That's Fit

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).

Thinking of summer already? If so, you may also be thinking of starting a workout program. Not a bad idea at all, whatever the season happens to be. But, starting a workout is one thing -- sticking with it is something altogether different!! This is why you may want to avoid going at it alone.

Enlisting the help of a good personal trainer (good being the operative word) is one of the best ways to keep you going. Not only will a trainer make sure that you are performing exercises correctly and charting your progress, but they'll also motivate you during those times when you're feeling less than thrilled about being at the gym. But, not everyone has the extra cash to dole out on a personal trainer, just as some people don't want to work out in a gym. For these folks, it is still possible to benefit from teamwork Try working out with a friend or two!

I've never been able to follow a training plan. I always check them out, but end up using them as guidelines, when it works for me and my schedule.

This is one of the reasons I don't think I could do a full marathon -- I can't commit completely to a training schedule over several months. I came across this post on Runner's World Daily about a guy who's in Marathon (in the Florida Keys), and he had a 16 mile training run to do, so he did it. In Marathon. That meant eight miles one way and eight miles back on hard, unshaded concrete, in the blazing heat. And, he's leaving tomorrow to go home.

That's some serious commitment. I think I would've put it off until I was somewhere more comfortable and less muggy. What about you? If your training plan called for a big run at the end of your vacation, would you do it? Or would you wait a couple of days and do it later? Or not at all? If you choose to follow one, there are tons of choices -- check them out in the gallery!

That's right! I went running with the Livestrong legend, and you can too!

Nike+ has created a 40 minute running workout featuring Lance Armstrong, and they generously allowed me to download and review it. And I'll tell you what -- 40 minutes on a treadmill has never gone by so fast. The mix of music included songs by artists like Weezer, Beck, and The All-American Rejects and, more importantly, had Lance Armstrong coaching me through the workout.

I definitely liked the extra motivation -- every time I wanted to slow down, I heard Lance's voice and thought of that scene in Dodgeball where he sees Vince Vaughn in the airport bar and talks to him about quitting:

I love inspirational sports movies, and I'm always excited when I hear a new one is coming out. That being said, I don't think we're in for another Hoosiers or Remember the Titans with Run, Fat Boy, Run, but then again, it's not meant to be that kind of movie.

This movie is about a man who does a horrible thing to his fiance and, years later, decides to run a marathon to prove to her that he's changed. I think we can all agree that this is not the best reason to decide to run 26.2 miles, but hey, that's why it's funny.

And, while I wouldn't opt to run a marathon to impress someone, I can't say that I haven't ever taken part in an athletic event in order to look good in front of a cute boy or impress a friend -- can you?

Run, Fat Boy, Run hits theaters tomorrow. Will you be running out to see it?

I hate to admit it, but the iPod revolutionized the way I run. I remember my first run with it -- nothing bulky to hold, no switching sides of the tape -- just pure, energizing music. It helped me to run faster and further; however, I've run into a problem. I can't find earphones I like.

My original iPod earbuds fit me perfectly -- they stayed in place and caused no pain. However, they recently stopped working, so I tried my husband's earbuds -- no luck. I don't know what's different, but something is, and they slide out of my ears. I tried two other types of earphones -- one pair that was like earbuds but hooked over my ears, and the one that was like a standard set of earphones that also hooked over my ears -- and neither of them worked for me, either. The first didn't stay in place and the second pair really hurt the tops of my ears.

Do you have a pair of earphones you really like? I found this forum with some suggestions, but I'll hold off on shopping until I hear from some That's Fit readers.

How frustrating is it when you've spent hours doing research and shopping for the right running shoe, only to run in it a few times and find a flaw? Everyone has a different need when it comes to shoes. Even if you don't overpronate and your arch is just perfect, you still could end up with some unforeseen shoe issues.

Active.com has the solution to a number of problems -- customize your shoes by adjusting your laces. Click through the gallery to find out how lacing your shoes differently might save your feet.

Samsung came out last year with a phone geared toward the active person, and now they've stepped up their commitment to fitness by teaming up with Adidas.

The SGH-F110 miCoach mobile phone will be released sometime in April as a competitor to the Nike+ system. It is geared heavily toward more fitness-minded folks, implementing features like a beep to let you know when your pace slows and software to monitor your heartrate and distance. A pedometer, MP3 player/FM tuner, and camera will be included as well.

According to the New York Times, the price for the deluxe kit will be around $612 and will include phone, heart monitor, shoe sensor and more. This is quite a bit more than the cost of the Nike+ sport kit, but there is a major difference -- the Nike+ sport kit requires the runner to wear Nikes, while the Samsung/Adidas option fits on a runner's laces, regardless of the brand. This will be an interesting match up, and I can't wait to see who wins the race.

Spring is approaching, and I hope your first thought is, "Yahoo! I can't wait to get outside and bust my butt doing all kinds of active, outdoorsy things!" However, some of you might also be thinking, "Oh, jeez. There's no way I can wear sandals right now -- my feet are all callused up from the miles I've put in on the treadmill this winter."

The fact is that many active men and women find themselves with serious calluses on their feet. And, while they're a sign that we've worked really hard, they're also unsightly. There are a couple schools of thought about calluses, one being that calluses are a natural shock absorber for your foot. Therefore, some athletes want to keep their calluses.

Even though tons of studies have been done on pre-run stretching, results continue to be inconclusive. Does stretching first increase or decrease your risk of injury? What if you don't stretch first? Depending on which expert you ask, you're likely to get a different answer.

USA Track and Field is conducting a very comprehensive stretch study that they hope will give the running world a definitive answer. Participation is open to anyone who is:

• 13 years old or older
• injury free for at least six weeks prior to start
• running at least 10 miles a week
• able to continue running for at least three months (the duration of the study)
• willing to commit to either stretching or not stretching, depending on which they are randomly assigned.

If you're interested in participating, you can click here to get started. And, rest assured, when the results come back, I'll let you know!

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.

By this point I'm sure it's pretty clear that I am a big proponent of exercise. Hell, these days, who isn't? Every time you turn on the TV, you're inundated with ads for the latest and so-called greatest in fitness programs and equipment. Solflex, Bowflex, Ab Roller, The Firm, that multi-gym with Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley, and even Jack LaLane is still around. You name it, it's out there. Equally as dizzying are the number of health clubs out there for you to choose from: Bally Total Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, Crunch, Sports Club LA, Sports Club NY, the YMCA, Gold's Gym, World Gym, and so on and so on. In our quest to stay healthy, having this endless supply of fitness opportunities is a good thing, right? Yes, it is. But, when over-training becomes an issue, this good 'thing' can quickly become a very bad thing.

For runners, working out too much can often times result in stress fractures, the development of plantar fasciitis, or even shin splints. Worse yet, this overexertion may be doing more harm to your heart than good. The same goes for people who train with weights. Over-zealousness in the weight room can lead to joint and muscle pain, insomnia, lethargy and a suppressed immune system.

Doctors suggest limiting workouts to around an hour per day, which seems to be the ideal. And, adequate rest in between workouts is imperative, as is getting enough sleep at night. It is during these times of rest when your body will repair itself, which is why this period of recuperation is so important. All too often, people will throw themselves into a workout program with gusto, their feet hitting the ground running. This "storming the castle" approach may have worked for the Visigoths, it's not exactly the best in terms of ensuring you get enough rest.

For years, I've envied runners. They're lean and graceful and fit. But there's more to it than that. I've always wanted to be one of them, even since Junior High.

Let me explain: I went to a school where track and field was the main event, the top sport. We had to run lines and hills every day after school and we were classed into groups -- As were the best runners, followed by Bs and Cs and, well, you get the point. I was in group F--and it was the absolute bottom of the totem pole. It's not all my fault--I was born with bad knees and asthma and running a minute was about all I could do before turning purple and collapsing with a whimper. But all the popular, athletic kids were, of course, in the A group and though I feigned the teenage too-cool-to-care attitude, I did care. I wanted to be a runner.

And I've never been a runner. Until now.

To some running may seem like one of the simplest sports out there -- you just step outside and go. Sure you need good shoes and lots of water, but other than that it's pretty straight forward: one foot in front of the other.

That attitude can be a huge mistake, for marathoners specifically. According to the New York Times here are some basic lessons many long distance runners still need to learn:

1. Curb your enthusiasm. Slow and steady wins the race, so no matter how fresh you feel at the start of the race it's imperative you pace yourself and don't go too fast too soon.
2. Don't run too much before the big race. In the two week to 10 day period before the race you should take it easy. You want to show up fresh, excited, and ready to run -- not exhausted.
3. Have a motivating mantra ready to repeat to yourself when the going gets tough.

Most of us know that the New York Marathon happened just last weekend, and it brought out a number of celebrities, including Katie Holmes and Lance Armstrong. It seems like everyone is running a marathon these days -- from those who are only occasional joggers to those who are hard-core runners. I doubt I could run a marathon myself, but I really admire those who do, whether they're marathon veterans or first-timers who've decided to challenge themselves.

But take a look at this article, titled 'How Oprah Ruined the Marathon'. The author argues that Oprah has brought too much publicity to marathons by competing in one herself, and now everyone thinks they're cut out for a marathon and takes one on as a personal challenge.

I can see his point. But marathons are hard work and I think that any sort of phenomenon that encourages someone to get in ultimate shape and push themselves beyond what they ever thought they could accomplish is a good thing. Leave the awards and top race times to the fanatical marathoners -- I don't think it ruins things to have a few people trailing behind, just happy to cross the finish line.

What do you think?