When running, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out where to put your phone. After all, you want to be able to listen to music or track your progress, but you also don’t want to carry your phone in your hand or stuff it into your pocket. Fortunately, there are several options available for runners looking to keep their phones close at hand.
Read the rest of this entry »Whether you’re looking for a new way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise or you’ve made a fresh commitment to becoming more active, trail running is a rewarding and fun activity. However, you can’t run at your peak level without proper hydration, regardless of your fitness level. Here are some methods to getting the best run and staying hydrated on your longer runs.
Follow the General Rule
If you are having a hard time getting the most out of your running program maybe it is time you take a peek at some of the best abs exercises we found for runners. While the rectus abdominus muscles, also known as the ‘six pack’, may look pretty and well toned, they are the least important part of your middle as it relates to running. The deep abs (transversus abdominis), muscles along the spine, the spine-pelvis connector muscles, external, and internal obliques combine to be the key to core stabilization. You need more than just crunches to train these parts of the core; you need the best abs exercises if you want the best results. Read the rest of this entry »
I was recently interviewed about trail running and featured on the RunningShoes.com Blog. Hopefully, it comes in handy for anyone interested in trail running.
Running on a path carved out by Mother Nature can prove to be much more of a challenge than that man-made track at the gym. Prepping for such a run requires additional planning and equipment.
Experienced trail runner Phong Chieng, who blogs about his outdoor excursions at Trail Running Blog, joins us this week to answer those questions. After running cross country for three years in high school as a way to stay out of trouble after school, Chieng has continued to train and blog. He shares tips on trail running, blogging and gear. Read the rest of this entry »
Note: this was written January 31, but stuck in my drafts this whole time, what’s up with that? Anyways..
I didn’t even have a full week to celebrate my terrific showing at the Carlsbad Half before I had to get sick with a cold. On Wednesday morning after my run (just three days after my race), I noticed my nose running a little. It got worse when I was at work and was sneezing all day (and I’m a loud sneezer too!) I also played about 2 hours of basketball that night, which probably wasn’t the best idea, especially since I haven’t played in almost 6 months. I was already sore that night, so I had planned to just sleep in the next morning since I would be extra sore and getting extra sleep should help my body recover. I was still sneezing the next day at work and I started to get the ‘cold voice’, which I personally like. I was coughing a little too, but not to the point where I got chest pains every time it happened. I decided to take Friday off as well, just to be safe. But by this time, my legs were itching for a run already. So on Saturday, despite having to endure a never ending runny nose, I decided to go out for an easy trot. And it went surprisingly well. My pace may have been very slow, but I was happy I was out sweating off all the calories I didn’t get to burn off for the past two days. My breathing felt very normal and heart rate looked fine too. So I’m sitting here now wondering if the day’s run helped my body get better or just made it worse. So I decided to read what others had to say and their experiences with running while being sick, specifically with a cold.
To prevent sweat from irritating your eyes while working or running, there are a few effective strategies you can try. One popular method is wearing a sweatband, which acts as a barrier and absorbs excess perspiration. Additionally, consider wearing a well-ventilated baseball cap with a liner to help divert sweat away from your face. Another useful tip is to apply a thin line of clear lip balm or petroleum jelly just above your eyebrows. This creates a protective barrier that helps redirect sweat away from your eyes. By implementing these techniques, you can keep sweat at bay and maintain clear vision during your work activities.
I read an article on Runner’s World not too long ago (awesome magazine btw, really feel bad for neglecting it recently..) about running in the heat and how hot weather affect runners. An experiment was conducted where a runner ran an hour at 8:30 min/mile on consecutive days, one at 53 degree temperatures and the next at 90 degrees. “On the hot run, my heart rate, temperature, and sweat loss spiked to levels that diminish performance while increasing health risks” I can totally relate from a run just the other day and another reason why I prefer running at night.
The topic of this post is about the sweat loss that occurs during a run and how to avoid getting that sweat in your eyes, which always seems to burn for some reason. According to that same article, at 53 degree temperatures, the runner lost 27.05 ounces during that hour run. But at 90 degree temperatures, he lost 54.10 ounces. I just pictured a regular, 20 ounce bottle of Gatorade and was amazed that I lose 1-2 bottles of sweat, how crazy is that?! Anyways, as I have been increasing my mileage, I have noticed how often sweat will get in my eyes and burn, making it hard to see. I have to keep wiping the sweat out of my eyes throughout the run, which just gets annoying. So I posed the question on Twitter and DailyMile and got some great responses. Read the rest of this entry »
Shin splints are a very common leg injury that most runners will get at one point or another in their running career. This isn’t something that deters dedicated runners from choosing this as a career. Of course, if runners take the right precautions, they can avoid such such a painful injury. The official definition of shin splints is “pain along the shinbone (tibia) – the large bone at the front of your lower leg.” (MayoClinic) I unfortunately was not able to prevent it and got shin splints right when I started running, didn’t treat or take care of the injury the right way and ended up having a less than stellar first year of running than I would have expected.
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