stresses acting directly on bone (ground impact, pulling of muscle attachments) and biochemical agents transported by the blood (hormones, cytokines) that allow bone anabolism”, another word for construction. Theoretically, the authors say, physical activity is recommended as a strategy to “augment” (increase) bone mass. Female practitioners of sports that are the most “athletic”, like “body building, judo, and rugby”, and gymnastics and tennis are more likely to have higher bone mineral density (BMD) than non-practitioners, they report. This kind of information “suggests that sports requiring the movement of heavy loads or that expose skeleton to repeated impacts stimulate bone formation”. “In contrast, endurance sports that primarily use the aerobic energy system (walking, running) result in smaller bone mass gain because the body is not subjected to high impacts.” YIKES! This information is scary to me, because exercise prescribed for adults as we get older mostly involves aerobic training. Even combining aerobic work with resistance exercises doesn’t seem to greatly improve BMD or prevent BMD decrease, the authors indicate. What’s the answer? The scientists say NOT to abandon aerobic training as it helps prevent cardiovascular, metabolic, and other diseases like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and even some cancers. This advice should especially be applied in industrialized countries where people lead mostly sedentary lives. Best to “maintain these good habits with some ‘OSTEOGENIC’ modifications” to they advise, “by the integration of interval exercises and downhill running or walking”. WOW. The same INTERVAL TRAINING that COACHES have been instructing runners to perform to build stronger muscles works to strengthen bones! It makes sense, because, as explained above, the mechanical pulling action of muscles at sites of attachment to bone plays a role in the strengthening process. Larger stronger muscles will exert a greater amount of pull on the bones to which they are attached. More good news is that interval training does triple duty when it comes to health. The scientists say “it’s been observed that interval training has SUPERIOR effects” compared to “CONTINUOUS ENDURANCE TRAINING for the health of elderly suffering from cardiovascular diseases." Why do these researchers recommend high intensity interval training, characterized by alternating work and recovery phases, over continuous running? Bone cells called osteocytes are initially stimulated when high intensity impact loads are sensed, but soon become fatigued, they say. Animals studies show that “5-10 minutes of running offer the same effects on bone as 1 hour of running”. “For a given exercise, adding a few seconds of recovery several times in the workout increases the positive effect on bone by 5-8 fold.” There aren’t any human studies of the same type, however. DOWNHILL RUNNING was also prescribed to increase bone strength. How does it do this? Two ways. First, as stated in the second paragraph of this post, GROUND IMPACT is a MECHANICAL factor known to play a role in building bone. Downhill running increases ground reaction forces, and thus “offers an opportunity” to build bone strength with each step. Second, also stated in the second paragraph, BIOCHEMICAL factors are known to play a role in bone construction. Downhill running causes the release of a certain biochemical factor into blood that stimulates bone formation. Additionally, the eccentric contraction of muscle that characterizes downhill running causes a decrease in a biochemical inhibitor of muscle and bone formation (allowing increased formation of both to occur!). The authors of this paper conclude by reminding readers “that bone is a living tissue that needs exercise to remain strong”. Rather than abandon or interrupt existing habits of aerobic exercise, which provide benefits to cardiovascular and metabolic health, they recommend adapting running and walking such these activities become OSTEOGENIC (bone creating). This means “integrating rest intervals to prevent bone fatigue” and incorporating “downhill exercises to increase ground impact forces and eccentric muscular work”. HOW DOES “BOSTON” BUILD BONE? It is famously known to be a “downhill marathon”, with a net elevation drop of 477 feet. Of course there are other downhill marathons, and some wonder if the increased number offered is due to an increased desire by runners to qualify for Boston. Preparing for a downhill marathon involves downhill training sessions. BOSTON STRONG! RUN HAPPY! http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/apnm-2015-0265?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&#.WO1U9hD4gnM http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/online/casebased/ccjm/compression-fractures-normal-bone-density/media/CCJM-v76-6-331.pdf http://strengthrunning.com/2011/04/running-downhill-boston-marathon/ http://www.findmymarathon.com/marathon-news/ten-options-for-downhill-marathons/ ALLERGY SUFFERERS APPROACH TO SPRING RUNNING
A short article written by Jennifer Purdie for Under Armor’s MapMyRun Blog, “Spring Allergy Tips For Runners” reminds runners of ways in which they might lessen their suffering during spring, what many refer to as “allergy season”. The author references “Dr. Rachel Carlton Abrams, board certified in family medicine and integrative medicine and the author of “Bodywise: Discovering Your Body’s Intelligence for Lifelong Health and Healing,” and Dr. Deborah Gentile, director of research, division of allergy, asthma and immunology at Pediatric Alliance in Pittsburgh”. Another advice piece, “Running With Allergies” by Sarah Johnson for ACTIVE.com discusses general rules, such as the ‘neck rule.’ “If your allergy symptoms are above the neck, such as stuffy or runny nose and sneezing, it's probably OK to run. However, if you are exhibiting any symptoms below the neck, like chest congestion, upset stomach, or body aches, then it's time to call for a rest day.” Runner’s World posted an item in 2012 written by Lisa Jhung, “Nothing to Sneeze At”, which highlighted advice provided by a runner-allergist, Stephen Klemawesch. A 2014 Women’s Running article also features this doctor’s advice; some parts address women’s issues. All contain similar advice, which includes: Learn by testing which specific allergens cause you problems so you can:
While running:
After running, prevent continued exposure to pollen:
Seek medical advice for new treatments with less side effects! The point of running is to get exercise AND enjoy the process. If allergies are messing with your mind and body, take your workout indoors. Run laps on the small gym track or hop on a treadmill. Get in a cross-training session by swimming or cycling indoors, playing tennis, or strength training. It may be best to regularly set aside time for physical activity in the late afternoons or early evenings, to make same-day last minute alterations to workouts less disruptive and inconvenient. RUN HAPPY! http://blog.mapmyrun.com/spring-allergy-tips-runners http://www.active.com/running/articles/running-with-allergies http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-running-training/allergy-tips-for-runners http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2014/05/health-wellness/pollen-problems_24836#wgl8FX1eLq4VzThp.97 http://www.aaaai.org/global/nab-pollen-counts https://weather.com/forecast/allergy/ https://www.pollen.com/forecast/current/pollen/ https://www.zyrtec.com/allergy-forecast-tools-apps SPECIAL EDITION SHOES 2017 IS THE 29th year that adidas has been Exclusive Supplier of Officially Licensed Merchandise to the Boston Marathon. You can shop the goodies offered by this company through the B.A.A. website. Other sports apparel and shoe companies have joined the fun as well.
Competitor.com showcases 7 special-edition shoes for this race in a slideshow composed by Adam Elder with images by Olivia Baker. Only Adidas shoes and apparel can display the official race logo; there’s a label on the tongue of the “adidas adizero Adios 3.0” shoe that comes last in the article. I love the rear-view styling of this blue and yellow colored pair; the right foot has the distance “26.2”, and the left has ”BOS” on the heel (seen in the slideshow). Below is a Runner’s World review of that shoe, which was given the “Best Update” Award by the magazine earlier in the year. “It’s hard to improve upon the Adizero Adios 2, the shoe worn by the fastest marathoner ever, Dennis Kimetto, when he ran 2:02:57 at the Berlin Marathon in 2014. Testers confirmed, however, that this update of the popular racer is even better. The midsole remains consistent: A full-length slab of springy Boost foam is rimmed with firm foam around the top to add a bit of stability and create a fast-rolling feel. Adidas tweaked the outsole, wrapping the forefoot in a thin, waffle-cut layer of stretchy Continental* rubber, improving flexibility, traction, and durability. Testers also reported that the mesh and suede-like upper feels softer and fits larger feet than previous versions.” * Earned Runs comment: this is material from tire manufacturer, Continental™. In searching online for this shoe, (Boston adidas adizero Adios 3.0) I discovered it SOLD OUT very early on one site, Marathon Sports, possibly explaining why it was not to be found on the adidas site. Lesson learned for those who want uniquely styled footwear from any of the big city marathons in which special editions are promoted. Search and buy early!!! If you like the look others will too. Only limited supplies are usually made available. Likely the highest demand will be generated for officially licensed items. In addition to adidas, the footwear shown in the Competitor.com piece comes from Nike, Brooks, Saucony, Sketchers, and Altra. Not part of the slideshow, ASICS has also gotten into special-shoe-for-Boston game with its DynaFlyte-Boston model. Is it appropriate to wear special edition shoes if you did not run in the race? If you’re a great fan, it would seem permissible if an explanation was provided when the question about race participation arose. RUN HAPPY! http://running.competitor.com/2017/03/shoes-and-gear/sneak-peek-7-special-edition-boston-marathon-shoes_162904 http://www.baa.org/utilities/baa-shop.aspx http://www.runnersworld.com/shoe/adidas-adizero-adios-3-mens http://www.asics.com/us/en-us/dynaflyte-boston/p/0010300607.2017 http://www.getyourgrip.com https://www.marathonsports.com/collections/boston-marathon-2017 Are you looking for an annual opportunity to run a personal race? What are you waiting for? Start a tradition this month that you can anticipate and improve upon year after year. Here’s another suggestion from the Earned Runs EVENTS list posted on the RESOURCES page.
April 17, 2017 CELEBRATE USA RUNNING TRADITION (any distance) The Boston Marathon is run annually on the day set aside in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Patriot’s Day, the third Monday in April. This race was the original marathon to be patterned after the modern Olympics contest of 1896, and was first run in 1897. On this day in the United States, anyone can celebrate the tradition of competitive long distance running. Without necessarily covering 26.2 miles, achieving the qualifying time, or being in that location, run or walk in sprit with those in Boston with a personal custom race + Earned Runs bib. Start your race at 9:32am (elite women start time) or 10am (elite men start time) if you wish to synchronize with that wonderful event. There are inter-city rivalries when it comes to marathons, but today needn’t be about a particular city, but about the running history which began with that particular event. REQUEST BIBS NOW so that when the moment arrives in which you decide to compete with yourself or others, you’re equipped to pin on a bib and hand one to those you invite. RUN HAPPY! http://www.earned-runs.com/resources.html http://www.earned-runs.com/request-bibscontact.html A week from today, on April 17, the Boston Marathon will be run. American runners, regardless of their city affiliation have Boston to thank for establishing a custom 120 years ago that has since been copied by many other towns. It decided to hold a running race every year to celebrate a local holiday.
A Wikipedia entry claims this race “is the oldest continuously running marathon, and the second longest continuously running footrace in North America, having debuted five months after the Buffalo Turkey Trot.” One of Earned Runs blog items posted during last year’s “Boston Week”, updated a bit this year, provides additional information on the race’s history: The official Boston Athletic Association (B.A. A.) website tells the story of the Boston Marathon, which it has sponsored since it’s very first running. The page explains that “after experiencing the spirit and majesty “ of the marathon run at the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, “B.A.A. member and inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize and conduct a marathon in the Boston area.“ According to another Wikipedia entry, the city’s event “is the world's oldest annual marathon, inspired by the success of the 1896 Olympic marathon and held every year since 1897 to celebrate Patriots Day, a holiday marking the beginning of the American Revolution, thereby purposely linking Athenian and American struggle for democracy” For those not familiar with the Commonwealth’s holiday, “Patriot's Day (or Patriots' Day) commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, which were fought near Boston in 1775. Patriot's Day is annually held on the third Monday of April.” Only in Massachusetts and Maine is it an official state holiday. Patriot’s Day should not be confused with the September 11, Patriot Day, on which the entire nation marks the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Boston Marathon History that you may not know: - The race’s distance was not always 26 miles 385 feet! The first modern Olympic marathon course covered 24 .5 miles and the Boston Marathon covered 24.8 miles. The official marathon distance was standardized by 1924. - The first year in which women were officially allowed to run was 1972. However, one (Roberta Gibb) ran and finished the full race without a bib number for 3 years, 1966-68, and one (Katherine Switzer) ran and finished but did not identify herself as a female in 1967. - This was the first marathon to include a wheelchair division, in 1975. There are many other details and a link to a page with other race milestones on the BAA website. The tradition of city-stopping marathon festivals began in Boston. It’s a great reason to celebrate the day regardless of where you live, especially if you have trained for and run this long-distance endurance race or hope to in the future. If you have run a half marathon you should be twice as grateful (it’s crazy math, think about it). RUN HAPPY! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/patriots-day http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/boston-marathon-history.aspx http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/boston-marathon-history/boston-marathon-milestones.aspx WEEK 13 HALF MARATHON + ‘SAINTS DAYS’ TRAINING PLAN STARTS
Your long run this week is the distance at which some half marathon training plans stop: 12 miles. In my first half marathon, called off at the halfway mark because of terrible weather including downpours of cold rain, thunder, lightening, hail, and high winds, I overheard runners next to me in the starting chute talking about this. On their longest training run they had covered only 12 miles. I don’t know their finish time or in what physical condition they were at the race’s end. You will be continuing the next week to reach 13 miles and then tapering for several weeks. If you wish to make it 13.1 miles, for mental training, that’s great. You can shorten the taper, as needed, by one week and skip week 15. Be sure to warm-up and cool-down appropriately on the long runs. You will have the best chance of reaching race day in good shape, ready to compete if you take the time to prepare for and recover from the effort. . RUN HAPPY! 4 MOVES TO BUILD STRENGTH IN 15 MINUTES
Do you have a quick high-intensity strength workout you can squeeze into a busy schedule? So many days I regret not having an HOUR to perform strength work. That’s about the length of time required to get through all the bodyweight exercises given to me by a favorite trainer several years ago. I love that workout. Unfortunately, it’s likely that I am using this hour-long requirement as a HUGE EXCUSE not to strength train regularly. Most “fast and furious” routines are just TOO fast and furious and I haven’t found one that I think I’m capable of completing, alive. Until now. This 4-part workout, “15-Minute Fat Blasting Workout for Busy People” by Doug Balzarini on Active.com is easy to remember (I don’t need to look at a cheat sheet), the moves are not terribly difficult in terms of coordination or skill, and the effort level is adaptable. At one time or another each exercise has been recommended to and demonstrated for me by a trainer. The pace of the workout can be as SLOW as is necessary to avoid injury. The dumbbell weights can be adjusted; best to start low so good form can be held throughout the move. The jumping part of the burpee will need to be made easier for me, probably low jumps in place like a traditional burpee. The number of rounds I’m able to complete will hopefully increase with time. Slide 3 has the workout summary. 1. Squat and Press (dumbbell weights); 8 repetitions (see link to proper form article below) 2. Renegade Rows (dumbbell weights) 8 repetitions (4 each side) 3. Burpee Broad Jumps (body weight); 8 repetitions 4. Farmer’s Carry (dumbbell weights); 40 yards Although this workout is headlined as “fat-blasting”, to build strength the moves should be performed deliberately, while maintaining proper form. Thus, the number of repetitions and the amount of dumbbell weight should be at manageable levels. Ask a trainer or knowledgeable friend to help you learn to perform unfamiliar moves. Better to be safe than sorry. Report back with your results! RUN HAPPY! http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/15-minute-fat-blasting-workout-for-busy-people http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/How-to-Achieve-Proper-Squat-Form DO YOU SOMETIMES WORRY THAT RUNNING IS A FORCED ACTIVITY? An unnatural, repetitive habit that represents a risk for injury? That you “just do it” without thinking? Some of your non-exercising acquaintances might occasionally joke with you about this.
Perhaps we can learn something about reasons for running from mice! Scientists have wondered whether their putting running wheels in animal cages has permitted healthy activity in, or fostered unhealthy habits upon, captive research subjects. Because exercise is increasingly valued for its ability to prevent or possibly cure certain diseases, laboratory investigations along these lines have also increased, oftentimes utilizing mice. A study by Dutch scientists set out to determine whether this practice was helping or hurting animals involved in such experiments. The results were published in an article in 2014. “Voluntary wheel running“, the introduction to the article says, is “used in many scientific disciplines as a tool to stimulate and measure activity”. At issue, these scientists felt, was whether wheel running is natural or forces mice into unnatural behavior, like neurosis or stereotypy. This last-named behavior is defined as “a repetitive or ritualistic movement, posture, or utterance”, with examples including body rocking, self-hugging, and marching in place, per an entry in Wikipedia. The question was whether “running wheel activity is a pathological phenomenon that develops only in captivity.” To answer it, scientists set up 2 cage-like running-wheel observation sites where wild, free-living mice might access them, protected from the elements. One was in a spacious, green, urban park. The other was a dune setting which humans could not access. Entry by animals larger than a rat was made difficult. From October 2009 to February 2013 (urban setting) and June 2011 – January 2013 (dune) the comings and goings of animals in the wheel was detected by an infrared passive motion sensor and recorded by a video camera. Of the 200,000 recordings of visits made over the 3 years, 12,000 were analyzed. Motion generated on the outside of the wheel was excluded from analysis. A mouse food tray was present initially, but not present October 2011–February 2103. The results showed that most visits were made by feral mice; shrews, rats, frogs, slugs, and snails also dropped by. Feral mice ran year-round, with activity beginning to increase in the spring and peaking in late summer in the urban area, and beginning in summer and peaking in late autumn in the dune. Although some animals seemed to initiate movement accidentally, others (mice and shrews) entered and ran, exited, then re-entered “again within minutes”, to continue wheel running. Wheel running mice were “primarily” juveniles who ran about as much as 200 day-old laboratory mice. Complicated analyses indicated that the wheel running distances covered by the wild mice may have been comparable to those covered by research animals. In 20% of the cases mice ran for more than 1 minute, with a maximum duration of 18 minutes!!! There was no slow walking, just running. In terms of circadian patterns, there was more nighttime running as expected, as mice are nocturnal animals. Very slightly more nighttime running in the dunes mice compared with their urban counterparts suggests light pollution may have effected animal behavior. Although FOOD was placed in proximity to the wheels at first, the data did not indicate food reward affected day or night running. “Existing explanations” the paper states, “are that wheel running is a consummatory behaviour satisfying a MOTIVATION such as PLAY or ESCAPE.” “Our results indicate that while the number of visits to the recording site decreased when no food was present, the fraction of visits including wheel running increased. This implies that wheel running can be experienced as REWARDING even without an associated food reward, suggesting the importance of motivational systems unrelated to foraging.” Does any of this seem vaguely familiar to you? If you notice a running path near your home, office, travel location, school, do you jump on and off as you can? Is running something you initially take-up to be able to take-in more calories without gaining weight, but continue with because it provides play or escape time? Do you run more after work in the dark if there’s an accessible well-lighted area? Does your outdoor running effort start to increase in the spring or early summer and peak in late summer or autumn? Not all humans love to run; it’s probable that not every mouse loves running. If provided with the human version of a “wheel” (nice running path or trail, fair weather, time away from unpleasant duties, encouragement of friends or family, or new shoes, for example) are we more likely to run for the joy of experiencing a “consummatory behavior”? I say YES! Start planning now to set up conditions that will allow you to take advantage of everything spring, summer, and autumn offer in terms of enjoyable outdoor exercise. Run, walk, hike, ruck, swim, golf, waterski, play tennis, surf, and cycle. Mix activities or binge on one. Pay attention to preventing injury with supporting activities like stretching, balance and strength training, flexibility work, and recovery time. Maybe we can escape the mentality of being trapped in the ‘cage’ of everyday routine If, like mice, when we see a ‘wheel’ we get on it and run. And don’t spend time worrying that habitual running is unnatural. RUN HAPPY! ScienceNews reported on the study: https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/wild-things/mice-really-do-run-wheels . http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/281/1786/20140210 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypy ‘Many may be familiar with this style from the early days in which it mostly described the growing trend of women and girls wearing ’yoga’ pants to any activity outside the studio.
Brian Metzler writes about how running shoe brands are capitalizing on the broader trend for Competitor.com in his article “Traditional Shoe Brands Taking On Athleisure Style”. He begins, by asking “What the heck is “athleisure”? Metzler speaks mostly to the term’s use regarding footwear. He says, it’s “given to shoes, apparel and accessories that are athletically inspired but really meant for more casual, lifestyle use. In other words, they’re high-tech sneakers that are comfortable and chill without looking overly sporty.” He credits the 2004 Nike Free performance shoe line designed for barefoot or natural running with inspiring the move that placed fashion and comfort ahead of finishing first. Personally, I think we can look way back to when Keds™ white ‘tennis’ shoes were worn off the court to the origins of this trend. I recall applying white liquid polish that nurses used on their shoes to keep mine looking good in that era. What about Converse™ high-tops? It appears that the key to the distinction made by Metzler is that the new trend involves “high-tech”. He features Nike’s other “iterations" of the Free and its Roshe Run Two shoe, Hoka One One’s Hupana, and ASICS fuzeX Rush, and mentions that Adidas and ASICS as also having offerings. A search of the internet brings up myriad articles on the topic from fashionistas and suave menswear experts of what’s cool and trendy. How to decide what to buy and wear with all that input? To me the strategy is simple and something I’ve felt discouraged from doing for years! Select a running or other sporty shoe to wear casually BASED ON LOOKS or EMOTION, without reading guides or tester recommendations. If you like the new all-black or all-white trends, either one works. Want a minimalist shoe with crazy colors, try one on. Not a triathlete but love a pair designed for this sport? No problem! Admire an athlete and yearn for the shoes he or she is promoting? Go for them. You don’t need to hop on the treadmill in a specialty store with the potential pair and have your gait analyzed, or worry if a shoe will increase your chance of injury. Just walk around a bit and choose for appearance, style, and comfort. Wear jeans, shorts, slacks, or leggings to shop; whatever clothes you plan to pair with this footwear. My guess is that running specialty stores will follow the dollar and stock more purely lifestyle shoes. Big department stores have ample offerings. Unlike shoes valued for performance, some of these models may be sale-priced for promotions, before next season's version makes them obsolete. Companies with mostly online sales, such as start-ups brands with a social or environmental conscience, are perfect for this purpose. Allbirds™, sustainably resourced wool shoes designed for leisure, were highlighted in this BLOG earlier in the year. Adidas Parley™ shoes, made from recycled ocean-polluting plastic in partnership with Parley For The Oceans organization, also featured here, might also be something you’d wish to show-off as casual wear. Don’t sweat the trend too much unless you enjoy spending time in this type of hot pursuit. For most. the ‘athleisure’ trend means we can have fun and stray away from pure performance shoe selections into the areas of ‘cool’, ‘trendy’, ‘hip’, and ‘old-school’, and ‘earth-friendly’. RUN HAPPY! http://running.competitor.com/2017/03/shoes-and-gear/traditiona-shoe-brands-taking-on-athleisure-style_163202 https://www.allbirds.com http://www.adidas.com/us/parley A post from March 2016 addressed the issue of how to run in an environmentally friendly way by highlighting a section on the FAQ page of the website (BELOW IN ITALICS). In addition there was discussion about the GREEN use of thrift store clothes, which is included as well:
I want to be "GREEN" as a competitive runner. How can I do this other than making sure I don't leave trash on my runs and when I race, and don't despoil the environment along the way? A: The general rules for being kind to the earth apply to running as they do to other activities, of course. Conserving energy in travel methods (carpooling, bicycling instead of driving alone to workouts or races, purchasing re-usable bottles rather than disposables, and cleaning up after yourself are just a few examples of how to be a good Earth citizen. Runners can shop at thrift stores to purchase race day shirts or jackets that will be left at the start line or along the course. They can urge race directors to skip giving 'goody' bags that are filled with flyers and throw-away advertisements. Running shoes can be recycled or given to charity. Medals can be donated or given as a personal gift to acknowledge the 'race' a non-runner struggles to win when facing a serious health problem (see GENEROSITY page) Earned Runs bibs can be used for more than one personal competition event; running a personal race near your home will most times not result in as much energy/resource consumption as one to which travel is required. Updated from the MARCH 3, 2016 post: A unique way that runners who race can help the planet involves clothes layering. Often participants in a race must get to the starting line site much earlier than race start time. The weather may be cooler or inclement. As the race starts and bodies warm with the effort of moving rather than standing still, runners may discard outer clothing layers. Spectator family or friends are sometimes tasked with finding these tossed articles on the roadside. Race organizers will collect unclaimed clothing and donate it to charities. This knowledge provides participants with an opportunity to contribute items, purposely wearing what they intend to give away and leaving it behind. Another related practice is to go before race day to second-hand stores, purchase low-cost donated jackets or sweatshirts, wear them as outermost but disposable layers that can be shed, picked up by race personnel, and donated once again. Kind of a race-day-recycling effort. Not sure how the race personnel feel about this, though. Any comments? Taking thrift store fashion in a different direction, some runners are keen on finding classic old school running apparel in antique and charity-run secondhand shops, and wearing them instead of buying never-worn new clothes. This works well for clothes safely worn in situations in which high-tech fabrics are not needed for performance. Runner's World ran a "HUMAN RACE" item in the 2016 March issue that featured Tara Ehlis, co-owner of SPOOL NO. 72, a women's online boutique in Wenatchee WA. The piece describes how she searches thrift shops for vintage running clothes for her personal use, the most prized being throwback track jackets. If I find myself in such a store I now look for these items for myself and others, but have not yet discovered treasure. True sportswear classics, more than 20 years old, will mostly be found in the menswear section and make great gifts. Comment about ways you have found to be a GREEN RUNNER. RUN HAPPY! . http://www.earned-runs.com/blog/website-wednesday-faq-being-green http://www.dontpayfull.com/at/spool72.com/newsletter/meet-founder-spool-active-313528 “WEIGHT CLASS DIVISION” categories, no longer called “Clydesdale” and “Athena”. The post of March 30, 2017 featured the Williams Route 66 Half Marathon in Tulsa OK because it had swept the 100 Half Marathon Club’s annual survey awards, winning many of the categories.
Because registration for the 2017 mid-November event was to open the next day, there was a bit of discussion about the race and possible reasons why it was so popular amongst this group’s members. That “Clydesdale” and “Athena” classes were to be awarded was mentioned with a link to an article explaining a bit about the topic. Since writing that post I discovered the linked RunnersWorld.com article had been written before rule changes were made by the USA Triathlon organization (USAT; not the USA Track and Field organization, USATF), which determines eligibility. Also, the rules language had also been updated by USAT. The current rules do not employ the names “Clydesdale” or Athena” but more descriptively refer to them within the context of a “weight class division”, with “weight class categories for men and women”, in age categories of “39 years of age and under and 40 years of age and over”. The weight requirements also changed. The current rules state that in “events where a weight class division is offered, the minimum weight shall be 220 pounds for men and 165 pounds for women, monitored by the event organizer.” Initially, in my searching online to find the exact rules, it was not apparent TO ME that the sport of triathlon governing body (USAT) had initiated this new weight class. I stumbled on this fact after belatedly realizing the rules-making organization responsible for determining weight categories was NOT the USATF . Other online information indicated that several years ago there had been a change regarding the weight requirement and a language adjustment in this division. I needed to get the facts straight, the reason for this follow-up post . The 2017 USA Track and Field rules do not officially identify a weight division. It seems that some event organizers of distance running events have unofficially followed the triathletes example and chosen to offer these award classes as well. As with triathletes, only distance runners who voluntarily place themselves in weight categories are identified as competing within this division. Change comes slowly, and perhaps the rules change that abandoned using the names “Clydesdale” and “Athena” for triathlon events has not yet made it to all distance running events, as it was used in the 2017 brochure of the Route 66 races. There are likely many opinions on whether it’s a good idea to offer a weight division in races. That’s another totally different discussion. What do you think? RUN HAPPY! To learn more about the “USA Triathlon, the National Governing Body for the sport of triathlon, and different parts of multisport” rules you can follow this link. The specific rule about age group competition that addresses Weight Class Division Is Article III, 3.2. https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Triathlon/About/Multisport/Competitive-Rules Are you looking for an opportunity to run a personal race? Here’s another suggestion from the Earned Runs EVENTS list posted on the RESOURCES page:
April 7, 2017 NATIONAL WALK TO WORK DAY EFFORT This national day was officially declared by US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy G. Thompson, in 2004. Participating in this holiday means you are willing to spend 30 minutes walking. If you tend to work on your computer at a coffee shop ‘office’ on many days, that’s a great spot to finish! This event could be the trial run for a potential summer challenge in which you walk 30 minutes to work (or part of the way) and back at least one day a week. A summer challenge should represent a physical effort that, performed in the warmer and usually dryer weather of this season, allows enjoyment of the outdoors and extra daylight and introduces pleasant variety into your exercise life. You’ll be reminded often that spring is the season to plan for summer! REQUEST BIBS NOW so they are ready to use on a spur of the moment decision to act! Very few organized races permit this kind of flexibility, so take advantage of the free offer. RUN HAPPY! http://www.earned-runs.com/resources.html http://www.earned-runs.com/request-bibscontact.html WEEK 12 HALF MARATHON + ‘SAINTS DAYS’ TRAINING PLAN STARTS
Your long run is into double digits this week! Can you believe yourself? Wow. This calls for a celebration AND A FOAM ROLL. You might start to consider performing an abbreviated rolling session on the areas that tend to bother you before running, and a full session afterward. You can foam roll the next day as well, if still feeling a bit sore. Congratulations for all the progress made this far. RUN HAPPY! See RESOURCES page for FOAM ROLLING links, including "5 Minute Warm-up With A Foam Roller " by Shane Barnard for Under Armor's MyFitnessPal.com. CORRECTION!!!! If you have not noticed, the calendar dating on this plan has been incorrect. The last day of training is not May 14 but May 20. And, beginning with week 12 (this week) the Sunday/week start dates were wrong by about 6 days. Those mistakes have been corrected and the updated plans on the RESOURCES page. SO VERY SORRY! If you notice something is amiss please comment so it can be changed and not a source of confusion. I sincerely hope this does not mess with your race plans. Theres a long taper. If you need to subtract a week of training, WEEK 15 could be skipped. Thanks. HALF MARATHON WITH "SAINTS DAYS" 5K +10K TRAINING PLAN Part 2 (CORRECTED) MY ‘SUMMER’ RUNNING STREAK was started March 22. There’s no significance to that day, other than it was as good as any day to take up a challenge that would worry me until it began. March 20, the first day of spring, had already passed, one of the ‘marker’ days I had intended to initiate this nice-weather daily routine. April 1 was the next ‘marker’ day that seemed to be right for beginning a one mile/day running commitment. However, I was also anxious activities on that day would also present some type of barrier, since it was a travel day. And so on.
Every future possible ‘marker’ day (meaning there was some significance to the day by which the start would be marked) was causing worry. To avoid ongoing anxiety over something so trivial, I just got STARTED. No one was alerted, no announcement was issued, no tally was recorded until 3 consecutive days of effort were made. On that 3rd day I acknowledged I had a streak going to myself. On the 4th day my husband was told to expect a delay in our setting out on an errand until after it was completed. Then it was official. Today, April 1, seemed like a good ‘marker’ day to admit it to everyone else. In retrospect, this approach to starting a challenge might seem silly. But it’s one approach you might consider if you are fretting over starting a new routine like a running challenge. As the prospect of beginning looms before THE START DAY, overthinking potential difficulties can generate such craziness that we sabotage our well-meaning selves. The FIRST PART of the approach might be, if there’s no specific reason to delay, to simply start. Pronto. As NIKE is famous for saying, “JUST DO IT”™. The SECOND PART of the approach involves keeping goals confidential until personally satisfied you are on track to success. Many running articles advise enlisting the support of family and friends in advance of training for a goal race to ensure adherence to the plan. The opposite might be more helpful. A research study from way back in 1995 measured exercise adherence in 50-65 year olds. Only the abstract was available, so details were scarce. However, I was surprised to see that the summarized findings backed-up what I found to be true for myself. The results indicated that exercise adherence was better when support was given specifically for exercise (like training for a race) compared with general social support (like believing in yourself)*. Early on, in the first 6 months of the program, adherence was BETTER among those who preferred a LESSER amount of support from exercise staff (like a trainer). After 6 months (7-12 months), those who received support from both family/friends and exercise staff benefitted more. Home-based programs were associated with greater adherence. I AGREE WITH what the study abstract seems to show, that initially it may be better to QUIETLY decide to commit to a goal and start moving forward without a lot of outside attention and hoopla. There’s plenty of time (maybe not as long as 6 months?) to garner support for a specific running goal, after a few lower-level goals have been met to increase your personal confidence (getting out regularly and following a plan) that the ultimate goal is within reach. Part of this post was lifted from a 2015 BLOG post which discussed an article on how to make training a habit from Makenzie Lobby Havey on ACTIVE.com. For the entire post see the link below. Whatever challenges you are contemplating for the summer, determine whether an abrupt early start may be more beneficial to you than anticipating and waiting for that special marker day in the future. You may want to share knowledge of your intentions with only a few close supporters initially, after proving to yourself you can handle the commitment. RUN HAPPY! “Sources of social support as predictors of exercise adherence in women and men ages 50-65 years.” by Oka RK, King AC, Young DR https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9373378 “Making a habit of your training” BLOG post December 16, 2015. http://www.earned-runs.com/blog/making-a-habit-of-your-training |
BRIDGE TO PHYSICAL SELF
Running, walking, and fitness activities enable us to experience our physical selves in a world mostly accessed through use of fingers on a mobile device. AuthorEARNED RUNS is edited and authored by me, runner and founder. In 1978 I began participating in 10K road races before 5Ks were common. I've been a dietitian, practiced and taught clinical pathology, and been involved with research that utilized pathology. I am fascinated with understanding the origins of disease as well as health and longevity. Archives
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