That's Fit

My husband, a baseball editor for a national newspaper, taught our daughter how to say "pitching mound" when she was about 18 months old. We are lucky to have a field down the street. We drive by it every time we go somewhere in the car and every time we do, our daughter yells "pitching mound!" with gleeful delight.

We've now started making treks on foot down to the field on a semi-regular basis. And our little girl, now almost three, is learning about the rest of the landscape covered with red dirt and grass and framed by two dugouts. She isn't skilled enough to hit yet. Not even off of a tee. But boy do we run those bases. Over and over. And we jump on them. And we cheer at home plate.

By the time we've walked there and back and run the bases a few times, I figure we got more exercise than most players do during a whole game. And it certainly didn't take nine innings to do it. Quick and easy workout, and the kid's exhausted. Perfect!

The last time I took a long walk on the beach, barefoot, my calves let me know about it the next day, which got me thinking about how great it would be if I could do more walking barefoot. There's something really satisfying about stretching one's toes and feeling the changes in terrain while walking, plus, it obviously works the leg muscles differently than walking in shoes. However, it wouldn't be safe (or hygienic) to walk around the places I go barefoot, so that was the end of that.

Only it wasn't actually the end, because this link for Vibram FiveFingers Footwear (which we've also covered here at That's Fit a time or two) popped into my inbox the other day. You know I love fashionable footwear, and believe me, this isn't it, but it is a unique and cool concept based on barefooting, which they define as:

1. The exhilarating joy of going barefoot without leaving yourself exposed; 2. any activity requiring unconventional footwear offering the protection of a thin, flexible Vibram skin; 3. an intelligent way to deepen your connection with your natural surroundings.

Gallery: Vibram FiveFingers Footwear: It's funky!

Running race bandits wear all sorts of hats. Despised by some registered racers, bandits join the course on race day without paying an entry fee. The most flagrant bib-free bandits run the race all the way through the finish line, reaching for as many bananas, gel paks and water cups they can suck down along the way. Other bandits pop into a race to run a few miles with a buddy for moral support. Others might run nearly the entire route, but carry their own sustenance and kindly step off the course before the final chute. Some bandits claim they are unable to afford the ever-rising steep entry fees -- banditing affords them the joy of racing.

Runners World is in the midst of an e-conversation about race bandits. The absolute zero tolerance camp compares bandits to cheaters -- thieves -- immoral pond scum. Others possess a little forgiveness for the low-impact bandit. Some share they've bandit-ed in the past. From the wide-range of responses, banditing reminds me of tax time. Some filers are highly honorable. Others might report 100 percent of their income, but over-inflate their charitable contributions to Goodwill. Then how about those who claim their taxes are on the up and up, but oh yeah, they don't pay their Nanny Taxes. Some never file a return.

Banditing is a hardly a black and white issue. What's your take on the masked road racer? I'm in the gray camp.

Choosing the right sports bra requires attention to a number of factors. First and foremost is your bust size. Obviously, the big busted woman is going to require a different type of support than a woman with small-bust needs.

Second, take into account what you need it for. Playing basketball or jumping rope requires a different level of support than going for a walk, and it really is important that, if you plan to do some jumping activities, you find a bra that keeps you from bouncing.

SheFinds.com came up with a comprehensive list of the Best Sports Bras using the editors' expertise as well as input from readers. There are bras for busts large and small made for all different activities. Check them out in the gallery and be sure to leave a comment sharing your favorite sports bra!

FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

A few years ago, I was in a grief support group for people who'd lost their parents. The discussion naturally weaved in and out of the topics of spirituality and religion. My father's religion was running, said one girl. His church was the outdoors: a wooded path on a cool morning, a open field bathed in warm sunlight. I've never forgotten it.

I'm a spiritual person, but organized religion hasn't taken a big role in my life. This is a religion I can see myself being a part of. Running is the cure for what ails me: A heavy heart, a nagging conscience, a gut feeling that doesn't sit well. When I have a problem I can't figure out, I run. When something's stressing me out, I run. When I feel tired or lethargic, I run. And it's never let me down: I always feel better afterwards. No exceptions. It's not that I've found God in pounding my feet on the treadmill, but it helps me find balance, and it helps me find peace.

What activity helps you find your spiritual side?

Tired of waiting for equipment, paying membership fees that mysteriously seem to rise every two months, and dealing with people who leave their sweat stains everywhere? Are all these hassles actually making you absolutely abhor -- and, in many cases, even skip -- your workout? If so, it may be time to consider bidding farewell to your gym.

Needless to say, this does not mean the end of your days spent working out. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, all that's required is 30 minutes of activity per day -- whether it be jogging, walking, shooting hoops, gardening, dancing, etc. And, to keep muscles and bones strong, doctors suggest also incorporating 20 minutes of resistance training exercise two or three times a week.

With spring here, there's no better time to break free of the confines of your gym walls and take your workout to the limitless expanse of the great outdoors.

Just had my tummy tuck one week ago. All is going well -- better than I'd anticipated, actually -- and just yesterday I went with my mom while she picked my boys up from school. I even accompanied them to the park for an afternoon play date. It was great to get out of the house and away from the recliner that doubles as my daytime resting place and my bed. It's where I sit, sleep, write, watch TV, read bedtime stories -- and worry about how all I've gained through strenuous exercise over the past year is about to be lost.

According to my doctor, I can't really exercise for six full weeks. I can walk, and I can gradually add other movements to my routine, but I can't full-out run -- my favorite fitness activity -- for quite some time. This worries me. Will I gain weight? Will I lose my muscle tone? Will I be completely out of shape by the time I lace up my running shoes? It's possible.

What ever will I do?

Oakley came out several years ago with the THUMP, a sunglass/mp3 player combo. It was a really cool idea, because, really, how much extra stuff do you to carry when you go running? And it's great to not have to worry about cords or earbud slippage. Plus, the earphones hover just outside your ear, so while you can hear the music, other noises aren't entirely blocked, which is a nice safety feature.

They've now come out with an improved version, the Oakley Split THUMP. The first improvement I noticed was the fact that the earphones are removable, so if you show up at a race and find out only then that you can't have earphones (not like that's ever happened to me or anyone I know), you've still got glasses. Plus, if you're out for a run and then head out to the beach or park to hang out with friends, you can remove the earphones.

Additionally, the sound quality has improved (though, I actually hadn't noticed it being all that bad to begin with). They come in two varieties, a 512MB for $249, and a 2GB for $399, so you should be able to fit enough music on there to last your entire workout. The battery life is estimated to be around seven hours, so that should hold out for you, too.

Muscle cramps have been a problem for runners for, well, pretty much forever. Unfortunately, even though it's such a common issue, experts have yet to agree on a cause.

Some believe that sweating and dehydration are to blame, while others believe cramping is caused by running hard or for long-distances, or that insufficient stretching and training are at fault.

Regardless of what causes them, I think we can all agree that they are a seriously unpleasant side effect of running, and we'd like to prevent them from happening, especially on race days. Click through the gallery for some tips from Active on how to prevent and treat muscle cramps.

Dire Tune, of Ethiopia, and Alevtina Biktimirova, of Russia, made Boston Marathon history yesterday with the closest women's finish in the race's history.

Part of a pack of 10 women who had stuck together from the beginning of the race, Tune and Biktimirova pulled ahead and fought it out until the end. Biktimirova held the lead, but Tune overtook her during the final stretch. Both women have won other marathons this year. Tune took first in the Houston Marathon in January and Biktimirova won the Honolulu Marathon last December.

The top American woman, Ashley Anklam, took 15th in Boston. Though most of the top women runners ran in the Olympic trials, their place in this race doesn't guarantee them a spot in the Olympics.

I was running on a new treadmill at my local gym yesterday, and I had really exerted myself and my breathing started getting a little out of control (I'm asthmatic, so I'm careful not to overdo). I slowed to a walk, and as I did so, I put my hands on the heart rate monitors, and ... according to the display, my heart rate was at only 112, but I know from monitoring it at other times, at a similar intensity, it has shown 180+. Huh?

I've noticed before that my heart rate fluctuates considerably depending on the day, but never looked into it. Yesterday, though, it made me realize that I really have no idea what heart rate I reach at my peak, and what I maintain.

After winning the Tour de France seven times, Lance Armstrong is certainly worthy of a relaxing retirement. However, that doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Since his retirement, the 35-year-old has found himself constantly on the road, promoting LiveStrong Challenges, the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research, joining with Nike and Apple to publicize his involvement in their partnership, and trying to be home to spend time with his kids. Still, his crazy schedule hasn't stopped him from running marathons.

In this month's issue of Maximum Fitness magazine, the editors offer ways to save 5,000 calories through a mix of food choices and life/fitness activity. Best of all, they tell you how to do it in ONE DAY!!!

Here's how:

STARTING FIRST WITH THE DIET ...

• Save 617 calories by eating an apple and drinking a black coffee (123 calories) instead of a muffin and a double-double coffee (740 calories)
• Save 1,313 calories by eating a grilled chicken sandwich, an apple, and drinking a glass of water (367 calories) instead of a Double Whopper Combo (1,680 calories)
• Save 118 calories by eating an apple (57 calories) instead of a chocolate-glazed or sugared cake donut (175 calories)
• Save 150 calories by drinking three light beers (309 calories) instead of three regular beers (459 calories)
• Save 160 calories by drinking a glass of ice water (0 calories) instead of a can of Coke (160 calories)
• Save 492 calories by eating a top sirloin steak, lean 8oz, trimmed to 1/8-inch with a 4oz sweet potato (402 calories) instead of three slices of 14-inch pizza with pepperoni (894 calories)

AND FINISHING WITH ACTIVITY ...

I don't know about you, but I love taking a run on a drizzly day. I love the water hitting my face, I love the smell of the rain, and I love the fact that it's usually a bit cooler. What I don't love is wet feet.

New Balance has come out with a running shoe made of Gore Tex, so it's totally waterproof. The sole is rugged and looks like it would grip really well, even on wet, slippery, uneven terrain, which is great because they have the shock absorbency to handle a trail run. Plus, since it's Gore Tex, you can get them as dirty as you want and they should be a breeze to clean.

Men's (orange) and women's (blue) New Balance 1110 are currently on sale at New Balance North Shore for $99.99.

Via FitSugar

What's the name of a person with one leg shorter than the other? Eileen. Sorry, couldn't resist. A chiropractor I visited several years ago stated I had uneven legs, and after a few back cracks and hip stretches they returned to their proper alignment a moment later.

Interestingly uneven legs are usually not the result of one leg bone shorter than the other. Commonly the problem emerges due to a tight hamstring (back of the upper leg) or iliotibial band -- the fascial sheath extending from the upper thigh down the side of the femur, attaching around the area of the knee joint. Runners suffering from muscle/tissue imbalance often overcompensate by favoring their longer leg, and this can lead to injury. However regularly adopting specific stretches can solve the problem and prevent future injuries.

Here's the test to see if your legs are uneven:

• Lie on your back on a flat surface with bare feet and legs together. A friend should place their palms on your hipbones (one hand per hipbone) and gently rock your hips back and forth by pressing left, then right, etc ... for one minute.
• After you're relaxed have your friend check if your anklebones are even. If they are uneven, do these 15 range-of-motion exercises offered by Runners World. Then immediately repeat the buddy stretch above.

If your legs are now even, an imbalance of muscles/tissues is the culprit, not a leg-length discrepancy. Keep up the exercises! If you're still uneven, you might want to seek further help from a sports medicine or orthopedic specialist to confirm and treat a true leg-length discrepancy.