Extra, Extra, Run All About It!! The Week in Running: 7/12-7/19

Dear readers, let's take a look back at the week in running:

As reported on The Moderate Voice.com on July 13th, amidst all the hoopla surrounding Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings, very little attention was paid to Dr. Regina Benjamin’s nomination as the next Surgeon General. While this is not particularly newsworthy in-and-of itself for Runners Write’s purposes, it rockets to the top of the list with the added information that Dr. Benjamin has a fitness obsession similar to mine and Mr. President Barack Obama! Dr. Benjamin joins a growing list of President Obama’s nominees who are likewise exercise fanatics and, as the article notes, “Driving the praise was Benjamin’s compelling personal story, which, along with a fitness obsession, now seems to be a prerequisite for serving in the Obama administration”. If President Obama is reading this, please note that, should Dr. Benjamin’s or Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings not go so well, I am always available!! As a frequenter of fitness clubs, I am more than qualified!

* As reported on GameSpot.com on July 14th, parents of chubby children should think twice before throwing out their chubby child’s video games. Results of a study led by Diana Graf of the University of Oklahoma Health Services Center found that, “children ages 10 to 13 can get more exercise out of Wii Sports' boxing and the PlayStation 2's Dance Dance Revolution than they can out of walking on a treadmill”. Observing 14 boys and 9 girls between the ages of 10 and 13, Graf found that the energy levels of the children playing active-style video games were comparable to moderate-intensity walking and concluded that, “for children who spend considerable time playing electronic screen games for entertainment, physically active games seem to be a safe, fun, and valuable means of promoting energy expenditure". Given these results and, in an effort to reduce childhood obesity, might I suggest that video game makers develop a video game in which all the player must do is run away from the police who are hot on your trail?

* As reported on Inc.com on July 15th, Stephen Starr, owner of many of Philadelphia’s best restaurants (most notably Buddakan which has also opened in New York City), is also the owner of a delicious treadmill in his office. Noting how it’s his job to eat, Starr told reporters, “With the amount of food I eat, I have to at least make an attempt to stave off the calories. Having a treadmill in my office is quicker than going to the gym. I use it on those busy days when I'm constantly on phone calls or in meetings; I can easily jump on the treadmill and be back at my desk right afterward. (Luckily, I have a shower in my office, too).” Well, Mr. Starr, since so many people eat so much of your incredible food as well, maybe you should think about replacing all the chairs in your restaurants with treadmills so we can eat and exercise at the same time!

* As reported in the Star Tribune (St. Paul, Minnesota) on July 16th, when U.S. star runner Kara Goucher runs in next month's Chicago Half Marathon, not only will she be trying to win the event but will also be trying to look good while doing so. In a racing first, fans of Goucher's will be able to watch her every stride thanks to a real-time video feed that will be following her during the entire 13.1 mile race. Being promoted by Competitor.com, the 'Kara Cam' will begin recording at 6:30 (Chicago time) and will be played exclusively on the website. While logistics of the video feed have not been worked out, Goucher told reporters that, "I'm not exactly sure how this will work on race day; I'm expecting that a motorcycle will be following me". When I heard about this story, I immediately emailed Competitor.com to see if they had any interest in setting up a "Mr. Petes Cam" to follow me during the Chicago Marathon in October. As of this writing, I have not heard back from them.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Weekend's Marathons

Friday, July 24th
Somerville Road Runners Around The Lake Marathon (Wakefield, MA)
Desert Morning News/KJZZ-TV Marathon (Salt Lake City, UT)

Saturday, July 25th
Grand Island Trail Marathon (Munising, MI)

Sunday, July 26th
Carrollton Education Foundation Carrollton Festival Of Races (Carrollton, MI)
The San Francisco Marathon (San Francisco, CA)
Nova Scotia Marathon (Barrington, NS)