Stephanie Laska after winning the Athena Division at the Modesto Marathon
To back up a bit, I’ve lost half of my body weight. Yep, 50%. I currently weigh in the 140s you do the math. I did not have surgery or use any medication.
I lost an average of 10 lbs per month. My journey took about a year and a half. I’ve kept off the weight for three years, and counting. .. Continue Reading →
Running on the machine offers up some benefits when it gets too cold or icy to be out on the roads or trails.
By Henry Howard
OK, so I couldn’t actually justify using the word “love” in the headline as was used in the Dr. Strangeglove movie title that gave me the inspiration for this story.
But I did find that running on the treadmill was actually palatable during bitter winter days or when sidewalks and roads still had icy spots.
Not as enjoyable mind you as an outdoor run in spring or fall when the temperature feels just right. And certainly not as enjoyable as an invigorating trail run. Continue Reading →
Imagine how much the average person actually slouches during a day.
Slouching during breakfast, then hunched over the kitchen sink to wash dishes, slouching while driving a car, and then slouching while sitting at work or at a school desk.
Don’t forget about slouching while texting, watching TV or using the computer. When you are not slouching, you’re bending over to clean or pick up children and/or pets. The list of slouching possibilities is endless!
Now envision your running posture. Does it look any different? Many of us run in a forward head and rounded shoulders position–a slouched posture! Runners experience many of the same aches and pains as their sedentary counter parts. Upper back and neck pain is a common occurrence. The most typical cause is almost always poor posture. Continue Reading →
Rochelle Moncourtois hit rock bottom and entered rehab to beat her addiction. She emerged on a quest to complete an Ironman.
By Henry Howard
Rochelle Moncourtois was a very competitive dancer when she was growing up. She completed her first solo when she was 8 years old, and went on to compete on her high school dance and cheerleading teams.
But demons raged underneath her smile and positive outlook.
“I used to handle the pressure very well,” Moncourtois says. “Around my junior-senior year of high school things really started to change for me. I really felt all the pressures from dance to look a certain way. I turned to an eating disorder for comfort, but it just wasn’t enough. That’s when I began to find comfort in drinking.” Continue Reading →
Here’s something we’ve never talked about on the MTA blog -contributed by MTA fan Adolfo Salgueiro.
I had the opportunity to visit Europe recently and of course I looked for a race. I was going to be in The Hague, Netherlands, and God smiled at me with the Den Haag Marathon on the exact same weekend I was there. I ran the half. It was an unbelievable experience. The most beautiful course in one of the prettiest and quaintest cities I’ve ever visited.
But one of the memories that has endured from my experience in the Den Haag race is kind of a weird one. The urinals at the starting area, which was in a public park. Yes, urinals. And not just at the starting line but also in many public places as permanent structures throughout several cities in The Netherlands. Continue Reading →
A pool accident sidelined Jill Becker as she transitioned from high school to college running. She’s fought back with patience and perseverance, and now runs faster and longer than before.
By Henry Howard
Jill Becker found her passion — running — when she joined the middle school track team. Later, she excelled on the high school cross-country and track teams.
“First off, I love to run,” she says. “I love the feeling. The ups and downs. The runner’s high, the accomplishment, the health benefits, the challenge, being a motivator, my idea time, my focus time, and it’s part of my routine. I enjoy challenging myself, pushing my limits, and the process of being the best I can be!”
A freak accident before Becker started college gave her the challenge of a lifetime. Continue Reading →
By his own estimation Adrian May is an “average runner.”
He started slow, signing up for 5Ks and similar shorter distances.
Then, based on a gym manager’s encouragement, May eventually signed up for half marathons and a marathon, even though he didn’t think he could finish.
Now, seemingly no distance is too challenging for May. But his efforts are not just about him, they are focused squarely on the charity — Hope for Children — that he supports through his running quests. Continue Reading →
Over the river and through the woods will take runners on a journey often more satisfying than a road run. Here’s what to know before you take to the trails.
By Henry Howard
If you are like me, you started out running on the roads or a treadmill. Your first race was probably a 5K on a paved road or maybe a paved trail in a community park.
Since those early days, I have gravitated toward running trails.
In fact, three of my nine long-distance races this year were trail runs — my first full marathon on a trail in Wisconsin, as well as two half marathons, one at night and one during the morning.
The most common cause of pain along the inside (medial) portion of your ankle when running may also be associated with the most common reason for adult acquired flatfoot.
It’s likely something most of us haven’t ever heard of before. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), also known as posterior tibial tendon syndrome or tibialis posterior syndrome, can develop into a tibialis posterior tendon insufficiency which causes a fallen arch. Continue Reading →
photo credit: Keith Facchino
By Henry Howard
Francesca Conte grew up in Italy where high school sports are not very well developed. Since then she has made up for lost time. Continue Reading →
By Henry Howard
There are varying points of view on whether compression socks actually help athletes, or whether they are merely a placebo.
By a fairly wide margin, online reviewers credit compression gear for assisting their recovery from hard workouts, providing endurance athletes support throughout competition and following through on promises of wicking away sweat. Continue Reading →
Last March I decided to start running pretty much on a whim. My Dad had signed up for the NYC Marathon, having already had run NYC and Philadelphia in recent years.
Throughout my childhood, I remember my Dad and his running. Running when we were on vacations, in extreme heat, and in icy temperatures during the frigid New Jersey winters.
My Dad was one of those crazy runners you hear about sometimes, never wanting to skip a day. To give an example, my Dad went out for a run during Hurricane Sandy as not to mess with his training schedule.
So one night last March, I asked my Dad whether or not he thought I could run the marathon. He said,
“Anybody could run a marathon if they put in the training,”
