Hot or Cold: They Still Hit The Pavement

  Snow, rain, wind and humidity. Runners deal with the weather. They have no choice, unless one wants to be confined to the treadmill. Running in place towards no destination or escaping the confinements of the house and running trails in the great outdoors. The answer is simple, runners will go through anything to stay outside. 

    A rule of thumb, for many, is to dress for temperatures 10 degrees higher than the actual temperature. About 20 minutes into the run, the body temperature goes up. One becomes adjusted to the outdoor weather, be it hot or cold. With a racing heart, pumping muscles and limbs in motion, runners sweat. It does not matter if the thermometer reads 15 degrees or 75, the sweat glands set in motion to keep the body from overheating. 

    If the weather is cold sweating can cause a cold or worse, pneumonia. This problem can only be dealt with by using dry-fit clothing products, which absorbs sweat. Nike, ReeBok, Adidas and every other sports brand carry a line of exercise clothing made of this material. The fabric keeps warmth in and allows sweat to be absorbed by the air. These clothing articles help to keep sweat from coating the body and to diminish the chances of getting sick. Hats and gloves help to keep the heat inside one’s body and cold wind from chaffing the skin. When going out in the winter, the chosen clothing tells how long and hard the workout will be.

    During the rest of the year, if one overdresses a heatstroke can occur. Dry-fit clothing is also recommended in the spring and summer. Cotton absorbs sweat, therefore weighing down the runner with heavy clothing that sticks to their body like glue. The light weight, airy clothing keeps sweat off the body. It allows the skin to breathe and not be weighed down with sweat and grime. In any temperature, the results from wearing the clothes are ideal. 

    An option runners have in the winter is to be stuck on the treadmill. The advantages and disadvantages keep many outdoors, but also appeal to those who are running to lose weight. While treadmill running is weatherproof and easily adjusts to hills running and speed, many complain of the lack of adventure. Part of running outside is to enjoy the air and discover new places along routes. Treadmills are blamed for knee and joint problems, but running outdoors cause injuries as well. The decision comes from a personal level. However many choose to brave the weather to stay outside. 

    Running is a sport that can be accomplished in any season, given the runner has proper clothing and accessories. This being the case, thousands of people chose this for their weight loss project, family exercise event or just because they are addicted to the runner’s high. Weather may slightly defer people for a few days, who wants to run on three inches of ice? In the long run though, the outdoors beckons many people outside their doors and keeps them at it year round. 


Are you an outdoor or indoor runner? Have you tested the Dry-fit clothing this year- if so, what did you think?

Sources:

"Treadmill Running." Complete Marathon Running Training Programs - Marathon Training - Running Planet. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. <http://www.runningplanet.com/>.

The 3.1 Miles of Torture or Fun

Glistening sweat, pulsating veins and worn out legs. Add a heaving set of lungs and a 3.1 mile course, and you have got a cross country race. Cross country is becoming a popular sport, one that requires little more than self endurance. Of course talent adds to the thrill of the race, and winning is nice as well, but many runners both young and old enjoy the sport of running. 

  They join teams and clubs around the country. They race in 5Ks, half marathons and full marathons. The thrill of running and pushing one’s body past it’s furthest limit brings many to the dark side of running. The dark side is going on a run that is farther than a simple four or five mile jaunt. The dark side is called cross country.

  While many do not categorize running into the sports section, it is considered a legitimate sport. The hard work that one completes while training for a distance race is considered to be one of the most difficult types of training out there. Some days a runner may hit the pavement twice, other days they go out three times. Time splits and hill workouts add a layer of toughness to the physique of runners.

  Ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes puts running into perspective for the non believers.

  “If it comes easy, if it doesn’t require extraordinary effort, you’re not pushing hard enough: it’s supposed to hurt like hell.”

  Not only do they run, they lift weights that target key muscles used when racing. Hours are spent at the gym while sore muscles are put to the test, repetition after repitition. Their endurance limit is pushed daily, they always go past the point of exhaustion and pain. Practicing for this sport is the same as any other team on the list. The difference is in order to be a runner, the main necessities consist of a good pair of shoes, a stop watch and running apparel. A ball is not needed and there is no specific uniform or direct rules of the game. 

  The freedom that comes with running draws many fanatics into the circle. You decide when and where to run. The mileage is up to you, not anyone else. After starting out, if your feet are sore or cramps are building up in the calves, you can slow down and settle for a fast paced walk. The choices are endless. Competition is out there, but so are the fun runs that allow one to log in their mileage for the week without worrying about the finishing time. 

  Cross country allows runners to race on the grass and find relief from the hard pavement. It calms the nerves and is used as a good way of letting off steam. The force that drives us out of our comfy homes and into the darkness of the early morning is still a compelling mystery. The freedom of cross country, however, makes it less of a secret and more of a known fact to the running gurus. 

What does running do for you? Is cross country a sport/hobby you enjoy?

  Information and opinions from:

Karnazes, Dean. Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-night Runner. New York: J.P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2005.     Print.

The Young Runner

  The sport of running can be cultivated at a young age. Many young children join their school’s track and field team in the early spring of each year. It could possibly be the “cool” team that popular kids join. It could be the fact that many kids are not hand and eye coordinated, and track and field is the only sport that they can handle. Regardless of a child’s reason to run, parents need to allow it and nurture their goals.

Looking into the past, there have technically been two “running booms” in society. The first, in the mid 1970s, was due to middle aged baby boomers wanting to lose a few pounds and get into shape. The second boom in the early 1990s consisted of women, the daughters of baby boomers. They wanted to lose weight and be bikini body ready. Instead of worrying about times, like their fathers, this boom focused on the distance and mileage. They were more concerned about finishing a marathon than what the final time was. The next boom of runners will be the grandchildren of the baby boomers, today’s children.

While many experts say running at such a young age can be harmful to the body and cause lasting injuries, one has to think of the consequences of not running. Heart disease, obesity and blood pressure problems will occur without proper exercise and a healthy diet. So what is worse? Slight muscle damage in the leg or heart disease requiring daily antibiotics and therapy? The choice should be obvious, especially to those wanting to live a healthy and long life. It is a known fact that active children will lead a better lifestyle, therefore becoming a role model to the couch potatoes. Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D. says daily exercise, starting at a young age, can add six to nine years to one’s life.

If youngsters are actively involved in a sport, their free time is limited. This reduces the chances of young gangsters, violence and drug use. Running is a sport that requires nothing more than sturdy shoes, a T-shirt and shorts. A team is not needed, there are no set rules and one can run for as long as they want to. This is why so many kids hit the pavement, and why they continue this sport in their adult life. Although skeptics wonder if daily exercise is healthy in young children, the benefits outweigh any injury that may result from running. Simply running two laps around the track, an 800-meter race, gets the heart pumping and muscles working.

Questions to ponder:

1. Does running seem to be the answer to prevent childhood obesity?

2. Do the negatives outweigh the positives in starting out as a young runner?

Sources:
Higdon, Hal. "Kids Running." Hal Higdon. 2002. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.halhigdon.com/kidsrunning/index.htm>.

Runner's World: Running Shoes, Marathon Training, Racing. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.runnersworld.com/>

Ouch! This Hurts

  Every runner has at least one goal in common: to run injury and pain free. According to Runner’s World Magazine, there are many injuries runners deal with constantly.
  One injury spot that about 40percent of runners complain about is Runner’s Knee. Also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), this is the irritation in the cartilage under the kneecap. Overweight runners are more prone to this injury, which usually flairs up during a long run or by doing a simple act such as walking down a flight of stairs. Shortening one’s stride and reducing weekly mileage helps this pain to subside. 
  Another common injury is Achilles tendinitis. This occurs when the Achilles tendon, which connects two major calf muscles to the back of the heel, tightens and becomes irritated. The act of a tendon tightening and causing pain is simply called tendonitis. Runners who have weak calves and up their mileage too quickly are susceptible to this. Applying ice five times a day and completing calf strengthening exercises help to alleviate the pain and prevent future injury.
   “Shinsplints”, the word runners cringe at makes up at least 15percent of running injuries, according to Runners World. This can be compared to a hammer pounding nails around the tibia, shin bone. This injury is most common in new runners and those who do not stretch their lower leg muscles properly after a run. Ice, rest and pain killers are the best antidote. People also use Kinseo Tex tape to tape their shin and foot, aligning the tibia and foot together. Many runners simply take time off until the pain subsides, then venture out with low mileage and leg strengthening exercises.
  Last but not least, the stress fracture is one of the most serious running injuries. Stress fractures develop from cumulative strain on the bone. Popular areas for this to occur are in the tibias, feet or heels. Over training and low calorie intake may result in this injury. Women are more prone to this than men, due to the lack of nutrition and estrogen levels. The only way to rehab this is to take it slowly. Many runners with this injury are off their feet for a few months. Once one can walk with no pain, jump and skip however they like, they are ready to run again. This is hard to control because many do not take the time off and end up reinjuring themselves before being fully healed.
  Running is a tough sport, one where any type of injury is possible. Runner’s World Magazine comes out with a monthly issue, and all of them have a dedicated section to the prevention and healing of popular problems faced by runners. The key, they say is to take the time off and listen to your body.  


Questions to ponder?
Is running really worth the injury risk?
If you are a runner, how do you deal with these and other injuries, while staying in shape?

Sources
Bradford, Stuart. "The Big 7 Body Breakdowns." Runners World Mar. 2011: 50-60. Web.

"Injury Prevention." Runner's World: Running Shoes, Marathon Training, Racing. Web. 06 Apr. 2011. http://www.runnersworld.com/.

Why these idiots run

They lace their laces up around 4 a.m., while the rest of their family sleeps in their comfy beds. A few swigs of water, a handful of trail mix, earplugs in and off they go, into the darkness. Owls hoot softly in the background and few cars pass by on the typically busy road. Out of breath, heart pumping and six miles later, the run is complete and their day has begun.

Many non-runners question why this sport is practiced with such high dedication and enthusiasm. Aside from being completely crazy, the health benefits of running outweigh each aching muscle and horrendous calf cramps. Everyone has a different reason for running. According to http://www.therunnersguide.com/benefitsofrunning/, these benefits may include weight loss, improved cardiovascular and bone health, improved mood and better coordination. Running, an extremely taxing exercise on one’s body, burns more calories than walking, biking or yoga. An adult can go out for a two to three mile run and end up burning 200 to 300 calories. Factors play into how many calories are burned per mile, but the safe bet is around 100.

This sport keeps the muscles pulsing, the blood flowing and the heart pounding. Improvements on one’s physic is noticeable after a few weeks of dedicated running. The Runner’s Guide.com goes on to show how running improves each part of the body. From stronger bones to a lean core, running is a sport that touches every inch of one’s body, enabling them to become a different person. 

A man known throughout the running and fitness community, Dean Karnazes has his own reasons for running. Having run thousands of miles, countless marathons and ultramarathons, Karnazes is a hero to many and the source of inspiration that gets runners out of bed in the morning. When asked why he runs 100 miles at a time, his answer was not simple. 

“Running has as much power over me as I have over running. Sometimes, when I haven’t run for several days, the balance is shifted as running gains the upper hand. I run to see how far I can go. I run because it’s my way of giving back to the world by doing the one thing it is I do best,” said Karnazes.

Karnazes jumps out of bed at three in the morning to go on an easy two hour run. He runs races to raise money for charities and to promote organizations. He pushes his body past any limit once previously set in order to achieve his goal. His activeness in the running world gives him credentials, especially when it comes to the reasons one puts themselves through this. 

When runners are asked why they run, their words tend to stumble out of their mouths, not making much sense. There is the ordinary runner, who is in it to be healthy and have a form of outdoor exercise. There are some who despise the gym, and therefore are forced to pound the pavement. Then there are the crazy ones. They are people who do it for the endorphin high and who own nothing more than shorts, T-shirts and a pair of $140 speciality running shoes. 

Sources:

Hopple, John. "The Health Benefits." Running Guides - Training For Runners - The Runner's Guide. 12 Nov. 2010. Web. 01 Apr. 2011. <http://www.therunnersguide.com/>.

Karnazes, Dean. Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an All-night Runner. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin, 2005. Print.