That's Fit

BANG! The starter's gun begins, and the race and the runners are off. Though it's probably not visible to the casual observer, not all racers get started at the same time. Researchers have found that because sound takes time to travel, racers on the outside lanes actually hear the starting gun later than those on the inside lane and are at a distinct disadvantage.

OK, so maybe if you and I had a race, the difference wouldn't be significant. But in an Olympic race, where every athlete is elite, those 150 milliseconds can translate to up to a meter's difference between the runners -- a distance that can mean the difference between bringing home a gold or bringing home a silver medal.

Though officials are aware of the problem, no changes will be made for the Beijing Olympics. Experts say a low tone system is more fair to all runners than the loud gunshot, but it looks like this year's Olympians will just have to make do.

(photo credit: Library of Congress via pingnews on Flickr)

Last summer, when I decided to do a sprint triathlon, I wasn't too nervous about the race. It's not that I was cocky -- far from it -- I just knew that, regardless of how long it took, I would cross that finish line and feel fantastic. There was one aspect I was really nervous about though -- figuring out what to wear.

Whenever I looked at pictures of triathlons or saw them on TV, everyone was either wearing race suits specifically made for triathlon, which was well out of my budget, or sporty swimsuits, which is fine for swimming, but I don't have the confidence to run in front of people in a bathing suit unless I'm actually on the beach.

What I discovered is that you can wear just about anything you want. Ideally, you'll find a race day outfit that does the following:

I packed my 38-pound five-year-old into a jog stroller this morning and pushed him up and down six hills in my neighborhood. It felt good -- the early-morning workout, the time with Danny, the extra effort it took to heave him up incline after incline. It was peaceful too. We were the only ones braving the hills at the time so no one was in our way. We didn't bother anyone either. Jog strollers can be problematic, though. There's a certain etiquette, actually, for these exercise contraptions.

As long as you're walking, jogging, or strolling through parks and on sidewalks, you have nothing to worry about. But head into a race event with your jog stroller and beware. You may be shunned as you crowd out fellow participants and shout "on your left" declarations as you pass your opponents by. Runners just don't want to be beaten by strollers and worse yet, tripped by them. USA Track & Field race directors don't even allow them.

The message here is this: Think before you stroll. Make sure your kid and your apparatus are appropriate for the setting you seek. And before you register for your next race event, check to make sure it's a stroller-friendly event.

Some might think fitness isn't a prerequisite for race car driving. I mean, how physically taxing is it to sit behind the wheel and alternately slam on the gas and brake?

Racing is definitely a physically demanding sport, according to racing star Danica Patrick. When asked by a reporter for USA Today if she considers herself an athlete, Patrick says: "Absolutely, I'm an athlete."

If people took a little time to learn what Patrick does, they'd see just how physical her sport it. They'd see what she does to work out too.

Patrick works out daily and balances strength training (especially upper-body work) and stamina and endurance. She uses free weights, runs, and does yoga and pilates.

Clearly, racing isn't for the faint of heart. Driving a go-kart will give you a sense of it, says Patrick, who reports that bruises are a common occupational hazard. And in Indy cars, there's no power steering. "The forces are such that we could drive upside-down," she reports. The cars weigh more than 1,000 pounds."

Says one exercise physiologist at Florida Atlantic University: "Elite drivers have to have a fine-tuned sense of timing and excellent focus so they can anticipate and respond to stimuli ... The heat, the powerful lateral forces on the body and the constant vibrations make for intense stimulation during a race."

Convinced fitness and racing go hand in hand? I am.

If you're single and running a race, you know there's a possibility you might meet somebody interesting. I mean, runners are hot! Perhaps you're super focused before the race, but later, maybe you reach for a post-race banana, and another runner reaches for a nearby bagel. Your hand brushes against his. You stop, your eyes meet, and ... then what? What do you say?

"So, you're a runner, huh?" is a little lame, but there are some hilarious suggestions at Half-Fast. Who's not going to accept a dinner invitation from a guy who says, "I'd like to see your race-y pictures at the finish," or "Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I pass you more than once?"

Okay, so not everyone would get a kick out of these, but if you don't have a goofy sense of humor, I don't want to have dinner with you anyway. If the lines above made you chuckle, check out the full list, and let me know if you've used any running-related pick-up lines (or been on the receiving end of them).

Dick Hoyt, 67, and his son Rick, 46, have accomplished more than many of us could imagine. They've climbed mountains, completed 224 triathlons (including six Ironmans), 66 marathons, a 45-day cross-country bike ride, and more. Obviously, that's inspiring in and of itself.

What makes it AMAZING is that Rick is a quadriplegic and cannot walk or talk -- he was born with cerebral palsy, which kept him from ever being able to control his muscles and limbs, including his vocal chords.

Dick started participating in races and endurance events with his son when Rick was just 11, and the duo hasn't taken more than two weeks off since. Dick continues to train and compete because Rick gets so much joy out of it, and it makes him happy to see his son happy.

I recently wrote a post on why I think you should try a sprint triathlon, and I've gotten some positive responses. However, the question I keep hearing is, "How do I find out about them?"

Truthfully, unless you're involved in the sport, you're probably totally unaware of these events taking place, even if they're occurring right in your own town. If you're interested in triathlon (sprint or otherwise), a great resource is the USA Triathlon event calendar. You can do an advanced search to find only triathlons (or duathlons, or an assortment of other endurance races) and get that search narrowed down to your state. You can then sort by date, event name, location, or event type to find exactly what you need.

When you find a race in your area, check the website right away. Discounts are often given for early registration or, if you're entering a race that's part of a series, you might get a discount for signing up for all races in the series.

Let me take a stab at what your inner monologue is saying after reading that title -- "Me? A triathlon? Ha! This Kristen girl is a nutter!"

Well, first of all, yes, I've done sprint triathlons, and I love them (check out the gallery below for proof). But, while I'm fit and I work hard, I'm definitely a regular gal, which is why I want to encourage you to consider taking part in a sprint triathlon this summer.

Sprint triathlons are fairly short -- the swim is between 1/4 and 1/2 mile (I've always done the 1/4 mile ones), the bike ride is between 10 and 20 miles, and the run is right around 3 miles. If you've been working out regularly and have decent cardio strength, I imagine you could complete each of these tasks separately. And, if that's the case, all you have to do is put them together!

It won't be the easiest thing you've ever done, but in my experience most of the participants are more interested in having a good time than in winning. so as long as you come with a good attitude, you'll be good to go. Are you intrigued? Want to learn more? Check out USA Triathlon for lots of information on the sport and Beginner Triathlete for tips on getting started. Or, drop me a question in the comments section. The season is starting soon, so start training now!

Who says St. Patrick's Day has to be a day devoted to green beer and corned beef and cabbage? There's no reason you can't bring some exercise into the mix, especially if you live near Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts. A new race series has been introduced (and I'm sorry, we've already missed the first one) -- The Wild Rover Irish Series.

The series takes place on three Sundays, beginning last Sunday on February 24, and runs along "The Emerald Necklace of Merrimack Valley." The first race is three miles, the second is four miles, and the last race is five. However, the point of these races isn't get the best time -- it's to have the best time. After all, the idea for this was spawned in an Irish pub -- how serious can it be?

Parties will be held after each race (and possibly before, and during), and you know a good party always make it a little easier to push toward the finish line. It sounds like a great way to have fun training for spring races!

If you're interested in registering, check out the website.

Have you ever considered joining a training group like Team in Training or TeamChallenge, only to realize that you have no idea how to go about raising the massive amounts of money required? Sure, it's a great idea to use an event that will benefit your body to raise money for other worthy causes, but it's hard to hit up friends and family for donations. But what if you could sell them a cool, unique product, and use the profit for your race?

You can, with spreadshirt.com! It really works -- one runner raised $1000 in just a week this way.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Heather Schott

Age: 35

Occupation: Stay at home Mother of two. My 11 yr old is home schooled and I have a 3 1/2 year old that I chase around all day.

How often do you exercise? Five times a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I run, lift weights, and occasionally do yoga.

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? I have downloaded photos of people's body parts I covet. I look at those when I need a swift kick in the pants, or I visit a bodybuilding website to get motivated.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Lauren Rinck

Age: 23

Occupation: Consumer Product Sales Representative for Hormel Foods

How often do you exercise? Every day.

What type of exercise do you do? Road Biking, Running, Cardio, Circuit Training, Spinning, Swimming

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? Exercising and fitness is just something that is a priority for me, something I look forward to. I love how I feel afterward as well! I can see results as I continue to place emphasis on working out. My ultimate goal is to race in an Iron Man, so I continually strive to push myself in that direction.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Amber Edwards

Age: 25

Occupation: Receptionist

How often do you exercise? Six days a week for 2-2.5 hours a day.

What type of exercise do you do? Running, Circuit Training, Free Weights

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? The energy I feel when I'm done, as well as the sense of accomplishment.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Jonathan Fisher

Age: 34

Occupation: Service Director for a chain of motorcycle dealerships

How often do you exercise? Six to seven days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? Swimming, running, biking, boot camp, and tennis.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Kristen Seymour

Age: 27

Occupation: Writer

How often do you exercise? I try to do something at least four or five times a week. Sometimes that means I'm at the gym for seven days in a row, and sometimes it means I take the dogs for a lot of walks. I just try to make sure I work SOMETHING into my schedule.

What type of exercise do you do? You name it! I like to play team sports like basketball and volleyball, run, swim, go to classes at the gym, use weights and resistance training, and, of course, kickbox!