When a marathon race website indicates “rolling hills” for the course, participants should be prepared for hills, hills and more hills.
That was the lesson I learned at the inaugural Horse Capital Marathon and Half Marathon, held May 16 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Boston Marathon qualifier was the first race held in the area in 35 years. I wonder if Lexington was any flatter back in 1980. Continue Reading →
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent medical conditions treated in the United States and throughout the western world.
It is also the most common source of pain for runners. Runners often suffer from low back pain due to prolonged sitting and weak core muscles.
LBP can be safely self-treated if you handle your pain and symptoms quickly. In this post you will learn how to implement prevention strategies during exercise in order to avoid episodes of LBP. Continue Reading →
Each long-distance athlete will have his or her own personal preference of the gel that works best when they need a boost of carbs and energy. Here’s a comparison of three of the more common ones.
By Henry Howard
Look around you at your next long-distance race. Runners come in all shapes, sizes and outfits. Runners who are tall. Runners who are small. Runners wearing bright hues. Runners wearing dark blues.
It’s like a Dr. Seuss collection of characters. And, oh, the places they’ll go. Continue Reading →
The emerging company’s trail shoes are durable and comfortable. They perform well for the weekend warrior and elite mountain running champion Joe Gray.
By Henry Howard
I didn’t see the stick hidden in the dirt of the shady trail during the early second half of a 16-mile training run. But I felt it lodge into the top of my sneaker between my toes and top of my foot.
The stick knocked me off balance so much that all four limbs were flailing wildly about, although my right hand instinctively reached over to pause my Garmin. (First things first, right runners?) Continue Reading →
Runners repeatedly feed their mind with inspirational, motivational and even humorous sayings during long-distance training runs or races.
During my first marathon somewhere around Mile 16, I heard a bystander repeating to all the runners who came by her, “You can and you will.”
I really didn’t know what a mantra was at that point, but I kept repeating it in my head, and it turned out to be a mantra that I still use today.
Runners will often develop Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) after running on uneven terrain or downhill.
The pain, located on the lateral (outside) leg or knee, can be very debilitating to the point that running or hiking activities have to be stopped.
Even walking becomes difficult. If you handle your pain and symptoms quickly, ITBS can be easily self-treated.
This post will help you discover the risk factors for ITBS, and learn how to quickly return to your running routine with these self-treatment techniques. Continue Reading →
Steve Ross was obese, doped up on meds, and suffering from knee pain and headaches. Now he runs 100-milers that feel like marathons.
Last year Steve Ross ran 2,600 miles and is aiming for 3,000 in 2015.
Not bad for someone who has overcome major knee and back surgeries, obesity and an addiction to pain medications. Oh, and at one time, he had to walk with a cane. Continue Reading →
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Cigarettes. Drug addiction. Obesity.
As a kid, O’Ryan played football and wrestled. When he was 14, he suffered stress fractures in his L1 and L2 vertebrae. That’s when things took a drastic turn.
“I started smoking weed and drinking,” O’Ryan says. “As I got older my drug use got more and more serious. I got clean when I was 19. I was still pretty unhealthy for a while. I smoked cigarettes and ate pretty terribly. After about two years clean I stopped smoking and started trying to get healthier.” Continue Reading →
Plantar fasciitis, a very painful and debilitating condition, is commonly experienced by runners in the spring as many runners begin to taper up mileage in preparation for the spring and early summer racing season.
A sudden increase in mileage along with a transition from indoor running (either on a track or treadmill) onto harder surfaces (such as concrete or asphalt) can cause microscopic injury to the plantar fascia.
This results in swelling and pain. Plantar fasciitis is more common in older runners, but it can occur to anyone at any age. It typically begins as a mild discomfort which grows steadily and quickly to the point that a person may struggle to walk, stand, and especially run.
In this post you will discover the risk factors for plantar fasciitis, and learn how to quickly return to your running routine with these self-treatment techniques. Continue Reading →
Kelly Roberts hottie hunting
Perspective is a wonderful thing. Sometimes when we fall short of our major goals, we have to keep in mind that we run because others cannot.
By Henry Howard
I am fortunate to have a job in which I travel and interview some amazing people. I’m even more fortunate that I get to combine the travel with visiting some really cool places and collecting new experiences. Continue Reading →
Davonda Williams balances raising her daughter, fulfilling her job and maintaining her fitness as she aims to finish half-marathons in the U.S. and Europe.
By Henry Howard
Ask Davonda Williams about how she got started running and she laughs. Williams then goes on to explain about a man she used to date who was “always talking about his ex-girlfriend” who was a runner.
“And it started to irritate me,” Williams says cheerfully. “So the first 5K I signed up for was more about me being able to say, ‘Hey, I can run too!’ I am going to show him. And show her. And show everybody.” Continue Reading →
