marathon-related stories
Fit Test Drive: AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill
Photo: AlterG
When I found out I was getting to try the AlterG "anti-gravity" treadmill developed by NASA -- I think I told everyone I knew. Several times. The AlterG works by pumping air into a chamber that surrounds your body from the waist down. This increases the air pressure and that, in turn, lifts you up so that your feet feel less of your weight as you walk or run. Bring the pressure up enough and it's almost like walking in space. Pretty cool, right?
If you're in decent shape, and are just looking for a standard cardio, muscle-building session, there's not a ton of payoff to this contraption. The more body weight you carry when you exercise, the more burn and benefit you get, so removing weight without some purpose actually makes your workout less effective. However, if you've had a back or leg injury -- reducing your body's impact on the ground can alleviate that hurt. This means you can keep yourself in shape and slowly build back strength in a safe and non-painful way. (Indeed, the AlterG is being used in hospitals to help spinal cord injury patients retrain their bodies for movement.)
Additionally, if you're an athlete training for an endurance race like a marathon or triathlon, not only does the machine reduce the likelihood of stress-related injury, you can also use it to increase your speed and build up your non-dominant muscles. I found the reason for this fascinating: When we're responsible for less body weight, it's easier to loosen up and extend our stride, which increases the range and distribution of muscles we use. This, in turn, will translate to better performance back in the "real world." (Interestingly, the product's press materials say that overweight people can also benefit; it protects joints from weight-related stress, they may be able to work out for longer intervals.)
Vertical Marathons: Are You Up to Run This Race?
Would you run a vertical marathon? Photo: Bo Watson, Flickr
Though you might not have tried it, vertical marathons are actually fairly common. On November 15, if you're in the Chicago area, you can take part in Skyrise Chicago Tower Up at the Willis Tower. With 2109 steps, you'll be climbing North America's tallest set of stairs, and you can climb by foot or by using specially installed hand cycles. And lucky you -- they're still accepting registration!
The following weekend, Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2009 lets you race to the top of one of Southeast Asia's tallest hotels, located in Singapore. Last year, a new record for climbing the 73 stories was set at six minutes, 52 seconds. Think you can beat it? Registration for this year is closed.
New York City Moms Balance Work, Kids and Marathon
From left: Jessica Lebron, Bronx; Angela Gonzalez, Queens; Lisa Stavros DeFillipo, Staten Island; Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Olympian; Beth Segaloff, honorary member; Allyson Hentel-Koplin, Manhattan; Dorothy McPhee, Brooklyn.
Photo: Katherine Tweed
More than 40,000 people will run the ING New York City Marathon this Sunday. Among them will be working mothers chosen to represent all five of New York City's boroughs in the 2009 Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge Team. The women, some running the marathon for the first time, all have unique stories, but share the bonds of being fit, working mothers balancing all the demands that come with those roles. The team of five was also joined recently by another woman, Beth Segaloff, who recently lost her fiancé, Captain Ben Sklarver, just three weeks ago when he was deployed in Afghanistan. The women will run together for the first 13 miles, and then anyone can break away for the second half. The woman with the best time will win a trophy, and bragging rights. But none of these women are part of this team to brag. Instead, they find peace, motivation and solace in their commitment to running. That's Fit recently met the team, along with mom and marathon Olympian, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, to find out how, and why, they have made running such a critical part of their lives.
Detroit Marathon Deaths: Experts Weigh in on the Risk of Running
Photo: Susan Tusa, Detroit Free Press / MCT
People who run the 26.2 miles of a marathon or the 13.1 miles of a half-marathon are presumably in good shape. They're not expected to encounter anything more than fatigue and the occasional pulled muscle during a race. They are certainly not expected to die. That's what makes the deaths of three men at Sunday's Detroit Marathon so shocking.
Jon Fenlon, Daniel Langdon and Rick Brown, ages 26, 36 and 65, all collapsed and died within 16 minutes of each other during the last two miles of the half-marathon. Brown fell and hit his head, but the cause of his fall and the deaths of the others are still unknown. All three were reportedly in good health, according to family members.
Since the weather conditions at the race were ideal by a runner's standard -- overcast and in the 40's, some speculate cardiac arrest is to blame. Veteran running coach and exercise scientist, Roy Benson, warns us not to react too quickly though and point the finger at running. "Running doesn't cause heart attacks. Heart disease causes heart attacks."
Get Fit For A Good Cause
The best way to get fit? Doing something good for the world.
Edward Norton and Other Stars Running for a Cause
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Edward Norton recently announced that he's in training. This time, it's not for a movie role; rather, the actor is training to run the New York Marathon on November 1. While the actual feat of completing 26.2 miles is impressive (particularly considering the 40-year-old has never run a marathon before), he has another goal -- to raise money for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust.
Norton will be joined by a team of runners that includes three members of the Maasai tribe (one of whom could likely leave the group behind and finish in two and a half hours, Norton tells CNN. The "Fight Club" star became involved in the Maasai cause about eight years ago, and encourages his fans to donate to the cause.
"The money we raise is going to enable important and inspiring work that the Maasai are engaging in to show that wilderness and wildlife and healthy ecosystems can be integral to economic prosperity and the preservation of a traditional culture," he writes on the MWCT website. "There is a genuine threat to the future of that wildness if we don't collectively value it and engage with the people who live alongside it. Imagine having to explain to your grandchildren why those animals no longer exist." Hear more about what he has to say in the video above.
Ultra Endurance - How to Achieve It
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| Photo: Courtesy of Wellness Central |
That's Fit: Is doing an ultramarathon or other utlraendurance event a matter of training? If you can run a 10K or a marathon, do you just need to train longer and harder to do an ultramarathon?
Dean Karnazes: Physical training is only part of it. You also have to be mentally prepared. There is a race called the Western States One Day 100-Mile Endurance Run -- [which is] essentially 100 miles of wilderness trail running through the Sierra Nevada mountain range where they say that you run the first 50 miles with your legs, and the next 50 miles with your mind.
Marathon Jitters? Grab Some Nordic Walking Poles!
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| Photo: Portland Marathon |
Not only is this marathon consistently ranked in the top 10 in the country, Portland is also one of my favorite cities with its tax-free shopping and awesome restaurants. But there's another reason: Portland is the only U.S. marathon to sanction a division in Nordic walking, an activity I'm addicted to. As crazy as it sounds, it's also the Nordic Walking World Championship.
Survive a Marathon - The Walk-Run Method
Scared of marathons? I don't blame you -- the thought of running for 26.2 miles straight is pretty freakin' daunting. Heck, even the thought of running 10 miles non-stop seems like some sort of cruel masochistic punishment to many of us. Sure, maybe you're not a natural-born runner, but have no fear -- according to The New York Times, the Walk-Run Method is a way for regular Joes to get into long-distance running.
Most of us probably already do a version of this whenever we attempt to go for a jog -- as in, we run until we feel like we're going to die and then stop and stagger down the sidewalk, red-faced and gasping for air. But the Walk-Run Method is different -- you stop to walk at regular intervals, whether you're tired or not. If you're just starting, this might mean running for a minute, then walking for a minute -- as you get more experienced and increase your fitness level, though, the walk-to-run ratio will increase.
Intrigued? Click here for more information, and consider working this method into your fitness routine.
Most of us probably already do a version of this whenever we attempt to go for a jog -- as in, we run until we feel like we're going to die and then stop and stagger down the sidewalk, red-faced and gasping for air. But the Walk-Run Method is different -- you stop to walk at regular intervals, whether you're tired or not. If you're just starting, this might mean running for a minute, then walking for a minute -- as you get more experienced and increase your fitness level, though, the walk-to-run ratio will increase.
Intrigued? Click here for more information, and consider working this method into your fitness routine.
Are Charities Romanticizing Marathons?
You've probably been approached by multiple friends soliciting donations as they train for marathons in support of their beloved charities. You respectfully send what you can afford, secretly wishing you had the courage to try running, walking, cramping past that Wall to finish 26.2 miles. Raising funds for charity has taken marathon racing by storm, but is this trend better at setting the physical stage for lifelong running or churning out one-time charity marathoners at greater risk for injury?That's one question being raised over at the Chicago Tribune. One notable Chicago running expert thinks first-time runners should try shorter races before a marathon. Poor charity training and preparing too intensely too soon begs injuries and a marathon one-off experience, instead of mentoring novices toward lifetime participation. He's witnessed charities paying more attention to fundraising than properly training runners.
What are charity marathoners saying? I just posed this question to a friend who finished two charity marathons with Team in Training (TNT). In his experience, TNT was invested in proper training, walking, running or run/walking. He acknowledged it's possible charities could abuse their fundraising fleet, but his experience has shown otherwise.
Over 100 comments to the article were mixed. Some elite marathoners criticize that slow-paced charity runners have no business attempting a marathon -- it's a race, not a fun run. Many philanthropic finishers bristle at that claim, retorting they train right, deserve their bib number and have fallen in love with the sport. After sifting through the comments, marathon snobs should unlace their running shoes in shame. If the charity training program is responsible, you line up right and the race has no time limit, who cares if you run, jog, walk/jog or walk/crawl to the finish by dusk? You've got more guts than me, and have raised major cash for an important cause. Oh, and it's OK to take a double-digit score on a Par 3 teeing off with an orange ball, too.
Your charity marathoner thoughts?
DNF - Black Mark or Better Than a Bad Time?
Months of preparation and dedication to fitness and health come before any serious race, whether it be a half-marathon, marathon, triathlon or Ironman competition. Before lining up at the start, athletes will wonder how they'll place. Will they beat their previous best time? For some elite athletes, the question is "Will I win?" Odds are, there aren't too many competitors who lace up their running shoes while thinking they're going to drop out of the race. But not everyone who starts finishes. In the New York Marathon, for example, about 2 percent of runners take a DNF (Did Not Finish) each year. A non-runner might assume that fitness level is the major reason for taking a DNF, but seasoned competitors know differently. There are many reasons competitors might take a DNF -- out of necessity and sometimes by choice.
"You definitely try to avoid taking a DNF," said Rhonda Armstrong, who has completed four Ironman competitions as well as multiple marathons. But she knows first hand that there are times that it can't be avoided. "Sometimes you can train and train and train, but your nutrition is off," said Armstrong. She recalls one Ironman competition where after completing her swim, she kept getting ill during the bike ride. She knew something was wrong and opted not to run the final marathon. Armstrong also stated that sometimes people in the medical tent won't let athletes continue if their health is at risk.
Natasha Henstridge, Probiotics and Marathons - Week in Review - June 1 to June 7
Natasha Henstridge says diet pills did her body in, but now she's clean, healthy and fit.Probiotics -- we know they're linked to a long list of healthy benefits, but can they also help fight belly fat? Jonny thinks so ... find out why.
Jillian Michaels doesn't argue that she's pushy, but when a contestant on "The Biggest Loser" accused her of pushing drugs, she got even tougher.
Craving a cool treat on a hot summer day? Find out exactly how many calories that frozen yogurt has.
Fat on the gut or fat on the butt -- which is more dangerous? Fitz has the skinny.
Looking for a fun or quirky way to perk up your exercise routine? Laura's got 'em, including scheduling a boudoir session and donating to a cause you hate when you slip up.
Nina Vardalos lost weight after a diabetes scare. Have you ever been inspired to fitness by a big wake-up call?
Grabbing that brass ring this summer and going for a marathon? Learn how to take care of your body and protect yourself from risks before and during the race.
If you're the kind of person who likes to pay attention to detail, check out the new book "Conquer the Fat-Loss Code." Sounds complicated, but some people like that sort of thing.
You've probably heard about that mythical "fat burning zone," right? Here's a reason not to worry about it anymore. Liz says exercise burns fat (period!) and that we all should be mixing up our high and low intensity workouts.
Your Body on Marathons
Well, it's no comfort to know that Phidippides, the first person who ever completed a marathon in ancient Greece, dropped dead directly after. But he sprinted the entire 26-mile run from Marathon to Athens, so there's hope.
Running Buddies - How Committed Are You?
Glamour model Katie 'Jordan' Price and her husband, Peter Andre, ran the London Marathon this year. Well, run is a bit of an exaggeration -- Katie went down with a knee injury at mile 18, and her husband helped her the rest of the way, almost having to carry her for the last mile. They finished with a time of over seven hours -- not the speediest finish on record, but hey, they finished. And they did it together. Lots of us have running buddies, and often, we run races together. But the question is, how committed are you to your buddy? If he or she went down at the halfway mark, or was just having a slow day, would you stay back with them? Or do you make a point to let your buddy know that, come race day, anything goes?
It might depend on who your buddy is and what your goals are. I've run races for which I had a goal time, in which case, any running buddy who was also racing knew we'd both be going at our own pace. However, I've also run longer races that, truthfully, I just wanted to cross the finish line, and my partner had the same goal, so it was no problem to stick together.
Let us know in the comments how committed you are to your running buddy. Then, get inspired by checking out all of the celebrities who've completed a 26.2 mile race (and find out how fast they did it!). Will you be next?
Stars Who've Run a Marathon
Sean Combs
P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, or whatever it is you want to call him these days crossed the NYC Marathon finish line in 2003 with a time of 4 hours, 14 minutes, 54 seconds. More impressively, he raised two million dollars for NYC schools in the process.
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Katie Holmes
Katie completed the NYC marathon in 2007 with a time of 5 hours, 29 minutes, 58 seconds (we're betting that the next time she does one, she finds a slightly more supportive sports bra). And she was in heels for a party that night.
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George W. Bush
President Bush did the Houston Marathon in 1993, finishing with a very respectable time: 3 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds. No wonder he was successful in running for office. Get it?
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Oprah Winfrey
Oprah completed the Marine Corps Marathon in 4 hours, 29 minutes, 20 seconds as a special gift to herself for her 40th birthday. The race suddenly went from a small, somewhat unknown race to the marathon that everybody wanted to do.
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Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Here's a little something to chew on: Had Freddie and Oprah run the same race, she would have won by almost an hour and a half. Freddie completed the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon in 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 49 seconds. Would he go faster for a Scooby Snack, you think?
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Will Ferrell
While other "real" runners have certainly finished faster, Will Ferrell comes in near the top in this group with a time of 3 hours, 56 minutes, 12 seconds in the 2003 Boston Marathon. Who would've guessed? Frank the Tank didn't look all that speedy in "Old School."
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Lance Armstrong
The cyclist traded his wheels for running shoes and has completed two NYC Marathons and a Boston. His time for the 2007 NYC Marathon was an impressive 2 hours, 46 minutes, 43 seconds. But then again, nobody exactly expected him to be slow, right?
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Mario Lopez
As fit as this macho man is, you'd expect a seriously competitive time, right? But his Boston Marathon, 2003, finish was 5 hours, 41 minutes, 41 seconds. He says he was staying behind to run with the girl he was dating. Sure, we believe that.
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Ryan Reynolds
The wickedly hot funny man risked bloody nipples (his words, not ours) to compete in the 2008 NYC Marathon. He wanted to raise money for Parkinson's disease, which his father suffers from. He succeeded -- he raised plenty of funds and awareness, plus crossed the finish in 3 hours, 50 minutes, 22 seconds.
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Gordon Ramsey
He's better known for his skills in the kitchen, as well as for his foul temper (and language), but it turns out that Gordon Ramsey is quite the runner, too. He's competed in the London Marathon for many years, and holds an impressive pace -- it took him just 3 hourse, 46 minutes, 10 seconds to finish in 2006.
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Magazines Merge to Sponsor Marathon
On April 24th and 25th, the magazines are sponsoring a free Health + Wellness Expo. If you live in the New York City area, stop by the Altman Building for health screenings and cooking demonstrations. The weekend wraps up on Sunday with a marathon and half-marathon in Central Park. Nearly 10,000 women are scheduled to run, many of whom are opting to raise funds for CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.
Are you looking for a charity walk or run to participate in? Check out this list of events ... odds are, there's a walk or run coming to your area soon.
